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Ryarsh Council New member


ROB Coleman was co-opted onto the council to fill the va- cancy following the resignation of Terry Clifford. It was reported that trading standards officials were warn- ing of pressure sales people tar- geting the elderly. A councillor congratulated


the police who checked his property when the gates were open to see if everything was all right. Work was continuing at


Workhouse Quarry and an ap- plication was being made to ex- tend the licence to continue works. There was no progress to re-


port on Ryarsh Brickworks. Any vehicles working outside permitted hours were breaching planning consent, although the chairman had not been notified of any further action taken. Plans were under way to gen-


erate interest in Neighbourhood Watch. The Rotary club had donated crocus bulbs which would be planted by the Ryarsh Rural Community Council in various locations. Kent Highways had reported


that the gulleys on Birling Road near the school were due for scheduled cleaning in Decem- ber. The water laying in the road was thought to be because there was nowhere to drain the water to – partly as a result of traffic calming measures. No objections were made to a planning application for exten- sions to a bungalow in London Road.


Funding views


Snodland Town Council


THE Potyns sub-committee made a number of suggestions about how to spend Section 106 money from Berkeley Homes on the community centre in the field. These included a larger bar/kitchen/stock areas, a multi- use meeting room extension, changing the front entrance and extending the whole area at the front to include extra changing facilities. Cllr Anne Moloney said that a public consultation was needed before the borough council could be approached. The clerk circulated the up-to-


date plan of the bowls green next to Potyns Field. Half the turf had been laid and the rest was due to be completed. A request was made for a


quote to carry out “soak tests” to determine whether soakaways could be used to dispose of the water collected from the pro- posed under-pitch drainage system on Potyns. There were two recommenda-


tions on how to extend the nearby cemetery. One of these was to retain and refurbish the existing building, taking the road to the right of it. The other was to demolish the existing building and provide new vehi- cle garage and tool store etc.


Cemeteryvisit


Wateringbury Council


A LETTER had been received from a resident concerning con- ditions in the cemetery. All councillors were asked to visit the cemetery and report at the next meeting. A holly bush was hanging over the footpath and needed cutting back. It was agreed to ask Wildwood Tree Care to do this together with re- moving a dead tree. Some graves were in need of attention and letters would go out, but in some cases the only contact details were on the grave purchase certificate. Following an inspection of


the allotments, it was consid- ered that some were not well- kept and a general letter had been sent to all plot-holders. Dennis Stones, a former chair-


man of the parish council, was co-opted to fill the vacant seat. A letter had been received


from Teston Parish Council re- garding the use of sirens by am- bulances going through the village. An update would be ob- tained. A member of the public re-


ferred to the problem of rabbits causing damage in the playing fields and said Network Rail had carried out a cull. Network Rail was considering installing rabbit fencing for about 200 me- tres along its boundary and the council agreed to write in sup- port of this. Mrs Sarah Hudson suggested


2012 would be a good time to have another village fete, coin- ciding with the Queen’s Dia- mond Jubilee and the London Olympics. A committee would need to be set up and funds would be required. It was agreed this would be discussed further. A resident reported that a


good job had been done on the pavements in Canon Lane. Kent Highways would be con-


tacted about flooding on Ton- bridge Road from the culvert outsideWateringbury Place.


Compost smell


West Malling Council


A COUNCILLOR reported there was a distinct smell emanating from Blaise Farm composting facility. It was a planning con- dition that this should not be discernible outside the facility.


The clerk was to report this to KCC. It was suggested that a new


litter bin was needed by the new benches and planter in the High Street as litter was regu- larly having to be removed. PCSO Ed Moore had been in contact with young people who regularly congregated at the seats and planter area. They wanted a space to socialise and asked if the ball park could be illuminated. Chairman Trudy Dean reminded the meeting that the terms of Clout Institute in- cluded supporting youth facili- ties. The building was now in a good state of repair and there was a ground floor room which was available for hire. PCSO Moore had spoken to KCC youth officer Nick Congleton about further discussions on youth facilities inWest Malling. The chairman reported that drinkers at The Farmhouse and the Five Pointed Star were regu- larly “trading insults” across the High Street, especially on Friday and Saturday evening. The drinkers blocked the pave- ments and were intimidating to- wards pedestrians. Members felt that the publicans ought to take action to prevent this anti- social behaviour. Licensing offi- cers for Tonbridge and Malling Council and the police would be contacted. Kent Highways would be


asked to send an officer to a parish council meeting to dis- cuss traffic flow through West Malling from the by-pass to Swan Street. The headteacher of West Malling CE Primary School had emailed that approval had been received for the new language centre and it was hoped to re- tain the old building for com- munity and extended school use and possible future devel- opment for pre-school provi- sion.


Heritage open days in the parish were a great success. Around 150 people had visited the “Malling People and Places” exhibition at the Clout Insiti- tute.Anew one was planned for next year. Guided tours at St Leonard’s


Tower were well attended. However, Mike North, who gave the talks, said the tower was in a disgusting state with pigeon droppings everywhere and he had to give the talks outside on the grass. He had written to Eng- lish Heritage, who had failed to clean up the tower for the open days, despite being asked. Borough Cllr Sasha Luck re- ported that a survey was to be made of the car parks, installing automatic traffic counters for a week at the A228 drop-off lay- by and the station approach be- tween Eden Farm and Lucks Hill. A pole mounted video sur- vey camera would also be used.


West Peckham Council


Four editors


IT was likely that a community approach would be taken for the position of editor of the Mere- worth and West Peckham Record with four people having volunteered. Concerns were raised with


PCSO Toni Matthew regarding the by-way between Dukes Place and its use by off-road motorcyclists, often driving fast. It was asked if signage could be put in place as this by- way ends on a driveway where there were often children and horses and also close to a pub- lic footpath where there were many pedestrians. The PCSO gave details of a contact at Ton- bridge and Malling Council who may be able to advise. It was reported that the vil-


lage’s application for a salt bin had been rejected by Kent High- ways, however it had been con- firmed that Mereworth Road would be added to the second- ary gritting rota. Parish councils were also able


to request a one-tonne salt mix bag when extreme weather was forecast. The council agreed to apply for this as well as request that additional supplies be bought in advance. With regard to the polytun-


nels planning application by Hugh Lowe Farm, two key mat- ters were being reviewed – the landscape/visual impactand the economic assessment. Six fur- ther questions had been asked of the borough council, includ- ing clarification of the four-year rule about the use of succes- sional tunnels. No objections were raised to proposals for replacement win- dows and doors at Old Forge Cottage, Forge Lane, and for conversion and extension of an outbuilding to ancillary resi- dential accommodation at Dukes Place, Mereworth Road. Concerns were expressed


about the dead elms surround- ing the footpath known as Ja- cobs Ladder in Adams Well. And some of the footpath mark- ers around the east side of Hazel Wood towards Goose Green were confusing. With regard to AONB desig- nation, the council agreed that specific areas should include the top of Gover Hill, the centre of the village, Oxenhoath and HazelWood. The Swan on the Green had agreed to supply the electricity for the lighting of the tree, for which the council was grateful. The tree would be switched on following the service on Decem- ber 12 where West Peckham would be saying farewell to the Rev Noel McConachie, who is retiring after 17 years as vicar of St Dunstan’s.


Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735 Malling 31


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