18 December 2013
Update on why that sign is not working
Further to our update on 20 November (see below), we are still chasing KCC to finish the installation of the
new ‘SLOW DOWN’ interactive traffic sign on the westbound carriageway of the A20, approaching Potters
Corner.
The sign is still not working, three months after it was erected.
Our latest effort was via KCC Councillor Charlie Simkins, who kindly agreed to raise the matter at the
meeting of the Joint Transportation Board on Tuesday 10 December. The minutes of that meeting have now
appeared and include the following reference to the question he raised:
“Officers agreed to feed back more information to Members on the following matters that appeared on the
Highway Works Programme:
Progress with the electrical connection work for the eastern interactive warning sign at the
A20/Sandyhurst Lane [junction] which was currently being delayed by UK Power”
Charlie Simkins has also contacted KCC Traffic Schemes direct, who say they are awaiting a reply from the
contractor.
We are grateful to Mr Simkins for helping us to pursue this issue and we will continue to apply pressure
until the sign is working.
17 December 2013
Review of Council Tax Support scheme
As part of the welfare reform changes, Council Tax Benefit was abolished in April 2013 and replaced with a
local scheme called Council Tax Support (also known as Council Tax Reduction).
The support available depends on factors such as which benefits you receive, your age, your income,
savings, who you live with and how much Council Tax you pay. You may get more Council Tax Support if you
receive a disability or carer's benefit.
Each year, local Councils are required to review their scheme and Ashford Borough Council (ABC) want to
let residents know about the changes proposed in their current review.
ABC say that their revised proposals mean that:
· The scheme still encourages working-age claimants to return to work if they are able to do so
· Working-age claimants will be asked to pay 1.5% (less than 50p per week in most cases) more towards
their council tax bill for the 2014-15 financial year
· Pensioners remain unaffected by the changes
· Disabled claimants will continue to receive additional protection, meaning they are only asked to pay 5%
towards their council tax bill (Ashford Borough Council is the only local authority in Kent offering
additional protection to disabled claimants)
· Non-residential carers will continue to receive additional protection, meaning they will only be asked to
pay 5% towards their council tax bill
ABC’s consultation on their revised proposals runs until 9 January 2014. To take part in the consultation,
you are asked to complete the council tax support questionnaire, which is available via this website.
Ashford Borough Council’s cabinet members will consider the responses and determine the local system on
16 January 2014.
10 December 2013
Heavy load movement rescheduled
The transportation of the heavy transformer from Dover to Sellindge via Ashford did not take place as
planned on Sunday 8 December 2013 (see news item dated 29 November 2013).
It has now been rescheduled for Saturday 14 December 2013. Full details are available in a letter from
National Grid, which may be viewed here.
News Archive for Jul-Dec 2013
6 December 2013
Updated times for traffic disruption on 8 December
Further to the earlier news item (29 November), please note that the timetable for the movement of the heavy load on Sunday 8 December has been revised as follows:
0800 – leave Dover Marina
1000 – travelling up Folkestone Road, Dover
1200 – Capel le Ferne
1400 – descend Dover Hill into Folkestone
1600 – join M20 J13
1700 – leave M20 J10
1800 – arrive Church Lane, Sellindge
5 December 2013
Planning permission granted for extensions at Fieldfares, 356 Sandyhurst Lane
Planning permission was granted on 4 December 2013 for the erection of a rear extension, side extensions and covered porch, together with roof extensions with dormer windows and the erection of a new chimney at Fieldfares, 356 Sandyhurst Lane (see news item dated 24 September 2013). Full details are available here (search for case number 13/01017/AS).
4 December 2013
Lost these Freeview channels recently?
This message is for residents who receive Freeview television channels using a normal (terrestrial) TV aerial. It is not relevant if you receive your programmes by satellite or cable.
Have you recently lost (or started to suffer poor reception of) the following channels on your television:
11 Pick, 12 Dave, 17 Really, 29 E4+1, 32 Movie Mix, 41 Food Network, 42 Travel Channel, 46 Challenge, 82 Sky News, 87 Community Channel, 36 Create and Craft, 37 Price Drop TV, 43 Gems TV 1, 173 Adult smileTV3, 175 Adult Party, 176 Adult Blue, 177 Babestation Xtra, 206 SkyText, 207 Kiss Me TV, 208 Proud Dating, 723 talkSport?
If so, you may be suffering because of the recent introduction of the 4G mobile phone service in Ashford. The problem arises because the television transmitter at Dover transmits these programmes on a so-called multiplex channel (number 59) which is close to the channels used for the 4G mobile phone service. The result is interference and loss of television signal in some cases.
The best solution for this problem is to fit a so-called channel 59 filter between the aerial and the TV. These are readily available and guidance may be found here. Prices range from around £9 to £16 – a bit less on Ebay. If you have an aerial amplifier, fit the filter between the aerial and the amplifier. If the amplifier is outside (‘masthead amplifier’), get a professional to climb up and install a weather proof filter. The aforementioned TV channels should all then return without any retuning.
The above information is given in good faith but we cannot accept any responsibility for any consequences of any action you may take as a result. If in any doubt whatsoever, consult a professional TV and aerial installer.
29 November 2013
Warning of major traffic disruption on 8 December
There is likely to be major traffic disruption in the Dover/Folkestone/Ashford area on Sunday 8 December, due to the movement of a 350 tonne transformer by road from Dover Docks to Sellindge via Ashford.
National Grid have issued a letter (available here), giving details of this major transport operation, which is likely to affect traffic severely, particularly at junctions 9 and 10 of the M20.
The load will be transported very slowly on a vehicle which is 8 metres wide and 75 metres long. It will leave Dover Docks at approximately 7.00 am and will probably take most of the morning to travel along the A20, B2011, A260 and A259 to join the M20 at Junction 13 and then on to Junction 9.
There, probably around lunch time, it will leave the M20, travel around the J9 roundabout and re-join the M20 in the coast-bound direction. It will then travel to Junction 10 and leave the M20 to travel to Sellindge along the A20.
The transporter vehicle travels very slowly and could take, say, 30 minutes or more to negotiate the roundabouts at J9 and J10. Traffic disruption is likely to be very severe and the best plan is to avoid the area if you can.
20 November 2013
Why that sign is not working
Following our campaign for improved road traffic safety measures at the Potters Corner junction of the A20 with Sandyhurst Lane, members will recall that new ‘SLOW DOWN’ interactive signs were installed at the end of September 2013 (see news item dated 30 September 2013). However, only one of the signs was working at that time, and this still remains the case.
Following a recent committee meeting, the SLRA decided to pursue KCC Traffic Schemes further, to try to establish why there was such a long delay in activating the sign on the westbound carriageway. We have just received their reply (to view click here). Whilst we are pleased to see that it remains KCC’s priority to finalise the works at the earliest opportunity, they have not advised how long this will be, leaving the blame at the door of UKPN, the electricity network company.
We shall continue to monitor this issue and take action as appropriate. In the first instance this will be by asking KCC to take positive action to resolve the issue with UKPN, in order to meet their stated priority
16 November 2013
Proposed solar project on land at Oakover Nurseries
Eco Energy World is proposing to build a 7 MW solar project on 14 hectares (35 acres) of land on a small part of Oakover Nurseries, Maidstone Road, near Hothfield.
There will be a public exhibition about this proposal on Tuesday 26 November at the Holiday Inn (Oxford Suite), Maidstone Road, Ashford, TN26 1AR. The exhibition will be open to the local community from 2pm to 7pm.
Eco Energy World say that the public exhibition is intended to provide the local community with the opportunity to find out more about their proposal for Oakover Nurseries. Members of their development team will be on hand to discuss the plans and and answer questions and will welcome any feedback about the proposal.
If you are unable to attend, you can find more information about the project by visiting this website or you can contact the development team by email on eew@quantumpr.co.uk or by calling 0844 961101.
A leaflet on this project, which includes a map showing the proposed location, may be viewed here.
12 November 2013
Christmas refuse and recycling collections
Ashford Borough Council has published the changes to the normal waste and refuse collection days this Christmas and New Year. For Sandyhurst Lane area residents with a normal collection day of Thursday, the change is to the Friday as follows:
Refuse: Friday 27 December 2013 (instead of Thursday 26 December 2013)
Recycling: Friday 3 January 2014 (instead of Thursday 2 January 2014).
To see the full schedule of changes, click here.
10 November 2013
SLRA raises objections to development threats
We have today written to the Chief Executive of Ashford Borough Council to warn the Council that Sandyhurst Lane Residents' Association considers that all the development sites in our area under consideration for inclusion in the Ashford Local Plan to 2030 are, in our view, unsuitable for development. We intend to oppose vigorously the adoption by the Council of any of these sites (as listed in the news item of 23 October below). The letter has been copied to the Planning Policy Manager at Ashford Borough Council and all the local KCC and ABC councillors. A copy may be viewed here.
24 October 2013
Planning permission granted for extension and basement at 1 Potters Close
Planning permission was granted on 23 October 2013 for the erection of a rear ground floor extension with creation of basement below at 1 Potters Close. There were no objections made to this application. Full details are available here (search for case number 13/01040/AS).
23 October 2013
Future development threats
Residents will recall that, in August 2012, Ashford Borough Council launched a public consultation to help shape the preparation of a new ‘local plan’ for the borough which looks ahead to 2030. Part of this process has been to carry out ‘Land Availability Assessments’.
The process is described by the Council on their website as follows:
“The new local plan will need to identify sufficient land to provide for any new jobs and homes to 2030, as well as for Gypsy & Traveller’s sites, Leisure, Retail, Visitor and Tourism facilities. One of our aims will be to establish which sites within the borough, could be suitable to allocate for these future developments and facilities.
Between July and September, we requested that people send in to us details of any sites that were available for development. Although we are currently assessing these sites, details of those sites that have been submitted can be viewed here: Site Submissions 2013”
The link in the above extract does not work, but via an alternative route we have downloaded the site submissions for the three wards which cover the Sandyhurst Lane area. These are Bockhanger, Downs West and Boughton Aluph & Eastwell. These may be viewed by clicking on the relevant names in the preceding sentence.
There are a number of sites which, if they were to be adopted by the Council, would have a huge impact on the Sandyhurst Lane area.
The following sites are included:
Ashford Golf Course: 100+ dwellings and associated uses (BBAE1)
Eureka Park: 100 dwellings, commercial and flexible uses (BBAE2)
Woodside, Westwell Lane: 100 dwellings (DW9)
Land west of Sandyhurst Lane, (Behind Kingsland), Westwell Lane:
Amenity facility to serve development at Westwell Lane (DW11)
Beechbrook: 3,500 dwellings plus other uses (DW12)
Lenacre Hall Farm, 393 Sandyhurst Lane: 100+ dwellings, leisure and sheltered housing (BAE1)
Former Sandpit, Sandyhurst Lane: 15 dwellings (BAE2).
[BBAE = Bockhanger, Boughton Aluph & Eastwell, DW = Downs West, BAE = Boughton Aluph & Eastwell]
The Council’s website also states:
“Please note that these sites are NOT being proposed by the Council. They have been submitted for consideration by landowners/agents for allocation in the Local Plan and will be assessed by the Council for their suitability”
The SLRA will obviously be keeping a very close eye on these proposals and taking action as appropriate.
We understand that the sites in Boughton Aluph & Eastwell will be considered by the Parish Council at their forthcoming meeting on 11 November at 19:30 in The Iron Room, Faversham Road, Boughton Lees. Residents may wish to attend that discussion.
10 October 2013
Westwell: A chance to have your say
Ashford Borough Council is consulting on how the borough should develop over the years to 2030 and it wants to hear residents' views. All residents are invited to an open public meeting on Saturday 12 October in Westwell parish hall from 10am-noon to put forward their ideas on how Westwell should develop – what changes would be welcome, what would be unacceptable, is more local housing needed? The meeting will be attended by parish councillors, together with David Robey (borough councillor) and Simon Cole and Ian Grundy of Ashford Borough Council (Senior Policy Managers) who will explain in detail what the Local Plan is about and how it will benefit Westwell and its residents. It should be made clear that change is not being imposed, rather the Borough Council is asking residents what they would like to see and how they can help bring it about.
3 October 2013
Planning permission granted for the erection of a first floor rear extension & side first floor bay window at Cumberland, Westwell Lane
Planning permission was granted on 2 October 2013 for the erection of a first floor rear extension & side first floor bay window at Cumberland, Westwell Lane (see news item dated 7 September 2013). Full details are available here (search for case number 13/00939/AS).
30 September 2013
Road safety measures at Potters Corner at last being installed
Since August 2011, we have been lobbying KCC for measures to improve road safety at the Potters Corner junction of the A20 Maidstone Road with Sandyhurst Lane, which has a bad record of serious accidents, most recently in July of this year. Although we have not yet achieved our original aim of introducing a 40 mph speed limit on the A20, we have succeeded in persuading KCC to install new signage, including two vehicle-activated 'SLOW DOWN' signs, which are triggered by vehicles exceeding 55 mph.
These signs have recently been installed. One of them (for the carriageway towards Ashford) is equipped with a solar panel and is now working, whilst the other (for the carriageway from Ashford) is awaiting connection to the electricity supply. We shall continue to press KCC for further safety improvements to this dangerous junction.
24 September 2013
Planning permission sought for extensions at Fieldfares, 356 Sandyhurst Lane
An application has been made for the erection of a rear extension, side extensions and covered porch, together with roof extensions with dormer windows and the erection of a new chimney at Fieldfares, 356 Sandyhurst Lane. The closing date for comments is 18 October 2013. Full details are available here (search for case number 13/01017/AS).
20 September 2013
Planning permission sought for extension and basement at 1 Potters Close
An application has been made for the erection of a rear ground floor extension with creation of basement below at 1 Potters Close. The closing date for comments is 13 October 2013. Full details are available here (search for case number 13/01040/AS).
19 September 2013
Alternative garden waste recycling scheme
WyeCycle, which already runs a community composting project in Wye, is extending the scheme to Kennington. As an alternative to Ashford Borough Council's 'brown bin' service, the WyeCycle scheme operates as an 'on demand' service. Black sacks of garden waste, each with a WyeCycle tag costing £1.50, can be left out for collection on a weekly basis. Full details of the new Kennington scheme may be found here and the WyeCycle website is here.
8 September 2013
Update on road safety scheme for Potters Corner
The Joint Transportation Board has a meeting this Tuesday, 10 September. Included in the papers for the meeting is one entitled “Highway Works Programme 2013/14”.
The latest position on the Potters Corner safety measures is reported as follows:
A20 / Sandyhurst Lane
Interactive warning signs on approaches to crossroads
Works ordered, planned for Sept/October (subject to electrical connection work)
7 September 2013
Planning permission sought for the erection of a first floor rear extension & side first floor bay window at Cumberland, Westwell Lane
An application has been made for the erection of a first floor rear extension & side first floor bay window at Cumberland, Westwell Lane. The closing date for comments is 30 September 2013. Full details are available here (search for case number 13/00939/AS).
3 September 2013
Planning permission granted for a two storey and single storey rear extension at Eversleigh, Westwell Lane
Planning permission was granted on 2 September 2013 for a two storey and single storey rear extension at Eversleigh, Westwell Lane (see news item dated 16 July 2013). Full details are available here (search for case number 13/00760/AS).
9 August 2013
CRIME ALERT
At 3 am last Sunday night the container at Sandyacres Sports & Social Centre was broken into and garden machinery was stolen. CCTV captured the images of three hooded youths pushing a mower down the path to the road.
Please be vigilant and take special care to secure garden sheds and buildings.
Advice on personal and property security is available from the Kent Police here.
9 August 2013
Ashford Borough Council miss brown bin collection
Residents in Sandyhurst Lane and adjacent roads who pay an extra fee for garden recycling (brown bin) collections did not receive the service yesterday (Thursday 8 August). We understand that the failure was due to a "vehicle problem" and that the Council intend to make the collection today, Friday 9 August.
8 August 2013
Update on Road Safety at Potters Corner
Following the recent serious accident at Potters Corner, SLRA raised the profile of its two year old campaign to improve road safety at this junction. We wrote to the local KCC councillors, Jim Wedgbury and Charlie Simkins, asking for their help in getting new safety measures (first proposed by KCC in August 2012) implemented without further delay (see news item dated 14 July 2013). We also publicised the issue in the Kentish Express (Ashford edition, 18 July 2013).
We are pleased to report that this has now resulted in revised proposals being brought forward by KCC Traffic Schemes. The revision addresses the main criticism we had of the original scheme, by including a vehicle-activated ‘SLOW DOWN’ traffic sign on the Maidstone approach to the junction, in addition to one on the Ashford approach to the junction. A plan showing the revised scheme is available here.
Whilst we have welcomed the proposed scheme within the present budgetary constraints, we have also told KCC that we believe that this junction still merits further review and further road safety measures.
Meanwhile, we look forward to the implementation of the revised scheme by KCC at the earliest opportunity.
16 July 2013
Planning permission sought for a two storey and single storey rear extension at Eversleigh, Westwell Lane
An application has been made for a two storey and single storey rear extension at Eversleigh, Westwell Lane. The closing date for comments is 8 August 2013. Full details are available here (search for case number 13/00760/AS).
14 July 2013
Road safety at Potters Corner
As many residents will be aware, there was, sadly, yet another serious road traffic collision at the junction of the A20 and Sandyhurst Lane (Potters Corner) on Wednesday, 10 July 2013. Our thoughts are with those who have been seriously injured, both in the most recent accident and on previous occasions.
Sandyhurst Lane Residents’ Association has, for the past two years, been campaigning for road safety measures to be improved at this junction, which has a bad accident record.
We initially tried to persuade KCC Traffic Schemes to extend the existing 40 mph limit on the A20 to include Potters Corner. KCC did not agree to this proposal, but did concede that the accident record was sufficiently bad that new road safety measures should be introduced and have proposed a scheme to install new static and ‘flashing’ signage on the A20 approaches to the junction.
We were originally told that this scheme would be installed in 2012/13. This did not happen and we were then promised that consultation on the proposed scheme would take place “as early as practicable” in the new financial year (2013/14). We are now over a quarter of the way through that financial year and still there is no sign of the proposals being brought forward.
The recent serious accident highlights the need for urgent action to be taken. We have today written to KCC Councillor Jim Wedgbury who is both the Councillor for Ashford Central and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Transportation Board (between KCC and Ashford BC), calling for him to ensure that KCC implement the new safety measures without further delay.
We have copied the letter to KCC Cllr Charlie Simkins (Ashford Rural West), ABC Cllr Michael Claughton (Bockhanger) and ABC Cllr David Robey (Downs West). All these councillors represent areas which include Potters Corner (which is at the boundary of several divisions and wards). All are also members of the Joint Transportation Board. A copy of the letter may be viewed here.
5 July 2013
Planning permission granted for garage conversion at 4 Watsons Close
Planning permission was granted on 4 July 2013 for a garage conversion at 4 Watsons Close (see news
item dated 8 June 2013). Full details are available here (search for case number 13/00597/AS).
27 June 2013
SLRA plans new Neighbourhood Watch initiative
The SLRA is planning a major new initiative to launch Neighbourhood Watch throughout its catchment area (Sandyhurst Lane and the adjoining roads). Details will be made available to all residents; those who are already SLRA members will benefit from the scheme at no extra cost. The launch is planned for the Autumn, with a residents' meeting to be held in September. The scheme is not just about crime prevention - it is also designed to encourage residents to develop a community spirit, in particular making sure that elderly, infirm or disadvantaged neighbours are well supported by the community.
For example, do you have a neighbour who is struggling to cope with the new wheelie bins? They may need to be put in touch with Ashford Borough Council who operate an assisted collection service. Further information from the Council on 01233 330646 or by emailing refusecollection@ashford.gov.uk.
10 December 2013
New SLRA notice board
Although we send out information by email, we still recognise the importance of communications on paper and we send quarterly written summary bulletins to those few members who choose not to receive emails.
In the same vein, the traditional notice board is still a useful way of disseminating information and the SLRA has, for many years, had a notice board next to the post box about half way along Sandyhurst Lane.
Time and the weather eventually took their toll on the wooden notice board and so we have now replaced it with a brand new aluminium notice board which, hopefully, will survive for many years.
The new notice board was kindly installed by Medash Signs Ltd (who also erected our new Neighbourhood Watch signs).
News Jul - Dec 2013
