Swale Borough Council - Local Councillor Appointed Heritage Champion

Cllr Mike Baldock & Malcolm Moore from The Sittingbourne Society
at the old Periwinkle Mill - an example of the area's
forgotten industrial heritage that needs to be remembered.

Mike has made it clear that he expects the Periwinkle Mill
to be the next major heritage project Swale Council oversees,
in partnership with the Sittingbourne Society. 

Local councillor appointed Heritage Champion to protect historic buildings and areas across the borough.

Swale Borough Council’s deputy leader Mike Baldock has been appointed Swale’s Heritage Champion.

Heritage Champions are part of a nationwide network that work directly with Historic England to protect the historic environment across the country.

Cllr Baldock was appointed Heritage Champion at last month’s cabinet meeting, giving him authority to act on behalf of the council in all historic matters within the borough.

As Heritage Champion, Cllr Baldock will help to guide the council’s management of the historic environment, generate enthusiasm and awareness of the importance of the local historic environment, and ensure that commitment to the proper care of the historic environment is embedded in all council plans and activities.

Cllr Mike Baldock, cabinet member for planning and heritage champion, said:

“I’m over the moon to be nominated and chosen as the borough’s Heritage Champion.

I’m passionate about planning and preserving the history of the local area and take the position of Heritage Champion very seriously.

I look forward to working closely with the council’s heritage team and Historic England to help conserve our borough’s rich heritage.

We have a lot of work happening to protect our heritage at the council, including grants to local organisations for their heritage projects, and a new heritage strategy which outlines how we will protect our assets from now until 2032 that is open to consultation with the public until 31 January.

We’ve allocated £7,593 in heritage grants so far this year, and still have £2,407 up for grabs until the end of February.

So far, we’ve allocated £1,700 to Doddington and Newnham Parish Councils to correct names and an omission on their war memorial, £721 to Blue Town Remembered for a World War II project in Sheppey and £650 to the Faversham Society to produce a new heritage map of Faversham.

We are keen to work closely with the local people and organisations that are interested in our heritage to discuss how we can protect and enhance our historic sites and areas from now and into the future.”

For more information about the heritage strategy visit: www.swale.gov.uk/heritage-strategy

For more information and to apply for a heritage grant visit: www.swale.gov.uk/heritage-grants

Full list of heritage grants made to date:

Raybel Charters CIC

Raybel Centenary' event

£1000

Steering Group of St Peter and St Paul Lynsted

Repair of 18th century church clock

£1000

Faversham Society

New heritage map of Faversham

£650

Friends of Milton Regis Court Hall

New display cabinet for stained glass

£500

Newnham Parish Council

Amend and Correct Names on the Doddington and Newnham War Memorial

£722

Doddington Parish Council

Correct omissions and mistakes on the Doddington and Newnham War Memorial

£1000

Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway

Coach restoration to provide more seating

£1000

The Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne

Running costs for ''Wheels of Time'' Initiative

£1000

Blue Town Remembered

Produce, resource and deliver a project on WW2 in Sheppey

£721

Swale Borough Council

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Temporary Road Closure - Lower Hartlip Road, Hartlip

Kent County Council has made an order to temporarily prohibit through traffic on Lower Hartlip Road, Hartlip from Friday 14th February 2020, with estimated completion by 27th February 2020.

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

The alternative route for any through traffic is via Mount Lane, Warren Lane, Matts Hill, Yaugher Lane, Magpie Lane, Lower Hartlip Road and vice versa.

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

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while maintenance works on a water main 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
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Temporary Road Closure - Meresborough Lane, Hartlip

Kent County Council has made an order to temporarily prohibit through traffic on Meresborough Lane, Hartlip from Wednesday 12th February 2020 for up to 3 days.

The road will be closed in the general vicinity of the land adjacent to Roman Villas, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route for any through traffic is via Spade Lane, A2 London Road, Mill Lane, Dane Lane, Meresborough Lane and vice versa.

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

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while water connection 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
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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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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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