to Arriva and the railway sta- tion. Cllr Lewer said tombola


DownsMail In touch with your parish It was agreed to adopt the


arrested). Road checks had been done


prizes were still required for Headcorn Day and councillors were required to deliver leaflets in the village.


Hunton Council Roof extension


THERE were no objections to a roof extension and porch at Free- lands,West Street, or a two-storey side extension with dormer win- dow at 2 Hammonds Cottage, Cheveney Farm, Vicarage Lane. It was noted that Maidstone Council had refused permission for a single storey garden room and raised flagstone area at Scuf- fits,Water Lane. Maidstone Council had ap- proved a retrospective applica- tion for fencing and entrance gates and hardstanding at Shep- herds Cottages inWater Lane.


Langley Council Dog attack


COMMUNITY warden Dawn Riach-Brown was arranging a meetingwith interested parties to discuss the increase in anti-social behaviour. She had been called regarding a


recent dog attack and continued to patrol the village, communicat- ing with residents and attending the farmers’ markets. Members agreed touse the serv-


ices of the local postmen to de- liver the quarterly newsletter. KCCyouth worker Natalie Pen-


fold updated members by letter regarding the behaviour of the children in Langley. Members agreed to her request to use Refo- cus, an organisation which works with young people, costing £360 for three sessions. Feria Urbanism’s tender to produce a Neighbourhood Plan was accepted. Hans Reichert was thanked


for his continued assistance in maintaining the website free of charge. The Sutton Road interactive


speed signs had been ordered and would be ready for installa- tion in two to four weeks. It was agreed to proceed with


a quote of £1,104 plus VAT to install 38 metal posts replacing the wooden posts at the village hall car park. The new clerk, Janet Burnett, would be requested to start work week commencing August 20, with the existing clerk still available to assist until the end of that month.


Code of Conduct Marden Council


IT was agreed that the parish council would adopt the new Kent Code of Conduct. There had been four crimes


since the last meeting – an at- tempted burglary, theft, bur- glary (non dwelling) and one criminal damage (three males


in Pattenden Lane and Albion Road. A ticket had been issued for driving while using amobile phone in Albion Road. Numerous


stop checks/


searches had been conducted on local young people believed in- volved with drugs. There had been a 20% reduc-


tion in crime in Marden and Yalding compared to last year. Contractors’ cars from The


Willows development were being parked on Rookery Path. Taylor Wimpey would be in- formed. A draft letter to Maidstone Council re Marden’s Neigh- bourhood Plan was approved and a map of the parish would be included. Two councillors were to meet


with Staplehurst Parish Council representatives to discuss the Southeastern rail franchise con- sultation. Comments on this doc- ument included keeping the same split between Charing Cross and Cannon Street during peak times and connectivity with other sta- tions, ie PaddockWood and Ton- bridge. Also raised was the proposal with the Core Strategy for another 320 houses, possibly considering additional trains. A resident raised the issue of rubbish bins overflowing at the playing field. The clerk was look- ing into ways of disposal of this rubbish.


Duckhurst events SEVERALmembers of the public spoke about Duckhurst Farm and Moto Cross events. A resident of Lindridge Farm said he had con- sulted residents about the possi- bility of increased Moto Cross activity at the farm. He believed residents were unhappy about an increase to a possible 14 times a year. Other residents expressed concern about the amount of traf- fic in Clapper Lane. The chairman of EKSSC said


Staplehurst Council


the club was not seeking in- creased use and wanted to pro- vide recreational use for youngsters. It was agreed the sub- ject would be raised and appro- priate action discussed with Maidstone Council. The increase in use should be clarified. The clerk said a street light at Maidstone Road needed urgent repairs. The expenditure was ap- proved. A dog bin at Surrenden Field


had been reported to Maidstone Council as it had not been emp- tied. The situation had been ad- dressed and would bemonitored. Options for the Christmas lights display were considered. It was agreed to retain the existing mo- tifs, with repairs where needed, but not to use LEDs. Itwas agreed to concentrate the display along the A229 between Headcorn Road and Bell Lane.


NALCcode of conduct as drafted. Councillors agreed the expen-


diture of £66 on signage for gates at the Jubilee Field. Chairman John Perry said the management committeewas looking at the pos- sibility of dugouts on the field. Councillors considered designs


for signs for the village hall and the library.Signs forBellLane car park, the toilet and Jubilee Field had also been requested. Councillor Peter Spearink said


the revised quotation for the sign- writer’s work on the war memo- rial was £350, which was approved. Cllr Spearink said funding had


been confirmed for the Sunday No5 bus service to Hawkhurst for another six months. Cllr Margaret Ashby said some early morning buses had failed to run. Cllr Spearink said these should be re- ported to Arriva. Cllr Perry said KCC had awarded a grant of £1,250 to- wards the new Polecat CCTV camera and a funding request had been submitted to the Golding Homes community chest fund. Cllr Joan Buller said the play scheme was underway and atten- dancewas higher than last year. Cllr Spearink said he had pro-


vided information on costs for salt bins for consideration by the finance group. Cllr Perry and the clerk had met members of Grow- ing Concern to discuss the village planters. Cllr Paul Kelly said the chips on the inner ring of the planters were drainage channels. Cllr Paul Butcher requested agreed payment of £90 for a one- off cut of the youth club grass and this was agreed. Three quotes were considered for future work on the hedge and grass and Changing Seasons’ quote was ac- cepted.


Side extension


Sutton Valence Council


PLANNING applications for a single-storey side extension at Sutton Gate Farm, New Barn Road, Hawkenbury, and the erec- tion of a chalet bungalow with detached garage to replace boat store, were approved by Maid- stone Council. One allotment was available at


the Harbour. The contractor would be asked


to give aheavy trim to the Lambes Garden hedge. Cllr Phil Taylor requested the


parish council to consider pur- chasing a bush cutter. This would be carried forward for dis- cussion in next year’s budget. Since the missing fence posts


had been replaced at the north east corner of the War Memorial field, someone had cut out an en- trance. This had been reported to the police as criminal damage. The clerk was asked to get the section replaced and post a sign stating thiswas not a public right


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


of way. A parishioner’s request for the rubber matting from the old play area was agreed. The current edition of the parish newsletter would be ex- tended to include extra jubilee pictures. A bench and table had been donated and it was resolved they be placed at Bowhalls. A request for Speedwatch vol- unteers would be placed in the newsletter.


Station incidents CRIME figures were back down, although there had been some in- cidents at the railway station. A CCTV camera was now active in the High Street. Speedwatch vol- unteers had been trained and new sites were being appraised by the police. Grants were not available for


Yalding Council


more play equipment. The parish council supported the planting of atree on The Lees or The Kin- tons in memory of Sally Consta- ble. Boot camps were to be held on TheKintons and JubileeField. The latest high speed broad-


band cabinet at Haviker Street wasnowlive so residents in Ben- over Road could benefit from the new scheme. During the recent interruption of telephone serv- ices when the cable was cut, those on the newsystem still had broadband.


Parishes get their


plans underway BOUGHTON Monchelsea and Coxheath Parish Coun- cils have decided to prepare neighbourhood plans and will be among the first parishes in the borough to do so.


Neighbourhood plans were introduced by the Localism Act and give communities a say on planning issues that are locally important, for ex- ample the facilities that are needed and the green spaces that should be protected. If you would like to get in- volved in Coxheath, please contact Terry Ketley, Clerk to Coxheath Parish Council, 60 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, Maidstone ME17 4PY; email: terryketley@btinternet.com. Closing date: October 23. In Boughton Monchelsea,


where a steering group has al- ready been formed, the parish clerk is also the point of contact - clerk.bmpc@btin- ternet.com. Closing date: Oc- tober 16. The application can be viewed on the websites of Maidstone Borough Council and both parish councils. The borough council will publish its decision on the application on its website by Friday 9 November.


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