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Vandalised lights ‘too expensive to repair’


The Villager New face on


the council BEARSTED has a new parish coun- cillor. Tony Grieve, from Cross Keys, is a retired electronics technician who spent his final few years working as an office man- ager for an engi- neering company in Leeds.


Cllr Grieve (left) has lived in Bearsted for 40 years and re- cently took on


one of the Church Landway allot- ments.


Married to Barbara, the couple


have two grown-up daughters and four grandsons. He was co-opted to the council in July in place of Graham Farrow, who stood down earlier in the year. Cllr Grieve said: “I would like to help improve the public perception of the parish council and want to do all I can for the community.”


THE future of the long-awaited safety lights in Bearsted’s Church Land- way now lies in the lap of the Gods – or at least the local residents. The lights along the footpath be-


tween Holy Cross Church and Ash- ford Road were installed about four years ago, following requests from residents, and were particularly popular with walkers, especially during the dark winter evenings. However, repeated acts of van- dalism have cost the parish council more than £4,000 in repairs to date – with no sign of abatement. Having looked at other options, the parish council has reluctantly decided it can no longer keep shelling out money and has de- cided to switch off any damaged and vandalised lights. If acts of vandalism continue, locals could soon find themselves back in the dark.


The council has considered re- placing the lights with stronger “vandal-resistant” lights and/or in- stalling CCTV, but all these alterna- tives have proved too expensive. The council has, therefore, de- cided that the four damaged lights will be capped off and not repaired. The remaining lights will be switched on again as soon as possi- ble but, if any further lights are vandalised, they too will be capped off and not repaired. Parish council clerk Michelle Rumble said: “This expense is un- sustainable and all the lights have been switched off since the last bout of vandalism three months ago, when four lights were dam- aged.


“If significant vandalism contin- ues, it is likely that the parish coun- cil will cut its losses and remove them all.” However, if there is no further


vandalism during the next year, the council may consider repairing all the damaged lights.


So the outcome is down to the behaviour of the vandals and the vigilance of Bearsted’s law-abiding citizens.


If anybody sees anyone vandal- ising these lights, they are asked to report it immediately to the police and to the parish council clerk. The clerk said: “It is a great shame that the mindless anti-social behaviour of a few should ruin the benefit to so many.”


Shed alarms RESIDENTS are reminded they can


Parish council leader Richard Ash with garden winners (from left) Jim and Mary Henderson, Sydney Heritage and Terry Jones


Prizes for garden winners


WINNERS of the Bearsted gorgeous gardens competition were presented with certificates and prizes at the July meeting of the parish council. First prize for the garden of a detached house went to Terry Jones, from


Play area open


COUNCILLORS worked hard to ensure the play area on The Green was up and running in time for the school holidays.


After the new surface was laid,


several members helped to clean up the play equipment and ensure it was in good working order to see the children through the summer. The council is hoping to get a grant towards the cost of new play equipment which will be installed later in the autumn.


Fauchons Lane. The first prize for a semi-detached house went to Jim and Mary Hen- derson, from Madginford Road, and second prize for a semi-detached house went to Sydney Heritage, of Spurway.


obtain free shed alarms via their Neighbourhood Watch, following a report of a shed being broken into in Hampson Way, Bearsted. Summer is a prime time for shed “pickings” when gardening tools and other equipment are frequently left outdoors or unsecured. The alarms act as a deterrent to crimi- nals and an alert when triggered.


Firework plan SUMMER may be upon us, but al- ready work is well underway to or- ganise Bearsted’s annual fireworks bonanza.


Clerk Michelle Rumble has organ- ised the portable toilets, stewards, litter pickers and Scouts, who will provide the barbecue. She hopes all members of the council will volun- teer to help out on the day.


Library ‘in need of decoration, not closure’


BEARSTED Green Library could do with a lick of paint, according to parish councillors who discussed the matter at the July meeting. Members agreed they would strongly oppose any closure of the facility, but felt it was in need of re- decoration, to complement other properties in the conservation area of The Green.


The council is to ask Maidstone’s This page is sponsored and edited by:


Bearsted Parish Council www.bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk


24 Maidstone East August 2014


conservation officer to speak to Kent County Council about the possibility of repainting the build- ing.


The parish council is also in dis- cussion with KCC about making some beneficial use of the adjoining headmaster’s house which has been empty for about 40 years and is now in a serious state of disre- pair.


Council Office: Madginford Hall, Bearsted Telephone: E-Mail:


01622 630165 Chairman:


clerk@bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk Richard Ash


MEETINGS HELD SECOND TUESDAY OFMONTH (7.30PM) AND THE PUBLIC IS VERY WELCOME


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