Speeding fears COUNTY Cllr Sarah Hohler had been talking to villagers and no- ticed people’s concerns about traffic speeding through the vil- lage. She said residents in Ford


DownsMail In touch with your parish Addington Council


green had been completed. The new contractor had cut


the grass on all the village greens and had raked over the molehills on Addington Green. It was agreed to monitor the mole situation.


Lane had not been told about the recent public exhibition on the plans to extend Addington Quarry, so a private seminar hadbeenheldsotheycould comment on the plans. Members considered the


crime figures prepared by the clerk and were disappointed that 65.6% of crimes reported between April 2012 and January 2013 had resulted in no action being taken. PCSO Laura Bullen, who was


not at the meeting, had said no crime had been reported in the village in February, but an e- watch report said batteries had been taken from temporary traffic lights during that time. PCSO Laura Bullen had had


no visitors at the police surgery in February and it was sug- gested another venue be used, and at another time – perhaps in the evening. The Residents of the Green Association had said they would not be willing to fund any application fee for the deregistration of the trackway without an agreement about the status of the trackway and the granting of any access post- deregistration. It was resolved that the clerk should appoint a surveyor of the trackway, at a cost of £750. Seven volunteers had offered


to help with a Speedwatch scheme. The clerk was to arrange for site inspections and to try to get more volunteers. The recreation ground and village hall committees asked for financial contributions to- wards a security upgrade for the recreation ground external lighting and CCTV enhance- ments. The switch to LED light- ing would reduce any energy costs. It was resolved to make a community payment of £1,000 to both committees. A works order was to be raise


to carry out repair works on the pavement and verge on the northern side of the A20 be- tween the dwellings Heathfield and Poppins. The road narrowing sign at


the St Vincents end of Sandy Lane had been cleared of over- grown vegetation. The salt bin on the corner of Sandy Lane and St Vincents Lane needed attention. The postbox by the bus stop


on the A20 had been replaced. However, RoyalMail had said it would not be replaced if it was stolen again. Work to reduce the crown of the old oak tree on the village


Aylesford Council Memorial tree


THE tree and plaque for the late Derek Kings, a former chairman of the parish council, would be planted in the walled area out- side the council meeting room. Mrs Kings and Kevin Kings would be attending and all members were invited. Members expressed their wishes for a quick recovery to Walter Matthews, who had pneumonia. During his absence, his litter round would be cov- ered by Lee Randall. Cllr Balcombe asked for the


CCTV camera to be returned to The Parade as anti-social be- haviour, including stone throw- ing, had increased after its recent removal. Concerns and sympathy were expressed following the deaths of two homeless people in cold weather. Litter had been cleared from


the land opposite 454 Maid- stone Road.


Birling Council No crimes


PCSO Laura Bullen reported there had been no crimes in Bir- ling during the previous three months. As Snodland was cur- rently a tasking area, residents may see an increase in patrol cars in Birling during the evening.


Leybourne Parish Council had


asked county Cllr Sarah Hohler to look at making the Castle Way/A228 junction left turn only with vehicles having to go round the roundabout to reach the M20 to reduce the number of accidents. Its suggestion that street lights be turned off during the early hours, which had pro- duced massive savings in other areas, was to be discussed with the Joint Transportation Board. Mrs Hohler had been advised


by a resident that vehicles had been ignoring the no entry signs at the A20/Birling Road South junction. Two councillors said they had been in taxis that had used this route from West Malling to Birling and another councillor and the clerk had re- cently met vehicles coming the wrong way. A member of the public had emailed the clerk with her con- cerns about men removing snowdrops in Snodland Road. It turned out that the Birling Es- tate was thinning the plants. Having heard nothing from


NatWest bank, the clerk had vis- ited the branch and been told that Cllr Colin Grimmett’s pa- pers had been lost by the admin


centre, and Cllr Grimmett had taken the necessary paperwork again. A letter of complaint should be sent.


Ditton Council Verge parking


COUNCILLOR Mulcuck had vis- ited the grassed verge area in Pear Tree Avenue and there were wooden bollards on the Tonbridge and Malling Council part, but the Russet Homes side was open, and this is where the cars were parking. It was sug- gested that Russet be asked to place posts on the other part. Cllr David Nunn said if there were posts there the refuse lorry would not be able to reverse into the road to empty bins. It was re- solved to discuss the problem with Russet. Residents from Priory Grove, Robson Drive and Station Road attended to discuss the problem of pedestrian access along Sta- tion Road opposite the Cob- down site, as a result of another resident blocking off public ac- cess to the side/access road par- allel to Station Road by moving a hedge. County Cllr Peter Homewood said he had met with one of the residents and brought the matter up at a Kent Highways meeting. He had given the resident a document explaining the procedures in- volved and would speak to her again shortly. Residents asked whether, if


the hedge could not be re- moved, a path could be put on that side of the road. A resident who used a disability scooter was having to go into the road as the path on the other side of the road was not wide enough. It was noted that the hedge


was planted by KCC so was not the resident’s tomove. The sight line at this point was very poor, making it dangerous to cross or be in the road. Borough Cllr Carol Gale said


that when she left Cobdown on Sunday, when football was being played, there were cars parked all along the path so there was no pedestrian access at all. The chairman assured residents the council would give its full support to resolving this problem. It was agreed that the terms of


the licence for the petanque club should be five years and £50 per annum. A quotation had been obtained to supply an electricity meter at the petanque shed. It was decided to discuss the matter at the next open spaces and amenities meeting. A resident had written about


the untidy state of the area aroundWoodlands Parade and it was agreed to ask Tonbridge andMalling Council to clear the area of litter and tidy up where possible. The Rev Priscilla Payne had asked for help to provide a


bouncy castle and roundabout at the community day on June 30. It was agreed to provide these as in previous years and members who were available to help on the day would contact her.


The clerk said the funds set


aside for the previous clerk to assistwith training in the coun- cil office had not all been spent, and requested that the balance, about £600, be slipped forward into the new financial year (2013/14) to enable the former community centre administra- tortoassistwithtasksasre- quired. This was agreed. It was agreed to thank web- master Clive Stanley for his ex- cellent service, but as the council wished to manage the site inhouse it would not be re- newing the agreement.


East Peckham Council


Field day


VILLAGE events had been reg- istered with Fields in Trust: Have a Field Day, and a goodie boxwas expected to be received for distribution in May. PCSO Toni Matthew said


there was an anti-social behav- iour problem at Westwood Road, and ameeting was due to be held to discuss the matter. The anti-social problem in the Jubilee Hall car park was being monitored. The parking of vehicles on footpaths was being monitored and police advisory notices were being issued where appro- priate. An email had been received


from a resident who objected to the chariman’s comments on anti-social behaviour at the 2013 annual parish meeting. A reply had been sent and ac- knowledged by the resident. A resident had drawn atten-


tion to a footpath at Bran- bridges Road that needed repair. The enquiry had been forwarded to KCC. Two streetlight failures had


been notified, and referred to the parish council’s streetlight maintenance contractor. At the annual parish meeting


a resident raised the issue of traffic calming in Hale Street.A show of hands at the meeting re- vealed unanimous support fro the removal of the scheme. After the meeting, KCC Cllr Matthew Balfour had offered his support. It was agreed that the 2014 an-


nual parish meeting would have a guest speaker who would be time limited and would talk on a local topic. The meeting would be held in May, and the annual report would be circu- lated before then. It was agreed that a donation


of £25 would be made to the Boys Brigade for the loan of the microphone and speaker.P42


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