DownsMail In touch with your parish 2012.


It was agreed to contact local historians Martin Wilgoss and Robert Earl to see if they would be interested in setting up a Mereworth History Society. Potholes in Kent Street from Butchers Lane to the A228 would be reported to Kent High- way Services. The final amount raised by the


fete was £2,808. Nettlestead Council


Chatterbox cheer


IT was reported that the Chatter- box Club was still thriving and an account had been opened with the NatWest bank. There were large numbers of weeds growing through the pavements across the village and the clerk was asked to speak to KCC about this. KCCwould be asked when the


bus shelter opposite the village hall would be placed alongside the re-sited bus stop. The clerk was to ask BT whether the telephone box would be repaired. The cycle track and mound on


King George V Playing Field were overgrown and enquiries would be made with the relevant companies about the work. No comments were made on separate proposals for the demo- lition of a wooden garage/ store and replacement with new larger masonry building at 5 Rock Farm Cottage, Gibbs Hill, Nettlestead; rebuilding of stables to form hol- iday letting accommodation at Rock Farm, Gibbs Hill, and cre- ation of new vehicular access to amenity woodland at 1 Woodgate Cottages, Seven Mile Lane, East Peckham.


Ryarsh Council Mini crimewave


PCSO Kim Hockey reported that burglaries had occurred in Stan- gate Road and Sandy Lane, Snodland, and a white Transit van had been stolen from a works site on London Road. There was no obvious reason for this mini crime wave but it rein- forced the need for residents to secure premises and vehicles. Except for seeding and detailed finishing works, the restoration of Workhouse Quarry was now complete. Formal confirmation was still awaited of the start date for the Ryarsh Brickworks redevelop- ment.


Borough Cllr Matthew Balfour


had confirmed that the parish council would be very much in- volved when the allocation of £100,000 for public transport and £25,000 for traffic calming was decided. These sums were secured under Section 106 agree- mentwith the brickworks devel- opers, Explore Living. The parish council had been aware, over many months, that


the play area equipment,al- though safe, was ageing and would need replacement shortly. The estimated cost of refur- bishment including painting, would be £2,984.55 plus VAT. Replacing the existing cradle swings with a birds nest seat would cost a further £2,107 with £535 for installation, both plus VAT.


Councillors appreciated these figures were inevitable, but con- siderable. A decision would be made at the next parish meeting. The drainage works on The


Street outside The Hollies had been completed and appeared to have solved the flooding prob- lem. It was hoped that KCC might extend the scheme to as- sist other properties but this could be affected by cutbacks.


Snodland Council Cemetery plans


PLANSfor the parking area at the cemetery were being drawn up to go to Tonbridge and Malling Council


Following a site meeting, it


was agreed to obtain quotations to place kerbstones around the central circles and not continue to extend the present kerb area because of the problems with people placing extra flowers and plants in the centre. It was agreed to allow people to


put extra floral tributes for birth- days and anniversaries by the kerbs, which would be removed by council staff after two weeks. At the jubilee meeting, various groups had put forward ideas for the celebrations. A 1950s-style fete would be run by the council in the recreation ground on Sat- urday, June 2, with stalls, crafts etc and a fancy dress. The Scouts would like to hold a street party in the Cricket Meadow on Mon- day, June 4. The Choral Society will be holding a special concert. The WI, All Saints with Christ Church, Friends and Bikers and SnodlandWorkingmens Club all want to be involved. A special commemorative


copy of Town Talk is being planned.Atree and time capsule were also proposed.


Teston Council Still flooding


THE drain at Court Lodge Farm was still blocked and there was still flooding off the western track, despite the assertion by Kent Highways that there were no problems. It was noted that the hornbeam outside 62 Tonbridge Road was dying. A local resident had been asked to give it some water. It was also noted there was no nameplate in the village for Ton- bridge Road. Maidstone Council would be asked to look at in- stalling a sign opposite the B2162 and another somewhere between Teston and Watering- bury.


Vice-chairman Cllr Perer Coulling reported on the Ton- bridge Road traffic survey. The equipment had been sited roughly in the middle of the 30mph zone. The resounding conclusion was that 15-16% of vehicles were travelling at over 40mph, 43% at above 35mph and 70% above 30mph. The evi- dence suggested clearly that the 30mph zone was not working and it was considered to be non- sensical to have such a short stretch. It was agreed that Kent Highways should be pressed to extend the 30mph zone right through to Wateringbury, and moved eastwards to a point be- fore the B2163 junction. Payment of £300 plus VAT for the survey was authorised. It was noted that weed killing


had taken place. It was also felt that the standard of road sweep- ing was still poor but that it was unlikely there would be any im- provement in the short term. The telephone boxwould ben-


efit from a coat of paint.BT would be asked for authority for the council to paint it, with BT supplying the paint. It was suggested the children


in the village could be presented with mugs to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.The cost was likely to be £5 or £6 each and further enquiries would be made.


Wateringbury Council Bev thanked


THE chairman announced the resignation of Bev Evans due to other commitments and pressure of work. Shewas thanked for her contribution and hard work as a parish councillor. Acomplaint had been received


from an allotment holder about the condition of another plot. After a site meeting, the holder was given a month to make sub- stantial improvements.Asecond plot was also in need of attention and the plot holder was given the same time to improve it. Three quotes had been re- ceived for rabbit fencing in the playing fields. The quote from Evergreen Rabbit Control was ac- cepted as well as a £250 donation towards the cost from theWater- ingbury Sports and Recreational Association. NetworkRail would also be asked for a contribution. A resident raised the problem


of vehicles from the car sales parking alongside the pavement at the exit from the petrol station, forcing people to walk out in the road.


West Malling Council March hope


AN APPROACH had been made by the Scouts with a view to re- instating the St George’sDay pa- rade in 2012. An Italian market was pre- pared to pay £200 to operate in


Visit Downs Mail’s website — downsmail.co.uk


West Malling but not in conjunc- tion with the farmers’market. It was reported that the overnight closure of the public toilets appeared to be having a positive effect with reductions in the number of youths congregat- ing and anti-social behaviour. Members objected strongly to proposals for a green telecom- munications cabinet on land out- side 32 Swan Street for Openreach Harlequin Ltd. They considered the location was po- tentially dangerous as post office vehicles regularly parked on the pavement at this spot. The cabi- net was likely to sustain damage from vehicles. It would be close to the highway in a conservation area and near to a pinch point. It was suggested the cabinet


could be located within the grounds of the post office. KCC had confirmed that the junction of Swan Street andHigh Street was incorrectly signed as it is a 20mph limit and not a zone. This should mean it is en- forceable by the police.


Shooting noise


West Peckham Council


A COMPLAINT was received from residents regarding incon- siderate noise from shooting that occurred from 4pm to 7pm on a Sunday. A member spoke to those concerned at the time and it was hoped this was a one-off incident. If it should happen again, the council would contact the landowner. Aresident had witnessed a po- tential flytipper at The Hurst. Vehicle details had been reported to PCSO Toni Matthews. The council had strong con-


cerns about a proposal by Cllr HarryWooldridge to remove the hedge along Forge Lane and widen the road by around 2ft. He acknowledged the amount of traffic coming through the village and thought this might ease the problem. Members felt this would sim-


ply increase the amount and speed of traffic. It was suggested that putting another field en- trance along Mereworth Road and having a separate track to take lorries to Beech Farm might reduce traffic through the village centre. While the council is keen to reduce the height of the hedge, it did not wish it to be removed or the road widened. A request had been received


from Cllr Michael Corfe for the council to pay, as in the past, half of the costs for trimming the side of his hedge bordering on the vil- lage green. Further information would be requested. Acomplaint about the increas-


ing amount of dog mess on the village green was noted. It was hoped the village history


and archiving project would shortly resume.


Malling 31


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