DownsMail In touch with your parish A pothole had been patched


Addington Council Police visit


INSPECTOR Adrian Allen in- troduced himself as the neigh- bourhood inspector responsible for the area. He said his priori- ties were to lead and support the PCSOs and PCs, focusing on crime reduction, anti-social be- haviour and the detection of of- fences.


Members detailed their disap- pointment about the reporting of crimes to the parish council and communication overall. Insp Allen suggested members use


the website,


www.police.co.uk, for crime statistics. PCSO Laura Bullen said the amount of time she could spend in Addington was limited as she had a large area to cover. She agreed to look into the possibility of a surgery in Addington. PCSO Bullen reported the


theft of clothes from a locker room at the golf club. Insp Allen said there had


been six arrests and a weapon had been recovered following a shooting incident on the slip road of theM26. Bulbs had been planted to commemorate the Diamond Ju- bilee and two oak saplings had been received. Cllr Marie- France Bailey offered to nurture the saplings until they were ready to plant. The plan for a Speedwatch scheme was reconsidered. It was resolved that the clerk should place an article in The Pilgrim asking for volunteers. Members agreed to join the Patient Participation WK CCG network. Borough Cllr Matthew Balfour was to raise concerns about the lack of public trans- port at the next meeting of the Maidstone and TunbridgeWells Trust.


Members noted that the mem-


ber grant of £450 towards the cost of restoring the milestone on the A20 had been received. The clerk had received approval from KCC that Burslems could go ahead with the work. Amember of the public asked


about the possible siting of the proposed speed indicator de- vice.


Another resident asked for


more information about the al- leged breach of planning con- trol at the Angel Inn. Cllr Garrett read out corre- spondence received from a member of the public who was concerned that historic trees were being felled at Sandy Wood in Sandy Lane. KCC had inspected a faulty streetlight outside Miline on London Road and had advised that UK Power Networks needed to revisit the site. Overgrown vegetation at the


bus stop on the A20 had been cleared.


26 Malling


on Park Road and would be filled properly when the foot- path was resurfaced. A grant of £450 had been ap- proved to cover the cost of re- placing the stolen map in the Clearway. Unfortunately KCC cannot start work on the map until the spring. The clerk had received assur-


ance that a replacement post box would soon be installed op- posite the Jungle Café on the A20. The repair work to the bus shelter had been delayed by bad weather but was due to be com- pleted. The clerk had submitted a planning application to the bor- ough council to reduce the crown of the oak tree on the green by 15%. Marchants had pruned the rest of the trees on the green.


Aylesford Council Former clerk dies


THE death was announced of Douglass Austin, who served as the council’s first full-time clerk from 1990 to 1995. A resident referred to a previ-


ous meeting minute on the use of a Blue Bell Hill grass verge for car sales. She asked if in ad- dition to reporting this to the appropriate authorities, the parish council could also re- quest the installation of some bollards on the grass to prevent parking. It was agreed to ap- proach Kent Highways request- ing installation of low-level wooden bollards. Regarding a request for bol-


lards for Tunbury Avenue South, Kent Highways had re- sponded it did not consider the problems sufficiently serious for funding by KCC but would have no objection to the parish council funding it. Blue Bell Hill members asked


for further information regard- ing the police report of vehicles off-roading on Blue Bell Hill fields.


County Cllr Peter Homewood referred to a report he had re- ceived regarding the blocking of MR13 footpath (Common Road, Blue Bell Hill) with electric fencing and tied up gates. The clerk confirmed that the council was aware of this from a report by Cllr Smith and had contacted the KCC public rights of way of- ficer. The fencing and sheep in the field were temporary, but a sign would be placed on the gate to show the path was still accessible, but asking walkers to retie the gates. The TunburyAvenuebus stop


had now been relocated closer to the layby.


Birling Council Police report


PCSO Laura Bullen introduced Inspector Adrian Allen, re-


cently appointed neighbour- hood inspector for the area. In- quiries were still ongoing into a recent burglary at Birling Ashes resulting in the theft of a lawn mower and gardening equip- ment. There had also been two thefts in Ryarsh and one in Addington. While on an operation to deal


with poachers, the rural officer had caught offenders attempting to take UPVC windows from the Leybourne Grange site. Cllr Guy Nevill had said there had been problems with poaching over the past few weeks. The meeting to advise house- holders on oil tank security and sheds had been postponed, but PCSO Bullen offered to email Cllr David Hopper. Inspector Allen reported that


the investigation into air rifle shootings near the M20/M26 junction, resulting in five ar- rests, was still ongoing but that no further incidents had oc- curred. The chairman, Cllr Jacqui


Westwood had attended the KCC planning meeting regard- ing the Tarmac application and reported that it had been ap- proved with an amendment that permission be granted for two years in the first instance so that noise can be monitored against the agreed parameters. Should noise levels exceed the limits endorsed as feasible the work would need to cease as outlined in the proposal. No contact had been made by


KHS regarding the interactive sign but county Cllr Sarah Hohler was hopeful that the work would take place soon. However, she was doubtful that any progress could be made re- garding The Bank. Councillors expressed their dissatisfaction with the way KHS had dealt with the sign and acknowl- edged that, due to lack of funds and no-one yet having suffered an injury, no action would be taken about The Bank. Regarding visibility when ex-


iting Birling Park, the clerk had discussed with the owners of TheOld Vicarage the findings of KHS that showed the stream and verge were unregistered and that further cutting back the yew and laurel should min- imise further erosion of the bank. It was noted that the lower branches of the yew and laurel overhanging the stream had been cut back. All Saints’ Parochial Church Council had advised that, fol- lowing a meeting between the leader of the payback office and the church warden at theMaid- stone probation office, a group of workers would be on site each Saturday. A tree surgeon had been approached to advise on the condition of the trees in the churchyard and quotes for essential work were being sought.


Visit Downs Mail’s website — downsmail.co.uk


Costs for the Jubilee party had


been received from BVHCT to- gether with notification that the refurbishment of the lych gate was going ahead. A cheque for the grant of £1,500 had been raised for signing and handing over to BVHCT. The problemswith the village


hall lights had been mentioned and, although the outside light had constantly needed repairs, both were now working. A draft budget was distrib-


uted and discussed. Estimated expenditure for 2012/13 was under budget. The budget for 2013/14 needed to take into ac- count that the fixed electricity costs ceased in September 2013 and allow for other increases. The estimated budget was ap- proved for forward planning. It was agreed that, in addition


to donations already approved, £50 each be paid to Victim Sup- port and Age Concern. Prior to the Remembrance


Day ceremony Mr Westwood had mown the grass around the war memorial and cut back some bushes and had men- tioned that the holly trees next to the lych gatewere badly over- grown. In anticipation of the re- furbishment of the lych gate taking place soon, Cllr West- wood had obtained a quote of £90 to cut back these trees and it was agreed that this work be carried out. Cllr HelenWalker declared an interest in an application to fell a plum and eucalyptus tree and prune other trees at her property in Ryarsh Road, Bir- ling, and took no part in the dis- cussion. No objections were raised.


Speedwatch


East Peckham Council


BOROUGH councillor Howard Rogers was welcomed to the meeting. He encouraged the council to set up a Speedwatch. The war memorial had been cleaned in advance of Remem- brance Sunday. As there were a number of new names, this would affect the dimensions of the bronze plaque and Burlite was considering how the work could be done. Another resident drew atten-


tion to various highway mat- ters. Details of the issues would be forwarded to Kent Highways Services. The council had been praised


by a number of residents for its newsletter. It was resolved that members would have advance sight of the newsletter prior to distribution and publication on the website. There was a discussion on the continuation of parish council monthly surgeries.Itwas re- solved that therewould be more advertising and details of sur- geries would be dis-P34


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