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


Make a difference – it’s easy to stand for election


THE council is continuing to plan for the parish council elections and has produced a leaflet that explains exactly what would be expected from any person who becomes a councillor. Chairman Martin Pepper explained: “It is sur- prising the things that people think they would have to do if they became a councillor. “I am often told that it is all about politics or


you have to be political, and it really isn’t this at all. It’s about wanting to contribute to your com- munity and making sure the communities aren’t forgotten.


Tree planting is


due to start COUNCIL-funded trees for Cob- tree Manor Park are expected to be in the ground before Christ- mas.


Councillors noted that the


trees were being ordered and planting was likely to start in November. An aluminium strip would be attached to each tree with its name in English and Latin, as well as other information. Cllr Geoff Smith reported that


a plaque would be placed near a small group of trees recognis- ing the contribution of £1,000 being made by Boxley Parish Council. A Friends of Cobtree Country Park group was also being set up by Maidstone Council, he reported.


Hospital works at


Grove Green THE council has been notified that the contractors for the hos- pital construction work at Grove Green will be setting up a website to keep the public in- formed of progress. The parish office is arranging


to discuss other issues with the person responsible for the day- to-day operations and will also arrange for the highway stew- ard to be introduced. Members hope that by build-


ing up a direct relationship with the contractor any day-to- day issues that occur can be cleared up quickly.


“Each councillor decides how much time they


want to commit and hopefully the leaflet will put some of these misunderstandings to rest and an- swer some other questions.” It is not difficult to stand as a candidate in the


May 2012 election. Details are in a leaflet avail- able from the parish office or it can be emailed or sent to interested residents. Cllr Pepper added: “Residents are more than welcome to atend parish council meetings and details of the dates and locations are on the web- site or available from the parish office.”


THE county council will again be employing farmers to go out and clear the roads during bad weather and the parish council is awaiting the up-to-date schedules and will check that major roads are included. It is not possible to clear all roads in the parish and so in some residential developments the major routes will be identified to ensure once people are out of the small closes that they have cleared road to the main roads. Salt bins are placed where there are gradients and where there


Winter road clearance plans


are safety issues in bad weather. The contents are for the road/public footpath and not residents’ private drives and garden paths. Residents are asked to purchase their own supply for use on their property, which they will find at DIY stores or builders merchants.


How to use the salt


SCATTER the salt on the road when you know that traffic will be using the area as the vehicles activate the salt. KCC’s website - www.kent.gov.uk - offers excellent advice


on how and when to do this. Tip. A four-pint plastic milk (or similar) container with the bottom cut off and the lid firmly screwed on makes a salt bin scoop that can be left in the bin and easily replaced if it breaks. Replenishment. KCC should refill all the salt bins. You can ensure that yours is on the list by ringing 08458 247800


Consultation response to play equipment


AS part of the Community Or- chard the council is to take re- sponsibility for the play area. A total of 1,600 consultation


forms have now been sent out to allow children and parents to vote. At present it is not clear how


much more equipment itwill be possible to place in the area (only one item of equipment is being removed) but the top three are; Item 3 – Rope bridge


THE public are invited to come and see what is going on at BoxleyWarren and hear what is planned at two consultation days at Beechen Hall – on Friday, December 9 from 11am to 4pm and Saturday, December 10, from 10am to 1pm. Many residents fail to realise the interna-


tional importance of the area and the yew tree wood at the site.


30 East


Item 5 – Inclined weaving poles Item 6 –Weaving poles. The council is currently drawing up the job specifica- tion for the repainting of the area, which will be in green, and also arranging for the trees and hedging to be planted.  The council would still like to hear from anyone with recipe ideas they think other residents might like for inclu- sion in a cook book.


of three glades – to encourage more wildlife, the removal of a sycamore and some scrub clearance from a field, again to encourage reptiles and other wildlife. Interested residents can sign up for email


alerts as more events are planned. Councillors have been encouraged to be- come more involved by signing up to the


THE Parish Council would like to wish all its parish- ioners a merry Christmas and a happy new year and hope that 2012 will herald a lift from the difficult times that we are all facing.


Come into the


parish council’s den A COUNCILLOR has suggested putting funds into the 2012/13 budget to run a Dragons’ Den- style event. Residents and com- munity groups would be encouraged to come forward with community projects, pitch their ideas and see if the coun- cil would fund, or part fund, the project.


Speed reduction ON November 15, the parish council’s finance committee was due to study costings for the Boxley Road/Beechen Bank Road speed limit reduction. Residents have long cam- paigned for such a reduction but no funding has ever been received from KCC. The parish council has therefore indicated that it would consider paying for the legal and signage works. The cost was put at £3,199.


Road improvements THE planned resurfacing at Grovewood Drive North did not take place and the council has been told that it has been rescheduled to start in March. The delay is because this is a weather-sensitive job.


Watch out warning THIEVES are on the lookout for items such as parcels left on doorsteps and like nothing more than to collect personal details from mail left in letter boxes.


Find out about all that’s happening down at Boxley Warren Projects being undertaken are the creation


Friends of BoxleyWarren Facebook page. The clerk reported: “The page has some


very enthusiastic supporters and it is lovely to read their reports of the birds they have seen over theWarren. “The notes from Mike Phillips, Mid Kent Downs project officer, are excellent – chil- dren would love the bit about the fungus that looks like a slug.”


Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735


Season’s greetings


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