Boxley Parish Mail
CHAIRMAN: Ivor Davies CLERK: Pauline Bowdery ASST CLERK: Melanie Fooks Parish Office, Beechen Hall,Wildfell Close,Walderslade, ME5 9RU
Tel: 01634 861237 email:
clerk@boxleyparishcouncil.org.uk Website:
www.boxleyparishcouncil.org.uk Contact details for parish councillors can be obtained from the parish office, the Useful Contact Details leaflet or the website Council opposes Newnham Park
BOXLEY Parish Council has voiced strong opposition to the development at Newn- ham Court on junction 7 of the M20, pro- posed in Maidstone Council’s Core Strategy document. The borough’s proposals include a max-
imum 150,000 sq m medical campus, re- placement retail facilities at Newnham Court shopping village, a parkland nature reserve and enlarging the New Cut round- about.
However, Boxley Coucil says the site is a
vital buffer zone between urban develop- ment and the designated Area of Out- standing Natural Beauty, which should be protected, rather than endangered by Maidstone Council. It says the proposed development is un- sustainable as it is entirely dependent on the private car, andwould inevitably exac-
Speedwatch on
‘problem roads’ BOXLEY council is looking into the possibility of reviving Speedwatch on problem roads in the parish. Members agreed that it was a
useful tool for educating driv- ers and that it needed to be started again. The system has not been or- ganised in the area for some time, due to lack of volunteers. It was agreed that the parish
clerk should contact the police to inquire about training and arrange for the approval of pos- sible sites in Boxley Road, Walderslade, and Beechen Bank Road. Cllr Ann Spain suggested it
might also be used in Boxley Road, near the junction with Harbourland Close. Speedwatch aims to raise awareness of the dangers of speeding with the help of vol- unteers who are trained to use speed indicator devices. Driv- ers who exceed the limit are sent advisory letters.
House opposed PROPOSALS for a four-bed- room detached house at Hillah in Cossington Road, Walder- slade, were opposed by Boxley councillors. There were concerns that the development would over- whelm the site andwould have an adverse effect on neigh- bours, including a possible loss of privacy. Members wished to see the
plans refused by Maidstone Council.
20 East
Call for more play equipment AREQUESTfor more play equipment atWeavering Diamond Jubilee Or- chard is being considered by Boxley Parish Council. Cllr Tony Harwood said the equipment at thePenhurst Close sitewas
verywell used, andsomeof the older children had asked for something for them. He suggested “spinners”. The availability of suitable space is being investigated.
PROBLEMS caused by Maid- stone Studios’ audience parking on roads in Grove Green were discussed by Boxley parish councillors. Complaints had been received
from residents about inconsid- erate parking in the Provender Way area by people attending evening shows at the studios. PCSO Andy Hawthorn was thanked for his presence and in- tervention to try to control the
problem during a recent record- ing session. He said the prob- lems were caused because a large number of vehicles arrived at the same time. “The majority just assume the car park is full up and park in ProvenderWay.” Possible solutions including parking restrictions and a park and ride system were discussed. Cllr Kaz Macklin said the problem should be referred to the studios. She said: “What is
Newnham Court could become a retail park
erbate traffic problems, undermine pedes- trian safety and increase noise, light and air pollution. Environmental objections included the potential for pollutants to wash into the stream feeding Vinters Valley Nature Re- serve.
The parish was against further destruc-
tion of the countryside while adjacent land allocated for development at Eclipse Park lay barren and neglected. Should the plans be approved, the parish sought several mitigating conditions, in- cluding the type of retail, size and design of the redeveloped shopping village. It said: “The parish council is concerned
about the impact on the town centre if more retail space is included at Newnham Park. Retail attracts more traffic from a wider area, and this will have an impact on an al- ready congested highway infrastructure. Safeguards should be put in place to ensure no changes could be made to the site if it is likely that it would attractmore traffic.” The parish council’s full response to the
Core Strategy and integrated strategy con- sultations can be read on its website.
Warren action day THE Friends of Boxley Warren have organised an action day from 10am to 4pm on Tuesday, November 27. Tasks will include glade cre-
ation, access management and protecting planted trees. Sturdy shoes and clothes are essential, tools will be pro- vided. Volunteers should meet on the old Chatham Road.
Annual award PEOPLE who contribute to the community in Boxley could be recognised with a special hon- our.
The parish council is consid-
ering its own annual award scheme and provision will be included in the draft budget
Next meeting MEMBERS of the public are welcome to attend the next meeting of Boxley Parish Coun- cil at the European School of Osteopathy in Boxley village, ME14 3DZ, at 7.30pm on Mon- day, November 5.
TV studios prompt parking problems
intrinsically a studio problem then becomes a community problem. It is their issue that is draining on public resources and public money.” However, Cllr Wendy Hinder
said she had spoken to the com- pany who had said the problem should not occur because there were ample spaces in the car park. The issue was deferred to the environment committee.
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