downsmail.co.uk


Sponsored parish council |News Boxley Parish Mail


CHAIRMAN:Bob Hinder 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 fromthe parish office, the Useful Contact Details leaflet or the website Spring vision


BOXLEY Parish Council is consid- ering buying sacks of bulbs to plant for some spring colour. Residents are asked to contact the


parish office with ideas for any areas of land that might be suitable forf a bit of a lift in the spring. Public land is sought and once suggestions are received, the parish council will contact the relevant au- thorities to gain permission and will also assess the suitability of planting with bulbs. The parish council would also


like to hear from people willing to plant bulbs if permission is gained. It has been many years since a sim- ilar projectwas undertaken, but the bulbs that appear at Grovewood Drive North and Boxley village green were the result of an earlier bulb planting project.


Off-road bikes


RESIDENTS are reminded that any off road bikes in the woods, on Pil- grimsWay or even on the highway should be immediately reported to Kent Police by telephoning 101. After a fairly successful visit by


the police off-road team, the parish council would encourage residents to report other unwelcome visits, as an increase in complaints supports any request to have another visit by the police.


Parish precept MEMBERS noted that Boxley Parish Council’s council tax precept is the second lowest in Maidstone. Based on an average band D pay- ment, the Boxley precept is £27.78, less than half the average for the borough which is £56.42. The average parish precept in England is £61.03. The lowest in the Maidstone borough is Boughton Malherbe at £24.


Silent tribute THE parish council observed a minute’s silence at the start of its meeting to pay its respects to those who lost their lives in terrorist at- tacks in Manchester and London.


Trees concern


BOROUGH Cllr Wendy Hinder had reported overgrown trees to the landscaping team at EDF be- cause of branches growing towards the power cables in Boxley Road.


24 Maidstone East July 2017


£5k fine for dumping your garden rubbish


RESIDENTS who tip gardenwaste over their fence into woodland or onto a verge could face a fine of up to £5,000.


Rather than immediately report a resident to Maidstone Borough Council for fly-tipping, the parish council is willing to write a letter to any property owner to help them understand why what they per- ceive to be an innocent act actually can have a devastating effect on the environment and other properties. Delicate habitats exist in some


areas, especially in Walderslade woodlands, and by tossing cut grass or shrubs over a garden fence this introduces pesticides, nutrients and diseases into the woods.


Two new councillors welcomed


CLLR Geoff Hayday was wel- comed to the parish council after being co-opted at the full council meeting to fill the vacancy in South ward. The two new councillors, Geoff


Hayday (pictured) and John Constable, both live within the Grove Green area.


Geing the council word out


BOXLEY Parish Council tries to take anyopportunity thatcomesitswayto connect with its residents. OnMay15, councillors attended the


St John’s School fete with a display about what the parish council does. Cllrs Vic Davies and Pat Sullivan spoke to residents and signed up many to the parish council’s commu- nity alert scheme. In the north of the parish, Beechen


Hall is the local polling station and a displaywasarranged for the localand general elections withmanyresidents visiting the parish office, with ques-


tions and queries. The parish clerk found herself talk-


ing to Pat Marsh on Radio Kent after- noon show which the star presenter hosts alongside Erika North. The team has a roving mobile phone and during their popular afternoon chat and phone-in they try to talk to three people in Kent. Theparish councilhasanemailalert


systemwhichprovides information to residents on planning issues, crime spikes, road closures etc. Sign up to this at the parish office.


Deposits onto other land, includ-


ing verges, add to the unkempt condition and encourage fly-tip- ping. Any plastics or wire caught up in the rubbish can be ingested or get caught around animals. Inconsiderate flytipping can


build up and dry against a fence, causing a potential fire hazard, and there have been situations when pathways and accesses are re- stricted by piles of rubbish includ- ing gardenwaste. Dedicated garden waste bins are available from Maidstone Council


for fortnightly emptying, and local authorities supply various ways of disposing of “extra” waste includ- ing house-to-house collections, re- cycling centres and bulky refuse collections. Details can be found at www.maidstone.gov.uk under re- fuse and recycling. Any offending properties reported to the parish office will receive a letter asking that the property owner rethinks their actions and in future disposes of any garden waste or rubbish re- sponsibly


Make most of your council


RESIDENTS in the parish pay, on average 52p per property per week for the parish council and this includes paying for a parish office inWalderslade. If you have an issue within your


local community, are having prob- lems finding who to contact in the principle authorities or don’t just understand how to complain or re- quest improvements then why not contact the parish council to see if they can help. The parish office can be con-


tacted by email or telephone, councillors’ contact details are on thewebsite and of course you can attend a parish council meeting. Chairman Bob Hinder explains:


“The parish council really wants to earn its manyweekly 52 pences and even if something isn’t in its remit to action, the office staff can generally advise a resident who to contact and the best way to get a response. “Whilst we may not necessarily


be the first point of contact, if a resident finds that they are getting nowhere or are lost in a council’s system. Hopefully, they will re- member that we are here and ready to try to help”.


There is no full council meeting in August. Next meeting is September 4


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48