Upchurch Parish Council Report - January 2016

The monthly Meeting of the Parish Council took place on Thursday 7th January at the Village Hall where 8 Councillors were present and 11 members of the public including Kent County Cllr Baldock and Ward Cllr John Wright. 

Minutes of the meeting held on 3rd December 2015 – Amendments were made, which can be seen on the full minutes. It was proposed by Cllr Masson and seconded by Cllr Denny that they be accepted as a true record. All agreed.

Public Time – Recreation Ground Parking - A resident raised concerns regarding unauthorised vehicles being left in the Recreation Ground, he advised that some had been there for a number of weeks. Cllr Tucker reported that the Clerk has contacted everyone that currently has permission to park there, in order to try and address the situation. Cllr Tucker reported that the issue of the gate being left open requires addressing and a new padlock needs to be purchased as a matter of priority. It was agreed in the meeting that the Clerk should speak again with the PCSO to discuss the unauthorised vehicles and it was agreed that she would place signs on the cars requesting their removal within 14 days. Beckenham Park planning application - The Chairman of the Residents Association of Beckenham Park reported that following a meeting with Haulfryn Ltd today, it had become apparent that modified plans had been submitted and asked if the Parish Council had received notification of this. Cllr Tucker reported that they had not. Cllr Lewin advised that the reason for the modified plans may be due to the original application being inadequate. Cllr Tucker reported that following the Residents Association’s meeting with Haulfryn in December the Council had submitted further objections to this application. It was agreed that the Residents Association and the Clerk would continue to liaise with regards to this application. Parking outside of Holywell Primary School – Ward Cllr Wright reported that he had been speaking to residents regarding the parking outside of the school and to parents regarding the safety issues involved. KC Cllr Baldock will be distributing KCC informative leaflets in the area. Neighbourhood Watch Scheme – Ward Cllr Wright reported that following a rise in crime in both Hartlip and Newington the areas had actively sought to strengthen their neighbourhood watch schemes and enquired whether Upchurch had an active scheme. Cllr Tucker reported that there had been several attempts to resurrect the scheme in the past years but this had unfortunately received little interest. Swale CCTV consultation – KC Cllr Baldock reported that Swale are starting a CCTV consultation. It was agreed that the Clerk would ask Upchurch Matters to publish a survey similar to the Play Area survey to ascertain public interest. Village Christmas tree –A resident thanked the Parish Council for the Christmas tree and provided the members with a report from Upchurch Matters showing the support for the tree. The members thanked resident Mr Robert Friend for his kind donation of the tree to the village. Forge Lane Flats – A resident reported that the rubbish has started to be removed from the flats. The Clerk reported that she is continuing to work with the Environmental Officer at Swale regarding this. Mill Farm – A resident raised concerns regarding the building work at Mill Farm. Cllr Lewin reported that Swale planning are carrying out further investigations having finally obtained the original plans.

Declarations of Interest – Cllr Lewin declared a Disclosable Non Pecuniary Interest in agenda item 6 (iii) – Draft Strategy and Charter for Planning Enforcement.

Correspondence – Lord Lieutenant of Kent annual Civic Service at Rochester Cathedral – It was agreed that Cllr Lewin and the Clerk would attend.

Planning – Land North of Moor Street – Cllr Tucker reported that the appeal is taking place on 23rd February and is expected to run for six days. The Clerk is awaiting confirmation of the venue for this appeal. Four Gun Field – Cllr Lewin reported that an amendment had been submitted for this application. Cllr Tucker reported that the amendment will be fully discussed at the GPC meeting on 20th January 2016 along with any other applications that are received and require comments before the next UPC meeting.

Finance – Agreement of Final Budget and Precept for 2016/17 – The Clerk provided the members with the forecast for 2016/17 and the draft budget preparation. A discussion took place regarding the current reserves held by the Council and this will be discussed further at a finance meeting to be arranged. The Clerk had provided the members with two precept budgets in order to make clear the difference in the precept when taking either £3990 or £5990 from reserves. It was proposed by Cllr Lewin and seconded by Cllr Horton that the higher figure be taken from reserves in order to make the increase in the precept minimal. All agreed.

General Purposes Committee – A copy of the notes from the meeting held on 15th December 2015 had been circulated. All agreed that these were a true record of the meeting.

Defibrillator – The Clerk reported that the second defibrillator had been ordered and following a discussion it was agreed that a possible site would be around the Beckenham Park area.

Paddock – The Clerk reported that the gate had been ordered and she had received confirmation that installation would take place in the week commencing 8th February 2016.

Allotments – Cllr Masson will meet with Southern Water on 8th January 2016 in order for them to carry out an inspection.

Burial Ground and Churchyard – The Clerk reported that she had received permission from Swale planning for a crown lift to be carried out on the trees overhanging The Crown Pub. The Clerk is in the process of obtaining quotations for the work.

Clean for the Queen – In the run up to the Queen’s 90th birthday on 21st April 2016 a countrywide clean-up is taking place. The Clerk has registered the Council for this. Cllr Horton reported that Holywell Primary School have also registered and will be participating with litter picking. The Clerk will research the purchase of litter pickers, refuse sacks and high visibility vests. It was agreed that the Clerk will submit an article to both Upchurch Matters and Gabriel requesting volunteers for the clean-up.

Highways – Cllr Arnold reported that there are currently three faulty street lights in the village.

Other Matters not yet arising – Church Christmas tree Donation – The members thanked Cllr Denny and her husband for the donation of a Christmas tree to the Church on behalf of the Parish Council.

Please note the full Minutes from the Meeting can be seen on the Upchurch Parish Council website.

The next Parish Council Meeting will take place on 4th February 2016 at 7:30pm in the Village Hall. 

Julia Cura, Clerk to the Parish Council.

Tel: 01634 363906

Email: clerk@upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk

Website: www.upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk

Upchurch at War in 1916 by David Wood

With the war in full swing money raising activities continued in Upchurch and news of fatalities arrived while fighting raged on the Western Front.

As fund raising for the war continued at Holywell School under the direction of headmaster Mr Maltravers, Alf Clark from Poot Lane started the Free Will Offering Memorial Fund for a war memorial to honour the fallen after the conflict had finished. By August 1916 £13/17/0d had been raised. Holywell School contributed to the fund by staging a fairy operetta called ‘Briar Rose’ in which 40 children participated. Later in the year £4 was raised for the Lord Kitchener Home for the Blinded and Disabled Soldiers and sailors. In December Young Patriots at Holywell School raised £11/1/6d for St Bart’s Hospital in Rochester and in May they raised £5. Throughout the year they raised money for other causes like HRH Princess Mary’s Christmas Fund for Soldiers and Sailors, the Belgian children and the YMCA hut scheme. In the period October 1915 to May 1916 the Young Patriots made a total of £17. 

The war remained firmly in people’s minds as news of fatalities arrived. On March 5th Henry Marsh of the Ist Canadian Pioneers from Rose Cottage in Forge Lane died of pneumonia in British Columbia in Canada and was buried with full military honours at Ross Bay cemetery. He was one of three brothers fighting in the war. One of his other brothers George Marsh, formerly a blacksmith from Forge Lane, went to France with the British Expeditionary Force in 1915 as a member of the RAMC and became a staff sergeant, taking charge of motor convoy workshops.

Edward Seamer from Shoregate Lane served as a leading stoker on H.M.S Turbulent but died on June 1st 1916 aged 28 when a German ship rammed his vessel and sank it at the Battle of Jutland. On the Western Front Arthur Faulkner aged 28 served as a corporal in The Buffs but perished after a bomb dropped by a German plane exploded close to him in May 1916. He lived and worked in ‘The Crown’ where his father James Faulkner served as publican. Fred Banfield aged 35 from Bayford also died in action while serving with the REKMR on September 7th. He had joined up only fifteen months earlier and had been in France for just over a week when he perished.

Some men were scarred for life by their war-time experiences like Charles Witherden from Ham Green who served as a Royal Marine at the naval Battle of Jutland on May 31st 1916. For years after the battle he had nightmares about the dead bodies of victims floating on the sea after witnessing the destruction and sinking of British ships.

War incidents in the village were rare throughout the conflict but in May 1916 Police Constable Jenner arrested Private William Duley from the 5th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment for being absent without leave from the army. Duley had taken refuge in a private house in Upchurch before being caught.

With the outbreak of the Battle of the Somme in July 1916 the sound of massive artillery explosions on the battle front could be faintly heard in the coastal areas of Kent when the wind blew from France. By this stage of the war precautions against air attacks led to the windows of Upchurch church being shrouded with curtains and the interior being lit with candles. The windows of the Mission Room in Otterham Quay were fitted with blinds at about the same time. This had been decided by the parish council which formed a committee that included Messrs Holloway, Bishop and Anderson to raise money for the materials. The parish council also proposed to have a public telephone installed in the village so that warnings of approaching enemy aircraft could be obtained and also for general use by local residents. Councillors Mr O’Connell and Mr Dennis were elected to make the necessary application but long delays meant that the telephone did not materialise during the war years.

All was not bad news as annual events like Empire Day still took place in the village on June 10th. Mrs Dora Wakeley from Rainham, who later became well-known for establishing Upchurch Pottery, opened the event then distributed attendance medals and certificates to Holywell pupils. Ivy Robinson appeared as the May Queen while children from the Infant’s School performed maypole dancing. A cricket match between the choir boys and Holywell schoolboys followed this in The Paddock during the evening. Another cricket match took place in The Paddock by invitation of Reverend Dicker in July. This was played between Royal Engineers who had erected telephone lines in the village and Upchurch Cricket Club. Upchurch won the match when after scoring 66 runs they bowled out their opponents for 58 to win a closely contested game. After the match both teams were invited to a smoking concert given by Reverend Dicker at the vicarage. Reverend Dicker played the piano while the cricketers sang the night away.

In September a military wedding took place in the church involving Sid Dennis, a Second Airman Mechanic of the RMC and youngest son of farmer Tom Dennis of Natal Farm. He married Jeannie Gould, daughter of Mr and Mrs Gould proprietors of the Brown Jug pub.

By the end of the year the war had reached a stalemate with massive casualties including 120,000 British soldiers killed at the Battle of the Somme. Without an end in sight and war casualties mounting, Upchurch residents entered 1917 with apprehension that the war would continue with more suffering and the loss of more village boys at the war front.

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 at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + £3.50 postage and packing.

David Wood

UpARA New Year Newsletter & Latest Schedule of Events - January 2016

David Powell - Chairman
Email: davidrpowell5@hotmail.co.uk
Telephone: 01795 843550
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Cancelled - Upchurch Cricket Club Charity Football Match in aid of the Air Ambulance

Upchurch Cricket Club Charity Football Match in aid of the Air Ambulance at Upchurch Cricket Club, Holywell Lane on Sunday the 27th of December has now been cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch.

We hope to reschedule the Match for around Easter 2016. Please look out for an announcement nearer the time.

The first year we raised £150.00 and last year £350.00 through match fees and donations. We would like to raise a minimum of £500.00 next year, so as well as donations from spectators... we are also looking for a sponsor!

Support from the village would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

Steve Parker
Mobile: 07879 883153
Email: Sparker57@icloud.com

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Latest POLICE.UK Crime Data for the Area - November 2015

Here is a brief summary of the crime information for the past two months:

	October 2015	November 2015
All crime	27	34
Anti-social behaviour	5	7
Bicycle theft	1	1
Burglary	4	3
Criminal damage and arson	4	7
Drugs	0	0
Other crime	1	0
Other theft	1	3
Possession of weapons	0	0
Public order	0	1
Robbery	0	0
Shoplifting	1	0
Theft from the person	0	0
Vehicle crime	4	4
Violence and sexual offences	6	8

Please visit: www.police.uk for more information including outcomes for these crimes and contact information for your local policing team.

Upchurch Matters
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Christmas 2015 and New Year Waste and Recycling Collections

Swale Borough Council

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