Lower Halstow Scarecrow Trail 2020

Come and walk the Lower Halstow Village Scarecrow Trail.

From 3:00pm on Friday 23rd October until 4:00pm on Sunday 1st November.

Over 40 Scarecrows to see.

Make memories and vote for your favourite.

Raising funds for Lower Halstow School PTA. Every penny raised goes to help the children at Lower Halstow Primary School.

For more information, to download the latest version of the trail map and donate, visit: https://lowerhalstowpta.wixsite.com/scarecrows

The perfect fun and socially distanced family activity for the half-term holiday!

Upchurch Matters

Robert Witherden 1927 - 2020

Bob Witherden.

Dad or Bob, as most knew him, lived and worked in and around Upchurch and Rainham all of his life, farming and producing fruit and veg which he sold in his farm shops in Rainham High Street and Station Road between 1972 and 1987 before retiring to Upchurch to continue farming.

Dad worked up until about five years ago and has gradually passed all of his skills onto his son David, who continues to run the farm and produce Upchurch Strawberries, which we all love!

Dad always got involved with things going on in Upchurch, playing for the Football Team, running the Upchurch Marathon, serving on the Parish Council, Swale Borough Council and much much more.

Family, farming and Upchurch were his life 💕

You will be missed by us all so much - we’re all 💔

Ann Gee

Daughter

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