19th November/20th November

Despite attending to emails etc and a couple of phone calls I had to be in Kings College Hospital today.

But I did manage to get to the Town Hall to attend a briefing with the Chief Constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner. I asked a question relating to the ongoing community issues reflecting certain members of Headcorns population and pertinent to the recent murder.

On the 20th I got a phone call from the Area Police Commander about my issues.  I will bring all the conversation  together for the Community Cohesion meeting on Friday.

I went to a Action for Communities for Rural England/Rural Kent meeting in Lenham in the evening. I was nominated to sit on the Board of Trustees. I can continue my RURAL CAUSE in this role. Thank you so much Eileen of Sutton Valence.

17th November/18th November

Today I attended a sub group of the Planning Transport and Development OSC-Scrutiny meeting at 10 am at Maidstone House and then went to an Open Spaces meeting of the Parish Council at 8pm, which went on to about 10pm. During the day I went to see Planning Officers to talk about Enforcement issues of places that concern and discuss an exercise of "Community Cohesion" in the area that I have been involved with. ( More on this elsewhere!)

On Tuesday morning the 18th I met members of Boughton Malherbe Parish Council to discuss a petition to present to Joint Transport Board. Grafty Green and Liverton Hill/Platts Heath has a narrow road on a sharp hill that has lots of spring water and heavy rain water movement. Lorries use this a "short cut or rat run" to get to the Lower Weald  or even as far as Hastings and Tonbridge areas. Its excessive, dangerous, awkward and the roads are not fit for that purpose, so the petition is to stop or at least control this activity.

A budget Group meeting followed in the afternoon in the Town Hall and then a Planning TD OSC meeting at 6.30pm to 10pm. I mentioned the problem with parking in Headcorn because of Rail users during a Rail Services Review. We resolved to request South Eastern Rail examine this and try to reduce parking costs and encourage rail user to park at the station. We then discussed other issues relating to transport where I again asked for cycling routes/walkways/buggy paths to be considered as a Section 106/CIL condition for plans.

11th November/12th November

I was back to emails and correspondence in the morning, which included more badgering of people over several matters. The Neighbourhood Plan grant must be paid - that was urgent. That required various emails, phone calls and responses.

I then had to prepare for a Scrutiny meeting (OSC/CEH) Community, Environment & Housing that evening.  This particular meeting was taking evidence from various parties about the state of Loneliness and Social Isolation in our communities. A great set of witnesses included the Community Warden service Area leader, Age UK and KCC specialists where they informed us about policy and their experiences. I was pleased to Janet from the Wardens as she represents the great work of our own Warden, without whom we would be less fortunate. We would miss him greatly if the service was cut back as the current consultation envisages. So any effort to promote their good work is worthwhile.

Sadly I had to leave after an hour to attend a Parish Council meeting at Boughton Malherbe/Grafty Green. This was a meeting that allowed debate to continue and thus gave all present opportunities to contribute.

The debate included the frequent and high usage of the local roads by large lorries up/down the hill to/from Lenham and issues concerning the traveller population, speeding and fly tipping, plus economic factors such as housing, employment, transport and community matters.  As a result it was resolved that I would work with the PC to present a petition to the Joint Transport Board to highlight the road and traffic problems, especially in view of the possible increase in local traffic.

I also sensed the concern over road deterioration that needed to be fed to the County Councillor and local ground water issues.

On my way home I noted movements at the Gypsy site - there were too many vans/mobiles all lit up on one site - I made a note to contact our Enforcement team the next day.


The next morning I got onto Enforcement Officers requesting an update on Gypsy sites and asking what actions are being taken. ( On the 21st Nov I met a new officer delegated to my special concerns).

More correspondence  during that day took me to Headcorn Parish Council in the evening and another late finish.

13th/14th November

I don't think I have mentioned in this blog that I do also work. I may have done but not in detail I suspect.

I have no full time work, as I cannot work in terms of physical capacity to do so, especially in relation to my previous roles. This is because of several major injuries and surgical procedures, of which the last two serious operations were 4 years ago. These ops rebuilt my leg and my arm. As a result of these issues I found long standing, walking and especially carrying activities within a job were virtually impossible. I had to give up tutoring at a College 4 years ago as I had to give up Senior Management in the Food and Catering world 25 years before.

So now I take roles that hopefully may help others in the Health and Social Care sector. I work for the Care Quality Commission. This work has to remain confidential most of the time as the content is very delicate and it affects major public sector services, businesses and people on a personal level.

These 2 days were spent on CQC business.

But emails still had to be dealt with!