BOROUGH GREEN NEWS

See Potters Mede Plans on "POTTERS PLANS" page. 

And now some good news:

Our planning application for the new building has been passed, and we have just been notified by the Dept for Communities and Local Government that our loan application has been approved. We have applied for a £100k facility just to make sure that we have enough money to finish the job, but we hope we don't need it.

Stop Press : T&M Planners are trying to prevent us using Potters Mede for anything bar sports: without that extra revenue, the new building may not be viable.

Counsel's Opinion on Isles Quarry West should be available any day, and will be posted here.

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NEXT Parish Council Meeting Monday 6th February 2012 7.30pm

Church of the Good Shepherd Annex 

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Your Parish Council working for you......

It has become apparent over recent years that KCC do not have the resources to keep our footpaths and public areas even partly clear, and the situation will only get worse. Under the Localism Bill, Parish Councils will be able to assume some of these duties, perhaps even with some funding. But while we wait, everything gets worse, brambles don't wait for politicians. So the Council decided, with the support of our staff, to take on some of this work, and you may see the results around the village. At least we can keep the place looking nice. Picture above is Rob and Barry clearing overgrown hedges by Tolsey Mede.

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Just a few notes of update:

Isles Quarry has gone quiet whilst a "robust" submission from KCC is awaited, and we are still waiting our Counsel's opinion on the validity of T&M's Local Development Framework.

The Parish Council has submitted a planning application for the replacement Pavilion at Potters Mede, and hopefully that will start in spring alongside refurbishment of the football pitches. We are also applying for a Public Works Loan Facility of £100,000, just to be sure we don't have to skimp, or run out of money before we finish.

Another 8 saltbins have been installed this year, and we ask all residents to be vigilant of people "borrowing" our salt for their own use. If it gets stolen, we won't have it to use on our pavements and roads when we need it. Keys for the bins are held by volunteer local residents, so should be open when we need them. 

Wrotham Parish Council have just purchased a proper tow gritter, and we have made arrangements to have second use. Hopefully we should be able to keep all the village clear if it snows this year

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PUBLIC MEETING 19th JULY BGVH the results of a paper ballot were:

"Yes- the PC continue Legal Action, whatever the cost"	26
"No - Abandon legal action against TMBC"	24
"Maybe- Pursue legal action whilst attempting to reach a compromise with Crest/TM towards Plan B"	82

 1st August Borough Green PC meeting adopted that policy by 8 votes to 1.

Read Borough Green Parish Council submission on "BGPC CREST" page. 

Crest Homes planning application for IQW is public. See "CREST" page for brief details, or for the full application go to:

http://publicaccess.tmbc.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_searchform.aspx 

and enter 11/01191.

There is a deadline for submissions on 7th July, so I am urging you to write quoting TM/11/01191, even if you just say "I am against 177 Houses". The more response the better. I think T&M are playing games with us, so don't let 'em get away with it. We now know that the application will not be heard  in September, and that October is also looking doubtful. Even October is now doubtful, as KCC's robust response is still awaited.

Write to TMBC Planning,Gibson Building, Gibson Drive, Kings Hill ME19 4LZ, or email planning.services@tmbc.gov.uk

SEE "BGPC IQW RESPONSE" Page

 BETRAYAL ..............

Finally, we know the truth. In Part 2 (the secret bit) of a Parish Council meeting on the 1st December 2003, Chair Sue Murray present Hanson's plan for mass housing at Isles Quarry West. They deliberately withheld it from us, even during the Public Exhibition for the Parish Plan. But then, in their desperate secrecy for us not to see their alterations, they forgot to publicly vote and adopt that Plan, just sneaked it off to TMBC Planners. By the time we found out what had happened in 2007, it was too late.

It may well be their mistake gives us a way of overturning the Policy that allows IQW Housing, but we need expert advice. It could cost a lot of money, and the new Parish Council would not entertain such expenditure without asking you first: its your money, you decide how it is spent.

More info, see "BETRAYAL" page.........

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NEW INDEPENDENT BG PARISH COUNCIL

Tim Shaw	961	Mike Taylor	865
Cliff Dobson	721	Sandra Gould	712
Pat Moorecroft	670	Henry Willard	661
Gary Harrington	534	Scott Millener	534
Les Chown	480	Mike Yianni	475
Steve Perry	431	turnout: **	48.9%

Interestingly, Steve Perry claims that as he opposes everything we try to do, he is the only real independent!

And at the Borough we were beaten by the cash rich Tory Machine, but I reckon we did pretty good:

The Blizzard 2010

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   www.sevenoaksart.co.uk

FREE ANIMATED .GIFs

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THE DEATH OF THE DIY VILLAGE? I DON'T  THINK SO !!!

"The days of DIY on publicly used facilities are dead and gone - BGPC must work without deviations from the current standards. Charles Willsher, Chairman, BGPC"

I don't know about you, but I love our DIY Village, I am proud of our reputation, and rejoice in our community's unique talents.

These comments are a slur on all the QUALIFIED TRADESMEN who have given their time freely over the years to the community: does a plumber or electrician automatically become unqualified if he doesn't charge? Of course he doesn't : A Parish Council needs to explore every avenue to ensure Best Value.

Below

Its not always sunny in Borough Green, although it usually feels like it

BRIGHTSTART PLAY GROUP

The playgroup has run for many years now in the capable hands of Jan Niner and her team in the Parish Hall on Quarry Hill Rd, call Jan on

  07858 188867

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SCOUTS AND CUBS

We have a new website in town, www.bgscouts.co.uk , a good chance for parents to find out what joining can do for their kids. I know its not too good a recommendation, but I had many happy years in both organisations, but that was when they still wore shorts.

Ian Bangay's amazing historic photos of Borough Green http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/bgphotos/

Independent Traffic Action Group I-TAG http://www.i-tag.org/

(c) Mike Taylor all pictures unless otherwise stated : feel free to use any images, but if you earn I'd like a share !