COUNCILLORS are to look into erecting a new sign to combat overcrowding of the car park in Church Street. Parish council chairman Cllr Clive Eng-
lish said: “The car park is absolutely chock- a-block. At 9am it’s full to the brim. When I last looked there were three cars for sale in there. These were being moved around as well, to deceive the monitoring process.”
THE council is trying to estab- lish the circumstances sur- rounding the bizarre introduction of a fence along part of the riverside footpath. The structure has sprung up, without planning permission, between Tovil Footbridge and Millers Wharf. A member of public told the parish council of his concerns: “It hampers people who want to get through with pushchairs,” he said. The land is owned by Net-
work Rail but leased out. Be- cause of the traditionally fast turnover of the rail company’s leases, it is not known who is currently leasing the land. Council chairman Cllr Clive English, who is also the vice- chairman of Maidstone’s plan- ning committee, said that the borough council might take en-
Salt bin investment THE council agreed to top up salt bins – at £40 each – at the following locations: Burial Ground Lane. Higham Close Wharf Road Stockett Lane (near Busbridge Road)
Cave Hill Bockingford Lane LaunderWay Teasaucer Hill
Farleigh footpath CLLR Derek Mortimer haswrit- ten to Kent Highway Services about the lack of a footway on Farleigh Hill and has been told this issue is to receive higher priority than before.
Take notice MEMBERS agreed to purchase noticeboards for the bus shelter.
The new mystery fence close to Tovil Footbridge
forcement action if planning permission is not gained. He added: “I am not en- couraging people to bring it down, but I will be surprised if it survives the winter. A flood could bring the whole thing down.”
A REQUEST to continue using Archbishop Courtenay Primary School in Tovil as a polling sta- tion was met with a “vitriolic” response from the headteacher. The letter from Mrs Louise Stubberfield had claimed that elections cause disruption to school activities. However, it was considered
that an alternative location at a bungalow in St Stephen’s Square could cause a similar amount of disruption to elderly neighbours. There was also a
Cllr Derek Mortimer said he
had spent “weeks and weeks” sending emails trying to sort out the situation, but to no avail. Cllr English continued: “As
soon as there is any solid news, the residents of Bridge MillWay will be informed.”
Council looks for polling solution
question mark over parking pro- vision. Maidstone Council will decide on the future location of the polling station. These problems are unlikely
to surface long term as the Tovil school is due to be converted into a community centre once the staff and children have moved into new premises at Ec- cleston Road. The polling station will then
revert to the newly formed com- munity centre in the existing school building.
Concern at break-ins of garages and cars
PCSO Matthew Williams’s crime report highlighted a problem re- garding break-ins in Bridge MillWay. Garages and cars were particularly hit. He said: “We are trying to
link these crimes together.” Council chairman Cllr Clive English also brought to his attention the number of cars parked on the FarleighWay pavement.
Action on ‘chock-a-block’ car park Mystery of fence’s sudden appearance
Cllr Derek Mortimer said: “People are
being forced to park on the pavement in Church Street, meaning people living in the Golding Homes development now have to walk on the road.” The parish council, which owns the car
park, is reluctant to impose clamping, espe- cially since the Government suggested it might halt the practice on private land.
Funding boost
Cllr English added: “We could put up a
sign saying that vehicles left in there may be locked in. That would be the logical step.” The present sign in the car park is not prominent but does state the parking regu- lations for that car park. It is estimated that a new sign might cost about £83. Cllrs Eng- lish andMortimer were to investigate.
Cllr Mortimer added: “We
need to get something quickly, what with the Victory Pub housing application going through and another possible one at 1 and 2 Church Street.”
for Bridge Mill COUNCILLORS breathed a sigh of relief after KCC confirmed it would still fund almost half of the Bridge Mill Way Open Space project to upgrade the play equipment. It was feared that the £80,000 scheme to install a series of new pieces of equipment in the play area would have to be met predominantly out of the parish council’s reserves after the Gov- ernment cast doubt on whether the £45,000 Playbuilder grant would still be available for KCC. But the county council has
now confirmed it can provide £36,000 funding – a reduction of 20%.
Maidstone Council, through Section 106 contributions, will provide a similar amount, meaning the parish council only has to pay about £9,000. Cllr Derek Mortimer said: “Hopefully the project will get moving very soon because the Section 106 money has to be spent byMarch next year.”
Meeting allowance PARISH councillors will each get a £10 attendance allowance from next spring, subject to budget agreement. Members will be given the opportunity to return the al- lowance to parish council funds as donations.
Caernarvon cut IT was reported that vegetation needed cutting back at the foot- path behind Caernarvon Drive.
18 Town
To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330
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