We’ll oppose any plans for J8
BEARSTED Parish Council has pledged to stand firm against any plans to develop land close to J8 of the M20.
The Villager
Grass-cutting contract move GRASS cutting issues should
hopefully have been resolved following the transfer of the council contract from Kent County Council to Maidstone Council.
The parish council has had a number of complaints from residents about the state of grass verges following the change of arrangements ear- lier this year.
One resident told the last meeting: “It was a shambles. A week after the contract was supposedly transferred, the receptionist at Maidstone was still referring calls to KCC.”
However, following numer- ous phone calls by Cllr Mike Cuming, an extra cut was arranged by Maidstone Coun- cil before taking over the con- tract from KCC.
Chairman Cllr Richard Ash admitted: “The transfer was certainly not seamless, but hopefully things have now been sorted out and matters are being addressed.”
Sporting cash YOUTH and sporting clubs are to benefit from grants from the parish council. MPE FC has 15 junior teams and one senior team and is very active in the Maidstone league, holding FA charter standard status. Most of the players come from Bearsted, the council was told. Members agreed to give the club a grant of £250. They also agreed to give £150 to Holy Cross Church Youth Group, for the pur- chase of laser tag equipment.
Clerk resigns PARISH Clerk Helen Elstone has resigned after five years with Bearsted Parish Council to take up a job with the youth service. The Parish Council wish her well and thanked her for her work for the council. The council is to advertise the post.
Cllr Denis Spooner told the meeting that Bearsted, together with Thurnham, Hollingbourne and Leeds and Broomfield parishes, needed to unani- mously oppose any develop- ment if neighbouring land was not to be compromised. Having attended the recent exhibition about Waterside Park, the development pro- posed by Gallaghers, Cllr Spooner said he remained un- convinced and cynical about
what he described as “a subtle and clever course to pick off op- position to the site”. Two major companies from Marden are keen to move to the Waterside Park site and planning consultants DHA are hoping to strike a deal where the granting of permission to Waterside Park will include a clause protecting land around J8.
But Cllr Spooner pointed out: “That land is in private owner- ship. What is to stop the owners saying they will develop their land on condition that Water- side Park is prohibited from de- velopment?”
Village gardens scoop awards
BEARSTED’S green-fingered gardeners have been re- warded for their efforts in the parish council’s first-ever Best Kept Garden competition. Certificates and gardening vouchers were presented
to the winners and runners-up in two categories – for detached and semi-detached homes – at a recent meeting of the parish council, by chairman Richard Ash. There were no entries in the terrace house and con-
tainers and baskets sections, but the council is hopeful more people will take part in future years. Cllr Ash said: “There are some beautiful gardens in
Bearsted and we are fortunate to have so many people who take a pride in their gardens.” Judging took place in late June, with John Stroud, from Bearsted Cottage on The Green being declared winner
PARISH councillors in Bearsted have pledged to take on the task of litter picking in the village. Following the resignation of the village handyman and litter picker, the council has agreed to advertise for a new self-em- ployed handyman – but not to include litter-picking.
Several members of the coun- cil said they were prepared to pitch in and pick up litter on a regular basis, but Cllr Bernard Carine said: “I did not become a councillor to pick litter and I do not intend to.”
Cllr Carine argued the village
Winners and runners up of the best kept garden competition with their certificates
in the detached house category and Sydney Heritage from Spurway winner of the semi-detached section. Each received gardening vouchers to the value of £75. Runners up were Penny Hockenhull from Willow
Wend, Mount Pleasant Drive (detached) and Mary Hen- derson, Madginford Road (semi detached).
Councillors offer to pick up litter Rubbish change
had shown signs of neglect since the litter picker resigned. “It’s getting tatty, tired and dis- graceful,” he said. Some members disagreed and chairman Cllr Richard Ash said: “The village is not awash with litter.”
Cllr Tim Licence suggested using volunteers rather than a paid-for litter picker to keep the village tidy, and most council- lors agreed to do the litter pick- ing themselves.
Cllr Michael Stark suggested a maintenance rota be drawn up of essential jobs in the village.
Floral art ‘a great way to recycle’ A PIECE of “modern art” has appeared on Bearsted Green, at the foot of one of the street signs. The multi-funnelled metal planter, with trailing and climbing plants, has been created from old lighting columns from Church Landway.
Local electrician and former councillor Jon Hughes hit on the idea as a way of re- cycling the material, rather than sending it to landfill. He and his wife Fabienne have offered
to maintain the planter for the first 12 months and the council has thanked them for their efforts. Chairman Cllr Richard Ash said: “It was agreed that the feature looks attractive and is a good example of recycling.”
This page is sponsored and edited by:
Bearsted Parish Council
www.bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk
24 East
NEW rubbish and recycling rules have been brought in to make life easier for residents. Maidstone has joined forces with Swale and Ashford coun- cils to employ new contractors, who offer an enhanced service, especially to rural areas. The rules, which came into force on August 5, mean glass of all colours can now be recy- cled along with plastics, while textiles and small electrical goods will also be collected. Textiles should be bagged and left alongside the recycling bin. Small electricals should be bagged and left beside the reg- ular household waste bin. Details will be going out to all houses in the borough.
Coalyard plans COUNCILLORS are keeping up pressure on Network Rail over the state of the former coalyard. Members heard that the com- pany seemed keen to hang on to the yard, on the station ap- proach, rather than release it for community use. However, the council agreed it was an eyesore and needed to be landscaped at the very least.
Council Office: Madginford Hall, Bearsted Telephone: E-Mail:
01622 630165 Chairman:
clerk@bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk Richard Ash
You can e-mail the Downs Mail —
info@downsmail.co.uk Clerk: Helen Elstone
MEETINGS HELD SECOND TUESDAYOFMONTH (7.30) AND THE PUBLIC IS VERYWELCOME
Referring to the three-year bat- tle to oppose the Kent Interna- tional Gateway (KIG), Cllr Spooner said: “The Secretary of State gave us a superb hand of cards in making his decision. We have some wonderful evidence as to why the land should be pro- tected as far as Leeds Castle. “If this site is granted plan- ning permission, we will have thrown away our trump card. We will not be dipping a toe in the water, it will be our foot, our leg – indeed, half our body. “We would be massively com- promised and it must not be al- lowed to happen.”
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