AGM and Mynn Awards Postponed
Our AGM and Mynn Awards has unfortunately had to be postponed until further notice. We hope to be able to advise a new date in due course.
Full Council Meeting 11th February 2020- Cancelled
/in News /by Erin SugdenPlease be aware that the meeting of the Full Council has been cancelled on Tuesday 11th February 2020.
The next meeting of the Full Council will take place on Tuesday 10th March 2020.
Due to strong winds it is not safe to place notices on the noticeboards.
Storm Ciara
/in News, Uncategorised /by Erin Sugden
If you are aware of any trees or branches on public land that are at risk of causing damage after this weekend’s weather please email deputy@bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk
Notes for Extraordinary Meeting – 13th January 2020- MBC Local Plan Review ‘Call for Sites’
/in News, Uncategorised /by Erin SugdenAhead of the meeting called to discuss Maidstone Borough Council Local Plan Review ‘Call for Sites’ report the following information is available for your consideration.
Call for Sites 2019BAT CFS action list
Bearsted Parish Council - Call for Sites response draft 3 - inc outside Bearsted Sites
2019_MBC LOCAL PLAN_CALL FOR SITES
‘Stay Well’ this winter
/in News /by Erin SugdenAhead of the festive season, which we are sure most of you are in the full swing of, Kent County Council have put together some information about how to ‘Stay Well’ during the winter season. There are helpful ways to ensure you keep yourself healthy but also ways to help others. www.kent.gov.uk/winterhealth
If you are planning on travelling it might also be worth checking for local travel information –https://www.kent.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/what-we-look-after/winter-service
From everyone at Bearsted Parish Council, we wish you a very Merry Christmas.
Festive Season Open Times
/in News /by Erin Sugden| Wednesday 18th December | 9.30am -12.30pm |
| Thursday 19th December – Friday 20th December | Office closed |
| Monday 23rd December | Emails only |
| Tuesday 24th December – Friday 3rd January | Office closed |
| Monday 6th January | 9.30am – 2pm |
| Normal office hours of the Parish Office will be Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays | 9.30am – 2pm |
Kent Fire & Rescue – Stay safe & well
/in News /by Erin SugdenKent Fire and Rescue are offering a free ‘Safe and Well’ home visit service for people living in Kent and Medway
From testing, fitting and relocating smoke alarms, to looking out for potential fire hazards and planning escape routes – one of their friendly home safety officers can help to make your home fire safe.
It is not only fire risk they assess, slip, trip and fall hazards will be identified and even risks to babies and children.
For further information visit Kent Fire and Rescue’s website www.kent.fire-uk.org
Market on the Green – 1st December
/in News /by Erin SugdenSunday 1st December at Bearsted Market on the Green the Christmas Tree lights will be switched on to the music of The Kent Police Band. The market will open 10am with extended hours until 4pm when the Christmas Tree lights will illuminated.
The Christmas Tree at Egremont Road will also be switched on at this time, once again bringing a festive feel to the whole of Bearsted.
If you are intending to visit Market on the Green we would like to remind you that there is no parking available at this event.
Please ensure that you do not park outside marked parking bays, in front of residents access kerbs or on The Green itself.
If cars are found to be parked illegally they will receive a parking ticket.
Local Plan Review – Call for Sites
/in News /by Erin SugdenFollowing Maidstone Borough Council’s (MBC) Call for Sites exercise, 6 sites in Bearsted have been offered as potential sites for development within the Parish. All suggestions are subject to normal planning processes and permission processes and are part of the MBC Local Plan Review Process.
The sites offered up are:
Site 088 – land south of the Ashford Road – proposal for 7 bungalows with access between 174b and 176 Ashford Road
Site 129 – land to the rear of 164 Ashford Road – proposal for 45-55 houses with access from the driveway to 164 Ashford Road
Site 135 – land south of the Ashford Road – proposal 20-40 houses with access from driveway to 164 Ashford Road.
Site 160 – Ware Street – proposal for 20 houses with access from Ware Street (opposite Sandy Mount)
Site 240 – Banky Meadow – proposal for 70 houses with access from Ashford Road.
Site 297 – Bearsted Library – proposal for 6 houses with access from The Street.
The planning committee of Bearsted Parish Council(BPC) have considered each of the sites and have agreed valid objections to all of them. These objections will be put forward to Maidstone Borough Council, where BPC hope to clarify which sites in the borough are likely to be put forward into the MBC Local Plan.
Working with the Joint Parishes Group and The Bearsted and Thurnham Society, BPC are also looking at sites put forward outside of the Parish, which could have significant impact on our residents. The borough map can be found via the following link: Borough map.
Sites proposed to the immediate south of the Parish, in Otham, total a further possible 300 homes. To the East of the Parish at Ashford Road, Hollingbourne there is potential for approx 650 houses plus commercial development and in Thurnham another possible 200 homes.
Large sites have been put forward in Lenham (approx 7000 houses), Leeds, Langley, Warmlake and Kingswood (approx 6900) and Detling (between 1750 and 4000 dwellings).
The vehicle movements associated with this level of development will only exacerbate the congestion and poor air quality experienced by an already stressed road infrastructure. BPC plan to put objections forward to Maidstone Borough Council before Christmas.
Any parishioner who wishes to register comment is encouraged to do so via the Maidstone Borough Council planning portal. BPC will continue to strive to protect the very few and very valuable green sites remaining within the Parish.
Planning and Traffic Update for Bearsted
/in News /by Erin SugdenBearsted Parish Council is working hard to tackle a number of issues, which are having or could have a negative impact on the parish. Behind the scenes, councillors have been putting in a great deal of time and effort in trying to preserve the parish as a pleasant place to live.
The recently formulated Highways Improvement Plan identifies the need for pedestrian crossings along Ware Street, where discontinuous pavements force pedestrians to frequently cross the road. The feasibility of these is currently being discussed with KCC. It also highlights the need for traffic calming measures along Ware Street, Roseacre Lane and Yeoman Lane, where speeding traffic is causing a danger to pedestrians and other road users. Traffic monitoring and speed surveys have recently been conducted on both Roseacre and Yeoman Lane, a necessary prerequisite to gain KCC’s commitment to introducing measures. The plan, amongst other things, also calls for measures to restrict dangerous parking on corners around the parish.
A consultation has been conducted with the residents of a section of Ware Street to find a suitable solution for the parked cars, which are parked sometimes dangerously along this section. The results of the consultation are currently being analysed to find a workable solution.
It has been identified that a great deal of traffic is using Otham Lane, Spot Lane, Roseacre Lane, Yeoman Lane and Ware Street as cut-throughs to the M20 junction 7, in order to circumnavigate long traffic build ups on the A274 Sutton Road, Willington Street, A20 Ashford Road and New Cut Road. Earlier this year, Bearsted Parish council joined with Boxley Parish council to try and find mitigating measures and possible solutions to these issues, which are being put to KCC/MBC.
Much of the increased traffic is due to extensive development along the A274 Sutton Road corridor. In recognition of this, Bearsted Parish Council planning committee is also keeping a close eye on future developments outside of the parish but which may have a traffic impact on our roads. The development of the Popes Field schools in Boxley parish, was vehemently objected to by Bearsted Parish Council and recently letters of objection have also been put into MBC against further development at Bicknor Farm, Otham and the application for a further 440 houses at Church Road, Otham. Both of these developments would have a serious traffic impact on Spot Lane, and other ensuing rat runs.
The recent call for sites has also identified further development sites both within the parish and in neighbouring parishes, which Bearsted Parish council is investigating.
Finally, Bearsted Parish Council has provided its comments on the Local Plan Review to MBC regarding growth in the borough. Our overriding focus was that the cumulative effects of development plans on the road and social infrastructure must be considered and the necessary infrastructure put into place before more planning applications are agreed, to ensure growth is sustainable.