Indecent exposure COUNCILLOR Sandra Manser reported that several men had been indecently exposing them- selves to women in the woods close to the water tower.She had spoken to Andy Bate, man- aging director of Gallaghers, to see if the firm could stop people driving on to their land. The clerk was to obtain further in- formation from the PCSO on whether the incidents had been reported to the police. Arrangements for Remem- brance Sunday were discussed. An appeal for volunteers, listing the necessary skills, would be placed in Barming News. Council chairman, Cllr Fay Gooch, declared a prejudicial interest and left the room before discussion of the parish hall re- decoration as her husband, Peter, had supplied a quote of £1,790, which was accepted. Two quotes for project manag-


ing the pavilion refurbishment were discussed. Prime Building Consultants was the preferred tenderer and would be asked if the percentages could be rene- gotiated. Three quotes would be ob-


tained for reducing the height of the northern boundary hedge at the parish field, following a re- quest from a resident. Councillors Gooch andManser


had attended a Hermitage Liai- son Group meeting, which had been extremely positive. New posts had been installed


on the verge outside the village hall.


KentHighway Services would


grass over the rose bed by Glebe Lane for maintenance purposes. Complaints had been received regarding the trees overhanging residents’ gardens from the “pea field”. Attempts were being made to contact the landowner. A councillor queried whether


the zebra crossing could be con- verted into a pelican crossing as cars were not stopping to allow children to cross. The chairman said a pelican cross- ing cost £42,000 and KHS was now very reluctant to install pedestrian lights for safety rea- sons. The clerk would speak to Richard Dixon and KCC Cllr Paulina Stockwell to see if there were any alternatives. Trees overhanging the traffic


lights at the end of Heath Road would be reported to KHS. The hearing loop had been in- stalled at the village hall and the main room was to be redec- orated in the autumn. Regarding the parish service scheme, there would be no fi- nancial assistance from the bor- ough council towards the running of the parish hall, pavil- ion or allotments, although there might be a token payment to-


42 Town


DownsMail In touch with your parish Barming Council


wards notice boards and war me- morials. The new scheme could result in Barming’s funding for the forthcoming year being re- duced by around £6,000, which would have a direct impact on the parish precept. The Kent Association of Local Councils had asked parish councils to initiate a joint peti- tion against the removal of con- current functions grant, which could then be forwarded to Maidstone Council. Barming councillors felt they were un- able to support this, as there was limited information as to who would be expected to pay for any subsequent referendum that may be called. Changes to the council tax benefit scheme could mean that Barmingwould need to increase the annual precept cost per band D property from £21.93 to £22.01 to receive the same fund- ing as last year. As the parish field did not


meet new Football Association regulations, usage would de- crease. It was agreed to invoice Barming Youth Football Club for an annual fee of £650, inclu- sive of one-off matches. The youth club had been


given three months rent free as it had redecorated the pavilion.


Television dumped Loose Council


COMMUNITY warden Liz Lo- vatt reported that following the dumping and destruction of a large TV at the King George V playing field, three people could be seen quite clearly on CCTV footage. Details had been passed to the PCSO. Nuisance parking and stan-


dards of driving at the time of the school run were continual problems. The warden was working with the school to pro- mote a road safety campaign with the Brake charity, using a mascot called Zak the zebra. Litter, vandalism and fly-tip-


ping had been getting worse at the King George V playing field. It was understood police were running checks on vehicles seen in the car park but they were not from the Loose area. Borough Cllr Sue Grigg had


sent an objection letter to Maid- stone Council on the Core Strat- egy, regarding traffic and the impact on Loose. This had been circulated to parishioners who had been invited to send com- ments to the borough council. Therewas a distinct bulge in a


wall at Malthouse Hill, which is a private road. The clerk was asked to write to the resident outlining the potential danger. Two quotes had been received


for repairing the top part of the allotment wall. It was agreed that Mark Gasson would carry out the work. Loose Amenities Association was thanked for its contribution


of £250 towards nesting boxes etc in connection with the visits organised by Medway Valley Countryside Partnership with Loose School at Brooks Field. It was agreed to pay the parish council insurance pre- mium for next year of £2,537. The clerk was to remind the in- surers of Cllr Roy Hood’s age, which is over 80, in view of the personal accident cover. There had been 38,095 hits on


the parish website, averaging 139 a week. Thanks went to all those who


had helped to make the fete a huge success, including Carol Hardy of Loose School who opened the event, and David and Pam for providing excellent PAcoverage. Donations were re- ceived from Albany Funerals, Walnut Tree Lane residents and All Saints’. The Walnut Tree won the tug of war trophy. The clerk thanked Anne for her ad- ministration for the event. In the Kent Garden Council Allotments Competition 2012, the Broomfield Shield came back to Loose for the third year running. Liam Corbett was co-opted as


amember of the parish council. Tovil Council Biodiversity talk


THE diocese had offered some- one to talk about biodiversity and the chairman had accepted the offer. It was reported that Maid-


stone Council enforcement offi- cers visited Hayle Mill in August to check with compli- ance with the planning permis- sion.


There had been no contractors


on site for over amonth and sig- nificant work was still required. However discussions had


taken place between Simon Green and Hayle Mill manage- ment regarding the setting up of a charity to operate the mu- seum. A meeting was to be arranged


with members of the Valley Conservation Society to discuss the management plan for the Hayle Place Stud Farm Nature Reserve. No progress had been made concerning the missing CCTV camera. Kent Highways had been no-


tified again of the manhole cover on the footway in Tovil Green, and asked for remedial action. The clerk was to check with


the planning inspectorate re- garding the decision notice on Bockingford Stables published by Maidstone Council. It was reported that repairs to


the land at Woodbridge Drive Open Space were taking place. A new litter bin had been in- stalled on the Fant side of the River Medway. A litter pick had taken place


from Lockmeadow to Tovil Footbridge and along the river- side at Tovil. Cllr Chris Garland spoke on Maidstone Council’s plans for the future and answered ques- tions about the Core Strategy and neighbourhood plans. Issues covered included infor- mation on the MBC website concerning organisations being able to bid to take over a serv- ice currently provided by MBC. The meeting heard local au- thorities would be required to abide by neighbourhood plans when determining planning ap- plications. It was noted that more detailed guidelines for the preparation of the plans would be useful. It was reported that the design


for the crossing at Tovil Road was due to go out to tender. There was no patrol crossing attendant at the zebra crossing. Cllr Ian Chittendenwas to make enquiries about a replacement. No decision had yet been


made on the proposed develop- ment at Tovil Green. The appli- cation was to go to the MBC planning committee for a deci- sion.


Several lampposts had col- lapsed due to rusting. Residents were asked to report any visible rusting on lampposts to Kent Highways or the parish clerk. Several local dog waste bins


were overflowing since the emptying service was removed from a contractor and retained in house by MBC. Theclerk wastosendCllr


Derek Mortimer a list of the dog bins owned and serviced by the parish council in order to avoid confusion. It was reported that flatbed vehicles had been turned away from the tip under new regula- tions. MBC officers were investigat-


ing several derelict houses in Beaconsfield Road which, due to their poor condition and ap- parent abandonment, were en- couraging fly-tipping and other anti-social behaviour. Cllr Glyn Charlton offered to replant the parish planters with pansies for the autumn and winter. It was noted that the advertis-


ing hoarding at the front of the Lidl site had been refused. A resident reported that the Sharps Freeman site was be- coming an eyesore. The site had planning permission but no de- velopment had taken place. Cllrs Clive English and Derek Mortimer were to meet with a resident of Old Cottages to as- certain the situation. It was agreed that the Christ-


mas fair would take place at the end of November.


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