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Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward
Crime Number: 46/36110/23
Between 22:00 on Tuesday the 21st of February and 07:00 on Wednesday the 22nd of February, somebody stole frames and signage from a set of traffic lights in High Street, 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
Swale Foodbank Collection
Dear Upchurch,
We will be collecting your Swale Foodbank donations at the bus stop opposite the church again on Wednesday the 1st of March, between 10:30am and 11:30am.
Please bring your items in carrier bags. We will then deliver them to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.
All donations are helpful, providing the food is long life and well within date.
Your generosity always amazes us - Thank you 🙏🏼
A Cuppa and a Chat
While you are there, why not call into the church for A Cuppa and a Chat in the Lady Chapel.
We will have the kettle on from 10:00am until 12:00pm.
Followed by a prayer for our village from 12:00pm until 12:30pm. Pop in and join us or write a prayer in our prayer book and we will pray for your concerns.
A warm welcome awaits you - just call in, and we will be pleased to see you!
Early Bird tickets go on sale Wednesday the 1st of March at 9:00am.
Upchurch Matters
Text Messaging - Online Consultations - Video Consultations
We wish to hear from patients in Kent and Medway as to their future requirements for using digital technology in primary care services.
Over the last couple of years, NHS Kent and Medway have rolled out several digital healthcare solutions to primary care, some in response to the Covid pandemic. These were put in place to allow GP practices to continue to deliver healthcare to you in very difficult circumstances.
We are starting to review these digital healthcare solutions and are seeking your views on the use of text messaging, online consultations and video consultations in primary care. This is to understand how you currently use these to access care from your GP practice and how the features and functions support you and meet your needs over the next 3 years.
There are 4 sections to this survey focusing on each technology and a free text section for your comments.
The patient survey should take no longer than 5 to 10 minutes to complete.
The survey will close at 9:00am on Wednesday the 1st of March 2023.
Please complete the survey at >> http://bit.ly/3m6oQBT
Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey.
Katie Blissett
NHS Kent and Medway
Councillors have agreed to a savings package of more than £2.8 million in the next financial year through a restructure of services and a review of fees and charges.
The savings proposals were approved at the full council meeting on Wednesday 22nd February where the budget for 2023/24 was set.
The meeting also agreed that the Swale element of the council tax for the next financial year would increase by 2.99% - a rise of less than 11p a week for a typical band D property.
Cllr Mike Baldock, leader of the council, said:
“We’ve seen a significant increase in our costs in the last year, and there has been a rise in demand for our help with things like housing as local people struggle with the cost of living.
“After years of cuts to our funding from central Government, we have been left to make some incredibly difficult decisions.
“Despite this, we have worked to agree a balanced budget that still looks to protect vital services that local people value.
“Our share of the council tax bill will cost a typical band D household just £3.75 a week, though most people in Swale will be paying less as most households are in the lower bands.
“I still think this represents real value given the range of services we provide, and maintains our position as one of the lowest council taxes in Kent.”
The final council tax bill people receive is made up of several charges from local services.
For 2023/24 the council tax bill for a typical band D property will include charges for:
• Kent County Council: £1,534.23 (4.995% increase)
• Kent Police & Crime Commissioner: £243.15 (6.57% increase)
• Swale Borough Council: £194.94 (2.99% increase)
• Kent & Medway Fire and Rescue Authority: £87.30 (6.01% increase)
• Parish or town councils in areas where they exist.
Swale Borough Council
Do come and join us at 4:00pm on Sunday the 26th of February for our Memorial Service to remember all those who have died recently or in the past.
We have not been able to hold one for three years, 2020 was the last one then the pandemic came. So this service will be especially significant for us all.
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
Southern Water wastewater pumped main
Lower Halstow to Motney Hill
Tankers running 24 hours a day were required in 2021 to transport sewerage from the wastewater pumping station at Lower Halstow to the treatment works at Motney Hill, Rainham, while Southern Water carried out temporary repairs and then ultimately replaced large sections of their wastewater pumped main pipework that crosses the marsh between their treatment works at Motney Hill, Rainham and Poot Lane, Upchurch.
Temporary compounds were established in Poot Lane while contractors worked to install approximately 900m of new pipe there before eventually returning Lower Halstow Wastewater Pumping Station to normal operations.
Another burst means more tankers
A further burst in the main, which is a pressurised sewer, has now been discovered close to the original works in Poot Lane in 2021.
To repair the pipe, Southern Water needs to empty it. They will do this by pumping the wastewater into tankers parked at Lower Halstow Pumping Station and then taking it to Motney Hill for treatment. A fleet of around 20 tankers is required.
Tankers have to run 24 hours a day during this period to make sure Southern Water can keep customers' toilets and other wastewater facilities working.
The tankers intend to wait in a layby in Raspberry Hill Lane and will only be called to the pumping station in The Street when needed, so there should be no lines of tankers waiting in Lower Halstow village. The routes the tankers will travel between Lower Halstow and Motney Hill, Rainham, are not yet known.
Southern Water hopes its contractor can repair the burst in the main over a weekend, beginning work on Saturday the 25th of February 2023 and plans to finish on the evening of Monday the 27th.
Temporary partial road closures
The Street, Lower Halstow and Poot Lane, Upchurch
A temporary partial road closure of The Street, Lower Haltow, will be in place while tankers are working at Lower Halstow Pumping Station, with access to the village maintained.
Businesses will be open as usual.
It will also be necessary to temporarily close part of Poot Lane, Upchurch, from Saturday the 25th of February 2023, with access to properties maintained.
Details of both KCC road closures can be found below or under the 'Roads' category on our Notice Board page.
Upchurch Matters
It will be necessary to close The Street, Lower Halstow from Saturday 25th February 2023 for up to 8 days.
The road will be closed between the junctions of Burntwick Drive and Vicarage Lane.
The alternative route is via Sheerness Road, Basser Hill, Church Lane, Boxted Lane, Breach Lane and Forge Lane.
This is to enable wet well cleaning to be carried out by Southern Water.
KCC 24hr Contact Centre: 03000 418181
Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
It will be necessary to close Poot Lane, Upchurch from Saturday 25th February 2023 for up to 8 days.
The road will be closed outside The Old Stables.
The alternative route is via Poot Lane.
This is to enable wet well cleaning to be carried out by Southern Water.
KCC 24hr Contact Centre: 03000 418181
Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
From Monday the 27th of February, Sheppey and Sittingbourne Minor Injury Units will be open from 8:00am to 8:00pm every day.
While our hours are changing, the reasons you can come and see us are still the same.
You can see us for urgent care if you have:
■ minor illness (including possible chest, urinary, eye, ear, skin or throat infection)■ fractures, bumps or grazes, strains or sprains
■ abscesses, bites, burns, scalds, cuts or wounds
■ removal of objects from ears or nose
■ emergency contraception
■ minor head injuries (with no loss of consciousness)
■ small eye injuries or objects in the eye (but not in the eyeball).
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Telephone: 01634 360626
Long Reach Gospel Trust has submitted outline planning application MC/23/0389 with all matters reserved to Medway Council for consideration for the development of up to 22 residential units at land south of Canterbury Lane, Rainham, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 8AS, currently the site of Plymouth Brethren Gospel Hall.
Final access to the new development would be from both Canterbury Lane and Otterham Quay Lane, with a new pedestrian access footpath link and open space play area.
Comments can also be made in writing to:
The Planning Service
Medway Council
Civic Headquarters
Gun Wharf
Dock Road
Chatham
Kent
ME4 4TR
Comments on this application should reach Medway Council within 21 days of the advertisement posted on site, dated 20th February 2023.
Upchurch Matters
Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward
Crime Number: 46/29368/23
Between 00:01 on Friday the 13th of January and 10:18 on Monday the 13th of February, somebody keeps throwing eggs at a residential property 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
Kent journalist John Nurden is the guest speaker at Newington History Group this Thursday (23rd) at 7:00pm in Newington Village Hall.
In an evening packed with anecdotes and surprising tales about national and local newspapers, television, showbusiness and celebrities, Forty Years of Spin and Wheezes covers his many years in the media.
John currently works for the Kent Messenger Group, but describes himself as an ‘ex-editor, former NHS spin doctor and music & TV publicist - in addition to being a DJ and trainee rock god’.
Admission for guests is only £3 (NHG members free). There's free refreshments and parking.
Richard Thompstone - Newington History Group
Household Waste Recycling Centres
Charges for non-Kent residents
New cross border charging policy from 1st April 2023
From 1st April 2023, non-Kent residents who use any of KCC's 19 Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs), will be required to pay £10 to visit.
By non-Kent residents KCC means any resident that does not pay council tax to one of the following Kent councils:
• Ashford Borough Council
• Canterbury City Council
• Dartford Borough Council
• Dover District Council
• Folkestone and Hythe Borough Council
• Gravesham Borough Council
• Maidstone Borough Council
• Sevenoaks District Council
• Swale Borough Council
• Thanet District Council
• Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council
• Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
This also means Medway residents will be required to pay the £10 fee.
When you use the KCC booking system, non-Kent residents will be told they have to pay £10 per visit / booking on arrival at the HWRC site. This information will also be included on the confirmation Emails. KCC staff will request payment when you arrive and they reserve the right to request proof of residency.
Payment is by card only.
Read further information about the: decision about the cross border charging policy
Medway Council cross border policy
KCC has been informed by Medway Council, that from 31st March 2023, Kent residents (residents who do not pay their council tax to Medway Council) will no longer be permitted to use any of the 3 Medway Council operated HWRCs (Capstone HWRC, Cuxton HWRC and Hoath Way HWRC).
Medway Council
Update on Medway Household Waste Recycling Centres
From 31st March 2023, only Medway Council residents will be able to use the area’s 3 household waste and recycling centres (HWRCs).
This follows a decision from Kent County Council to end their contract with Medway Council to reimburse costs for Kent residents who use Medway’s waste facilities, following the opening of a waste and recycling site at Allington.
The decision from Kent County Council means that Kent residents will no longer be able to access Medway’s HWRCs. Medway’s HWRCs received, on average, 44,000 visits from Kent residents during 2021/22.
Residents who pay council tax to Medway Council will continue to be able to book a slot to visit all 3 of Medway’s HWRCs and access them for free. Medway residents will need to bring proof of address, such as a driving licence or council tax bill, with their booking reference.
What this means for Kent residents
From Friday, 31st March 2023, Kent residents will no longer be able to visit Medway’s HWRCs at Cuxton, Capstone or Hoath Way in Gillingham.
Kent residents will instead need to use the recycling centres managed by Kent County Council, including the new site at Allington.
Cllr Phil Filmer, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder covering Waste Services, said:
“Medway provides an excellent waste and recycling service, including free weekly household collections. Medway’s three household waste and recycling centres accept a variety of items people no longer need, and the booking system helps manage demand for this service.
“Thousands of Kent residents had been choosing to use Medway’s household waste and recycling centres, and the agreement with Kent County Council ensured that costs were reimbursed so Medway taxpayers did not pick up the bill. However, now this agreement has come to an end Kent residents will no longer be able to access our three sites. From 31st March, only residents who pay council tax to Medway Council will be able to book a trip to a Medway tip.”
Medway has 3 household waste and recycling centres:
• Hoath Way, Gillingham
• Capstone, Shawstead Road
• Cuxton, Sundridge Hill
For more details on opening times and what you can recycle at a Medway HWRC, or to book a slot, visit: medway.gov.uk/tipbooking
Upchurch Matters
Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Telephone: 01634 360626
Upchurch Matters, the website for Upchurch village, is 18 today!
Thank you for all the support you give us throughout the year.
We support non-profit making groups and organisations by posting their news and events for them for free.
For businesses, we have our Classified Advertisements - Proudly promoting and supporting trusted local traders.
If you would like to get in touch about promoting either, Email: info@upchurchmatters.co.uk
Happy birthday to us 🎉 🎂 🥂 😀
Upchurch Matters
Sponsored by Upchurch River Valley Golf Course LtdWell, it finally happened, and we moved into Priory Corner Cottage in the quiet Suffolk village of Stradbroke on 16th December. It was probably the coldest week of the winter so far, so the oil boiler and central heating became the first priority. The property had been empty for 20 months, which meant two Autumns worth of leaf and tree debris to clear.
The entire plot was carpeted with fallen leaves, including all the gullies, drains and gutters. The garden is overgrown and neglected, and the previous owner, now deceased, had a habit of piling leaves and prunings behind the garage, sheds and summer house. Fortunately, there is a 4 feet deep redundant drainage ditch that terminates in the back garden, and the mountains of garden waste are being raked up and deposited in the ditch. That will compost down nicely and form part of the vegetable patch next year.
Priory Corner Cottage. Back Garden. Christmas Present.
February is a quiet time in the garden and still in the grip of winter, however, winter bulbs and primula will start to show. Some impressive Snowdrops have already appeared, and we lifted some “in the green” from our garden in Oak Lane last year, and they are starting to show. We also brought some Primroses with us, which are looking healthy and coming into flower. Other than tidying them up, we intend to leave the borders alone for 12 months to find out what is in them.
The lawn is rather sparse and full of moss, and I have been making enquiries about seed merchants. A lot of the lawn will be taken up to create the vegetable patch, but it would be good to maintain a relatively small lawn and keep it in good condition. The plan is a bespoke mix of seed that will provide a good degree of drought resistance. It will be based on Canada Green which has a high level of Fescue, which spreads to fill bare patches. Then add additional Bermuda and Kentucky Bluegrass plus Kikuyu, which is used for landscaping in Africa! Also incorporating hard landscaping will give the garden a Mediterranean style.
A vegetable patch will be a big part of the new garden, and a plot has already been earmarked to get things started this year. The turf will be lifted and placed green side down in the ditch, followed by the pleasure of double digging. This only needs to be done once as it is more efficient to plant into pre-prepared trenches and pockets each year where the soil can be conditioned in the spot where the vegetables are to be grown. “Carpet bombing”, a vegetable patch with manure, does help, but it also produces a lot of weed between the rows. I have made a start by sowing some Leek seed which are sitting in the boiler room. They should germinate after 14 days and will then go in the shed, which has a clear plastic roof, or it will have when all the muck is cleared off. I have chosen a new variety called Porbella which has an RHS Award of Garden Merit and costs 99p from Amazon. The best 32 seedlings will be selected for planting, which should give us a crop from October to March, plus the best 2 plants to be left to go to seed.
One major problem is that the southern boundary is overgrown with a number of tall trees, which cast the whole house and most of the garden into shade. A successful garden, particularly a vegetable patch, needs a lot of sunlight and fresh air. At the moment, everything is very damp, and there is a lot of wet rot in the shed timbers, which will need repairing. I contacted the local council who maintains the patch of land between my fence and the adjacent road. They then discovered that the land is still owned by the builders who developed the neighbouring estate, and they have unwittingly been maintaining it for them for years! They now intend to stop doing it, so we will see how this one ends up.
There is still another month before work starts in earnest in the garden, and hopefully, your plans for next year are in place. I can’t wait for some decent weather to really get going this year. There is an annual Horticultural Show held in the Community Hall in the summer, which is directly across the road from the cottage. It would be great to enter some produce this year. At the moment it is a cold, wet, windy evening with mud and leaves all over the place. Adnams is the main brewery in Suffolk but there are a number of small and micro breweries producing an interesting selection of ales. So it is time for a pint of Green Dragon’s Chaucer Ale and to dream of giant Marrows and future glory.
UHS is always looking for new members and tries to encourage a fun attitude towards friendly competition. So if you want to grow your own fruit, vegetables, and flowers or even enter any of the shows we hold each year, please get in touch. We would be happy to hear from you.
If you are interested in becoming a new member, (all ages are welcome), please contact Tracy Wells: tracywells0312@gmail.com
Sean Barry
It will be necessary to close part of Warren Lane, Hartlip from Thursday 30th March 2023, with estimated completion by 3rd April 2023.
Warren Lane, Hartlip will be closed in the vicinity of the M2 bridge, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.
The alternative route is via Warren Lane, Place Lane, Meresborough Lane, Yaugher Lane, Matts Hill 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
Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
Kent County Council (KCC) has launched a public consultation on its Community Services which runs until 26th March 2023.
The consultation proposes changes to the way we use our buildings to deliver some of our community services. We invite your feedback on our proposals as part of this consultation.
Why are we proposing changes?
The Council has experienced big increases in costs and has less money to spend. So we need to look ahead and do things differently to make sure we can still help residents in the years to come. Whilst ensuring effective support for residents who need our services, we need to:
• Tackle the rising costs of maintaining our many buildings.
• Find savings, so we can balance the budget.
• Reduce our carbon footprint to meet our Net-Zero ambitions.
What services are included in the proposals?
Children’s Centres and Youth Hubs, Public Health Services for Children and Families, Community Services for Adults with Learning Disabilities, Community Learning and Skills, and Gateways.
What are we proposing?
• Having fewer permanent buildings, meaning that some of our buildings would close - we want to keep buildings in areas where they are needed the most.
• Co-locating more of our services, meaning more than one service would be available from some of the buildings you might visit.
• Continuing to deliver some services by outreach, which means they do not take place in a dedicated or permanent space, but move around to when and where they are needed.
• Ensuring residents can continue to access services and information online.
Our proposals have been designed by considering where there is greatest need for our services.
Find out more and share your views
Please visit: www.kent.gov.uk/communityservicesconsultation to view the consultation document, design handbooks, a video summarising the proposals, and the Equality Impact Assessments. You can respond via the online questionnaire (or download the Word version). You can also join us at a drop-in event where you can ask any questions you may have.
Kent County Council
It will be necessary to close part of Raspberry Hill Lane, Iwade from Monday 27th March 2023, with estimated completion by 28th May 2023.
Raspberry Hill Lane, Iwade will be closed at the junction with Basser Hill, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.
The alternative route for any through traffic is via Raspberry Hill Lane, The Street, Forge Lane, The Street, Horsham Lane, Otterham Quay Lane, Moor Street, London Road, Hartlip Hill, London Road, High Street, Keycol Hill, Sheppey Way, A249, Old Ferry Road and Raspberry Hill Lane.
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
Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward
53 crimes are shown on the map in December 2022 including:
5 Anti-social Behaviour
1 Burglary
5 Criminal Damage and Arson
7 Other Theft
3 Public Order
1 Shoplifting
3 Vehicle Crime
25 Violence and Sexual Offences
3 Other Crime
28 crimes were shown on the map in November 2022.
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
Please note: This closure has been extended until Friday 17th February 2023.
It will be necessary to close Chaffes Lane, Upchurch from Monday 30th January 2023 for up to 19 days.
The road will be closed outside number 79.
The alternative route is via Bishop Lane, Oak Lane and back to closure.
This is to enable emergency gas escape works to be carried out by SGN.
KCC 24hr Contact Centre: 03000 418181
Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
People can now nominate someone for a new Civic Award that recognises people who work hard to help others.
Anyone who works quietly behind the scenes and lives in Swale can be nominated, there are no age limits and people from all walks of life are welcomed.
The nominations can be made up to 31st March and will be judged by the Mayor of Swale, Cllr Simon Clark and a panel of councillors, with awards being presented at a ceremony in May.
Winners will be invited to an afternoon tea with the Mayor following the presentation of their award.
The Mayor of Swale, Cllr Simon Clark, said:
“We’ve met many amazing people over the years who do so much to help others and we want to celebrate them.
“If you know of anyone who is doing wonderful things in your local community, then get in touch and nominate them for a civic award.
“We’re hoping for a huge response and some tough decisions when it comes down to the judging, so pass the message on.”
Cllr Richard Palmer, chair of the community committee, said:
“Nominations are open now and we want to hear from you.
“Do you know someone that works tirelessly, rain or shine, to care for the people in your community? Now is the time to recognise all their hard work.”
For more information, including how to make a nomination, visit: swale.gov.uk/msca
Swale Borough Council
