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Upchurch Parish Council is thrilled to announce that it has secured grants from The National Lottery Community Fund and Swale Borough Council Prosperity Fund to install an exciting new piece of play equipment at The Paddock, designed specifically for children aged 5-12 years old (Key Stage 2).
The grants, which marks significant investment in the local community, will enable the council to expand The Paddock's play area with an engaging and adventurous play structure tailored to the needs of slightly older children. This new equipment aims to offer a fun, active, and inclusive space for children to play, explore, and develop essential physical and social skills.
Vice Chair of Upchurch Parish Council, Pam Denny, expressed their gratitude for the funding, saying:
"We are incredibly grateful to the National Lottery Community Fund and Swale Borough Council for their generous support. The addition of this new equipment will provide a much-needed resource for older children in our community, offering them a place to challenge themselves, stay active, and enjoy the outdoors."
The Paddock, already a popular destination for families, is set to become even more inclusive with the new addition, offering something for all age groups in the village. The design for the new equipment will be discussed at the next meeting of Upchurch Parish Council on Thursday 3rd October at 19:30 at Upchurch Village Hall, all members of the public are welcome. We hope to have the new equipment installed late 2024 / early 2025.
Nina Henley
Clerk and Proper Officer to Upchurch Parish Council
Tel: 07798 600696
Upchurch Parish Council would like to remind all residents that the public waste bins placed throughout the village are intended for general public use and not for the disposal of household rubbish.
We have noticed an increase in household waste being placed in these bins, leading to overflowing containers and unnecessary strain on the waste management services.
These bins are provided to help keep public spaces clean and tidy, ensuring that litter from passers-by and small waste items are disposed of properly. However, they are not designed to accommodate large quantities of household rubbish.
Overuse and Overflowing Bins
When household waste is disposed of in public bins, it fills them up quickly, leaving no space for general litter. This leads to overflowing bins and litter scattered around the village, which not only looks unsightly but also poses health and environmental risks.
Collection and Capacity Issues
Public bins are collected on a regular schedule, and when they are filled with excessive rubbish, it can cause delays or require additional resources to manage the overflow.
Proper Disposal of Household Waste
All residents have their own designated household waste collection services, including bins for general waste, recycling, and other disposal needs. These are the appropriate facilities for household rubbish.
We kindly ask all residents to be mindful of the purpose of the public waste bins and to use them responsibly. Please refrain from disposing of household waste in these bins and ensure that all rubbish is placed in your own household waste containers for collection.
Upchurch Parish Council is committed to maintaining a clean, pleasant environment for all who live in and visit our village.
Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated, and together, we can ensure that our public spaces remain clean and welcoming.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Nina Henley
Clerk and Proper Officer to Upchurch Parish Council
Tel: 07798 600696
Recycling and waste collection rounds across Swale are being updated to provide a more reliable service.
Around 1 in 8 households will have a change in the day their waste is collected and will receive a letter confirming their new days.
The council’s contract with SUEZ has been running for almost six months, and while improvements have been made, the service is not yet performing as well as expected.
To address this, a thorough review has been carried out to identify the remaining areas for improvement. This looked at factors such as the number of properties on a round, vehicle access issues, and the types of vehicles being used on rounds.
Changes are being made to address these issues with some rebalancing of collections throughout the week, along with some changes to routes, and the types of vehicles used.
Cllr Rich Lehmann, chair of the council’s Environment and Climate Change Committee, said:
“We know the contract has got off to a rocky start, and we sincerely apologise for the disruption and frustration people have suffered.
“We have spent a considerable amount of time and effort working to improve collections, but it’s clear that to make the final push to reach the level of service we want, we must make some changes to the rounds.
“The majority of people will continue to have the same collections on the same day as now, but it may be at an earlier or later time in the day.
“Around 1 in 8 will have a change to either their day of collection, the week for each type of collection, or both.
“We know this isn’t ideal, and the changes are likely to cause some short-term disruption, but we believe this will help us move the service towards where we need it to be.
“We are writing to those households affected to let them know their new days, and what the arrangements are during the transition. If you haven’t received a letter, then there will be no changes to your collection.”
The day changes may mean some households will receive the same type of collection two weeks in a row during the transition period.
It is important to note that the garden waste and clinical waste services will remain unaffected by these changes.
The council's website will continue to display the current collection schedule until after the last scheduled collection before the changes take effect.
Swale Borough Council
Swale Borough Council wants local people to share their views about the rollout of the new waste and street cleansing contract.
The council is carrying out a review into the contract with Suez, which began in March, and is looking at a range of issues related to the start of the new contract, including resources, staffing, data, rounds, contract management, and communications.
To make sure people can give their experiences of the move to a new contract, a survey has been launched to get insights into the preparations for the change and experiences following of the rollout.
Councillor Rich Lehmann, chair of the Environment and Climate Change committee at the council, said:
"We know that the move to the new waste contract has not gone as well as we wanted, and we’re still working hard to get Suez to deliver the level of performance we expect.
“We want to hear people’s experiences about how it went: what went wrong, where did you look for help, what happened when you reported it.
“This will help us carry out the review by making sure people’s experiences are central to what we’re looking at. These responses will help identify areas for improvement to make sure the service is operating effectively for everyone."
In addition to the survey, the council is carrying out workshops with council officers and Suez representatives, as well as consulting with parish councils and the upcoming round of area committee meetings.
The public survey will close at 11:59pm on Wednesday the 2nd of October and is available at: www.swale.gov.uk/waste-contract-surveyHard copies are also available on request.
Swale Borough Council
If you would like to have a stand/stall, please contact: elspethbaecke@gmail.com
Please join us for this very worthy cause.
Meanwhile please donate whatever you can afford at the JustGiving fundraising page, which has been published to help towards the restoration.
Charity Registration No: 606311
Thank you
Elspeth Baecke
Upchurch Parish Council has been in contact with Swale Borough Council, asking why their household waste and recycling collection service has not been adequate since the new contractor took over.
Upchurch residents are understandably frustrated and would like an update and an explanation of how Swale will remedy the situation.
Please see their response below:
“Good afternoon,
We have had an uncertain start to the contract however feeling a little more positive this week.
Suez has 4 new drivers starting Thursday and 6 crews working over this weekend to catch up with outstanding bins.
Please help us to spread the message to all the residents affected by missed collections in your ward to continue to leave their wheelie bins and/or food waste caddies out for collection.
We apologise for the inconvenience with the delay in collections. We understand how frustrating this has been. We continue to work hard daily with Suez to resolve the issues.
Kind Regards
Contracts and Resources
Swale Borough Council”
Nina Henley
Clerk and Proper Officer to Upchurch Parish Council
Tel: 07798 600696
There is currently a mechanical problem with the motor on the Church Clock, which means there are no chimes.
Upchurch Parish Council is aware and has called the engineer to resolve the fault ASAP so the village will hear the chimes again in due course.
Upchurch Parish Council
We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Upchurch Matters.
Thanks for all the support you have given the website throughout the year.
This year's lovely village Christmas tree was again kindly donated by Bob Friend and his family.
Thank you, Bob.
Upchurch Parish Councillors have added 'SANTA STOP HERE' to the village sign so he knows where to stop and deliver all the children's presents.
The sparkling Santa's sleigh with reindeer and twinkling lights with the star on top of the Christmas tree all look lovely.
The knitting group has done another wonderful job of decorating the centre of the village with knitted Christmas characters. The added colour they bring really brightens up our winter days.
Why not go and check them out during the holidays?
The lit Nativity Scene, beautifully built by the late Frank Osborne, has also returned to the Churchyard.
Thanks to everyone for all their hard work and generosity, once again.
To more peaceful and affordable times in 2024 🥂
Upchurch Matters
Because Christmas and New Year's Day both fall on a Monday this year, changes to normal household bin collection dates over Christmas and New Year will last longer than usual.
Check the graphic for details on your revised collection dates.
Regularly scheduled bin collections will resume in Swale on Monday the 8th of January 2024.
The age-old nuisance of dog fouling around the village has been raised with the parish council by residents angry at irresponsible dog owners for not cleaning up after their pets.
Dog waste poses a significant health risk to humans, particularly young children, as their immune systems are not fully developed.
Children are also more likely to come into contact with soil or sand that contains dog waste whilst playing in parks, gardens and playgrounds.
All waste contains bacteria that can cause stomach upsets, but the greatest risk is from Toxocariasis, which can pass from dog waste to humans through contaminated soil or sand. Children are at particular risk. It is rare, but it can sometimes cause serious health problems and even blindness.
Would you really want that on your conscience?
It is an offence to allow a dog under your control to foul a public place, and Swale Borough Council has the power to fine dog owners who do not clean up after their dogs.
You can receive an on-the-spot fine (FPN) of up to £100 if you do not clean up after your dog.
If you refuse to pay the fine, you could be taken to court and fined up to £1000.
There really is no excuse for not cleaning up after your dog.
The parish council has provided litter & dog waste bins at locations around the village where owners can dispose of bagged dog waste, as well as TiksPac dispensers at the Recreation Ground and near the Paddock in Chaffes Lane.
Please bag your dog waste and put it in any public litter bin or take it home to your household green wheelie bin.
Allowing your dog to foul in a public place and not clean it up is antisocial and totally unacceptable to all residents.
Please leave our village spaces clean, tidy and safe for others to enjoy.
Thank you
Upchurch Matters
Click the map to enlarge.
Dear Upchurch Residents,
We are writing to invite you to participate in a crucial decision-making process that will directly impact our community - the improvement of our local highways.
The Parish Council would like to invite you to participate in a public consultation and help the council to make informed decisions that align with the needs and preferences of the community.
Background:
KCC Highways has committed to look at one project for improvement from each parish per year.
We have a number of options UPC are considering.
The Parish Council has narrowed the options to just 3:
Option 1
Progressing the already approved plan for the narrowing of Oak Lane and giving priority to vehicles coming out of the village, north of the junction with Wallbridge Lane.
Option 2
Horsham Lane junction with The Street.
Option 3
Forge Lane junction with Holywell Lane.
Objectives of the Consultation:
To gather input from residents on what you feel in the most important highways issue that needs addressing.
This allows residents to have your say in the areas we request KCC to prioritise on your behalf.
Please let us know your top 2 priorities of the 3 options.
How You Can Participate
We value your input and encourage you to participate in this consultation.
There are several ways you can get involved:
• Write to the clerk at: 2 Alfriston Grove, West Malling ME19 4SR
• Attend our next Parish Council meeting on Thursday, November 2nd, held at Upchurch Village
Hall at 19:30pm
Timeline:
Consultation Period: 11-10-23 - 05-11-23
Next Steps:
Once the Parish Council has analysed all the feedback, we will work closely with KCC Highways to develop a plan for the future of our roads. We will ensure transparency throughout the process and keep you informed about any developments or decisions.
Thank you for your participation.
Nina Henley
Clerk and Proper Officer to Upchurch Parish Council
Your Medway: Your Future: Your Say
Everyone with an interest in Medway’s future is being encouraged to have their say on a document which will help guide how Medway develops up to 2040.
This is the public’s opportunity to have their say on Medway’s future by commenting on the emerging Local Plan.
Medway Council’s vision is to establish Medway as a significant place for high quality urban regeneration with strong connections to its surrounding coast and countryside; with a thriving economy, where residents enjoy a good quality of life and health, and there is a clear strategy for addressing climate change and strengthening natural assets.
The government has set mandatory house building targets for all councils in the country to meet national housing demand. Medway is currently required to deliver 1,667 new homes each year between now and 2040 - a total of nearly 28,500 homes.
Through the Local Plan, Medway Council will be ensuring that it delivers sustainable communities for the future.
Local authorities are required, by law, to have a Local Plan in place. Without one, it is difficult for councils to challenge planning applications that may not be in the best interests for their area, or residents, and result in unsustainable, unsuitable piecemeal development without supporting facilities or infrastructure.
But Medway’s Local Plan is about much more than just building houses. It also ensures the council has a plan which focuses on ensuring appropriate infrastructure is in place and protecting the environment. The plan, when adopted, will identify areas where development could take place and where it should be restricted. It also includes employment and considers better access to green spaces, including parks and play areas.
Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Vince Maple, said:
“We are encouraging Medway’s residents, businesses, people who work in the area, young people, voluntary sector organisations and anyone with an interest in Medway’s future to have their say on our emerging Local Plan. We want Medway’s residents to help shape this important blueprint which will ensure Medway grows sustainably.
“The Local Plan covers a wide range of topics including employment, the environment, communities, infrastructure and homes and this is your opportunity to have your say on the blueprint for Medway’s future up to 2040.
“I would encourage residents to find out more about the emerging Local Plan and have their say by visiting our website, attending one of the consultation events in October or by visiting your local library.”
Medway Council is committed to getting a new Local Plan in place for autumn 2025.
Have Your Say
Everyone is invited to come along and find out more about the emerging Local Plan at a series of consultation events which will be held throughout October, details will be announced soon.
Members of the public can have their say until 11:59pm on Tuesday, 31st October. The consultation document is available on the council’s website and printed copies are available to view at Medway libraries.
To find out more, and have your say, visit: www.medway.gov.uk/FutureMedway
Medway Council
Swale Borough Council has published an action plan setting out how it will work to improve air quality across the borough.
The new Air Quality Action Plan outlines what the council will deliver between 2023 and 2028 to reduce concentrations of air pollutants and people’s exposure to air pollution.
The council takes the issue of air pollution very seriously as it causes health issues such as being a factor in the onset of cancer and heart disease.
The plan will have a positive impact on the quality of life and the health of residents and visitors to Swale.
Some new measures include:
• More car clubs and bike hire schemes
• Installation of more electric vehicle charging points
• Anti-idling campaigns
• Campaigns to educate the public about air pollution
• Improving walking and cycling infrastructure
The council will also work with Kent County Council to improve bus services and public transport infrastructure and improve traffic flow through Swale’s Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA).
Air Quality Management Areas in East Street and Teynham have seen marked improvements in air quality, with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs recommending their AQMA statuses be revoked.
East Street and Teynham have been compliant with the minimum readings for air pollutants for four and five years respectively but will continue to be monitored closely when their AQMA statuses are revoked.
The Action Plan offers a look into the evidence used and explains the decision-making process behind measures being implemented within their powers.
Cllr Rich Lehmann, chair of the Environment Committee, said:
“The health of our residents is of utmost importance to us,
“And this Air Quality Action Plan outlines the efforts we are going to take to improve the air quality of Swale.
“We are pleased to see some improvements but will remain vigilant and continue to monitor air pollution levels across the borough, including the areas which DEFRA have insisted we revoke the Air Quality Management Area status for.
“There is still work to be done, and this action plan shows how we will reach our important health targets.”
Swale Borough Council
When Cllr Pan Denny met children from Holywell School last year, they gave her plenty of good ideas for the new woodland trail in the Paddock, including a wooden trim trail and boxes to encourage more wildlife to take up residence in the area.
Upchurch Parish Council installed the trim trail balance equipment the children requested in December 2022, funded by a collective grant from Queenborough Fishery Trust and Swale Borough Council.
And more recently, bat boxes were hung high from the large trees around the perimeter of the Paddock, adding to the bird boxes and bug hotels that have already been fitted in the wooded area.
The new boxes will hopefully encourage children to use this area to play and explore more, which will be educational.
Thanks to Phil Newbery for building the boxes for the parish council and to Les Oxley for climbing high to fit the bat boxes.
We are fortunate to have the Paddock as a lovely green space in the heart of our village, so why not take the children to go and explore there during the school summer holiday?
Please supervise them while they play safely and ask them not to disturb the birds, the bugs and the bats - Thank you.
Upchurch Matters
SJM Planning Ltd has submitted outline planning application 23/503028/OUT to Swale Borough Council with some matters reserved (access, layout, and scale sought) for the erection of up to 48 new dwellings, including new access onto Canterbury Lane and associated road widening, provision of open space, and hard and soft landscaping on land on the northern side of Canterbury Lane, Upchurch, Kent, ME8 8QW.
Comments can also be made in writing to:
Mid Kent Planning Support
Maidstone House
King Street
Maidstone
ME15 6JQ
Quoting reference number: 23/503028/OUT
Upchurch Parish Council has been granted an extension to the deadline for submitting comments so they can consider the application at their full council meeting on Thursday the 7th of September 2023.
Upchurch Matters
Do you know a building or green space that makes a positive contribution to the character of the borough?
Swale Borough Council is asking people to nominate local buildings, structures and green spaces to be added to a new local heritage list.
This will help promote the borough’s local heritage assets and highlight their importance to the local community.
If a building, structure or green space is designated as being of local interest, it will be given the status of heritage asset. This makes its conservation a material consideration in any planning applications.
Cllr Mike Baldock, deputy leader of the council and heritage champion, said:
“There’s a rich and diverse range of heritage assets across the borough, much of which most of us are unaware of, and which may be known to just a few people.
“But these assets are important to those local groups and communities that are aware of them, and we want to formally recognise their importance to the borough.
“They might not reach the nationally set benchmark for grade I or II listing, but they do have special interest or value to the local area.
“Being on the list will not only be taken into account when considering planning applications but will also - for the first time - create an accurate record of our local heritage assets.”
To decide if an asset can be added to the local heritage list, it will be assessed to make sure it meets specific criteria on age and integrity, historic and architectural interest, with a particular local emphasis.
All candidate buildings would need to be considered against these criteria which would be consistently applied across the borough.
Swale Borough Council
Waste carriers were targeted last week as part of a day of action to crackdown on fly-tipping.
Swale Borough Council teamed up with Kent Police’s Rural Task Force to carry out enquiries and collate evidence with a view to prosecuting offenders for waste related crimes.
Outcomes of the day were:
• 4 vehicles stopped and searched
• 3 Fixed Penalty Notices issued
Cllr Rich Lehmann, chair of the Environment Committee at the council, said:
“Fly-tipping is something that affects us all. Dumping waste in our towns and across our countryside is irresponsible and thoughtless.
“Although the low rates being offered by some carriers may seem like a cheap and easy way to clear your waste, it could land you with a large fine.
“Remember, if using a waste carrier, it’s your responsibility to make sure they’re licensed. If any illegally carried or dumped waste leads back to you, you could receive a £400 FPN.
“Always ask to see a waste carriers license before using them.”
More and more of these action days are taking place across the county. A tremendous amount of preparation takes place ahead of these days, including the gathering of vital intelligence to support the Council’s Enforcement team with their duties.
What can you do to dispose of your waste responsibly?
Fly-tippers often target households via social media or local advertising, luring customers in with cheap rates to dispose of unwanted furniture, building rubble or garden waste. However, these unlicensed waste carriers often simply dump the waste wherever they can get away with it, including in Kent’s country lanes.
Householders or small businesses found to be using criminals to dispose of their waste can and are being prosecuted by local authorities in Kent with fixed penalty notices that go up to £400 per offence. Failure to pay such an FPN may result in court action where fines can be significantly larger.
To prevent this, householders should check whether someone is licenced to carry waste by visiting the Environment Agency website below, or alternatively call: 03708 506506.
It also helps if householders receive a written receipt or transfer note, including contact details, description of waste removed and details of where the waste is being taken to.
The 13 Kent councils, along with Kent Police, are working in partnership to Keep Kent Clean.
To keep updated with the council’s efforts to tackle fly-tipping and littering, follow #KeepKentClean
Swale Borough Council
Click map to enlarge.
C&M Capital Ltd has submitted outline planning application 23/502056/OUT to Swale Borough Council for consideration for the erection of 4no. detached and 4no. semi-detached residential dwellings (access and layout sought) at land adjacent to 113 Chaffes Lane, Upchurch, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7BB.
Access to the development would be from Chaffes Lane with a new footpath to the front of the properties.
You can find out more about the application and make representations by visiting: https://pa.midkent.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=RTS4OHTYKJV00&activeTab=summary
Comments can also be made in writing to:
Mid Kent Planning Support
Maidstone House
King Street
Maidstone
ME15 6JQ
Comments on this application should reach Mid Kent Planning Support by Thursday the 8th of June 2023, as advertised on the planning site notice. Upchurch Parish Council requested an extension to the original deadline date for comments so they can evaluate the application at a future meeting.
Upchurch Matters
