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The next Parish Council meeting is at 8pm on Tuesday 1 November 2011 in the Lounge at the Community Centre.  Please come along and let your views be heard!

 

FLYTIPPERS BEWARE!   This antisocial activity is increasing in the Parish and is being closely monitored by Maidstone Borough Council, who are very successful at prosecuting offenders.  Flytipping is a particular problem in various specific locations but please notify the Clerk if you see any rubbish around the Parish.  Please remember that large or bulky items too big for wheelie bins must be disposed of correctly - arranging collection by MBC, using the Freighter service or by taking to the tip for proper disposal or recycling.  

 

We are now on Twitter!  Click on the link above to get all you need to know about Downswood Parish Council!

 

Parking - The Ambulance Service recently experienced difficulty parking when attending an incident in Gorham Drive.  The ambulance had to stop in the middle of the road, meaning other vehicles could not pass by and that whole area of Downswood was temporarily ‘cut off’.  Many houses on Downswood have drives and it really does help if residents can use them as it would allow emergency vehicles (and thus other residents) to pass freely.

 

CHANGES TO THE NO.8 BUS ROUTE

From 18 September, Arriva will be making some changes to the no 8 bus route which serves Downswood.  Buses will use slightly amended stops in the town centre and from the Ashford Road will come straight down Willington Street into Downswood, not via Madginford first at present.  Those wishing to get off at Madginford will have to travel via Downswood first.  Visit the Arriva website for more information and email the clerk if you have any comments.

 

Our annual garden competition has now being judged!  The winners are; 1st place Mr & Mrs Daly (66 Longham - last year's 3rd place), 2nd place Mr & Mrs Dallas (19 Reinden) and 3rd place Ms. P Williams (71 Murrain).  Thank you to everyone for taking care of your gardens which altogether make Downswood an attractive place to live.  It really does make a difference and our guest judges are always very impressed with the standard of ‘green fingers’ in the Parish!

 

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Celebrations - next year, 2012, will see Queen Elizabeth II celebrate 60 years reign.  We’d love to hear your views of how the Parish could mark this event?  Please let the Clerk hear your views!

 

Home Heat Helpline - this new service has been set up to ensure that those who can get help paying their fuel bills are doing so.  If you know someone who is struggling to keep warm this winter please call 0800 336699 or check their website for further information.

 

Downswood Christmas Lights - see you on the first Friday in December 2012 for this annual celebration!  Many thanks for all your support with this event over the years - it just seem to get bigger and better every year!  Please continue to report any problems with the lights to the Clerk so we can ensure our lights shine brightly... at the right times!

 

Junction 8 development - now that the KIG planning application has been refused, the Parish Council is keen to hear what you would like to see on the land.  Maybe a leisure amenity, sports complex, small business park, some housing?  Email the clerk and please let us know so we can make your views heard!

 

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.

 

The Parish Council is pleased with the Borough Council’s improvement works on the Orchard Spot roundabout.  Some land has been returned to grass seed but the large ragstones and compact planting has made a real difference.  Please help us maintain this by reporting any problems in the area - our Clerk Teresa will help.

 

Arriva experience difficulty in driving round the Orchard Spot roundabout on Saturday mornings due to parked cars.  PLEASE REMEMBER THAT PARKING ON A ROUNDABOUT IS ILLEGAL!  We have already had problems during the snow and Arriva 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 for considerate parking please!

 

Digital Switchover - D-Day is 27 June 2012.  This means that the analogue television signal will cease to be transmitted from this date.  Make sure you have a new digital, set-top box per TV to ensure you can still receive your picture.

 

Downswood Parish Council’s Spring 2011 newsletter.

 

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 White compostable Garden Waste Sacks and compostable food caddy liners, suitable for the MBC Kitchen Caddies.