downsmail.co.uk


spend £765 on the repair. Community event Cllr Symes had asked to hold an event on February 23 at the village centre. This community event would involve representatives of various groups and services. The event was agreed in principle and Cllr Symes would investigate planned financing and report back. Library proposals It was agreed that KCC’s draft proposals undervalued Staplehurst library, which should be rated as Community Plus rather than Community level. It was agreed to respond highlighting the community use of the library and the expected growth in population due to new housing developments. Council surgery Cllr Buller said the surgery had been very busy. Subjects raised included:mud and parking problems due to the work at Hen and Duckhurst Farm; bus service delays; inconsiderate parking at road junctions; poor lighting between the health centre and The Parade; unauthorised signs on parish council land. Redrow Homes The first two units were now occupied. Councillors who had visited the site though the work was well organised. Family fireworks Cllr Riordan said the event had been very successful and a�racted about 2,500 people. The Scouts had built an impressive bonfire, the Community Payback teamhad helped with fencing and the organisers had experienced delays in the processing of the road closure application. Merit award Cllr Riordan said the 2018 recipient had been chosen and was being invited to a presentation at the council’s Christmas event.


Suon Valence


Play area repairs The estimate for work on tower at Village Hall was inadequate. A revised quote had come in at £820 as opposed to the £382 quoted. Car park Vinyl signs had been ordered for the for parishioners’ car park. Trees TheWoodland Trust was offering free trees to schools and communities. Bus stop Work on the stop at the village hall was ongoing and after a consultation,


FOUR out of six windows in a caravan have been smashed in Old Tree Lane, BoughtonMonchelsea. A farmbuilding was broken into in


East Street, Hunton.A portable compressor and a battery cell froma forklift were stolen. AMercedes Sprinter van parked in the


road inMill Bank, Headcorn, was broken into and a generator was stolen. A ball bearing was put through the


window of a house in Old Loose Hill, Loose. A Ford Transit van parked in Linton


Road, Headcorn was broken into.A scanner and charger were stolen.


30 Maidstone Weald January 2019


if there were no objections it should be in place in the new year. Allotments Le�ers were being sent to two holders who had not paid last year’s fees.


Yalding


Welcome packs Several properties had changed hands and confirmation was needed that packs were being distributed. Packs needed to be prepared for Countryside to leave in the new properties on completion. The Lock needed 19 packs urgently. Sub-stationsAfter the 2013 floods, UKPN proposedmoving the sub-station at Lyngs Farmhouse to Lyngs Close and to raise the sub-station at Burgess Bank. However, it then said this would not be possible as it would reduce the feed to Benover Road. The chairman would try to get someone to review this. Mobile phone There was a parish council mobile phone and a rota and process for handing it over each week was agreed.A list of emergency contacts would be drawn up. Sign requestMaidstone Borough Council had agreed to provide a sign atMount Avenue directing towards properties in the cul-de-sac. The clerk would chase this up. Cale The ca�le had been removed from the Fen early for security reasons.Work needed to be undertaken to stop them escaping. Pavement parking The chairman would write to the police asking for enforcement on obstruction.A further response had been circulated fromHelen Grant. Bollards Themeeting heard that the bollards on the Lees were difficult to see in the dark. They would be looked at. Village hall The street light on the Benover Road corner of the car park was wired for CCTV. It was suggested that the parish council and the village hall commi�ee could look at jointly installing CCTV. Website The website had been put on to a new platformbut it was thought not to be a�ractive or easy to use. The Lock-up Two contractors were approached for quotes, but only one was received. It was agreed to accept the


quote of £1,180 fromTop2Bo�om. Play area A RoSPA report said the equipment and safety surface needed an overhaul and some updating. There were some S106 funds fromthe Glebeland development and some grants available fromMBC. Lees picnic area This was now closed, as were the toilets. Theymay still be opened at weekends in fine weather. Some work was needed on access to the field from the winter hardstanding, where water pooled in heavy rain. The CCTV was on test. The signs would be ordered. The cleaning of the toilets needed reviewing. Playscheme Three options were discussed for 2019: not to run it; to run it with a replacementmanager or to contract it out. The new pre-school manager could be interested in running it but would need help. Play Place, the contractor used by Staplehurst, was available to run the scheme, but there were costs involved. The decision was deferred. Highways improvementsA plan for improvements would be drawn up with JennyWatson. The plan will include: Town Bridge; HGV weight restriction; Benover Road speed limit; lorry parking in the lay-bays by the Hop Farm; and Hampstead Lane/Lees Road junction improvements. Cobbles The cobbles on Benover Road had been redone. The chairman would contact the relevant Kent County Council official to offer some observations. Fingerposts Heritage Signs had quoted £1,495 for another finger post. The clerk had applied to County Cllr Paulina Stockell for a grant. It was agreed that the first post would be erected atWoodfalls. Broadband It was agreed that the parish council would share the cost of installing broadband at the village hall with the pre-school. The village hall would install and set up the contract and cross-charge. Memorial benchAmembers of the public requested a bench on The Lees picnic area to remember her nan, who had spent a lot of time there as a child, hop-picking. She would pay for the bench installation and would be happy to maintain it. The chairman suggested a sitemeeting to agree a location and a design.


NeighbourhoodWatch


Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police A cash pointmachine was stolen froma


supermarket using a JCB stolen froma nearby building site in High Street, Headcorn. A whiteMitsubishi L200, registration


number F468***, was stolen in Shenley Road, Headcorn. A Vauxhall Vivaro van parked in the


road in Slaney Road, Staplehurst, was broken into and tools were stolen. A Ford Transit van, registration


number PJ11***, was stolen fromthe road in Headcorn Road, Staplehurst. Both number plates were stolen froma


Renault Clio parked in Stockett Lane, Loose. A house was broken into in Chartway


Street, Sutton Valence. Jewellery and cash was stolen. Both number plates were stolen froma


BMW116 parked in Busbridge Road, Loose.


Parish Councils


Crime reports


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40