Parish considers loan for residents’ centre


TOVIL Parish Council may apply for a pub- licworks loan as a last resort to purchase the soon-to-be-redundant Archbishop Courtenay Primary School site in Church Road for the use of the commu- nity.


The school, with its counterpart


in College Road, will move to the new primary school building in Eccleston Road. It is due to open on February 20. The council currently holds its meetings at the Tovil school, but wants to own the building to en- able much greater use by resi- dents and organisations across Tovil.


Should the council decide to


apply for, and secure, a commu- nity works loan, annual repay- ments would be around £6,000 for up to 50 years, which would mean an increase in the parish precept of £4.85 per BandDprop- erty per year, the equivalent of


Objections to


trackway surface THE council objected to a ret- rospective application to con- struct a 55m by 2.5m hardsurface trackway at Teasaucer Stables, Bockingford Lane. The Valley Conservation So-


ciety criticised David Knight’s proposal, which includes green-coloured asphalt surfac- ing. VCS’s Maggie Davis said the surface was a “disgusting, artificial green”. The parish council echoed


this concern and agreed to pro- vide representation at planning committee should borough council officers support the scheme.


Parish precept


may be frozen EARLY indications are that the council will not need to in- crease the parish precept for 2012/13. More formal discussions on


the budget were due to take place at December’s meeting.


Caravan concerns THERE were reports that people were living in caravans at the Hayle Place Stud Farm.


40p per household per month. Council chairman Rev Chris Morgan-Jones stressed this would be a “worst case sce-


nario”. Vice-chairman Glyn Charlton said: “If we


COUNCIL chairman Cllr ChrisMorgan-Jones told members that neighbours of the new school would be unlikely to experience any increase in external lighting. Cllr Morgan-Jones, who is also a governor at Archbishop Courtenay, said there would have to be lighting in “suitable places” to enable evening activities like meetings to take place. He said: “There is anxiety that lighting does not affect neigh- bours so we have urged the use of timing devices for security purposes. “Most of the lighting will be on the side of the school that is


away from residents so would be out of sight. “The quantity of light in Eccleston Road at the moment is so significant that it would not add to what residents are dealing with.” It was also revealed that the development would likely facili-


tate junction improvements to Tovil Road/Church Road that would include a puffin crossing. The council had no objection to the six planning applications


that provided more detail on the overall school development, which was previously given consent.


New councillor helped


crush controversial plan POSTMILL Drive resident Clare Bush (39) has been co-opted onto the parish council after being part of the successful campaign to prevent the development of SBS’s con- crete crushing plant at Straw Mill Hill. The mother-of-two, who has lived in


Tovil for 10 years, works at Cornwallis Academy. Shewas previously area manager for school meals for 23 schools in the Tun- bridgeWells area. Clare said: “ I have always wanted to get more involved and I


met the clerk at the SBS hearing. Clare is very proud of Tovil. “Since I have been living here it has become a really good community – it’s a really nice place to live. “It will be good to help out the community. There are a lot of people who want things, but don’t know how to go about mak- ing them happen.” One of her first hopes as councillor is for theWoodbridge Drive play area to be reopened, she says.


No formal dissent over parking plan THE parish council raised no objection to an application for the creation of a paved parking area at 4 Crisbrook Cottages, Cave Hill. But Cllr Eddy Vinnicombe said: “It will make it look a lot worse


than it is at the moment, especially as this is a conservation area. “If you’re the sort of person whowants a parking space, then buy a house with a parking space. It’s not rocket science.”


Woodland walk for centre’s care users COUNCILLOR Eddy Vinnicombe suggested converting land near the Tovil Green Court Extra Care Housing, off Burial Ground Lane, into a woodland walk for users of the facility. Cllr Glyn Charlton said: “Perhapswe should take it up with plan- ning because the area should be landscaped.”


did ownthe school itwould mean we would be able to rent it out to commu- nity groups and get some income for it, which would possibly re- duce the need to increase the pre- cept in the future. “Although there could be an in-


crease in the precept in year one while we are setting this up, hopefully there would be no in- crease in the following year as we would be receiving rent.” Cllr Morgan-Jones added: “If it


can generate income, then great. If it doesn’t, the community can choose to sell it.” Cllr Glyn Charlton also empha-


sised that no decision had yet been made and pointed out that the parish plan, published three years ago, showed support for the scheme to make the school avail- able for community use.


Optimism over


right of way THREE new witnesses contacted the parish council following the Downs Mail article asking for submissions to help create a for- mal public right of way. The council is attempting to


make the stretch between Millers Wharf and the Tovil Footbridge a PROW. A total of 20 signatures are needed, and after the newspa- per appeal, Cllr Derek Mortimer reported that 17 submissions had been made.


Passmore Way


breakthrough nears SOUTH ward borough council- lor Ian Chittenden reported that once Persimmon Homes has completed work on a small re- tainingwall, the PassmoreWay development could be adopted by KCC. Cllr Chittenden is also a KCC member.


Bid to cut fete losses COUNCILLORS agreed to try to cut the losses of the annual summer fete. This summer’s event produced a £1,300 loss. It was felt this figure could be re- duced to around £1,000.


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