Boxley Parish Mail CHAIRMAN: Martin Pepper AN insight from Cllr Kevin Perry:
SO often I have heard these words said. However, I have a full-time job and have been a parish councillor for some 12 years. As parish councillors,we are amateur volunteers with diverse life experience and a varying skills base, who work together to create a strong team. Because of our varied life patterns we all contribute different amounts of our time accordingly. I am unable to attend weekday day meetings but I amable to contributemy time atweek- ends if the need arises. The monthly full parish council evening meetings are the only essential regular commitment one needs to make, along with the required preparation of studying the agenda beforehand. This is no
THERE is nothing wrong in asking how you will benefit from community/volun- tary work. In fact it is sensible, especially in today’s economic climate, to ensure you maximise the benefit and show it on your CV. First and foremost, if you stand for elections as a councillor you must be in- terested in your community and want to improve it. However, you personally could potentially benefit by Showing employers that you have some-
Kent Institute for
Medical Science A WEBSITE to report any is- sues caused by building works will go live prior to the com- mencement of the main works. At the request of the council
the website –
www.vincicon-
struction.co.uk/kims – will allow information to be avail- able to the public and provide a contact facility if problems arise. Parish clerk Pauline Bowdery
said: “The council is grateful to Da Vinci for offering to create this website and supports their wish to work closely with the parish council and the public. “Those without access to the internet arewelcome to contact the parish office andwewill li- aise with Da Vinci.”
Puffin crossing THE new provisional date for installation of the controlled crossing in Provender Way, Grove Green, near St John’s School will be the February half term.
What do I get in return?
thing different from other candidates. Most large companies encourage staff to do community volunteer days. Gaining management and people skills. Gaining experience of projects, managing, budget setting etc. Financial and auditing experience. Risk management. Gaining understanding/experience of a
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
‘I work full time, so I don’t have time to be a parish councillor’!
hardship as it can be fitted in at convenient times during normal weekly activities. Forme, themost important part of being on the parish council is bringing my local knowledge to the meetings, raising issues of im- portance to the community that have been brought tomy attention by fellow parishioners I have met in the street or when shopping. If you, too, care about the area in which you live and would like
to have some input, being a parish councillor is not necessarily the heavy commitment on your time that you may think it is. Go ahead, consider it – you might even enjoy it! For more information on what is involved contact the parish of- fice for a chat or a copy of the Elections 2012 leaflet.
myriad of things – meetings, committees, systems, legislation etc. There is plenty of support for new coun- cillors and training is available –more de- tails are in our leaflet. Councillors can volunteer to become
more involved in parish council business, and training opportunities often come up. If elected a small allowance can be claimed so that councillors are not out of pocket.
WaldersladeWoods and Beechen Bank roads FOLLOWING a review of the traffic and speed on Walderslade Woods Road and a public petition, the agreement by KCC to drop the speed limit to 50mph did not progress due to funds not being allocated. The council is now suggesting to County Cllr Paul Carter that his devolved highway budget, with perhaps support from the parish council, is used to get the junction work completed over a number of years. At some stage a tipping point will be reached wherein the reduction in the speed limit would be achieved by the introduc- tion of these physical junction improvements. The parish council is asking for details of the cost for the work so that it can present a strategy to KCC. Meanwhile, the change to the speed limit along Boxley Road, be-
tween Roundwood and the Medway boundary, is progressing and the parish council has asked if 40mph road roundels could be added to the project. The length of road between the statutory 40mph signs is, in its opinion, too long without reminding drivers of the speed limit.
‘Wish list’ for the future THE council is reviewing its parish im- provements ‘wish list’. A list is kept so that if any external funding becomes available then sug- gestions can be quickly put forward. The council would welcome ideas from residents and the current list can be viewed on the council’s website as part of the environment committee minutes of December 12, 2011.
IN mid December, tree planting took place at the jubilee community orchard site. Thirty-six fruit trees, 14 multi-stem hazels and hedging were all planted. Various other issues are being progressed as fol- lows: The 99-year lease is being processed by Maidstone Council. The parish council is currently working under a licence. A grant application has been made to Awards for All.
30 East
Harp Farm Road THE council heard that a recent accident in Harp Farm Road was caused by waterfromanover- flow freezing. KCC has since moved the over- flow pipe. The drainage points on
the road are also to be cleared.
Orchard update
A specification for the work on the play area is being cleared by the parish council’s OrchardWorking Group. New fencing is being investigated by the parish council. The parish council is requesting that res-
idents keep an eye on the area and report any problems to the police on 01622 690690 or the PCSO office number, 01634
Grove Green parking RESIDENTS of Grove Green are being subjected to increased and inconsiderate on-street car parking when there are events at Maidstone TV Studios. ProvenderWay is the most af- fected, with parking at junc- tions and on footways and also blocking sight lines. The studio has been con-
tacted about this. An application to extend the timeline for 142 dwellings to be built on the front of the site has been submitted and the parish council has notified Maidstone Council of the issue and ex- pressed concern that develop- ment of the existing car park will only exacerbate the situa- tion.
New salt bins COUNTY Cllr Paul Carter has agreed to the purchase of two new salt bins, one for the junc- tion of Forestdale/Walderslade Woods Road, the other at the junction of Tyland Lane and Boarley Lane.
604390. Issues can also be reported to the parish office, which is generally open from 8.30am to 3pm, Monday to Friday (01634 861237). More information. If you are on email
you can log your details with the parish office and you will receive an email up- date. The website will be updated and de- tails will also appear in the Downs Mail page.
You can e-mail the Downs Mail —
info@downsmail.co.uk
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