Council officers are elected The Villager No vehicles on


donated land RESIDENTS who fear traffic might be allowed to cross a piece of land where children walk have been assured that this is not the case.


The parish council has been given a 25-acre piece of land at the rear of Mynn Crescent, by housebuilder Taylor Wimpey, for use as public open space. Cllr Ash said occupiers of the houses at the top of Bell Lane had vehicular access via the bridleway to their own prop- erty only, and two households from Aldington Road had a his- toric right of access to deliver hay about four times a year to the riding establishment in Banky Meadow. However, he assured: “People need have no fear that there are going to be cars driven around the land.”


Garden contest ENTRIES are being sought for Bearsted’s Best Kept Garden competition.


Only one entry has been sub- mitted for the annual competi- tion, run by the parish council. The closing date is June 7 2013, with judging to take place in the week beginning June 24. Application packs are available from the parish office.


The winners of the four cate- gories – best terrace house, best semi-detached house, best de- tached house and the best con- tainers and baskets – will receive their garden voucher prizes at the July council meet- ing.


Lifts at station A PLANNING application has been submitted to Maidstone Council for lifts at Bearsted and Thurnham Station.


Listed building consent has been applied for the installa- tion of two lift shafts, one either side of the footbridge.


Residents petitioned the council after the bridge was erected in 2011 without any easy disabled access.


CLLR Richard Ash has been re- elected chairman of Bearsted Parish Council. Cllr Ash was the only nominee for the post at the council’s annual meet- ing. Cllr Denis Spooner was elected vice- chairman.


The clerk to the council Helen Elstone was appointed responsible finance officer.


Cllrs Mrs Helen Cuming,


Tony Kettle, Geoff Licence, Mrs Pat Marshall, Denis Spooner and Michael Stark were elected to the planning committee; Cllrs Ash, Bernard Carine, Mike Cuming, Kettle, Alan Rowe and Spooner were elected to the environment committee;


Cllrs Helen Cuming, Barbara Dunford, Alison Hodges, Geoff Licence, Marshall, Rowe and Trevor Smith were elected to the community committee and the committee chairmen, to- gether with Cllrs Geoff Licence,


Marshall and Stark were elected to the finance and gen- eral policy committee. Cllrs Spooner and Marshall were voted to represent the parish council on the Maid- stone KALC area committee. Cllr Bernard Carine will rep- resent the council on the police forum; Cllr Ash will continue his role on the Madginford Hall Committee and as a school gov- ernor on at Madginford Park In- fant School. Cllr Tim Licence, who was not present at the meeting, will be allocated com- mittees at a later date.


Village ‘a safe


place to live’ BEARSTED has been declared a very safe area to live by Maid- stone police.


Chief Inspector Jon Bumpus told councillors and residents at the annual parish meeting that crime figures for the village were low.


Allotment rents to be frozen RENTS are to remain the same at the Bearsted allotments in The Street and Church Landway for another year. The parish council decided there was no need to implement a rent increase in view of the current income and expenditure analysis. The council is also looking at the possibility of getting grant funding to replace the sheds on the Church Landway allotments with a stan- dard design, which would create room for some extra sheds. A meeting is to be held with the allotment holders to discuss this and other matters.


Improvements at play area


URGENT repairs have been car- ried out to the play area surface so that children can carry on playing in safety.


The council had health and safety concerns when the sur- face of the play area in Madgin- ford began to break up, revealing the concrete base be- neath.


Although Maidstone Council felt this was only a “medium” risk, the parish members felt it could only remain open if re- pairs were carried out right away. Three contractors were asked to quote for the work and


BEARSTED Parish Council now has its full complement of councillors, following the co-option of Graham Farrow. Mr Farrow (48), from The Street, has lived in Bearsted for 10 years and works as a firefighter with the London Fire Brigade. He also works as a trainer for the fire authority


This page is sponsored and edited by:


Bearsted Parish Council www.bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk


16 East


one, Wicksteed, said they could carry out the work the same week.


The council has also received quotes for the replacement of the play equipment and is to meet with pre-school parents at Madginford and Teeny Tiny Tots to consider suitable pro- posals.


Cllr Rowe suggested a local business might like to sponsor the project in order to offset some of the cost.


This will be an expensive project, so it is hoped to get some grant funding.


Graham completes line-up


and is a qualified trainer and assessor for the NVQ qualifi- cations. He lists his interests as business management, fire safety, sport and walking with his wife and dog.


Cllr Farrow joins the re- cently-elected new members Alison Hodges, Tony Kettle and Alan Rowe.


In April, there was a spate of break-ins to garages and garden sheds – four on the same day – which was typical for the time of year. PCSO Jim Stevens also warned of a spate of scam emails and visits from cold callers – although the latter were not illegal.


Instead of hiring doorstep traders, he advised residents to contact community warden Adam McKinley, who holds a list of trusted traders and can also obtain traders through the Brighter Futures scheme.


A bright idea REPLACEMENT lighting has been installed in Church Land- way following a further spate of vandalism, with the insurance company choosing a local firm, Advent Electrical.


The old lighting columns, which were removed, could be turned into planters for Bearsted Green and the council gave the go-ahead to drawings submitted by a resident. Quotes are being obtained for repairs to Church Landway and the Church Lane car park.


New defibrillator RESIDENTS of Madginford now have available a life-saving defibrillator donated by the Ro- tary Club of Maidstone. It can revive victims of a heart attack. It was presented by club pres- ident Doug Baguley for use and safekeeping to Louise Macpher- son, manager of the Goodman Centre in Egremont Road. The centre is run by Age UK and offers day care for clients suffering from dementia.


Council Office: Madginford Hall, Bearsted Telephone: E-Mail:


01622 630165 Chairman:


clerk@bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk Richard Ash


Visit Downs Mail’s website — downsmail.co.uk Clerk: Helen Elstone


MEETINGS HELD SECOND TUESDAYOFMONTH (7.30) AND THE PUBLIC IS VERYWELCOME


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64