Cancellation of The Gabriel - August 2022 Edition

Dave Candy - Editor

Email: upchurchgabriel@gmail.com

Temporary Road Closure - The Street, Hartlip

It will be necessary to close part of The Street, Hartlip from Wednesday 17th August 2022 for up to 1 day between the hours of 08:00 and 18:00.

The Street, Hartlip will be closed from outside Swan Cottage to outside Yew Tree Cottage, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route is The Street, Hollow Lane, Lower Hartlip Road, Mount Lane and vice versa.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while pole replacement 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

Medway Council - Rainham Community Showcase Event

Specialist teams will offer advice and eco goodies at Medway Council’s Community Showcase Event at Rainham Shopping Centre between 11:00am and 3:00pm on Thursday the 4th of August.

Stock up on Medway recycling bags, talk to Medway Task Force about seasonal personal safety, chat to Climate Change Champions about sustainability and check out the FREE dog microchipping service.

Medway Council

Holywell School Says Farewell to Miss Taylor

Assistant Headteacher Tracy Taylor at St Mary's Church, Upchurch.

Holywell said farewell to Miss Taylor this week after a milestone 25 years of teaching children (and some grown-ups) at the village school.

As a special surprise, Assistant Headteacher Tracy was presented with a scrapbook of memories from children and families, past and present and other gifts during the year six leavers service at St Mary's Church on Thursday the 21st of July 2022.

A poem by teachers Jackie Warner and Tom Ball was read out in church, and a sea shanty was sung for Miss Taylor by the children, who is a huge fan of both pirates and monkeys. The words to both are below.

For extra fun, the children got to play Human Buckaroo and placed items around their favourite teacher's neck.

Goodbye, Miss Taylor and wishing you the best of luck in your new adventure at the Aspire Primary School in Sittingbourne.

Thank you for everything you have done for Holywell.

You will be missed, for sure!

“Once upon a decade, but which one we will not say,

Lived an important person, who we will call Barbara today.

As a child, she moved a lot because her dad was in the army,

She went to so many schools, it almost drove her barmy.

Anette, Andrea and Harry grew up with her as a big sister,

But then she left for uni, my goodness how they missed her.

She said she studied Maths, but we know that’s not quite true,

In fact she was really learning how to captain a pirate crew.

She completed all her training and off in her ship she went,

Eventually she sailed and docked in the beautiful county of Kent.

She didn’t seek the usual treasure you’d expect a pirate to choose.

She wanted the best buckles and heels, in fact any pair of fabulous shoes.

Not a traditional pirate, on her shoulder there was no bird.

Instead she wanted a monkey, isn’t that absurd?

Unfortunately monkeys are banned and blocked by the RSPCA.

So she ended up with pets you’re more likely to see day to day.

First there was Ant and Dec, each a naughty kitten.

But Beau, her lovely Frenchie, had her truly smitten.

She said she wanted to be a rally driver, perhaps the next Colin McRae,

But instead she found a home and for the next quarter of a century she’d stay.

Twenty four years of loyal service to her school family at Holywell,

Too many memories for a PowerPoint so this is our sad farewell.

Good luck on your next voyage, you’ve been with us so long.

So we want to wish you well with a special pirate song.”

-----------------------------------

“There once was a lass called Tracy Taylor, 

Assistant Head of Holywell School

She helped to keep this boat afloat

She did her job so well.

Soon there’ll be someone else

To walk in her shoes and do her job.

But there’ll be no one else

Like Tracy Taylor.

She has a little dog named Beau,

She loves her dearly and rightly so,

Her partner’s name is Kevin

And he’s always by her side.

Soon there’ll be someone else to walk in her shoes and do her job.

But there’ll be no one else

Like Tracy Taylor.

We’ll all be sad to see you leave,

Our favourite pirate, aha matey!

But now it’s time to walk the plank,

We wish you all the best.

Soon there’ll be someone else to walk in her shoes and do her job.

But there’ll be no one else

Like Tracy Taylor.”

Upchurch Matters

Urgent Appeal to Parents Over Applications for KCC SEN Transport

Parents of children with special educational needs or disabilities who are changing school in September or who have had a new Education, Health and Care Plan issued since March are being urged to apply for school transport without delay.

Kent County Council (KCC) provides free school transport for eligible children and young people with special educational needs.

Not all pupils are eligible for free school transport, so it is important for parents to understand whether KCC is able to support them, or whether they may need to make their own arrangements.

Applications for school transport can be made by parents whose children are starting a new school in September or who have received a new or amended Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

KCC’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Shellina Prendergast, said:

“We know that many parents of children who have special educational needs and disabilities need time to plan any changes to their child’s routine, especially when they are using new transport.

“We have written directly to parents to give them details about how to apply so that we can get transport organised for the start of school in September.

“We also made some changes earlier this year to simplify our mainstream transport applications so that we could free up capacity during the busy summer months to deal with SEND transport applications.

“Although we have received many applications so far, there are still some parents who have yet to apply.”

Parents can apply online. It usually takes six weeks for KCC to process applications, so any further delays in parents applying will mean that transport cannot be guaranteed to be in place by September.

If a child has SEND and attends a mainstream or special school, and already receives free school transport, parents will not usually need to reapply unless their child moves to a new school or when they move from Year 6 to Year 7.

Full details of the eligibility criteria and how to apply are available on KCC’s website

Murray Evans

Kent County Council

Letter to Residents From Holywell School Regarding Building Work Over the Summer Break

Dear Residents,

Following a successful bid to the Department for Education Condition Improvement Fund, we have been scheduled to have some significant updates to our school building and grounds. The work being carried out is essential in order for the school to remain compliant under health and safety and safeguarding regulations.

The work is scheduled to start from next week, 25th July 2022. We hope the majority of the work will be completed before the start of the next academic year in September.

One part of the job will be to replace the exterior fencing around the perimeter of the building with new 6ft security fencing and to install a new automatic main gate and pedestrian gates on the front of the school. For residents, this will mean the contractors will have to trim the hedges along the side of the field and playground in order to install the new posts and fencing. This can only be done safely once the birds have finished nesting so maybe towards the end of the Summer holiday and into the start of the new term. Please be assured this will not affect residents' gardens.

We have also spoken to our gardening company who will be cutting down a number of the very large pine trees on the field which have now become too high and dense. This should allow for more light in the gardens adjacent to the school field. This work is scheduled for September and again, we hope will cause minimal disruption.

Thank you in advance for your support and understanding.

Yours sincerely,

Mr D Callaghan - Headteacher

Stella Poulter - Secretary

Holywell Primary School
Tel: 01634 388416
Email: office@holywell.kent.sch.uk 
Website: www.holywell.kent.sch.uk

The Brown Jug by David Wood

The smallest of the three village pubs, The Brown Jug stayed in business for almost two centuries. The building was originally constructed as a farm cottage in a row of cottages belonging to the Horsham Farm estate in 1838. It’s believed that a 17th century alehouse once occupied the site.

The building became a pub in 1856 and was named after the small, brown drinking jug - popular at the time. It appeared on the National Census List for Upchurch in 1871, with 49 year old George Packer and his 45 year old wife Sarah being listed as proprietors. By 1881 Charles Horton and his wife Elizabeth from Hollingbourne had taken over and managed the pub until 1891 when it was sold at a public auction in Strood.

The Hortons were succeeded by Henry Woolley, his wife Ellen and their seven children. When the cement works became established on the marshes, Mr Woolley delivered beer to the workers on his horse drawn cart while bargemen sailing their barges along the river regularly visited the pub for refreshment. In 1904 a flood extended to the pub and submerged the cellar, but after a recovery, business continued.

Thomas Polhill became proprietor during the pre-World War One period, followed by Edward Packer, who stayed there during the 1920s and the 1930s. John and Daisy Napier ran the pub during the 1940s, followed by Gertrude Babbage during the early 1960s.

Local cement workers outside the pub in 1908.

On the left, Hannah Packer with sister and landlady Elsie Packer to her right in 1914.

The Jug's distinctive Shepherd Neame sign was a familiar sight to passers-by for many years.

The Brown Jug in December 2020. 

Click the montage to enlarge.

Eric and Pat Funnell arrived as proprietors in December 1965. They lived and worked at the pub for over thirty five years and became very well-known in the area. Eric had previously worked as a landscape gardener at Bowaters Mill in Sittingbourne. The couple managed The Brown Jug as a small, local pub and even won the brewery’s Best Kept Garden Competition. Eric Funnell also got the rights to run a bar at the Rochester Corn Exchange in 1972, but a row developed when Rochester publicans objected because Eric Funnell came from outside the Medway area. However, he won the rights to run the bar even though he had a lot of local opposition from Rochester publicans.

After Eric and Pat Funnell had departed, the building was refurbished and managed by tenant Darren Yeomans but continued to retain its small pub atmosphere with a regular band of drinkers, darts teams and visiting musicians.

Three couples followed Darren Yeomans as Shepherd Neame tenants until the Faversham brewery put the pub freehold up for sale. New owner Kate Johns and son Dan, with wife Rachel, arrived and began running the pub as a Free House in 2011.

After a downturn in trade throughout the Coronavirus pandemic lockdowns and preparing for retirement, Kate Johns applied for planning permission to convert the building into two houses. At first, the planning application was refused, but a second application proved successful, and so The Brown Jug, which had served the village since the mid-19th century, ended.

The Brown Jug finally closed on Saturday 30th October 2021.

David Wood

About David

David was born and raised at Ham Green and still lives there today.

He writes from personal experience about Upchurch village life and the changes that have taken place over the years.

David's book, Memories of Upchurch, is a very readable and detailed historical study of the village and is available direct from David at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk price £12 + postage and packing.

Poolside Bar & Courtyard Music Night with The Island Brothers at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Telephone: 01634 360626

Website: www.rivervalleygolf.co.uk

Vehicle Number Plate Stolen - Newington

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/135319/22

Between 22:00 on Tuesday the 12th of July and 06:00 on Wednesday the 13th of July, somebody stole the front number plate from a Mercedes parked on the road in Watling Drive, Newington.

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

Newington History Group - Bite-sized History

Mosquitoes caused the marshlands along the Medway and Thames to be one of the country's most malaria-infected areas for centuries and Simon Springate, from Kent Field Club, will look into the problem at Newington History Group's meeting in the Village Hall on Thursday, July 28th (7:00pm).

His talk, Much Biting in the Marsh - Mosquitoes and Malaria in Kent, containing input from Chaucer, Shakespeare, Defoe and Dickens, will examine how malaria hit the area, what caused it to disappear and return, and the challenges we face from mosquitoes in 21st century Kent.

Newington History Group actively seeks to unearth, preserve and promote the heritage of the village and neighbouring areas. It meets monthly on the fourth Thursday (7:00pm) but not during August. Annual subscription is £15 and all meetings are open to the public (£3) unless stated.

For more details contact the group at: newingtonhistorygroup@outlook.com; through its website: www.newingtonhistory.uk; or call: 01795 842711.

Follow on Facebook: Newington History Group, and Twitter: @newingtonhg

Richard Thompstone - Newington History Group

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

Thank you, dear Upchurch.

Your gracious giving continues to be amazing!

Warehouse Coordinator, Richard Divers just about had room in his 7-seater for all your gifts. We filled the back of his car - seats flat - and the front passenger seat and footwell. 

You certainly have taken those struggling to heart. At our prayers yesterday, after A Cuppa and a Chat, I prayed that God would really bless the food and other items, so that those whose lives are so challenged at the moment would be refreshed by your gifts.

We will be collecting your foodbank donations again, this time, at the front of 14 Oak Lane, Upchurch on Wednesday the 10th of August between 10:30am and 11:30am.

Thank you so much - Bless you, all 😊

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

Restored Thames Sailing Barge Ethel Maud Leaves Shoregate for Lower Halstow Creek

The restoration of Ethel Maud took place at Shoregate Creek, Upchurch

until recently, when the barge was moved to Lower Halstow Creek.

 Click the montage to enlarge.

Congratulations to Gary Diddams and parents, Jean and George, on moving another step closer to completing their near 22-year restoration of Thames Sailing Barge Ethel Maud.

With the new rigging still to be added, the barge was moved to her new home at Lower Halstow Creek on Wednesday 13th July 2022, with the assistance of fellow local Thames Sailing Barge Edith May and her crew.

Regular walkers along the Saxon Shore Way will have glimpsed the incredible transformation of Ethel Maud in her previous dry berth home at Shoregate Creek, Upchurch, where the barge spent many years undercover.

Ethel Maud, a stack barge, was built of pitch pine on oak in 1889 by John Howard's barge building company in Maldon, Essex and carried hay and straw from east coast farms to London to use as horse feed and bedding.

The barge went on to achieve success as the race winner in the Blackwater Match in 1921, 1922 and 1934 and was one of the 'Little Ships' at Dunkirk in 1940, where she was loaded with stores for the British Expeditionary Forces.

In December 1951, the barge gained an engine but kept her mainsail and foresail until 1961. Ethel Maud was laid up in 1963 because of new regulations and re-rigged before moving to race and sail in Medway until the late 1970s. In the 1980s, she was sold and converted to a static house barge at Sheerness but retained her masts. In 1996, Ethel Maud moved to the Dolphin Barge Museum, Sittingbourne, where she became derelict.

With only the original bottom of the hull remaining and thought to be beyond repair, Gary purchased the 80ft barge for a complete rebuild in 2001.

Carpenter Gary's original vision when he took on the restoration was to bring back to life the sight of historical maritime beauty, once again sailing in the waters of the River Medway, Thames and East Coast. Through years of skilful hard work and dedication, he has undoubtedly achieved his vision.

We look forward to one day stepping aboard Ethel Maud and seeing her sailing gracefully around our coastline once again.

Barge history sourced from www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk and www.ethelmaud.webs.com

Upchurch Matters

Upchurch Parish Council Report - July 2022

Report of the Parish Council July 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.

Parish Highways Improvement Plan Update

Following the Parish Highways Improvement Plan consultation in 2019, the following objectives and priorities have been worked on by the Parish Council with support from both Swale Borough Council and KCC Highways where appropriate.

The Parish Council has painted 30 mph roundels and SLOW signs in Horsham Lane and anecdotal feedback from residents was that it had made a difference; following that success SLOW signs were painted either side of Crosier Court and further feedback was that had improved matters further. Speed checks were not carried out in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic and the combination of lockdowns and home working would not have given a true comparison. A 20mph zone would take two to three years minimum to achieve, it had taken Newington seven years to secure theirs. If supported by residents, the Parish Council would have to fund the scheme as there were not accident statistics to justify it as was the case in Newington. The point was made that most often speed checks have found that it is people from the village who are most often exceeding the limit and whilst it was not a pleasant message it was clear that residents must take responsibility and lead by example.

The number one priority on the Parish Highways Improvement Plan was the Oak Lane narrowing just north of the junction with Wallbridge Lane - a chicane and priority signs are to be installed by the developer of 116 Oak Lane. Priority will be for those leaving the village. While waiting for this work to be carried out, the Council has installed roundels and SLOW signs in Horsham Lane, Forge Lane and Oak Lane, they have been painted on the road twice. The chicanes in Oak Lane are expected to have a significant impact on Oak Lane, in particular as vehicles entering the village will give way to those leaving.

Oak Lane junction with A2 – Residents expressed concern that vehicles from Sittingbourne when seeing a queue into Rainham make a quick decision to turn into Oak Lane, often cutting the corner, and across the front of vehicles waiting to exit Oak Lane. This is a KCC Highways issue, and with little crash statistics to justify costs, the cost, which would be significant given it is a primary route junction would fall to the Parish, that said, the Council may wish to pursue this.

Residents have repeatedly expressed concern regarding speeding vehicles in Horsham Lane, both into and leaving the village. 30mph speed - roundels have been painted and a speed survey carried out (2019) found the vehicles to be within normal tolerances for a 30mph limit but would exceed the tolerances for a 20mph limit without physical mitigations being installed. The roundels were repainted in 2021 and SLOW painted on the carriageway to reinforce the message, the most recent additions being either side of the Crosier Court junction.

Vehicles parking in The Street opposite Horsham Lane - this means vehicles travelling from Lower Halstow toward the Lower Rainham Road often are forced around parked vehicles onto the wrong side of the road, and from there sweep into Horsham Lane across the front of vehicles waiting to turn right. A plan has been submitted to restrict parking outside the terrace houses and to allow them appropriate parking to remove the island by The Crown for and create a dedicated residents area for those houses. It is an expensive project and there are no accident statistics to justify the changes. Swale Borough Council and KCC Highways have visited the site with Cllr Horton to assess options including if a ghost island could be justified there but again it is very expensive with no statistics to support the costs.

Vehicles entering the village from Lower Halstow are controlled by a pair of speed cushions either side of the school. The ownership of the streetlamp over the speed cushion at the end of Church Farm Road is disputed with KCC Highways, this has been long running and remains unresolved.

A traffic survey in Horsham Lane has been planned but then at KCC’s recommendation postponed until after the works in Oak Lane are completed.

The Parish Council has agreed to undertake a simultaneous traffic speed survey and Ward Members Richard Palmer and Alan Horton have agreed to contribute to the cost through their Swale Borough Council Member Grant Scheme.

The Parish Council has engaged with the school to enforce parking, the school staggered start times during Covid significantly which mitigated the problem. A walking bus to school has been explored. It is not the school‘s responsibility to keep the road clear, although the Parish Council acknowledges the significant work the Head and staff put in to do so. He made the point that it is often thoughtless drivers who park inconsiderately that cause the congestion.

Church Farm Road junction with Chaffes Lane - At the Forge Lane end of Church Farm Road is a speed cushion and corner protection provided by wooden posts, following feedback from residents the Parish Council requested posts at the Chaffes Lane end of Church Farm Road to protect that junction in a similar way and also remove parked cars from the apex of the ‘blind bend’ in Chaffes Lane and make it safer. KCC Highways has approved the work, this was delayed due to Covid, and staff changes within the Highways team. It has been agreed to install three sets of posts, two at the corners of the junction and the third at the apex of the bend. KCC Highways has agreed to fund the work, and to support those measures, the Parish Council has to keep the hedge at The Paddock cut back and the houses on the corner must do the same. There will be advance warning signs of the bend and SLOW signs to slow down the traffic.

Kent Terrace/Woods Edge Canterbury Lane - The plans for the Four Gun Field development clearly showed a ramp from Kent Terrace, however steps were installed. After lobbying, a ramp with handrails has now been installed. A bin for the play area at this site is being arranged.

Holywell Lane - The verges are overgrown and pedestrians are forced to walk in the road. This is a KCC Highways and local landowner issue not a Parish Council issue. KCC Highways has a maintenance scheme.

The most recent resident concern is speeding in The Street and northward past the houses to Poot Lane and Wetham Green – The roads outside the built-up area of the village are country lanes where the national speed limit applies (60mph). There are few accidents and they are not serious enough to support a reduction of speed. The PCSO has suggested that Poot Lane could become a designated Quiet Lane, however, it may be that the road (given it is a loop) is too busy to be considered. The accepted standard for a quiet lane is clear:

Quiet Lanes are nationally recognised designations of single-track road where visitors and locals can enjoy the natural surroundings and use them for activities such as cycling, horse-riding, jogging and walking.

Quiet Lanes are usually obvious and often have two-wheel tracks either side of a grassy/mossy ridge where vehicles do not disturb the centre of the road, in his opinion whilst it would be a benefit Poot Lane and the route around Wetham Green clearly does not qualify.

The PCSO has tried to carry out speed checks in The Street but was unable to do so because of parked cars.

Residents at the meeting sought views on the implementation of a 20mph zone for the village. There would need to be an informal consultation, however the 2019 Parish Highways Improvement Plan consultation did not show support for the idea. A speed survey is required and if there is public support the Parish Council can then apply to KCC Highways to see if a 20mph zone can be achieved without mitigation, such as speed bumps or chicanes. Should mitigations be required there is then often resident objections as they do not want cars and busses riding the bumps outside their home day and night. The current trend nationally appears to be moving away from schemes that require mitigations as they appear to increase pollution with cars braking hard and accelerating away. Once a scheme has been designed a formal consultation is then conducted by KCC Highways, which can produce significant objections, then a traffic regulation order is drawn up and the scheme installed. It is highly unlikely the scheme and any mitigation measures would be paid for by KCC Highways as there does not appear to be accident statistic justification for the change.

A resident raised concern about the sight line and need to walk into the road to go around a house in Horsham Lane opposite the end of the churchyard. The Parish Council will seek a reduction in the hedge height and a cut back with the house owner and agreed that it would be appropriate to support the work from Parish Funds once only to establish the correct line, after which it was hoped the residents would keep the area cut back for the benefit of all.

Planning

Ref: 22/502002/FULL Address: 81 Forge Lane Upchurch Sittingbourne Kent ME9 7AD

Proposal: Alteration and erection of a rear and side single storey extensions to existing outbuilding to provide 2no. lodges to be used as Bed and Breakfast.

Councillors agreed to support the application providing there is sufficient parking for residents.

Ref: 22/502282/FULL Address: Land North Of Horsham Lane Upchurch Kent ME9 7AP

Proposal: Demolition of existing outbuilding and erection of new building with a primary use as a flower school and additional use as a multi-purpose space for hire/the community together with associated access, parking and landscaping.

Councillors agreed to support the application.

iv) Ref: 22/502411/FULL Address: Breach Farm Cottage Breach Lane Upchurch ME9 7PE

Proposal: Erection of a part two storey, part single storey rear extension. Removal of garage door and replace with window, and changes to fenestration.

Councillors agreed to support the application subject to the views of neighbours being taken into account.

Environment

The Council is still waiting to receive a quotation from Swale Borough Council for the cost of installing two litter bins.  

The notice board by the Co-op is to be relocated near the bus stop to make it more accessible for residents.

A contractor has been instructed to cut back the hedge in Chaffes Lane by The Paddock as a matter of urgency.

This is a precis of the meeting held on 7th July, full minutes of all meetings can be found on the website when ratified.

Date of next meetings:

The Planning Committee and General Purposes Committee - Wednesday 17^th August at 7:30pm in the Small Hall of the Village Hall.

Full Council - Thursday 1^st September at 7:30pm in Upchurch 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 COVID or have 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

Email: clerk@upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk
Website: www.upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk

Seasonal Planters add Beautiful Colour to Upchurch Village Again

Click the montage to enlarge.

The beautiful seasonal cascading planter at the corner of Horsham Lane and the barrier baskets on the Recreation Ground fence are once again brightening up the centre of Upchurch village.

Last season's planters gave weeks of beautiful colour, and so Upchurch Parish Council ensured their return again this year.

Thank you 👏🏼

Upchurch Matters

Update: SGN Gas Network - Emergency Works at Station Road and Lower Rainham Road

Following several attempts to repair the gas pipe in the last week, it is essential that the old metal pipe is replaced with new (PE) pipe in Station Road, Rainham. This urgent work needs to be completed now, to reduce the risk of further leaks and to ensure that your community continues to receive a safe and reliable gas supply.

In consultation with Medway Council, our contractor, Forefront Utilities, who will be completing this work on our behalf, will start on Wednesday 13th July for approximately seven weeks.

Our engineers will initially be working in Lower Rainham Road, due to the location of the pipe and to keep everyone safe around our work site, we will need to close this road by the Angel Public House. Traffic will not be able to turn left from Station Road. Temporary two-way lights will be in place in Station Road to safely manage the traffic past the closure.

Once this initial phase of work has been completed, we will need to close the entire junction to replace the pipework in Station Road. Signed diversions will be in place for both road closures.

Further information about the dates and duration of each phase can be accessed at: https://sgn.co.uk/our-gas-works/major-planned-projects/rainham-station-road

During a road closure, access will be maintained for residents and businesses.

We understand that people can get frustrated by roadworks, and therefore we only use traffic management that we feel is efficient enough to complete these works safely for ourselves and the public.

We're writing to residents and other local stakeholders to make them aware of our project and explain the details of our work. Please feel free to also share this information with anyone you think may be impacted by our project.

Yours sincerely

Andy Underhay

Team Manager - East Region, Repair

Upchurch Parish Council - Vacancy for Parish Clerk/Responsible Financial Officer

Upchurch Parish Council is seeking to appoint a Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer to undertake the administration of the Parish Council's work. The ideal candidate should have good administration, financial, IT and communication skills. The job requires you to be well organised and to work from home.

Working as Parish Clerk for Upchurch Parish Council will involve: preparing budgets, monitoring and balancing the Council's accounts and preparing records for audit purposes, ensuring that statutory and other provisions governing or affecting the running of the Council are observed. Preparing agendas for our council meetings and taking and writing up minutes as well as reports for local publications. Additional tasks will involve managing the Council’s website, responding to general correspondence and liaising with local residents, governing bodies, Swale Borough Council and Kent County Council. The successful candidate will also be required to oversee contractors carrying out Council work. You will need to be able to work from home and to store council documents.

Impartiality to matters and acting under the instruction of the Council is imperative to this role.

Upchurch Parish Council is responsible for a Burial Ground. The successful candidate would be required to liaise with families, undertakers and the Church in order to administer funerals and interments. You will also be required to oversee the administration and running of this area.

The Parish Council is responsible for allotments and the Clerk is responsible for the administration and rent collection of these.

Knowledge of Local Government procedures would be an advantage. Consideration will be given to candidates with the right skills and a willingness to learn a new role to support the Parish Council. A Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA) qualification is preferred (or a willingness to achieve this within an agreed time scale, funded by the council if required).

The job is 12 hours per week which includes at least 2 evening meetings per month. The salary scale is set nationally starting at spinal column point LC2 SCP 18 £13.21 p/hr and rising to spinal column point 23 £14.67 p/hr dependent on experience.

Please apply by sending a CV and brief supporting letter explaining how you meet the requirements to the Chairman, either by emailing: tyroneripley@upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk or via post to: The Chairman, Upchurch Parish Council, Kaine Farm House, Breach Lane, Upchurch, ME9 7PH before the closing date of Wednesday 27th July 2022.

If you would like to discuss this prior to application contact details can be found on the Parish Council website.

Upchurch Parish Council

Temporary Road Closure - Hollow Lane, Hartlip

It will be necessary to close part of Hollow Lane, Hartlip from Thursday 11th August 2022 for up to 1 day between the hours of 09:30 and 15:30.

Hollow Lane, Hartlip will be closed between the junctions with The Street and Lower Hartlip Road, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route is The Street, Munns Lane, Lower Hartlip Road and vice versa.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while overhead network 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