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DownsMail In touch with your parish


been contacted and the work should be done in seven days. Phone calls had been received regarding a house in the parish that has moved its fence and al- legedly encroached on land be- longing to an empty house. The clerk informed parishioners this was not a parish council matter. A letter had gone to parish- ioners in Turgis Close and the clerk had ascertained that the land that the parish wanted to plantondoesbelongtoKCC. The clerk had initiated discus- sions with KCC re the possibil- ity of planting. One response requested that the parish does not plant crab apples because of the mess of the fallen fruit. The petition on the speed


limit reduction to 30mph on the A274 had been placed in the doctors’ surgery and would be taken to the farmers market. Permission had been obtained to place it in the post office and farm shops in Sutton Valence.


Welcome back Loose Council


THE chairman welcomed assis- tant clerk Anne Rigby back after a long period of sick leave. Regarding vandalism in the


play area, Community warden Liz Lovatt would be viewing CCTV footage and liaising with PCSO MattWilliams. Liz was applying to be a com- munity responder with the South East Coast Ambulance Service, and was working to- wards getting a defibrillator in the parish. Some members were disap- pointed with not seeing PCSO Williams for some time. Van- dalism was discussed including the ripping out of the springer in the play area. The clerk would write to the PCSO. It was agreed to go aheadwith


the next stage of a neighbour- hood plan for the parish which was a six-week consultation. A steering committee of council- lors and parishioners would be needed. Sarah Smith had tendered her resignation as parish councillor. She was thanked for the time she had given to the parish. The vacancy would be advertised. A mini group was set up to gather information about land which should be safeguarded from development and within Maidstone Council’s emerging local development plan. This would be sent to Cllr Fran Wil- son, to be passed on to Maid- stone Council.


Marden Council Speedwatch


FURTHER Speedwatch training had taken place and all the vol- unteers were due to meet to agree a co-ordinator. Yalding Parish Council had agreed to lend their equipment to Marden


and this would be arranged through the co-ordinators. Sheepwatch Lane was appar-


ently closed due to emergency powers to undertake road re- pairs. County Cllr Paulina Stockell would speak to John Burr at Kent Highways. The primary school had been informed it could not employ a road crossing patrol as a zebra crossing was now in place and the road was not considered dangerous. Cllr Stockell would speak to the KCC road safety team. John Rawlinson and John


Weir were co-opted to fill the two vacant seats on the parish council. The new laptop had been pur- chased and it was agreed that Terry Collins would be con- tacted to assist with updating the systems. An email had been received


from a resident about drainage at Napoleon Drive and the foot- way outsideMarden post office. The clerk was still in corre- spondence with TaylorWimpey regarding drainage. Kent High- ways had stated that repairs were not required to the foot- way. Councillors would look at the situation and report back to the clerk. Amember of the public raised concerns over Maidstone Road as to why it had been resurfaced with chippings rather than Tar- mac, especially with the higher level of HGVs on this road. Also raised was why Maid-


stone Road between the railway bridge and High Street had not been resurfaced. Cllr Stockell would request information from Kent Highways. Several people were still climbing the fence on the down platform at Marden station. A shelter had been erected on the up platform.


Staplehurst Council Lights cost


COUNCILLORS considered the quote from the current contrac- tors Aylesford Electrical Ltd to provide a more reliable display of Christmas lights and dis- cussed the options. It was agreed to buy LED light strings and tie them to existing motifs, generating costs of £2,915.42 in year one, falling to running costs of £1,550 per annum thereafter. An urgent repair had been arranged to the rolling door of the changing room at Jubilee Field at an anticipated cost of £200.


Regarding the neighbourhood


plan, an inception day was planned for July 18 comprising project team discussions with visiting consultants Feria Ur- banism and a look at sites iden- tified in Maidstone Council’s calls for land. Further events plannedwere an evening round


table on September 12 and a forum on October 8-10. Councillors noted Feria’s comments on the parish coun- cil’s statement of intent and agreed that the chairman should invite the leader of the borough council to Staplehurst. The chairman reported a new doctor had been appointed at the health centre and the sur- gery had scored highly in as- sessment against other Malling Health Centres. Cllr Peter Spearink reported


on hismeeting with representa- tives of Golding Homes, MBC and Medway Valley Country- side Partnership. He expressed concern about a possible change of mind by Golding Homes in relation to dredging of and clearance from the pond at the bottom of Bell Lane. The council would send a letter to Maidstone Council’s planning officer andward coun- cillors. The caretaker had weeded in


front of the old toilet block at The Parade and had painted over graffiti at the skatepark. Cllr Butcher had spoken to Sainsbury’s about proposals for allocation of S106 money in the centre of the village. He advised that work on the petrol station would be followed by the fac- tory and then the supermarket. A local resident had been en-


gaged by landlords to undertake cleaning of The Parade and the initial results of his work were said to be impressive. The rub- bish bins were yet to be replaced. The Jubilee Field gates had


been repaired and the height barrier hinges adjusted. The Speedwatch equipment


had been overhauled and the latest activity had identified 33 speeding vehicles, the highest number in one session.


Sutton Valence Council


Resignation


CLLR Eve Poulter had notified the council of her resignation. The vacancy would now be ad- vertised. The clerk had received a CV


from a resident interested in fill- ing the vacancy left by the res- ignation of Roger Peverett,and would invite the applicant to the next meeting. A phone call had been re- ceived from Sutton Valence hockey club expressing an in- terest in renting the pavilion on a long-term lease when and if the changing rooms at the vil- lage hall were built. Members heard that the bench


from the warmemorial was too rotten to move. The play area report identi-


fied a problem with the swing seats. The clerk had arranged replacement of two seats at a cost of £187.50 + VAT. A quote had been received for


Visit Downs Mail’s website — downsmail.co.uk


the footpath up to the church. The clerk would arrange for three quotes. A parishioner had emailed re- garding the crossing at Haven Farm. The clerk had requested a meeting with KCC and Cllr Eric Hotson. The clerk had asked Steven


Waring to cut the Green before the rose ceremony and to main- tain the planter. Two reponses had been re- ceived to the advert for a handyman. It was decided to appoint Tim Cowen. The clerk was to ask him for references. A parishioner had contacted


the parish council to say he in- tended putting a stile on foot- path KH259 at the Chartway Street end. The clerk asked KCC for information, and they had confirmed that permission needed to be sought from them first. This information had been passed on. Therewas no stile at the other


endofthe path into Abbey Woods, as the old one was de- molished. The clerk was to ask KCC for a replacement. Cllr Phil Taylor had proposed


that the parish council approve and arrange the relocation of a wooden table from his garden to TheHarbour play area. Itwould need to be collected and in- stalled by a contractor. The clerk was to arrange the move.


Yalding Council Police roles


THE area has a new police ser- geant, Karen Taylor and the chief inspector for Maidstone is now SimonWilson. Concern was expressed about


the gypsies who had been pres- ent on The Lees car park for the previous two weekends. It ap- peared the arm of the barrier was broken off to gain entry. Ac- cess was also gained after the car park had closed by lifting the out barrier. County Cllr Paulina Stockell confirmed that the playscheme grant had been approved. She wasmeetingwith the officers to discuss the over subscription of Yalding School and problems with the intake numbers. Six letters and one phone call


had been received from resi- dents of Laddingford asking for support with traffic issues. The chairman had sent an


email to the owner of Teiseside Nursery requesting they cut their hedge back to behind their fence, which they have agreed. It was considered that extra


street lighting would not be pop- ular with Laddingford residents and the pavement was not wide enough. Advice from the police is that speed bumps would only make the probem worse. An in- teractive sign or priority traffic calming may be possible. Resi- dents were urged to write to KCC and Cllr Stockell.


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