DownsMail In touch with your parish Borough Cllr Matthew Balfour


was asked about the lack of progress in enforcing time lim- its for operators at the Brick- works site. The chairman would contact the site manager from Explore Living again. The cancellation of road works at Roughetts Road was discussed. Lorries would not be able to use the suggested diver- sion along Woodgate Road and through Addington. The diver- sion route needed to be thought outmore carefully if such works were to be carried out. A meeting with Kent High-


ways was needed about trees coming down on to the highway on The Street. The chairman was waiting to


hear froma contractor about im- proving drainage at the en- trance to the village hall. Speedwatch was no longer operating in the village due to a lack of volunteers. The clerk had contacted the


borough council to request yel- low lines outside the Duke of Wellington pub. She had been asked if the inconsiderate park- ing on this corner was generated by customers or local residents who have insufficient space to accommodate their vehicles. It was agreed there was a mix but the main problem was the cus- tomers. It was also reported that vehi-


cles were parked in the bus stop during the day. It was believed these were customers of the pub.


KHS was running a Find and


Fix programme and potholes were being marked for repair. It was reported that a tree was


leaning into the road in Woodgate Road and cars and lorries had to swerve to avoid it. The clerk would report this. The clerk had spoken to the public rights of way officer about the path alongside the motorway. She did not believe


it was dangerous at present but would re-assess it in winter. Councillors continued to be- lieve the path was dangerous in its current state. Further complaints had been


made to councillors about the amount of horse manure on the footpath in Roughetts Road. The clerk had sent out letters about this a few years ago and was asked to do this again. No objections were made to planning applications for a con- servatory at Beadsman Crescent and an extension at East Street.


Trottiscliffe Council Trees felled


PCSO Kim Hockey reported there had been two incidents during the previous month. Conifer trees in Church Lane had been cut down and barbed wire on new fencing in Pines- field Lane had been cut. She did not feel there was any connec- tion between the two.


The laces on boots in a garage


near the damaged fence had been cut, but this had not been reported. The new visitor centre at


Trosley Park was due to open in July and tenders were being in- vited for catering. New heaters had been fitted


in the meeting room and hall- way at the village hall. Potholes outside Botarus,


Ford Lane, and outside The George had been reported. The following planning ap- plications were considered: Land forming part of Addington Quarry, new electricity generat- ing stations and overhead lines – no objections, await decision; Sunny View, Green Lane, re- vised application – object, granted with conditions; Long Reach, Pinesfield Lane, Trot- tiscliffe, removal of conserva- tory and construction of extension – no objections, await decision.


Newlife for Castle Lakes ‘Bomb’ quest


AMBITIOUS proposals to transform a neglected area at Castle Lakes into a country park and fish- ery have been unveiled by Leybourne Parish Council. The overgrown land has become a rubbish


dumpand gathering place for yobs, and the lakes are not being main- tained.


Councillors say the site,which is behind the Premier Inn, is badly in need of care. It is hoped to obtain a 25-year lease of the land from Whitbread plc and Lambrook In- vestments and create three circuits linking the woods, wetlands and large lake. The trails would start and finish at a new car park ac- cessed from Oxley Shaw Lane. Outlining the scheme at the an-


nual parish meeting, chairman Cllr Bob Ulph said: “You have got to set your sights high. This is going to be something that is going to make people proud to be in Leybourne.” He said the new park would appeal to all ages, with facilities including a natural play area for


When in Kings Hill….. CHILDREN at Kings Hill School trav- elled back in time to the first century AD when they were visited by Roman legionnaires. Year 3 pupils dressed as Romans


for the day and learned about life in the Roman empire during a series of workshops with theatre group Legion XIIII Geminae.


Nuisance at the priory NEARLY a hundred leylandii trees at Aylesford Priory face the chop be- cause they have overgrown the access road and are causing problems for passing vehicles. A planning application to clear the nuisance hedge has been submitted to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council. The conifers would be replaced


with a fence and six specimen broad- leaved trees.


children, an outdoor gym for retired people, and BMXtrail for youths. There would also be cycle trails, naturewalks, a picnic area and bird hides. The lakes would be sub-leased to a local fish-


ery to allow them to be fished once again. Education would be a fun- damental element, allowing local schools to use the park as an outdoor classroom. The council says that as the


land forms part of a conserva- tion area, it is not a flexible area to build on. It believes Whitbreads would benefit as the new park would encour- age residents to use the nearby Castle Lake restaurant and bar. Cllr Ulph (pictured) said


Kent Wildlife Trust was keen to become involved. The next


steps was to form a steering committee to iden- tify stakeholders and funding. The proposals follow the completion of the successful Bomb Hole project which has pro- vided a play area and focal point for locals.


Egypt election team visit A GROUP of Egyptian government sen- ior officials visited Tonbridge and Malling to observe the local election and referendum on May 5. The team is involved in organising


their country’s first parliamentary elec- tions since its pro-democracy protests. Chief executive and returning officer,


David Hughes said: “I am sure that when we hear of the elections in Egypt in the coming months we will think back to their visit to Tonbridge and Malling and trust that the delegation will have taken back some useful infor- mation to help them to run their own elections.”


Taste of success AN AYLESFORD company was one of five Kent firms to receive a Queen’s Award. LycoRed, based in Mills Road, is a leader in nutritional products and won the accolade for international trade.


draws a blank LEYBOURNE Parish Council’s quest for the origins of the area known as the Bomb Hole have drawn a blank. Residents say the land, which now includes a new play area, has had the name as long as anyone can re- member, but the council has found no evidence of a wartime incident there. It was hoped that author and his-


torian Bob Ogley might be able to solve the mystery. But, during a talk at the annual parish meeting, he said that he had been unable to find any information. Chairman Cllr Bob Ulph said: “We


will continue to research why it is called the Bomb Hole. Whether it is myth, legend or fact, we will find out one day.” The council has appealed for in- formation so that it can be included on a plaque at the play area which features a mock-up RAF plane.


Tribute to caring Louise


A WOMAN, who died after being struck by a bus, grew up in Larkfield before moving to Ditton a couple of years ago. Louise Friday (44) died in London’s Royal LondonHospi- tal, five days after being flown there by Kent Air Ambulance. Louise, who had learning dif- ficulties, had a part-time job at The Pippin pub in London Road, Maidstone, and had been having lunch there before the accident nearby. Police are ap-


pealing for witnesses (01622 798538). Her sister and brother-in-law, Janet and Derek


Kemp, fromMaidstone, paid tribute to her caring na- ture.


Mrs Kemp said: “Louise was a much-loved sister,


friend and auntie to Martin and Robert. Louise al- ways wanted to help whenever she could and liked to mother people.” She was a member ofWest Malling Baptist Church.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk Malling 47


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