Upchurch Parish Council Report - March 2014

The Parish Council met on Thursday 6^th February in Cambria Classroom of Holywell Primary School where 7 Councillors were present and 20 members of the public.

Public Time – Tree outside 21 Oak Lane – A resident reported this had been pruned and asked for an update on the tree at the rear of the property.  Oak Lane – A resident reported that blue lines had been painted on the section of the road that appeared to be sinking. Allotments – A resident reported that there were several plots not being worked on and suggested offering these out for working prior to the annual rent payment due date in order to get them cultivated. Gypsy & Traveller Sites – A resident referred to article 8 of human rights and reported that he would be following this up with Swale BC. Four Gun Field – A resident reported that there was a large puddle in the road. Upchurch Burial Ground – Concerns were expressed with a recent grave where the ground appeared to be considerably wet. It was suggested that the Council may like to seek independent advice. The possibility of installing a bench in the lower part of the Burial Ground was mentioned but it was advised that there was opposition to this. Bus Shelter –A resident reported that he had contacted Chalkwell Bus Company to request statistics on the number of people getting on the bus. Unfortunately, they were not allowed to give him this information and he suggested that the Council may be able to obtain this. He reported that the highest number of people waiting for the bus was 9 on the 4^th February 2014 and the lowest was 3 on the 15^th January 2014. He commented that vandalism was a problem in the village centre and reported several incidents that had occurred. It was commented that the people who are “for” the bus shelter are not using the bus; therefore what was it going to be used for when it was not needed. Bus Shelter – Another resident commented that this proposal had been discussed many times now and should the Council allow this, then it would open up a can of worms. Teen Shelter - A resident commented that this proposal seemed to be attached to the Bus Shelter and asked that it be separated. Councillor – Cllr John Wright explained that highway issues such as pot holes or flooding could be reported on the KCC portal. It was advised that the planning application at Orchard Park, Oak Lane would be discussed at the Planning Committee Meeting held in March. He thanked those who attended the consultation event for the proposed Brick earth extraction site at Paradise Farm, Newington and reported that it was well attended.

Correspondence – Upchurch Horticultural Society – Members agreed to a request to use the Paddock for a Plant Sale on the morning of Saturday 26^th April as long as the ground was dry. Young Kent and KIYS Youth – Members were advised that Sue Maidens had accepted her invitation to give a short presentation at the Annual Parish Meeting. Upchurch Information/interpretation board on the 1944 Rail Crash in Oak Lane – Members discussed a proposal from Richard Emmett. Further information will be obtained.

Planning - The following applications were considered:

SW/13/1483 Colourpacks Plant Centre, London Road, Newington – Change of use of part of site to provide a retail area/trade counter. Members noted this.

SW/13/1485 Land at Spade Lane, Hartlip – Siting of two mobile homes with associated utility block, parking for cars and 2 touring caravans for a gypsy family. Members noted this.

Permission granted:

TC/13/0147 The Paddock – Fell 4 x Sycamore, 1 x Oak, 1 x Holm Oak, 1 x Ash, 1 x Hawthorne. Crown lift 6 x Holm Oak, 1 x Sycamore, 1 x Oak, 2 Lime. Coppice 2 x Field Maple. Cut & remove Ivy, 1 x Sycamore, 1 x Acacia. Thinning of 50% of vegetation. Crown lift 1 Mixed Holly to give ground clearance of 1.5m

Permission refused:

SW/13/1442 2 Church Farm Road – First Floor extension over existing garage

Other planning matters: SW/13/0152 Horsham Plantation Yard, Horsham Lane – Change of use from B1 to car sales & showroom. The Planning Review Team will investigate the conditions placed on this planning permission. Gypsy & Traveller site allocations – Cllr Tucker reported an update from the Planning Committee meeting. Members agreed to draft a letter to Gordon Henderson. It was hoped that neighbouring parishes would support this. Residents would also be encouraged to contact Gordon Henderson if they have concerns on this matter. Proposed Brick earth extraction site at Paradise Farm, Newington – Cllr Rossiter reported that this consultation event was well attended. It outlined the proposal to KCC and provided preliminary information. Wienerberger was a large brick manufacturing company and the route to the factory from this site would be along the A2 through Newington. It would take place for 6-8 weeks during dry summer months. During this time, there would be one lorry leaving the site every 5 minutes. It was commented that the impact for Newington and Hartlip would be enormous. The Planning Application would be submitted to KCC and Swale BC would be a consultee. Members appreciated the need to support Hartlip and Newington Parish Council.

Finance – KCC Member Community Engagement Grant Scheme – Members were advised that the application for parking improvements on Rec Ground Car Park had been approved. Members discussed whether to accept the offer of a grant. Various ideas/suggestions were discussed but it was felt that further consultation with the Scout Group was needed. It was agreed to decline this offer. It was reported that the grant offer for £4,500 towards the cost of the Paddock Project had been approved and it had been accepted. The Council had budgeted £2,500 to match this funding and the remaining amount would be funded by reserves.

Paddock – Paddock Project – It was reported that planning permission had been granted for the tree work in the Paddock. A meeting had taken place with Lindsay & Co Tree Surgeons to discuss arranging this work. It was noted that any work must take place before the bird nesting season which started on 1^st March. If this deadline was missed, then work would not be able to commence until August. It was agreed to accept their quote.

Village fete – Cllr Tucker reported that a meeting would be arranged the following week with Mr Kemsley to discuss this further. Local village groups and organisations had shown an interest in taking part in this event. It was noted that England may be playing in the World Cup football on 28^th June but it was felt that the timing of the event could be scheduled around this.            

Recreation Ground – Members would like to politely request that users of this car park do not drive or park on the grass.

Burial Ground and Churchyard – Members discussed a concern raised by a family about their parent’s grave being waterlogged. The Burial Ground representative had been monitoring the situation and also consulted the grave digger. It was agreed to consult the Diocese and also obtain independent advice.

Environment – KALC Community Awards Scheme – Keith Rossiter was nominated for this award for his dedication to the village.                                                                                               

Next meetings – 6^th March and 3^rd April. Please note that the meetings are held in the Hall of Holywell School and start at 7.30pm. The Annual Parish Meeting is scheduled for 24^th April 2014 at the Village Hall. 

Claire Attaway

Parish Clerk

33 Church Farm Road, Upchurch.

Tel: 01634 363906 (Mon-Thurs 9am – 12pm)

Email:  clerk@upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk

Website:  www.upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk

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Shooting the Moon at Upchurch Village Hall

A Puppet Show for Adults?

Upchurch Village Hall presents a Strangeface production of

Shooting the Moon

Sat 22^nd Feb at 7:30pm, Upchurch Village Hall

A show for children aged 8 to 80 years!

Imagination knows no rules…the fantastical life of illusionist Georges Méliès.

Experience the magic of a full-mask and puppet performance from acclaimed theatre company, Strangeface, with this fantastic new show. Through a series of surreal and comic scenes, the life of French illusionist and filmmaker Georges Méliès, will be bought to the stage before your very eyes.

Both mask theatre enthusiasts and those who have never experienced mask theatre before will be amazed, entranced and moved by the way the characters come alive to convey this fantastical tale of illusion, film and fame.

This performance supports your Village Hall – please come and support it!

Discounted tickets available at £8 (adults), £7 (under 16s) and £25 (family, 2+2) from Keith Rossiter, 114 Chaffes Lane (01634 234780) before 15^th February.

Prices rise after that – book early!

Lots more about the world of Strangeface Productions and masks at: www.strangeface.co.uk

Keith Rossiter

Dance4Kent at Lower Halstow Memorial Hall

Dance4Kent provide first-class, fun, engaging & stimulating dance classes, holiday camps & educational services as a part of schools curriculum & also out of hours. We also run classes, holiday camps & other exciting events at our very own D4K dance schools!

With our growing number of D4K instructors we are able to offer a wide array of dance styles that organisations, staff & pupils can really benefit from.

All of our instructors are suitably qualified & experienced & they are all DBS checked, fully insured & have undergone various training in a number of pastoral care subjects including behaviour management, child protection, safe guarding & first aid.

Ballet & Tap classes for children aged 2 1/2 years upwards are run every Monday from 4:30pm - 6:30pm at Lower Halstow Memorial Hall.

Call: 07898207973 or Email: dance4kent@live.co.uk to book your child's FREE trial class. Please have a look at our Website: www.dance4kent.co.uk to see more details about us or 'Like' our Facebook page.

Stephanie Rossiter

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Promise Auction at the Grand Village Fete

A Promise Auction will be held on behalf of

St' Mary the Virgin, Upchurch at the

Grand Village Fete, The Paddock, Saturday 28th June 2014

We have received a number of promises from local villagers and organisations such as

• Homemade cake once a month for six months

• Candle decorating lessons
• Jar of sweets

• Computer lessons

• Lessons to learn Holiday French

• Hair voucher
• Rich fruit cake
• Singing lesson

Offer a service you can perform.....Give up some time........All for your community

Simply put..........Make a promise

We will auction your promise and sell it to the highest bidder, it's as simple as that, you give up your time, offer a skill, or something others might want and we do the rest! All proceeds will go to the church funds.

If you have something to offer? Please let Brenda Kemsley know on Tel: 01634 231585 or Email: brenda_ann@btinternet.com

Do good and feel good, all at the same time!

Brenda Kemsley

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Kent Police Contact Point - Dates for Visiting Upchurch in February and March

Kent Police
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Upchurch 50 Years Ago in February 1964

Many years before the appearance of the ‘Upchurch Festival of Music’ the village experienced a musical month which generated plenty of local interest in February 1964.

The football club began the monthly social events with a lively dance to the music of Dave Champion and the Strangers. This was followed up with a ‘Musical Fanfare’ in the village hall with fifty people participating in a concert. The Church Choir, The Women Institute’s choir, Jane Scott, Myra Duncalf, Peter Brightman and Bryan Veale all performed. Parish clerk Aubrey Smith organised the event which turned out to be very successful and about £12 was raised and donated to inter-church aid. Later in the month a concert took place in the village hall with brass quartets, soloists and a light orchestra which attracted a big audience.

Down at Otterham Quay the annual ‘Miss Otterham’ event took place with lots of twisting and shaking to Dan Barcott’s Band with girls dressed in mini skirts and men wearing smart suits and ties. Twenty eight year old Yvonne Baker won the event with Julie Sims and Jean Martin runners up.

The Upchurch Horticultural Society Dinner turned out to be the most significant social affair of the month. Opened by society president Albert Clemons from Suffield Cottages, 120 guests sat down to dinner after chairman Cliff Wanstall had given a summary of the year. Royal Society medals were awarded to Les Stevens and A Hinge & Son while Charlie Stokes won the vegetable award and George Friend the flower award.

At the Women’s Institute Mrs Johnson gave a lecture about the history of drama. She spoke about the origins of drama in ancient Greece and finished by giving tips on choosing and casting a play. At the same meeting Mrs Court resigned because of ill health and Mrs. Wright won the competition for growing a hyacinth in a jar.

The parish council decided not to enter Upchurch in the ‘Best Kept Village Competition’ but good news arrived with the announcement that a letter had been received from the Divisional Education Officer stating that additional accommodation would be provided for the Infant’s School at the end of the year. At the same time the council announced that more Royal Mail post boxes and a new telephone box were still needed in the village. Permission was also given for the recreation ground to be used for the judging of floats and used as a car park in the forthcoming August carnival.

David Wood.

A wedding with a difference took place in Upchurch when Peter Boakes from Chaffes Lane married Janet West from Iwade at the village church. After the ceremony the bridegroom presented dolls to the bridesmaids and identical models of the Jaguar car to the pages that had brought them to the church. The couple then went to Devon for their honeymoon.

In the village centre daily life continued as usual where Mr and Mrs Jaggers ran the Upchurch Stores, Dick Hales managed W.H. Hales butcher’s with his assistant Barry Madden, Mr and Mrs Huggins ran the grocery shop opposite the church, Cliff and Fay Wanstall managed the post office, Fred Clemons organised the delivery of newspapers while Marj Davies served petrol at her family run garage in Horsham Lane.

Finally, birthdays for the month included Jill Hitchen from Horsham Lane aged seven, Paula Maxted from The Street aged one and Pamela Edmonds from Drakes Close aged twelve. Although there weren’t any recorded baptisms for February Lucy Gransden from Oak Lane aged 70 was buried in the churchyard. A long term resident in the village, Mrs. Gransden had been a regular member of the Mother’s Union and had done a lot of work for the church along with her husband Charles who had served as a churchwarden during the 1960s. This ended a month mainly remembered for music, entertainment and social gatherings.

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  or from us here at Upchurch Matters.

price £12 + p+p £2.

David Wood.
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