Mike Sole Reporting Back: August 2026

August is always a quiet month with very few council meetings, although I did attend the only parish council meeting that took place, Womenswold. I’ve certainly enjoyed meeting lots of people at many different community events in the month.

With the schools now returning it can be a stressful time for those starting new schools, and it is never helped by issues around school transport, particularly bus capacity. Please let me know about any issues and I will work with KCC and Stagecoach to get things resolved. I also continue to work with families on KCC transport appeals.

I continue to discuss planning enforcement issues in Barham with the City Council and update residents when I can, with information that I am able to share.

It can often take a long time for 20mph limits to be agreed and installed. I was very surprised to learn from KCC that a 20mph limit was agreed in the Homersham area of Wincheap when the houses were completed 22 years ago, but despite all the required legal orders being made, there was an oversight and the signs were never installed! This will now be rectified. Better late than never.

The junction of Rose Lane, Bishopbourne, with Bonny Bush Hill has very poor visibility, but thanks to the landowner and parish council, it has been significantly improved with the cutting back of vegetation. KCC have agreed to improve things further with SLOW painted on the road near the junction. National Highways have also confirmed that the missing NO ENTRY signs will be replaced soon at the end of the slip road opposite.

I’m pleased that KCC have performed a u-turn when it comes to repairing the kerb stones and white lines alongside the Little Stour in Nargate Street between Littlebourne & Wickhambreaux. They had initially refused to take action, but after I asked that they reconsider, they visited and have agreed that the work is safety critical and will be done once they have permission from the Environment Agency to work near the river.

Cllr Lee Castle and I are holding a surgery at the Ivy Barn, Littlebourne 10:00 – 11:30 on Thursday 3^rd September. 

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