Kent Association of Local Councils Community Awards Scheme 2024

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Terry Lewis is this year's very worthy winner of the Kent Association of Local Councils Community Awards Scheme 2024 in the community of Upchurch.

Parish Council Chairman Tyrone Ripley presented Terry's award to his wife Jill at this year's Upchurch Annual Parish Meeting held in the village hall on Thursday the 11th of April 2024.

The Lewis family moved to Crosier Court, Upchurch, in 1976, and the couple were together there until Terry sadly passed away in January of this year. They have a son, Garry, and a daughter, Anita.

The Kent Association of Local Councils (KALC) Community Award acknowledges and recognises a resident or group that has made a significant contribution to their local community over a period of years.

This year is the first time the award has been presented posthumously.

Jill was joined for the presentation by grandson Owen and granddaughter-in-law Megan.

Terry's certificate reads:

This certificate is presented to

Terry Lewis

In the Community of: Upchurch

For his dedication to helping the people of Upchurch's numerous village groups and activities with enthusiasm and a smile. Terry was part of village life and will be greatly missed.

Thank you, Terry, for everything you did for our village 👏🏼

Upchurch Matters

Update from Swale Borough Council Regarding Household Waste and Recycling Collections

Upchurch Parish Council has been in contact with Swale Borough Council, asking why their household waste and recycling collection service has not been adequate since the new contractor took over.

Upchurch residents are understandably frustrated and would like an update and an explanation of how Swale will remedy the situation.

Please see their response below:

“Good afternoon,

We have had an uncertain start to the contract however feeling a little more positive this week.

Suez has 4 new drivers starting Thursday and 6 crews working over this weekend to catch up with outstanding bins.

Please help us to spread the message to all the residents affected by missed collections in your ward to continue to leave their wheelie bins and/or food waste caddies out for collection.

We apologise for the inconvenience with the delay in collections. We understand how frustrating this has been. We continue to work hard daily with Suez to resolve the issues.

Kind Regards

Contracts and Resources

Swale Borough Council”

For more information about issues with the new waste contract, visit: www.swale.gov.uk/news-and-your-council/news-and-campaigns/latest-news/waste-service-issues

Nina Henley

Clerk and Proper Officer to Upchurch Parish Council

Tel: 07798 600696

Email: clerk@upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk

Website: www.upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk

Upchurch Annual Parish Meeting

This year's Annual Parish meeting is on Thursday the 11th of April 2024, at 7:30pm in Upchurch Village Hall.

The meeting is an opportunity for residents to learn about local groups and activities in the Village.

If you would like to speak or read out a report, please contact the Clerk.

If you are unable to attend but would like a report read out on your behalf, please send it to the Clerk no later than the 9th of April 2024.

We hope you can all attend and look forward to seeing you in April.

Nina Henley

Clerk and Proper Officer to Upchurch Parish Council

Tel: 07798 600696

Email: clerk@upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk

Website: www.upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk

The Church Clock

There is currently a mechanical problem with the motor on the Church Clock, which means there are no chimes.

Upchurch Parish Council is aware and has called the engineer to resolve the fault ASAP so the village will hear the chimes again in due course.

Upchurch Parish Council

Kent Association of Local Councils - Community Awards Scheme 2024

Calling all Upchurch Parish Residents.

Upchurch Parish Council will once again be presenting an award to a resident or group that has made a difference to the village.

The Kent Association of Local Councils (KALC) Community Award acknowledges and recognises a resident or group that has made a significant contribution to their local community over a period of years.

If you know of someone who has given this kind of service and merits an award, please nominate them.

The person must live or work within the Upchurch Parish Council boundary. Parish residents can make just one nomination, but all adult family members may submit a nomination form.

The nomination form below can be downloaded and printed or requested from the Clerk at: clerk@upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk or by telephone: 07798 600696.

Tap and hold or right-click on the nomination form above to download and print it.

The winner will receive a certificate signed by the Chairman of Kent County Council and the KALC Chairman.

The Upchurch Parish Council Chairman will present the award at the Annual Parish Meeting on Thursday the 11th of April 2024.

Please send your completed nomination forms in a sealed envelope to:

Nina Henley

Clerk and Proper Officer

2 Alfriston Grove

Kings Hill

West Malling

ME19 4SR

The closing date for receiving nomination forms is Wednesday the 31st of January 2024.

The previous winners of the KALC Award in Upchurch are:

Pat New in 2017

Tracey Snellings in 2018

Ray Kemsley in 2019

No award given in 2020

Cia Merrall in 2021

John Arnold in 2022

Gerry Lewin in 2023

Upchurch Matters

Christmas Market with Santa at Upchurch Village Hall

Christmas Market with Santa at Upchurch Village Hall

Saturday the 9th of December

From 11:00am until 4:30pm

The Christmas Market, organised by the Village Hall Management Committee, is a fundraising event for the St Mary’s Church Bell Tower Restoration Fund.

Tea, coffee, soft drinks and cakes will be provided inside the hall by Upchurch WI, with burgers and wraps available from Butlers Butties van outside. Both are donating from their profits to the Bell Tower Restoration Fund.

Thanks to Upchurch Parish Council, Santa, in his sleigh with giant reindeer and elves, will be visiting the children at the Village Hall from 12:00pm until 2:30pm.

Last year's Christmas Market was a big success!

Don't miss this excellent village event this year.

Upchurch Matters

Please Clean Up After Your Dog!

The age-old nuisance of dog fouling around the village has been raised with the parish council by residents angry at irresponsible dog owners for not cleaning up after their pets.

Dog waste poses a significant health risk to humans, particularly young children, as their immune systems are not fully developed.

Children are also more likely to come into contact with soil or sand that contains dog waste whilst playing in parks, gardens and playgrounds.

All waste contains bacteria that can cause stomach upsets, but the greatest risk is from Toxocariasis, which can pass from dog waste to humans through contaminated soil or sand. Children are at particular risk. It is rare, but it can sometimes cause serious health problems and even blindness.

Would you really want that on your conscience?

It is an offence to allow a dog under your control to foul a public place, and Swale Borough Council has the power to fine dog owners who do not clean up after their dogs.

You can receive an on-the-spot fine (FPN) of up to £100 if you do not clean up after your dog. 

If you refuse to pay the fine, you could be taken to court and fined up to £1000.

You can report dog fouling to Swale Borough Council at: https://bit.ly/2VA0csW

There really is no excuse for not cleaning up after your dog.

The parish council has provided litter & dog waste bins at locations around the village where owners can dispose of bagged dog waste, as well as TiksPac dispensers at the Recreation Ground and near the Paddock in Chaffes Lane.

Please bag your dog waste and put it in any public litter bin or take it home to your household green wheelie bin.

Allowing your dog to foul in a public place and not clean it up is antisocial and totally unacceptable to all residents.

Please leave our village spaces clean, tidy and safe for others to enjoy.

Thank you

Upchurch Matters

Upchurch Poppy Appeal and Remembrance Sunday Service 2023

Upchurch Poppy Appeal

A team of local volunteers will again be making the annual house-to-house collections in Upchurch between Saturday the 28th of October, and Saturday the 11th of November.

Upchurch Parish Council has displayed poppies on lampposts throughout the village. The knitting group has added poppy crosses and wreaths to the church and post office railings. Two Tommy silhouettes are standing guard in the churchyard with heads bowed on either side of a beautiful display of flowing red poppies with some purple poppies amongst them to remember the animal victims of war. A post box topper is in place again outside the post office. These will remain on display throughout Remembrance Tide.

Remembrance Sunday Parade to the Church

The Remembrance Sunday Service begins at 10:15am on the 12th of November in the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Upchurch.

The young people of the uniformed sections and their leaders will make their yearly parade from the Scout HQ on the Recreation Ground in Oak Lane to the church.

Leaving at 9:30am, they will march (accompanied by marshals) along Oak Lane and return at 11:30am.

Oficial KCC road closures and restrictions on driving will be in place this year during both the parades to and from the church. Further details are at: https://tinyurl.com/3ccuhfa6

Please be patient during this time.

If you need to drive through the village centre during the parades, please consider using Church Farm Road and Chaffes Lane instead.

Thank you

Wreaths will be laid at the internal war memorial in the Lady Chapel on behalf of the Church, Swale Borough Council, Ferques (our twin village in France), Upchurch Parish Council, Upchurch Scouts, Upchurch Guides and Upchurch Brownies.

After the service, crosses will be laid at the five Commonwealth War Graves Commission graves in the churchyard.

A wreath on behalf of all Upchurch residents from the Parish Council has been sent to Ferques for laying at their ceremony on Saturday the 11th of November.

“WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”

Thanks to Hon. Alderman Gerry Lewin - Poppy Appeal Organiser, for the information.

Telephone: 01634 366113 - 07946 996789 Email: lewing135@btinternet.com

Upchurch Matters

Important Public Consultation - Have Your Say on the Upchurch Highways Improvement Plan

Click the map to enlarge.

Dear Upchurch Residents,

We are writing to invite you to participate in a crucial decision-making process that will directly impact our community - the improvement of our local highways.

The Parish Council would like to invite you to participate in a public consultation and help the council to make informed decisions that align with the needs and preferences of the community.

Background:

KCC Highways has committed to look at one project for improvement from each parish per year.

We have a number of options UPC are considering.

The Parish Council has narrowed the options to just 3:

Option 1

Progressing the already approved plan for the narrowing of Oak Lane and giving priority to vehicles coming out of the village, north of the junction with Wallbridge Lane.

Option 2

Horsham Lane junction with The Street.

Option 3

Forge Lane junction with Holywell Lane.

Objectives of the Consultation:

To gather input from residents on what you feel in the most important highways issue that needs addressing.

This allows residents to have your say in the areas we request KCC to prioritise on your behalf.

Please let us know your top 2 priorities of the 3 options.

How You Can Participate

We value your input and encourage you to participate in this consultation.

There are several ways you can get involved:

• Using the Upchurch Parish Council website, contact the council, with your choice.

• Send your decision via email to: clerk@upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk

• Write to the clerk at: 2 Alfriston Grove, West Malling ME19 4SR

• Attend our next Parish Council meeting on Thursday, November 2nd, held at Upchurch Village

   Hall at 19:30pm

Timeline:

Consultation Period: 11-10-23 - 05-11-23

Next Steps:

Once the Parish Council has analysed all the feedback, we will work closely with KCC Highways to develop a plan for the future of our roads. We will ensure transparency throughout the process and keep you informed about any developments or decisions.

Thank you for your participation.

Nina Henley
Clerk and Proper Officer to Upchurch Parish Council

New Homes in The Paddock for Birds, Bugs and Bats

When Cllr Pan Denny met children from Holywell School last year, they gave her plenty of good ideas for the new woodland trail in the Paddock, including a wooden trim trail and boxes to encourage more wildlife to take up residence in the area.

Upchurch Parish Council installed the trim trail balance equipment the children requested in December 2022, funded by a collective grant from Queenborough Fishery Trust and Swale Borough Council.

And more recently, bat boxes were hung high from the large trees around the perimeter of the Paddock, adding to the bird boxes and bug hotels that have already been fitted in the wooded area.

The new boxes will hopefully encourage children to use this area to play and explore more, which will be educational.

Thanks to Phil Newbery for building the boxes for the parish council and to Les Oxley for climbing high to fit the bat boxes.

We are fortunate to have the Paddock as a lovely green space in the heart of our village, so why not take the children to go and explore there during the school summer holiday?

Please supervise them while they play safely and ask them not to disturb the birds, the bugs and the bats - Thank you.

Upchurch Matters

Christmas Market at Upchurch Village Hall - Stall Holders Wanted

The Christmas Market at Upchurch Village Hall was very well supported and enjoyed by all last year.

The market was a fundraising event for the St Mary’s Church Bell Tower Restoration Fund with refreshments provided by Upchurch WI, and it raised a fantastic amount of £602 on the day!

The village children were very excited to meet Santa in his sleigh with giant reindeer, and the good news is that he will be returning this year to see if they have all been good again, courtesy of Upchurch Parish Council.

If you would like a stall this year, register your interest at: upchurchvillagehall@yahoo.com

Thank you 

Upchurch Matters

Upchurch Parish Council Report - June 2023

Report of the Parish Council June 2023

Planning

I. 23/502292/FULL Yentik Poot Lane. Demolition of existing garage and erection of annexe.

UPC has no objections but ask for neighbour’s comments to be taken into consideration.

II. 23/502249/FULL 1 Webb Cottages, Poot Lane Garage conversion to habitable room.

UPC has no objections but ask for neighbour’s comments to be taken into consideration.

III. 23/501613/FULL Land to east of Orchard House London Road Erection of 1 3 bed dwelling.

UPC has no objections but ask for neighbour’s comments to be taken into consideration.

IV. 23/502056/OUT land next to 113 Chaffes Lane outline application for 4 detached and 4 semi-detached dwellings.

It was noted that on the planning portal, there were 11 resident’s comments 4 in support and 7 against. Following comments on social media Cllr Rosewell urged residents to put their comments on the SBC planning portal https://swale.gov.uk/planning-and-regeneration/find-a-planning-application

Cllr Lewin prepared a proposed response to the application.

Upchurch Parish Council Reporting

I. General Purpose and Planning Committee

Next meeting 14th June 2023 will be cancelled due to the Chair and Clerk being unavailable.

II. Paddock and Recreation Ground

(a) Email from Park Regis FC requesting use of the Recreation Ground.

Concerns regarding the timetable as UPC has agreed to Upchurch Colts use of the ground. It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr Ripley to refuse this application.

Unanimous.

(b) Woodland Trail - Bat Boxes.

It was reported approved contractor for fitting Bat Boxes was on holiday date for fitting to be confirmed.

(c) Repairs to the car park/scout hut access road.

Clerk reported that she contacted landowner and UPC can go ahead with repairs. One quote has been received Clerk to obtain 2 more.

III. Burial Ground and Churchyard

(a) Cllr Denny reported the Burial Ground not been cut and looked untidy.

Clerk has reported this to contractor has confirmed this is due to be actioned next week. Clerk reported a timetable of works had been requested so residents are aware of when work will be completed.

Noted.

IV. Highways and Street Lighting

(a) Cllr Horton reported meeting with KCC 5th June 2023 to discuss Highways Plan.

(b) EDF it was reported that the situation regarding the billing had been resolved and that now the electricity usage had been rebilled. UPC has a large credit on the account. The project is now completed for the residents.

Noted.

V. Footpaths

(a) Cllr Denny reported path ZR12 overgrown.

Clerk reported to PRoW.

(b) Cllr Rosewell reported that he had been contacted regarding the footpath between Otterham Quay Lane to Tranquillity overgrown vegetation.

Clerk to report.

(c) Cllr Sheppard reported the bus stop at Wallbridge Lane overgrown.

Clerk to report.

VI. Environment

(a) Planters / Barrier Baskets.

Clerk reported the flowers will be planted in the next two weeks.

VII. Village Hall - No Updates

VIII. KALC

(a) Request to complete membership survey.

Clerk reported this was completed.

(b) Request for representatives to Swale Area Committee.

No UPC members available.

IX. Allotments

(a) Clerk reported that two plots had been allocated to new plot holders.

Clerk to go to waiting list for possible 2 further new plots.

(b) Repairs to fence.

Clerk reported waiting for 2 more quotes, one received.

Update at next meeting.

X. Village Defibrillators

Cllr Sheppard will present report on options for Defib upgrades at next meeting.

Finance Reporting

I. Financial review - bank statement and reconciliation were received signed by Cllr Lewin.

Noted.

II. Cheques received - £325.00 burial.

Noted.

III. Cheques for approval litter picker: £32.70.

Noted.

IV. Schedule of payments for approval:

All Payments agreed.

Proposed by Cllr Horton seconded by Cllr Lewin.

Members resolved to approve the schedule of payments.

Annual Return

It was resolved to approve the dates for the exercise of public rights. 

Monday 12th June - Friday 21st July 2023.

Proposed by Cllr Horton Seconded Cllr Lewin.

Unanimous.

Clerk Updates

I. Upchurch policies and documentation.

Clerk reported all documents approved at Annual Meeting updated on website.

Noted.

II. Update on grant application.

Clerk reported decision date 14th June 2023.

Items to be considered for inclusion on the next Full Council agenda

Cllr Boakes Defib Fundraising.

Quarterly Budget Figures.

Update on Highways Improvement Plan.

Cllr Sheppard Defib Report.

Annual Clock Maintenance.

Members resolved to approve the dates of the next meetings.

Nina Henley

Clerk and Proper Officer to Upchurch Parish Council
Tel: 07798 600696
Email: clerk@upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk
Website: www.upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk