Report of the Parish Council April / May 2020
Cllr Tyrone Ripley (Chairman), Cllr John Arnold (Vice-Chairman), Cllr Pam Denny, Cllr Alan Horton, Cllr Gerry Lewin, Cllr Peter Masson, Cllr Janet Marshall, Cllr Gary Rosewell and Cllr Neil Sheppard. Clerk Mrs Wendy Licence.
Parish Council Meetings
The Local Authorities (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority Meetings) Regulations 2020 now gives Local Councils the power to meet remotely during this COVID-19 pandemic and Upchurch Parish Council is now holding meetings virtually.
Cllr Tyrone Ripley has been elected Chairman and Cllr John Arnold has been elected as Vice-Chairman.
COVID-19
Following Government guidelines to stay safe by avoiding using playgrounds, Upchurch Parish Council has closed the Play Area at the Paddock until further notice. It cannot be guaranteed with the volume of people using them that they are not contributing to the spread of the virus as playground equipment cannot be sanitised after each use.
Government guidelines on social distancing should be observed at all times when exercising at The Paddock and Recreation Ground and also when walking or running along public footpaths and this will help keep all members of our community safe.
The Council has accepted an offer of a grant from KCC Cllr Whiting’s Grant Fund to purchase hand sanitiser for the village. This will be distributed to the school, volunteers, the surgery and Nursery Days to help control the spread of any infections.
Planning
i. Ref: 20/501448/OUT Address: Land At Oak Lane Upchurch Kent ME9 7AY
Proposal: Outline application for the erection of 7no. residential dwellings (all matters reserved except for access).
Councillors considered the application and acknowledged the changes made against the previous application. Councillors did not object to the new proposal in principle but had great concerns over the possibility of future potential applications on the land at the back of this plot and wanted to see some method of ensuring the development does not spread on to surrounding plots. Any S106 should remain in the village.
ii. Ref: 20/501475/FULL Address: Land Rear of Eden Meadow, High Street Newington
Proposal: Erection of 40 No. residential dwellings including affordable housing and associated car parking, hardstanding, landscaping and open spaces, infrastructure including SuDs and earthworks accessed from the existing junction serving Eden Meadow from the A2 High Street.
Although not in the Parish, Councillors considered the application and agreed to object to the proposal. Concern was raised about the impact of the development on Upchurch as it will generate additional traffic on an already overburdened road system through the country lanes and the A2. This will further add to the pollution and poor air quality especially given the recent changes in road improvement schemes along the A249 where Swale Borough Council is withdrawing support for highway junction improvements on the A249 and M2J5/A249.
iii. Ref:20/501340/FULL Address: 8 Chaffes Terrace Chaffes Lane Upchurch Kent ME9 7BQ
Proposal: Erection of part two, part single storey side extension.
Councillors considered the application and had no objections to the proposal and requested that neighbours’ comments be taken into consideration.
iv. Ref: 20/500657/FULL Address: 90 Chaffes Lane Upchurch Kent ME9 7BH
Proposal: Erection of a single storey front/side and rear extension.
Councillors considered the application and had no objections to the proposal and requested that neighbours’ comments be taken into consideration.
v. Ref: 20/501183/FULL Address: Caravan Storage Area Otterham Quay Industrial Estate Otterham Quay Lane Upchurch Kent ME8 7UX
Proposal: Change of use of land for the siting of up to 36no. specialist residential mobile homes with associated services, access, parking and turning area.
Councillors were concerned at the lack of detail in the proposal. There needs to be more detail as to the makeup of residents for these homes given its close proximity to Beckenham Park which is for people over the age of forty and there are restrictions on pets permitted.
Councillors agreed to object to the proposal due to the lack of information, lack of services and cohesion with the local community.
vi. Ref: 20/501645/FULL Address: Gore Farm Chaffes Lane Upchurch Kent ME9 7BE
Proposal: Erection of an agricultural building for secure storage, including provision of an area of hardstanding and concrete for access and bin storage.
Councillors considered the application and supported the proposal subject to local comments.
vii. 20/501701/FULL Minor material amendment to 16/506986/FULL (Demolition of no. 116 Oak Lane and construction of 2 no. three bedroom houses and 1 no. four bedroom with associated garages and parking.) to allow amendments to the proposed road widening and traffic calming measures.
Councillors considered the application for minor amendments to the traffic calming scheme, the original proposal for the houses has already been permitted. A traffic calming scheme is the desire of the Parish Council and is supported by the public consultation although some residents do not want the scheme as it is. Residents are also concerned that vehicles frequently mounting the pavement.
It was agreed to ask if KCC Highways consider it to be safe at this point in Oak Lane to have traffic calming and leave the design up to the expertise of the engineer from KCC Highways.
Paddock and Recreation Ground
The Council has accepted a quotation to install adult outdoor fitness equipment in The Paddock. This will be paid for by the S106 money from the development at Kent Terrace.
Burial Ground
The rose beds at the Burial Ground have been consecrated by the Ven Stephen Taylor, the Archdeacon of Maidstone, and Bishop Rose, the new Bishop of Dover.
Church Clock
The clock is functioning really well although there has been an issue with the chimes but this has now been resolved. The Council has been trying to get a plaque for the eastern side of the church door to commemorate the refurbishment of the clock for the centenary of the end of the Great War. Swale Borough Council Planning Department has advised that a full architect’s report and a planning application are required, this would be very expensive and might not get approval so it would not be appropriate to pay for this. It is hoped that some recognition of the act can be placed internally in the church.
Highways and Street Lighting
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the lighting contractor has advised the Council that there is a problem sourcing the parts for the upgrade of the street lighting. Due to a huge increase in the cost of Air Freight following the COVID-19 lockdown and the parts will now be delivered by sea and there will be a delay in upgrading the streetlights to LEDs.
This is a precis of Council business, full minutes of all meetings can be found on the website when ratified.
Date of next meetings:
Full Council - Thursday 4th June 2020 at 7:30pm
The Planning Committee and General Purposes Committee - Wednesday 17th June at 7:30pm
All meetings will be held remotely due to the Government lockdown.
All residents are welcome to view 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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