News | Sponsored parish council Boxley ParishMail


CHAIRMAN: BobHinderCLERK: Pauline BowderyASSTCLERK:Melanie Fooks ParishOffice, BeechenHall,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 Moremeeting space at hall


WORK has begun to expand the smallmeeting roomat the parish council-owned Beechen Hall. The extension will more than


double the size of the current room andwill include sound proofing. Therewas also an identified need


to refurbish the toilets and thiswas included in the contract. The hall has had to close for five


weeks to coincide with the school holidays as most of the clubs close down during this period, but the parish officewill remain open. The extension will create an en-


trance and lobby area which will reduce the amount of heat lost fromthe hall. Beechen Hall was built in 1994


and hosts many regular clubs catering for young and old. It is also a popular venue for parties. Itwas builtwith a small commit-


Call to create


wildmeadows BOXLEYParishCouncil haswritten to Maidstone Borough Council about its grass-cutting regime. A member of public complained


that a beautiful wild meadow that had established itself on a wide verge at Grovewood Drive North had been cut down byMBC. Members are suggesting that in


some areas it might be possible to just mow a one-metre strip beside footways andmanage the remaining area as ameadow, creatingwildlife habitats. The parish council now manages


Weavering Diamond Jubilee Or- chard, half ofwhich is managed as a meadow with mown paths for walkers and dog walkers. Since the change in the maintenance regime, the bio-diversity of the area has ex- panded. Environment Committee Chair-


manWendyHinder said: “We know some people like closely mown grass, but I think themajority of res- identswouldsupportmorewildlife- friendly verges. “It may also provide a financial


saving for Maidstone, which is a win-win situation.”


22 Maidstone East August 2018


tee room which can hold about 12 people and which is affected by noise fromthe hall. With a larger meeting area and


soundproofing it will be a much more flexiblemeeting space for be- tween 25 and 30 people. The parish council’s committee


meetings are currently held in the parish office at Beechen Hall, but willmove to the new room,mean- ing less disturbance for the office. It is also hoped the facility will


attractmore income fromhirers. The cost of the building work, about £180,000, will be paid for


Reserve hit by vandals


THE hot weather has brought out theworst inafewyoungpeople,with a serious increase in vandalism in Vinters ValleyNature Reserve. Two Police Community Support


Officers are now going to patrol the reserve after a seat by the lake was set on fire (pictured right). Youngsters have also been using


catapults and fishing in the lake, which is prohibited, and one young- sterwas seen in the lake,which is ex- tremely dangerous. The reserve which is a charity and


managed by a Trust for the benefit of local residents. It also very popu- lar with dog walkers and nature lovers, and is often referred to as a “green gem”. Chairman Vic Davies said: “The


hard-workingwarden and volunteers maintain the reserve to an extremely high standard and it is incredibly up- setting to find seats and fencing de- stroyed, but also thewildlife habitats are being trampled andwrecked.” Local information is that the


youngsters, someas youngas14,ap- pear after school and in the early evening. Anyone witnessing vandal- ismis asked to ring 999.


Boxley Parish Council chairman


BobHinder said: “It isn’t every young person going into the reserve that causes problems, but sometimes young people when they gather in groups lose their inhibitions and silly play turns into destructive play and this needs to stop. “Any parent whose child comes


home obviously having been in dirty water or smelling of smoke needs to have a conversationwith themas to what they have been up to”. The parish council pays an annual


grant towards the cost of maintain- ing the nature reserve,which also re- lies on public donations,and trustees are concerned that the efforts needed to repair or replace the dam- aged structureswill impact on future work.


fromreserves created fromhall in- come, some funding from the parish council and a £90,000 Public Works Loan. Future hire income will be used to pay back the loan. Vic Davies, chairman of the es-


tates committee, said: “The popu- lation in the immediate area to the hall is growing and there is a need formore flexibility in the facilities. “Any well-used building does


after a while show its age and the flooring and toilets desperately need refurbishing, so it makes sense to have just one shut down period and do the lot. “It is causing a lot of inconven-


ience to some of our regular clubs but hopefully when they see the end result theywill approve.”


Off-road alert


ONCE again, off-road and quad bike riders are damaging fragile habitats at BoxleyWarren and also speeding around urban areas, en- dangeringmembers of the public. Any person who hears or sees


this type of activity should report it via 999 or 101. Chairman BobHinder said: “Un-


less the public report this illegal ac- tivity the statisticswon’t support a request to have the PoliceOff Road Teamcome to the area.” Those caught riding illegally are


generally given a caution and a lec- ture.On the second report they can have their bikes confiscated.


Bulky refuse


THE parish council will join other parish councils inwriting toMaid- stone Borough Council requesting the return of the bulky refuse col- lections. The borough stopped the six


weekly visit of the freighter about four years ago and, since then there has been a huge increase in flytip- ping. Members feel that it is more cost-effective to reinstate the serv- ice then it is to be constantly send- ing out teams to pick up rubbish.


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