| |
|
|
|
| |
|
Welcome to the Chilham Parish Council website. We hope you will learn something useful about what we are doing to improve the quality of life in our parish. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
We recognise that most people in the parish dont really understand what we do, so this website and the quarterly newsletters printed in the Parish News is our attempt to keep you better informed so that together we can make the parish of Chilham an even better place to live in.. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
We welcome feedback, good or bad, so please use the how are we doing page to let us have your views on the website or, for that matter, any issue that you think the parish council should be dealing with. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
If we dont know what is concerning you then we cant help to do anything about it. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
If you would like to receive emails keeping you in touch with updates to the information on this website then you can also use the feedback form on the how are we doing page to let us know your email address. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
PARISH COUNCIL VACANCY |
|
| |
|
Following the resignation of Jude Adams advertised on village noticeboards on 4th May, the parish council now need to co-opt a new parish councillor to replace her. |
|
| |
|
Any candidate wishing to be considered should contact the parish clerk before 18th June on 07923 631596 or via the feedback form on the how are we doing page |
|
| |
|
The parish council expects to make a decision on who to co-opt at its meeting on 1st July. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
CFDB WORKSHOP ON SQUARE - 17TH JUNE |
|
| |
|
17 community representatives attended the first Scheme Development Workshop in Chilham Castle on 17th June organised by Chilhams Future Delivery Board (CFDB) together with representatives from Ashford Borough Council, Kent County Council, Kent Highways, Kent Police, South East Coast Ambulance Service and Ashford Access and started the process of sieving and reconciling statutory stakeholder and community aspirations for the Square.. |
|
| |
|
Kent Highways gave a presentation outlining the issues to be considered when developing a scheme and advised the meeting to consider safety for all users and seek a versatile use of self-enforcing space. They also described the Members Highway Fund proposals to improve signage and create gateways with breakouts at both entrances to the village centre (at the bottom of Taylor’s Hill and by the Woolpack). |
|
| |
|
The meeting then split into 3 groups to develop possible layouts reflecting community aspirations, focusing on identifying and categorising design challenges and conflicts. |
|
| |
|
2 of the 3 groups came up with outline plans for the Square with most but not all agreeing on less than 30 parking spaces and pedestrian-safe areas. There was quite a difference in views in the third group but suggested solutions included ensuring unobstructed traffic flow, encouraging use of Taylors Hill car park, delineating parking using material changes rather than lines and leaving space for pedestrian ways.. |
|
| |
|
Ashford Borough Council pointed out that security in Taylor’s Hill Car Park varies depending on human presence. It was also suggested that there was a distinction between daytime and evening parking requirements in the Square. During the daytime short-stay parking requirements should perhaps be given priority. In the evening long-stay provision for residents should perhaps be given priority. |
|
| |
|
The same attendees will be invited to a second Scheme Development Workshop on 8th July to continue working towards identifying a buildable scheme reflecting community aspirations and interests. |
|
| |
|
Documentation relating to the workshops can be downloaded from the CFDB website or borrowed from Chilham Post Office. |
|
| |
|
Updates on the CFDB project to return the Square to a safe and attractive space for the community that also creates an enjoyable destination for visitors.will be made available through village noticeboards, the local press and Parish News as well as the CFDB website. The CFDB noticeboard can be found outside Chilham post office. |
|
| |
|
Parishioners are encouraged to get involved and find out what’s happening. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
CALLING ALL PARISH ORGANISATIONS – GET YOUR BIDS IN FOR PARISH RECYCLING CREDITS |
|
| |
|
The Parish Council are asking for bids from parish organisations so the £4321 recycling money raised over the last year from the recycling bins at Taylors Hill car park can be used for the benefit of us all. |
|
| |
|
Please contact the clerk by letter or email before the end of July with your bid specifying: |
|
| |
|
1) A brief description of the project for which you need funding |
|
| |
|
2) Your assessment of the benefits that the project will bring under the following categories: - the community as a whole; youth in the parish; seniors in the parish; the environment |
|
| |
|
3) The amount of funding you are requesting |
|
| |
|
4) How much you have raised yourselves directly or through other funding |
|
| |
|
The Parish Council will be considering how the recycling credits should be allocated at its August meeting. |
|
| |
|
SO DON’T MISS OUT !!! |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
SHRIMPTON CLOSE APPLICATION PROCESS EXPLAINED |
|
| |
|
Anyone with a local connection wishing to be considered for the local needs housing expected to be completed in the summer should contact ABC Housing Services on 01233 330688 and ask for an application form or download one from their website. |
|
| |
|
They will be able to explain the process and tell you what you need to do to get onto the Housing Register if you havent already done so. |
|
| |
|
ABC and local housing associations use Kent HomeChoice to advertise all available properties to rent from council’s and housing associations across the county and this is the place where you will look and bid for homes once you have been accepted on the Housing Register. |
|
| |
|
Check out the what we are doing page for more details of the new affordable housing planned at Shrimpton Close. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
COMMUNITY BROADBAND GRANT |
|
| |
|
Following an enquiry by the parish council, the parish of Chilham is one of six parishes in a KCC initiative offering grants to assist in obtaining a reliable broadband service at an agreed minimum speed to areas that suffer from poor or lack of broadband connectivity. |
|
| |
|
KCC have issued a statement of requirements to suppliers with a 7th May deadline for the receipt of proposals. The grants are solely for the purpose of establishing the service and procuring and installing the infrastructure. The ongoing service must be self-funding. The intention is that the broadband service becomes available by end January 2011. |
|
| |
|
The parish council will receive details of the proposals and will be supported by KCC during the process to decide which proposal is most appropriate for our parish. A sub-committee will need to be formed to take the initiative forward. This can and should include some interested members of the parish. |
|
| |
|
More details will be posted as soon as they become available. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
KCC MEMBERS HIGHWAY FUND PROPOSALS |
|
| |
|
Following a suggestion by KCC Cllr Andrew Wickham an application was submitted to address the following problem: |
|
| |
|
Poor signage and road layout is resulting in HGVs entering the Square and the feeder streets and visitors parking in the Square rather than our FREE car park at the bottom of Taylors Hill |
|
| |
|
Councillor Wickham is now expecting to approve expenditure from his Members Highways Fund to include improved signage and gateways with buildouts at both the main entrances to the Square (ie bottom of Taylors Hill and bottom of The Street by the Woolpack). |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
CLLR IAN WALKER CO-OPTED |
|
| |
|
The council voted to co-opt Ian Walker as parish councillor at its February meeting using the open and transparent approach agreed at the January parish council meeting. |
|
| |
|
The clerk was asked to thank the 3 unsuccessful candidates, David Hayes, Darril Ling and Helen Tharp, for the interest they had shown and encourage them to put their names forward when future opportunities arise to become a parish councillor. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
RURAL OLDER PERSONS HOUSING PROJECT |
|
| |
|
The parish council is participating in a project instigated by ABC to explore the need for older peoples accommodation in rural areas. |
|
| |
|
Check out the planning committee section of the what we are doing page for more details of their plans |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|