CANCELLED - Public Enquiry into M2 Junction 5 / A249 Stockbury Roundabout Improvements

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Highways England is making improvements to the M2 junction 5 / A249 Stockbury Roundabout which they say will support improvements to safety and the potential for economic development and growth in the region.

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.

Objections

Stockbury Parish Council and MP Helen Whately, with residents and business owners, have raised concerns and objections over the current plans put forward to upgrade the junction. Because of these objections, the Secretary of State has now ordered a Public Inquiry to take place.

It's believed all would support the scheme providing a bridge or underpass is added to the proposed new road layout. They are concerned that as a result of the upgrade scheme, the village could be cut off and become dangerous and difficult to get to.

They acknowledge and support the need to modernise the Stockbury roundabout but cannot support the current 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.

Public Enquiry - Cancelled

The Department for Transport has now cancelled the two-week Public Inquiry announced by the Secretary of State which was due to open on Tuesday 10th March 2020 and continue for up to two weeks. 

The inquiry was due to be held at Hempstead House, London Road, Bapchild, Sittingbourne ME9 9PP in the Heritage Suite.

Members of the public were invited to attend the proceedings but if they wished to make an objection, declare support or have specific questions, they had to submit their intention of this to the Inspector by 17th February 2020.

An independent Programme Officer was appointed. Information about how to appear at the inquiry, the programme and additional documents were made available on their website at: http://programmeofficers.co.uk/m2j5

If you have questions specifically about the inquiry you should contact Yvonne Parker directly via Email: posltd@virginmedia.com

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

Upchurch Matters

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Valentine's Day Dinner at The BarnYard

Please call the Restaurant to book on: 01634 235059

The BarnYard

Oak Lane, Upchurch, Kent ME9 7EZ

Telephone: 01634 235059

Email: restaurant@the-barnyard.com

Website: www.the-barnyard.com

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ACRE Action with Communities in Rural England - #VillageHallsWeek

Village Halls Week

England’s 10,000+ Village Halls are at the heart of rural community life - providing an important hub for social activities, classes and services.

Village Halls Week ran for the first time in 2018. The campaign is an annual and national celebration of rural community spaces and the people whose time and dedication keep them going. Organised by the ACRE Network, the campaign runs in January and sees a huge variety of events happening across England.

This year's Village Halls Week will run from Monday 20th January to Sunday 26th.

The aim of the week-long campaign is to champion the diverse range of buildings which make up the network and promote the sheer volume of services they offer.

There will be an opportunity to say thank you to the volunteers who run the buildings and learn more about the groups, organisations, individuals and businesses who are making use of these buildings week in and week out. Predominantly the week will take place on social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) however, ACRE Network members will also host events to engage with people in their area.

Nationally ACRE speaks up for Village Halls, ensuring Government policymakers are aware of the challenges faced by volunteers who are often struggling with red-tape and the demands of managing a community building.

Village Halls Week by Kate Fox.
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Watch it at the link here >> youtube.com

The National Rural Touring Forum commissioned poet Kate Fox to write a poem about her experiences with rural touring and village halls for the 2019 Village Halls Week, in partnership with ACRE.

Upchurch Village Hall

Upchurch Village Hall was built over 60 years ago and as a registered charity all Upchurch Village Hall Management Committee (UVHMC), members become a ‘Trustee’ of the Village Hall for the duration that they are on the Committee. All Trustees have a legal responsibility for the running of the Hall, along with all the associated health & safety and financial responsibilities. Maintenance and future planning are also part of the role.

The Village Hall Management Committee members are volunteers who meet regularly throughout the year to ensure the smooth running of the Hall for all the local groups and organisations that hire it on a regular basis, and for those individuals who hire the Hall for private parties and special family occasions.

Thank you for everything you do 👏🏼

To book Upchurch Village Hall, please contact Mollie Harriss on: 01634 364859

Visit the website >> https://upchurchvillagehall.weebly.com

Improvement Project

Many residents will have already seen the necessary remedial work carried out by the Village Hall Management Sub Committee recently to bring the Hall up to standard. In recent years, generous donations have been received from numerous individuals, local Councillors, Council grants, the Co-op Membership Local Community Fund and from numerous fundraising events held in the Hall itself. Together all these have enabled essential work to be carried out, and keep the Hall in good working order. 

The Friends of Upchurch Village Hall has raised thousands of pounds so far and UpARA has nominated the Village Hall as their chosen charity for this year.

Thanks to all the well supported fundraising events, the Sub Committee has been able to complete parts of the improvement project using their own funds.

The fundraising continues this year at UpARA's Quiz Night at the Hall on Friday 17th January and their Valentine's Party on Friday 14th February.

Ticket details here >> http://bit.ly/3a7GhI2

Thank you for everything you do 👏🏼

Celebration

Help ACRE celebrate the huge contribution that Village Halls and the volunteers running them make to rural communities throughout England, with the hashtag #VillageHallsWeek and support your local Village Hall!

Upchurch Matters
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Who Do You Recognise From This Old Photograph? What Was The Year?

Click the photograph to enlarge.

Just for fun

Thanks to Caroline Smith for sharing this old photograph of children at Holywell School. It's not known exactly which year the photo was taken but those pictured are believed to be around 60 now.

Caroline's husband Pete Smith is pictured crouching just to the left of the girl wearing a tartan skirt. Caroline found the photo recently (possibly from a local newspaper) at the house of Pete's parents Joyce and Tom Smith.

The caption reads:

“Fellow pupils crowd round a couple of junior school boys having a quiet game of chess - a pastime they learned while on an Easter Holiday in Ostend.”

Who do you recognise?

What was the year?

Upchurch Matters

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Windows Smashed, Lorry Crash and Front Door Window Smashed - Newington

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/7133/20

Between Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th of January, all the windows at Acorn Carwash in Newington High Street were smashed, possibly with a ball bearing.

Crime Number: 46/6973/20

Between 11:30am and 12:30pm on Thursday the 9th of January, a lorry crashed into some trees, these were chopped down and thrown over the boundary wall of a property in Ellens Field, Boyces Hill, Newington.

Crime Number: 46/5567/20

A front door window was smashed with a brick in Pear Tree Walk, Newington sometime on Thursday the 9th of January.

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

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Funeral Arrangements for Jim Harman

Jim's funeral will be held on Wednesday the 5th of February 2020.

11.00am - St. Mary the Virgin Church, Horsham Lane, Upchurch, ME9 7AL.

12.15pm - Garden of England Crematorium, Sheppey Way, Bobbing, Sittingbourne, ME9 8GZ.

13.30pm - The Crown Public House, 9 The Street, Upchurch, ME9 7EU.

Family flowers only please.

Donations in memory of Jim gratefully accepted via just giving:

www.justgiving.com/team/RememberJimHarman

Some people have expressed concerns that just giving take 10%.

There is a voluntary platform fee which is set to 10% by default.

Click on the drop-down box and select “other” to set the value to zero.

If you wish to make a donation via cash, cheque or bank transfer, please Email me at: zmikep@outlook.com and I can provide details to ensure your donation is received.

You can also post a cheque to 94 Chaffes Lane, Upchurch, ME9 7BH.

There is also the option to donate via John Weir funereal directors in Rainham.

130-132 High Street, Rainham, Kent, ME8 8AR.

Please make cheques payable to the chosen charity either Parkinsons UK or Leukaemia UK and ensure “in memory of Jim Harman” is written on the rear.

Do let me know if you choose this route and I can manually add it to the total on the web site.

Ann has asked me to pass on her thanks for all the messages of support and donations received so far.

Thank you!

Mike Powell

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