DownsMail In touch with your parish Continued from page 32
The crime report included the
the refurbishment of the chil- dren’s playground from County Cllr Paul Carter’s fund. The total cost would be about £3,000 to include new swings, rope net- ting, flooring and repairs to the aerial swing. Apoplar tree is to be removed because the roots are causing the existing flooring to lift. Members approved a proposal
by chairman Cllr Charlie Hewitt to ask the school to run a com- petition to paint a replacement picture for the side of the slide, possibly with a Diamond Ju- bilee theme. A prize could be a named plaque. Applications for a govern- ment-funded Paths for Commu- nities grant could only be made after April 23. Some match funding would be required and it was suggested it may be pos- sible to work with Bredhurst Woodland Action Group. A quote had been sought for surfacing the bridle path KH49 and the byway to Day Valley. A price for fencing along KH49 on Kemsley Street Road had been requested. The enforcement case regard-
ing change of use at Bredhurst Nurseries, Dunn Street, had now been closed. Maidstone Council stated that no breaches were evident and the restaurant was currently closed. MBC would be informed of reports that the restaurant was still in use for Sunday lunches and special occasions. Councillors supported a listed building application for re- placement window and cre- ation of a sunken patio at Green Court, The Street, Bredhurst. Plans for a conservatory and detached tractor/implement store at Arran Bank Stables, Dunn Street, have been ap- proved by MBC with condi- tions.
Regarding the building of a
new stable block/ménage in a field next to Oaklands, the bor- ough had confirmed that the landowner had not yet submit- ted an application. It was re- ported that large vehicles were driving into the site where there was no dropped kerb and there was a lot of mud on the road. Kent Highways would be in- formed. A village-tidy up was being organised for Sunday, April 1.
Faster broadband
Broomfield and Kingswood Council
COUNTY Cllr Jenny Whittle praised the super fast broad- band bid submitted with Leeds and Hollingbourne councils. It waswell supported by residents and was likely to be successful. Broomfield and Kingswood project manager Peter Corfield was praised for a job well done.
50 East
theft of a gate from Gravelly Bot- tom Road and a theft in Lenham Road.
Assistant clerk Mrs Gail Gos-
den was appointed as parish clerk, following the resignation of Mrs SueWotton. A committee meeting was
being arranged to discuss the setting up of an affordable housing register for the parish. It was reported that a rented
unit in Peter Pease Close was now unoccupied and the bor- ough council had requested a further meeting with the parish council and Orbit about the set- ting up of a parish register to ensure the housing was allo- cated to people having the req- uisite local connection. Cllr Mike Evans had sug- gested several local sites for in- clusion in the borough’s Heritage Open Days in 2012. These included Barrack Cot- tages (Napoleonic Wars), St Margaret’s Church (11th century and earlier), Church Farm, Roses Manor Farm and the World War II Spitfires and Dornier crash sites. Members agreed and asked the clerk to li- aise with Cllr Evans before sub- mission of suggested sites. Funding for a replacement plaque for St Margaret’s Well had been approved. Cllr Justin West offered to obtain three quotes and to undertake the work at no cost. It was also sug- gested that thewell be included in the Heritage Open Day sites. Repairs to the bus shelter in Cayser Drive had been com- pleted almost a year to the day after it was damaged. Cllr Mike O’Neill had pre-
pared a report on the poor pro- vision of salt bins in the parish, especially near Kingswood Pri- mary School. This was sup- ported by head teacher Emma Hickling. The issue would be raised with KHS. Arrangements for the pen- sioners’ outing to Hever Castle on Tuesday, May 15, were dis- cussed. Although the clerk was retiring on April 20, she had agreed to organise and run the trip on behalf of the council. The clerk had received a com-
plaint about the length of time Maidstone Council was taking to determine a planning appli- cation submitted in Decem- ber,2010, in regard to land at the Cross Drive/Pitt Road junction. She had contacted the planning officer, Geoff Brown, who hoped to deal with it in the near future. He stated delays were due to a previous appeal per- taining to this land.
Employment drive THE issue of youth employment was put forward by the chair- man of the council, Geoff Cos- grove, who said the parish
Detling Council
should “try to help those young- sters trying to get jobs”. Cllr Mark Housden said local youths looking for work could be put on a database, and Cllr Irene Bowie suggested help with CVs and interview techniques. They were asked to investigate and report to next month’s meeting. The council received a news release from Detling Society re- porting the next meeting could be its last. April’s meeting of Detling Society will be held on Monday, April 2 and is entitled “The History of BredgarVillage”. Cllr Cosgrove said Detling Soci- ety should have a stall at the “Meeting with the Parish” event. South East Water was to cut
down a large oak tree and cop- pice other trees by the balancing pond in Horish Wood before starting repair work on a water pipe in
September.Ashort plas- tic fence would also be erected to collect newts from the pond. John Monk, who tends the wood, said SEWater should lay something on the paths or it would get muddy. Cllr Geoff Cosgrove asked Mr Monk to keep an eye on the progress of South EastWater’s works. New Cllr Irene Bowie was
made responsible for tourism and publicity and would submit a draft flyer for themeeting with the Parish event on May 15. Detling Women’s Institute agreed to attend next month’s meeting of the parish council to discuss Jubilee celebrations. The WI is planning a meal for 100 people in the village hall. Entertainment had been booked and the WI was applying for fireworks to be set off in the old school playing field. The coun- cil agreed to the WI’s proposals and would help with the risk as- sessment on condition it does not have a bonfire on the field. A souvenir for every household would be discussed when rep- resentatives from DetlingWI at- tend the meeting. Several residents voiced con-
cern over vans parked near a building site in Hockers Lane. Another member of public sug- gested double yellow lines were needed from the Ware Street junction. County Cllr Jenny Whittle said there was a plan to paint yellow lines and she could fund the cost of this work. Cllr Whittle reported KCC Highways would remove the old ARMCO barrier at the junc- tion of Hockers Lane and The Street. The parish, along with Cllr Whittle, were unsure whether a replacement barrier was required. She agreed to make enquiries about the need for a replacement. An email, read out by Cllr Cosgrove said that tree wardens were no longer being funded by British Trust for Conservation volunteers. The council decided to keep the tree wardens on the
parish’s books and redefine their role but would no longer respond to BTCV requests for contributions. Juliet Cox talked to the coun-
cil about her ideas for an infor- mation board in Horish Wood. The council asked John Monk what the focus of the board should be. Cllr Housden felt it should be a map of the paths and rides. Ms Cox told the council the best boards were simple and
uncluttered.Ms Cox would pass material and ideas to Sally Evans to illustrate. The metal fence around the
old school playing field had been cut, making it unsafe as it was no longer an enclosed area. The council would get a quote for repairs from Glebe Fencing and one other.
Downswood Council Fallen tree
CLLR Roberts reported that a tree had fallen down between Cotswold Gardens and the Spot Lane/Old Church Road triangle. The fishing club notice board
at Mallards was still in a poor condition. Madginford Junior School
was due an Ofsted inspection. The council discussed ongo-
ing plans for the celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Cllr Bill Greenhead was to fi- nalise the design around the tablet, and meetings were to be arranged with MVCP to discuss planting around it, with natural plants such as primroses the preferred choice. The focus is to be on providing habitat for bees and butterflies. It is hoped that stone will be ready to unveil as part of the celebrations on June 4. Plans for a 40s-style big band event were discussed. A spring clean was arranged
for April 14. Cubs and Brownies would be invited to the event. Cllr Simon Roberts had signed
up to be a local leader with re- gard to the Olympic celebra- tions. Plans include races for all ages, and a tug of war. Cllr Roberts has spoken with John Leaf of MPE football club, who has agreed to support the event by on Saturday, July 14. Suggestions for consideration include a Downswood Olympic logo, hire of the Scouts Road Show, and hire of the Orchard Spot’ function room. The borough council ap- proved the outdoor gym equip- ment, but requested it should be located on the field, at the bot- tom of the play area. A further discount was negotiated with Caloo, reducing the price to £10,495. The equipment was in the process of being installed. With regard to the Christmas Carols and Lights event, the clerk was to request a copy of the hall’s User Information Pack to refresh everyone’s memory with regard to usage conditions.
You can e-mail the Downs Mail —
info@downsmail.co.uk
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