Swale Borough Council Leader To Step Down

Councillor Roger Truelove.

Cllr Roger Truelove will be standing down as leader of Swale Borough Council after almost three years.

Cllr Truelove said:

“I have had the pleasure of serving Swale as a councillor for 28 years, the last three as leader of the coalition.

“I was very doubtful about standing as a candidate in 2019 and I long ago decided I would not stand in 2023.

“We are now moving towards a new committee structure, and I believe it will be in the best interest of this council for someone else to take up the new leadership role for the next 12 months.

“So, I will be standing down as leader, but I will continue to play a part in the new council system for the next year.

“There are a number of people who have the talent and commitment to take Swale forward, both from the administration or the opposition.

“I have been enormously lucky to have the support of an excellent cabinet over the last few years and I am pleased that we have shown that coalition politics in local government can work.

“I am also immensely grateful to council officers for their hard work, commitment and forbearance.

“Personally, in my time as leader I have tried to bring stability to the council, as well as unlock the resources needed to deliver improvements, and make us a kinder council.

“The last three years of this council has seen movement in several directions: the constitutional changes, the determination to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping, the enhanced links with the voluntary sector, the climate change initiatives and the improvements to our public realm with a sense of our heritage.

“None of this is work completed and I hope we will see continuity into the committee period, over the next year.”

The announcement was made at a full council meeting on 30th March, where Cllr Truelove confirmed he would continue in the role until a new leader is elected at an extraordinary council meeting on 27th April.

Swale Borough Council

David Barling 1937 - 2022

Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course
Telephone: 01634 360626
Website: www.rivervalleygolf.co.uk

Swale Borough Council - Drivers Do Their Bit to Improve Air Quality in Swale

People who have been approached by Swale Borough Council’s enforcement officers as part of their anti-idling campaign have done their bit to improve air quality.

Since the council introduced the anti-idling legislation and launched the education campaign late last year, officers have been visiting school hotspot locations across Swale where idling engines are at their highest.

The seven schools identified as hotspots where parents leave their engines running include:

• Fulston Manor school in Sittingbourne

• South Avenue Primary School in Sittingbourne
• Highsted Grammar school in Sittingbourne
• Ethelbert Road Infants School in Faversham
• Bysingwood Primary School in Faversham
• Davington School in Faversham
• Ospringe Primary School in Faversham

Research shows that an idling vehicle can emit up to 20 times more of some pollutants than one travelling at 32mph and these pollutants can cause asthma and be particularly damaging for children.

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

“Our enforcement officers have approached 16 drivers who had their engines idling while waiting to collect their children from school since the campaign begun and they’ve all been understanding and switched their engines off.

“Our officers can issue a £20 FPN to drivers who refuse to switch off their engines, but we don’t want to jump straight to a fine and think we’ll have better results by educating people to the increase in pollution an idling engine can have.

“Each car we approached was given a leaflet with idling advice and information on air pollution and the impacts on health.

“We put up 42 signs around the seven school hot spots and drivers seem to be happy to switch their engines off, especially around schools.

“By leaving your car idling it emits 20 times more pollution than one travelling at 30mph and what most people don’t realise is that if you leave your car engine running the pollution levels inside will be worse than outside.

“Idling for an hour can waste half a gallon of fuel or more so switching off your engine will save fuel and money.”

The next hotspots to be added to the anti-idling campaign include Fulston Manor school and Lansdowne school in Sittingbourne, Faversham train station, Bank Street in Faversham and Vincent Road in Sittingbourne.

People can report a hotspot for investigation by calling the council on: 01795 417850.

Swale Borough Council

Temporary Road Closure - School Lane, Iwade

It will be necessary to close part of School Lane, Iwade from Monday 11th April 2022, with estimated completion by 15th April 2022.

School Lane, Iwade will be closed in the general vicinity of number 2 Orchard Farm Cottage, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route is School Lane, Ferry Road, Sheppey Way, Stickfast Lane, Iwade Road and vice versa.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while water main connection works are undertaken by Southern Water.

For information regarding this closure, please contact Southern Water on: 0330 303 0368, 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

Parking at Upchurch Village Hall

It is recognised that during the SGN gas network upgrade works in The Street and neighbouring roads, some residents may have difficulty parking their cars.

For this period only, Upchurch Village Hall will offer parking in their car park for those residents to help alleviate the problem.

Any resident parking in the Village Hall car park must respect that those using the hall have priority.

We would suggest drivers park in an orderly fashion, to the left near the Churchyard. 

Please respect this it is a private car park, and owners park there at their own risk.

Thank you

Upchurch Village Hall Management Committee

Winners of the Mother’s Day and Spring Garden Hampers at Upchurch’s Co-op - Raising Money for MIND

Congratulations to Louise and Wendy, winners of the Mother’s Day and Spring Garden Hampers at Upchurch’s Co-op.

Thanks to everyone who bought tickets 🤗

You helped us raise another £122 for our chosen charity partner, MIND - the mental health and support charity.

Please keep a lookout for more raffles and events in store.

Read more about MIND at: www.mind.org.uk

Sally - Upchurch’s Co-op