NONINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

Report of a special meeting held at the Dolphins Hall on 13th December 2006

Roads. Snowdown Forum has now been sitting for some 5 years and Nonington have always been promised money for the roads but none has been forthcoming. It has now been stated that if we have money for a path from the Station to Butter Street then there will be no money left for anything else in Nonington. A meeting was held between SEEDA, KCC and the Roads Committee and a costing has been asked for regarding the installation of a path but nothing has been heard as yet. Cllr Ian Mowat is in charge of the Roads Committee and is looking at problems in relation to increased traffic through the village with the Snowdown Development now going ahead. It was stated that a footpath from the Station to Butter Street may be a bit remote and more lighting would be needed, also a crossing from the North side of the road to the Station would be sensible. There is already a problem with speeding in the village and this, it was felt, would only get worse. It was also stated that the lighting near Park Cottage and Holt Street Bungalow was insufficient. Further issues were identified with the Vicarage Lane/Holt Street junction i.e. there was a speeding problem with cars approaching the junction from the Station, also that there was poor visibility for traffic exiting Vicarage Lane, and therefore the crossing to the playground was dangerous. Excessive speed was also a problem with traffic approaching Beauchamps Roundabout, and flooding on the road outside the Village Hall. There had been at least 4 accidents in the last 12 months on the bend outside Southdown Cottage due to speeding traffic from the Sandwich direction. Partial flooding of the road at Nonington Court. A problem was also noted regarding existing road signs being obscured either by dirt and/or foliage. Additional signage would be appropriate on the approach to known hazards, certainly with regard to there being almost no pavements in the village. Cllr Barnett commented that a copy of the above should be sent to KCC, DDC and the Project Manager at SEEDA, also the possibility of a public meeting to be held in village with regard to these problems. Cllr Tee asked if it would be possible to arrange for the installation of banding to be laid across the road to interpret the speed and regularity of vehicles using the village. Baxters was put forward as someone to contact with relation to this.

Precept. The precept for last year was £6,000 which was less than the previous year, Nonington has one of the lowest precepts in the district. As a lot of work on the playground was needed last year no grants were awarded to village organisations however, these could be considered for the coming year but would not automatically be available to everyone who requested a grant. The Village Hall is trying to find money to upgrade the toilets and the Parish Council may be asked to give some money towards this. Nonington Entertainments Committee may also have some money to donate later on in the year. It was stated that the Parish Council has no direct voice in the village, not all villagers are on the internet and able to access the excellent Village Website, not all have the Parish Magazine. Therefore the idea of a news sheet produced twice a year by the Parish Council for distribution though-out the village was raised, costing of this would have to be prepared. A decision on the precept will be made at the 3rd of January meeting.

Clerk to the Parish Council, Mrs Linda Player, 01304 840410