Update following PARISH MEETING on 21st FEBRUARY 2018
PARISH MEETING on 21st FEBRUARY 2018
Despite the cold, the Parish Meeting was well-attended on Wednesday 21st February and chaired by Mark Wilson, Parish Council Chairman, following John Lowings' resignation earlier in the month.
Jocelyn Craig, Chairman of the Council's PO Working Group talked parishioners through the results of the questionnaire: 33.1 per cent were returned - 184 out of a total of 556 households. Detailed results can be seen on the Parish website.
There then followed two presentations of possible replacement shops and sites in the village. First was Gary Mitchell's option for a Minnis build, to include accommodation, near the existing playground, with a more detailed leaflet handed out at the meeting. Second, an option for a chalet type shop or, an easier to install, clad steel unit, was put forward by Marcus Palmer to be on a site neighbouring the Charter Hall.
At this point, the Chairman made it clear that the Parish Council, as custodians, had voted against a Minnis build at their October meeting and that the Minnis was further protected by virtue of having been dedicated to the QE 2 Fields in Trust Scheme in 2013. This preserves the Minnis for recreational purposes, as had been intended when it was purchased by all villagers in the Parish in 1928 and prohibits construction of any building that is not for the purpose of sport or recreation.
Questions followed on the merits of both options. These encompassed the merits of a volunteer-run community shop, the viability of a shop in today's world and concerns over any shop's location. The meeting agreed - with a non-binding show of hands - to support the Charter Hall site option by 93 vs 55.
Suggestions were further made and will be carried forward to look into a possible Charter Hall siting.
The Parish Council would like to thank parishioners for both returning questionnaires and for their attendance and input at the meeting.
Jocelyn Craig and Marion Hudson, on behalf of the Parish Council PO Working Group
Contact Information
Katrina Hoyle
Find Smarden Parish Council
Smarden Charter Hall, Chessenden Lane, Smarden, Ashford, Kent, TN27 8NF
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