downsmail.co.uk Broomfield and Kingswood
Co-option Annee Friend had expressed an interest in becoming a parish councillor having aended three parish council meetings. Shewas co-opted onto the council. Borough report Boroughward Cllr Gill Fort said Jon Lawrence, Maidstone Council planning officer, had reported to her that the Oaklands, Gravelly Boom Road, Kingswood planning application, whichwas 18 months old,was due to be determined by the end of September. Policing Three crimes had been reported: burglary in Elder Close, criminal damage in Cayser Drive, and theft by finding in Chartway Street. Nuisance youths had been reported in Cayser Drive. PCSO Thomas Maybank also reported that, having been given a part of a registration number of a youth suspected of causing problems at the sports field, he located the youth, whowas issued with a section 59 notice. The PCSO also spoke to the parents whowere advised that should this person come to the police’s aention again his bike could be scrapped.A police contact point would be coming to Kingswood. Operation Innovate, where numerous police officers move into one location at the same time, would also be coming to Kingswood. Sports field The memorial bench had been erected. However, permission to erect a plaque with the previously agreed wording and to plant some bulbs around the seat area was now being sought. Councillors agreed the plaque could be erected subject to the agreement of the other family member. However, they felt that the planting of bulbs would impinge on maintenance and therefore did notwant them to be planted. The dismantling of the Levercrest play area and the installation of the new play equipmentwas scheduled for theweek commencing October 5, with the new fencing due to be installed in the following week. The quote received for the erection of a column which would have an electricity supply enabling the use of CCTV cameras was very reasonable. Councillors requested CCTV cameras to be an agenda item at the next meeting. Defibrillator The clerk had spoken to the owner of the Village Shop in Charlesford Avenue whowas happy to have a defibrillator installed at the front of the shop as itwas for the community’s benefit. Having made enquiries it appeared that the parish councilwas one of very few that did not have access to a defibrillator. Itwas agreed that the parish council should finance the supply and installation of a defibrillator and the clerkwas requested to obtain costs. SpeedWatch The SpeedWatch co-ordinator at Ulcombe had suggested that the two parishes combine in an application for funding of equipment. Volunteers would be trained by Kent Police, who would also have to approve the routes to be monitored. The clerk had emailed this information via the parish contact list but only one person had expressed an interest and two councillors had agreed to participate occasionally. More volunteers would be needed.
Chart Suon
Police report Therewere no reported crimes in Chart Suon but there had been a theft from a vehicle in Boughton Lane and theft of strawberries from Brishing Lane.
Communitywarden Liz Lova said that a spam email regarding the Dartford crossing was being circulated and that it should not be opened, but just
deleted.Afew fly- tipping incidents had been reported to Maidstone Council. The neighbouring area had been targeted by rogue traders so everyonewas reminded to get three wrien quotes for any work. The residents had reported fly-tipping in Church Road to Maidstone Council. Grass triangle Therewere mixed feelings about the grass triangle at the junction of Forsham Lane and Green Lane. Someone had complained about it and asked for it to be removed completely. While there had been no accidents or crashes, the triangle and grass verges and thewater hydrants that serve most of the properties within 500m of the trianglewere being damaged. The owner of Boundary House thought the triangle should stay as itwas an aractive feature, and had been part of her lane/history since the 1940s, but that it should be higher and more significant to stop people driving over it, and to protect the hydrants. If removed, therewere fears the road could become a race track. After long discussion, the consensuswas that it should stay but be reduced by 3ft on each side, making the road wider and giving vehicles more room without breaking up the verge. Although thewater hydrant is on the opposite verge, making the road wider would make it and surrounding properties/hedges less likely to be damaged. The addition of two kerb stones would protect the
hydrant.Ameeting with Kent Highway Services had been arranged. PlaygroundApricewas awaited for the replacement seat. Itwas agreed to allow £600 to get the main items fixed (seat, rings, repainting, cleaning of tiles). Pavilion electrics The showerswere working after a new transformerwas in place. The final check cost £35. Chairman’s report The main drains from the village that ran to the pumping station at Brishing Road had started backing up on Friday night. He had reported it to Southern Water but no-one showed up until he phoned again on Monday morning, and then they only aended for an hour. Raw sewagewas leaking all over his grazing fields andwas close to flowing onto Brishing Road.
Wheelie binAvillager had complained that their green wheelie bin had been filled up by someone else. Itwas not clear what could be done about this, butwarden Liz Lova would visit the villager. Chart Hill Residents at the boom of Chart Hill had formed the Chart Hill Road Association. Its aims would be printed in the next village newsleer. Shop Workwas proceeding on modifications to the new shop container. The shop had paid for the cabin but when an invoicewas received the parish council would pay for it.
Coxheath
CommunitywardenAdam McKinleywas to return to Coxheath as the community warden.
Neighbourhood plan The parish council was continuing its dialogue with Maidstone Council over the independent examination of the plan. Goalposts Actionwas in hand to replace the
goalposts damaged by vandals at the Beacon Field football pitch. Lier bin Quotations had been accepted for a new concrete lier bin on the village hall playing field and the removal of the damaged cast iron bin from the bus shelter in Heath Road. Poppy Appeal Volunteerswere needed for the British Legion Poppy Appeal – anyone wishing to offer their serviceswas invited to call Keith Woollven on 01622 744681. Traffic calming Itwas hoped the final tasks agreed as part of the Heath Road traffic calming scheme would be completed by Kent Highway Services in September.
East Farleigh
Crime report PCSO Mahew Judgeswas unable to aend but submied a crime report: a theft of hanging baskets from Priory Close; a theft of garden furniture from Dean Street and a theft of tools from a vehicle in Gallants Lane. Car park The aggregate for the surface of the car park had been delivered and spread.A councillor had organised the repainting of the parking bays and the council wished to thank all the volunteers who had turned out to help with this before the start of term. The council agreed to pay for the aggregate and the spreading but would also send copies to TripleMfor payment. Bridge working party Resident Sarah Hobbs had joined the working party, who had agreed not to progress with the feasibility study until the council knew whether traffic lightswere an option. Village maintenance The village maintenance and lier picking contractwas coming up for tender on December 31 so the council reviewed the list of tasks and the lier-picking rounds. Itwas agreed that members would get back to the clerk with any changes they wished to see. The clerk would then approach individual companies after discussion. Five village signswere not regularly inspected. Itwas agreed that the clerk should approach Maidstone Signs with a view to arranging inspections. Recreation ground The clerk had compiled risk assessments for the Gallants Lane and Vicarage Lane play areas, whichwere approved. She also compiled risk assessments for the recreation field and the car park. Thesewere approved with a few minor modifications. The clerk had also produced inspection sheets forweekly inspections of the play areas, as advised by the insurance brokers. The clerk had also produced inspection sheets for the recreation field and for the car park, and itwas agreed to inspect these monthly.
East Suon
Police report There had been no crimes but rogue traders had been operating in the area. Lorry signs There had been a request for signs after another lorry got stuck in Friday Street. Highways Kent Highway Services had confirmed that Morry Lane had been completed. Housing Itwas agreed to send a proposal to Maidstone Council that the parish council did not believe 18,600was a reasonable figure for objectively-assessed housing need and if flexible methodologywas properly used, a defensible figure could be as low as 10,000 including windfalls.
46 Maidstone South October 2015 45
Parish Councils
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