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Precept up to improve the village environment
RESIDENTS in Bearsted are being asked to pay an extra 10p a week to help keep their village among the best in the borough.
After twomonths of discussions, Dogs’ day out
THE council is to consider hosting a “doggy day out” Afun dog showwas held on land
at Bearsted Woodland Trust three years ago, organised by the former community warden. Maidstone Council’s environmental enforce- ment team organised a similar event last year in Marden, which was a huge success and raised £345 for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. The parish council has been ap- proached by borough council offi- cers who would organise and fund the event, and is looking at sites in- cluding the Elizabeth Harvie field and Bearsted Woodland Trust, as well as summer dates which do not clash with other events. The event would also promote re- sponsible dog ownership and stress the importance of cleaning up after your dogs.
Event help
THE parish council has agreed to make a donation towards the cost of toilets for Music on the Green. The council is not allowed to give money to private events so has of- fered £400 towards the facilities and free use of The Green. Tickets are selling well for the
event on Sunday, August 28 – the bank holidayweekend. Bearsted Events chairman Jo Con-
ner said:“We are very grateful to the parish council for their support. The more we receive in donations, the more the charities will benefit.” Profits will be divided between Maidstone Age UK, which runs the Goodman Centre in Bearsted, the NSPCC and Rainbows, the group which introduces girls aged five to seven to Girl Guiding.
CCTV plan
THEcouncil is to look at installing a CCTV camera at the Church Land- way car park. Following repeated vandalism
and complaints about assaults and other unwanted activity in the area, the council would like to see a police mobile camera put in place.
the parish council voted unani- mously to set its 2016-17 budget. Councillors reluctantly decided
to raise the precept (the money from residents used to fund the parish council), which is among the lowest in the borough, to help fi- nance projects to improve the envi- ronment in the village. Despite the increase, the parish council still has the third lowest precept in Maidstone, behind neighbouring Boxley and the tiny parish of Boughton Malherbe. Alongside the precept increase is
a renewed focus on value for money. The parish council, in line with
other local authorities including Maidstone Council and KCC, is
aiming to make contract savings. Chairman Cllr Fiona Redman
said: “We will make surewe get the best value for our money.We must learn to work smarter and look at ways of generating income, while making savings.” The council is to look at what it
wants to achieve in the coming fi- nancial year when it meets in March.
Finance committee chairman Cllr Richard Camp said: “We need to invest in the future of the parish. There are a number of upcoming projects which will require signifi- cant amounts. “Rather than try to budget for
them in a single year we need to build up a small surplus each year so that when the large projects
Garage rubbish to be cleared
THE parish council has had a meeting with Golding Homes about the state of the garages in Cross Keys. Fly-tippers have created an unsightly and potentially hazardous mess
behind the garages, pic- tured inset. It was suggested that
the parish council might clear the area as part of the Clean for the Queen weekend on March 4-6, but Cllr Richard Ash be- lieves the job should be left to the professionals. A mattress had been dumped, along with a fridge, desk and children’s toys. Cllr Fabienne Hughes said: “It makes Tovil tip look quite tidy.” Councillors met Golding Homes’ Mark Emerson who has arranged for
the items on the company’s land to be removed. In the meantime, the parish council has agreed to support the Clean for
the Queen weekend and is drawing up suggestions, contacting local groups such as the football club, Scouts, Guides, bowls and tennis clubs. The councilmay focus its efforts on tidying The Green, Church Landway and car park but is also looking at other parts of the village.
Objection to balcony proposal
A PROPOSAL that includes a cin- ema and family room in the roof of a house in St Faith’s Lane has been opposed by Bearsted Parish Coun- cil’s planning committee. Resident Paul Rudd did not ob-
ject to replacing Yonder Cottage, but had concerns about the build- ing line of the proposed property
This page is sponsored and edited by:
Bearsted Parish Council
www.bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk
24 Maidstone East February 2016
– a four-bedroom detached house with a double garage and office.A resident in Downsview was con- cerned about the proposed bal- cony on the rear of the house which would overlook his house and garden and invade his privacy. Bearsted and Thurnham Society also opposed to the development.
come due we can spend from sav- ings.” As a percentage, the increase
looks quite large at more than 20%, but works out at 10p perweek for a Band D property, about £5 a year on the council tax bill for house- holders in Bearsted but putting an extra £20,000 in the council’s cof- fers.
Bearsted, which has about 4,000 houses, is a large village to main- tain.
Cllr Helena Goodwin said: “We
need to do more projects and not let things slip so that we keep Bearsted the sought-after area that makes villagers proud to live here.” It is possible the council will be
able to get grants towards some of its expenditure.
Council says
no to homes BEARSTED Council’s planning committee has voted to oppose an application for outline plan- ning permission to build three new three-storey houses in St Faith’s Lane, Bearsted. Several members of the public expressed their concerns about the over-development of the site, whichwould see the demo- lition of St Faith’s bungalow and the building of three three- bedroom town houses on the site. St Faith’s Lane is a single track
road without a pavement and there is no room for parking or a hammerhead for vehicles to turn. Other properties in the road are detached and no more than two storeys high, members heard. The committee has passed its objections to Maidstone Coun- cil, based on the grounds of over-development and loss of privacy for residents nearby.
RESIDENTS can opt out of Royal Mail’s door-to-door service by emailing
optout@royalmail.com or calling 0345 266 0858.
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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