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News Archive

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The best way to tell us is through the contact form here

Sunday, 30 January 2022

Upchurch Players - AGM



Whether you can make the meeting or not, please register your interest by filling out the form at: https://forms.gle/8oUERVZ3n94vPVqT6

We look forward to seeing old faces and welcoming new ones!

Join us to see what “Pantomime 2022” has in store.

Upchurch Players

Saturday, 29 January 2022

The Refurbishment of the Upchurch Village Sign
























While we look forward to the return of Upchurch's newly repainted and refurbished village sign, a reminder you can still read all about the origins of the sign's distinctive design in David Wood's 2015 article on Upchurch Matters, at the link below.

Read 'The Upchurch Village Sign by David Wood' at >> https://bit.ly/3oaorfZ

Upchurch Matters

Thursday, 27 January 2022

Emergency Road Closure - A2 Keycol Hill, Newington












































It will be necessary to close Keycol Hill, Newington from Thursday 27th January 2022 for up to 2 days.

The road will be closed outside property Bryngwyn.

The alternative route is via High Street (Newington), London Road (Newington), Hartlip Hill (Hartlip), London Road (Upchurch), Moor Street (Rainham), High Street (Rainham), London Road (Rainham), Bowaters Roundabout, Hoath Way A278, M2, Maidstone Road A249, Key Street Roundabout and Keycol Hill.

 

It is planned that the road will be closed after 20:00 on the 27th January.

 

This is to enable water mains repairs to be carried out 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 these works.


KCC 24hr Contact Centre: 03000 418181

For details of roadworks see: https://one.network

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

The English Festival Returns to Riverside Country Park

The English Festival

The English Festival returns to Riverside Country Park, Lower Rainham Road ME7 2XH on Saturday 16th April 2022, between 11:00am and 5:00pm.

The free fun-packed day out for the whole family marks St George’s Day with activities celebrating the most iconic and ironic of English historic and modern traditions. 

There’s something for everyone to enjoy, from donkey rides to helter-skelter, live music and a George and the Dragon show.

Getting there

Look out for more details of the usual park and ride, park and walk and limited parking on-site.

To stay up to date, visit >> www.medway.gov.uk/englishfestival

Upchurch Matters

Wednesday, 26 January 2022

Win a Valentine's Hamper and Guess How Many Sweets Are in the Jar at Upchurch’s Co-op - Raising Money for MIND



Upchurch’s Co-op is fundraising again for their chosen charity partner, MIND - the mental health and support charity.

Win a Valentine's Hamper ❤️

Enter in store for £1 per raffle strip - Please ask a member of staff at the till.

The winner will be picked on Sunday 13th February.

To be collected upon winning.

Guess how many sweets are in the jar 🧐

The winner will be the person with the closest guess and gets to keep the jar of sweets.

Enter in store for 50p per guess Please ask a member of staff at the till.

The winner will be picked on Sunday 13th February.

To be collected upon winning.

Good luck 🤞🏼

Read more about MIND at: www.mind.org.uk

Sally - Upchurch’s Co-op

CANCELLED: The Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church, Upchurch












Hi everyone,

With a heavy heart, we have taken the decision to cancel the Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church on Thursday the 3rd of February.

Partly it's because of Covid and that we have family members we need to protect and care for.


We look forward to seeing you all again at our next Rainbow Café.


Gill Gay and all the Rainbow Café team

Tuesday, 25 January 2022

Temporary Road Closure - Halstow Lane, Upchurch





















It will be necessary to close part of Halstow Lane, Upchurch from Monday 14th February 2022, with estimated completion by 18th February 2022.

Halstow Lane, Upchurch will be closed in the general vicinity of Bell Grove Stud Farm, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route is Halstow Lane, Forge Lane, The Street, Horsham Lane, Otterham Quay Lane, Lower Rainham Road, A2 Moor Street, London Road, Hartlip Hill, Breach Lane and vice versa.

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 these works.

KCC 24hr Contact Centre: 03000 418181

For details of roadworks see: https://one.network

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

Monday, 24 January 2022

Temporary Road Closure - Oak Lane, Upchurch






































It will be necessary to close part of Oak Lane, Upchurch from Monday 31st January 2022, with estimated completion by 4th February 2022.

Oak Lane, Upchurch will be closed at the junction with Wallbridge Lane, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route is Oak Lane, The Street, Horsham Lane, Wallbridge Lane and vice versa.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while 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 these works.

KCC 24hr Contact Centre: 03000 418181

For details of roadworks see: https://one.network

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

Village Halls Week 2022: Innovating for the future

Village Halls Week

Monday 24th January - Sunday 30th January

Village Halls Week is a national campaign, shining a spotlight on the contribution England’s 10,000+ village halls make to our rural communities. It is an opportunity for hall management committees to celebrate their work and gather inspiration from others.

This year, ACRE's fifth annual campaign week will challenge halls to do something different and innovate for the future.

Village and community halls host a diverse range of neighbourhood activities from exercise classes to coffee mornings and are regularly hired for private parties, meetings and weddings. Some host community shops and post offices.

Halls do much to improve the life and general wellbeing of residents, often providing the only local space where people gather, combating loneliness, and delivering a wide range of activities and services. An estimated 50,000 individuals to are reliant on the use of village halls to make a living.

In these precarious, Covid times, community buildings play a leading role in shaping a better future.

Throughout this week, ACRE will be encouraging halls to pledge to do something different - whether that be extending their offer to their community, reducing their impact on the environment or becoming more financially sustainable.

To read more about Village Halls Week, visit: www.acre.org.uk


Upchurch Village Hall

At the centre of village life for over 60 years

At the beginning of this Village Halls Week, we would like to say a big thank you to the Village Hall Management Committee, which oversees the day-to-day running of our village hall. Also to the booking secretary, caretaker and the many volunteers who help out throughout the year.

Committee members are trustee volunteers who meet regularly throughout the year to ensure the smooth running of the village hall for all the local groups and organisations that hire it regularly and for those who choose the venue for their private party or a special family occasion.

Refurbishment

Upchurch Village Hall has recently undergone a major refurbishment thanks to the hard work of committee members and generous donations from numerous organisations, individuals and the proceeds of fundraising events held at the village hall.

Working together, everybody involved has made our village hall look smart and fit for purpose once again, ensuring it remains at the centre of village life for many more years to come.

Thank you for everything you do 👏🏼

To hire Upchurch Village Hall, please contact: 01634 364859
Visit the website: https://upchurchvillagehall.weebly.com

Upchurch Matters

Saturday, 22 January 2022

Upchurch Saltmarsh Litter Pick - Winter 2022 at The Oak Grove





























Living River Foundation, supported by Upchurch wedding venue The Oak Grove, has organised another litter pick along the Saxon Shore Way public footpath and adjacent saltmarsh edge of the Medway/Swale Estuary.

There are limited spaces available given the terrain and protected birds in the area, so please book early. Children need to be accompanied by a responsible adult guardian.

Volunteers should meet at The Oak Grove for a briefing at 12:00 noon on Sunday the 6th of February, wearing appropriate clothing for the weather.

To book a place and volunteer, visit eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/upchurch-saltmarsh-litter-pick-winter-2022-tickets-248577250247

Location:
The Oak Grove
Twinney Wharf
Susans Lane
Upchurch
ME9 7HA

Read more about Living River Foundation at: www.living-river.org

Upchurch Matters

Friday, 21 January 2022

Parcel Stolen | Container and Shed Broken Into - Newington



Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/10889/22

Between 07:30 and 08:00 on Wednesday the 5th of January, a recently delivered parcel was stolen from a doorstep in High Street, Newington.

Crime Number: 46/10550/22

Between 20:00 on Friday the 14th of January and 00:49 on Saturday the 15th of January, a container and a shed at a farm were broken into in Iwade Road, Newington. The owner is still to provide a list of stolen items if any.

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

Kent Community Messaging

Wednesday, 19 January 2022

Tuesday, 18 January 2022

Temporary Road Closure - Raspberry Hill Lane & Raspberry Hill, Iwade













































It will be necessary to close part of Raspberry Hill Lane & Raspberry Hill, Iwade from Wednesday 9th February 2022, between the hours of 08:00 and 18:00, with estimated completion by 10th February 2022.

Raspberry Hill Lane will be closed from outside Willow Cottages to the junction with Raspberry Hill, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route for any through traffic is via Raspberry Hill Lane, Old Ferry Road, The Street, Ferry Road, Sheppey Way, Key Street Roundabout, A249 Key Street Roundabout To Bobbing Interchange, A2 Keycol Hill, Boyces Hill, High Street, London Road, Hartlip Hill, Breach Lane, The Green, Sheerness Road and vice versa.

Raspberry Hill will be closed at the junction with Raspberry Hill Lane, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

There is no alternative route for this closure, due to the road being a dead-end.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while pole maintenance works are undertaken by Openreach.

For information regarding this closure, please contact Openreach on: 0800 023 2023, who will be able to assist with the scope of these works.

KCC 24hr Contact Centre: 03000 418181

For details of roadworks see: https://one.network

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

The Oak Grove is Hiring



Click to enlarge.

Sam Holland
The Oak Grove
Telephone: 07989 476991

Monday, 17 January 2022

Saturday, 15 January 2022

Temporary Road Closure - Oak Lane, Upchurch



It will be necessary to close part of Oak Lane, Upchurch from Tuesday 8th February 2022, between the hours of 09:30 and 15:30, with estimated completion by 9th February 2022.

Oak Lane, Upchurch will be closed in the general vicinity of number 44, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route is Chaffes Lane, Oak Lane and vice versa.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while equipment transfer works are undertaken by Openreach.

For information regarding this closure, please contact Openreach on: 0800 023 2023, who will be able to assist with the scope of these works.

KCC 24hr Contact Centre: 03000 418181

For details of roadworks see: https://one.network

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

Friday, 14 January 2022

Upchurch Parish Council Report - January 2022


Report of the Parish Council January 2022

Cllr Tyrone Ripley (Chairman), Cllr Pam Denny (Vice Chairman), Cllr Ernie Berntsen, Cllr Helen Boakes, Cllr John Bodycomb, Cllr Alan Horton, Cllr Gerry Lewin, Cllr Gary Rosewell and Cllr Neil Sheppard. Clerk Mrs Wendy Licence.

Changes to the Parish Council

The Parish Council has co-opted Mrs Helen Boakes to the Council. Cllr Pam Denny has been appointed as Vice Chairman.


PCSO

Lorraine Holmes is Upchurch’s new PCSO as John Cork has changed areas. Lorraine can be contacted on: 07970 458 645 or by Email: lorraine.holmes@kent.police.uk

In an emergency, please call 999.


Finance

Councillors have set a budget of £53,754 for the next financial year. The Precept was set at £36,814 making a reduction of £9.21 for a Band D property to £35.72 per annum. Swale Borough Council was going to remove the lighting grant from Parishes but thanks to the support of the Ward Members, Cllr Alan Horton and Cllr Richard Palmer, this has been overturned and the Council will still get the grant.


Planning

Ref: 21/506248/FULL Address: Court Lodge Breach Lane Upchurch Sittingbourne ME9 7PH

Proposal: Retrospective change of use from residential property to mixed use as a residential dwelling and dog breeding business.

Councillors considered the application and agreed they had no objections to the proposal but would like neighbours’ comments to be taken into due consideration.

 

Ref: 21/506082/FULL Address: 2 Marstan Close Upchurch Sittingbourne Kent ME9 7BJ

Proposal: Erection of a single storey side and rear wrap around extension with flat roof to rear and pitch roof to side.

Councillors considered the application and had no objections to the proposal save the views of neighbours be given due consideration.


Ref: 21/505502/FULL Address: 15 Horsham Lane Upchurch Sittingbourne Kent ME9 7AN

Proposal: Demolition of rear conservatory. Erection of part single, part two storey side and rear extension. Creation of first floor including alterations to roof, insertion of front and rear dormers and front rooflights. Alteration to front garden, boundary wall and access.

Councillors considered the application and sympathised with the views of the objectors. Further information was needed regarding the right to light and the amenity space.

 

Ref: 21/506357/FULL Address: 116 Oak Lane Upchurch Kent ME9 7AY

Proposal: Proposed 1 year temporary permission for 2no. detached garages for use as residential accommodation during then construction of 2no. new dwellings, previously approved under application 20/505179/FULL.

Councillors considered the application and agreed unanimously to object to the proposal.


The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Celebrations 2022

Plans for the celebrations are progressing well. On Thursday 2nd June a Piper will play Diu Regnare at 9:35pm and the Queen’s pageant master has asked that a bugler or cornet player should play the unique Bugle Call - ‘Majesty,’ at 9:40pm. 

There has been a Commonwealth-wide Song Competition since 2nd June last year, with the winning song being sung by choirs large and small, from individual locations of their choice within their local communities, including Beacon sites where possible, as the Beacons are lit at 9:45pm.

The Council has a piper for the ceremony and is looking for a bugle or cornet player to play the Bugle Call just before the lighting of the beacon. If you or anyone you might know could help the Council with this, please contact the Clerk, Wendy Licence 01622 739324 or Email: clerkupc@outlook.com


Santa's Visit

Reluctantly the Council had to cancel the visit from Santa due to the pandemic. Councillors were pleased to hear that Santa did manage to visit children in the village on Christmas Eve as usual. A new date has been fixed for 10th December 2022.


Date of next meetings:

Full Council - Thursday 3rd February at 7:30pm in Upchurch Village Hall.

The Planning Committee and General Purposes Committee - Wednesday 16th February at 7:30pm in the Small Hall 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.

 

To help keep loved ones safe, please DO NOT attend the meeting if you have had any known contact with COVID-19 in the previous 14 days or have experienced symptoms. Questions and comments can be sent to the Clerk to be raised at the meeting.

Wendy Licence - Clerk to the Parish Council
Tel: 01622 739324

Parents & Friends of Holywell School - Big Challenge 20.22



Please tap/click on the sponsorship form to save it to your device to print it out.

Upchurch Matters

Thursday, 13 January 2022

Thank You from Foodbank Co-ordinator Gill Gay and Swale Foodbank




























Hi everyone,

Who can have the January blues when you witness the generosity of the people of Upchurch.

Thank you so much on behalf of those who struggle daily with feeding themselves and their families. Covid has made things so difficult and is causing extra stress in everyday life. Raised energy and food costs are a worry for us all and yet you are still making sure that others are provided for. 

Jesus said, put God first in your life and love your neighbour.

You have certainly done that - God bless you all for your kindness ♥️

We will be back collecting again at the bus stop opposite the Church in Horsham Lane on Wednesday the 9th of February between 10:30am and 11:30am.

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator

The Rivers Restaurant - 3 Course Sunday Lunch at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course




















































Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Telephone: 01634 360626
Website: www.rivervalleygolf.co.uk

Tuesday, 11 January 2022

Trailer Stolen - Newington | Parcel Stolen - Upchurch


Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/3311/22

Between Saturday the 25th of December and Sunday the 2nd of January, a trailer was stolen from London Road, Newington.

Crime Number: 46/4616/22

Between 00:01 and 23:59 on Wednesday the 29th of December, a recently delivered parcel was stolen from a doorstep in Homefield Drive, 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

Kent Community Messaging

Gill Gay Will Be Collecting For Swale Foodbank Again















Hi everyone,

Thank you all for the tremendous support we have received on behalf of Swale Foodbank so far.

William will be helping me collect this month at the bus stop opposite the Church in Horsham Lane on Wednesday the 12th of January, between 10:30am and 11:30am.

Please come along with your donations (in carrier bags would be helpful) and put them into our open car boot.

We will then deliver your donations to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.

All donations are helpful providing, the food is long life and well within date.

They are currently short of long-life milk, squash, tinned meat, tinned fish, and hygiene products are always needed. 

Thank you for every single donation - we are very grateful!

Because of Covid and that many of us still have family members we need to protect, there will be no 'A Cuppa and a Chat' in the Lady Chapel this month.

We look forward to seeing you all again for 'A Cuppa and a Chatsoon.

Gill & William ♥️

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator
Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

Saturday, 8 January 2022

Latest POLICE.UK Crime Data for the Area - November 2021















Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch

A brief summary of crime information for the past 2 months.

48 crimes are shown on the map in November 2021 including:

4 Anti-social Behaviour
1 Bicycle Theft
6 Burglary
1 Criminal Damage and Arson
2 Other Theft
2 Public Order
1 Shoplifting
4 Vehicle Crime
27 Violence and Sexual Offences

40 crimes were shown on the map in October 2021.

Not all crime that occurs is shown on the map.

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

A brief summary of crime information for the past 2 months.

32 crimes are shown on the map in November 2021 including:

11 Anti-social Behaviour
6 Criminal Damage and Arson
1 Drugs
1 Other Theft
1 Vehicle Crime
11 Violence and Sexual Offences
1 Other Crime

49 crimes were shown on the map in October 2021.

Not all crime that occurs is shown on the map.

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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