Tel: 01634 861237 email: clerk@boxleyparishcouncil.org.uk Website: www.boxleyparishcouncil.org.uk


Quad bikes PCSO Andy Hawthorn said the police were continuing to deal with quad bike problems in the Lordswood area following con- cerns expressed by councillors and residents. A CCTV camera had been in- stalled andmembers of the pub- lic were asked to report any quad bikes on the Timber Tops open area to Kent Police on 101. Quad bikes had also been an


Contact details for parish councillors can be obtained from the parish office, the Useful Contact Details leaflet or the website


Boxley Parish Mail A busy year for councillors


CHAIRMAN: Ivor Davies CLERK: Pauline Bowdery ASST CLERK: Melanie Fooks Parish Office, Beechen Hall,Wildfell Close,Walderslade, ME5 9RU


THE past year had not proved to be easy for anyone, the parish council included, said its chair- man Ivor Davies in his report to the annual parish meeting. “We seem to have spent much


issue in Walderslade Woods and on the roads. Vehicles found to be causing a nuisance could be seized. He was also regularly pa- trolling the now closed Yew Tree pub at Sandling, as resi- dents feared squatters could target the property following the demolition of the Upper Bell pub at Bluebell Hill. The PCSO had contacted the brew- ery, who had stepped up their security. PCSO Hawthorn said he would also keep an eye on the Jubilee Orchard at Grove Green where it was reported that peo- ple had been riding horses,


time and effort facing up to a succession of problems in de- fence of the interests of our res- idents, particularly significant planning and financial issues,” he said.


Highlights of the year were


the parish council hosting a royal visit for the opening of the Weavering Diamond Jubilee Or- chard, and obtaining village green status for the main sur- viving area of woodland in Walderslade. The parish had also bought a


plot of land south of Boxley vil- lage to protect it from building development, and was helping local residents to preserve CuckooWood. Drafting a response to Maid-


stone Council’s consultation on its Core Strategy had occupied a great deal of time, and the parish was now preparing the neighbourhood plans required by new national planning pol- icy framework. This was a time-consuming


Prince Edward and the Countess ofWessex at the Jubilee Orchard


process, but at the same time the council had had to deal with a vast number of planning applications, ranging from the very large down to front porches and individual trees, and giving support to local res- idents when requested. Setting the council’s budget for 2013/14 had been dominated by the loss of the borough council’s concurrent functions grant. This had shrunk in three years from £50,000 to zero, although £12,000 had been awarded from


Path restoration COUNCILLORS agreed to re- store the cobbled path across Boxley Green. Quotes have been sought for the work, as well as advice from the conser- vation officer on suitable mate- rials.


SOUTH EastWater is to start in- stalling water meters at proper- ties in the Forstal Road area which currently have an un- metered supply. Installation in the Grove


Green area is scheduled for 2015. Residents affected will be kept fully informed by leaflet drops, etc.


Representatives of the com-


pany outlined the project in a presentation to Boxley Parish Council and answered mem- bers’ questions. Metering manager Charles Healey explained that meters


28 East


Owners warned on dog fouling IT is evident that residents are taking dogs into the play area at the Jubilee Orchard at Grove Green and are then allowing them to foul the area. The parish council is asking the PCSO to monitor this and where possible to arrange for the residents to be fined. Parish clerk Pauline Bowdery said: “Not only do dogs carry toxocari- asis, which can cause blindness, but the dogs should not be in close proximity to children playing. The parish council is ask- ing that pet owners keep the dogs out of the play area.” Bagged dog faeces can be disposed of in the dog waste bins or placed in domestic bins.


Water meters are on their way


were being installed on a post- code basis. “However, post sector bound-


aries do not always correspond with parish boundaries, which is why we will be in the parish at different points over the next few years.” Each meter should be in- stalled, usually outside the property, within a day, with the work being done on a street by street basis. The company pledged to li-


aise with Boxley PCSO Andy Hawthorn when staff are work- ing in the area, to promote


awareness of bogus callers. The compulsory metering programme came in after 2007 when the south east of England was classed by the Government as an area of severe water stress. Councillors were informed


about billing changes and sup- port for customers already struggling to pay bills, although the company said that 80% of customers already converted had saved money with the new system. More information can be


found at www.makingevery- dropcount.co.uk


the parish services scheme. Rather than draw on reserves, the council had made what sav- ings it could while trying to avoid a reduced service to resi- dents. The increase in precept, the


first in three years, would be around £5 a year (10p per week) for an average (Band D) prop- erty. Ward Cllr Derek Butler said the precept was still the third lowest in the borough while several other parishes were three times as high.


Climbing wall WORKis well underway on the climbing wall at the Kent Scout Centre in Sandling. This will have three floors


and a lift for the disabled. Con- cerns about its height have been received by the parish council, but it was reported that it was no higher than permitted. Once it has received its timber cladding, it should be less ob- trusive.


Pupils drop in at hall FIFTY pupils from Lordswood Junior School visited Beechen Hall in February during the school’s annual walk through WaldersladeWoods. The hall is used during the event for a com- fort break and, if the weather is bad, for a lunch stop.


Boxley Warren THE Friends of Boxley Warren group has developed rapidly and is now fully constituted, with its own bank account and practical tasks once a month. Activities organised for the next fewmonths include action days on April 14 and May 12 and a reptile course on April 27.


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


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