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Verge cut Cllr Salter spoke about the verge cut on part of Gibbs Hill and had asked the clerk to look into why they had not cut the verge above Rock Farm Co�ages. Footpath The KM178 path at the rear of the KGV field was extremely overgrown and the clerk would report this to the public rights of way officer. The tarmac was also breaking up.


Staplehurst


Ride-onmower Cllr Riordan discussed details of amower that had been identified as suitable formaintenance of the Jubilee Field.Members felt they neededmore information about the available options. It was noted that short termcu�ing could involve the hire of a mower or engagement of a contractor. It was agreed to contact StaplehurstMowers to ask about short-termhire of amower. ParkingA resident had contacted the parish council about parking in Gybbon Rise. It was agreed to ask the PCSO to a�end and be a visible presence, particularly at the start of the new school year, and to seek ameeting with school governors. Clerk’s report Volunteers were needed to helpmarshal theWimpey Field Biobli� event. Bovis Homes said it would be undertaking ecological and clearance works on its site north of Headcorn Road this year, with a view to starting construction next year. Hen and Duckhurst site SouthernWater had replied to questions about the site but had declined tomeet as the company was awaiting details of the developer’s proposals. Cllr Perry said he would ask MP Helen Grant to intervene. Cllr Buller asked that the planning consent for the Hen and Duckhurst site be checked for reference to traffic calmingmeasures. Tree work The clerk said the tree inspector had identified problems with two trees on land between the High Street and ChestnutAvenue, which he said required remedialmeasures, including


Aroadside bush inHeath Road, Boughton Monchelsea,was set alight by a group of youths. Acommercial yard inWest Street,


Hunton,was broken into and a blue Suzuki GSX750, GF06***,motorbikewas stolen. An oakwater buttwas stolen froma


garden in Linton Road, Loose. An outbuildingwas broken into in


Stilebridge Lane,Marden. ApottedMaple bushwas stolen froma


driveway inWell Street, Loose. Agroup of youthswere seen trying to


steal a kayak fromthe river bank in Hampstead Lane, Yalding. They leftwhen challenged by the owner. Astep ladderwas stolen fromthe rear of


a property in Pinnock Lane, Staplehurst. Ahome in Stilebridge Lane,Marden,was


burgled andmodel carswere taken. Children's scooterswere taken froma


garden in Bathurst Road, Staplehurst. Amotorcyclewas removed froma back garden in Lacey Close, Langley. Itwas later


felling of one tree.MBC’s tree officer had been contacted. Surrenden Field Cllr Perry asked about the status of discussions about the freehold of the field.MBC had rejected the parish council’s final offer and was aware that responsibility formaintenance after expiry of the lease would fall to the borough council as freeholder. Remembrance Day It was planned to put poppies on 24 lamp columns at a cost of £111.50. It was agreed to apply to KCC for a licence to display the poppies at a cost of £26.50.A donation of £85 would bemade to the Royal British Legion for the plastic poppies and ties. Installation would be arranged by the parish office.


Yalding


Elections Cllr Geraldine Brown was elected unopposed as chairman. Cllr Michael Steward was elected unopposed as vice-chairman. Village sign The replacement fingerpost at The Lees was on order.When it was in place, a project would be initiated to review and potentially replace all fingerposts and name plates. Pond warden Following an offer of bespoke training, ameeting was to be set up with the trainer. Weir pool The chairman was to chase a date for ameeting to discuss improved safety atAnchor Sluice. Pavement parking It was agreed to write toMP Helen Grant regarding parking on the pavement in Benover and Lees Road, as stopping pavement parking was one of her election pledges. Jubilee Field The headteacher was waiting for a company to come back to her with a wri�en plan which could be used to get competitive quotes.A grant was potentially available. Council phoneA Yalding Parish Council phone was now available.A rota and process for handing over each week was agreed, and a list of emergency contacts would be drawn up and circulated. Town Bridge The ivy on the bridge was


overhanging the highway and would damage the structure of the bridge. The KCC Highway engineer had asked that in the first instance, the parish council should write to the landowner to request removal of the ivy. Village green Cars were being driven across the green on leaving the village club car park onto Vicarage Road. It was agreed to look at the possibility of pu�ing up wooden posts on the edge of the drive. A sitemeeting would be arranged. Flood update Drop-in sessions for section 1b properties were well a�ended. However, the liquidation of UK Flood Barriers had had a serious impact on the timescale of the scheme. Projectmanager Andy Grey had had to go back to New Zealand and a new projectmanager would be appointed. Lees car park The programming and tickets had been agreed with Bripark. Li�er picking and opening and shu�ing by Jason Biggs was going well. The bulk bin had been delivered and the wording of themain signs had been agreed.A vehicle with trade plates had been parking in the car park – this would be checked with DVLA. Speed watch Cllr Stewart was still trying to get things up and running and an unofficial session had been held with one of the new volunteers. The 13 sites originally approved had not yet been confirmed by the police. Annualmeetings Themeetings were a�ended by almost 80 people, including councillors. The displays were well received, as was the buffet supplied by The George. Speed limit CllrMcLoughlin had addressed the annualmeeting to ask for support for a 20mph speed limit through the village. It was agreed to put this on the agenda, but CllrMcLoughlin failed to a�end the parish councilmeeting to put forward his ideas.Members felt that the proposal was impractical and unenforceable, but it was agreed that it should formpart of the neighbourhood plan.


NeighbourhoodWatch Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police


found nearby and the ignition had been tamperedwith. A67-plateMercedes Benz C220was


stolen fromHanmerWay, Staplehurst, alongwith amobile phone. Two youths, aged around 15,were


reportedly seen taking a green ladies bicycle fromTheQuarries, Boughton Monchelsea. Both number plateswere stolen froma


vehicle parked outside a house inWaverley Close, Coxheath. Awater cylinderwas stolen froma


driveway at a house inHeadcorn Road, BoughtonMalherbe. Garden fencingwas damaged in Linton


Road, Loose. ABentley lawnmower, a strimmer and


other garden toolswere stolen fromoutside a house in Sutton Forge,Marden. ALawnflight 420 XTS agricultural tractor


was taken froma private road in Collier Street. Itemswere taken during a break-in at a


static caravan in Goudhurst Road,Marden. AVWpick-up truckwas stolen from


Maidstone Road,Nettlestead. Valued itemswere stolen in a break-in at


a house in Bathurst Road, Staplehurst. AVauxhall Corsa parked in Surrenden


Road, Staplehurst,was damaged,with a wingmirror broken and the bonnet dented. The padlock and chainwere removed


froma secured gate at a field in Chartway Street, SuttonValence, but therewas no other damage.


Maidstone Weald August 2018 37


Parish Councils


Crime reports


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