Ticehurst, Flimwell and Stonegate Parish Council

 

Liz Wendt, George Keywood, Jenny Carter, Peter Johnson and Lisa Brooks (Peggy Langdown taking the photo!)

Report on the Rosemary Lane Clean up March 29th 2008

As reported in item 3.0 of the Parish Council Minutes of 4th March 2008:
 ‘Rosemary Lane: Cllr. Langdown is organising a clearing up day in Rosemary Lane on  29th  March 2008.  Mr and Mrs Halden have done a clearing up session in the Lane which the Clerk has thanked them for, but it also means that the excessive rubbish there is an on-going problem.’

This was also covered in the Friday 28th edition of the Courier in the Community Column:
‘A WORKING PARTY will be meeting in Rosemary Lane tomorrow morning Saturday March 29 to collect rubbish. Volunteers can meet at the entrance to Downash at 10am. If the weather is bad then the collection will be postponed. If in doubt please phone Peggy Langdown on 01580 200599 at 9am on Saturday morning to confirm.’

On Saturday morning the working party was made up of myself,  Rosemary Lane residents Peter Johnson, Lisa Brooks, George Keywood, Jenny Carter and also Liz Wendt who lives in Tinkers Lane. We spent a few hours on the morning collecting rubbish from Rosemary Lane. As noted in the March minuets Mr and Mrs Paul Halden and Mrs Jan Thomas who live on Berners Hill had collected several bin liners of rubbish from the Berners Hill end of the lane so the working party started at the causeway and worked up the lane to the junction with the A21. In all 16 bin liners of rubbish were collected. The rubbish consisted mainly of bottles, tins, food, sweet wrappers and plastic bags although there were one or two items of concern including a container of chemicals and a bag containing credit cards and other personal items. These have been reported to the appropriate authorities.

After the clear up I went for lunch at the Bull and Angie Perry, the landlady, noted that she had been shocked to see lots of rubbish in Stonegate, particularly in the Cottenden area. If it is wanted I am happy to help collect rubbish there too if the Stonegate Councillors feel it is necessary, or anywhere else in the Parish if ‘trouble spots’ are identified. This is a problem that effects all of us no matter which village we live in and should not be viewed as a parochial issue.>                 Peggy Langdown

Traffic Calming

The Clerk attended a meeting at 1 Upper Platts with the chairman of the residents' association there and one other resident (25.3.08).  Mr Mike Higgs of ESCC was also in attendance.

He was visiting to try to explain the ‘buffer zone’ needs on the eastern approach to the village which effectively moves the 30 mph zone closer to the village, leaving Upper Platts in the proposed 40 mph limit.  The ladies felt that this was unacceptable and would not withdraw their letters of opposition.  Therefore the matter will need to be put to Council Committee, where Mr Higgs and they will be able to make representation to the Cllrs. sitting on this committee.

ESCC feel that cars will slow down during the 40 mph zone so that by the time they reach the 30 mph area, they will have slowed their speed at the approach to the village.  Average speed is currently 44.5 mph in the 30 mph limit area.

Upper Platts residents feel that they should be within the 30 mph limit and they are effectively being pushed out of the village, making their pedestrian access to the village even more dangerous.

The Clerk asked whether build outs are appropriate within a 40 mph limit and Mr Higgs would enquire. The Clerk would look into the costings and feasibility of ‘gate ways scheme’ at the eastern end of Upper Platts to emphasise to traffic that they were entering a built up area.

 Woodroffe Lodge

The Chairman,  Clerk,  Cllrs. Maynard, Yeo, A Cook and Semple attended a meeting held on 26.3.08 with Clare Thompson from Rother Homes. 
She explained that they are working on a scheme that would re-house the remaining residents of Woodroffe Lodge within a new purpose built unit in about two years time.  The remaining residents do not qualify for Newington Court’s stipulations and residents all want to stay in the village and preferably together.  Cllrs. thanked Ms Thompson for listening to their concerns and proposing a solution that seemed to be acceptable to all concerned.  Details would be revealed in about 3-4 months and the residents are likely to remain where they are for at least 2 years.
The future of Woodroffe Lodge, with regard to replacement or refurbishment is still not decided, but will remain within ‘affordable housing controls’.