Upchurch Best Kept Garden 2018 - The Winners

Overall Winner Paul and Pauline Knights - 66 Beckenham Park

All gardens in the Parish that could be viewed from the front were judged on Saturday the 21st of July 2018.

The judging took place without interviews with the occupants - so if you were shopping or on holiday your garden would have still been judged!

The winners and highly commended gardens in the following 3 categories are:

Overall Winner

Paul and Pauline Knights - 66 Beckenham Park

Small Garden

Winner
Margaret Packer - 11 Chaffes Terrace

Highly Commended
Rebecca and Kevin Pitt - 1 St. Mary's Mews

Highly Commended
Chris and Trudy Whelan - 2 St. Mary's Mews

Highly Commended
Geoff French - 1 Callows Cottages

Hanging Baskets and Containers

Winner
Paul and Pauline Knights - 66 Beckenham Park

Highly Commended
Fred Kemsley - 6 Beckenham Park

Highly Commended
Mr and Mrs Friend - 56 Beckenham Park

Highly Commended
Annmarie Hoare and Josephine Brigden - The Crown Public House

Flowers and Shrubs

Winner
Eddie and Helen Tydeman - 134 Chaffes Lane

Highly Commended

John Lewin - 21 Drakes Close

Highly Commended

Ted Mew - 24 Crosier Court

Highly Commended

Leslie Long - 130 Chaffes Lane

Margaret Packer - 11 Chaffes Terrace

Geoff French - 1 Callows Cottages

Annmarie Hoare and Josephine Brigden - The Crown Public House

Rebecca and Kevin Pitt - 1 St. Mary's Mews

Chris and Trudy Whelan - 2 St. Mary's Mews

Fred Kemsley - 6 Beckenham Park

Mr and Mrs Friend - 56 Beckenham Park

Eddie and Helen Tydeman - 134 Chaffes Lane

John Lewin - 21 Drakes Close

Ted Mew - 24 Crosier Court

Leslie Long - 130 Chaffes Lane

The overall winner was judged to be Paul and Pauline Knights for their beautifully presented garden in Beckenham Park. As overall winner, they will be presented with the Barbara Webb Memorial Rose Bowl to keep until next year’s winner is announced.

Paul and Pauline, along with all the winners and those awarded highly commended will be invited to collect their certificates at 3:30pm on Saturday the 15th of September at the Upchurch Horticultural Society - September Show, taking place at Peter Boakes', rear of 97 Chaffes Lane, Upchurch.

Everyone is welcome to visit the show.

Upchurch Parish Council will be in touch with all the winners and those awarded highly commended over the coming weeks. 

Thank you to all the Judges for their time and effort, particularly Brenda & Bob Quy. This Competition would not be possible without their support.

Paul and Pauline also pick up this year's 1st Prize of 'High Tea' for 4 people at The BarnYard who have kindly sponsored this years competition again.

Please see their menu below:

The BarnYard, Oak Lane, Upchurch. Tel: 01634 235059. Website: www.the-barnyard.com

Cllr Tyrone Ripley

Chairman - Upchurch Parish Council

Telephone: 07702 222093 Email: tyrone.ripley@yahoo.co.uk

On behalf of Upchurch Parish Council and Upchurch Horticultural Society

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Have Your Say on the KCC Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018 - 2028

Have your say on Kent Footpaths and Bridleways

Kent residents are being asked for their opinions on the county council’s plans for maintaining and improving public footpaths and bridleways.

The 12 weeks consultation on the Rights of Way Improvement Plan for the next 10 years is open until Wednesday 12th September 2018. The public are being asked whether the draft strategy has the correct priorities, and also to provide suggestions to improve it.

The vision outlined in the council’s Rights of Way Improvement Plan is:

“To provide a high quality, well-maintained PROW network, that is well used and enjoyed. The use of the network will support the Kent economy, encourage active lifestyles and sustainable travel choices, and contribute to making Kent a great place to live, work and visit.”

The plan identifies the following themes:

Active lifestyles - how use of the network has the potential to improve health and wellbeing;

Evolution of the network - changes required to meet current and future needs;

Knowing what’s out there - how the provision of information removes barriers to use;

Well-maintained network - how poorly maintained public rights of way act as a barrier to use;

Rights with responsibilities - responsible management and use of the network promoting good relationships;

Efficient delivery –-why the Public Rights of Way and Access Service must use resources available to secure the greatest benefits for the public.

However, members of the public have the chance to say whether these themes are the correct priorities and make other suggestions.

The consultation is open now and the online questionnaire can be completed here >> http://bit.ly/2mHf47y

To request hard copies of any consultation materials, residents can Email: alternativeformats@kent.gov.uk or Telephone: 03000 421553.

Your responses will be compiled into a consultation report, which will help produce the final version of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan.

The consultation closes at midnight on Wednesday 12th September 2018.

Upchurch Matters

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Emergency Road Closure - Old House Lane, Hartlip

It will be necessary to close Old House Lane, Hartlip from Monday 30th July 2018 for up to 3 Days.

The whole length of the road will be closed.

The alternative route is via Lower Hartlip Road - Mount Lane - Cowstead Road - Bull Lane.

This is to enable carriageway repair to be carried out by KCC Highways.

The Kent County Council Highways Helpline phone number is: 03000 418181

For details of roadworks, please see: www.roadworks.org

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
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Temporary Closure - Bull Lane, Newington

It will be necessary to close part of Bull Lane, Newington, planned from Tuesday 7th August 2018 for an estimated period of up to 2 weeks.

The closure is to enable SGN Gas to carry out essential gas mains replacement works.

Bull Lane will be closed between the junctions with A2 High Street and The Willows, with no through access.

The alternative route for through traffic is via A2 High Street, Playstool Road and Bull Lane.

Access to the remainder of Bull Lane continues from a southern direction up to where the road is actually closed.

Due to the nature of these works, it will not be possible to re-open the road outside the working hours.

The works have been timed to be carried out during the school holidays, to reduce their impact.

There is a chance that the works may over-run for such reasons as adverse weather conditions or unforeseen engineering difficulties.

The SGN Gas Customer Service Centre phone number is: 0800 912 1700

Website: www.sgn.co.uk

For details of roadworks, please see: www.roadworks.org

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
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Fireworks at The BarnYard

Further to our post on the 16th of July.

“I am sorry for the short notice to our neighbours, but I have just been informed by the groom for tomorrow's wedding (Saturday 21st July) that he has arranged fireworks for the evening.

We were not aware that this had been booked and hope it doesn’t cause too much distress, again my sincere apologies”

Claire Watts

Weddings & Events Manager

The BarnYard, Oak Lane, Upchurch, Kent ME9 7EZ

Telephone: 01634 235059 (ext 2)

Email: events@the-barnyard.com

Website: www.The-BarnYard.com

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Upchurch Parish Council Report - July 2018

Report of the Parish Council meeting 5^th July 2018

Cllr Tyrone Ripley (Chairman), Cllr John Arnold (Vice Chairman), Cllr Pam Denny, Cllr Alan Horton, Cllr Gerry Lewin, Cllr Peter Masson, Cllr Janet Marshall, Cllr Gary Rosewell and Cllr Neil Sheppard. Clerk Mrs Wendy Licence

Planning

i. Ref: 18/502771/FULL

Address: Jack Russell Place Halstow Lane Upchurch Sittingbourne Kent ME9 7AB

Proposal: Installation of a brick wall and gates to front entrance (part retrospective)

Councillors considered the application and agreed unanimously to object to the proposal as it is too intrusive and out of character in a rural area.

ii. Ref: 18/502858/FULL

Address: Brent Orchard Twinney Lane Upchurch Kent ME9 7FS

Proposal: Redevelopment of the existing barn into a 4 bedroom family home with associated access and parking.

Councillors considered the application and had no objections to the proposal and would request that neighbours’ comments be taken into account.

Allotments

Concern was raised about the use of hose pipes at the allotments, hose pipes can only be used to transport water to a suitable static container (such as a water butt). Tenants may not leave the hosepipe unattended during the day for lengthy periods or leave it on overnight. This will be monitored by the Council.

A complaint has been received about bonfires in the allotments causing smoke to affect neighbours, tenants are not permitted to take rubbish onto the allotments to burn. There are some tyres in the allotments which have been made into benches; a polytunnel type structure has been erected and there are some roller blinds on the site, tenants have been requested to remove the items.

Recreation Ground and Paddock

The schedule of tree work will continue in the Recreation Ground and Paddock and vegetation will be cut back. The Council is still waiting to hear of the outcome for a grant for new play equipment.

Burial Ground

A tree branch had been hit by a lorry and fell into the road, a paper boy stopped and removed the tree from the road. Councillors commended the actions of the young person.

Councillors thanked the team of volunteers from the Upchurch Horticultural Society who have kindly offered to maintain the rose beds in the Burial Ground.

A second compost bin has been installed at the Burial Ground and the rubbish bin is now in situ, visitors to the Burial Ground are requested to ensure rubbish is put in the correct bin and that no turf is put in the compost bin.

Church Clock

The response from residents to the refurbishment of the church clock has been outstanding and the Crowdfunding page, https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/the-modernisation-of-the-church-clock-at-saint-mary-the-virgin-upchurch has raised £950 with further donations being made by cheque direct to the Parish Council. 

Councillors collected £75.00 at the Fete and several village organisations have pledged to raise funds as well. £400 from the Fete plant tombola has been donated to the restoration fund as an act of remembrance. £500 has been donated to the restoration fund by the Upchurch Handbell Ringers as an act of remembrance. £63 from a craft stall at the Fete has been given to the restoration fund as an act of remembrance.

Battle’s Over Commemorations

The beacon basket has been made by European Active Projects Ltd who has only charged for the materials. A post will be purchased and the beacon will be installed in September. Councillors have agreed to purchase a commemorative bench.

A bugle player will be attending the commemorations.

Date of next meetings:

There will be no Full Council meeting in August.

The Planning Committee and General Purposes Committee - Wednesday 15th August at 7:30pm in the Committee Room of the Village Hall.

Full Council - Thursday 6th September 2018 at 7:30pm in Upchurch Village Hall

All residents are welcome to attend the meetings and there is a time for members of the public to comment, raise concerns or ask questions.

Wendy Licence - Clerk to the Parish Council

Tel: 01634 363906

Email: clerkupc@outlook.com

Website: www.upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk

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