DownsMail In touch with your parish


Bredhurst Council Lighting survey


THE clerk had completed a sur- vey of street lighting in the vil- lage and would contact KCC Highways to find out who was responsible for its maintenance. The telegraph pole in Dunn


Street Road had been removed and the pavement resurfaced. Two quotations had been re- ceived for the playground re- furbishment project. At an interim meeting in September, it was agreed that £4,000 would be allocated for the work. Cllr Vanessa Jones would contact Kent Highways to arrange a meeting to obtain sup- port for improvements in the village, with a view to bidding for extra funding from Maid- stone Council for work to be undertaken. A planning application for


the erection of a detached re- placement dwelling at Bio, Forge Lane, Bredhurst, was granted with conditions. The clerk had been informed


that a planning application for the field next to Oaklands was expected shortly. The village tidy up was dis- cussed and a date set. The clerk was to email residents for vol- unteers to help and inform Maidstone Council of the extra sacks of litter that would need to be removed. It was agreed that Cllr Jones


could spend up to £100 on- plants for the planters outside Pickwick Motors and other parish council maintained areas in the village. Councillors expressed con-


cern at the hazardous waste which had recently been dumped in the woods. A meet- ing was planned between the landowner and the Environ- ment Agency. Regarding the parish services scheme, the clerk would sub- mit revised figures for the area of the playing field to Maid- stone Council, so that Bred- hurst Parish Council was given the correct allocation of finance for grass cutting costs next year. The Audit Commission had returned the completed paper- work for the annual return. The bredhurstpc web domain would not be renewed. The clerk would alert everyone to her new email address – clerk@bredhurstpc.kent- parishes.gov.uk, which would take effect from October 24. Cllr Bill Anderson said he


had received several com- plaints about the bad language being used during the football at Bredhurst Nursery. The old litter bin lid and post


at the corner of Forge Lane and Blind Lane had still not been removed. Borough Cllr Bob Hinder offered to chase this up with Maidstone Council.


54 East


Broomfield and Kingswood Council


New software


COUNCILLORS agreed that the clerk could purchase an up- dated Microsoft Office package. A petition against Maidstone Council’s proposal to scrap the concurrent functions grant and implement the parish service scheme was being circulated around the village. The clerk had already received several signatories. Regarding the recreation and sports field, the RoSPA safety report had been received and there were very few comments, indicating a low risk with no ur- gent action required. A letter was to be sent to the


Scout group chairman regarding maintenance of the Scout hut at the sports field. Councillors agreed to display


No Fireworks notices at the field as in previous years. Three estimates were received


for tree work at the sports field. It was agreed to ask John Hood to carry out the work. Reports had been received of youths climbing onto the Por- takabin and Scout hut roofs most evenings. This had been reported to the police by the Scout group chairman and the clerk had emailed PCSO Richard Kirby. The December issue of the


Village News would be the last one to be published by the cur- rent editors. The first by the new editors would be March, 2013. Cllr Paul Beaney advised that


after a successful training day he was confident that, with the help of Cllr Peter Corfield and the clerk, he would be able to run the Kent parishes website. It was agreed the current web- master would continue until December then be retained as a consultant for six months. The clerk had forwarded a


card of condolence to former parish council chairman Bob Bowker on the death of his wife, Rose-Marie. Parish council meetings will


take place for the next six months on the third Monday of each month, with the next full meeting on Monday, November 19.


Traffic diversion Detling Council


THE chairman referred to prob- lems with the recent diversion through Detling, due to the clo- sure of the New Cut round- about. Detling had not been included in the consultation and there was a lack of pre- planning and coordination on the part of Kent Highways. Ward Cllr Nick de Wig- gondene reported on the Core Strategy and issues around


junction 8, and reiterated his objections to development at Woodcut Farm. The land east of Hockers


Lane was currently in the process of being marketed by property agents. Concerns were raised about


the parking associated with the new development in The Street. The clerk would liaisewith Guy Osborne on this matter. A tri-parish meeting was


being arranged with the chair- men of Thurnham and Stock- bury councils. The audit had been com- pleted by the Audit Commis- sion and the clerk had received the clearance notice. The Forestry Commission had awarded the parish council a £1,000 grant to undertake a management plan for Horish Wood. The EDF grant application


had been unsuccessful. The next steps would be to look for a grant for a kissing gate at Horish Wood and to progress the inter- pretation panel with the Kent Downs Group. Regarding the parish services scheme, the clerk would arrange a meeting with Maid- stone Council to discuss the funding requirements for the year. The parish would support the Kent Association of Local Councils in their discussions on the new scheme. Following a request from the


WI for a donation towards their Jubilee celebration last June, it was agreed the parish council was unable to consider support as it was a private event funded from the sale of tickets. The SEWater work in Horish


Wood had been postponed for a year due to higher priorities. The chairman spoke regarding


apieceof land at junction 7 that adjoined the woodland. He sug- gested the parish council should try to establish the own- ership. It was reported that the owners of the pond were not willing to pass over ownership but were prepared to lease it to the parish. It was hoped to se- cure a long-term lease.


Downswood Council Fuel tank drilled


A LADY visiting a friend re- ported that a small hole had been drilled in her petrol tank and fuel had been stolen from her car. A tenant in Longham Copse reported that someone had forced the door to his property. No entry had been gained and nothing was taken. PCSO Jim Stevens confirmed


that CCTV coverage was being discussed. Issues raised by members of


the public included large com- mercial vehicles being parked on front gardens, overflowing and smelly bins at Mallards


Park, and fencing that had still not been replaced in Foxden Drive and Longham Copse. Overgrown vegetation was covering the handrail at The Beams and encroaching on to the footpath of Deringwood Drive from Ellenswood Close. There were also several Core Strategy questions. Borough councillor Gordon Newton said he had concerns about the Core Strategy and the integrated transport strategy. He was ar- ranging for copies of the ques- tionnaire to be printed and delivered to all homes in Downswood and Otham. The clerk was to establish whether the convenience store could have a postbox for com- pleted questionnaires.Itwas agreed that the parish council should donate £100 to the cost of the printing and delivery. The council’s response to the


Core Strategy was to be submit- ted as three separate sections: site allocation; Junction 8 and integrated transport. Cllrs Roz Cheesman andAnne-Marie But- ler were to draft the response, with collaboration by other councillors. Previous incidents of vandal-


ism at The Spires surgery had not been reported to the police. The CCTV camera had been moved to cover the surgery, and the situation was to be moni- tored.


Hedges at Foxden Drive play


area and Old Church Road re- quired cutting back. A litter bin which had been


on the lamp post close to The Hollies, outside the Orchard Spot, was reported to be on the floor. A letter from the community association was discussed and it was agreed that an annual grant could not bemade, due to the uncertainty of the concur- rent functions grant being re- placed by the parish services scheme and the cost implica- tions of rejoining the Joint Parishes Group. However, the council was happy to consider assistance with projects as they arose.


Following discussions with


the farmer, a complaint that footpath KM88,fromSt Nicholas Church to Otham, had been ploughed up and not rein- stated was found to be unjusti- fied.


Cllr Stuart Barron had re- signed for personal reasons, but had offered to continue main- taining Facebook and Twitter until a replacement could be found. Cllr Martin Weeks had also offered to provide tempo- rary cover. It was agreed that Cllr Weeks would be asked to maintain the service, along with Cllr Bill Greenhead. The winners of the gardens competition were: 1st Mr Dal- las, 19 Reinden Grove; 2ndMrs


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


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