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Addington Council Jubilee views


A LEAFLET/questionnaire ask- ing views on the Queen’s Dia- mond Jubilee celebrations would be delivered to all house- holds. Itwas proposed that a vil- lage celebration should take place on Saturday, June 2. The Angel Inn would be organising a series of events over the jubilee weekend including a jazz band, morris dancers and a barbecue. PCSO Kim Hockey had been


to East Street a number of times over the last month and spoken to a small group about litter. There had been no further com- plaints since then but the PCSO would continue to patrol the area. A quote for £1,940 for cutting


the village greens for 2012/13 was accepted. A letter from a resident ex- pressed concerns about the pos- sible dangers to motorists from transporters stopping on the A20 and delivering cars to BMW. The following planning appli- cations were considered with no objections: Unit A Endeavour Park, London Road, 21 solar ar- rays to existing roof; Hernewell Farm, London Road, use of land and buildings as shop; Wych- wood, Sandy Lane, roof alter- ations with dormer windows. It was noted that Maidstone Council had approved upgrad- ingworks for an existing annexe at Lane Farm House, Mill House Lane, tomake it appear more in keeping with the existing prop- erty.


Regarding Hernewell Farm


Shop, the large sign erected on the opposite side of the road had been removed. A site visit had been made to


St Vincent’s Lane. The trees causing the damage to the road are thought to be privately owned and have preservation orders. The display board at the en-


trance to the Clearway had been forced open and the millennium map had been removed. The clerk would try to obtain a re- placement. A donation of £2,000 was agreed to obtain matched fund- ing for roof repairs and security at the Pavilion. The moles were back at the village green and the clerk had arranged for a pest control firm to make more visits. KCC was investigating the cost


of adding some wording to the only blank arm of the finger post on the triangle by the Angel. Aquote for £600 was accepted


for removing a diseased horse chestnut on the western bound- ary of the recreation ground and pollarding a black poplar.


Aylesford Council Vicar welcomed


THE REV Chris van Straaten, Vicar of Aylesford, was wel- comed to the meeting. He thanked the parish council for its continued support in respect of care of the churchyard, flood- lighting, Christmas tree festival and other capital projects. Any funding from the council only goes towards the church build- ing and its surroundings, which the vicar sees as belonging to the whole community. Friends of Aylesford Church (which includes the council) are currently fundraising for restoration of the organ and es- tablishing a garden of remem- brance in the churchyard for the burial of ashes. Ways in which the church


might assist with community matters and events were dis- cussed. The parochial church council


had suggested it could become involved with projects to cele- brate the Diamond Jubilee and youth work. There had been a number of


drain cover thefts in the Holt Wood area and the PCSOs said this was a problem across the parish. Chairman Joyce Gadd commented that KCC had re- sponded quickly to replace stolen covers. Community warden Adam McKinley (Aylesford) had been working to get fly tipping re- moved from Rochester Road. He was aware of the recent theft of horse rugs and a telephone scam involving credit card details. He had also reported a flooding problem in Hall Road to Kent Highways. Community warden David Leipnik had arranged for graffiti on the Eccles bus shelter to be removed. There was an issue with sight


lines being obscured by a white van regularly parking on the cor- ner of Bull Lane and Eccles Row, and this was being discussed with Kent Highways. The warden thanked council-


lors on behalf of the Pop In Club for their micro grant contribu- tions. A gross expenditure budget of £3,000,433 and precept of £188,176 for 2012/13 were agreed. It was reported that work on


the culvert in Aylesford, requir- ing the closure of theHigh Street for up to eight weeks, would start on January 30.Acouncillor queried the lack of advertising of the closure,which was said to be the responsibility of KCC. The county council would provide a sign in Aylesford village direct- ing visitors to the church. Regarding theAylesford park-


ing review, councillors had agreed to support minimal yel- low lining on junction corners


but to strongly oppose charging in the borough council car parks. The issue of taxi parking in the village centre was also raised. A councillor expressed con-


cern at the large number of oak trees that had been removed.He would like to see an order intro- duced by Tonbridge andMalling council that no further oaks be removed unless the tree officer agrees they are diseased and re- moval is unavoidable. The coun- cil agreed to write a letter.


Salt bins solution Birling Council


THE misunderstanding regard- ing the allocation of salt bins had been resolved and a new bin was currently awaiting a con- venient date to be sited. A revised budget was circu-


lated and it was agreed that, de- spite the 13% decrease in allocation from the borough council, the parish would not re- quest an increased precept for 2012/13. Any shortfall in the precept would be met from re- serves but an increase may be necessary for 2013/14. It was suggested that work on


The Bank may be a suitable topic for the agenda for the annual parish assembly. Members were advised that


£25 had been donated to Kent BTCV in 2010 but it was agreed that, as Birling does not own any trees, no donation would be made this year. The diocese had confirmed


that work on the church wall could start, possibly in the spring. The traffic calming work in Birling Road hadbeencom- pleted but Kent Highways had advised that the cobble setts were 10mm lower than planned and would be relaid at a date to be confirmed. The clerk was liaising with County Cllr Sarah Hohler and Kent Highways regarding the possibility of a flashing sign in Ryarsh Road. No objections were made to a planning application for a cat- tery to the rear of 117-119 Sandy Lane, Snodland. It was noted that Maidstone Council had ap- proved an application for a dou- ble car port with storage room above at 249 Snodland Road, Birling.


Extension view REGARDING a planning appli- cation for an extension and al- terations to a garage at 15 Cedar Close, the council was con- cerned about the terracing effect of the proposal and the effect it would have on the street scene. No objection was raised to


Ditton Council


plans for extensions at 15 Cob- down Close. It was noted that Tonbridge


and Malling Council had ob- jected to the development of a


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


metals recycling facility at AylesfordMetal Co, New Hythe Lane, unless 11 issues were sat- isfactorily addressed.


Precept decision


East Malling and Larkfield Council


THE parish precept of £231,719 for 2012/13 was adopted . This results in a rate of £43.90 for a Band D property. Complaints had been received regarding the unsatisfactory fence panels to thewestofBone Alley which had fallen onto the path. KCC had been informed that a replacementwas needed for the flag that had been taken from the bus stop pole on the southern side of the A20. It was noted that Maidstone Council had approved, with conditions, the change of use of land adjoining 260 Watering- bury Road, East Malling, to a static holiday log cabin (cara- van). Atwo-storey rear extension at


16 Busbridge Close, East Malling, had been refused. The chairman reported that a resident of Four Acres had re- ceived notification from Russet about planstoredevelop the garage area and build shared- ownership homes on the site. It was noted that Barming


Parish Council was resurrecting the Hermitage Quarry Liaison Group and a meetingwas due to be held on February 8. The work carried out to the


trees at Glebe House, 226 New Hythe Lane, Larkfield, had been unauthorised. The owner was informed that hemust not carry out any further work until he has received written consent from the borough council. County Cllr Trudy Dean had received requests for “Not Suit- able for HGV” signs at either end ofMill Street,West Malling, and was making enquiries at Kent County Council. Play equipment at New Road,


East Malling, had been damaged and a quote for £434.50 for re- pairs was agreed.


Old school tender Hadlow Council


COUNCILLOR Bright and Cllr Hyams agreed to help the parish office with a tender document for redecoration of the old school. Cllr Anderson had attended


the parish partnership panel meeting and heard a presenta- tion from the Local Government Boundary Commission with re- gard to the electoral review of Tonbridge and Malling. CllrAn- derson encouraged councillors and residents to make represen- tations once the review went to public consultation. Philip Hurling gave a report


on the new Hadlow Patient Par- Continued on page 30


Malling 23


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