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| How Can The Society Benefit You? |
The Society cares for Bearsted and Thurnham and their residents. It is vigilant in scrutinising proposals for change which might threaten the character of the two parishes, their gardens and other green open spaces, their Conservation Areas, the North Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the area of special landscape value in its foreground.
The Society liaises closely with representatives of the two Parish Councils, with Kent County Council and with Maidstone Borough Council, with whom it is registered as the amenity group to be consulted on all planning policy issues affecting the area. It submits comments on planning applications and planning policy, road safety, traffic, public transport, amenities, litter, trees, open spaces, water, crime and anti-social behaviour and other local matters. It attends Council meetings at parish, borough and county level to monitor, and where appropriate, comment on or object to, all proposals affecting Bearsted and Thurnham.
The Society played a leading role in securing improvements to the plans for the re-development of Eylesden Court on The Green, and in keeping the would-be developers of Church Landway at bay until the generosity and hard work of the founder-Trustees and members of the Bearsted Woodland Trust finally removed that major threat. It strongly supports the objectives of the Trust and aims to work in close cooperation with it.
Each part of Bearsted and Thurnham has its own distinctive character reflecting the long history of the two parishes from medieval times to the present day. They are much loved by all who live in them or know them. They love the ancient lanes that link them, their fields, trees, woods, ponds and greens, their beautiful setting against the spectacular backdrop of the North Downs, and their air of serenity. They are very special places, and they do not want to see them spoilt by insensitive urbanisation.
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