Chairman outlines work Brownies use
PARISH council chairman Cllr Christopher Morgan-Jones used the annual parishmeeting to out- line the work he and other mem- bers had undertaken in the past year. He put this under four head-
ings: Environmental improve- ments; seeking good planning decisions; seeking to help local residents make representations to other authorities; assisting the provision of community facilities. He said: “Environmental im- provements include regularly tidying up various parts of the parish, the car park in Church Street and the provision of plant- ing in suitable places. “Much of what we do in the planning and representation areas we do in liaison with both local residents and other organisations. For example, last week we had a meeting with the developers of
Last strip of land needed to
preserve valley THE Valley Conservation Soci- ety was trying to raise money to buy a key strip of land to protect the Lower Loose Valley from de- velopment. VCS was formed in 2000 to protect the valley following the closure of the area’s 13 working mills, which were classed as brown field land and so ripe for redevelopment. Eight years ago, Maidstone Council refused an application to build new homes on a piece of land called Little Switzer- land, off Cave Hill. The land is now for sale for £60,000, and VCS chairman Bryn Cornwell said he was looking for funding: “Buying this last piece of land would enable us to pre- serve the land for public use.” As well as land purchasing and management, raising awareness of the beauty of the valley is an- other purpose of VCS, which has about 350 members. Bryn said: “I go to places like Coxheath and people don’t know that a conservation area is about half a step off their route.”
Cllr ChristopherMorgan-Jones at the annual parish meeting with special guest, the then mayor Brian Mortimer
the Hayle Place Stud Farm and other groups to give our views on the proposed development there and re-start the process of estab- lishing the nature reserve on a sound basis.” He noted a large amount of en-
ergy had gone towards acquiring the former St Stephen’s School
building for community use, after pupils and staff moved out to a new site in Eccleston Road in February. The parish council had now gained a licence from the Canter- bury Diocesan Board of Educa- tion to use the Church Road building, and anticipated com- pleting the purchase in the near future. Cllr Morgan-Jones added: “Our strategy is first to ensure that this room [hall] and the front class- room are completely fit for use and then we will move to the other rooms. “Thiswill take time and will re-
quire the raising of money from various grant-making organisa- tions.We need to co-opt members of the management group, and if anyone has the time, energy and skills to help out, please let us know.”
Nature reserve finally on cards WORK is to start on the creation of a nature reserve as part of a development of more than 100 homes in Hayle Place Stud Farm, Postley Road. In March 2007, planning permission was granted on condition
that a 12-hectare nature reserve was established before the homes. No work had commenced due to lack of finances, but the de- veloper has now indicated that the scheme is ready to begin, and a meeting was held with members of the parish council and other interested groups to decide a way forward. A consultation exhibition by the developer, Taylor Wimpey is planned for late May/early June.
Council’s tip for saving planning costs
THE Valley Conservation Soci- ety was urged to go through the parish councilwhen itmakes fu- ture planning applications. VCS chairman Bryn Cornwell voiced his dismay at being charged £375 to submit an ap- plication for the change of use of
THE leader of Tovil Scouts said he was grateful his group was situated in the parish. Geoff Saunders told the an-
nual parish meeting that there were about 90 youngsters in the group, and awaiting list for the Beaver unit. In the previous year, activi- ties included playing on the
land at Crisbrook House, Cave Hill, for a storage container. The then mayor, Cllr Brian Mortimer, who spoke at the an- nual parish meeting, said the cost could have been halved had the application been put in under the parish council’s name.
field, a joint camp with the Beavers at Howletts Animal Park, a Cubs sleepover at Maid- stone Museum, and undertak- ingworkonthe Scouthut,in Straw Mill Hill. Geoff said: “We are privileged
to have that site. Some groups share facilitieswith other organ- isations, so to have a field and
new facility CAROLE Hardy, leader of 1st Maidstone and Tovil Brownies, spoke of her happiness at being able to hold activities in Tovil. Having spent years outside
the parish, her group now meets in the new parish centre, formerly St Stephen’s School. Carole said: “I have enjoyed
the Brownies coming back home to Tovil and have been made to feel very welcome.” “Some children nowadays
are lacking in independent skills and common sense as so much is just provided for them. “It is organisations like Guid-
ing that try to give young peo- ple a wider set of skills for the future.” The Parish Centre is gaining in popularity, with several local groups using it regularly. Tovil Brownies hold meetings
there and there are to be classes in flower arranging and Zumba dancing, as well as crèche and counselling facilities, which will be provided by Surestart.
Almshouse talk CUTBUSH and Corrall charity chairman Paul Oldham, a former borough councillor and and a formermayor ofMaidstone gave a presentation on the history of Maidstone’s almshouses at the annual parish meeting. Mr Oldham’s charity owns
141 almshouses in the borough. He said: “As some of our prop- erties are reasonably close to Tovil, including our office in College Avenue, I hope we can be regarded as a good neigh- bour.
“People in Tovil are eligible to live in almshouses.”
Scouts ‘privileged’ to have field, says leader
wooded area, like we have, shows how lucky we are. Mr Saunders reported that former Tovil Scout Martin Brockman, who is hoping to perform for Great Britain in the decathlon at this year’s Olympics in London, had taken part in a St George’s Day event at St Stephen’s Church.
12 Town
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