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DownsMail In touch with your parish The Farmers’ Market had


made a total profit of £393.47 since it began in the financial year 2009/10. It was agreed to pay this money to the village hall management committee to assist with its running costs for the market. An extraordinary meeting would be called to interview and co-opt to fill the parish council- lor vacancy. Whips have been planted in


the play area. Potholes and cracks on Horse-


shoes Lane were reported to KCC Highways. The Heath Road bench was re- moved for safety and a quoted for repair was awaited. Glass had been cleared from the basketball court. Ben Hilden from KCC High-


ways supplied an update on four issues, following a meeting with the parish council. Plans for four sets of gateways to be installed on all routes into Langley had been agreed.Twointeractive signs had been ordered for the SuttonRoad. Members acknowledged the lorry route signage at FiveWents on the approach from Head- corn/Sutton Valence but would like to request further M20 sig- nage on all approaches. Installation of a salt bin on the corner of Dickens Close with Copperfield Drive was noted for the end of March. The monthly inspection of the


play area reported all equipment and surfacing as satisfactory. The village hall management committee had secured £4,000 towards new chairs. Fete and ju- bilee arrangements were pro- gressingwell.


PCSO introduced Loose Council


THE new PCSO Matt Williams was introduced. He is one of a team of eight covering an area as far as Staplehurst and including Coxheath and Loose. PCSO Richard Chainey was thanked for all his work during his time in Loose.


Contractors were due to com-


plete work on the Brooks Field project by January 20. There had been no public complaints and


everyone involved was thanked. The clerk agreed to write to


“Bob the cap” (Robert Hall), ex- pressing the parish council’s thanks for all his help over the years and for taking several full van loads from Brooks Field while clearing work was being done. The first edition of the new newsletter, called Loose Views, would be ready for distribution by the end of March. Cllr Gordon Gove said he would be happy to be editor. The usual donation of £150 to


the parochial church council for the needy in the parish was agreed. It was agreed that the parish precept for 2012/13 would in- crease by £1.30 a year for a bandD property. Amanda Scott, of Maidstone council, would be meeting with pavilion and playing field com- mittee members to discuss process for the award of £102,375 of section 106 money from the Leonard Gould development. A public consultation would be needed. The committee had agreed to


carry out the white lining in the carpark and reinstate double yel- low lines to the end of Walnut Tree Lane.


Marden Council Long service


CEMETERY caretaker Ian Jones will have completed 25 years of service this year. A donation of £50 garden vouchers was recom- mended, plus a commemorative award. Six crimes had been reported


since the lastmeeting and several had involved metal thefts. Infor- mation on suspicious vehicles had been circulated to Marden Business Forum. One arrest had been made. The clerk had written to Mar-


den Minors FC regarding devel- opment options for changing rooms. The reply had included suggestions for redevelopment but no comment on finance. The club would be informed that the parish could not progress the issue without funding assistance. A training session for council-


solve parking issue AN opportunity to buy a small area of land next to East Farleigh Primary School is now seen as a potential resolution to peak-hour traffic problems in Vicarage Lane. The Sparkes family, who own the land


Plan Action Group, which sees opportuni- ties to create a parking area to serve the needs of both the school and the under- used recreation ground. An offer for the land is expected to be considered by the next meeting of the parish council.


lors was being held on the Satur- day following the May 3 election. A meeting had been held with church representatives about the mowing of the churchyard.Itwas suggested that the village care- taker could undertake one or two cuts to see how much work is in- volved and if the parish council’s mower is suitable. It was agreed to enter the Kent


Men of Trees 2012 competition and an entry cheque of £10 was signed. A resident had written about


the removal of the dog waste bin from Stanley Road.Acopy of the letter would be sent to Maidstone Coucil with a request for a waste bin in this area. A resident had complained


about litter being thrown into their garden at the entrance to Marden station. South Eastern would be asked to install a litter bin.


The public forum included concerns that litter outside the shops was an eyesore. There was a need to ensure that Maidstone Council visited on a regular basis and that the litter bins were emp- tied weekly. The borough would be contacted as these needed to be emptied more frequently if dog waste was beingplaced in normal bins.


Staplehurst Council Toilets cost


A QUOTE of £780 per annum to open the toilets daily was ap- proved.


Regarding Maidstone Council’s review of parking, it was re- quested that the Lodge Road area be highlighted asparking was get- ting worse and could be more of a problem if a supermarket devel- opment went ahead. Also, HGV parkingmade it difficult to access the industrial units. Councillors suggested double yellow lines on the corner of Lodge Road and to include gen- eral comments about other areas such as Headcorn Road. The notice boards outside the


chip shop needed replacement and Paddock Wood Lions might offer a grant towards this. Residents had complained that cars and vans were parking on


Land purchase could More join the fight to


south of the school is offering to sell about half an acre to the parish council. This has been welcomed by the Parish


save listed bridge BARMING and Fant areas are now likely to join East Farleigh with petitions to keep heavy vehicles off narrow East Farleigh Bridge over the Medway. A petition toMaidstone Joint Transporta-


tion Board is already being signed by East Farleigh residents. The listed bridge is frequently damaged


by large lorries which regularly flout a ban from using it. East Farleigh Parish Plan Action Group, which believes answers include more prominent signage and strategically posi- tioned barriers, will be circulating the pe- tition throughout the village.


and damaging Poyntell Road green. No signs were in place. The issue would be added to chairman’s letter to Maidstone Council on the parking review. The Staplehurst emergency


plan had launched and other parishes had shown interest in it. The two CCTV cameras were having a direct effect on anti-so- cial behaviour at The Parade and Market Street, and arrests had beenmade. It washoped to get as- sistance to fund a third camera. Four planters would be pur- chased and maintained. The sites would be near the junction with PinnockLane; opposite Cornforth Close; near the crossroads junc- tionwithMarden Road, and near the junction with Thatcher Road. PCSO Pete Gardner reported regular speed checks had been carried out and would continue. Licensing checks with the drug


dogs had been made at the Rail- way Tavern and random checks would continue.


Bad behaviour ANTISOCIAL behaviour had been reported near the doctor’s surgery. PCSO Nicola Morris be- lieved very young children were involved. The Community Rail partner-


Yalding Council


ship had requested that Yalding take part in a door to door survey. This will be distributed via the parish magazine. The chairman had met with County Cllr Paulina Stockell and KCCofficerswhohave agreed to a six-month trial of a transport weight restriction through Yald- ing.


The football club now has al-


most a season under its belt and has asked permission to continue into the next. It is hoped to hold a celebrity fundraising event in July and provide coaching for five to 16-year-olds at Easter. Councillors were very support-


ive of all these initiatives as long as the cricket club is consulted. The annual parish meeting and


parish councilmeeting have been scheduled for May 15. Volunteers are required to help


on Sunday, June 3, with the Dia- mond Jubilee party.


Future is bright for


church and parish A CHURCH building fit for purpose and young people bursting with energy and en- thusiasm, were the messages from St Mary’s, Sutton Valence, annual parish meeting. The churchwardens reported that rewiring and other electrical works, includ- ing the installation of a sound system, would be completed shortly. Work required under the church sur- veyor’s five-yearly inspection to make the building weather- and watertight would be commencing shortly. Attendance over the last year had re- mained stable and youth activities were vi- brant and flourishing.


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