downsmail.co.uk Aylesford
Sewage works Mr Sturgeon asked what arrangementswere being made for the disposal ofwaste from the new developments being planned for Eccles and the surrounding areas. He asked whether it might result in the expansion of the Bull Lane sewage works and an increase in lorries travelling through Eccles village. The clerk said therewere no details of long-term waste disposal plans yet and there had been no indication of any plans to expand the existing sewage works. Bushey WoodAresident asked for the parish council’s view on proposals in the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC) draft local plan for about 4,500 homes surrounding Eccles. He referred to a previous local planwere the parish council had lobbied and achieved assurances that a buffer zone would be provided to enable Eccles to remain an independent village. The clerk advised that the plan referred to a maximum yield of 4,500. The figurewas calculated on the number of houses that could be built on the land available and did not take into account services and access roads which would reduce the final number. Pop-in centreAresident asked what would happen if the privately-owned pop-in centre closed. The clerk said the councilwas not aware of any plans to close the centre. The parish council had been asked for a regular contribution towards the running costs and in order to consider this further had asked to see the club’s accounts. These had not yet been received. The council had supported the club previously with funding towards specific items such as coach trips and would be happy to consider further requests for donations. Police reports The clerk reported that crime reports would no longer be issued to the parish council but all informationwas available on theirwebsite. PCSOs would still be available to aend meetings, subject to workload and shift paerns. The clerk advised that the informationwas on the website butwas not as easily accessible as the parishwas split and merged with other areas. However, he would extract the information of interest before each meeting. Cllr Elvy suggested that the parish council should object to this withdrawal of reports as PCSO aendance at meetingswas rare. It was agreed that the clerk should write to Kent Police accordingly. Council vacancies The Eccles vacancywas expected to be authorised for co-option. Mrs Phibbs aended the meeting and had put her application to join the council before members. As a landlady of a local pub, she believed shewaswell placed to hear local views and bring them to the aention of the council. Memberswere due to consider her application subject to co-option clearance from TMBC.
Birling
Overgrown hedge CllrWestwood had spoken to the home owner and the hedge had been cut back. However, itwas noted that vegetationwas now almost covering the whole width of the footpath by Ryarsh stables. Bollards These had been installed in Birling Road. HGVs The “Unsuitable forHGVs” sign would be replaced but might take some time
40 Malling October 2016 Charlie rings up 70 years
VETERAN bell ringer Charlie Homewood has retired after 70 years at Aylesford church. Mr Homewood (87)was born at Tottington
Farm,where his father worked, and has lived in Aylesford and Ditton all his life. Hewent to Aylesford Infant School, in what
is now the Brassey Centre, where Miss Smith was the head teacher and his class teacher wasMiss Bethel. Moving into the centre of the village later,
when his father left farm work, the family lived in what is now the Village Pantry near the Square. Then the village had four grocers, two butch-
ers, a bakery, a couple of dairies, and a brew- ery.
Mr Homewood was christened at Aylesford
Church by the vicar, Canon Everett, who had also married Charlie’s parents. At the age of 10, he becamea choirboy and
later a server. After completing his schooling at Maidstone
Technical School, Mr Homewood worked at Reeds and then at the Danes Anchor Brewery which stood at the junction of Mount Pleasant and Vicarage. Hecontinued his career in accounting, going
back to work at Reeds International for 35 years, beforemoving on to Cluttons Chartered Surveyors in Maidstone. He married Audrey, in 1958. The couple
have a daughter, Nicola, and a son, Michael, and four grandchildren. Learning to ring at Aylesford in 1946 when
he was 17, Mr Homewood, at one time, rang four peals, three at Aylesford and one atWest Malling.
as itwas not a standard size. Planswere being made for temporary signs to try to stop drivers using Snodland, Birling and Ryarsh as a rat run during the J4 roadworks.
KingsHill
Football pitches Councillors and staff had worked hard towater the reseeded areas of the grass pitches at the Sports Park, which had improved them. However, other areas had suffered due to the lack of irrigation, although recent rain had helped the problem. The irrigation tank had been collected from Ebbsfleet andwas stored at the Sports Park. The commiee would need to consider its final location. Sports Park Itwas resolved that funding should be allocated from the full council contingency budget to buy a vehicle. Cllr Cassidy wished it to be noted that he had learned that the vehicle could have been bought more cheaply. Football club The plan for dug-outs and a perimeter fence around pitch three at the Sports Parkwas approved, subject to approval from Liberty Property Trust and other conditions being accepted. DogwalkingAresident raised the issue of dogwalking at the Sports Park. The parish councilwelcomed responsible dogwalkers – new signs would be agreed and an increase in bins and bags investigated. Local plan consultation Itwas agreed that Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC) would be asked to hold one of its local plan roadshows at Kings Hill and to join the parish council for the parish consultation day.
He took a break of about seven years from
ringing after marriage and when his children were young, but resumed asa regularmember of theAylesfordband for service ringing aswell as practice nights. MrHomewood’s70years of ringing washo-
noured by theAylesford band at a celebratory dinner at the King and Queen, East Malling. The group presented the Homewoods with
gardening vouchers. Gordon Hunt, fromtheAylesford band, said:
“He says it has been a good life and he counts himself as very lucky. We think we have been lucky to have had you, Charlie! Thank you for all you have done.” With thanks to Gordon Hunt, on whose ar-
ticle from the Aylesford parish magazine this article is based.
Community centre building Itwas agreed to accept the quote for £1,750 for new plans. The fund would be taken from earmarked reserves.
Mereworth
Crime report There had been five non- domestic burglaries. Cllr Philip Olden said the parish council’s correspondence with MPTom Tugendhat and Police Commissioner Mahew Sco regarding the recent arson aacks had brought a response and house to house enquiries had taken place. Evidencewas being investigated. Queen’s Head site Cllr Stephen Reynolds said several large vehicles thought to be delivering from Travis Perkins to the Queen’s Head site had been seen trying to drive up Butchers Lane to Beaufighter Road rather than turning around at the site and returning down Butchers Lane. The clerk would ask the contractor to use smaller vehicles for deliveries and to ask the drivers not to drive up Butchers Lane. Village hallACCTV system of four cameras and a DVR had been installed. One of the cameras had failed initially but this had been restored. The cameraswere angled as the previous system but Cllr Olden would ask Tony Basse to alter one when hewas next in the area. Quotationswere being sought for the electrical rewiring. Fire equipment had been tested successfully. PAT testing had been arranged for February and the boiler servicewas still to be arranged. Church choir Organist and choirmaster DerekWallis retired in September. The churchwas looking for a new organist and
Parish Councils
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