What’s happening where you live...
the survey was orientated to town-centre residents, that the questions were not appropriate for rural communities, and made it clear that I was reluctant to complete the survey at all on the grounds that I would be doing my own community a disservice by completing it. A second resident arrived, who immediately took the same view. The team replied that they’d heard the same criticisms in other rural communities elsewhere, and we were persuaded to complete the survey while adding comments. The three biggest items (as quoted from the list) were: £5 million for planning and development (includes the local building regulations, planning applications and conservation) and £3.5 million for community safety and development (includes encouraging good public health and social inclusion). I gave my vote to save the third item, also at £3.5 million, the household waste collection and disposal (includes waste and recycling services). I also supported economic regeneration and creating jobs (including improvements to the town centre and support for businesses) at £1 million, while making the point that to provide affordable homes in rural locations with few employment opportunities, would be a waste of money. I could not see how our village would benefit from the provision of environmental services (includes enforcement, noise and pollution control and food hygiene at £1.5 million. Some of the team went out into the village, and returned with about 30 questionnaires completed which, for a village with more than 3,500 houses, is not adequate in any ‘consultation’ sense but you can (and should) complete the questionnaire online at www.maidstone.gov.uk/ council/have-your-say/currentconsultations/budget-roadshowsand-consultation, if only to make the point that MBC is ignoring its rural villages. The closing date for the survey responses is Friday, November 18. Remembrance Sunday: The parade will meet in the village centre car park at 9.50am on the Sunday, November 13, and will move off at 10.15 once the A229 has been closed. The service at All Saints Church will start at 10.45am. Remembrance Day: A two minute silence will be observed on Friday November 11 at the war memorial in St George’s Chapel, All Saints’ Church. All are welcome to attend, so arrive by 10.45am. PARISH COUNCIL: Planning success. Three of our parish councillors spoke on behalf of our village at the MBC planning committee meeting last Thursday evening, as many of us watched via MBC’s webcasting site. Cllr Tom Burnham catalogued the areas in which application 14/505432 (land North of Headcorn Road) a residential development to provide 167 dwellings, failed to meet the requirements in the Neighbourhood Plan, the safety of the access along the Headcorn Road in particular. Cllrs Joan Buller and Adele Sharp were successful in supporting the Neighbourhood Plan while opposing application 15/507124 Stanley Farm, an outline application for the erection of up to 110 dwellings. Anyone watching will have seen that those who hold the view that parish councils are a thing of the past, that they never achieve anything, are wrong. It was a great night for our village. Unfortunately, there was one serious disappointment – the traffic lights. MBC Cllr Louise Brice tried to talk some sense into the professional planners, but to no avail. As Cllr Spearink commented at a recent parish meeting, ‘If these are the proposed improvements, then the crossroads should be left as it is’. There was much said about the importance of pedestrian safety; but it seems that MBC will not permit any
safe, common-sense solution. Patient Participation Group: Last week’s meeting of the PPG was the AGM, at which it was agreed that Mary Shaw and Alaine Summers would continue as chairman and secretary. In her résumé of health centre news, practice manager Elaine Handover stressed the importance of possible measles cases phoning the health centre before visiting the surgery, so that appropriate arrangements can be made to safeguard the staff and visitors against infection. Volunteer hospital drivers: From comments made at the Patient Participation Group AGM last week, it was clear the number of volunteer drivers, who provide hospital transport for people in the village who are not able to drive themselves to their appointments, has fallen. Volunteers who provide this service are paid sufficient expenses to cover the cost of the journeys made. Anyone interested in volunteering should phone Anne Hall on 01580 715037. Correspondent: Claire Adams, Woodmancote, Rumstead Lane, Stockbury, ME9 7QL Tel: 01795 841140 foxgloveadams@ aol.com If you have an item concerning Stockbury, please contact the correspondent above. Correspondent: Eileen Riden Tel: 01622 844953 riden887@ btinternet.com WI: The institute will meet on Tuesday, November 8 at 7.30pm in the village hall. Jackie Gillard will be speaking and demonstrating the making of aromatherapy oils. Visitors and new members are always welcome. For information please ring 01622 842034. PARISH COUNCIL: The council met on October 10. The chairman reported the sad death of John Partridge MBE and gave a short resume of his work with the Royal British Legion, followed by a minute’s silence. The community support warden said a new pool table had been purchased for the youth club, Correspondent: Ron Stubbs Tel: 01622 726962 History: The history society’s meeting on Friday, November 4 at 8pm in the village hall, will take those Parish council: The next meeting takes place on Monday, November 7 at the community centre,