downsmail.co.uk Bredhurst
Crime report PCSO Megan Day said four crimes had been reported: criminal damage in The Bell car park and in Kemsley Street Road and two thefts from vehicles in The Bell car park. Village showAcommiee member aended the meeting and said this year’s show would be held on September 5. There was a request for £90 to cover the cost of the hall hire, freeing up funds for the purchase of display boards. Cllr Nichola Carr suggested that the council contribute directly to buying display boards and itwas agreed to give £100. Parish plan Councillors had been surveying the village and would compile a list of items requiring aention, which would go to residents for additional comments. Funding opportunitieswere being investigated. The need for a part-time village caretaker had become more evident to address some of the minor maintenance issues.
Broomfield and Kingswood
Policing All anti-social behaviour incidents/crimes commied within the sports field fell within a differentward, so PCSO Maybank was unable to access this data. However, he and the teamwere aware of the issues. Patrols had been trying to locate the offenders. Details for some youths found loitering around the park had been obtained and the community policing teams had been informed so that they could make visits too. If residents saw the youths, they should call in and supply good descriptions. Neighbourhood plan Public consultation on the planwas now complete. Councillors had some very positive feedback from residents at the village hall fair. The information from the public consultation would now be forwarded to Maidstone Council and following its own consultation process, would be put to an independent inspector. Cllr Hoy expressed thanks on behalf of the parish council for all the hard work and commitment by the steering group. Housing numbers Kent Association of Local Councils (Kalc) had asked parish councils to discuss and vote on the numbers of houses proposed for development within the local plan. Councillors resolved to support Kalc in its endeavours to challenge Maidstone Council on this issue. Sports fieldAmemorial bench had been agreed. The Levercrest play area would be removed. The purchase of additional toddler play equipment had been agreed. The clerk would contact Jacksons fencing for a quote for additional fencing and installation and would make further enquiries on the cost and installation of bollards for the car park area. The main gate would be re-opened during daylight hours. Permissionwas given for an under 12s football team to use the field on Sunday mornings. Initial enquiries had been made regarding installation of CCTV cameras. The hedge needed trimming around the gate as itwas affecting access. Footpath The clerk advised that another leer regarding the footpath to the sports field had been received from a neighbouring landowner expressing concern for her property and requesting that the parish council indemnify it. Councillors agreed theywere in no position to indemnify private property. Itwas anticipated that beer public access would provide increased footfall which would in turn act as a
50 Maidstone East August 2015
deterrent to any potential problems and be a positive outcome. Emergency planning Owing to the lack of interest of residents at the recent village hall fair, there would appear to be no interest in organising an emergency plan. Itwas agreed that there would be no further action. Tall Trees Close Tenants of parish council land at Tall Trees Close had expressed a wish to buy the land and had put forward an offer subject to the understanding that the parish council covered all costs and legal expenses. Councillors agreed that potential legal costs would need to be ascertained before agreeing on a price for the sale of the land. The clerkwas asked to determine these. Buses During the school holidays, the number 59 bus service would leave 18 minutes earlier. Therewere no other changes proposed, despite this service not being financially self-supporting.
Downswood
Co-opted Kate Pearsonwas co-opted to fill the vacancy on the parish council. County report KCC Cllr Gary Cooke said the county council had saved £450m over the last few
years.Now £50-55m would have to be saved over the next few years. Parishes in more rural areaswere meeting informally to develop/deliver a Leeds/Langley relief road which Cllr Cooke strongly supported. Markings Road markings had virtually disappeared from all the side roads. Cllr Cooke would investigate. LakeAcar left the road in MallardsWay and entered the lake. Fortunately no-one was hurt and the Downswood resident had offered to pay for the damage to fencing. DonationAdonation of £125was agreed towards Bearsted Parish Council’s playscheme. Trees Itwas agreed to replace the trees that had been planted and subsequently died at the rear of Murrain Drive open space, possibly with an ash tree. Proposals to dedicate the tree to David Nuall would be discussed further at the next open spaces meeting.
DefibrillatorAsite visitwas being arranged with a supplier. Gardens Rumwood Nursery had agreed to judge the garden competition and sell vouchers to the parish council at a discounted cost. Vouchers would be presented at the Christmas ceremony. Hanging baskets would be considered for next year’s competition. SpiresMedical Centre The chairman had telephoned the surgery andwas told: “No- one is here at the moment. Nothing is showing on the screen and I am unable to book an appointment. The clerkwas asked to make contact with the patient participation group, as despite stating in a leer to a Downswood resident that it had contacted the parish council, it had not been in touch to discuss the closure.
Detling
Rat problemWard Cllr Nick de Wiggondene reported the problem with rats on Queensway, stating that a collective approach by residentswas needed to deal with the problem. Rubbish Concernwas expressed about land at Church Lane being vulnerable to
travellers and fly-tippers. The chairman stated that rubbish on the landwas there following a village clean-up, but it had taken Maidstone Council a month to collect. He confirmed that logs had been put across the area to prevent vehicles from accessing it. The clerkwas asked to liaisewith KCC to see if permanent posts could be put along the layby. Chairman Cllr MarkHoustonwas the new chairman of Detling Parish Council. Burial plans Cllr Kennard reported that she had aended aMid Kent Downs Countryside Partnership meeting, at which KCC confirmed that the Woodland Burial proposals for the White Horse Woodswere no longer viable. However, those aending heard that other plans for the woodland were now being considered. Village shop The questionnaire for the community shopwas due to be put out again to all parishioners,with a date for a public meeting at the small hall. Cllr Kennard reported that shewas currently looking into possible grants for a shop.
Harrietsham
Elected Cllr Trevor Allwoodwas elected chairman for the forthcoming year with Cllr Kenneth Kay as vice-chairman. Warden’s report Communitywarden Martin Sherwood spoke about a phishing email relating to Tesco Bank and about changes to care provisionswithin KCC. Police report The police had dealtwith six crime reports in the previous month. So far the next month there had been 40 calls relating to the village and two crime reports. Therewas one theft and an assault had resulted in a person being arrested. Some of the calls involved assisting a group of cyclists on the highway who had had an accident, a report of suspicious lights in a field, possible poaching and one man had been arrested. Therewere numerous calls relating to travellers on the Glebe Field. Neighbourhood planning Cllr Allwood said that eight of the 11 councillors had been elected as members of HarrietshamAgainst RecklessDevelopment. This gave them a mandate to address the neighbourhood plan to make it fit for purpose. Since the plan had been submied to Maidstone Council, it had not progressed and this had caused serious issues. Itwas agreed to engage with the borough planning department to seewhat needed to be done to move the plan forward, which would include recalling the plan back to regulation 14, amending it and resubmission. War memorial Insurance cover for thewar memorial had been increased from £30,000 to £125,000. Glebe Field Cllr Allwood reported on the unauthorised encampment on the Glebe Field and thanked Cllrs Tom and Janea Sams for their hard work in geing the maer resolved. Cllr Tom Sams had been unable to source further concrete blocks and suggested using 10 to 15 tonnes of soil, at a cost of £270, to form a temporary bund. This was agreed and more permanent solutions would be investigated. Public forumAresident raised concerns about the amount of vegetation encroaching on to the pavements and road alongWest Street, QuestedWay and between Baldwin’s Place and the school. Residents gave their thoughts on securing the Glebe Field.
Parish Councils
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