DownsMail In touch with your parish Continued from page 26


Leybourne Council New councillor


CLLR Kevin Wagstaff was wel- comed to the council following his election. PCSO Ed Moore said crime figures could now be accessed on www.police.uk by parish councils and residents. There had been two burglaries


in Leybourne, and an anti-social behaviour call. PCSO Moore had held a successful surgery at Little Market Row shops. Chairman, Cllr Bob Ulph re- ported an incident of anti-social behaviour at the Bomb Hole and the CCTV showed apparent drug-taking. This had been re- ported to the police. It was noted it was important


for the police to attend parish council meetings to explain the background behind issues in parish reports. It was noted that KCC had


acted swiftly in addressing com- muter parking issues in London Road but it was disappointing that the borough council was taking so long to take a decision on the enforcement of the pro- posed parking restrictions. The chairman had met the community development trust manager at Leybourne Chase and discussions continued on the location for the AdiZone outdoor gym and variation to the conditions of the Sport Eng- land grant. It was agreed to support Bor-


ough Green Parish Council’s proposal for a moratorium on major development plans until the highway system had been improved to cope with traffic pollution. Cllr Ulph said the Tesco trol-


ley in Pump Close had been re- ported three times. However, the firm had still not removed it from the stream. Concerns were raised about


the parking in Teddington Drive preventing access to the school by Kent Fire and Rescue. The council would ask the serv- ice to investigate. Cllr Ulph said Taylor Wimpey also wished to have a relief road to the school.


Traffic concerns CLLR Matthew Balfour, from Tonbridge and Malling Council, heard concerns about increased traffic on the A228 and the delay regarding improvements to Kent Street. Cllr Balfour hoped work would start on this soon. Cllr Dennis Styles told the meeting about the sad death of Lady LucindaWells, and it was agreed to send a letter of sym- pathy to Sir JohnWells. A resident had expressed an interest in being co-opted on to the parish council and gave a


Mereworth Council 32 Malling


short presentation. There was another candidate, who was un- able to attend the meeting. It was agreed to discuss this at the next meeting, when it was hoped the chairman would be in attendance, and both candi- dates could attend. The clerk had reported the pothole and flooding in Beech Road and this had been quickly repaired by KHS. A permanent surface was to be added as soon as possible. Cllr Styles had met with the landlady of the Queen’sHead to discuss the use of the pole for permanent signs and to offer the use of the recreation ground hedge for advertising banners for special events. The landlady was keen to take up the offers. The flashing sign had now


been turned to face the right way. The council agreed that the light needed to be relocated, and not removed. A new loca- tion had been agreed, and resi- dents nearby had no objections. The triangular school sign be- tween The Rectory and Mere House would be removed and incorporated into the 30mph sign nearer the school. Cllr Styles said the allotments


were all in good order.Atenant had pointed out that some of the wooden posts around the plots were rotten. It was agreed to ask Darren Smith to quote for re- pairs.


There was some discussion as


to whether Speedwatch was needed now the flashing sign was in place. Cllr Styles sug- gested the equipment was sold to another parish. The clerk was to contact Hadlow Parish Coun- cil to arrange this. Darren Smith had been wait-


ing for better weather to start re- pairs to the play area.Hehad agreed to repair and repaint the noticeboards outside the old shop and outside the church. Team managers had asked


that the pitches be rolled after each weekend and reseeded in the spring. Barming FC might be willing to consider a contri- bution to extra costs involved in improving the pitches. Cllr Philip Olden said the cricket club hoped the cricket square renovation would be ready for the coming season. If this was not possible it would be done in October. The issue of rubbish stored on


the Village Pound had been re- ferred to Tonbridge and Malling’s conservation officer and environment officer, but ul- timately it was private land and therefore the ownerwas respon- sible for keeping it tidy. It was agreed that a “Spring Speakeasy” and annual meet- ing would be arranged for May 18. This would replace the an- nual parish meeting originally scheduled for May 28. The clerk was to contact village organisa-


tions and clubs to invite them to attend and provide a report. It was hoped ideas for small projects would be put forward at the Speakeasy. Cllr Styles said it might be possible to get a grant from Fields in Trust for projects involving the recre- ation ground. The fete committee had asked


the council to consider making a grant towards the costs of new gazebos. Cllr Styles said a firm proposal and quotation would be required before this could be considered. Cllr Styles commented on drivers parking on the verges on Seven Mile Lane at school times. This was felt to be ex- tremely dangerous as well as damaging to the verges. The clerk was to contact Kent High- ways to ask that wooden poles be installed in the verge to pre- vent parking.


Nettlestead Council Litter issues


MEMBERS reported there was quite a lot of litter in the village. The clerk was asked to report this to Maidstone Council. Debris had run from the field


on to the footpath near Bryant Close and this would be re- ported to KCC. PCSO Nicola Morris con- firmed there had been a break- in at a home in December and jewellery stolen. There had also been a few thefts from vehicles and she asked residents not to leave valuables in them or leave them unlocked and insecure. There had been a working


party at the weekend to carry out maintenance at the village hall. This had been very suc- cessful and hadmade a vast im- provement to the site. Cllr Martin Collis had in- spected the King George V Field and said the grass was very long and the BMX track had signs of grass growing through. Members agreed to check fire hydrants near their homes. Cllr Bennett said the need for


a neighbourhood plan was im- portant. The council would ex- amine maps at its next meeting to identify any plots with devel- opment potential.


Offham Council Police visit


INSPECTOR Adrian Allen of Kent Police introduced himself to the meeting. The council has a good relationship with PCSO Laura Bullen, who attends meetings when she can and is contactable by email. She had tried to resolve traf-


fic issues around North Meadow at school pick-up and drop-off time, although further action was needed by police to stop problems recurring. The police were hoping to train more officers to operate speed cameras.


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


An amendment to the village


green bylaws would be consid- ered, in a bid to prevent vehi- cles using the green or activities taking place without the coun- cil’s consent. The Offham Manor/Cosgrave


Field area was covered by a number of different land reg- istry titles, showing land owned by the parish council. There had been some changes


to gates and fencing in the area without the council’s permis- sion. The council had rights of way over some neighbouring pieces of land and some proper- ties had rights of way over council land. The driveway of North Meadow had been sold off to OffhamManor, although it was not clear if this was part of the parish council’s title. This was to be investigated. The parish councilwould like


to offer part of the area to the cricket club to form part of the lease and place part of it up for sale with restrictive covenants to prevent building. If the land was not sold, but remained as public open space, access from the gate in North Meadow would need to be re-instated. Regarding the play area at


Teston Road playing field,the pole from the Burma Bridge had now been re-attached. A neigh- bouring property was burgled and the burglars had cut through part of the wire fence. CllrWendyWilliams was to re- pair this. Three handymen had been


found who could carry outwork for the village. One would charge £7 per hour plus petrol from Headcorn. If there was not enough work to justify his jour- ney, Cllr Williams’ daughter could work for £10 per hour. This was agreed. CllrWilliams had ordered the plaque for the jubilee oak tree. Cllr William Pierce’s daughter had offered some offcuts of wood to put around the oak tree to protect it from the lawn mower. CllrWilliams was to ask Kent Highways to repaint the white lines in the centre of the road through the village. A quote for preparing the vil-


lage entrances had come in at from £14-16,000, which had greatly exceeded the plans in- tended. Spadework had agreed to work on the village entrance near the nursery. Hedge owner Ian Barwick had agreed it could be cut back. He had also offered some boulders which could be used at the Aldon Lane en- trance. A plan to lay a heavy- duty membrane at that entrance, a sleeper or big rock at the back, ragstone chippings and the big boulders was agreed. The owner of Hodges Place


had agreed to the dog bin being located on the triangle of land


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