Medway Council Adopts Climate Change Action Plan

Medway Council has adopted a new Climate Change Action Plan which sets out how the area will respond to climate change.

The council declared a Climate Change emergency in 2019 and since then has been developing an action plan and working hard to achieve its target of becoming carbon neutral in Medway by 2050. At Medway Council’s Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, 8th June, councillors approved the Climate Change Action Plan blueprint which supports the council’s vision.

The plan aligns with the Kent and Medway Energy and Low Emissions Strategy

To help the council understand its current carbon footprint, and identify ways to reduce emissions, a technical study has been carried out. The study found that in 2018/2019 the council’s carbon footprint represented just 1.4 per cent of emissions in Medway. Although Medway Council is committed to doing everything it can to lower carbon emissions across Medway, however, businesses, schools, local groups and residents all need to play their part to tackle climate change.

The study also set out a series of possible interventions which could help reduce the council’s emissions by 95 per cent by 2050 which included energy efficiency measures in council buildings, installing solar panels and LED lighting. The council is now reviewing these options to determine their suitability.

The newly approved action plan will be reviewed each year and local partners, and the wider community will be able to have their say.

Medway Council has made significant progress since declaring a Climate Change emergency including:

• Continuing to expand and improve Medway’s cycle routes. Medway has 81 miles of cycleways and has seen a 20 per cent increase in cycling since last year.
• A £12 million energy efficiency programme in council buildings.
• Planting 13,842 trees across Medway thanks to funding from the Urban Tree Challenge Fund and establishing a Medway Tree Fund.
• Creating 30 miles of wildflower verges to allow a wider diversity of wild grass and flowers to thrive.
• Producing an animated video to raise awareness of air quality, its effects and what can be done to reduce the impacts, which has been promoted in schools across Medway.
• Continuing work on an ambitious £11 million LED street lighting replacement programme.
• Developing an Electric Vehicle (EV) charging point survey which will inform a new five year EV strategy.
• Launching an EV trial for some of Medway’s social workers.

Plans are also in place to install 34 EV charging points in Medway later this summer. More information on this exciting project will be available in due course.

Cllr Howard Doe, Deputy Leader of Medway Council, who is leading on Medway’s Climate Change agenda, said:

“I am pleased that we have adopted the Climate Change Action Plan. I would like to emphasise that the plan is a flexible working document which will be updated as we continue to work with partners, including residents, on the pathway to making Medway carbon neutral by 2050. There are many small changes that we can all incorporate into our daily lives which will make a big difference to our climate such as recycling correctly, walking and using public transport. We all need to work together in the fight against climate change.”

To find out more about how the council is tackling climate change in Medway, and to read the action plan, visit: medway.gov.uk/climatechange

Medway Council

Stunning Twilight Sail aboard Edith May

Photos: Heading out towards Seagull Island.

Red sky at night, picking out silhouettes of the boats.

Watching the sunrise from Lower Halstow Creek.

Hearing from Skipper Ed Gransden at the end of our trip.

Click photos to enlarge.

Like most, I spend nearly all of my time on dry land, so when I saw Tiller & Wheel's beautiful photograph of the sun rising over Grain and Sheppey promoting their Twilight Sail, I was intrigued and remembered how long it has been since I was down on the water there myself.

Waking up to the dawn chorus each morning becomes my regular alarm clock at this time of year, so as time, tide and weather all seemed to coincide, I thought why not get up even earlier than usual this Monday morning and booked my place to sail online. Although I must admit hearing my alarm go off at 2:00am was, well, alarming!

It was pitch black when I arrived at the dock in Lower Halstow Creek for our 3:30am free trip around Seagull Island on what was forecast to be the hottest day of the year so far.

Skipper Ed welcomed us aboard Thames Sailing Barge Edith May, and after putting us at our ease with some safety advice, he and crewmate Emma and helpers untied the barge from its home mooring, and with a light breeze just catching the topsail, we began our short passage.

With the sun just below the horizon, the light was incredible looking out across the estuary towards Grain and Sheppey and the sailing peaceful and a little bit magical and in such contrast to my regular walks around the sea wall.

As we gently ambled, the barbecue was lit for bacon sandwiches, served with tea and coffee, delicious!

Ed fired up the engine when we reached the marker buoy at Seagull Island and explained the unpredictable nature of the tides sometimes and the need to get a bit more speed up for our return.

Watching the sunrise and the silhouettes of the boats, we calmly made our way back to the mooring at the dock, arriving around 5:00am.

Before we disembarked, Ed told us about the small number of surviving Thames Sailing Barges still in use today and Tiller & Wheel's mission to offer free sailing trips and an affordable subscription model so sailing can be an option for everyone.

Having lived here virtually all my life, I have never experienced the sunrise and changing light over the estuary at this time of the day before.

If you think you've seen everything where we live, you honestly haven't until you've watched the sunrise or sunset from such a calm and tranquil twilight setting.

To book your sailing experience with Tiller & Wheel and to find out how you could become a 'Patron', visit: www.tillerandwheel.com

Upchurch Matters

NHS Kent and Medway CCG - Community Bulletin

Latest Covid-19 vaccine progress

On Tuesday (8th June) the NHS vaccination programme hit its six-month milestone. Across Kent and Medway nearly 1.9 million vaccination jabs have been given. This means we have vaccinated 91% of the top nine priority groups with at least one dose, and 72% of all eligible adults have been vaccinated.

More than 790,000 people are now protected with both doses of the vaccine. In the top four most vulnerable groups 96% of people have had both doses.

You can read more about our vaccination programme in our fortnightly vaccine update

Over 25s can now book their vaccine

The vaccination programme continues to go from strength-to-strength as we enter the home straight and begin inviting the final cohorts. Those aged 25 and over are now eligible for their vaccination.

Appointments can be booked online or by calling 119.

People are also being urged to get their second dose of the vaccine, which is vital to get maximum protection against coronavirus.

If you have been asked to bring forward your second does appointment, please do so.

Volunteers thanked for role in vaccination programme

Vaccinations for nearly 1.9 million people in Kent and Medway have been possible thanks to the hard work of local GPs, nurses, pharmacists and an army of colleagues working in the NHS and local councils.

It is also due to the outstanding contribution of local volunteers.

Caroline Selkirk, Executive Director of Health Improvement and Chief Operating Officer at NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group, said:

“The complex and fast-paced roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine has been unlike anything we have delivered before.

“From the start of the programme to now as we continue to vaccinate people and protect them from the worst effects of this virus, it has required the concerted effort of hundreds of people across our communities.

“We could not have delivered millions of vaccines if it was not for the time, care and selflessness of our volunteers. On behalf of all of us at NHS Kent and Medway, thank you.”

Read more on this story on our website

Find out more about diabetes services

Did you know there are multiple services in place to support people with or at risk of developing diabetes in Kent and Medway?

This Diabetes Week (14th - 20th June) NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group is encouraging people to find the diabetes support services available to them.

For more information, visit our diabetes webpage

Read the full bulletin at >> https://bit.ly/3x86eSu

NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group

30th Anniversary Party Night with Strawberry Blonde at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course | Poolside Bar Customer Notice

Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Telephone: 01634 360626
Website: www.rivervalleygolf.co.uk

Temporary Road Closure - Old Ferry Road, Iwade

Kent County Council has made an order to temporarily prohibit through traffic on Old Ferry Road, Iwade from Tuesday 6th July 2021 for up to 1 day between the hours of 08:00 and 15:30.

The road will be closed between the junctions with Sheppey Way and Raspberry Hill Lane, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route for any through traffic is via Sheppey Way, Old Ferry Road and vice versa.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while underground structure works are undertaken by Openreach.

For information regarding the closure please contact Openreach on: 0800 023 2023, who will be able to assist with the scope of the works.

KCC 24hr Contact Centre: 03000 418181

For details of roadworks see: https://one.network

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

Latest POLICE.UK Crime Data for the Area - April 2021

Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch

A brief summary of crime information for the past 2 months.

33 crimes are shown on the map in April 2021 including:

11 Anti-social Behaviour

1 Burglary
1 Criminal Damage and Arson
3 Other Theft
2 Public Order
11 Violence and Sexual Offences
4 Other Crime

42 crimes were shown on the map in March 2021.

Not all crime that occurs is shown on the map.

Please visit: www.police.uk for more information including outcomes for these crimes and contact information for your local policing team.

Lower Halstow and Iwade

A brief summary of crime information for the past 2 months.

25 crimes are shown on the map in April 2021 including:

6 Anti-social Behaviour

1 Burglary
4 Criminal Damage and Arson

1 Drugs

1 Other Theft
2 Public Order

2 Vehicle Crime
8 Violence and Sexual Offences

20 crimes were shown on the map in March 2021.

Not all crime that occurs is shown on the map.

Please visit: www.police.uk for more information including outcomes for these crimes and contact information for your local policing team.

Upchurch Matters