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Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward
Crime Number: 46/113334/23
On Monday the 19th of June, at around 17:32, somebody broke into a vehicle and stole the battery and tools from Merton Drive, Newington.
Crime Number: 46/115088/23
On Wednesday the 28th of June, somebody damaged vehicle equipment in Orchard Drive, Newington.
Crime Number: 46/114698/23
On Tuesday the 20th of June, at around 12:03, somebody tried to steal items from a business property in Forge Lane, Upchurch.
Crime Number: 46/113980/23
Between 00:01 and 08:00 on Tuesday the 27th of June, somebody stole items from a shed in Forge Lane, 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
Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf CourseTelephone: 01634 360626
Drop-in Football
Free weekly children's drop-in football sessions begin on Saturday the 1st of July 2023 at the following Medway locations:
Rainham Rec
• 10:00am to 11:00am (for under 8s)
• 11:00am to 12:00pm (for ages 8 to 12 years)
Gillingham Park
• 12:30pm to 1:30pm (for under 8s)
• 1:30pm to 2:30pm (for ages 8 to 12 years)
Beechings Way, Twydall
• 10:00am to 11:00am (for under 8s)
• 11:00am to 12:00pm (for ages 8 to 12 years)
Pottery Road, Hoo
• 12:30pm to 1:30pm (for under 8s)
• 1:30pm to 2:30pm (for ages 8 to 12 years)
You do not need to book for these sessions, just turn up ready to play.
Parental Supervision
Children aged 8 up to 11
Children aged 8 up to 11 years of age must be accompanied into the facility by a responsible person over the age of 16 years.
The responsible person is not required to join in the activity but must remain within the facility during the session.
Children aged 11 and over
No accompaniment is necessary.
Medway Council
Medway Council has pledged its commitment to continue to support businesses across Medway.
The Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Vince Maple, signed the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Local Leadership pledge on Tuesday 27th June 2023.
The pledge sets out how local authorities can help small businesses and people who are self-employed to continue to grow, prosper and create new jobs.
It includes engaging with small businesses and ensuring business groups are aware of local consultations, visiting them more frequently and having a dedicated councillor to act as a business champion and an officer to act as a dedicated point of contact for businesses.
Medway Council has also pledged to support businesses, particularly in Medway’s town centres, that wish to look into the feasibility of introducing business improvement districts, encourage pop-up shops and ensure the sensitivities, challenges and opportunities for small businesses are captured in future town centre and tourism strategies.
The council will also continue to ensure business support is accessible to all small businesses which need it and consider what support it can offer businesses that are just starting up.
Medway Council currently offers a range of support to businesses including start-up workshops, scale-up programmes, grants and support for High Street businesses to go digital. The council also sponsors the Medway Business Awards.
Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Vince Maple, said:
“I was delighted to sign the Federation of Small Businesses’ Local Leadership pledge. As part of our 100-day plan, we said we would increase the support the Medway’s small and medium businesses and signing the pledge demonstrates our commitment to supporting our local businesses.”
Cllr Lauren Edwards, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economic and Social Regeneration and Inward Investment, said:
“Medway is home to more than 14,000 businesses and more than 90 per cent are small businesses. We will do everything we can to help businesses through tough economic times, as well as support start-up businesses and those looking to grow. We recognise that a supportive business environment is key to Medway’s economic regeneration, particularly in its town centres, and are committed to delivering it.”
Tim Aker, Development Manager for the Federation of Small Businesses in Kent and Medway, said:
“On behalf of the Federation of Small Business, we are extremely pleased that Medway Council has signed the FSB Local Leadership pledge. This demonstrates Medway Council’s commitment to its small businesses and highlights the importance of supporting small businesses in the largest unitary authority in the south-east.”
To find out more about the support on offer for businesses across Medway, visit: medway.gov.uk/MedwayForBusiness
Medway Council
Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf CourseTelephone: 01634 360626
Swale Foodbank Collection
Hi Everyone,
Thank you for your generous support for the foodbank again last month.
I will be collecting your foodbank donations at the bus stop opposite the church again on Wednesday the 5th of July, 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.
Thank you, and may God bless 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.
There will be a warm welcome.
Followed by a prayer for our village from 12:00pm.
Is there someone or something you would like a prayer for?
Pop in and join us or leave a note.
Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward
Crime Number: 46/111613/23
Between 00:01 on Tuesday the 23rd of May and 15:06 on Friday the 23rd of June, somebody broke into a vacant property and stole TVs, water pipes and a water tank at Hartlip Hill, Hartlip.
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
PC Jez Chittim.
I would like to introduce myself as the new Kent Police neighbourhood beat officer for Hartlip, Newington, Upchurch, Bobbing, Iwade, Lower Halstow and Kemsley wards.
I have worked for Kent Police for 17 years, mostly within neighbourhood policing and really enjoy this type of work. I will be on foot patrol throughout the area and look forward to meeting as many of you as possible.
If you see me please come and say hello and let me know of anything I can assist with.
Also please share the MCV link with any neighbours and friends so their local beat officer can also communicate with them. It is only with your support and engagement feedback that we can help to address what matters to you most in your communities.
Thank you for your support.
PC Jez Chittim
Kent Police - Swale Neighbourhood Officer
Is it an emergency? If so, please Call: 999 now.
Report of the Parish Council May 2023
Planning
I. 23/501726/FULL 130 Horsham Lane single storey rear extension.UPC has no objections.
II. 23/501751/FULL Court Lodge, Breach Lane detached garage.
UPC has no objections.
III. 23/501110/FULL 19 Woods Edge garage door.
UPC has no objections.
IV. 23/501613/FULL land to East of Orchard House defer to next meeting.
Clerk to get an extension.
Upchurch Parish Council reporting
I. General Purpose & Planning Committee - No updates
II. Paddock and Recreational Ground
Bat boxes - Cllr Ripley to arrange with Les Oxley to start the work when Cllr Denny returns.
III. Burial Ground & Churchyard
(a) Consider request from resident for ashes interment in burial plot.
It was resolved to allow ashes interment as long as all rules regarding interments are met.
IV. Highways & Street Lighting
(a) EDF - it was proposed by Cllr Bernsten and seconded by Cllr Horton and resolved to speak to EDF and hold all payments until issue on estimated annual consumption are resolved with EDF.
Clerk to report next meeting.
(b) Highways - Cllr Horton reported that residents have commented about Upchurch Village following other local areas and introducing 20 miles an hour zone.
UPC has already had a consultation with the public regarding this and UPC has no plans to consider this at the present time.
(c) Clerk to chase KCC regarding the warning signs for horse riders in the village.
(d) Loose kerbs reported on Oak Lane.
(e) Clerk to chase planning officer for any updates on the traffic calming in Oak Lane.
V. Footpaths - No updates
VI. Environment
Clerk to chase date for planters. Cllr Bernsten to chase Co-op for sponsorship.
VII. Village Hall
Cllr Lewin reported new planting outside UVH.
Cllr Horton reported the use of the village litter pickers for village litter picks.
VIII. KALC
Cllr Lewin reported the lack of local plan causing issues. Cllr Ripley reported any councillor can attend the KALC meetings if needed.
Clerk to speak to KALC about adding comments to agenda for meetings.
IX. Allotments - To receive update
(a) Clerk has visited site and confirmed plots available.
Clerk to investigate a new numbering display.
(b) Repairs to fence, one quote received.
clerk to ask for 2 more quotes.
X. Village Defibrillators
(a) Cllr Sheppard to report to next meeting with options to consider updating the units.
It was proposed by Cllr Rosewell seconded by Cllr Ripley and resolved to arrange a schedule for the upgrades.
(b) Clerk to investigate grant options for the upgrades.
Insurance
It was proposed by Cllr Horton, seconded by Cllr Ripley and resolved to renew the insurance.
Grant Application
Clerk reported this was still ongoing with no updates.
Noted.
Adoption of policies and documents for the ensuing year
It was proposed by Cllr Horton, seconded by Cllr Ripley and resolved to approve and re-adopt all policies.
Annual Return
I. To approve the Annual Governance Statement for 2022/23 Section 1 of the Agar for the year ending 31st March 2023.
The council considered and approved section 1 of the AGAR the Chair and Clerk signed and dated on behalf of the Council.
II. To approve the Accounting Statements for 2022/23 Section 2 of the AGAR for the year ending 2022/23 with the supporting Bank reconciliation to 31st March 2023 and the explanation of variances.
The council considered and approved section 2 of the AGAR.
The Chair and the Clerk signed and dated on behalf of the council.
Clerk Updates
I. Clerk noted UPC is no longer eligible for General Power of Competence.
Items to be considered for inclusion on the next Full Council agenda
Planning 113 Chaffes Lane 23/501613/FULL.
Quotes for the Scout Road resurfacing.
Access issues to the Scout Hut / Gates.
Upchurch Parish Council Meeting Schedule 2023/24
Full Council
Thursday 6th July 2023
Thursday 7th Sept 2023
Thursday 5th Oct 2023
Thursday 2nd Nov 2023
Thursday 7th Dec 2023
Thursday 4th Jan 2024
Thursday 1st Feb 2024
Thursday 7th March 2024
Thursday 4th April 2024
GPC & Planning Committee
Wednesday 19th July 2023
Wednesday 20th Sept 2023
Wednesday 18th Oct 2023
Wednesday 15th Nov 2023
Wednesday 20th Dec 2023
Wednesday 17th Jan 2024
Wednesday 14th Feb 2024
Wednesday 20th March 2024
Wednesday 17th April 2024
Newington History Group brings you the mystery of the pioneering pilot Amy Johnson at its meeting on Thursday (June 22nd) at 7:00pm in the Village Hall, Newington.
Jane Priston, director of the Amy Johnson Project, will shed light on Amy's final hours. Her death - when her aircraft crashed off Herne Bay in 1941 - left many questions. Why was her plane off-course? Was she on a secret wartime mission? Was she shot down by 'friendly fire' or did she run out of fuel?
Amy was 37 and the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia, but her bravery and pluck continue to inspire.
All welcome, £4 at the door, includes refreshments, free parking.
Visit the group's tent at the Coronation Village Fete on Saturday, July 15th, (1:30pm-4:30pm) on the recreation ground, off Orchard Drive. This free event is organised by Newington Parish Council.
NHG actively seeks to unearth, preserve and promote the heritage of the village and neighbouring areas. It meets on the fourth Thursday at 7:00pm.
For more details:
Call: 07506 239970
Richard Thompstone
Newington History Group
Overall competition winners in 2016.Tina and Roger Harris at 15 The Poles.
The hard work and skills of keen Upchurch gardeners will be recognised once again, thanks to Upchurch Horticultural Society.
The Upchurch Best Kept Garden competition was last held in 2019, before the Covid pandemic began in 2020, and was organised by Upchurch Parish Council.
UHS has now taken over the reins and brought the competition back for 2023.
Village front gardens will be judged at the end of June. And don't worry if you are out or on holiday - your garden will still be judged.
This year's 3 competition categories are:
• Traditional Garden
• Hanging Baskets & Containers
• Nature Inspired
The winners will be invited for presentations at the Upchurch Horticultural Society - Summer Show on Saturday the 1st of July.
Good luck!
Upchurch Matters
It will be necessary to close Matts Hill, Hartlip & Gillingham from Monday 19th June 2023 for up to 2 days.
The road will be closed in its entirety.
The alternative route is via Matts Hill Road, Meresborough Road, Meresborough Lane, Place Lane, Warren Lane and vice versa.
It is planned that the road will be closed between 07:30hrs and 15:30hrs each day.
This is to enable carriageway repairs to be carried out by Kent County Council.
KCC 24hr Contact Centre: 03000 418181
For details of roadworks see: https://one.network
Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
Click newsletter to enlarge.
The Office of the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner website is >> www.kent-pcc.gov.uk
Upchurch Matters
The coronation of a young Queen Elizabeth II was perhaps the largest event in the UK in 1953. The first coronation to be fully covered on TV. It captivated the nation with pomp and ceremony, similar to the recent coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla.
In Upchurch, a committee chaired by Cecil Bishop from Horsham Lane was formed to decide how the event should be celebrated in the village and how money should be raised.
Money raising events were soon underway in April, with a jumble sale and a house to house collection that raised £16. The committee also decided that all children under school age should receive a coronation souvenir and that a competition should take place to find the best decorated house and garden in the village. Mrs Porter from Crown Cottage at Ham Green won the Best Decorated House Competition, and Mrs Brunt from Oak Lane won the Best Decorated Garden Competition. This proved to be a very popular and well supported activity.
Upchurch Football Club planned to stage a coronation six a side football competition in May, but the KCFA refused permission. This setback soon passed as a coronation marathon was arranged for June 5th, and in preparation for this, the trophies were put on display in the post office. With competitions for men, women and juniors, it proved to be a great success and raised £30 for the coronation funds. The winners included Trevor Syfleet (men), Pat Atkinson (women), John Gilbert (boys) and Janice Lacy (girls). Carnival Queen Inys Hales presented the prizes. A hard working committee consisting of Mr Atkinson, Mr Bass, Mr Stewart, Mr Higgins and Mrs Bronger organised the event.
Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh in
their coronation portrait, 1953.
The following Saturday saw the opening of coronation activities in the Paddock by Upchurch vicar Reverend Clark which also proved successful, raising £120. Events included maypole dancing, a fancy dress parade and races. Red, white and blue balloons and bunting decorated the Infants School, where free teas were served to children and pensioners by Mrs Burton, Mrs Grigg and Mrs Colvin. In addition, the Rainham & District Co-operative Society presented a special silver Elizabethan coin to Upchurch children to celebrate the coronation. Coronation mugs were also presented as souvenirs to all families in the parish.
A special coronation cricket match took place between Upchurch and Rainham at Berengrove Park in Rainham the following Monday. Unfortunately, Upchurch lost the match, but a collection raised £3 on the ground. However, the most popular and most well attended activity took place at the Old Forge in Forge Lane, where Vic Mannering, representing the Upchurch branch of the Conservative Association, showed a blockbuster film every second week to raise money for the Coronation funds.
In October, at a special coronation committee funds meeting at the Infants School, secretary Ted Tress explained that £134 had been obtained from donations, £104 had already been spent on the celebrations, and £30 was in hand. This led to a public meeting being called on Thursday, November 12th, to decide how the excess money should be spent, and demonstrated that with sound organisation and fundraising efforts, the village coronation celebrations had proven to be highly successful, making 1953 a year to remember.
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.
Roadworks website one.network shows another temporary road closure of Lower Rainham Road, Rainham, this time between the junctions of Berengrave Lane and West Motney Way.
Lower Rainham Road is due to close for broadband network works by CityFibre from Tuesday the 27th of June, with estimated completion by Sunday the 9th of July 2023.
Access will be maintained, with a diversion route for vehicles in place.
For information regarding this closure, contact Medway Council: 01634 333 333
Upchurch Matters
Click poster to enlarge.
Booking is essential and is taken on a first come first served basis, please use Arbor to book if your child attends Holywell.
Holywell Primary School
Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Telephone: 01634 360626
Sponsored by Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd
June will soon be here, and the summer is coming. May has been a better month with some warm sunny days, but there is a sharp wind up here which means that people are still in coats. Temperatures are definitely a couple of degrees lower than in Kent and still using the central heating. We are busy working on the garden. The Duchess is doing sterling work in the front, but the people are so friendly here that she seems to spend a lot of time chatting to passers-by. She did take me to task recently complaining that I was taking all the credit for the hard work, so I thought I would give her a mention. I am working out the back, and the vegetable patch is nearly complete, although there are still plenty of logs to cut. The chainsaw needs some 2-stroke, but the nearest petrol station is 7 miles away. Life in Suffolk is much more secluded, and a trip to the Supermarket is an expedition. Getting rid of rubbish is not easy as there are only 3 refuse collection sites in the whole county, and the wheelie bin is tiny.
The lawn has had a cut but is little more than a rough patch of grass and shows no sign of thickening up. I have been looking at local seed merchants, but they seem to specialise in paddock and livestock pastures. The best option for grass seed seems to be Amazon. A lot of standard lawn seed mixes are not very drought resistant, and conditions seem to be getting hotter and drier. It may not be a problem this year, but it is probably sensible to look for a mix that can handle drought better. Bermuda grass is a good option and is available from Amazon. It is slow to germinate and needs temperatures between 16°C and 22°C. Kentucky Bluegrass is easier and is also known as Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass (SSMG). It will turn to hay in hot conditions but is tougher than Ryegrass. I did look for Kikuyu, which is very tough but also very expensive.
Hopefully, your vegetable patch is up and running, and you may already be taking salad crops. As you clear a patch, re-sow more seed and keep the Lettuce, Radish and Spring Onions coming. Spring Onions are a good addition to stir fry dishes. Either cut lengthways or sliced. I also like to throw a fistful of sliced Spring Onions into a chilli or curry for the last 5 minutes to give a bit of crunch. Early Potatoes should be ready this month, and simply lift the whole root when the flowers start to fade. No need to cut down the haulms as this thickens the skins which is only required for Maincrop Potatoes. Early Broad Beans will be ready and should not be left too long. As the beans mature, they get tougher and need more cooking. A fully ripe bean can be eaten raw with a salad. Take a look at the “scar” where the bean connects to the pod. It should be green. If it has turned black, it has gone over. It is still perfectly edible but needs simmering for a while. Take your vegetable crops as they ripen so they are fully tender, and don’t let them get tough, stringy or woody.
The colour of the scar indicates the condition of the bean.
The borders and containers will start to billow and need some attention, and it will become obvious which plants are too close to each other. When planting young shrubs and seedlings, it is so easy to put them too close together only to see them grow and smother each other. Follow the planting instructions on the label or simply look them up in a book or on the internet. Height and spread will tell you how far apart to plant or whether it should go at the back or the front of the border. The clever bit is to check colour and form to achieve contrast. Dahlias and Fuchsia complement each other well and tend to flower from June through to the first hard frost.
We hope to establish a small fruit orchard next year, but at the moment, we have no fruit in the garden. In fact, I have not even seen an Apple Tree in Suffolk yet. There seems to be a complete lack of orchards up here and hardly any fruit trees in the gardens. Maybe I am walking around with my head down, but I haven’t noticed any blossom at all. I suppose the Cherries will be ripening in June/July and Strawberries, but all I can see are acres of Wheat. I miss the Braeburn Apple Tree from Oak Lane, the Victoria Plum and the ancient old Beurre Hardy Pears, which used to belong to the Vicar. June was the month when the trees would naturally jettison a lot of fruit as if to select the best ones for ripening. Then after June, it was the time to thin out a bumper crop before the branches got ripped off… happy memories.
June is also the start of summer and time for outdoor living. Get the patio cleaned up and brush down the garden furniture. Smarten up the chiminea and think about the marinades and punches. If you have some friends, you might like to invite them around. If you don’t, it doesn’t really matter. There is a saying up here that goes... “Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits”…. company will only spoil that. However, a pint of Green Jack Golden Best will compliment it wonderfully.
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 member, (all ages are welcome), please contact Membership Secretary Tracy Wells: upchurchsociety@gmail.com
Sean Barry
