Dog Taken | Car Vandalised - Newington

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/187906/20

Between 11:30am and 11:40am on Monday the 19th of October, a Cocker Spaniel ran out of the owner’s garden. A car pulled over, the door was opened, the dog got in and the vehicle departed in Bull Lane, Newington. The dog has since returned home.

Crime Number: 46/188979/20

A car was vandalised overnight between Wednesday the 21st and Thursday the 22nd of October in Iwade Road, Newington.

If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.

For more information on crime prevention visit: www.kent.police.uk

Kent Community Messaging

Upchurch Parish Council Report - October 2020

Report of the Parish Council October 2020

Cllr Tyrone Ripley (Chairman), Cllr John Arnold (Vice-Chairman), Cllr Pam Denny, Cllr Alan Horton, Cllr Gerry Lewin, Cllr Peter Masson, Cllr Janet Marshall, Cllr Gary Rosewell and Cllr Neil Sheppard. Clerk Mrs Wendy Licence.

Paddock and Recreation Ground

The adult exercise equipment will be installed soon at the Recreation Ground and the fencing will be replaced in December, weather permitting.

Sreet Lighting

The upgrade of the street lights to LEDs has been completed and the Council is waiting for UKPN to reconnect the lights.

Planning

Ref: 20/503637/FULL Address: Medway Autos, Christine And Muriel London Road Upchurch Sittingbourne Kent ME9 7PD

Proposal: Change of use of auto showroom and workshop (Sui generis) to a banqueting hall, with food processing and distribution (Class D2 and B2), including the creation of a mezzanine floor and alterations to fenestration. Change of use of 2no. residential bungalows (C3) to guest accommodation (C1) associated with the banqueting hall, including the erection of a single storey rear extension and loft conversion, including 2no. rear dormers and installation of 4no. rooflights to front. Erection of a wedding gazebo to rear of bungalows.

Councillors considered the proposal and raised concerns about parking on site and on the roads; the impact of the increased traffic on the A2; the access and egress on the A2; it is an isolated site and would stand out in a rural setting; there is no clear business plan. Although the proposal might provide employment, the company already has staff for the venue at another site.

It was AGREED UNANIMOUSLY to object to the application.

Ref: 20/500305/FULL  Address: Jack Russell Place Halstow Lane Upchurch

Proposal: Retrospective application for erection of a brick wall and gate posts to front of site.

PINS ref: W/4001070

It was agreed to repeat previous comments and add that the brick walls bring an urbanising effect to this rural area also helping to create a sense of urban coalescence between the two separate and distinct villages of Lower Halstow and Upchurch. To refer the Inspector to the Swale Borough Council most recent Landscape Character Assessment of this lane.

This is a precis of Council business, full minutes of all meetings can be found on the website when ratified.

Date of next meetings:

Full Council - Thursday 5^th November 2020 at 7:30pm.

The Planning Committee and General Purposes Committee - Wednesday 18^th November at 7:30pm.

The Local Authorities (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority Meetings) Regulations 2020 now gives Local Councils the power to meet remotely during this COVID-19 pandemic and Upchurch Parish Council is now holding meetings virtually.  Please check the website for details of the meetings.

All residents are welcome to view the meetings and there is a time for members of the public to comment, raise concerns or ask questions. 

Please contact the Clerk, clerkupc@outlook.com to obtain login details for the meeting.

Wendy Licence - Clerk to the Parish Council

Tel: 01622 739324

Email: clerkupc@outlook.com

Website: www.upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk

Gill Gay Will Be Collecting For Swale Foodbank Again

Hi everyone,

I would like to thank you all for the wonderful support we have received on behalf of Swale Foodbank so far.

My husband Ron and I will be collecting again in the bus stop lay-by opposite the Church in Horsham Lane on Wednesday 28th October between 10:30am and 11.30am.

Please come along with your donations (in carrier bags would be helpful) and put them into our open car boot while we remain at a safe distance.

We will then deliver your donations to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.

The warehouse is better stocked than most months because Churches have been donating their Harvest Festival gifts. But there are tough times ahead - a cold winter and Christmas.

Sadly for a lot of people this year, even more than in previous years, Christmas will not be full of sparkle and joy. For them, Christmas will be something to endure and just get through.

All gifts of food and toiletries are welcome but they are really, really short of:

Rice Pudding

Custard

Bars of Chocolate

Shaving Gel

Deodorant

It would be nice if we could include some Christmas treats next month as well.

Thank you for your generosity and care. You really are a blessing for those struggling daily.

Please tell your friends and family.

Thank you

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator
Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

Appeal Lodged for New Homes and Public Spaces at Pump Lane, Rainham

Appeal

AC Goatham & Son is challenging Medway Council's refusal to grant outline planning permission for significant redevelopment on land they own at Pump Lane, Rainham and has now lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate.

Medway Council's refusal

In June 2020, Medway Council refused outline planning application MC/19/1566 for the redevelopment of land off Pump Lane, Rainham to include residential development comprising of approximately 1,250 residential units, a local centre, a village green, a two-form entry primary school, a 60 bed extra care facility, an 80 bed care home and associated access.

Outline planning application MC/19/1566 including Medway Council's letter of refusal and new appeal documents can be viewed at: https://bit.ly/2Yu27QN

The plans

The site is located south of Lower Rainham Road, centred upon Pump Lane and extending, in part to Lower Bloors Lane to the east and Lower Twydall Lane to the west. The southern most boundary is formed of the railway. The site is currently used as commercial fruit orchards.

The proposals are for a residential development of up to 1,250 homes with landscaped areas, open spaces and other community benefits.

It is proposed that at the heart of the development there will be a village green that will integrate with existing pedestrian routes.

A new primary school with playing fields is planned for space at the rear of the existing houses on Lower Rainham Road.

Access to the development will be from Lower Rainham Road and Pump Lane.

Representations to the appeal

Representations to the appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, to be submitted by Monday 16th November 2020 can be made online at: https://appeals.planninginspectorate.gov.uk using the case reference number: APP/A2280/W/20/3259868.

Upchurch Matters

Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Business Crime Survey 2020

Bosses invited to tell PCC about business crime.

For the first time, Kent’s elected Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott has created a survey specifically to understand the impact of business crime in the county.

Questions include:

How safe do you feel the area is where your business is based?

Has your business experienced crime in the past year?

What, if anything, has dissuaded you from reporting business crime in the past?

The responses received will help Mr Scott understand attitudes towards policing and other crime prevention initiatives across Kent.

At first glance, it may appear this isn’t relevant to the rural community but 40% of the responses so far have been from people working in farming. The survey covers rural, coastal and urban businesses and is an opportunity for you to have your say.

You can complete the survey at: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/R0ZGIV

Upchurch Matters

AMENDMENT: Speed Limit Reduction - High Street, Newington

It will be necessary to put a temporary speed limit of 10MPH on the High Street, Newington from Friday 23rd October 2020 for up to 3 nights.

The restriction will be in place from the junction of Callaways Lane to Boyces Hill.

This is to allow the safe use of convoy working with two way traffic lights.

It is planned that the speed restriction will be in place between 20:00hrs and 05:00hrs each night.

This is to enable carriageway repairs to be carried out by Kent County Council.

The restriction will be lifted as soon as works are completed, and it is safe to do so.

Kent County Council 24hr Contact Centre:

03000 418181 (9:00am - 5:00pm)

03000 419191 (5:00pm - 9:00am)

For details of roadworks see: www.kenttraffic.info

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste