Untitled Document

From April 2002 - There was a lively discussion on the problem of litter. Although a squad from Maidstone had spent a morning collecting litter the previous week they had left as much as they had collected and the daffodils on the bank in the High Street had burst into flower against overwhelming odds. Parts of the Cherry Garden Estate were litter bound and there was fly tipping at the recycling site and on the Pilgrims Way. The Council Tip at Tovil was so inadequate that at peak periods cars had to queue for over an hour.

Although Swadelands School pupils did a magnificent job of litter picking last autumn and had intended to take further action in May it was the parents who objected to further efforts! Much of the litter problem arose because the many litterbins within the Parish were not being emptied sufficiently frequently. They overflowed and the wind scattered the litter to the four corners. Anticipating events, the Chairman called a special meeting to discuss the problem the following evening.
The Environmental Project at Lenham Heath is making progress. Charing Council has agreed to buy up land not need by CTRL and it is hoped that Lenham will do likewise. The owner of the sandpit has given permission for it to be turned into a nature reserve and many trees have been donated to the project. The Countryside Agency will maintain the area and the Woodlands Trust will plant and care for the trees.

The problem of the alien weed in Glebe Pond is serious which the ducks probably carried in. The Medway River Project has said it would help, but the cost of spraying has been estimated at £200 but more than one treatment may be necessary.
Liverton Hill is to be closed again, this time from April 2nd for eight weeks to lay new drains and do repairs. Meanwhile traffic is to be diverted via Ulcombe Hill. Ian Dunbar

Lenham Parish Council Meeting November 7th 2001

Public participation
Residents in Church Square Lenham, expressed their concerns over the proposed development of the Doctors surgery in Tythe Square, especially overcrowding, with three houses proposed (one with three-storeys). Other concerns included car parking and rights of way. With the new Surgery dependent on the sale of the old Surgery, it was asked if this would hold any sway regarding planning permission. The answer was no.

Jean Cockett raised the issue of tall communication aerials being erected in and around the Parish, and asked if the MBC had a mast strategy. The Chairman said the Parish Council had opposed the majority of installations with no success. It was not known if MBC had a mast strategy and further investigation would be carried out by the P/C.

Other public issues bought to P/C's attention included: Poor car parking control in the Square, MBC will be consulted; Carol singing around the Christmas tree in the Square will take place on the December 22 at 4pm; Enhancement Scheme volunteers have planted 1,000 bulbs around the Glebe Pond area, and also complained that waste bins were not being emptied regularly basis. The Chairman thanked CW and his volunteers, and promised to investigate bin emptying.

Chairman opened the meeting.

A Flowering Cherry tree will be planted at the Cemetery in memory of Michael Clark. Some five cars have been reported parking along the cemetery road and verge: Parish Policeman will investigate. Obtrusive Yews will be removed, and a request was made for a seat at the Cemetery. Golden Jubilee 2002 celebrations will be discussed at the December 12 meeting, with local societies invited along to float their ideas. A Parish Plan meeting is planned for January 23 in the Dog and Bear function room starting at 7.30pm.

Reports by Committees

Law and Order: Crime figures down against last month. Investigation is ongoing into Community Warden Schemes, and how they will effect Parish Constable recruitment.
Housing: Infrastructure work should commence on site on February 22 2002.
Transport & Highways: Little is being achieved on Highways repairs. Budget allocation and priority work seems to be the stumbling block.
Community Hall: Lottery Bid Submissions are being submitted in next two-weeks: fingers crossed!

Rail Link: Materials hauling will start again shortly - through the village and past the schools - as the track base is now laid and cannot be used as a road. Because of a total haulage block, achieved by Harrietsham Parish Council on East Street, it seems that more will be coming through Lenham. The P/C will be monitoring.
KCC Lorry Management - Leeds/Langley/Kingswood/Ulcombe: 17.5ton weight limit to be introduced, with Willington Street the perceived alternative route for vehicles accessing the M20.

Lenham Web site: Funding for the project is being investigated, and the merging of the two sites now available will take place.

Lenham Parish Council Annual Meeting 2001 (below)

Lenham Parish Council Meeting 1st August

Public Participation. Complaints of overhanging trees from Grove House are obscuring the lights. It was reported that the footpath from Ham Lane to Maidstone Road was overgrown at the Maidstone Road end. Miss Goodwin referred to a letter she had written to the LPC concerning the dangers of walking along the Headcorn Road from Sandway to Lenham, which raised concern by Cllr. Greenwood that should the Langley/Leeds Road restrictions be adopted it was likely to have an adverse effect on Lenham. Mr. Packman speaking on behalf of residents of Old Ashford Road expressed concern that nothing had been done to alleviate flooding. A letter from Mrs. B. Ogden drew various matters to the LPC's attention.
All these items would be dealt with through the appropriate authorities. There being no further items raised the Meeting opened with a welcome to Cllr. Mrs. Hounsom from Harrietsham and Cllr. S. Bate attending his first LPC meeting, after election last month.
2002 Golden Jubilee
Cllr. Osborne queried the response from village organisations. The Chairman detailed the three replies received but pointed out that views had been requested by mid-September.
Lime Trees, Royton Avenue.
Mr. Ault would carry out this work for £240.
Application for Dance Studio, Faversham Road.
Letters of complaint had been received from residents of Atwater Court regarding the work being undertaken in connection with the Dance Studio, but LPC would monitor the situation.
Lakehurst Developments.
Following details of the proposed Local Needs Housing Scheme for Platts Heath it was resolved that Lakehurst Developments Ltd. be informed that the LPC could not give their support to this type of Scheme.
LPC Memorial to the late Cllr. M. Clarke
A Flowering Cherry tree together with a plaque would be placed in the Cemetery as requested by the family.
Civic and Community Warden Scheme
Although Parishes without Parish Police Constables were more in favour of the Warden Scheme it was felt that it would have an adverse effect on the Parish Police Constable Scheme and that more funding for Regular Police would be effective.
Parking Permit Scheme
The new Scheme had now started and the Wardens had been in the Village.
Rail Link
A letter has been sent to KCC expressing concern at the lorry movements. It has now been agreed that lorries will use Ham Lane. Confirmation was still awaited.

(Editors note - REMINDER. Lenham 'Focus' draws your attention to Parish Council Meetings on the lst Wednesday of each month in the Village Hall starting with audience participation at 7.30 to 8pm but extended, if necessary, at the discretion of the Chairman. It is an opportunity to make your points or raise matters for discussion with the Parish Council.)

Lenham Parish Council Meeting: 4th April

Following the March application for a Dance Studio off Faversham Road, and in response to the Parish Council's request for more information, Karen Day (Applicant) gave a detailed description of her plans including times, days of working etc (these details may be found in the Parish Council Minutes held in Lenham Library). In public discussion some residents from Wickham Place expressed concerned about possible noise levels although Karen Day did point out that she proposed to carry out noise insulation to the building. She pointed out that she did not have a loud instruction voice and music would be kept to a minimum volume. The Chairman pointed out that if a Licence was granted it would be of a temporary nature, which meant it could be reviewed at the end of a year. In more than half an hours discussion between Applicant, Public and Councillors the Parish Council would formally discuss the matter in Council.

There was some confusion relating to the number of Parking Permits that would be issued by the MBC but research by a Councillor had shown that over 30 cars belonged to trades people and their staff could be occupying spaces required by the visiting public. One suggestion was made that there should be a 10p charge for half an hours parking, although this is not favoured by all Councillors. At the moment the Traffic Wardens are unable to enforce the two-hours parking restriction because of the removal of cars on their appearance.

Following last month's concern about the amount of litter in the Village Jean Cockett said that 30 or more students from Swadelands School would be carrying out a Tidy Up the Village week towards the end of April. They are repeating this exercise again in the Autumn. This is all part of the action plan in becoming an ECO School. It should be pointed out that although pupils will be collecting litter around and adjacent to the Square much of it is in fact dropped by adults, particularly on a Friday night.

A new Job Vacancies notice board has been made and will be erected shortly in Lenham Square which will advertise local vacancies.

The Dance Studio Application was formally discussed in Council and although concerns were expressed about access, parking and noise the Council felt that they may have to accept some problems but would put strict controls on noise levels and the temporary nature of the Licence would give the Council some control in these areas. Some 20 letters had been received expressing public support.

Following official transfer of land to the Community Centre, arranging alterations to footpaths and essential archaeological work, the Community Project would expect to start work in the near future.

Fly-tipping is becoming an increasing problem. If you see and identify the culprits please give this information to our Parish Constable or your nearest Parish Councillor which would lead to a prosecution. There is in fact a very heavy fine for fly-tipping.

JFP

Lenham Parish Council Annual Meeting 2001

Selected Comments

During the recent Annual Lenham Parish Council meeting (17 April) Derek Haselup, speaking for the last time as chairman, spoke about his eight years as a Borough Councillor for and fourteen years as a Lenham Parish Councillor. Focus reports some of Derek's key comments.

Over the last year, for me personally, the most impacting event was the sudden and unexpected death of Michael Clark, one of the longest serving members of the Council, a man of the Church who was steeped in Lenham's history.

The Council's major project this year was the development of the Old Ashford Road site for the Community Hall, our second Local Needs Housing scheme and the New Medical Centre. I offer my congratulations to Nick Osborne and his team on their commitment, persistence and sheer determination to get the money and the job done.

One of last year's obvious successes was the Country Market. The first market took place on 14 May last year. Since then it has gone from strength to strength and this year, despite the poor weather and problems of foot and mouth, the market reopened in March.

Compared to other areas, our parish survived the recent rainfall fairly well. However, work on the new railway was almost completely halted and many roads have been covered by water. Surface water concerns were reported to the Borough Council in October 2000. Mobility problems have also been accentuated by byway and footpath closures due to foot and mouth. Let us hope for an early end to the epidemic and a long dry summer.

During the year the Government produced a discussion document, The Countryside, a Rural White Paper. The broad thrust being to give more authority and responsibility to local (elected) bodies. Also included is the concept of a Village Design Statement produced by the local community to state its views about planning and development of the area.

Over the last fourteen years this Council has moved from relative obscurity to one the best known minor authorities in Kent. I am proud of our record of achievements which includes being: the first Parish Council in Maidstone to lead a low cost housing project for our own young people; the only Parish Council in Kent to fund and install its own CCTV system; a Council, that in partnership with the Neighbourhood Watch and the Parish Constable scheme formed the Lenham Parish Policing Liaison Group (heralded nationally and reported internationally); and perhaps most fundamentally, a Council of Members who, through a subcommittee system I introduced three years ago, now all have a clearly defined role.