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Mereworth Council Advertising plan


THE landlady of the Queen’s Head said an advertising sign was being prepared for the pole outside the recreation area and asked about placing A signs on the triangle. It was agreed that chairman Jon Regan would meet her on site to discuss this. Mrs Bastin, of Kent Street,


asked about the proposed fur- ther development at Kings Hill as shewas concerned about traf- fic issues on the A228. Cllr Regan said the council was also concerned and had written to the borough council. Mrs Bastin also said that


waste lorries heading for Blaise Farm Quarry were using the A28. Borough councillor Jill Anderson said she would alert the environmental services committee. PCSO Toni Matthew said


there had been two crimes since the last meeting – one of crimi- nal damage and one burglary. Cllr Anderson noted that the


A228 footpathwidening project had been put back to 2015 and she would be taking this up with KCC and the borough council. The co-option of a parish councillor to replace Peter Cor- den-Dilley was deferred to the next meeting. Cllr Jenny Thorogood said the installation of a sound system with a hearing loop and CCTV camera at the community centre was being investigated. The Christmas Fair had raised £1,100. Cllr Regan had met KCC offi-


cers and agreed that the flashing school sign could be moved to KCC land between Mere House and The Rectory. Mr Vigor of Kent Highways had agreed to at- tend a site meeting with Cllrs Dennis Styles and Jon Regan. Following correspondence


from a resident regarding heavy vehicles on Beech Road,itwas agreed that Cllr Stephen Reynolds meet with him to dis- cusswhat the council had done. Cllr Reynolds said he had ex- plained that the lorries had been delivering building sup- plies and the company had used the smallest vehicles possible. There had been discussion re- garding parking issues at the school and a request from the school for help from the parish council. Problems had arisen following building works in The Street, with supply vehicles and contractors taking up spaces. A suggestion had been made for a walking bus from the pavilion car park.


Horse box stolen Offham Council


THERE had been one crime in October – the theft of a horse box from stables. PCSO Bullen


was to keep the parish updated regarding speed checks. Tonbridge and Malling Coun-


cil had objected to the planning application for the AD plant at Blaise Farm, saying KCC had to be certain there would be no nuisance from smells. The clerk was to arrange for councillors to visit Blaise Farm, possibly on a regular basis. KCC had not yet provided the proposals needed to obtain a grant from county Cllr Hohler to install speed indication de- vices. The clerk was to chase KCC for a response. The tennis court working


group said it was hoped the contractor would have finished the majority of the work before Christmas. The final colour cod- ing work would take place in the spring. Cllr Nelson met with the bor-


ough dog warden and said a lo- cation needed to be agreed for a dog bin. The footpath runs from Teston Road, behind Hodges Place, to a stile. The borough council would prefer it to be at the Teston Road end as it would be easier to collect from. Cllr Pierce had mended the


pole on the Burma frame at Teston Road playing field. Cllr Williams detailed the list of maintenance works that she reg- ularly completes and said extra work was needed to clean the picnic seats and tables. It was agreed that a maintenance con- tractor would be employed. There were some more addi-


tions to the maintenance tender and the clerk was to draft a let- ter for approval. Stephen Betts asked for Alan Jenner to continue the church- yard gardening as it was a diffi- cult job that he was doing properly. The clerk had updated the website and was adding more information and photos. The steam rally had gone


well, despite wet weather. There were problems with a food van on the village green who refused to move. The clerk was asked to provide a copy of the bye-laws for the green, to see how they could be changed if needed. The pathway from the end of


the quarry was covered in moss as far as the village gateway. The clerk was to report this. It was reported that horses


were using the footpath behind Pepingstraw Close. This is not a bridleway and was being ac- cessed via a field owned by Stephen Betts. Mr Betts was to be asked to notify riders that they could not use the path.


Brickworks issues OPERATING hours for Ryarsh brickworks had been approved in November, but it was re- ported that breaches were tak-


Ryarsh Council


ing place. The council had been told that better signage would be put up, but that hadn’t hap- pened. Lorries often went past the entrance and had to turn around. The blocked drains on The


Street had been cleaned since the last meeting. The road sign on Roughetts


Road had not been fixed, de- spite it being marked as re- solved for the second time by Kent Highways. Cllr Dave Storey said there


were plans for separate day and evening events at the summer fete on July 29, with two com- mittees involved. The council might be asked for funding to support the events. Members were willing to help inspect fire hydrants and the clerk was asked to send out a copy of the map identifying the sites. The clerk was asked to report


a manhole cover outside The Hollies which made a lot of noise when cars drove over it. The vegetation around the


street light outside Forstal House on Roughetts Road had not been cut back by the landowner. The clerk was asked to report this to Kent Highways. The meeting heard that rub-


bish had been dumped in the lay-by offWorkhouse Road. The clerk was to report this. The gassignatthe Four


Wents junction had been broken and on the ground for two years. The clerk was to report this. Members had seen the pro-


posed changes to parking re- strictions for Birling Road, which were as suggested by the parish council. The council agreed to pay


pitch marking fees at the recre- ation ground, which would be reimbursed by Ryarsh Rangers. The problem of swearing at football matches had improved but not gone away. Parents, sometimes from the away team, were often to blame. This was unacceptable for residents whose properties bordered the pitch. The referee and the Ryarsh manager should take ac- tion. The clerk was to ask the PCSO to attend a match.


New noticeboard CLLR Martin Collins said the new noticeboard was in place at the village hall. The Montessori pre-school


Trottiscliffe Council


was only being held two days a week at present and the hall had been let one morning per week for a Zumba class. Cllr Ledamun said the dam-


aged posts on the village green had been replaced. He had also spoken to John Vigor of KCC re- garding various overgrown hedges in Trottiscliffe. Cllr Richard Wallis said the middle section of footpath


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


MR189 had not been cut back at all in 2012. The clerk was to re- port this. Cllr Mike Day said the re- placement parts for the motor- bike and cups on posts in the multi-play area at the recre- ation ground had been fitted. The grant for a replacement see- saw had been received and the seesaw delivered. Cllr Collins said he expected


all the allotment plots to be taken up. The budget for 2013/14 was discussed and agreed. It was agreed not to increase the pre- cept. Cllr Mike Day had obtained


three quotes for a new notice- board outside Millers Farm. It was felt that a wooden notice- board would be appropriate. Cllr Day was to investigate. Addington Parish Council


had enquired as to whether any complaints had been received about transport to Pembury hospital but none had.


First responders


Wateringbury Council


RESIDENT Henry Mallows spoke about the Community First Responders programme, supported by South East Coast Ambulance Service. It aims to set up local groups of volun- teers who are contacted by the 999 service to attend local casu- alties and offer assistance until the emergency services arrive. Harry was hoping to set up a


Wateringbury group. Each group needs to raise money for the kit. The council expressed support for the project. There were four crimes in Oc-


tober.AMini Cooper was stolen from Tonbridge Road, there was a burglary in Bow Road, artifi- cial plants had been stolen from Warden Mill Close and a car was damaged in Tonbridge Road. A large amount of garden


waste had been dumped in the cemetery car park. The council had had to pay for a contractor to remove it. The village warden said litter


and dog fouling were causing problems. He felt themajority of dog owners picked up after their pets. He suggested that an- other campaign in conjunction with the dog warden might be worthwhile. The council had received a re-


quest for £1,600 to be included in the 2013 budget to cover the costs of phase 3 maintenance of the playing fields. This was agreed.MikeWitts said phase 2 had been postponed until au- tumn 2013 as the land had been too wet for levelling work. The meadow flower seeds had been purchased and would be sown. He proposed a workforce day for April to renovate seats, the pavilion and tidy the fields.


Malling 35


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