Nature reserve
work must wait THE parish council demanded that any work on the nature re- serve at Hayle Place Stud Farm should only take place once the trustees are in place. The 12-hectare reserve was agreed as a condition for the de- velopment of over 100 homes being built in Postley Road. In discussions with Maid-
stone Council, developer Taylor Wimpey proposed to place a significant number of reptiles from other areas within the na- ture reserve. But the parish council said that no such dis- cussions should take place until the trustees – three from each of Tovil Parish Council, Valley Conservation Society and Maidstone Council – had been appointed. It was feared that Taylor
Wimpey are trying to get out of obligations on other sites in the borough by using this site to de- liver things cheaply. It was agreed that this would not be in the interests of Maidstone Council or local people. Maidstone Council currently
owns the land, but the trustees will take over the management of the site once the nature re- serve becomes established. Tovil Parish Council Chairman Rev Chris Morgan-Jones said: “It is a very exciting project and it links up well with the work of the Valley Conservation So- ciety.”
Large hoardings MEMBERS hit out at a proposal from Lidl to place two large ad- vertisement hoardings at the supermarket entrance in Far- leigh Hill. The parish council objected
to the size of the structures – 8m wide, 6.18m tall and 0.3m deep. Cllr Barry Beardwell said: “It is totally inappropriate to the street scene. People driving down the hill will be looking at that and not the road junction.”
Diesel tank backed THE parish council was happy to back an application by Kent Fire and Rescue to install a 15,000-litre cylindrical self- blinded diesel tank.
Fete is roaring success
The Reel Eire Dance School provided some of the fun; Bryn and Fred Cornwell and Pauline Usmar were manning the Valley
Conservation Society’s information and teddy stall
VOLUNTEERS from the parish council helped to make this year’s Tovil Fete a roaring success.
Helped by pleasant weather conditions, the
event was well-attended, with the queue for the barbecue,manned by CllrClare Bush, testament to the popularity of this annual celebration.
Parish councillors joined local residents in serv-
ing tea, cakes and beer. Cllr Clive English, who is also the deputy mayor of Maidstone, officially opened the fete, ushering in an afternoon of con- tinuous singing and dancing provided by local groups.
Childrenalsoenjoyed pony rides,acircuswork- shop and bouncy castle.
One of the many highlights of the day was the presence of Mel Moore with his Olympic torch. This provided a photo opportunity for visitors to hold the torch and raise money for Maidstone RNIB.
Cllr Derek Mortimer said: “The fete showed
whatavibrant communitywehaveinTovil,where anumberof people showedtheir interest inwork- ing with theparish councilbybecomingmembers or justwilling to improveour community through- out the year.”
Leader to attend next meeting
COUNCIL leader Cllr Chris Garland is to attend the next Tovil Parish Council meeting, on October 1, at his own request. He had asked to attend specifically to address the issue of the proposed parish services scheme as well as answering questions from parish councillors and residents. Tovil parish councillors were wary because there is a petition
being circulated by the Maidstone area committee of the Kent As- sociation for Local Councils (KALC) calling on allMaidstone parish councils to close negotiations with the borough council on the parish services scheme. Two years ago, Maidstone Council trimmed back its concurrent functions grant for parishes, and is now proposing to replace itwith the unpopular alternative that is being contested. The petition states that KALC’s negotiations have been exhausted
and calls for all parishes to close dialogue on the issue with Maid- stone Borough Council. The parish council agreed to sign the peti- tion and to allow Cllr Garland to address the October meeting but to let him know that there would be no dialogue over the proposed parish services scheme.
Concern raised over annex plan
THE council raised an objec- tion to a planning application to convert an outbuilding into a residential annex at Bydews Farm Cottage off Farleigh Hill. There was confusion as an accompanying drawing stated that the proposal was actually for a holiday let. Members also feared that the building could become perma- nent accommodation as it was
deemed insufficiently linked to the main dwelling. Maidstone Council will determine the planning application.
Core strategy
objection THE parish council says it will use the same arguments that helped defeat the large recycling plan for Tovil to protest at Maid- stone Council’s plans for new houses in the south-east of town. The council’s draft Core Strat-
egy has earmarked an area of greenfield land either side of Sut- ton Road to accommodate 1,075 new homes (see page 37). Cllr Clive English said: “This affects our residents in Forest Hill and Cripple Street because they could become rat runs with people avoiding LooseRoad. Our objection should be similar to those raised about the SBS plan.” SBS was last year refused per- mission to turn a disused waste paper recycling plant into a con- crete crushing plant in Straw Mill Hill.
Neighbourhood plan could be on agenda
THE council agreed to register its interest in developing a neigh- bourhood plan. Neighbourhood plans have been introduced by the Localism Act
to give communities a say on planning issues that are locally im- portant, for example the facilities that are needed and the green spaces that should be protected.
18 Town
To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330
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