UPDATE from SGN - Gas Network Upgrade in A2/High Street, Newington - Thursday 30th April

While working onsite in Keycol Hill, our contractor has encountered some engineering difficulties. In close consultation with Kent County Council we need to extend our work at this location until Tuesday 5th May.

Upon completion of our engineering work we’ll begin our process of reinstatement. For everyone’s safety, the A2/Keycol Hill westbound lane will remain reduced and restricted to access only for smaller vehicles and deliveries. All other motorists will need to follow the signed diversion route in place.

We’re continuing to plan further phases of our work in consultation with Kent County Council. For our next phase we’ll be working in between No.102 High Street and Boyces Hill. We’ll provide details of our plans once confirmed.

I apologise for any inconvenience these changes may cause and we will be doing everything we can to minimise disruption and complete our replacement as safely and quickly as possible.

If you have any further queries please let me know.

Kind regards

Paige Roberts

Stakeholder and Community Manager

SGN Gas

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Planning Permission Granted for up to 202 New Homes at Lower Rainham Road, Rainham

Click plan to enlarge.

Members of Medway Council’s Planning Committee have this evening granted outline planning permission by 5 to 2 for up to 202 new homes in Rainham North Ward, on land known locally as Woolley's Orchard - the former Boot Fair field on the Lower Rainham Road, Rainham - subject to section 106 agreement and conditions.

In June 2018, landowners Peel Investments North Limited submitted outline planning application: MC/18/1796 (all matters reserved except access) for the development of up to 202 residential dwellings (Use Class C3), open space, landscaping (including Sustainable Urban Drainage), access, up to 455 car parking spaces and associated works. Land South of Lower Rainham Road, Rainham, Gillingham Medway ME8 7UD.

The report to Planning Committee can be viewed at: https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=52462

The planning application can be viewed at: https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=PA9OKKKNGPI00

Upchurch Matters

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Swale Borough Council - Additional Funding to Handle Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Cllr Roger Truelove.

The Leader of Swale Borough Council has today welcomed the announcement of improved funding from Government to meet the Council’s extra costs in dealing with the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

Cllr Roger Truelove said:

“The first time round we got only £75K support and this was instantly swallowed up in meeting the costs of increased homelessness and in funding the Community Support Hub in the way the Government demanded.

This time there is a much better settlement for district councils, and we are due to receive £1.5 million, the third highest for a district council in Kent.

I am pleased that the Government has listened to district council leaders across the country and recognised the serious challenges to our level of local government.

But we mustn’t delude ourselves, this will only reduce the extent to which we have to raid our reserves.

So far, and we do not know how long this will last, we are set to be £4 million down on our adopted budget for this year. We are losing very significant areas of income and incurring unexpected increases in expenditure.

“The voluntary groups that are doing such a fine job in supporting the community support hub are running short of funds and that is why we are asking generous local people to back our crowd funding project.”

Swale Borough Council

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Expanding Coronavirus Testing in England

We're expanding #Coronavirus testing in England.

Expanded eligibility includes:

➡️ Over 65s with symptoms and people in their household with symptoms

➡️ ANYONE who has to leave home for work and their household who have symptoms

We are also rolling out #Coronavirus testing in England to:

➡️ Asymptomatic NHS and social care staff

➡️ Asymptomatic care home residents

➡️ Book a test here: https://bit.ly/2SyfMo7

Department of Health and Social Care - DHSC

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Swale Borough Council - Fundraising Appeal for Coronavirus Helpers

Swale Borough Council has launched an appeal to raise money for the voluntary and community groups helping support local people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The Swale Community Response is crowdfunding to support the many local groups working to make sure vulnerable local people can stay safe at home to keep themselves safe.

Cllr Richard Palmer, cabinet member for community, said:

“There are thousands of people across the borough who have been told they need to isolate at home for 12 weeks because they are more likely to need hospital treatment if they catch coronavirus.

Most have a network of support who can help with delivering food and essential supplies.

Unfortunately, many don’t, which is where we, and a small army of volunteers, are stepping in to help.

The voluntary and community groups helping us with food parcels, collecting shopping, and picking up prescriptions, are under huge pressure and need all of our support.

If you are able to, even a small donation will help them continue their work.”

The council has been working with local voluntary and community groups to help with food, prescriptions and other essential supplies.

All money raised will go directly to the voluntary groups that are helping us keep local vulnerable people safe.

Spacehive, the funding platform being used, have waived their fees to host the appeal.

Swale Borough Council

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Thoughts in a Time of Lockdown

“I've a rainbow on my door,

I'm sure it was not there before.

The red, it makes me stop to think,

of green, the health of life to drink,

to blue, the warmth of those at work,

who care, who care, who care.”

“You leave in quiet, midst those in slumber...unseen.

A name not known and face unrecognised...unseen.

So much needed of you, so much given...unseen.

Now return to a rainbow smile from those you passed,

and who applaud you.”

“Seated, snug and safe and solitary,

Call delivering all to door.

Early walk with birdsong near,

Infection distanced, not to fear.

Friends on call and message end,

Help on which one can depend.

Please accept a rainbow 'thank you'.”

William J. Little

Editor - The Gabriel Church Supplement

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