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Clamping down on conservation area plans
THE parish council is hopeful that steps will now be taken to prevent further deterioration of the Bearsted Green Conservation Area. After a number of complaints
Footpath plan BEARSTED Parish Council has ap- plied toKCCto have the footpath at the side of 1 Smarts Cottages, The Green, designated as a Public Right ofWay. The council says it is determined
to restore unrestricted public access to the footpath, despite the fact it has been fenced, gated and paved by the owner of the cottage, Lorraine Sum- mers. The council’s planning chair, Cllr
Denis Spooner, said: “She is claim- ing that the footpath is in residential use and is a driveway to her cottage. Solicitors acting for the parish coun- cil have requested that she removes the gates, fencing and paving and stops parking her cars on the foot- path but she has refused.” More than 40 people have con-
tacted the parish or borough council regarding misuse of the land. Cllr Spooner said: “If anyone can provide information about the path’s public use over many years, could they please contact the clerk.”
Traffic delays TRAFFIC heading out of Bearsted could face delays over Easter. Work is to start on the second
phase of resurfacing Willington Street which, together with the road- works on Sutton Road, are likely to lead to long tailbacks at busy times. The parish council is advisingmo-
torists who need to leave the village in the direction of Sutton Valence and Headcorn to travel via Leeds.
Lane repairs
WATERLane is livingupto itsname – and now the parish council has been asked to investigate. The lane is in a poor state of re-
pair, members heard, with water gathering beneath the railway bridge. One resident has already been in
touch with the county council and the parish is also to pursue the mat- ter withKCCHighways. The road is scheduled for repair, but no work has yet been carried out.
Vintage cars on the green
MORE than 200 vintage vehicles are expected at this year’s Classic Car Show on The Green on Sunday, July 19. The parish council is to make a
£390 donation to Kent Air Ambu- lance, who benefit from any profits on the day. Classic Car Show organiser Philip
Hill was congratulated by the coun- cil on “doing amagnificent job in or- ganising it”. A misunderstanding about the
farmers’ market means therewill be some vintage and car-related stalls at the event, along with refresh- ments, but the farmer’s market will take place, as scheduled on July 26.
Air your views at surgeries
THE parish council is planning to hold a series of surgeries for resi- dents to air their ideas, concerns, questions and any complaints about its activities. Members were particularly concerned that those living in the Button Lane area might be poorly informed of council business be- cause of the lack of a parish notice board in the area. It will therefore consider using a room in St Peter’s Church for a surgery. The
This page is sponsored and edited by:
Bearsted Parish Council
www.bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk
28 Maidstone East April 2015
council agreed to look at dates, times and venues which would offer local people a range of op- tions throughout Bearsted and Madginford. Surgeries would be advertised
by a leaflet drop in the relevant areas and times would be varied to accommodate daytimes, evenings andweekends. They would operate on a trial
basis and a rota drawn up for members to attend.
from residents about unsightly de- velopments having taken place in the conservation area, the council has objected to a retrospective planning application from the owners of No 6 Mote Villas for a front boundary wall and gates. Members considered that the
wall and gates which have already been erected are “seriously out of character and appearance with the
conservation area”. Bearsted Parish Council’s plan-
ning committee chair, Cllr Denis Spooner, said he would like to see the reinstatement of the iron rail- ings, to match those around Nos 2 to 5 Mote Villas. He said: “The original railings
have been ripped out and replaced by a brickwall and gates which are grossly out of character with their surroundings. The railings should
be replaced to maintain the archi- tectural integrity of numbers 1 to 6 Mote Villas.” Members heard that the Maid-
stone Council conservation officer had also opposed the application. Cllr Spooner said: “This is an in- dication that Maidstone council might be tightening up a bit more on the things that are happening and their gradual erosion of the overall character of the area.”
Funding help
VILLAGE groups and organisa- tions which may be eligible for a members’ grant are being asked to write to KCC leader, Paul Carter, member for Maidstone Rural East. In 2014/ 15, Cllr Carter supported
the installation of a dropped kerb in Sharsted Way to help a wheel- chair user who lives in the cul-de- sac (£1,058) and improvement works to the surface between Grovewood Drive North and the pubic footpath KH3 to assist a res- ident who uses a motorised scooter (£750). He has also given £400 of his member’s grant towards tree plant- ing at Bearsted Woodland Trust and £850 towards a traffic survey in Roseacre Lane supporting the in- troduction of a 20mph speed limit.
Crime report
THERE were nine crimes reported in Bearsted between February 10 and March 9. Homes in Fremlins Road, Sutton
Street and Egremont Road were burgled, and therewere thefts from vehicles in Ashford Road, Merton Road andWare Street. There were cases of criminal damage in Lenside Drive and The Landway and one reported in- stance of anti-social behaviour.
Dial 101 for help
MEMBERS of the public who need help or advice from the PCSO or community warden should call 101.
Although both the wardens and PCSOs have mobile numbers, if they cannot be raised people should dial 101 for assistance.
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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