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Lenham pond is next for ‘facelift’
A VILLAGE’s leisure spaces are being given a makeover, with re- furbished play areas and plans to restore a derelict duck pond to its former glory. Play parks at Cherry Close and
HamLane, Lenham, have been up- graded at a cost of £60,000, by the parish council, using developers’ section 106 money. New equipment includes a 20m
steel cableway with a ramp, a swing-along and a pendulum swing with a basket seat suitable for disabled users, and benches. Nowthere are hopes that the vil-
lage’s overgrown duck pond is also set for a much-needed facelift, with the news that the surround- ing land is being gifted to the parish council. Glebe Pond, next to Old Ashford
Road, is the head of the Rivers Stour and Len. The grass and trees around it have been tended by the parish council since 1974. How- ever, the seven-year renewable lease made it impossible to obtain funding for restoration work on the site. Once developers of nearby
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homes have completed the gift of the freehold, the council hopes to obtain grant funding for clearing and dredging the pond and tree work. It also hopes to be able to provide new seats and picnic ta- bles.
The parish council stated: “The freehold of the land surrounding the pond will now be gifted to the parish by the landowners as an open space for community use. Owning the land will make it eas- ier to apply for funding to enhance the site.” Parish clerk Margo McFarlane
said: “We keep the area tidy and safe and we have the grass cut around it, but that is about all we can do. “Some serious work is needed on
the weir and the pond needs dredging, but our hands have been tied as we couldn’t find anyone who would provide finance on such a short lease. “At a time when we seem to be surrounded with threats of devel- opment, these are positive aspects for our open spaces.”
Village’s history put in print
EAST Farleigh is one of Maidstone’s most historical villages, highlights of which are featured in a 58-page book published by the parish council. The village boasts evidence of human habitation as far back as 9000BC-4000BC, and was chosen as the site for an impressive Roman villa – one of several along the banks of the Medway. The parish church has its origins in Saxon times and the medieval
bridge, crossed by the Roundheads in 1648 during the civil war, is mentioned in 1324. By 1881, the village population was 1,668, compared with about
1,500
today.Many were involved in farming, especially hops, and oast houses can still be seen dotted around the village. In 1849 a cholera epidemic killed 43, with Dame Edith Cavell among
the nurses who came to help and stayed. Other notable residents included the anti-slavery campaigner, William Wilberforce. East Farleigh has many war stories, with a German Messerschmitt
crashing in 1940, and pill boxes along the Medway, with the one east of Farleigh Lock surviving. The book, with a foreword by former MP AnnWiddecombe (who
attended the launch reception), has been distributed free to all households in the village and is available from the parish council for £2.50.
Book review by Dennis Fowle
News
Last order date 17th December
1-4 The Parade, Bearsted Green Maidstone ME14 4DN
Maidstone East December 2016 13
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