DownsMail In touch with your parish
Praise for store COUNCILLORScommended 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
Broomsfield and Kingswood Council
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 for approval. A resident had offered to fund
the purchase and installation of a memorial bench at the sports field. It was feltCllr PaulBeaney had
done a splendid job with secur- ing the nets to the goal
posts.It was noted that the nets were wearing very quickly and any guaranteeswould be checked. It was agreed to pursue issues concerning the future allocation of tenancies of affordable hous- ing in Peter Pease Close to ensure these only go to people with a proven connection to the village, as originally intended.
Buffalo’s Head
Chart Sutton Council
IT was noted that a local woman had acquired a two- year lease on the Buffalo’s Head pub, with the idea to use it for retail/office purposes. Repainting of rusting equip-
ment at the playground and cleaning of the youth shelter were discussed. Three footpath walks were
ready for publication and the fourth and final one was almost completed. It was agreed that the parish council would pub- lish and sell them in the village shop and other local outlets to cover the cost of production. It was reported that a family
from New Zealand had recently been in the Shop on the Green and were shocked to see the state of the boarded up Old Forge house on Chart Corner. Apparently they used to own the property and asked for a contact to inquire about getting something done. It was sug- gested they contact Cllr Mike FitzGerald for information. With regard to cuts in bus routes 13, 28, 29 and 59, mem- bers noted that Cllr FitzGerald had been liaising with KCC on behalf of the East of Maidstone Rural Transport Group and had
34 South
proposed a solution which would keep some of the serv- ices. A response was awaited from KCC. Community warden Liz Lo-
vatt reported that three men in a van who had been offering block paving work in the Bearsted area, had been supply- ing paperwork with a false ad- dress. Kent peg roof tiles had recently been stolen from a property in Boughton Monchel- sea. Residents should report any suspicious workmen carry- ing out “repairs” on roofs. No objection was made to a planning application for the erection of a replacement agri- cultural building at Pleasant Farm, PloughWents Road. Notificationwas received that Maidstone Council had ap- proved an application for single storey extensions and a vehicu- lar crossover at Brookside, Green Lane.
Coxheath Council Traffic options
A DELEGATION from the coun- cil was tomeet the KCC cabinet member for environment, high- ways and waste to put forward alternative proposals to the Heath Road traffic calming scheme.
Representatives from Cox-
heath were continuing to play an active part in the Kent Asso- ciation of Local Councils-led opposition to the removal of concurrent functions funding streams to parish councils by Maidstone Council. The parish is looking at ways
of making the entrance to the playing field via the Linden Road gatemore user-friendly for mobility scooters and children’s buggies. In the light of the establish-
ment of two funeral directors premises in the village, the parish council would be seek- ing confirmation that environ- mental health standards had been applied. The parish council awarded a
grant of £8,500 to facilitate fur- ther improvements to the fabric of Coxheath Residents Village Hall.
Recently vandalised areas of
the Beacon Field football pitch had been repaired for use in the new season.
Family disputes
East Farleigh Council
THERE had been only two re- ported crimes in the parish in the previous month and these related to incidents that oc- curred within private properties among families. There was concern at the lack
of support from the police in the village over recent months and itwas agreed that the coun- cil would contact them to find
out exactly what level of sup- port they could expect. The council was pleased to
note that 40mph speed limits in Lower Road were now in place. Following a suggestion from a resident, the council would in- vestigate the possibility of painting ‘Slow Farm Vehicles’ on the road, in an effort to slow traffic down near the Old Rose Garden in Dean Street. It will also continue to inves-
tigate the possibility of having a speed survey at the Heath Road end of Dean Street. Following a complaint about
dog mess being placed in the green froggy bin on the Vicarage Lane play area, the council had put up a sign asking dog owners to use the dog mess bin pro- vided, outside the school. Quotes were being obtained to get the trees around both areas cut back.
Maidstone Council was pro- posing to reduce its concurrent functions grant by a further 30% in the next financial year, following a similar cut in this year’s funding. This would amount to an overall reduction of 51%, equating to a cut from £9,301 to £4,557 over two years, which has implications for service provision in the parish. The council would receive
£500 from county Cllr Paulina Stockell’smember’s community grant for litter picking in the village.
Egerton Council Rope bridge
IT was agreed it was necessary to replace the rope bridge at the playpark. Welcome packs had been de- livered to properties in Stone- bridge Green Road and Forstal Road. The metal from themarquees would be scrapped at a value of £165 a tonne. New salt bin shovels would
be purchased and the snow committee would be re-con- vened. The Egerton beacon had been registered on the official list for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee next year. A public meeting would be held in early October. Ashford Council had con- firmed that the fencing covering the ducting at The George would be removed and retro- spective planning permission would be required for the deck- ing.
The owner of an abandoned vehicle had agreed to remove it from the village car park. A newspaper report had been published regarding the Crocken Hill steps with no handrail and that a resident had fallen. The steps were on KCC land but it had no general funds to install a handrail. However, county Cllr Richard King had advised that he would be able to
Visit Downs Mail’s website —
downsmail.co.uk
fund the work. The parish chairman Cllr Ali-
son Richey said that all parish- ioners should be encouraged to share issues with the parish council.
Headcorn Council Launch delay
THE planned relaunch of Neighbourhood Watch had been temporarily postponed due to its co-ordinator Lorraine Barrie being signed off work with a broken leg. It was noted that Day’s Green Management Committee had re- iterated its firm opposition to the youth forum proposal for a skate park on the green. It was resolved to accept Maidstone Council’s quote to paint 24 parking restriction poles in Forge Lane, Kings Road and Clerksfield. Regarding the new parking restrictions, it was agreed that one disabled bay would be placed in the High Street near the war memorial, the marked bays in North Street would be- come restricted as per the High Street and an additional line would be placed in Forge Lane. A meeting on the issue of lo- calism had been led by Staple- hurst Parish Council. It was agreed that currently it was hard to find significant com- mon ground with other parishes on what services should be shared. Besides being warned to pre-
pare for a further 30% cut in the concurrent functions grant, it was also noted that footway lighting would no longer be covered under the new remit and this was a significant an- nual expense for the village.
Barn Hill salt bin Hunton Council
THE new salt bin had been in- stalled on Barn Hill by Kent Highways. Regarding the water leaking
from the BT inspection cover in West Street, Kent Highways would provide a plan to the council, showing how to re- solve the problem by putting ditching on parish land, follow- ing which the whole of the road will be resurfaced. The potholes underneath the BT cover would be dealt with when the leak is remedied. Hunton was one of the six schools chosen to take part in the pilot for 20mph speed limits outside the gates. Although there would be a 20mph limit, this would not necessarily be policed unless Hunton has its own Speedwatch. Six residents had volunteered for training by the police. The speed gun could be obtained from East Farleigh Parish Council. Brian Maytum was elected to the King George V playing field
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