The pocket guide to the Thames and Medway Wildlife

Available for pre-order today.

Proprietors of Jetstream Tours and Upchurch residents, Tanya Ferry with husband Richard founded their not for profit Living River Foundation in 2018 to monitor, raise awareness, protect and improve the Thames and Medway rivers.

Now with the help of some expert friends, Tanya is about to publish her new book “The pocket guide to the Thames and Medway Wildlife”.

This brand-new guide is a bitesize introduction to the marvels of estuary life and is full of fun facts and key pointers on how to enjoy local wildlife without damaging it and features charming illustrations from a range of UK artists.

Whether you are a fisherman (or woman), sailor, kayaker, walking the estuaries or just interested in learning more about wildlife, the guides small size means you can always take it with you, keep it on your boat or safe in your bookcase at home.

“The pocket guide to the Thames and Medway Wildlife” is available for pre-order today at: www.living-river.org/shop until distribution at the end of June.

Read more about the couple's work with Living River Foundation at: www.living-river.org and follow them at: www.twitter.com/river_living

To see the Medway and Thames like never before, visit: www.jetstreamtours.com

Upchurch Matters

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Water Use is Soaring! - Please Save Water at Home in the Sunshine

Water use is soaring so we need your help!

Lots of us are spending more time at home. Because of this - and the warm weather we're enjoying - demand for water has rocketed.

What’s the issue?

Hot temperatures and dry weather last Bank Holiday saw exceptional demand placed on the drinking water network as everyone spent more time at home, particularly in the garden.

This meant we had to pump an extra 140 million litres of water into our pipeline network on Monday to keep up with demand. The amount of water used was around a third more than usual for this time of year!

It looks like this warm weather is set to continue.

What we’re doing?

We've been treating and pumping an additional 78 million litres of water a day through our network. But more water is being used on DIY projects and gardening which is contributing to the additional 14% of water we're treating and pumping through our network.

Garden sprinklers alone use as much water in an hour as a family of six uses in a day, which contributes to an increased demand of 70% on hot days.

This extra water use puts an increasing strain on the extensive network of pipes, pumping stations and treatment works we look after and it can lead to low pressure or a loss of water for some customers at times of peak demand such as the early evening.

We understand that the world we now live in is very different to before and although we make very sophisticated plans covering the next 60 years of water use, as with everyone else, we could never have predicted this unprecedented situation which COVID-19 has brought about.

The water is available in our boreholes and key reservoirs, the problem we’re facing is that at times people use water at a faster rate than we can pump it from our sources, treat it and get it to customers’ taps.

Our key worker teams worked tirelessly over the weekend to keep taps running and will continue to do so, but to ensure there is enough water for everyone as the hot weather continues we need your help.

How you can help us

We’re asking everyone to help make sure there’s enough water to go around by taking 2 simple steps:

1. Let your lawn go brown

2. Be proud of your dirty car

These 2 easy actions will help make sure there is enough water for our communities, while fighting the virus.

Water is a key tool in the fight against the virus as it keeps people healthy and hydrated and is essential to keep up with the extra hygiene measures everyone is taking. Water is also key for the hospitals and care homes across the South East region so we need your help making sure there’s enough to go around.

Find out how you can help and claim some water-saving freebies at >> https://bit.ly/2XCPsL5

Thank you and stay safe

The South East Water team

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Temporary Road Closure - The Street, Hartlip

Kent County Council has made an order to temporarily prohibit through traffic on part of The Street, Hartlip from Wednesday 3rd June 2020, between the hours of 07:00 and 19:00, with estimated completion by 4th June 2020.

The Street will be closed will be closed between the junctions with Dane Lane and Place Lane, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while carriageway patching and preservation works are undertaken by Kent County Council.

The alternative route for any through traffic is via Munns Lane, Lower Hartlip Road, Mount Lane and vice versa.

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

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 - Lower Hartlip Road, Hartlip

Kent County Council has made an order to temporarily prohibit through traffic on part of Lower Hartlip Road, Hartlip from Monday 1st June 2020, between the hours of 07:00 and 19:00, with estimated completion by 3rd June 2020.

Lower Hartlip Road will be closed between the junctions with A2 London Road and Place Lane, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while carriageway patching and preservation works are undertaken by Kent County Council.

The alternative route for any through traffic is via A2 Hartlip Hill, Mill Lane, Munns Lane, The Street, Mount Lane and vice versa.

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

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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Swale Borough Council - New Government Discretionary Grant Fund for Small Businesses

Small businesses affected by coronavirus, that didn’t qualify for previous government grants, may be able to get help from a new scheme.

The new discretionary grant scheme is aimed at specific types of micro and small businesses and charities that were not eligible for the small business grant scheme or the retail, leisure and hospitality grant scheme.

Cllr Monique Bonney, cabinet member for economy and property at Swale Borough Council, said:

“There are lots of local businesses that are struggling but don’t qualify for any of the grants offered so far.

The government have now recognised this and made available some funding to help plug some of the gaps.

I’d urge anyone who thinks they might be eligible to have a look and apply - if you are, it could go some way toward helping you get through the current crisis.”

Due to the limited amount of funding available, applications will be assessed in a single round to provide a consistent and fair approach and try to make sure as many businesses as possible can benefit.

The government has asked councils to prioritise grants for:

• small businesses in shared premises or other flexible workspaces, e.g. industrial parks, science parks, incubators etc, which do not have their own business rates assessment

• regular market traders who do not have their own business rates assessment

• B&B’s that pay council tax instead of business rates

• charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief that could otherwise have been eligible for small business rates relief or rural rate relief

There are other criteria for businesses to meet, and there’s more information, including how to apply, at www.swale.gov.uk/discretionary-grants

Applications will be open until 11:59pm on Tuesday, 16th June and payments will be made to successful applicants as soon as is possible after a decision is made.

Swale Borough Council

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Medway Council - New Government Discretionary Grant Fund for Small Businesses

Small businesses in Medway will be able to apply for funding as part of a new scheme to further support the economy during the coronavirus pandemic.

The government has introduced a discretionary grant fund for small businesses which are experiencing financial difficulties.

Medway Council has pledged to continue supporting its local small businesses throughout the pandemic and is encouraging eligible business owners to apply for this new funding scheme. The council will be granting funding of up to £10,000 to small businesses which meet the criteria, as part of the new government fund.

The discretionary grant fund is only for businesses with fewer than 50 employees and which have not benefited from other government COVID-19 support schemes, excluding the coronavirus job retention scheme (furlough).

Medway Council will prioritise the funding for the following businesses, in line with government guidance:

• small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces, which do not have their own business rates assessment

• regular market traders with fixed building costs, who do not have their own business rate assessment

• bed and breakfasts which pay council tax instead of business rates

• charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief, and which would otherwise have been eligible for small business rates relief or rural rate relief

Businesses in Medway have between Tuesday, 26th May and 12noon on Friday, 5th June to submit their application for the discretionary business grant fund. Medway Council will be making payments to successful applicants from late June onwards.

Medway small businesses eligible to apply for this funding must do so by the deadline and by visiting medway.gov.uk/coronavirusbusinesses

Cllr Alan Jarrett, Leader of Medway Council, said:

“Medway has a diverse economy made up of 14,000 businesses of all sizes and some of those will be eligible to apply for this new discretionary grant fund. I would encourage small businesses which meet the criteria and are experiencing financial difficulties due to the current coronavirus restrictions to apply to Medway Council for this financial support. We will continue to do all we can to protect our local businesses and strengthen our economy so Medway continues to build a sustainable future with jobs and a variety of amenities on our doorstep.”

Medway Council

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