DownsMail In touch with your parish


local retail outlet. Nominations for villager of the


year should be sent to the clerk, email babington@sherriebabing- ton.co.uk or to a parish represen- tative. The following planning appli- cations were considered: Kimber- ley, Pilgrims Way, Det-ling, erection of a part two-storey, part single-storey extension – no ob- jection; Purple HillWorks, White Hill Road, Detling, redevelop- ment of existing commercial site to provide four dwellings, and at the samesite, but instead to re-de- velop existing commercial site to provide nine units for light in- dustrial use – no objection was made to the first application, but councillors objected to the re-de- velopment for industrial use due to concern over extra traffic on an unsuitable roads.


Downswood Council Hotwire attempt


THREEcrimes were reported dur- ing the month – a vehicle taken from adriveway inMurrain Drive and an attempt to hotwire a vehi- cle on the samedate in Frithwood Close. A Frithwood Close resi- dent reported milk and groceries taken from a front doorstep. Bearsted Parish Council would


be requested to look at the surface of the path in Old Spot Lane as this was extremelymuddyduring winter months and improve- ments would benefit the school walking bus. Rubbish bins in Murrain Drive


had been emptied. The larger items that had not been removed were subsequently disposed of by Cllr Gordon Newton and taken to the tip. It was agreed to donate £50 to-


wards the talent competition at Madginford Park Junior School. Sponsorship of £50 for Downs-


wood Football Club was agreed. It was agreed to purchase small lavender plants for the Orchard Spot roundabout. The council agreed to a three- month trial of Twitter. Advice to be careful to avoid instances of defamation was noted.


Harrietsham Council Road congestion


ARESIDENT had raised concerns about the difficulties encountered by the bus service inWest Street due to parked cars. Although technically nothing to do with the council, its importance to the vil- lage was acknowledged. The council would monitor the situa- tion and Kent Highways would be contacted about options avail- able.


The change of allotment ten-


ancy dates from an April start to November was approved. It had been suggested that the village hall trust might wish to consider ways of using Section 106 money, should it become available. In response to a request from the trust for financial help, it


Stones target 2012 for new ground opening


MAIDSTONE United FC have set a target of next summer for the opening of a new ground in James WhatmanWay. The Stones say that building


work will begin by the end of the month and have targeted a pre season friendly against for- mer Maidstone manager Barry Fry’s Peterborough United in August 2012 to mark the club’s homecoming, having last played in the County Town in 2001. Early this year, The Stones


began a campaign to raise £1.6m for the new 3,000-ca- pacity stadium. Club chairman Oliver Ash and his right hand man Terry Casey put £250,000 towards the project, with £150,000 each pledged by local businessman Pat Gallagher and the Football Foundation. Fur- ther funds are available from the


was agreed that the council pay £287.25, being 50% of the cost of repairing the pump, and strongly suggest the trust install a second one, as recommended by the en- gineers, as well as set up amain- tenance contract. The council would pay half of these costs. Fifty people attended the first


event of the Age Concern Com- munity Hub, which has been re- named the Len Valley CommunityHub Group. The Glebe Field new play area


was due to be opened by the child whowon the school competition. It was agreed to invite the mayor to the parish council’s Jan- uary 2012 meeting.


Leeds Council Lorry checks


THERE had been two HGV checks in the area and further checks would be undertaken. It was reported there had been


an increase in the number of Eddie Stobart vehicles travelling through the village in recent weeks.Anemailwould be sent to the company regarding this. County Cllr Gary Cooke said he


and colleagues Jenny Whittle and Hugh Robertson had been in con- tact with Maidstone Council about the proposed development around junction 8. He said the proposed ‘build


outs’ for Leeds would have a vi- sual impact and would have the desired effect on traffic. Cllr Cooke said that KCC was currently looking at opportunities to include Leeds school inafed- eration. He was asked by a coun- cillor if the school was at risk and


Former Stone Chris Smalling, who now plays for Manchester United and England, said: “I have fulfilled many dreams but will never forget where I started out and knowing that theclubwillsoonhaveavenue where players of all ages can enjoy the sport they love is superb.”


FA’s Football Stadium Improve- ment Fund. Vice-chairman Mr Casey would not reveal where the rest of the money will come from, but said: “We have got all of the money we need; we would not start the project unless we were sure that we would finish it. That would be foolhardy. We have a number of different fall- back positions.” When the campaign was launched in January, the club hoped to raise a significant bulk of the required money through investors buy- ing separate stakes in the ground. But this idea


was shelved as it


was a “legal minefield and in- credibly complicated,” accord- ing to Mr Casey. He added: “Now it becomes a race against time.We want the ground to be ready by the end of April, so the FA can sign it off in May.”


replied that this was not the case. A councillor reported on the playing field and problems with camping and parking. The signs for the car park would be pro- gressed. Repairs to the toilet cistern at


the pavilion would be arranged. Chairman Cllr June Harrison informed members that this might be her last meeting as shewas due to move from the parish. She thanked all councillors and the clerk for theirwork in past years.


Parking review MAIDSTONE Council was re- viewing parking restrictions at The Square and surrounding roads. The clerk advised that Kent Highway Services only under- takes one weed killing visit to parishes every year and because this year’s visit to Lenham was late, the village was left with fully grown weeds dying off, which was unsightly. Parish chairman Cllr Nigel Godfrey said a decision would be made next year regard- ing the incorporation of several weed killing spraying sessions by the grass cutting contractor to pre- vent the same thing happening again. Aparishioner stated concern at


Lenham Council


the proposal to have two sites for sand extraction near Lenham Heath. The parish council was preparing its response to KCC. Aparishioner claimed the long-


term carpark offMaidstone Road needed the white lines denoting parking spaces repainted. Cllr Richard Greenwood said this


workwas due to take place. Community warden Martin Sherwood reported on two young lads knocking on doors and ask- ing residents if any work could be carried out. PC Marc Pennicott, the new dedicated PC for Lenham and Harrietsham, introduced himself and reported three crimes in the parish in the previous month. Jeremy Osborn, of Lenham Heath, was co-opted onto the parish council. There were three more vacancies to fill, though Mr and Mrs Beaney, who attended the meeting, were considering joining the council. Cllr Sarah Goodwin said that


she, along with her committee, had nearly completed a con- densed, plain English, version of the Lenham emergency plan, which was easy to understand. The parish council was still waiting for the survey on the fea- sibility of a permanent water sup- ply at the cemetery. Borough Cllr TomSams had offered to fund the project. A company from Pluckley was


given the contract to supply equipment for the new children’s play area at Cherry Close.


Barn conversion PROPOSALS to convert a barn to a granny annexe at Boy Court Farm, Boy Court Lane, were rec- ommended for approval. Mem- bers wished to see the application reported to committee if the plan- ning officer intended to refuse permission because the parish recognised the need of the appli- cant and considered there would be no adverse impact on the sur- rounding countryside. Kingswood Parish Council had advised of a hole in KingsWood, which was inUlcombe parish but near the boundary. It was under- stood the owner of the land and the police had been informed and measures had been taken to make the site safe.Any further relevant information would be forwarded to the clerk. In response to county Cllr Jenny Whittle’s request for a wish list for highways funding, the parish submitted the following: addi- tional weight restriction sign at the Chegworth Road/A20 junc- tion, improvement to FiveWents crossroads signage, straightening the nameplate at Crumps Lane, provision of a nameplate for William Post Lane, drainage im- provements to the verge at East- wood Road opposite Waterloo House and the clearance of over- grown footpaths.All had been re- quested from Kent Highways but were unlikely to be funded in the foreseeable future. Measures to reduce speeding outside the school would also be requested. The village gateways project re- mained the parish council’s pri- ority for any funding.


Ulcombe Council You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk East 51


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64