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The clerk said a number of residents had complained that UPVC replacement windows had been installed at the Old Chapel in Eyhorne Street, which is within the conserva- tion area. Maidstone Council had already been made aware by a resident and is to advise the owner to make a retrospec- tive planning application.


Leeds Council Drains cleared


ITWAS reported that the drains throughout the village had been cleared and the vegetation had been cut back as requested. Cllr Malcolm Gallihawk was concerned about the lack of po- lice presence at the meetings. He said the council needed re- assurances that the police were able to action crimes and ensure coverage of the village. Cllr Gill Fort thanked Cllr


John Govett for his work on the new villagewebsite.CllrGovett said he hoped flyers being cir- culated would raise awareness of the website. County Cllr Gary Cooke said rumble strips would not be in- stalled at the village gates,but a different road surface would be installed. Cllr Vanessa Young confirmed


that the football team had cleaned the pavilion. Cllr Bob China said it would


cost about £9,000 to upgrade the street lighting. Itwas agreed to place the item on the agenda for further consideration.


Speedwatch loan MR LONG, chairman of Speed- watch, said the equipment had been returned from a six-week loan. He had installed a mouse trap


Lenham Council


in the lock-up to try to stop the nibbling of gazebos that were stored there. Mr Long said the enhance-


ment group had competed the tree works in Groom Way,but two trees could not be worked on because of problems. He and his team were thanked for their work, which would have other- wise cost the council £400. Mr Long advised that the rechalking of the Lenham Me- morial Cross had been delayed due to flooding of the chalk pit which supplied the chalk. Another parishioner said


there was a build-up of dead leaves on the Twitten pathway from Ham Lane to the Maid- stone Road,making it very slip- pery for pedestrians. It was also pointed out that the letter box on the old lock-up door needed to be removed as junk mail was being delivered there. Cllr Richard Greenwood offered to take care of this. PCSO Dave Rowley said there


had been six crimes reported since the last meeting, with no


pattern to them. He said the home safety event in Harriet- sham had been well attended and he asked for the use of the community centre for a similar event in June or July. County Cllr Jenny Whittle


said the Switch café was going to run one event per week at the Lenham Youth Centre, and was looking to open up for another event per week. The temporary repairs had


been carried out to the BMX ramps. Cllrs Greenwood, Nigel Godfrey, and Robert Willis agreed to meet at the park to agree a rolling maintenance pro- gramme for on-going repairs. The doors had been painted at


the public toilets, along with a few other maintenance jobs. The hedge had been cut back


on Ham Lane. Cllrs Mark Gillett and Godfrey attended a meeting with Lenham Wanderers Football Club and the grass cutting con- tractor, and agreed extra works, should the football club require any.


Cllr Osborn said he, Mr Os-


borne and Cllr Godfrey had met with Mr Jarvis and discussed the Heads of Term contract for the Groom Way development and had agreed on a value for the parish council land. Cllr Andrew Newman said the neighbourhood plan process had been slowed down because Maidstone Council did not have a Core Strategy in place. Cllr Greenwood said the re- placement trees had been planted in the entrance drive- way to the cemetery. Cllrs Bradshaw and Green-


wood had inspected the village signs and all three were in need of refurbishment, including re- painting and hinge replace- ments. Quotes were being sought before the work was car- ried out.


Residents of Groom Way had reported some beech trees which appeared to be in danger of falling on their properties. Cllr Greenwood had asked a tree specialist to look at them, but he could not gain access to the other side of the trees. He advised Cllr Greenwood to make the owners of the trees aware of the problems, and sug- gested they should be inspected by a tree surgeon. Regarding the cemetery water supply, the clerk had contacted the water company to request the connection as soon as possi- ble, as the council had paid for the work to be done six months ago.


Otham Council Meetings protest


A REPORT was given by Cllr Gordon Newton, who had strongly protested to the bor- ough that just three days prior notice was being given to mem-


bers when calling meetings.He believes that members are being led by planners and three days to prepare for a meeting is un- acceptable. A complaint regarding a bird scarer had been investigated. The timer has now been altered and is now working within legal confines. The farmer was trying to protect his crops and resi- dents needed to recognise there is a need to protect the country- side environment. The bus lanes issue and Gold-


ing Homes proposals were dis- cussed. The following planning ap- plications were considered: The Stables, Green Hill, retrospec- tive for the change of use to gar- den land and erection of summerhouse and decking – no objection; Primrose Cottage, Otham street, installation of field access gate – no objection but MBC site visit requested; Graynoth Place, Otham Street, tree works – no objections. Regarding the proposed de- velopment at Gore Court/White Horse Road, concern was ex- pressed about the reduction of the barrier of trees from 80m to 40m. This is meant to shield the development and was seen as gradual encroachment on the area. The pre-school would paint


the village hall if part funding could be found towards the cost of the paint.Adonation of £100 was agreed. The pre-school has also re- quested the floor to be covered, possibly with carpet tiles. The White Horse Charity would be asked if it could assist. PhaseIIofthe resurfacing to


the play area had been com- pleted. MBC had stated that a good job had been carried out. The new signs prohibiting dogs were in situ. A grass cutting quotation


from PaulWaring for the village green was discussed. It was agreed to accept part, with a total value of £1.224.20. Consideration would be given


to an alternative form of enter- tainment if the fete does not go ahead this year. Suggestions in- cluded a cricket match/barbe- cue or flower show. As the request for an officer to attend a meeting to discuss Bearsted FC was declined, the parish councilwould like a rep- resentative to attend a meeting to discuss the planning process, rather than a specific site. Vice-chairman DavidMarchant announced he wished to leave the parish council. Chairman Mike Bottle said his contribu- tions and local knowledge would be massively missed. Areport wouldbemadeto


MBC that another tree with a preservation order on it had been cut down on the football field.


Boxley Parish Council had or- ganised Speedwatch training for anyone that was interested. Illegal advertising signs on


the Ashford Road had been brought to the attention of Kent Highways and removed. While notification had been received that the new parish services scheme would be higher than originally expected at £1,821, this was only just over half the amount that was received under last year’s con- current functions grant.


Ulcombe Council Hall oil theft


THERE had been one reported crime during the last month (theft of the village hall oil). There had been three reported crimes in the same time in 2012. The parish council had met


Kent Highways and KCC ward Cllr Jenny Whittle in March to discuss outstanding road re- pairs and safety measures in the parish. The village gateway posts would be upgraded shortly to meet the original specification. An additional crossroads warning sign and new junction lines atWents crossroads would cost £500. An additional sign at the Chegworth Road/A20 junc- tion (warning that the road was not suitable for HGVs) would cost the parish council approxi- mately £700.However, this may not be needed if the new Lorry Watch signs (to be installed shortly) proved effective. Kent Highways would install


two SLOW signs on the road surface by the pond at Cheg- worth Road by the end of June. MBC had confirmed that new


street name plates would shortly be installed at Crumps Lane and William Post Lane. Kent Highways had re-ordered the new directional sign at the junction of Crumps Lane and Headcorn Road and had con- firmed that it would be in place within a couple of months. A site meeting would be arranged with Kent Highways drainage department to discuss all the reported drainage prob- lems in the parish. A damaged fire hydrant in Headcorn Road had been reported and the bro- ken directional sign at Jubilee corner would be reported. The chaos resulting from the


lack of road closure warnings and inadequate traffic diver- sion measures put in place when Ulcombe Hill was closed for repairs at the beginning of April had been drawn to the at- tention of Kent Highways. An undertaking had been given that there would not be a repeat of the situation next time works were carried out. Notice of the 2012/13 annual


audit arrangements had been received from the auditors.


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