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contacted KCC, which owns the steps. Enhancement groupA request had been made for Parish Enhancement Group funds to plant six fruit trees at Bowhalls. This was approved up to £94.94.


Yalding


Police newsA new sergeant, Sgt Nick Hatcher, had been appointed. The chairman was corresponding with him about pavement parking. Bus route The clerk was arranging a meeting with Nick Smyth and Stephen Pay, of KCC, regarding the possibility of routing a bus via Yalding station. Welcome pack There had been quite a few properties changing hands and confirmation was needed that the packs were being distributed. Packs needed to be prepared for the Countryside to leave in the new properties on completion – The Lock needed 19 packs urgently. Sign requestMBC had ordered a sign directing to properties in the cul de sac at MountAvenue. Jubilee FieldA sitemeeting would be held to check the gate against the drawing to find out if there was a problem. Bollards It had been reported that the bollards on The Lees were hard to see in the dark. Cllr Gough would look at them. 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 funding this jointly. Cameras that were on or overlooking the highway could only be monitored by police, although the parish council could install them. There was currently nothing in the budget for this. Hall broadband It was agreed that the parish council would pay half, along with the pre-school. This would have to be in the name of the parish council so that VAT could be reclaimed. The router had arrived and the chairman was in discussion with Callflow. Sports association The Yalding and Laddingford SportsAssociation (YALSA)


A Ford Transit parked in the road in Cobfields, Chart Su�onwas stolen. Someone broke into a business premises


and stole groundwork equipment in Gallants Lane, East Farleigh. Awindowwas smashed at a house in


Huntington Road, Coxheath. A rag-stonewall has been damaged and


the rag-stones stolen in Busbridge Road, Loose. Approximately 6-8m2 of leadwas


stolen fromthewindows of a building undergoing constructionwork in Stocke� Lane, Coxheath. Four containers on a farmwere broken


into in Linton Road, Loose. A body of an excavator has been stolen


in Forstal Lane, Coxheath. A barnwas broken into in St Helen’s Lane, East Farleigh.


needed a new secretary and treasurer and moremeeting should be held. They needed to look at registering it as a charity tomove forward to new facilities. Cllr Gerrish agreed to look at the accounts. The new chair of the football club was keen to get involved. The Lock-up The contractor had been appointed but work was delayed by bad weather which would affect the lime mortar. Allotment fencing The Diocese agents, Savills, had given permission for the fencing to be installed and agreed to cover the cost. Cllr Sanders recommended installing hawthorn fencing on the churchyard side of the fence. The allotment association had agreed to this and would undertake this part of the installation. Land inspectionsAll visual inspections of council land had been completed and there was nothingmajor to report.A RoSPA report stated that the play equipment and safety surface needed an overhaul and some updating. Some S106 funds would be available from Glebelands and there were some grants fromMBC. Neighbourhood planA session was held with the consultant to get his feedback on progress. The objectives had now been refined and were at the final stages of sign-off. There had been discussion about a call for sites, and the intention ofMBC was still unclear regarding future allocation of sites.Ameeting had been arranged. Flooding updateA new contractor had been appointed for the section 1b properties and had visited the area with the EnvironmentAgency to understand the scale of the project. Playscheme The clerk had been investigating the three options, which were not to run a playscheme, which would save the parish council between £500 and £2,000); to find a replacement manager – the new pre-schoolmanager might be interested and had a lot of experience but would need a lot of hand- holding for the first year; or the contract out the running of it. Play Place, which


was used by Staplehurst Parish Council, did not charge a fee but charge for its hours and for administration. It also had plenty of equipment. The chairman proposed contracting it out for at least a year, and this was agreed. Countryside stewardship Natural England had said that The Lees was no longer eligible formid-tier funding. They had indicated that itmight be worth investigating the higher tier funding, but themaintenance would bemore stringent. The clerk would speak with Medway Valley Countryside Partnership beforemaking a decision. It was agreed that a standing order/policy be wri�en on how the land should bemanaged for the future with an annual review of funding available. Pond creation scheme Possible sites for reinstatement of ponds had been identified. The chairman suggested a site meeting withMVCP to look at the areas before a decision ismade. Highways improvements JennyWatson and Steve Henson were looking at a plan to remove the priority at the bridge from Benover Road. This would necessitate no parking in front of The Bakery and possibly outside Lyngs Farmhouse. Residents would need to be canvassed.A mini-roundabout at the junction of the bridge, Benover and Lees Road would be costly. KCC had no funding for any sizeable work and it would need to be funded by the parish council or the county councillor. The clerk would draft a highways plan, listing all the potential projects. Men of Trees The parish council had been highly commended in the competition and had won another tree. It would be a hornbeam, and there was a flowering cherry fromlast year. Elections Parish council elections would take place inMay. Councillors intending to stand were asked to informthe clerk. The election would be advertised. Hedges There were several overgrown hedges covering the footway along the Lees Road. The village hall footpath behind Killicks Co�age was said to be impassable and would be reported.


NeighbourhoodWatch Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police Twomenwere seen breaking into a


business compound and building in Eastwood Road, Ulcombe. Theywere disturbed and left. Nothing appeared to have been taken. Fencingwas damaged at a house in


Kings Road, Headcorn. AMercedeswas stolen froma driveway


in Pickering Street, Loose. Someone broke into an outbuilding at a


farmin Dean Street, East Farleigh. Commercial buildings and containers


have been broken into inWell Street, Loose. Various items including plants


have been stolen. Two outhouseswere broken into at a


home in Hampstead Lane, Ne�lestead. The bonnet, the front and radiatorwere


stolen froma Vauxhall Vivaro van parked in an industrial site in High Street, Staplehurst. A barnwas broken into and awood


chipperwas stolen in South Lane, Su�on Valence. Awindowwas smashed on a


Mitsubishi L200 parked in the road in Alen Square, Staplehurst. Nothing appeared to have been taken.


Maidstone Weald March 2019 37


Parish Councils


Crime reports


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