Parish Councils


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£25 to deter intruders. Playground Match funding was available for new equipment and residentswould be asked for suggestions.


Speedwatch The equipment had been serv- iced and certificated. There was a possible new recruit who lived on Linton Hill who was prepared to do a session with some training. Speedwatch operates once a month for an hour and had proved to re- duce speed through the village.


Village hall There were two areas of con- cern which might be open to mischief – debris in the old store between the hall and the boundary with The Bull and the un- locked former bin store now used by Cherubs to store outdoor toys. The Linton Village Hall annual meeting had taken place. Tim Figgins had retired as chairman and was succeeded by Jerry Whitmarsh. Cllr Jane Sawyer had stepped down as vice-chairman but remained on the committee. Peter McGillivray was the new vice-chairman and Nick Drewe was treasurer.


Loose


Crime report Five crimes had been re- ported in the past month – an assault in Salts Avenue relating to vehicle drivers; theft of a number plate in High Banks; Bus- bridge Road assault relating to vehicle driv- ers; theft at Shell Tamarisk garage; criminal damage inWell Street. PCSO MattWilliams said that, overall, things had been rather quiet.


Dogs The Loose Dog Walkers Group reported that the King George V playing fieldwas a lot cleaner but therewere prob- lems around the perimeter.Aposter warn- ing of fineswould be designed.


Valley Drive An anonymous letter was re- ceived from a resident regarding parking issues and caravans being parked on drive- ways, whichwas regarded as a civil matter. The issue of parkingwould be passed on to the police for any appropriate further action.


Neighbourhood plan About 190 question- naires had been completed following pro- motion, amounting to a 10% response. Analysis had not yet been done.


Fete Arrangements were progressing well for the event on September 6.


Memorial The family of the late Cllr Roy Hood had been consulted about a suitable memorial. It was suggested a wood be planted and that the council works closely with the Kent Men of Trees.


Accident A resident had slipped on metal grids placed over drains on Old Loose Hill. Kent Highway Services would be asked to remove the grids immediately.


Trees A walkabout would be arranged so that the trees owned by the parish council could be examined by a reputable tree surgeon.


Boards Councillors Gordon Bernard and Jim Andrew were thanked for getting the Perspex fitted into the boards which had made a great difference.


Nelestead


Chatterbox Cllr Jackie Bennett said that everything was going along reallywell.


Highways/footpaths The 40mph warning sign outside Nettlestead Place was not working and this would be reported to KCC. The litter along Maidstone Road had been reported but had not yet been cleared. It was also noted that the footpath behind the King George V field and the Bryant Close footpathwere extremely overgrown. The clerkwould contact the public rights of way officer.


King George V field Cllr Anita Van Hens- bergen reported there had been another cut to the field and it was looking very good.


Staplehurst


Christmas lights Four additional light strings for the Christmas motifs would be purchased at an estimated £130, plus fitting costs. Discussion of acquiring more motifs for beyond Church Hill would be deferred until the next budget.


Street lights An upgrade of Crowther Close lights costing £2,253.53 was agreed, involving replacing three concrete columns and five old lanterns with new LED ones to facilitate adoption by KCC.


Caretaker Expenditure of up to £500 was approved for the purchase of a petrol strim- mer/brushcutter, related safety clothing, equipment and training for use by the vil- lage caretaker.


Carnival and fete Councillors congratu- lated the committee on the brochure for the event. They were asked to sign up to the rota for the parish council’s stall.


Library surgery At the last surgery resi- dents had expressed concerns about fly- tipping in garage areas by Alen Square and Benden Close and about part-night street lighting.


Riverside run Chairman Cllr John Perry congratulated all concerned in the organi- sation of the Maidstone Riverside Run and particularly local resident Caron Holden, noting that the event raised funds for a very good cause.


Bus Cllr Peter Spearink said that the Arriva bus service had been performing at aworse level recently and thatMPHelen Grant’s of- fice was organising a meeting with the company and parish representatives.


Playscheme Maidstone Council had of- fered a grant of £750 towards the cost of the scheme.


Suon Valence


Community warden Dawn Riach-Brown said a CCTV camera had been provided for use temporarily at theWar Memorial play- ing field. She said the youth clubwas going well, and a visible presence was being maintained. Vandalism and theft at the al- lotmentswas also discussed.


Play area The monthly checks at the War Memorial play areawere all satisfactory or low risk and theweekly checkswere being carried out.


Car parkNewvinyl barrier signswere now in place.


Playing field Cllr Gordon Dent had met with the groundsman. A pile of earth was to be removed and a plumber was to meet with the groundsman to repair the outside tap. The fence was to be repaired and the clerk was to write to the hockey club to re-


quest it did not go through the fence.


Tennis Cllr Dent reported on a meeting with South East Tennis. The tennis agree- ment had been signed and Cllr Dentwas to complete a risk assessment on the tennis hut. There had been a request to put up some green mesh along thewestern side of the tennis court fencing to try to reduce the wind blowing across the courts. This was approved.


Harbour play area The monthly checks were all satisfactory or low risk and the weekly checkswere being carried out.


Roads Cllr Eileen Riden updated the meet- ing on the proposed crossing and path. A tree at Warmlake Business Park was reported, and another on Sutton Valence Hill had now been reported five times. Cllr Phil Taylor had been asked by parish- ioners about the crossing at the Kings Head pub.


War memorialAcheque for £300 had been received from Sutton Valence Independent School towards the relettering on the war memorial. The Royal British Legionwas not allowed to assist.


Jubilee committee Several letters of thanks for the seniors lunch had been received. The chairman thanked Gover James and the Jubilee committee.


Bowhalls There had been a complaint of overflowing dog mess bins. The clerk had previously reported this and got them emp- tied. Shewas now in discussion with Maid- stone Council to get a dual purpose bin at the top of School Lane.


Allotments The clerk was to warn holders of high water usage. Rumwood Nurseries had offered a 10% discount to allotment holders. Cllr Taylor was to talk to Warm- lake Nursery. Taps had been bought and in- stalled at the Harbour allotments.There had been a complaint about rabbits from a Bowhalls allotment holder.


Blocked gate The previously blocked gate from a house in South Lane on to the Har- bour field had been unblocked. Cllr Taylor had re-blocked it and asked that the clerk inform the parishioner that there was no authorised access.


Crime report There had been two cases of criminal damage and a burglary (non- dwelling) at Tumblers Hill. Thefts had been reported at Sutton Valence Hill and North Street and a vehicle had been stolen from Sutton Road. Criminal damage had been reported at Boyton Court Road.


Fire hydrants Peter Coleman had emailed Kent Fire and Rescue Service with details on non-compliant or missing hydrants.


Teston


Local plan Teston’s response to Maid- stone Council’s draft local plan was dis- cussed. It would be drawn up by the clerk and chairman and circulated before sub- mission to Maidstone Council. The need for 19,600 homes would be challenged with emphasis placed on the need for infra- structure.


Kings Hill The council would submit a response on the amended outline applica- tion for Kings Hill phase three, repeating its concerns about the previous proposals, and highlighting issues of education, infra- structure, transport and air quality.


Maidstone South July 2014 43


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