hall, providing another small hall, stage, storage, second kitchen, toilets, and a new large bar was being planned and grant funding would be sought.


New councillor VILLAGE resident Melvin Bar- ton was co-opted to fill the va- cancy for councillor. There has been one incident


Ryarsh council


of theft from an industrial unit on the park. A suspect has been arrested and charged. Angela Watts from KCC, said


there was no documentation to say Gallaghers had to remove anymore trees fromWorkhouse Quarry. Cllr Dave Storey had spoken


to David Hickens Associates about Ryarsh Park. There was no sign of development starting, although work had started on installing a cattle grid. Kelly’s Transport was operating from the site 24 hours a day, despite hours imposed by the local au- thority, and other operators were working out of hours. Councillors agreed to oppose any attempt to increase hours. The clerk was to pursue a complaint with Environmental Health about noise pollution. It was reported that street


lights outside Brook Cottages and on the traffic calming is- land on Birling Road were not working, and that the BT man- hole cover outside Brook Cot- tages needed attention. Works to The Street were said


to be progressing. The clerk was asked tomake enquiries about a sign at the bottom ofWorkhouse Road, which had been removed. Cllr Frederick Jenner said Alastair Coleman had not been in touch about emptying the catchment pit on Sandy Lane. The clerk was to contact him. Cllr Storey said Spadework


had cleared the ditch, and coun- cillors agreed they would like to make a donation to the group. Cllr Storey had liaised with Highway Services about the state of trees on the banks of the Street, which were falling on to the road. Highway services were to issue a Dangerous Trees Notice on the landowner. It was agreed to enter into a


street lighting contract with PSR lighting at a cost of £97 permonth and to ask them to undertake a clean andwipe of the lights. PSR had quoted £145 to replace each lamp with an LED one, which would bemaintenance free. Itwas agreed to maintain the existing lights for as long as possible. PSR had quoted £550 to move


a light further away from Forstal House, so that trees were not a problem. It was suggested that the landowner be asked to pay half the cost. It was reported that the foot-


path MR149 was being used as a bridleway. Horses were com-


DownsMail In touch with your parish The annual parish meeting


ing out on to The Street, and the pathway was being damaged. The clerk was to notify the Pub- lic Rights ofWay officer.


Snodland council Jubilee events


IT was agreed that some of the money set aside for the Jubilee celebrations should be used to buy bunting for town council of- fices, the recreation ground and cricket meadow. Each of the or- ganisations running a Jubilee event would be given £50 to help with their costs. A new bench would be bought for the recre- ation ground, and if there is suf- ficient money, a bench will be bought for the cricket meadow. Planning permission for a


new area of car parking be- tween Cemetery Road and the MUGA has been granted and quotations for the work will be called for. The area of parking is intended to serve the cemetery.


Trottiscliffe Council Council tax


THERE was to be no increase in the council tax by KCC. The county council would not be charging for Jubilee road closures. Chairman Ann Kemp said the borough council had to increase the council tax by 2.9% because of a reduced grant from Gov- ernment – this would mean about 9p per person in band D. However, because there were fewer empty houses in Trot- tiscliffe compared to last year, the precept would go down. Cllr Martin Collins said the village hall committee had bought a new cooker. Details of events at the village hall would be emailed to the chairman of the tennis club to help with parking problems. Cllr Trevor Ledamun reported


a pothole outside the Red House in Taylors Lane. Cllr Kemp had spoken to the


head of Waste and Street Scene Services about litter.He said the mechanical sweeper did the road every 12 weeks. The entrance to the play area


is to be monitored, and if neces- sary, turf put down. Vice chairman RichardWallis reported that plans for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee cele- brations were going well. A lunchwas planned in the Street for the Saturday, and an appli- cation had been submitted to close the road. The church was to organise events on Sunday and on Monday there would be a safari supper, followed by the lighting of the beacon. A mar- quee would be erected. The council agreed that a sou-


venir of the occasion would be presented to children in the vil- lage and those attending Trot- tiscliffe School. The clerk had been told the


letter box in The Street would be replaced.


was set for May 3, and the an- nual general meeting on June 7.


Medal souvenirs


Wateringbury council


A SAMPLE of the Queen’s Dia- mond Jubilee medals was shown to councillors and the public. The parish council has donated a medal for each child in the school. Phillip Harrison introduced himself as the village’s new PCSO. He can be contacted on the 101 police number. Three crimes were reported


in the village last month – the theft of number plates from a vehicle in Canon Lane, power tools, sat nav and high visibility BT jackets stolen from a parked vehicle in Fields Lane, and a double decker bus broken into and driven round the station car park, damaging parked vehicles. Terms of the council’s street


lights contract with EDF were discussed. The council would write to Ofgen. Mike Witts reported work on


the playing fields had been completed. The top soil had been spread and turves laid. A further 1,000 sqmwould be im- proved in October. Litter was a problem and another Bash the Trash day was suggested. The cost of hiring the village


hall would be increased by about 50p per hour from September. More volunteers are needed


for the Speedwatch teams. The No 7 Sunday bus service


is now two-hourly and weekday times have changed. Passengers are advised to check.


Commuter parking CLLR Trudy Dean referred to emails regarding commuter parking at Leybourne Woods and said work had been funded by County Cllr Sarah Hohler’s Member’s Highway Fund. Cllr Parker said fly-tipping


West Malling council


was occurring at Fartherwell Road. Cllr Dean said this was the responsibility of the owner. The council had been asked to submit comments on the South East Water drought plan by April 4. Members were asked to view the document if they wished to comment. Cllr Dean said CPRE Kent was very con- cerned about the situation. A meeting had been held with


the streetlighting contractor Sim- mons Lighting. It was agreed to carry out lamp changes, electrical changes and a structural survey, at a cost of £3,402. Members agreed that the Mark


II club could use the playing field for its spring car meet on April 22, for a £50 donation. The council had received nomination forms for the Envi- ronmental Champions awards. It was agreed to nominate the


Visit Downs Mail’s website — downsmail.co.uk


Macey’sMeadows volunteers. The council had been asked to


meet the £200 cost of reducing the hedge overhanging the war graves. This was agreed, al- though the hedge is owned by Lady Whitford. The clerk was to write to her to ask her for a con- tribution. It was agreed that allotment hedging should be inspected annually by tenants and mem- bers. One plot had a greenhouse which did not have planning permission.


Marquee request


West Peckham council


THERE was a request to erect a marquee on the village green over the Jubilee weekend. The council said the marquee should be taken down and litter cleared by 6pm on the Sunday. Inspector Allen presented the


new policing module to the council, and said there would be an increased police presence. PCSO Kim Hockey was intro- duced as an additional PCSO for the area. Suspicious activity had been


noted on Swanton Road,with vehicles meeting and possible exchanges made. Anyone see- ing anything suspicious was asked to report it to Mr Conroy or call the police on 101, or 999 in the case of an emergency. Borough Cllr Jill Anderson


asked the council for the num- ber of young people in the parish,with regard to the provi- sion of youth services. Thiswas estimated at 25. Cllr Anderson also asked if the mobile library visited the parish and this was confirmed. The clerk mentioned the issue


of litter on Mereworth Road, and Cllr Anderson agreed to in- vestigate. Since the meeting, the borough council had confirmed that the road was to be swept and litter-picked by the end of April.


Roadworks are scheduled to


take place along Swanton Road from June 4-12. A gate had been placed across a footpath that the coun- cil had applied to be recognised as a public right of way. This was to be investigated. Work on trimming the hedge


at Parson’s Corner had begun, and would be completed, along with the trimming of the hedge at Forge Lane. An additional £200 had been received from KCC towards the taxi voucher scheme. The presentation of the Corfe Citizenship Trophy to Tricia Hamilton was to take place on Sunday, April 22. The issue was raised of dis- ruption to traffic and residents caused by the hunt meeting in the village. It was asked if ad- vance notice of hunts could be given.


Malling 39


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