Parish News and Announcements

Beaver Scouts Update

A new Beaver Leader has been found in the shape of long-time resident, David Lyne. However, David cannot run the Colony single-handed, so until he gets some offers of help, the Colony is still not able to re-open.

So - please, if you can spare 2-3 hours a week to help out with our local Beavers and give some enthusiastic 6-8 year olds, boys and girls, lots of fun, please contact the Scout Group Chairman, Alan Poulton, on 01622 843019 - thank you.

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News from Maidstone Borough Council - Mote Park Improvement Scheme

YOUR views are sought for planned Mote Park improvements! [Click here for a plan of the proposed scheme.]

Improved footpaths, conserving wildlife and better disabled access could be just a taster of what is to come for Mote Park if a Heritage Lottery Bid is successful.

The bid, which would be worth £2m if granted, will allow Maidstone Borough Council to conserve and enhance the park. The council will also add its own money to the project. The application for the lottery bid has to be handed in before the end of September. If it’s successful detailed designing will take place during 2009 and construction will begin in 2010.

The public has already been consulted on what they would like doing to the park and now draft proposals have been drawn up and more comments are needed. The public is being asked to have their say at an exhibition to be held within the park.

The exhibition will be available from Saturday, July 5 to Sunday, July 20. This latest round of consultation at Mote Park will be manned by the project team on Saturdays and Sundays between 10.30am and 4.30pm. At other times there will be questionnaires available for visitors’ comments. The exhibition is being held in the maintenance building in Mote Park which is behind the main toilets near the pitch and putt.

The draft proposals include more footpaths and pedestrian access. There will be an inner circuit around the lake and outer circuit around the 450 acre park.

The former rich wetland wildlife habitats around the lake will be re-instated and the wetlands along the river Len will be managed as a nature reserve. Smaller centres with toilets, catering facilities and parking will be provided near the Willington Street and School Lane entrances.

Trees which were lost in the last century will be replaced and the council will be working with the Kent Wildlife Trust to enhance wildlife habitats across the park. The council is also considering the re-introduction of cattle grazing in selected areas.

The park’s heritage will be protected and brought back to life. This will include ancient route ways, medieval buildings, deserted settlements designed landscapes, a country house and parkland buildings.

The draft proposals have already been developed from consultation, survey and research carried out over the past five months. The reports from this consultation can be accessed at www.digitalmaidstone.co.uk.

If you have any further questions about the exhibition call Jason Taylor, Parks and Open Spaces Officer on 01622 602753 or Green Spaces Strategy Officer Eva Girling on 01622 602735.

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News from Leeds Castle (taken from the Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held 2nd June 2008)

From Chief Executive, Mrs Victoria Wallace

Mrs Wallace reported that 2007 had proved to be a bumper year for the Castle with some 580,000 visitors – even more than Chatsworth! Visitor numbers this year have started well, but are largely dependent on the weather.

In the past there have been concerns expressed about the affect the larger concerts and events held at the Castle have on the local villages. There is good news on that front in as much as the Castle now intends running a number of smaller events, under 6,000 capacity, with attending vehicles being accommodated in the main car park rather than the Burberry Lane fields, etc. and preventing road closures and disruption to residents. The large scale concerts will no longer take place.

Other, new innovations on a smaller scale are planned for the year including arts events appropriate to the environment. These include performances by the Royal Marines Band, Music on the Lawns, Julian Lloyd-Webber, Shakespeare, a Family Prom and a big top which will seat an audience of 3,000 for a production of Carmen with Flamingo dancers from the Royal Opera House and horses, to name but a few. There will be reduced rate performances for children and only six fireworks evenings including November 6th – 8th (6.0pm for 1/2 hour duration) and New Year. There will be only one road closure in respect of a Castle event this year when Burberry Lane will be closed on 2nd October.

With regard to planning and development at the Castle, Mrs Wallace reported that a carriage shelter will be built for public visitors and school groups, etc., in which to eat picnics and shelter during inclement weather. Having been there since the 1940s and thus reaching the end of their economic lives, the greenhouses are to be regenerated and the Maiden’s Tower is also going to be renovated, including redecorating and rewiring, to be used as a wedding and conference area away from the visiting public – it is hoped that this should be opened for bookings by the end of 2009.

Mrs Wallace stated that when an entry ticket to the Castle is purchased it is valid for a whole year for day time events. The Castle tries to source things locally and in being keen to support its local communities is happy to ‘open the back door’ to local clubs and societies. Mrs Wallace is also willing to provide prizes for local fund raising events – applications should be made direct to her - Castle Office - 01622 767812

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An offer too good to be refused!

At the Annual Parish Meeting held on 2nd June, our Ward (Leeds) Councillor, Peter Parvin, stated that he has approximately £1,400 remaining 'in the pot' of his devolved budget and invited any Parish organisations to submit applications for a share of this money to be used towards projects, activities, etc. To apply, please contact Peter direct on 01622 673209 - his advice is, not to delay!

As of May, Cllr Parvin became the new Deputy Mayor and so from May 2009, he will thus be Mayor of Maidstone for the following year - if he can help out with any local issues, etc. he invites us to contact him as above.

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Update on Sewerage and Drainage Issues

The Parish Council has now been notified by Southern Water that their investigations and CCTV surveys of the public sewers in and around the village are complete. These have revealed that the sewers are in very good order, there is no root intrusion and they are running freely.

The survey did reveal a small, flat lying area with 'bellies' at the north end of Ashford Drive where the sewer has, in the past, been subject to blocking on occasions. In order to prevent further problems at this location, Southern Water have undertaken to continue their regular flushing regime, which has proved successful in preventing further blockages.

Tests have also confirmed that the main sewer running beneath the proposed Affordable Housing site in Ashford Drive > Broomfield Road, subject of considerable concern in the past, is flowing fast and free. No problems have been found along this stretch and the Affordable Housing scheme will be located 'down stream' of the flat area referred to above so will not exacerbate this issue.

Southern Water's Chief Executive Officer has also confirmed that the two most recent blockages that occured in April 2008, were both caused by foreign bodies in the public sewer, i.e. in Charlesford Avenue part of a bed spring was the cause whilst the larger blockage in Ivy Close and Chestnut Drive on 20th April was due to a number of rags being found in the sewer. An earlier blockage in Gravelly Bottom Road was caused by a length of rope in the system - it goes without saying that the Parish Council are concerned that items such as these are being found in the sewer and proving to be the cause of at least some of the problems.

In late October 2007, Southern Water corresponded with the Parish Council about earlier concerns. After due consideration, the Parish Council responded with a letter contesting certain points and reinforcing its views about unsolved problems. To read a report on the May 2007 survey investigation and site meeting, click here. To read Southern Water's October 2007 letter*, click here. To read the Parish Council's November 2007 reply*, click here.

(* = Opens in new browser window and needs Adobe© Acrobat Reader. )

Southern Water has requested that any resident who suffers future blockages report the matter to them in order that an accurate picture of the extent of the problems can be obtained and assessed.   Blockages should be reported (see below) regardless of whether the matter is resolved privately, or a true record of the scale of the problem cannot be obtained.

Southern Water has also reported that their Catchment Inspector has received information that some tanker drivers have been illegally discharging waste into the main sewerage system via manhole chambers, in the Kingswood area.   They ask that any sightings of such activities be reported immediately, as follows...

Southern Water’s Emergency 24 hour telephone number: 0845 278 0845.

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Fly Tipper Caught and Prosecuted

At Maidstone Magistrates Court on 23 April 2008 Andrew Keeves of Mount Pleasant, Tonbridge, pleaded guilty to the fly tipping of one carrier bag in Marden Road, Marden. Mr Keeves was fined £350 and ordered to pay costs of £800. He apologised to the court for his actions.

Fly tipping offenders can receive up to 12 months imprisonment and a fine of up to £50,000. Maidstone Borough Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Mark Wooding, said: “We will not tolerate fly tipping, and this is another example of how we’re clamping down on those who seem intent on blighting our countryside. As well as collecting evidence from dumped rubbish, we deploy covert cameras and use information reported to us by members of the public. Fly tippers be warned – we will catch you.”

Anyone who wishes to report an instance of fly tipping should contact the council’s cleansing hotline on 01622 602162.

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Chantille and ‘Albert’ make a winning team

Local Kingswood girl, Chantille Brown from Kingswood, and her family are celebrating her success in gaining second place at the National Championships of the Indoor Horse Driving Trials held at the Equestrian College at Keysoe, Bedfordshire over the weekend of 29th and 30th March 2008.

To see photographs and read more, please click here.

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North Downs Walks

Six circular walks of between 5 to 7 miles are planned for spring and summer 2008 along the modern North Downs Way and Pre-Historic routes on the Downs. For more information, dates and contact details, please click here.

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MVB Maidstone Seeks Volunteer Drivers

Not working? Any spare days in the week? At a loose end? Want something worthwhile on your cv? Perhaps you can help us?

The MVB volunteer transport scheme, which helps the elderly and disabled get to hospital appointments etc, is short of drivers at the moment! For more information and contact details, please click here.

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KINGSWOOD STREET CLEANSING SCHEDULE 2008

Maidstone Borough Council has advised of the planned street cleansing dates for Kinsgswood. To see the dates, please click here.

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STOP KENT INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY - PLANNING UPDATE, November 2007

STOPKIG.org, the umbrella organization formed by the community for the community to fight K.I.G.

CPRE Kent are strongly opposed to the KIG development proposal and are supporters of the STOPKIG campaign.

At the earlier public meeting on 6th July 2007, Dr Hilary Newport of CPRE, drew attention to the issue which will change how decisions are made about planning applications for large developments. You may already have seen or heard about the Planning White Paper through the media. Its proposals seriously affect and reduce people's rights to have a say in major decisions affecting our areas.

It is vitally important that your voice is heard NOW against this White Paper otherwise we may find new planning laws have removed our rights to object! In November, the Parish Council learnt more details about the KIG proposals. Please click here to read them.

Please read, print and send off the leaflet to make sure your voice IS heard, both now and in the future.  Click here (may take a few moments to load!)

You can also visit www.planningdisaster.co.uk to get more general information on planning procedures.

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DOG FOULING

Yet more complaints have been received by the Parish Council in this respect. Fouling appears to happen during the hours of darkness. It is a sad situation when all dog owners are branded as 'offenders' when no doubt it is only a few who are to blame. For pedestrians and cyclists, particularly children, this is a most unpleasant situation.

So please, once again, if you are a dog owner we ask you to CLEAR UP AFTER YOUR DOG by using the bins provided (including the additional bin at the east end of Charlesford Avenue), or by simply taking it home with you for disposal - remember, offending owners will be prosecuted if identified and could face a Fixed Penalty Ticket or even a fine of up to £2,500.

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