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The Reopening of Upchurch's Co-op
Manager David and his Co-op team joined residents this morning and children from Nursery Days who cut the ribbon to reopen the newly refurbished store in The Street, Upchurch.
Thanks to Nikolle for her photos.
Upchurch Matters
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Kent County Council has made an order to temporarily prohibit through traffic travelling on Church Lane, Newington from Wednesday 19th February 2020 for up to 3 days.
The road will be closed in the general vicinity of number 82, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.
The alternative route for any through traffic is via Iwade Road, School Lane, Bricklands, Breach Lane, Hartlip Hill, A2 London Road, High Street, Church Lane and vice versa.
Access for emergency service vehicles and pedestrians will be maintained at all times during the closure.
Due to the nature of these works, it will not be possible to reopen the road outside of working hours.
The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while water main connection works are undertaken by Southern Water.
For information regarding this closure please contact Southern Water on: 0330 303 0368, who will be able to assist with the scope of the works.
The KCC Highways 24hr Contact Centre helpline is: 03000 418181
Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
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Sneak Peek
Upchurch's newly refurbished Co-op store looks very smart and spacious inside now and is stocked ready to reopen at 7:00am on Friday the 31st of January.
So what’s new?
✔︎ A new look bakery section
✔︎ A new self-service till in addition to 2 regular checkouts
✔︎ A larger range of 'Free From' foods
✔︎ A greater selection of ambient foods
✔︎ Co-op Membership TV
✔︎ More 'Food on the go' - sandwiches and snacks to take out
✔︎ A larger selection of fresh flowers
Children from Nursery Days will go across to take part in the official reopening at 9:00am and a representative from Upchurch Village Hall will be presented with money donated by customers towards the refurbishment of the hall.
Manager David and his team look forward to welcoming back all their customers.
Upchurch Matters
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Do come and join us at our Annual Memorial Service on Sunday the 16th of February at 4:00pm to remember all those who have died recently or in the past.
During this service, there will be hymns, some time for reflection and prayers. Any names given to the clergy will be read out and remembered. There will also be an opportunity to light a candle in remembrance of those who are no longer with us.
This is a very special service and everyone will be made most welcome. Refreshments will be available after the service.
Sue Rossiter
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Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward
Crime Number: 46/13979/20:
Between Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd of January, a dumper truck was stolen by unknown means from Boxted Lane, Newington.
Crime Number: 46/17729/20:
At 8:37pm on the 27th of January, an attempted burglary took place at DJC Cars in Newington High Street.
If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.
Kent Community Messaging
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Swale Borough Council allocates money towards sport and physical activity for the local community.
People are being reminded that they still have until the end of February to apply for a council sports grant.
Every year the council allocates £20,000 to support organisations that provide sport and physical activities for the local community.
Local gyms, sports clubs and schools have all been granted money this year to buy equipment, put on events and provide classes.
Cllr Roger Truelove, leader of the council and cabinet member for finance at the council, said:
“We have a number of grants that we make available to local organisations every year.
We offer sport and physical activity, environment, culture and heritage grants totalling more than £55,000 and we want to let people know they have until the end of February to put in a bid for money towards their events, equipment and general running costs.”
Cllr Angela Harrison, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at the council, said:
“This year we’ve allocated £13,754 to 15 different organisations in Swale and we still have more than £6,000 left to distribute.
We’ve contributed £1,000 to Sittingbourne and Milton District Scouts for a set of bubble football suits, £1,000 to Queenborough Weightlifting Club towards the cost to set up a new gym, and £1,000 to Park Run to launch a junior park run at Faversham Rec.
Any person, business or organisation that provides sport and physical activity for the local community could be eligible for a grant to help support their upcoming projects and events, so we encourage people to put in an application.”
Kent County Council gives notice that Chaffes Lane, Upchurch will be closed to through traffic, on or after Friday 31st January 2020 for up to 1 day.
The road will be closed at the junction of Oak Lane.
The alternative route is via Oak Lane, Bishop Lane and Chaffes Lane.
It is planned that the road will be closed between 08:30 and 17:30.
This is to enable KCC Highways to carry out urgent kerbing and patching repairs.
This Notice applies when the relevant signs and barriers are on site and is valid for a period of no more than 5 days.
The KCC Highways 24hr Contact Centre helpline is: 03000 418181
Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
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Please call the Restaurant to book on: 01634 235059
The BarnYard
Oak Lane, Upchurch, Kent ME9 7EZ
Telephone: 01634 235059
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Welcome to Upchurch's Co-op
Manager David Davies and his staff at Upchurch's Co-op are very excited to be back in their newly refurbished store now and are looking forward to welcoming their customers back when they reopen at 7:00am on Friday the 31st of January 2020 - which is also Brexit Day coincidentally, you may have heard something about that?
Regular customers who rely heavily on the village store for their weekly shopping have been without this important community asset since a large fire at the premises forced it to close on Monday the 29th of April last year.
The store looks very smart now and is being stocked this week ready for Friday when children from Nursery Days will go across to take part in the official reopening at 9:00am.
Welcome back Upchurch's Co-op - we're pleased to see you 😃
Upchurch Matters
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Swale Heritage Forum & Conference at the Appleyard in Sittingbourne on Saturday 21st March 2020 will examine all aspects of Swale's fascinating past, including landscape, environment, occupation and the industries that shaped our heritage up to the present day.
There will be stalls advertising local heritage groups & organisations and attendees will discuss Swale Borough Council's Heritage Strategy.
Tickets £5 are on sale at:
The Heritage Hub, The Forum, Sittingbourne ME10 3DL
Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre, 12 Preston Street, Faversham ME13 8NS
Blue Town Heritage Centre, 69 High Street, Blue Town, Isle of Sheppey ME12 1RW
Price includes morning and afternoon refreshments and a buffet lunch.
Historic Swale is a volunteer group set up as an organisation to help meet the needs of its member organisations, as identified in consultation with current members. The overall aim is to aid members to collectively promote Swale as a Tourist destination.
Upchurch Matters
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Waste carriers were targeted this week as part of a day of action to crack down on fly-tipping.
Swale Borough Council teamed up with Kent Police’s Rural Task Force this week to carry out enquiries, arrest people suspected of fly-tipping, seize vehicles and collate evidence to prosecute offenders for waste-related crimes.
Outcomes of the day are:
8 vehicles stopped and searched;
3 Fixed Penalty Notices issued; and
1 vehicle seized.
Cllr Tim Valentine, cabinet member for environment at the council, said:
“We are pleased to be part of this cross-organisation effort to crack down on fly-tipping across the borough.
We urge anybody disposing of household items to think carefully about who you use to dispose of the goods.
Unlicensed waste carriers are criminals that are likely to dump rubbish on the side of the road, and as the person engaging the unlicensed carrier, you could face an unlimited fine.
Not only is the person who engaged the unlicensed carrier at risk of receiving a fine, but we also have the power to issue on the spot fines of up to £400 to anyone who is caught fly-tipping.”
More and more of these action days are taking place across the County. A tremendous amount of preparation takes place ahead of these days, including the gathering of vital intelligence to support the Council’s Enforcement team with their duties.
What can you do to dispose of your waste responsibly?
Fly-tippers often target households via social media or local advertising, luring customers in with cheap rates to dispose of unwanted furniture, building rubble or garden waste. However, these unlicensed waste carriers often simply dump the waste wherever they can get away with it, including in Kent’s country lanes.
Householders or small businesses found to be using criminals to dispose of their waste can and are being prosecuted by local authorities in Kent with fixed penalty notices that go up to £400 per offence.
Failure to pay such an FPN may result in court action where fines can be significantly larger.
To prevent this, householders should check whether someone is licenced to carry waste by visiting the Environment Agency website below, or alternatively call 03708 506506. It also helps if householders receive a written receipt or transfer note, including contact details, description of waste removed and details of where the waste is being taken to.
The 13 Kent councils, along with Kent Police, are working in partnership to Keep Kent Clean.
To keep updated with the councils’ efforts to tackle fly-tipping and littering, follow #KeepKentClean
Swale Borough Council
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Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch
Here is a brief summary of the crime information for the past 2 months:
| November 2019 | December 2019 |
|---|
| All crime | 40 | 34 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 4 | 5 |
| Bicycle theft | 0 | 0 |
| Burglary | 4 | 1 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 5 | 7 |
| Drugs | 0 | 0 |
| Other crime | 1 | 2 |
| Other theft | 2 | 3 |
| Possession of weapons | 0 | 0 |
| Public order | 5 | 0 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0 |
| Shoplifting | 0 | 0 |
| Theft from the person | 0 | 1 |
| Vehicle crime | 0 | 1 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 19 | 14
|
| Please visit: www.police.uk for more information including outcomes for these crimes and contact information for your local policing team. |
Lower Halstow and Iwade
Here is a brief summary of the crime information for the past 2 months:
| November 2019 | December 2019 |
|---|
| All crime | 37 | 33 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 3 | 8 |
| Bicycle theft | 0 | 0 |
| Burglary | 1 | 1 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 2 | 4 |
| Drugs | 0 | 0 |
| Other crime | 3 | 0 |
| Other theft | 0 | 1 |
| Possession of weapons | 0 | 0 |
| Public order | 3 | 0 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0 |
| Shoplifting | 2 | 0 |
| Theft from the person | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle crime | 3 | 2 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 20 | 17
|
Please visit: www.police.uk for more information including outcomes for these crimes and contact information for your local policing team.
Upchurch Matters
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78 new homes are planned for land west of Station Road, Rainham.
Click plan to enlarge.
Rainham North Councillors Martin Potter and Kirstine Carr have arranged a planning exhibition at St. Margaret's Church, Rainham on Tuesday 28th January from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.
The exhibition will be an opportunity for residents to ask questions about and discuss outline planning application: MC/19/2898 submitted by McCullcoh Homes to build 78 new homes on land west of Station Road, Rainham - opposite Bakersfield.
Medway Council's Head of Planning Dave Harris will be there.
Details of the planning application were posted on Upchurch Matters in November 2019.
Upchurch Matters
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Tickets from Brenda & Malc Groves on: 01634 388425
and from UpARA and USMBC meetings
Malcolm Groves
Upchurch Short Mat Bowls Club
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Swale Borough Council opens Foodbank Grants for the very first time to help support those who provide for the borough’s most in need.
Local organisations are being encouraged to apply for funding from Swale Borough Council’s brand-new Foodbank Grant.
The council are offering a total of £15,000 to support community projects and organisations achieve the objectives of the Supporting Foodbanks Project.
The project helps foodbanks support people in severe need, promote healthier eating and tackle the causes of foodbank usage by working with others to offer specialist support and advice.
The applications process is open for four weeks, starting Monday (20th Jan) and closing on 17th February, and each organisation can apply for a maximum of £6,000.
Cllr Julian Saunders, deputy cabinet member for community at the council, said:
“Foodbanks provide a vital service in the community and it’s imperative that we support them in any way we can.
Too many people have had to use foodbanks to feed their families, and without them many wouldn’t have known where their next meal was coming from.
The grants will not only support the great work of the foodbanks but also those services that tackle the problems that force residents to use foodbanks in the first place.
The foodbank grant is open for four weeks and we encourage any service that works with foodbanks to get in touch and make an application.”
For more information about the grant, including an application form and guidance on how to apply, visit: www.swale.gov.uk/grants
Swale Borough Council
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Cllr Mike Baldock & Malcolm Moore from The Sittingbourne Society
at the old Periwinkle Mill - an example of the area's
forgotten industrial heritage that needs to be remembered.
Mike has made it clear that he expects the Periwinkle Mill
to be the next major heritage project Swale Council oversees,
in partnership with the Sittingbourne Society. |
Local councillor appointed Heritage Champion to protect historic buildings and areas across the borough.
Swale Borough Council’s deputy leader Mike Baldock has been appointed Swale’s Heritage Champion.
Heritage Champions are part of a nationwide network that work directly with Historic England to protect the historic environment across the country.
Cllr Baldock was appointed Heritage Champion at last month’s cabinet meeting, giving him authority to act on behalf of the council in all historic matters within the borough.
As Heritage Champion, Cllr Baldock will help to guide the council’s management of the historic environment, generate enthusiasm and awareness of the importance of the local historic environment, and ensure that commitment to the proper care of the historic environment is embedded in all council plans and activities.
Cllr Mike Baldock, cabinet member for planning and heritage champion, said:
“I’m over the moon to be nominated and chosen as the borough’s Heritage Champion.
I’m passionate about planning and preserving the history of the local area and take the position of Heritage Champion very seriously.
I look forward to working closely with the council’s heritage team and Historic England to help conserve our borough’s rich heritage.
We have a lot of work happening to protect our heritage at the council, including grants to local organisations for their heritage projects, and a new heritage strategy which outlines how we will protect our assets from now until 2032 that is open to consultation with the public until 31 January.
We’ve allocated £7,593 in heritage grants so far this year, and still have £2,407 up for grabs until the end of February.
So far, we’ve allocated £1,700 to Doddington and Newnham Parish Councils to correct names and an omission on their war memorial, £721 to Blue Town Remembered for a World War II project in Sheppey and £650 to the Faversham Society to produce a new heritage map of Faversham.
We are keen to work closely with the local people and organisations that are interested in our heritage to discuss how we can protect and enhance our historic sites and areas from now and into the future.”
Raybel Charters CIC
Raybel Centenary' event
£1000
Steering Group of St Peter and St Paul Lynsted
Repair of 18th century church clock
£1000
Faversham Society
New heritage map of Faversham
£650
Friends of Milton Regis Court Hall
New display cabinet for stained glass
£500
Newnham Parish Council
Amend and Correct Names on the Doddington and Newnham War Memorial
£722
Doddington Parish Council
Correct omissions and mistakes on the Doddington and Newnham War Memorial
£1000
Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway
Coach restoration to provide more seating
£1000
The Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne
Running costs for ''Wheels of Time'' Initiative
£1000
Blue Town Remembered
Produce, resource and deliver a project on WW2 in Sheppey
£721
Swale Borough Council
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Kent County Council has made an order to temporarily prohibit through traffic on Lower Hartlip Road, Hartlip from Friday 14th February 2020, with estimated completion by 27th February 2020.
The road will be closed in the general vicinity of Mount View Lodge, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.
The alternative route for any through traffic is via Mount Lane, Warren Lane, Matts Hill, Yaugher Lane, Magpie Lane, Lower Hartlip Road and vice versa.
Access for emergency service vehicles and pedestrians will be maintained at all times during the closure.
The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while maintenance works on a water main are undertaken by Southern Water.
For information regarding this closure please contact Southern Water on: 0330 303 0368, who will be able to assist with the scope of the works.
The KCC Highways 24hr Contact Centre helpline is: 03000 418181
Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
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Kent County Council has made an order to temporarily prohibit through traffic on Meresborough Lane, Hartlip from Wednesday 12th February 2020 for up to 3 days.
The road will be closed in the general vicinity of the land adjacent to Roman Villas, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.
The alternative route for any through traffic is via Spade Lane, A2 London Road, Mill Lane, Dane Lane, Meresborough Lane and vice versa.
Access for emergency service vehicles and pedestrians will be maintained at all times during the closure.
The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while water connection works are undertaken by Southern Water.
For information regarding this closure please contact Southern Water on: 0330 303 0368, who will be able to assist with the scope of the works.
The KCC Highways 24hr Contact Centre helpline is: 03000 418181
Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
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Plans to open up a new 40-mile Coastal Path from Iwade to Grain have been unveiled by Natural England.
The new Coastal Path will create a continuous walk around the Estuary for the first time.
On Wednesday 15th January 2020, Natural England submitted a collection of reports to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs setting out the proposals for improved access to the coast between Iwade and Grain (IGR).
Natural England's discussions with landowners and key organisations have helped shape the proposed route and an 8 week public consultation period on the new path has now begun. The Iwade to Grain stretch will form just part of a whole new 2700-mile England Coast Path.
Natural England is now inviting farmers, residents, visitors, local organisations and businesses to submit their comments.
All comments must reach Natural England by midnight on Wednesday 11th March 2020.
All representations and objections will be considered before the Secretary of State makes a final decision about the reports.
If approved by the Secretary of State, work could start by the end of 2020.
The full reports for each stretch of the new proposed path along with information on how to comment, make a representation or an objection can be found at the link here >> http://bit.ly/30uPeqz with a list of locations where you can view the reports in person.
Upchurch Matters
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We would like to invite families to our next FREE children's event at 2:00pm on Saturday 1st February in St. Mary's Church, Newington.
Our Family Fun Afternoon is based around the Creation. Aimed at primary aged children, we'll have games, songs, crafts... and, of course, refreshments.
This is a FREE event, but please secure your child's place by emailing: kids.at.the.six@gmail.com
Thank you
