DownsMail In touch with your parish


Bearsted Council Plaque for bench


AS a result of donations re- ceived, the organisers of the royal wedding picnic intend to place a commemorative plaque on a bench within Bearsted Woodland Trust land. The council was advised that


after years of discussions with BT, the payphone at Bearsted Green had been repainted. Philip Hill was thanked for his help in this matter. Meetings were to be arranged


with Bearsted FC to discuss use of the green and with the play area surface installer to discuss concerns of the borough council inspector regarding the surface. The farmers’ market contin-


ued to be well supported. The September market would be held on land to the top of the green, around the play area, as the green would be used for the classic car show. It was agreed to produce the newsletter four times a year for publication of accounts and an- nual report. The clerk advised that £15,395 had been received from Maidstone Council for the 2011- 12 concurrent functions grant, due to the 30% reduction. The chairman reported on a meeting with Bearsted and Thurnham Society, and there had been a frank exchange of views. He expressed a wish that the air had been cleared and all parties could nowwork together for the benefit of the parish. A question was raised regard-


ing the future of the fish that are being removed from the Bearsted Green pond.Anumber of residents had re-housed the fish in their personal ponds and anyone wishing to do so should contact the clerk. A resident had requested that


the carp be returned to the pond. It was agreed these views be noted, but the advice of the Medway Valley Countryside Partnership was to remove the fish and, having sought profes- sional advice, this should be followed. An email had been sent to the


David Bellamy Conservation Organisation inviting him to be- come involved in the plans. It was agreed that the trees outside theWhite Horse should be crowned to eliminate anti so- cial behaviour in the area.


Bredhurst Council New PCSO


ITWAS reported that Bredhurst was soon to have a new PCSO. The parish council recom- mended refusal of outline plan- ning application for the construction of four houses at Forge Lodge, Forge Lane, Bred- hurst. An application for the erec- tion of a two-bedroom bunga-


46 East


low at Orchard House, Dunn Street Road, Bredhurst, was rec- ommended for approval. It was reported that two black


sacks of dog waste had been dumped next to the dog waste bin in Kemsley Street. This con- stituted fly tipping and was a health hazard. The borough council only collects waste placed in the bin, not left next to it. The clerk would report the matter to PC Ian Loader. Deana Foulds explained that


work to install the new KH49 footpath would start once the hay had been cut. The council thanked her for permitting a new path on her land and for paying for its installation. Jim Chalmers was thanked for strim- ming the grass verges along KH49. The council has been advised


of a £75 rent increase for the vil- lage hall field. The vice-chairman, Cllr


Vanessa Jones, queried why let- ters to allotment holders re- garding the price increase had still not been sent when they should have been dispatched immediately after last month’s meeting. She said the delay was unacceptable. Cllr Jones also stated she was disappointed with the low turnout of councillors to the monthly meetings.


Broomsfield and Kingswood Council


Our man Marc


PC MARC Pennicott, who has served more than six years on the neighbourhood team, is the new rural officer for the parish. No-one had volunteered to


run the parish Neighbourhood Watch scheme following the resignation of the previous co- ordinator. The parish council would assist in the short-term until a permanent replacement was appointed. Maintenance had been carried


out on the outdoor gym, includ- ing re-setting one item that should have been installed on a concrete pad. The assistant clerk reported increasing difficulty in access- ing the noticeboard outside the shop. On many occasions, due to the clutter on the forecourt, the board was inaccessible to pedestrians. The clerk would write to the shop owners. Following verbal and emailed complaints, the laurel hedge in Gravelly Bottom Road had been trimmed by KHS for safety rea- sons and the school warning sign was now visible. Complaints were still being re- ceived about overgrown hedges and foliage around the village. Letters were delivered to the properties concerned with fol- low-ups if they did not comply with previous requests. Forum and survey options


were to be added to the parish website and councillors would trial its use. Forty-eight people had at- tended the annual pensioners’ outing to Eastbourne and Michelham Priory. The sun had shone and the day had been en- joyed by all. A number of calls and emails had been received, thanking the parish council for organising the trip.


Detling Council Approval given


NO objections were made to planning applications for ex- tensions at 1 Princes Way and Barngarth Farmhouse, Cox Street.


Maidstone Council had ap- proved an application for the demolition of two exhibiting buildings and pavilion at Kent Showground and erection of one integrated exhibition build- ingwith function rooms and an- cillary accommodation to be known as the Astor Pavilion. With regard to traffic issues in Hockers Lane, a member of public said the problems were caused by locals speeding, and not the lorries exiting from the Mid KentWater yard. The coun- cil had written to themanager of the site and their contractors re- questing due care and attention. A member of the public sug-


gested therewas a problem with limited parking at the nursery near the junction with Ware Street on Hockers Lane. Another member of the public offered to perform a video drive through from the brow of the hill to the junction to highlight the prob- lem caused by cars parking on the road. The parish council would


carry out a letter drop to all houses along this stretch of Hockers Lane stating there was a problem and it was being looked into. Kent County Cllr Jenny Whittle suggested KHS could paint yellow lines on the road if the problems were not re- solved by other means. Regarding Kent Showground,


amember of the public reported vehicles, sometimes with trail- ers, using Hermitage Lane to turn round, although it is un- suitable for larger vehicles. Cllr Cosgrove agreed the parish would send a letter to KHS re- questing a sign be placed at the entrance to PilgrimsWay saying No Access to Showground. Cllr Chris Evernden, who is


the parish council’s newest member, has agreed to take on extra duties left vacant when Jean Roberts and Gavin McLag- gan stood down. He will take charge of environmental issues and attend meetings of theMid- Kent Downs Steering Group. Cllr Whittle commented on a


report made under the Local de- velopment Framework that Maidstone was in urgent need of


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


warehousing. She believed this was an attempt to get Kent In- ternational Gateway in by the back door. Money would be released this financial year to extend the kerb on the junction of Hockers Lane and The Street to slow traffic down because it had been recog- nised as potentially hazardous. The respite care home would


be officially opened soon. The old primary school site had been converted into a new KCC centre for overnight stays for children with learning disabili- ties. Up to four children would be accommodated at a time. It had been agreed that Hock-


ers Lane and Church Lane re- quired resurfacing but no date had been set. Cllr Whittle was pushing for a roundabout to be installed at the entrance to the Kent Show- ground on the A249 to alleviate traffic problems. The crime report included the


theft of a water pump from the Mid KentWater yard.


Play area neglect CONCERN was expressed by borough Cllr Gordon Newton over the lack of attention that Foxden Drive play area had re- ceived. Equipment that was re- moved because it was dangerous, had not been re- placed, resulting in a lack of fa- cilities. It was explained that the parish council had tried to pro- vide new equipment, but had been told to wait until after an assessment had been carried out to avoid “wasting their money”. Cllr Newton would check the situation with the borough. He had reported overhanging vegetation obscuring signs and hanging over steps at Ravens- dane Close. Ameeting had been heldwith environmental officers to dis- cuss the trees in the river at Spot Lane. The proposal for new Christ-


Downswood Council


mas motifs was discussed. It was agreed that white lights would be purchased. Caxtons had responded to the flytipping problem by arranging for notices to be placed on the rear wall, stating that the bins are private. The return of the mobile CCTV may be requested if flytipping then continues. Downswood Community As- sociation was congratulated on another successful fete.Itwas agreed to donate all the parish council’s takings to DCA. It was agreed to retire ‘Smash the Rat’.


Harrietsham Council Join the team


THE parish council still has a vacancy. Anyone interested in becoming a councillor should contact the clerk. Crest Nicholson submitted an


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