Medway Council Announces New Way to Pay for Parking in All Council-owned Car Parks

New way for residents to pay for parking in all council-owned car parks

Medway Council has announced a new way for motorists to pay for parking.

Residents and visitors are now able to pay for parking in council-owned car parks at selected local shops, as well as by phone, on the RingGo app and with coins at parking machines.

RingGo Retail offers drivers the option of paying for their parking in a nearby shop rather than using the RingGo phone parking service.

Motorists can find a shop which offers the RingGo retail service by visiting www.RingGo.co.uk or www.PayPoint.co.uk, they can also use RingGo’s text service to find their nearest store.

Residents and visitors can text Shop, followed by the car park location code, to 81025 and the name and RingGo will respond with the addresses of the closest two participating shops.

When motorists visit the shop they simply need to ask to pay for parking and provide the retailer with the following details:

• Their vehicle registration 

• The four or five digit RingGo location code where their vehicle is parked

• The time they wish to park for

The retailer will enter this information into their PayPoint terminal, determines the fee, and motorists are able to pay for parking with coins or by card. Medway Council advises residents to keep their receipt, as this provides proof of payment and details of the parking session they have paid for.

The introduction of the new payment method comes in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic to safeguard both motorists and staff by offering another alternative to using pay and display machines.

Cllr Phil Filmer, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Frontline Services, said:

“I am pleased that we have introduced another way for motorists to pay for their parking. The health and wellbeing of all our residents is of the greatest importance to us and we understand that some motorists may be wary of touching shared surfaces, such as pay and display machines during the ongoing pandemic. We also understand that some residents and visitors may not wish to pay for their parking over the phone, or on the RingGo app, and the new RingGo retail method enables them to pay with cash, or card, at a nearby shop.”

Medway Council

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KCC Launches Videophone System for Vulnerable Residents

Mr Robert Greenfield using his video carephone.

About 2,000 elderly or vulnerable residents will benefit from an initiative by KCC to provide them with a unique videophone system.

The council has commissioned assistive care technology provider Alcove to roll out digital support packages across the county, in one of the country’s largest programmes to support adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The £1.5million contract means that vulnerable and digitally disadvantaged elderly residents and those with a learning disability will be able to receive virtual video care and health consultations, as well as video contact with friends and family while minimising the infection risk to other residents and care staff.

The technology, in the form of a “one touch” secure tablet-type device, is being delivered and set up remotely by Alcove and health and care transformation consultancy Rethink Partners. It enables video-calling to an individual’s support network, which allows KCC support staff to monitor care needs, ensure that clients are safe, and enables residents to conduct online activities such as ordering essential supplies and stay video connected with their loved ones.

Clair Bell, Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Public Health, said: 

“This assistive technology will give some of our most vulnerable residents greater independence and help care staff to support them at this very challenging time.

The video phone is delivered direct to the person’s home, ready to go, straight out of the box. It enables carers to monitor care needs and check on the safety and wellbeing of their clients, who themselves are able to utilise the equipment for a variety of online activities such as ordering shopping and prescriptions, as well as connecting with their family and friends by video call.

The system is proving to be particularly effective during the Covid-19 pandemic, reducing the need for face-to-face contact and limiting hands-on care to just essential tasks.

I am delighted that KCC is investing in this technology which will bring many benefits to both the care workforce and those we support to live independently at home.”

She said that before the pandemic, KCC was already undertaking a review of its long-term digital assistive technology strategy in anticipation of contracts ending in 2021 and the national digital switchover programme. However, this rapid deployment was a clear and urgent response to COVID-19 and will also influence the council’s longer-term planning.

Among those already benefiting from the Video Carephone is 75-year-old Robert Greenfield, of Gravesend. He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 20 years ago and ran a holiday business before retiring 11 years ago.

Mr Greenfield said he found set-up really easy and was keen to get it working. He initially thought that he would only use it to speak to his care agency, Westminster Homecare. However, he says that the unexpected benefit is that he can link in with his friends and family.

He said: 

“I love the sociability that the Video Carephone gives me. I have not been able to see my grandkids due to the coronavirus or meet up with my chums so it has helped me to stay in touch with everyone.

The best part is that I don’t need log-ons or codes to be able to see or speak to people. I also hope I can receive my private physio sessions on the Carephone and I like the idea that it can prompt me to move every hour to prevent me getting sores and to keep doing my exercises.”

Robert is the editor of MS magazine and is looking forward to writing about his Video Carephone in the next edition.

Kent has seen more than 7,600 confirmed cases of COVID-19, making it one of the hardest hit communities in the South East.

Founder and CEO of Alcove, Hellen Bowey, said:

“Local authorities across the country have had to navigate an unprecedented demand for services and juggle this with fewer support staff. Restrictions on movement and a reduction in care workers have left the most vulnerable people in our communities scared, alone and digitally isolated. With lockdown set to continue for many of the older people in our communities, it’s important that providers take steps to ensure their needs continue to be met.

Not only does the implementation of this technology ensure that Kent county is well placed to mitigate the risk of COVID-19, it also ensures that local care provision is future proofed for the national digital switchover programme which comes into effect in 2023.

Current telecare technologies in this sector lack video, are outdated, send calls to only one number and are prone to failing due to the digital switchover - Alcove’s Integrated Caretech Digital Ecosystem connects carers and the cared-for seamlessly with video and Alexa, and uses data to monitor behaviour and create life changing outcomes,” she added.

Residents who feel that a carephone would help a relative or a friend who either receives council care and support package or is known to KCC’s Adult Social Care and Health service, can Email: karaservice@kent.gov.uk to find out more.

Murray Evans

Kent County Council

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Traditional Sunday Roast at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Telephone: 01634 360626

Website: www.rivervalleygolf.co.uk

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Temporary Road Closures - Boxted Lane and Wardwell Lane, Lower Halstow

National Grid is currently working to replace the overhead electricity lines that run between Littlebrook substation and Kemsley, Sittingbourne, as well as some minor upgrade work to the pylons themselves.

To safely accommodate these works, National Grid will need to temporarily close Boxted Lane, Lower Halstow from the junction with Breach Lane to Church View Cottages and Wardwell Lane, Lower Halstow from the junction with School Lane to near the Newington Enterprise Centre between 20th July and 16th August 2020.

The closures will be clearly signposted along with diversions.

It’s likely you’ll notice some activity during the works. National Grid appreciates that at the moment peopleare at home and the team will do all they can to keep disruption to a minimum. Work on the overhead line is set to be completed by the end of 2020 and please also be assured there will be no impact on your power supply.

National Grid continues to liaise closely with the Government to ensure it is are following the most updated guidance and that the decisions made are in the best interests of the workers and communities throughout this period.

If you have any queries about the project, please do not approach the workers on site but contact the project community relations team on: 0800 319 6188 Email: nationalgrid@littlebrookkemsley.co.uk

The team is available every day from 7:00am until 7:00pm.

Daisy Rudd - Local Dialogue Ltd

For and on behalf of National Grid

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SGN - Gas Network Upgrade in Station Road, Rainham

We're upgrading our gas network in Station Road, Rainham

Project ref: SOE4895

We will shortly be starting safety-critical work to our network in your street. We'll be replacing our old metal gas mains and services with new plastic pipe.

This project needs to go ahead now, rather than wait until the Coronavirus pandemic passes, to ensure you and your neighbours continue to receive a safe and reliable gas supply. Our contractor Forefront Utilities will be carrying out this project on our behalf.

In close consultation with Medway Council, our project will start on Monday 27th July and will last approximately 7 months.

Our engineers will be working in Station Road from Caversham Close and progressing northwards towards Ellison Way in 5 phases.

To keep everyone safe, we'll need to install temporary traffic lights around our work area, which will move with us as we progress northwards along Station Road. While we are working close to Rainham rail crossing, we'll manually control our traffic lights Monday to Friday between 7:00am and 7:00pm.

All work will be suspended over the Christmas period and we'll resume our work in January 2021 to avoid disrupting the town during the busy festive period.

We've worked closely with UK Government and public health bodies to make sure we're working in line with expert advice during the coronavirus pandemic. We have extra safety precautions in place to protect you and our colleagues from catching or spreading the virus.

Once our engineers start work, they'll be happy to answer questions at any time during our project. Please remember to keep a safe distance when speaking to our team or passing our site.

We understand that people can get frustrated by roadworks. However, the new plastic pipe has a minimum lifespan of 80 years. This means that when the work is complete, local residents will continue to enjoy the benefits of a safe and reliable gas supply for years to come.

Thank you in advance for your co-operation.

Yours faithfully

Steve Jones

Project Manager

Website: www.sgn.co.uk
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July News from Upchurch Horticultural Society - From the Potting Shed

Sponsored by Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd

July has arrived, summer is under way and the weather has turned exceedingly average. Things are steadily returning to normal but there is an undercurrent of concern about what the future holds, but one thing is certain, the weeds will still grow. Hopefully you have managed to light the BBQ and enjoy a few evenings in the garden although it is still a bit cool.

Watering, deadheading, pruning and fertilising are the main priorities to keep everything at its best... and of course weeding! I have made a start on the front garden but struggling with enthusiasm. The borders look so much better for it but I can always find something better to do. As the early shrubs finish flowering, prune out the older branches (the ones with the most sub laterals) or pollard the entire plant and start again, is does them good especially if the flower is becoming sparse. The cooler weather suits the lawn but keep it watered and green and take this opportunity to apply a final high Nitrogen (N) weed and feed to see it through to the Autumn.

The vegetable patch should be in full swing with so much ready for harvest and second sowings to be planted out. Potatoes have done well this year with a bumper early crop and the maincrop flowering and looking healthy. All my beans are late this year, but the broad beans are getting close and the climbing beans are starting to flower, I think they will all come at once. The rhubarb has produced well again although recent hot weather has set it back. Plenty of water and cool weather should produce another pick and I will ignore the stop picking in July rule, I picked until August last year and it hasn’t weakened them at all.

The June drop is now over so see if fruit needs a final thinning to increase the size of the final crop. Watch out for all the pests and diseases, pick out the tips of lateral branches if they are starting to wither and lightly prune apples, cherries and plums. Give them a good watering and feed along with the raspberries which are shallow rooted and tend to dry out.

I have noticed that a lot of my plums are oozing a clear resin so have resorted to Google to try and find the reason.

Unfortunately the advice is a bit inconclusive. Some say it is just excess pectin which means the plum will make good jam. Others say that it is due to dry roots and needs a good watering. What is worrying is that some articles say that it is sawfly which will render the fruit inedible and if allowed to fall to the ground will allow the grub to go into the soil and pupate into next year’s sawfly. I have picked one plum and found nothing so I will give the tree a good watering and allow them to ripen and then we will see.

Anyway it’s the Fourth of July and the pubs have opened, although I will give them a miss for a couple of weeks until the heaving sigh of national relief has passed. Instead I will celebrate the independence of the colonies from the comfort of my own home. We recently managed to settle up our war debt with our American allies, although I discovered that we never fully settled up our debt from the first war. That gives me something to celebrate and can be considered as fair recompense for all that unpaid tea tax… cheers Mr President.

We are always looking for new members and try to encourage a fun attitude towards friendly competition. So if you want to grow your own fruit, vegetables and flowers or even enter any of the 3 shows we hold each year, then please get in touch, we would be happy to hear from you.

If you are interested in becoming a new member, (all ages are welcome), please contact Rosey on: 01634 377812 (evenings) or Email: rosemary@ringwoodaccounting.co.uk

Sean Barry - Upchurch Horticultural Society
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