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Return of Music on the Green moves step closer
THE parish council is looking at plans to bring back Music on the Green
in 2016. The council has been approached
Members win praise for
early progress BEARSTED Parish Council held seven meetings in the first month of the new municipal year. Congratulating the new council,
chair Fiona Redman said: “Well done all! Despite any fears, we are still holding it together. “We should be pleased with what
we have done in the first month. We have got in a robust objection to a planning application (M20 Junc- tion 8), dealt with a controversial local issue (The Plantation), fin- ished off the audit papers and kept thewebsite and Facebook pages up to date. “There are a lot more big issues coming up, but I am confident the council is more than capable of being able to deal with them.” The council now has its full com- plement of committees – planning, communications and community, finance and environment – with all chairs and vice-chairs elected to their new posts. Details can be found on the
parish council’s website at
www.bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk. A new Bearsted forum on the
website will soon allow residents to post information and subjects for discussion and residents can also follow the parish council’s activi- ties on Facebook (Bearsted Parish Council) and Twitter (@Bearst- edPC).
Tidy and tea
COMMUNITY group Love Maid- stone gave Bearsted some of its very own TLC on the weekend of June 21, when volunteers painted the Scout hut before hosting a tea party on the Green. The young people from Love Maidstone also cleared away huge amounts of ivy, which was en- croaching on footpaths in the vil- lage – a much-needed improvement to the environment. Thank you!
by residents Jo Conner and Ruth Corney who are spearheading a campaign to bring back the popular village event next year. More than 300 people responded
to a poll on social media, of whom 71% lived in the ME14 area. Ninety per cent were in favour of reinstat- ing the event. However, after a break of three
years the event, if staged, would probably be just for one day rather than two, in June or July. Jo said: “We do not need to rein-
vent the wheel.We will look at what has happened in the past and seek sponsorship from local companies. If things are in place to make it fi-
nancially secure, it cannot fail.” Jo and Ruthwant to set up a com-
mittee of residents, with input from the parish council, to organise the event. The committee would take full fi- nancial and legal responsibility, en- suring all necessary insurances and safeguards are in place, and have assured the council:“We plan to put measures in place to ensure that the event is attended primarily by resi- dents, their families and friends.” Jo said: “We have the enthusiasm
and the drive to make it happen, but we wanted specific skills and many people have already come forward to offer their services free of charge. They all have great expe-
rience and are all local.” The committee would give Bearsted and Thurnham residents priority on ticket purchases in order to keep the event as local as possi- ble, with online ticket sales to min- imise cash handling. Almost 1,000 people now follow
the Music on the Green Facebook page. Parish council chair Fiona Red-
man said: “Discussions are now un- derway as to how best this key event can be hosted. Together with residents and local groups and or- ganisations,we are looking at all as- pects including safety, timing and appropriate event management – andwewant some fun too!”
Plan benefits Council sets out its stall
THE new parish council took a stall at the Bearsted and Thurnham Fayre, giving residents a chance to meet their elected representatives, have a chat and air any griev- ances. Chair Cllr Fiona Redman said: “As
one of our priorities is getting more involved with residents and the vil-
lage community, we thought this would be an ideal platform to intro- duce ourselves and listen to resi- dents’ views on what they would like to see happening in their vil- lage. “It was a great success and we
were delighted somany people took the time to come and speak to us.”
How to keep rogue traders out
RESIDENTS are being warned to beware of rogue traders who might be trying to operate in Bearsted.
Community warden Martin Sherwood has obtained copies of “warning” DVDs which he is happy to take to groups or or- ganisations in the village who might benefit, aswell as to indi- viduals who may be house-
This page is sponsored and edited by:
Bearsted Parish Council
www.bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk
32 Maidstone East July 2015
bound. The 22-minute film ex- plains some of the tactics used by tricksters and what home- owners can do to avoid being duped. Martin said: “Rogue traders
tend to target the elderly and disabled because they are easy prey, but the same adage always applies – ‘if in doubt, keep them out’.”
considered THE parish council is evaluating the merits of publishing a neigh- bourhood plan. Neighbourhood plans were in- troduced in the Localism Act of 2011 and allow parish councils to establish general planning policies for the development and use of land in a neighbourhood. Although they can be costly and time-consuming to compile, they are thought to be the way forward for parishes trying to keep a rein on new development within the vil- lage boundaries and determine where village growth can take place. Parish councils are consulted on
all planning applications which fall within their area as a matter of course, but the weight afforded by a neighbourhood plan is consid- ered greater than that of a simple vote taken by the parish council members.
Sports day
A SPORTS and activity day will take place on the village green for all residents on Saturday, Septem- ber 12. Village sporting groups will be offering both young and old the chance to take part in a range of games and activities free of charge. More details next month.
Council Office: Madginford Hall, Bearsted Telephone: E-Mail:
01622 630165 Chairman:
clerk@bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk Fiona Redman
MEETINGS HELD SECOND TUESDAYOFMONTH (7.30PM) AND THE PUBLIC IS VERY WELCOME
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