Notice Board

Sunday, 14 July 2019

Updated - M2 Junction 5 / A249 Stockbury Roundabout Improvements

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M2 Junction 5 / A249 Stockbury Roundabout Improvements. Publication of Orders under the Highways Act 1980 on 13th June 2019.

Highways England has now published the Orders for the M2 junction 5 / A249 Stockbury roundabout improvements scheme under the Highways Act 1980.

The scheme includes a new flyover which will create an uninterrupted link for drivers staying on the A249 and will free up extra space on the Stockbury roundabout.

Publication of the Orders follows the statutory process that would give Highways England the authority to make the necessary alterations to the existing highways network. This will enable the M2 junction 5 / A249 Stockbury roundabout scheme to be built using powers available to them under the Highways Act 1980.

There is a representation period of 6 weeks

Highways England has made and submitted both the Side Roads Order and Compulsory Purchase Order to the Secretary of State for Transport for confirmation. The associated Section 10 Line Order has been published in draft by the Secretary of State for Transport.

Hard copies of the Orders can be viewed at:

Sittingbourne Library, Central Avenue, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 4AH

Public consultation report

Following the consultation held in late 2017 on the various options to improve the M2 Junction 5 / A249 Stockbury roundabout, Highways England announced a Preferred Route in May 2018 which identified a modified version of the flyover option - this is called Option 4H1.

The results of the public consultation have been used to inform the development of this scheme.

What's next?

There is a 6 week period for interested parties, including members of the public, to submit comments (representations) on the scheme or lodge an objection. Objections and representations must be made in writing to:

Post: The Secretary of State at the National Transport Casework Team, Tyneside House, Skinnerburn Road, Newcastle Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7AR

Email: nationalcasework@dft.gov.uk

The deadline for receipt of all comments or objections is 25th July 2019 at midnight.

Following a review of all comments received and objections made, the Secretary of State will decide upon whether a Public Inquiry will be held.

Why is this scheme needed?

The M2 Junction 5 / A249 Stockbury Roundabout cannot cope with existing traffic flows. At certain times of day, there are high levels of congestion and delay on the A249 southbound (towards Maidstone), northbound (towards Sittingbourne) and on the approaches to the junction and on the exit slop road from the M2 westbound (towards Stockbury Roundabout).

Congestion is expected to worsen in the future due to planned development and population growth. Traffic is already diverting away from the M2 junction 5 / A249 Stockbury roundabout to alternative rural routes to avoid the congestion, putting undue pressure on local roads not suited to large volumes of traffic and increasing safety risks.

The junction is one of the top 50 national casualty locations on England’s major ‘A’ roads and motorways - there were 111 personal injury accidents between January 2011 and December 2015 and nearly half occurred during morning and evening peak periods.

Aims

The Aims of the scheme are to:

• Improve journey times: the improvement scheme will reduce delays meaning people will have quicker and more reliable journeys.

• Make journeys safer: improving the junction will improve safety for all road users.

• Support economic growth: increasing capacity at the junction will support the future housing and employment growth in the area.

• Help cyclists and pedestrians: working with the local authorities, Highways England will aim to improve facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorised users.

• Deliver high standards of highway design: resulting in a scheme that is in keeping with the local environment, minimising environmental impacts and where feasible make conditions better.

The scheme in detail

Details of the proposed option include:

• Existing roundabout replaced with a new grade-separated interchange, which is a flyover, to provide free-flowing movement on the A249.

• 2 new dedicated free-flowing slip roads: A left turn for traffic travelling from the A249 southbound to the M2 westbound and a left turn from the A249 northbound to the M2 eastbound.

• The existing connection from the Maidstone Road to the A249 Stockbury Roundabout to be closed, and Maidstone Road to be re-routed to link with Oad Street.

• The existing junction of Oad Street with the A249 to be closed. A new link to be provided south of the existing Oad Street to connect directly with the A249 Stockbury Roundabout
the Honeycrock Hill junction with the A249 to be closed for safety reasons.

The scheme aims to:

• Improve journey times.

• Make journeys safer.

• Support economic growth.

• Improve drainage and reduce flooding as result of rainfall on the highways.

• Create additional public rights of way and support adjacent schemes to improve access for non-motorised users.

• Improve access onto the A249 for properties lining the southbound carriageway.

• Mitigate impacts on the visual landscape by reducing the height of the flyover, incorporating a cladding sympathetic to its surroundings and incorporating trees as screening.

• Replace any lost habitats or vegetation as a result of the scheme.

• Avoid any impact on ancient woodland or veteran trees.

Full details of the orders can be found on the Highways England website at: https://highwaysengland.co.uk/projects/m2-junction-5-improvements

Petition to Government

Whilst the design has been agreed, further Government funding of over £20m is needed. To assist with this, Swale Borough Councillor James Hunt has setup a 6 month long petition to Government at: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/264893, which reads:

“Fully fund Highways England's proposed improvements to the M2 junction 5”

“The new design, which includes a flyover, will address the appalling safety record of the existing junction, enable economic development in Sittingbourne and Sheppey, improve air quality, and provide wider network resilience ahead of delivery of the Lower Thames Crossing.”

Stockbury Parish Council held an open meeting in response to the scheme's announcement and with the support of residents, MP Helen Whately, KCC Councillor Shellina Prendergast and Maidstone Borough Councillor Patrik Garten, they have begun lobbying for a bridge or underpass to be added to the proposed new road layout. All have concerns that as a result of the upgrade scheme, the village could be cut off and become dangerous and difficult to get to. The Parish Council say they acknowledge the need to modernise the Stockbury roundabout, but cannot support a scheme which they believe will irreparably harm the cohesion of the community, which has small businesses and significant settlements on both sides of the A249.

Upchurch Matters

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Friday, 12 July 2019

Planned Power Outage - Chaffes Lane & Holywell Lane

UK Power Networks keep the lights on for more than eight million properties across London, the South East and the East of England. We invest £600million a year to upgrade and maintain the underground cables and overhead lines that deliver electricity to the schools, hospitals, homes and businesses that we serve. When undertaking work to improve and maintain the network it is occasionally necessary to carry out a planned power cut to enable us to work safely.

We have a planned power cut due to be carried out in the Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch ward on Monday 15th July, which will affect some residents on Chaffes Lane and Holywell Lane. This planned power cut will not affect all residents and all those that will be affected will have been contacted directly.

Please note that in some cases the planned date may have to be rearranged. If that is the case, the affected customers will be notified.

Our customer support team contact affected residents with a letter 12 days and 5 days prior to the power cut and follow up with a voice message/text messages 9 days and 24 hours prior to a planned power cut. They provide information on how to prepare for the power cut, what to do when the power returns and further useful information including support available for residents that may need power for medical equipment/medical conditions.

We also provide extra help to customers on our Priority Service Register during an unplanned power cut. This service is free and is available to households with older or disabled people, those with children under five, or where someone uses medical or mobility equipment that requires electricity as well as other reasons can join the register. If you have residents who would like to join the register they can Email: PSR@ukpowernetworks.co.uk or call: 0800 169 9970. There is also more information about this service on our website: ukpowernetworks.co.uk/priority

If there are any further questions regarding this power cut please contact: 0800 3163105, 24hrs a day and FREE from a mobile phone or landline.

Phoebe Ohene

Community Affairs Officer

UK Power Networks

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Upchurch Parish Council Report - July 2019

Report of the Parish Council July 2019

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

Ref: 19/502283/FULL Land Adjacent To Crescent House Otterham Quay Lane Upchurch

Proposal: Erection of a block of 7 no. dwellings with parking, refuse and cycle store.

Councillors agreed that the area is in need of regeneration but agreed unanimously to object to the proposals and raised concerns as to whether there was sufficient parking for the seven houses and their visitors; KCC Highways noted there was not enough space for bicycles; over intensive development; the development is very cramped; the accommodation is cramped; access to the site is poor; the proposal would provide affordable housing which would attract young families with young children and there is nowhere for the children to play; sustainability of the site; there is no footpath; limited public transport; it is sporadic development in the countryside.

Ref: 19/502827/FULL New Kaine Farm Solar Panel Installation Holywell Lane Upchurch

Proposal: Variation of condition 14 to application 14/504506/FULL( for construction of solar farm comprising up to 7000 solar panels, plus associated equipment, cabling and works, including a steel container to house inverters) - to enable the solar farm to operate for up to 40 years from grid connection date.

The current planning permission is for twenty-five years which was the life expectancy of the panels when they were installed but the life expectancy is now forty years. Councillors agreed unanimously that they had no objections to the proposal and that all previous conditions should be maintained where should the facility cease to function during the forty years, the land be returned to its natural environment.

Ref: 19/502701/FULL

Address: Land Adjacent To Jack Russell Place Halstow Lane Upchurch ME9 7AB

Proposal: Change of use of land to provide 2no. mobile units with associated utility blocks, 10no. transient pitches and parking.

Councillors considered the application and agreed to object to the proposal due to concerns that there was insufficient information as to whether there was a need for transient pitches and that the site would be difficult to control; the development is over intensification of the site; the impact on the visual effect of the area; the proposal further worsens the assessment of the landscape character; the development is not sustainable; it will increase demands on already pressured local services, there is a waiting list for the doctors and it would place further pressure on local schools; there will be a significant impact on the settled community due to the numbers of Gypsy and Travellers currently in the area; the increased volume of traffic exiting onto a very narrow road; there have been many incidents where mobiles being brought to this and other local sites have experienced difficulties in local narrow lanes; the design and access statement is inadequate; the location has no public footpath to Upchurch or Lower Halstow; there is an enforcement issue outstanding on the site and there have been many retrospective planning applications; the development would further urbanise the rural lane creating a coalescence of settlements between the rural village of Upchurch and Lower Halstow.

Ref: 19/502940/FULL 108 Horsham Lane Upchurch Kent ME8 7XB

Proposal: Erection of a single storey rear extension and conversion of a garage into a habitable space.

Councillors considered the application and agreed while they had no objections to the extension they had concerns about whether there would be sufficient parking.

Environment

The new cascade planter has been installed near the village sign, this has been made possible through a grant from Swale Environment Grant Scheme.

Recreation Ground

Councillors considered a request from a property owner in The Street for permission to park at the Recreation Ground and agreed that no further permits be issued.

Burial Ground and Churchyard

The gate to the Burial Ground has been re-aligned. The Parish Council is concerned about non-compliance with the regulations at the Burial Ground and will be taking action.

Highways

The first draft of the Parish Highway Improvement Plan which includes residents’ comments has been drawn up. The plan is focused on the village centre and goes on to the outer areas. There is a public consultation promoted through the Parish Council website and within this publication, please submit your comments to the Clerk or online.

Date of next meetings:

Full Council - Thursday 5^thSeptember 2019 at 7:30pm - no meeting in August.

The Planning Committee and General Purposes Committee - Wednesday 17^thJuly at 7:30pm in the Committee Room of the 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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Parish Highways Improvement Plan Consultation

Following concerns raised by residents the Parish Council is working towards a Parish Highways Improvement Plan and would like to consult with residents on the matter. Councillors would like to know if the right problems have been identified and whether there are any other problems that need to be considered.

Please download the consultation form above at the link here >> http://bit.ly/2YQrVWe

Number the top three areas on the form in order of priority action being required with number 1 being highest priority and 3 the lowest. You may also list other areas of concern.

Return the form with your name and address to Upchurch Parish Council, 14 Trapfield Close, Bearsted, ME14 4HT or Email it to: clerkupc@outlook.com by Tuesday 20th August 2019.

Thank you

Wendy Licence - Clerk to the Parish Council

Tel: 01634 363906

Email: clerkupc@outlook.com

Website: www.upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk

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Thursday, 11 July 2019

Swale Borough Council - New Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy Approved

Councillors have approved plans to put local people at the centre of local housing policy.

Swale Borough Council’s cabinet has approved a new housing, homelessness and rough sleeping strategy which sets out how the authority will work to tackle housing issues over the next four years.

The strategy has been informed by research which found a number of challenges facing the borough, including the pressure of people moving from the London area, the lack of genuinely affordable housing and pressure on services supporting people at risk of homelessness.

A consultation carried out earlier this year raised issues of the quantity and affordability of housing, particularly for people on low incomes.

Cllr Ben Martin, cabinet member for housing at the council, said:

“With average house prices now more than nine times the average local wage, and private rent becoming unaffordable for people on moderate or low incomes, it’s painfully clear that the local housing market isn’t working for too many local people.

Displacement from London is driving up prices and pushing increasing numbers of local families into housing crisis. This means we are seeing more and more people coming to us for help as they face losing their home.

We believe everyone in our community deserves safe, warm decent housing that they can afford, which is why we’re setting out how we plan to tackle homelessness and accelerate affordable housing delivery.

The strategy will help us steer our resources and response to housing issues so we are focussed on the issues that have the biggest impact for local people.

The strategy alone won’t solve all the issues - we have to keep lobbying the government on key issues that need addressing - but it’s a proactive first step in the right direction.”

Cllr Ghlin Whelan, deputy cabinet member for housing at the council, said:

“We need to work to help people get access to affordable housing - either through buying or renting - and help those in housing to stay there.

We want to work with housing providers to build more genuinely affordable homes for local people.

We’ll also be investing in expanding our housing options team so they can offer a better service with the increased pressures they’re under.”

The council’s cabinet approved the housing, homelessness and rough sleeping strategy 2019-23 which sets out four strategic priorities for the council:

• Deliver affordable housing

• Preventing homelessness

• Reduce the need for emergency and temporary accommodation

• Improving conditions in existing homes

To deliver these, the council has committed to delivering on six key objectives:

• Develop a borough-wide approach to invest in and deliver affordable housing

• Promote early intervention and a more customer-focussed homeless prevention service

• Develop and improve the partnership approach to tackling homelessness and rough

0sleeping in the borough

• Prevent the need for, and reduce the length of time spent in, temporary accommodation
0Making sure support is available for vulnerable households

• Improving private sector housing conditions and management practices including helping

0older, disabled and vulnerable people to live in safe adapted homes