downsmail.co.uk
Sponsored parish council |News
Budget time
COUNCILLORS agreed to look again to see if the parish budget could be trimmed to keep the pre- cept at last year’s level. Members requested a last call for savings suggestions after possible cuts of £4,000 were put forward. Ideas will be considered in a debate at a special meeting to finalise the budget before the precept is sub- mitted to Maidstone Council for in- clusion in the overall council tax bill.
Valley clear
ASBESTOS waste has been re- moved from Little Switzerland, it was reported. Councillors were told Coun-
trystyle had taken away a skip of white asbestos for disposal at a li- censed site. Councillors thanked the Valley Conservation Society for its work and county councillor Brian Clark for assisting with funding.
Homes schemes
A PLAN for three houses on land between Caernarvon Drive and the five-a-side field in Forest Hill raised no objection from councillors. However, a revised plan for housing in Cripple Street was re- jected by the parish council on the grounds that the traffic generated would still pose a traffic hazard in the area.
Board notice
A NOTICE is to be put on the no- ticeboard in Stockett Lane asking residents if anyone objects to the board being moved to a more prominent position in the parish.
Bin mix-up
COUNCILLORS heard that KCC was planning to move the salt bin installed at the wrong end of Caernarvon Drive to the correct place in the comingweeks.
Formore local news
www.downsmail.co.uk
Quotes sought before agreeing play area plan
TWO more quotes are to be obtained by the parish council before a deci- sion on the future of Bridge MillWay Open Space is agreed.
The parish council has been con- sidering its options since Maid- stone Council’s parks department revealed itwas “extremely loathed to maintain the existing play sur- face”.
Members were told the council
faced three options: either to take on the maintenance itself, costing about £8,000 per year; lay a new surface – specified by the borough council – costing almost £24,000, which Maidstone would then maintain; or run the risk of the park being closed. One councillor said he felt the borough council appeared to be “trying to put the gun into our hands to make us look like the vil- lains”. However, members were told
that when the areawas resurfaced – costing about £30,000 – there was
an expectation that the parish would take over the management of the open space and the lease. However, in the past three years
grants that would have been avail- able to help the council meet this expenditure had fallen from about £18,000 to only £400 per year. Councillors agreed to get two
Revised plan for green
AN “embryonic” plan for Tovil Green was outlined to councillors byDHAPlanning’s Chris Hawkins. He said the sitewas in new hands
after an unsuccessful bid to develop it with social housing. The latest planning application would be for 24 family homes. Mr Hawkins said Maidstone Council and the parish council had made efforts to address concerns about the original application – a 100% affordable housing scheme by Orbit Homes for 24 homes, rejected by a planning inspector last spring. The parish council had expressed particular concerns about the lack of a footpath and limited landscaping. Councillors acknowledged the
plan had been amended and now featured a number of larger proper- ties, which would allow growing families to stay in the area. The proposal is for eight two-bed-
room, two-storey properties and 16 three-bedroom dormer homes, with 32 parking spaces. Other councillors pointed out that
the area still had no GP surgery, saying: “You will need to emphasise the need for a doctor’s surgery if you are asked for a development contribution, no matter how diffi- cult it is to get the NHS to spend money in a given area.” The plan will return to the parish council for its comments when it is formally submitted.
more quotes for a replacement, rubberised surface, in line with the borough council’s specifications, before making a decision. Councillors heard the new sur-
face should have a 10 to 12 year lifespan and the cost of future re- placements would not fall to the parish council.
Yellow lines
COUNCILLORS heard that yellow lines were to be reinstated on the corners of Brenchley Road. The lines were removed when
the roadwas resurfaced about eight months ago, which had caused problems. A councillor said: “I’m pleased
they will be put back. It will stop people parking on the pavements, which is dangerous, has caused problems for law-abiding people getting on to their drives and has hampered street cleaning.” County councillor Brian Clark
said yellow lines in Armstrong Road would also be extended to continue in to Postley Road, in re- sponse to his request to improve driver safety.
THIS PAGE IS EDITED BY TOVIL PARISH COUNCIL
CLERK: Alison Chew, Parish Office, Rear of TovilWorking Men’s Club, Tovil Hill, Tovil, ME15 6QS TEL/FAX: 01622 675628 EMAIL:
tovilparishcouncil@btopenworld.com
Maidstone Town February 2015 23
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