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Bearsted Parish Council
www.bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk
Geo - please put bearsted masthead on here. Thanks!
Acting Clerk: Erin Sugden
Vacant seats WE ARE still looking for appli- cants to fill four spaces on the parish council. If you are local and can spare some time, we would re- ally appreciate your help. To increase the diversity of the council, we are looking for new ini- tiatives from people with the skills to make them a reality. For details, please come to the next full council meeting or contact the clerk. We are also inviting residents to
help the council with next year’s public events. If you can help with organising and volunteering, please contact the clerk.
Trees lit up ONE of the parish’s Christmas trees will be lit at December’s Mar- ket on the Green to the sounds of The Kent Police Band. A second has come to life on Egremont Road, and snowflakes have been installed at the Madgin- ford shops. Thanks to Cllrs Jon and Fabienne Hughes for decorating the trees. We had to buy and install a second set of lights this year, as the tree on the Green has grown. The carol service around the tree
on the Green is on Wednesday, De- cember 18. Please bring a torch.
Office closure THE parish office will be closed during Christmas from 4pm on December 18 and 9.30am on Jan- uary 6.
Emails will be monitored, but
any emergencies relating to local services should be reported to the relevant contact numbers in the Bearsted Parish Booklet.
Call for sites THERE were six proposals for Bearsted in the borough’s Call for Sites development document pub- lished earlier this month. Since then, BPC’s planning com-
mittee has considered these and will take action to oppose further development within the parish.
Bearsted in winter bloom
THE parish planters are ablaze with the colour of winter/spring pansies. Our thanks go to Cllr Hughes and Cllr Michael Bollom for planting them. The geraniums have been placed in a greenhouse for a return next year. Bulbs will also come through in the spring.
Tackling traffic and over-development
THE parish council is working on multiple fronts to prevent in- creasing traffic and development in the borough from blighting Bearsted. We have identified that vehicles
are increasingly using Spot Lane, Roseacre Lane, Yeoman Lane and Ware Street as cut-throughs to the M20 J7, to avoid queues on the Sut- ton Road, Willington Street, Ash- ford Road and New Cut Road. As a result, we have formed a
joint traffic group with Boxley Parish Council to find ways of mit- igating these issues. Our findings will be put to both the county and borough councils. Much of the increased traffic is
due to development along the A274 Sutton Road corridor. In recognition of this, Bearsted’s planning committee is also keep- ing a close eye on future develop- ments outside the parish which may impact our roads. The development of the Popes Field schools in Boxley, for in-
stance, was vehemently opposed by us, and letters of objection have also been put into MBC against further development at Bicknor Farm, Otham, and the application for a further 440 houses at Church Road, Otham. Both developments would have a serious traffic impact on Spot Lane. A particular concern is the pro-
posed A249/Bearsted Road Im- provement Scheme between the Notcutts and KIMS roundabouts which, if successful, will improve traffic flow on this limited stretch of road, but simply move conges- tion to the adjacent junctions. A meeting with KCC’s project manager and traffic modelling ex- pert has been arranged, so the per- ceived benefits and consequences of the scheme can be discussed. Within the parish, the recently formulated Highways Improve- ment Plan identifies the need for crossings along Ware Street, where discontinuous pavements force pedestrians to frequently cross the
road. The feasibility of these is cur- rently being discussed with KCC. The plan also highlights the need
for traffic-calming measures along Ware Street, Roseacre Lane and Yeoman Lane. Monitoring and speed surveys have been carried out at both Roseacre and Yeoman Lane as a prerequisite to gain KCC’s commitment to introducing measures. The plan also calls for re- strictions on dangerous parking on corners of roads around the parish. A consultation on speeding and pedestrian safety has been con- cluded with the residents on a sec- tion of Ware Street, and a proposal for double yellow lines and some limited parking is currently being finalised with KCC. Finally, Bearsted Parish Council
has responded to MBC’s Local Plan Review about growth in the bor- ough. We feel the effects of devel- opments on road and infrastructure must be considered before planning applications are agreed, to ensure growth is sustainable.
Firework success
MORE than 3,500 people enjoyed our firework display in the Eliza- beth Harvie field on November 8, with the Best of British music. The fireworks were exceptional,
and lasted over 20 minutes. We hope everyone who attended was able to enjoy hot food and drinks supplied by the Scouts, Girl Guides, Cuppa and Ibi’s Kitchen. Thanks go to volunteers who helped steward and scan every- one in, along with our councillors who assisted on the evening. A big thank you to our acting
clerk Erin Sugden who organised this fantastic event on behalf of BPC.
BEARSTED PARISH COUNCILLORS AND STAFF WISH ALL OUR RESIDENTS A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
28 Maidstone East December 2019
downsmail.co.uk
Office: Madginford Hall, Bearsted, ME14 8LH 01622 630165
Emails:
clerk@bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk deputy@bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk
Chair: Michael Bollom
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