Temporary Road Closure - A2 High Street, Newington and Various Roads

Kent County Council has made an order to temporarily prohibit through traffic on various roads in Swale from Thursday 2nd April 2020 with estimated completion by Wednesday 29th April 2020.

The road closures were requested to be brought forward by various members and schools to coincide with the start of the school Easter holiday before the Government announced the closure of all UK schools.

A2 High Street, Newington will be closed from number 17 to the junction with Bull Lane. To the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route for non-motorway traffic is via A2 Hartlip Hill, Breach Lane, The Street, Sheerness Road, Raspberry Hill Lane, Old Ferry Road, Sheppey Way, Ferry Road, Sheppey Way, Key Street Roundabout, A2 Keycol Hill, Boyce Hill, High Street and vice versa.

The alternative route for HGVs travelling eastbound is via A2 High Street, Boyce Hill, Keycol Hill, Key Street Roundabout, A249 Maidstone Road, A249 Stockbury Roundabout Entry, M2 Junction 5 on-slip, M2, M2 Junction 4 off-slip, A278 Hoath Way, Bowaters Roundabout, A2 London Road, High Street, Moor Street, London Road and Hartlip Hill.

The alternative route for HGVs travelling westbound is via A2 Hartlip Hill, London Road, Moor Street, High Street, London Road, Bowaters Roundabout, A278 Hoath Way, M2 Junction 4 on-slip, M2, M2 Junction 5 off-slip, A249 Stockbury Roundabout Road, A249 Maidstone Road, Key Street northbound off-slip, Key Street Roundabout, Keycol Hill, Boyce Hill and High Street.

Bull Lane, Newington and Church Lane, Newington will be closed at the junctions with A2 High Street, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route for the Church Lane closure is via Wardwell Lane, Vicarage Lane, The Street, Breach Lane and vice versa.

The alternative route for the Bull Lane closure is via Old House Lane, Lower Hartlip Road and vice versa.

Wormdale Hill, Newington will become one-way in a southbound direction from the junction with Bull Lane to the vicinity of the Golf Club car park. However, two-way access will be maintained on Wormdale Hill, Newington from the junction with Maidstone Road up to the vicinity of the Golf Club car park.

Station Road, Newington will remain open to allow for access into the Station.

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 gas main replacement works on A2 High Street, Newington are undertaken by SGN.

For information regarding this closure please contact SGN on: 0800 111999, who will be able to assist with the scope of the works.

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

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
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KCC’s £200,000 to Support Charities During Coronavirus Pandemic

KCC is urging the county’s smaller charities to take advantage of an emergency fund launched by the Kent Community Foundation, which the county council has already supported with a grant of £200,000.

The Foundation has said it will be supporting charities and community groups facing difficulties as their fundraising activities are affected by the government measures to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus.

The emergency fund will accept applications for grants of up to £10,000, from charities with an annual income of £200,000 or less and will initially give priority to those from organisations supporting the elderly and vulnerable.

Mike Hill, KCC’s Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services, said:

“Many charities will suffer a loss of income because of the current pandemic and will therefore struggle to provide their vital services to the community.

Kent Community Foundation has asked its existing supporters to help alleviate this situation and KCC has acted quickly to donate £200,000 to the new Coronavirus Emergency Fund.

This will initially support charities and community groups working with the elderly and vulnerable, but the foundation will closely monitor developments to assess which other groups may also need support from this fund.”

KCC is currently consulting on its Civil Society Strategy, which is due to be launched in June. The strategy sets out KCC’s commitment to supporting the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, recognising the important role it plays in our communities.

The strategy will see future investment into the social sector but the decision has been taken to bring some of the funding forward to support organisations during this challenging time.

Residents and organisations can taken part in the consultation by clicking this link: https://kccconsultations.inconsult.uk/consult.ti/civilsocietystrategy/consultationHome

Charities wishing to apply for support from the foundation should visit the website: https://kentcf.org.uk

Murray Evans

Kent County Council

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Upchurch Choral Society

Upchurch Choral Society, along with other groups, has stopped all rehearsals for the time being because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

So our next concert, scheduled for Saturday 25th April, is cancelled.

One day, hopefully, we will restart with renewed vigour and sing to the village again!

Sue Rossiter

Secretary to Upchurch Choral Society

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NEW ADVICE - Coronavirus: Protecting the Most at Risk - Isolate your Household - Stay at Home

Protecting the most at risk

Some people with serious underlying health conditions face the highest risk of being hospitalised by Coronavirus.

We are urging those people to STAY at home.

Read the full guidance here: https://bit.ly/3976KDL

Social distancing:

✅ Everyone should be reducing their interactions with others to reduce transmission of COVID-19.

✅ People at increased risk of severe illness should be particularly stringent in following the advice.

✅ Read our guidance here: http://bit.ly/2Uj3CPP

Isolate your household - Stay at home

The most common symptoms of Coronavirus are:

A new continuous cough

OR

High temperature (37.8 degrees or higher).

If you or anyone in your household has a high temperature or a new and continuous cough - even if it’s mild:

✅ Everyone in your household must stay at home for 14 days and keep away from others.

❌ DO NOT go to your GP, hospital or pharmacy.

✅ Go to: nhs.uk to check your symptoms and follow the specialist medical advice. Only call NHS 111 if you can’t get online or your symptoms worsen.

✅ Protect older people and those with existing health conditions by avoiding contact.

✅ Find out how to isolate your household at: nhs.uk/coronavirus

Here's what you can do to protect yourself and others:

✅ Wash your hands more often.

✅ Use soap and water for 20 seconds.

✅ Or use hand sanitiser.

#coronavirus | #COVID_19

Department of Health and Social Care - DHSC

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Swale Borough Council - Changes to Public Opening Times at Council Offices

From Monday, 23rd March, we will be reducing the public opening hours of our Sittingbourne and Faversham offices to:

• Swale House: Mon - Fri 10:00am - 3:00pm
• Faversham: Tue and Thu 9:00am - 12:30am

KCC has taken the decision to close Sheppey Gateway to the public from Monday, 23rd March.

Normal telephone availability will remain in place.

Swale Borough Council

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A Message from Mrs Warner

Click photos to enlarge.

If you’re passing the school gates, look out for the rainbow made by Mayflower Class. It’s in the entrance window to remind everyone we are thinking of you all.

The school children have also made cards to send love and thoughts to elderly residents in the village.

Mayflower and Richmond Classrooms are ready to support the children of our hard working key workers in Holywell.

Stay safe everyone.

Jackie Warner

Holywell Primary School

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