Hearing Date Set for Appeal to Build up to 74 New Homes on Land off Otterham Quay Lane, Upchurch

Click plan to enlarge.

Gladman Developments Limited is challenging Swale Borough Council's refusal in May 2022 to grant permission for outline planning application: 21/501839/OUT for up to 74 dwellings at land off Otterham Quay Lane, Upchurch, with public open space, landscaping, sustainable drainage system and vehicular access point - all matters reserved except for means of access.

The developer subsequently lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate in October 2022 and requested a public inquiry.

In a letter to residents living near the site, dated Thursday the 24th of November 2022 (below), Swale Borough Council has advised that the Inspector's hearing for the appeal will begin at 10:00am on Wednesday the 11th of January 2023 at Swale House. Along with details of how residents can attend, either in person or virtually and give their views regarding the outline planning application.

Click letter to enlarge.

The Swale Borough Council planning decision notice, and Medway Council consultee comment, letters of objection along with the appeal and hearing documents can be viewed at >> https://bit.ly/3wJ9Ahx

Upchurch Matters' post regarding the original planning application can be viewed at >> https://bit.ly/32CKIrU and the developer's pre-application consultation at >> https://bit.ly/3v7X4oL

Upchurch Matters

Remembrance Sunday 2022 - Upchurch

The Remembrance Sunday service was led by Revd. Nick Carpenter and took place in the church of St Mary the Virgin on November 13th. The Upchurch uniformed youth organisations paraded from Drakes Hut and formed a guard of honour before the Remembrance. At the service, a very full church remembered all those who made the ultimate sacrifice in WWI and subsequent conflicts for this Nation. Seven wreaths were laid in turn in the Lady Chapel. The wreaths were on behalf of the Church, the Mayor of Swale, Ferques (our twin village in France*), Upchurch Parish Council, Upchurch Scouts, Upchurch Guides and the Upchurch Brownies. The names of all those from Upchurch who made the ultimate sacrifice in WWI and WWII were then read out in the order recorded on the memorial tablets in the Lady Chapel. At 11.00 hours a bugler played the Last Post and the two minutes silence was observed.

At the end of the service, the choir led the congregation out to the middle burial ground. Wooden Remembrance crosses were laid at each of the five War Grave Commission graves by past members of the Armed or Civilian services. After the crosses were laid, all those present stood in silent Remembrance on what was a calm but misty morning. This act concluded with prayers.

It was pleasing to see the village showing poppies on lamp posts, knitted poppies on the church railings and elsewhere. In the cemetery, an arch of poppies had been erected, guarded by two silhouettes of “Tommys”, acknowledging the fallen. My Royal British Legion thanks to those responsible for these displays.

*Upchurch Parish Council sends a wreath to Ferques for laying on Armistice Day when the French remember their war dead.

“WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”

Hon. Alderman Gerry Lewin - Poppy Appeal Organiser 

Telephone: 01634 366113

Email: lewing135@btinternet.com

Swale Borough Council Recognised for Global Climate Action Leadership

Swale Borough Council has been recognised by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) as one of 123 districts across the globe that is taking bold leadership on environmental action.

CDP’s A-List is designed to encourage and support districts to ramp up their climate action and ambition and is based on the environmental data they disclose. This year just over one in ten districts (12% of such cities) received an A.

To score an A, districts must publicly disclose through the CDP’s reporting platform, have a renewable energy target for the future, and have a published climate action plan. They must also complete a climate risk and vulnerability assessment and have a climate adaptation plan to demonstrate how they plan to tackle climate hazards.

Cllr Julian Saunders, chair of the environment committee and the council, said:

“We’ve made it a priority to understand the impacts of climate change in Swale and reporting our progress to the carbon disclosure project is just one way we commit to becoming a net zero borough.

“We approach tackling climate change as a whole council, sharing best practice and results across departments and embedding climate change action into our decision-making and procurement contracts.”

Cllr Tim Valentine, vice chair of the environment committee and the council, said:

“We’re delighted to be rated A by the carbon disclosure project.

“The recognition highlights our commitment to science-based targets to tackle global heating, by planting trees, insulating council buildings, and decarbonising our fleet of vehicles to name just a few actions we have taken.”

For more information on how we’re tackling climate change, visit: https://cee.swale.gov.uk

• Swale is one of 123 districts to receive top score on climate action from Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)

• A-List districts build climate momentum, taking twice as many climate mitigation and adaptation measures as non-A Listers 
• Only 12 per cent of districts received an A score in 2022
• Swale is the only authority in Kent to receive an A rating

Swale Borough Council

Temporary Road Closure - Sheerness Road, Lower Halstow

It will be necessary to close part of Sheerness Road, Lower Halstow from Wednesday 14th December 2022, with estimated completion by 20th December 2022.

Sheerness Road, Lower Halstow will be closed in the general vicinity of Stray Orchard Cottage, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route is Sheerness Road, The Street, Breach Lane, Hartlip Hill, London Road, High Street, Boyces Hill, Keycol Hill, Key Street Roundabout, Sheppey Way, Ferry Road, Old Ferry Road, Raspberry Hill Lane and vice versa.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while fire hydrant replacement 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

Medway Council - Changes to Christmas and New Year Waste and Recycling Collection Dates

Click to enlarge.

More information at: www.medway.gov.uk/wintercollections

Upchurch Matters

Window Smashed - Newington

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/222362/22

On Friday the 18th of November, somebody smashed a window of a residential property in Church Lane, Newington.

If you have any information that could help investigators, please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.

For more information on crime prevention visit: www.kent.police.uk

Kent Community Messaging