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It has been drawn to our attention that the horse-chestnut trees in St. Ambrose Green are once again under threat. Those of us who have lived long in the village can remember the small copse in all its glory and the seasonal fall of leaves and conkers – say nothing of the rookery high overhead. When the small cluster of cottages were built considerable tree management was undertaken and, ever since, the essential management of the trees has been undertaken. Thus  in April 1999 the following work was permitted:
99/04000/TP/AS
Works to Horse Chestnut trees:- Tree T2 – Fell to ground level, stump ground out, and replant (with same species). Tree T3 – Crown thin by up 20% to rebalance crown; cut back branches which create a highways obstruction to a suitable pruning point; remove dead, dying, crossing or seriously damaged branches. Tree T4 – Cut back branches which create a highways obstruction to a suitable pruning point. Tree T5 – Remove lowest diseased limb overhanging road back to main stem. Tree T6 – No action at present. Tree T7 – (N.B. NOT covered by TPO, but within Conservation Area). No action at present.
Then, in January 2000 a variation on the above order was passed:
99/04040/TP/AS
Application to vary condition of decision notices TP/99/04000/AS dated 8 April 1999. Proposal to replace T2 (Horse Chestnut) with Silver Lime (Tilia tomentosa “Petiolaris”)

Now two applications have been registered
08/00103/AS/TP
Registered     24 Jul 2008     N/A     Land at, St Ambrose Green, Wye, Kent
To fell one horse chestnut (T3); to reduce crown spread by 20% and lateral growth by up to 30% one horse chestnut (T5)
08/00104/AS/TC
Registered     24 Jul 2008     N/A     Land at, St Ambrose Green, Wye, Kent
To reduce lateral growth by up to 30% and remove basal suckers one x horse chestnut (T7); to reduce crown height and spread by up to 25% three x birch trees (G1); and to reduce crown height and spread by up to 25% two x beech trees (G2)

Some residents may have views about trees being felled in conservation area. Please enter a debate on wyeweb or present your views to the Parish Council

The seat pictured is positioned at the top of Occupation Road. Here the weary walker can rest a while and look down upon the field of poppies below. A very appropriate flower considering the seat is commemorated to those that gave their lives in the Second World War.

The seat, an older model compared with the others we have in our village has a charm of its own. It is positioned on the bank at the side of the top road looking down on Wye and across to the North Downs towards Challock.

I have met and conversed with many a walker grateful for somewhere to perch and rest a while taking in the beautiful view.

A few years ago this dear little seat fell into disrepair leaving it looking sad and neglected. With a donation from a member of the public, Parish Councilor Brian Roberts and his son generously gave the commemoration seat the makeover it deserved and again it became something we as a village could be proud of.

Unfortunately the seat again looks very much in need of some TLC.
This includes one of the struts which is missing.
It is part of the fabric of our village and all these little touches enhance our village and surrounding areas.

Its things like this that come under the umbrella of our Parish Council thankfully and become one of the tasks they undertake to keep in good order on our behalf. I will be bringing the state of this commemorative seat to their attention and like wise if anyone notices anything broken or needing repair they should report it to the Parish Clerk. After all it’s no good us grumbling about things if the Parish Council do not know about them. We can’t expect them to be forever out and about inspecting things; we have to do our bit too.

The Parish Clerk has been able to place the two legal notices for the replacement of the three parish councillors who resigned earlier in July.

The notices issued by Mr David Hill, the Returning Officer of ABC, were respectively issued on July 14th 2008 (for the vacancies left by the resignation of Mr Peter Sutherland, Parish Council Chairman, and Mr John Morris, Parish Council Vice Chairman) and July 24th 2008 (for the vacancy left by the resignation of Dr. Errol F I Roberts). The notice points out the possibility for ten electors of the parish to call for an election in both cases. The latest that the election can take place for the first two resignation vacancies is October 2nd 2008 and for the third vacancy it is October 16th 2008.

At least one request for an election, delivered in person, has already been submitted to the Returning Officer. It is understood that Mr Graham Saxby is showing his well-known loyalty to the community by seeking nomination. It is expected that should an election be necessary (that is if more than three candidates are nominated) it will be for all three seats.

Wyeweb urges as many candidates as possible to seek election and will support those who wish to devote themselves to the betterment of the community. In the circumstances of three recent resignations wyeweb editors recognise that many potential candidates will find it difficult to summon up the will to stand. However, it is even more essential that the voices of reason, care and concern be heard from our community.

Once more wyeweb would like to thank the Parish Clerk, Dr. Jenny Oram, for posting the notices despite her sickness.

Several commentators have remarked that they have neither received emails nor replies to telephone messages to the Clerk, Mrs Jenny Oram. This is understandable because the Clerk has been on sick leave. Originally the Parish Council expected her to be on sick leave for a fortnight but since the last Parish Council she has been able to do some thirty minutes work a day with the help of others. We all know that the Clerk puts in a great deal of effort on behalf of the parish so we must bide our time and wish her a full recovery. It is true that she has been seen in the village putting up notices, again we thank her and wish her well. Finally we trust that the most recent news that she has suffered an accident that might delay her return is only a rumour and, to paraphrase Mark Twain the news is much exaggerated.