DownsMail In touch with your parish Boughton


Land donation CHAIRMAN Cllr Stephen Mun- ford explained that he and an- other councillor had met a local landowner, who had offered to donate the one remaining plot ofland on Church Hill to the parish council. It was agreed to accept this offer. Cllr Munford explained that a


Monchelsea Council


piece of land behind The Limes on Heath Road had been sug- gested by a landowner as a suit- able site for local affordable housing. He stated that he had stressed to the landowner that the parish council was looking for a scheme that involved part ownership, under which partic- ipants could sell their shares back to the housing association. It was noted that the landowner was now exploring registering as a housing association him- self. Police sergeant Matt Chapman


spoke regarding the recent in- crease in crime within the parish. Cllr Munford stated that north ward had become a crime hotspot during the latter part of 2010. Sgt Chapman stated that the offenders responsible for the spate of north ward burglaries had now been caught. Cllr Mun- ford said that crime now ap- peared to be concentrated in south ward. Sgt Chapman stated that he


had a team of six police officers working for him and that they mainly worked nights so they were working at the time the crimes were occurring. As a re- sult of the change in shift pat- terns, arrest and conviction rates had trebled. He claimed that the current increase in crime was a result of lengthen- ing evenings and that this pat- tern repeats itself each year with the arrival of Spring. There appeared to be an in-


crease in people sleeping rough adjacent to the Woodlands housing estate. Community warden Liz Lovatt agreed to in- vestigate. Borough Cllr Rob Field spoke regarding the Pested Bars land- scaping strip and advised that this had not yet been transferred to Maidstone Council from the developer, Taylor Wimpey. He agreed to continue pursuing this on behalf of the parish council. The clerk advised that the de- veloper had been in touch with the parish council to request a meeting to agree the final scope of landscaping maintenance works prior to transfer. The clerk stated that since the


land was being transferred to the borough council, it was for MBC to agree this with the de- veloper. It was noted, however, that the parish council and local residentswould both want to at-


tend the meeting and have an input in the agreed works. A resident in Marlpit was


given permission to set up Speedwatch equipment in his driveway, thus providing a new Speedwatch site within the parish. A councillor was to check


with the village hall committee over whether post office vans could park in the village hall car park at weekends to help allevi- ate parking problems outside the post office. The clerk was to obtain a


price for relocating the dog bin from the allotment entrance to further up Haste Hill Road adja- cent to Campfield Cottages. She was also to chase MBC regard- ing a request for litter bins to be put at various public places around the parish. A meeting had taken place


with the relevant landowner and his solicitor and it was es- tablished that the only sticking point regarding the Beresfords Hill footpath was the height of the proposed fence to be erected at the edge of the new footpath. Following further discussions, MBC contacted the parish coun- cil to advise that a 1.6m high fence would be acceptable. The council was requested to


take forward the Brishing Lane footpath project. It was sug- gested that the footpath be split into two phases, phase one being from Furfield Park to the stream and phase two from the stream to the Cock Inn pub.


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. PCSORichard Kirby said that additional patrols had been tak- ing place in Kingswood follow- ing further reports 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 Peter Forster said that the number of vehicles speeding in Lenham Road was increasing and asked about training speed camera volunteers. 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. Cllr Paul Beaney reported that


KHS had been contacted regard- ing the conditions in Holly Tree Close.


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 ofsalt 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 ofsalt 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.


No to streetlight COUNCILLOR Peter Forknall reported that he had spoken to villagers living near the pro- posed streetlight on the village green. There were concerns that a new light would shine into windows and encourage people to congregate there after dark. The villagers seemed to be happy with the current lighting and it was agreed that no further action would be taken at this time. It was agreed that the street


Chart Sutton Council


party to mark the royal wedding should be held in the village hall car park, as it had toilets and other facilities and no road closures would be necessary. There would be a BBQ, chil- dren’s party and music. The Scouts had offered to supply a marquee. The area relating to the foot-


way opposite Ivans Field was due to be measured to give KCC member Cllr Eric Hotson an idea of the cost of the project. Borough Cllr Mike Fitzgerald


noted that Ivans Field was still not an adopted road. It was reported that KHS had suggested contacting Cllr Hot- son for funding from the mem- ber highway fund for the extension of the 30mph speed limit on Amber Lane. However, during the discus-


sion it became apparent that po- lice had previously turned down this request, and it was agreed to take no further action at this present time.


Hall attempt


East Farleigh Council


AS the parochial church coun- cil had put a price and condi- tions of sale on the Old School Hall, the council agreed to pro- ceed with trying to raise funds to purchase it. There was some discussion


about the tree felling and clear- ing at the corner of Lower Road, where it joins Dean Street. It was felt that the area had been left somewhat untidy with some trees still in need of trimming. The clerk was to write to the landowner and clarify whether the contractors had finished and requesting that the area be ti- died up. The missing guardrail and eroded bank on the footpath in Vicarage Lane was further dis- cussed. Kent Highway Services had costed the repairs at £8,000- £9,000 and did not have the funding available. It would re- consider the matter in case other funding can be found. The clerk would write to KCC Cllr Paulina Stockell to see if she had any funds available. The council agreed donations of£100 each for Heart of Kent Hospice, Kent Air Ambulance, East Farleigh Pre-School, the First East Farleigh Brownies and the Medway Valley Com- munity Rail Partnership and one of £220 for West Farleigh Football Club, to pay for kit.


East Sutton Council Coding scheme


FARMERS had met Kent Police to discuss the benefits of Smart Water, a unique code identifica- tion scheme. A number of other policing related issues were also raised. It was agreed to hold a quarterly meeting with farmers. A rural style Neighbourhood


Watch scheme was discussed. Residents who joined Country Eye would receive labelling equipment and regular emails about crimes in the area. Cllr John Worsfold asked if


the police had been visiting the area at night as he had seen a spotlight in the lanes and fields. PCSOSiobhan De Burca said this was quite possible. The farm manager at HMP


East Sutton Park had written to say that the ivy on the inside (but not on the outside) of the wall would be dealt with by in- mates. KCC Cllr Jenny Whittle, parish council chairman Cllr Tim Turnill and a resident from Pleasure House Lane had met to discuss three passing places in the lane, at a cost of £22,500. Is- sues raised included the aes- thetics of the scheme and its funding. Cllr Turnill agreed to discuss the scheme with the farmer concerned and P38


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