East July 2016

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Pupils design thrones fit for a teddy bear

Sally’s rooting out the rogues

COMMUNITY warden Sally Williams has been hot on the heels of rogue traders trying to rip off residents in Bearsted. Fleet-footed Sally hounded a

roofer and reported him to trading standards officials before visiting local groups to warn members what towatch out for. Sally received four reports of

rogue trader activity during the month and urges anyone with con- cerns to get in touch with her.

THE Bearsted Fun Dog Show proved a great success and raised £488 for the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. Pooches of all shapes and sizes dragged their owners along to Bearsted Woodland Trust for the family day, filled with fun and games, doggie challenges and in- formation stalls. The event, organised by the

parish council in conjunction with Maidstone Council, was designed to educate residents about respon- sible dog ownership, including the benefits of microchipping and the need to clear up your pooch poop.

Fencing it off

THE parish council is to replace the fence which divides the village allotments, in The Street, from the industrial units to the rear. Three quotes have been obtained

for a chain link fence to divide the area and make it more secure.

Crime is down

THERE were sevenreported crimes in Bearsted in the last month, down from 11 the previous year: two of criminal damage in Ashford Road, two thefts from vehicles – in Mynn Crescent and Yeoman Way – a re- port of criminal damage in Cross Keys and another in Madginford Road, and a theft in Ashford Road.

CHILDREN at Bearsted’s Junior Schools were invited to take part in their very own ‘Game of Thrones’ as part of the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations. The pupils were asked to design

a throne – either as a model to fit a small teddy bear or as a drawing. The competition was open to

years three to six – and the pupils at Roseacre really rose to the chal- lenge.

Resident artist and parish coun-

cillor Suzanne Camp did the initial judging with the school council at Roseacre. Those finalist were then invited

to the picnic, where the final judg- ing was carried out by Cllr Mrs Camp and Cllr Dan Conner. The top three received craft boxes and artist materials.

The finalists with their entries –and the winner, pictured top right Puppy love show Picnickers carry on regardless

THE council’s Picnic on the Green to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday proved a great success – despite attempts by the great British weather to pour cold water on it. Dozens of families brought their brollies and gazebos towatch a variety

of musical entertainment while making merry on the village green. One family –who donned masks to make themselves look like the Royal

Family – were celebrating Joan Martin's 85th birthday. Another group, chiefly clad in red, white and blue,were marking Barbara

Dunford’s 60th celebrations. Many residents stayed away because of the inclementweather and the

free minibus laid on to shuttle folk from Madginford brought – and re- turned - just 14 people, but the council felt the exercise was a great suc- cess and something which could be repeated for future events.

Retrospective planning wrath

PEOPLE who progress projects without planning permission and then apply in retrospect could face the wrath of Bearsted Parish Coun- cil.

Two nursing homes – Barty House

and Hillbeck, both in Roundwell – have carried out improvement works and then applied for consent retrospectively. Barty House built a summer-

house in the grounds without ob- taining listed building consent and Hillbeck carried out additional building works to those for which it had permission. Cllr Val Springett has received complaints about drainage prob- lems that have arisen since the completion of both projects. She said: “I am intending to ask for the Strategic Planning commit-

This page is sponsored and edited by:

Bearsted Parish Council www.bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk

30 Maidstone East July 2016

tee to undertake a review of how building works are checked for conformity with the planning per- mission that was granted, in con- junction with a review on what enforcement action, if any, has been taken over non- compliance in re- cent years.” Cllr RichardAsh said: “I am very dissatisfied to see these applica- tions going in after the work has been done. ” The parish council has beenwait-

ing almost a year to get planning permission to install safety lighting on Church Landway – facing a bar- rage of obstructions from Maid- stone Council planning department in the process. Cllr Jon Hughes said: “With hindsight, perhapswe should have just gone ahead and done it!”

Kerbside car sales concern

KENT’s new police and crime com- missioner, Matthew Scott, has been asked to look into the problems of cars parked for sale in urban streets around Maidstone. Maidstone councillor Mike Rev-

ell brought the matter to the atten- tion of the commissioner after receiving complaints from resi- dents in Willington Street about a number of vehicles being parked in the layby close to Mote Park. Cllr Revell said: “I am making in-

quires as to who is responsible for enforcement and how it is done.” Meanwhile, the mystery of a Mercedes has been plaguing the parish council. The A-class Mercedes, which is

taxed and has a full MOT, was left at the Yeoman Lane car park, close to the doctor’s surgery several weeks ago, with the windows open.

Maidstone Council believes the

vehicle has not been reported stolen but says it is not its job to re- move it as it is not on the highway. It has also survived being slapped with a parking ticket for being there at least three weeks longer than the permitted three hours. Cllr RichardAsh said: “Iwas told it would be 70 days before it could be removed by the borough council. All the time, it is taking up a valuable parking space!”

Council Office: Madginford Hall, Bearsted Telephone: E-Mail: Chair:

01622 630165

clerk@bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk Fiona Redman

MEETINGS HELD SECOND TUESDAYOFMONTH (7.30PM) AND THE PUBLIC IS VERY WELCOME

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