Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone the merriest possible Christmas and a healthy more prosperous new year.

We really do appreciate all the support you have given www.upchurchmatters.co.uk throughout 2020, a worrying and challenging time for us all.

But there is still a way to go before things can hopefully return to some normality.

So for the sake of us all, please follow the guidance.

Onwards and upwards into 2021, and to happier days 🚀

Thank you, and stay safe.

Upchurch Matters

COVID-19 Vaccine Scam Alert

Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group is aware some people are receiving fraudulent calls and text messages offering the COVID-19 vaccination.

In some cases, people are asked to press a number on their phone keypad or to send a text message to confirm they wish to receive the vaccine. Doing so is likely to result in a charge being applied to their phone bill. In other cases, callers are offering the vaccine for a fee or asking for bank details.

Please be alert to these scams. The vaccine is only available from the NHS and the NHS will contact you when it is your turn.

The NHS will:

• NEVER ask you to press a button on your keypad asking you to confirm you want the vaccine.

• NEVER ask for payment for the vaccine or for your bank details.

If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up. If you believe you have been the victim of fraud or identity theft you should report this directly to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Where the victim is vulnerable, report it to Kent Police online or phone 101.

Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group

Christmas Opening Hours at Upchurch’s Co-op

Upchurch Matters

Winner of the Christmas Stocking Sweetie Cake Raffle at Upchurch’s Co-op - Raising Money for MIND

Congratulations to Jackie Warner, winner of the Christmas Stocking Sweetie Cake Raffle at Upchurch’s Co-op.

Thanks to everyone who bought tickets ☺️

You helped us raise £50 for our chosen charity this year, MIND - the mental health and support charity.

Please keep a lookout for future raffles and events to come.

Read more about MIND at: www.mind.org.uk

Thank you 

Nik - Upchurch’s Co-op

Swale Borough Council Leader Reacts to Tier 4 This Christmas

Councillor Roger Truelove.

Cllr Roger Truelove, leader at the council, said:

“Planning at all levels of government becomes a difficult task when the messages and instructions keep changing so radically.

“At the end of last week, we started to send out letters to all households, further encouraging people to comply with Tier 3 restrictions. And then on Saturday we were catapulted into a hitherto unheard-of Tier 4. I hope those who received a letter will understand that they are now out of date, as are many of our other public notices.

“Tier 4 is said to have been made necessary by the new variant strain about which we in Swale Council had heard nothing until it was announced by the Health Secretary in parliament. It has hit Kent in particular.

“Sadly, infection rates in Swale continue to rise, though not at the same rate as in other places and we are, now, not referred to as the “number one” in the country. Having said that, the situation is critical, and I can not only implore people to follow the guidelines but, in fact, if possible, go even further than the regulations to try to control the virus.

“We are asked to stay at home, get exercise of course, but only meet one person in an outdoors setting. I went for a walk to a park on Sunday afternoon and I have to say that that message had clearly not registered with most people. Regulations will only bring this virus down if we willingly comply.

“Because of our high rate of infection, asymptomatic testing has been introduced into Swale before other parts of the county in the KCC area of public health administration. This is obviously a good step forward. KCC tell us there will be a testing site in Sittingbourne in the New Year.

“The NHS is also starting a programme of vaccination, using the delicate Pfizer vaccine and we look forward to vaccination being rolled out in the months ahead.

“This is not the sort of Christmas that we want, and we must do our best to look forward to better times, but until then, we must do all we can to save lives. Infection comes from close human contact and so we must wear our masks and socially distance. That is the main way to defeat this virus.”

Swale Borough Council

Phones Stolen - Hartlip | Motorcycle Stolen - Newington

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/222805/20

Between Thursday the 17th and Friday the 18th of December, 2 personal and 2 business phones were stolen from an international produce firm in Spade Lane, Hartlip.

Crime Number: 46/224232/20

Between Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th of December, a blue Yamaha YZF R6 04 motorcycle, reg number: GF06 SXD, was stolen from Newington High Street.

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