Monchelsea Council Leaking roof


DownsMail In touch with your parish Boughton


THE village hall committee was in urgent need of a grant or loan of £16,000 plus VAT for re- pairs to the leaking flat roof The chairman had written to


both surgeries in Coxheath about the possibility of a satel- lite surgery being provided in Boughton Monchelsea, using the parish office. Both surgeries had advised they were unable to devote resources to this but would be able to offer appoint- ments to fit in with community transport. The possibility of a future satellite surgery in the parish would be investigated. A request would be made to


the Stagefrites group for a con- tribution towards costs to the parish hut for the storage of equipment inside. If the group disbanded, the former members should be asked to clear the equipment from the hut. The council strongly objected


to parliamentary boundary proposals, meaning the parish would be served by two MPs. Several residents had com- plained about the lighting of bonfires at the allotments. Bon- fires would now be prohibited until November 1. A notice had been put up asking for consid- eration from allotment holders before lighting bonfires.


Broomfield and Kingswood Council


Broadband help


RESIDENT Peter Corfield, who has agreed to be project manager for the application for super-fast broadband, was thanked on be- half of the parish. He reported on several issues and suggested training volunteers to help vil- lagers update connections for their computers, which would improve speeds. It had been agreed within the


Core Strategy response to Maid- stone Council that the parish would look at setting up a car share scheme. 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 would 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. The clerkhad received an apol-


34 South


ogy from Kent Highways regard- ing lack of information on the clo- sure of Chartway Street in October. Further closures would be required in January, and also at Gravelly Bottom Road. Mike O’Neill was co-opted on


to the council, bringing it up to full strength with nine members. Despite advertising, no-one


had volunteered to become the NeighbourhoodWatch area co- ordinator. The recent closure of Grav-


elly Bottom Road had been no- tified well in advance and was well signed and managed. The clerk had asked Kent Highways why there was no notification of a closure of Ulcombe Road, which had caused considerable inconvenience to residents with four complaints received. Despite repeated promises, Maidstone Council had still not installed the new Duck Pond Lane street signs.The clerk would chase this up. Repairs to the bus shelter in Cayser Drive had not taken place following damage to the roof by a Gallagher cement lorry in March 2011.


Chart Sutton Council Burglary alert


COMMUNITY warden Liz Lo- vatt urged vigilance following attempted and successful bur- glaries in a neighbouring vil- lage. A derelict property in Plough Wents Road had been broken into several times and repeatedly re-secured. Fly-tip- ping in Norton Road was also reported. A meeting had been arranged


with contractor Jacobs and local businesses regarding the pro- posed closure of Hertsfield Bridge next summer. It was confirmed that the quote


of £1,071 was for the purchase and fitting of two showers for the pavilion; the plumber’s fees wouldbenomorethan£250. The amenities committee had declined the request to organise the Diamond Jubilee celebra- tions as members would be busy organising the village fete. Cllr C Webb offered to organise the celebrations and assistance was offered by Cllrs V Under- down, P Forknall and P Ward, with parishioner Mary Under- down. The clerk would put no- tices in the boards asking for volunteers. Allmembers agreed the party should be at the vil- lage hall as it would be easier for food preparation and could be used if it rained. It was agreed to continue with the cur- rent arrangement of a chair- man’s allowance of £100 to cover any incidental costs and payment of any claims for out of pocket expenses.


Coxheath Council Budget agreed


THE parish council has agreed its budget for 2012/13. The ef- fect will be an increase in the parish precept amounting to an average £2 per household per year, in order to preserve the village hall grant funding into the future. The council has submitted its response to the consultation on the parish services scheme pro- posed by Maidstone Council to replace the existing concurrent functions grant funding stream. Representatives of the parish council had ameeting with sen- ior managers of KCC commu- nity warden service to register public concern at the rapid turnover of community war- dens and the attendant prob- lems of continuity and communication. The result of the recent parish


plan exhibition indicated that 76% of those who submitted a response were in favour of the parish council proceeding with negotiations to encourage the development of a site incorpo- rating commercial/employment facilities, local needs housing and assisted living accommoda- tion at Clock House Farm. The next stage would be a more de- tailed exhibition, probably this spring, but all households in Coxheath would be informed. The parish council is also to explore an opportunity to se- cure land off Stockett Lane for the further social and recre- ational needs of residents, pos- sibly with a limited amount of market housing. Again, a public consultation/exhibition would be held. The parish councilwould reg-


ister its opposition to possible boundary changes to parlia- mentary constituencies that would result in Coxheath being part of a constituency centred around Tonbridge rather than Maidstone. JoannaWatts has resumed her


role as PCSO for Coxheath and Hunton ward. Kent Highways had agreed to


clear overgrowth and detritus from the edge of the footway be- tween the eastern village boundary and Linton cross- roads to improve safety for pedestrians, especially Corn- wallis Academy pupils, using the northern side of Heath Road.


Visible policing


East Farleigh Council


PCSO Jo Watts and Sgt Nigel Douglas explained the recent police restructuring was in- tended to make uniformed offi- cers more visible. East Farleigh falls under southern Maidstone. The officers reported they had


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been active with speed enforce- ment in Dean Street and Lower Road, but felt their action to stop parents dropping children by the school had not so far been very helpful. Three crimes had been re- ported since the last meeting – thefts of electrical cable from Wilkins Corner, an air rifle and air pistol from an outbuilding in New Cut, and lead from the roof of TheWorks at Farleigh Bridge. RegardingWorkhouse Lane, a meeting was held between the trustees of the Sir John Franklyn Charity for Almshouses, coun- cillors and representatives from Kent Highways to discuss the continuing need for protection of the almshouse cottages from passing traffic. It was agreed that a Victorian-style cast iron lamp with a deflector on the side of the cottages would be helpful, along with bollards/ bells at each end and along their length. Ben Hilden from KCC Highways agreed to investigate improved signage to indicate the bends and 30mph repeater signs at the approach to the almshouses. RayMorris of the East Farleigh


Village Plan Action Group pre- sented the case for going ahead with the feasibility study.In the face of considerable opposition, it was agreed that the parish council would arrange a public meeting so that all views could be aired and a conclusion reached. A suitably independ- ent chairpersonwould be found. The council agreed not to pur-


sue the idea of purchasing the OldSchoolinTovil, jointly with Tovil Parish Council, but perhaps to register an interest in renting shared facilities and/or a parish office. Council noted the sad death


of Roy Brooker and agreed to make a donation to the relevant charity.


East Sutton Council Gift to Amos


REGARDING the employment of a street sweeper, it was reported that Amos had been presented with some secateurs in thanks for his work in the parish. No further action had been taken regarding a replacement. It was agreed that themain areas needing attention were the verges at junctions and gulley clearance. A resident asked if litter pick-


ing could be added to the street sweeper’s duties. It was re- ported that a parish resident did this already. The chairman suggested that all residents should help keep the parish clean and tidy.


Highway issues COMMUNITYwarden Rob Gra- ham said he had been working with trading standards to re-


Headcorn Council


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