Malling Mail


THE borough council plans to increase charges for shoppers and long stay workers in car parks in West Malling, and end free stays in Martin Square, Snodland and Aylesford.


And all renewals for permits within residents’ parking schemes must now be done online.


A public consultation was due to be launched on January 17, when the reasons behind the increases and the exact proposals woud be revealed. West Malling Parish Council and the Chamber of Commerce aims to set up a meeting with the borough council to discuss the effect charges are having on shops in the town. Traders in West Malling have reported to the parish council that they have lost sales as a result of the end of free parking, and some have closed as a result. Borough councillor and parish council chairman,


David Thornewell, has suggested that a survey is needed to find out how many people park all day in Martin Square to take long distance buses to London. Meanwhile, West Malling and Leybourne borough councillor Nick Stapleton has welcomed the consultation, saying: “It looked at first as though the council was just going to press ahead with the changes. “At least the consultation will give residents and traders


TWO local authorities have threatened their new waste collection contractor with financial penalties. Officials from Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge and Malling borough councils wrote to Urbaser on January 8, warning they intend to trigger clauses in the contract which could result in cash being deducted from payments if services do not improve. The councils say that “the time for excuses and apologies is over” and that, despite many assurances, improvements have not been made in the service. Tonbridge and Malling councillors have agreed to add more staff to the team dealing with resident complaints and


Councils rubbish waste services monitoring collection rounds.


Some residents have had the 12 months period for the charged garden waste extended to recognise the poor service. Council officials say some teething problems were expected and the amount of material recycled has increased, but the continuous flow of complaints about repeated missed collections from the same locations after more than three months of operations shows something is wrong. Many residents are calling for the contract to be taken away


from Urbaser, however councillors have decided to continue to work with the company to improve its performance for the time being.


A Malling Action Partnership publication


January/February 2020


Serving local people, businesses & events in Addington, Birling, East Malling, Kings Hill, Larkfield, Leybourne, Mereworth, Offham, Ryarsh, Trottiscliffe, West Malling


Parking plans to hit motorists and shops


an opportunity to have their say, and I encourage as many as possible to make their voices heard.” Shops everywhere are struggling to survive against internet shopping and free parking at local supermarkets, while residents claim there is a need is for more parking to attract shoppers in, not increased charges which will drive them away.


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