DownsMail In touch with your parish


application for 80 homes on land at Hook Lane and West Street. The parish council worked with a planning con- sultant to form a response to Maidstone Council. The 10- page letter raised concerns about the entrance to the devel- opment being opposite the school and other issues high- lighted by residents during con- sultation last year. The parish asked that either application be withdrawn to enable further dis- cussion with the developer or that the application be refused. The winner of a poster com- petition at Harietsham Primary School was invited to perform the opening of the new play area on Glebe Field. The parish council was inves- tigating the possibility of run- ning the hedge-cutting scheme again this year. Anyone inter- ested should contact the clerk for details. Councillors recommended re-


fusal of a planning application for Unit 1, Roebuck Business Park, Ashford Road, involving the change of use from class B1 to a mixed use of motorcycle re- pairs, MOT testing, sale of mo- torcycles and accessories. They also recommended re-


fusal of an application concern- ing land south-east of Runham Lane, Sandway Road, Lenham, for a motocross circuit, parking area, portable office and tool stores.


Fete proceeds


Hollingbourne Council


SURPLUS funds from the fete amounted to slightly more than £1,300 and a cheque for that amount was issued to Holling- bourne Meadows Trust.Afur- ther cheque will be issued when all expenses have been claimed. It was agreed to purchase


three gazebos. The fete date for 2012 was set


at June 2 and Cllr John Cobbett agreed to co-ordinate. The first pre-fete meeting will


be at The Windmill public house at 8pm on Wednesday, October 18, all welcome. More volunteers are needed. It was agreed to hold an evening event on the day of the next fete. The council had no objection


to planning applications for an extension to create a corridor at The Granary, Smiths Farm, Hollingbourne Hill, and an ex- tension at Firs Lane, Holling- bourne. The damage to verges caused


by cars parking at the A20 en- trance to the village as well as the damage in Hospital Road and Greenway Court Road were reported. The clerk would ask Kent Highways for roadsides and verges to be reinstated at the end of the gas mains laying


rather than Tarmac being ap- plied to falsely widen roads where passing places had been created. A proposal to consult with residents and raise the precept to make a further donation to theMeadows Trust was not sec- onded. It was agreed to hold a closed meeting of at least three or four councillors between full parish meetings to generate more ideas on how to address this and other issues in order to hold productive meetings.


Warm welcome Leeds Council


AS Cllrs Glen Aitken and Mark Lay did not stand for election and Lesley Finlay has resigned due to pressure of business, three new parish councillors were welcomed – Vanessa Young, Peter Martin and Shaun Wallace.


Parishioners have been asked


to report issues with HGVs to the police, with pictures if pos- sible. The council continues to


press for better signage, gate- ways to the village and on the issues of HGVs. Signage will probably not be funded by Kent Highways in the immediate fu- ture because of financial cut- backs in all departments. It was hoped to put planters at


the base of the gateways. A vol- unteer had been found to do the one at the Langley end but someone else was needed to do the Penfold Hill end. Discussion took place regard-


ing the barrier at the church car park. It had not always been closed after the school bus/bot- tle bank cleaners had used it. A padlock was being purchased to enforce this. Also, the gate to the car park extension would be padlocked. Requests for excep- tional use should be made to the parish council. It was suggested that a resi-


dents’ association might be formed with a view to leasing a small piece of land to ease park- ing issues at the Langley end of the village. The fencing placed around


the playing field storage con- tainer to improve the appear- ance, had been damaged so much that it will be removed. The junior football fun days


have gained popularity and it was hoped to register with the Football Association for next season. A sponsor is requested for the Leeds and Hollingbourne junior football team strip. A member of the public pointed out that the village ac- counts were not publicised. They will be put on the village website.


1950s’ memories THE parish council plans to cel- ebrate the Queen’s Diamond Ju-


Lenham Council


bilee next year in style with a 1950s-themed fete at the Tithe Barn in the centre of the village. The council is joining forces with the church and other user groups to hold a day to remem- ber on Monday June 4, 10am- 4pm. The owners of the Tithe Barn have donated the building free of charge. The council would be inter-


ested to hear from any parish- ioners with their memories of the decade. If you have any pho- tographs, copies of the church magazine, postcards, old maps, train timetables, building plans, school reports, recipes or other items that may be of interest, please contact MargoMcFarlane on 01622 859682 or email margo.mcfarlane@btinternet.co m.


Helpers are also needed to


make flags and traditional buntings. It was suggested that the height of the hedge at William Pitt Field might be lowered to aid visibility to the BMX park. Community warden Martin Sherwood was pleased with the progress of the community hub and stressed the need for more volunteers. He was thanked for his continued support and con- gratulated on being appointed as warden on a permanent basis. The annual safety inspection


of the three play areas did not raise any major issues. The repair to the fence at the


Ham Lane play area was tem- porary and a replacement post would be erected once the ground was workable. Aquote for £118was accepted


to repair the internal doors at the WCs. It was agreed to spend £10 on removing graffiti from the sign at the Ham Lane play area. A site meeting would be or- ganised with Maidstone Council to decide the position and size of a cycle rack in The Square. Members agreed to a survey to investigate the provision of a water supply at the cemetery.


Ulcombe Council Hire charges


ULCOMBE Pre-school had ex- pressed concern about the pro- posed increase it faced in hire charges for the village hall.It was noted that the charges were beyond the control of the parish council and that the pre-school was charged a subsidised rate which the village hall commit- tee felt it could no longer afford to maintain. Members considered charges


for requests made under the Freedom of Information Act.It was suggested that a £5 mini- mum with 5p per A4 sheet thereafter would cover the basic administration cost that should allow for the banking of cheques, as the parish council did not handle petty cash.


After new members LENHAM Parish Council has vacancies for councillors and would like to hear from parish- ioners interested in taking part in the business of the council. The council meets on the first


Wednesday of each month, ex- cept September, at 7.30pm in the Osborne Room at the Com- munity Centre, Groom Way, Lenham. Members of the public are al-


ways welcome and there is an opportunity for public partici- pation at the beginning of the meeting. For more details and an informal chat, contact the clerk Margo McFarlane on 01622 859682 or margo.mcfar- lane@btinternet.com


Speeding biker BOXLEY PCSO Andy Hawthorn is trying to identify a motorcyclist who has been speeding on Walderslade Woods Road and would wel- come any information from res- idents. The PCSO said the recent


quad bike problem in Lordswood had been resolved after he managed to trace the owner/rider and the police paid a home visit. There had been some inci-


dents inWalderslade involving dog attacks on other dogs and these had been reported to the borough dog warden.


Cooking starts fire A FIRE broke out in a semi-de- tached home in Willow Rise, Downswood, after cooking was left unattended. Awoman leftapanona heated hob when she went out of the property with her child. Aneighbour spotted smoke bil- lowing from the house and raised the alarm. Watch Manager Danny


Turner who attended the inci- dent said: “Although this inci- dent was brought under control quickly, it could have easily led to more serious injury and damage to the property.”


Guide appeal WEAVERING District Girl Guides are thriving, with girls wanting to join, so more adult leaders are needed to help run the units. A recent recruitment drive at


the Penenden Heath Fete gen- erated a lot of enquiries but there are still vacancies across the district. If you think you can help please contactHeather Stonestreet on 07906 019326.


Footballers wanted YEAR 5s at MPE FC are look- ing for around four extra play- ers as they move up to 11-a-side in September. The club plays homes games at Mallards Open Space, Downswood. Info: Nick - 07958 378 630


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk East 47


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