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November
2007 Onlooker
Ash Parish Council
The Parish Council meeting on 01 October started with an Open Meeting to enable discussion on the planning application from Mansfield ’s for the poly-tunnels at Guilton Farm. This meeting was attended by approximately 30 parishioners and 6 representatives from Mansfield ’s. The business operation and processes, as far as it concerned this development, was outlined and the reasons why cultivation using protection from the poly-tunnels, was necessary. Also mentioned were the plans for landscaping, water run off control and future replacement of strawberry production with apple and pear trees. The Mansfield team were anxious to confirm their desire and intention to do what was required of them by the local authorities and to work with local residents to avoid inconvenience and disputes. There was opportunity for questions from the floor and several parishioners raised a variety topics. Of these, the one giving most concern was the water run off and drainage from the site into adjacent roads. There were examples quoted, of severe inconvenience, where an area which previously had a poor drainage system, was now made far worse by the effect of vast areas of polythene channelling the water into a more confined channel, bringing with it significant quantities of silt. There were worries also, of traffic accidents from vehicles travelling along Nash Road in particular, and the sight lines round corners being obstructed by windbreaks and structures. The whole aspect was raised, of roads that were not suited to the activities expected from the site, including soil and detritus being carried from the fields. In general, the feeling was that the discussion and remedial planning were much too late and that the problems could have and should have, been addressed before any planting was started. In general the parishioners present felt strongly about the ‘rough-shod’ way the project had been implemented with little consideration for difficulties created for local residents. This Open meeting concluded at 8.00 pm and the normal council meeting began. During the remainder of the meeting we heard from PCSO Lisa White about the issues in the village. There continues to be vandalism and bad behaviour but with the information that Lisa is able to pass on to PC Wright, there is optimism that reductions will be made in Anti-Social behaviour. There was a report that KCC are considering selling some small pieces of land in the village, for reasons which remain as yet unclear. This land lies alongside the main A257 ( Ash Bypass) and alongside the route of old road to Sandwich . The Parish Council are against this proposal. The next stage in the development of a Parish Plan was discussed and dates suggested for the first meeting of the committee. This date is yet to be confirmed but 30 October and 07 November are possible. On the selected date, a meeting will be held at 7.30 pm in the Village Library. It is hoped that those who expressed interest at the initial meeting, would attend, along with representatives from the Parish Council and others who are interested. It should be stressed that members of the committee are not obliged to remain on the committee for the total duration of the formulation of the plan, but individuals may attend for a period to lend expertise on a particular aspect. The remainder of the Council meeting was devoted to the standard topics concerning footpaths, lighting, highways, allotments, trees, speeding traffic and parked cars. On the latter there continues to be parking on yellow lines which causes obstructions to vital service vehicles; this is anti social behaviour, committed not by the youth of the village, but by an older generation.
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