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Considering the merits of neighbourhood plan
BEARSTED Parish Council is to explore the value of drawing up its own Fund for land
MEMBERS agreed that up to £90,000 of parish funds should be reserved to buy land for the benefit of Bearsted, if it became available. The council’s land and buildings
Fund currently stood at £10,000. Investigations were to be carried
out to ensure the council could still access the money for other emer- gency projects should they arise. The parish finance committee would also investigate the condi- tions and details of the original land fund before a final decision about topping it up is taken. Chairman Richard Camp said: “Some parish councils in the bor- ough have already made use of these funds to buy land to protect it from development.”
Lights quotes
FURTHER quotes are to be sought for more “industrial” lampposts for Church Landway. Cllr Fabienne Hughes said it was
felt more robust models were needed to withstand any attack by vandals and maybe only half the numberwas needed. Council chairman Cllr Fiona Red-
man said it was hoped the lights could be in place by October.
Plans considered
PLANNING committee chairman Cllr Graham Farrow said the coun- cil had received 12 applications. Refusals had included that for 100 homes at Barty Farm, which the council felt the area could not cope with and a request to remove a tree in Church Lane. Cllr Farrow said: “This is a lovely
tree of about 45ft and the last thing wewant is for it to be torn down.”
Tree work THE council’s environment com- mittee reported that it is awaiting a quote for proposed work to trees on and around The Green. Committee chairman Cllr Geoff Bennett said a list of the footpaths requiring urgent clearancewas also being drawn up.
Peter and Penny Hockenhull’s colourful garden in Mount Pleasant Drive Gardening winners named
PETER and artist Penny Hockenhull’s garden in Mount Pleasant Drive off Sandy Lane is the best in Bearsted, judges decided Eight gardens were entered this
year into the parish council’s best garden competition. In second placewas Jackie Preston
and Peter Schmoeger (Cross Keys) and in third place Debbie and Nick Dale of Roseacre Lane. The winners (pictured with judge
Gill Gregory) received a trophy and a prize from the Potted Garden Com- pany and the runners-up a meal for two at The Oak and flowers from Bearsted florist Hunker Down Daisy.
Judges were Sara Henderson, from Hunker Down Daisy, Bearsted gar- dener Gill Gregory and horticultural society member Malcolm Withnall. MsGregory told the winners: “Your
gardenwas full of colour. You should consider Chelsea next year!” Anyone keen to challenge the title
for 2016 should sent an email to the
clerk@bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk.
Work contracts explained
RICHARDCamp, the chairman of the council’s finance committee, brought members up to date with reports about a review of theway in which the parish awards work contracts and would be reassess- ing its budget priorities.
This page is sponsored and edited by:
Bearsted Parish Council
www.bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk
28 Maidstone East August 2015
neighbourhood development plan. The first tentative step – to make a neighbourhood area application to Maidstone Council – will be made, members agreed. However the decision, which fol-
lows a series of planning proposals for the area, wasn’t without debate. Cllr Richard Ash said he felt there were few areas left to develop; claimed neighbourhood plans were ignored by planning authorities and the cost would not justify its worth, adding: “I am wondering what you hope to achieve; there’s nothing left in Bearsted to develop.” Cllr Paul Young said Cllr Ash’s comments showed “a gross misun- derstanding of the land available in Bearsted, in light of the plans com- ing in left, right and centre”.
He felt the plan would give Bearsted a better say over not just development but the look of new homes, areas needing protection and the infrastructure required. He told members that in producing a plan, the parish would also qualify for a greater share of any developer do- nations and grantswere available to assist with the cost of the work in- volved. Cllr Young said: “We are not sug- gesting developers come and build here andwe can’t say no to any con- struction, butwe can have some con- trol on development when at the momentwe have none. “This is just a first step, with no commitment for us to continue with a neighbourhood plan.”
Cllr Fabienne Hughes added:
“Land is few and far between butwe should look at this and see what it would achieve. Rather than being sitting ducks to developers we do need to be more proactive.” Parish council chairman Fiona Redman agreed it was an emotive subject and suggested if the parish decided to press ahead with a neigh- bourhood plan that the public should be invited to give their views at the earliest opportunity. Members agreed 12-2 that the neighbourhood area application, which is free, will be pursued, along with investigations about the value of the document, other parishes’ ex- periences and information about available grants.
On record
MEMBERS will enquire about buy- ing equipment to make an audio recording of council meetings, in an effort to improve communications. Cllr RichardAsh and CllrPat Mar-
shall said they did not feel it neces- sary as the council had a competent clerk. However, other members agreed it was important that the parish council had a recording of proceedings in the event of any de- tails being challenged. Itwas suggested recordings could
be posted on the parish councilweb- site, which is to be redesigned at the end of the year. Communications committee chair-
man Cllr Dan Conner said the num- ber of Bearsted Parish Council Facebook followers had doubled since the previous meeting and there was a plan to reintroduce the village newsletter.
Fayre thanks THANKSwere given to the organis- ers of Bearsted Fayre and villagers who visited the parish council’s colourful stand. Chairman Cllr FionaRedmansaid
it was good to hear residents’ re- quests, including calls to Maidstone Council to finish its draft plan; for lights to be fixed at the Woodland Trust; the pond on the Green to be kept full; for Music on The Green; things for youngsters to do and a re- quest to widen Spot Lane.
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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