National Highways: M2 Junction 5 - A249 Stockbury Interchange Improvement Scheme - Changes to the Road Layout and the Way Traffic Uses the Junction

The map of the junction shows how traffic will use the slip roads from

Monday the 30th of January. Click map to enlarge.

Changes to the road layout and the way traffic uses the junction

After more than 4 months, National Highways eventually reopened the coastbound slip roads on Monday morning, the 30th of January, but with some changes to the road layout and the way traffic uses the junction.

Vehicles accessing the A249 northbound (towards Sittingbourne) from the M2 coastbound off slip will need to use lane 1 of the slip and use the new segregated lane onto the northbound carriageway.

Vehicles travelling northbound on the A249 towards Stockbury roundabout will need to be in lane 1 to access the M2 coastbound on the slip, as this lane is now for the slip road only. All other A249 northbound traffic, including those heading towards Sittingbourne, must be in lane 2 on the approach to the roundabout.

Further information

National Highways is continuing with their weekend closures of the A249 - the full details of these will be shown on the project webpage >> https://bit.ly/3Ro4EFC

These dates will be subject to weather conditions.

If you have any questions, you can Email National Highways at: m2j5@nationalhighways.co.uk or call: 0300 123 5000, and someone will be in touch.

Upchurch Matters

Upchurch Poppy Appeal 2022 - Thank You

The Royal British Legion will benefit from your generosity of donations and gift aid totalling £3,327.01 to the Upchurch Poppy Appeal in 2022.

My Royal British Legion thanks to the house-to-house collectors who raised £1,608.13 of the total. I will shortly be handing over five-year service awards from the Royal British Legion to the Upchurch Guides, Sue Rossiter and Ben Sawyer to recognise their contribution as house-to-house collectors.

Thanks also to the local businesses, retail outlets, schools and others who provided static collection points raising £1,450.30.

The work of The Royal British Legion continues and it stands shoulder to shoulder with all who serve in our Armed Forces. It provides financial, social and emotional support to those who have served or are currently serving including their dependents.

“WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”

Hon. Alderman Gerry Lewin - Poppy Appeal Organiser 

Telephone: 01634 366113

Email: lewing135@btinternet.com

Poolside Bar Music Night with Mike ‘Smooth’ Harris at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Telephone: 01634 360626

Website: www.rivervalleygolf.co.uk

Temporary Road Closure - Lower Rainham Road, Upchurch, and Rainham

Click the map to enlarge it.

Lower Rainham Road, Upchurch, and Rainham will be closed from Friday the 10th of February, with estimated completion by Tuesday the 21st of February 2023.

The closure is required while new foul water connection and highway improvement works are undertaken.

Access will be maintained at all times when possible.

For information regarding this closure, please contact Medway Council: 01634 333 333

KCC 24hr Contact Centre: 03000 418181

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

Upchurch Matters

Medway Council - Donate Unwanted Items to Help Medway’s Most Vulnerable Residents

When visiting one of Medway’s Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs), residents can now donate reusable items to a charity.

Residents can donate good quality, clean items including furniture, fridges, freezers, washing machines, small electrical items, books, homeware, tools and toys at Medway Council’s three HWRCs in Capstone, Cuxton and Hoath Way, Gillingham, thanks to a new partnership between Medway Norse and Gillingham Street Angels.

Medway Norse manages the recycling centres on behalf of Medway Council.

Gillingham Street Angels supports people across Medway during difficult times and has charity shops in Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham.

The charity was awarded the overall Pride in Medway award at last year’s awards.

Cllr Phil Filmer, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Frontline Services, said:

“I am pleased that we are working with Gillingham Street Angels. By donating quality second-hand items to charity instead of throwing them away, residents will be helping the environment, contributing to a more sustainable future and supporting a Medway charity which helps some of Medway’s most vulnerable residents. We are extremely grateful to all of the charitable organisations and community groups who support residents.”

Neil Charlick, CEO of Gillingham Street Angels, said:

“Gillingham Street Angels is delighted to be working in partnership with Medway Norse and Medway Council. Our ethos is to repair, reuse, recycle and repurpose where possible. This contract will provide the opportunity for us to offer community groups where people can come together to learn and share new skills by up-cycling unwanted items.”

This exciting project also supports Medway Council’s climate change ambitions.

For more information, visit: medway.gov.uk/DonateReusableItems

To book your trip to one of Medway’s HWRCs, visit: medway.gov.uk/TipBooking

Medway Council

UpARA Newsletter - February 2023

Hello UpARA members,

Thank you... to those that attended and made the social afternoon such great fun. We have another planned on Friday, March 24th. Watch this space for more info, you now know what to expect!

Membership renewals... are due at the end of February, after which there will be a one-month grace period for payments. If anyone is not intending to renew for the next year, please let us know so we can offer your place to others. Further details to follow. Payments can be made at the next meeting or via BACS transfer.

Thank you to those that have already paid, membership cards will be available towards the end of February.

Please note Table Tennis players... The session normally on the first Tuesday of the month is cancelled for February.

At our monthly meeting, Linda Warren... will be giving a talk on the swinging 60’s and 70’s from 2:00pm. Please feel free to bring a few photos of your own to help the reminiscing. Miniskirts, Mods & Rockers, Skinheads, Platforms, Flower Power... bring them along and share…

The thoughts of Chairman John

Hi everyone,

Can we be moving into February already? We have picked up on all of our regular activities, not the best time of the year for Petanque, - 6 of us ventured out, and I must admit the hot chocolate was very welcome afterwards.

Those of you who came to our social afternoon, I believe, had an enjoyable time, all the hard work put in to entertain us proved to be a winning combination, the quizzes, a variety of reminiscence from the past with the music of the time, and Elspeth's talk on the history of Upchurch was very well received, probably something of an eye-opener to many of us.

You may also notice that we have given Jan and Ann a break from the onerous job of selecting raffle prizes every month, but will be reinstated at various times, with the Coronation and other Festivals.

This year’s chosen charity is looking very productive so far, as you know we have been working hard on various extra events with proceeds earmarked for the Church Bell Tower.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all our new members, I'm sure you will be able to enjoy some of our activities.

John W

Payments

At the next meeting (and coffee morning on the 7th), Brenda and Malcolm will be taking any money due for those who have booked for the following:-

Lunch at the Crown on 15th Feb (still a few places available), Frankie Valli - Inn on The Lake (still places available) trip on 7th June, Mystery Day trip in July and the Potters holiday in May.

There is still limited availability for some of our holidays; for Bournemouth later this month, Potters in May, and Llandudno in November, contact Brenda if you are interested.

Any queries on availability above, (also open to non-members), Email: uparaupchurch@gmail.com

Pick-up times for Bournemouth on 20th Feb:-

• Upchurch (opp the Church) 09:30
• 3 Sisters PH 09:40
• Rainham (The Cricketers) 09:55
• Rainham (opp Pump Lane) 10:00

Luggage labels for this trip can be picked up from Brenda.

Please remember that there is now a £1 entrance fee at our Friday meetings, to help cover our costs.

February Calendar

Wednesdays February 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd at 10:15am - Line Dancing

Friday, February 3rd at 10:00am - Village Walk 

Mondays February 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th at 10:00am - Short Tennis

Monday, February 6th at 2:00pm - Kurling

Tuesday, February 7th at 9:30pm - Coffee Morning and Art

Tuesday, February 7th at 2:00pm - Table Tennis - CANCELLED

Friday, February 10th at 2:00pm - Monthly Meeting

Linda Warren, ‘The Swinging 60’s and 70’s’

Tuesday, February 14th at 10:00am - Ten Pin Bowling

Wednesday, February 15th - Lunch at The Crown

Friday, February 17th at 10:00am - Village Walk,

Monday 20th - Friday 24th February - Bournemouth Trip

Tuesday, February 21st at 1:00pm - Petanque

Tuesday, February 28th at 9:30pm - Coffee Morning and Art

Tuesday, February 28th at 2:00pm - Table Tennis

Hopefully, see you all soon - your UpARA Committee.

Email: uparaupchurch@gmail.com

Website: www.upara.club