DownsMail In touch with your parish Continued from page 30


1 Bridge Cottages, St Helen’s Lodge, 9 Caravan park, Ade- laide farm Oast,Wisteria Lodge and 11 Court Lodge Cottages. Area 2; 5 Amshurst Villas; Run- ners-up – 11 and 17 Amshurst Villas, DuCon and North Folly Farm. Area 3; 13 Vicarage Lane Cottages; Runners-up – 14 Vic- arage Lane Cottages, 5 Shires Cottage at Forge Farm. Area 4; Bungalow Farm House; Runner- up–6New Villas.Area5; Kyalami, Workhouse Lane; Runners-up Chestnuts, 3 Adbert Drive and 2 Fairhurst Drive.


Lights decision FOLLOWING a KCC decision to turn off lights in the early morn- ing, the clerk contacted parish- ioners in Court Broomes to get their views. There were objec- tions and it was decided there would be no change to the light- ing.


East Sutton Council


Egerton Council Fire hydrants


CHRIS Wheel from Kent Fire and Rescue Service gave a talk about the need to find and keep clear all fire hydrants and to list those people who have swimming pools or ponds that could be used in an emergency. Alan and Scott James had in- stalled the benches around the skatepark. Some repairs had been carried out to the sub-base around the play park, some of the timber edges had been re- newed. Cllr Bill Smyth had been carrying out weekly risk assessment checks and com- pleting the forms for the clerk to keep on file. Regarding older person’s housing, a questionnaire would be made available at the next parish plan meeting to ask vil- lagers their requirements. KCC emailed that the subsi-


dence on footpath AW87,re- ported last month, was due to badger setts rather than the large tree that fell down the bank. KCC had consulted with Nat-


ural England (who visited the site) and had applied for a li- cence to “evict” the badgers. Once the licence was issued, one-way opening doors would be fitted to the sett entrances under the path, allowing any badgers to exit but not re-enter. The entrances would be moni- tored and after a period of inac- tivity showing that the badgers had moved on, the setts would be filled in. The edge of the road along to


Field Mill was in a state of dis- repair with deep holes along the edge which could be a hazard. This would be reported to Kent Highways. Sixteen applicants had been interviewed as community re- sponders and all had been suc- cessful. The fundraising was


going well, but the team was still short of funds for the med- ical kit. Particular thanks went to Egerton Friends who had raised more than £1,300 for the defibrillator to go outside the Millennium hall. For many years, Margaret


Steers had been a volunteer who had emptied the rubbish bin and kept the skatepark tidy, but felt the time had come to stop. A let- ter would be sent expressing thanks for all her good work to keep the place tidy. The new format for the parish assembly was very successful. Alison Sollis from Biffa ex- plained the new recycling scheme with wheelie bins that was to start in July. Anyone with a concern should contact the clerk who will pass it on to Biffa and ward Cllr Geraldine Dyer.


Anti-crime radio EIGHT crimes had been re- ported in the previous month.A trial radio system (similar to MaidSafe)was being introduced to five shops who were cur- rently most affected by shoplift- ing and anti-social behaviour. A meeting of the Local Needs Housing Group was to be held shortly. The Stryker Polecat CCTV


Headcorn Council


had been erected and was cur- rently in the High Street. Contact had been made with Bianca Reynolds of the CAT youth project and she con- firmed that due to poor support on a Thursday evening, it had been withdrawn from the vil- lage. However, they were keen to establish links with the youth forum group on a Wednesday evening. An initial meeting with Neighbourhood Watch volun- teers Linda Sinclair andMr and Mrs Milner had been held to discuss the way forward in re- establishing this schemewithin the village. It was agreed to place this as an agenda item for August for further discussion. Ameeting had been held with Blachere Illuminations to obtain quotes for phase 3 of the Christ- mas lights for the High Street. Following a meeting with Charlie Reynolds of Maidstone Council, it was noted that he was currently seeking advice on the width of Forge Lane and whether this had an adverse im- pact on some of the parking bays. Two residents had raised con-


cerns about traffic problems in Oak Lane which would be sent to Maidstone Council. Maidstone Citizens Advice


had notified a change of arrangements for the outreach sessions in August and Septem- ber due to staff holidays, The new dates will be Tuesdays, Au- gust 20 and September 17 at 1.15 to 3.15pm. New notice boards would be


purchased for the village hall and for the library if they can accommodate it. A quote would be obtained


from Tim Smith for an external notice board for the High Street. Both the neighbourhood plan surveys had now been closed. More than 50 businesses had re- sponded and more than 800 res- idents had completed the village survey. Further evidence gatheringwas now being started including traffic surveys, tree preservation orders, listed buildings, flood plain maps and housing demand. It was agreed to write to Mrs


Smith regarding the generous donation from her late husband, Clive Smith, towards the final settlement of the village hall mortgage.


Hunton Council Pavilion plea


IN the open session before the meeting, Simon Taylor, of Hunton Wanderers Cricket Club, and Steve Jones, the club secretary, asked to speak about the cricket pavilion. Built in 1938, of timber con- struction, it was said to be falling to bits. The cricket club had no rights of ownership or tenancy, andwithout security of tenure, there was no access to funding from organisations such as Sport England. They said there were three options:  The council could grant ten- ancy to the club through the playing field management committee and the club could apply for funding.  The parish council could apply for funding on behalf of HWCC  The council could adopt re- sponsibility for refurbishing the cricket pavilion with help from HWCC. Mr Taylor and Mr Jones said


the likely cost of the work was £65,000, which could possibly be 100% funded by Sport Eng- land, if an application was sub- mitted. It would not be feasible to combine with the football club as,ifa community building was required, rather than a cricket pavilion, the cost could double. Planning permission might be required. If the parish council ap- plied, the cost would be lower as the VAT could be reclaimed. It was agreed to discuss the matter at the next meeting. Cllr Roger Sawtell was nomi-


nated as chairman by Cllr Gary Thomas and seconded by all other members. He was elected. Cllr Thomas was nominated


as vice chairman by Cllr Les Leonard. All members were in agreement and he was elected. The footpath from Bensted


Close to the village hall was due to be completed by June 22. It was suggested the path be named after the former clerk,Vicki Stan-


combe, but it was proposed that a better memorial would be a seat near the play area. The Hunton nameplates still needed to be added to the 30mph posts. They had been due to be installed at the end of April, but were deemed to be too big for the posts. Ben Hilden of KCC had now decreed that smaller signs would be erected. County Cllr Paulina Stockell


said Mr Hilden had now moved to another area of KCC and his work would be handed over to Andy Padgham. Cllr Stockell was not happy with the West Street gateways and wanted to see them upgraded. The clerk had spoken to Richard Dixon of Kent Highways and reported the following:  The edge of road white lines should be extended from the village hall down to Bensted Close.  Road pins needed to be in- serted in the culvert in front of the village hall to act as a trash gate.  Centre of road white mark- ings were not being painted on roads narrower than 5.5m, so the faded white line down Hunton Hill would not be repaired.  The broken drain on the cor- ner of Bishops Lane andWest Street had now been repaired. Cllr Ron Porter asked that re- flector posts be installed on West Street up to the chicane, as vehicles kept driving into the hedge near the playing field. Cllr Tony Stanbridge said Call


Flow wasmaking progress with accepting applications to join the high speed broadband net- work.


Members considered a request


from the parish plan steering committee to pay for a skip to clear the community orchard site. Members agreed to this. A parishioner has raised the


issue of funds held by various groups in the village being held in individuals’ bank accounts, questioning whether such funds should be held by the parish council. Members agreed that if these groups, such as the group organising the Christmas mar- ket, were going to continue their activities, rather than being one- off projects, a committee should be set up with a separate bank account.


Langley Council Lights off


REGARDING KCC’s consulta- tion on street lighting, all the lights in Langley had been iden- tified to be switched off in the early part of the morning. Con- sultation had closed and it was too late to ask for Grasslands to be excluded. Phone calls and emails had


been received about the path- way along Horseshoes Lane. Cllr Eric Hotson and KCC had


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