DownsMail In touch with your parish


Bredhurst Council Rising crime


THE parish precept would re- main at the same level as 2010/11. PCSO Lindsay Woods said


crime was on the increase and reported vehicle thefts in Lids- ing Road and Kemsley Street and a theft from a car in Forge Lane.Milk had been taken from homes in Hurstwood Road. A number of youths had been


found with cannabis at the vil- lage hall. PCSOWoods was asked to ex-


plain that a solid white line next to a speed bump indicated no parking and anyone in con- travention would be liable to re- ceive a parking ticket. It was agreed not to renew Fairview Rangers‘ contract for the use of the playing field. The content of the newsletter,


print quality, delivery and ad- vertising were discussed and would be reviewed with the ed- itor.


The chicane in Dunn Street


was approved and a date for construction was awaited. A second disabled parking


bay in Hurstwood Road was re- quested.


Broomfield and Kingswood Council


Playing chicken


COUNCILLOR Bob Bowker told the meeting there had been re- ports of children playing ‘chicken’ with vehicles along Gravelly Bottom Road and in Chestnut Drive. PCSO Richard Kirby said PCSOs were to be trained to deal with truancy and dispersal orders and to be given powers to search for drink and tobacco. He gave details of four crimes


in the area and was asked to fol- low up an attempted burglary at the Scout hut. He said that additional patrols


had been taking place in Kingswood following further re- ports of anti-social behaviour by youngsters. Incidents of egg throwing around Kingswood by a group of (mainly) boys aged 11-12 had been among anti-social issues reported. Additional patrols of the area had failed to identify the youths but there would be an increased police presence during the Easter holidays. Cllr Bowker reported that the


lack of contact with a regular police officer was causing prob- lems with issuing unconfirmed information to the members of Neighbourhood Watch scheme. The matter would be raised at the next police forum. Cllr Peter Forster said that the number of vehicles speeding in Lenham Road was increasing and asked about training speed


46 East


camera volunteers. Ward Cllr Peter Parvin re- ported that Maidstone Council had confirmed there would be no borough rate rises for 2011/12. Concurrent functions had been agreed for 2011/12 but discussions were to take place over the future of this grant. No building would take place at Junction 8 of the M20 (in the KIG area). The meeting was told the bor-


ough would continue paying for disabled passengers’ bus passes. A change of use application


from agricultural to residential for the erection of a four bed- room detached dwelling with triple garage at Oaklands, Grav- elly Bottom Road, Kingswood, was refused by Maidstone Council. The clerk reported that a resi-


dents’ group had been success- ful in raising funds to purchase the land between Gravelly Bot- tom Road and Thorneycroft Close and that an offer had been accepted by the vendors. Councillors resolved to re-


main members of the Joint Parishes Group andwere asked to suggest topics relevant to the parish for discussion at the next JPG meeting. Cllr Paul Beaney reported that


KHS had been contacted regard- ing the conditions in Holly Tree Close. New and recurring potholes around the parish had been re- ported to KHS. Problems of dog fouling had


been reported to the dog warden who had suggested an addi- tional dog waste bin. Leeds Castle had offered to


store KHS’s jumbo bags of salt and for castle staff to deposit supplies at locations around Kingswood village for spreading by residents, They would also treat Broomfield Road during snowy periods. Cllr Peter Cole- man proposed that Edmed & Sons at Street Farm be ap- proached regarding storing and spreading of salt during bad weather. The meeting heard that Ar-


riva’s 10.27am bus service from Kingswood to Maidstone,Mon- days to Fridays, would be with- drawn from April 10 as a result of cutbacks. The 9.30am bus would leave the village hall at 9.42am. A resident reported on the in- stallation of a metal barrier across public footpath KH643 at the west end of Charlesford Av- enue. It was agreed to have it re- moved as soon as possible. There were further calls for


the reinstatement of Duckpond Lane.


Detling Council PSCO moves on


THE meeting heard that PCSO Lindsay Woods had accepted a job outside the police force and


Cllr Mark Housden thanked her on behalf of the parish council for her work. PCSO Jim Stevens reported


three crimes: a window had been forced but no entry gained to a property in PilgrimsWay; a home owner had smashed the window of a vehicle that turned into a private property from the A249 in error having followed Satnav instructions, and a horse lorry had been stolen from sta- bles on Scragged Oak Road. It was agreed that a newwaste


bin would be purchased and placed at Scragged Oak View- point. KCC Cllr Jenny Whittle would


be asked to follow up the re- quest for a no U-turn sign on the A249 at Scragged Oak. Several instances of danger-


ous driving at the Scragged Oak junction had been reported and it was suggested that a camera would act as a deterrent. Maidstone Cllr John Horne re- ported that the council tax for 2011/12 had been frozen. A report of problems from


cars parking at the bottom of Hockers Lane, near its junction with Ware Street, would be passed to the KHS road safety department. Cllr Geoff Cosgrove had ob- tained a report on air quality from Kent and Medway Air Quality Monitoring Network, which would be available to parishioners. Cars blocking the entrance to


Jade’s Crossing on the far side of Detling village were causing problems, and horse riders had been unable to get near the dis- mounting block. A recent newspaper report of


racist graffiti on the bridge was discussed but it was noted that the graffiti was not new. Large potholes had appeared,


in particular along Church Lane, and residents were asked to report these. It was agreed to canvass vil- lagers’ opinions on a village shop through Detling News. It was suggested that the county council might provide funds through its Bold Steps for Kent initiative. Cllr Cosgrove explained how


the playing field fund had been used to purchase 4.8 acres of former CTRL land on Hockers Lane for £14,000 and confirmed that the parish was able to claim back the VAT.


Annual spruce up THE spring clean would take place on Saturday, April 9. A meeting had been held to dis- cuss litter and it was agreed to find a smaller dustbin for the convenience store, which would be emptied more fre- quently. Caxtons was asked to contact the resident(s) of the flats to re-


Downswood Council To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


quest they stop throwing rub- bish from the top floor of flats near the kebab shop. The request to reinstate a lit-


ter bin near the parish council noticeboard had been turned down and Spires Medical Cen- trewould be asked to contribute towards the cost of litter pick- ing.


Two recycling bins were to be delivered to the waste com- pound and the parking space next to the binswould be coned off the day before collection. A man arrested in connection


with a burglary at Kings Acre had admitted the offence. KCC Cllr Gary Cooke reported


that the precept for 2011/12 had been frozen. He told members that three additional salt bins would be located in Willow Rise, Grampian Way and Cotswold Gardens and that pothole re- pairs were continuing. Improve- ments to the road surface of Mallards Way would be re- quested. A handrail for Willow Rise/


Old Church Road was on hold until the result of a land search was known. Cllr MartinWeeks highlighted


a problem concerning the col- lection of black rubbish sacks in Murrain Drive. Residents had been told these would be col- lected weekly, not fortnightly. This was also happening else- where in Downswood. It was resolved to renew membership of the Society of Local Council Clerks but not of Action with Communities in Rural Kent. The quotation from MBS for a


new bench had been accepted. Suggestions for marking the Queen’s Golden Jubilee had been received and Medway Val- ley Countryside Partnership and Maidstone Council would be contacted about this. An email had been received


about the lack of lighting in Willow Rise.As this was private property the parish council was unable to help. It was agreed to spend £2,000


on new Christmas tree lights and an ‘enchanted tree’ for The Orchard Spot roundabout. Cax- tons would be approached about new motifs for the front of the shops.


Harrietsham Council New footpath


CCTV was to be set up and the hedge running along Church Lane would need to be reduced to 1m on Glebe Field before the installation of play equipment. A footpath from Church Lane, through the hedge to the play area, was required and a quota- tion for this work would be ob- tained.


Concerns were raised about


litter on Booth Field. PCSO Dave Rowley reported


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