YORKLETTS RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

Yorkletts Residents’ Association Newsletter

ISSUE 1 IN THIS ISSUE

Why We Need A Residents’ Association By David Warry (committee member)

Welcome to the first edition of our residents’ giving us lovely views (including the seaside) and association newsletter. access to the countryside and nature trails enjoyed by us and many others. On the flip side the land is I have been asked to explain why it is important accessible and appears unproductive, making it a

EVERY Yorkletts resident joins YRA. There are prime target for dumping, litter and dangerous many good reasons for doing so but the most vivid opportunistic Shanty Town Developments. in my mind was exemplified in the Association’s re-

birth that occurred on 19th April 2018, at Hernhill With your support YRA will not only alert you Village Hall. about potential problems but provide an Neighbourhood Watch irrepressible force to overcome them. Imagine returning home to find unexpected work Find out how to join your local neighbourhood watch started on land nearby or adjoining your property Back in the 1990’s a previous YRA, helped by ward programme. Chris Payne, the local Neighbourhood destined to turn into something terrible. Worse, councilors removed many of our local threats and Watch representative explains about the programme. you then discover the Council have approved the successfully brought much of the surrounding works – WITHOUT even notifying you or any other countryside back under sympathetic management. affected residents. We hope to recover and build on this position by using the same model. This truly awful scenario sadly has become a reality for too many of us prompting a small group of We can only achieve this and much more (see residents to form “The Yorkletts Action Group.” It associated articles) if our Councilors are convinced was this group that triggered our re-formation we and they have the backing of the WHOLE during the public meeting attended by over 60 community. concerned Yorkletts residents in April. If you have not already joined us, please complete

Sadly, as individuals, we live in a time where we the application form on the last page of this can no longer rely on City or Swale newsletter. Remember we ALL need YOU to help Fly Tipping, Litter and Drainage by joining. If you do not join, then we cannot keep Council notifying us about planning applications. A report detailing the progress made by committee you informed and our actions in trying to make We are also more vulnerable than most member Peter Twist, who is dealing with the Fly Yorkletts a nicer place to live will be weakened. communities. Tipping, Litter and Drainage issues in and around Yorkletts. Yorkletts is surrounded by beautiful countryside We aim to preserve our rural identity. To keep our village and countryside safe, clean, quiet and friendly by identifying areas of concern and tackling them collectively. YORKLETTS RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

Neighbourhood Watch Update by Chris Payne (committee member)

Yorkletts Neighbourhood Watch Our Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) is a loose

association of like-minded Yorkletts residents with an interest in protecting property and possessions by being vigilant of strangers and being aware of JOINING THE NEIGHBOURHOOD current criminal practices that might be employed. WATCH Contact is maintained with the Police Force Residents wishing to be part of the NHW who send out regular information updates on local should contact Chris Payne on 07902 431939 or crime, this practice is duplicated by many NHW’s [email protected]. They will receive countrywide. an information booklet and a window sticker together with advice on how to deal with These updates are forwarded by e-mail to all local unsolicited callers. NHW members who are then forewarned about criminal activities that can be expected in the area.

Any other subjects which impact on local life can also be addressed by the NHW such as road safety. Readers will have seen the new yellow “30 MPH Please slow down in our village” signs which were

procured and distributed by the watch.

Fly Tipping, Litter KEEPING YORKLETTS LITTER FREE If you see any litter along Dargate Road and Drainage please pick it up. Many members of the Yorkletts Resident’ Association Issues (including committee members) are already getting involved in this and are by Peter Twist (committee member) filling a bin bag each week. Fly tipping and litter on High Street Road, Plum Pudding Lane and the A299 flyover has been reported to Swale Council and this has As these types of roadworks cost money Fly Tipping and litter that had accumulated resulted in three clearances with another due there is reluctance to get work done so on the slip road from Dargate Road to the in early September. persistency appears to be the key. A299 was reported to Serco in January, Kent County Council have been contacted February, March, April, May and June of this The road sweeping service has now been year. The fly tipping was eventually cleared regarding blocked drains and drainage ditches, but only limited work has been reinstated following the water pipe in mid-August and I understand a litter pick installation. had been booked for early September. carried out so far. KCC have also been made aware of the bad road surfaces at each end of

After I brought it to their attention the Dargate Road. The High Street end has been Gazette ran a half page report on dealt with as has Foxes Cross Road. Foxes 23rd August highlighting the litter and fly Cross end of Dargate Road is also now tipping problems in Yorkletts. completed.

YORKLETTS RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

NEW YRA WEBSITE COMING SOON

Building Developments in Yorkletts by Justin Tuck (committee member)

I will just start by saying what a great turnout we had at the meeting on Her nhill Village Hall as it was nice to see such a number of reside nts and e specially for me after living here for four years, I met some of you for the first time!

The wonderful Jonathan at Fairly Marvellous is currently designing us our own website. We will then be able to the Yorkletts Residents Association if we feel keep you up to date with the latest news concerning After the Residents Association was formed Yorkletts. a contentious development application is we all took on various roles which we felt being made., which is why we are collating were important to us individually and that emails where possible, this will give you the were expressed as important by those at the chance to individually comment to the meeting. So, at the present time, Jenene and authorities, if you wish. NEW YRA BANK ACCOUNT myself are tasked with keeping an eye on the planning applications that are submitted to I do want to stress that we, as a principle, We now have a bank account so that all of your both Canterbury and Swale planning have no objection to individual development membership fees can be safely looked after. We are now able to offer a BACS transfer service for paying departments. of our own houses and in fact I have one membership fees. Details on the membership form. planned myself! This really sprung to light when we had an application to build several new industrial units at the Whitstable end of Dargate Road. This was objected to by a number of The more of us that are members of the Yorkletts Residents Association the more residents, and even though a few were in favour of the plans, we had to make the influence we will have with the authorities judgement call and the committee but more importantly we will have better JOINING THE YORKLETTS unanimously felt that we needed to object to knowledge of what it is you all want from RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION the proposal. Therefore, when the public Yorkletts. meeting was held to discuss the industrial

If you haven’t already joined and would like to then estate we were very fortunate that one of the please complete the membership form attached to committee members could attend and Yorkletts is a lovely place to live and whilst this newsletter. Going forward only members of the object. We are happy to report that the we do have some issues, certainly on the YRA will have a vote on how we deal with important planning was rejected, and I hope the planning issues and receive newsletters and updates. majority of the residents agree with the side we are outcome. If you completed the original form (prior to public just trying meeting) this doesn’t count, and you will need to to maintain join by completing the new form. I know some residents are worried about “big brother is watching” but let me try and it as such. reassure you all. We have decided that the

principle stance we will take is to object to any planning application for additional houses or industrial units in the area. We will also endeavor to notify all of the members of

YORKLETTS RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

Why I became a Committee member By Christine Wilkins (committee member)

I was asked why I became a committee Yorkletts does not have a focal point for member so here are my reasons. residents to meet, setting something up would be great for Yorkletts. One Having lived in Yorkletts for 40 years fantastic asset is Victory Wood, and we there have obviously been many must thank those hard-working changes. When young my children were committee members who fought so able to play out in the street, I used to tenaciously to stop the proposed rubbish regularly walk to Dargate Post Office – dump. yes there was one there years ago. Now, even walking along the road with my I want to be involved in trying to make dog I sometimes feel vulnerable. our village a safe, clean and pleasant place to live. Homeowners have improved their properties over the years, which has been great for Yorkletts, but it now seems many properties are being purchased by developers who are

building several houses on land where

there was originally only one, causing

the local infrastructure to struggle.

Reporting Incidents surrounding are, so that we can provide or concerns to the a basis for our ongoing conversations.

YRA commitee But remember the more of you that join

us in the association the more we will know what you want and the more If you have any concerns or if there is we will hold a full discussion and a vote weight we will have. We hope you like something that you want us to look at, on any task, this not only will be fed back what we have done so far, and as always or comment upon, or report to the to you, but it will also be entered into in these situations what we can reflect in appropriate council, please do let us our minutes. a newsletter is only a very brief summary know. After all this is your association of the many meetings we have had. and we can only do what you would like Our recent experience shows that when we have contacted either Swale or us to do, if you tell us! So please feel free to contact Canterbury Councils, we have been met [email protected] by the lack of reported events or with the information. complaints to help our situation. So, we are trying to build up our own CONTACT DETAILS FOR YRA COMMITEE Email is preferred but if you don’t have “log of events” and appeal to you all E-mail : it call our mobile 07396361288, you can to let us know of things that have [email protected] even drop us a letter or speak to us in happened or are happening in person. Yorkletts or the Telephone: 07396361288

We make a commitment to bringing up your point at the next committee meeting. Obviously, we will try to take on your issue, but in order to do this,