DownsMail In touch with your parish


of village events and activities. Members were pleased that


the 2012 music festival had taken place with little com- plaint. While the annual festival was growing in popularity, it was pleasing to note that the number of complaints was di- minishing. The website had recently


been updated and more infor- mation had been added to the home and twinning pages. Members were advised that


Mrs Lawrence had completed her research on the war memo- rial and also the draft of her publication “The Lives They Left Behind”. A former parish council had agreed in principal to fund the publication costs, estimated at £3,000, which would be recouped from sale proceeds. Mrs Lawrence had indicated


that she would like any surplus to go to the Royal British Legion or Help For Heroes. As the research into the casu-


alties in the two world wars had been completed, Burlite would be asked to proceed with the war memorial renovations. The allotment panel was deal-


ing with a problem with mare’s tail.


Between July 11 to 13, the En- vironment Agency had issued weather and flood alerts and the parish council had immediately made sandbags available to the Little Mill area. The borough council had been asked to re- plenish the sandbags. The parish council would be writing toMP Caroline Spelman regarding her ministerial state- ment about flood risk insur- ance. The parish thought pressure was needed on both the insurance industry and Gov- ernment to conclude a deal that provided insurance to people that was affordable, accessible and socially just. The budget available for Christmas lighting 2012, in- cluding a possible grant from the borough council, was £3,060. In view of the problems in 2011, quotes had been ob- tained from alternative contrac- tors, and that from RSB Electrical Contractors was ac- cepted. It was noted that the deadline


for removal of the mobile home on land adjacent to the Rose and Crown pub was September 4. The borough’s enforcement team was monitoring the situa- tion.


Road maintenance KCC had been informed that the parish council was not happy with the standard of work being carried out to the hedges, verges and weeds on roads that were the county’s responsibility. A full response was awaited. The speed indicator device


Kings Hill Council


had been ordered and should be delivered very soon. Concerns about parking pro-


vision were expressed over pro- posals for 17 homes at Area 05, Beacon Avenue, Kings Hill. Members asked the borough council to call in the applica- tion for consideration. Parish councillors also asked


for an application for a develop- ment of 23 homes as Area 01, Beacon Avenue, to be called in over concerns about parking provision and traffic speed. Regarding the lack of pedes-


trian access from Fortune Way to Waitrose, there had been no headway made. A meeting would be arrangedwith Liberty Property Trust, Waitrose and borough planning officers. There had been some speed-


ing enforcement in JubileeWay recently. Kent Police had writ- ten that they would look into the parish council’s request for an anti-speeding campaign and reply with a detailed response. An update was given on the recent work to install speed cushions in Discovery Drive.


Scheme success CLLR Jackie Bennett said the Chatterbox Scheme was still doing well and all members en- joyed the Big Jubilee Lunch at the village hall. A white Transit van had been


Nettlestead Council


stolen from Maidstone Road. There had been an increase in shed break-ins and residents were advised to be more vigi- lant and keep outbuildings se- cure. The grass-cutting schedule


had been received from KCC but did not appear to have been kept to and, in some areas, visi- bility was inadequate. The clerk would contact KCC and report back. The King George V field had


been cut, but the holes in the tunnels had not yet been filled in.


The chairman mentioned that


the clock on School Villas did not appear to be working and he would speak to the owners of the property. Regarding an application for


the demolition of existing build- ings at Nettlestead Yard, Maid- stone Road, and erection of a replacement office/store, mem- bers wished to see it approved, but only used for that purpose.


Snodland Council Football plans


IT was agreed to begin negotia- tions with Snodland Town Football Club about leasing an area of land at Potyns for them to use as a home ground. Builders’ estimates should be sought for the planned exten- sion to the community centre to find out just how much it was likely to cost, and how much


would need to be found in grant funding to make thewhole proj- ect possible. Councillors agreed to spend almost £6,000 to upgrade the lamp posts and fittings that take the Christmas lights. Without this upgrade it would not be possible to have Christmas lights in future. It was reported that a street light in St Kather- ine’sLaneneededtobere- placed. This would cost over £1,000.


Snodland Partnership has agreed to pay for the installation of three new benches to com- memorate the Jubilee year. Two of the benches would replace damaged ones in the Recreation Ground and Cricket Meadow and the third would be placed inWillowside Park. Several trees had blown over


in the recent storms and a tree surgeon had to be called. The cost of this work was almost £1,000 and a further tree needed to be removed in the Birling lands allotments. Quotations were being sought


for connecting the lights in Brooklands Lake car park.


Wateringbury Council Appeal rejected


THE chairman reported that the High Court had rejected the final appeal by Ann Medhurst to be allowed to use Drayhorse Meadow for residential pur- poses. There had been three crimes


in June: theft of a catalytic con- verter from a parked vehicle in Old Road; theft of cash after a side door was forced in Bow Road; theft of a blue BMW 320 car from UpperMill. After discussion, councillors decided to adopt theNALC (Na- tional Association of Local Councils) version of the Code of Conduct. The Queen Elizabeth Field presentation plaque marking the acceptance of the playing field into the nationwide scheme to mark the Diamond Jubilee was displayed at the meeting. A Kentish ragstone plinth was suggested and would be investigated. It is hoped that a special


groupwill be formed to co-ordi- nate a celebration on Sunday, June 2, 2013, for the 60th an- niversary of the Queen’s coro- nation. The first meetingwould be in September. The council agreed to a re-


quest from village warden John Ibbs for a rubbish skip at the playing fields and a replace- ment rubbish bin for the one that vanished. The village Speedwatch equipment had been repaired. It was now no longer necessary to put out a warning triangle and the speed at which motorists will be reported had reduced to 35mph.


Visit Downs Mail’s website — downsmail.co.uk An allotments inspection had


been carried out and most plots were in good condition. The clerk was thanked for her


hard work and tenacity in ob- taining a refund of £495.62 from EDF in connection with a street lighting contract dispute. Cllr Chris Talbert reported on


a meeting of the Kent commu- nity rail partnership that he had attended. The planters were now in place at Wateringbury station and the mural would soon be installed. The council had no objections


to the change of use of garage to ancillary accommodation for an elderly relative at Satis, 37 Bow Road.


West Malling Council Plant discussed


TWO representatives from New Earth Solutions explained the proposed anaerobic digestion plant for Blaise Farm. The original composting fa-


cility was intended to dispose of garden and cardboard waste collected by local authorities but the subsequent addition of food waste had altered the bal- ance of wet and dry materials, making it harder to compost. The proposed new plant would work alongside the com- posting facility to process thewet food waste. A formal planning application would be made. Regarding the borough elec-


toral review proposals, council- lors agreed with Leybourne Parish Council that there was little connection between the two areas and that the new Ley- bourne Chase should not be split between them. They would prefer West Malling to have one borough member on its own or be combined with a smaller adjacent parish such as Offham or Mereworth. There had been gridlock in


the High Street on Saturday, June 9, as there was a private car parked in the Tesco loading bay, preventing the lorry from using it. This had been reported to the borough council who had replied that officers patrolled the area as often as possible, and if notified of regular contra- ventions, would try to arrange a patrol to deal with it. Some motorists had deliber-


ately ignored the road closure barriers for the Jubilee event. This was potentially dangerous and would be reported to the borough council as enforcement action was needed on Farmers’ Market days. The VillageHallmanagement committee now had a full com- plement of trustees with Chris Gosney as chairman. It was hoped to renovate the toilets but this would be expensive. It was planned to refurbish the hall and bar. The Christmas lights switch- on would be on November 25.


Malling 35


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