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 Measures to


savewoodland THE parish council has signed a Section 106 agreement so that if the KCC-owned land atWildfell Close is sold, the money generated from the sale plus ownership of the re- maining 34 hectares of Ancient Woodland will pass to the parish council. The councilwould look to set up


a charitable trust tomanage it. The parish council has set up a


working group with councillors and members of Walderslade Woodlands Group to guide it, but nothing can be done unless the land, which has planning permis- sion for nine houses, is sold. Parish Chairman Bob Hinder


said: “The parish council has for many years been working with County Cllr Paul Carter and KCC to bring this project to fruition.” The parish council did persuade


KCCto submit themain part of the woodlands as a village green, but with insufficient KCC funding to maintain it, there was a need to consider an alternative approach. As part of the planning applica-


tion, the parish council, using the Kent Wildlife Management Plan, put together a 25-yearmaintenance and improvement plan, to be funded by the sale of the land.


Schools action


BOROUGH councillors received a pre-application briefing for the two schools on land next to KIMS. The parish council expects to re-


ceive a planning application very soon andwill notify the local com- munitywhen it does. Parish and Borough Councillor


Wendy Hinder said: “The parish council’s Environment Committee will try to meet in Grove Green when it takes the decision on this planning application. “I will try to get some of the


plans put onto the parish’swebsite and residentswill be able to access themon theMBCwebsite.” Many residents have expressed


dismay at more schools coming into the area which is already suf- fering fromtraffic overload.


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Bob Hinder, Keith Clark chairman of Friends ofWeavering Heath and Woodlands Group,Wendy Hinder, Anne Brindle andMick Davies


Volunteers tidy heath


VOLUNTEERS spent a lovely few hours litter picking at Weavering Heath, Grove Green. Residents and members of the


newly-formed Friends ofWeavering Heath andWoodlandsGroup found a bike, which was handed to police. Chairman Bob Hinder said: “It’s


great there are somany community minded people who pick up rubbish left by others. Some people don’t


Maidstone East November 2018


have any respect for open spaces“. The parish council supports com-


munity initiatives to pick litter and hasmany volunteerswho look after their own areas. Cllr Hinder added: “There are


loads of unsung heroes who go out on a regular basis. “The parish council cannot thank


them enough for their community spirit, time and effort”.


Traffic concerns over science school plan


BOXLEYParishCouncil’sChairman BobHinder is bitterly disappointed at one vital aspect of the decision to build a science school atGroveGreen.


The Secretary of State’s approval


of the scheme does not carry a con- dition that the applicant pays for yellow lines on Grovewood Drive South and adjacent closes. The planning inspector’s report


acknowledges there will be extra parking onGroveGreen but felt that this could be accommodated. Cllr Hinder said: “Obviously the


inspector has never lived near a school, nor experienced the incon- siderate parking that occurs.” The chairman, who spoke at the


Public Inquiry, added “The appli- cant’s representative informed the Inspector that theywere happy for a Road Traffic Order condition and I


have written to them asking that they honour the offer and show their support for the community whowill face additional traffic in an area already suffering fromconges- tion and problemparking”. The Parish Council has received


information fromthe agent that the applicant is reviewing the request. Parking in the Grove Green area


has increased due to the closure of the Park and Ride at Old Sitting- bourneRoadandthe introduction of parking charges atMote Park. Kent County Council Highways


Department has also asked that the applicant voluntarily pays for the parking restrictions. If they agree,


KCCwill arrange thework. The parish council has concerns


that yellow lines on Grovewood Drive Southandadjacent closesmay not suit everyone, and may just push the problem elsewhere. It recognises that there has to be a community consultation,where the pros andcons of having yellowlines are explained so residents canmake informed comments. Cllr Hinder added: “If the appli-


cant offers to pay for the yellow lines, theyhave to be consultedon. If they don’t honour their offer, the parish council is back to discussions with KCC and MBC, as both have declined to put in yellowlines.”


A249 roadwork public sessions


BOXLEY parish and borough councillors have been invited to a briefing session on the planned 18 month roadwork improvements forA249 Bearsted Road. A public briefing for the Vinters


Valley area is on October 23 atVin- ters Park Community Centre and GroveGreen andBearstedwill have a public session on November 6, at the Tudor ParkMarriottHotel,Ash- fordRoad,Maidstone (2-8pm).KCC will deliver letters to homes in GroveGreen area.Parish councillors are planning to attend the Novem- ber 6 session in order to obtain com- ments and views from residents. KCChas already been informed the A249workwill likely clashwith the newSTEMsite andthe parish coun- cil will attempt to identify possible mitigation or information systemto try to lessen the impact on residents. Cllrs Wendy and Bob Hinder are meetingwith Cllr Paul Carter on 15 November and will be specifically discussing this issuewith himand a senior Highway Officer.


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