DownsMail In touch with your parish


Bliss, 20 Horton Downs and Mrs Kinslow, 24 Foxden Drive. Let- ters had been sent advising that prize money and certificates could be collected at the Christ- mas ceremony onNovember 30.


Future planning RESIDENTS were updated on the importance of having a neighbourhood plan in place. If Harrietsham failed to pro-


Harrietsham Council


duce a neighbourhood plan then the borough councilwould produce a development plan on its behalf, starting the process in mid 2013 for completion by the end of 2015 when the old local plan expires. Chairman, Cllr Stephen Mor-


ris, said the borough had set a figure of 315 for expected hous- ing in Harrietsham.Oncethis figure was adopted, then Harri- etsham would be open to spec- ulative planning applications as December 2015 draws closer, if there was no neighbourhood plan in place.


Junction 8 plan


Hollingbourne Council


The council resolved to write to Maidstone Council and object to the proposal forwarehousing and office accommodation at Junction 8 of the M20,onthe grounds that KCC and MBC spent £3million opposing KIG on the same site, that there was 20% unoccupied office accom- modation in the South East, cur- rent traffic problems would increase and there was no suit- able public transport to this site. Leeds Castle had been refused permission to hold more events because of traffic congestion. The council believed Maid-


stone council should concen- trate on restoring the centre of Maidstone, which was showing serious signs of urban decay. Cllr Mike Bedwell reported on


the recent JPGmeeting at which it was stressed there was confu- sion over the size of the propos- als.


The possibility of using the Detling Aerodrome did not ap- pear to have been properly ex- plored and there was no mandate to increase new provi- sion for warehousing. He urged residents to write individually. The chairman expressed con-


cern at the potential loss of £6,000 income from Maidstone Council changing from the con- current function grant to the parish services scheme. Cllr Bedwell had been con-


tacted regarding the suspicious behaviour of motorists around Station Approach. Any further incidents should be reported di- rectly to the police on 101. Mr Bedwell offered his com- miserations toMr and Mrs Ben- nett on the loss of their cat and


said that while there was a pos- sibility of legal action to keep dogs off theMillennium Green, all activity to transfer owner- ship and responsibility from the former trust to the council should be suspended. The pro- posal was carried. PCSO de Burca said there had


been 19 reported crimes in Au- gust in the North Downs ward, as opposed to 25 last year. Theft was 35% of all crime. She en- couraged people to look in to Country Eye and apply for packs. Dr Bauer offered to provide compost to the Village Garden- ers for tubs etc. There was substantial over- growth of vegetation at the A20 approach to the village and along the pavement towards Station Approach. Cllr John Cobbett said a water


leak outside his home had taken several days to repair, which was unacceptable when everyone was being asked to save water. Cllr Alan Williams asked if


the litter bin provided by Maid- stone Council at the end of Sta- tion Approach would be better outside the school. The clerk was to look in to this. Cllr Cobbett said the site of


the jubilee beacon was no longer a designated trig point. Borough councillor Jenny Whittle reported that work was ongoing on the speed camera and a weight limit sign for Bourne bridge.


Leeds Council Road changes


THE new road layout at the school had been completed, and was a clear safety enhancement. The 20mph speed limit signs were in place. After agreeing to provide build-outs at both ends of the village, KCC had confirmed that the proposed build-out on Pen- fold Hill would not be installed due to safety issues. It was in- stead considering rumble strips at this location. The council voiced concern over the effec- tiveness of the strips and the ef- fect of noise on residents. It was agreed that further information was required.The build-out on Upper Street would be in- stalled. KCC was also working with police on “Lorry Watch”, tar- geting problem roads by issuing tickets. Leeds and Langley were to be used as the first pilot scheme in the country, and it was due to be operational inNo- vember. Residents were encour- aged to continue to report HGVs or record them on the parish website. One resident who had re- ported a rude HGV driver in the village had received a letter of apology from the company con- cerned and £100 compensation,


which he had kindly donated to the parish council. It was noted that various parish societies were not updat- ing their web pages and were encouraged to do so. The council heard that Maid-


stone Council was looking at site specific locations for future development under the Core Strategy. Those sites of interest to the council were Langley and Boughton Monchelsea around Sutton Road, which were ear- marked for housing, and the possibility of commercial devel- opment at junction 8 of the M20. Concernswere voiced at a meeting of the Joint Parishes Group. The council was con- cerned that the transport and in- frastructure were not in place for large scale development. The South East Maidstone Strategic link could not be built due to lack of funding, so traffic wouldbeforcedontothe B2163 through Leeds. The council said this was unaccept- able, andmembers wouldmake their views known. Parishioners were urged to write to Maid- stone Council with their views. Mote Park Rangers no longer wished to hire the playing fields, so any teams who wished to hire it were asked to contact the clerk. Parish clerk Sherrie Babing-


ton resigned after 10 years with the council. She will leave at the end of the year and was thanked for all her help. The council will advertise for a new clerk.


Lenham Council Planning date


RESIDENTS will have a chance to air their views on Lenham’s neighbourhood plan when an exhibition takes place at the community centre on Novem- ber 10 (10am to 4pm) and No- vember 14 (7pm to 9pm). There will be short talks ex- plaining what the plan is about, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions and express opin- ions.


Presentations will also be


held at St Edmund’s Hall, Platts Heath, and at Lenham Heath Memorial Hall, probably in the same week.


Ulcombe Council Dog wardens


A MEETING had been held with Maidstone Council when the current role of the dog war- dens was explained. The diffi- culty of enforcement with so few wardens, the low priority given by the police and the re- quirement to prove offenders were noted. Local peer pressure was acknowledge to be the best method of enforcement, backed up by larger signs on the recre- ation ground and occasional no- tices in the village newsletter. A grant of £850 was given to


the village hall committee to- wards a new oil tank. The parish council fully sup- ported Kent Association of Local Council in negotiations with Maidstone Council over the parish services scheme and agreed to a petition against the new proposals. An article explaining the background to the petition would be placed in the village newsletter. The revised 59 weekday bus service was operating satisfac- torily with two school trips and two non-school trips per day. The evening journey was sup- ported by KCC. There were no plans to with-


draw the 2012-13 subsidy,but the service needed to be well supported. Parishioners would be re- minded to make use of the Sat- urday service to keep it viable. The War Graves Commission would be contacted for further advice about the possible addi- tion of two new names to the war memorial. A recruitment notice for Speedwatch volunteers had been placed in the newsletter and Kent Police had sent infor- mation. The clerkwould update the police on the status of the Ulcombe scheme. Regarding Maidstone Coun-


cil’s consultation on dog control orders, the parish council agreed in principle to the intro- duction of an order to prevent dog fouling throughout the en- tire borough. Borough Cllr Richard Thick


had been contacted by Channel 4 regarding a documentary being made about litter prob- lems in villages.He had pointed out the problem was very no- table in the rural lanes and ad- vised members that the local area may be involved in the pro- gramme.


Rowan request ELIZABETH Cobbett has ap- plied for conservation area consent to fell a rowan tree in Foxgrove House in Ey- horne Street, Hollingbourne. She says the tree is dis-


eased and the interior of the truck is rotten. Her applica- tion form says she intends to plant a replacement tree. Maidstone Council will de- termine the planning appli- cation.


Cherry proposal A PLANNING application has been submitted to re- move a protected cherry tree at 23 Olivine Close, Walder- slade. The proposal, which will


be determined by Maidstone Council, also includes reduc- ing the crown of two oak trees.


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