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Broomfield and Kingswood Council Resignation


CLLR Peter Corfield said he would be resigning from the council as he and his wife would be moving away. Cllr Terry Baker asked the clerk to compile a list of people who had expressed an interest in be- coming a councillor and inform them of the impending vacancy. Cllr Mike Evans said there


were fewer crime reports than in the previous 10 weeks, when there had been a significant rise in crime in Kingswood and the surrounding areas. Complaints had been received


about a fence that had been erected at a property in the cen- tre of Kingswood, which was causing issues because where cars were parked on kerbside, vehicles had to approach the junction in the middle of the road, and the new fence affected sightlines around the junction. The clerk had spoken to Maidstone Council enforcement who said the land in question would need planning permis- sion for a change of use and the fence. Cllr Baker said the own- ers had informed him of their intention to apply for retrospec- tive planning permission. Regarding super-fast broad-


band, Cllr Corfield said that the “line of sight” to Broomfield and Kingswood was impeded by trees and a mast was there- fore not the solution. John Hood, the contractor for


the coppicing of the trees at the sports field, had informed the clerk he would continue with the work now the weather had improved. He would look for nesting birds before cutting. The clerk was trying to arrange a meeting with the Scouts and Maidstone Maver- icks about the sports field facil- ities and the parish council’s request to the Scouts to improve the Scout hut. Cllr Forster expressed con-


cern about the tarmac in the sports field car park,asitwas beginning to crack.He asked the clerk to check if there was a workmanship guarantee. Cllr Forster asked the clerk to


write to Mrs Endell to thank her for clearing rubbish in and around the sports field. The notice board was now erected, and filling up with no- tices, but alternative fixings were needed as the ones sup- plied were too big. There was a discussion about traffic calming anditwas de- cided to apply to the county councillor to request funding, with the anticipation that an in- teractive sign could be erected near the sports field and that “No HGVs” signs could be erected to deter large vehicles


using the single track roads. Cllr Evans had organised the heritage day last year, and said there appeared to have been no apparent benefit to the parish. It was agreed not to participate this year.


Maidstone Council had noti-


fied its intention to withdraw funding for the cleansing of the recycling site at the village hall. The binswould still be emptied free of charge, but the landown- ers would be responsible for keeping the site clean. The village hall fair would


take place on July 6. A donation of £100 to Kingswood pre-school was agreed, to help with the re- placement of play mats. The clerk had reported an in- crease in dog fouling to the dog warden at Maidstone Council. Two people had come forward offering to make statements about separate incidents they had witnessed, where dog bags had been offered, with varying degrees of negative response.


Chart Sutton Council Vehicle stolen


PCSO Richard Kirby reported one crime in the previous month – the theft of a vehicle from Chart Hill Road. A coun- cillor reported a burnt out ve- hicle on Green Lane. Another councillor reported a suspicious re-surfacing com- pany van which drove into his yard and visited the property of an elderly lady nearby. Details were passed to communitywar- den Liz Lovatt. Regarding the dog fouling problem at the memorial field, the community warden asked residents to report any descrip- tions of owners/dogs and vehi- cles if they saw mess not being removed properly. Community warden Lovatt


said the handyman service was finishing and would be replaced by a new scheme called In Touch. This will be a free assess- ment, with a labour charge of £15 for the first hour, then further charges per quarter-hour there- after, payable by the resident. Cllr Peter Forknall was re- elected chairman of the parish councilwith Cllr StevenWaring as vice-chairman. Members agreed the annual parish meeting was quite suc- cessful though not very well at- tended by parishioners and that Mary Underdown be given a £10 garden centre voucher for providing refreshments. The request for a footpath


along Plough Wents Road was discussed. It was agreed this would benefit dog walkers, school children and elderly res- idents and workers from the in- dustrial estate walking to the shop. The clerk was to write to KCC Cllr Eric Hotson to request funding for a footpath from


Lested Lane to Cherry Tree Yard industrial estate. UK PowerNetworks would be meeting the tree surgeon to dis- cuss the work on the oak tree and shrouding of power cables at the village hall. The litter bin at the far end of


the memorial field had been stolen. A replacementwould be purchased at £53.66 including VAT and delivery. Football pitch licences for 2013/14would be offered to one team each from Bearsted, Cox- heath and Farleigh JFC, Tri Sports FC and Three Suttons at £475 for 12 matches. Each addi- tional match would incur a charge of £40. The council would arrange for the setting out of the pitch in mid-August.


Coxheath Council Land swap


LEAFLETS had been distrib- uted to all households in Cox- heath to seek further views on the possible project to acquire recreational land in exchange for support for a limited amount of market housing. Residents were encouraged to respond either by direct email or by filling in the response forms and placing them in boxes at the doctors’ surgeries, the library and the post office. With the aid of its consult-


ants, the parish council is sub- mitting a robust reaction to the KCC stage 1 safety audit report on the revised Heath Road traf- fic calming scheme. The next stage will be further negotia- tions with KCC Highways be- fore final public consultation. The parish council was still hopeful a revised scheme could be implemented during the 2013/14 financial year. The parish council was to re-


place damaged fencing border- ing the recreation land at Linden Road and was to incor- porate a disabled access point at the Linden Road gate. The parish council was to


press for urgent discussions over capacity and future plan- ning with the doctors’ surgeries in the village, following con- cerns raised at recent public consultations on the neighbour- hood plan and other projects. The council was to investigate


the use of social media as a fur- ther means of communication with residents. Joint police and community warden surgeries would be held at Coxheath library and in June, July and August immedi- ately prior to the monthly parish councilmeetings. All are invited to attend. Dates will be published on parish council no- tice boards and on the website.


Chairmen elected CLLR Glyn Charlton was elected chairman and Cllr Peter


East Farleigh Council


Beasley was elected vice-chair- man. The clerk said PCSO JoWatts


was leaving, and the area would soon have a new PCSO. A resident asked on behalf of


local farmers that the public keep to the proper footpaths when walking, and stay out of the way when farmers were spraying. They were also asked to keep their dogs on a lead at all times and pick up their dogs’ mess. Dog mess bins are located outside the school, by the Gal- lantsLaneplayareaand in Pleasant Valley Lane. A map of the footpaths in the village is available on the parish website. A resident had suggested that


the council compiled a list of residents who would like to re- ceive the minutes of meetings by email each month. Anyone interested in going on this list should give their email address to the clerk on eastfar- leighpc@googlemail.com The council was updated on


the progress of the car park proj- ect. FLAG had donated the bal- ance of its funds, over £5,000 to the project, for use towards fenc- ing and gates. The proceeds of this year’s fete would also be do- nated. The possibility of grant funding was being pursued. Judging of the best-kept gar-


den competition would take place on June 24. Five prizes of £20 Broadview Garden vouch- erswould be awarded, based on the tidiness and attractiveness of the garden and the approach to the house. PC Nicola Krucyk said one


crime had been reported over the last month – a fence had been damaged in Upper Hunton Hill in an attempt to steal oil. Cllr Beasley asked if there was


any information on the man who had gone missing in the village. PC Krucyk said she would check and report back. Cllr Charlton reported on the


litter problem in Vicarage Lane, which had been reported by a resident. It had been cleared away promptly. Regarding the Horsewash


lease, the council agreed not to cash Mr Paine’s cheque until his daughter had signed the new lease. It was also agreed to try to recoup the loss of rent for the sixmonths fromAugust 2012 to January 2013 from Mr Bassett. Brian Lewis, of Dean Street,


spoke about traffic issues in Dean Street, from New Cut to Lower Road. This stretch had several blind bends,was narrow in places and had no footpath, but the speed limit was 40mph. Some residents exceeded this limit and at times residents did not dare go out on foot because it was too dangerous. In addition, large vehicles


could not pass each other,lead- ing to long delays and often damage to property andP46


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