Visitors:

Latest News

 

The next Parish Council meeting is at 8pm Tuesday on 7 September 2010 in the Lounge at the Community Centre.  Please come along and let your views be heard!

 

PLANNING PERMISSION FOR KENT INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY HAS BEEN REFUSED!  Planning Inspector Andrew Phillipson recommended refusal to the Secretary of State, Eric Pickles and this was upheld.  Maidstone Borough Council’s website gives more information but a big thank you to all of you who attended the inquiry, supported StopKIG, displayed a poster, objected to Maidstone Borough Council or simply did whatever you could - one strong reason for the refusal was the show of community strength against the plan so ‘people power’ really did play a big part!  No doubt there will be more about the future of the land now that the application has been turned down but an international rail/freight interchange will not be one of them!

 

Downswood Parish Council formed part of the Joint Parish Group fighting against the Kent International Gateway.  Now that the Inquiry is over, the minutes from these meetings can now be made public.  To view these documents, click here.

 

MBC Cllr David Marchant reported having received a hoax phone call, allegedly from ‘Social Services’.  Please be on your guard!

 

The Parish Council is most dissatisfied with the Borough Council’s work on the Orchard Spot roundabout.  The weeds are now more prolific than the heathers which have been planted and the Council is actively pursuing this to ensure a better overall standard of landscaping.

 

A volunteer from the Parish was able to fix the Parish noticeboard in Deringwood Drive, thus saving nearly £150!  Well done and thank you!

 

At our March meeting, PCSO Stevens reported that there has been a spate of burglaries in the Parish.  Please report anything suspicious to the Police on 690690, or dial 999 if intruders are in the area.  In the meantime, please remember to lock doors and windows to deter thieves.

 

Spring Clean - Hopefully you will have noticed that Downswood now looks much smarter and cleaner following this year’s Spring Clean. Thank you to all those families who turned up to help out and had some fun along the way!  See you next year!

 

The winners of our annual Garden Competition are: Mr and Mrs Pateman (48 Reinden Grove), Mr and Mrs Baker (53 Pennine Way), Mr and Mrs Daly (66 Longham Copse) and Mr and Mrs Brown (27 Reinden Grove).  Congratulations to the winners but our judge found this a very difficult decision to make, commenting that the standard was very high. Every house in Downswood is automatically entered so good luck next year to all you keen gardeners!

 

Arriva experienced difficulty in driving through Deringwood Drive during the snow with the parked cars.  They were very close to withdrawing the Downswood part of the Number 8 service which would have terminated at Madginford as a result.  The Parish Council is anxious not to lose this lifeline (the only transport for many residents) and would ask again that other residents park sensibly on Deringwood Drive if they have to do so.

 

Downswood Christmas Lights - an early diary date for those of you keen to attend the ‘big switch on’!  Friday December 3rd at 7pm 2010 is the date to note.  We have been assured that this year the problems with the bulbs will be rectified and look forward to an excellent display of our low-energy festive motifs at Christmas.

 

David Marchant’s latest newsletter.  

 

Downswood Parish Council’s Summer 2010 newsletter.

 

 

Downswood Parish Council has been fortunate enough to obtain one of the Kent Messenger 150th Anniversary trees.  This was planted on 16 October 2009 at the top of Murrain Drive by Parish Chairman Roz Cheesman and Tree Warden David Nuttall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Len Valley Walk Guide Book is being sold at the Spires shops.

 

Residents’ books currently for sale at the Spires shops include Memoirs of an Ordinary Woman by Margaret Knight and The Impractical Guide to Having Babies by Stik.

 

Arriva weekly and monthly bus passes are for sale at the Spires Convenience Store for standard fares only.

 

Also available are MBC Green Garden Waste Sacks.