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Addington Council More parking


THE village hall committee was gathering quotes for improve- ments including a new patio, French doors and a storage shed. Proposals on increasing the amount of parking were also being prepared. There had been two crimes in


the last month – the theft of soft drinks from outside the cricket pavilion where they had been delivered and criminal damage to a car parked outside a house where a party was being held. PC Mark Eastgate was re- minded about concerns previ- ously raised including people hanging about late at night in Park Road and East Street, pos- sibly using drugs. There were no objections to a proposed extension to a rear dormer at Wychwood, Sandy Lane, to create additional rooms in the roof. Members discussed further communication from a resident on the village green who was concerned about the recent in- crease in unauthorised cars parking on the green and driv- ing over it. It was noted that a councillor had met the resident to discuss these issues. Members agreed to obtain a quote for an additional sign which could be placed on a post near the oak tree.


Aylesford Council Football nuisance


RESIDENT William Hadley re- ported his continued concerns regarding pavement parking in Bull Lane, Eccles, during foot- ball matches, especially Satur- day afternoons and Sunday mornings. He had contacted his MP and


the borough council and asked if the parish council could offer any other actions or suggestions including possible support for double yellow lines. The parish council wanted to


find a real solution to this prob- lem, which occurs over two hours on both days, while con- tinuing to support and encour- age sporting activities.PCSO Rose Sparrowhawk had visited the site and asked drivers to move offending vehicles. The PCSO reported that in Bluebell Hill, investigations were ongoing to find ways of preventing the sale of vehicles from grass verges. An Aylesford anti-social be- haviour group was being set up, similar to the group running suc- cessfully in Eccles, Burham and Wouldham. Jill Peet, of the borough plan-


ning department, gave a presen- tation on the Aylesford Character Appraisal, which aimed to provide a guide for planning issues and achieve bet- ter quality developments.


No boundary changes to con- servation areaswere proposed. It was reported that no formal planning application for Preston Hall was in place yet but the comments received during the public consultation exercise had resulted in the number of pro- posed units being reduced to 63. A meeting with Kent High-


ways regarding culvert works under the High Street was planned for October 26.


Birling Council Jubilee idea


IT was decided to register for a beacon to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Further dis- cussions would be held with other parties in the village. The clerk advised that


NatWest’s failure to fully imple- ment the parish council’s re- quest to stop the automatic transfer between accounts had resulted in two cheques being re- turned. In order to fully resolve thematter she had made four vis- its to the bank. A letter of com- plaint had been sent, all points of which NatWest had upheld, re- sulting in a compensation pay- ment of £45 being made. PCSO Kim Hockey reported


that metal thefts, now including drain covers, were still on the in- crease in the area. It was noted that work on traf-


fic calming had still not com- menced. Members were advised that Malling Action Partnership was going to bulk-buy salt bins. Areplacement for the split one at the bottom of Stangate Road would be investigated. The borough had granted per- mission for a disabled annex at 117-119 Sandy Lane, Snodland, and raised no objection to the re- moval of an ash tree at 8 Ryarsh Road, Birling, which was damag- ing a neighbour’s fence. A resident had mentioned that


grass cutting was no longer being carried out in the church- yard. The clerk was to contact the parochial church council to ascertain what new arrange- ments were being put in place.


Pembury concern Ditton Council


CONCERN was expressed over the issue of transport to the new hospital at Pembury. If voluntary transport was going to be used, bus passes would not be valid and there would be a cost in- volved. Members were all con- cerned to hear that no provision for transport had been made when moving services to the new hospital. The council was notified that


Tonbridge and Malling Council had granted approval for the change of use of a former office building and barn at Knoxes Shaw Farm, Kiln Barn Road, to two residential units, and the cessation of use of the land for HGV parking.


The result of a planning en- forcement investigation into al- leged unauthorised use for a hot food takeaway at the Kentish Quarryman was noted. It was further noted that a seafood stall was now operating in the car park.


Arrangements for the 25th an- niversary celebrations of the Kiln Barn were discussed. Community groups would be


asked for their suggestions for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee cele- brations.


East Peckham Office objection


COUNCILLORS objected to pro- posals for the change of use of a domestic garage and workshop to B1 use and new doors, roof light and windows on land adja- cent to the Man of Kent in Ton- bridge Road, East Peckham. It was considered this would


be an overdevelopment of the site and have an adverse impact on nearby residential property. It was reported that an investi-


gation would be undertaken to determine if there had been a breach of planning control on land adjoining The Orchard, Hale Street, East Peckham, where the access to the new site was al- legedly in the wrong position. The borough would be asked


to provide an update on the in- vestigation before further action occurred which might compro- mise highway and footway safety. Kent Highways would be noti-


fied of a broken manhole cover at Pound Road and a missing manhole cover at Hatches Lane.


Kings Hill Council


Heath Farm detail TWO options proposed by Lib- erty Property Trust for the Heath Farm sports and leisure facility were discussed in detail.Astate- ment was read from Kings Hill Football Club in favour of the option which included one full- size floodlit artificial grass pitch, three full-sized pitches and two mini pitches with a pavilion with six changing rooms plus two officials’ changing rooms and no commuted sum. LPT proposed to ‘gift’ the facil-


ity to the parish council on a long lease. Councillors resolved to accept this option and to set up a new committee to take the matter forward, including repre- sentatives of the football club. Amended plans for housing


area 56 off RegentWay were dis- cussed. It was agreed there were no objections to the changes but councillors were still concerned about the narrowness of the road within area 57.


Leybourne Council Crime disparity


IT was noted that the crime re- lated figures on the new police


website showed a significantly higher figure than those on the monthly police reports submit- ted to the parish council. PCSO Edward Moore explained that the parish had only been receiv- ing reports from the Genesis sys- tem which lists crimes, but another system called CAD lists anti-social behaviour and inci- dents reported. The chairman Cllr Bob Ulph commented that in recent meet- ings with the police management team, the parish had been told that anti social behaviour was very low in Leybourne. However, the new police database showed otherwise. The PCSO offered to include the CAD information in his reports as well as other areas to provide a performance com- parison. A member of public reported


that a number of trees were not showing signs of life, particularly the Kent Messenger tree in Lil- lieburn. The parish council was considering watering equipment to preserve shrubs and trees. It was reported that rubbish, including a wheelbarrow and pots of paint, had been dumped in the alley way behind the Bomb Hole. This part of the land was owned by Croudace and the company had been contacted about these issues.


Mereworth Council A228 traffic


A RESIDENT of Kent Street re- ferred to increased traffic on the A228 and felt that the improve- ment of M20 unction J5 slip road would not ease the problem. She said that traffic from the Hop Farm was being directed along the A228 and thought the road structure should have been im- proved when Kings Hill was built. The council agreed to pass on


her request that soundproof fenc- ing be installed when the hedge is removed for the footpath widening. It was hoped that the telegraph


pole would be removed as this would interfere with sightlines. It was reported that the church


had been broken into and a do- nation box damaged. There was graffiti in Butchers


Lane which had a Tonbridge “tag”. Tonbridge and Malling Council had removed graffiti from the bus stop. The refurbishment of Mere-


worth Village Hall was now complete. Hall bookings were down but the football pitch was fully booked. Two allotment holders would


be contacted as their plots were full of weeds. The order for a new slide at the


play area had been submitted. A bench seat in the recreation


area had been suggested as a me- morial for Mike Setford with the installation coinciding with the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in


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