DownsMail In touch with your parish From page 30


mott was looking at funding op- tions to buy a community box which would hold sports equip- ment for village organisations to use on the village green. A suit- able location needed to be found in discussion with the council’s open spaces commit- tee. A speed limit review had rec-


ommended no change to the limit in Maidstone Road. A meeting was due to be held


with Maidstone Council and Mrs Ray, of Curtis Farm at Wa- terman Quarter, to discuss sig- nage issues. There were no objections to


an application to place tourism signs on the A274 for theWeald of Kent Golf Course. It was agreed to allow South-


ern Gas Networks to lay a new pipe and allow the company fu- ture access for maintenance and repair to parish council land at the side of the entrance parking to the Scout hut and allotments. The parish council had re-


ceived a letter from Maidstone Council proposing the mobile polling station at the Hawken- bury public house be discontin- ued and users would instead go to Headcorn Village Hall. It was agreed in principle, subject to weather and ground conditions, to allow John Law- son’s Circus to use Parsonage Meadow for three days at the end of March 2011. Cllr David Andrews reported


that the youth forum continued to meet and was working on af- filiating to the Maidstone Youth Forum.Ameeting was due to be held with an architectural con- sultant on suitable locations for a skate park.


Langley Council Grant protest


IT WAS agreed to join with the petition to MBC in protest at the reduction in the concurrent functions grant to parishes. A retrospective planning ap- plication was considered for The Coach House, Sutton Road, for the replacement of 1.8m high close-boarded fence with 1.8m high brick wall with piers every 3m to front boundary. It was agreed to respond to MBC with no comment. MBC had granted permission


with conditions for Maidstone Golf Centre, Langley Park, for the change of use of the east wing from offices to holiday let- tings. It was agreed to donate £50 to


the youth bus project towards the cost of preparing their Christmas dinner on Friday, De- cember 17. PCSO Richard Kirby reported


an incident of aggravated vehi- cle-taking at Copperfield Drive, resulting in a summons.


38 South


Members were advised that attendance at the farmers’ mar- ket was down and that a con- certed advertising push was required. It was agreed that the December 8 Christmas market should be promoted and that the clerk would produce up- dated details on income and ex- penditure to allow a decision to be made on future advertising spend. The clerk advised that the au-


tumn newsletter was ready for production and delivery and that this edition contained £80 worth of business advertising. Regarding the allotments, it


was agreed to progress the water trench to extend supply and to seek help from groups such as Tomorrow’s People and Voluntary Action Maidstone. With regard to the village hall,


the August fete raised £1,999, a supper barn dance was to be held next May, the hall floors would be sealed at the begin- ning of January, and the chil- dren’s Christmas party was to be combined with carols around the Christmas tree.


Playing progress Linton Council


THE new playground equip- ment had been installed and arrangements were in hand for the refurbishment of the goal area and the installation of the path. A picnic table and new signs would be purchased. Trees would be planted along the eastern boundary in Vic- arage Field at a cost of under £50. It was hoped that a grant ap- plication to Kent Playing Fields Association for £1,000 would be successful. County Cllr Paulina Stockell


had agreed to a grant of £1,000 fromher budget and an applica- tion had been made to KCC Small Communities Capital Grant Fund for £7,500. The clerk reminded councillors that the target figure was £10,000. An appeal to the village for sup- port had been disappointing. There had been two reported crimes since the last meeting – theft of electric fencing and bat- teries and damage to a gate in Stilebridge Lane, and damage to a car in Redwall Lane. Carl Holt, deputy co-ordinator


of the Neighbourhood Watch scheme, had been presented with the Safer Kent Young Per- son of the Year Award and wished that his cheque for £50 should go towards furthering the scheme in the village, par- ticularly the newsletter. The chairman thanked him for his generosity and congratulated him on his well-deserved award. It was reported that the water


leak in Westerhill had been re- paired and that the fence at


Weatherstones had been mended and was not now a danger to the public. Borough Cllr Brian Mortimer


said he had been approached about putting Stop notices in place concerning the planning application at the corner of Stilebridge Lane, but he had been advised by planning offi- cers that it was not possible. A donation of £30 to Maid-


stone Citizen’s Advice Bureau was agreed. Councillors offered no objec-


tion to a planning application for the building of a stable block, hay barn and stores on land next to the A229 at Stile- bridge Lane. They would wish to see the hedges and trees next to the proposed development preserved as a screen and the site monitored regularly by Maidstone Council’s enforce- ment team. The clerk had later been advised that planning offi- cers would recommend refusal. Current hire rates for the vil-


lage hall would be maintained for another year. Tenders were being sought for


the refurbishment of the ladies’ toilet and alternatives to build- ing the north store were being explored. Mr and MrsWatson were con-


gratulated for making the front of the hall so attractive by plant- ing out and maintaining the window boxes and tubs. All vacant allotment gardens


had now been let and there was a waiting list. The clerk again raised the


issue of where the parish records were to be stored in fu- ture. He had around seven ver- min-proof plastic storage boxes which would soon have to stored elsewhere.


Careful planning CHAIRMAN Vianne Gibbons asked all members to think carefully about the budgets that have to be in by the end of No- vember and to think about plan- ning for at least the next three years. It was unanimously agreed


Loose Council


that members would not take any allowances for 2011-12. Out-of-pocket expenses would continue to be reimbursed. The chairman’s allowance would be set at £150. Problems were reported at


Loose Amenity Association’s annual meeting when young people were running in and out during the meeting and the po- lice were called. Patrols were to be increased in the area during Hallowe’en and bonfire night. PCSO Richard Chainey said


five crimes had been reported in the previous month: theft of a farm trailer from Filmers Farm and resulting criminal damage to a fence at Ambridge Oast; criminal damage to a car at Car-


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mens Close; two shed break-ins, one with nothing stolen, and in the other a knife was taken. Reports had also been made


about youths hanging around the building site in Pickering Street, making excessive noise and being verbally abusive. An ASB car should be visiting the area and the security of the building site would be looked into.


The PCSO also mentioned


that a 13-year-old had been beaten up in the valley that night and urged anyone who saw anti-social behaviour to re- port it, with descriptions of the offenders if possible. It was reported that problems continued with regard to the building site in Pickering Street with mud on the road and the corner adjacent to the Scout HQ being eroded by large vehicles. The importance of pedestrian


safety was raised. The clerk was asked to follow this matter up once againwith Kent Highways. The clerk reported a phone


call received in respect of the land adjacent to Salts Avenue that had now been bought by Boughton Monchelsea Ameni- ties Trust and to composting that was being done by farmers, causing a smell from the site. With regard to the Loose


Youth Group, it was agreed that the parish council should em- ploy the YMCA, with the funds already available, to run it with volunteers and for three adult members to be present at any meeting. It was reported that silt had


built up in the pond and mill- race after being washed in from the roads. It was decided that Maidstone Council should be invited to visit Loose to give members of the public the chance to voice any concerns about the new weekly food waste collection service. The chairman is going to try


to organise an open forum prior to the parish council’s meeting in January 2011.


Marden Council Festive details


THE Christmas at Marden event would be held on Decem- ber 11, with the erection of the grotto on the 5th and disman- tling on the 12th. The assistant clerk was sourcing gifts and there had been a good response for stalls. Three crimes were reported


this month – two burglaries and the theft of a motor vehicle. Po- lice reported some minor anti- social behaviour involving youngsters around the shops area was being dealt with and two males were given advice about riding on land behind The Cockpit. Ameeting had been held with


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