Tracey Snellings - School Office Administrator
Holywell Primary School
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Tuesday, 26 June 2018
Saturday, 23 June 2018
Temporary Road Closure - Wetham Green, Upchurch
An off-peak closure of Wetham Green, Upchurch is planned for Tuesday 17th July 2018 for up to 1 day, between 9:30am and approximately 3:30pm.
There is a chance that the works may over-run for such reasons as adverse weather conditions or unforeseen engineering difficulties.
The Kent County Council Highway Helpline phone number is: 03000 418181
For details of roadworks, please see: www.roadworks.org
Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
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Friday, 22 June 2018
202 New Homes Planned for Lower Rainham Road, Rainham
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Click plan to enlarge. |
202 new homes are planned for Woolley's Orchard - the former Boot Fair field on the Lower Rainham Road, Rainham.
Land owners Peel Investments North Limited have now submitted outline planning application: MC/18/1796 (all matters reserved except access) for the development of up to 202 residential dwellings (Use Class C3), open space, landscaping (including Sustainable Urban Drainage), access, up to 455 car parking spaces and associated works. Land South of Lower Rainham Road, Rainham, Gillingham Medway ME8 7UD.
The plans can be viewed online at: https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=PA9OKKKNGPI00
If you have any comments on this application they should be made in writing and reach Medway Council by 12th July 2018 (remember to include the planning application number).
There are a number of ways you can send your comments.
You can either:
• Submit your comments online at: https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications
• Send a letter to: Medway Council Planning Service, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham,
Kent ME4 4TR
Kent ME4 4TR
• Or Email: planning.representations@medway.gov.uk
Upchurch Matters
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Thursday, 21 June 2018
Upchurch Horticultural Society - Early Summer Show
Sponsored by: Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd
Early Summer Show of Flowers, Fruit and Vegetables
Saturday 14th July 2018 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm
in the Barn to the rear of 97 Chaffes Lane, Upchurch
Please come along and see the results of our hard work!
If you would like to see details of the classes that you can enter, please look on Upchurch Matters at the link >> here
We look forward to seeing you.
If you would like any further information about our Society, please contact Rosey on: 01634 377812 or Email: rosemary@ringwoodaccounting.co.uk
Rosemary Ringwood
Steve Laming
Upchurch Horticultural Society
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Upchurch Horticultural Society - Early Summer Show - Sections and Classes
Sponsored by Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd
Rosemary Ringwood
Steve Laming
Upchurch Horticultural Society
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Wednesday, 20 June 2018
Thank You from the Village Hall Management Committee
Sandy Tutt - Upchurch Village Hall Management Committee
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Monday, 18 June 2018
Thank You from the Village Fete Committee
Where do we start with the thanking everyone who helped make this year’s fete such a success?
We had a lovely day and I think all those that attended enjoyed themselves. The sun was out, but not too hot and many people either popped in for a quick wander round or stayed with us all day to enjoy the fabulous entertainment. All the stalls were raising money for our local community with the commercial ones (ice creams, bar and bouncy castles) all donating out of their takings for the day.
Our entertainment was provided by Holywell School’s choir; The Rock Choir; local theatrical group Upchurch Players, children’s entertainer The Jester; Ralph Liddell & barn dancing; The Syncopators Jazz Band; and Upchurch Brownies dancing the maypole.
We wanted to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War 1 and remember the locals who gave up their lives serving their country. A special thank you goes to Paul and Megan Boakes for the beautiful wooden poppies they made for us as well as framing the various posters we had for the day. They also lent us the memorial made for the village sign, displaying one poppy for everyone who lost their life. St. Mary’s Bell Ringers helped mark this event with their playing as we closed, Frank Osborne read a remembrance poem and Alan Vardy closed the day with The Last Post. Gerry Lewin has expressed his thanks for the generosity of people donating to the Royal British Legion.
We hope the stalls all had a successful day, it is lovely to see the support everyone gives to their fund raising activities and how much the day unites the village.
As with every year we’ve done this, the event is non-profit making for the committee and we therefore cannot hold the event without the financial support we receive from local businesses. We thank the following for all their help:
· Kent Trade Frames, Upchurch River Valley Golf Course, Gransden Construction Ltd, ATS Resurfacing Specialists, Kinloch & Sons, Hidsons Group Ltd, Ward Cllr Gerry Lewin, Ward Cllr John Wright and Upchurch Parish Council for their financial support.
· Kent Trade Frames, Upchurch River Valley Golf Course, Gransden Construction Ltd, ATS Resurfacing Specialists, Kinloch & Sons, Hidsons Group Ltd, Ward Cllr Gerry Lewin, Ward Cllr John Wright and Upchurch Parish Council for their financial support.
· Hidsons Group Ltd and The BarnYard for their donation of prizes.
· Jascom Electrical Contractors Ltd, Countrystyle, First Highways, M J Warner Landscaping, Upchurch Matters, Gabriel, Upchurch Cricket Club and Peter Boakes for the donation of various services.
· Upchurch Scouts for overseeing the parking on the Recreation Ground.
· Dave Neale & Alex Dollimore for providing the sound system and hosting the event to make sure we stay on track!
· The committee’s ‘other halves’ for their support and assistance on the day!
You may have heard that the committee is standing down this year to make room for some new blood and fresh ideas and we have had a few people express an interest in taking it on. We will work with them to secure the future of the fete as, from the feedback we receive, it is becoming a well loved annual event!
A big thank you goes to everyone that came along to support us, and more importantly the stalls and fund raisers.
Vehicle Stolen, Newington - Cigarettes and CD Stolen, Upchurch
Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward
Crime Number: XY/036452/18
Between Friday the 15th and Saturday the 16th of June, a black Renault Megane, Reg Number: starting with MK08 *** was stolen from High Street, Newington while its owner was visiting the Bull Public House.
Crime Number: XY/036705/18
At 3:51am Sunday the 17th of June, a half empty packet of cigarettes was stolen from a vehicle parked in Chaffes Lane, Upchurch.
Crime Number: XY/036717/18
Between Saturday the 16th and Sunday the 17th of June, a CD was stolen from a vehicle parked overnight in The Street, Upchurch.
If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.
For more information on crime prevention visit: www.kent.police.uk
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Entertainment at Newington Festival 2018
Newington Festival
Email: sepr@hotmail.co.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/Newington.Fete.and.Festival
Twitter: twitter.com/NewingtonFest
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At Risk of Going Missing Form
Helping emergency services find missing vulnerable people FAST
Every year, Kent Police receives approximately 10,000 missing person reports and an increasing number of these are for people living with dementia.
Issued jointly by Kent Police, Kent Search and Rescue and National Police Air Service, the ‘At Risk of Going Missing’ form provides quick, detailed information about a person’s background and history to help police to identify priority areas to search, often speeding up the time taken to find them, particularly if the person is living with dementia.
The form, which is handed out by all agencies, allows police, Kent Search and Rescue and Kent Fire and Rescue Service to gather as much useful information as possible. It gives an indication of someone’s mobility, preferred mode of travelling, routes frequented, general health issues and significant places they are likely to gravitate towards. The form enables all this information to be documented in advance.
Completed forms are kept in a safe place by families or carers so they can be found quickly if the person is reported missing. They are also stored on police systems, meaning officers have easy access to the information when needed most.
Don’t wait until the person goes missing >> Download the form
Thanks to John Walker for the information.
Upchurch Matters
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Sunday, 17 June 2018
Places Available This September at 2nd Rainham North Rainbows
Rainbows is all about developing self-confidence, building friendships, learning new things and having fun. Girls get their hands dirty with arts and crafts, getting in touch with nature and playing games.
It's all about learning by doing.
2nd Rainham North Rainbows are the closest Rainbows unit to Upchurch. They meet every Tuesday at Riverside Primary School, Rainham between 5:30pm and 6:30pm.
From September 2018 they will have places available for girls aged between 5 and 7.
If your daughter is currently in reception year or year one, consider joining Rainbows, the youngest members of Girlguiding.
To join, please visit the link here >> www.girlguiding.org.uk/information-for-parents/register-your-daughter
Find out more about Rainbows at the link here >> www.girlguiding.org.uk/what-we-do/rainbows-5-7
Jeanette Boxall - 2nd Rainham North Rainbows
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Temporary Road Closure - Parsonage Lane, Bobbing
There is a chance that the works may over-run for such reasons as adverse weather conditions or unforeseen engineering difficulties.
The Kent County Council Highway Helpline phone number is: 03000 418181
For details of roadworks, please see: www.roadworks.org
Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
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Saturday, 16 June 2018
Farmer Robert Hinge and a History of A. Hinge & Sons by David Wood
It all began around 1915 when Alfred Hinge from Bexley rented Horsham Marsh for sheep grazing. Already involved in the London markets with land in the Bexley area, the company later bought a substantial amount of land and farm workers cottages at Ham Green from previous owners Wakeley Brothers, Lieutenant Colonel Lumley-Webb and James Holloway during the period 1930 to 1950. This established A. Hinge & Sons as farmers in the parish. They also bought land in other parts of Swale.
During the 1940s John Hinge became the first family member to reside in the parish when he moved into Ham Green House and oversaw the business while still being involved with company outlets in the London markets. His son Richard later took over the daily running of the farm which consisted of fruit and mixed rotation farming. Richard gradually moved this towards cereal production. The company farm workers who were permanent employees were housed in tied cottages in the Ham Green area.
Robert Hinge and James Mair took over the running of the business in 1987. They ran the business together for a short period but then James departed leaving management in the hands of his partner. Robert had previously studied for a Higher National Diploma in Agriculture at Hadlow Agricultural College and had then gained farming experience in the United States and Australia.
Robert took over a farm with an old system of fruit trees that had not proven very profitable then the hurricane of October 1987 destroyed almost every orchard. Robert faced the challenge of rebuilding the business with new facilities and began planting modern fruit tree systems. This later led to the establishment of irrigation which allowed for better and constant crops and for cold storage which meant the markets could be provided with fruit over a longer period.
During the 1990s with a decline in the wholesale markets Robert began selling fruit through organisations such as Worldwide Fruit and Fruition and direct to supermarkets like Waitrose and Marks and Spencer which proved to be very successful.
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John Hinge with this year's crop of apricots.
Farm workers thinning apples.
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With difficulty finding reliable local labour, Robert began employing Eastern European workers from the early 1990s. He says. “At first we employed five or six for the fruit picking season and we put them up in caravans, now we have up to fifty from March to November working as tractor drivers, machine operators, supervisors and fruit pickers.”
Already a thriving business what does Robert think about the future?
“Life will become much faster. In the future we may take out manual labour, pruning and thinning and replace these with machinery which will increase output and efficiency. New varieties of apples and pears will also be developed.”
With dedication to his work Robert is also chairman of Fruition and a director of Worldwide Fruit and English Apples and Pears. Now in his fifties, he is assisted by his son John, who he hopes will eventually take over what has now become a very successful business and which has existed in his family for about a century.
About David
David Wood was born and raised in Upchurch and is able to write from personal experience about many people and aspects of the village and of changes that have taken place over the years making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and a detailed historical study of the village. David's book ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + £3.50 postage and packing.
Friday, 15 June 2018
Upchurch Parish Council Report - June 2018
Report of the Parish Council meeting 7th June 2018
Councillors
Mr Neil Sheppard was co-opted to the Parish Council.
Planning
Ref: 18/501679/FULL Address: 4 Oast Cottages Breach Lane Upchurch ME9 7PH
Proposal: Erection of a stable block, horse walker and manège for private use.
Councillors considered the application and agreed to support the application subject to neighbours’ comments which must be taken into consideration.
Ref: 18/501788/FULL Address: 89 Chaffes Lane Upchurch Kent ME9 7BG
Proposal: Erection of a first floor rear extension over existing ground floor extension. A loft conversion with the insertion of two new windows and 5 no. roof lights.
Councillors considered the application and agreed to support the proposal subject to neighbours comments which must be taken into consideration.
18/501667/FULL Address: New Acres Spade Lane Hartlip Kent ME9 7TT.
Councillors considered the application and agreed that:
Upchurch Parish Council would object to the extension on the following grounds:
· The applicants were given three months to submit a site development plan and have failed to do so by the due date.
· The site is subject to many rulings and the occupants have failed to abide by any of the planning decisions. The site continues to expand and be developed without the required permission.
· The site is not sustainable and does not lend itself to blend in with the local community. It has a bad visual effect and is detrimental to the area. It is not in keeping or discreet, and can be seen from many areas of Hartlip.
· It is an unnecessary loss of agricultural land.
· Granting permission to this site will set a precedent to anyone wishing to flout the planning regulations. It will give a message that a persistent disregard to the rules and planning regulations will eventually reap rewards.
Allotments
Five plots have been cleared in readiness for renting. A deposit will be taken from all new plot holders and this will be refunded if the plot is relinquished in the same condition as when the tenancy began. Only watering cans are permitted to be used on the allotments.
Recreation Ground and Paddock
The Council has applied for a grant to purchase new play equipment for the Paddock.
Burial Ground
A new compost bin has been ordered for the Burial Ground and visitors are requested to sort their rubbish between the compost bin and the rubbish bin.
The Council is looking for a volunteer or a group of volunteers to help maintain the rose beds in the Burial Ground. Anyone interested should contact the Clerk. All expenses will be reimbursed.
Church Clock
The refurbishment of the clock has been completed although the west facing face is one and a half minutes slow and this is being addressed.
The Crowdfunding page, https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/the-modernisation-of-the-church-clock-at-saint-mary-the-virgin-upchurch, has raised £745 from twenty-four people. The Crowdfunding page can only receive donations in multiples of £5 and it will be kept open until Remembrance Day.
Cllr Horton will be going into Holywell Primary School and give a talk to Oak Class and Cambria Class about the clock.
The Beckenham Park Residents Association has made a donation of £60 towards the restoration of the church clock as their act of remembrance.
The Brownies and Guides will contribute to the church clock funds from their Annual Strawberry Tea as an act of remembrance.
The Council has obtained a grant of £750 from the Swale World War 1 Centenary Fund.
Finance
The Annual Return has been agreed.
A grant of £65 has been given to the Swale Citizens Advice Bureau.
Street Lighting
The Council is inviting tenders for the upgrade of the street lights to LEDs.
Power Disruption
Councillors heard that the residents of Beckenham Park have suffered from several power cuts. The problem is caused by leylandii growing through the power cables at the edge of the golf course. UKPN are taking steps to remedy the situation.
Date of next meetings:
Full Council - Thursday 5thJuly 2018 at 7:30pm in Upchurch Village Hall
The Planning Committee and General Purposes Committee - Wednesday 18thJuly at 7:30pm in the Committee Room of the Village Hall.
All residents are welcome to attend the meetings and there is a time for members of the public to comment, raise concerns or ask questions.
Wendy Licence - Clerk to the Parish Council
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KCC Grass Cutting Schedule
This year KCC is cutting urban grass 6 times from April to the end of October; about once every 6 weeks. It has reduced the frequency of grass cutting in accordance with its approved approach to asset management. Details can be found on our website at: http://www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/strategies-and-policies/transport-and-highways-policies/highways-asset-management.
Occasionally cutting can be delayed or progress is slower than planned. KCC cannot cut grass in heavy or persistent rain or when the ground is too wet. Cycles of warm wet weather leads to greater growth between cuts and longer grass takes more time to cut. Sometimes cutting machines break-down, especially when they are working harder to cut long grass. Road-works, parked vehicles on verges and large amounts of litter can also slow progress.
KCC does not collect grass cuttings or edge around verges due to the extra costs of time, equipment and green waste disposal. The cuttings should be spread evenly over the verge and blown off footpaths, driveways and the road back onto the verge where it is safe for an operative to do so. Usually, it is not safe for an operative to stand and blow cuttings off a busy road. Heavy rain or high winds soon after a cut can lead to cuttings being washed or blown back onto the road of footpath. Street furniture and trees will be stimmed around.
KCC has cut the grass more frequently in previous years, so it is likely the grass will be longer between each cut. The long grass will result in more grass cuttings remaining on the verge. This year contractors are using different machines which cut and mulch to help reduce the amount of cuttings left on the verge; they are also better at cutting long grass and returning cuttings back on the verge.
The dates for grass cut 2 are: 14th May to 28th June.
KCC monitors a sample of roads on each cut to make sure the grass is cut to specification. It may also inspect roads where we are informed of poor cutting or missed verges. Where work does not meet specification, KCC requires the contractor to return and carry out the cut correctly. It works with the contractor for them to return as soon as possible, but sometimes there can be a delay. The contractor carries out correction work at their own expense.
KCC recognises that residents and communities in some areas wish the grass to be cut more frequently. If you would like to cut the grass more often than KCC does, this is acceptable provided you can do it safely. Grass cuttings can be left evenly spread over the mown verge or disposed with your lawn cuttings. Please do not pile them on the verge or leave them where they can block drains or ditches. KCC will not be able to collect the grass cuttings from you.
KCC is always pleased that residents report faults, and the best way to do this is online at: www.kent.gov.uk/highwayfaults. You will receive a unique reference number to enable tracking of progress. However, KCC asks residents to ring on: 03000 418181 if they spot a problem on the highway that could cause an accident.
Janet Dart | PA to Council Leader/Cabinet | Swale Borough Council
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Self Referral - Care Without Going to Your GP
More information is available on the NHS Medway Clinical Commissioning Group website at the link here >> http://bit.ly/2t7cNW0
If you have any questions or suggestions on the Upchurch practice, please Email
Jan Bunting (Secretary) janannbunting@outlook.com
Ray Kemsley (Chair) raykemsley@btinternet.com
Ray Kemsley
Chair - Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham
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Wednesday, 13 June 2018
Safe Car Wash App - Help End Modern Slavery in Hand Car Washes
MODERN SLAVERY IS OFTEN HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT
The National Crime Agency thinks there are currently tens of thousands of people being forced to work for little or no pay in the 18,000 hand car washes on Britain’s roads, at the sides of motorways and on abandoned garage forecourts.
Many hand car washes are legitimate businesses but according to campaigners some exploit, force and threaten workers, but there is no reliable data on the scale of the problem. Police raids in hand car washes have found victims living in horrendous conditions.
Developed by The Clewer Initiative, the Church of England’s campaign against modern slavery, and the Santa Marta Group, the Catholic Church’s anti-slavery project, Safe Car Wash is a new app that will enable the largest community intelligence gathering exercise ever attempted in the United Kingdom.
When you are using a hand car wash, simply open the app and complete a short survey about the working conditions of the car wash.
The app will ask a series of questions related to the indicators of modern slavery and if there is a high likelihood that modern slavery is occurring in the hand car wash, you will be asked to report your concerns to the Modern Slavery Helpline 08000 121 700.
The data the app collects will be anonymised and shared with the National Crime Agency and the Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority, two law enforcement agencies who are leading on efforts to stamp out modern slavery across the UK.
Upchurch Matters
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