Notice Board

Friday, 17 January 2020

Comment on Proposals for the England Coast Path - Iwade to Grain

Click Map to Enlarge.

Plans to open up a new 40-mile Coastal Path from Iwade to Grain have been unveiled by Natural England.

The new Coastal Path will create a continuous walk around the Estuary for the first time.

On Wednesday 15th January 2020, Natural England submitted a collection of reports to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs setting out the proposals for improved access to the coast between Iwade and Grain (IGR).

Natural England's discussions with landowners and key organisations have helped shape the proposed route and an 8 week public consultation period on the new path has now begun. The Iwade to Grain stretch will form just part of a whole new 2700-mile England Coast Path.

Natural England is now inviting farmers, residents, visitors, local organisations and businesses to submit their comments.

All comments must reach Natural England by midnight on Wednesday 11th March 2020.

All representations and objections will be considered before the Secretary of State makes a final decision about the reports.

If approved by the Secretary of State, work could start by the end of 2020.

The full reports for each stretch of the new proposed path along with information on how to comment, make a representation or an objection can be found at the link here >> http://bit.ly/30uPeqz with a list of locations where you can view the reports in person.

Upchurch Matters

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Thursday, 16 January 2020

Children's Family Fun Afternoon at St. Mary's Church, Newington

We would like to invite families to our next FREE children's event at 2:00pm on Saturday 1st February in St. Mary's Church, Newington.

Our Family Fun Afternoon is based around the Creation. Aimed at primary aged children, we'll have games, songs, crafts... and, of course, refreshments.

This is a FREE event, but please secure your child's place by emailing: kids.at.the.six@gmail.com

Thank you

Frankie Cogger

Website: www.thesix.org.uk

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Planning Permission Granted for Leigh Academy Rainham

A New Secondary School for Medway

Members of Medway Council's Planning Committee have granted permission to build the Leigh Academy Rainham Secondary School on land at Westmoor Farm, Rainham.

Serving the eastern part of the borough, the new school represents a significant investment in the area funded entirely by the Department for Education with new facilities that will be available for community use outside of school hours.

The new mixed 11-18 yr secondary academy will open in September 2021 and be part of the Leigh Academies Trust group of schools on a site south of the railway at Otterham Quay Lane, at the junction of A2 Moor Street, known locally as Westmoor Farm.

The main contractor Bowmer + Kirkland hopes to start on site soon and will keep the community informed of progress through regular newsletters.

Carl Guerin-Hassett who will be Principal of the school when it opens in September next year spoke after the planning meeting:

“We are thrilled to have had Medway Council’s approval for Leigh Academy Rainham. I find the prospect of being instrumental in raising aspirations and attainment in this community enormously exciting and look forward to welcoming our first students from September 2021.”

Pupil Places and Interested Staff

If you are interested in a school place or working at Leigh Academy Rainham, the Leigh Academies Trust have set up a website: www.leighacademyrainham.org.uk where you can register to be kept up to date regarding open events and the admissions process for the new school.

To contact the project team, Email: info@leighacademyrainhamplans.co.uk

For more details, visit: www.leighacademyrainhamplans.co.uk

Upchurch Matters

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Sheds and Containers Broken Into and Bicycle Stolen - Newington

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/7861/20

Between Sunday the 12th and Monday the 13th of January, several sheds and containers were broken into in the Woodlands on Iwade Road, Newington, and a bicycle was stolen.

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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Wednesday, 15 January 2020

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

Watch the video

The video may not be visible in our Email version of this post.

If not, you can watch it here: youtube.com

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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