downsmail.co.uk Continued from page 34
Trees Horses in the field next to the car park had eaten most of the recently planted trees. The council had ordered replacements and wire to deter the horses. Bridge working party Itwas felt lorries were only part of the problem at the bridge and that the whole area needed to be looked at, including DHA’s quote for a feasibility study, the recent CCTV proposal, Lorrywatch and grant funding. The council agreed to consider all this at the next meeting. Annual meeting The annual parish meeting will be on May 6 at 7.30pm in the Old School Hall. The mayor will aend. Community right to bid The council’s applications under the Community Right to Bid for the Bull and Old School Hall had been successful.
East Suon
Legacy Itwas agreed to purchase a picnic bench and table from the legacy. Police report There had been two crimes: a burglary other than a home and criminal damage to a property. Thiswas the same number as the equivalent period last year. Highways The contractorwasworking on lier picking and keeping gullies cleared. Cllr Malcolm Irelandwas to investigate a blocked gully in East Suon Road. Play area Theworking partywas to deal with several items requiring aention.
Headcorn
Village hall The hall had been booked for July 3 for the Ulcombe parish led solar farm meeting. Police report There had been eight reported crimes. Itwas agreed to contact the gypsy liaison team towork out if any incidents formed part of the reported crime statistics. Playscheme Itwas felt the scheme should be run in-house, but with minimal intervention from the clerk. Additional funding might be required. Christmas fair Itwas agreed to look at organising an event, but thiswould require input and support from the High Street traders, whowould be asked for feedback. WWI event Itwas agreed to write to local organisations to co-ordinate a calendar of events, and to consider purchasing poppy seeds for distribution to village residents. Drainage Itwas agreed to arrange a meeting with Maidstone Council officers to discuss issues relating to the winter rain. Concernwas expressed about reports of plans for flood defences upstream in Yalding and other areas along the Beult. It was agreed a combined stancewas required with Staplehurst, Headcorn and Smarden. Parish surgery Issues raised included the poor state of the road in Grigg Lane, a pond issue and the increase in dog fouling around the Sharps Field/Spires Ash area. Staffing commiee The commiee had discussed making the parish office more secure towork in, the purchase of a new computer and a mobile phone for the clerk.
Hunton
School Cllr SteveWyles met the head of Hunton Primary School, Mrs Gibbs- Naguar. Both agreed the parish council and school shouldwork closely andwould
42 Maidstone South April 2014
liaise regularly. Issues included parking at the end of Bishops Lane. The schoolwanted parents to use the hall car park and a walking bus to
start.Astaff volunteer would run the scheme but a safety assessment needed to be carried out. Citizens’ Advice Chairman Cllr Roger Sawtell has agreed to be the council’s nominated representative on Maidstone Citizens’Advice Bureau. NeighbourhoodWatch Cllr SteveWyles reported the the of a lawnmower and a string of break-ins in East Farleigh. Items taken included laptops and mobile phones. Hedge The hedge along the footpath from Bensted Close to the village hall had been cut and KCC had reimbursed £2,400 to the parish council. Markers Contractorswere to be advised of the position of three marker posts on the verge near the playing field inWest Street. Itwas agreed that the suggestion of installing posts to protect the eroded verge near the schoolwould be considered when the parking situation had been sorted out. Suggestions included double yellow lines and policing the parking. Hall Christine Harrisonwas the new chairman of the village hall commiee. She remained concerned about the condition of the hall: the fire doors could not be easily closed, a fire extinguisher needed replacing, the boilerwas leaking and a couple of switches needed aention. She alsowanted the guers cleaned and the front of the hall tidied up. Demand remained good. Playing field Danny Peacock, chairman of the King George V playing field management commiee, reported that keys had been cut for the gate, a quote to cut overhanging trees had been received, a quotewas requested for new signs, the broken step on the slidewas to be fixed and resurfacing of the car parkwould be investigated. Club Four new people had joined the Hunton Village Club’s commiee, which was trying to increase its funds. Joint Parishes Group Hunton Parish Council had agreed itwould be useful to join the JPG, which shares ideas, particularly relating to planning. Flooding Members had established a list of responsible organisations in light of recent flooding. Responsibility for clearing ditches rested with adjacent landowners, larger ditches with the internal drainage board, gullies with KCC and the Environment Agency for enforcement. Itwas noted that the storm drains did get cleared but silted up, and Cllr SteveWyles agreed to make calls to find out more about whowas responsible for what. Local plan Cllr Gary Thomaswould write to Maidstone Council stating the council’s belief that the use of projections in its local plan to determine 1,000 houses needed to be built each yearwas unsound.
Loose
Sewage An email had been received from concerned relatives relating to a further incident of the leaking of raw sewage into the Loosewaterways. SouthernWater would be asked what it was doing about the problem. Copper Tree Court An emailwas received about inconsiderate drivers, parking and poor visibility at the end of Copper Tree Court. Notices Concernswere expressed about laminated notices placed at King George V
playing field entrances asking members of the public to put their dogs on leads. Itwas suggested that support should be provided by the community warden and PCSO. Emergency plan Cllr Charlie Hollisterwould investigate the feasibility of one for the parish. Trees Loose will enter the Trees in the Village competition 2014 and continue with the annual subscription of £25. Vacancies The bestway of filling vacancies on the parish council le by the deaths of two active parish councillorswas discussed.
Marden
Crime figures There had been two cases of criminal damage since the previous
meeting.Aleer had been sent to the parents of youths within a group who had been seen with catapults. There had been reports of sheepworrying in Thorn Road, with several sheep and lambs
killed.Afake £20 note had been seized from a local shop. Community warden There had been reports of an increase in dog fouling in the playing field and South Road. Thewarden was to meet Maidstone Council’s dog warden to see what could be done. Emergency plan Thiswas being revised in conjunction with Staplehurst Parish Council, Maidstone Council and KCC, and flooding issueswould be considered. Playing field Itwas agreed that the design and quote for play equipment by Park Leisure be accepted. Sheephurst LaneAspeed limit of 40mph had been proposed from Lile Sheephurst Coages to Goudhurst Road and 50mph from Lile Sheephurst Coages to Claygate. Councillorswere in favour. Footpath Residentswere concerned that the modified PROW KM340would pass a bedroom window and that the lanewas not 5m wide as specified in the order. Councillorswanted this item to be deferred.
Nelestead
Chaerbox Cllr Jackie Benne said the group had lost another member. Everything elsewas going reallywell. Power cuts The vicar had suggested a meal at the Hop Pole for all residents whowere affected over Christmas. Anyone interested in aending should contact Cllr Benne. Highways Chairman Cllr David Meredith asked the clerk to report two potholes at Gibbs Hill. The drainage issue opposite School Coageswas also discussed. Signal box Memberswere shown pictures of the new barriers and the plan to replace the station signal box. Hall Repairs to the village hall roof had now been completed. Field Some of the brambles had been cut back on King George V field. Itwas agreed that All Seasons should be awarded the contract for the grounds maintenance for the year at a price of £3,275 plus VAT.
Suon Valence
Post office Maidstone Council confirmed a community group had proposed listing the shop and post office as a community asset. Three councillors refused to support the listing and four abstained. Council vacancyAflyer campaign targeting South Lane, The Harbour, Captain Close and Babylon Lane had resulted in
Parish Councils
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 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56