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 Could you be a


parish councillor? WITH the next parish council elections less than a year away, members agreed it was impor- tant to encourage more resi- dents to stand as candidates. Councillors have been put-


ting forward ideas to generate more interest in the community about serving on the parish council and in its work. Councillors KazMacklin and


Kevin Perry had highlighted some issues after speaking to residents while attending St John’s School fete. Cllr Macklin said that some people had the misconception that being a parish councillor was like being involved in na- tional politics. “They wrongly had this vision of ‘bear pit’ pol- itics,” she said. Other factors were that some people lead very busy lives or do not have a strong sense of their community. It was suggested that two community issues – the con- trolled crossing point at Provender Way and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Or- chard – might be used to raise the profile of the council and encourage interest. Chairman Cllr Martin Pepper


said: “It is really important we produce something to attract new people.” He is working on a communications package to promote interest in becoming a parish councillor in the run-up to the 2012 elections. An information sheet on be- coming a councillor is available from the parish website and in- terested residents can supply their details to the parish office to receive the information.


Borough grant


uncertainty concern BOXLEY council chairman Cllr Martin Pepper expressed con- cern over a lack of progress in negotiations with Maidstone Council over future concurrent functions grants. He said: “We are trying to


make sure that the parishes are treated as fairly as the un- parished parts of Maidstone.” Borough Cllr Derek Butler


was asked to support the parish’s stand. He said Maid- stone Council did not want people to lose concurrent func- tions but would probably ex- pect a reduction following this year’s 30% cut. The review over the scheme continues be- tween MBC and the parishes.


16 East ‘Prudent’ council enables projects to be funded


COMMENTS have been received by the parish office on how the council can afford the number of projects it is currently undertaking and whether it is wise to do so in the current finan- cial climate. The council hasmany policies and procedures concerning how it spends and invests its reserves, which are publicly debated and decided on. The council is limited on what projects it can


fund and so it cannot use its reserves to reduce council tax, as some residents have suggested. Chairman Cllr Martin Pepper said: “Having


been prudent with its finances, and still having the fourth lowest precept in Maidstone, the council is happily in the position to be able to fund some community and safety projects that parish councillors have decided the community needs when the other authorities are withdraw- ing funds. “I’m sure our residents support this type of proactive work rather than see us sitting on the reserves. It is at times like these that all our hard work pays off and everyone can see the good that a parish council can do.”


Speed reduction for busy road


THE council has agreed in prin- ciple, subject to confirmation of the estimate of approximately £4,000, to fund the legal and signage costs to reduce the


speed limit on Boxley Road/ BeechenBankRoadtothe 40mph that a recent KHS road survey identified as being pos- sible to implement.


Numerous residents’ requests


and a petition failed to attract funding from KHS and the council asked for details of the possible cost to see if its re- serves could be used. Due to the changeover in the contractors used by KHS, the actual costs cannot be applied for until after September 1 but the council has indicated that, such is the importance of the project, it is willing to use its re- serves rather than face more years of near misses for resi- dents trying to get off their properties and out of roads. Martin Pepper, the chairman,


Boxley Road/Beechen Bank Road where the 40mph speed limit is to be implemented


Celebrating Boxley’s landscape heritage THE Celebrating BoxleyWarren project continues with a gen- tle walk led by Dan Tuson, author of ‘The Kent Downs’ who will explain Boxley’s place in this landscape. The free walk, on Saturday, August 7 from 10am to 1pm, will


give information on how the Kent Downs were formed and how they have shaped the lives of generations of people who have lived and worked on their unforgiving landscape. Dan will also talk about how the future of the Area of Out- standing Natural Beauty will be influenced by partnerships be- tween landowners and Natural England in a way that helps to protect wildlife. Meet at Pilgrims’Way on Lidsing Road, where parking will


be provided. For more information or to book a place, contact theMid Kent Downs Countryside Partnership on 01303 815170 or midkentdowns@kentdowns.org.uk


New village sign SANDLING’s new village sign would be ready for delivery after July 29, members heard. It was suggested that an un- veiling ceremony be held and the chairman of Sandling Resi- dents Association be invited to attend.


Costings for plaques on vil-


lage signs informing residents that they were erected by Box- ley Parish Council, with the date, were being obtained.


Much appreciated CHAIRMAN Cllr Martin Pep- per has noted the efforts made by many residents in their gardens with flower dis- plays, baskets and troughs. He said: “It is much appre-


ciated and it proves that Britain really is a nation of gardeners proud to show off their homes and make their environment as attractive as possible.”


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


said he had recently been over- taken by a car along this stretch of road while driving at 40mph and an oncoming car narrowly avoided a head-on collision.


Orchard plan is


ready to bear fruit DETAILED planning and pur- chasing of trees for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Orchard is under way following progress on the lease agreement. Boxley Council aims to start planting on the site behind Penhurst Place in October/No- vember and will be supplying residentswith project informa- tion. The council also plans to ob-


tain residents’ views on the play equipment to be provided. A shopping list of trees and hedging plants has been com- piled.


Meanwhile, the borough council has agreed to stop cut- ting the grass on the top area of the site to allow some natural regeneration. The borough has agreed to a 99-year lease of the land to Boxley, who will be seeking grants and funding to trans- form the space and maintain it as a community orchard to cel- ebrate next year’s jubilee.


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