DownsMail In touch with your parish


Broadband help RESIDENT Peter Corfield, who has agreed to be project manager for the application for super-fast broadband,was welcomed to the meeting and thanked on behalf of theparish.Hereported on several issues and suggested training vol- unteers to help people in the vil- lage update connections for their computers, which would im- prove speeds. Cllr Paul Beaney reported his disappointment with the poor uptake on the parish forum. There were still many hits but no new threads. It was agreed to publicise the forum in the village magazine again. It had been agreed within the


Broomfield and Kingswood Council


Core Strategy response to Maid- stone Council that the parish would look at setting up a car share scheme as soon as was practicable. This would be in- cluded in the Neighbourhood Plan/visioning exercise. It was reported that the clerk


and assistant clerk had done ex- ceptionally well in their recent appraisals. It was agreed to purchase addi-


tional goal post sockets at a cost of £110 plus £12 delivery and VAT. This would enable theposts to be re-positioned regularly to al- leviate wear and tear on the ground. The council was to investigate


an emerging games system called ‘Street Snooker’, described as a “kick wall target game”. The ini- tial unit can be added to at a later date to include basketball and tennis facilities to form a small multi-use games area. It was agreed to contact neigh- bouring parishes of Leeds and Hollingbourne about the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The clerkhad received an apol-


ogy from Kent Highways regard- ing lack of information on the closure ofChartwayStreet in Oc- tober. Further closures would be required in January, and also at Gravelly Bottom Road.


Chart Sutton Council Pavilion showers


A QUOTE of £1,021 plus VAT was accepted for the purchase and installation of two electric showers at the pavilion and a budget of £400was approved for plumber’s fees. Membersdiscussed the closure


of Hertsfield Bridge on ChartHill Road (planned for next year) and the problems this would cause. The chairman provided figures of movements over the bridge for vehicles over 40 tonnes and over three metres long for three local businesses for a six-month pe- riod. Borough Cllr Mike Fitzger- ald was asked to organise a meeting between Kent Highways, theparish council and local busi-


nesses to discuss the matter fur- ther. The clerk was asked to re- spond to KHS detailing the figures provided and outlining the council’s concern for the loss of trade to the Lord Raglan pub- lic house. The Shop on the Green com-


mittee had submitted a planning application to re-site the shop onto the village green. It was planned to place the shop on to railway sleepers so as not to dam- age the tree roots. If approved, the benches on the greenmight have to be moved. Members agreed they would support this applica- tion.


The chairman was pleased to


note that Sutton Valence church had been full to capacity on Re- membrance Sunday and that Chart Sutton church had a far larger congregation than usual. He also reported that a suspect


had been identified with regard to the recent theft of the small trac- tor, quad bike and tools. The new police structure would mean that PCSO Richard Chainey would only be responsi- ble for two areas – Chart Sutton and Boughton Monchelsea – rather than the previous nine. PC Warren Jarviswas leaving his cur- rent position and further details were awaited. No objection or comment was


made to the following planning applications: Brookside, Green Lane – extensions and vehicular crossover; Malt House, Chart Road – amended plan for exten- sion, dormer window and alter- ations. An application for the erection


of a detached garage and store with adjoining garden wall at Lit- tle Merryworth, Brishing Road, had been withdrawn.


Coxheath Council Traffic calming


FURTHER discussions were held with Kent Highways over the costing of an alternative traffic calming scheme in Heath Road. A second meeting with the cabi- net member to discuss funding and the way forward was ex- pected in November. Following lengthy discussions,


the parish council had submitted a detailed response to the Core Strategy document circulated by Maidstone Council. PCSO Richard Chainey was moving from Coxheath and would be handing back to PCSO JoannaWatts,whowas returning to theCoxheath andHunton ward in November. Newroadside litter bins would


be purchased and installed at the new bus shelter in Heath Road and outside Page and Wells in Hamilton House. Threenewsalt grit bins were to


be installed around the village and it was hoped another would be placed by Kent Highways in the Bird in Hand car park in preparation for the winter.


Village organisations were to be approached todetermine whether there was a demand for an event in Coxheath for the Queen’s Dia- mond Jubilee and/or the 2012 London Olympics.


PCSO changes


East Farleigh Council


PCSORichardChainey was leav- ing the area and thanked the parish council for its co-opera- tion. PCSO Joanna Watts would be returning in mid-November. Six crimes had been reported


since the last meeting, including an attempted robbery in St Helen’s Lane and criminal dam- age at Malthouse Cottages. Acouncillor expressed concern


at the lack of consultation with the parish council by the Village Plan Action Group over the re- cent survey canvassing opinion on the proposed feasibility study. He was also concerned that the group does not have amandate to go ahead with the study – only 34% of households who were given a leaflet replied, and only 61% of these were in favour, so just under 21% of households in the village had actually expressed a positive response. A member of the public raised concerns over the validity of the unelected VPAGand the way the proposals had been put forward. Cllr Glyn Charlton read out his


report on thematter. This and the results of the feasibility survey are available on the parish web- site at http://www.eastfar- leighpc.kentparishes.gov.uk. The parishioner insisted on the


need for a public meeting on the issue and the council voted in favour.He gave details of his blog (eastfarleighvillagegreenhous- ingscheme.blogspot.com) where residents can have their say and this link is also available on the parish website. The council agreed to write to


Kent Highways to investigate the possibility of making the entire length of Dean Street a 30mph limit and of carrying out a traffic survey to this end. The new owners of the Old School Hall, Gary and Mandy Howard, attended the meeting. They are keen that the hall con- tinues to be available for commu- nity use.


Egerton Council Parish plan


A PUBLIC meeting was held to discuss several issues including the parish plan, village hall ex- tension and Diamond Jubilee cel- ebrations. It was suggested there were issues in the village which would benefit from having a plan, eg. future housing for the elderly, potential village hall extension and suitable accommodation for the pre-school. The possibility of community-owned shops and pubs had emerged from parish


plans. It was felt that work on the parish plan and village hall proj- ect could run concurrently. A street party, possibly fol-


lowed by an evening dance, was suggested for the jubilee celebra- tions. Volunteers were being sought


to be involved in each of the proj- ects.


Headcorn Council Highway issues


A USEFUL meeting was held with Kent Highways to discuss is- sues including Shenley cross- roads and Biddenden Road by the dairy. The inspector agreed to check that all the relevant signage was in place and that there were no visible sight line obstructions. It was noted that no further measures could be carried out at present due to Government fund- ing only being available to schemes at sites that have a high number of reported crashes or fa- talities.


Following restructuring of po-


lice divisions, Headcorn falls in the east sector and the inspector will be GeoffWyatt. It was agreed to invite Inspector


Wyatt and write to Hugh Robert- son raising concerns regarding the increase incrime and anti-so- cial behaviour in the village, in particular the increase of metal theft, which requires robust legis- lation onhowscrap metal dealers operate. The council was also concerned about yet another re- structuring of the police force and the possible effect on the village. It was agreed to take over the provision of hanging baskets an- nually and the Christmas lights. A meeting was to be held with


all interested parties to discuss ideas for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. It was reported that the flight exclusion zone operation period had been reduced to one month for the Olympic period and Head- corn would not now be included.


Langley Council Litter pick


ARESIDENT had expressed con- cern at the amount of litter seen in the village. Itwas agreed that a parish clean-up day would be or- ganised. A farewell gift and letter of thanks would be arranged for Cllr AndyWeaver followinghis resig- nation. It was noted that planning ap- plications had been approved by Maidstone Council for an exten- sion and garage conversion at North Lodge, New Road, and an extension and decking at 23Dick- ens Close.


Discussions were being held


with County Cllr Eric Hotson re- garding possibly substituting the road crossing on the Leeds road (proposals by whichhad not been well received with local resi-


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