NONINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

Report of meeting held on Tuesday, 4th November 2003

Footpaths – Bruderhof Community – proposal to eradicate footpaths EE305 and EE306 and replace them with a path running completely around the perimeter of the upper field. The Parish Council, held a meeting with a representative of the Bruderhof Community and a member of Kent County Council, objected to this taking place. A compromise (subject to ratification) was reached in that a new path would be created some way above EE306 cutting straight across to the opposite fence line then down to the remaining part of the EE306. This proposal gives a better walk than is in existence at the moment and is not intrusive on the Bruderhof Community as it is nowhere near their buildings. Kent County Council have now heard from the Ramblers Association who disagree totally with any changes at all. Kent County Council will be in contact with us in the future after talks with the Ramblers Association. Councillor Craggy has walked all the footpaths concerned and stated that he was impressed with all the stiles on that site. The proposal put forward by Councillor Barnett was unanimously agreed by all Councillors.

Overgrown pavement – Holt Street. Dover District Council has now cleared all the weeds encroaching onto the pavement by the Cricket Ground. However the Cricket Club have been informed that in the future if weeds grow from their side of the fence then it is their responsibility to clear them.

Bus Shelter. No objections had been received regarding the siting of a bus shelter. A further meeting was arranged with Mr G Measey from Dover District Council concerning this but unfortunately he could not attend. A Highways representative did attend however and stated that we should apply for traffic calming measures. He also stated that the hedges running alongside The Royal Oak should be cut back as that would improve visibility for people crossing the road at the bottom of Vicarage Lane. Mr Hammond of The Royal Oak was approached on this matter but no reply was forthcoming.

Nonington Web Page. This has been professionally put together by Mr Dick Henley and is an interesting and informative site which covers all aspects of the village and includes a section devoted to the Parish Council. Access by the Clerk to insert reports etc on this site has now been sorted out. It was proposed by Councillor Holt that we participate in this website. This was carried unanimously. The cost of preparing and maintaining the website was raised and it was decided to ask Mr D Henley to apply for a grant when all the other village organisations are invited to apply shortly.

Road signs in Village. Despite two letters and two telephone calls by the Clerk nothing has yet been done. Clerk to write again to the relevant department and ask that they inform us of any progress made and to give us any dates that are relevant.

Grants. Usually this was arranged in December but it was changed to March. In hindsight it may well be better to agree it in January and letters will be sent to village organisations inviting letters of request to be handed in by the 20th December 2003.

SEEDA – Snowdown Forum. No great developments have taken place since this was last discussed. The Lease has still not been signed by all the parties concerned. Nonington has 3 representatives on the Snowdown Forum, one nominated by the Parish Council and 2 representatives elected by the village. Mr J Ford has resigned his post with the Snowdown Forum and the post was subsequently advertised. Four applications were received: Mrs June Peacock, Mrs P Catterall, Mrs R Hammond from The Royal Oak and Mr J Halfpenny the joint Managing Director of Prima Systems (S.E.) Limited. Rather than hold a referendum with the whole village taking part the Parish Councillors will decide after this meeting and write to the interested parties subsequently.

Speeding vehicles in Frogham. A letter was read out from a resident of Frogham (which was signed by a further 12 villagers), which stated serious concerns regarding the speed of vehicles using the village. The village does not have a 30 m.p.h speed limit. The problems seem to have arisen since traffic calming was introduced in Elvington and instead of travelling slowly through Elvington motorists are turning off near the Church in Eythorne and cutting through Barfrestone and Frogham eventually exiting at Nightingale Lane into Nonington.. This raises concerns that the planners never considered motorists would avoid Elvington completely and create a rat run through the two very narrow villages of Barfrestone and Frogham. A traffic survey has been done in Aylesham and Adisham and we have asked for one to be carried out in Nonington. Unfortunately as far as we are aware there are no plans for traffic surveys to be carried out in either Barfrestone or Frogham. Clerk will write to the Highways Department expressing concerns and requesting a traffic survey for Frogham.

Brush Cutting – Mr Ben Collins is in charge of a Community Paths Project which arranges for training in brush cutting to be given to interested parties. Names of the Green Gang have been given to him and he will be contacting them early next year.

Questions from the floor.

Mr Underhill stated that a stainless steel telegraph pole had been erected in Holt Street by British Telecom. The Clerk was asked to find out if this is the material now used for telegraph poles.

Mrs Peacock stated that she would like a ‘width restriction’ sign erected outside the Church as large articulated lorries and buses are trying to get around the corner and are damaging their lorries on the Church wall. When they realise they cannot get around the bend they then have to reverse until they can turn around. She further stated that she had contacted the Highways Department and told them of the problem but so far nothing had been done.

It was brought to the Councillors attention that a sign for Sandwich was still not installed on the roundabout in Nonington and vehicles were still driving up Beauchamps Lane in error. The Clerk had written to the relevant department in July but will chase it up.

Prima Systems (S.E.) Limited. Parking outside Prima Systems is causing problems for traffic flow in Easole Street. They have been contacted and say they are very conscious of the problems they are causing, they are trying to rent part of the adjoining field to park on. Prima Systems are to give evidence that it is causing a safety problem and will hope to get the Police to support their application for use of the adjoining field to park on.

It was further reported that the private road leading to Nonington Court flats was in a very poor state of repair but as there was now a new Management Committee at the flats maybe something would be done in the future.

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 6th January 2004 at 7.30 p.m. in the Village Hall.