Boxley Parish Mail CHAIRMAN: Martin Pepper CLERK: Pauline Bowdery ASST CLERK: Melanie Fooks


Parish Office, Beechen Hall, Wildfell Close, Walderslade, ME5 9RU Tel: 01634 861237 email: bowdery@boxleyparishcouncil.co.uk Website: www.boxleyparishcouncil.co.uk


Contact details for parish councillors can be obtained from the parish office, the Useful Contact Details leaflet or the website


Making our roads safer


UPDATES on a number of highways concerns affect- ing theparish wereob- tained by Boxley Council chairman Martin Pepper at a meeting with county council representatives. These included the resit-


ing of the101 Arriva bus shelter at Cobtree Golf Course, Sandling, following a petition after the service was withdrawn on safety grounds around 18 months ago.


The revised design had


been accepted and work should start soon. Funds had been found for its relo- cation to a safer site by the entranceto thegolf course and the 50mph speed limit would be extended further along thenorthbound A229 Blue Bell Hill to reduce traffic speeds. Following a petition for


speed reductions at Boxley Road/Beechen Bank Road, traffic monitoring had taken placeand a casefor 40mph limits had been made. Decisions on fund- ing and road markings were awaited. Safety improvements in


WaldersladeWoods Road had also been agreed fol- lowing a petition, but the scheme was on hold as no funds wereavailablein 2011/12.


Celebrating Boxley Warren THERE is a chance to enjoy some rare wild flowers at the BoxleyWarren nature reserve during a guided tour led by expert botanists Lesley Mason and Jon Bramley on Saturday, July 9 from 10am to 1pm. Highlights of the free walk,which has been jointly organised by the parish council, should include ground pine, wild liquorice and stinking hellebore. Enter the Pilgrim’s Way from Lidsing Road and


you can park on the field about 100m on your right. Info: Mike Phillips - 01303 815170/07540 250320.


‘Blitz’ on careless parking CONCERN was expressed at damage being caused by cars parked on the mown grass banks around Sandling Village Hall. Vehicles had worn deep tyre marks on the verges, despite warning notices being left on windscreens by PCSO Andy Hawthorn. Cllr Bill Stead said: “They have no consideration.


As far as I am concerned, it is criminal damage.” The PCSO said he would target the area with a second “blitz” of notices.


School crossing ‘closer’


THE parish council has reaffirmed that a light-con- trolled crossing is urgently needed outside St John’s School, Grove Green, while still awaiting details on costs. This type of crossing is the school’s preferred so-


lution to road safety issues in Provender Way, al- though Kent Highway Services has suggested a cheaper zebra crossing would be sufficient. Members had hoped at their recent meeting to re-


lease a sum from the council’s reserves to pay the additional costs so that the controlled crossing could go ahead. But they were unable to proceed because, despite numerous requests to KHS, costing information on the scheme had not been supplied. The zebra version would cost around £20,000,


while the controlled crossing had been loosely es- timated at between £40,000 and £70,000. Boxley’s chairman Cllr Martin Pepper said: “We


have already agreed in principle on the safer option. We do want a controlled crossing as soon as possi- ble, but we do need to see the numbers.” Letters were received from the head teacher and eight-year-old pupils at the school. Cllr Vic Davies said there had been a campaign


for a crossing since the school opened in 1987. There had been a lollipop man or lady but none of


them had lasted very long, and the last one resigned after being hit by a car. He said the school felt that parents would not feel comfortable with a zebra crossing. “I think we


Orchard plans begin to blossom


PROPOSALS that will restore an old orchard to its former glory to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee were agreed by Boxley councillors. Plans for the site behind Pen-


hurst Place, including apple and cherry trees as well as re- furbishment of the play area, were drawn up by a working group.


Outlining its ideas, Cllr Tony Harwood told members: “It is a genuine attempt to bring back an island of the old Weaver- ing.” With fruit trees and thriving wildlife, it would be “a link to history and would be beauti- ful”. A mixed apple and cherry or-


chard had been a landmark there until 1986 when it was taken out by developers. Cur-


34 East


rently, the site has a “fairly meagre play area” with equip- ment scheduled by Maidstone Council for removal rather than replacement if it becomes faulty. It was agreed that Boxley Parish Council should adopt and maintain the play area, re- move the obsolete climbing frame and refurbish the swings, perimeter dog fence and bench. The public will be consulted on a replacement piece of play equipment. Planting will focus on the


upper part of the site with a “well-spaced grid of fruit trees with lots of space to explore”. The working group suggested


that “more naturalistic and or- ganic” management of this area would limit longer-term costs, although the lower part would


should get it right first time.” The school has committed £5,000 to the project,


with £16,000 agreed from County Cllr Paul Carter’s grant funding and the possibility of Boxley Council adding to the significant sum it has already pledged. The council has more cash in its coffers than expected after Maidstone Council withdrew permission for the outdoor gym at Grovewood Drive. It was hoped the crossing could be completed in


the summer holidays and certainly before the winter. In his letter, head teacher Tim Harrington said the


school had worked tirelessly over the last decade to find a safe crossing solution for pupils. If children ventured onto a zebra crossing, they would be unable to judge approaching traffic, but with a controlled crossing, drivers would be able to see the red lights and stop. “Many of our children remember when one of our teachers was absent for a month because her son and two friends were knocked down on a zebra crossing in Larkfield. “We do not want this to happen outside our school as we know the torment that family went through. “The school community, head teacher, governors, parents, staff and local residents are extremely con- cerned as parents send their children to school, for- getting there is no lollipop lady on any day other than Wednesday – and all have reported near misses.”


need a more managed ap- proach. It was hoped to max- imise grant funding through research and emphasis on the multi-functional benefits, and to include volunteers such as local residents. The Kent Reptile and Am- phibian group had been in- volved in the detailed planning.


Visit Downs Mail’s website — downsmail.co.uk


A refurbished play area is part of plans for the old orchard site. Cllr Harwood said: “Twenty


years ago, this site was throng- ing with wildlife.We can bring back the beauty and that will bring back the wildlife.” More details will be placed


on the parish council’swebsite. A programme of resident con- sultation is being finalised by the council.


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