A High Court judge, Mr Justice Fordham, yesterday refused permission for Bredhurst Parish Council (BPC) to bring a claim for statutory review of the adoption of the Maidstone Local Plan Review, and in particular the allocation of Lidsing Garden Village as a strategic site. This decision signals the end of the road for the legal process. This means that the site allocation stands. BPC and its legal advisers will work with Maidstone Borough Council and the developer, FD Attwood and Partners, on the Supplementary Planning Document which will set out more detail on the form of development that comes forward, including access issues.

Please contact The Hazlitt Theatre for show tickets and clerk@bredhurstpc.org.uk for lunch bookings.

Enjoy some delicious food and a lovely relaxing afternoon with refinery!  All proceeds to the Against Lidsing fighting fund.

Bredhurst Parish Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Melanie Fooks, our new Clerk and Responsible Finance Officer. This is the third time Melanie has worked for us.  She held a part-time Clerk’s position from 2006 to 2010 when she left to join Boxley Parish Council for a full-time post which she held until 2022. She also acted as our Locum Clerk for 6 months in 2021 until a permanent Clerk was appointed.

Many of you will know Melanie as she has lived in Bredhurst for 26 years. Melanie was also Bredhurst Woodland Action Group’s first secretary when it was formed in 2005. She has a passion for our community which we know she will bring to her new role.

Bredhurst PC are hugely indebted to Steve Hill who acted as our Locum Clerk since March. We would like to thank him for his support and hard work during a very busy time for the Council and we wish him all the very best for the future.

CAN YOU SPARE £10 TO SAVE LIDSING?

We URGENTLY need YOUR help to STOP Lidsing

DON’T listen to people who say ‘it’s a done deal’, ‘it’s going ahead anyway’ – THEY ARE WRONG!!!

Bredhurst Parish Council has a real chance of stopping Lidsing, but we can only do it with your help.

We have TWO top London legal firms working for us. They believe Lidsing CAN be stopped.

Estate agents are warning of a sharp drop in property prices as a result of Lidsing

PLEASE DONATE TODAY TO SAVE LIDSING

Thank you!

https://gofund.me/fc7aa410

or cheques payable to Bredhurst Parish Council may be sent to the Clerk, BPC, C/O Englefield, Dunn Street, Bredhurst ME7 3LY. 

Please enclose your name, address, and email with cheques. Funds will be ringfenced and administered by Bredhurst Parish Council.

Any queries please email clerk@bredhurstpc.org.uk or call 07813 785940.

For further details, please follow the link

https://maidstone.gov.uk/home/primary-services/council-and-democracy/primary-areas/your-councillors?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGbWVldGluZ3MubWFpZHN0b25lLmdvdi51ayUyRm1nRWxlY3Rpb25BcmVhUmVzdWx0cy5hc3B4JTNGWFhSJTNEMCUyNklEJTNEMzUxJTI2UlBJRCUzRDM5MDYxMzAzOSZhbGw9MQ%3D%3D

Parish Council elections only take place when there are more candidates than seats available. For Bredhurst Parish Council the number of candidates (6) did not exceed the number of seats (7), therefore, candidates who applied are automatically elected.

List of candidates standing in Boxley Downs Ward at MBC's elections on 2nd May.  Voters in this Ward each have TWO votes.

Yesterday, Bredhurst Parish Council issued an official ‘letter before action’ to Maidstone Borough Council informing them we are considering bringing a High Court challenge of their decision to approve the local plan, which includes 2000 houses at Lidsing. The letter outlines the legal case for our challenge and MBC have 14 days to respond. 

We are very grateful for the strong support of our legal team from London based Landmark Chambers https://www.landmarkchambers.co.uk/and solicitors, Leigh Day https://www.leighday.co.uk/

Details will follow shortly regarding our new fund-raising campaign and we hope we can rely on your support.

A huge night tonight which will decide the fate of our area and our whole Borough. All 55 Borough Cllrs will be voting on the adoption (or not) of our Local Plan.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/lidsingplanningopposition/permalink/1026143999074028/

Bredhurst Parish Council regrets to inform you that the Planning Inspector has concluded that the Maidstone Borough Local Plan Review is ‘sound’ subject to numerous main modifications being incorporated. This means the Inspector has given the go ahead for the development of 2000 houses at Lidsing. Please find a copy of the Inspector’s report attached (appendices available on request).

The development at Lidsing will not start for at least four years as there are many policies and modifications that must be agreed before work commences. This means that although the principle of the development at Lidsing has been agreed, our barrister who has been very critical of the Lidsing proposal, will examine the Inspector’s report and advise us on the further action we can take. The Local Plan detrimentally affects many villages, and we will be working with other Parish Councils who are also seeking legal advice to fight the proposals.

The Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee (PIED) will meet on Monday 18 March to review the Local Plan which will then be discussed at Cabinet on Tuesday. The final vote as to whether Maidstone Borough Council adopts the Local Plan will be at a meeting of the Full Council on Wednesday 20 March.

We need your help. There will be a public protest on Wednesday 20 March at 5.45pm outside the Town Hall in Maidstone. Please come along with your family and friends so that the Councillors will see the strength of feeling against the Local Plan as they arrive for the meeting.

You may also lobby every Maidstone Borough Councillor by emailing your views to them by Tuesday 19 March. Email addresses are attached.

Start of Works Notice for an upcoming scheme to install 20mph Signage in Bredhurst commencing on 13^th March 2024.

Local Government Elections - Thursday 2 May 2024

Police and Crime Commissioner and Local Government Elections – Thursday 2 May 2024

Maidstone Borough Council has now moved to all out elections every four years.

Please see a copy of The Maidstone Borough (Parish Election Cycle) Order 2023.

Bredhurst Parish Council is due to be contested on Thursday 2 May 2024

Nomination papers should be hand delivered. Please attend Maidstone House Reception (NOT THE LINK) between the

hours of 10am and 4pm, any day from Monday 25 March 2024 up to and including Friday 5 April 2024.

There are 22 Wards and 35 Parishes up for election this year. Maidstone Borough Council is running a booking system to help with the flow and reduce the waiting time.

It would be in your best interest to make an appointment with the Electoral Services Team.

Please call 01622 602007 or email electoralservices@maidstone.gov.uk to make an appointment.

The Election Act 2022 has brought in many changes to the Elections. For your reference here is the link to the Candidates and Agents briefing held

on 8 February 2024. Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdCFfBp6zGk

See Election timetable below for your reference.

NOTICE OF VACANCY

NOTICE is hereby given that a vacancy has occurred in the membership of the above Parish Council, due to the resignation of Cllr Vanessa Jones.

Under the Local Government Act 1972, ten electors can petition for an election by writing to the Proper Officer at Maidstone Borough Council, Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone, ME15 6JQ within 14 working days of the date of this Notice, ie by:

24 January 2024

If no petition is received within that time period, the Parish Council will fill the vacancy by co-opting a person onto the Parish Council.

Persons wishing to be considered for this appointment should apply in writing to the Clerk to the Parish Council as soon as possible.

Written applications should be made to the Clerk at the following address:

Bredhurst Parish Council 

14 Trapfield Close

Bearsted

Maidstone

ME14 4HT

Or email: clerk@bredhurstpc.org.uk

Dated: 4 January 2024

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) investigation regarding Mr David Buckett (BPC Auditor TY 19/20) is now concluded and CIPFA have published the reprimand.

https://www.cipfa.org/members/conduct-and-ethics/hearings-and-decisions/cipfa-statement-concerning-cipfa-member-david-buckett

Blacksmiths Community Barn is a newly built, fully equipped venue which is available for hire by:

1. Residents

2. People with an association to Bredhurst (work in the village, children at the school, belong to a Bredhurst club, charity or St Peter’s Church)

3. People holding a ‘community focused event’ (activity to help bring residents/non-residents together)

4. Local authorities

5. Corporate hire available if the hall is not already booked by 1-3 above

6. Other categories at the discretion of BPC

The hire charge is £12.50 per hour for categories 1, 2 and 3 above; and £20.00 per hour for categories 4, 5 and 6.

The Barn is ideal for Pilates classes, a meeting venue for clubs or businesses, family afternoon teas or baby showers - amplified music is not allowed so it is not suitable for parties.

For further details please email Steve Hill, Clerk and RFO, Bredhurst Parish Council at clerk@bredhurstpc.org.uk

Bredhurst Parish Council are looking for a new cleaning contractor for Blacksmiths Barn.

If you are interested or know someone who is please see the attached details and contact Steve Hill, by 27th June.

Steve Hill | Clerk and RFO | Bredhurst Parish Council | 07860 721924 | www.bredhurstparishcouncil.org.uk

Blacksmiths Community Barn is a newly built, fully equipped venue which is available for hire by:

1. Residents

2. People with an association to Bredhurst (work in the village, children at the school, belong to a Bredhurst club, charity or St Peter’s Church)

3. People holding a ‘community focused event’ (activity to help bring residents/non-residents together)

4. Local authorities

5. Corporate hire available if the hall is not already booked by 1-3 above

6. Other categories at the discretion of BPC

The hire charge is £15.00 per hour for categories 1, 2 and 3 above; and £20.00 per hour for categories 4, 5 and 6.

The Barn is ideal for Pilates classes, a meeting venue for clubs or businesses, family afternoon teas or baby showers - amplified music is not allowed so it is not suitable for parties.

For further details please email Mrs Wendy Licence Clerk and RFO, Bredhurst Parish Council at clerk@bredhurstpc.org.uk

Public meeting on Monday 6th June at 7pm, Blacksmiths Barn.  

Please come along to hear the latest regarding the Against Lidsing campaign.

Bredhurst Parish Council has been fighting hard to stop the proposed development at Lidsing of 2000+ houses and an industrial estate. Plans also include the demolition of the M2 bridge at the bottom of The Street with a new bridge and spur road off junction 4 of the M2. The new road will be built in the field opposite the houses in Kemsley Street (in the AONB!). There will be houses on every field from The Harrow, Lordswood, Elm Court and Hempstead. We now need a barrister and other professionals to fight for us at the Examination in Public to be held later this year.

The initial work done by our barrister has highlighted several fundamental flaws with Maidstone Borough Council’s Local Plan. We need to instruct him and 'expert witnesses' as soon as possible to commence work in preparation for the Examination in Public. We must come together as a community to protect our village, otherwise Bredhurst will be lost, and we will no longer be a village.

Please give whatever you can to safeguard our future. You may give via GoFundMe https://gofund.me/d7101e4e or cheques payable to Bredhurst Parish Council may be sent to Mr S Hill, Clerk to BPC, C/O Englefield, Dunn Street, Bredhurst ME7 3LY.

If we do not reach our target of £26k, donations will be refunded. Please enclose your name, postal and email address with cheques. Funds will be ringfenced and administered by Bredhurst Parish Council.

Please print the poster and put it in your window!

Thank you for your support.

The annual village clean-up is fast approaching, and we need volunteers to help please. We will meet at the Village Green at 10am. Litter pickers, hi-vis vests, and sacks will be provided. Groups will go off litter picking and cleaning signs as required. It’s a great opportunity to get out in the fresh air, meet neighbours and clean up the village – you should come!

https://www.facebook.com/events/433845605023124/?ref=newsfeed

Organised by Bredhurst Parish Council. Drop-in anytime between 11am and 2pm to see information, maps and for any advice or help we can give regarding MBC'S public consultation and the Lidsing Garden Village Development.

Bredhurst Parish Council is considering setting up a Speedwatch scheme in the village. Before we purchase costly equipment, we are trying to borrow some from other parishes. However, we have been advised for a scheme to work effectively we would need around 20 volunteers. As a volunteer, you will work on a rota basis to help carry out Speedwatch checks through the village. You will receive training and will always work with an experienced, trained operator. Teams consist of 3-4 people who have different roles (noting vehicle registrations, make/model/speed etc). Data collected is forwarded to the Police who take appropriate action including sending letters, visiting persistent offenders or using the information we provide to determine when/what time of day speed traps would be most effective. If anyone is interested and would like further information, please contact Steve Hill at clerk@bredhurstpc.org.uk who will be happy to provide further information and is compiling a list of volunteers.https://www.kent.police.uk/speedwatch

Bredhurst Parish Council / Against Lidsing Development Working Group are taking professional advice and will give clear guidance in the coming days as to how to submit responses. We need to take time to go through the vast amount of documents before giving you further guidance. Please bear with us - it's best not to rush things!

https://localplan.maidstone.gov.uk/home/documents/local-plan-review-documents/regulation-19/LPR-Regulation-19-Document-25.10.21-Final-Copy.pdf

The Regulation 19 Public Consultation on Maidstone Borough Council's Local Plan opens tomorrow (29-10-21) for 6 weeks. The Lidsing Garden Village Development for 2000+ houses is included in this plan.**Please take your time to review the information on the link below before submitting your comments.

The link is:https://localplan.maidstone.gov.uk/home/local-plan-review

Bredhurst Parish Council along with residents from Lidsing, Hempstead and Lordswood are fighting to stop Lidsing from being concreted over but ……

WE NEED YOUR HELP

Imagine standing on the bridge at Forge Lane and seeing 2000+ houses on every field as far as the eye can see. The bridge at the bottom of The Street will be demolished and a massive road junction will be built in the field adjacent to Kemsley Street to give access to the 2000+ houses. Consider the effect of over 4000+ additional cars in the area and the impact on Bredhurst.

On Monday 4^th October, Maidstone Borough Council will decide the fate of Lidsing and we need you all to do two things:

1. Before the 4^th October, EVERYONE needs to lobby the individual councillors who will be voting at that meeting. Lobbying can have a huge impact – so the more emails the better. Keep your email short and tell Cllrs how 2000+ houses will affect you. You may wish to mention;

· The wider implications of allowing development at Lidsing will give a green light to the same landowner who is pushing to develop the whole of Capstone Valley (Gibraltar Farm, East Hill, Darland View). In effect, it is not 2000+ houses they will be approving but over 3000.

· The devastating impact this proposal will have on Bredhurst, Lidsing, Hempstead and all surrounding areas.

· Years, if not decades, of disruption while building takes place putting a strain on Junction 4 of the M2 which already struggles to cope at peak times plus all the additional traffic through Bredhurst.

Please use your own words and use ‘Lidsing’ in the title of your email. Attach photos or maps to your email to reinforce your points. Please send your email to the following Cllrs (you can copy and paste the list below):

paulcooper@maidstone.gov.uk; valspringett@maidstone.gov.uk; patrikgarten@maidstone.gov.uk; denisspooner@maidstone.gov.uk; stevemunford@maidstone.gov.uk; brianclark@maidstone.gov.uk; susangrigg@maidstone.gov.uk; claudinerussell@maidstone.gov.uk; malcolmmckay@maidstone.gov.uk; annebrindle@maidstone.gov.uk; davidburton@maidstone.gov.uk; paulwilby@maidstone.gov.uk; johnperry@maidstone.gov.uk; simonwebb@maidstone.gov.uk; stanleyforecast@maidstone.gov.uk; martincox@maidstone.gov.uk; cliveenglish@maidstone.gov.uk; michellehastie@maidstone.gov.uk; ashleighkimmance@maidstone.gov.uk; derekmortimer@maidstone.gov.uk; gordonnewton@maidstone.gov.uk; janettasams@maidstone.gov.uk; tomsams@maidstone.gov.uk; paulharper@maidstone.gov.uk; peterholmes@maidstone.gov.uk

2. Attend the Maidstone Borough Council meeting on MONDAY 4^th OCTOBER. The meeting is in the Town Hall and starts at 5.30pm but we need you to arrive by 5pm at the latest. As the Cllrs arrive, we need them to see a crowd of people opposed to the development of Lidsing. Placards will be available on the day and we hope to have press coverage.

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO SAVE LIDSING - YOU ONLY HAVE DAYS TO ACT

For more details visit the Bredhurst Parish Council FB page / Bredhurst Community FB Group or contact Cllr Jones on 07813 785940 / cllrjones@bredhurstpc.org.uk

Improvements are now finished at the Community Field.  The pedestrian access has been widened and the picnic bench and seat are now on concrete bases.

Maidstone Borough Council is currently consulting on their Local Plan Review. The Review is proposing a new garden community of 2000 houses in Lidsing.

Information on the garden community can be found on the Hume Planning Consultancy website. Please note that if you submit comments on this website they will only be fed back to the landowner and project team and not to Maidstone Borough Council.

Bredhurst Parish Council is opposing this proposal and is working closely with Boxley Parish Council and other local groups to do so.

For more information please visit the Against Lidsing Garden Development Facebook group, which gives details of deadlines and how to submit comments.

Casual Vacancy due to resignation of Cllr Miriam Noble

Casual Vacancy due to resignation of Cllr David Till

Casual Vacancy due to resignation of Cllr John Merrick

The end of year accounts have now been published and can be viewed on our Reports and Audits page.

BPC has set up a group on Facebook to help residents connect with each other and offer and ask for help. It can be found here.

We have also set up a WhatsApp group for the same purpose. If you would like to join, please text your name and number to Cllr Jones on 07813 785940. Please be aware that your name and number will be visible to others in the group – asking to join will be seen as consent to this. BPC and Cllr Jones will hold your details securely and delete them if/when asked to do so, but we have no jurisdiction over how others store or handle them.

An allotment has now become vacant. If you are interested in the plot, please contact one of the councillors or the clerk. 

Due to works planned to be undertaken by Openreach, it will be necessary to close part of Chapel Lane, Bredhurst, from 15th April 2024 with estimated completion by 15th April 2024.

Chapel Lane, Bredhurst, will be closed outside Forge Lodge, between the hours of 08:30 and 16:30 only. To the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route for any through traffic is via Dunn Street Road, Dunn Street, Lidsing Road, Forge Lane and vice versa.

Pedestrian access will be maintained during the works.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce to allow pole replacement works to be carried out, works are undertaken by Openreach.

For the most up to date information on these works please visit: https://one.network/?tm=136211531

For information regarding this closure please contact Openreach on 08000 282 229, who will be able to assist with the scope of these works.

The Kent County Council Highways Helpline phone number is: 03000 418181

This bulletin contains public information and can be forwarded to any other road users who may be affected. Every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, but no liability can be accepted for any changes or errors.
Road names are taken from the National Street Gazetteer, which can be viewed on one.network, with alternative names given where known.

For details of roadworks, please see One.Network

Regards,

Streetworks West Central Team

03000 418181 (9am - 5pm Monday-Friday)
03000 419191 (all other times)