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on the A274. The monthly inspection of the playing field play area was sat- isfactory. The clerk had negoti- ated a reduction in the cost of slide repairs, and as a result, the insurance claim refund was too high.


Warden’s work Loose Council


COMMUNITY Warden Liz Lo- vatt said that, because of the very cold weather conditions, her main focus, had been working for the elderly and vulnerable of the parish. She mentioned a person who


had did not have any heating or hot water for months. She was working with other agencies and trying to obtain emergency grants for elderly residents as well as several other initiatives. It was agreed that she should be congratulated and to write to her boss to say how proud the parish council was to have her working for the community. A proposal by Cllr James Etheridge to set up a major criti- cal incident police box,tobe placed in the Parish Pavilion, was discussed. It was explained the “box” was to keep secure items needed in the event of a major incident, for police use only. It was agreed to take this to the next pavilion and playing field committee meeting. Viv Davis was confirmed as secretary to the McAlpine Trust with Cllr Gordon Gove as a trustee.


Arrangements for the annual parish meeting on May 13 were discussed. It would have the same format as the last two and local community groups would be invited. A total precept of £56,529 was agreed for 2013/14, meaning an increase of £6.37 on last year’s rate for a band D property. Pictures of sledging at Brooks


Field had been placed on the home page of the parish website. So far, 41,347 visits had been made to the site at an average of 179 per week. The salt bin at the junction of


Mill Street was situated over a gully. Also a drain was blocked outside The Willows on High Banks before Randalls Row. Kent Highways would be informed. An email had been received


about a new free running club being set up in the area to pro- mote wellbeing.


Staplehurst Council Litter in village


THE clerk said the caretaker con- tinued to collect many sacks of litter, which illustrated the need for the village clean-up. Cllr Rory Silkin said the health


centre project board was due to meet to finalise the recommen- dation to the PCT about a future health service provider. Cllr TomBurnham said Taylor


Wimpey had been undertaking some clearance of scrub at the field in Oliver Road. Cllr Paul Butcher said he, Cllr Paul Kelly and the clerk had met various representatives of Taylor Wim- pey, MedwayValley Countryside Partnership and Maidstone Council, and Maidstone Council had sought the parish council’s views on spending Section 106 funds. He also advised that Taylor


Wimpey was seeking the coun- cil’s reaction to its 10-year strat- egy for the green area.Its proposed approach is to manage the land for two years then hand it over with an agreed sum for a further eight years maintenance. Cllr Butcher was seeking expert advice to help the village and the council. Cllr Kelly said a detailed land-


scape and ecology management plan formed part of the current application for development of land south of Oliver Road, and asked if the RFO could seek guidance on the insurance cost and implications of the council being involved with the land. Cllr Simon Green believed if


the development was to go ahead, the future estate residents should pay a levy to cover man- agement of the green area.Cllr Adele Sharp felt it was important to engage in discussion to have an influence on the proposal. Councillors agreed that a paper, including information gathered from expert meetings and recom- mendations, should be drawn up and circulated at the next meet- ing.


Regarding supermarket appli- cations, Cllr Butcher said Maid- stone Council had issued copies of revised plans for the nature re- serve north of the railway line, being amendments to the Tesco application. It was agreed that the amended plans should be discussed in a meeting of full council, and asked that addi- tional publicity be undertaken and that full scope be given to a public forum discussion before- hand. The clerk said the landlord’s cleaning contractors at The Pa- rade had yet to install new bins. Cllr Butcher asked that environ- mental enforcement be asked about the presence of vermin. The clerk confirmed the new


CCTV camera was in place at the Jubilee Field. Regarding the Allotments Proj-


ect Group, Cllr Barrett Manning said he had visited a site whose ownership was unknown.He felt it was important to obtain an in- dication from Maidstone Coun- cil’s planning officer as to whether the borough council would consider planning con- sent for a community allotment on the site. Cllr Buller said that with the school being unavailable for the playscheme, the guide centre


had been approached about the possibility for using it as a venue. Cllr Buller said the Rural Set- tlement Group was working on compiling a village asset regis- ter. Cllr Burnham said Margaret Beach was to undertake a survey of the Surrenden Playing Field. The clerk said he waswaiting for news for Maidstone Council about the timing of sample re- pairs to the play surface.


West Farleigh Council Parking nuisance


A RESIDENT handed a no park- ing sign to councillors, which had been knocked down on the grass at the foot of Charlton Lane. The resident said a vehicle parked on this particular verge. Cllr Merritt offered to concrete the sign back in, as several had been removed on numerous oc- casions. Another resident spoke regard-


ing footpath KM21 and the adja- cent field, which contained sheep. It was noted that some less mobile walkers would be unable to get over the stile , and the footpath was very popular with people walking their dogs. The public rights of way officer had told the resident that the sort of furniture fitted was up to the landowner. Regarding litter in Charlton


Lane, Maidstone Council had told a resident that it would cost £250 for a litter bin and £5 a week to empty it, although it was felt that fortnightly collections would probably be sufficient. It was agreed that the resident should contact the clerk when the litter built up so that a litter pick could be arranged. The clerk said there had been


one crime since the meeting in November – a theft from The Good Intent. The need for police visibility in the village was dis- cussed, especially around the Smith’sHill Farm area. The clerk offered to discussed thiswith the PCSO. Cllr Merritt said a black poplar


tree at the bottom of Kettle Lane had been removed and the parish council was trying to find out who was responsible. Cllr Mer- ritt also reported that with Tim Hill’s assistance, he was compil- ing a list of trees in the village to see which ones were not covered by protection orders. It was agreed that the annual parish meeting would follow the same format as last year, where groups had the opportunity to give a brief report. The clerk was asked to arrange for light refresh- ments. The meeting heard four com- panies had submitted quotations for wooden trails in the chil- dren’s play area. Playdale could install nine pieces of equipment for £7,000 and it was agreed to accept this proposal. Cllr Johnson said the road sur- face down to Teston Bridge had


been washed away. This had al- ready been reported to Kent Highways. Cllr Merritt also said the sides of the roads were worn. Cllr Merritt proposed that the precept for the forthcoming year be set at £13,000, an increase of £9.44 per band D household per year, to compensate for the abo- lition of the concurrent functions grant. This was agreed. It was proposed by CllrMartin


to make a donation of £350 to- wards churchyard maintenance and £500 towards The Ever- greens. This was agreed. The parish grounds mainte-


nance contract hads been awarded to Cllr Larry Johnson. Members praised the work Cllr Johnson did around the village, in addition to his contracted hours, entirely free of charge. West Farleigh was hopeful it


might be considered for some of the £40m being awarded by KCC to roll out a programme of faster broadband in Kent. There was no truth in the ru-


mour that a gypsy sitewas being considered for land in StHelen’s Lane. Borough Cllr Denis Collins said he believed some people had become confused with the application for a camp site, which had been refused in any event.


There had been more fly-tip-


ping in the layby on Lower Road. It took the council three weeks to remove a mattress which had been dumped, by which time it had been joined by an exercise bike.


Yalding Council Lorry Watch


THE trial weight restriction was implemented on December 17, but as the erection of the signs was delayed, it will now run until September 8. Positive feedback had been received and residents were reporting lorries in the restriction zone. An initial meeting had taken


place about forming a Kintons playing field association. Two quotes had been obtained


for cleaning and re-pointing the cross on the war memorial but there was a huge difference. The companies concerned would be given a more detailed schedule of works. The order with The Stone


Shop for the bronze plaque had been cancelled and two other quotes had been obtained, but again there was a big difference. Derek Hudson had been asked


to draw up a schedule of works for refurbishment of the village lock-up. It was also agreed to look at erecting a plaque giving historical information. Gallaghers had donated a quantity of road stone to im- prove the path behind the doc- tor’s surgery. The villagewill enter the Kent


Men of Trees competition in 2013.


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