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Following the far-from-satisfactory start to the new waste contract, a major review of the collection routes has now been completed by Swale Council.  Letters will be sent out to 9,000 properties across the Borough this week advising them of changes to either the day or week of collection (or both).  
 
The new routes are intended to improve the service significantly, particularly in rural areas like Lynsted and Kingsdown with their many narrow roads and properties off the beaten track - as well as removing anomalies such as different sides of a cul-de-sac being emptied on different days.
 
The re-routing applies to green, blue and food bins - not garden waste.
 
Inevitably there will be a few more “teething problems” with the new routes.  But at least this time it’s just some routes being changed, not all of them.  The crews are also not having to get used at the same time to new vehicles, new ways of working, new colleagues, new management and new technology.
 
The revised routes will come into effect on Monday 16 September.  
 
Fingers crossed for a better service moving forwards! 
 
In the meantime, residents experiencing missed bin collections should continue to report via the Swale Council website:  
 
You can check your scheduled collection days here:
 
 
 

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Lynsted with Kingsdown Parish Council has published its third report on the proposed Highsted Park/West of Teynham developments.  Having already submitted an air quality report and transport assessment, this latest document is a general planning overview.  We worked in conjunction with Teynham, Tonge and Doddington Parish Councils in order to pool resources and to keep down the costs of engaging professional advisers.
 
The impacts of these two developments will be felt by residents of the parishes for decades to come.  The potential environmental, ecological and historical losses; impacts on our roads and infrastructure; and general impact on our health and wellbeing is of great concern.

NPPF Para 73 recognises that the supply of large numbers of new homes can often be best achieved through planning for larger scale development, such as new settlements or significant extensions to existing villages and towns, provided they are well located and designed, and supported by the necessary infrastructure and facilities.  In this case the combined Highsted Park and West of Teynham applications offer development which is not well located and requires significant transport infrastructure to support it.
 
The impacts of introducing this infrastructure are considerable and there is overriding uncertainty as to whether those impacts can be satisfactorily and acceptably mitigated.  The existing road infrastructure particularly around the A2 is not capable of accommodating the 1,250 homes and additional commercial, community and recreational development proposed in 21/503906/EIOUT - nor the 7,150 homes with commercial and community uses in 21/503914/EIOUT.  We are very concerned to see that by the applicant’s own admission the proposals for land West of Teynham, in isolation, will certainly increase traffic using the A2, adding to existing traffic congestion and poor Air Quality.

Neither application accords fully with the adopted Development Plan, and we contend there are no material considerations of sufficient magnitude as to outweigh the actual and policy harm caused by the proposals.  

Lynsted with Kingsdown, Teynham, Tonge and Doddington Parish Councils strongly urge Swale Borough Council to refuse both applications.

You can read the planning report HERE

Details
Cellar Hill CA appraisal July 2024 fc
 
 
The Cellar Hill and Greenstreet Conservation Area has undergone a further review and character appraisal.  This is now out for a second round of public consultation.  The recommendation is to retain its status with some extensions to the boundary, in particular to the West towards Frognal Lane.  

Conservation Area designation is an important way of recognising the special architectural or historic character of an area so that appropriate steps can be taken to preserve or enhance it. 

You can read the review document HERE
 
The public consultation ends on 18 September 2024.  Email your comments to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by the deadline.  Please use the following subject line in your email:  Cellar Hill & Greenstreet CA Review feedback.
 
If you prefer, you can send your comments to the Parish Council and we will include them in our response.  Email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
 

Details
In collaboration with Teynham, Tonge and Doddington Parish Councils we have now submitted a transport report which assesses the traffic impacts of the proposed Highsted Park development - which would see 7,150 houses built on the southern site and 1,250 on the northern site (land to the west of Teynham).  
 
The report concludes that the applicant’s highways modelling is deficient and leaves too many unanswered questions, with numerous discrepancies in the technical work.

There has been no assessment undertaken of the poor highway safety record on Lower Road, Teynham (an accident rate four to seven times the national average).   Lower Road is currently used as a rat-run for motorists seeking to avoid congestion on the A2 corridor.  The predicted significant increases in traffic along the A2 east of the site means the proposed development will significantly increase traffic flows on Lower Road and thus exacerbate the poor safety record.

The A2 through Teynham and Lynsted is already congested.  It is an Air Quality Management Area, cars park on footways and there are very limited safe pedestrian crossing facilities.

This stretch of the London Road is predicted to carry traffic flows that will lead to very severe congestion.  The northern site will generate around 5,000 additional daily vehicle trips on the A2.  This will cause London Road to exceed its capacity.  Despite this, the assessments suggest that the impact will be ‘neutral or slight’.  This conclusion is not justifiable since it does not reflect the sensitivity of this road to increased traffic flows.
 
The modelling work for the northern site also identifies a very significant increase in HGV movements (+56%) on the A2 leading to permanent moderate to large adverse impacts.  Despite this, no mitigation is proposed.

There are already over 1,500 committed dwellings in this area.  From the information that has been submitted it is not possible to confirm whether or not all of these have been taken into account in the traffic modelling work - meaning the impact could potentially be far worse.
 
The report from the four parish councils also highlights the poor bus provision and poor access to infrequent rail services at Teynham station, which will increase reliance on the car.
 
To read the full report, click HERE

Details

Lynsted with Kingsdown Parish Council has submitted a report to Swale planning officers on the air quality impacts of the Highsted Park housing application.  This development, together with the Northern site on land to the West of Teynham, would result in 8,400 new homes being built in our community.

This report is the first in a series and is the result of collaboration with Teynham, Tonge and Doddington Parish Councils.

You can read the air quality appraisal HERE

Details
Defib Kingsdown
 
A third defibrillator has now been installed by the Parish Council, this time in Kingsdown.  It is located in Kingsdown Road, on a garden wall opposite Kingsdown House, in a secure cabinet.  You ring 999 for the code to unlock it.
 
A defib gives a high energy electric shock to the heart of someone in cardiac arrest and can be a life saver.  
 
We’re looking at organising another of our highly successful ‘Heart Start’ courses, run by Lynsted resident Simon White.  If you’d like to participate, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to get your name added to the list, together with an indication of the most convenient days/times for you.  Simon very kindly gives up his time voluntarily, but we do ask for a £10 donation to the British Heart Foundation.
 
The Parish Council installed another defib machine last year in the garden of the Black Lion, to add to the one outside Swaleside vets on the London Road.  

Details

Lynsted Community Kitchen herb garden opening

Julien Speed (right), Chairman of Lynsted with Kingsdown Parish Council, cuts the ribbon of the new herb well-being garden with Trevor Sharp, the landscape architect who designed the garden.

A new herb ‘well-being’ garden was officially opened on Saturday in Lynsted.

The dedicated area has been designed as a haven to celebrate the culinary and health benefits of herbs.

It sits in the heart of the fruit and vegetable plot at Lynsted Community Kitchen Garden.

This collaborative food growing project was set up in 2021 and has already achieved local and national recognition.

It won Silver in the Wilder Kent Awards, organised by the Kent Wildlife Trust.  This recognised their work towards climate-resilient approaches to growing and gardening.

The Community Garden also won an Achievement Award in the 'Growing Together Award 2023 for Community Gardening' run by BBC's The One Show and the Royal Horticultural Society.

“We have planned an attractive, relaxing area with sections of timber raised beds, at different heights, to allow everyone to access and experience the textures, tastes and aromas of the herbs,” explains Founder, Vanessa Ross Russell.  

“It’s a place to explore their sensory benefits.  We hope to create an exchange of ideas around all aspects of herbs - including health, diet, cooking workshops, biodiversity and gardening.  

“We are very grateful to the BUPA Foundation Community Green Grant and My Society charity for funding”.  

The opening ceremony was conducted by Julien Speed, Chairman of Lynsted with Kingsdown Parish Council.

“I’m immensely proud that Lynsted has been at the forefront of such an innovative approach to gardening.

“The herb garden will be an important local sanctuary space for mental well-being, with its Hazel dome structure and areas for quiet contemplation,” commented Cllr Speed.  

“The Community Garden has also planted 500 hedgerow whips and 120 trees this year - despite the challenges posed by rabbits, slugs and endless days of winter rain".

For more info or to join the Lynsted Community Kitchen Garden:  https://www.lynstedkitchengarden.com/about-us

 

Details

A litter pick has been arranged for Saturday 27 April.  We will meet outside the Co-op on London Road at 10am and head towards the centre of Lynsted, ending up with a well-deserved drink at the Black Lion...!  Last year we collected 35 sacks of rubbish. 

This year we expect to pick up even more, given the current problems with overflowing bins and windy conditions.  

All Lynsted residents are welcome to join us.  See poster HERE

Details
Lynsted Community Kitchen Garden invites you to a free open morning on Sat 13th April between 10.30 and 12.30. This local group comprises about sixty enthusiasts of all ages who grow veg, fruit and herbs together - in a big shared patch - with two polytunnels and a greenhouse.
 
They keep bees too, and have won a couple of awards for both sustainability and community action.  They're located just outside Lynsted village in a lovely field that can be accessed via Tickham Lane or the road between Lynsted and Doddington.
 
If you are interested in joining they’d love to show you around.  No skills required.  In exchange for lending a hand (different jobs sowing, planting, weeding, biodiversity checks, all sorts of different things - something for everyone regardless of mobility or ability), you can pick fresh seasonal fruit and veg whenever you need it. 
 
For details of the community garden's free events in 2024 see HERE