Upchurch Parish Council Report - October 2012

The Parish Council met on Thursday 6^th September 2012 in the Hall of Holywell Primary School where 8 Councillors were present and 2 members of the public.

Public Time – A resident raised concerns over the condition of the Churchyard wall. He was assured that this was being monitored.

Correspondence – Bennett’s Expedition to Peru –Members considered ideas for supporting the two residents in their objective to raise funds to participate in a 4 week expedition to Peru in July 2014. The Clerk was asked to contact another resident who was also hoping to participate in a separate expedition.

Planning - The following applications were considered:

SW/12/0906 The Paddocks, Holywell Lane – Variation of condition (3) of SW/04/1302 to allow mobile home to be sited 35m from Holywell Lane. No objections.

ii) SW/12/1015 6 Wallbridge Lane – Variation of condition (4) of planning permission SW/11/1150 to permit four mothers & babies (plus staff) at any one time instead of three. The Planning Review Team had expressed concerns about the expansion of the facility so soon after the initial application. They commented that approval was given but the house now needed converting before even being set up. Members also commented that visiting hours should not be allowed outside normal social hours and asked if the applicant had properly accommodated parking spaces for staff and visitors.

Permissions and Refusals – the following decisions have been received:

Prior approval not required:

Proposed agricultural barn extension; Ham Green Farm, Ham Green

Permission granted:

SW/12/0906 The Paddocks, Holywell Lane – Variation of condition (3) of SW/04/1302 to allow mobile home to be sited 35m from Holywell Lane

SW/12/0511 Dingles Field, Chaffes Lane – Side extension to existing workshop

SW/12/0675 97 Chaffes Lane – Rear conservatory

Application withdrawn:

Hursell Farm, Chaffes Lane – Change of use of site to allow the siting of a gypsy mobile home with associated parking and amenity space (retrospective)

Other Planning matters – Local Needs Housing - A positioning paper written by Cllr Tucker had been circulated to all members. Three meetings of the sub-group had taken place where representatives had attended. It had been agreed that there would be two letters accompanying the voting form, one from the Parish Council and one from the representatives. A copy of the letter from the representatives would be reviewed by members at the next sub-group meeting. A suggestion by the Clerk to enable residents to vote at the ‘drop-in’ had not been agreed by representatives. Members agreed the voting forms would be distributed after the ‘drop-in’ event as planned. It was requested that there would be no campaigning by any party after the ‘drop-in’ event and this had been agreed by all at the sub-group meeting. The Clerk insisted that a neutral collection point be allocated for the return of the voting forms to ensure that no accusations of tampering could be raised. The tampering issue was raised by representatives at the sub-group meeting. Members discussed this and suggested placing a voting box in the Church at various times.

Cllr Tucker had suggested that the Council vote on the following:

“Should the Parish Council return a decision to ERHA & ACRK that it is NOT the right time for the village to undertake such a scheme?” It was explained that this request had been made after the agenda had been distributed, therefore it would be difficult for members to vote on this at the meeting. Also an issue had been raised that two Councillors lived very close to one of the proposed sites under the scheme and therefore had a conflict of interest. The Clerk was asked to obtain advice regarding this. Members are planning to discuss this further at the next meeting. Residents are advised that the ‘drop in’ is provisionally planned for Friday 12^th October in the Village Hall between the hours of 3pm and 8pm. This is still to be confirmed.

Finance – Audit Commission – Annual return for the year ended 31 March 2012 – The Clerk reported that this had been completed and certified. No issues had been identified by the Audit Commission.

Allotments and Recreation Ground – Relocating gate at Allotments - The Clerk reported that two quotes had been received and another was expected shortly. Recreation ground fencing cost – An email from a resident regarding the cost to install wire fencing to part of the Chaffes Lane boundary. Members discussed the possibility of advertising similar small jobs on the notice boards asking people to volunteer their services. It was agreed to discuss this again.                                   

Paddock – Lease – The Clerk reported that Mowll & Mowll Solicitors had confirmed that they were preparing the lease. A cheque to the sum of £2,400 had been forwarded to Gullands Solicitors to enable them to enter into the undertaking. Mr Simmons had copied the Clerk in correspondence chasing Mowll & Mowll for the Lease. Football in the Paddock –Members are considering installing boulders in front of the trees to discourage footballers to play in the Paddock. The cost of this will be considered when preparing the budget for 2013/14. Trees overhanging properties in Bradshaw Close – A letter had been received from residents raising issues with trees which were overhanging their garden. The Tree Warden will investigate and discuss further with the Clerk.                       

Burial Ground and Churchyard – Litter in the churchyard – It was reported that after weddings had taken place at the church, litter was accumulating in the churchyard. The Clerk will contact PCC asking who is responsible for keeping this area tidy after a wedding.

Environment – Footpath by fishing lake – An email from a resident reporting the state of the footpath that runs from Horsham Lane up to the footpath that crosses the horses fields and leads to The Poles. It was reported that the footpath end nearest the fishing lakes was being used as a public toilet. The Clerk will forward this information on to the owner of the lake and inform PCSO John Cork.                                                           

Highways - Street light at Windmill Hill – A quote to the sum of £358.52 plus VAT for the installation of a new lantern was considered. All agreed and the Clerk will arrange this.

Next meetings – Thursday 4^th October 2012 and Thursday 8^th November 2012. Please note that the meetings are held in the Hall of Holywell School and start at 7.30pm.

 Claire Attaway, Parish Clerk, 33 Church Farm Road Tel: 01634 363906
(Mon. – Thurs. 9am – midday)

Email:  clerk@upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk

Parish Council website:  www.upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk
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Final Summer 2012 Produce Sale and Crafts

St. Margaret's, Lower Halstow.

All are welcome to our final Summer Produce Sale with Crafts for 2012 on Saturday the 22nd of September from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at St. Margaret's Church, Lower Halstow.

Please join us at arguably the prettiest location around for a wide range of home grown and home made produce and crafts including: jewellery, pens, wood work, needle work, cards and honey.

Refreshments available.  A warm welcome awaits you.

Liz Mouland
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Holywell School during the 1860s

For many years the village children had been given a basic education in the church with money for teachers and books being raised from local donations then in 1811 National Schools were founded by the National Society for Promoting Religious Education. These were established in villages and towns across England and Wales in the following years to provide the first universal system of elementary education. 

Holywell School, which opened on March 16th 1847 as a National (Church of England) School, was designed to educate the poor in the basic principles of the Established Church. It offered an education which consisted of reading, writing and arithmetic, scripture and an emphasis on moral and religious training. Singing and needlework were also taught with a small amount of time spent on other subjects. Teaching was conducted by rote learning with an exam at the end of the year.

Little evidence exists about life at Holywell School during the 1840s and 1850s but from 1862 schools were obliged to keep a daily log book. The surviving Holywell log book which is held at the Kentish Studies Archives in Maidstone begins in 1865 and gives a clear account about what was happening at the school. An entry in the log book for 23^rd November 1865 by school mistress Mary Holland shows a typical day at the school:

“Gave the whole school in the morning a lesson on the creation. To the first class one also, on the boundaries, size and climate of England. Visited by clergyman. Explained the collect for Sunday to the whole school. Examined 2^nd class in reading and found the reading of the boys improved. Cautioned D. Whitnall for fighting.” 

Attendance at school during the 1860s was not compulsory and children were periodically absent, particularly during the fruit picking and hop picking seasons or to work in the brickfields. Parents were obliged by their employers to make their children work when required. Entries in the log book complain about how this interfered with learning and caused bad behaviour. Maximum daily attendance during the 1860s was about 55. This became a less serious problem from 1882 when school attendance became compulsory.

Memories of Upchurch.

In 1861 Rebecca Hills worked as the school mistress but was later succeeded by Mary Holland who lived in the schoolhouse with her sister Isabella. They had rent free accommodation, common for teachers at the time. They were also assisted by volunteers. These included Mrs. Woodruff, the vicar’s wife who assisted with singing and needlework and a Mrs. Sibley who helped with other subjects. Revd Woodruff also visited the school every week to give religious and moral guidance. He usually visited the school during the afternoons and conducted prayers.

Pupils were generally well ordered but sometimes troublesome and according to the school log book were particularly difficult to control after returning to school from work. Mary Holland wrote on October 7^th, 1866:

“Many children came in who had been working in the brickfield all summer; find them rather rough and wild.”

 Other entries in the log book outline common problems.

Dec 1^st, 1865 “warned Gilbert Hepton not to interfere with girls going home, also against cruelty to animals”. Dec 13th, 1866 “…spoke to the children about pulling turnips as they go home from school.” Aug 14^th, 1866 “punished J. Hubbard and J. Manser for disturbing a wasp’s nest.” Jan 21^st 1868 “turned Daniel Whitnall out of the school.”

Holywell School offered a very basic education for its pupils at a time when the majority of boys left school and worked on local farms or in the brickfields while many girls entered domestic service.

About David:
David Wood was born and raised in Upchurch and 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'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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Holywell Primary School - AGM

You are warmly invited to attend the AGM of the Parents & Friends of Holywell School on Monday the 10th of September in the school hall at 7:00 pm.

Please come along to meet the committee and find out about all the exciting things that have been happening this year and also about all the monies raised.

Upchurch Matters

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Local Needs Housing Sub-Group - Meeting Agenda

I give you notice that the meeting of the Local Needs Housing Sub-Group of Upchurch Parish Council will be held in the back hall of Upchurch Village Hall on Thursday 30th August 2012 at 7:30pm.

Dated this 22^nd day of August 2012.

Agenda

1. Apologies for absence

2. Notes taken from meeting of Sub-group held on 2nd August 2012

3. Notes taken from a meeting of the Chair and Vice-Chair held on 15th August

4. Voting form
      a) to consider arrangements for return of new voting forms
      b) to discuss the disposal of old voting forms
      c) to confirm dates for distribution of new voting forms

5. Public Forum – to consider arrangements for this meeting

6. Next steps – actions to be followed up

7. Confirmation of next meeting

Claire Attaway
Clerk to the Parish Council
33 Church Farm Road, Upchurch, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7AG.
Tel: 01634-363906 Email:  clerk@upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk

Upchurch Parish Council - Local Needs Housing

Four resident’s representatives have joined the Local Needs Housing Sub-Group of the Parish Council and will be meeting regularly.

The purposes and aims of the Sub-Group are to address issues that have arisen and to incorporate the representative’s ideas into the voting process and ‘drop-in’ event.

The Sub-Group has taken the decision to re-design the voting form. The arrangement for the distribution and collection of the new voting forms has yet to be confirmed.

Please note that it has become necessary to reschedule the ‘drop-in’ event that was provisionally arranged for Friday 21st September. It is hoped to hold this event within the next two months, please check:  www.upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk  and the Parish Council Notice Boards for updates.

Claire Attaway

Clerk to the Parish Council

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