Search for News


---------------------------------------


---------------------------------------


Receive our latest Notice Board Page posts delivered daily to your Email inbox ▼


---------------------------------------

News Archive

We want to hear about your village news and events

The best way to tell us is through the contact form here

Tuesday, 24 December 2019

UPDATE: Tuesday 24th December - Notification of Major Gas Works: A2 - High Street, Newington

Following the postponement of our work in November, we’ll be returning to London Road, Newington on Monday 6th January to continue upgrading our gas network.

In close consultation with Kent County Council from Monday 6th January, we'll be working to the east of Newington Industrial Estate, between properties 97 and 111 London Road. For everyone’s safety around our site, we’ll need to install temporary two-way traffic lights for approximately two weeks.

To guarantee gas supplies to properties in the area, we need to revise our programme of works, especially as we have entered the winter period where the gas demand increases. From Monday 20th January 2020, we'll be upgrading our network in the A2, working in Keycol Hill by Rook Lane, Sittingbourne. For everyone’s continued safety, temporary two-way traffic lights will be in place around our work area for approximately six weeks.

We have further work to carry out along the A2, Newington. We’re continuing to plan this and our revised programme of works with the local authority. We will share all the information with you once details have been confirmed.

We appreciate your understanding and patience while we carry out essential gas mains replacement work in the area.

If you have any further questions, please let me know.

Kind regards

Paige Roberts

Stakeholder and Community Manager
SGN Gas
Space

Monday, 23 December 2019

Swale Borough Council - More Than 50 Per cent Cut to Long Stay Parking Prices at New Multi-storey Car Park


People can now park all day at Bourne Place multi-storey car park in Sittingbourne for just £7.

Swale Borough Council has reduced the cost of parking for more than 6 hours to £7 from the £15 to provide more long stay car parking needed around the station and town centre.

Cllr Tim Valentine, cabinet member for environment at the council, said:

“We’re pleased to offer more long stay car parking spaces at the Bourne Place multi-storey car park for locals and visitors in Sittingbourne.

The more than 50 per cent reduction will open up 308 spaces at the new car park.

We know that more long stay parking is needed near the station and around the town centre, so we decided to amend the long stay charge to provide the space that users need.

The multi-storey car park offers secure and well-lit parking between 8am and 7pm every day, giving users peace of mind during the darker winter mornings and evenings. It also benefits from CCTV cameras throughout the building for extra reassurance.

The car park will be open 24-hours a day when the Travelodge hotel opens which will make it even easier for commuters to park.”

The car park will be closed on Christmas day, Boxing day and the New Years day, opening the usual times on all other days.

Bourne Place Multi-Storey Car Park
New tariff:
Up to 30 minutes                                    
£0.50
Up to 1 hour                                             
£1.00
Up to 2 hours                                            
£2.00
Up to 3 hours                                            
£3.00
Up to 4 hours                                            
£4.00
Up to 5 hours                                            
£5.00
Up to a maximum of 6 hours                    
£6.00
Over 6 hours (within 24-hour period)       
£7.00
Lost Ticket                                           
£15.00

The charge is for all parking bays including disabled and parent/child bays.

Swale Borough Council
Space

UPDATE: Potential Alterations to Chalkwell 326/327 Bus Services

Chalkwell Coach Hire recently announced an important consultation on potential alterations to the 326/327 bus service that links Sittingbourne to the Medway Towns via the villages of Newington, Upchurch and Lower Halstow.

Residents were invited to submit their views to the bus company either in writing or by completing an online consultation form by Sunday 15th December.

In an update posted to their Facebook page on Monday 23rd December 2019, the operator wrote:

Thank you to everyone who responded to our 326/327 consultation. We are busy going through all of the responses in order to address how we will move forwards.

I would like to reinforce the point that the service is not being cancelled. We do however have a legal obligation to change the timetable when there are long term programmes of roadworks, such as the 42 week SGN works on the A2. These roadworks in addition to the July 2019 full closure have placed an additional financial burden on Chalkwell, which we cannot sustain indefinitely. Therefore, some elements of the service or certain journeys that are lightly used may be suspended or discontinued.

We recognise that many people are dependent on the 326/327 service for a variety of reasons, all of which will be carefully assessed before any decisions are made.

We have again approached SGN for clarification of when the roadworks will resume and asked them to meet the additional costs that we have incurred. It is fair to say that so far SGN have not been very forthcoming.

In the meantime, we will endeavour to keep our customers updated as and when we have any further information.

Upchurch Matters
Space

Vehicle Damaged - Upchurch | Pig Stolen - Hartlip


Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/242307/19

Between 4:15pm and 9:00pm on Friday 20th of December, a car was vandalised in Oak Lane, Upchurch.

Crime Number: 46/242185/19

Be careful if you are offered a pig for sale because one has been stolen from Potters Barn Farm, Yaugher Lane, Hartlip.

If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.

For more information on crime prevention visit: www.kent.police.uk

Kent Community Messaging
Space

Upchurch Parish Council Report - December 2019


Report of the Parish Council December 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.

Christmas in Upchurch
The Parish Council would like to thank Mr Bob Friend for his generous donation of a Christmas tree for the village. The Council has secured a grant from Swale Borough Council for festive lights.
As the Parish Council has made a grant to Sittingbourne Lights for the Santa Sleigh, all money collected in the parish will be given to Upchurch Village Hall.

KALC Community Awards Scheme
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.  
Please send nominations to the Clerk. Deadline for comments is 31st December, full details can be found on the Parish Council website.

Planning
Ref: 19/505263/FULL Address: Kaynes Farm Breach Lane Lower Halstow ME9 7PA
Proposal: Retrospective application for siting of a portacabin for residential use in association with existing smallholding and equine facilities.
Councillors considered the application and agreed unanimously to object to the proposal.

Ref: 19/505173/SUB Address: New Kaine Farm, Solar Panel Installation Holywell Lane Upchurch ME9 7HP
Proposal: Submission of details pursuant to Condition 4 (Landscaping) of application 19/502827/FULL. 
Councillors considered the application and agreed unanimously to fully support the application.

Ref: 19/505106/FULL  Address: 13 Wilks Close Upchurch ME8 8EY
Proposal: Conversion of existing garage (Retrospective) 
Councillors considered the application and agreed unanimously that they had no objections to the proposal.

Ref: 19/505211/FULL  Address: 6 Horsham Lane Upchurch Sittingbourne Kent ME9 7AL 
Proposal: Conversion of garage into habitable space with external alterations and creation of first-floor side extension. 
Councillors considered the application and agreed unanimously that they had no objections to the proposal.

Ref: 19/505177/FULL Address: 101 Wallbridge Lane Upchurch Kent ME8 7XD 
Proposal: Erection of a garden room. 
Councillors considered the application and agreed unanimously that they had no objections to the proposal.

Ref: 19/505389/PNQCLA Address: Building E1 Adjacent To Kaine Farm House Breach Lane Upchurch ME9 7PH
Proposal: Prior Notification for change of use of agricultural building to 1no. dwelling and for associated operational development. For it's prior approval to: - Transport and highways impacts of the development - Contamination risks on the site - Flooding risks on the site - Noise impacts of the development - Whether the location or siting of the building makes it otherwise impractical or undesirable for the use of the building to change as proposed - Design and external appearance impacts on the building. 
Councillors considered the application and agreed unanimously that they had no objections to the proposal.

Ref: 19/505470/ADV  Address: 3 The Street Upchurch Sittingbourne Kent ME9 7AJ
Proposed: Advertisement Consent for 1no. externally illuminated aluminium fascia with logo (only Logo illuminates), 1no. externally illuminated projector, and 1no. non-illuminated aluminium panel.  
Councillors considered the application and agreed unanimously that they had no objections to the illuminated sign and requested that there be a condition that it is only lit when the shop is open and if possible, the level of light be conducive to the village environment. It was also requested that the number of physical signs on the outside the building be limited if possible.

Paddock and Recreation Ground
The inspection of the play area will take place in December.

There is a problem with dog fouling in the village again. The Community Warden has replenished the bags in the bottles and will report owners who do not clear up after their dogs. There is a problem with dog fouling in Chaffes Lane.  
The Parish Council asks all dog owners to be responsible and clean up after their dogs. Toxocara canis can pass from dog poo to humans as Toxocariasis through contaminated sand or soil, and children are at particular risk.  

Highways
Following inconsiderate parking in Chaffes Lane during the school run, the Council is planning to install bollards to prevent vehicles being parked on the pavement and causing a hazard for pedestrians.

Overgrown vegetation along the footpath in Otterham Quay Lane, near the horses' fields, has been reported to Alan Blackburn (KCC Highways) who has spoken to the Ian Young, the Highway Steward. Mr Blackburn has confirmed that he has raised an order with the term maintenance contractor to carry out some work to clear the vegetation that is over the footway so as to reveal the full available width. The work is scheduled to be completed within the next 28 days, Mr Blackburn has apologised if this has been promised to the residents before but not delivered.

There have been reports of inconsiderate parking opposite the doctors’ surgery and PCSO Cork is looking into this.

Environment
The Council has been awarded £610 from the Swale Environment Grant Fund. The Chairman has met with Ali Corbel, Swale in Bloom Coordinator, who can offer environmental guidance. Swale Borough Council’s preference is for all-year-round planting for bees and wildlife.  

This is a precis of Council business, full minutes of all meetings can be found on the website when ratified.

Date of next meetings:
Full Council - Thursday 2nd January 2020 at 7:30pm in Upchurch Village Hall.
The Planning Committee and General Purposes Committee - Wednesday 15th January 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: 01622 739324
Space

The Crown at Upchurch Over 70s Community Christmas Lunch















Click photos to enlarge.

Annmarie, daughter Sophie, granddaughter Leah and staff at The Crown at Upchurch hosted a FREE and friendly Christmas Lunch for 30 residents on Monday 23rd December.

Their guests enjoyed time with friends and a lovely home-cooked Christmas Turkey Lunch with all the trimmings, followed by either Christmas Pudding, Mince or Apple Pie with Custard.

Congratulations Annie for making this a Merry Christmas for everyone 👍🏼

With donations from:

G.A.F French Ltd
www.gaffrenchltd.co.uk

DGL Testing Services Ltd

Upchurch Matters
Space

Orange-Losenge-Notice-Board

Notice Board

Notice Board

The Village Post EXTRA
+ Click here to join our new local newsgroup

Please-Support-Our-Advertisers-Orange-Losenge

Click the Adverts

Support-BG
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ADVERTISERS BY TRYING
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ADVERTISERS BY TRYING

Classified Advertisements

Classified Advertisements