Update: SGN Gas Network - Emergency Works at Station Road and Lower Rainham Road

Following several attempts to repair the gas pipe in the last week, it is essential that the old metal pipe is replaced with new (PE) pipe in Station Road, Rainham. This urgent work needs to be completed now, to reduce the risk of further leaks and to ensure that your community continues to receive a safe and reliable gas supply.

In consultation with Medway Council, our contractor, Forefront Utilities, who will be completing this work on our behalf, will start on Wednesday 13th July for approximately seven weeks.

Our engineers will initially be working in Lower Rainham Road, due to the location of the pipe and to keep everyone safe around our work site, we will need to close this road by the Angel Public House. Traffic will not be able to turn left from Station Road. Temporary two-way lights will be in place in Station Road to safely manage the traffic past the closure.

Once this initial phase of work has been completed, we will need to close the entire junction to replace the pipework in Station Road. Signed diversions will be in place for both road closures.

Further information about the dates and duration of each phase can be accessed at: https://sgn.co.uk/our-gas-works/major-planned-projects/rainham-station-road

During a road closure, access will be maintained for residents and businesses.

We understand that people can get frustrated by roadworks, and therefore we only use traffic management that we feel is efficient enough to complete these works safely for ourselves and the public.

We're writing to residents and other local stakeholders to make them aware of our project and explain the details of our work. Please feel free to also share this information with anyone you think may be impacted by our project.

Yours sincerely

Andy Underhay

Team Manager - East Region, Repair

Upchurch Parish Council - Vacancy for Parish Clerk/Responsible Financial Officer

Upchurch Parish Council is seeking to appoint a Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer to undertake the administration of the Parish Council's work. The ideal candidate should have good administration, financial, IT and communication skills. The job requires you to be well organised and to work from home.

Working as Parish Clerk for Upchurch Parish Council will involve: preparing budgets, monitoring and balancing the Council's accounts and preparing records for audit purposes, ensuring that statutory and other provisions governing or affecting the running of the Council are observed. Preparing agendas for our council meetings and taking and writing up minutes as well as reports for local publications. Additional tasks will involve managing the Council’s website, responding to general correspondence and liaising with local residents, governing bodies, Swale Borough Council and Kent County Council. The successful candidate will also be required to oversee contractors carrying out Council work. You will need to be able to work from home and to store council documents.

Impartiality to matters and acting under the instruction of the Council is imperative to this role.

Upchurch Parish Council is responsible for a Burial Ground. The successful candidate would be required to liaise with families, undertakers and the Church in order to administer funerals and interments. You will also be required to oversee the administration and running of this area.

The Parish Council is responsible for allotments and the Clerk is responsible for the administration and rent collection of these.

Knowledge of Local Government procedures would be an advantage. Consideration will be given to candidates with the right skills and a willingness to learn a new role to support the Parish Council. A Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA) qualification is preferred (or a willingness to achieve this within an agreed time scale, funded by the council if required).

The job is 12 hours per week which includes at least 2 evening meetings per month. The salary scale is set nationally starting at spinal column point LC2 SCP 18 £13.21 p/hr and rising to spinal column point 23 £14.67 p/hr dependent on experience.

Please apply by sending a CV and brief supporting letter explaining how you meet the requirements to the Chairman, either by emailing: tyroneripley@upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk or via post to: The Chairman, Upchurch Parish Council, Kaine Farm House, Breach Lane, Upchurch, ME9 7PH before the closing date of Wednesday 27th July 2022.

If you would like to discuss this prior to application contact details can be found on the Parish Council website.

Upchurch Parish Council

Temporary Road Closure - Hollow Lane, Hartlip

It will be necessary to close part of Hollow Lane, Hartlip from Thursday 11th August 2022 for up to 1 day between the hours of 09:30 and 15:30.

Hollow Lane, Hartlip will be closed between the junctions with The Street and Lower Hartlip Road, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route is The Street, Munns Lane, Lower Hartlip Road and vice versa.

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

For information regarding this closure, please contact Openreach on: 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

Latest POLICE.UK Crime Data for Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward - May 2022

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

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

25 crimes are shown on the map in May 2022 including:

2 Anti-social Behaviour

6 Criminal Damage and Arson

2 Other Theft

3 Public Order

2 Shoplifting

9 Violence and Sexual Offences

1 Other crime

28 crimes were shown on the map in April 2022.

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

Upchurch Cricket Club Summer Quiz & BBQ

To reserve a place contact: upchurchcricketclub@outlook.com

Graham Young - Upchurch Cricket Club

Swale Foodbank Collection - Call into the Church for 'A Cuppa and a Chat'

Swale Foodbank Collection

Dear Upchurch,

I will be collecting your foodbank donations again at the bus stop opposite the church on Wednesday the 13th of July between 10:30am and 11:30am. 

Please bring your items in carrier bags. Warehouse Coordinator Richard Divers will then deliver your donations to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.

The warehouse is short of:

■ Tins Tomatoes (Plum or Chopped or Passata)

■ Jars of Sauces (any)

■ Tins Meat

■ Tins Fish

■ Tins Potatoes

■ Instant Mash Potato

■ Long-life Milk 

■ Fruit Juice

Richard says they are going out daily to buy these basic essentials.

Of course, all donations are helpful, providing the food is long life and well within date. I hope this list helps and that you can donate some of the above.

Thank you in advance for your loving generosity ♥️

'A Cuppa and a Chat'

While you are there, why not call into the church for 'A Cuppa and a Chat' in the Lady Chapel.

We will have the kettle on from 10:00am.

A warm welcome awaits you - just call in, and we will be pleased to see you.

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator
Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk