UPDATE from SGN - Gas Network Upgrade in A2/High Street, Newington - Thursday 7th May

Good afternoon

We are continuing to replace our old gas mains with new plastic pipe along the A2, Newington to ensure a safe and reliable gas supply.

I’m pleased to share we have completed our phase of work in Keycol Hill at Key Street roundabout and have safely re-opened the A2 to all motorists including HGV’s.

Over the coming three weeks our engineers will be replacing our gas main along the A2 outside property No.102 High Street and Eden Meadows.

For everyone’s safety we have installed temporary traffic lights around our work area at Eden Meadows. We have also employed ‘give and take’ traffic management for everyone’s safety around our site outside No.102 High Street.

We continue to plan the final phases of our work in consultation with Kent County Council. All being well we plan complete all the necessary upgrades by the end of June 2020.

I’ll provide details of our plans once confirmed. In the meantime I would like to thank residents, businesses and road users for their continued patience and understanding while we carry out this essential work.

If you have any further queries please let me know.

Kind regards

Paige Roberts

Stakeholder and Community Manager

SGN Gas

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Medway Council Household Waste & Recycling Centres to Reopen

Plans are underway to safely reopen Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs) across Kent and Medway for essential use.

HWRCs were closed in March in line with government guidelines to encourage people to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives as part of its response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Medway Council has developed a new online booking system in preparation for its HWRCs at Capstone and Hoath Way in Gillingham to reopen from Friday, 15th May - the online booking system will be the only way to access a waste centre. Further plans will be put in place for the site at Cuxton to safely reopen as soon as possible at a later date.

This will enable residents who have booked an appointment to dispose of waste that is presenting a hazard and cannot reasonably be disposed of in other ways. The booking system will enable the council to both manage demand and meet essential social distancing requirements, which are being introduced to ensure the protection of customers and staff.

Cuxton HWRC will remain closed when Capstone and Hoath Way reopens on 15th May. 

Social distancing measures include:

• Every other parking bay will be blocked off.

• Number of visitors limited: 10 at Capstone and 5 at Gillingham.

• Members of staff will not assist customers with lifting their waste to reduce the risk of infection. To assist, two people per vehicle is permitted. However, where assistance is not required we ask that only one person leaves the vehicle to dispose of the waste.

• Customers must bring and wear gloves whilst on site.

• Customers must attend the site within their booking slot, if they miss the slot, they may not be permitted to use the site.

The same system is being implemented across all Kent County Council waste disposal sites at the same time.

Medway’s Portfolio Holder for Front Line Services and covering waste disposal, Cllr Phil Filmer, said:

“Medway Council has been busy working on plans to allow our Household Waste and Recycling Centres to safely reopen in line with government guidelines for essential use only. I am pleased our centres will be reopened soon for residents who have no other means to securely store or dispose of waste.

Although the council has maintained an excellent weekly household waste and recycling collection throughout the lockdown, we know there is demand for these much-appreciated and additional facilities to be reopened. However, it is essential that we do so in a way that keeps people safe and avoids customers having to wait in long queues. Implementing a booking only system is the best way to achieve this.”

To ensure all customers get fair access to a site to dispose of waste, households can only book 1 visit per calendar month. All waste items usually accepted at each HWRC can be disposed of during this time, but please only book a visit if the journey is essential. Initially only the sites at Capstone and Hoath Way in Gillingham will be reopened - the HWRC at Cuxton will remain closed until plans have been put in place for it to be safely reopened.

Customers will be asked to show their booking reference on arrival - either on a device such as a phone or a print out. The online booking system is anticipated to go live from Wednesday, 13th May - further details on how to access the system in Medway and Kent will be released nearer the time.

Cllr Filmer added:

“Thank you to residents for your patience during this difficult time. To reduce the risk to both residents and our staff, we ask that everyone carefully considers whether a trip to a HWRC is essential or if the visit can wait until restrictions are lifted. Please only book an appointment if you absolutely need to visit a HWRC and if you do, remember to stay two metres apart.”

Medway’s weekly household waste and recycling collections have continued throughout the pandemic, with crews collecting 26 per cent more during April compared with the same period last year due to more people being at home.

Speaking about the tremendous efforts from the household waste crews, Cllr Filmer said: 

“I’d personally like to thank the crews and all the staff who have maintained our excellent weekly service during these challenging and busy times. Thank you also to Medway residents for your cooperation during this time. I am pleased that Medway residents continue to receive one of the best weekly collection services in the country. Please do continue to recycle and dispose of the appropriate waste on your household collection day or make use of our bulky collection service for larger goods to ensure you can stay home and stay safe.”

Medway Council

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KCC Household Waste & Recycling Centres to Reopen

From next Friday, Kent County Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) will open to the public for essential use.

On Wednesday, May 13th, people will be able to book a slot to use one of the county’s 18 HWRCs which closed on March 23rd as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown.

People can book a slot either online or by phone for the opening on Friday, May 15th - details on how to book will be released next week.

KCC Cabinet Member for Environment Susan Carey said:

“I know how valued our waste and recycling sites are to the people of Kent and I am immeasurably proud of the work our waste team has put in to getting these sites reopened.

The booking system, which was developed by Medway Council, is crucial to ensure we can keep visitor numbers at a level where social distancing can be maintained and minimise queuing.

Our focus over the last few weeks has been in ensuring kerbside collections provided by district and borough councils continued, and our teams were redeployed to support those crews.

Kerbside collections across Kent are now all, or about to be, fully reinstated by the districts and boroughs, including garden waste services.”

The sites will be open to the public between 9:00am and 3:00pm to allow for enhanced cleaning.

Most sites will be open 7 days a week and will accept all types of waste including chargeable items.

Susan added:

“Government advice is that residents should continue temporarily storing their waste at home, if they can do so in a way that doesn’t pose a risk to their health.

If, however, waste and recycling cannot be stored at home without causing risk of injury, health or harm, please book a trip to your local HWRC.”

Residents can only book one trip in any 4-week period to allow all residents to have access to sites and must follow social distancing guidelines.

Social distancing proved impossible to maintain prior to closure as visitor numbers topped 800 visits a day.

KCC operates 18 HWRCs, providing facilities for the recycling and disposal of more than 30 different types of waste.

Booking

• Visitors to the site will be limited to help us manage social distancing. The number of bookings for each site will vary depending on the size of each site.

• You can only access the sites by booking an appointment. The quickest way to book is online.

• You can only book one trip in any 4-week period. This is to enable all residents to have fair access to our sites.

• If you want to drive a restricted vehicle to a Kent council site you’ll still need to apply for a vehicle voucher. https://www.kent.gov.uk/waste-planning-and-land/rubbish-and-recycling/vehicle-restrictions-and-vouchers Restricted vehicles are not allowed to tow a trailer.

• Bookings will only be accepted from residents in Kent / Medway.

• You should not try to book a visit if you have symptoms of Covid-19, if you are part of a household undertaking 14-day isolation or if you someone who is in the shielded category.

Arriving at the site

• If you booked online you must bring your proof of booking Email, either a printed copy or displayed on your phone. If you booked over the phone, bring the booking reference number we gave you when you made your booking. To reduce infection risk your car windows should remain closed when showing proof to staff.

• You must attend the site within your booking slot. If you miss your slot, you may not be allowed to use the site. We suggest you stagger your entry times within your booked slot, as we are expecting a high demand for the service.

Social distancing and safety

• You will need to observe the social distancing measures when visiting the sites. Site staff will not be able to offer their usual assistance to help unload and dispose of waste.

• A maximum of two people can leave each vehicle to dispose of bulky items without site staff help. However, if you do not have bulky items to dispose of, only one person can leave the vehicle to dispose of waste.

• Traffic management will be in place at all sites. Some sites may also block off every other parking bay so that customers and staff can keep to social distancing guidelines. Site staff will direct you.

• You will not be allowed onto the compactor platforms when a member of staff is operating the machines.

• You will need to follow site guidance, and this may include wearing gloves and masks. If you wear either gloves or masks, you’ll need to take them home for disposal to avoid the risk of cross contamination.

• We ask that visitors to the HWRCs are patient as we all get used to this new way of using the sites. The restrictions are in place for everyone’s protection. If you do not follow site rules you may be asked to leave the site. Security will be in place at the sites. Please be aware that site security includes Automatic Number Plate Recognition, CCTV and body-worn cameras.

• The site may need to close temporarily for cleaning with no warning.

• If you need to dispose of waste contaminated with coronavirus this should be carried out at kerbside. If this is not possible then you need to double bag the material and store this securely for 72 hours before bringing it to the site.

Kent County Council

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Gill Gay is Still Collecting For Swale Foodbank

Hi everyone,

As you may have read, Swale Borough Council has recently given Swale Foodbank a massive boost and that is truly fantastic. But please don't think because of this that your food donations are no longer needed. In fact, the need for food donations grows daily as more and more families become reliant on Foodbanks for their support.

Can you imagine being in lockdown with an empty food cupboard and 2 or 3 children to feed?

Yes, the government has put in place a voucher system for children who usually receive free school meals, unfortunately, the implementation of these vouchers has proved difficult. You need a computer, you need broadband or you need to be local to the school sorting out your voucher. Another problem highlighted is that not all shops will take the vouchers.

Before lockdown, we were able to keep the porch at St. Mary's Church, Upchurch open for your kind donations, for me to sort through. Now it's more difficult because we are following government guidelines and our Church is closed.

So I have an idea. I will be in the layby opposite the Church in Horsham Lane, next Wednesday, the 13th of May from 10:30am until 11:30am. My car boot will be open and I will be at a safe distance from the car.

Do please come along with your donations and put them into my boot - in a carrier bag would be helpful.

My husband and I will then deliver your donations to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.

All donations are most welcome, but our most needed items are on this list:

Tinned meats
Squash
Jams
Custard
Tinned fruit
Tinned carrots
Shaving foam/gel
Shampoo
Baby items
Snacks (crisps/chocolate/biscuits)
Dog/Cat food

Thank you

God bless you all
Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator
Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk
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KCC Urges Residents to Join VE Day 75 Celebrations

KCC is encouraging residents to join in the VE Day celebrations on Friday 8th May - the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.

To mark the event, staff from the archives at the Kent History and Library Centre in Maidstone have produced a video with several of them reading excerpts from various documents featuring people’s memories of the events of the day.

“Kent Voices from VE Day” runs for nearly 30 minutes and includes readings of items from personal diaries, parish magazines and local government literature, together with details of the planning that went into the official celebrations.

The video can be viewed at www.kentarchives.org.uk

KCC Chairman Ann Allen said:

“I am encouraging the people of Kent to join in the celebrations on Friday.

The current pandemic prevents us marking the event with many of our friends, family and loved ones and we must stay home to save lives and protect the NHS. But in the midst of all that is happening we must remember the sacrifice of all those who fought and worked, both abroad and at home, to bring peace to Europe, and we must remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and did not come home.

I hope residents will join in with the virtual celebrations and raise a glass, cup or mug at 3:00pm on Friday in celebration and remembrance and say: “To those who gave so much, we thank you”.

As members of the public are no longer able to attend national and regional VE Day 75 commemorations or events due to the Covid-19 pandemic, The Royal British Legion has helped arrange some remote activity so people can participate from home. This includes a VE Day 75 livestream, national moments of remembrance and thanksgiving and a learning pack for young people.

The Legion is therefore calling on people across the UK to join in a national moment of reflection and Remembrance at 11:00am on Friday and pause for a two-minute silence, not only in recognition of the service and sacrifice of the Second World War generation, but also to reflect on the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on so many lives across the world.

Following the silence, the Legion is hosting a VE Day livestream, available at www.rbl.org.uk/veday75, sharing stories and memories from those who served and sacrificed during the Second World War, and recognising the difficulties people are experiencing today.

From 8:00pm the BBC, in partnership with the Royal British Legion, will broadcast an evening of memories and music, featuring some of those who remember this historic day, plus some of Britain’s favourite performers with popular songs of the era. In a finale at 9:00pm the public are encouraged to enjoy a moment of celebration and thanksgiving by taking part in a UK-wide rendition of Dame Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’ at 9:00pm. Lyrics are available on The Royal British Legion website www.rbl.org.uk/stories/ve-day-singalong

Murray Evans

Kent County Council

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Swale Borough Council Provides £26,000 in Grants to Foodbanks and Community Organisations in Swale

Swale Foodbank Project Manager Esther Hurwood and

volunteer Sarah Loveridge.

Local foodbanks and community groups will receive £26,000 from Swale Borough Council to support their work helping local people.

The funding is part of the council’s foodbank grant program which was launched earlier this year to help support foodbanks and organisations who deliver essential services to the vulnerable people in the borough.

Cllr Julian Saunders, deputy cabinet member for community at the council, said:

“We’ve dedicated £26,000 to help the foodbanks and community organisations who are supporting those most vulnerable in the borough.

The Swale Foodbank in Sittingbourne has received £10,000 to for an electric van to deliver food packages to residents.

The Family Foodbank on Sheppey received £10,000 for their project that bring together a number of organisations to deliver emergency food parcels to vulnerable families and the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Citizens Advice Bureau received £6,000 to set up a dedicated helpline that provides debt advice and foodbank vouchers for those needing support.

It is crucial now more than ever that we support the essential services our local foodbanks provide for those who are struggling.

We opened the foodbank grant scheme for the first time earlier this year, and it could not have come at a better time given the pressure these services are now under as they work to respond to the pandemic.

Demand for foodbank parcels has more than doubled since the start of the pandemic and people are relying on foodbanks to help feed their families, so the work they’re doing is more important now than ever.

We’ve also worked with local foodbanks and the Community Chef to produce a recipe book using food parcel ingredients called Cooking on a Budget.

We encourage anybody who can help support our foodbanks and community organisations to do so by donating or volunteering.”

Esther Hurwood, Swale Foodbank Project Manager, said:

“We were thrilled to receive the £10,000 grant from Swale Borough Council.

It couldn’t have come at a better time as we work to support the most vulnerable people in our community through the coronavirus.

We used the money to buy a new electric van for our volunteers to make deliveries of food and essential supplies to those who are staying home.”

For more information about foodbanks, and to download the Cooking on a Budget recipe book, visit www.swale.gov.uk/foodbanks

To donate visit www.swale.foodbank.org.uk, www.familyfoodbank.org and www.faversham.foodbank.org.uk

Swale Borough Council

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