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Parking action


INCONSIDERATE parking in the area was discussed by councillors, with photographs shown of vehicles causing an obstruction to pedestri- ans.


Members heard that the PCSO


had issued warnings to drivers in areas including Burial Ground Lane and urged councillors to report other vehicles that were a cause of con- cern.


Councillors also learned that dou-


ble yellow lines are to be added to prevent parking towards the round- about in Armstrong Road, down to the post box.


On the move


THEcouncil has agreed it willmove to itsnewoffices at theYMCAcentre in Barfreston Close on April 7, with the intention of being “open for busi- ness” on Monday, April 10. Councillors will move their office equipment from Tovil Working Men’s Club. It was agreed to keep the photocopier rather than breach the lease agreement, which would cost more than £1,000 in penalties. The YMCA will be asked to make room for the machine.


Drive change


MEMBERShave suggested an alter- ation, on safety grounds, to a pro- posed development. Councillors felt the driveway for a three-bedroom bungalow on a gar- den on the corner of Forest Hill should open to Caernarvon Drive.


Tax thanks


MEMBERSwere thanked by amem- ber of the public for keeping her council tax bill down. Councillors heard that thewoman


had seen the bill on her band D property go down another £4.


Lier clean-up


A LITTER pick attended by parish councillors and Tovil Action Group collected more than 50 bags of rub- bish, three tyres and a toilet, mem- bers heard.


The burial ground wall


AN appeal for a donation to- wards the cost of challenging the borough council’s 18,560 hous- ing target for 2011-2031 was re- jected by members. Tovil Parish Council members


felt that while a reduction in the overall figure would be wel- come, the impact on the parish would be negligible and did not warrant a donation – some as high as £1,000 by some villages –


Fete appeal


COUNCILLORS made a renewed appeal for local organisations and residents to get involved with the proposed parish fete. It is hoped the event will be staged at Archbishop Courtenay CE Primary School or the new YMCA centre. Councillors have formed a working group, but are keen to hear from anyone able to offer help, as well as from bands and display teams interested in taking part. Offers of help should be


emailed to the clerk@tovilparish- council.co.uk.


Funding quest for repairs towall at burial ground


THE parish council is to make approaches for funding to restore the ragstonewall at the closed burial ground in Burial Ground Lane.


Councillors heard that the wall


had “blown” and commented on the specialist repointing, using lime mortar, that was required and the £7,000 cost of re-seating the metal railings, which was adding to the overall cost. Vice-chairman Paul Wilby said


suchwas the specialist nature of the repairs needed that only one quote had been received from six builders. Councillors felt that more


Donation request is rejected


to the Kent Association of Local Councils. The financial contribution re-


quest was issued by its Local Plan Working Group, which is looking to hire a consultant to challenge MBC’s housing figure when the plan is considered by a planning inspector. The coun- cil also voted not to renew its £50 membership to Action with Communities in Rural Kent.


Agenda plan


ITEMS may not be put back on the council’s agenda for a second time in six months, without being au- thorised by three members. The change to the council’s standing orderswas proposed by a member, who said: “I think if is- sues keep being put back on the agenda time and again, we will spend all our time discussing the same issues. “Of course, if new information becomes available then that is the time to talk it through again, but as a councilwe need to be able to keep moving forward.”


should be done to encourage fresh tenders but in the meantime, ap- proaches will be made to the Bap- tist church and organisations able to offer grants for work at redun- dant churches. At the same time, funding will


also be sought to strip the ceme- tery’s backwall of ivy. Members noted that the burial ground contains some of the oldest graves in the borough.


Yasmine link


to borough YASMIN Gordine introduced her- self to councillors as Maidstone Council’s new parish liaison offi- cer.


She told members that the cre-


ation of the new full-time post in December follows a review of the parish charter, which showed a need for a point of contact for parish councils. The borough has 37 parish coun-


cils and Yasmin hopes to have at- tended meetings of them all by the beginning of June. She told the Downs Mail: “I pride


myself onmycommunication skills and being approachable, which will aid me in this post. My strength, and, perhaps, my weak- ness, is that I’m not afraid to say I don’t know, but I will do my re- search.” Yasmin (22) has worked for the borough council for three years and lives just outside Marden. Her post is for a year’s fixed-term.


THIS PAGE IS EDITED BY TOVIL PARISH COUNCIL


CLERK: Alison Chew, Parish Office, Rear of TovilWorking Men’s Club, Tovil Hill, Tovil, ME15 6QS TEL/FAX: 01622 675628 EMAIL: tovilparishcouncil@btopenworld.com


40 Maidstone Town April 2016


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