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Highlights from the meeting of 15th November, 2005.
1 New Councillor. The Chairman, Tom English welcomed Cllr Anne Dawes to the Parish Council.
2. Affordable Housing. Mr J Button used the ‘public speaking’ opportunity to ask what the Parish Council’s position was on ‘affordable housing’. Land at Vigo Farm, which in his opinion was of no use for farming, had been identified as a site for this. Councillors explained that, although the land at Vigo Farm could be a candidate site, the size of the need ( and hence the plot size) for affordable housing in the Parish had not yet been determined by Swale Borough Council in association with Action with Communities in Rural Kent and the Parish Council. The Parish Council was determined that the need for affordable housing for local people was met, but an individual site could not be promoted until the extent of the need was established.
There would be three affordable units at St Paul’s Court (alias Stedlyn Retreat) available under joint equity agreements. Response to the Parish Plan questionnaire indicated a need for rented units.
3. State of footway on Lynsted Lane. The footway between Bogle and the School remained narrowed by soil and vegetation. Some ‘strimming’ had occurred. It was understood that KCC Highways was pressing the landowner to deal with the problem.
4. Possible footway between Berkeley House and the cemetery. Millwood Designer Homes would be asked for a final response regarding their help with this.
5. Parish Plan. A leaflet had been placed in the News Letter, requesting feedback to the survey findings. Returns had been poor, but most respondents wanted traffic management. Recommended action would be put before the Parish Council in due course.
6. Village of the Year 2006 Competition. An appeal for commitment from parishioners would go out in the next parish News Letter.
7. Planning. The Parish Council had submitted seven written objections and one supporting statement to the consultation on the Swale Local Plan First Review Re-deposit Draft. These related mainly to environmental protection, including for the Lyn Valley. These would be considered by the Inspector at the Public Inquiry scheduled for March, 2006. An explanatory note would be submitted to the next parish News Letter.
The following planning applications had been discussed at the Planning Committee meetings on 4th,10th and 31st October:
- SW/05/1154 Demolition of outbuilding and creation of 5 flats. 96 London Rd. No objection.
- SW/05/1142 Re-siting of garage. Yew Tree Villa, Lynsted Lane. No objection.
- SW/05/1137 New access to agricultural land. Yew Tree Villa, Lynsted Lane, No objection.
- SW/05/1206. Extension. Yew Tree Villa, Lynsted Lane. No objection.
- SW/05/0926. Dropped kerb. 10 Batteries Terrace, Lynsted Lane. No objection.
- SW/05/1192. Car park, rear of ‘Dover Castle’ London Road. No objection.
- SW/05/1318 Change of use from agriculture to residential. Hunters End, Kingsdown Road. No objection.
Swale Borough Council determinations:
- SW/05/0933. 3m height extension, mast, ‘Teynham Exchange’ A2. Allowed.
- SW/05/0476. Replacement windows, 1 Lower Tickham Cottages, Tickham Lane. Allowed.
- SW/05/0962. Extension at Tickham Farmhouse, Tickham Lane. Allowed.
8. Joint Playing Fields. Cllr Champion had joined Cllr Bowling on the Committee. It was hoped to arrange finance for tree work via the Subsidiarity Fund.
9. Illegal tree felling. The Parish Tree Warden would place a note in the News Letter explaining that the unauthorised felling of a mature tree in a Conservation Area was an offence that could attract a fine of up to £20,000 on conviction.
10. Allotments. Some of the allotments in the parish were in a poor and overgrown state. The landowner had complained. It was found, on investigation, that no allotment tenant was resident in the parish. A parish council is only obliged provide allotments if six parishioners request them. It was decided, with regret, that the allotments should be withdrawn as of March, 2006. It was decided to write to all of the allotment tenants, explaining the situation to them, giving them an opportunity to respond before contacting the landlord.
11. Community Orchard. A successful Fungus Foray on 9th October, organised by the Lynsted with Kingsdown Society, had used the Orchard for part of the survey of fungal species. A Halloween Party held on 30th October, proved popular with 120 children and parents.
Reports of these events appear in the News Letter and on the Orchard www.lynsted-orchard.org.uk and Lynsted with Kingsdown Society www.lynsted-society.co.uk websites. Any income from events was being put aside to help continue the Community Orchard beyond the end of the Project funding period. One Orchard fence needed replacing.
NOTE. Full minutes, once signed and adopted, are available for inspection at Teynham Library, or, by appointment, via the Clerk (phone 522 653). These, and other information about the Parish Council, can be viewed on www.lkpc.org.uk .
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 7th February at the Community Room, Lynsted Church. The meeting starts at 7.30pm.
Parish Council meetings are open to the public, members of whom are warmly welcome to attend. Parishioners may make a brief oral statement at the beginning of the meeting.
R Baxter.
Publicity Representative.
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