downsmail.co.uk Coxheath


Bus shelter Actionwas in hand to repair the damaged seat in the bus shelter next to the school playing field in Heath Road.A meeting would be held with the contractor. Play area The gate spring at the lower entrance to the village hall play areawas due to be repaired. Lier picking Cllr Gordon Downwas organising regular lier-picking parties around the village . Library KCCwas consulting residents and representative bodies on library opening hours. Itwas not intended to reduce opening hours at Coxheath Library but Saturday opening could be adjusted to 9am-1pm.


Hunton


Police report Four crimeswere reported between May 4 and July 13 – a burglary on East Street, the theft of a motor vehicle on Hilltop, an aempted burglary on Redwall Lane and theft of a statue on Lughorse Lane. CommunitywardenAdam McKinleywas working closely with GP surgeries in Coxheath and Yalding to help residents with issues such as geing a lifeline, help with benefits, care, gaining access to groups and general support. Hewas helping two clients in Hunton referred by Yalding Surgery. He was trying to arrange a surgery with the PCSO on local issues. Playing field The low post and rail fence by the car parkwas to be replaced with a two- rail fence and gate. The multiplay equipment is to be refurbished and grant applications were being pursued with a view to buying a nest swing and replacing the safety surface under the play equipment. Village hall Hiring of the hall for teen partieswas to be limited to villagers. The insurance claim for the replacement of the hotwater tank had been approved. Village club Two working parties had taken place to tidy up and carry out routine maintenance. The hedge at the front had been cut back. No one had come forward to take over the role of chairman. LorrywatchAnumber of monitoring sessions had taken place on East Street.A new volunteer had come forward. Speedwatch Unavailability of members for personal reasons had meant that the group was struggling to get out regularly. Traffic and road safety Councillors agreed to form a working party to consider in detail what could be done to tackle the traffic problems and road safety issues.


Headcorn


The MeadowsAparishioner whowas seeking the support of the parish council regarding the appeal on the land known as The Meadows. The clerk would send details of the council’s objections to the parishioner andwas also asked to check that Ulcombe and Boughton Malherbe had submied their comments. The clerk advised that the inspectorate had resonded regarding delays in the start of the appeal process advising that the process could not start until all the relevant detailwas received from the appellant. BT Itwas noted that BT had been stopped from completing work on the installation of broadband cables by a resident on High Street who maintained that they had dug up his land. The clerkwas asked to look into the


36 Maidstone Weald September 2017


maer as itwas believed that the verge concerned did not belong to the property in question. If BT had to lay the cable in the High Street, this would lead to extensive disruption for the village due to the nature of the road surface/construction. Ragwort Cllr Davies reported seeing ragwort on two sites – to the left of the bowls club and on the land at Hammerstream. The clerk would report these.


Loose


Police report The PCSOwas unable to be at the meeting but sent a list of reported crimes. The deputy clerk said filming had been seen in the play area, which had been reported to the PCSO, along with the registration numbers of cars involved, by a member of the public. Criminal damagewas reported to the fencing in the car park of the King George V playing field. The youths had been caught on CCTV and this had been reported to the police.Achild on crutches had been knocked over by a dog (not on a lead) on the playing field. SouthernWaterAn email had been received from SouthernWater saying that no further workswere planned. Itwas agreed to write to SouthernWater and request a summary of work completed over the last five years. Busbridge Road White lines had been put down in Busbridge Road and a member of the public felt that motorists would steer clear of the lines and erode his property. It was agreed to email him to say therewas nothing the council could do as this had been sanctioned by Highway Services. Rockin RobinAcomplaint had been received about the noise from Rockin’ Robin in Campfield Farm, Haste Hill. The deputy clerk had directed the parishioner back to the council’s noise enforcement. SMARTTherewere about 25 volunteers for the Speedwatch scheme.With training and obtaining equipment itwas hoped the scheme would be running by September. Logo design The designer had come to the area to seek inspiration but had not yet got back with any designs. Defibrillator Therewas concern about having the defibrillators in the telephone box, including insurance, misuse and where English is a second language for some users. Itwas agreed to buy a defibrillator for the telephone box. If it could not be bought from this year’s budget, £500 would be put on the precept for next year. Mick Abbott would see if he could get an NHS defibrillator at a reduced rate.Adefibrillator sign would be put on the phone box at a cost of about £20 plus VAT. McAlpine Trust would be contacted to see if theywere able to make a contribution. Right ofway The planning committee updated the parish council on information received about the state of the footpath at Walnut Tree Lane and Copper Tree Court and issues regarding concrete retaining walls and barbed wire. The path had been viewed and therewere no blockages. The committee had agreed to look at permitted development rights and would decide a response by round robin. Brooks Field Therewas a potential risk with barbecues being used on Brooks Field. There had also been a complaint about the broken gate and the amount of lier being left. It was agreed to erect temporary signs on the gates to state “no barbecues” and asking visitors to take their lier home, and to look


into the cost of permanent signs regarding restrictions.


Marden


Bus service Norman Kemp of Nu-venture buses addressed the meeting. He said there was one commercial service to the village (No 28) whichwas mainly for schoolchildren. The other buses (about five per day)were funded by KCC. He explained that children aged 11 to 16 benefited from the Young Persons’ Travel Pass Scheme and the 16- to 17-year olds have the 16+ bus scheme for an annual fee of £280. From this fee, a token payment is made to Nu-Venture every time the pass is used. Senior citizens over 64 are eligible for free buses, and 94p per ride is passed to Nu-venture. Mr Kemp said new developments could mean more passengers but more traffic, which could slow buses down. He questioned whether a developer could be asked to pay for a beer bus service from S106 funding. The parish council had explored the possibility of this but a bus service is classed as revenue due to it being for the ongoing costs of the buses. Park and ride The parish council’s viewwas that some of the buses going from the proposed park and ride site could travel south towards Marden so that residents from outside villages could access Marden station without having to drive. Norman Kemp thought thiswas a sensible suggestion and said the planning inspector had suggested more park and ride sites. SpeedingAmember of publicwas concerned about speeding on Goudhurst Road and parking on the junction with Paenden Lane. The chairman said there would be an article in the next newsleer regarding Goudhurst Road with the enhancement of the gateway, installing a speed indicator device and a puffin crossing outside the school. The residentwas interested in Speedwatch and would contact the parish council for more information. Police report There had been four crimes since the last meeting including two cases of criminal damage (one arrest), a burglary and a vehicle break-in. Other issues included antisocial behaviour at Highwood Green and the new play area; neighbour disputes; parking issues at The Cockpit/Chantry Road; reports of cannabis in the playing field and four motorbikes seized at The Cockpit. Communication The next edition of the newsleerwas due to go to print. Details of the parish councillors still had to be added to thewebsite along with photographs. Caretaker position Interviews had taken place, a caretaker had been appointed and it was hoped that he could start before the end ofAugust. Cllr Newtonwas thanked for mowing in the absence of a caretaker. Play scheme This had been successful again this year and thankswere expressed to the clerk and the members of staff. Millwood Homes grant Councillors asked the clerk to draft a leer to the managing director saying that the company had not honoured its commitment to donate money towards the Memorial Hall. Village sign The Marden sign had disappeared from Goudhurst Road. Kent Highways had placed an order but it might be up to three months before itwas installed. The clerkwas asked to contact Highways regarding gateway improvements along this road to ascertain whether they would incorporate a village sign.


Parish Councils


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