DownsMail In touch with your parish


village. The council has no ju- risdiction over signs on KCC Highways property but KCC or MBC were at liberty to remove them. The clerk was to ask Maidstone Council to remove those signs currently in place. The draft budget for 2013-


2014 was circulated and dis- cussed and would be discussed again at a future meeting. The proposed traffic calming scheme for Workhouse Lane had been delayed following dis- satisfaction from some resi- dents. As a result, funding from County Cllr Paulina Stockell’s budget had been lost, and it was hoped it could come out of next year’s spend. As the maintenance contract


for the village was going out to tender, it was agreed to place the advertisement on the web- site as well as in local parish newsletters. It was also agreed that the three-year contract would be under annual review. It was agreed to ask residents to keep the area in front of their properties free of litter and to keep hedges trimmed back. One of the cradle swings in the Gallants Lane Play area was bro- ken. The council agreed to accept the quotation of £184 by Maid- stone Council to replace it. An exhibition was to be held


with the results of the traffic survey and proposals for possi- ble solutions. Cllr Glyn Charlton said KCC


Cllr Paulina Stockell had signed off funding for the village gate- way signs. One would be erected on either side of the road on the Barming side, at the widest part of the road (by Rec- tory Lane), one at the Heath Road junction with Dean Street and one opposite the Tovil sign in Dean Street. A letter had been received


from Yalding parish council asking for help with the playscheme at Yalding primary school. A contribution was de- clined, as funds were short and it was unlikely that local chil- dren would attend.


Playground work THEfencing had been completed around the playground and skatepark and the seats and wet pour kits had been delivered and awaited installation. KHS had sent a letter detailing


Egerton Council


the proposed areas for weight restrictions and signage.The clerk would write to KHS in support of the proposal and an article would appear in the newsletter, asking residents to do likewise. It was agreed that the parish council could forward-fund the duplication, outer cases and printing for a DVD on the Dia- mond Jubilee to be sold. Following the work by South- ern Water at the lower recre-


ation ground roadway,ithad been left badly disturbed by the tankers. A letter of complaint would be sent. The snow contingency plan would be checked. The chairman Alison Richey


had been presented with an award for services to the com- munity by Ashford Council. She would bring it to the next meeting.


Headcorn Council Petition news


THE petition regarding concur- rent functions raised more than 730 signatures. Everyone was thanked for their contribution. The vacancy following the resignation of Cllr Buswell would be filled by co-option at the January meeting. The parish council was in- formed it was due to receive £34,744 under the new parish services scheme for 2013/14. The finance group would meet before the next parish council meeting to review the budget and discuss the options to find the deficit. Twenty people had volun- teered and been trained for Speedwatch. Two teams had been out recently at Millbank and Station Road. Members of the open spaces committee had undertaken an inspection walk at night to identify an problem areas. A pothole had been reported outside the Factory Shop and had been reported to the site owner. A meeting would be arranged


with the public rights of way department to discuss the flood- ing of the DawksMeadow path.


Langley Council Skateboard cash


A GRANT of £300 towards the skateboard project would be placed in the 2013/14 budget following a request from PCSO Richard Kirby. A letter from a parishioner re- garding parking at the Forsters would be passed on to Kent Highways as it was not a parish council matter. Langley youth had acquired


£300 for a community project and requested ideas. It was agreed the young people be asked to cook a Christmas lunch for the elderly in the parish. Regarding the Core Strategy strategic site allocation, a meet- ing was attended with Pegasus and TaylorWimpey. A parishioner had requested a


salt bin for Grasslands. The clerk had met with the KHS steward who was prepared to put a salt bag behind the garages. The clerkwould contact the site own- ers for permission. The clerk was asked to write


to Kent Highways complaining about the lack of consultation regarding the traffic calming


measures placed on the B2163 at Leeds. Cllrs Robert Palmese and John


Tucker were thanked for their hard work in planting the Ju- bilee trees.


Marden Council Police attend


INSPECTOR Prodger and Ser- geant Bourne accompanied PCSO Morris to the meeting, to introduce themselves and an- swer any questions. PCSO Mor- ris had attended the Charlton football sessions in the village, which were well attended. It was noted that some graffiti


had appeared in various places, including the toilets and around the playing field. PCSO Morris would investigate. There had been six crimes


since the last meeting: two thefts; two thefts from vehicles, one burglary and one incident of criminal damage. There was a possibility of hir-


ing Speedwatch equipment from Chart Sutton parish coun- cil. There was interest from po- tential volunteers – a minimum of three people were needed. Cllr Jolyon McCarthy had sur-


veyed the Chainhurst site and believed there were enough dwellings to qualify for a 30mph speed limit. He was to contact County Cllr Paulina Stockell to inquire about the way forward. An email had been received


from a resident about the untidi- ness of the high street.The act- ing clerk was to find out the village hall cleaning schedule and ask Kent Highways to ask the pharmacy to move their bins. Some of the “down” platform surface was being replaced at Marden station. The clerk was to report the missing panel from the black bridge again as the previous repair had not lasted. The caretaker was to be asked


to remove the tree growing over the path opposite Station House. Posters had been put up in the station about he Decem- ber timetable change. Roundel Way wassaidtobe sinking at the junction with Sunburst Close and the man- holes were cracking. The rubber base under the “igloo” in the play area was being pulled up. The clerk had been getting quotes. Graffiti was being scratched


in the paint on the play equip- ment at the playing field. The caretaker had been asked to re- move it where possible. It would also be photographed and reported to PCSO Morris.


Support extended Amanda Duddle, of Brighter Futures, gave a short talk on how the support group was being extended from Maidstone into the rural areas, organising


Staplehurst Council


activities for the over-65s, and would welcome volunteers. The caretaker had reported a


small fire at the Surrenden playing field resulting in minor damage to the play surface. A £500 insurance excess for damage to All Saints’ church- yard wall had been covered by a donation. A sum of £3,500 was agreed for urgent tree work. The chairman had been con-


tacted by a resident about sup- port for a petition regarding gypsy issues. Councillors agreed that residents were enti- tled to express views in this way and make use of appropri- ate online channels, but any pe- tition should not formally be linked to the parish council. The chairman said he was un- happy with the limited enforce- ment action being taken at Huntsman’s Stables and would write to Maidstone Council about it. The public meeting concern-


ing the health centre had been positive and a follow-up meet- ing was being organised. Some bus timetable changes


had been made in surrounding areas that affected connection times. More entries had been re- ceived for the photo competi- tion andtheywerenow to be judged. A neighbourhood plan dis-


play was in the library. A revised quote of £572.23


was accepted for the 2013mow- ing of Surrenden playing field with a further £257.98 for the fence line.


West Farleigh Council New councillors


TWO new members were co- opted on to the council through a process of interview in pri- vate. Julie King and Helen Swan were welcomed by the chair- man and councillors. The police were not in atten-


dance at the meeting, but the clerk reported on their behalf that their had been no crimes in the village. The Men of the Trees organi-


sation had reported that West Farleigh was among the top 10 locations in Kent for arboreal splendour. A £20 prize was awarded and a new oak had been given to mark the Jubilee. It will be planted on Don Good- win’s land, replacing a recently lost tree. Cllr Stockwell had beenwork-


ing on a trail of safe activity ap- paratus for children as an extension to the playground on the Green. This would be pur- sued with suitable suppliers. Funding was available through a ring-fenced grant. The clerk said the probably


last “grant” under concurrent functions had been received and finance thereafterwas in an unpredictable position.


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