Swale Borough Council - Tackling Poor Air Quality with Anti-Idling Legislation

Councillors have approved powers that allow Swale Borough Council to issue fixed penalty notices to people who leave their vehicle idling while not in use.

The powers mean that anybody who leaves their engine running unnecessarily while not in use can be issued a £20 fixed penalty notice if they do not turn off their engine when asked.

Anti-Idling regulations came into effect in 2002 and apply to all vehicles including cars, taxis, buses and all commercial vehicles.

Research shows that an idling vehicle can emit up to 20 times more of some pollutants that one travelling at 32mph.

Every minute a car idles it produces enough exhaust emissions to fill 150 balloons with harmful chemicals including cyanide, NOx and PM2.5.

These microscopic pollutants can cause asthma and worsen chronic illness such as lung cancer and emphysema and can be particularly damaging for children.

Cllr Tim Valentine, cabinet member for the environment at the council, said:

“These new powers will become part of our air quality action plan to protect residents against further pollution.

“By enforcing this legislation, we hope to raise public awareness about the damage that can be caused to people’s health by leaving your car idling unnecessarily.

“We’ll focus on educating drivers to help provide cleaner air across the borough, particularly for residents who live in Air Quality Management Areas and children going to and from school every day.

“We don't want to issue fixed penalty notices, and it will be a last resort, but we do want to enforce the anti-idling regulations more effectively to improve air quality.

“We’ve seen a huge improvement in air quality this year as people stayed at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and those improvements have continued as people use alternative modes of transport.

“We want to encourage people to continue the good work and walk, cycle and use public transport wherever possible to help us provide cleaner air for the borough.

“We already have an anti-idling campaign in action at three local schools via the Clean Air for Schools campaign, so the introduction of this legislation will allow us to extend this campaign across the borough.

“Leaving your car idling for just 10 minutes every time you do the school run creates 1,520m³ of excess pollutant fumes every year which is enough to fill two jumbo jets.”

Now approved, the council will work to install the new measures later this year.

For more information about improving air quality in Swale visit: www.swale.gov.uk/air-quality

Swale Borough Council

Thank You from Foodbank Co-ordinator Gill Gay and Swale Foodbank

Hi Everyone,

Thank you, thank you ♥️

Even with our last-minute change of pickup point, you found us and your generosity was, as usual, amazing!

We will do it again in 4 weeks time.

As the furlough period ends and those shielding start to lose the support they have been enjoying, it is possible that times will get even tougher for some of the people around us.

So bless you all for your thoughtfulness and kindness  - Gill & Ron Gay.

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

NHS Kent and Medway CCG - Community Bulletin

Changes to shielding guidance for vulnerable people

Government guidance on shielding has now been paused. This means big changes to the daily life for many people in Kent previously told to stay indoors to protect themselves from the virus.

You can now take a walk, see family and go shopping remembering to stay safe and wear facemasks when in shops.

The government has advised that you can go out to more places and see more people:

• You can go to work as long as the workplace is COVID-secure - but carry on working from home if you can.

• Children who are clinically extremely vulnerable can go back to school (when the rest of their class goes back).

• You can go outside to buy food, to places of worship and for exercise - keeping 2 meters away wherever possible. 

Click here for up-to-date guidance and support.

End of free food parcels for shielded people

The new advice from the government also means that free food parcels offered to shielded people will stop from August 1st.

The Kent Resilience Forum has issued the following advice for anyone who is worried about these changes;

• Priority slots for online shopping are still available at all participating supermarkets. If you are able to register for these deliveries do this as soon as you can.

• If you cannot shop online, contact family and friends and neighbourhood schemes to tell them that you may still need help to get food or to collect prescriptions.

• If you still need support then you can access this through the Kent Together helpline at www.kent.gov.uk/kenttogether or on 03000 41 92 92

Stay safe 

You may still be at risk of severe illness if you catch Coronavirus, so stay at home as much as you can and continue to take precautions when you do go out.

You can do this by washing your hands regularly, avoiding touching your face and keeping 2 metres away from people outside of your household -or bubble- wherever possible.

NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group

Swale Borough Council - Have your Say on How Social Housing is Allocated

People can now have their say on how Swale Borough Council allocates social housing.

The council reviewed its housing allocations policy earlier this year to provide better access to affordable housing for those who need it most.

The policy is now open for public consultation until Friday 2nd October, giving people 8 weeks to submit their views on the proposed changes.

The changes include tapering income considerations to provide a more realistic approach for single people and larger families that are at opposite ends of the spectrum, moving homeless households from band C to B to make it easier for them to be moved from temporary housing into permanent accommodation, and reducing the amount of time a resident is expected to have lived in the area from four to two years.

Cllr Ben J Martin, cabinet member for housing at the council, said:

“We’re confident that the proposed changes to the housing allocation policy will make sure we use the accommodation we have available efficiently, to provide homes to those who need them most.

Local, affordable housing is a priority for us. The demand for housing has never been higher and we know how important it is for local people to have access to affordable housing for their families.

The policy helps ensure we provide a fair and transparent system that prioritises social housing by making efficient use of the homes available, promoting choice to applicants and developing sustainable mixed communities.

Consultation is open until Friday 2nd October, and we encourage people to have their say on how the proposed changes could affect them.”

For more information about the housing allocation policy visit: www.swale.gov.uk/housing-allocations-policy

Swale Borough Council

Rainham Tuition Centre setup in Upchurch Village Hall

Rainham Tuition Centre are running their Summer Holiday Programme for children throughout August this year in the village hall.

The large and spacious main hall provides the space needed to accommodate the children with adequate social distancing.

Parents have been impressed with the location and facilities provided.

David Steward

Chairman - Upchurch Village Hall Management Committee

Temporary Road Closure - A2 London Road, Sittingbourne

Kent County Council has made an order to temporarily prohibit through traffic on A2 London Road, Sittingbourne from Monday 24th August 2020 for up to 1 night between the hours of 20:00 and 05:00.

The road will be closed between the junctions with Wises Lane and Borden Lane, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route for any through traffic travelling eastbound is via A2 London Road, West Street, St Michaels Road, Crown Quay Lane, B2006 Eurolink Way, Mill Way, St Pauls Street, Staplehurst Road, Bobbing Interchange, Sheppey Way, Key Street Roundabout and A2 Key Street.

The alternative route for any through traffic travelling westbound is via A2 Key Street, Key Street Roundabout, Sheppey Way, Bobbing Interchange, B2006 Staplehurst Road, St Pauls Street, Mill Way, Eurolink Way, A2 Crown Quay Lane, St Michaels Road, Dover Street and London Road.

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 carriageway resurfacing works are undertaken by Kent County Council.

For information regarding this closure, please contact Kent County Council on: 03000 418181, 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