Boxley Parish Council


Annual Report 2010/2011 Chairman's Statement


Once gain another year has flown by and I am honoured to present another report. As always it is my pleasure to thank the councillors and community volunteers that work for our diverse and widely spread community. I especially thank the vice-chairman Pat Brooks for her support and the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the committees - Wendy Hinder, Vic Davies and Ivor Davies.


Many residents and groups have contact directly and indirectly with the parish office and the staff of Beechen Hall. This year Jan Bretherton retired as assistant clerk after eight years and we were joined by Melanie Fooks. Without the contributions from Pauline Bowdery, Jan Bretherton, Melanie Fooks, Maggie Smith and John Read the council and hall would not have achieved or kept its Quality Council status. So, on behalf of myself and my fellow councilors, I thank them and welcome Melanie to the council.


Part of the parish council “team” is the Police Community Support Officer Andrew Hawthorne and the Community Policeman Ian Loader. The borough Councillors Derek Butler, Malcolm Greer and Wendy Hinder, and also County Councillor Paul Carter, give us a vital link to the principle councils and they work closely with the parish council and community. It is fair and right that their contribution is acknowledged. It should also be noted that the websites of these councils have much valuable information and should be on the favorites list on residents’ computers.


Communication is key and I would like to thank those that go out and deliver the Downs Mail to all the households in the North ward. Every month, all weathers so thanks to the paid deliverers and Ivor my colleague councillor. This communication channel is important to tell our parishioners what we are doing and how we fit into the Maidstone environs.


One thing that this Council prides itself on is its open and accountable method of working. The website, thanks to Cllr Vic Davies and the parish office, is an excellent source of information. It averages 1,940 visits per month and feedback is generally very positive. It contains leaflets that should answer most questions if not a councillor or the parish office can be contacted. The council is very open about how it


Localism and Big Society is a government initiative that is starting to progress and I am pleased to report that it already works within local communities and so I thank the existing volunteers at village halls, nature reserves, Scouts and all the other groups. We would be a poorer community without their often selfless contribution.


spends the rate payers’ money and how it makes decisions. It would always be nice to see more members of the public at our meetings as they are always welcome and there is always a spot where they can ask questions or raise issues. Certain items and decisions do bring the public out and we have had some extremely well attended and lively meetings this year.


This year a number of projects were successfully completed and some long term ones started. An apple tree was planted at St John’s School and the Mayor and councillors attending were entertained with a very fitting song from the youngsters.


With the support of the parish council, Grove Green Community Hall received new doors. The parish office received new desks and now looks as professional as it is.


Two areas in Walderslade were cleared of overgrown vegetation and flytipping removed. Some new shrubs were placed on Round Wood roundabout to keep the area looking nice and welcoming


A re-marketing of Beechen Hall has started with a vision of ensuring it remains financially viable and to ensure in this recession that new hirers are attracted.


Projects that were started and are a work in progress are:


A community orchard in Grove Green to mark Her Majesty’s Diamond Anniversary in 2012. An open space that is currently just kept mown will hopefully be transformed into an apple and nut orchard which reflects the area as it used to be. Whilst this is at the southern end of the boundary arrangements will be made to distribute some of the fruit from the parish office.


New office computers; it had been hoped to have completed this by now but with changes in staff it has been delayed until this year.


Martin Pepper,


Chairman, Boxley Parish Council


Beechen Hall: replacement ceiling and lights.


Unfortunately the gift of trees to Cobtree Country Park could not be taken up in the last planting season but is to be planted in the coming winter.


A fixed crossing point outside St John’s School in Grove Green is in the pipeline and with the support of Paul Carter, County Councillor and the school itself it is hoped to have one installed very soon, making our children in Grove Green safer when crossing Provender Way.


Round Wood; Legal documents are now with the council’s lawyers and the Council is continuing with its wish to see the land removed from the county council but only with a large financial gain for its future upkeep. Roundwood is Walderslades’ best kept secret and with it in the care of a charitable trust, its beauty and importance as a green and wooded space for all the community to enjoy will be secured.


Celebrating Boxley Warren; grants totaling £55,000 have been received for work on this area and this has just started and will continue until 2013. The parish council has played its part in contributing funds and resources to another beautiful protected part of our parish


The war memorial in Boxley village was to be cleaned but additional cracks were found and planning is underway to replace the defective drum part of the structure and then clean it. Obviously this has to be treated with sensitivity and parishioners will be kept informed of what is happening.


The council is still battling with Kent County Council in the face of severe budgetary restrictions to get improvements along Walderslade Woods Road, for the restoration of the 101 bus service to Sandling and reduced speed along Boxley/Beechen Bank Road.


Large scale projects such as these need To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330 East 29


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64