Agenda item

Mr Neville Butteriss addressed the Board with regard to Item 9 – Policy for Obstructions and Temporary Items on the Highway.  Mr Butteriss informed the Board that he was the original instigator of a campaign to abolish advertising boards on the streets.  The campaign has progressed very well after meeting with Mr Burr and Councillor Chittenden backed the campaign by walking through the town with a blindfold on to highlight the hazards of these boards.  Mr Butteriss stated that his petition currently has 2,300 signatures and he suggested that shop should be allowed to have small hanging signs outside on walls instead.  He urged members of the Board to support his campaign and thanked Councillor Chittenden and Miss Brooks of the RNIB who had come down from London for this meeting.  He said Kent could be the first County to deal with this problem and make a name for itself.

Mr Ivan White of the Federation of Small businesses addressed the Board with regard to Item 9 – Policy for Obstructions and Temporary Items on the Highway.  Mr White said he was very disappointed that the policy had been introduced without consultation with businesses, especially as they have an accord with KCC for this sort of matter.  He said that he realises that some A-Boards have become a problem in the town and that smaller out of town shopping areas rely on the A-Boards to attract business.  Mr White also felt that the charging regime was problematic, in that, KCC say the charge is to cover the administration only, but he felt that charging £65 for the re-issue of the licence should be substantially lower.  Also, why £150 pa for tables and chair irrespective of the size of area and the number of tables?

Mr Paul Alcock, Chairman of Town Centre Management addressed the Board with regard to Item 9 – Policy for Obstructions and Temporary Items on the Highway.  Mr Alcock stated that he was due to address the KCC Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting, but was stood down the day before.  The consultation – so what that no-one in Maidstone knew about it?  We know regeneration is needed.  We are experiencing very difficult trading conditions – is a fee really required for this?  The 2^nd year should be reduced.  Small cafes and businesses that we have encouraged will withdraw because of the cost.

Ms Lynsey Brooks from the Royal National Institute for the Blind addressed the Board with regard to Item 9 – Policy for Obstructions and Temporary Items on the Highway.  Ms Brooks stated that most of us take for granted the obstacles that they can step around.  It is important that they are regulated and removed from narrow pavements.

Mr Martin Pepper, Chairman of Boxley Parish Council, addressed the Board regarding a reduced speed Limit for Boxley Road & Beechen Road from 60mph to 30mph.  A petition will be presented to KCC Highways which is full of facts and he requested that the matter be formally managed by the Board.

Mrs Janetta Sams addressed the Board regarding Item 13 – Update on Petitions.  Mrs Sams spoke with regard to the Petition submitted at the previous meeting about a 20mph speed limit outside schools.  She said the residents of Harrietsham and Lenham feel let down by KCC, but they are determined to continue.  Public safety is paramount and we should be pro-active rather than reactive.  In Maidstone we do not have a 20mph speed limit.  Mrs Sams is aware there is a cost, but she states it is a small cost compared to a death.  What is the cost of an accident – NHS, emergency services etc.  She stated that they do not want to be putting flowers first, they want the 20mph speed limit first.  She asked the Board to be pro-active and do something about this now.