DownsMail In touch with your parish Loose Council


Barming Council Asbestos work


REMOVAL of the asbestos in the meter cupboard at the parish hall had been com- pleted, Two emergency lights were defective andmay need re- placing. The structural survey on the pavilion had been completed and it had passed, although a large amount of work would be needed. If work was completed correctly, the building could last at least another 30 years. Councillors agreed this was


good news and that quotes should be obtained to see if the work could be completed all at once or in sections, starting with the outside of the building. A survey would be included


in Barming News, asking resi- dents what organisations would be most likely to use the build- ing if the interior was reno- vated. There had been four reported crimes since the last meeting – common assault, theft by find- ing, criminal damage and do- mestic violence. Only half of the grass had


been cut at Bull Orchard. Following the bad weather, all


the trees owned by the parish council had been checked and were OK. KCC had cut the tree


College plans MID Kent College has been given permission to refurbish its Maidstone campus in Oakwood Park, Tonbridge Road. The college is planning to re-


locate some of its departments to the neighbouring University for the Creative Arts campus, which has freed up more space to improve its own site. The refurbishment includes infilling, a central car park, glazed links and cladding im- provements to boost the facul- ties of well-being; profession and academic studies; construc- tion and engineering.


Hospice shop THIRTEEN may be unlucky for some, but at the Heart of Kent Hospice, they’re not superstitious. The charity has opened a unique shop at 13 King Street, Maidstone – and it’s their 13th shop.


Furniture, bric-a-brac, a coffee


shop and posh frocks will be available at the two-storey build- ing. There is also a bridal suite and outfits for special occasions.


Missing road signs MAIDSTONE Council was to be informed of problems with two road signs in Bockingford Lane, Tovil. One was damaged and the other was missing. A new sign was due to be erected at Great IvyMill.


48 Town


down in North Street as the tree surgeon felt it was unsafe. The clerk and chairman had recently met representatives from Taylor Wimpey about the land at Bell Farm. The com- pany had no plans to build on the site within the next three to five years and the land was being planted with crops. Any entrance to the site would be on North Street, with a view to try- ing to encourage traffic along Heath Road. Potential traffic problems


were discussed and the repre- sentatives had been unaware of recent issues about the access to the site being stopped for walk- ers and the trees being cut down. It was suggested that res- idents needed to be kept in- formed and Taylor Wimpey offered to produce an article for the Barming News. Complaints had been received


about the awful smell from Bell Farm.The chairman had spoken to the farmer and he had apolo- gised. The land had been planted with forage maize which would be harvested in late September/early October, but next year’s crop had not been finalised. The replacement notice board


for the Marlborough Parade shops had been ordered, at a cost of £431.19 plus VAT.


Help available COMMUNITY warden Liz Lo- vatt reported on support for families facing difficulties, in- cluding financial help.She asked to be informed of any families that may need support. Apony had got trapped in the kissing gate at Brooks Field. The chairman thanked Cllr Roy Hood for fixing the gate. An incident relating to youths placing sofas at the rear of the King GeorgeVPlaying Field was discussed and the warden asked if the fir tree branches could be raised. The tree warden would check and report back. Four SmartWater signswould


be bought at £25 each. A swing at the playing field


was missing and Maidstone Council would be asked if they had removed it, otherwise the police would be contacted. Damage to a shed in North-


leigh Close was reported. A resident had written to Maidstone Council about the overgrown path between Old Loose Hill and Valley Drive/Bray Gardens. The matter had been taken up by ward Cllr Sue Grigg and the borough council was arranging the work. A phone call had been re- ceived about buying part of


Brooks Field. It was agreed this was not an option. It was confirmed that the


Water and Wildlife Brooks Field Project committee had now completed its main aims. However, the field still needs to be managed and co-opted mem- bers still wished to be involved. A meeting of the full council would be held to discuss a merger of the committee with the environment committee. Cllr Jim Andrew reported on


the informal meeting about Neighbourhood Planning.The meeting heard 21 members were needed to set up a steering committee of parish councillors and residents. An item would be placed in Loose Views to gauge local interest. Maidstone Council officer


Sarah Anderton would be in- vited to the parish council meeting to explain the process, and to furnish any details on the gypsy/traveller issue.Ithad been reported that a borough council officer was writing to landowners about possible gypsy and traveller sites in the parish. The parish website had received 36,286 hits – around 137 a week. KCC had been asked to deal


withafallentreeonthe “29 steps” footpath opposite the old Kings Arms.


Park Wood project set for lift-off


GOLDING Homes has submit- ted planning applications for the £34m project to regenerate the heart of ParkWood. The plans include the demo-


lition of 236 flats in the Wallis Avenue area and the creation of 185 high-quality new homes, predominantly family houses, alongwith a new shopping area and community facilities. The scheme will be carried out in three phases.


The housing association has submitted a detailed planning application for the first phase of the scheme, along with outline planning applications for phases two and three. Chris Blundell, Golding Homes director of regeneration and development, said “We are committed to investing in this community and are pleased that residents have been very posi- tive about these plans, which


Fromleft Matt Parker, Emma Carter, VIP Judge Emily Cummins and Quintin Heath from British Sugar


Emma wins top design award


A PUPIL from Invicta Grammar School is celebrating after winning a £1,000 prize at the 2012 Academy Excellence Awards. Emma Carter, a year 12 student from Lenham, won the top Design


and Technology prize for her essay about designing a cooking stove for a remote community. Aswell as the cash prize, shewill also get a one- week internship with British Sugar. Judge EmilyCummins said:“Emmaapproached the taskwith awon-


derful levelof creativity. Her design, reasoning and cost-efficiency is ac- curate and very easy to understand. Iwas surprised at the simplicity of Emma’s design and cannot believe it is not already in use.”


were driven by local need and consultation. The planning process brings us a step closer to bringing about real change.” Golding Homes is a non profit-making organisation which provides more than 6,100 homes in the Maidstone area, including general needs accommodation, sheltered schemes for older people, and a management service to over 450 leaseholder properties.


Green spaces


‘overgrown’ A COMBINATION of wet weather and costcutting by KCChas ledtosomegreen spaces becoming overgrown. Borough Cllr Ian Chittenden


said he knew of at least three areas where grass had become excessively high. He cited the Broadoak Estate and parts of Vinters Park. The grassed area around the


bus stop at Millstock Terrace was an area of concern for Tovil Parish Council. He says the county council’s financially-motivated decision to reduce the number of annual cuts on the open space it man- ages from 14 to eight had had an impact, as well as the damp summer.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64