Malling Mail 7 Where I live... East Malling and Larkfield Parish Council


Following the election the new Council with three new Members will be in place. The first year looks like a busy one with the play


equipment and modest skateboard facility at Larkfield Recreation Ground hopefully being completed by late summer.


At Church Farm Nature Trail the interpretation boards


are going up and the trail should be open for school and other groups later in the year.


In East Malling the Borough Council's Parking Plan is about to be implemented including a revised scheme for the Parish Council's car park off the High Street.


Demand for our local three allotment sites is still strong with long waiting lists for the East Malling and Lunsford Lane sites.


At New Hythe more consultations are expected on the proposed commercial waste recycling plant next to the station. A planning application is expected in the summer to Kent County Council. One is already in on the opposite side of the river for a solar panel array site.


Lastly, the Parish Council looks forward to the publication of walk cards based on the stations along the Medway Valley railway line including New Hythe.


West Malling Parish Council


PARISH councils are elected en bloc and this year, 11 candidates were nominated for the upcoming election. When there is an equal number or fewer candidates than vacancies, all candidates are elected unopposed. Consequently, the following members have been re- elected: Mike Bowyer-Jones, Winterfield Farm, Winterfield Lane; Keith Bullard, St Leonards Street; Trudy Dean, Offham Road; Jim Galloway, Town Hill; Hazel Marlor, Norman Road; Ron Parker, Puckle Cottage, Norman Road; Alan West, Woodland Close.


Newly elected members are: Floyd Carroll, London Road;


Yvonne Smyth, Cade House, Swan Street; Ann Turner; Norman Road, Peter Stevens; Sandown Road.


March’s full council meeting considered a range of isssues


including dissatisfaction with Kent Highway Services’s pothole repair programme in Norman Road.


An update on the tree management programme in Manor


Park noted that the head ranger was pleased to report that conservation work was now generally seen as a positive contribution to the park’s preservation scheme.


Concerns had been expressed about the negative impact the three-day Music On The Hill event at Kings Hill in June could have on West Malling. The event’s director gave a very informative presentation in response to councillors’ concerns, particularly about traffic management and noise issues.


A representative group of tenants from the Ryarsh Lane


allotments raised their concerns about the proposed rent increase for 2012. After a lively discussion, it was agreed that running costs would be closely monitored over the next six months (the busiest time of the year for allotments), with a view to keeping costs to a reasonable level by


prompt investigation and explanation of any that seemed excessive.


April’s full council meeting was the last meeting for those parish councillors, both elected and co-opted, as May 2011 was the end of the four year term of office for them.


However, the meeting had a full agenda for discussion and decision. Several items were initiated by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, including the proposed West Malling Character Area Appraisal and the draft Annual Action Plan of T and M’s Community Safety Partnership. The minutes to the Parish Partnership Panel meeting on March 3, 2011, were noted and councillors discussed submission of agenda items for the meeting on May 26, 2011.


Fields in Trust’s (fit) national initiative, the Queen Elizabeth


II Fields Challenge, which aims to secure community access to outdoor spaces for sport, recreation and play, was also discussed. It was decided that the areas most suitable for inclusion in this scheme are the cricket ground and the grounds around the village hall, although further suggestions can still be considered.


A contribution of £1,000 was sanctioned towards the cost of the street party on April 29 as part of West Malling’s celebration of the royal wedding.


The next full council meeting is scheduled for Monday,


May 23, 2011. It will meet in the Village Hall, Norman Road, and start at 19.30. Members of the public are welcome to come along to this and future meetings (details will be available from the parish clerk on 01732 870872).


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