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Signs help, butweight restriction still needed


Woodcut Farm funds appeal to


parish council BEARSTED & Thurnham Society appealed to the parish council to donate funds to help a legal chal- lenge against the development of Woodcut Farm, near Junction 8 of the M20, by the Campaign to Pro- tect Rural England (CPRE). The clerk said she awaited the


application from the CPRE, after which it will be discussed by full council. The challenge aims to have the


Woodcut Farm development – which would see a large industrial estate, including offices, built on farmland close to Bearsted village – removed fromMaidstone Borough Council’s Local Plan. It has the support of the joint


parishes group, Bearsted & Thurn- ham Society and the KentAssocia- tion of Local Councils. CPRE’s arguments against the


application include failure to have regard for supply and need in ad- joining boroughs and air quality concerns. Full story, page 8


Harvie hedge


to be replaced WORK to replace hedging and in- stall fencing at the ElizabethHarvie Field will cost £1,600. Chestnut posts are to be used and the re- planting is to be done when it is seasonally appropriate. Harlandwill carry out thework. Removal of hedging at the field is


to be carried out by a separate com- pany,Arbour, at a cost of £740.


Resignation


COUNCILLORDanConner has re- signed fromBearsted Parish Coun- cil.


He thanked the council for its


support and hewished the author- itywell going forward.


SIGNS banning lorries using Bearsted village as a cut through to the M20 when the motorway is shut for repair work have been erected at both ends But parish councillors heardKent


CountyCouncilwill be approached with a viewto introducing aweight restriction in the village from the A20 to the roundabout near New Cut Road. CllrMikeCuming told the parish


council: “More signs showing ‘Un- suitable for HGVs’ have been put up at the roundabout end…to sup- plement the Lorry Watch signs which are not very substantial and unlit. “I am still waiting for the sub-


stantive reply from Paul Carter (KCC leader and county councillor for Bearsted) to my repeated re- quests for roadmarkings.” Parish councillors have heard nu-


merous complaints about articu- lated lorries “thundering” through Bearsted village each time theM20 is shut for carriageway repairs. HGV have ignored diversions


along the A20 in favour of the vil- lage to get back onto themotorway while works are carried out be- tween J6 and J8.


MP Helen Whately was told by


villagers they were being kept awake at night by noisy trucks. Mrs Whately outline local con-


cerns at a meeting with Highways England representatives, who con- firmed this was not the correct di- version, and agreed to improve signage. They also agreed to send inspec-


tors to reviewthe situation, and put a team in place to direct traffic to the appropriate route. She said: “People in Bearsted told


me theywere having a terrible time with huge lorries thundering


Sharingworkload of events


BEARSTED Parish Council is to call onmembers of the public to join working parties so that events can run evenmore smoothly. The authority has recognised


that councillors do not always have the time to devote tomas- sively popular events such as the fireworks displays, summer play scheme and the Christmasmar- ket. So it has floated the idea of


creating working parties to har- ness the expertise of local people whomight be prepared to volun- teer time to one ormore event. The issue was raised by Cllr


Fiona Redman at the full council meeting on December 12, who


said the latter fourmonths of the 2017 calendar year “has been particularly full on”. Chairman Richard Camp said:


“There’s always going to be times when we can’t devote as much time to the council as we would like…but being on the council is about giving time to things.” Cllr Helena Goodwin said: “We


should be thinking about using the website to askmembers of the public to give a few hours, or if they have a skill they are will- ing to donate.” If anyone would like to help do-


nate their time or expertise to the council for any event in the future, please contact the clerk.


Donation to lunch agreed


ANAPPLICATION for a donation of £100 towards the Holy Cross Men’s Group lunch for older gentlemen was agreed by the parish council. The cash helped cover the cost of the hall hire.


This page is sponsored and edited by:


Bearsted Parish Council www.bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk


22 Maidstone East January 2018


through the village, rattling their windows and stopping themsleep- ing. “I wrote to Highways England


and called ameeting to explain that lorry driverswere not using the ap- propriate diversion to avoid the works at J6 to J8 and askwhat they planned to do about it. “I’m impressed that they took


such swift action to put up better signs and direct drivers to the cor- rect route. “I hope people in Bearsted will


now be able to a good night’s sleep!”


Policeno-show


isquestioned COUNCILLOR Paul Young has asked the parish clerk to “chase up” the police PCSO after a num- ber of crime reports in the Bearsted area which had come to his atten- tion. In a shift of policy byKent Police,


there is no longer a force presence at parish councilmeetings. No one attended theDecember 12meeting.


Retainer repair


A QUOTE from the Harland com- pany to replace an oak retainer on The Green near the pond and play areawas agreed by full council. The workwill cost £3,000.


Season’swishes


MEMBERS of the parish council wished parishioners in Bearsted a happy new year and hoped every- one had a peaceful and restful Christmas period.


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


01622 630165


clerk@bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk Richard Camp


MEETINGS HELD SECOND TUESDAY OFMONTH (7.30PM) AND THE PUBLIC IS VERYWELCOME


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