DownsMail In touch with your parish
Bearsted Council Office closure
THE Parish Office at Madgin- ford Hall is now closed. To arrange an appointment with the clerk or report an issue, res- idents are asked to either call 07917 624 278 or email clerk@
bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk. All correspondence should con- tinue to be addressed to Madg- inford Hall. Garden refuse sacks may be purchased from Tailors newsagents, Bearsted Green, or Bearsted Veterinary Surgery in Egremont Road. Thanks were expressed to all
those involved in the organisa- tion of the Classic Car Show which raised £1,100 for the air ambulance. The 2012 event has been booked for September 23. Regarding Bearsted Green
play area, a consultant was to liaise with the installers on the council’s behalf over the safety surface.
Following the working party,
the council now needed to de- cide whether to dredge the vil- lage pond to further assist vegetation and wildlife. It was proposed to replace the noticeboard on the green with a monument to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Properties around the green would be in- cluded in the design. An artist’s impression will be shown to the Local History Society for its views. It was considered that be-
tween Sandy Mount and Sandy Lane, double yellow lines would be the onlymeasure that would prevent motorists park- ing on the pavement. A community working day would be held on November 19 to allowwork on the church car park to re-compact the surface. Volunteers should meet at the car park at 9.30am. The parish stall at the farm-
ers’ market in September had been a major success, making just over £200 for the land and building account. The Christ- mas market will be on Decem- ber 18 and will include gifts and cards. The market manager had asked whether the council would consider hiring a choir for an hour to add to the atmos- phere. It was considered that, at present, it would not be appro- priate for Bearsted to rejoin the Joint Parishes Group.
Bredhurst Council School parking
PCSO Joanna Watts had been patrolling outside Bredhurst Junior School during home time as requested by the head teacher. She had spoken to par- ents regarding parking restric- tions around the school and had asked drivers to move cars at the entrance to the church car
54 East
park in the evening. Proposals for the construction
of a riding arena at Cherry Or- chard Stables, Dunn Street Road, were supported. An amended application for fencing with flowers and shrubs along the boundary of Orchard House, Dunn Street Road, was also recommended for approval. It was confirmed that, follow-
ing discussionswith Maidstone Council, the parish would con- tinue to use the concurrent functions method for the 2012- 13 budget. As a result, there was not expected to be any consul- tations with the borough on parish phased budgets this year. Bredhurst Council’s outgoings
for the month ending Septem- ber 30, 2011, totalled £853.28. There was a total of £23,758.87 in the parish account. The replacement of a dead
tulip tree in Dunn Street at a cost of £100 was approved. The council had been asked
by KCC to consider a request to relocate the bus stop for the Rainham direction to a site out- side Fourways, The Street. Councillors considered the lo- cation was not suitable. The driveways to three properties converged at this point and there were frequently delivery lorries parked outside Akhursts on the opposite carriageway. This would make it impossible for cars to overtake stationary vehicles. It was agreed to send a letter of objection to KCC. The clerk was asked to obtain
an update from SouthernWater on the installation of water me- ters throughout the village. It was considered that the vil-
lage verges had not been well maintained this year. A com- plaint would be sent to KCC’s cabinet member for highways complaining about the level of service and seeking improve- ments.
Broomfield and Kingswood Council
Rights of way
PARISH footpaths officer Nor- man King, who is a volunteer for the National Trail for Downs Way, advised about the pro- posed cuts of 50% by KCC for maintenance of public rights of way. He was particularly con- cerned about two footpaths – from Gravelly Bottom Road to Chartway Street via Cross Drive (KH303) and Abbey Wood to Park Barn Road (KH302). He en- couraged the parish council to advertise for volunteers to help with maintenance and regular checks, otherwise there was a potential for owners to reclaim the land. Cllr Vince Cooper was elected chairman of the parish council. The damage to the bench at the sports field had been re-
ported to the police. A resident reported what appeared to be a bin sack full of rubbish, includ- ing bottles, upended close to the damaged bench. Kent Highways had offered a
salt bag for winter spreading. Storage location and arrange- ments for spreading would be confirmed. Maidstone Council would be contacted about the new Duck Pond Lane street name signs, which had still not been erected.
Fireworks finale CELEBRATIONS for next year’s Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will centre round an extended week- endofJune2,3,4and 5. The WI is organising a night of food and live music in the village hall with a finale of fireworks. Chairman Cllr Geoff Cosgrove supported a partnership with theWI, allowing Detling “a cel- ebration suitable for the occa- sion”. Members heard that any funding for the occasion would have to come from grants, due to the parish’s diminished funds and austerity measures. A damaged rubbish bin next
Detling Council
to the bus stop had been re- ported to Maidstone Council. A job had been raised with KCC to clean Jade’s Crossing. Crime figures included the
theft of 20ft of blue water pipe from Penny Spring Farm, Scragged Oak Road. Because of a 50% reduction
in the concurrent functions funding, the parish council is considering a reduced budget. Areas under threat could in- clude the parish’s membership of the Joint Parishes Group, originally set up to oppose KIG, and future parish elections, currently paid for by the bor- ough council, but subject to change in the current financial climate.
Representatives of Kent Highways, the Kent Show- ground and the A249 Action Group agreed a 50mph speed limit the most expedient way to improve safety and reduce accidents on the A249. Andy Corcorane of KCC said this would be practical and that the county had £50,000 to spend on the A249. The strip of land behind Hockers Lane, acquired by the parish council last year, has been named. Villagers were asked to submit suggestions which included John Monks Walk and Monk’s Meadow. The council eventually chose Monk’s Meadow, in acknowl- edgement of John’s work on im- proving the land for use by the village, and also a nod to the nearby route taken by pilgrims heading to Canterbury.
To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330
Downswood Council Ash tree felled
BOROUGH Cllr Gordon New- ton was to investigate the felling of an ash tree from a Kings Acre rear garden. Aquote for £296 plus VAT for cutting the hedge in Foxden Drive back to its previous level, as cut in 2009, was agreed. The borough has advised that
a charge of £100 would be made to remove the green con- crete bin from Old Spot Lane. The bin is not thought to belong to the parish and therefore a charge should not be applica- ble. The clerk would discuss this further with Maidstone Council. No comment was made on proposals for the erection of a single-storey garage and kitchen extension and roof con- version at 171 Willington Street. Ryan Perkins was no longer
able to undertake delivery of the newsletter because of foot- ball coaching. He was thanked for all his efforts. The Green- head family took over the latest delivery at short notice and were requested to continue with future deliveries. The fee had not been increased since 2006 and it was agreed to raise it by £25 to £75. A draft proposal for a monu-
ment for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee was considered. Quota- tions would be sought from at least three companies. A mod- est sum was intended for the monument which would be something for future genera- tions to look back on. A request had been received
for the money from the Jubilee project to be spent on speed humps. This idea had already been explored for Deringwood Drive but was not suitable due to it being a bus route. Also the cost would be considerably more than the amount being set aside for the monument.
Plant objections
Hollingbourne Council
THE council and County Cllr Jenny Whittle have objected to a proposal to develop an energy -from-waste-wood plant in Ashford Road, which was out- lined on the front page of the Downs Mail. The clerk was asked to write
to Maidstone Council to object to the inclusion in the Core Strategy consultation document of development proposals for junction 8 of the M20. The proposed withdrawal of
the Saturday bus service was discussed. It was noted that Cllr Whittle supported the retention of the service and proposed a minibus from Hollingbourne to Maidstone (one return P55
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