Medway Council - Changes to Christmas and New Year Waste and Recycling Collection Dates

Upchurch Matters
Space

The Kent Association for Local Councils Community Awards 2020

Upchurch Parish Council is pleased to be participating in the Kent Association for Local Councils Community Awards Scheme again and would like residents to send in nominations for the award. The KALC Community Award is to acknowledge and give recognition to those who have made a significant contribution to their local community.

If you know of someone who has given this sort of service and merits an Award then please do nominate them. The person must live or work within the Parish Council boundary.

If you know of someone who has:

a) Given long and sustained service to the community or part of it;
b) Achieved or acted in an inspiring nature to the local community;
c) Or other such activities which have reflected credit on or brought benefits to Upchurch or its people.

Then the Parish Council would like to hear from you.

Please send your nominations to the Clerk, 14 Trapfield Close, Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent ME14 4HT or Email: clerkupc@outlook.com

Closing date for nominations is Tuesday 31st of December 2019.

Wendy Licence - Clerk to the Parish Council

Website: www.upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk

Space

Temporary Road Closure - Holywell Lane, Upchurch

Kent County Council has made an order to temporarily prohibit through traffic on Holywell Lane, Upchurch from Wednesday 8th January 2020 for up to 3 days.

The road will be closed in the general vicinity of Holywell Farm, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route for any through traffic is via Forge Lane, The Street, Oak Lane, Chaffes Lane, Oast Lane and vice versa.

Access for emergency service vehicles and pedestrians will be maintained at all times during the closure.

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

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while renewal works are undertaken by Southern Water.

For information regarding this closure please contact Southern Water on: 0330 303 0368, who will be able to assist with the scope of the works.

The KCC Highways 24hr Contact Centre helpline is: 03000 418181

For details of roadworks, see: https://one.network

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
Space

Parents & Friends of Holywell School Christmas Fayre

Parents & Friends of Holywell School

Space

December News from Upchurch Horticultural Society - From the Potting Shed

Sponsored by Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd

I didn’t manage to produce an article for November as regrettably I am still economically challenged, but October turned out to be a bit of a washout. So if like me, you have not completed the October tidy up then November was the month to do it. However, at the time of writing, November is proving to be a washout as well. The good thing about winter is everything slows downs to an almost stop so you can always start again in the Spring, which is looking like Plan C.

The fire is going now and the garden is sodden, so very little appeal to venture out. The runner bean trench will still need to be dug to accommodate the leaves that still need to be raked up. But other than gathering potatoes, leeks and parsnips I think that’s it for me, the house is just too cosy with the log fire burning.

It’s been quite a good year in the garden, with a fair summer but nothing like the hot drought of last year. The lawn is still recovering and will need a decent Spring to fully return to normal. The vegetable patch has produced well, especially sweetcorn which I tried for the first time this year. Only got one decent cob from each plant but what a beauty it was. I grew a supersweet variety called Swift, which was outstanding. The first two cobs picked went straight into simmering water and the remainder went in the freezer. Sweetcorn goes mealy very quickly and loses flavour so it must be cooked or frozen straight away to lock in the flavour… the jolly green giant will tell you that!

Rhubarb was also another great success this year after being transplanted to a wetter part of the garden the previous November. The last pick was in mid-August so forget the old adage pick by the end of June, it all depends on the weather. Everything else has been as expected, although the beans got a bit dry during September so went off for a while before giving a bumper crop in early October… really must water them more. The only failure was marrows which are normally dependable, but the courgettes did well. Horticulturally a courgette is a marrow, but what I call marrows will store until Easter whereas courgettes have turned to dust by then. These days courgettes are more popular than marrows as the small ones fry up nicely and big ones can be cubed and added to curries and chillies. But stuffed marrow is such an old classic and I always enjoy the last one at Easter.

The borders gave a good show of flowers this year and the dahlias and roses are still going but the first hard frost will put an end to that. The charm chrysanthemum is flowering its heart out and the nerines are producing a flush of shocking pink which is cheerful as the Autumn really sets in.

December is a good time to make plans for next year and order up the seeds. I think I will do the same again only try to keep the garden tidier and well-watered. Although, some friends in the Horticultural Society are looking at seed varieties for exhibition showing. This gets more serious and takes more time… so I will contemplate the wonders of a giant leek with a chilled beer by the fire, which of course needs to be drunk before it gets warm… MERRY CHRISTMAS.

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
Space

Emergency Road Closure - A2 Key Street Roundabout, Bobbing

It will be necessary to close A2 Key Street Roundabout, Bobbing from Friday 6th December 2019 for up to 1 night to eastbound traffic only.

 

The road will be closed at the junction with the A2.

 

The alternative route is via Sheppey Way, Bobbing Interchange and the A249.

 

It is planned that the road will be closed between 20:00 and 06:00.

The closure is necessary to enable FM Conway to carry out urgent works to repair an expansion joint on the eastbound deck.

This Notice applies when the relevant signs and barriers are on site and is valid for a period of no more than 5 days.

The KCC Highways 24hr Contact Centre helpline is: 03000 418181

For details of roadworks, please see: www.kenttraffic.info

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
Space