Swale Councillors Vote to Support New Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill

Councillors have voted unanimously to support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill, which has been presented to the House of Commons.

At the last council meeting (23rd June), following a speech by the newly appointed climate and ecological emergency cabinet member Cllr Tim Valentine, councillors voted unanimously to support the new bill.

The bill requires the Government to draw up a strategy to meet our commitments under the Paris agreement to cut carbon emissions to halt the degradation and loss of nature and to restore soils and habitats.

Cllr Tim Valentine, cabinet member for the climate emergency at the council, said:

“Last December the Government announced a new target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 78% by 2035 and a 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution.

“The new Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill requires the Government to draw up a strategy to turn this ambition into climate action.

“We declared a climate and ecological emergency here at the council in June 2019 and our action plan outlines steps we will take to reduce our carbon emissions and restore nature across the borough by 2030.

“We are doing all we can, however, as a borough council, we need support and funding from the Government to reach our goals. For example, by insulating homes and investing in better, cleaner public transport.

“We committed to call on the Government to provide the powers and resources we need to reach our 2030 target, and that is exactly what we are doing by supporting the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill.

“At the current Government targets, the planet only has a 50 per cent chance of limiting global warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius. This is just not enough.

“We are calling on the Government to pass the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill and make good on its promise to significantly reduce emissions.

“With the proper funding and support, local councils and organisations around the country can make the leaps and strides needed to meet the targets that humanity needs.”

To find out more about the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill, visit www.ceebill.uk/bill

For more information about Swale Council’s actions to tackle the Climate and Ecological Emergency, visit www.swale.gov.uk/cee-update

Changes to Upchurch Surgery Times on Wednesday 21st July

Dr Supriya Das & Dr Lakshmi Subbiah

Upchurch Surgery will be closed on the afternoon and evening of Wednesday 21st July but will be open between 10:00am until 1:00pm instead.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

Please call NHS 111 if you require urgent medical care.

Ray Kemsley

Chair - Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham

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

Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch

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

60 crimes are shown on the map in May 2021 including:

3 Anti-social Behaviour

2 Burglary

9 Criminal Damage and Arson

3 Drugs

3 Other Theft
6 Public Order

1 Shoplifting

5 Vehicle Crime
27 Violence and Sexual Offences
1 Other Crime

33 crimes were shown on the map in April 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.

38 crimes are shown on the map in May 2021 including:

13 Anti-social Behaviour

1 Burglary
4 Criminal Damage and Arson

1 Other Theft

4 Public Order

1 Shoplifting

14 Violence and Sexual Offences

25 crimes were shown on the map in April 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

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