Upchurch Village Hall AGM

The Upchurch Village Hall AGM will be held on Wednesday the 11th of April 2012 at 7:45 p.m. in the back hall.


Please come along to support what is after all YOUR hall !


Jan Lacy
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Temporary road closure of the A2 at Newington

It is necessary to close the A2 High Street at Newington (Swale area) from Monday 2nd April 2012 for up to 3 weeks.

The closure is for gas mains replacement works to be carried out in a section of road too narrow for works to be done safely without a closure.

It is anticipated the road will be re-opened on or before Sunday 22nd April 2012.

Closure and alternative routes

The road will be closed between the junctions with Playstool Road (access remains as far as Wickham Close) and Bull Lane.

Delays are inevitable, and it is suggested that drivers consider using alternative routes for the duration of these works.

The main motorway alternative route is via A2, A249, M2 between junctions 5 and 4, A278 and A2.

An additional alternative route for non-motorway traffic is via A249 to Maidstone, thence A229 and A230 to Chatham then back onto the A2.

The specific road names for each diversion are listed at the foot of this Bulletin.

Details of closure

This closure has been re-scheduled to be carried out during the Easter Holidays, following extensive local consultation.

Works will be carried out 6 days a week, working extended hours, to reduce the length of time that the road is closed.

These works are part of a scheme to replace the ageing gas mains with modern materials to maintain the security of gas supplies.

Southern Gas Networks has a legal obligation to replace all iron pipes within 30 metres of properties, like the ones at Newington.

All other options have been considered to avoid closing the A2 but there is no satisfactory alternative.

The existing main is in the middle of the carriageway where the road is very narrow.

~ Whilst the road is closed, other highway improvement works will be carried out to avoid the need for separate closures and minimise future disruption ~

Traffic issues

Signage will be put in place on various roads in the vicinity of the road closure to indicate they are unsuitable for large vehicles.

Weight restrictions of 7.5 T (except for access) are likely to be in place on roads leading from the A2 between Rainham and the A249, when signposted (these roads are individually listed at the foot of this message and on the Public Notice)

The situation will be closely monitored, and it may be that additional traffic regulations are introduced for the safety of the public.

Contacts

These works are being carried out by Morrison Utility Services working with Southern Gas Networks.

The Southern Gas Networks 24-hour Customer Service Centre phone number is 0845 070 1431

Kent County Council’s 24-hour helpline is 08458 247 800

Enclosed is a copy of the Public Notice in confirmation of this, as well as an Information leaflet and map giving additional details about the scheme.

This bulletin contains public information and can be freely forwarded to any other road users who may be affected. Every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, but no liability can be accepted for any changes or errors.

Alternative Routes

Motorway

The alternative motorway route is via A2 Keycol Hill, A249 Maidstone Road, M2 from Junction 5 to Junction 4, A278 Hoath Way, A2 London Road and A2 High Street.

Non-motorway

The alternative route for non-motorway traffic is via A2 Keycol Hill, A249 Maidstone Road, Detling Hill, Sittingbourne Road, Bearsted Road, Penenden Heath Road, Sandling Lane, A229 Running Horse Roundabout, Chatham Road, Maidstone Road, A230 Horsted Way, Maidstone Road, A2 Best Street, Brookside, Union Street, New Road, Chatham Hill, Rainham Road, Watling Street, Sovereign Boulevard, Watling Street, London Road and High Street.

Weight Restrictions

A 7.5 Tonne weight restriction (except for access) will be imposed on the following roads, when the relevant signage is in place:

Spade Lane, Mill Lane, Breach Lane, Lower Hartlip Hill, Playstool Road, Church Lane, Bull Lane, Callaways Lane and Rook Lane.

Road names are taken from the National Street Gazetteer on Elgin, with alternative names given where known.

For details of roadworks, please see:  www.elgin.gov.uk

Visit our website:  www.kent.gov.uk/highways  to find out how we look after the roads in Kent.

Customer Information Bulletin SW180G / 1

Regards

Phil Lightman

Road Closures Co-ordinator, East Kent Division

KCC Highways & Transportation

Ashford Highway Depot

Javelin Way

Ashford

TN24 8AD

(08458 247 800 (24-hour Contact Centre)

Fax : 01233 648318

Email:  roadworkseast@kent.gov.uk
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Upchurch Matters featured in Inside Swale Magazine

Click on the article to enlarge it.

The latest edition of Swale Borough Councils 'Inside Swale Magazine' carries a full page feature on Upchurch Matters.

Inside Swale is published quarterly and delivered by Royal Mail to over 80,000 homes in the borough.

The article is great publicity for our village and the website and we are thrilled to be in there.

Upchurch Matters

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Mother's Day

Please remember your Mum.

Celebrate Mum and say thank you for all she is and all she does at our Mother's Day Service this Sunday, 18th of March, 10:30am in St. Mary's Church Upchurch.

A service for the whole family, with fun groups for the children, and flowers for Mum.

Rev Hugh Nelson

Curate, The Six

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Attempted Burglary

Motney Hill Road. An attempted Burglary between Midnight on Wednesday the 7th of March and 3:30pm on Thursday the 8th of March.

An attempt was made to force the front door but no entry was gained.

If you have any information, please contact your local police, on telephone number: 1 O 1, and state you are a member of Neighbourhood Watch.

Reference: DY4703 DA36. 

Kent Police Neighbourhood Watch.
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Pilot Officer Corbett

This interesting piece has come about during David Hughes research into the proposed new war memorial for Upchurch.

Shot down over Kent he crash landed at Bayford Marsh about a mile from Upchurch village. Rev. W.J. Wright went to the crash site and reported back to Corbett’s home church, also called St Mary’s in Oak Bay, Victoria British Columbia, Canada.


After the war, his family commissioned a stain glass window in Oak Bay and for many years a bouquet of red roses was placed under the window. Since local family members have died, a parishioner continues the Remembrance Day memory with a single red rose.

Thanks to the Times Colonist newspaper for the image of the window.

Upchurch Matters

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