Village News - Boughton Monchelsea
Click here for the latest newsletter from the Parish CouncilBoughton Monchelsea Parish Council Newsletter
Issue No: 42 November 2007
Boughton Monchelsea Parish Councillors Wish all residents a very Happy Christmas And a peaceful New YearAnd invite you to join them for:
Carol singing on The Green, Church Street Monday 17th December 2007 at 7.30 pm Followed by mulled wine, hot soup and mince pies. Music by Maidstone Salvation Army Band. We look forward to seeing you.Cllr IAN ELLIS:
After 12 years as Chairman of the Parish Council, Cllr Ian Ellis has decided to step down due to pressure of work and other commitments. At its meeting on the 6 November members recorded a vote of thanks for his unstinting service to the parish in general and to the Parish Council in particular. Cllr Ellis has been a parish councillor for 28 years and will be remaining on the council.
Cllr DOUG SMITH:
The Parish Council is pleased to welcome Cllr Doug Smith who was co-opted onto the Council at its meeting on the 3 July. Cllr Smith represents North Ward, along with Cllr Robin Fuller and Cllr Tony Boden. Cllr Smith is also now on the Planning committee. His discipline as an architect is appreciated by the committee.
BOUGHTON COURT - ADOPTION OF ROADS AND SEWERS:
Despite repeated attempts by the Parish Council to get the statutory authorities to adopt the roads and sewers on the estate, there is still no sign of this happening. There appear to be two problems. Firstly the adoption by MBC of the balancing pond which takes the surface water from the estate. Wimpey (the successors to McLean the developers) has still not supplied the necessary methodology statement required on how the functioning of the balancing pond should be tested. There are also repairs required to the surround of one of the boreholes. The second problem is adoption of the sewers by Southern Water. Parts of the system where not laid in accordance with adoption requirements. Cllr Robin Fuller is pursuing Wimpey on both counts to try to get an early resolution so that the necessary sewer adoptions can take place. The County Council will not adopt the roads until these drainage matters have been resolved. Until such time, the roads, sewers and open spaces remain the responsibility of Wimpey.
FURFIELD PARK:
The Parish Council offers a warm welcome to new residents taking up occupation in this development.. If you were unaware, Furfield Park is in Boughton Monchelsea Parish (North Ward). There is still a vacancy in North Ward for a parish councillor. If any resident is interested in being co-opted onto the Council, contact the Clerk for further details. The Parish Council would welcome representation from new residents in this development.
BOUGHTON MONCHELSEA AMENITY TRUST:
It is perhaps worth mentioning here that the Trust has now taken ownership of the landscape strip on the south side of the Furfield Park development, together with Long Shaw. The landscaping strip will eventually be planted up by the developer prior to it being handed back to the Trust for future management along with Long Shaw. Remedial works to the former Furfield Quarry are nearing completion, when the Trust will decide whether to exercise the option it has on this land to acquire it. The former Brishing Quarry is also now in the Trust s ownership. Management of the former quarry land is currently under consideration.
WALK MEADOW:
Walk Meadow is now owned by the Boughton Monchelsea Amenity Trust having been transferred to it by the Parish Council. Following complaints about the grass cutting regime in 2007, new arrangements have been agreed with the contractor. The Trust hope to make some improvements in the amenities at Walk Meadow with the provision of some informal seating. If you are dog walking in the area, please use the dog bins provided for their poo - which brings me onto the contribution received below on the subject!
THE PHANTOM POO-BAGGER OF BOUGHTON MONCHELSEA
- Strung on a fence, put in the hedge
- Some wrapped in pink placed on a ledge
- The phantom poo-bagger walks again
- In Haste Hill Road and Gandys Lane
- Resplendent bags of blue wrapped poo
- Old Tree Lane is a sufferer too!
- Why trouble to bag it then leave it behind?
- It won t grow legs folks and it isn t kind
- Meadow View, The Quarries, Haste Hill Road
- Bins not far to carry the load.
- When your pet pooch makes a mess
- Do you wrap it up to keep it fresh?
- Because
- There it is for all to see!
Anon
Serious message - please use the bins provided or take it home.
CONSERVATION AREAS - APPRAISALS:
The Borough Council is to carry out an appraisal of the three conservation areas in the parish, starting with The Green. The other ones are The Quarries and Cock Street Conservation Areas. Once the document is drafted, there will be a consultation period before any revisions are adopted. The Borough has offered to arrange a meeting and / or a walk about where any interested parties will be able to discuss any questions they have with MBC s Conservation team.
'PACT' - PARTNERS AND COMMUNITIES TOGETHER:
PACT is a multi agency initiative that involves the sharing of information between agencies and parishes working together to reduce anti-social behaviour. The first Boughton Monchelsea PACT meeting was held at the village hall on the 27 November, chaired by PC Stuart Thomas of Kent Police Rural Neighbourhood unit and Laura Shave, Boughton Monchelsea s PCSO (Police Community Support Officer). Also there was Cllr John Marsh representing the Parish Council / Neighbourhood Watch; KCC Rural Wardens and eleven residents. Laura had previously leafleted the village for expressions of concern and had 80 returns - one of the highest responses so far for a PACT meeting. The survey identified the three areas of most concern to residents; speeding (77%); parking (48%) and litter (30%). The meeting discussed ways of tackling these issues and appointed a panel of residents to take these issues forward comprising Barry Boulton, Jim Stout, Leon Dale and Cllr Karen Filmer. The Police and Rural Wardens will be addressing the identified concerns which will be reviewed at another meeting in six months time.
SPEEDWATCH:
Speedwatch, the Parish Council s initiative tackling speeding in the parish is live and operating on a regular basis. However, the scheme requires more volunteers to operate it. At present with limited numbers, it can only operate mainly at weekends. If anyone is able to help, please contact Cllr Peter Herrin Tel: 746484. Peter would be particularly interested to hear from residents who might be able to offer their time during the day, and in particular to man operations on Green Lane and Haste Hill Road, two particular areas of concern expressed at the PACT meeting. Kent Police will be stepping up its own speed checks on these roads and Heath Road.
PARKING:
Another area of concern at the PACT meeting was inconsiderate parking on estate roads and abuse of the double yellow line parking restrictions at the junctions of Church Street and Church Hill with Heath Road and at the Albion. Please respect these restrictions as they were put in for safety reasons.
LITTER - CLEAN SWEEP 27 October:
Another successful sweep if you can call collecting 40 bags of litter from our streets and lanes a success. Is it any surprise that it featured high on the list of concerns at the PACT meeting. A band of 17 volunteers spent the morning collecting this mountain of rubbish. Cllr Karen Filmer is leading the campaign to clean up our parish with the aid of the scouts . Volunteer litter pickers required - contact Karen Tel: 744292.
PCSO LAURA SHAVE:
The parish is fortunate to have been allocated a Police Community Support Officer, Laura Shave. Laura covers Boughton Monchelsea Chart Sutton and Loose. However, due to the administrative boundaries within the Borough, Laura does not cover Boughton Court or Furfield Park. This is covered by Jon Ridgeway from Parkwood. Laura and Jon head up matters of anti-social behaviour and should be your first point of contact.
BUS SERVICES:
Cllr John Marsh represents the Parish Council on the South East Maidstone Rural Transport Group. Through this Group, the Parish has managed to get timetable cases put in at all the stops in the parish and is now looking to get improved bus stops east and west bound at Marlpit. The Parish is pressing for the 89 service to diverted through the village to establish a link to Coxheath. The Parish Council would like to gauge the demand for a such a service. If you think you would use it contact John Marsh Tel: 747515 with the times and days you would find most useful.
HIGHWAY MATTERS:
Brishing Lane junction with Heath Road is still a major cause of safety concern to the Parish Council. Kent County Council has introduced a new method of prioritising schemes but this one does not yet feature - mainly because it has been lumped into a group of lower priority schemes put forward by the Parish. This is being addressed and it is hoped the scheme will be reassessed. After much badgering, KCC has finally got around to erecting Unsuitable for HGV signs at either end of Brishing Lane. Whether HGV drivers will take any notice, time will tell. The village gateways have now been erected, but the Parish Council is waiting on KCC to lay the red surfacing and verge lining.
YOUTH SHELTER:
A youth shelter has been ordered and is due to be erected shortly in the recreation ground. With the aid of grant from Cllr Fitzgerald s devolved ward funds, the Parish Council is also arranging for tarmac paths to be laid into the play area from the village hall car park and the field.
PARISH E-MAIL CIRCLE:
Cllr Noel Mitchell has started a parish e-mail circle for sharing local information and events. To join the circle, e-mail Noel at noelmitchell.mail@virgin.net.
TOUR DE FRANC:
On Sunday 15 July, regulars and visitors to the Albion Inn and the Cock Inn staged the Tour de Franc between pubs in aid of charity. Vast crowds gathered along the route to cheer on the participants and throw money ( and a lot else) at them. Little training was required apart from exercising the right arm lift and sorting out suitable attire. Fortunately, no road closures were required to disrupt the tranquil peace of Green Lane but it did slow down the speeders. Thanks go to Jo and Dave at the Cock, Julie and Josh at the Albion and Graham Clarke for the publicity material. This together with other fund raising events raised 611 for Bower Grove School in memory of Sarah Woodhams.
APPOINTMENT OF NEW PARISH CLERK:
After five years as Clerk to the Council, I have decided to call it a day . The Parish Council is therefore seeking a new Clerk from the New Year. Advertisements are in place and it is hoped that a replacement Clerk will be found shortly. Anyone interested should contact Derek Gouldsworthy; e-mail clerk-bmpc@tiscali.co.uk or tel: 744391 for further details. Closing date for applications 25 January 2008.
