downsmail.co.uk Barming


Parish fieldMembers reviewed the plan for newplay equipment and therewould be a sitemeeting to discuss exact locations. Itwas felt therewas a lot of grassma�ing around some of the equipment but not others – Cllr Goochwould query this. It was agreed to accept the revised plan and costings. Cllr Goochwas given delegated powers to proceedwith the order. Concrete removal The quotations that had been received for the play areawere discussed and itwas agreed to accept the quotation for £360 plus Vat. Tree workA good job had been done on lifting the trees at the play area and the stump needed to be ground out. This would be done immediately. Boundary CllrManser proposed to accept the quote fromAndrewDoe to top the maples next to Church Lane and remove debris. Thiswas agreed. The clerkwould contact the groundsmaintenance teamto find out howhigh they could reachwith hedge trimmers. Information board The quotation for the board at the bridge had not yet been received. Cllr Goochwould chase it and the itemwas deferred. Annual parishmeeting CllrManser offered to send invitations to all hirers. Cllr Gooch suggestedmoving the event to Barming school as therewould bemore parking. Cllr Goochwould investigate cost. Pavilion The light fi�ingswere said to be old and difficult to access, and Cllr Gooch suggested that theywere replacedwith LED units. Seven unitswould be needed in total. Cllr Goochwould look into suppliers. Cllr Vizzard offered to install them. Itwas agreed to proceedwith the replacement at an approximate cost of £200. Quarry There had been complaints about blasting at the quarry – tremors could be felt as far down as Bull Orchard. Cllr Goochwas awaiting a response from Gallagher’s.


A GREY 1.5 tonne digger was stolen from a building site in Forstal Road, Allington. A commercial property and its shed


were broken into in Ashford Road. A cat was shot by pellets that appear to


be from a BB gun in AllingtonWay, Allington. An outer building was broken into and


various items stolen in Ashford Road. A bike was stolen from outside


Starbucks in King Street. Wing mirrors have been ripped off a


vehicle parked at a house in Plains Avenue, Shepway. Paint was thrown over a vehicle in


Sussex Road, Shepway. A Vauxhall Astra was broken into and


tools were stolen inWoodford Road, Fant. A vehicle was damaged in Hampshire


Drive, Shepway. A back passenger window was


smashed on a car in Barker Road, Fant. A window was smashed at a house in


Church car park There had been complaints about large amounts of li�er – peoplewere visiting the area in the evenings. Cllr Gooch said the borough councilwould not collect any rubbish as it was private property and a barrier needed to be installed. The clerkwould raise the issuewith the PCSO and ask formore patrols of the area. BankyMeadowThere had been complaints of a smell of cannabis and large numbers of people had started to congregate on the footpath. Therewere concerns that drug-dealing could be taking place. The clerkwould informthe PCSO.


Loose


School parkingA le�er had been received froma governor at the primary school outlining the parking issues. Itwas agreed that the clerk should reply saying the problemwas ongoing. Pest control A complaint had been received about rodents. Itwas agreed that this issuewas outside the parish council’s delegated powers. Neighbourhood plan The examiner’s response had been positive. The field at Herts Crescent should be removed from the repost but everything else remained. The next stagewould be the issue of a final report for parish council agreement. 125 years The agenda for the 125thAnnual ParishMeeting onApril 24was discussed. Itwas agreed that inviteeswho had declined to a�end should be removed fromthe agenda. Allotments Urgentwork had been needed to hedging along the Valley Drive/Bray Gardens footpath. The £85 cost had been authorised on delegated powers. Fence The fence by The Chequerswas said to need urgent repair. Thiswould be referred to the environment commi�ee for urgent action at their nextmeeting. Duck race Due toMBC requirements, the amenities associationwould be charging entry to Brooks Field. The flat area by the streamhad been invaded by badgers, and


the LAA had asked to place top soil on the area to even it out. Thiswas approved. Playing fieldA junior football teamand a volleyball teamhad expressed interest in hiring the field. Itwas agreed to take on both teams pending further details.


Tovil


Co-option Ronald Hales-Reedwas co- opted on to the parish council. Alley gatingAnother request for alley gating had been received fromresidents in Church Road. The chairman had approached KCC Cllr Paul Cooperwho confirmed he could fund this project from hismember’s grant. Itwas agreed to go aheadwith this project. Staff reorganisation The post of clerk would be taken up by Lisa Racke�, and clerkAlison Chewwould continue as responsible finance officer. The clerk wouldwork 28 hours perweek and the RFOwouldwork 15 hours perweek. Burial Ground Lane Therewas a discussion about parking and obstruction of the footway. The council agreed to place notices on cars parking on and obstructing the footway. Health and safety Itwas agreed to supply office staffwith Skyguard alarms so that the office could be open all year round. Therewere concerns about the safety of loneworking but the chairman explained that thiswas dealtwith by a risk assessment. Treememorial Therewas a discussion about the planting of a tree in a tribute to themanmurdered in CrisbrookMeadow. Itwas agreed to speak to Valley Conservation Society on condition that the parish councilwould need to hear from the family directly; therewould be no plaque on the tree; the VCSwould choose the treewhich needed to be in linewith the five yearmanagement plan. Dog waste Cllr Susan Hogg said there had been an increase in dogwaste not being picked up and put in the bin. She asked the council to stay vigilant.


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


Quarry Road. A vehicle was keyed in Knightrider


Street. A car was found keyed in Arundel


Street. A vehicle parked in the road had a side


window smashed in Kent Avenue, Shepway. A brick was used to smash the window


of a vehicle parked in Chatham Road. A rear number plate and a rear light


unit were removed from a vehicle in Woodside Road, Shepway. A store window was broken by


somebody using a paving slab, before running off in Boxley Road. There was an attempt to break into a


property in Egerton Road by kicking in a door. A vehicle was damaged in Plains


Avenue, Shepway. It was the second time this has happened when the vehicle was parked in this location. A corner sofa was stolen from under an


open car port at a house in Colyn Drive, ParkWood. An Audi S4 parked in the road was


broken into and a bag was stolen in Sutton Road, Shepway. A wing mirror was broken off a vehicle


parked in Chatham Road. Graffiti has been sprayed on a property


window inWrangleden Road, Park Wood. A shed at a house was broken into in


Grove Road, Shepway. A mountain bike, tools and garden equipment was reported stolen. Tyres were stolen from a vehicle parked in the road in Bicknor Road, ParkWood.


Maidstone May 2019 29


Parish Councils


Crime reportss


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