LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Residents against scheme Dear Sir –With regard to the “In touch with your parish” section, I read the piece on Broomfield and Kingswood’s neighbour- hood plan, which states that “plans cover a range of issues such as community facilities that are needed and green spaces that should be protected”. However, this is at odds with a report to Maidstone Borough Council’s cabinet meet- ing on June 23, 2012, by Sarah Anderton (principal planning officer) on neighbour- hood plans. In it, she states: “Neighbour- hood plans are planning policy documents which will set out the policies for develop- ment and the use of land for a defined local area. Crucially, a neighbourhood plan will become part of the local planning author- ity’s development plan when it is adopted. It will have statutoryweight in the council’s decisions on planning applications.” RACE (Residents Against Coxheath Ex- pansion) has been in contention with Cox- heath Parish Council, which indicated at its parish council meeting onMay 29 that it in- tended including the potential Clock House Farm development and other land around Coxheath identified for potential develop- ment, in its neighbourhood plan. The effect of this would be that residents would have no chance of stopping any de- velopment in areas highlighted in this plan from going ahead when planning applica- tionswere submitted toMaidstone Borough Council. RACE has collected over 1,100 signatures
on a petition objecting to the potential Clock House Farm development, so if the parish council goes ahead and includes it, and other areas, in its neighbourhood plan, it will be ignoring the wishes of the major- ity of residents in Coxheath and runs the risk of its plan being voted down at a po- tential cost of over £50,000.
Marjorie Johnston,
RACE (Residents Against Coxheath Expansion)
Clear up litter and dog mess Dear Sir – I hope the residents of Marden heed your Mail Marks on fouling by dogs and litter louts. We live near Hoggs Green, Headcorn–acommunity facility. Unfortu- nately many dog owners fail to clean up,
You can write to us at: Downs Mail, 2 Forge House, Bearsted Green Business Park, Bearsted, Maidstone, ME14 4DT or e-mail:
stephen@downsmail.co.uk
and you have to walk with caution. Iwould not want my children playing there. I have asked the parish council to replace vandalised penalty notices, but apparently the regulations are under review by Maid- stone Council. Then there are the litterers who dump empty beer/cider/vodka cans and bottles and takeaway containers – maybe in re- venge for the dog poo!
JohnMiles, Headcorn
Parking signs confusing Dear Sir – I would like to add to the com- ments made by John Dickens in the Sep- tember Downs Mail story titled Parking dilemma for disabled. The signs in the High Street are inade-
quate, confusing and misplaced. If you drive from Fremlin Walk along Pudding Lane, there is a large clear sign saying entry to the High Street is for buses, taxis and Blue Badge holders. At the entrance at King Street it only
states buses and taxis. At the bottom of the High Street, the sign also states only buses and taxis. This sign is placed incorrectly, as there are loading bays in Lower Stone Street andMill Street, so how are ordinary drivers supposed to use these? Surely this sign should be at the junction of High Street and Mill Street? I would also note that the disabled bays
in the High Street are loading bays during restricted times. I have, however, been un- able to park with my Blue Badge outside loading times, as the spaces are taken up by vans, but I have never seen one with a park- ing ticket. One final moan, and this one is about fel-
low Blue Badge holders. When parking in a Blue Badge area, please have a bit of con- sideration for other Blue Badge drivers. Why park half a car’s length from the end of the bay? Recently in theWick Manor Road disabled bays, there would have been room for at least three more cars, had drivers parked considerately. David G.Woodcock, 328Willington Street, Maidstone
Build-outs a traffic hazard Dear Sir – As foundermembers of Coxheath Residents Against Senseless Hazards, we
were astounded by the comments made by Cllr Colin Parr in last month’s article about our infamous build-outs. He is reported as saying that “whilst not everyone was against the build-outs, the vast majority were”. Our reaction to this would be to ask that if the parish council claims to represent the majority view of the parish, why do its minutes clearly show that on two occasions Colin Parr, alongwith his parish council colleagues, voted unani- mously for the scheme? What he does not say is that it is only after CRASH’s efforts to collect 500 signatures against the scheme and the consequent 300 villagers attending a public meeting that the parish council began to reluctantly realise that the majority did not want the traffic- calming scheme. After the meeting, four of us joined with
the parish council’s traffic management group and were soon able to get the two worst-offending build-outs removed. Shortly after this, however, the parish council designed a questionnaire, which did not allow residents the option to totally reject the traffic calming scheme, and all CRASH members of the traffic group re- signed in disgust. Kent and Coxheath taxpayers are reminded
that by the time the traffic calming scheme is removed and replaced,well over £200,000 of public money will have been spent at a time when vital local government services are being cut to the bone. So far, all we have had for our money in Coxheath are numerous crashes and bad-tempered driving. Tony Monk,Westerhill Road, Coxheath Richard Purvis, Dane Court, Coxheath Mary Bowen, Georgian Drive, Coxheath
Blue Badge frustrations Dear Sir – I can only think that John Fun- nell (Mail, September) has not tried to renew his Blue Badge recently. As a holder of a Blue Badge, when it came
up for renewal I followed the directions carefully, allowing six weeks. However, when I telephoned for the renewal form I was told it would take eight weeks. I re- turned the form by first class post on June 1. My new badge arrived yesterday, August 20, 11 weeks and three days later. P.W. Saward, by email
Broomfield and Kingswood Council PCSO review
DownsMail In touch with your parish The clerk had contacted the
IT WAS reported that Kent Po- lice was reconsidering the role of PCSOs. Councillors dis- cussed the options to put for- ward at the next police forum meeting. PCSO Richard Kirby reported
on the crime figures. There had been a theft from a vehicle in Kingswood, and a burglary at- tempt, and a burglary in Lenham Road. There had been a theft in Ulcombe and a case of criminal damage in Langley. There were two thefts, a case of criminal damage, a car theft and a theft from a vehicle in SuttonValence. Cllr Mike Evans said he had attended an initial meeting of the Neighbourhood Watch area committee.
34 South
group Scout leader to say that the council could not offer fi- nancial support for the Scout hutmakeover and had repeated the offer of paint. The development control offi-
cer at the borough council had said there were no objections to the proposed tree works at the sports field. Despite phone calls and emails it appeared that Digley Associates had not carried out the annual RoSPA safety in- spection. The clerkwas to chase this up and inform the insurers. Cllr Peter Corfield had in- formed DEFRA of the council’s intention to withdraw from the combined parishes’ application for super-fast broadband.He had also discussed the matter with Leeds Castle, and had spo- ken with V-Fast, which had re-
cently supplied broadband to Lenham. He was to continue to make inquiries about alternative sources of faster broadband. Cllr Baker said a letter about neighbourhood planning had been printed by the borough council and circulated in Kingswood and Broomfield. It was agreed that the council would continue to publish the Kingswood and Broomfield News from January 2013. There were outstanding issues regard- ing finance and advertising. The clerk was to notify the editors.
Chart Sutton Council Crime report
PCSO Mat Thomas provided the crime figures for the period from August 5 to September 5, which included two cases of theft by finding; one case of criminal damage to property;
Visit Downs Mail’s website —
downsmail.co.uk
one burglary, a common assault and an assault. Community warden Liz Lovatt said there hadbeentwo incidents of fly- tipping in Amber Lane, and Cllr Steven Waring reported fly-tip- ping on Norton Road. Community warden Lovatt
also said funding was in place to buy 34 mains wiring testers, which could detect hidden faults. An electrical project will be carried out on a street aweek basis to supply safety advice. Members heard the CCTV sys-
tem had been received and PCSO Stuart Moaby had agreed to fit it. The annual playground in- spection report was considered and it was noted there was cor- rosion and peeling paint at the base of the sports wall. Cllr Peter Forknall, seconded by Cllr Waring, proposed that the wall be scrubbed down and P42
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