Since 2008, when Hextable Parish Council was formed, we inherited a lease agreement whereby we had full responsibility to manage the Avenue of Limes. This expired in February this year.
During this period, we met our responsibility to manage this space, which included the grass cutting, but also the responsibility for the routine inspection of the lime trees, including baring the costs for arboricultural interventions such as the removal of dangerous broken or dead branches.
The Parish Council have recently considered an offer from Kent County Council to continue with this lease arrangement for a further seven years, but at an annual cost of £3000 - previously there was no annual charge. Members voted against renewing the lease and taking on an increased liability and significant cost and so currently the responsibility for maintaining this site has returned to Kent County Council.
Despite this current situation, we still have an ambition, and a budget set aside, to install accessible gates to open up the Avenue of limes for all of our residents, by enabling scooters and wheelchair users to use this public thoroughfare. Having already obtained the gates, which are in storage, the Parish Council will need to negotiate with KCC to enable this small project to be progressed.
Cllr Darren Kitchener
HPC Chairman