UpARA - July 2021 Newsletter

Hello All,

With the end of restrictions upon us, this Email is to inform everyone of what we are planning from now on.

This Friday as you know we have our Friday Walk setting off from Riverside Country Park, and, (for the last time), we need you to let us know if you are coming.

On Tuesday, 20th at 2:00pm there will be the normal monthly session of Petanque at the side of the Golf Course driving range alongside Oak Lane. We have had record numbers taking part over the last month or two - just turn up if you wish to take part...

Wednesday, 21st July, is the date that Weekly Line Dancing sessions are commencing. This will now be for one hour, starting at 10:30am, and will be beginners line dancing, (for beginners and those that may have got a bit rusty...).

The following week we will be re-commencing bi-monthly Coffee Mornings, Art and Table Tennis and weekly Soft Tennis; and then in August our regular monthly Friday meetings, and Monday afternoon Kurling sessions.

Ten Pin Bowling will not restart until after the school holidays.

We are unsure about Pilates at present and will confirm with all in due course.

Initially, we will mail out when each activity restarts as a reminder to all; we don't expect that everything will necessarily resume at the same time or days or format as we left it back in March 2020, and there may be some changes.

Our first Monthly Meeting is on Friday, 13th August and our speaker is Guy Bartlett with a talk on the Battle of Britain (which was originally scheduled to coincide with the 80th anniversary last year).

On the same night, we are celebrating with our BreakOut Party with live entertainment. Those who have booked a place on the original date at the beginning of July will have received a mail confirming the change, please let us know if you can no longer attend the date. There are still a few places if any members who have not booked, wish to party with us, please Email: uparaupchurch@gmail.com There will be a table plan to ensure people can sit with friends etc. More info nearer the time...

Our first trip, to Oxford, leaves on 17th August and Malcolm has many more planned, see the link below.

We will have more to say in the coming weeks as things settle down and the committee has had a chance to meet, (our first in-person committee meeting for a long while takes place on Monday). We have a number of plans, and we will also be asking for your help to help us go forward.

One question we are asking at the moment is whether anyone would be interested in Ballroom Dancing Lessons - if you do, let us know and if there is enough potential support, we can take it further. 

We have tried to keep the website up to date as much as we can: www.upara.club

Please click on the links below to view the calendar, and the outing and speaker lists that are currently in our plans:

UpARA - Calendar

UpARA - Outings & Holidays

UpARA - Speakers

Regards and hopefully see you all soon

Your UpARA Committee

New Kissing Gates Make Village Footpath More Accessible

New footpath kissing gates have been installed at both entrances to the field in Chaffes Lane, opposite Bradshaw Close.

The field is the first section of footpath ZR 23 that runs from Chaffes Lane to Holywell Lane.

Parish councillors raised concerns on behalf of a resident who highlighted the previous stiles had made the footpath inaccessible to all but the fittest.

Upchurch Parish Council wishes to thank the landowner and KCC public rights of way for their prompt action and for kindly giving consent to make the footpath more accessible.

Upchurch Matters

Upchurch Parish Council - Notice of Vacancy

NOTICE is hereby given that a vacancy has occurred in the membership of the above Parish Council.

Under the Local Government Act 1972, ten electors can petition for an election by writing to the Proper Officer at Swale Borough Council, Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne, ME10 3HT within 14 working days of the date of this Notice.

If no petition is received within that time period, the Parish Council will fill the vacancy by co-opting a person onto the parish council.

Persons wishing to be considered for this appointment should apply in writing to the Clerk to the Parish Council as soon as possible at the following address:-

Mrs Wendy Licence

Upchurch Parish Council

14 Trapfield Close

Bearsted

Maidstone

ME14 4HT

Or by Email to: clerkupc@outlook.com

Dated this 6th day of May 2021

Wendy Licence - Clerk to the Parish Council

SGN Gas Network Upgrade - Roadworks in Lower Rainham Road, Otterham Quay Lane, Wallbridge Lane and Oak Lane

Dear Stakeholder,

We are writing to let you know about our project to upgrade our gas network. We are replacing our old metal gas mains and services with new plastic pipe. This essential work will ensure your community continues to receive a safe and reliable gas supply for many years to come.

In consultation with Medway and Kent County Council, our contractor, WCB Utilities will start work on Monday 26th July for approximately 9 weeks. We will be working in the following roads, some of which will overlap.

26th July - 20th August

Our engineers will start work in Lower Rainham Road. To access our network of pipes safely, it will be necessary to close the road between property 786 and the rear of property 21, then onto the junction with Otterham Quay Lane. Access will be maintained for residents and a diversion will be in place via Station Road, High Street and Otterham Quay Lane.

9th August - 3rd September

We will be working in Otterham Quay Lane between the junction with Lower Rainham Road and the junction with Horsham Lane. This road will be closed for the duration of the work. We will also need to close Horsham Lane at the junction with Otterham Quay Lane from Monday 16th August until Monday 6th September. Access will be available for residents and a diversion in place.

23rd August - 4th October

Work will start in Wallbridge Lane between the junction of Otterham Quay Lane and the junction with Oak Lane from Monday 23rd August until Monday 27th September. The road will be closed to ensure the safety of our workforce and the community. We will also be working in Oak Lane, which will remain open. Access for all residents will be maintained and a diversion will be in place.

We understand that people can get frustrated by roadworks. Therefore, we would only close a road if it was unsafe to keep it open.

We’re working closely with the UK Government and public health bodies to make sure we work in line with expert advice during the pandemic. We have extra safety precautions in place to protect our colleagues and our communities from catching or spreading the virus as we carry out our safety-critical project. There’s more information about our coronavirus response on our website: sgn.co.uk/coronavirus

We’re writing to residents and other local stakeholders to make them aware of our project and explain the details of our work. Please feel free to also share this information with anyone you think may be impacted by our project.

Kind regards

Sharon Dorrington

Stakeholder and Community Manager

SGN Gas

Help Medway Maritime Hospital Create a Patient Experience Strategy

Are you working in Medway or Swale?

Have you been a patient here at Medway Maritime Hospital?

Can you be the voice of the people who use your services who have also been a patient here at the hospital?

If the answer is yes, then we need your help!

We are currently creating our patient experience strategy here at Medway Maritime Hospital and we are looking for people in our community who would be interested in being part of our focus groups to help shape this going forward.

We want to hear about your experiences but focus on what a good experience looks like so that we co-design a strategy that has a vision for the Trust to improve the patient experience.

Below are the dates (you would be required to attend one of the following):

Tuesday 20th July, 9:30am to 11:30am - at the Hospital Lecture Theatre

Friday 23rd July, 9:30am to 11:30am - to be held online

We would love for you to take part!

If you would like to be part of this or have further questions, please Email me.

Many thanks

Sophie Cawsey

Communications and Engagement Officer - Medway NHS Foundation Trust

Email: sophie.cawsey@nhs.net                     

Website: www.medway.nhs.uk

Reopening of the Rivers Restaurant at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

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