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Addington Council Lorries charge


CHAIRMAN Pat Garrett dis- cussed a newspaper article sug- gesting that foreign lorry drivers might be charged for coming into Kent. It was agreed the clerk should write to KCC Cllr Sarah Hohler expressing the council’s delight at the proposal. The council noted a KCC plan


to add an area of land forming part of Addington Village Green to the Register of Village Greens. The Fields in Trust had re- turned the sealed deed desig- nating the recreation ground as a QEII Field. A plaque was due to be delivered. Members agreed to pay approx- imately £110 for three elm saplings to be planted on the recreation ground to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.Asug- gestion to plant bulbs on theA20 was approved. The council heard that an oak tree was planted in the churchyard to mark the Queen’s coronation and it was agreed that the clerk should try to obtain a tree from theWoodland Trust to mark the jubilee. Aprogramme of events for the Diamond Jubilee weekend was agreed. There will be an exhibi- tion on the history of the village in the village hall on June 3 and 4, an exhibition on the history of St Margaret’s Church in the Ge- offrey Grimes Room; tours around the Seekers Trust on June 2 and tours of the Neolithic Stones on June 2. Of those who responded to


the questionnaire regarding ju- bilee celebrations, 97 per cent felt the council should hold an event, and of these, 75 per cent wanted it to be a family event. It was agreed there would be a family event in the village hall on June 2, from 4pm. A magi- cian would be booked for a fee of £275, and a band, Red Sky, forafeeof£600. It was decided that the clerk should apply for a community enhancement grant to cover these costs, and the cost of fly- ers. Once ticket prices had been agreed, flyers would be sent out to each household. Cllr Peter Robinson agreed to


ask the golf club if they would have the bonfire beacon on their grounds on June 4. KCC had submitted a request


for funding to improve safety at the junction with Seven Mile Lane. Cllr Garret said a resident had expressed concern about the 60mph limit in St Vincent’s Lane after an accident. It was agreed that the clerk would ask KCC to consider lowering it. It was noted that a new sign


had appeared outside The Vine- yard Restaurant. The clerk was to find out if planning permis- sion had been obtained, and to ask the owner to advise his cus-


tomers not to block the footpath when parking. The borough council had ad-


vised that a litter bin could be installed near the Jet garage on the A20, if the parish council was to pay £296.75 for the bin and installation. The bin would then be emptied by the borough council. This was agreed. County Cllr Sarah Hohler said


that if member grants continued in 2012/13, she would pay for a replacement map for the board in the Clearway. The clerk was to write to the owners of the golf club about the hole in the ragstonewall around the club, to ask them how they were maintaining the wall. Cllr StephenMacDonald Gray


said it would be beneficial to have plastic recycling facilities in the village, and Cllr Peter Robinson agreed to discuss this with the borough council. Cllr Robinson reported that


the village hall committee had funding for a number of new projects. They are: a storage annex for tables and chairs; a patio/outdoor activity area for concerts and daily use by the kindergarten; upgrading of the entrance area with a new canopy, doors and flooring and upgrading of the toilet areas. They were also considering in- stalling solar panels. Cllr Robinson told the council


that following the registration of the recreation ground as a QEII field, an application had been made to SITA for a grant to up- grade the ground and provide a wheelchair lift into the pavilion. Cllr Robinson and the clerk


had circulated the second draft of the parish plan for comment. A draft action plan had been prepared for presentation to the annual meeting. An application to deregister


the track on the village green would need to be made to the Planning Inspectorate. The council agreed to do this on con- dition the residents of the green paid the £4,900 fee and related costs; that the residents acquired a suitable piece of land that could be offered for exchange, and that the council is offered reasonable access for mainte- nance of the green. Members noted that nomina-


tions for the Try Angle awards were required by April 30.


Aylesford Council Road closure


THE High Street road closure will continue, possibly until April 23.Workwill then start in Rochester Road. Community warden Adam McKinley reported a resident had a catalytic converter stolen. Information on this type of theft is available on the Kent Police website. Tony Iantosca is the new PCSO for Aylesford.Itwas


hoped to set up an anti-social behaviour group similar to that held for Eccles, Burham and Wouldham, and coffee morn- ings in the Royal British Legion village.


Roxanne Wilson was intro-


duced as the new PCSO for Ec- cles, Burham andWouldham. There were parking issues around the Walnut Tree build- ing site. Some contractors’ vehi- cles were using the layby parking places and the grass verge was being damaged by lor- ries and buses turning due to the Aylesford village closure. Borough Cllr David Smith had visited companies on the Dea- con Industrial Estate to seek their support in getting employ- ees to park on the estate rather than Forstal Road and there had been some improvement. Cllr Smith reported a danger-


ous incident of cows escaping from the Museum of Kent Life land on to Forstal Road. The council responded to the


Kent Youth Service review con- sultation with the view that funding should be retained for outreach workers and youth buses which reach “street kids” – those who do not attend or- ganised groups such as youth clubs and Scouts.


PCSO moves on Birling Council


PCSO Kim Hockey introduced Laura Bullen who will be re- placing her when she returns to the Tonbridge area. Payment for the salt bin had


been received andKentHighways had refilled it free of charge. Regarding the jubilee celebra-


tions, a meeting had been held with the village hall committee and full details of their plans for a street party and the refurbish- ment of the lychgate discussed. Kent Highways had advised


that Ryarsh Road was a major through road and it was highly unlikely that closure would be agreed. It was decided that the party should take place outside the village hall and church, being the centre of the village. Applications had been submit-


ted to the borough’s community enhancement fund for the village party and lychgate refurbish- ment. Mr David Nevill would fund the community art project. Kent Highways had apolo-


gised for not having advised the clerk of the road closure due to roadworks in Ryarsh. Council- lors noted the increase in traffic. The council had no objections


to applications for the reposi- tioning of an overhead line and telegraph pole in Ryarsh Road and for alterations to a chimney stack at 84 Ryarsh Road. Permission for a cattery be-


hind 117-119 Sandy Lane, Snodland, had been granted by Tonbridge and Malling Council with conditions.


Twinning funds Ditton Council


IT WAS agreed that £1,000 set aside for twinning in the 2011/2012 budget should be paid to the twinning association. The council heard about the importance of boundary stones, and that it had been recom- mended at the open spaces meeting that some council members work on the project to locate the stones and get them listed. It was resolved to offer two tickets to the council’s Christ- mas Dance as a prize for the KentARA AGM raffle. Members agreed to provide a bouncy castle and roundabout at the community day on June 24. Borough Cllr Carol Gale said


she had been contacted about bicycles being ridden in the dark without lights. She had contacted the community war- den John Newton, who was to run a bicycle safety campaign. Cllr Gale reported on a meet-


ing with Cobdown residents re- garding anti-social behaviour.It was hoped to set up a meeting with police, the Kenward Trust and representatives from busi- nesses on the site. Cllr Gale said she had spoken


to KHS about a salt bin for Cob- down Close and KCC Cllr Peter Homewood had agreed to fund it from his members highway grant. The council heard that a


group of youths had been seen possibly sharing drugs on the footpath through the Cobdown site. Cllr Gale said this would hopefully be dealt with at the residents’ meeting. The council heard that two


drain covers had been stolen in the Mallings area and two ar- rests had been made. It was reported that PCSO Rob


Sayer had left to start his train- ing as a police officer. A new PCSO was to start in late March. It was noted that a planning application had now been sub- mitted for the unauthorised hot food takeaway at the Kentish Quarryman. It was suggested that the coun-


cil publicises that awards would be made to people who had made an outstanding contribu- tion to the parish and invite nominations. It was also sug- gested that clubs and organisa- tions be invited to give a talk on their activities and achieve- ments.


Tribute to doctor Hadlow Council


TRIBUTE was paid to the late Dr Margaret Marshall who would be much missed. Both she and her husband had been active members of the village, with Marshall Gardens being named in recognition of their services to the community.


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