Parish Council Archived Documents
(With kind permission of Lynsted with Kingsdown Parish Council)

First Minute Book 1894 - 1932
(transcribed by Maggie Goodwin)
Second Minute Book 1933 - 1968
(transcribed by Pip Baron)

1. The Local Government Act 1894 - giving the legal basis for Rural Parish Councils
    
2. Early Years  - 18th December, 1894  to  2nd February 1901 (recording the death of Queen Victoria)
• First Chairman, Sir Roper Lethbridge, who stood down due to illness of Lady Roper Lethbridge; was later nominated again, but withdrew due to “irreparable damage” and the need to vacate Lynsted Lodge.
• Second Chairman, Captain F.N. Vallance - letter of resignation of 4th March 1896.
• Evolving Responsibilities: Sanitation, acquisition of Allotment Land (finally agreed with James French), Scavenging Contractor duties,
• The Mystery of “The Playstool” land.
• Securing postal deliveries to: Claxfield Farm, Jeffries, Tickham and Loyterton
• Sir Roper & Lady Lethbridge portrait given to Parish Council.
• Desire for extension of kerbing in Greenstreet (1896).
• Planting trees in Greenstreet being explored (1897) & disgraceful paths in Greenstreet (1898)
• Withdrawal of allotment land from Greenstreet (Salvation Army Barracks) (1898)
• Signing off the Jubilee Pump structure.
• Poor state of Bogle Pond (1900)
• Lynsted Church Service - Death of Queen Victoria
   
3. Accession of George V to British Declaration of War (4th Aug. 1914) - 21st February 1901 to 13th July 1914
• Subscriptions to the National Commemoration of Queen Victoria
• Appointment of a Clerk is far from straightforward
• Buying a Rubber Stamp for the PC; Purchase of railway timetables for Greenstreet
• Threatened closure of Lynsted Post sub-Office (1902)
• Dangerous orange peel on Greenstreet pavement
• Parish Coronation Festivities postponed
• Jubilee Pump Conflicts with Teynham Parish Council (1902) & again in 1909!
• Mains water on offer and Special Meeting called (1903)
• Lynsted School Managers under consideration
• Allotments Arrears - Mr McMullen to vacate and others followed
• Proposed change of name for “Greenstreet Post Office” (1904)
• Path diversion near Lynsted Court under discussion (1905)
• Dangerous draw-wells in Dadmans Shaw & problems around Aymers
• Frequent flooding of the Mill and School; adding a path around Churchyard to Heathfield House
• Loyterton Path changes by Col. Tyler
• Mains water supply rejected by Lynsted PC - current supply perfectly good
• Tarring of Greenstreet proposed (1907)  & abandoned (1908)
• Ploughing up ‘bridled lane’ in Bapchild (1911)
• Preparation for Coronation Celebrations (1911)
• Jubilee Pump conflicts with Teynham again (1912)
• Joint Scavenging with Teynham proposed
   
4. Beginning World War 1 to 1932 and Minute Book No1 closes
• Another call for ‘brushing’ of hedgerows - this time Bogle and Bumpit hedge
• Allotments of great importance in times of need - and needed fencing
• The loss of men to the war effort led to calls for 12 year-old children to be allowed to work (1915)
• Fire Brigade asks for co-operation in locating new fire hydrants - resistance met.(1916)
• Fire Brigade decides to fit hydrants using public subscription in spite of the Parish Council (1916)
• Councillor J J Dence Remembered (1917)
• KEC guidance on potato disease management and supply of seed potatoes - resistance met (1917)
• Calls for more food production - resistance met (1918)
• Allotments rules laid out with suggestions of private arrangements with Mr Mercer
• Greenstreet Post Office renaming returns to the agenda (1918) and again in 1923
• The sewage and drainage question (1919)
• Funding of “Peace Celebrations” (1919)
• Costs of “Peace Celebrations” met by Parish Council (1919)
• Preparation for visit of Duke of York 14th July 1921 (1921)
• Graveyard overgrown and dangerous to passers-by (1922)
• Half-day holiday for postmen resisted by the Parish Council (1922)
• Rev.T.J.Sewell resigns Chairmanship and his living because of ill health 15th January 1924
• Paths required to be reopened - Ten Acre to Bumpit discussed several times (1924)
• Death of G.A.H.Smith recorded (appears as if unexpected)
• Clearing (or filling) Bogle Pond is considered  (1925)
• Resignation of F B Filmer due to other pressures (1925 - 1926)
• Impact of the General Strike of 3rd to 12th May 1926
• Chief Fire Officer, Mr Ferris invited to attend regarding hydrants (1927)
• Complaints about hoardings in London Road (1927)
• Controversy between Faversham and Voluntary Fire Brigade (1929)
• Desire for road tarring to improve Parish roads (1929)
• Parish Council Area Reforms in prospect (1930)
• New Housing Stock (12 council houses set away from London Road)  (1930)
• Rejection of any telephone kiosks for Lynsted Village and Greenstreet (1931)
• Allotment Prizes discontinued (1931)
• Teynham and Lynsted begin talking about providing joint Playing Fields (1931)
5. 1933 to end of World War 2 (15th August 1945)
• Council House tenancies
• Allotment ground moved & water supplies (1933)
• School Managers (1933 and frequently thereafter)
• Postal arrangements in the Parish - stamp dispensers (frequently raised)
• Empire Day initiatives (1934)
• King’s Jubilee Celebrations - planning starts (1935)
• Bogle Pond problems
• Lynsted Electrification proposed
• Housing Survey (PC prefer build away from Greenstreet main road). (1936)
• Road repairs to Lynsted Lane - Orchard House corner
• Overcrowding Provisions of the Housing Act (1936)
• Public Telephone provision - followed by a new kiosk in Lynsted Village (1936)
• First identification of site (St.Peters Place) for Council Housing (1936)
• Trialling the No.9 bus
• Death of W.E.Kemp (1937)
• Grave Digging Issues - night or day? (1937)
• Excessive Council House Rentals.
• Claxfield Lane danger - requested extension of 30mph restriction on London Road (1939)
• Impact of War on housing plans
• Death of Mr A Thorne - widow remitted one-quarter’s allotment rent (1940)
• National Savings and handling of Salvage -  dump at Aymers (1940)
• Air Raid Measures and repair after recent bombing damage. (August 29th 1940)
• Kent War Agricultural Executive Committee (KWAEC) call for gardeners to aid food production (1941)
• The “British Restaurant” Controversy - distribution of profits. (1944)
6. 1945 to end of 1949 - post-War recovery years start
• Lighting Review since 1937 (1945)
• Reconciliation with KEPCo of Power provision since 1941 (1945)
• Street Lighting Times proposed - and Teynham PC to be informed (1945)
• Savings Week proposal for joint working with Teynham (1945)
• W.S.Thomas declines vice-Chairmanship - Mr.S.R.Dixon elected (1946)
• Victory Day Celebrations Committee (1946)
• Post-war Housing Plans - Swedish an Airey Houses (1946)
• Death of Dr.Selby - creating a PC vacancy (1947)
• Steps to Compulsorily Purchase land for a sports ground (1947)
• Soldiers’ Sailors’ & Airmen’s Families Asstn. (SSAFA) request is rejected
• Non-Attendance by Parish Councillors discussed (1948)
• Batteries Terrace Parking issues (1949)
• Government Boundary Commission in prospect (1949)
• Bus Route problems with Fox Inn (1949)
• 30mph Speed limit sought for Lynsted Lane an Village (1949)
• Public Meeting: Possible loss of Rural Parish status for Lynsted (1949)
• First time since 1939 that all allotments have been let (1949)
• Inadequate Gas Pressure in Lynsted Village (1949)
7. 1950 to 1959 - the end of rationing and economic recovery continues
• Survey of Rights of Way (1950) and Draft Rights of Way Map submitted (1953)
• Welfare of the old and Infirm of the Parish - Link made to the role of the W.I. (1950) & Committee Membership proposed  (1955)
• Lack of Electricity in Lynsted Village - lack of gas, electricity & phones was a recurring theme (1950)
• Problems with Place Name Signs (and speed signs recurred) (1950)
• Lighting extension agreed but delayed 18 months for lack of resources (1952)
• Council Houses opposite “Black Lion” finally agreed (1952)
• Joint Coronation Celebrations agreed with Teynham (1952)
• Scrap Metal Salvage a widespread issue (1952)
• 100 Mothers petition for controlled crossing for Greenstreet (1952)
• Pillar Box for Batteries Terrace (1953)
• Teynham Village Sign obscures Cellar Hill exit onto Greenstreet (1953)
• Death of Mr R.J.Ching marked (1953)
• Bus Services to Villages adverse impact on school children - a recurring theme (1953)
• Bus Shelters sought for Greenstreet - jointly sought with Teynham PC (1954)
• Disrepair of Jubilee Pump Raised (1955)
• Decision to Join Kent Association of Parish Councils (1955)
• Unfenced denehole in Dadmans Shaw (1955) - (ed: a very significant bat roost for Kent bats)
• Church War Memorial Fund Proposed (1955)
• Stedlyn Piggeries smell and flied - a recurrent theme thereafter (1955)
• Greenstreet Air Raid Shelter Hazard - raised regularly as ownership unclear (1955) &
                Owner was eventually found as the estate of Mr A.J.Tidy (1958)
• Requisition of Allotments to create school playing fields (1956)
• Mr.P.Sykes resigns as Clerk to PC (1956)
• Vigo Air-raid Shelter dangers raised again (1956)
• Short notice move of Rev J.D.Reeve affects School Governor replacements (1956)
• David Bage shortlisted (preferred) for Clerk (1956)
• Call from KAPC to Promote Rural Industries in the Parish (1957)
• Civil Defence Planning & Preparedness Presentation (1957)
• Poor Condition of Ludgate Lane (1957)
• Prevention of Village Children Playing on St Peters Place Green (1957)
• Proposed Medway Towns By Pass - supported (1957)
• Mr Waters Elected Chairman of Parish Council (1958)
• Allotments not Paying their Way (1958)
• Mr S.R.Dixon withdraws from PC and Councillor positions (1958)
• PCC presses Parish Council to take over responsibility for Churchyard Extension (1958)
• Public Conveniences in Greenstreet sought (perhaps shared with a pub) (1958)
• Repeated Power Failures in Lynsted Village (1958)
• Mourning the Death of Chairman Mr.F.A.Waters (1959)
• Greenstreet Air Raid Shelter land to be Sold (1959)
• Stedlyn Piggery and Offal creates fly-nuisance (1959)
• Batteries Close Cleanliness issue resolved (1959)
• Best Kept Village Competition - decided to enter (1959) &
             Damning “no community effort” Judgement (1959)
• Welcome Home Committee Meeting discusses Playing Fields jointly with Teynham (1959)
• Poor Condition of Batteries Track revisited (1959)
• Poor Road Surfaces in Greenstreet and Ludgate Lane (1959)
• Petty Vandalism to Lamp Standards (1959)
8. 1960 to 1968 - Cold War, Public Building and the end of the second Minute Book
• Bus Services and School Fare Concessions in dispute - 3-mile limit (1960)
• Black Lion Licensee Changes - Mrs Mary Margaret McLayne to Will Sutton (1960)
• Village need for Sewerage - cess-pit overflow in Ludgate Lane (1960)
• Special Meeting to sign Declaration for Playing Fields (1960)
• King George Jubilee Trust request made - no action by Lynsted PC (1960)
• Lynsted Lane Speeding by Younger drivers between Batteries and Greenstreet (1960)
• Council Houses request outside Toilets - not for PC to take on (1960)
• Civil Defence Officer reminds Lynsted of the need for Wardens, including for women (1960)
• Vandalism of street lights continues in spite of prosecution (1960)
• Cycling on Paths and Parking opposite Lynsted Lane complaint to Police (1961)
• Lighting Improvements sought - Bogle (1961)
• Allotments halved due to lack of interest (1961)
• Greyhound Track and Boarding Kennels under Construction - discussion (& objection) (1961)
       & Planning Approval Extended Five Years (1967)
• Heavy Lorries (Bowaters) using Lynsted Lane (1961)
• Attempt to create Lynsted Playing Field on Allotment land - Grant application rejected (1961)
• Dangerous Telephone Poles - Greenstreet and Lynsted Lane (1961)
• Argument in favour of PC involvement in major planning proposals (1962)
• M2 Construction Lorries using Cellar Hill and Cambridge Lane (1962)
• Greenstreet bottlenecks - proposed restricted parking to one side (1962)
• War Memorial Additional Names to be Added (1962) & Question of PC Contribution Raised (1965)
      & Question raised over inclusion of Rifleman Fisher (1966)
• Greenstreet Garage Emitting Smuts - west end of street (1963) & again (1964)
• Confusing Signpost at Junction of Wood Street and Claxfield pointing to Sittingbourne (1963)
• Government Reorganisation Explained (1963)
• Vigo Terrace problems with Fencing that blocked path access (1963)
• Plans for Public Housing (Eight Houses) in Cellar Hill (1963) & Contract had to be re-let (1964)
       & Building soon followed (1964) & Slowed by shortage of bricks (1964)
• Aymers Development Proposed (including demolition of Aymers itself) (1965)
• Parish Cllr Mr Wilkins in Hospital (1965)
• Fete Success noted - held on School Playing Field (1965)
• Parish Cllr Mr Wyles taken to hospital (1965)
• Bus Services Under Threat (1966)
• Piggery Smell Minuted (1966)
• Father Christmas is Approved by the Council (1966)
• Regular Flooding at Bogle (1967)
• Appreciation of Sergeant Corke (1967)
• Best Kept Village Competition a Cure for “Welfare-Minded” People (1967) &
       Won the Class - Small Village in East Kent (1967)