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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
Check drains for debris
FOLLOWING the torrential rain last month and the localised flood- ing caused by debris blocking drains, residents are asked to check any drain outside or close to their property. Kent County Council (KCC) has undertaken some drain inspections but it does rely on residents report- ing any blockages. Drains that need attention can be reported via the KCCwebsite. Localised flooding can cause is-
sues for adjacent properties and drivers are asked to be considerate as the bowwaves that their vehicles cause can actually wash or kerbs and down into properties causing flooding.
Orchard help
AWOODENslide for toddlers will be provided at Weavering Dia- mond Jubilee Orchard, thanks to a £12,000 grant from Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme. The Mid Kent Downs Country-
side Partnership has bid success- fully for finance for a community project from the fund which is ac- cumulated through the 5p charge on plastic bags. The slide will be made as part of
the grant which will also go to- wards running educational projects and events at St John’s School, Grove Green.
Traffic news
COMPLAINTS about Maidstone Council’s website having poor in- formation about work on the pro- posed new gyratory system in the town centre were made by parish councillors. Borough Cllr Derek Butler re- ported that the roadworks were due to be completed in November. He noted the issues raised by Box- ley members and said he would pass them on.
Council on tour BOXLEY councillors will be taking to the road so that they can obtain a close view of progress and con- cerns throughout the parish. A day’s tour, which takes place
every two years, is being organised with stops at various points of in- terest such asWeavering Diamond Jubilee Orchard and the KIMS site.
CllrWendy Hinder with Richard Gardiner and other residents and parish councillors who campaigned to have the path re-opened
New bollards atWarren Tesco path steps re-opened
COUNCILLORSwelcomed a report that bollards had been installed by Kent County Council at the entrance to Boxley Warren/Pilgrims Way at Cossington Lane, off the A249. Theywere reported as being very
solid, so it was hoped that they would be very difficult for nuisance vehicles to bypass. The bent bollard at Lidsing Hill had been straight- ened and the padlock on the gate replaced again.
RESIDENTSwelcomed the reopening of the path to Tesco at Grove Green but some elements of the design were criticised. CllrWendy Hinder and the parish council will approach Tesco about re-
moving a small step at the top of the steps and extending the hand rail. There was also some concern about the depth of the lowest step.
Protect ancient woodland
AS SUMMER continues, the parish office is receiving more re- ports of fly-tipping of garden waste into the woodlands in the Walderslade area. Fly-tipping of any garden waste potentially adds nutrients (which is harmful to the orchids etc), pesti- cides, diseases and foreign species into what is ancient woodland. Allowing your dog to foul in the woodland and then not clearing it
up is not only not nice for other vis- itors, but also affects the flora in the sameway as fly-tipping. Ancient woodlands are rapidly disappearing and are a resource that cannot be replaced. For a woodland to receive Ancient status it must have in existence since 1600 and so has developed into a unique ecosystem. The Walderslade Woodlands Group works hard to maintain the
woodlands for the community and wildlife so please do not under- mine their excellent work. Fly-tip- ping is a criminal offence and carries a fine if caught. If you see this type of offence oc- curring please report it directly to Maidstone Borough Council and the parish office. Disposing of gar- den waste over your fence or just along the road is anti-social behav- iour.
Parking issue THERE has been a massive increase in complaints relating to inconsider- ate parking in residential areas. The parish council is being ap- proached to place bollards on verges. However, it is recognised that this does not resolve an issue – it just moves it elsewhere. Residents who feel that they are experiencing problems from incon- siderate parking are being encour- aged to keep a written log, if possible supported by photographs, for a minimum of twoweeks. After this time, they are invited to
send the information to the parish officewhowill then collate all the re- sponses in order to write a report for the parish council. All information received will be confidential and only used to inves- tigate where there are problems.
New members Arrangementswere in hand to re-
place the No Vehicles sign. Cllr Bob Hinder, chairman of the volunteers group that works at the warren, gave an update on current persistent problems with off-road and trial bikers on PilgrimsWay. Concern was expressed that mis- leading information about the area may have been placed on the inter- net and this would be investigated by the parish office staff.
Kestrel chicks fly the nest
THE kestrel chicks successfully fledged from the Kent Wildlife Trust/parish council kestrel box. The drama of kestrel family lifewas watched by thousands of people via the kescam, which enabled the live streaming of pictures of the birds and their five chicks. The parish clerk is obtaining quotes for more kestrel boxes, unfor- tunately not with cameras, which it plans to install atWeavering Di- amond Jubilee Orchard and Dove Hill Allotments.
TWOnewcouncillorswere co-opted on to the parish council to represent Southward. Sue Martins and Rob Martins,
who live in Grove Green, bring the council up to its complement of 15. Cllr Sue Martins will serve on the finance and general purposes com- mittee while her husband has joined the environment committee.
Telephone scam
KENT County Council’s Trading Standards havewarned of a trickster using the “no-hang-up” telephone scam. The fraudster keeps the line open, spoofs a dial tone and an ac- complice answers and impersonates whoever the victim is trying to call. If you receive an unexpected call,
never disclose bank details or per- sonal information, no matter who the caller claims to be.
Maidstone East July 2016 17
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