DownsMail In touch with your parish Continued from page 44


which appeared to have re- duced these and other metal thefts. Local policing teams were targeting overweight lor- ries. Cold Calling Control Zone


stickers had been distributed to every household and notices had been displayed around the parish. Following the retirement of


Rose-Marie Bowker as Neigh- bourhood Watch co-ordinator, it was considered essential to identify a replacement. The clerk reported that,


weather permitting, a Tiger Moth trainer from Headcorn airfield would overfly Peter Pease’s crash/memorial site off Duck Pond Lane to coincide with the visit of Sir Richard and Lady Pease. She reminded members that Flight Officer Pease would have received his initial training in a Tiger Moth so it would be particularly poignant. The fuel would cost around £120, which would be met from the chairman’s al- lowance. Further complaints had been received about the laurel hedge in Gravelly Bottom Road that was once again protruding into the carriageway, it having re- ceived no attention from Kent Highways since July 2010. It was now completely obscuring the school warning sign and was considered a road safety issue. Contractors Jacobs had promised urgent action. Following reports of garden foliage overgrowing the foot- ways, including Bushy Grove, Ivy Close and Chestnut Drive, letters would be delivered to the households concerned. New litter bins would be in-


stalled at five sites around the village. Due to the sports field not being MBC maintained, in- stallation of the bin there would cost £158.34 with emp- tying at £7.50 a week. Further quotes would be obtained.


Member vacancy THERE were currently only six councillors while a village the size of Detling would tradi- tionally have seven. Cllr Mark Housden asked for anyone in- terested in joining the parish council to contact one of the current councillors. An attempted burglary at the


Detling Council


old Mid Kent Electrical build- ing was reported – a lock was damaged but nothing was stolen. A digger was stolen from Detling showground. Members of the public ex- pressed concern about com- mercial vehicles entering and exiting the South East Water plant on Hockers Lane. It was agreed to write to South East


46 East


Water, as well as their contrac- tors, asking that drivers of larger vehicles take due care and at- tention. It was also stated the bottom


of Hockers Lane was still poten- tially dangerous with cars park- ing nearWare Street. The parish would write to County Cllr Jenny Whittle. Lack of publicity for the parish annual meeting was dis- cussed during the public com- ments section of the meeting. One resident said he had only heard of the meeting through a passing comment. The member of public went on to say more residents would have attended had the parish advertised Mr Carter of Kent Action for Rural Retailers (KARR), who help communities to run their own local shop, would be giving a talk. The parish council re- sponded that the meeting had been advertised in advance on the village noticeboard and stated Mr Carter was only con- firmed to talk “at the 11th hour”. The parish clerk agreed to place next year’s annual meeting – in May – in Febru- ary’s agenda. The council asked the editor


of Detling News, John Faller, to advertise in June’s edition for volunteers to run the proposed village shop. Cllr Chris Evernden reported


on a positive meeting held be- tween the executive manager of the Kent County Showground, Roger Moore, and representa- tives from Detling, Thurnham and Boxley. Cllr Evernden noted that traffic management for the recent flower show was good, with the right-turn exiting Scragged Oak Road not re- stricted. The tri-parish group will meet Mr Moore in August to assess the traffic situation fol- lowing this year’s County Show on July 15, 16 and 17. The council accepted Cllr


Evernden’s offer to replace a rot- ten railway sleeper, until re- cently used as a bench at the Scragged Oak Road view point, which was split down the mid- dle by persons unknown.


Parking problem COUNTY Cllr Gary Cooke had received a number of com- plaints about parking in Mal- lards Way when football matches take place.The Orchard Spot would allow parking in its car park if informed. The gates do not normally open until 11am but this could be an hour earlier. Vehicles were contravening


Downswood Council


the double yellow lines outside The Spires shops between 7am and 7pm. Parking information would be included on the web- site.


Confirmation had been re- ceived that the mayor of Maid-


stone would attend the Christ- mas ceremony. A balance of £1,505 from the concurrent functions had been allocated for additional lighting. The drain at the bottom of Grampian Way would be checked to see if it had been blocked, following a report of paint being poured down it. The tree warden had looked at


the KM tree and confirmed that “it is not dead but suffering quite a lot of dieback in the branches, presumably due to the hard winter. It may be worth seeing what growth it makes this year and removing the dead branches, to see what sort of shape it will produce. New buds are just starting to appear”. A Foxden Drive resident had requested clarification as to re- sponsibility for the upkeep of a fence which borders her garden and the alleyway to Langham Copse. The clerk was to check with MBC and KCC. A planning application for a


porch and extension at 4 Rein- den Grove was considered. The council did not wish to com- ment.


Correspondence had been re- ceived regarding noise from a hot air balloon and helicopter. It was understood that noise generated by the balloon was a one-off while it was experienc- ing difficulties. The helicopter takes off and lands behind Church House. The complaint was passed to MBC. Councillors were requested to try to obtain the registration number to en- able details to be logged with the Civil Aviation Authority. At the annual parish meeting, reports were received from sev- eral village organisations PCSO Jim Stevens said the


main priority had been to deal with anti-social behaviour. This had resulted in a big reduction in calls, especially regarding the area around the shops. Moni- toring would continue in this respect. The biggest problem at present seemed to be parking but this was not unique to Downswood. In her annual report, chair-


man Cllr Roz Cheesman thanked the vice-chairman Cllr Robin Bevan, who has resigned after 17 years’ service, for his “tremendous input”. It was hoped to mark the Queen’s diamond jubilee in 2012, possibly with special landscaping at the triangle of land at the pedestrianised Spot Lane/Church Road junction.


Hollingbourne Council


Re-elected


AT the council’s AGM, both Mike Bedwell and Adam Ward were unanimously re-elected as chairman and vice chairman. It was reported that further


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


electrical work has been com- pleted at the Cardwell Pavilion and traps were to be set there because of signs of rodent infes- tation. The chairman reported on the current road closure: this was a major concern to village resi- dents because of confusing road signs and the speed at which the work was being carried out. The cash cost to the village as a whole was also highlighted. Regarding the road closure, county Cllr Jenny Whittle said she would take up the matter with the director of highways, to see if the work could be done more quickly. Dr Bauer mentioned the need


for the road to be properly and fully resurfaced following the gas works. The clerk had received a let-


ter about the gas mains work from resident Christopher Rudgard. A letter had also been re- ceived about the behaviour of some members of football clubs using the LM Field, unautho- rised use of the field and quad biking. Aletter of complaint had been received following an alterca- tion between a Mr J.A. Boyd and Cllr Alan Williams after a Maidstone Council planning committee meeting. As Cllr Williams had attended the meeting in a personal capacity the council did not consider this was a matter for it to deal with.


There were no objections to a change of use and conversion of a barn at Greenway Court Farm or an application for conserva- tion area consent for the demo- lition of 53 Eyhorne Street and the erection of a single-storey side extension and a two-storey rear extension at the same ad- dress.


Following completion of ac- counts for the Millennium Green, Cllr Ward reported that a re-registration application would be made to the Charities Commission. Maidstone Council would be contacted, again, about the spoil dumped at the gateway to land alongside Station Road (a bus had been parked in the gateway when an attempt had been made to remove the rubbish). The steps to the gateway on


the corner of Greenway Court Road were in need of attention. It was noted that additional wardens for the countryside ac- cess scheme are required.


Leeds Council Lollipop man


A MEMBER of the public raised concerns about the safety of the lollipop man. He asked if any- thing could be done with re- gards to having a footpath alongside the allotments as this


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