Medway Council Receives RSPCA Award for the Sixth Year Running

Medway Council’s outstanding work with stray dogs has been recognised by the RSPCA for the sixth year in a row.

The stray dogs team has been awarded the RSPCA Gold PawPrints Award for the sixth time.

The awards recognise and celebrate the council’s continued work with stray dogs.

The team has been very successful in reuniting lost pets with their owners in the last year as well as finding new homes for abandoned dogs.

Between April 2018 and April 2019 the community wardens picked up 237 dogs, luckily 130 were scanned for microchips on the street and were returned directly to their owners. The team also reunited 57 dogs with their owners. The team also found forever homes for a number of dogs and placed some in longer-term foster care until homes could be found for them.

Medway Council’s community wardens also have their own Facebook page which is dedicated to the stray dogs service. They use social media to help find the owners of stray dogs, find new foster carers and to rehome abandoned dogs.

The team also attend community events and encourage dog owners to follow the Medway canine code which includes keeping your dog under control at all times, ensuring your dog’s vaccinations are up to date and treating your dog with love and kindness.

Cllr Rupert Turpin, Portfolio Holder covering Community Wardens, said:

“We are delighted to have once again been recognised by the RSPCA for our work with stray dogs. Our team works tirelessly to help reunite stray dogs with their owners and to rehome those that have been abandoned. I would like to thank our community wardens for all their hard work.”

Rachel Williams, senior parliamentary advisor for the RSPCA, said:

"It's great to see Medway Council achieving our prestigious Gold award. This is a real testament to the hard work of Medway's staff, their commitment to animal welfare and the health and happiness of their residents."

To find out more about the council’s stray dog service visit: www.medway.gov.uk/dogs

Medway Council 

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M2 Chatham Bypass Resurfacing - Update to Closures

I am writing to advise that A-one+, on behalf of Highways England will be carrying out works on the M2 carriageway in both direction from junction 1 to junction 5.



In order to carry out these works as efficiently and as safely as possible, work will be carried out overnight under full closures of the M2 carriageway between junction 1 and junction 5, including all associated entry and exit slip roads.

During these works, there will be various closures of the slip roads between junction 1 and junction 5 of the M2.

Diversions: clearly signed diversions will be in place during all closures utilising local routes, suitable for all types of vehicles when full closures of the carriageway are in place.

M2 London Bound: Traffic will be diverted at junction 4 of the M2 onto the north bound Hoath Way (A278), then at Bowaters Roundabout, traffic will take the first exit to join the London bound A2 until Will Adams roundabout where traffic will then turn right onto Ito Way and then left onto Pier Road (A289). Traffic will remain on the A289 to re-join the London bound A2 at Shorne.

Whilst the closure is in place from junction 5 of the M2, 2nd September 2019 to 5th September 2019, London bound traffic will be diverted at junction 5 onto the south bound A249 to join the London bound M20 carriageway at junction 7. Traffic will continue on the London bound M20 until the next junction. Traffic will depart the M20 at junction 6 to join the north bound A229. Traffic will then re-join the M2 at junction 3 where the closure ends.

During these London bound M2 closures from junction 5 to junction 3, M20 traffic looking to join the London bound M2 from junction 5 onwards will join the above diversion route from the M20 at junction 7.

A2 Coast Bound: Traffic will be diverted from the A2 in Shorne to join the north bound A289. Traffic will remain on the A289 towards Gillingham where it will turn at the roundabout to join the south bound Yokosuka Way. At Will Adams roundabout traffic will take the first exit to join the coast bound A2. Traffic will exit the A2 at the junction for the south bound A278 where it can join the M2 at junction 4.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to know about the work taking place, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Phone: 0845 6122 888

Post: 10 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, Kent ME19 4AR

Email: area4enquiries@aone.uk.com  info@highwaysengland.co.uk

Web: www.highwaysengland.co.uk

Please be aware that these works have been carefully programmed but are subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances.

A-one+ Integrated Highway Services

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Kent Fire and Rescue Service - Call a Chimney Sweep not a Firefighter

Is your chimney prepared for the winter season?

Dirty chimneys can cause fires, so ensure you keep you and your family safe this winter by keeping your chimney swept and clean. if your home or business has a chimney, please remember to have them swept before the cold weather starts.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service is encouraging people with homes or businesses that have chimneys of any kind to sign up to a FREE Email alert system to help keep people safe from chimney fires. The Email will remind people about cleaning their chimney and provide tips about maintenance and staying safe.

Call a chimney sweep not a firefighter

Before you light your fire for the first time this year, it’s vital you make sure it’s in good working order and fit for the winter or you could be putting your family and home at risk. One of the main causes of chimney fires is not having your chimney swept regularly. Dirty chimneys can cause fires which damage structures, destroy homes and injure or kill people.

Do you use an open fire, wood or log burning stove, Aga or other ‘real flame’ appliance in your home?

The chimney is essentially a household exhaust pipe - funnelling away soot, smoke, gases, hot ashes and sparks - sweeping should be an essential part of home maintenance. This will help protect against blockages, smoke leaks, inadequate ventilation, insufficient draw, down-draught and tar build-up.

Follow KFRS top tips to help avoid a fire and keep your family and home safe at the link here >> http://bit.ly/2ZC9QQg

Keeping your family and home warm and safe should be a top priority

What price would you put on their safety?

Sign up to the FREE KFRS Clean Sweep Alert and you can rely on Kent Fire and Rescue Service to send you a friendly Summer Email reminder to get your chimney swept and inspected as well as useful tips to keep you and your loved ones safe.

• It’s safe and you can sign up in seconds.

• It will help prevent fires and structural damage to your home or business.

Sign up today

• Clean Sweep Email Alert reminder for home - Sign up here >> http://bit.ly/2ZzO2Vj

• Clean Sweep Email Alert reminder for business - Sign up here >> http://bit.ly/2ZzO2Vj

Upchurch Matters

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Upchurch Horticultural Society - September Show

Sponsored by Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd

SEPTEMBER SHOW

Saturday 14^th September 2019

Open to the public 2:00pm

UHS will be holding its September Show in the Barn to the rear of

97 Chaffes Lane

Ample Parking

Refreshments

Raffle

50p Stall

Auction of Exhibits

Toilets

Sean Barry - Upchurch Horticultural Society

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September News from Upchurch Horticultural Society - From the Potting Shed

Sponsored by Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd

It’s hard to believe that it is September already and coming towards the end of the summer. It is still possible to get some hot sunny days this time of year although the evenings start to get noticeably cooler. So it is very important to make the most of outdoor living this month before preparing for the Autumn. Hopefully you have managed to patch repair any lawn damage from last year and everything is looking a lot better. Now is the time to aerate the lawn after all the summer foot traffic that compacts the surface. This can be done with a garden fork and lift the soil slightly to break it up a few inches beneath the surface which also helps with drainage. Lift the blades on your mower as the growth slows down and apply an Autumn weed and feed. This will be low in Nitrogen (N) to avoid generating new growth but high in Phosphate (P) to stimulate root growth and also Potassium (K) for the general health of the grass. September is also a good time for laying new turf.

Keep deadheading and tidying borders and containers, although I must admit that the weeds have got the better of me this year. My borders are very scruffy and desperately need a good clear up. Divide perennials when they stop flowering. Start planting out spring bulbs like daffodils, crocus, iris and hyacinth. Prune summer flowering shrubs and climbing roses as they finish.

Take the crops in the vegetable patch as they come available and any surplus can normally be frozen, pickled or stored. There is nothing better than a large jar of shallots pickled with black peppercorns and chilli flakes put aside for Christmas ready for the boiled ham. Keep watering and picking beans so that they don’t get too large and stringy which will bring an end to the flowering. I took a large pick of rhubarb in mid August which has been cut up and frozen for rhubarb crumble and jelly through the winter. There was no further sign of growth so I have allowed the remaining stems to die back.

The Victoria plums have produced a good crop this year and been cut in half, de-stoned and frozen for more crumble and no sign of moth which deposits a pinky white grub in the middle of the fruit. The apples are coming on well and the pears are cropping nicely although a little small this year. I have inherited a variety of pear called Beurre Hardy from the old vicarage garden which is a dessert pear with a decent flavour and very juicy. However, like a lot of pears, they need to be picked before ripening and left on a window sill for a while before being ready to eat or frozen for even more crumble. If they are left on the tree either the wasps or the birds ruin them. It’s also blackberry time which is good for jams and jellies, although not sure if you can do a blackberry crumble, but then I don’t think I could face one!

I find September a slightly sad month as the evenings draw in and a blanket is needed on the bed. It’s because you know what’s coming and all the predictions of a hard winter start flying around. However, it also brings a well earned rest after the big tidy up in October before the clocks go back and the fires are lit. The log store has been re-filled thanks to Jim Lindsay but a few more weeks yet before it’s time to batten down the hatches. I am feeling a little melancholy... I know how to cheer myself up.

We are always looking for new members and try to encourage a fun attitude towards friendly competition. So if you want to grow your own fruit, vegetables and flowers or even enter any of the 3 shows we hold each year, then please get in touch, we would be happy to hear from you.

If you are interested in becoming a new member, (all ages are welcome), please contact Rosey on: 01634 377812 (evenings) or Email: rosemary@ringwoodaccounting.co.uk

Sean Barry - Upchurch Horticultural Society

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Postponement of Gas Main Replacement Works on the A2 from Oak Lane to Key Street

Works to replace 4.46km of 80 year-old iron gas main along the A2, between Oak Lane and Key Street Roundabout have been postponed until 2020. Contractor, SGN Gas originally planned to start the works near the junction with Oak Lane, Upchurch on Monday 16th September.

SGN Gas is prioritising the works because of the risk of further leaks and danger to workers, and residents, and to protect the supply to 40,000 households served by the main. Because this is such a large main, the work will be slow and complicated. SGN says it will take up to 42 weeks to complete the project. They intend doing this in 11 phases, one at a time. Beginning near the junction with Oak Lane, Upchurch, they will work their way towards Key Street Roundabout over the next 42 weeks.

SGN Gas do not intend fully closing the A2, but having two-way lights where necessary.

KCC Cllr Mike Whiting has agreed that SGN, working with KCC needs to ensure signage and general traffic management for each of the 11 phases of the planned works is subject to detailed audit and discussion between all parties. Both organisations say they will work on that basis and public proposals soonest. He has expressed concerns over the early schedule, traffic management and mitigation proposed and has asked for the works to be postponed until all those things raised by the public have been properly investigated, Cllr Whiting has now received the following response from KCC Highways:

“Dear Mike

Apologies for the delay in getting this to you. I can confirm that SGN have been advised that no planned works will be taking place on the A2 until next year.

This will allow more time for the complex traffic management needs to be fully explored and addressed in a plan.

SGN have made Sharron aware today that some sections of this main may not survive the higher pressure demands of the autumn and may become emergencies. I think we are all aware that this is a risk and we will need to see what happens.

As discussed, all of the comments and suggestions from local residents and businesses will be fully explored as part of this process. The planning is unlikely to have any aspects for discussion for several weeks as the project managers investigate issues and design solutions.

Regards

Kirstie”

Upchurch Matters

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