Longfield Parish Council Minutes - Hartley-Kent: The Website for Hartley

PC to write again to Mr Hill, General Manager of SE & Chatham Railway, to ask for a bridge at the station.

PC agrees to write to Post Office about the telephone service.  What is proposed, how much will it cost?  They also want to raise the issue of a telegraph pole erected at a dangerous spot on Pescot Hill (Main Road, near Langafel School).  

The meeting of 31 July 1905 reports the GPO's reply but gives no further details.

Railway Bridge - Mr Vincent Hill of SE&CR has submitted plans for a bridge and necessary footpath diversion on the southern side of the railway.  They would need an undertaking from the PC to pay half the annual cost of repair, estimated at £6.5.0.  PC agreed to this, and will also write the the affected landowner Thomas Morton, to ask for diversion of the footpath and for a small piece of land for the bridge.

Letter to Kent and Essex Land Company to see if they will make up Essex Road.

PC agreed speed limit should be 10mph in Longfield - less in special circumstances.

"Telephone facilities - letters were read from the Postmaster General and from Mr Durling of Meopham in reference to providing call offices at Longfield and Meopham, and requiring a guarantee for 7 years.  The clerk reported that Mr T F Cowlrick had been moving in the matter and had obtained the names of one dozen or so gentlemen who were prepared to guarantee the sum required, and he also reported that the Meopham quota was already guaranteed.  Mr Lynds moved that the parish would be ready to assist in any way possible in facilitating the provision of telephone communication.  Mr Gilham seconded.  Carried."

"Certain correspondence relating to telephone facilities which had been received from Mr Cowlrick was read.  Mr Gilham moved that that PC are quite agreeable for the 5 gentlemen suggested by Mr Cowlrick to guarantee, but they think that as Mr Cowlrick has started the negotiations he should carry them through.  Mr Lechford seconded.  Carried."

Mr Lynds reported that negotiations were in progress with regard to the provision of telephone facilities, and that he hoped the matter would be settled shortly, and that the sum named by the Postal authorities would be guaranteed privately.

Complaint regarding carding of manure containing dead fish and animals at the station.

PC agrees to ask for a stile at the level crossing in Hartley near Longfield School (presumably Gorsewood Road, as original school was opposite where Langafel school is today)

Proposed change in Post Office opening hours agreed to, but the PC hoped evening delivery would be granted in return.

Essex Road - frontagers to be approached about making it up.

Lighting - PC agreed to refer issue of public lighting to the annual parish meeting.

Complaint to the Post Office for cancelling permission for people to collect their letters in the evening from the PO.

Correspondence with Darenth Parish Council about tarring the road to Green Street Green.

The noticeboard at Kent House reported to be in need of painting.

Following a letter from Northfleet Urban District Council and newspaper report, PC agree to support their efforts to get a railcar service from Pinden Junction to Gravesend with halts at Dover Road, Northfleet and Longfield.

A letter in the local press claimed the Longfield Fire Brigade had taken 40 minutes to get to a fire at the station.  Vice captain Harris said when interviewed by council that they had got the call at 5.15pm and were there in 10 minutes or so.  PC decide to investigate issues regarding equipment.

Pickers' huts at Whitehill and their inhabitants said to be "undesirable".  Clerk to write to SE&Chatham Railway to say they are "no asset" to the new Longfield Halt adjoining.

Essex Road has just been made up, Mr Lynds said the contract was for 13 inches of stones, but on being opened it was on average only 8 inches deep.  He said the frontagers do not like being robbed.

The question of the provision of a sub-Post Office at Longfield Hill to be raised again.

Complaint of acid smoke from factory at Longfield Hill.

Complaints of trespass and theft from allotments.  No trespassing signs to be erected.

Detailed inventory of the equipment of the Longfield Fire Brigade.

Schemes for improving access to the station from Hartley.  Dartford RDC propose a road from Hartley Road to the Station by Elm Terrace.  Mr Wright opposed this, saying it would create a blind corner, he preferred old scheme via Mr Hohler's orchard.

Council housing - following Hartley's objection to the Hoselands Hill site, Longfield PC suggest a site near the Longfield burial ground.

Request by Central Electricity Generating Board for wayleave for pylon at White Hill to be completed by next October.  Agreed.

Following complaints, Post Office say deliveries at Longfield Hill should be by 8.30am.  Longfield PC thought reality was more like 9am.

West Kent Electric Company say it is unlikely they could "tap into" the HV cables being erected in Longfield.

CEGB about to start work at Whitehill as part of South East England Electricity Scheme.

Kent Electric Power Company plan overland electric line from Meopham to Longfield.  A wayleave is needed at Longfield Hill therefore.  Longfield PC is confused as West Kent Electric Company had promised this line for 3-4 years - are the companies the same?  They were told power would be available in Longfield by June/July 1931 if all goes to plan.  Wayleave agreed.

Station Road to be made up, construction of link to Hartley Road started.

Longfield PC want the council housing under construction to be given first to people from Longfield.

Kent Electric Power Company to begin work on Meopham to Longfield line on 27 May 1931.

Dangerous level crossing west of Longfield Station.  Longfield PC want a footbridge.  They will consult Dartford RDC.

Damage caused by wild rabbits with burrows on railway property.  Company has done nothing.

Darenth PC wrote to say some opposition locally to Mr Holland's reapplication for licence to run buses between Ash and Dartford.  They and Longfield PC write to support him.  This has since been granted.  The Enterprize Bus was being opposed by Southern Railway and Maidstone and District Bus Co.  Longfield PC wrote to support owner.

Special parish meeting on street lighting.  Expenditure of up to £50 for their provision in coming year agreed by 10 votes to 4.  8 lighting columns are planned at (1) Martins Bank (library); (2) Corner Kent Road/Station Road; (3) Corner Essex Road/Station Road; (4) Corner Hartley Road/Station Road; (5) Service garage at Cross Roads; (6) Parish Church; (7) White Hill Cross Roads; (8) Between Railway Tavern and Whitehill Crossroads.  Cost for 500 candle power column is £8 each.  Annual running cost if on until midnight £3.1.0, if on until sunrise £5.12.6 (appears this is half the cost that the PC would have to pay).  Once the capital cost paid off, the annual maintenance cost will be £3.1.0.

Southern Railway don't want to change Fawkham Station name, as to call it Longfield might invite confusion with Longfield Halt, and Mr Hohler contributed to the cost when the station was built.

Letter from Head Postmaster at Dartford to say a sub post office will be established at Longfield Hill.

Stamp vending machines erected outside Longfield Post Office at the request of Longfield PC.

Call for phone kiosk outside Longfield Hill Post Office.  Current location inside causes problems when PO closed, eg. doctor had to be sent for by road in the middle of the night.

Letter to be written to GPO asking when kiosk will be placed outside Longfield Hill Post Office.

Longfield Parish Council agree in principle to Dartford RDC proposals to alter boundary with Hartley.

British Rail promise to look into providing a station car park.