Spring 2007 Extracts
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Chairman's
Comments |
There are many topics that I could report on, but this year I am particularly happy to tell you that Ditton Parish Council, through careful investments, has been able to maintain the Community Charge at the same level for the year 2007 to 2008 as in the present year.
The same careful management is aimed at improving the facilities in Ditton
for residents of all age groups.
The
two new Parish Councillors are working with enthusiasm and are quickly
coming to grips with the workings and needs of the Parish Council.
Ditton
Parish Councillors are taking every opportunity to attend and speak at
meetings where they are able to make comment on matters of public concern.
Finally,
I need to inform you that I will not be standing as a Ditton Parish Councillor
in May this year.
At
the next elections I will have had the privilege of serving the people
of Ditton for 28 years. During the last 14 years I have had the honour
of being the Chair of the Parish Council.
Fresh
approaches are needed to keep up with the times.
I also have new horizons and new objectives working with, and for other people.
My
best wishes to you all
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Parish
Clerk's Column |
It has been a very busy time with budgets and the precept figures to prepare for the Borough Council.
These have now been completed and we are looking for grants to rebuild the Cedar Room.
Meetings with local organisations and young people have already commenced, to ascertain what facilities they
would like provided in the new building.
With these preferred options, an initial layout has emerged with plans now being drawn up. Included in the proposals are a multi-use room with kitchen and toilet facilities, separate shower and changing facilities, youth room, police and community warden office and a ground staff mess room.
A lot of work has to be done in preparing applications for funding, plus meetings with partners and stakeholders. The meeting with youths proved very successful and productive, and highlighted their ‘feeling of exclusion’ from the community and it’s facilities.
The
youth input at the planning and design stage has been of great value.
Hopes are that they will continue to be involved with the project.
Regretfully there has been an increase in anti-social behaviour in Ditton
over the last two months, mainly in the Pear Tree Avenue area. With this
in mind, and following a request from the Community Police Officer and
Community Warden, this Council is purchasing a mobile CCTV unit costing
approximately £9000. The Community Police Officer will use it to
monitor ‘trouble spots’ in the parish which will enable him to identify
the culprits.
Please
note ALL anti-social behaviour should be reported to the police immediately
but please also let me know so that the Council and Community Officers
can build a picture of the areas affected by the behavioural problems
and the types of occurrences. This will ensure the best use being made
of the equipment.
If you would like any further information on any of the above, please
do not hesitate to contact:-
The parish office on 01732 844749, or Email: clerk@dittonparishcouncil.gov.uk
or call at the Parish office.
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Winner
of the Best Christmas House Display 2006 |
Congratulations to Mr & Mrs King, 43 New Road, Ditton!!
Having
arrived from Dartford only last October there couldn’t be a better way
to let residents know that a new family is in our midst.With the many
activities available in Ditton, we look forward to seeing them become
a part of our community.
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New
Parish Councillor takes his Ditton seat |
Born in Cambridge in 1968, Barry then moved to Hildenborough in 1976 where he stayed until 1999 when he moved with his wife to Acorn Grove, Ditton.
His work in the retail sector for 21 years, in various management roles, has meant his time has been spread between various stores in Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and London. His present work base is in Canterbury.
Barry’s leisure time interests are golf, spending time with his family and friends, films, walking and socialising, though admits not liking DIY!!!!
“I’ve been interested in national and local issues for many years” he says “and I have a desire to help and support my local community. I feel I have the drive and enthusiasm to support the parish council in the development of Ditton”.
Barry has a strong sense of fairness and understanding of peoples concerns, enjoys the challenge of trying to bring people together to achieve a common goal, and is heavily driven by family values and the guidance provided for each other.
The Parish Council members were 100% behind Barry’s application for the vacancy. (They won’t be mentioning DIY!)
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Ditton
Court Quarry |
A working party of the Parish Council is finalising an application to have the quarry site made into a Local Nature Reserve, thereby preserving this wonderful area for all time. Valuable assistance has been received from Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council and the Medway Valley Countryside Partnership in putting this document together and the time is very near for the application to be submitted to action this permanent change.
Part of the application covers a programme for the regular clearance of rubbish (bottles, paper etc:) that is, unfortunately, left on the site. The Parish Council is looking for volunteers to assist with the collection of this litter.
They could be residents who enjoy walking in the quarry as well as dog walkers who would be willing to pick up some of the litter during their stroll around the site.
The Parish Council would, of course supply litter-pickers and bags for their use.
If
you are interested in taking part in this worthwhile, but undemanding
exercise please make contact with the Parish Office either by telephoning
01732 844749 or alternatively by calling at the Community Centre.
Why drop litter in the first place?
From those helping to keep Ditton trouble free
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Matt Roddick Police
Constable who has been quick in identifying the cause of problems. |
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Tom
Hawkwood The Warden who is helping to improve the lives of Ditton residents. All
sorts of good partnership working’ is proving to be the way forward,
and there are lots of joint projects taking place within Ditton. |
There was a recent ‘blip’ in the reported crime figures which was quickly stamped on. Through working with the local Parish Council, other agencies, and residents, the problems have been sorted out. This led to serious consideration being given to a the purchase of a comprehensive CCTV system for not only the Community Centre but also a mobile unit which can be deployed in any part of Ditton as and when necessary for the use of Ditton’s residents. This purchase was discussed and agreed at a full parish council meeting. A surgery will soon be set up which I hope to run every Tuesday, alternating between the Church Centre and Ditton Community Centre. This is an opportunity for ANY resident in Ditton to talk to me and/or the Community Warden, Tom in confidence about local issues. Anyone wishing to bring any matter to our attention is reminded that we are both also accessible via the post box in the foyer of Ditton Community Centre, or via the Parish Council. ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ There
will be an opportunity to discuss matters with the police on Tuesday
evening of 3rd April from 6pm to 8pm. The plan is for there to be
such an opportunity in each month. It will though will need to have
people attending otherwise it will be a waste of policing time when
he could be out and about in Ditton. |
1. By working with the Parish Council it has been possible to set up a panel of young people who are involved in the planning of the proposed Cedar Rooms rebuild. Also they are involved in the setting up of a Youth Club which will, hopefully, be up and running by the end of May. This will give time for interested members of the community to come forward to help in the initial setting up and ongoing running (alongside the youth panel) of the Youth Club. If you are interested in the project please contact me, or the Parish Office for a chat. Experience is not necessary—it’s the enthusiasm and commitment to an ongoing project that is of most value. 2. The setting up of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in Pear Tree Avenue is almost complete. Once it is in place, I would like to begin the reintroduction of the scheme in other areas of Ditton. If you are interested in becoming a co-ordinator for your road, please leave your details (including email address) at the Parish office. 3. A joint evening surgery with Matt Roddick is to be held in the Community Centre on 3rd of April. This is a chance for residents to come along for an informal chat with either Matt of myself about issues that may be causing concern or worry. 4.
Dog fouling is causing concern, especially in the Kiln Barn Road
area towards the school entrance in New Road. On a recent walk,
I counted 19 “deposits” between the corner of Scott Close and the
entrance to the school in New Road. Remember! - not clearing up
is punishable by a fine. |
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NEW
SCHOOL CLOCK |
You may have noticed that at long last the clock face has been replaced at the Junior School. The clock was originally purchased by the Parish Council in 1979 to commemorate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.
The project was chosen at that time because there is no other clock outside anywhere in the Parish. Unlike most Church Towers, St Peter’s Church ad Vincula does not have this feature.
Following damage to the original clock face and mechanism, a quotation was obtained from Gillett & Johnston, the original manufacturer, to install a new, modern mechanism with a Victorian style face. The quotation was very expensive but the work was carried out thanks to a very generous donation from a Ditton Resident in memory of Sid Thompson, who loved Ditton; a generous donation from Ditton Junior School and a Local Members Grant from KCC obtained with thanks to Co. Cllr. Geoff Rowe.
The Parish Council also contributed to the project and is sure that everyone would agree that the new clock is a splendid asset to the village.
Meeting
to discuss the unacceptable behave by youths in Ditton
As the result of parishioners explaining their problems at Ditton Parish Council’s monthly meetings, a meeting was arranged with the Police and the parishioners so that everyone would know details of the problems occurring.
This took place took place on 8th March. the Don Carman Hall in the Community Centre.
Chief Inspector Martin Very, District Inspector Gian Chahal. Sergeant Steve Cable (Neighbour-hood Sergeant), PC Matt Roddick, Andy Blackmore (Crime Prevention Officer) as well as Leila Hughes (Neighbourhood Watch), Tom Hawkwood and John Martin (Community Wardens), Sarah Taylor (Anti-Social Behaviour Officer), County Councillor Geoff Rowe, and Ditton Parish Councillors and Staff. 29 Ditton residents (on the register) were present and were not backward in putting the publics point of view. They gave very explicit examples of the types of recurring damage and theft they have been experiencing for some time, then adding their ideas as to the measures that needed to be implemented to nullify the problems described.
As often happens, the necessary repairs needed (through wilful damage) are the responsibility of the Borough or County Councils to put right. In these cases the necessary repairs can take longer to implement than if it were the Parish Council’s property that has been the target of vandals.
What is being put in place as soon as possible, is the installation of CCTV cameras, not only aimed at known vandal targets, but covering areas which could be used as ‘escape routes’ by the perpetrators of the unacceptable activities. With some of the cameras being repositioned around Ditton, there will be extra opportunities to identify the culprits. Mind you, any adults seeking opportunities to steal from houses and garden sheds etc, will not be sure whether that area is being covered by the cameras.
Certain areas that have been used as ‘escape routes’ will be modified to make it very difficult for them to be used in the future. The irony is that all of these repairs and alterations cost money; usually from the Council Tax. Since the introduction of the new policing areas, the number of officers for West Kent has been doubled and there is now a 24 hour response team. Ditton has been raised as a ‘hot spot’ by the Police, and is receiving these patrols. By working with ‘partner’ organisations they will be able to provide maximum cover.
The discussions covered all of the known problems. Besides the damage to Garage Fencing; Vandalism of Properties and Residents Cars; the general issues are:- Youths sitting on Garage Roof Drinking Alcohol, Rubbish being discarded onto properties, Noise from behind shops, and open areas in front of private properties (both from youths with alcohol) plus youths gathering between 6.45 and 7.15 pm. It is vital to have Community Involvement to highlight problems and to find solutions.
All of the organisations attending the meeting were of one mind this being the working together to learn of the problems and to ‘combine forces’ to overcome them. The problem of alcohol use by under aged youths is to be investigated. Being the licensing authority, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council has the power to revoke a license if it can prove that a premise is selling alcohol to under age children. The police can also close an outlet for the same reason.
The encouraging aspect was the willingness of people present at the meeting to offer their services to become co-ordinators, working as a team with the other organisations.
District Inspector Gian Chahal listed the priorities and suggested a further meeting to be held in a month’s time to revue progress. This was agreed and will take place in the Don Carman Hall, in the Community Centre on ……...Wednesday 18th April 2007 commencing at 7.00pm.
If you are a resident of Ditton Parish and did not receive a copy of this Ditton Gazette, please contact Parish Council Office, Ditton Community Centre, Kilnbarn Road, Ditton, Aylesford, Kent ME20 6AH, telephone 01732 844749 email clerk@dittonparishcouncil.gov.uk
