Swale Borough Council Seeks Clarity on Government Planning Policy

Swale Borough Council has written to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to seek clarity on the Government’s planning policy.

The letter follows comments by the Prime Minister at party conference, where he referred to future homes not being built on “green fields”.

Cllr Roger Truelove, leader of the council, said:

“Whilst we welcome the idea that future homes won’t be built on green fields, it will come as a surprise to all local authorities as this is not a position previously taken by the Government.

“Like many councils, we are currently working on our next local plan, and if this is indeed the new policy it will have a major impact on our ability to deliver the level of housing the Government have told us we must provide.

“I hope to have a swift response confirming the Government’s position, so we have the clarity we need to complete our local plan.”

Swale Borough Council

Halloween and Fireworks

Halloween

Not everyone enjoys or wants to take part in Halloween. If you know someone who would rather not have trick or treaters call at their home, you can download and print the 'no trick or treat' sign below for their front door or window.

If you have young children:

• Never let them go trick or treating on their own
• Make sure they only visit people known to your family

If you have teenagers:

• Make sure they are not going to be using alcohol or play a trick on someone using flour or eggs
• Make it clear that if a 'no trick or treat' sign is displayed, they should leave straight away
• Advise them to stay in a group and never go into the home of someone they don't know
• Make sure they know not to frighten people

Click the posters to download and print.

Fireworks

Celebrate safely

• Fireworks can hurt and frighten people and animals - always follow the firework code
• Always supervise children around fireworks and never give sparklers to a child under 5

It's an offence to:

• Sell adult fireworks to anyone under 18
• Have adult fireworks in a public place if you are under 18
• Have fireworks meant for a professional display
• Let off fireworks after 11:00pm and before 7:00am, except on Bonfire Night (allowed up to midnight),

• New Year’s Eve, Diwali and the Chinese New Year (all allowed up to 1:00am).

Fireworks - the law

You cannot buy ‘adult’ fireworks if you’re under 18, and it’s against the law for anyone to set off fireworks between 11:00pm and 7:00am, except on certain occasions.

Adult fireworks are category 2 and 3 fireworks - they do not include things like party poppers.

Category 4 fireworks can only be used by professionals.

The law says you must not set off or throw fireworks (including sparklers) in the street or other public places.

You must not set off fireworks between 11:00pm and 7:00am, except for:

• Bonfire Night, when the cut off is midnight

• New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year, when the cut off is 1:00am

Check with your council to find out about any local rules for setting off fireworks.

Get information about firework safety from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Health and Safety Executive

Buying fireworks

You can only buy fireworks (including sparklers) from registered sellers for private use on these dates:

• 15th October to 10th November

• 26th to 31st December

• 3 days before Diwali and Chinese New Year

At other times you can only buy fireworks from licensed shops.

You can be fined up to £5,000 and imprisoned for up to 6 months for selling or using fireworks illegally. You could also get an on-the-spot fine of £90.

Need help?

Please only call 999 in an emergency. You can report a non-urgent incident or crime online
Alternatively, you can visit our advice pages for information and guidance on a range of issues.

Kent Police

Co-op Local Community Fund - Choose a Local Cause

Where would you like your community reward to go?

Co-op membership - supporting local causes

The Co-op Local Community Fund supports projects across the UK that its members care about, helping communities come together, co-operate and make a difference.

Thanks to its members, the fund has raised £39,655 for causes close to Upchurch.

How the Local Community Fund works

For every £1 Co-op members spend on selected Co-op products and services, 2p goes into your membership account and the Co-op gives the same amount to support community organisations and local causes.

When you become a Co-op member, you can choose a local cause to support through your membership. 

You can only support one local cause at a time, and you

 can change the cause at any time by logging into your membership account.

If you do not select a cause to support, the Co-op shares the funds you raised equally between the 3 local causes in your community.

The Co-op gives you a new set of causes to choose from every October.

Local causes will be part of the Local Community Fund for 12 months from 24th October 2021 to 22nd October 2022 and will receive their share of the funding in 2 payments - one in April 2022 and one in November 2022.

The 3 local causes are:

1st Upchurch Brownies and Guides

Upchurch Support Network

Upchurch Village Hall

If you want to see more local causes, use the search function at the bottom of the 'Choose a local cause' page on the Co-op membership website - see link below.

Be a member - make a difference in your community

To get involved, join the Co-op as a member for £1 and earn rewards for you and choose a local cause to support in your community.

To earn and spend your rewards, remember to show your membership card or the Co-op app every time you pay.

Become a Co-op member and choose a local cause at: coop.co.uk/membership

Upchurch Matters

Upchurch Poppy Day Appeal - 2021

In Upchurch, a team of local volunteers will again be making the annual house-to-house collections from Saturday 30th October to Saturday 13th November.

This year we celebrate the centenary of the Royal British Legion. It is fitting therefore that for the first time Upchurch Parish Council has arranged to display poppies on lampposts throughout the village, which will act as a reminder of that centenary. These poppies will remain on display throughout Remembrancetide.

Volunteer house-to-house collectors are still requested for Butchers Green, Eastwood Meadow, Kent Terrace, Quilters Yard, Woodruff close and Woods Edge - if you would be willing to give a few hours of your time to collect in one or more of these roads during the appeal please contact me. I will offer full support and assistance so that you only have to do the house-to-house collecting in your allocated street.

The Remembrance Sunday Service will be on the 14th of November. The planning for this service is well underway and wreaths will be laid at the internal memorial in the church by representatives of the Church, Swale Borough Council, Ferques [our twin village in France], Upchurch Parish Council, Upchurch Scouts, Upchurch Guides and Upchurch Brownies. In recent years there has been an exchange of wreaths between Ferques and Upchurch. This year, because of current circumstances, an Upchurch resident will lay a floral tribute from Ferques at the Upchurch service and a Ferques resident will lay the Upchurch wreath at the Ferques memorial on November 11th.

“WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”

Hon. Alderman Gerry Lewin - Poppy Day Appeal Organiser 

Telephone: 01634 366113 - 07946 996789

Email: lewing135@btinternet.com

Upchurch Saltmarsh Litter Pick at The Oak Grove

Living River Foundation, supported by Upchurch wedding venue The Oak Grove, has organised a small litter pick along the Saxon Shore Way public footpath and adjacent saltmarsh edge of the Medway/Swale Estuary.

Volunteers should meet at The Oak Grove for a briefing at 12:00 noon on Sunday the 31st of October, wearing appropriate clothing for the weather.

There are only a few spaces available given the terrain and protected birds in the area, so please book early. Children need to be accompanied by a responsible adult guardian.

To book a place and volunteer, visit eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/upchurch-saltmarsh-litter-pick-tickets-193099264097

Location:

The Oak Grove

Twinney Wharf

Susans Lane

Upchurch

ME9 7HA

📍Click for map

Read more about Living River Foundation at: www.living-river.org

And Medway Urban Greenspaces Forum at: www.mugsforum.org

Upchurch Matters

New Benches Installed in the Paddock and Recreation Ground

Upchurch Parish Council has installed three new benches in the Paddock and one on the Recreation Ground.

The Council was able to fund the benches following a successful bid to Swale Borough Council's Welcome Back Fund.

Thanks to Councillor Pam Denny for her continued efforts as the representative for the Paddock and Recreation ground.

Councillor Tyrone Ripley
Chairman - Upchurch Parish Council