DownsMail In touch with your parish


Continued from page 38 Borough Cllr Steve Munford


had put forward a recommenda- tion for a linking bus service, whichwould be a minibus serv- ice covering communities like Chart Sutton and Boughton Monchelsea to bus routes. This was being considered Cllr Munford advised that


under the Localism Act, parishes could register “parish assets” so that when they came up for sale communities had a right to bid and had up to six months to get funds together for this purpose. Cllr Munford would give the clerk the details with a view to registering the old shop and Lilypie. Cllr Forknall had carried out a


check of the fire hydrants and all were adequate, although one in Norton Road had lost its yel- low plate, one in Lested Lane was inaccessible and two on Plough Wents Road could not be located. Cllr Forknall would report his findings to KFRS. He had reported the water


leak onWarmlake Road only to find out that it had already been reported, but not put through to the repair team. Cllr Waring reported an in- crease in dogs’ mess on the playing field. He had received several complaints from football teams. It was thought it was dog walkers from outside the village who were not clearing up after their dogs and councillors did not want to ban dog walkers at this stage. It was agreed that a sign should be put on the gate to the field reminding dog owners to clear up after their pets, and to ask the dog warden to visit the field occasionally. The plaque in memory of Ann Rollinson had been made and Cllr Forknall agreed to speak to Colin Rollinson to discuss the location. Cllr Waring said he had spo-


ken to the tree surgeon about the oak tree at the village hall, but that overhead cables needed covering before work could be carried out. The clerk had arranged a meeting with UK Power Networks. Cllr Chris Webb asked Cllr Munford for information on neighbourhood plans and it wasagreedtowaituntil Boughton Monchelsea was fur- ther on with its plan so the council could make an in- formed decision as to whether to go ahead with a plan.


Coxheath Council Traffic calming


THE parish council had held constructive discussions with Kent Highways following the stage 1 safety audit of the pro- posed changes to the Heath Road traffic calming scheme. The next steps will be the for- mulation of a professional re- sponse to the audit and a further


46 South


public consultation before final implementation. It was too early to assess the outcomes from the amenity and recreation project consultation. Further opportunities would be afforded to residents, who were unable to attend the exhibition, to express their views. Consideration was to be given


to the introduction of village gateways at the various ap- proaches to Coxheath, similar to those recently installed in East Farleigh. The parish council was to consider offering assistance to Fire and Rescue Service over the routine inspection of fire hydrants. The council had awarded a


grantof£1,000tothe Kent Youth Service to help cover the cost of a residential youth lead- ership course being held during the Easter holiday. Seven young people from Coxheath were at- tending, and it was hoped they would learn skills that would enable them to become in- volved in the future develop- ment of the community. Anumber of young trees were


to be planted along the footpath linking the village hall playing field with the Beacon Field foot- ball pitch. The annual parish meeting


was held on May 7. East Sutton Council Bus shelter seat


THE bus shelter seat had now been delivered and the clerk had contacted the contractor re- garding fitting and had included it on the insurance schedule. Thecostofaddingthistothe policy was £1.64 which was waived. It was necessary to formally renominate the two East Sutton charities representative trustees as soon as possible. Maureen Bristow was approved as nomi- nee for the Sir Beversham Filmer charity with John Worsfold and Brenda Edmed as nominees for the George Usmer charity. Cllr Malcolm Ireland had re- ported all the potholes to KHS and had also asked it to discuss the verges in Pleasure House Lane. It was decided not to proceed


with a new set of swings for the play area at a cost of £200. PCSO Alan Beech reported


one case of criminal damage in the previous month. The mobile police station


dates had been placed on the website.


Langley Council Lorry Watch


THE PARISH council had been contacted by Leeds Parish Council to discuss doing alter- nate weeks on Lorry Watch. Three parishioners had so far volunteered. A parishioner had sent an


email about glass in the play area. The clerk had cleared it up, but the parishioner had ques- tioned why there were no signs banning glass from the area and how often the play area was checked. The clerk was to source a sign prohibiting the use of glass and including a phone number to use in case of problems.Cllr Turner offered to inspect the play area once aweek. Cllr Sue Knowles said a re-


cent quiz night had raisedmore than £500 towards new curtains for the village hall. Detling Ringcraft had asked if


it could have the hall and play- ing field for its annual dog show on July 21. This had been happening for a number of years, but the village hall needed the agreement of the parish council to allow the use of the playing field. With regard to the allotments,


the water company had been contacted regarding the issue of two bills. Three allotment hold- ers no longer wished to continue with their allotments and one holder would like a smaller plot.


Linton Council Records archive


IT would cost £70 a box to scan the old parish council records and there were currently three boxes. This expenditure was ap- proved. It was also agreed to have the old hand written minute books archived. The chairman had written to


Jerry Whitmarsh and thanked him for his work for the parish council over the years. Bonfleur Lanewas closed due


to a drainage problem.Kent Highways was to resolve this. Concerns were raised at the number of empty beer bottles in the hedges alongWesterhill and Lacey Lane. A complaint had been re- ceived regarding the poor con- dition of verges along Wheelers Lane. Residents would be asked to park more considerately. Two new recruits to the Speedwatch scheme were being trained.


Loose Council Goalpost issues


THE missing covers from the goalposts were discussed as this had resulted in a dog hurting its leg by falling down a hole. The caretaker would be asked to check the goal holes on a daily basis.


Costs had been obtained for


ID cards for parish councillors, which had been proposed some time ago. The cost of £2.20 each, including clips, was agreed. At the first events committee meeting, ideas had been dis- cussed including cheese rolling and a theatrical event. Since then, Cllr Tony Oliver had come up with a plan to organise a folk day and fill the village with


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


music on Saturday, July 20. Other items discussed included maypoles, morris dancers, evening gig, market, picnic and traditional games. Cllr Oliver had designed a preliminary poster which was handed to members. It had been left black and white to allow children to colour it in. Chairman Cllr Vianne Gib-


bons said the idea was rather different to what had been dis- cussed at the events committee meeting and Cllr Oliver said his way ofworkingwas to create an identity for something in order for it to gain momentum. Bernard Hill had been given


£10 for petrol expenses for tak- ing Cllr Roy Hood to Gallaghers to sort out the village sign. The capstones had been


sorted out on the wall at the en- trance to the allotments and they no longer presented a risk.


Donation plan COUNCILLORS discussed a proposed


Staplehurst Council donation from


Charles Fitzgerald,who wanted it to benefit the young people in the village. It was agreed to sug- gest that the donation be made to the youth club and be ear- marked for a specific item. County and borough council-


lor Eric Hotson spoke about Clapper Farm Lane, and said finding a solution to access along the lane had dragged on for some years. He did not feel KCC officers would change their mind about introducing hop-over gates, but mindful of thestrongviews,hesaidhe would try one last time to see if the proposal could be changed at minimal cost. The clerk reported the fitting


of a new padlock on the Nichol- sonWalk gate. The latest meeting about the health service provider at the health centre had been can- celled, and resignations were af- fecting service. Cllrs Joan Buller and Neal


Kemp reported on a busy sur- gery at the library. Subjects raised included heavy lorry traf- fic on deteriorating roads; pot- holes; the mobile home at Cross-in-Hand; Martyrs memo- rial; Huntsman’s Stables; super- market applications; Golding Homes and shade on Surrenden Field. The next surgery will be on June 8. The need for a new agreement between the council and the parochial church council in re- lation to All Saints Churchyard was discussed in the light of the cessation of Concurrent Func- tions funding. It was agreed to give the PCC six months notice. Theneedfor projection and amplification facilities at parish meetings was discussed and it was agreed these were rarely necessary. However, for large


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