Boxley Parish Mail CHAIRMAN: Martin Pepper CLERK: Pauline Bowdery ASST CLERK: Melanie Fooks
Parish Office, Beechen Hall, Wildfell Close, Walderslade, ME5 9RU Tel: 01634 861237 email:
bowdery@boxleyparishcouncil.co.uk Website:
www.boxleyparishcouncil.co.uk
Contact details for parish councillors can be obtained from the parish office, the Useful Contact Details leaflet or the website
Progress on puffin crossing outside school Aprovisional date was being booked with
A DATE for work on the long-awaited cross- ing outside St John’s School in Provender Way will soon be agreed. The scheme was given the go-ahead after Boxley Council agreed at a special meeting to allocate more of its reserves for a controlled crossing, rather than a zebra. KCC traffic engineer BenHilden informed
the parish council that the puffin crossing had been approved at senior level but for- mal consultation must take place before work began.
the contractors for the half-termweek at the end of October. Members heard that nearby residents need
not be disturbed by the sound signal on the crossing at night as it could be muted. KCC had favoured a zebra crossing, but
the parish council decided the more costly puffin crossing would provide extra safety. The school has written to the parish, thanking it “for working tirelessly” on its behalf for the crossing.
Growing interest in orchard scheme RESIDENTS were able to see plans for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Commu- nity Orchard at a successful open day at the Penhurst Close site. Boxley councillors, as well as members of the Kent Reptile and Amphibians Group were on hand to explain the proposals. “It was a great afternoon,” said chairman Martin Pepper. Parish clerk Pauline Bowdery reported that the trees including apples, cher-
ries and hazelnuts, had been ordered and would be planted in November. Work was also due to start on the play area and the creation of habitats to at-
tract more wildlife. The Rainbows and Brownies have created a hedgehog box and this was in- stalled on a recent task day that also created reptile habitats at the site.. The transfer of the lease is still being worked on by Maidstone Council and
the parish council is being awarded a licence to allow it to continue with the work. The site will be leased to Boxley at a peppercorn rent, with a covenant that
the land will remain as public open space and that the play area is maintained at its current standard.
Slick work
on oil thefts DUE to information from a member of the public, the mystery of who was stealing waste oil from the cafe at Cobtree Manor Park was solved. PCSO Andy Hawthorn re- ported the culprit was given a fixed penalty notice of £80 and a caution. Recent incidents included
a burglary at Chatham Road, Sandling, when two males were arrested at the scene, and the theft of a golf buggy, which was recovered on site at Cobtree Golf Course. The chairman, Cllr Martin Pepper, informed members of changes to the police dis- tricts which might involve PCSOs being reassigned to different duties. He had written praising the work of PCSO Hawthorn and asking for him to continue covering the parish.
Plea for parking consideration on ‘terrifying’ rat run
EFFORTS to tackle inconsiderate parking and speeding traffic along Boxley Road are continuing with a bid to join forces on the issue with neighbouringMedway Council and the police. CllrWendy Hinder said: “When the cars
are parked in one solid line, you cannot see up the road and there’s nowhere to pull in. “It is all themore dangerous because the
road is used as a rat run and the speed is terrifying as cars approach Walderslade village. “The situation is an accident waiting to happen. “I have suggested to the Medway ward councillor that we work together with him and the police and the parish council to re- solve road safety issues.” The Medway PCSO had delivered leaflets to homes at the Walderslade end asking for more considerate parking, but with little effect. Boxley has taken steps to reduce the
speed limit on Boxley Road/Beechen Bank Road to 40mph.
Secure your shed and contents, says PCSO PCSO Hawthorn is appealing to residents to ensure that there is adequate security for their garden sheds. Many people forget how much gardening equipment costs and only become really aware of the replacement cost when it is too late. Advice on what can be done to frustrate criminals can be found on the council’s website.
30 East
SANDLING has a bright and smart new village sign, which was unveiled by community stalwart Cllr MaureenWaller. A member of Boxley Parish Council for over 18
years, she represents Sandling and was chosen to perform the honours because of her commitment and dedication to the area. Council chairman Martin Pepper paid tribute to
her “invaluable knowledge of the history of the vil- lage” and said: “She is a stalwart of what Sandling is about.” The replacement sign is on the green space at the junction of Tyland Lane and Chatham Road. It is similar to the previous one, designed in 1993 and erected in 1995, and based on ideas from children attending Sandling Primary School. It was commissioned to celebrate the centenary of Boxley Council, founded in 1895, and shows Boar- ley Oast, the North Downs, River Medway, Tyland Barn and hops.
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Council’s clean bill of health BOXLEY Council undertook a health check of the way its committees and mem- bers operate and councillors agreed that “it has robust and satisfactory procedures in place to ensure relevant actions and timely decisions are taken to provide a quality service”. The statement continued: “It also con-
siders that adequate safeguards are in place to deal with any developing situa- tions that require attention and that there is an ethos of being willing to review and to improve the service where possible.”
Village unveils its new sign
Boxley Council chairman Cllr Martin Pepper with Cllr MaureenWaller at the unveiling of Sandling’s new village sign
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