DownsMail In touch with your parish


Continued from page 23 The litter bins had been in- stalled at Eccles recreation ground. Urgent fencing repairs were agreed at a cost of £275. A self-closing gate would be con- sidered for the gap in the fence next to the play equipment area which was causing concern to some parents. A quote for £6,345 was re- ceived for three new trees for the Blue Bell Hill Christmas lights. The plaque wording was agreed for the defibrillator which was due to be presented toAyles- ford Rugby Club on October 12 in memory of the late parish clerk Andrew Flindell. The pres- entation would be at the vice- president’s lunch which would be followed by an Aylesford v Maidstone match. A closed session was held re-


lating to Aylesford village flood defence issues.


Birling Council Crime report


THERE had been no reported crimes in Birling in July and Au- gust but there had been three in- cidents at Ryarsh. Chairman Jacquie Westwood


said that a metal gate had been reported stolen from the en- trance to The Kennels below Church Field. Repairs to the churchwall had


been completed. The clerk had written to the parochial church council asking if vegetation on the wall by the road could be cut back. The footpath team atTonbridge


and Malling Council had advised that to extend the handrail and add steps to the Church Field footpath, reducing the width of the path, would be detrimental and therefore no further work would be undertaken. Cost had not been a factor in this decision. The chairman had provided details of the two overgrown paths but it was too late for them to be included in the contractors’ second cutting. The clerk was waiting to hearwhether the foot- paths teamwould be able to clear them. A new quote for electricity supply had been accepted from EDF at a slightly reduced annual cost of £847 for the next 12 months. The Clout Memorial in West Malling would be the venue for future meetings of the Joint Parish Council Transport Con- sultative Group. A suggestion that the groupmight amalgamate with Kent Association of Local Councils to bring their views to a wider audience was discussed. Councillors thought this would be beneficial and agreed that if a vote was called for at the next JPCTCG meeting, the two Birling representatives should vote in favour. It was agreed to make the same donations as in 2012/13, £250 for


32 Malling


the flower festival, £67 for a Royal British Legion wreath and £50 each for Try Angle awards, CAB, Age Concern, Kent Air Ambulance, Victim Support and Volunteer Centre Malling. Two quotes, one at £3,000 and


the other at £1,040, had been re- ceived to clean the war memo- rial, repair the base and redo the lettering. A third verbal quote in the region of £3,000 had been re- ceived. Because of the large dif- ference in the figures, a further quote had been requested from a local business and a site meeting had been arranged. The clerk ad- vised that all stonemasons were very busy ahead of the 2014 cen- tenary events. Highways had not cut back the vegetation around the priority and speed signs so it had been done by Cllr Colin Grimmett who was thanked by the council- lors.


The clerk was asked to report


to Kent Highways that a large section of Tarmac at the edge of Snodland Road just before the track to Birling Place had sub- sided and that the 30mph sign on The Bank had been damaged and needed replacing. Comments had been received


from parents walking children to school in Ryarsh that the pave- ment was impassable in several places due to parked vehicles and overgrown hedges. The clerk was asked to contact the house- holders concerned. It was noted that overgrown vegetation along one half of the land in front of The Stables had been cut back but that the other side had not and the clerk was asked to contact Ryarsh Parish Council again.


East Peckham Council


New baby


IT was announced that Cllr Holly Carey had given birth to a baby boy. A card and flowers would be sent to her with the parish council’s warmest congratula- tions.


Since the last meeting, there


had been 10 reported crimes in- cluding a burglary in Westwood Road, a burglary to a shed and of- ficers had arrested and charged onemale for producing cannabis inside their address. There had been a few reports of nuisance youths on the playing fields.Officers had attended and spoken to people on several oc- casions, but no offences had been committed. The police were see- ing fewer large groups of vehicles parking in the Jubilee car park and there had not been any signs of drug use. Residents raised concern about overgrown vegetation village wide and of twoaccidents which had occurred at the lower chi- cane in Hale Street. A request was made for a crossing over the bypass to link


the two footpaths. Two hardwood finger posts for Peckham Bush and Bullen Cor- ner would be commissioned from either Heritage Signposts or RBLI depending on who was able to offer the best value for money. Subject to availability of funds, a third finger post would be commissioned. The Jubilee Hall and playing


fields were occupied by regular users for 68% of available time. Following the closure of the EP Club there had been an increase in booking enquiries. Advice was being sought from


Tonbridge and Malling Council on the viability of the parish council making the Jubilee Hall available for licensable activities. A meeting had been arranged


with Play Innovation to discuss, among other issues, the possibil- ity of a workshop to rejuvenate interest in the street snooker. There was concern that the French oak was showing signs of distress. The janitor had been asked to monitor the tree and keep it watered. An arboricultural inspection


of parish council-owned trees was approved at a cost of £180. An application had been sub- mitted to the British Heart Foun- dation seeking a 50% match-funded grant towards the acquisition of a community de- fibrillator. It was noted that it might be possible to obtain a de- fibrillator, equipment and train- ing free of charge through the ambulance service. More infor- mation was awaited. A Heritage Lottery funding ap- plication had been submitted for work on the war memorial and Burlite had been asked for a start date. Ten new members had joined


the East Peckham Twinning As- sociation. The recent visit to East Peckham Primary School by the children of Chereng had been very successful. The possible introduction of micro-grants for 2014 was dis- cussed – the idea being that each parish councillor would have an annual budget of £200 to support worthwhile local causes. It was resolved that, although a good idea in principle, it could not be adopted by the parish council in the current financial climate. Allotment holders had sug-


gested a communal shed with in- dividual lockable units and compostable toilet facilities on site. Costings would be investi- gated.


Changing room and football


pitch hire would increase from £20 to £25 per match. The Weald of Kent Gym Club


had asked for funding of up to £372 to purchase pre-school gym equipment. The matter would be discussed later in the financial year when all applications from village groups could be consid- ered at the same time.


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330 It was reported that Prime Min-


ister David Cameron had an- nounced £250 million to help communities buy local assets such as pubs, shops, community centres, sports facilities and af- fordable housing. Cllr Carey had explored the feasibility of the parish council accessing some of the fund to buy the Rose and Crown and/or The Harp, but her findings had indicated this might not be possible.


Behaviour issues THERE had been nine reports of anti-social behaviour within the parish, five of which related to one party. The recent increase in damage


Hadlow Council


and disregard for the Williams Field play areas was raised with PCSO Toni Matthew and more evening patrols requested. It was also felt prudent to place a piece in the local newsletter that if the damage and disregard continued, the skate park project would be jeopardised. The clerk confirmed that regu-


lar use of the hall during June and July remained good but pri- vate functions in July were low. The small area of land by the allotments shed had been cleared of overgrown vegetation. A lot of rubble was buried there. The upkeep of this area required further consideration. The overgrown vegetation in Blackmans Lane would be re- ported to Kent Highways. The borders were now looking


good and the grounds mainte- nance team had weeded and added new mulch. The grass and tree shoots grow-


ing on the mound on the corner of Carpenters Lane needed cut- ting back. Recent development at a house


on the corner of Ashes Lane and the A26 had caused concern. It was reported the safety fence had extended out past the property line and soil was being stored there. The borough council plan- ning department would be noti- fied. Six stars for the Christmas


lights would be purchased at a cost of £2,038, excluding VAT and delivery. As a result of a young person’s


party that left both the hall and surrounding area in a state, the chairman had decided to disal- low parties for under-25s who lived outside the parish. The Golden Green summer


fete had been a success. The chairman had attended a Highwaysmeeting regarding sur- face water outside the Harrow public house. There was concern that excess water was flowing from Cemetery Lane, through the basement of the Harrow pub to- wards the pond on the edge of the A26. The need for some properties to install culverts to resolve the issue was discussed.


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