DownsMail In touch with your parish


Barming Council Crime report


PCSO Frank Woollett reported there had been more than a dozen crimes since the last meeting, including theft, nui- sance bikes and drug dealing. NeighbourhoodWatch had re- ported the theft of a bike from a shed in South Street, although the resident would not report this directly to the police. Chairman Fay Gooch said she


was aware of someone sleeping overnight in a car in Bull Or- chard/Heath Road and also an incident of cold calling in Bev- erley Road. Bryan Vizzard was co-opted


to fill the vacancy on the parish council Cllr Gooch reported that Gal-


lagher was setting up a manage- ment advisory group to oversee the implementation of the woodland management plan as part of the section 106 legal agreement accompanying plan- ning permission at Oaken Wood. Councillors Manser and Doe would represent the parish council. Cllr Gooch reported that Gal-


lagher continued to blast in the southern extension and some severe vibrations had been felt. KCC had confirmed that, while readings had been triggered at the monitoring stations, the company was within the statu- tory limit. An allotment site visit had


taken place. The site was gener- ally under control although it was noted that the main helper had had an operation and the


A JEWELLERY box with an en- graving of The Last Supper on the lid was stolen from a prop- erty in Boughton Lane. Two parts of a 30ft aluminium ladder, together with securing bolts, were stolen from a vehicle parked in a layby in Farleigh Hill, Tovil. Ablack andwhite Merida bike


with disc brakes was stolen from outside Vets 4 Pets in Sutton Road. A black and white Carrera Crossfire mountain bike was stolen from the communal bike shed at Lee Heights, Bambridge Court, Ringlestone. No other bikes in the shed were touched. Two Hewlett Packard comput-


ers – one red and one silver – were stolen from a home in St Francis Close, Penenden Heath. Jewellery was stolen from a


home in Salts Avenue, Loose. Computer equipment was


stolen from a home in Willow Crescent. The suspects are two white teenage boys, both about 5ft 5ins tall and slim with short dark hair. One was wearing a blue hoodie and jeans, and the other was wearing a cream jumper and grey tracksuit trousers.


rotovator was not working which had resulted in less work than usual being undertaken. Following further investiga- tions, there had been some con- cern regarding introducing pigs to help reduce vegetation,in case they escaped. Therefore it was agreed this idea would not be pursued. Renting of the plots had not


been limited to Barming resi- dents and there had been times when holders had moved away but kept their plot. It was sug- gested the vacancies be adver- tised on the notice boards or in the Downs Mail to see whether they could be taken over. The situationwould be monitored to see how much progress had been made by the next site visit in the spring. Cllr Gooch reported on the


Swan Group/DHA Planning ex- hibition which detailed concep- tual plans for the proposed development of around 250 homes opposite the hospital. Proposed alterations for the Fountain Lane junction were also shown. Following the parish council’s support for additional space at Barming School, it was noted that it was for additional teach- ing space, not additional pupils as the school was not oversub- scribed at present. This should be borne in mind when com- menting on any proposed resi- dential developments which would have an impact. The parish hall car park had


been cleared of weeds. The paperwork for the Re- membrance Service road clo-


sure had been completed and discussion had taken placewith the church, Scouts and Guides. Peter Gooch was to lead the marshals and would tidy the war memorial. Cllr Manser raised concerns


about the pedestrian crossing on the Tonbridge Road and queried why the parish could not have a pelican crossing. It was noted that Tovil had re- cently had one installed. The clerk was asked to query this with Kent Highways. Cllr Greenwood reported that


he had been asked several times what the parish council was “doing for the teenagers in Barming”. This was discussed by councillors and it was noted that there was Barming Youth Club and the Scouts and Guides. The possibility of a teenage shelter was suggested in the long term. More leaders were needed for the Scouts and Guides.


Loose Council Metal thefts


COMMUNITY warden Liz Lo- vatt reported that metal thieves were still a problem and inci- dents had been recorded in Northleigh. It had also been re- ported that some dogs had been attacking other owners’ dogs, with horrific consequences. She reported on the electrical


safety advice leaflets that were about to go out to residents. Vandals had destroyed one of


the springers in the play area. Two people had been identified and the other two had not yet been recognised.


Beat the criminals IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE PHONE: Police: 101 Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111


The catalytic converter was


stolen from a white Transit van parked on the driveway of a home in Hazel Avenue, Alling- ton.


There was an attempt to


break into a white Mer- cedes Sprinter van parked on the drive- way of a home in BowerMount Road. Burglars broke in to a


home in Buckland Road, but nothing ap- peared to have been stolen. A Samsung television was


stolen from a flat in Marsham Street. A metallic grey Claude Butler


bike was stolen from outside a property in Albion Place. The suspect,who was seen riding the bike away, was described as a slim white male wearing a light blue shirt and dark trousers. A Kawasaki generator was stolen from a works van in Had-


low Close, off Oakwood Road. The suspect was described as a large white male wearing a high visibility jacket. He was driving a Nissan Almera, the registra- tion number of which startedMX04. A Samsung televi- sion and jewellery were stolen from a property in Warden Close. There was an at- tempted burglary at a property in Cross Street.


The suspect was described as a man in his early 20s, with olive skin, short dark brown hair, and wearing a dark jacket. There was an attempted bur-


glary at a property in Hardy Street. A silver Mercedes A140 was


stolen from the car park at Maid- stoneHospital, Hermitage Lane. It was later crashed, and a sus- pect was arrested.


A vehicle that had been ob- structing the highway on the corner of Bridge Street andMill Street was now parked in High- banks. A stone fired from a catapult


had gone through awindow op- posite Cllr Gordon Goves’ house. Police were looking for people seen in the Paddock Wood, Tunbridge Wells and Marden areas in connection with recent catapult incidents. The second publicmeeting on


the hazards in Busbridge Road had been very well attended. It was agreed to push for 20mph speed limits throughout the vil- lage and Busbridge Road with the long-term solution being some kind of barrier tomake the drop at the side of the road safe. Some youngsters asked to


speak about the facilities at the King George V playing field. They asked if they could have a skate area but it was stated that unfortunately the field did not have the space for this. The parish council would be look- ing into installing more equip- ment at the field and their views would be very important on this. An outdoor gym and free running equipment were sug- gested.


Regarding the possible clo-


sure by KCC of the Sure Start children’s centre at Loose Pavil- ion, there would be a huge im- pact to the parish council’s hire income for the building. The formal agreement be-


tween the two councils would be checked and a letter of objec- tion to the closure would be sent to KCC.


A grey metallic Kona bicycle


was stolen from the flats at Ke- nilworth House, Woodford Road, Barming. A white Ford Transit van, reg- istration number SM53 ESO, was stolen from near the car wash in Buckland Road. There was an attempted bur-


glary of a shed in Burleigh Drive, Sandling Park. Another shed in the road was broken into and tools were stolen. A diamond cluster eternity


ring was stolen from a property in Plains Avenue, Shepway. Antique coins and collectable


toy carswere stolen from a prop- erty in Leicester Road, Shepway. Gold jewellery, including a wedding ring, was stolen from a property in Loose Road.


WORKING? WE SERVICE ALL MAKES AND MODELS CALL 01622 880751


ALARM NOT ALARMS & SECURITY LTD 38 Town Support YOUR local paper — and we can support YOU - advertise on 01622 630330


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48