DownsMail In touch with your parish Continued from page 29


parish, especially near Kingswood Primary School. This was supported 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 December 2010,inregardtolandatthe Cross Drive/Pitt Road junction. She had contacted the planning officer, Geoff Brown, who hoped to dealwith it in the near future. He stated delays were due to a previous appeal per- taining to this land.


Chart Sutton Council Bench tribute


THE council will place a plaque on the picnic bench on the village green in memory of former chair- man Ann Rollinson. It would be plastic, rather than metal, to avoid it being stolen. There had been an increase in fly-tipping,with recent incidents in Back Lane and Warmlake Road. The sports pavilion at Warm-


lake Road was broken into over half-term and there was an at- tempted entry into a garage in Br- ishing Road. TheShoponthe Greenhad


been experiencing problems with underage children trying to buy cigarettes. Details of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations had been cir- culated to residents. The day would include a lunch, jazz band, sing-along with pianist, and possibly end with a thanks- giving service with hymns. Helpers would be needed on Sat- urday and Sunday, June 2 and 3. The broken fence behind the pavilion was discussed, follow- ing a complaint from a resident. The fence had been repaired many times and a hawthorn hedge had been planted to close the gaps, but both were repeat- edly broken down. Nofurther ac- tion would be taken. The Scouts had agreed to com-


plete the internal redecoration of the pavilion in time for the vil- lage fete. The main cable into the pavil-


ion was not up to the job, mean- ing the showers will only get warm and not hot. The supplier would be contacted. A budget of £300 was agreed


for the purchase/installation of a new toilet. There was a complaint regard-


ing increasing dog waste in the churchyard. A councillor would


42 South


speak to the Rev Chris Lavender. A reminder would be put in the next Village News. The No 59 busMonday to Fri-


day commercial service would be reduced by the start of April. BoroughCllr Mike Fitzgerald had asked County Cllr Jenny Whittle if it could be treated as a sup- ported service, andwas awaiting a response. The clerk was asked to reinforce this request with Cllr Whittle and KCC leader Paul Carter. It was provisionally agreed that


the parish council would pay for the removal of the concrete base at the original site of the Shop on the Green, costing about £1,000. CllrValerie Underdown had at- tended a seminar following a major fire in Grafty Green. Prob- lems had occurred due to a lack of knowledge of the location of fire hydrants. The chairman asked all councillors to note the sites of the hydrants inChart Sut- ton. A councillor had received a complaint about parking at the Buffalo’sHead. Staff had been re- quested to park in the village hall car park and this would be men- tioned again. In response to Maidstone Council’s request for suggested land for gypsy and traveller sites, the council said the parish had no potential sites and suggested urban, rather than rural areas be considered.


Coxheath Council Traffic calming


THE council has agreed to pro- ceed with plans for a revised traf- fic-calming scheme in Heath Road, subject to substantial pub- lic endorsement through exten- sive local consultation. The cost of the proposed revised scheme will be shared on a 50/50 basis between the county council and the parish council. The parish council’s share, amounting to a likely £49,000will be taken from existing funds previously set aside. The Neighbourhood Plan was


taking shape and would be pre- sented to the parish council at its March meeting for approval, with a view to public consultation. Two public surveys will be held in the near future to assess again the requirement for local needs housing and assisted living ac- commodation in Coxheath. Jo Watts had returned to the


ward as the full-time PCSO.It was hoped that a new full-time communitywarden for Coxheath would be appointed to take up duties from May. Arrangements have been agreed with both the junior and senior football clubs for the hire of the Beacon Field pitch with ef- fect from August 1. The council is to consider the recruitment of volunteer footpath wardens, in an effort to keep the rural footpaths around the vil-


lage useable and in a reasonable state of repair. The council is to purchase new display boards, in the light of the requirement to mount a number of public consultations and exhi- bitions.


Members also approved the purchase of plants for summer displays in various planters around the village.


East Farleigh council Plan objections


THE council heard that a second planning application had been received for one home at Faren House. Residents of Workhouse Lane voiced their objections and asked that the application be rec- ommended for refusal. A member of the public who


had attended the meeting on the feasibility study said it was clear to him that there was no support for housing development in the village. The council had not yet made


any plans to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee,and was not aware of any plans in the village. MandyHoward, owner of theOld SchoolHall, offered to or- ganise something – perhaps a tea in the hall and an evening party. Thematter was to be discussed at the next meeting.


Headcorn council Flooding plan


CHAIRMAN Tim Thomas said the flooding workshop and the community resilience/emergency planning workshop were very useful. The council noted that it would have to put together an emergency plan. There were 18 crimes reported.


Cllr Matthew Seymour said there appeared to be a trend in physi- cal violence and it was agreed to ask PCSO Alan Beech for details. Community warden Rob Gra-


ham is leaving his post, and his replacement is being trained. Cllr Dave Fox reported on the


SOS national conference. It was decided to make a dona-


tion of £50 to the Heart of Kent Hospice. The council heard that the bor-


ough council was inviting views on its draft community develop- ment strategy. Cllr Thomas said he had re- sponded to a letter from a resi- dent regarding speeding on Millbank. An email was received from


Jayne Shawcross regarding in- creased litter on Wheeler Street, and requesting a litter bin. The re- quest was passed to the borough council, who were monitoring the area. Ms Shawcross was also con- cerned about the dangerous road junction at SmardenRoad, which has been passed on to Kent High- ways Agency. Cllr Felicity Keeler was to at-


tend a Rural Buildings Design GuidanceWorkshop.


The county council had invited comments on their Gypsy and Traveller Allocation Policy.A meetingwas arranged in April to discuss this. The council decided to apply


to the borough council for a high speed broadband service. Cllr Thomas said that all plans


for the Diamond Jubilee celebra- tions were on track. The road clo- sure for Kings Road on June 3 had been submitted. A quiz to raise money for Christmas lights was being or- ganised byCllr Bridget Dungey at the village hall on May 5.


Hunton council Gypsy site plan


A NUMBER of parishioners voiced their objections to a plan- ning application for the change of use of land at Little Clock House, George Street, to provide an ex- isting caravan site to accommo- date three additional gypsy families in three mobile homes. Several residents provided


copies of their objections, which had been sent to Maidstone Council. The parish council recom- mended refusal and requested the application be reported to the borough planning committee. Members considered that fur-


ther development of the site would be detrimental to the sur- rounding countryside and out of keeping in a Special Landscape Area. It would also adversely affect


the setting of listed and period buildings surrounding the site. Conditions imposed in 1995


made it clear that temporary per- mission was allowed solely for the residents at that time to re- main on site. Once those resi- dents no longer remain on site, the land should be returned to its original agricultural state. It was also felt that the appli-


cants may have gypsy ancestry but had been brought up in con- ventional houses and were not leading a nomadic gypsy lifestyle.


Langley Council Car park fence


FUNDING of £500 towards the car park perimeter fence had been approved by County Cllr Eric Hotson. Regarding a planning applica-


tion for four homes at the coal yard, rear of HebronVillas, Leeds Road, Langley, it was agreed to make no comment. However, the clerk was asked to advise Maid- stoneCouncil that the parish con- tinued to have deep concerns regarding the safety of the access to the development. PCSO Richard Kirby reported


one crime in the last month – a theft at Heath Field. The parish website received 27,685 hits and 1,255 visits in January, a daily average of 893 hits and 40 visits.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk


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