duce the number of unlicensed scrap metal and waste carriers within Headcorn. The allotment day hadbeena success and included crime prevention advice and garden- ing tools being marked. Ajubilee street party in Kings


Road was planned for June 3. It was agreed to put £1,000 in


the budget for 2012/13. Parish- ioners would decide, by con- sultation, on what to spend it. A copy of a petition to Maid-


stone Council was received re- garding parking outside Nos 8 to 30, Lenham Road. The concurrent functions consultation document was re- viewed and commentsmade. It was agreed that the main loss of funding would be for footway lighting, which the borough council wished to cease. This was vociferously objected to by councillors. The council had responded to


the KCC youth review.Itwas noted that hubs being set up throughout Kent were more town based with no rural repre- sentation, which would leave Heacorn with no services. It was reported that the ‘No


Long Term Parking’ signs on the village hall approach road were working and cars were beig monitored by the clerk. It was agreed the Headcorn


Day event would be held on September 1 and 2.


Broadband boost GERALDINE Brown, chairman of Yalding Parish Council, spoke about the upgrade of broadband in her parish, which will also affect residents in Hunton. The work would be carried out by Call Flow Solu- tions in conjunction with BT. County Cllr Paulina Stockell maybeabletohelpifextra funds were needed for proper- ties in Hunton not covered. Tony Stanbridge was ap- pointed to the vacancy on the parish council. Regarding the footpath to the village hall from Bensted Close, it was reported that the work could start once the legal agree- ment had been signed by one of the landowners. The bridges for the footpath were ready. The drainage scheme on


Hunton Council


West Street had been installed. Five residents had volun- teered for speed gun training but another would be required for the course to be run. A resident had sought the parish council’s support in his request to Kent Highways for a barrier at Stonewall Oast- house, East Street, after a mo- torist crashed into the chevron sign and his fence. Members agreed to back his request. Temporary repairs to the King George V playing field car park had been made. The low-


DownsMail In touch with your parish Three crimes were reported


est quote for full repairs was £27,000. The committee would need to raise funds before any work could be done. Thirty bags of rubbish, 30


tyres and an exhaust were col- lecte in the village litter pick. The next one will be in March.


Phone box to stay Langley Council


BT would not remove the phone box on the corner of Shepherds Way and Heath Road. The clerk would con- tinue to report any further dam- age to BT.


Cable.co.uk had requested a


link to its website from the Lan- gley village website.Itwas agreed not to provide a link. The Over 60s requested the parish council to consider a do- nation for a wireless micro- phone, which would give users of the village hall more flexibil- ity to use the loop system. The chairman presented Cllr


Andy Weaver with a leaving gift and card. It was agreed to accept the


draft budget for 2012/13 as pre- sented by the clerk, therefore keeping the precept at £18,406. Further to the village hall management committee’s re- quest for assistance regarding its CCTV quote, it was agreed to seek a meeting with the com- mittee, community warden and PCSO to discuss the recent in- crease in anti-social behaviour. The £500 recently pledged by


Cllr Eric Hotson would be se- cured to help repair the car park railings at the village hall. The clerk was advised to re-


port to Kent Highways the No Lorries sign on the Ulcombe Road/Pitt Road junction needs tightening as it keeps being turned around by local youths. The community warden would be advised. It was agreed that the com- memorative mugs would have a logo in black with the wording: “Presented by Langley Parish Council on the occasion of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee” and a date. Three silver birches cost- ing around £100 each would be planted to mark the celebra- tions. Possible sites would be investigated.


Boundary changes Loose Council


THE parliamentary boundaries review was discussed at length as Loose would be in the new Tonbridge constituency which wouldmean changes to various procedures and representation. This proposal was opposed by members. The clerk would write to the Boundary commis- sion with a copy to Helen Grant MP. A resignation letter was read


from Cllr Craig Baxter. He was thanked for his services to the parish.


since the last meeting including criminal damage to the wall by the bus stop on Linton Road. This had been an ongoing issue anditwas finallylikelythata bus would be going from the Cornwallis site in the new year. Notification had been re- ceived that large potholes out- side the Post Office would be filled in by Kent Highways. County Cllr Eric Hotson re- ported that £6,000 from his highway fund had been autho- rised towards the crossing im- provements outside Loose School.


Disappointment was ex- pressed by the chairman at the poor take-up of the Loose Youth Club, currently held at the YMCAcentre. Leaflets had been given out to youngsters at Cox- heath, Boughton Monchelsea and Loose areas regarding the club and the facilities on offer. It was agreed to ask the YMCA for advice on the best option to proceed. Loose had been awarded a


free tree from Kent Men of the Trees for coming within the top 10 in the Trees in Your Village competition.


Marden Council Post box move


THE Royal Mail had notified the parish council of its inten- tion to relocate the post box at Sherenden Lane,nearabusy junction, to further along Goud- hurst Road. The council re- sponded that the new position was just as dangerous. Thankswere given to the Busi-


ness Forum for its donation to- wards presents for Santa’s grotto. Any presents left over from the 2011 Marden at Christmas event would be passed to Blantyre Prison for its family day. It had been reported that sev-


eral buses had not turned up at the expected time and this would be investigated. A train had stopped short of


the platform, resulting in two passengers alighting from the train on to the track. This had been reported to Southeastern. A resident reported there was


an uneven footpath outside the Post Office doorway. This would be investigated and re- ported to Kent Highways. A second resident felt that re-


pairs to Plain Road were unsat- isfactory and thiswould also be reported to KHS.


Clean and tidy REGARDING litter near the kebab shop in Market Street,it was agreed that the caretaker should spend an hour a week to keep the area tidier. Golding Homes would be contacted be- cause its tenants had been seen dropping litter. Following a resident’s email,


Staplehurst Council


Kent Highways would be asked to review the area around the Hanmer Way/Pinnock Lane junction for signs and road markings. Four vehicles had been damaged recently due to speed. A resident raised concerns


about speeding at Church Hill. It was agreed to ask Kent High- ways and the police to recon- sider traffic islands or bollards. It was reported that Sussex County Council had awarded funding for a six-month trial of a two-hourly Sunday bus serv- ice from Staplehurst to Hawkhurst. Sixty entries to the photo- graphic competition had been received from 23 people. Early plans had been made


for a litter pick of residential areas in March. South Hall would be hired for refresh- ments for the volunteers. Quotes for a concrete path-


way and an eco-friendly mulch path for the churchyard were being pursued. A quote for £2,094.86 for the


CCTV camera pole and vandal resistant lamp at Jubilee Field was accepted. It was noted planning permission would be required for this installation.


Precept agreed


Sutton Valence Council


The budget for 2012/13 was set. A proposal for the precept to be set at £28,000 was discussed and agreed by six councillors with one abstention. The clerk was asked to con-


tact allotment holders at Bowhalls and ask whoever had been dumping their unwanted vegetables to remove them. The possible siting of the bins behind Church Cottages was discussed. The clerk would li- aise with the parishioner about the best position for the wooden structure to house the bins. Adonation had been received


from Sutton Valence independ- ent school for £6,136 towards the new play area at the War Memorial field. A cheque from the fundraising had been handed over at the school as- sembly. The clerk was asked to write to express the gratitude of the parish council. The condition that the pavil-


ion was being left in after foot- ball matches was discussed. A housekeeping list would be left in the pavilion to be actioned by every team. Regular checks would be made by council members. A meeting had been held


with Kent Highways to discuss parking issues at Southways. The council agreed to ask for the suggested narrow double yellow lines on both corners.


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