PARISH INFORMATION BOARD Parish Meeting Tue 24th Jan 7:00 Fusion Healthy Living Centre Parish Meeting Tue 7th Mar 7:00 Village Hall Parish Council Parish Website www.boughton-monchelsea-pc.org.uk/ Parish Councillors North Ward : Newsletter Cllr Leon Date 745501 Cllr Angela Whybrow 745339 Cllr Kirstie Williams 753655 South Ward : Everyone is welcome to join us for Cllr Bill Brown 299760 Cllr Richard Martin 0778 683801 Cllr Ian Ellis (Vice Chair) 741572 Cllr Sara Evans 749246 Candlelit Carols on the Green Cllr Peter Herrin 746484 Cllr Jonathan Gershon 743072 Cllr Stephen Munford 741310 Cllr Doug Smith 749077 (Chair) (Planning Committee Chair) With the Salvation Army Band Cllr Jill Skinner 744098 Parish Clerk 744969 [email protected] Monday 12th December 2016

Borough Councillors 7:30 pm Cllr Stephen Munford 741310 BM South and ) Cllr Matthew Burton (BM North Ward) 01622 754756 Mince Pies : Mulled Wine : Soup : Sausage Rolls County Councillor Cllr Eric Hotson ( Rural South) 01580 892312 Cllr Gary Cooke (Maidstone South East) 01622 964480

Neighbourhood Police Unit and KCC Rural Warden Police (non-urgent matters) Please call 101

PCSO Peter Gardner [email protected] KCC Rural Warden : Liz Lovatt 07813 712107 Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Compiled by Councillor Leon Date 20 From your Parish Councillors Parish Council Chairman’s update - November 2016 WHAT’S ON AT BOUGHTON MONCHELSEA

Dear Parishioners VILLAGE HALL

Your Parish Council has been working hard all year and with the end Playgroup: Boughton Monchelsea Playgroup offer 9 sessions per of 2016 now in sight, I wanted to take the opportunity to update you on week during term time from 9am - 3.45pm. They are Ofsted what we have been doing and what we have planned for the year registered with Highly Qualified Staff. A lunch club is available 4 days ahead. a week, children aged over 3 can attend 2 sessions a day. For more  Work has now started on repair works to the Parkwood Farm information contact Jane Clarke Tel: 01622 747431 reservoir. This will be complete by the end of 2016 and will mean that the reservoir can be made available to the relevant authorities, Zumba class: every Monday evening between 8 - 9pm Contact including Kent County Council, to be used as part of a co-ordinated Sheena Wickenden Tel: 07595 639145 action plan in the event of a potential flood situation. WI Come along to our friendly, active Women's Institute at the  We take a keen interest in issues involving the roads and footpaths village hall once a month on a Tuesday evening between 7.30pm - within our parish. Kent County Council are responsible for 9.30pm. Speakers, outings and other activities keep us engaged, lively maintaining these but we do meet regularly with County Councillor, and young at heart! Contact: Linda Proctor on 01622 663315 Eric Hotson, and relevant highway officers to discuss and attempt to resolve any problems. Our last meeting took place in September Church Group: - Junction A family oriented church plant from and Cllr Hotson has agreed to fund the following works : St Peter’s C of E in Boughton Monchelsea. Meeting each Sunday

 Clearing and re-stoning of the footpath along Brishing Lane, morning in the village hall from 11am - 1pm. from Thomas Rider Way down towards Brishing Barn nursery Indoor Bowls: Join us for a short mat bowls session every  Investigations into a possible advisory 20mph zone along part Sunday between 7 - 9pm and Thursdays between 7 - 9pm. Contact of Brishing Lane, close to Brishing Barn nursery. This would Ed Whittaker Tel: 01622 745180 be designated using road markings and signs, as appropriate for the location Friendship Circle: Designed with the elderly folk of our community in mind, we meet on the first Wednesday of the month for  A safety review of the zebra crossing on Heath Road. This lunch and good company (the hall has a T-Loop system and disabled has been requested following concerns raised by the primary access). with a varied programme of speakers. Transport available if school required. All welcome. Contact Diana Gordon Tel: 01622 208107  We are currently looking into the possibility of installing vehicle activated road signs on Heath Road. Kent County Council have WHY NOT GO ALONG AND JOIN IN WITH ONE OF THE advised that evidence of need has to be provided so we are hoping CLUBS, OR HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT STARTING UP that the safety review of the zebra crossing will include the traffic YOUR OWN CLUB speed data that would be required. Contact our booking clerk direct by phone on: Jasmine Pay  Earlier in the year the Parish Council wrote to the County Council +44 (0)7850 905743 or expressing concern at the capacity of the following roads and email:[email protected] junctions in and around the parish.

2 19 In Memory for those who gave their lives in the great war With the increasing number of houses being built off Sutton Road we 1914-1918 will continue to lobby KCC for appropriate action.

As many of you will know , the Parish Council arranged for a plaque  Linton crossroads to be put up in the village Hall some time ago, listing the names of  A274 / B2163 junction at ‘The Plough’ those servicemen who were resident in Boughton Monchelsea and  Wallis Avenue / Sutton Road junction died during the First World War.  Brishing Lane

 The Parish Council is a consultee on all planning applications within We were also asked to choose road names for the Taylor Whimpey the parish. Our planning committee is chaired by Cllr Doug Smith development off Sutton Rad and felt it would be a good way of and the committee meets regularly to discuss and agree responses honouring those who gave their lives and preserving their memory for generations to come by naming the roads after them. The road names to all the applications we receive from the Borough Council. that will be used are: Meetings are advertised in advance and are always open to the public.

Batten Walk: Edmett Way: Latter Road: Bridger Way:  Maidstone Borough Council recently advised that they would be

Shoebridge Drive: Hadaway Road: Perrin Road: Grigby Close: removing dog bins in the borough and installing new co-mingled bins at various locations. Following a meeting with the Street Scene Lamkin Way: Laight Road: Hook Way: Winch Close: Hayward Operations Manager, it was agreed that bin installation should be Road: Stevens Walk,: Bowles Road and Gates Drive. focused at the village hall end of Church Street, a real litter hot spot. A new bin has also been installed on the green. Following Cllr Bill Brown feedback from parishioners, we have requested that one of the new bins near the village hall is moved down to Green Lane and that the new bin on the green is moved to Haste Hill Road. If you do notice BOUGHTON MONCHELSEA any increase in dog fouling or inappropriate disposal of waste then please get in touch. VILLAGE HALL & RECREATON GROUND  We will soon have a new contribution to our street scene in Church The ideal venue for a Wedding Reception, Street. The old phone box outside the social club will be removed Party, Dance, Club Meeting and and replaced with a refurbished red phone box. We will be installing Most Sports Activities a public access defibrillator inside and this will be stored inside a

In a rural setting overlooking the Recreation Ground. locked cabinet, accessed by phoning 999. This has been made Adjacent to children’s play area. possible thanks to funding from the Big Lottery Fund, Kent County Wheelchair friendly. Ample parking Council and the Parish Council. Fully equipped kitchen and bar facilities  Following concerns regarding trespassing, the Parish Council have Special reduced rates for village residents and organisations, been instrumental in getting KCC to secure the site at Boughton senior citizens and youth groups Mount. We were extremely concerned at reports of children and

Details of prices and available dates from the Booking Secre- young people accessing this dangerous site and are pleased to see tary: that the new perimeter fencing is now in place.

 In response to concerns about the old metal gates to the play area 18 3

in Church Street we have recently fitted new gates to all three entrances. The gates are bright yellow and all have been set to Boughton Monchelsea Playgroup prevent children running out onto the path, car park and recreation Association ground.

 We have been informed by the Borough Council that monies are CHRISTMAS PLAY AND FAIR

available for redevelopment of the Joywood play area. Our north This year our annual Christmas Play and Fair will be held on: FRIDAY ward Councillors are looking into this alongside Borough Councillor, 16th DECEMBER with the play rehearsal on Thursday 15th Matt Burton December.

 Thanks to the efforts of our north ward Councillors, Maidstone Everyone is welcome to attend. Performance 1 begins at 9.45am and Borough Council have agreed to put in a new path from the Roman performance 2 is at 11.15am. Way development to the Park Wood play area. The staff and children of Boughton Monchelsea Playgroup would like  Boughton Monchelsea Amenity Trust own and manage the public to wish everyone a very merry Christmas. open space to the west of the Furfield Park housing development (between Longshaw Close and Brishing Lane). Their contractor Please note that we accept children from the age of 22 months. If you takes great care to maintain this area to a high standard. The Trust would like to speak to someone about playgroup or you are interested have asked us if you could report any problems with rubbish or fly in a place for your child/ren then please contact Jane Clarke, our tipping to them as they want the space to remain a pleasant area administrator, on 01622 747431 and she will be happy to assist. for all to enjoy. Our Parish Clerk is also the Trust Secretary so SPACES AVAILABLE FOR JANUARY please report any problems using the contact details below.

 Following comments from our plot holders up at the allotments we We now have an exciting new website, please take a look: have recently engaged our contractor to carry out extensive www.bmplaygroup.co.uk maintenance work on the site – we are in the processs of clearing or you can visit out facebook page vacant plots, removing self grown trees and shrubs from the site, cutting back hedges and giving the site a general tidy up. We do have some vacant plots at the moment and as an incentive we BOUGHTON MONCHELSEA CHRISTMAS FAIR was held on Satur- have agreed to rotavate all newly leased plots, free of charge. This day 12th November 2016 It was a great success, and included a will save a lot of digging and give you a good head start in growing Santa’s Grotto, and a large number of Stalls with a wonderful variety your own fruit and veg. Please get in touch with the Parish Clerk if of Crafts. Festive entertainment, Mulled Wine and Mince Pies round- you are interested in taking on a plot. ed off the day.

 Throughout the year the Parish Council has responded to various Thank you to everyone who helped organised the event, set up the Borough and County Council consultations, including: day before, gave their time on the day, and donated Raffle Prizes. A  MBC : Consultation on Local Plan special Thank You to those who came along to support the Christmas  MBC : Consultation on mobile libraries Fair, and enjoyed the afternoon.

 MBC : Consultation on Draft Integrated Transport A total of £700 was raised for Village Hall Funds. Strategy  KCC : Active Travel Strategy consultation Cllr Angela Whybrow

4 17 Public Footpaths  We have provided grants to various parish organisations this year,

If you have any concerns about Public Footpaths in the Parish supporting our local Brownies, Scout Group, Friendship Circle and please note the following KCC contact numbers for Public Right of the newly formed ‘Boughton Monchelsea Helping Hands’. We also Way issues : supported the village fete with a £200 grant towards advertising  Call 03000 41 71 71. (Lines open 8am - 6pm Monday - Friday). costs and awarded a grant of £2500 to St Peters Church as a  Outside of these hours, if you think the fault you are reporting is contribution towards grass cutting costs for the year. A grant of an emergency, please call 03000 41 91 91. £200 was also agreed to support any north ward community event. Highway Fault Reporting This grant remains unspent so if you live in north ward and would like to organise an event please get in touch. To Report a Highway fault please use the web address: www.kent.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/report-a-problem  We are very keen to engage with residents in the north ward of our Public Right of Way parish. Your views and opinions are very important to us and we

To report a Public Right of Way issue please use the web address: will be holding our next Parish Council meeting in the Fusion Healthy Living Centre, Cobb Way, Parkwood. Any agenda items www.kent.gov.uk/waste-planning-and-land/public-rights-of-way/ report-a-problem-on-a-right-of-way are welcomed so please get in touch and let us know what you would like us to discuss. The meeting will be held on Tuesday 24th January at 7pm. Refreshments will be provided. Please come along, meet your Parish Councillors and have your say. Parish Facilities - Village Shop & Post Office (Best One) Church Street  Full Parish Council meetings are always open to the public. These

Shop Open: Mon - Sun 8am—8pm take place once every two months and are usually held in the village hall in Church Street, starting at 7pm. Meeting dates for Post Office Open: Mon - Fri 9am - 5:30pm Sat 9am - 12:30 pm th nd th th th 2017 are 7 March, 2 May, 4 July, 5 Sept and 7 Nov. Our Tel: 746 022 Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Tuesday 16th May at 7pm.

Parish Facilities - Marlpit Farm Shop  We would love to hear from young people in the parish and our ultimate aim is to set up a ‘Youth Parish Council’ to work alongside Marlpit Farm Wierton Road

us and put forward ideas and proposals about things that matter to Shop Open: Mon - Fri 9:00am - 5:00pm Sun 9:00am - 1:00pm you. If you are aged 13 to 17 and would like to be involved please

Sundays to Christmas Only (9:00am - 4:00pm) get in touch. Tel: 743 851 Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and new year and if you have any queries regarding any of the above or any issue that is concerning Parish Facilities - Hair & Beauty on The Green you and that the Parish Council may be able to help with please do get The Green in touch Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat [email protected] or 01622 744969

Open Closed 9:00am 9:00am 9:00am 9:00am 9:00am Cllr Steve Munford Closed Closed 6:00pm 7:00pm 6:00pm 6:00pm 2:30pm Chairman, Boughton Monchelsea Parish Council Contact Sue Tel: 746 088

16 5 Helen Whately MP: Working hard for Faversham and Mid Kent

Autumn is a glorious time to be in our part of the world, with the turning leaves producing a blaze of colour. I love the crisp sunny mornings and snuggling beside a crackling fire on a chilly evening - Are you looking for the PERFECT gift when I can. For those who have everything? Here’s a few of the things I've done recently, including speaking at a public inquiry into Maidstone's Local Plan, tackling HGV fly-parking, debating Gypsy and Traveller policy in Parliament, and standing up Let us solve your problem! for farmers. There's also information about the upcoming constituency boundary changes. Details of my upcoming advice surgeries are below. ‘Upon the Quarry Hills’ Constituency Advice Surgery - Faversham 9th December : 16:00 Constituency Advice Surgery - By Dr Paul Hastings 13th Jan 2017: 15:00

To make an appointment please use one of the following methods: A fascinating book covering over 2,000

By letter: Office of Helen Whately MP, Member of Parliament for Faversham and Mid Kent, House of Commons, London, SW1A years of history of Boughton Monchelsea 0AA email: [email protected] or phone: 0207 219 6472 Written to celebrate the Millennium

Boughton Monchelsea Scout Group

Another successful and busy year for the group undertaking many Now available from the Friends of St Peters’ adventurous activities including: climbing, caving, overnight hiking and back to basic camping. At a cost of £10 We have 70 plus young people aged from 6 to 14 years old who enjoy a weekly meeting embracing the scouting ethos. Making friends and having fun!

Our strong leadership team voluntarily give up their time planning To reserve YOUR copy and delivering a varied, safe and enjoyable programme.

Please contact Karen Filmer The Group Scout leader if you would like Please telephone Jilly on 01622 743336 any further information on scouting in Boughton Monchelsea.

Karen Filmer 07702 727087

6 15 Village E-mail Circle

How would you like to keep abreast of news and events affecting or taking place in the Parish, all from the convenience of your armchair. Many people already are, so why not join them.

The Circle is also a very quick and easy method to communicate a message to other members around the Parish.

The village e-mail circle was reintroduced a couple of years ago. Messages are sent to everyone in the circle via me and I ensure that your email is kept safe and the only e-mail address a recipient sees is their own and mine.

If you would like to join please email me at [email protected] and I will add you to the list.

If you have any questions please give me a call on 745501.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Cllr Leon Date

ATTENTION ALL DOGS You are invited to start the New Year with a walk around the Parish to raise funds for THE DOGS TRUST ON JANUARY 1ST 2017 (with your handler) Only DOGS sponsored!!!!! There will be a long (3mile) or short (2.25mile) walk. Start: BM Village Hall Car Park 10.30-11.00am Finish: Cock Inn, Boughton Monchelsea

Bring your friends, every dog welcome – walk off the night before!!!

Sponsorship forms available from Cock Inn, Post Office, Local vets etc

Tel: (01622) 744098 for further details.

14 7 A MESSAGE FROM BOUGHTON MONCHELSEA PARISH COUNCIL LITTER

If you are reading this, you will not be a litter bug – but are you a litter picker? Please read on.

We have a problem. Litter on our rural lanes is not routinely picked up by Maidstone Borough Council. It is expensive to pick as it cannot easily be collected by a machine. The system of fines is little use as litterers are not often caught. The Parish Council believes that the difference between an area which is littered and one which is litter free is not that there are more litter droppers in the littered area but that there are fewer litter pickers there. The solution is self help.

Traditionally, there have been two major litter picks throughout the whole of the village in the spring and autumn of each year and the Parish Council wishes to see these continue. However, intermittent blitzes cannot solve the problem. What we need is a system of regular litter picking as well as these “spring cleans".

The Parish Council has therefore decided to call for volunteers who will adopt a particular area or a length of one of our lanes and pick that area or length regularly. You might choose a car park, a layby or even the village green, somewhere near to where you live or part of your favourite walk. If you can commit to giving regular help – it need not be more than quarter of an hour every two weeks or so – this will make a difference.

Even 15 minutes of litter picking can really improve an area. If you are able to volunteer, please contact the Parish Clerk by email on [email protected] with your name, address and telephone number or simply complete the details at the foot of this letter and deliver it to 80 Church Street, Boughton Monchelsea. ME17 4HN. We will then contact you to discuss your preferences and allocate your area.

Thank you for your help.

8 13 Boughton Monchelsea Women’s Institute Christmas Appeal Our WI continues to meet every 2nd Tuesday of the month If you know someone elderly who will be alone this Christmas and BM Village Hall would enjoy some festive fun, Involve Older People’s Service are holding our annual Christmas Party for older people living in 7.30 PM to 9:30 PM Maidstone.

We offer a varied programme of speakers, book club, film club, dining There will be a Christmas dinner, entertainment and presents for out and very active arts and craft group. We hope to start a walking everyone and it is free, though donations are welcome. group after Christmas. The party will take place on Friday 23rd December at St Luke’s Our next few meetings are: Church Hall, Maidstone, 12.30-15.00 and we may be able to provide December 13th Christmas Party & Entertainment transport too if needed.

January 10th –Susan Shaw—The Art of judging the Chelsea Flower For more information or to make a referral, please contact Charlotte Show Jones, Services Manager on February 14th –Helen Kendal Tobias—Wrinkles don’t matter 01622 235 833 or email [email protected]. March 14th –Chris Wade—Yellowstone National Park Best wishes,

Visitors and new members are very welcome

further details from Charlotte Charlotte Jones Anne Norris Tel: no 745115 Services Manager – Involve Older People (formerly Brighter Futures)

BOUGHTON MONCHELSEA LITTER PICK Tel: 01622 235833 Mob: 07447643996 A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who helped with the Autumn litter pick - and especially to the Cubs and Beavers who (with parents and leaders) turned out on a particularly cold day. NOTICE OF NEXT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING Well over 50 bags of litter were picked up from Heath Road, Church Street, (including the area around the village hall and recreation 7pm Tuesday 24th January 2017 ground), Green lane, Gandys Lane, Haste Hill Road, Church Hill, Fusion Healthy Living Centre Stilebridge Lane, Back Lane, Park Lane, Atkins Hill, The Quarries, Old Tree Lane, Beresford Hill, Bottlescrew Hill (Part), Hubbards Lane, Cobb Way Parkwood Loddington Lane (Part) and the Green. You and your Agenda Items Welcomed The next litter pick will be in the early Spring - date to be advertised on Parish notice boards. Refreshments will be provided

Cllr Sara Evans Come and meet your Parish Councillors

12 9 Fire Safety advice for Rural Communities

Kent Fire and Rescue Services (KFRS) is Friends of St Peter’s Church working with rural communities to raise awareness of fire safety risks associated with country living. The service has been talking Boughton Monchelsea. with Parish Councils and local groups about some of the challenges faced in rural areas For 20 years now, we have raised funds to ensure while highlighting the free advice and services that as parts of the original ‘centuries old’ fabric available to residents. deteriorates, we are able to put things right. Safety in the Home Fire can occur at any time without warning and can spread very quickly, PRIORITY NOW…. IS THE ROOF! particularly in older, timber-framed buildings. Just three breaths of fire smoke can render an occupant unconscious, so it is vital that homes have working Do you love to visit, and take in the peacefulness smoke alarms fitted on each floor to provide valuable early warning. of our church, or churchyard with amazing

Chimney fires are a common occurrence in rural homes, generally caused by a build up of soot from open fires or wood-burners used for heating. Such views? fires can put both your life and your property at risk, so it is important to make Do you want it to be there for your family, sure chimneys are swept and checked regularly and that flues are correctly fitted and in working order. Grandchildren and future generations?

Free Advice and Services Is your answer a…. YES? KFRS offers free safety advice and, where needed, its community safety team can provide free home safety visits. These take around 30 minutes and Then why not join us? include advice on escape routes, night time safety routines and fire hazards Just £12 a year, and be part of something very in the home and, where required, the fitting of free smoke alarms.

Often those most in need of help are older residents or those with health SPECIAL…. issues, who perhaps live alone in more isolated communities. KFRS’s vulnerable persons team provides special advice to help people stay Please… call our Secretary 01622 743145 independent in their own homes for longer and equipment for residents who are more at risk. Why not join us and be part of Help might include providing items such as fireproof bedding and fire retardant materials for immobile smokers, safety gadgets, such as cooker something very Special? switches for dementia sufferers who have become forgetful about turning the cooker off, and smoke alarms designed for visually and hearing impaired people. Please call our Secretary

Eligibility for a home safety visit is assessed on an individual basis and takes into consideration age, health, mobility, lifestyle and other risks. 01622 743145

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