DownsMail In touch with your parish


of the village, KCC has con- firmed that the proposed build- out on Penfold Hill would not be installed because of safety is- sues. Rumble strips were being considered for this location. The parish council voiced its concern over the effectiveness of the strips and the effect of noise for local residents. It was agreed that further information was required. The build-out on Upper Street would still be in- stalled. KCC is working on a freight action plan to drive HGVs away from unsuitable roads. This in- cludes developing electronic routemaps, ensuring road signs are appropriate and working with freight organisations. KCC was looking to have new


signs on the A20 to deter HGVs from entering the village. The county was also working


with police to carry out a Lorry Watch, whereby they target problem roads, issuing tickets as required. Leeds and Langley would be used as a pilot scheme. Meetings had taken place with the borough and parish councils and two resi- dents who tirelessly record heavy lorry movements along the B2163. Malcolm Gallihawk has


made a welcome return as a parish councillor, leaving one more vacancy to be filled. Any- one interested in joining the council should contact the parish clerk Sherrie Babington. Mote Park Rangers no longer


wish to use the playing field. Anyone interested in hiring it should contact Sherrie.


Lenham Council Sand extraction


AMEMBERofthe public brought up the proposed pre- ferred option of sand mineral extraction from the Bolton Field site. It was reported that the specifications in the first report had changed, so the decision had been based in incorrect in- formation. The parish council was asked to ask that the site was withdrawn as a preferred site. A parishioner said he had re- furbished the seat by the Memo- rial Cross on the North Downs, and said somebody had re- moved 32 nuts from the seat, which he had replaced. Borough Cllr Tom Sams said


the hedge down the bottom half of the Old Ashford Road needed to be trimmed back. A parishioner said the grass


had not been cut in some areas by Kent Highways. All the above items would be acted on. Community warden Martin Sherwood said PCSO Dave Rowley had been making regu- lar patrols of the William Pitt field since the damage to the BMX park had increased. KCC councillor Jenny Whitle


said she was still involved with the A20/Faversham Road junc- tion to make it safer. She said BenHildenofKentHighways had several designs to be con- sidered. Cllr Whittle also said the “20’s plenty” signs were to be installed around the two schools in Ham Lane and that double yellow lines were being painted in the road. Further CCTV signs had been agreed for the BMX park, due to the increase in criminal damage. There had been four reported crimes over the last month – two thefts of diesel from cars, a theft of cable and a theft of a bi- cycle. The PCSO said a car had been abandoned near the church, and he was to try to get it removed. He had also re- ceived two calls regarding nui- sance youths. Cllr Bradshaw said two trees needed urgent attention:one in the churchyard and the other at Robins Close. He also reported that the gullies around the church had been blocked with grass cuttings


Heating oil thefts THEmeeting heard that heating oil had been stolen from a tank in the garden of Green Hill Farm House, and from Grange Cot- tage, Honey Lane. Cllr Robert Drake had con-


Otham Council


tacted police about youths swearing and throwing tin cans on the village green. KCC Cllr Gary Cooke said he


had driven around the village, and signs the same as Caring Lane’s had been requested for various entry points to the vil- lage, pot holes were detailed and subsequently filled, and the cutting back of vegetation from signs had been arranged. Cllr Cooke arranged to inves-


tigate subsidence problems with the clerk, Gemma Catt, and Cllr Mike Bottle. The possibility of imposing a weight limit on Caring Road bridge was to be investigated. Cllr Bottle and the clerk had attended the meeting of the Joint Parishes Group, which had been set up to fight KIG. Otham had withdrawn from the group after the KIG decision, but with new plans for the land at J8, Cllr Bottle suggested the council should consider re-join- ing the group. This was agreed. It was agreed at the JPG meet-


ing that councils did not object to development at J8, but ware- housing was not required. Con- sideration for leisure-based development was requested. The momentum of develop-


ment at Sutton Road was a con- cern. Planners said there would be two forms of entry at primary school for the 500 houses in Langley Park, but road infra- structure was insufficient. There were 250 homes pro-


posed at Bicknor Farm.Itwas understood the land had plan- ning permission andwas part of the land bank. The planning committee was to meet and form a response by the end of the month. It was considered that an ap- plication for the conversion of a garage at Bishops, Avery Lane, to a dwelling could set a prece- dent for development in gar- dens. Cllr Marchant was to consider proposals and advise accordingly. Cllr Cook said hewould cover


at least £1,000 for resurfacing of the play area. A hedge at the bottom end of


the green,nexttoValleyView, had become a thicket of trees and needed attention. PaulWar- ing was to be asked for his views. The clerk was towrite to John Chambers to advise him that his fruit pickers had been spotted on a couple of occasions col- lecting discarded litter from the village green. There had been two incidents


of fly-tipping. The White Horse allowed their bins to be used to dispose of the rubbish. Cllr JohnMiddleton was to in-


form the clerk which house- holdswere known to dispose of hedge cuttings by throwing them over the fence. The bor- ough council would then be asked to write to them. Protected woodland had be-


come a parking area for lorries. The clerk was to contact Smith Gore to ask whether they were aware that land bought from Gore Court Estate was being used in this way. The clerk was to contact the


KMto ask them to remove signs put up for their charity walk. Concerns were expressed that


by the time the newsletter was delivered, the news was out of date. A plan had been estab- lished which it was hoped would overcome the problem. The clerk suggested that con- sideration should be given to re- placing the computer shared with Downswood parish coun- cil, due to its age and recent problems. Cllr Bottle suggested thatabudgetof£500beset aside. This was agreed. A resident in White Horse


Lane said a tree from the woods had come down on her sum- merhouse. Following discussion, Cllr


Bottle proposed adoption of the Kent Code of Conduct.Thiswas agreed.


Ulcombe Council Gypsy policy


CLLR Peter Titchener had met with Headcorn ward borough councillors and the chairmen of Headcorn and Boughton Mal- herbe councils to discuss the gypsy and traveller policy. There had been two thefts and


a burglary in June and july. Cllr Titchener, Cllr Trevor


Sharp and the clerk were to meet with a representative of the borough council at the recreation ground to discuss dog control byelaws. Copies of the annual parish report had been provided for the village newsletter but there had been an unexplained short- fall in numbers. The clerk was to investigate whether more needed to be printed. The council recommended re-


fusal of continued use of land at The Meadows, Lenham Road, as a gypsy site as permission had originally been granted to Mr J Bignall, who was no longer resident on the site. The need to replace the no- ticeboard at the bus shelter was discussed. It was agreed to in- vestigate prices. Cllr Titchener had inspected


play equipment and noted no new concerns. The base panel of the seesaw had some corro- sion and D Rouse, of the bor- ough council said it could be removed for repair. It was agreed to proceed with this. It was noted that the cradle


swing seats and not the junior seats had been replaced due to a communication error in the order. The clerk was to discuss the situation with Wicksteed to see how it could be resolved. Vegetation had formed a nat-


ural barrier to the ditch behind the play area and it was agreed this was low risk. Cllr Titchener had inspected


the recreation ground and car park and noted a broken branch near the play area. The village sign also needed cleaning. Cllr Sharp was to investigate and re- pair the broken fence next to the village hall. Roof repairs at the pavilion


were to be carried out as soon as possible. The electricity meter had


been replaced by EDF. It was agreed that Burslem be appointed to clean and renovate the war memorial. A resident had reported drainage, potholes and camber faults at Water Lane. Patching works had been arranged. Options for improving safety


in the village had been dis- cussed with Highways Services, and the possibility of speed lim- its was considered. The support of Kent Police would be re- quired. Speed humps were not an option supported by the council. It was suggested that a protective grass verge be in- stalled at the wide verge at Chegworth Road with the A20 junction to prevent lorries park- ing and to reduce littering. A number of queries had been


raised by the public about work being carried out on the con- struction of a reservoir at Holmesby Court,Windmill Hill.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk East 51


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