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DownsMail In touch with your parish The condition of the village


hall roof was said to be a seri- ous issue as it leaks unpre- dictably. The parish council was also


asked if plans were being made to celebrate the Queen’s Dia- mond Jubilee next year. It was agreed that Maidstone Council’s plans for this event should be ascertained before any further discussion. It was reported that both goal


nets at the King George V field were up and the goal mouths were looking good. The cycle track andmound had now been mowed.


Brambles around the outside


of the KGV field had started to encroach and it was suggested that a working party could be set up to clear them. The provi- sional date was November 26 at 10am. It was noted that a planning application for 5 Rock Farm Cottages, Gibbs Hill, had been granted by the borough council.


Ryarsh Council Street markings


THE problem of white lines around the village was raised. Kent Highways had been asked to repaint them on a number of occasions but the work had still not been done. County Cllr Sarah Hohler agreed to look into this. It was reported that the police


were no longer using the office in the village hall car park.Ata recent meeting, the police said that although the concept of the office was good, it was no longer needed due to cut backs, less paperwork and the use of Blackberrys. Ryarsh Rural Com- munity Council had to pay rates on the office and the police had no budget for it. The office would now be used for storage and a small meeting room to be rented out. Regarding Ryarsh Brick- works, an enforcement request had been submitted about the number of lorries using the site. Many of the companies were not believed to be registered to use the site and were working outside agreed operating times. The play area was popular


and widely used. The council did not consider that all the equipment needed replacing but agreed that it should be kept well maintained. Members agreed that it would


be good if one new piece of equipment could be installed and a bird’s nest swing, which allows disabled access, was sug- gested. The clerk would investi- gate funding. Trees on the recreation ground were being checked and two conker trees by the village hall car parkwere diseased. The borough council would be asked for advice. A dead branch of a tree in


Woodgate Road had been inter- fering with phone cables and this had been reported to Bir- ling Estate. It was reported that ragwort


had been downgraded to a medium risk by Kent Highways. The clerk was asked to investi- gate this and what will happen next year, both before and dur- ing the growing season. It was reported that although


The Street and Roughetts Road areas were swept on a regular basis, Woodgate Road was swept only once a year.The clerk would look into this. The clerk was asked to con-


tact Russet about the provision of a disabled parking bay for an elderly/disabled resident of Holmes Court who has diffi- culty parking in Chapel Street. Rubbish had been dumped


along footpath MR149. A resi- dent had offered to clear the path at his own cost and install two oak posts to stop trucks ac- cessing it to dump rubbish. The Public Rights of Way office would be contacted for consent. The following planning ap- plications were considered with no objections: London Road – change of use from agricultural; Leybourne Grange – infrastruc- ture and reserved matters, strategic landscaped area: The Street – change of use from agri- cultural; London Road – two storey extensions and dormer.


Snodland Council Roof repair


THEamenities committee agreed that repairs to damage on the roof of the Cemetery Lodge should be carried out. A new scheme of permits for installing benches would be in- troduced for the cemetery. At present there is no space for ad- ditional benches but there are some that are in very poor re- pair and whose ownership is unknown. In future a proper register would be kept and per- mits would be for 10 years al- though they would be renewable. New external lights and five


new tables would be bought for the Devonshire Rooms. Full details about the organi-


sation for the fireworks display, Remembrance Day parade and Christmas in Snodland were given. At the full council meeting, a


report from the neighbourhood police team stated that crime in Snodland is substantially down on the same period last year. PC Mark Eastgate advised that patrols to try to reduce any anti- social or criminal behaviour were to be increased over the Halloween and firework night period. The meeting considered the response that the Town Council should make to the parliamen- tary Boundary Commission


which is currently reviewing boundaries in England. The commission has made a pro- posal that Snodland should re- main in a slightly reformed Chatham and Aylesford Con- stituency and the Town Council was happy with that or any other proposal that kept Snod- land with close neighbours like Larkfield and West Malling. Councillors were dismayed to hear that the Lib Dem party has made a counter proposal to the commission recommending that Snodland should be split right down the middle with Snod- landWest going into Gravesend constituency and Snodland East to Tonbridge andMalling. It was agreed that this pro-


posal was totally unacceptable and would be damaging and confusing to the community. The council would send a sub- mission to the commission, supporting keeping Snodland in Chatham and Aylesford but strongly opposing any recom- mendation that might either split the town into different constituencies or separate it from other areas with close ties such as Larkfield.


Wateringbury Council


Allotment changes FOLLOWING complaints about a neglected allotment, the plot holder had been given a month to make improvements but had not done so. The tenancy agree- mentwas cancelled and the plot offered to a new holder. It was anticipated two allotments would become available shortly when two existing holders moved out of the village. There were six names on the waiting list.


The new rabbit fencing had


been installed at the playing fields. The problem raised regarding


cars parking alongside the pave- ments at the exit from the petrol station had been passed to PCSO Dave Gilham who had agreed to have a word with the car sales company. Councillors agreed a new one-


year contract with EDF Energy to cover the street lights. A request had been received


that footpath MR509 between The Brucks and Leney Road be upgraded to a bridleway. This would enable horse and rider to avoid using Tonbridge Road and Bow Road to get to footpath MR508 opposite Leney Road. It was pointed out that fol- lowing complaints from resi- dents about the safety of children and other pedestrians using the footpath, Tonbridge andMalling Council installed a No Horses sign. It would be nec- essary to get residents’ agree- ment before the parish council could support and upgrade. The village hall was being painted inside and some of the


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chairs had been repaired and re- covered. Chief Inspector Jon Kirby had


sent a letter praising the out- standing work carried out by the Speedwatch team led by Charles Stroud. From April 2010, 2,131 incidents of people speeding at more than 37mph had been recorded. A total of 215 letters had been sent to the registered keepers of vehicles that had exceeded the limit twice or more in 12 months. Some of these had been served with fixed penalty no- tices or referred to national speed awareness programmes. The chairman congratulated Mr Stroud and his team on behalf of the village. County Cllr Richard Long re- ported on a highway scheme for the A26 which might include Slow Down signs going out of the village. It had been reported that the footpath owned by Russet was overgrown and rubbish needed removing. It was agreed to con- tact Russet.


Broadband hopes


West Peckham Council


COUNTY Cllr Richard Long was investigating if funding to- wards the broadband initiative being pursued on behalf of the parish was available from KCC. It was hoped that broadband might be available before the end of the year. The clerk was to contact


PCSO Toni Matthew about a re- cent incident of motorcyclists in MereworthWoods. Cllr Long was to pursue ob- taining the clearance schedules for the drains and gullies inWest Peckham, particularly Adams Well and Parson’s Corner. Concern was expressed over


the lack of buses to the new hospital at Pembury as not all residents have access to cars, and taxis are expensive. Sir John StanleyMPwas investigat- ing this issue. KHS had been informed that


the salt bag was only half full and contained sand. Cllr H Wooldridge confirmed


that, in fact, he had only planned towiden areas of Forge Lane but the landowner had de- clined the request so this would no longer happen. A meeting had been arranged between borough council offi- cers and the parish council to discuss what could be learned from the Hugh Lowe Farm poly- tunnels application and how to move forward. The council agreed the final design and wording for the Corfe Citizenship Trophy and the order would be placed. The criteria for qualification and nominees would be discussed at the next meeting.


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