Festival accounts


DownsMail In touch with your parish Aylesford Council


THERE was a discussion be- tween twomembers ofAylesford Festival Committee and the council regarding festival ac- counts and the council’s future involvement with the festival. PCSO Tony Iantosca offered to answer any questions on the crime report which had been distributed to members. He said there no longer seemed


to be squatters in the former Upper Bell pub, and fencing was being erected around it. KCC Cllr Homewood said KCC


had made £6 million available for road surfacing projects in the county. He had received sugges- tions forWoodlands Road,Ayles- ford, and Lower Warren Road, Blue Bell Hill, to be included, and would welcome other sug- gestions from members. Cllr Davis (Eccles) was unable


to attend the meeting but said a meeting had been arranged to discuss ongoing drainage prob- lems at Hale Farm Bend, Pil- grimsWay, on October 17. Cllr Elvy said the markings for


the bus stop in Tunbury Avenue South had been reinstated in the layby, but as the bus stop was not in the layby the bus was not stop- ping to pick up passengers there. It was agreed to bring this to the attention of the bus company, to be resolved by moving the bus stop in to the layby. It was reported that the light on


the tow path going towards the Scout Hut was out.


Birling Council Air rifle attack


THREE vehicles had been hit by air rifle pellets on the M26 slip road. Signs of a target practice had been found nearby and po- lice were patrolling the area. The clerk had notified Kent Highways that contractors had erected the post for the interactive sign in Ryarsh Road in error be- fore residents in Bull Road could be contacted. County Cllr Sarah Hohler had suggested it might be possible to have two signs, but after objections from residents in Ryarsh Road, it was decided to keep to the original plan. No objections were received


from Bull Road, and Kent High- ways advised that the post would be removed and re-sited there by August 25. The work had not yet been carried out and the clerk was still awaiting a reason and a new date. The writer of the Valley of Vi-


sions Community Trail had spent time with Mrs Ivell learn- ing about the village before walk- ing the proposed route. Mrs Ivell was thanked for her invaluable contribution. Cllr Beadle had resigned and


was thanked for his work over the past 15 months The Countryside Access Serv- ice had offered two additional


footpath cuts.No complaints had been made about overgrown footpaths and those through Ryarsh Woods and from Park Farm to Pilgrims Way were sug- gested. Valley of Visions had supplied


plans for the restoration of chalk grassland on the Birling escarp- ment being undertaken jointly with Natural England andBirling Farms. The project will link two areas that have already been re- stored. Two emails had been received


from residents about increased HGV traffic on August 1 and 2. Around 80 vehicles delivering compost to Park Farm went through the village. Cllr Guy Nevill, whose family owns the estate, was asked if residents could be given notice in future. He replied that such deliveries would occur once a year at most. An anonymous letter about re-


duced visibility when exiting Birling Park had been received. The clerk had delivered a note to each property in Birling Park ad- vising residents that everyone was welcome to attend parish council meetings and could also email the clerk in confidence. One email had been received saying visibility was obstructed by overgrown hedges on the left of the exit into Bull Road and to the right by trees. Cllr Colin Grimmett and the clerk offered to call on the owners of the prop- erty to discuss the matter. Cllr Sylvia Spooner said the churchyard was again very overgrown. She had recently been tending a relative’s grave when someone from outside the villagewho was visiting their rel- ative’s grave was upset at the condition of the churchyard. The clerk was asked to write to the parochial church council.


Ditton Council Football fees


A REQUEST had been received from Ditton Minors asking the council to consider a reduction in fees for use of the recreation ground to host a football tourna- ment. It was noted that all money received at this event would be put back into the club to provide youngsterswith opportunities to play football. As the fee had al- ready been ratified, it was agreed to make a donation to the club to cover the cost of the fee. Borough Cllr Gale’s report


noted that at a meeting with res- idents of Brampton Field, issues had been raised about anti-social behaviour, exiting the site, refuse bins, and untidy properties. It was further noted that Moat Housing would deal with issues affecting the properties and the borough council would be for- mally adopting the roads.The clerk was to look in to having a tree trimmed and what agree- ments were made for safety measures to the highways. There had been inconsiderate


parking in Fernleigh Rise,Wood- lands Road and Priory Grove, which were being monitored. There had been three thefts


from vehicles – twofromMedina road and one from Bell Lane. Four metal drain covers had been taken from land next to the Scout Hut in New Road. The chairman reported on the


visit to Rang-du-Fliers for Bastille Day. He said he and members of the twinning com- mittee had been warmly wel- comed, although the celebrations appeared to have been scaled down this year. Cllr Mulcuck said a meeting


had taken place about the Re- membrance Day parade, at- tended by Scouts, the Royal Naval Association, KCC warden, the PCSO, councillors and staff. The Scouts were happy to allow their members to parade, and would hopefully be able to pro- vide road marshals, providing they were covered by the coun- cil’s public liability insurance. The clerk was to check this. Cllr Throsswell asked if a quo-


tation had been received for moving the war memorial.Cllr Cordwell said he had spoken to the contractor who said it would be very costly andwould not rec- ommend it. Cllr Brine said the Kilnbarn quizmaster had asked if the bar could be closed for 30 minutes to allow for setting up the quiz.It was agreed to close it from 6.30- 7pm on quiz nights only, for a trial period. The meeting heard that the council’s offer to purchase land at Kilnbarn Road had been re- jected and a revised offer agreed. Arequest from theKCCwarden


to allow anindividual to carry out voluntary litter picking as part of restorative justice was discussed, and agreed in principle.


Kings Hill Council


PROGRESS on education provi- sion in Kings Hill was discussed in detail. County Cllr Richard Long confirmed thatKCCconsid- ered that building a new primary school in the near future was in- evitable. Emma George was co-opted on


to the council. Regarding parking problems in Sandow Place, police had visited the site and the problem seemed to have abated recently butwould continue to be monitored. Twomembers of the youth club


had each gained a Try Angle award. Volunteers were requested for


the summer fete. Minutes of ameeting with Lib-


erty Property Trust about the Kings Hill master plan were dis- cussed. A proposed new system for


waste and recycling collection was noted. A newspaper article was circulated and it was re- solved to send a letter to Ton- bridge and Malling Council to


express the parish’s concern about the lack of consultation and information. Concern was raised about the potential 10% reduction in fund- ing through the precept. The clerk would write to Sir John StanleyMPwith this concern. The parish would support fur-


ther investigations by the com- munity centre committee into short term improvements to stor- age and kitchen facilities, subject to a prioritised and costed pro- posal. It was resolved that £4,000, currently held in an earmarked reserve for the under stair storage, be used for the project. A complaint about the condi-


tion of the coppiced woodland in Forest Way had been made and would be reported to the landowner.


Mereworth Council Traffic checks


SPEED and tyre checks and reg- istration numbers had been take at theA228 lay-by. This had been very successful and would be re- peated in due course. The front of the postbox at the school had been replaced but had been stolen again. There was a problemwith rag-


wort in the field in Kent Street which was leased by the parish council. The clerk wouldwrite to the tenant asking that it be re- moved. It was agreed to donate £50 for


the poppy wreath. Louise Codman of Kent High-


ways and AndrewWells, church- warden, had met on site and agreed on repairs to the layby outside the church. The relocation of the school flashing sign had been discussed and a response from KHS was awaited. In response to the borough council’s parking proposals for Butchers Lane/Kent Street junc- tion, the parish council was op- posed to yellow lines in the village but would not object to white lines, but if this was not possible,would prefer no lines at all.


Garden rubbish was still being


left outside the school. This had been reported to the borough council. Tyres dumped in the village


had now been removed by the borough council. Cllr Peta Tiptaff had resigned


and was thanked for her time on the council. It was suggested the village


might benefit from a Christmas festivity, such as a tree, decora- tions or a party. Ideas would be discussed at the next meeting. The waste bin outside the school by the bus stop required repair and this would be re- ported to the borough council.


Heating oil thefts PCSO Nicola Morris said the theft of heating oil was increas-


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