Poppy Day Appeal - 2021 - Large Poppies for Upchurch Street Lights

Upchurch Parish Council has purchased 100 Event Poppies that we plan to place on the street lighting columns throughout the parish over the weekend of Saturday the 30th of October, beginning at 9:00am. 

A team of volunteers will be needed to install them, two poppies back to back per column.

Residents are welcomed and encouraged to participate in the installation throughout the Village, are you willing to help?

The dates for Remembrance this year are:

Thursday 28th October - National launch of the 2021 Appeal

Saturday 30th October to Saturday 13th November 

(Official dates for the Poppy Appeal 2021)

Sunday 14th November - Remembrance Sunday

(the service in Upchurch starts at 10:15am and is very well attended, best to arrive early if you would like to choose where you sit).

Please contact Cllr Tyrone Ripley, to register your interest.

Email: tyrone.ripley@yahoo.co.uk
Telephone: 07702 222093

Upchurch Parish Council

Making Miracles - Baby Loss Awareness Week and Charity Event

A night under the umbrellas with Jamie Johnson & Josh Roots

'Sheltered from the storm of baby loss'

During Baby Loss Awareness Week, 9 - 15th October, we will be displaying 400 pink and blue umbrellas which will hang from the ceiling of the beautiful setting of St Margaret’s Church in Rainham, Kent.

Standing together in the rain, we will remember all babies gone too soon with wooden personalised hearts which will hang from one of the 400 suspended umbrellas.

Jamie & Josh have kindly agreed to support us and raise awareness by performing an intimate gig at this amazing venue.

How to book:

1️⃣ Please make a £10 donation via the Virgin Money giving link👇

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MakingMiracles7years

2️⃣ When you make your donation, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU clearly state your name and code: ANWJJ

Date: Wednesday 13th October 2021
Time: Doors open at 7:00pm
Location: St Margaret’s Church, Rainham, Kent, ME8 8AN
Donation: £10 per person

We remember,
the babies born sleeping,
those we carried but never held,
those we held but could not take home,
those who came home but could not stay.

www.makingmiracles.org.uk

Team Making Miracles 💗 💙

Temporary Road Closure - Lower Hartlip Road, Hartlip

It will be necessary to close part of Lower Hartlip Road, Hartlip from Thursday 28th October 2021 with estimated completion by 17th November 2021.

Lower Hartlip Road, Hartlip will be closed between the junctions with Munn's Lane and Old House Lane, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route is Lower Hartlip Road, A2 Hartlip Hill, Mill Lane, Munns Lane, The Street, Mount Lane and vice versa.

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

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

KCC 24hr Contact Centre: 03000 418181

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

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

Councillors Approve Change in Governance for Swale Borough Council

At last night’s (Wednesday 6th October) Council meeting, councillors unanimously agreed to change the way Swale Borough Council makes decisions by moving to a committee system.

Councillors have agreed that the council’s current leader-and-cabinet led structure, where most decisions are taken by fewer people, will be replaced with a committee system, which will come into effect at the annual council meeting in May 2022.

The new system will mean decisions are made by politically balanced committees representing all councillors.

Cllr Roger Truelove, Leader of the Council, said:

“This will be more democratic. It ensures that when people go to vote they will know that their elected members will no longer be excluded from major policy decisions. Swale is a diverse borough with diverse politics and the cabinet system does inevitably exclude both communities and members. Cabinets belong at Westminster but are not appropriate to local councils, with more intimate contacts with different communities.

“This will not prevent the Coalition delivering on its agenda. We will have a majority on the committees. But going forward, beyond the elections of 2023 the committee system will lead to a more consensual approach to local politics, which in my long experience, is what most local voters want.”

Cllr Mike Baldock, Deputy Leader with responsibility for constitutional change, said:

"This is a huge decision for us to have taken, and I am delighted we have taken the whole council with us on this journey. Good politics is about listening and working together to support our residents and our communities. The committee system will help ensure everyone's voice is heard better."

Cllr Alan Horton, Leader of the Opposition, said:

“The Conservatives have worked constructively with the Coalition to bring about this important change as it gives all Councillors an opportunity to speak for their communities and be involved in decision making. This is a fundamental change in how ward councillors are able to represent their residents​ and how the council makes decisions. We believe it is important that all voices are heard and we are looking forward to being able to better serve our residents from May next year.”

More information about this change in governance and what it will mean for Swale Borough Council can be found in the report to Council here

Swale Borough Council

St Mary's Church Fundraising Sale

Saturday 9th October between 10:00am - 11:30am

Homemade Produce & Preloved Items

🍰 🍓 🧩 📚 🎨 ➕

Upchurch Matters

Hello Iwade, Newington & Upchurch Youth

For 11-18s in Iwade, Newington & Upchurch, there is a new development! 

Swale Youth is passionate about seeing all young people in Swale thrive. They know that often the young people living in Swale villages and rural areas can feel disconnected. So they have been working hard over the Summer to develop a new youth initiative that connects Iwade, Newington & Upchurch youth - with each other.

Young people can meet Swale Youth workers Tina & Deb in Upchurch on Wednesday the 6th of October, between 6:30pm and 8:00pm - initially every 3 weeks.

Tina & Deb hope to meet and establish relationships with young people in Upchurch around the local hangouts such as the Paddock and gather ideas of what they would like to see and do. They hope to bring a van from which they will be able to provide outside games such as Soft Archery, Swingball, Football, Cricket and Rounders, to mention just a few. From the comfort of the van, they will provide a safe place to sit in wet weather, allow access to a hotspot where young people can use their phones, as well as providing hot drinks such as hot chocolate.

When they are fully established and have a regular group, they hope to offer outings at theme parks and local fun spots like Bowling Alleys and the Cinema.

Parents & Carers

Please ensure your young people know to only interact with the Swale Youth workers, and they know never to get into a strangers vehicle and never to go off with anybody they do not know. If people are in any doubt, please ask adults to show their ID and accompany your young people to and from the location.

For information about Swale Youth, visit >> www.swaleyouth.org.uk

Upchurch Matters