February 1973 had the first snow of the winter, arguments for a proposed new caravan site and the crumbling of a dangerous chimney stack on a listed village building. It also saw the challenging of Swale Council by members of the Women’s Institute and the folding of the Sunday League village football club. February turned out to be quite a revealing month.
The biggest question of the month concerned the possibility of a new residential caravan site in Poot Lane. Mr Beckenham, the owner of Otterham Quay caravan site, made an application for this, but he met with opposition. Swale council rejected the application on the grounds that it would create demands for an unacceptable number of planning applications and for more public services. The site was also outside any area intended for development. Swale Council argued that the Poot Lane site was too close to the village centre and that the narrow road was unsuitable for an increase in traffic. According to the East Kent Gazette angry village residents accused the people living on the caravan site as being gypsies.
Residents had mixed views about a new caravan site in Poot Lane, but Mr Beckenham decided to challenge Swale Council’s decision, so he appealed and succeeded in getting a hearing at the Swale Council offices.
Residents at the Otterham Quay caravan site did not want to move. The lease on the site held by Redland Bricks expired in 1972. This meant that they could possibly lose their homes if the planning appeal failed.
At the Swale Council offices, residents of the caravan site presented their views about a new site in Poot Lane, and 73 voted in favour of it. However, Swale Council turned down the appeal after all the arguments had been heard, so a new caravan site in Poot Lane did not happen. The council told Mr Beckenham to continue maintaining the site at Otterham Quay, and residents did not lose their homes.
While arguments about a new caravan site raged, a fire took place at the existing site. Neighbours saw flames rising high into the air from a caravan belonging to a young couple named Mr and Mrs Gifford. The fire burnt everything the couple had causing about £1,500 of damage. Mr Gifford vowed never to live in a caravan again.
Wayside is located opposite the church in Horsham Lane and dates back to the late
fourteenth century. Amongst other uses, it has been a convent and a vicarage.
In the village centre, a chimney stack on the roof of Wayside in Horsham Lane, became a focus of concern as it was on the point of collapsing onto the road below and was considered to be unsafe. The County Planning Officer suggested that repair work was needed to prevent it falling down or that the whole chimney stack should be demolished and rebuilt.
In village sporting affairs, Upchurch United decided to withdraw from the Medway Sunday League as they had problems raising a team due to lack of interest with the team positioned at the bottom of the premier division. So sadly ended one of the most talented football teams ever to represent Upchurch.
During February, Derek Hales, who had become a professional footballer, had already scored 23 goals for Luton Town Reserves that season. This led to him being picked to make his debut for the First team against Cardiff City. Although the match ended 1-1, Derek Hales had a dream start scoring the only Luton goal and having two other goals disallowed due to infringements. Inexplicably he was dropped for the next game.
Closer to home, Derek’s younger brother Ray who played for Upchurch Cricket Club during the Summer was regularly hitting the headlines by scoring lots of goals for Sittingbourne. In February, he scored hat tricks (three goals) against Deal Town and Hastings and followed this up with four goals in a 6-0 win over Whitstable, leading to professional clubs taking an interest in him.
In other village sports, Upchurch Table Tennis First team were doing very well in Division Three of the Sittingbourne and District Table Tennis League, maintaining top position with Steve Davies from Horsham Lane regularly winning the most games.
Sad news reached the village about the death of former resident and railway worker Robert ‘Taffy’ Burnell, aged 63, who was killed by an oncoming train just outside Faversham railway station while he was acting as a lookout for the workers while working on the line.
During February, the streets of Upchurch became very dirty and covered with litter mainly due to the death of the village road sweeper. Pauline Tomlinson from Crosier Court became so concerned that she repeatedly called Swale Council to deal with the problem, but she had little success. Because of this, she raised the matter at the Women’s Institute, where she was a member. The ladies decided to take turns repeatedly calling Swale Council over a two-day period until they got a positive response.
The ladies formed a queue outside the public telephone box in Horsham Lane and succeeded in making 120 calls during the two days. They finally got a response, but it was one of passing the buck. Swale Council argued that while they had responsibility to have the roads swept and cleaned, the litter problem was the responsibility of Kent County Council to solve. Both councils eventually agreed to solve the problem, but it could not happen until the following month, so the ladies had to wait, but at least they succeeded in getting a response and some promised action.
So ended a month packed with activity. Sporting news was mixed, but a solution was found with regard to the question of a new caravan site which pleased the residents. Swale Council and Kent County Council eventually accepted responsibility to solve the problem of dirty streets covered with litter and the chimney stack on Wayside was eventually repaired.
David Wood
About David
David was born and raised at Ham Green and still lives there today.
He writes from personal experience about Upchurch village life and the changes that have taken place over the years.
David's book, Memories of Upchurch, is a very readable and detailed historical study of the village and is available direct from David at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk price £12 + postage and packing.
