DownsMail In touch with your parish Continued from page 41


The clerk had obtained a Mrs TessaWells reported that


two post boxes had been stolen from The Street. The thefts had been seen and police had been informed of registration num- bers. MrsWellsalsowishedto record her dismay that the school flashing sign had still not been relocated, despite promises that it would be moved by the end of April. Cllr Philip Olden said he had been in constant contact with Kent Highways but deadlines given had not been met. It was agreed to contact County Cllr Matthew Balfour to see if he could help with this matter. Residents of Kent Street had


heardthatthere wastobean uncontrolled crossing installed at the junction of the street with the A228, paid for by Liberty as part of the Phase 2 development at Kings Hill. Cllr Styles said the plans were almost ready to go out for consultation. Recommendations included


reducing the speed limit on the A228 to 30mph and a light-con- trolled pedestrian crossing. A pavement would be provided on the east side of Mereworth Road from the short section of Kent Street to just beyond the crossing point. Northbound on the Mere-


worth Road, Highways had pro- posed a footpath/cycleway on the west side of the road to- wards the airfield estate. County Cllr Matthew Balfour suggested this should go behind the hedge.


Highways also suggested that vehicles should be discouraged from using the Kent Street junc- tion by using other roads in the area, including Beech Road, which borough Cllr Jill Ander- son and Cllr Balfour said was totally unacceptable. They felt Beech Road should have as lit- tle traffic as possible. The meeting heard a white


vanwas permanently parked at the junction of Kent Street and Butchers Lane, causing a dan- ger. It was suggested a no park- ing sign was erected. Potholes were noted along the length of Kent Street. The clerk had already reported these but would chase it up. The landlady of the Queen’s


Head said she was still waiting for designs for signs to be in- stalled on the parish council post outside the recreation area. She added that she had banned a person from the pub for threat- ening behaviour, and the matter had been reported to the police. A resident of Butchers Lane reported ivy growing on a tree on the recreation area was over- hanging her garden. Cllr Regan was to investigate this, and a re- port of tree cuttings from ad- joining gardens being left on the recreation area.


quote for the cleaning of the war memorial from Burslems. They had quoted £600 – they had done the work for £234 in 2011. It was felt this was too great an increase. They had agreed to send a revised quota- tion. The clerk was to seek an- other quote from another contractor. Cllr Regan said he had met


with John Vigor, of KCC, who was to investigate the drainage/flooding at the slip road/A228. The clerk had contacted Had-


low Parish Council about the Speedwatch equipment to ask whether another parish would like to take over Mereworth’s share, but had had no response. Cllr Styles asked when repairs


to the plot fencing at the allot- ments would be carried out. The clerk said work was due to start that week. Cllr Jenny Thorogood re- ported that a primary school with an attached chapel was to be built at Kings Hill. Cllr Regan felt there were already good fa- cilities at Mereworth, West Peckham, Larkfield and Ditton, all of which could accommo- date a larger congregation. Cllr Regan agreed to write to Clive Mansell, Archdeacon of the dio- cese. Cllr Styles reported that the churchyard needed mowing and strimming. The clerk was to contact Kent Landscapes.


Offham Council Crime reports


THERE had been two crimes in the village. A number of tools were stolen from a shed and res- idents were advised to keep sheds locked and alarmed. A trailer had also been stolen. Speed checks hadbeencar-


ried out on three occasions. A number of warnings and one ticket were given out. There was a discussion about


North Meadow Road being one way and a lack of signage along the road for motorists. The clerk was asked to contact KentHigh- ways about road markings with arrows showing the direction of traffic along the road. The meeting heard the village


green byelaws were out of date, and new ones were needed, par- ticularly to prevent unautho- rised traders at the steam rally in the village. The parish coun- cil had invested money to im- prove the quality of the green and the byelaws would help to protect it. A new set of byelaws had been drafted based on the DCLG model. The council agreed that horses should not be allowed on the green as they would damage it. The green could be used for


ball games, but larger or organ- ised games should be prevented


on health and safety grounds – a child could get injured running into the road after a ball. PCSO Laura Bullen would speak to parents of any children causing damage or misbehaving on the green.


Kite-flying had not been a problem and could continue, as long as it wasn’t a nuisance. The steam rallywas notanor- ganised event but an informal gathering. The parish council could give permission to any participants to drive their vehi- cles on the green. The byelaws would prevent traders parking and selling on the green without permission. Cycling on the green would


be allowed, but not if damage was caused. There was a discussion about village communication.Itwas agreed that it was not cost-effec- tive to regularly leaflet every house in the village. Agendas were displayed on the notice boards in the village and docu- ments were available to view on the website. If residents pro- vided their email addresses, they could be included in any village emails that were sent out.


The odd job man had begun


his work and Cllr Wendy Williams’ daughter Sue had cleaned some equipment in the recreation ground. The new gate had gone rusty,


and Cllr Williams was to arrange for this to be painted with Hammerite. There were a number of dips


on the green that needed to be filled with topsoil. This would be put on the agenda for au- tumn. The cherry tree outside the


pub needed some work. Adrian Marchant was liaising with Liz Guthrie from Tonbridge and Malling Council. CllrWilliams had spent a long


time bagging up leaves in Cos- grave Field. There were a large number still there, which were too heavy to move. It was sug- gested they be left for the time- being. Cllr Williams was dealing


with Kent Highways and the electricity board about work for the village entrances. Cllr Williams had asked Kent Highways to replace the poles around the pond. This would be done when the road was re- paired. Cllrs William Pierce and


David Stretton had viewed the field next to the school car park with a view to extending the car park. It had not been farmed for some time and was said to be ideal. It was agreed that Cllrs Pierce and Martyn Begbey should approach Mr Betts to discuss the options. It was agreed that a round-


about at the A20 junction with Seven Mile Lane was the best


solution. Concern was ex- pressed about the provision of safe crossing facilities for pedes- trians. The parish council had agreed


to consider parcelling up areas of Cosgrave Field for sale, or to add to the cricket club lease. Money raised would be put in the Village Trust to buy suitable areas of land in Offham for the benefit of the village. Two mem- bers of the Offham Society had agreed to act as trustees. Two parish councillors and perhaps two residents would also be needed. The junior winner of the vil-


lage photo competition was Samuel Rothschild and the win- ner of the adult competition wasMartyn Begbey.Aproof cal- endar had been produced and 100 copies had been ordered for sale. The parish council would distribute and sell the calendars at £5 each. Any profit would go towards the pond project. Regarding the pond project,


the owner of the neighbouring property had suggested the council draw up a document to show the council had the right to go on to the land around the pond in perpetuity, to look after the trees and maintain the pond.


Adrian Marchant had offered


to cut down and coppice the trees free of charge. There was no surplus liner to donate to the project. The clerk was to write to Butyl asking for a donation of liner.Alifebelt might need to be considered when the pond was completed. Speedwatch volunteers were


asked to give their details to the clerk, who would pass them on to Cllr David Frankling. The clerk was to contactMereworth about the shared equipment.


Ryarsh Council Re-elections


It WAS agreed that Cllr Dave Storey should continue as chairman and that Cllr Ivor Emson continue as vice-chair- man.


There was no police report –


the clerk was asked to find out if Insp Allenwould be visiting the parish in the near future. Representatives from Ryarsh


and Leybourne councils met with Tonbridge and Malling Council to discuss boundary changes. The proposals are to align ward and parish bound- aries so that Leybourne Chase and a few houses on London Road would fall into Leybourne parish and the West Malling and Leybourne ward. Tonbridge and Malling Coun-


cil would prefer to keep bound- aries the same, and couldmake representations to LGBCE (Local Government Boundary Commission for England) but would need new evidence to put forward.


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