St. Mary's Church Upchurch Online Survey

Please take time out to complete the survey.

St. Mary's Upchurch, which is part of a team of local villages churches - which together are called
The Six - would like to hear from everyone who lives in our villages.

We have set up a short online survey where you can tell us what you think about the church, what we do well, what we could do better and what other things we could be doing.

There are just 9 questions and it won't take more than 5 minutes to complete, but your answers will be very helpful to us as we plan for the future.


You can complete the survey by clicking  HERE


Thank you


Rev Hugh Nelson

Curate, The Six

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Upchurch Parish Council Report - January and February 2012

The Parish Council met on Thursday 1^st December in the Hall of Holywell Primary School where 7 Councillors were present and 3 members of the public.

Planning - The following applications were considered:

 SW/11/1150 6 Wallbridge Lane – Change of use to a residential unit caring for young mothers - babies. A further response will be submitted to Swale BC. Concern was expressed that some information was still not known, for example, who is behind this planning application, who is going to run the unit? It was noted that the service users would be voluntarily accommodated under S20 of the Children Act 1989 which stated that “Every local authority shall provide accommodation for any child in need within their area...” However, it was commented that they were not aware of any need being identified, therefore it was requested that this evidence of “need” be reported.

Permission granted:

SW/11/1161 Redbrick Cottage, Poot Lane – Rear extension. To be used as a plant room (To house oil storage & boiler)

vi) Proposal to hold a private party for Scout Leaders, Committee Members and Supporters of the Scout Group on 31 December 2011 at Upchurch Scout Group Headquarters, Drake Lodge Recreation Ground, Oak Lane – There were no objections.                                                

Rural Needs Housing – Members discussed a request from a resident asking that a full declaration of interest be made by each councillor on the working party. It was agreed that sufficient checks were in place to ensure that they all behaved properly in relation to this proposal. Members noted a suggestion forwarded by Tessa O’Sullivan (ACRK) that it may be viable to build 8 to 10 units. Alison Thompson (ERHA) had also agreed that this might be possible and that the site next to Holywell Primary School could be considered. However, the Planning Officer at Swale BC had commented that it would need to be demonstrated that the other, more preferable sites originally identified, were not able to come forward, and also state the reason. Support for this site would also be subject to the design, bulk and scale of the proposed houses and how they relate to their surroundings. It was decided that the working group would meet to discuss this and report back at the next Parish Council meeting.

Administration – Annual Parish Meeting – This has been arranged for Thursday 26^th April 2012 at 7.30pm in the main hall of Upchurch Village Hall. Everyone is welcome and wine and nibbles will be available after the meeting.

Allotments and Recreation Ground – Bonfire at Allotments – Members considered a request by a resident to stipulate times of the day when bonfires were allowed at the Allotments. It was suggested that allotment holders were reminded to show consideration to the neighbours and ensure that bonfires were not left unattended.

Paddock –Dumping of garden waste – The Council would like to remind everyone that garden waste must not be disposed of in the Paddock and that it is considered as fly tipping.

Burial Ground and Churchyard – St Marys Churchyard – footpath to Burial Ground - Members were informed that a quote had been received from First Highways Ltd.

Environment – Queens Diamond Jubilee – Please do consider joining the committee. They are hoping to plan an event which would be suitable for all ages. If you are interested, please contact the Clerk. Rural Broadband – Please consider completing a “needs” survey that is currently being carried out by KCC. You can access this by entering KCC Broadband in the search engine.

The Parish Council met on Thursday 5^th January 2012 in the Hall of Holywell Primary School where 7 Councillors were present and 4 members of the public.

Planning

SW/11/1527 39 Oak Lane – Two storey side and rear extension – No objections.

SW/11/1520 81 Beckenham Park, Otterham Quay Lane – Laying of hardstanding to provide disabled parking bay – No objections.

SW/11/1296 Frogs Farm, Susans Lane – Retrospective application for the building of an agricultural barn - No objections.

Permission granted:

SW/11/1263 16 Oak Lane – Renewal of SW/08/0942 for single storey side and rear extension

SW/11/1160 Field to the rear of 32/62 Hartlip Hill – Variation of condition 4 of SW/11/0653 to allow 3 mobile field shelters and two horse trailers

SW/11/1394 1 Macklands Cottage, Otterham Quay Lane – Erection of single storey conservatory to rear

SW/11/1369 8 Drakes Close – To convert an integral garage into a habitable room and alteration to front elevation to remove garage door and replace with brick and window.

Rural Needs Housing - The working group had met to discuss the next steps. They recommended that members consider the two sites at the next meeting and agree which one to pursue further for this scheme. There would be an opportunity for members to discuss the site selection at the next meeting before a vote was taken. Then there would be a public meeting to further discuss the site selected. Following this public meeting, a referendum would be arranged. Residents would be asked whether they would like the scheme to go ahead or not. It was made clear that no decision would be made until the Council had received the results of the referendum. The Council has yet to decide how the results of the referendum will be interpreted.           

Finance – Village Hall Asbestos Problem - It was agreed to forward a grant of £3,000 towards the cost of asbestos removal. Budget/Precept 2012/13 – It was agreed to submit a 0% increase in the precept.

Burial Ground and Churchyard – St Marys Churchyard – Members noted confirmation from the PCC that they would be willing to contribute half the cost for widening the footpath.

Environment - Poplars at front of Oak Lane and corner of Wallbridge Lane – A letter from Upchurch River Valley Golf Course explaining that during January they proposed to top out the Poplars. They requested that residents did not park on the site line during January. Queens Diamond Jubilee – Members are considering removing the tree stump in the Paddock and replanting a tree to mark the Queens Diamond Jubilee.

Highways – Proposed Bus Shelter - Advice from Conservation Officer at Swale BC had been received. However, members were concerned that the designs he had suggested were all made of wood. Therefore the Clerk will forward him a copy of the design which the Council was considering. Also results of a questionnaire prepared by a resident supporting the need for a bus shelter were circulated.

Next meetings – 2^nd February and 1^st March. Meetings start at 7.30pm and are held in the school Hall of Holywell Primary School.

Claire Attaway, Parish Clerk, 33 Church Farm Rd. Tel: 01634 363906
(office hours Mon-Thurs 9-11.30am)

Email:  clerk@upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk   Email:  www.upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk

Upchurch Parish Council

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Advice Surgeries in Upchurch

Gordon Henderson, Gerry Lewin and John Wright.

MP for Sittngbourne and Sheppey Gordon Henderson will be holding two advice surgeries at Upchurch Village Hall. The first will take place on Friday the 2nd of March between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm and the second on Friday the 7th of September at the same times.

Gordon will be joined on both occasions by Swale Borough Councillors for Hartlip Newington and Upchurch Gerry Lewin and John Wright.

The surgeries will be an opportunity for Upchurch residents to discuss face to face issues at Borough Council, County and National levels.

Upchurch Matters

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Attempted burglary in Chaffes Terrace

This is a joint message from Swale Neighbourhood Watch and Swale Police. There was an attempted burglary in Chaffes Terrace, Chaffes Lane, Upchurch, Sittingbourne just after 4:35 am on the 7th of January.

If you have any information please contact your local police on telephone number: 101 and state you are a member of Neighbourhood Watch.

Thank you that was message: 036.

Kent Police Neighbourhood Watch

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Upchurch Choral Society Rehearsals

St. Mary's Upchurch.

Upchurch Choral Society Rehearsals commence Friday the 6th of January at 8:00pm at St. Mary's Church Upchurch.

New members welcome.

Evelyn Veale

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The Windmill on Windmill Hill

These days Windmill Hill is just a name without significance for many people, other than having a dangerous bend in the road, but from the early nineteenth century a towering windmill stood there as a familiar building and landmark. It could be seen for miles around due to its high location and like Upchurch church it was used a navigation point for boats sailing along the River Medway. During the second half of the nineteenth century the building became the property of farmers ‘Wakeley Brothers’ but by the beginning of the twentieth century it was no longer in use. However, the owners allowed it to continue standing as a familiar landmark that had existed for about 100 years.

Wakeley's Mill 1903

Timber built with a brick base, old and well tarred wood, the windmill was highly inflammable and this eventually proved to be costly because on Thursday September 8th, 1910 it caught fire. A farm worker noticed a narrow plume of smoke coming from it after he had returned from lunch. Due to the inflammability of the building the fire took hold quickly and the high leaping flames and black smoke could be viewed for miles around. This caused crowds of people to converge on the scene to view the spectacle. Eventually, after a long delay, the Rainham Fire Brigade engine arrived but there was little that could be done to save the windmill. Nobody could get anywhere near the fire because it was so hot and intense. The situation worsened when the burning sails from the windmill broke off and fell into a nearby orchard causing considerable damage to young fruit trees that had just come into bearing. Many of these were badly burnt or scorched.

Police constable Jenner and Sergeant Ashton from Rainham assisted by several passers by were able to rescue some pigs in a sty close to the blazing windmill otherwise the animals would have been burnt alive. A timber built store owned by Mrs. Stokes, wife of late farmer Sam Stokes, also caught fire but the fire brigade were able to extinguish the blaze. Water was obtained from a standpipe at the top of Windmill Hill but the pressure remained low due to the high location and this slowed down the firemen who fought the fire for about three hours.

Eventually the fire subsided but the windmill was completely destroyed and the nearby fruit orchard badly burnt. Although Mrs Stokes store survived it was badly damaged. Several carts, a collection of fruit baskets, wheat and grain inside the store were destroyed or damaged. The cost to Wakeley Brothers was about £250 and Mrs. Stokes lost about £100. Both parties were later able to claim insurance but the windmill, such a significant landmark on the landscape, disappeared for ever and only the name and a few photos survive.


David Wood, who was born and raised in Upchurch, is able to write from personal experience about many people and aspects of the village and of changes that have taken place over the years making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and a detailed historical study of the village.


David Wood's book ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David on:  david3702001@yahoo.co.uk  price £12 + p+p £2.

David Wood

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