CANCELLED: Temporary Road Closure - The Street, Lower Halstow

CANCELLED: It will be necessary to close The Street, Lower Halstow between 7:00am and 7:00pm for up to 2 days for works programmed to begin on Saturday 11th June 2022.

The road will be closed between the junctions of Green Farm and Church Path, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route is via Vicarage Lane, Wardell Lane, Church Lane, A2 High Street, A2 London Road, A2 Hartlip Hill, A2 Moor Street, Otterham Quay Lane, Horsham Lane, Forge Lane and The Street.

The closure is required while road micro surfacing improvement works are carried out by Kent County Council.

This type of work can be affected by bad weather, so if it is not possible for us to carry it out at this time, we will arrange a new date and let residents know via a letter drop to your home. We will also put up signs along the road, before we start, showing the date we plan to start work.

Local businesses will be open as usual.

KCC 24hr Contact Centre: 03000 418181

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

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

Upchurch Parish Council Report - May 2022

Report of the Parish Council May 2022

Cllr Tyrone Ripley (Chairman), Cllr Pam Denny (Vice Chairman), Cllr Ernie Berntsen, Cllr Helen Boakes, Cllr John Bodycomb, Cllr Alan Horton, Cllr Gerry Lewin, Cllr Gary Rosewell and Cllr Neil Sheppard. Clerk Mrs Wendy Licence.

Annual Parish Meeting

The Annual Parish Meeting was held in person for the first time since the pandemic began and was well attended by residents. Groups reported to the meeting on their activities over the past year. The KALC Community Award was presented to Mr John Arnold for his sterling work on the upgrading the streetlights in the village.

Annual Parish Council Meeting

Tyrone Ripley has been elected Chairman for the forthcoming year and Pam Denny has been elected Vice Chair.

Beacon Lighting to Celebrate The Queen's Platinum Jubilee

The beacon will be lit on Thursday 2^nd June and there will be food and drinks stalls at the Recreation Ground during the evening and this will be a memorable event for the village. A piper will play at 9:35pm, a bugler will play a unique Bugle Call at 9:40pm and the beacon will be lit at 9:45pm.

The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Celebrations 2022

On Sunday 5^th June street parties are being encouraged across the country. In Upchurch,  where residents are unable to have a party in their road, they will be permitted to use the Recreation Ground, please contact the Clerk for full details: clerk@upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk

Recreation Ground and Paddock

The Council has held a successful meeting with ambassadors from Holywell School to discuss the Woodland Trail for The Paddock. The children have given advice as to what could be incorporated on the signs and have also suggested fundraising. The Council is grateful to the team for their help.

A plaque for the Jubilee oak tree has been commissioned.

Finance

The Council has made a donation of £50 to Swale Citizens Advice in recognition of the valuable help the charity gives residents.

Planning

i. Ref: 21/506474/FULL Address: Burntwick The Street Upchurch Sittingbourne ME9 7EU

Proposal: Erection of 2no. four bedroom semi-detached dwellings and 1no. detached garage, with associated fencing, gates, access and parking.

Amended drawings - changes of description of proposal.

Councillors noted the concerns of residents and that the amended design has not mitigated the concerns. The Council supported the concerns of residents. A site visit was requested.

 

ii. Ref: 22/500974/FULL Address: 116 Oak Lane Upchurch Kent ME9 7AY

Proposal: Erection of a new front boundary wall and gates to plots 1 and 2 approved under 20/505179/FULL.

Revised details.

Councillors welcomed the changes but expressed concerns about the hedge along Wallbridge Lane and Oak Lane which should be limited to maintain the sight line. The beech tree would also be a sight line issue.

 

iii. Ref: MC/21/2225 Proposal: Land To The East Of Seymour Road And North Of London Road Rainham Gillingham ME8 6YX

Proposal: Outline Application with all matters reserved (except access) for a residential development of up to 48 dwellings, including associated access, parking, landscaping and open space.

Amended parameter plan.

Councillors considered the amended parameter plan and agreed that their objections remain.

 

iv. Ref: 22/501595/FULL Address: 1 Gore Farm Cottages Chaffes Lane Upchurch ME9 7BE

Proposal: Erection of a detached family annex in rear garden.

Councillors noted the application.

 

v. Ref: 22/501571/FULL Address: Sedgemoor House Stables Holywell Lane Upchurch

Proposal: Remodelling of existing dwelling, works to include part single/ part 2 storey front extension, single storey side/rear extension, part single/part 2 storey rear extension together with conversion of double garage and attached store. Roof alterations to create additional first and second floor accommodation with associated balconies and roof lights and changes to fenestration. 

Councillors considered the application and had no objection to the proposal. Historically the area has been screened by trees and it is requested this be considered going forward.

Date of next meetings:

Full Council - Thursday 9^th June at 7:30pm in Upchurch Village Hall - Please note the change of date due to the beacon lighting.

The Planning Committee and General Purposes Committee - Wednesday 15^th June at 7:30pm in the Small Hall of the Village Hall.

All residents are welcome to attend the meetings and there is a time for members of the public to comment, raise concerns or ask questions.

To help keep loved ones safe, please DO NOT attend the meeting if you have COVID-19  or have experienced symptoms. Questions and comments can be sent to the Clerk to be raised at the meeting.

Wendy Licence - Clerk to the Parish Council

Tel: 01622 739324

Email: clerk@upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk

Website: www.upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk

Upchurch Poppy Appeal - 2022

Remembrance Sunday will be the 13th of November this year with the Poppy Appeal taking place in the preceding two weeks.

I am beginning the planning for the Upchurch Appeal by forming a team of house-to-house collectors allocated to specific areas so that the whole Parish is contacted.

I know at this stage that I shall require volunteers for Butchers Green, Eastwood Meadow, Forge Lane, Kent Terrace, Pear Tree Grove, Quilters Yard and Woods Edge - if you would be willing to give up to two hours of your time to collect in one or more of these areas during the appeal please contact me. For new collectors, I will provide all the support and assistance you need leaving you only the task of seeking donations in your allocated areas.

Also I would welcome help with organising the Upchurch Appeal with a view “to learning the ropes” and taking over in 2023.

“WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”

Hon. Alderman Gerry Lewin - Poppy Appeal Organiser 

Telephone: 01634 366113 - 07946 996789

Email: lewing135@btinternet.com

Newington History Group

Join Newington History Group for a Jubilee Special at its annual meeting in the Village Hall on Thursday, May 26th (7:00pm). Richard Emmett, a NHG member and chairman of the Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne, will pose the question: Elizabeth II – A Servant or a Queen? The event is open to the public (£3).

The beacon overlooks Newington village.

Looking at the beacon from the viewing point.

The history group’s beacon burning in November 2018.

Photos: Richard Thompstone.

The village's Platinum Jubilee celebrations will be launched on Thursday, June 2nd, with the lighting of the history group's beacon at Wormdale Farm (9:45pm).

You can view it from the unlit public footpath (ZR64) - which will be signposted from Callaways Lane. At the viewing point at 9:30pm, Graham Dudley, NHG's chairman, will give details about the location's historic significance.

The Newington beacon - a link in a national chain that includes the Upchurch beacon - stands on the historic site of a World War One gun emplacement, part of a defence line of fortifications that ran through the village in 1915.

There's an opportunity to meet NHG members and find out more about the group’s activities at the parish council's Jubilee Village Fete on the Recreation Ground on Saturday, June 4th (1:30pm). For more information visit the parish council website at: www.newington-pc.gov.uk

The history group, which actively seeks to unearth, preserve and promote the history of the village and neighbouring areas, meets monthly on the fourth Thursday (7:00pm) in the Village Hall. An annual subscription is available.

For more details contact the group at: newingtonhistorygroup@outlook.com; through its website: www.newingtonhistory.uk; or call: 01795 842711.

Follow on Facebook: Newington History Group, and Twitter: @newingtonhg

Richard Thompstone - Newington History Group

CANCELLED: Upchurch Choral Society Presents Jubilate Regina

Upchurch Choral Society presents in celebration of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

This evening’s performance has been cancelled due to Covid.

Jubilate Regina

A performance of Mozart's Coronation Mass

Plus a selection of varied celebratory works

On Sunday the 15th of May 2022 in St Mary's Church, Upchurch, beginning at 7:30pm.

Tickets are £10 each (under 18's free) with refreshments available during the interval, courtesy of The Friends of St Mary's.

Please come and join us!

We are a four-part choir which sings all manner of things in the church with the help of our conductor Marius and our accompanist Janet.

For more information, contact UCS Secretary Sue Rossiter: 01634 234780

Email: suerossiter@waitrose.com

Sue Rossiter

Wear Jeans to Work Week: Upchurch’s Co-op - Raising Money for MIND

Congratulations to colleagues at Upchurch’s Co-op who have raised a further £109 for MIND - the mental health and support charity this week by wearing their jeans to work in return for a donation towards the charity and raising customers' awareness of its work.

Thanks to everyone who donated 🙏🏼

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

👖👖👖

Sally Butcher - Member Pioneer for Upchurch and Bobbing