Where I live... West Malling Parish Council


These notes are from the West Malling Parish Council meetings held at the beginning of March and April.


KCC community wardens Parish councillors were delighted that the community wardens accepted an invitation to the March meeting. Councillors had expressed concerns that West Malling’s “visible” police presence has been severely reduced since the police shop in The Arcade closed and subsequent changes to operational staffing. The area manager of the West Kent Community Warden Service, Matt Honeysett, was able to re-assure councillors that the wardens were already visiting West Malling. He suggested that the parish council might like to pass on any issues that the wardens could help with and the area’s three wardens would be pleased to talk to residents when they are out and about. Please take a few moments to chat to the community wardens; they work from 7.30am to 10pm daily and can be recognised by their dark green uniforms and white vans.


Street lighting switch off Tonbridge and Malling is the third district in Kent to have its street lights switched off between midnight and 5.30am. However, residents and councillors reported concerns at both of the monthly meetings about the lights in Woodland Close and Epsom Close not functioning correctly. Please contact KCC on www.kent.gov.uk if you are experiencing problems with the big switch-off; remember you will need to quote the number stencilled on the lamp post as well as which road the light is in.


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Parking issues were raised at both meetings, particularly those in Norman Road and Offham Road. Please report any unpleasant incidents to either your councillor or directly to Kent Highways Service or Kent Police. While councillors are aware of the problems, it is difficult to persuade the authorities to act if events are not logged.


Anti-social behaviour Councillors are aware of a small number of anti social behaviour episodes in the ball park adjacent to West Malling Primary School and have made the police and community wardens aware of this.


The Malling Society has arranged an extended visit to St Mary’s Abbey, 52 Swan Street, West Malling on Wednesday, June 18. As the visit includes tea and an opportunity to join one of the daily services, a small booking fee will be made. Please contact The Malling Society direct for more details.


Borough councillor’s report Cllr Sasha Luck highlighted several concerns. These included the remodelling of the road at the Seven Mile Lane/A20 junction at Wrotham Heath and the possible effects from “rat-running” particularly as the work progresses. Another concern was on the Ewell stream, which runs through Manor Park and feeds The Cascade by St Mary’s Abbey, before flowing along Frog Lane. This winter, the stream has been swollen for long periods and is still causing concern from the high levels of ground water it is carrying. However, the Environment Agency has yet to decide on what action, if any, needs to be done for a long-term solution.


Local plan Tonbridge and Malling Council is working towards a draft local plan, with the first public consultation scheduled for spring 2014. The Government is pressing local authorities across the country to allocate more land for housing. Any council that does not meet this demand may find that the Government overrides local policy in the national interest. Please do not hesitate to contact the parish council or borough council direct if you would like more information on the borough’s proposals for West Malling.


The Great War 1914 - 1918 West Malling’s connections with World War II (particularly the airfield’s association with the Twitch Heritage Centre) are very strong. However, along with other Kent towns and villages, West Malling saw many of its residents leave in this period to fight for King and country in the foreign fields of France. As part of the centenary celebrations, the High Street library has an exhibition of memorabilia and artefacts from local families in its windows, showing the part they played in this world changing event.


Similarly, The Malling Society’s text and photographic exhibition, West Malling and The Great War, chronicles events in West Malling in that period. It is open on May 24 and 26 at The Clout Memorial Institute (also in the High Street).There is a small admission fee but this does include refreshments.


Parish councillors can be contacted via the parish clerk’s office on 01732 870872 during office hours or please come to the next monthly meeting on Monday, June 2 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall, Norman Road, West Malling.


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