East Malling and Larkfield Parish Council


Aylesford Newsprint Site There is still no decision on the future of this site as the application for a mixed use of commercial and houses remains undecided. The site is a brown field one shown on the current Local Plan for employment uses. But the Borough Council is under pressure to find more land for housing to meet Government targets. The big issues here continue to be the effect on the highway network and the flood- ing. Highways England have asked for more information on the effect on the M20 and more recently even the M2/A228 junction at Cuxton. KCC also seek more technical infor- mation and these complicated documents have all now been lodged. The Borough await the response from these two highway bodies. On the flooding issue the site is shown as within the River Medway flood plain as is much of North Larkfield. In theory liable to flooding if there was not flood wall although one exists as walkers of the towpath will know. It was built by the former National Rivers Authority some years ago to protect the then paper mills. But the national planning rules require the initial assessment as if no wall existed and there is then a trade off as to whether if the site were not used for housing if green sites would have to be released elsewhere. If it is decided it would mean use of green filed sites the existence of the wall can be taken into account and if other conditions should be imposed. At a site in


Aylesford the Agency wanted apartments with the ground floor being garages. This too is all under discussion.


Once both bodies are satisfied with the applicants technical responses there will be another round of public consultation.


Leybourne Way The parish council is continuing to press KCC to repair the worn and uneven surfaces along Leybourne Way especially at the Tesco Traffic Lights.


Parish walk The annual East Malling Parish Walk will take place starting at East Malling Village Hall, New Road, on Sunday April 8, starting at 2.15pm. The circular walk will include some of the paths crossing Forty Acres which has been put forward by developers as a housing site to the Borough Council. All are welcome. The walk is led by David Thornew- ell – call 01732 847415 for more information.


New Hythe Litter Following public com- plaints the parish council were grateful to the Borough Council clearing litter and other dumped items at the River end of New Hythe Lane. There is also litter on Network Rail land at the station and private land which has been taken up with the landowners.


Larkfield Church The parish council is respon- sible for basic maintenance of the churchyard since it was closed to burials. By the time you receive this some tree work should have


West Malling Parish Council


GP Surgery The practice manager had advised that the Council that a meeting should be pos- sible at the end of the month. She had advised that the property had not yet been sold, and repeated that the surgery would keep ‘a pres- ence’ in the High Street. The council endorsed the wording of the petition launched by Cllrs Dean and Stapleton.


Macey’s Meadow Spring is now on its way and soon we will all be enjoying the lambs back in our meadow. If you are a dog walker, please remember to keep your dog on a lead; Sheep worrying is an offence and all residents should be alert and report any incidents. To encourage further breeding of the Little Owls, two nesting boxes have been installed. The new hedge planting is now in place filling the gaps on the Norman Road side. Volunteer working parties on Saturdays have been arranged for March 24, April 7 and April 21. They will run between 10am and noon. Tools will be provided. All


meet at the container by the railway line near the mixed woodland.


Tennis lessons Children’s tennis coaching is now available at the tennis courts at Norman Road Playing Field. It is a fun-filled hourly session led by Jim and his team. From young beginners new to the game to players wanting to return and improve their skills. If parents are interested in their children having tennis lessons please contact Jim Barton on 07803 368450, jimtennis@yahoo.com or on line at jimmysten- nis.com for further information.


Allotments Looking forward to home grown produce this year? There are some plots available at the Ryarsh Lane Allotments. If you are resident within West Malling Parish you can secure a plot with a refundable deposit of £50. Yearly rent is £15. Please contact the Parish Clerk on 01732 870872 for further information.


LOCAL CONTACTS


Trudy Dean, Malling Action Partnership chairman E: trudy.dean@kent.gov.uk T: 01732 843 119 Citizens Advice Bureau – T: 01732 440488 Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council main switchboard – T: 01732 844522 Pothole reporting – T: 08458 247800


Travel Enquiries Nu-Venture Buses – T: 01622 882288 Trains – T: 08457 484950 Arriva Buses – T: 0871 200 22 33


Supported by


Village hall Mrs Javens has agreed to join the Village Hall Management Committee.


Footpath from Manor Park to Windmill Lane The landowner has assured the council that he will re-mark this path when ground conditions are less wet and crops reach six inches high.


Ryarsh sand pit proposal KCC has identified a need for up to 5million tonnes of soft sand to be extracted at two possible sites in Kent, one in Ryarsh and the other at Lenham. Mr Byatt had attended the public meeting to hear KCC officer’s presentation. The Parish Council agreed to raise concerns regarding traffic, safety of road access, and possible health effects of extraction.


Road Investment Strategy to 2025 Councillors agreed to reply to this government consultation document supporting the creation of missing east facing slip roads in the vicinity of Junction 5 of M25. This would reduce traffic currently using Junction 4.


been carried out including to allow more light into the east (altar) end of the church. It is also understood the church authorities are seeking a sign to say there are War Graves in the churchyard as have been put up at other local churches.


A20 Study We still await the outcome of the A20 study between Leybourne and Ayles- ford looking to see how the junctions might be modified to improve traffic flows. There has been work at the Hermitage Lane/A20 junction to ease conditions there with the McDonalds development.


Elsewhere work is still proceeding following the response to initial proposals which includ- ed an objection by the parish council to the replacement of the traffic lights at A20/New Hythe Lane junction by a mini roundabout. We though were pleased to see the yellow box as an initial move.


This, coupled with all the highway study work arising from just 500 houses at Aylesford Newsprint, underlines the problems of pro- viding for 6000 extra homes in the Local Plan review to meet Government planning rules.


East Malling War Memorial The parish council successfully had the war memorial listed a few years ago and is now looking into having work done particularly re-inscribing the names.


David Thornewell


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