About the Society
The Valley Conservation society exists to
"Protect and enhance the valleys of South Maidstone for the benefit of residents, wildlife and visitors".
Founded in July 2000, the Society was formed initially by residents of the Lower Loose Valley in Tovil, near Maidstone, Kent, but has since grown to encompass members in Loose, Boughton Monchelsea, Coxheath and much wider a-field.
Today it has well over 450 paid-up members.
The Society is run by an Executive Committee of up to 12 members, who are elected at the Society’s annual meeting in January. They serve for a one-year term.
The Executive Committee can appoint sub-committees to address specific items, and may invite ordinary members to sit on these.
There are currently sub-committees for
Development Control (planning)
Traffic-Calming
Green Appraisal
In addition, there are regular working parties, organised by the chairman, where volunteers undertake practical conservation work in the Loose Valley and the surrounding footpath network.
The Society sends delegates to meetings of the Loose Valley Conservation Area Management Partnership (LVCAP). The principal aim of the Partnership currently is to prepare a Character Assessment for the Loose Valley Conservation Area, which could be adopted as supplementary planning guidance by the local planning authority, Maidstone Borough Council.
One means of protecting the Conservation Area is to promote the local sense of community and "ownership" of the Valley. To this end, the Society holds a number of social events throughout the year. Some are fund-raisers for the Society; others – such as the annual children’s show – are a means to support local schools and youth groups.
The Society is financed mainly by donations from members.
The Society aims to protect the Valley from unwelcome development by purchasing any open land that may become available. The Society has formed a company limited by guarantee for this purpose – Valley Conservation Limited. The executive committee members of the Society are also the directors of the company. There are no shareholders, no dividends are paid and there are no re-numerations paid to any directors. A Company Limited by Guarantee is a status similar to being a charity.
The Society aims to be inclusive. All meetings are open to any member to attend, and indeed members are positively encouraged to come along.
Proper minutes of all meetings are kept and can be viewed through arrangement with the Secretary.
A copy of the constitution is available - free to members, price £1 to non-members. Again, contact the Secretary.
The Society’s audited accounts are presented each year to members at the annual meeting.
Members of the Committee are:
| Chairman: Bryn Cornwell | 01622 746514 | ||||||||||||||||
| Vice chairman: Jane Holman | |||||||||||||||||
| Treasurer Tony Day | |||||||||||||||||
| Secretary: David Fleck | |||||||||||||||||
| Membership Colin Holman | |||||||||||||||||
| Minutes Sec Maggie Davis | |||||||||||||||||
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