Holder of the KCC Award for Volunteering Excellence

www.valleyconservation.org.uk

MEMBERS NEWSLETTER No 106   April 2010    

SBS APPLICATION

UNANIMOUSLY

OPPOSED BY

MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

PLANNING COMMITTEE !

At the packed planning meeting held at Maidstone Town Hall on Wednesday 17^th March, representations were made by Tovil Parish Councillor Derek Mortimer and local resident Mrs Bister to oppose the planning application. They both pointed out the damaging effect of heavy goods vehicle movement within the surrounding valley area, the safety hazard to recreational walkers and the probability of airborne pollutants.

South Ward Councillor Ian Chittenden spoke against the application as did many other Councillors on the planning committee. After the unanimous vote was recorded Councillor Tony Harwood requested that officers “make serious opposition” against the KCC application as the increase in pollution will affect the whole of Maidstone.  The decision will now be assessed by the Kent County Council Waste Authority meeting where we will make further representations against this blight to the valley. 

Council take action over valley “road”

At the VCS Annual General Meeting held on Saturday 21^st February, a Tovil Parish Councillor stated that the Maidstone Borough Council planning enforcement officer is due to take action over the roadway installed without planning consent at Bockingford Stables.

 Maidstone Museum Event

An exhibition of news photographs is taking place at Maidstone Museum from

15^th March until 4^th July 2010. This is from the Kent Messenger Group’s

 “News in Pictures” collection showing life in Maidstone from the 1930’s to the 1950’s.

Woman killed on Farleigh Hill.

    As if to highlight the dangers of walking on roads without specified footpaths, it is sad to report the death of Brenda Smith 87. a resident of Tovil Green Court. The accident happened at the stretch of Farleigh Hill where there is no adequate walking surface adjacent to a very busy road. A 30 mph speed indicator had been installed within 1 month of the accident although there is no indication that speed was implicated in the incident. Tovil parish Council are considering applying to Kent Highways for the installation of a paved footpath. It was also discussed at the Parish Council meeting held on March 3^rd that the developer of Tovil Green Court had previously suggested a connecting path to the rear of Tesco’s car park directly to the new development.

Free Tree Scheme.

The KCC free tree scheme, from which Valley Conservation Society has benefited from, has now reached 12,000 planted trees and hedging since the scheme began in 2006. The scheme is supported by Medway Valley Countryside Partnership, Medway Council, Network Rail, and Maidstone Borough Council.

New Appointments   

At the Annual General Meeting the election of committee members took place.

Maggie Davis has decided to stand down as Treasurer after 4 years of invaluable service which included the successful application for the Lottery Grant. We welcome Tony Day who was elected as her successor. Maggie will continue her good work as the minutes secretary. Alan Smith has decided to stand down as Secretary after 4 years and Newsletter Editor to the Society following 10 years of excellent creative work and tireless contributions fighting planning issues on behalf of the VCS. Alan will retain his position as a Committee Member. We welcome David Fleck who has been elected as the new Secretary and Newsletter Editor. We would like to thank both of these loyal members for their outstanding contribution to the Society.

Working Party:

The working party has been continuing to clear rubbish from in and around the ponds and have removed one sluice board from the weir to drop the excessively high water level in the Lower Crisbrook pond. Brick rubble has been cleared from the sides of the Reeds pond.

The site of the Lower Crisbrook Mill has been tidied; the foundations and remaining stonework have been exposed. This work enables visitors to distinguish the area where the old mill stood.

Work Party.

The work party meets 11am every Tuesday at Reeds pond and all volunteers are welcome. Further details from Bryn Cornwell 01622 746514

Loose Area History Society.

An illustrated talk on “Prostitution in Victorian Medway” will take place on April 12^th

7.30pm. at the Loose Infant School. Contact Paul Tritton 01622 741198

To commemorate our first 10 years.

The committee has taken the decision to award Mrs Ciss Collins, one of our longest standing members, Honorary Membership of the Valley Conservation Society. This award is to reflect the society's appreciation of the contribution made by Ciss to the work of the V.C.S.   

Barbeque 2010.

The date for the eagerly anticipated annual VCS barbeque is 24^th July 2010; please make a note in your diary.  We are anticipating much better weather this year!

Planning Application.

An application has been made to Maidstone Borough Council Planning Department for outline planning permission to build two semi- detached houses to the rear of 422 Loose Road. This land is currently used as the car park for the Lloyds TSB Bank.

Details can be viewed at Maidstone Gateway or online. Application No MA 10/0189

Membership renewal.

If you have not already done so please consider renewing your 2010 membership. The annual subscription remains at £2. This represents good value for the efforts made on behalf of members, securing funding for valley projects, opposing planning applications thought to be detrimental and of course the bi-monthly newsletter.

An application form appears on the back page.

New article for the newsletter

As the new Editor of the Valley Conservation Society I would like to introduce a regular item on non-native invasive species. These species will not necessarily affect the Loose Valley and surrounding areas immediately but will certainly be having an effect within the UK. Please email or phone with comment and suggestions for further inclusions. Home phone 01622 758567 or email flecky@talk21.com

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 Invasive Species 1. Spanish Bluebell.

The UK is home to almost 50% of the world’s population of the native Bluebell

(Hyacinthoides non-scripta). This population is under threat from; Habitat loss, Unsustainable collection, Climate change, Competition and Hybridisation. The native Bluebell’s Spanish relative is more vigorous than our Native species and will readily cross breed to create a fertile hybrid or cross. This creates different species which could have dramatic consequences for the integrity of the Native Bluebell.

Reproduction of artwork by kind permission Christina Hart Davies.

The collection of wild Bluebell bulbs is illegal as is the removal of other species from land not owned by you. The Wild Plant Conservation Charity (www.plantlife.org.uk) recommends that seeds and bulbs of the native bluebell be purchased from genuine suppliers only and that non native hybrids and Spanish bluebell are never planted adjacent to native populations. Gardeners should compost unwanted plants carefully ensuring that removal after flowering is followed by complete drying prior to composting.

Water Quality Concerns.

Loose Stream pronounced “POOR”

In a recent Lib Dem publication, prospective parliamentary candidate for Maidstone

and the Weald, Peter Carroll, calls for Maidstone’s rivers to be cleaned up.

The article quotes newly published details released from the Water Framework Directive. This directive is published by the Environment Agency and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs.

The stated aims of the Directive include:

·        To prevent deterioration in status for surface water bodies

·        Aim to achieve good ecological status by 2015

·        Reduce pollution from priority substances and cease discharges, emissions and losses of hazardous substances.

Two separate classifications are now in place for surface water bodies, ecological and chemical. The categories for Ecological assessment are high, good, moderate, poor and bad. Chemical assessments are good and fail. Unfortunately despite an overall improvement in surface water quality locally the Loose Stream is classified as “Poor” under the new directive and the current aim is for “Good” to be achieved by 2025. We will be contacting the Environment Agency to assess what we can do to improve this situation.

The classification for local rivers:

·        River Len : Bad

·        River Beult : Poor

·        Loose Stream : Poor

·        Rivers Teise : Moderate

·        River Medway : Moderate

None reach a good category!

Printed and published by David Fleck, 3 Hayle Mill, Hayle Mill Road, Maidstone. ME15 6JW.