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Anti-social youths spark drugs fears at car park
POLICE are keeping awatch on the car park at Church Landway after re- ports of youths possibly dabbling in drugs. Three smoke-filled cars have
Land fund plan
BEARSTED is investigating re-instat- ing its “land and buildings fund” as a contingency to buy property or land for the benefit of the parish. The parish preceptwas increased
by £5,000 in January 2011 to put money into the newly-founded fund and a further £4,500 was added – profit from Music on the Green –making a total of £9,500 by September of that year. Although members believe the original intentionwas to add to the fund each year, no more funds have ever been contributed and the total now stands at just over £10,000, including interest. Cllr Val Springett said the fund
would be useful if therewas ever a cause to invoke the community right to buy. This viewwas echoed by Cllr Les Ethridge, who said: “By paying in a regular amount each year, we would have a pot which could be ringfenced for a rainy day.” The council’s policy and finance committee is to study the council’s reserves, discuss the various op- tions and report back.
Wall objection THE parish council is fighting to protect the Bearsted Green Conser- vation Area. Members have objected to a ret- rospective planning application to erect a front garden wall and a rear/side boundary fence at Mote Villas, on The Green. The applica- tion also includes the erection of a shed and installation of block paving to the frontage. It was proposed by Cllr Les Ethridge and agreed by all mem- bers to object because it would have a detrimental effect on the conservation area, with which it would be out of character. It has also objected to an applica-
tion by Barty House Nursing Home for listed building consent to demolish and reposition part of a boundary wall. The parish council believes it will have a detrimental effect on the street scene and to the grade II listed building.
been seen on several occasions with empty canisters of nitrous oxide scattered in the car park (right), along with a large amount of empty food containers and other litter. Officers are also hoping to get the Madginford Co-op included in Maidstone’s MaidSafe scheme, after a spate of shoplifting thefts from the store in Egremont Road. PCSO Timon Gurr reported six instances of shoplifting from the Co-op to the parish council, along with several thefts, burglaries and attempted burglaries and two in- stances of criminal damage to cars
ship – town centre and urban. As part of their membership, retailers benefit from a wide range of initia- tives, designed to help prevent and detect crime, and reduce the cost of losses. Radio links and CCTV provide
parked in The Street. MaidSafe –Maidstone’s crime re- duction partnership – has 139 mem- bers and 13 town centre exclusions were put in place on shoplifting suspects in January alone. There are two levels of member-
Concern over pledge to make road safer
KCC leader Paul Carter has been rapped by Bearsted Parish Council for “overstepping the mark” by promising traffic calming measures on Roseacre Lane. Residents metKCChighways staff
and Cllr Carter, who said he sup- ported anything to slow down vehi- cles – and agreed to fund the measures “in conjunction with Bearsted Parish Council”. But the parish council, whichwas neither consulted nor invited to at- tend the meeting, said it would need a breakdown of costs. It was also concerned that previous attempts at traffic calming schemes had failed. Chairman Cllr Richard Ash said:
“We fully support what these people are trying to do but in the past we have come up against Government rules and regulations that have pre- vented anything being done. Also, we have no idea if we are talking about £1,000, £10,000 or £50,000!”
Vice-chairman Cllr Denis Spooner
said: “Any highway improvements will be the responsibility of KCC, the local highway authority.” A700-name petition in support of
their cause was presented to the KCC leader at County Hall. Campaigners have been assured
of a speed reduction to 20mph on Roseacre Lane, Yeoman Lane and Tower Lane. They want 20mph signs, a change of road surface at the entrance to the lanes and signs on the road itself. Cllr Spooner said: “We have been told that the road does not qualify for a 20mph speed limit under Department of Trans- port rules. But perhaps they have been changed? “It is all very well for Paul Carter
to say what he would like to do but he has to go through his officers. “This should be funded byKCCor
the people of Bearsted are paying twice over.”
Campaign to save The Parade THE council has publicly thanked the Bearsted and Thurnham Society for trying to get The Parade of shops on Bearsted Green listed as being of his- toric and architectural interest. The society, with the help of local historian Kathryn Kersey, has re- searched and compiled a comprehensive and persuasive document in sup- port of its application, which it hopes will protect the building from being redeveloped in a manner out of keeping with the conservation area.
This page is sponsored and edited by:
Bearsted Parish Council
www.bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk
30 Maidstone East March 2015
real time information for businesses in the town centre. Urban area membership is cheaper, as there is no CCTV coverage. There was a plan to extend the
entire system into the rural areas, such as Headcorn, Lenham, Mar- den and Staplehurst, but when there was no take-up, the service was suspended.
Lacrosse to
go elsewhere LACROSSE will not be com- ing to Bearsted after all. Maidstone Lacrosse Club
had asked for permission from the parish council to use The Green for their homematches, beginning in October 2015. They would share the pavilion with the cricket club. However, the club have now decided to look at alternative sites. The parish council said this
was probably a good decision, given the potential risk of damage to property and cars parked around the green. The club have three mens’
teams which currently play at SuttonValence, but need a sec- ond pitch to avoid unduewear on each. At the December meeting,
when the ideawas first raised, Cllr Les Ethridge was con- cerned about the risks and chairman Cllr Richard Ash said: “It seems perfectly sensi- ble to link a summer sport with a winter sport, to make year-round use of The Green, but schools, which have under-used facilities would be far safer than a public open space such as this.”
Council Office: Madginford Hall, Bearsted Telephone: E-Mail:
01622 630165 Chairman:
clerk@bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk Richard Ash
MEETINGS HELD SECOND TUESDAYOFMONTH (7.30PM) AND THE PUBLIC IS VERY WELCOME
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