Goudhurst and Kilndown Parish Council

GOUDHURST PARISH COUNCIL
Local Government for Goudhurst and Kilndown

HIGHWAYS AND FOOTPATHS COMMITTEE

Minutes of a Meeting held in The Jessel Room on Tuesday 29 June 2010 at 7.30 p.m.

Present: Cllrs Ward (Chairman), Boniface, Mrs. Glendinning, Kirkby,
Apologies: Cllr Crookall

Update on Highways Matters.
Outstanding queries with KHS. In the absence of either any updates or satisfactory updates the committee agreed that that our outstanding queries will be raised at the meeting with KHS - Steven Noad (Transportation Engineer), Loise Codman and Sue Bickerstaff (Community Liaison Officer). See attached list: ‘Main outstanding issues with KHS’.

30 mph repeater sign on The Plain, Goudhurst. Cllrs Kirkby & Ward measured the distance between the 30mph sign in West Road opposite hairdressers and the 30 mph sign on the Plain as 75 m. At 225m there is a redundant sign post and 250m is at the Church entrance. The Department of Transport’s Traffic Signs Manual suggests if there are no street lights, a maximum of 400m between repeater signs on the same side of the carriageway, 250m between signs on alternate sides of the carriageway. This is however only guidance but the issue will be raised at the meeting with KHS.

Road Names. No update. Will ask Lene Beynon (TWBC) at meeting on 7th July.

A228 Colts Hill - Proposed road closure at Crittenden Road/Alders Road staggered junction; next meeting 31st July.

Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). Report from Cllr Crookall of meeting 18th June was noted.

KHS/Parish Mtg 02 June 2010 The output from the meeting was reviewed (already circulated by email). Subsequent to the meeting the attached email 1st July was received from John Burr (Director KHS).

Goudhurst & Kilndown School Walking Bus. We understand that Goudhurst & Kilndown CE Primary School is to trial a walking bus route and we look forward to seeing the results.

Update on PROW Matters
Footpath maintenance issues. Cllr David Boniface and the Clerk have been carrying out an in depth review of Footpaths items needing attention. It contains 86 items and the plan is to reduce the outstanding ones considerably in a short time using Peter Watkins and ensuring KCC meet their responsibility, especially for their priority route - the High Weald Landscape Trail, and that Landowners also fulfill their responsibilities.

Maps. Having worked through several drafts with Neil Barnes of KCC the latest version is based on the 1:25,000 OS map but scaled up by a factor of 1.22. The footpaths are shown as solid green, the bridleways as solid blue. The background is faded as in the online ‘Explore Kent’ maps to give greater prominence to the footpaths. Advice from the printer, Francis Rook of Cranbrook, is that we should print on standard A3 size as this is much cheaper. It is likely to be two sided, showing North and South Goudhurst on front and back. The final stage is to re-position footpath codes and to add in special routes such as the Millennium Walk, NT permissory paths and easy walks around Goudhurst. Highways & Footpaths Committee seeks approval of expenditure of up to £300.00 for an initial print run (there is £1,000.00 in the expenditure budget for this item).

Dymo Footpath Label Printer is now working and has been used successfully to label a number of paths.

Hop Pickers’ Line Meeting on 29 June. David Smith of KCC reported progress. There had been a delay in finalising the report of the consultant engineers (Jacobs) due to extended negotiations with Network Rail and Sustrans. However, the programme is now back on course. The pre-application form for grant funding would be submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund in mid July 10. Committee members had contributed to the application by development of ideas linking together:

the heritage aspects of the growing, picking and processing of hops together with associated social and economic aspects;
historical hop infrastructure such as oast houses, hop fields, coppice woods;
The role of hop-picking in the life of the London poor;
rural railway heritage;
the line as a car-free route opening up the above heritage with wayside plaques etc;
an access route to view Kent as the Garden of England;

If the full application is successful, work would start on the Hawkhurst to Cranbrook section in April 2011. On 12th June 2011, the anniversary of the last train, there would be an event to celebrate the re-designation of the line as a walk and cycle route.

Cllr John Ward
02 July 10

Minutes of a Meeting held on 27 April 2010 at the Jessel Room
Present: Cllrs Ward (Chairman), Boniface, Mrs Chudley, Kirkby and Rolington Declarations of Interest: There were none.

Highways & Footpaths Matters:
Outstanding queries with KHS. The committee were not satisfied with the response, contained in the letter of 8th April from Director Kent Highways services, to our letter of 9th March to County Cllr Alex King. The committee resolved to make a detailed response, particularly in relation to the number and siting of the repeater signs. It was also understood that other local parishes were similarly concerned about the new signage and the possibility of a joint submission to KHS will be investigated.
Road Names. Whilst there has been further communication with David Thompson (TWBC Land & Property Gazetteer Manager) but there is still no clarification, from a Street Naming & Numbering legal specialist, that the Council required 100% agreement on the address changes.

Rationalized Finger Post Road Direction Signs at The Plain. KHS, Dominic Proud, has advised that the tourism signs have now been delivered and he is now awaiting the delivery of the wooden finger post so that it can be installed at the same time. He thinks that the work will be carried out over the next 3 weeks once we have received the fingerpost sign.

Request for a Footway on A262 (Cranbrook Road) east of the Chequers junction to houses in the Greentrees Farm & Lime Trees Oast area. The request will be passed to KHS.

Health and Safety problem of the pond at the junction of Tattlebury Lane/School Lane and the A262. This issue was raised at the Annual Parish meeting. There are two concerns; the pond overflows and debris flows onto the road surface and the fence has fallen down so there is a danger to pedestrians. The Clerk wrote to the landowner about this on 26th January but there has been no reply. GPC is asked to agree that a further letter is sent to the landowner and then if the remedial work is not done then we should approach KHS with a view to enforcement.

Update on PROW Matters:
Footpath maintenance issues. There are currently a number of Footpath maintenance issues which Cllr Boniface will be raising with Pete Watkins.

Maps. Thecommittee considered the 3 versions of OS maps with Footpath Overlay provided by KHS and Cllr Boniface will finalise with KHS.

Labelling Machine to enable PROW numbering. The Dymo Rhino 5200 machine has been delivered. 19mm yellow vinyl tape is awaited.

Cllr John Ward
30/4/10

The Ranters Lane/Riseden Lane Issue

Some of you may have received a letter in November last year asking for your opinion about the naming of Ranters Lane.

David Thompson is the Land and Property Gazetteer Manager at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. 01892 526121 or david.thompson@tunbridgewells.gov.uk

The FiReControl project is now being introduced nationally and will replace the current 46 standalone fire response control rooms in England with 9 nationally networked Regional Control Centres (RCCs). Implementation of the project is due to begin in 2011. David has been tasked with clarifying street and road names where there is a potential for confusion.

The FiReControl project will rely on the address data in the Council's Local Land & Property Gazetteer (LLPG) so it is paramount that the data stored in this is accurate and does not include duplicate data for one and the same street. In addition a loss of local knowledge due to the regionalisation of the control centres will require the LLPG to be extremely accurate and you can imagine the issues that will arise if we have Riseden Lane and Ranters Lane in the LLPG.

David is still awaiting response from the Royal Mail and a Street Naming and Numbering (SNN) legal specialist regarding the naming of Ranters Lane and Riseden Lane.

He has also been in contact with Kent Fire Service regarding the issue. Their view is that Ranters Lane is the street name and that Riseden is simply a locality/area which is accessed from Ranters Lane. Kent Fire Service agreed that the 'dual' street name causes confusion even with local knowledge.

The matter is still open for discussion and if you have any views on this, please would you send them to David Thompson at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

Under the Public Health Act 1925 the Borough Council must give 1 months notice of the 'renaming' of the street (in this case adding the street name to the address). The residents then have 21 days to appeal to the Local Magistrates.

David emphasises that none of this changes the Ward boundary between Goudhurst and Kilndown within the civil Parish of Goudhurst. That will remain just to the south of The Glen, Ranters Lane.

Kilndown Annual Parish Meeting
21 April 2010 The Ranters Lane/Riseden Lane Issue

Minutes of a meeting of the Highways and Footpaths Committee held 23 February 10

Present: Cllrs Ward (Chairman), Boniface, Mrs. Chudley, Kirkby, Rolington

Apologies: None

Update on Highways Matters.
KHS Fault Log. The number of outstanding issues the Kent Highways On-Line log currently stands at 10. This must, however, be treated with some caution as an issue originally raised in Mar 2009 and again in Dec 2009 has been marked as cleared on both occasions despite never having been completed. Raised with KHS Liaison Officer no explanation has been received and to date the work has not been completed. Copies of the ‘Enquiry Trace Forms’ forwarded by KHS Liaison show that the original issue was closed when it was passed to the contractor and the latest one after the ‘engineer had been chased for an order’. The problem of how and when issues are closed will be reviewed with KHS.

Gateways and newly erected speed limit signs- Roads in Goudhurst & The Plain. (post meeting note). Kent Highway Services had confirmed that the poles were for new speed limit signs associated with the Rural Speed Limits Review which we were involved with in 2008. There has been no consultation about placement of the speed limit signs, particularly on The Plain which is owned by the Parish, and we now have locations where 40mph and 30 mph signs have been erected within feet of each other. The replacement Gateways are particularly absurd as we have been liaising with KHS, Michael Sammut, about the installation of the wooden ones which were completed in Jan 2010 to the dimensions agreed with KHS. As soon as the poles were seen in front of the old gateways Cllr Ward contacted KHS and in the absence of Michael Sammut (on holiday) was given an assurance that any changes to the Gateways would be suspended. GPC is asked to agree that following a comprehensive review of the speed limit signs, to establish all anomalies, representation should be made to KHS, at a senior level, in order to achieve a rationalization and the erection of the wooden Gateways.
Road Names. David Thompson (TWBC Land & Property Gazetteer Manager) has advised he is waiting for clarification from a Street Naming & Numbering legal specialist that the Council required 100% agreement on the address changes. Whatever the outcome of this it likely that we will need to consult again with the Riseden/Smiths Lane residents to achieve a solution.

B2079 Bedgebury Road Kent Highways/Jacobs Safety Review. The Joint Transportation Board Minutes 18 January referred to work to be carried out in March 2010. KHS were contacted, as a matter of urgency, and it was stressed that it is important that ourselves and local residents are consulted before any works are undertaken.

Rationalized Finger Post Road Direction Signs at The Plain. Following a meeting between Cllr Ward and the Clerk with Dominic Proud of KHS we await a design and confirmation on the siting of the ‘brown signs’.

Problems of push chair access in High Street. A local resident recounted her problems in negotiating the High Street with her buggy. The Clerk, in a comprehensive reply, advised her that this issue had already been addressed by a request from GPC for a review of the speed limits and traffic calming in Goudhurst High St, West Road and Back Lane, Goudhurst. The committee also reviewed how someone with a buggy could negotiate High Street and concluded that additionally a safe ‘buggy friendly’ route could be established. As this would involve an alteration to the current parking spaces it was felt that the status of the parking spaces on the High Street outside The Star & Eagle should be clarified. GPC is asked to consider approaching KHS to sign the area outside of the Star & Eagle, High Street as a parking area.

Request for Speed check in North Road. A resident has asked for a police speed check in North Road. He comments ‘we were told at a meeting in the past that they did not install these {speed indicator signs} on B Roads’ but refers to the installation of same in Horsmonden. This request has been passed to the Police. It was noted that the Horsmonden signs are solar powered.

Colliers Green Road Works start 15th February. It was noted that the 1st week of the road works had had no adverse effect on Curtisden Green and that the initiative of the residents, in initiating a ‘walking bus’ had mitigated the effects in the 2nd week.

Grit/Salt Bins. KHS have advised that all salt/grit bins were re-filled on/around 18th Jan and then re-filled when they received reports that they were empty.

Update on PROW Matters
Footpath maintenance issues. There are currently no known outstanding Footpath maintenance issues.

Maps. Having signed a Contractor Licence with KHS, for the use of OS maps with Footpath Overlay, we will shortly be able to produce local maps.

Walking Route to Goudhurst/Scotney. Cllr Boniface has proposed a meeting with Scotney to discuss the route. Note we still await an update from KHS about the footway along the A262 from Ranters Lane to Bluecoats Lane.

Replacement DR Strimmer. GPC is asked to agree to pay the the invoice from Medway Mowers for £350.00 (+ VAT ). Noted that the RRP is c£600.00. Noted that KHS have agreed to contribute 50% of the cost.

Cllr John Ward
26/2/10

Report to Goudhurst Parish Council 8th February 2010

Footpaths - Replacement DR Strimmer. Pete Watkins has advised that the DR strimmer/mower he uses for PROW cutting back has reached the end of its useful life. It was purchased in 2001 at a cost of £587 and we had a 50% grant from KCC PROW. He has advised that if we can buy before March the cost of a replacement is £350 + VAT. GPC is asked to approve expenditure of a maximum of £350.00 and I will ask KCC PROW to see if they will make a contribution. Also GPC to approve the write off for scrap the old 2001 DR strimmer.

Crittenden Road - Proposed road closure at junction of A228 Colts Hill/Crittenden Road/Alders Road staggered junction. A Working Group proposed that a temporary closure of Crittenden Road at this junction be carried out for a period of one year with constant monitoring of the traffic effects to all adjacent routes, with a view to installing a permanent closure should the trial prove successful. Following a public consultation held on 23rd January at Capel, attended by Cllrs Crookall and Ward, real concerns were expressed over the closure of Crittenden Road. The closure of the road was viewed as unacceptable by a great majority of the 300 people who attended. Consequently the sponsors, Greg Clark, Alex King and David Hall (KCC Head of Transport and Development) have asked the working group to explore alternative ways of dealing with the Crittenden Road issue. The next meeting of the Colts Hill Working Group is Friday 12th March and Goudhurst PC have been invited to attend.

PROW WC36A Bray’s Alley. We have a quote of £200.00 to reduce an apple tree overhanging this PROW where it drops seasonal fruit to the inconvenience of walkers. GPC to approve this expenditure.

Hop Pickers’ Line Project. The Clerk has obtained from the Land Registry copies of 12 title deeds and plans of all the sections of this disused railway line through Goudhurst parish at a cost of £202.00. GPC to approve reimbursement of this expenditure.

Cllr John Ward (Chairman Highways & Footpaths Committee)
29/01/10

Minutes of a Meeting held Tuesday 27th October 2009 at 7.30 pm in the Jessel Room

Present: Cllrs Ward (Chairman), Boniface, Mrs Chudley and Kirkby
Apologies: Cllr Rolington

Update on Highways Matters.
KHS Fault Log. The Clerk attended a training session in the use of ‘My Kent Highways OnLine’ at KHS Aylesford on 19th October. This showed that whilst it is an improvement in that faults can be entered and monitored on-line as KHS said the system is still a ‘work in progress’. One point in particular was the cause of adverse comment from the group; items put on the system for action would automatically be removed from the on-line system after 3 months and held off-line for reference. The Group suggested that, as a lot of issues take longer than 3 months to fix, the system should be on 2 levels. Level 1 would be for current outstanding issues and Level 2 for records of completed jobs. The Clerk has subsequently raised this with our KHS Liaison Officer and it will be followed up at our meeting on 13th November.

Reinstatement of verges in Curtisden Green. Please see attached report, from Cllrs Bates and Rolington, of the Highways Sign-Off meeting 15th October. The committee recognised the considerable time Cllr Bates had given to the issues arising from the HM Prison Blantyre House mains sewage connection. The committee agreed to discuss with KHS the adequacy of their reinstatement specification which does not include measures to protect the reinstated verges.

Gateways. The order for 4 Gates was placed with Mounts Hill Woodcraft on 15th October.
Road Names. Cllr Ward and the Clerk met on 24th September with TWBC, David Thompson (Land & Property Gazetteer Manager) and Lene Beynon (Engineering Officer Environment and Street Scene Services), and potential solutions to the long outstanding issues, Kilndown Corner, Smiths Lane/Lidwells Lane and Ranters Lane/Riseden Lane, were identified. Subsequently David Thompson has advised that for Kilndown Corner moving the Church Road name plate from A21 junction to a point nearer the village and replacing it with a Kilndown Road name plate will mean that the designation of the 4 properties at Kilndown Corner will match with the Royal Mail addresses and the TWBC database, used by all emergency services, will be brought in line. He will also be consulting with residents about solutions to the Smiths Lane/Lidwells Lane and Ranters Lane/Riseden Lane anomalies.
Traffic Calming in Goudhurst High Street, Back Lane and North Road. Noted that these issues are going to the next KCC Joint Transport Board.
Bricklayers, West Road, Goudhurst. Committee agreed that this issue should be taken back to KHS to establish if the ‘white line solution’ would resolve the resident’s problem and whether the length of white line required would have a detrimental impact on the amount of street parking spaces available.

HGV’s using unsuitable routes/Sat Nav. Using the information collated from parishes last year KHS have had meetings with interested parties seeking a solution to this problem. It transpires that the Sat Nav solution is a long way off. A National Clearing House is the preferred route but Dft are not currently interested in running this although lobbying for this continues. Even if/when it exists, however, it will only be used by those with equipment able to take downloads. KHS are therefore looking at alternative remedies such as new/replacement ‘lorry route signing’ and traffic calming.

B2079 Bedgebury Road Kent Highways/Jacobs Safety Review. Council understands that this Review, due in August 2009, has been further delayed. County Cllr Alex King is following up with KHS Managers.

Update on PROW Matters
Footpath maintenance issues. There are currently no known outstanding Footpath maintenance issues.

Maps. KHS, Neil Barnes (Projects Officer - Mapping & Technology), has advised that Ordnance Survey would probably consider this activity to be a publication, as we intend to charge for the maps. In this case we would need a publishing licence from OS. The cost of this will vary, as it depends on different factors such as the number of maps produced and the size of the mapping. However, if the charge can be proved to only cover the production costs, so there is no element of profit, then it may be possible to avoid the need for a publishing licence. Cllr Boniface has established that The Marden Walking Group paid £95 for a licence for an A4 section of the 1:25,000 map to cover walks round Marden then a further £45 to a Map Co to manage the transfer to a local printer. The licence lasts for printing within 1 year and for a certain number of copies. It is likely that we would need a larger area, say 2 A4 sheets. We will discuss further with KHS regarding the inclusion of their footpath overlay and then establish a full costing.

Walking Route to Goudhurst/Scotney. The Clerk is establishing ownership of the old lane link at Rookery Wood and this will then be passed to KCC, David Smith and Jonathan Bibby, who have agreed to negotiate permissions.

The Hop Pickers Line. Cllrs Bates/Boniface attended a meeting on 30th September and presented details on the Goudhurst segment. This meeting was particularly interested to note the number of adjacent sites of interest, e.g. Scotney Castle, Bedgebury and Finchcocks. Work continues on establishing land ownership along the route.

High Weald Landscape Trail. The High Weald AONB Unit have replied to our letter asking them to clarify who has responsibility for its maintenance. They confirm that it lies with landowners and KCC and that within KCC it is a 'Promoted Path' and there is a fund dedicated to the maintenance of Promoted Paths. Furthermore it is a Status 'A' path attracting maintenance ahead of Status 'B' paths. There is a Promoted Paths Project Officer and a dedicated line for reporting problems. GPC may apply for funding, to be spent by 31 Mar 2010, to enhance the trail. Cllr Boniface will investigate possible funding projects.

Cllr John Ward
30/10/09

Report to Goudhurst Parish Council 12th October 2009

Footway along A262 Station road from Ranters Lane to Bluecoats Lane
Clerk has been advised by Michael Sammut (KHS) that he is processing our request for this long outstanding footway. He advised that the PIPKIN procedure has been updated to take into account the special situations and requirements in the rural scene as opposed to urban. Provisionally he is planning a 1.5 m wide footway, probably tarmac. This should be more than adequate to meet the need. He will write a report and let us have a copy. We will monitor this and if it is not forthcoming before the 23rd October, deadline for KCC Member Highway Fund, we will submit an application.

Traffic calming North Road Goudhurst
Clerk has received a petition signed by 44 residents of North Rd seeking the introduction of a 20 mph limit from The Plain to Lidwells Lane. This issue has been included with the request to KHS to carry out a survey with a view to improving traffic calming measures in Goudhurst High St, West Road and Back Lane (GPC Minute 230/09). GPC is asked to decide whether the petition should also be brought to the attention of senior KCC officials in recognition level of concern demonstrated.

Gateways
Following recent discussions, Robin Chiles, Mounts Hill Woodcraft has confirmed that his quoted price is £309 per gate. This is within our agreed cost (Minute 192/09 refers). He will liaise with KHS about installation.

Cllr John Ward (Chairman Highways & Footpaths Committee)
05 Oct 09

Minutes of a Meeting held on 01 September 2009 at Goudhurst Parish Hall

Present: Cllrs Ward (Chairman), Boniface, Rolington and Crookall. Also Cllr Bates by invitation.

Apologies: Cllrs Mrs Chudley and Kirkby.

Update on Highways Matters:
KHS Fault Log. Noted that it is very erratic, nor is it up to date. However the new on-line Portal for reporting faults directly into the KHS system is to be launched soon. The Clerk is to attend a system testing session at Invicta House on 02 September.
Reinstatement of verges at Curtisden Green following the installation of HM Prison Blantyre House mains sewage connection. KHS has produced a plan. Noted that GPC has been consulted only marginally. Meanwhile there are complaints from residents in the area of foul smells emanating from the new manhole covers. This is being dealt with by advisers to the MoJ.
Gateways. Mr Michael Sammut, KHS Senior Transportation Engineer has agreed to include the Invicta sign on the proposed Gateways. Meanwhile we await updated costings from Mounts Hill Woodcraft who are to manufacturing them.
Road Names. Issues outstanding relate to Smiths Lane/Lidwells Lane, and Ranters Lane/Riseden Lane.
TWBC has appointed an officer i/c road names, David Thompson. There is to be a meeting in the Parish with him to seek a resolution to these emotive issues.
Traffic calming in Goudhurst High St, and Back Lane. Council has received a request from a local resident for rumble strips to be established in the High St and West Road. It was agreed to recommend to Council that the Clerk should write to KHS to raise the matter of traffic calming in Goudhurst High St, including the issues of a 20 mph speed limit, the possibility of rumble strips and coloured road surfacing, and making Back Lane safer for children walking to Goudhurst Primary School.
Bricklayers, West Road, Goudhurst: blocked entrance. Noted that the owner of Bricklayers has asked for Council’s help regarding cars parked in West Road which block his entrance driveway. It was agreed to recommend to Council that the Clerk should write to KHS to seek advice and implementation of a solution.
Ditches and Gullies. The two advice notes sent out by KHS on 01 September 09 were noted. The Clerk will have them put up on the Goudhurst website, and on the notice boards.
Footway along A262 Station Road from Ranters Lane to Blue Coats Lane. The request to establish this footway has been resubmitted to KHS. Noted that the justification is to open a way for walkers to connect to PROW to Finchcocks, Scotney NT, Lamberhurst and Kilndown, and to facilitate walking to school in Goudhurst.
KCC Member Highway Fund. County Cllr Alex King’s e-mail of 05 August 09 refers. Noted that Council needs to submit any applications for schemes before the deadline of 23 October 2009. The project to establish the footway along A262 Station Road may be considered for funding under this scheme. Council to approve this proposal in principle.
Update on PROW Matters
Maps. It was reported that Jonathan Bibby, KCC PROW Officer, had promised some months ago to help us produce a much needed updated set of maps of the Goudhurst Parish PROWs. Nothing further has been heard. Cllr Ward will follow up.
WC38. Nothing further has been heard from the owner of the land with the protruding holly hedge at the eastern end of WC38 where it joins WC36A Bray’s Alley. The Clerk will follow up with Jonathan Bibby.
High Weald Landscape Trail. Cllr Boniface expressed concern about the condition of parts of the HWLT that are in Goudhurst Parish, particularly on WC42, WC43 and WC44. It was agreed that he should draft a letter to the Kent High Weald Project to clarify their responsibilities and those of KCC in the funding and maintenance of this important facility.
Easy Access Walks (for the elderly and disabled). This has the support of KCC. Council needs to propose a route in the Parish. Cllr Boniface will take this forward.
PROW Maintenance. A new procedure for reporting maintenance work to be done has been introduced, and is working well. Cllr Boniface will write a brief report about each job that needs doing and attach a digital photo. The Clerk will then ask Pete Watkins to carry out the work. Noted that all outstanding jobs are in hand. Pete Watkins needs additional posts and rails, also nails and staples to a cost of £130.00 which Council is asked to approve. The Clerk will ask KCC PROW to supply some marker posts.
Guided Health Walks. Noted that these take place regularly at Bedgebury Pinetum.
Website Info on Walks. Noted that Cllr Boniface with the Clerk propose introducing a website page on Guided Walks in the Parish, as well as other notable walks such as the Millennium Walk.

Public Transport
The new Pembury Hospital. The reports from Cllr Mrs Chudley and Greg Clark MP about the public meeting held at Pembury on 29 July 2009 were noted. This matter will be considered further at the KALC Area Committee meeting at Cranbrook on 10 September 09; Cllrs Crookall, Nichol and Ward are likely to attend. It was noted that bus service 297/295 through Goudhurst to Tunbridge Wells already calls at Pembury Hospital. This service with eight buses each way a day means that the new Pembury Hospital will be easier to access by public transport than the Kent & Sussex Hospital in Tunbridge Wells.

School Travel Plan
Cllr Ward will raise the matter again with the Headteacher of Goudhurst & Kilndown C of E Primary School to see if he needs any further help from Council.

Speedwatch
Cllr Rolington reported on the proposed re-launch of Speedwatch in Goudhurst and Horsmonden. Despite extensive publicity, he has only two volunteers from Horsmonden and two from Goudhurst. This is not sufficient to launch a viable scheme. Members noted that this is disappointing when it is evident that many complain about speeding traffic.

Hop Pickers Line
Noted that the next working group meeting is to be held on 30 September 09. Cllr Boniface will be the GPC representative on the group, with Cllr Bates giving support as required.
An action point from the last meeting held on 13 May 09 was that each parish would report at the next meeting on a mapping exercise based on maps produced by David Smith of KCC Countryside Access.
Noted that in the case of Goudhurst, a very large part of the old railway line (Green Cross Inn to the site of the former Cranbrook Station at Hartley) is still able to be walked (although it is not a PROW). As to who now owns the land, it was agreed that this research should be done by KCC. As part of the supporting case, Cllr Boniface will draw up a list of ‘interchanges’.

The Meeting closed at 8.55 pm

Parish Council Logo Minutes of a Meeting held on Tuesday 30 June 2009

Present: Cllrs Ward (Chairman), Boniface, Mrs Chudley, Kirkby & Rolington

Highways Routine Maintenance.
We understood from the briefing session at County Hall on 20 February 09 that the KHS online Fault Reporting and Tracking System would be up and running by May/June. We were sent a log in on 05 June but have now been advised that the system will be read only until late July/early August. At this time, therefore, we are still unable to clarify the true status of our outstanding issues.

The committee noted the meeting between Curtisden Green Residents (Cllrs Crookall and Bates attended) and MoJ on 24 June, which discussed the Reinstatement Agreement between the MoJ and KHS for the verges damaged during the Sewer Works. This will be monitored to completion.

Local residents have complained about a hedge at Tattlebury House which is growing out over the adjacent footway. The Clerk will follow up.

Footpaths
There are currently no known outstanding Footpath maintenance issues. However, Mr Peter Watkins has given notice of the need to include in the 2010/11 budget funds for a replacement DR strimmer

A response is still awaited from Jonathan Bibby (KCC Rights of Way Officer) about how GPC can reproduce the walking maps (Goudhurst North & South) which were previously produced by KCC. (The issues are whether we can produce the maps which are based on Ordinance Survey maps with KCC overlay showing footpaths with their numbers). Cllr Boniface however is in contact with Marden Walkers, who have produced such maps for their area, and will establish how they achieved this.

WC38 at the junction with Bray’s Alley. There is a difficulty with a holly hedge on the land of Mr & Mrs Mason at Brays Cottage. A meeting which will include Jonathan Bibby is to be arranged to resolve the problem.

The committee, and Jessica Cooke of National Trust at Scotney, trial walked a direct Goudhurst to Scotney route on 20 May. This confirmed that the 2 missing links are :-

The lack of a footpath down Clayhill from Ranters Lane to Bluecoats Lane
The ownership of and old roadway at Rookery Wood which would link WC40 with a new footpath created by Scotney.

The possibility of establishing a footway down Clayhill and the ownership of the old roadway will be investigated.

KCC Explore Kent – Guided Walks. KCC Countryside Access has launched a campaign to encourage more guided walks in the Parishes. Cllr Boniface is preparing the Goudhurst response.

Road Names
Cllr Ward met with TWBC, Lene Beynon, on 29 June to discuss outstanding issues.
Smiths Lane/Lidwells Lane Goudhurst: LB will establish the Lidwells Lane/ Smallbridge Road junction and thus clarification that from the Oaks to Millfield/ Crowbourne is Lidwells Lane, in line with current postal addresses. An additional Lidwells Lane road sign would then be placed in the Millfield. Crowboune area. The existing Smiths Lane Leading to Lidwells Lane sign on Clayhill would be left unchanged.
Ranters Lane/Riseden Lane Kilndown: The Clerk sought the views of local people/organisations in an attempt to clarify the where Riseden/Ranters Lanes begin and end. The main conclusion from this was that the current delineation is causing confusion and that Riseden is a place name and not a road name. LB said that if all residents from Mulberry Farmhouse to Church Road agree then she would agree to remove the Riseden Lane signs at Mulberry corner and opposite Globe & Rainbow and put a Ranters Lane sign opposite the Globe & Rainbow. She will discuss this solution with her colleagues.
Kilndown Corner: For some years there has been an outstanding request from a resident at ‘Kilndown Corner’ (junction Church Road/A21) to move the Church Road sign from the A21 junction to nearer the village because of the confusion it creates for visitors and delivery drivers. The postal address for houses in this area is Kilndown Road, Flimwell. LB said that if all residents in the area agree she would approve a Kilndown Road sign at the A21 junction and move the Church Road sign to before Evenden Farm. She will discuss this solution with her colleagues.

Welcome to the Borough of Tunbridge Wells – Love where we live entry sign: LB provided a location map and sign design (Clerk has it) for a proposed borough entry sign at Winchet Hill. She is seeking GPC agreement to the installation of the entry sign and the ‘Love where we live’ strap line. She did indicate that at least one PC in the borough had not agreed to the ‘Love where we live’ strap line. The committee were in agreement to the Welcome to the Borough of Tunbridge Wells but not to the strap line. GPC is asked to decide:-
Whether to accept the installation of the Welcome to the Borough of Tunbridge Wells entry sign.
Whether to accept the installation of the ‘Love where we live’ strap line on the Welcome to the Borough of Tunbridge Wells entry sign.
There is no cost to GPC for this project.

- Replacement Finger Post at the junction of A262/B2079 at The Plain, Goudhurst. A Conservation Area Appraisal project. The Clerk is chasing KHS who repeatedly fail to respond properly to GPC’s requests. Coupled with this is the need for KHS to take action on the tired looking chevron signs at the top of Goudhurst High Street against the St Mary’s Churchyard wall.

Gateways
An on-site meeting is being arranged with KHS and Mountshill Woodcraft to confirm our design can be installed at the appropriate locations. Installation should then be completed in the next few months.

Public Transportation
No update

HGV’s , Speed limits, verges and Bedgebury
Speedwatch: The paper from KCC ‘Setting up a Speedwatch Scheme in Kent’ was discussed. Cllr Rolington reported that the possibility of sharing use of Horsmonden PC’s Speedwatch equipment still exists although it would mean Speedwatch volunteers in Goudhurst also being prepared to help in Horsmonden as they had insufficient volunteers. Cllr Rolington is prepared to coordinate

the operation and collate Goudhurst results. GPC is asked to agree to a notice in the Parish Magazine seeking Speedwatch volunteers.

Speed Limit Review B2079 A262 to A21 April 2009 (included with GPC Minutes 08 June 2009)
The committee reviewed this document and considered the Conclusions/recommendations:-
Site 1 – A262 in centre of Goudhurst to Willow Cottage, Bedgebury Road. Conclusion: It is recommended that there is no change to the current 30mph maximum speed limit. GPC is asked to agree.

Site 2 – Southern end of Site 1 to A21. Conclusion: It is recommended that the Northern section of site 2 between site 1 and the southernmost entrance to the Pinetum be reduced in speed limit from 60 mph to 50 mph maximum speed limit. GPC is asked to agree to the added change that from 100m north of Bedgebury Cross and the southernmost entrance to the Pinetum should be reduced in speed limit to 40mph maximum speed limit because this stretch of road has a riding school, and International Language School, a number of houses and is heavily used by horse riders, cyclists and walkers. The southern section of site 2 between the southernmost entrance to the Pinetum and A21, some 0.73 Km, should be reduced in speed limit from 60 mph to 40mph maximum speed limit. GPC is asked to agree.

B2079 Bedgebury Road & Lady Oak Lane. Following the recent fatal accident near Bedgebury Cross, a total of 33 local residents had copied their letters/e-mails that they had sent to County Cllr Alex King asking for various improvements. The Clerk has sent interim acknowledgements to all. Cllr Mrs Stafford is in touch with Mrs Joanna Humphrey who is leading the campaign for safety improvements along B2079. We await further reports from KHS.

Junction A262 Cranbrook Road and Maypole Lane at Tattlebury Triangle. The Clerk has met a KHS Highways Engineer on site following local complaints about HGVs emerging from Maypole Lane and then ignoring the No Entry signs. We await a KHS solution to the problem.

Access Issues High Street/Goudhurst and Kilndown School Travel Plan
No update

Cllr John Ward
3/7/09

Parish Council Logo Report of Meeting at the Forestry Commission Bedgebury Offices
re Safety on B2079 Bedgebury Road, Goudhurst
held on Tuesday, 25th May 2009 at 2.00 pm

Present: County Council Alex King (from 2.00 - 2.40 p.m.)
Mr David Hiscock, Director, Bedgebury Forest and Pinetum
Mr Mark Clixby, Bedgebury Forest and Pinetum
Mr. Michael Sammut, Senior Transportation Engineer, Kent Highway Services
Ms Amanda Martin, Kent Highway Services Administrator
Cllr Mrs Barbara Stafford, Vice-Chairman, Goudhurst Parish Council
Cllr John Ward, Chairman Highways Committee, Goudhurst Parish Council

Michael Sammut reported: Following two tragic deaths in the past two years, safety on the B2079 Bedgebury Road/Lady Oak Lane is being reviewed.

A review had already been carried out (by Jacobs) as part of the latest Speed Limit Review exercise (note: GPC had not been advised it was included) with the following recommendations:
Lady Oak Lane from A21 to north side of Bedgebury Forest/Pinetum entrance – 40 mph
Bedgebury Forest/Pinetum entrance to bottom of Balcombes Hill – 50 mph
Balcombes Hill remains 30 mph

There was police support in general for this Speed Limit Review.

There will be a Further Review of past records of 3, 5 and 10 years ago and Jacobs (KCC’s agents) are to carry out a Route Safety Study of the 6 kms of the Bedgebury Road which should start in the first week of June 2009; a draft to be issued after 2 weeks with the Final Report in July 2009.

A first reading of the recent (08 May 2009) Bedgebury Cross accident record indicated loss of control due to speed was the determining factor.

There will also be a Maintenance Review of pot holes, haunching, camber, grass cutting, overhanging vegetation and kerbstones.

Mr Sammut’s first thoughts for remedies were:
Signage at the Bedgebury Cross and Marlingate S-bends – including Interactive Signs.
White lines in front of kerbstones to draw vehicles away. (Residents’ letters indicated that kerbstones are a problem when drivers are forced to pull over due to approaching vehicles on crown of the road.)
Declassification downgrade from B to C road, although this could have negative implications for future separate entrance to Bedgebury Forest.
County Cllr King said Speed Cameras might have to be introduced.

Cllr Ward brought attention to the 2007 KCC Highways Survey of Bedgebury Road for which we had never received an intelligible report. Mr Sammut undertook to send GPC an interpretation of the findings and to use it to compare with upcoming Review findings.

Cllr Mrs Stafford gave Mr Sammut copies of all recent correspondence from local residents highlighting the many unreported incidents – they would be passed to Jacobs to assist in their Review.

Mr Sammut undertook to keep GPC and the Forestry Commission Bedgebury informed of Review results.

Plans for the duelling of the A21 around the Flimwell crossroads were discussed and Mr Sammut undertook to investigate if there would be a possibility of either a separate entrance/exit to Bedgebury Forest from A21, or a rerouting of the B2079 so that Lady Oak Lane was closed at the A21 and restored to a country lane. It was agreed that finance would be a major problem and that solutions were many years away.

The problems of users of Bedgebury Forest and Pinetum parking on the B2079 and in lay-bys were discussed along with the intention to introduce an electronic pay booth with phased parking charges. Mr Hiscock said he hoped the proposed revamped car park would be completed within two years, subject to planning permission, but a reptile relocation exercise had to be carried out first. He would like to install the electronic pay booth as soon as possible but finance was the problem. It was agreed that payment on exit would have an immediate good effect. It was agreed that Mr Clixby and Mr Sammut would liaise on Bedgebury’s plans to revamp the Entrance and Kent Highways’ plans to protect the verges and lay-bys. It was agreed that a post and rail fence at the entrance rather than wooden posts would be the better design. There will be an Inspection of Lady Oak Lane and the lay-bys by Kent Highways, the TWBC Borough Engineering Officer (Lene Beynon) and Bedgebury Forest staff. Double yellow lines were mentioned, but Cllr Mrs Stafford stated that GPC was not in favour of yellow lines anywhere in the parish. Mr Sammut agreed GPC would be consulted.

Mr Sammut agreed to look at Maypole Lane, a popular walking route for residents and visitors but now also popular as a ‘rat run’. Although the concept of Quiet Lanes was no longer viable he would look at means of reducing vehicle speed there.

There was general agreement that this had been a very useful meeting and if all went to plan, the Reviews should bring about a safer B2079.

Cllr Mrs. Barbara Stafford. Cllr John Ward.
28.05.09

Minutes of a Meeting held in The Jessel Room on Tuesday 28 April 2009

Present: Cllrs Ward (Chairman), Boniface, Mrs. Chudley, (Cllr Mrs Stafford was present for part of the meeting).
Apologies: Cllrs Kirkby & Rolington

Highways Routine Maintenance.
There are currently 41 outstanding jobs (22 previous report Feb 09). Whilst it is known that a number of these jobs have been done it was felt that we should await their confirmation in order to ensure our and their records are in step. We still await KHS’s new on-line fault reporting system due April/May 09. Meanwhile the somewhat confusing KHS log to the end of April is attached.

I draw GPC’s attention to one of the outstanding issues which is of particular concern. KHS Issue No RER/14200621/Goudhurst

Raised by Clerk 5/3/09, following a resident's report:" In Ranters Lane near the junction of the driveway to Trillinghurst Oast and Trillinghurst Barn there are a number of mature trees, some of which are leaning towards and over the highway. The highway is in a cutting at this point and it is thought locally that the trees are on KHS land. Could there be an inspection please". Despite the exchange of a number of e-mails, in which KHS questioned their responsibility and then finally sought their arboriculturalists assessment the trees are still posing a danger. As the Clerk said in one of the email exchanges "Do we just leave the trees to fall on the Highway?" GPC is asked to agree that the Clerk write to KHS expressing our concern over that this potentially dangerous issue is taking so long to be rectified.

The committee noted the letter, 1st April 09, and diversion map from contractors Crispin & Borst sent to local residents and giving details of the next (final?) road closure associated with the Sewer Works at HMP Blantyre. They were due to go into operation 27th April for a period in the region of 2 weeks.

The committee also considered a objection from a Curtisden Green resident, we were advised that other residents have also voiced objection, about a local understanding that the lane to the south of Bethany School’s rugby pitch, which has been one way during the Sewer Works at HMP Blantyre might remain one way after completion of the work. The following reasons for objection were cited:-
- It is very inconvenient to locals - consequently many do (and will) ignore it!
- Traffic would be encouraged to drive faster (thinking no one coming other way) which when 2 way they did not. More dangerous.
- 30 miles speed signs already exist
- It would make access to the resident’s drive difficult as he would have a sharp left turn & then need to reverse into road to get a straight line access to my house).
- Curtisden Green would become one large roundabout and completely alter the character & environment of countryside

Whilst we have no indication that KHS have any long term plans to install a one way restriction GPC is asked to support these objections and agree to write to KHS to confirm their intentions and to advise GPC’s objection, if appropriate. Local residents to then be advised.

Footpaths
A response is awaited from Jonathan Bibby (KCC Rights of Way Officer) about how GPC can reproduce the walking maps (Goudhurst North & South) which were previously produced by KCC. The issues are whether we can produce the maps which are based on Ordinance Survey maps with KCC overlay showing footpaths with their numbers.

Cllr Boniface continues to investigate the possibility of establishing a walking route from Goudhurst to Scotney. Two key issues are a footpath down Clayhill to Bluecoats Lane and the ownership of and old roadway at Rookery Wood which would link WC40 with a new footpath created by Scotney.

Road Names
No update. However, Chairman of the Highways & Footpaths Committee will be meeting Borough Engineering Officer TWBC on 17 June to progress outstanding Road Naming issues in the Parish.

Gateways
No update

Public Transportation
At the Kilndown Annual Parish Meeting residents were advised about the 1 week closure of Church Road, by EDF, week commencing 1st June. Some residents expressed concern about buses, school and public, using the Chicks Lane/ Rogers Rough diversion route as it was considered unsuitable. KHS have confirmed that buses are due to use this route and have said “The problem being that if I used the best route via A21, A262, Blue coat Lane, then Kilndown would not be serviced by the buses. The School buses may run but it has been showed in the past that they will advertise a different pick up point. away from the village.” Cllr Mrs. Chudley agreed to contact the bus companies to establish how they intend to negotiate the diversion so that local residents can be informed.

HGV’s , Speed limits, verges and Bedgebury
Speed Limit Review
No update

Access Issues High Street/Goudhurst and Kilndown School Travel Plan
Andrew Reid, the Headmaster Goudhurst and Kilndown School, has welcomed the opportunity to re-visit the School Travel Plan and a meeting will be arranged in the near future.

Cllr John Ward
29/4/09

Clerk to the Parish Council
Anthony Farnfield MBE
clerk@goudhurst.co.uk