Kennington Community Forum Update

I became an executive committee member of the Kennington Community Forum at the Annual General Meeting in July 2010.

Our last meeting was held on Tuesday 28th September 2010 at St Mary's Church, Kennington.

Local Crime and Community Issues

PC Mandy Surgeoner identified a rise in motor vehicle theft. Please be aware of what you leave on display in your car and notify your neighbours of the impending risks.

"No Trick or Treat" signs are now available from Kent Police to protect people during the Halloween season. KCF will be posting one on their website for people to print off.

Following complaints of speeding on Faversham Road, Trinity Road and Canterbury Road, police have carried out covert average speed checks.

Canterbury Road identified average speed checks of 33.3mph AM, 33.7mph at noon and 35mph PM

Trinity Road identifies an average speed of 34mph AM, 35mph noon and 34mph PM

Faversham Road identifies an average speed of 31mph AM, 31mph noon and 32mph PM.

While this does not seem excessive,top speeds were recorded at 47mph on all three roads at various times.

As a resident of Faversham Road myself, I hear vehicles speeding a lot, and I am aware of the constant flow of young and older people that are most at risk. I look forward to the return of speed check camera and an increase in visits from the Hawkeye Police Vehicle.

Members of the public raised issues with traffic on Ball Lane, going the wrong way in the evenings. Kent Police are to send vehicles down there periodically to prevent this happening.

Health Walks Initiative

Natural England and NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent are working in partnership to promote the positive health benefits of regular walks.

Martin Jordan is coordinating the project for Ashford and wishes to draw residents attention to walks leaving from the Sure Start Centre in boxing and from New Hayesbank Surgery on a regular basis. Further information can be found on the Kennington website and they are actively seeking volunteer walk coordinator and leaders.

Kennington Hockey Club

Much debate has been found over potential developments at the hockey club. The hockey club desperately need to relocate to expand and develop their premises, and the proposed selling their property to Provis developers who would then put 600 houses on the site.

Regular readers of the Kentish express will be aware of the issues surrounding this development, including the lateral effect that such development will lead to the reintroduction of the Link Road and Kennington North Proposals.

Residents in Kennington are presented with a catch 22.

The development of the hockey club would have significant benefits for sports in Kent, including rehousing cricket, football and hockey teams in more suitable facilities away from residential accommodation.

However, there is an indication that the majority of residents are against the development of the link road, which cannot be built without housing in Kennington North to justify the cost.

Bovis homes and Hockey Club will be hosting an exhibition on Friday the 1st October and Saturday on 2nd October for residents to visit and comment.

Planning Applications

Objections have been raised regarding the demolition of a property and replacing with six bungalows on Grovesnor Road.

Following the rejection of the application for 11 houses on The Street, a new application has been proposed for six houses and the rejection is being appealed.

There is a proposal for Warren Lane to build 66 sheltered houses and an office block by Pentland homes

Further information can be found on the Ashford Borough Council website.

Public Consultation

Ashford Borough Council has finally agreed to open public consultation on the licensing of "lapdancing" premises in the borough. Currently, there is no requirement to these premises to be licensed but there is the option to the council to consider licensing by the magistrates courts. I will post a link as soon as this is available.