DownsMail In touch with your parish Arrangements were discussed


for the DownswoodOlympics. Fly-tipping behind The Spires


shops had been reported toMaid- stoneCouncil and the police. Cllr Newton was thanked for remov- ing the rubbish. County Cllr Gary Cooke re-


ported onschool admissionprob- lems at Downswood, Bearsted and Grove Green with too many children for the places available. Temporary places would be cre- ated to accommodate the chil- dren. Concerned parents should contact him. Cllr Cooke was delighted that


the salt bins had worked so well this winter, resulting in no cars being parked on Deringwood Drive. Water mains replacement had


begun in Deringwood Drive. Work had been done on the leak at Old Church Road but there was still a problem. Concerns about temporary changes in Sunday trading on local shops would be sent to Hugh RobertsonMP. The council would trial Face-


book for six months and continue monitoring Twitter.


Harrietsham Council Site traffic


THE developer of the Hook Lane/West Street site advised that the entrance for all construction traffic would be off the A20. This is disappointing, as the final en- trance to the development will be opposite the school. The annual parish meeting was


on April 25, with the theme being Neighbourhood Planning. Janet Attwater was co-opted on


to the parish council. Martin Sherwood was congrat-


ulated for being runner-up in the KCC Community Warden of the Year competition.


Boards hazard


Hollingbourne Council


THE cost of replacing notice- boards was being investigated as theywere becoming unsafe. A resident had objected to the


parish council permitting a dog show during the fete. PCSO Siobhan De Burca con- firmed that crimes in Holling- bourne were low. She intended to introduce Country Eye, a partner- ship between the community, po- lice and NeighbourhoodWatch. A meeting had been arranged


with Ben Hilden of KCC to dis- cuss positioning of the interactive speed sign. Theparish council didnot wish


to object to proposals for a sta- ble/garden store (restrospective) at Norton Charity, Broad Street Hill; prior approval for the instal- lation of a 8.5m timber pole at Ey- horne Manor, Musket Lane; and a replacement summer house at Foxgrove House, 30 Eyhorne Street.No objection was raised to


the 60% reduction of six laurel trees at Grove House, Upper Street. A replacement camera was


being ordered for the Cardwell Pavilion CCTV system and a maintenance contract was being arranged.


Lenham Council Speed checks


THE Lenham Speedwatch team would be starting its sessions again. A section of Headcorn Road had been risk assessed and the teamswould carry out checks there. Six crimes had been reported.


The police were investigating criminal damage to a piece of equipment at the skate park. Frank Bradshaw was co-opted


as a parish councillor. A meeting had been requested


with Kent Highway services to es- tablish which lighting columns were owned by whom. There were about 30 signposts


with no signs on themaround the parish. Kent Highways would be asked to investigate. A quote would be obtained to


repair the fence in the Ham Lane play area that had suffered from children climbing over it. Maidstone Council had agreed


to re-fence the old recycling site at no cost to the parish. Manure had been deposited at


the Rayners Hill picnic site and needed to be spread. Volunteers were requested. A letter was being sent to Swadelands School to thank the school for help with the Memo- rial Cross clean-up.


Vehicle damaged Otham Council


CRIMINAL damage was reported when a vehicle was damaged by debris deliberately left on Church Road.


Chairman David Marchant


spoke to a woman claiming to be a police officer who mentioned that Otham Lane may be consid- ered as an “urban freeway due to parking problems”. Taylor Wimpey had contacted Langley, Boughton Monchelsea and Otham parish councils about proposed development at Lang- leyPark and suggested ameeting. A meeting was not felt to be ap- propriate. Donations towards the Jubilee


fund stood at £525. It was sug- gested that The White Horse char- itable trust be approached for a contribution. An order would be placed with Matta Products for the main play area unit at a cost of £2,778.75, with a decision awaited in the new financial year on work in the remaining area. The annual parish meeting was


due to take place on April 23, with the annual meeting of the parish council on May 14. The salt bin at The Avenue would be checked. The one at Honey Lane was in a poor condi-


tion.


Fly-tipping at The Avenue would be reported to Maidstone Council. Newbells had been delivered to Otham Church. The three addi- tional bells, including one com- missioned by Cllr Marchant and his wife Elizabeth, mean bell power had been doubled. A quote showing a nominal in-


crease from PaulWaring for grass cutting in 2012 was agreed. Despite fewer residents attend-


ing the village tidy this year, a lot of rubbishwas collected.


Thurnham Council Chairman quits


PETERWaite was to stepdownas chairman at the annual meeting on May 21. He would like to see the chairmanship rotate on an an- nual basis. Teston parish councillor Peter Coulling spoke to members of the council about how they formed a trust to preserve a crucial strip of village land overlooking the River Medway. Chairman Cllr Peter Waite said: “We have nothing in mind at present, but it is useful to know about this kind of thing, should the need ever arise.” The council agreed to earmark £3,500 of surplus funds for St Mary’s Church when it next needs financial help. The council has set aside a similar amount to finance proposals to extend the Averenches Road children’s play area, once the land has been re- leased by KCC. Anotice had been placed at the


end of Caring Lane warning driv- ers that the road was unsuitable for HGVs. Lorries had been a cause of concern in the lane for a long time and on two occasions had damaged the bridge over the River Len. KCC Cllr Jenny Whit- tle had been proactive on behalf of the parish council and mem- bers agreed to send her a letter of thanks.


Ulcombe Council Parish plan


The parish plan had been deliv- ered to households. The council noted the recent


death of resident Clifford Play- ford. A message of condolence was to be sent to his family. The clerk and councillorTrevor


Sharp had drafted the terms of hire for the football pitch and pavilion, and these were dis- cussed and amended. It was noted that it would not be neces- sary to charge VAT. The council was seeking clari- fication about insurance for the Jubilee beacon on the church tower. The alternative site of Church Farm was being dis- cussed with the owner. It was de- cided that Cllr Jim Noble would represent the council at ameeting to discuss the project. PCSO Alan Beech said he had


raised the question of dog control orders and byelaws, andmorede-


tails would be required. The clerk was to investigate. The council reiterated its opin-


ion that itwished to see planning permission refused for a gypsy site at The Meadows, Lenham Road, Headcorn, as there was an imbalance between the traveller and settled community. The council discussed a query relating to a tree protection order at Boy Court Farm, Headcorn. Members said the parish council didnot have grounds to challenge the borough council. Fire hydrants throughout the


parish had been mapped, serv- iced and itwas noted they should be left clear of parked cars. Cllr Joyce Braggs had inspected


play equipment and reported no concerns. Cllr Braggs had inspected the recreation ground and car park, and reported broken fencing be- tween the car park and Headcorn Road. Cllrs Noble and Sharp would reinstate the ground around the roundabout. The clerk had requested a fire extinguishers inspection at the pavilion. The new CCTV hard disk recorder had been installed and instructions received. Asite visit regarding cess pit re-


pairs was to be arranged. Cllr Sharp was to carry out the fol- lowing: alterations to the electrics box, shower cleansing, external light replacement and annual in- spection. Cllrs Sharp and Noble were to repair the lower roof. The clerk was to arrange for quotations for works to the recre- ation ground trees. It was noted that £5 million public liability cover was required. A report on the war memorial inspection would be received at the following meeting, and there were no new concerns about the bus shelter and notice board. Signs at Wents Crossroads


were included on Cllr Jenny Whittle’s funding list and ear- marked for 2012/13. Traffic speeding was discussed,


along with the merits of a 20mph limit outside the school. Cllr Peter Titchener said he was against having two speed restrictions within such a short distance. If a 20mphlimit was agreed, it should be for the whole village. It was agreed that the clerk should ask KHS about the criteria for a 20mph limit. The clerk told members about accidents on Chegworth Road, and about traffic calming meas- ures that KHS had advised. Cllr Hazel Bingham said that


the blocked footpath on Wind- mill Hill had now been cleared. It was noted that30mphtarmac patches had been installed on the HeadcornRoad and Ulcombe Hill entrances to the village, but not the EastwoodRoad entrance.The posts and settings were not as the drawings had specified. Itwas re- solved that CllrWhittle would be informed.


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