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Bus route worries


DownsMail In touch with your parish Bearsted Council


THE council has complained to Arriva about the re-routing of the No. 8 bus service. Complaints had been received that residents would now have to travel via Downswood to Madginford and also that there had been no con- sultation. Residents would be en- couraged to write to the company. Circumstances behind the road closure at Hog Hill were dis- cussed, following a report in the Downs Mail. It was reported that the void in the road was found during the works at the site and was not the result of them. KentHighways would be asked


to undertake a survey of the sta- bility of roads in the parish,as this was the third incident in as many years. Community warden Dawn Riach-Brown had been relocated to the district support team. The parish would be covered by a warden from the Maidstone dis- trict until a replacement could be recruited. Acheque for £310 was received


from the winding up of the Len Valley Action Group to be spent on environmental improvements. Councillors agreed to Maid-


stone Council’s proposal for a two-hour waiting limit at the Yeo- man Lane car park. It was agreed that a letter should


be delivered to properties that had been displaying contractors’ advertising boards for some time, giving residents the opportunity to remove them before the matter is referred to Maidstone Council as a contravention of planning guidelines. The Bearsted Woodland Trust


play area would be closed in No- vember for work including returf- ing the area. With regards to the Bearsted


Green play area, the clerk had been meeting with contractors to look at regeneration of the site. The clerk’s concerns regarding safety of the surface had been dis- cussed and a depth analysis sur- vey was arranged to take the matter back to the installer for rec- tification. Medway Valley Countryside Partnership had visited the pond on the green. A large quantity of weeds had been removed and a suggestion was made to raise the pond water level to help avoid fu- ture growth. This would involve large costs. Further advice would be sought. The future of trees at the Holy


Cross Church car park, St Faiths, The Green and other locations around the parish had been re- viewed. Notices giving details of the proposalswould be placed at the sites. Sports pitches on Bearsted


Green were being setupoff centre to avoid the well worn spaces. A local company was to visit the green with the view to creating a


50 East


management and mowing plan. A successful meeting with the Church Landway allotment ten- ants was held and they were now considering the formation of a committee.


Boughton Malherbe Council


Policing change


MEMBERSwere informed ofpro- posals that the Maidstone neigh- bourhood policing would expand to around 10 teams,with one cov- ering Headcorn, Sutton Valence and Downs-wood. This would be made up of one sergeant, five PCs and three PCSOs. Chris Wheal reported that due


to health problems, he has had to relinquish most of his Speed- watch duties. Keith Anderson is now organising dates and volun- teers for Speedwatch. It was likely that the No. 59 Sat-


urday bus service would stop on December 31 because of increased fuel costs and low usage. The Monday to Friday service would continue, but would be moni- tored – if itwas not used it could also be under threat. The clerk had received a call


from Kent Highways saying cut- backs meant there was nomoney to repair the Bowley Lane signs. She had since informed them that the signs were in a ditch and did- n’t need replacing, just re-erect- ing, and this would be done soon. The village green sign was cur-


rently being refurbished by Maid- stone Signs. It was agreed that the parish should apply to light a beacon for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June 2012. Volunteers would be sought for a committee. Members of the public thank-ed


the parish council, and in partic- ular Ron Galton, for the hard work put into contesting the pro- posed development on land at Ivy Farm. No objection was made to a planning application for a sand school at Orchard Cottage Farm, Headcorn Road, Grafty Green. Anapplication for extensions at


2 Coldbridge Cottages, Cold- bridge Lane,Egerton,had been re- fused by Maidstone Council. County Cllr Jenny Whittle re- ported that the proposed speed limit reduction for Liverton Hill from 60mph to 30mph would be advertised soon. Borough Cllr Jenny Gibson said


the borough was keen to spread the load with regard to travellers. She reported that those living at The Meadows, Lenham Road, only have permission for two years. The chairman reported that Elmstone Hole Lane was ina very bad state. If traffic were to in- crease, it would need repairing. The History of Boughton Mal-


herbe books were still being sold at the cream tea events. The teas were a great success and had al-


ready raised £1,000. Parish clerk Pat Anderson in- formed the meeting that due to other commitments, she was ten- dering her resignation and in- tended to leave at the end of next March. It was agreed to advertise for a replacementwhocould then shadow Mrs Anderson for a few months.


Bredhurst Council Water meters


THE meeting was attended by Peter Jones of SouthernWater.He spoke about the installation of water meters,which were due to be fitted by the end of September. He assured the council that prop- erties would be returned to the condition as before the work began.


Members re-confirmed their de- cision,made in July, recommend- ing approval for residential development at Purple Hill Works, White Hill, Detling, and rejecting commercial develop- ment. An application for a two-storey extension at Orchard House, DunnStreet Road, Bredhurst, was recommended for approval. Councillors were informed that


there had been no response from Fairview Rangers regarding con- ditions to be met for the use of the playing field, despite many op- portunities and reminders on the need to discuss these. Therefore, with regret, the council agreednot to renew the contract with the club. The cheaper of two quotes was accepted for pruning trees along- side the village playing field, which was to commence as soon as possible. The clerk was to inquire why


the police did not attend the meeting and why no crime re- ports were forwarded to the her. Cllr BrianMohabir,whowas fi-


nance committee chairman, was thanked for his time and efforts following his resignation from the council.


Broomsfield and Kingswood Council


Praise for store


COUNCILLORS commended the staff of the village store for the speed with which the shop re- opened after the ram raid. The shop is a vital amenity to the vil- lage and would have been sorely missed if the closure had been prolonged, it was felt. Since two years ago, there had


been an increase of 50% in the hours worked by the assistant clerks and nearly 75% in the clerk’s hours. It was agreed that the clerks needed further direc- tion towards reducing excessive hours which should be included in the staff appraisals. A planning application for a


single-storey extension at Hollyshaw, Lenham Road, Kingswood, was recommended


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


for approval. A resident had offered to fund


the purchase and installation of a memorial bench at the sports field. It was felt Cllr Paul Beaney had


done a splendid job with securing the nets to the goal posts.Itwas noted that the nets were wearing very quickly and any guarantees would be checked. It was agreed to pursue issues concerning the future allocation of tenancies of affordablehousing in Peter Pease Close to ensure these only go to people with a proven connection to the village, as originally intended.


Parking concerns Detling Council


THE council had written to resi- dents of Hockers Lane and the owners of the nursery near the Ware Street junction about haz- ardous parking. The letter stated the parish was aware of the prob- lem, was liaising with KCC, and asked for cars not to be parked on the road. ClancyDocwra,whoop- erates from the Mid-Kent Water plant, apologised for any incon- venience caused by vehicles en- tering and exiting the site. The firm would be movingmost of its operations to Tunbridge Wells early next year. A member of the public said utility vehicles using the site were noticeably taking more care. There were now seven council-


lors following the co-opting of Simon Norcott, who has been a resident of Detling for five years. He is secretary of Detling Cricket Club and is involved in the local clay pigeon shoot. Cllr Norcott will deal with parish liaisonwith the village hall. Amember of the public said the orange public notices used by the council were not being removed. He had found one notice on Harple Lane dating back to 2006 and asked the parish council to find out who put them up so they can be asked to take them down. Anothermember of the public ex- pressed concern over modifica- tions to the Church Lane junction withHockers Lane, stating that re- duced visibility would lead to more accidents. The council re- sponded that the design of the junction had gone too far to change. A Detling resident asked about


plans to clean Jade’s Crossing. The clerk would check with KCC. There would be a 30% reduc-


tion in the parish budget – the equivalent of £1,000 per year. Money for village projects that would have come from the parish’sownbudget will infuture come from the borough, with the parish having to justify funding on a project-by-project basis. Royal Mail had written to the council about a newlocal service. An advert was placed on the Royal Mail website offering a Post Office licence to an established


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