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CHAIRMAN: Ivor Davies CLERK: Pauline BowderyASST CLERK: Melanie Fooks Parish Office, Beechen Hall,Wildfell Close,Walderslade, ME5 9RU
Tel: 01634 861237 email:
clerk@boxleyparishcouncil.org.uk Website:
www.boxleyparishcouncil.org.uk Contact details for parish councillors can be obtained from the parish office, the Useful Contact Details leaflet or the website Plan issues
IN its formal response to the recent local plan consultation, the parish council’s environment committee raised a number of issues. These included a request to have Beechen Bank, Walderslade Woods, Cowbeck Wood, Reeds Croft Wood and the open country around Lidsing designated as landscapes of local value; concern about serious overloading of the highway infrastructure within the parish by large developments else- where feeding traffic on to the M20 and M2; and the impact on Grove Green of the closure of the Sitting- bourne Road Park and Ride.
Consultation
IN addition to the local plan, the environment committee has re- sponded to a KCC consultation on street lighting and to a highways and transportation survey covering the service provided and the condi- tion of the highway infrastructure. Parish council chairman Ivor Davies said: “I would like to thank councillors for their hard work and the clerk for her excellent briefing papers. “With parish council elections
due in May 2016, we are about to start a campaign to raise our profile and encourage residents to think about standing for election. “Responding to consultations
such as these plays a vital role in representing the community.”
Call 101
THE new PCSO, Matthew Adling- ton,waswelcomed at his first meet- ing of Boxley Parish Council. He reminded residents to call 101
to report non-emergency incidents, especially those involving nuisance motorbikes. If a registration num- ber can be noted, so much the bet- ter, but a description, date and time will help build a picture. These de- tails can alternatively be given to the parish office. Nuisance bikers are firstly given
a warning. If reported again, fur- ther action can be taken, including seizure of the bike.
Next meeting
THE next meeting of the parish council is at 6pm on Friday, No- vember 6 at the European School of Osteopathy. MP Helen Whateley will attend.
Tribute to Cllr Alan Springate
COUNCILLORS have expressed great sadness at the sudden passing of Cllr Alan Springate. Chairman Ivor Davies said “We have lost a val-
ued colleague of 15 years standing who was a champion for the local environment. His contribu-
tion to the work of the parish council and the Walderslade Woodlands Group for the community in general, will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with his wife Sarah.” Cllr Springate’s obituary is on page 44.
Report it for prompt repair
RESIDENTS are encouraged to report potholes, obscured signs, drainage issues and failed street- lights. KCC no longer has highway in- spectors and the highway stewards cover huge areas; so, without resi- dents taking on the task, things will not improve.
Residents can directly report an
issue on an interactive map on the KCC website where they can im- mediately see whether there has been a previous report. Residents without access to a computer can call the parish office. Parish clerk Pauline Bowdery ex- plained: “It is important for resi-
dents to try to report the problem themselves as often there are no house numbers. “On the map they can locate ex-
actly where the issue is. This will then be electronically transferred to the steward’s computer. Without residents’ support things will not be repaired.”
Gateway fears
MEMBERS have expressed con- cern over the future ofKCCservices at Maidstone Gateway. KCC opened a 12-week consulta-
Bollards design fault reported
MEMBERS are disappointed with the replacement gate and bollards installed by KCC at the Lidsing Road entrance to Boxley Warren, which are intended to help protect the wildlife area from anti-social issues
including off-road bikes and fly-tip- ping and to protect the safety of volunteers. However, there is a design fault
which has been reported to KCC. They have promised to take action.
Urban extension inquiry
PARISH councillors and residents were at a public inquiry/appeal hearing on October 13-16 after Maidtsone Council’s refusal to grant outline planning permission for 89 homes south of Gleaming Wood Drive, Lordswood. Borough CouncillorWendy Hin-
der presented the views of resi- dents, emphasising the importance
of the Ancient Woodland and the detrimental impact of adding more vehicles to the bad traffic situation. Parish clerk Pauline Bowdery also
gave evidence before the planning inspector made a site visit. Having closed the inquiry the inspector is now considering his decision. It is not understood why distant Tovil was the venue for the inquiry.
Lorry parking issue improved
CLLRWendy Hinder thanked all who had worked with her, the parish coun- cil and KCC to get the experimental traffic order in place to prevent illegal and anti-social HGV parking at Old Chatham Road, Sandling. She said the new system had been a success and the residents’ quality of life had greatly improved with no further reports of HGV parking there.
tion on a proposal to move its serv- ices next year from King Street to other public buildings. KCC says that the Maidstone Council-owned site, which it shares with a number of partner organisa- tions such as Citizens Advice and Victim Support, does not represent best value for money. Members fear other locationsmay
not be as accessible for the public and that the site may not be sustain- able for the remaining organisations. Itwas decided to seek more infor- mation fromKCCbefore submitting a formal response. The parish coun- cil welcomes views from residents and organisations. The consultation closes on December 13 and can be accessed via the KCCwebsite.
Stack views
THE parish council has sent a num- ber of suggestions on Operation Stack to the Kent Association of Local Councils (KALC). The council suggested that when Operation Stack is in operation, lor- ries be restricted to the left-hand lane of the M20, leaving two lanes for traffic. It also indicated that better traffic-light management at the M2/A229 junctions is needed as, sat- navs suggest this as an alternative route. The council also suggested that coastbound lorries exiting from the Dartford Tunnel should be di- rected via the A2/M2.
Maidstone East November 2015 35
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