KCC's - Response to Residents Concerns Over Amended 327 Bus Service Timetable

Recent changes to the 327 Bus Service timetable are
inconveniencing many Upchurch residents.

A response from Kent County Council to Swale Rural Forum 27th of August 2013 Agenda Item No. 10 has been published.

326 / 327 Bus Service:

As you may be aware, 80% of bus services in Kent are operated commercially for profit with the remaining 20% supported financially by KCC. The majority of the 326/7 timetable is operated on a commercial basis by Chalkwell with little involvement from KCC. KCC provides financial support for certain early morning and evening journeys and the weekend timetable. KCC are aware however of the reasoning behind changes made in April this year to the service

Changes were made due to traffic problems causing significant delays to journeys which in some cases were causing students to be late for school. Chalkwell were aware that they were having issues serving the previous timetable due to delays getting to and from Sittingbourne in both the morning and the evening peak, a view which was confirmed through observations by the KCC local bus inspector for the area. Times were therefore changed to help the service run as close as possible to the registered timetable and meet school times. It is a requirement of the Traffic Commissioner for services to run to time as far as possible so this was not just a “nice to do” but a legal requirement. Chalkwell have received a lot of positive comments in relation to the changes made and did advertise the revised timetable through on bus notices and contact with schools.

The service timetable is constantly under review and comments are welcomed from users. It is suggested that in the first instance comments or concerns are raised with the operator Chalkwell due to the commercial nature of much of the timetable.

The Operations Manager at Chalkwell is Andy Bates. Email:  andy.bates@chalkwell.co.uk

Upchurch Parish Councillor Pat New's item about the amended 327 Bus Service timetable is on the Swale Rural Forum agenda (item 10) here:

http://www2.swale.gov.uk/dso/viewagenda.asp?uid=1727

Upchurch Matters

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Swale Rural Forum Meeting - 327 Bus Service

The Swale Rural Forum is being held in Lower Halstow next week and Upchurch Parish Councillor Pat New has asked for an item to be put on the agenda.

"Rural Buses - Upchurch Paraish Council understand that the Bus timetable for the 327 Bus service to Upchurch was amended recently, without any prior notification. We understand that the recent changes to the timetable are causing issues for residents in Upchurch"

There will be an opportunity for the public to ask questions.

It would be great if we had some representation from Upchurch.

Councillor Pat New's item is on the Swale Rural Forum agenda (item 10) here:

http://www2.swale.gov.uk/dso/viewagenda.asp?uid=1727

Upchurch Parish Council

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Upchurch Choral Society - Remembrance Day Concert

Upchurch Choral Society are performing a Remembrance Day Concert on saturday the 9th of November at 7:30pm in St. Mary’s Church.

Music on the night from Mozart's Requiem and Stanford and Ireland.

Tickets are £5, available on the door or contact Liz Walters on: 01634 361897.

Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of St. Mary’s

Thank you,

Liz Walters

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Upchurch Best Kept Garden 2013 - The Winners

At the Upchurch Horticultural Society Show to be held in the village hall on Saturday 7th  September we will award the Barbara Webb Memorial Trophy donated by her father and first won in 1977 to the overall winner in this year’s competition plus awards to the category winners. Christine Madden, the sister of Barbara Webb, has kindly accepted our invitation to present the trophy.

Gardens that could be seen at the front of a house were inspected on 28th July across the whole of the parish by a team of four judges. Despite difficult weather conditions this year there were many good front gardens to choose from.

               

The category winners have been invited to receive their prizes at this event and are :-

Flowers

24 Crosier Court

Winners                                Mr & Mrs E. Mew of 24 Crosier Court

Runner-up                                           21 Drakes Close

Highly Commended                          Orchard Cottage Poot Lane and 15 The Poles

Small Gardens with Flower Troughs / Hanging Baskets

93 Chaffes Lane

Winners                                Mr & Mrs R. Balcombe of 93 Chaffes Lane

Runner-up                                           56 Beckenham Park

Highly Commended                          27 Horsham Lane and 31 Forge Lane

Mixed Flowers and Shrubs

16 Wilkes Close

Winners                                Mr & Mrs C. Panter of 16 Wilkes Close

Runner-up                                           3 Bradshaw Close 

Highly Commended                         105 Chaffes Lane and 134 Chaffes Lane                

The Overall Winner of the Barbara Webb Trophy in 2013 has been judged to be Mr & Mrs C. Panter – congratulations!

Our thanks to the Upchurch Parish Council and The Brown Jug for sponsoring this years prizes.

Gerry Lewin on behalf of the Best Kept Garden Committee

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The Three Tuns 3rd Annual Kentish Beer & Cider Festival

The Three Tuns Lower Halstow are holding their 3rd Annual Kentish Beer & Cider Festival from the 24th - 26th of August.

Doors open on all 3 days at 12:00pm with excellent Live Music and a delicious Hog Roast.

19 Real Ales From 19 Different Kent Micro Breweries and at least a dozen Ciders from 5 different Cideries will be on offer (subject to availability).

Half Pint tokens are sold at the bar and on the token stall.

The Bar menu is also available from 12:00pm - 9:00pm daily.

Chillbillies play on the Saturday at 2:00pm

Skatacus play on the Sunday at 7:30pm

Saturday August 24th

Hog Roast
2:00pm - Live Music from Chillbillies

6:00pm - Curry Buffet - £6.50

7:30pm - Live Music from Dakota

Sunday August 25th

Hog Roast

Sunday Lunches available
2:00pm - Live Music from The Bottles
7:30pm - Live Music from Skatacus

Monday August 26th

Hog Roast

2:00pm - Live Music from Fabulous Grandads

“ beauty lies in
the hands of the
beer holder ”

For more info on events at The Three Tuns, visit their Website here:  www.thethreetunsrestaurant.co.uk

Upchurch Matters

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DVD Release for Jessie Matthews Film Shot on Location in Upchurch

A film from 1938 starring Jessie Matthews and Sonny Hall is to be released on DVD in October by the Rank Organisation.

Sailing Along, a musical set around the love life of the star, used locations at Otterham and Lower Halstow.

The real star was the Thames Sailing Barge, Wiltshire.

Dance Clip  from Sailing Along - 1938 with Jessie Matthews.

Pictured below is the front cover of the DVD, a film still featuring Jessie Matthews singing to a group of bargemen with a London background and a still inside the wheel house with Jessie Matthews & Barry MacKay.

You can read more about Sailing Along here at:  Screenonline.org

Upchurch Matters

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