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Upchurch Parish Council has moved their February 2025 full council meeting from the 6th to the 2nd Thursday of the month, the 13th.
The meeting is at 7:30pm in Upchurch Village Hall.
Upchurch Matters
Upchurch Parish Council Announcement
We are excited to announce that the new play area equipment at The Paddock is now officially open and ready for everyone to enjoy!
The newly installed additions include a variety of fun and exciting features designed to enhance the play experience for children of all ages.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Swale Borough Council and The National Lottery for their generous grant funding, which has made it possible to deliver these fantastic upgrades to our local play area.
Without their support, this project would not have been possible.
We hope you and your families will take full advantage of these improvements and enjoy the new play space.
Nina Henley
Clerk and Proper Officer to Upchurch Parish Council
Tel: 07798 600696
Calling all Upchurch Parish Residents
Upchurch Parish Council will once again present an award to a resident or group that has made a significant contribution to our village community over a period of years.
If you know someone who has given this kind of service and merits an award, please nominate them.
The person must live or work within the Upchurch Parish Council boundary. Parish residents can make just 1 nomination, but all adult family members may submit a nomination form.
The nomination form below can be downloaded and printed or requested from the Clerk Nina Henley at: clerk@upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk
Please send your completed nomination form in a sealed envelope to:
Nina Henley
Clerk and Proper Officer
2 Alfriston Grove
Kings Hill
West Malling
ME19 4SR
Tap and hold or right-click on the nomination form above to download and print it.
The winner will receive a certificate signed by Upchurch Parish Council Chairman Cllr Tyrone Ripley and Swale Hon. Alderman Cllr Gerry Lewin at the Annual Parish Meeting on Thursday the 10th of April 2025.
The closing date for receiving nomination forms is Tuesday the 28th of February 2025.
The previous winners of the (KALC) Community Award in Upchurch are:
Pat New - 2017
Tracey Snellings - 2018
Ray Kemsley - 2019
No award given - 2020
Cia Merrall - 2021
John Arnold - 2022
Gerry Lewin - 2023
Terry Lewis (posthumous) 2024
Upchurch Matters
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Upchurch Matters.
We're always grateful for the support you give the website throughout the year 🙏🏼
This year's lovely village Christmas tree and lit decorations are courtesy of Upchurch Parish Council.
The knitting group has decorated the centre of the village with skillfully knitted Christmas characters again. The added colour they bring really brightens up our winter days.
A lit Nativity Scene, beautifully built by the late Frank Osborne, has also returned to the Churchyard.
Thank you to everyone for all their hard work and generosity.
To a healthy, happy and peaceful 2025 🥂
Upchurch Matters
Exciting Improvements Coming to The Paddock Play Area!
We are thrilled to announce that work to improve The Paddock play area will begin the week commencing Monday, 9th December 2024.
These improvements will include installing new play equipment and enhancements to make the area even more enjoyable for everyone.
During this time, please note:
• Contractors will be on-site, working under strict health and safety guidelines.
• All equipment and materials will be securely stored within a fenced-off area to ensure safety.
• We kindly ask all residents to remain cautious around the site and keep children and pets
away from the work area.
We appreciate your understanding and patience while these improvements are carried out.
On behalf of Upchurch Parish Council, Thank you for your cooperation. Stay tuned for updates.
We look forward to unveiling the upgraded play area soon!
Nina Henley
Clerk and Proper Officer to Upchurch Parish Council
Tel: 07798 600696
Because of the Christmas and New Year festivities, Upchurch Parish Council has amended their full council meeting dates for the next two months.
The December 2024 monthly meeting will be held on Thursday 12th December.
The January 2025 monthly meeting will be held on Thursday 9th January.
As usual, both meetings will be held at Upchurch Village Hall.
Upchurch Matters
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
Because of the D-Day 80 commemorations on Thursday 6th June at the Recreation Ground and the General Election on Thursday 4th July 2024, when the village hall will be used as a polling station, both the June and July monthly parish council meetings will be held on the second Thursday of the month instead.
The June monthly meeting will be held on Thursday 13th June 2024.
The July monthly meeting will be held on Thursday 11th July 2024.
There is no monthly parish council meeting in August.
The usual monthly parish council meeting dates will resume on the first Thursday of the month on Thursday 5th September 2024.
Upchurch Matters
The UK and France will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings on the 6th of June 1944, with a series of major commemorations and events taking place on the 5th and 6th of June 2024 to honour the brave personnel who risked their lives for freedom and peace.
Also known as D-Day, the historic operation saw the Allied Forces mount a large-scale invasion of Nazi-occupied France that ultimately tipped the course of the Second World War in the Allies’ favour.
Please come and join Upchurch Village to commemorate D-Day 80 at an event organised by Upchurch Parish Council at the Recreation Ground, Oak Lane, on Thursday the 6th of June.
A reading of the proclamation will take place at 8:00am, and the beacon will be lit at 9:15pm, in line with the national commemorations.
There will be a food vendor, a licenced bar, an ice cream van and light refreshments in the Scout Hut provided by the Scouts. All are available from 7:30pm.
Please bring your own seating and blankets.
And visit:
Click photographs to enlarge.
Terry Lewis is this year's very worthy winner of the Kent Association of Local Councils Community Awards Scheme 2024 in the community of Upchurch.
Parish Council Chairman Tyrone Ripley presented Terry's award to his wife Jill at this year's Upchurch Annual Parish Meeting held in the village hall on Thursday the 11th of April 2024.
The Lewis family moved to Crosier Court, Upchurch, in 1976, and the couple were together there until Terry sadly passed away in January of this year. They have a son, Garry, and a daughter, Anita.
The Kent Association of Local Councils (KALC) Community Award acknowledges and recognises a resident or group that has made a significant contribution to their local community over a period of years.
This year is the first time the award has been presented posthumously.
Jill was joined for the presentation by grandson Owen and granddaughter-in-law Megan.
Terry's certificate reads:
This certificate is presented to
Terry Lewis
In the Community of: Upchurch
For his dedication to helping the people of Upchurch's numerous village groups and activities with enthusiasm and a smile. Terry was part of village life and will be greatly missed.
Thank you, Terry, for everything you did for our village 👏🏼
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
This year's Annual Parish meeting is on Thursday the 11th of April 2024, at 7:30pm in Upchurch Village Hall.
The meeting is an opportunity for residents to learn about local groups and activities in the Village.
If you would like to speak or read out a report, please contact the Clerk.
If you are unable to attend but would like a report read out on your behalf, please send it to the Clerk no later than the 9th of April 2024.
We hope you can all attend and look forward to seeing you in April.
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
Calling all Upchurch Parish Residents.
Upchurch Parish Council will once again be presenting an award to a resident or group that has made a difference to the village.
The Kent Association of Local Councils (KALC) Community Award acknowledges and recognises a resident or group that has made a significant contribution to their local community over a period of years.
If you know of someone who has given this kind of service and merits an award, please nominate them.
The person must live or work within the Upchurch Parish Council boundary. Parish residents can make just one nomination, but all adult family members may submit a nomination form.
The nomination form below can be downloaded and printed or requested from the Clerk at: clerk@upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk or by telephone: 07798 600696.
Tap and hold or right-click on the nomination form above to download and print it.
The winner will receive a certificate signed by the Chairman of Kent County Council and the KALC Chairman.
The Upchurch Parish Council Chairman will present the award at the Annual Parish Meeting on Thursday the 11th of April 2024.
Please send your completed nomination forms in a sealed envelope to:
Nina Henley
Clerk and Proper Officer
2 Alfriston Grove
Kings Hill
West Malling
ME19 4SR
The closing date for receiving nomination forms is Wednesday the 31st of January 2024.
The previous winners of the KALC Award in Upchurch are:
Pat New in 2017
Tracey Snellings in 2018
Ray Kemsley in 2019
No award given in 2020
Cia Merrall in 2021
John Arnold in 2022
Gerry Lewin in 2023
Upchurch Matters
Christmas Market with Santa at Upchurch Village Hall
Saturday the 9th of December
From 11:00am until 4:30pm
The Christmas Market, organised by the Village Hall Management Committee, is a fundraising event for the St Mary’s Church Bell Tower Restoration Fund.
Tea, coffee, soft drinks and cakes will be provided inside the hall by Upchurch WI, with burgers and wraps available from Butlers Butties van outside. Both are donating from their profits to the Bell Tower Restoration Fund.
Thanks to Upchurch Parish Council, Santa, in his sleigh with giant reindeer and elves, will be visiting the children at the Village Hall from 12:00pm until 2:30pm.
Last year's Christmas Market was a big success!
Don't miss this excellent village event this year.
Upchurch Matters
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
