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refused conversion and extendion of stables atHeronden in East Su�on Road into a residential annexe.
Hunton
Play equipment The village received new play equipment for the playing field,which has been given the thumbs up from children and adults alike. Christmas Fair The Christmas Fair raised an impressive £233 for the Friends of St Mary’s, £380 for StMary’s Church and the remaining £139would be put aside to go towards this year’s event. HeraldAn advertising co-ordinator is needed for theHuntonHerald. The revenue fromthe spaces sold helps to cover themagazine’s production costs but also for donations to good causes. CallHelen if you can help on 01622 820810 or email
herald@hunton.org.uk Huntones The singing group nextmeets on April 5 (TBC). Call Sue Pinks on 01622 820709 Hospice After the death of Ruth Porter, more than £3,200 has been raised for Hospice in theWeald,where she spent her last days.
Langley
Sign Communitywarden Dawn Riach- Brown reported that the 30mph sign knocked down near Grasslands had been reported to
KentHighways.Members heard she continues to carry outwelfare visits in the area and to advise vulnerable residents about current scams. Bus stopMembers heard the bus stop marker on the Su�on Road, near The Po�ing Shed pub,was nowin place. Further effortswere to bemade to chase progress on the bus stop at The Plough. Data protection The clerk had a�ended the KALC Data ProtectionWorkshop and reported thiswould need to be discussed at a futuremeeting as therewould be a requirement for newpolicies to be introduced and for an independent data protection officer to be appointed to oversee compliance. Green The village green had been tidied and the noticeboard inHeath Road taken away for refurbishment. CaravansMembers agreed to offer no comment on a planning application from Rumwood Green Farmin Su�on Road to build a cold storage building and relocate agriculturalworkers’ caravans. PreceptMembers agreed the budget for 2018/19 and to set the precept at £15,000; this equates to £30.16 per Band D property and is a 10.17%decrease on last year. DonationMembers agreed to donate £25 to the Kent Pond and TreeWardens, Maidstone. Speed surveyMembers heard a survey of traffic on the Leeds Road at Langley had recorded data over a fullweek in December. It recorded the average speed of traffic travelling northbound at 33.4mph and a slightly higher 33.7mph among vehicles travelling
south.Most vehicles going northwere travelling at 37.7mph or less and 35.7mph going south.
36 Maidstone Weald March 2018
Sutton Valence Parish Council chairman Eve Poulter and Bill Laidler, of East Kent Freema- sons, at the handover of a defibrbrillator installed outside the village hall
downsmail.co.uk Defibrillator could be gift of life
VILLAGERS have been handed a brand new piece of equipment – but in truth none of them will ever want to have to use it. An automatic external difibrillator has
been installed outside the village hall in North Street, Sutton Valence, thanks to a community partnership between East Kent Freemasons, Suffolk-based Community Heartbeat Trust and the parish council. With more than 100,000 people in the
UK suffering sudden cardiac arrest in a public space, equipment such as this can be vital, as their chances of survival are in- creased by up to 50% if a defibrillator is used promptly. Representatives from the Women’s In- stitute, a dance group, football teams, Sut-
Play areaMaidstone Borough Council’s inspection report of the play area and recreation ground showed no defectswith equipment, but noted thatmosswas starting to accumulate on thewet pour
service.Members agreed to get this treated.
Nelestead
Bollards Residents in Bryants Close are to be asked thoughts on howparking problems in the areashould be solved.A leafletwas to be delivered to residents asking for feedback. The decision followed discussion about various options including bollards being placed on the grassed area. The land belongs toMaidstone Council, which has said that once funding is available they can be installed. Golding Homeswill also be installing a bin store in the area to help. Charity Cllr Jackie Benne� reported that the Christmas Fayre had been a great success and raised £250 for Cha�erbox. MagazineMembers agreed the rate for advertising in the parishmagazinewill rise by £2 to £37 for a quarter page, but remain at £70 for a half and £130 for a full page. Hallwork Chairman Cllr DavidMeredith updatedmembers on thework that has started in the kitchen at the village hall. KGV Field CllrAnita VanHensbergen reported that the fieldwas looking good. The clerkwas to checkwithAll Seasons GroundsMaintenance that thework to cut
ton Valence Gardening Association, flower arranging and fine arts societies – all of whom use either the hall or the nearby sports field – attended a recent handover ceremony. Eve Poulter, chairman of the parish coun-
cil, said: “I would like to thank all those who havemade this possible. “The generosity of our local Freemasons
and the support of the Community Heart- beat Trustmean that our parishioners can use our facilities confident in the knowl- edge that should a problemarise, themost up-to-date and effective equipment is on hand.” The Community Heartbeat Trust has so
far providedmore than 3,000 public access defibrillators.
back tree branches had been completed. FootpathsMembers agreed a suggestion by the clerk to carry out an audit on trees owned andmaintained by the parish council in relation to its footpath and highway responsibilities. Councillors agreed thiswould be paid for fromthe council’s Contingency Budget, but if it becomes an annual commitment itwould be included in next year’s budget. CrossingMembers resolved tomake no comment on a planning application from Network Rail to upgrade the level crossing atWateringbury. Donations Itwas agreed a cheque for £400 will be presented to Cha�erbox and £100 to theHeart of KentHospice at the next parish councilmeeting.
Staplehurst
TreesMembers agreed to spend £240 on further investigations by GRS Arboricultural Consultants on an oak tree at Surrenden Field and £215 on a survey and report on trees at Staplehurst Youth Club’s ground. Hedges Councillors agreed to reject a quote for cu�ing the hedges at Jubilee Field and, instead, look at engaging the services of the Community Payback team.A quotation for £1,460 fromForestry First to cut the hedges at Surrenden Fieldwas agreed, although memberswere only prepared to commit to the arrangement for one
year.No decision
wasmade on the arrangement for cu�ing the hedge and grass at the youth club site untilmembers had a copy of the cost in 2017 to comparewith. FundingMembers heard £9,370would be received in Parish Services Scheme funding fromMaidstone Borough Council as a result of its Parish Services Scheme funding agreement. The chairman and clerk agreed it should sign the funding agreement for 2018/19. ValuationChairmanCllr Burnhamused his casting vote to reject an independent valuation, costing £825, on Surrenden Playing Field andNicholsonWalk. It follows a decision by officers atMaidstoneCouncil to reject a £5,000 offer fromthe parish council for the freehold of the
land.Members felt thatwhile the quote provided supporting evidencewith regard to the costs thatwould fall to the parish council in maintaining the space, other aspects, including the independent valuation,might add no furtherweight to the parish council’s case. Wimpey FieldMembers resolved not to accept a quote of £2,100 fromSoutheast Groundworks to extend the footpath at Wimpey Field by 70m. Data protection The Parish Office had started auditing the personal information it holds following aworkshop aboutmeeting the requirements of newregulations regarding data protection. Tesco fenceMembers agreed to take no further action over Tesco’s plan to put a fence along the north side of theA229 railway bridge. The parish council had objected to the application but had found therewas no route to challengeMaidstone Council’s decision to approve the applicationwithout substantial costs. In BloomMembers backed Staplehurst Horticultural Society’s in BloomProject and decided to invite a society representative to give a talk about the project at a futuremeeting. BT box The clerk had sent photos of the telephone box at Church Green to BTwith a request for it to be repaired and
ITEMSwere stolen froma house in Maidstone Road, SuttonValence. Atrailerwas stolen inHasteHill Close,
BoughtonMonchelsea, froma residential garden. Aglazed, aluminiumback door and
framewere damaged during an attempted break-in to a residential property in Burston Road, Coxheath. In Pye Corner,Ulcombe, a vehiclewas
takenwithout consent. Number plateswere removed froma
vehicle parked inGallants Lane, East Farleigh. Agarage at a residential propertywas
broken into in Collier Street. Awhite/black Ford Transit tipper truck,
registration F964***,was stolen froma commercial compound in Cooper Lane, Marden. In KnowleHill,Ulcombe, itemswere
takenwithout consent including fencing. At Crispin Court, Coxheath, a vehicle
parked in a residential parking baywas foundwith its tyres slashed.
repainted. Retailing The Parish Officewas gathering information about retail premises in the village and had been advised that Sainsbury’s planned to open its store by 2020 and also intended to develop the petrol station site. SignMembers heard themissing street sign in Crowther Close had been reported toMaidstone Council in October, but a replacementwas still awaited. Councillors heard a call to the council had revealed it was dealingwith a backlog andwould process the replacementwhen it had enough requests to justify a bulk order. Graffiti The caretaker reported graffiti on Surrenden play area had been cleaned and CCTV footagewould be checked. Summer playscheme The summer playschemewill run in themorning from July 31 toAugust 3 and in themorning and afternoon fromAugust 6-10 andAugust 13- 17.An open daywould be held on July 30. Staplehurst Schoolwas to be approached as the venue. Friends of Cllr Spearink reported that good support fromthe public had allowedwork by the Friends ofWimpey Field to progress ahead of schedule,with some spending planned for 2018/19 brought forward. Progress on the fieldwouldmean greater focus on thewoodland next year. TravellersMembers agreed a jointmeeting should be arranged as soon as possible to follow-up on its consultationwith neighbouring parishes over gypsy and traveller planning applications. Councillors felt themeeting should be in Staplehurst, with invitations extended beyond the parishes initially consulted. Website CllrAshby reported that the parish council’s newwebsitewould be fully operational fromApril 1. Jubilee Field Cllr Riordan reported that the newstorage container had been delivered and installed. Borough Cllr Perry reported thatMBC’s Planning Commi�ee had refused a proposal for land south of The Gables and thanked Cllr Burnhamfor speaking at the
meeting. Cllr Perry reported that hewas seeking to engage stakeholders to take forward ideas for regeneration of the Staplehurst station area; itwas noted that the initiative should include Sainsbury’s and Tesco,which own land in the vicinity.
Su�on Valence
SafetyMemberswere told the clerk had bought the fire-proof safe, as agreed. Mast Councillors heard that the clerk had received a request to place amast on parish council land, though no response to a request for ameeting had been received. Tree Itwas noted a tree preservation order had been placed on a specimen at 5 Southways. AppealMembers heard that an appeal regarding land next toWestholmewas now likely to be heard onMarch 20. The parish councilwould need to a�end to request S106money for its play area. Garden Councillors agreed not to comment on a request for a change of use on farmland at Larch Barn in Babylon Lane, Hawkenbury, into a domestic garden and for a detached garage. PlansMembers heard approval had been given for a single-storey rear and side extension,with changes to the garage, at WindChimes inChatway Street; and for a retrospective application for part demolition of stables to create a two-bed house at Kings Head inNorth Street; and roof alterations at Cherry Trees,East Su�onRd. Horse plan Councillorswere told a retrospective application for a newentrance and access track to an equestrian development inHeniker Lane had been refused. Donation Councillors agreed a £50 donation in response to a request fromFive AcreWood School for a donation (seven pupils fromSu�on Valence a�end this school) and £50 to the Three Su�ons helpline. Ofsted The clerk is to send the parish council’s congratulations to Su�on Valence Primary School for its good Ofsted rating.
NeighbourhoodWatch
Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police Awhite Ford Transit van, registration
AX08***,was stolen froma farminGallants Lane, East Farleigh. AVauxhall Zafirawas damaged on one of
itswindows. The vehiclewas parked in Huntingdown Road, Coxheath. Also inHuntington Road, a rear
windscreenwas smashed as the vehiclewas driving down a road owing to an object hitting it. In The Cockpit,Marden, youthswere
seen damaging a garden fence. AVWGolf, registrationW889***, parked
on the roadway awaiting recovery at Forge Lane, East Farleigh,was stolen. Cropswere damaged by quad bikes and
motorbikes driving through fields at Chegworth Road,Ulcombe. InHuntington Road, Coxheath, a Skoda Fabia, registration KF02***,was stolen from
the driveway of a property. Six photinia bushes, about 6ft in height,
were stolen froma residential garden in Linton. In Vicarage Road, Yalding, a vehicle
parked in the roadwas found keyed and with a tyre slashed. Youthswere seen damaging a garden
fence inMarden. In StMargarets Villas, Collier Street, a
vehicle parked in the roadwas taken without consent. InMedwayAvenue, Yalding, a puppy
was taken froma gardenwithout consent. In South Lane, SuttonValence, a Ford
Transit parked on the road had been broken into and various types of computing equipment stolen fromit. Aresidential property in Cornflower Drive,Marden,was broken into.
Maidstone Weald March 2018 37
Parish Councils
Crime reports
Parish Councils
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