Mountain Bike Stolen - Newington

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/50322/23

On Monday the 13th of March at around 17:05, somebody stole a black mountain bike from where it was secured in the road on Keycol Hill, 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

Swale Borough Council - Notice of Election

Local borough, parish and town council elections are taking place across England on Thursday the 4th of May 2023.

New voter ID requirement

New government legislation means voters in England will need to bring an accepted photo ID to vote at a polling station.

If you don't have an accepted photo ID, you can apply for a free voter ID document, which is known as a Voter Authority Certificate.

To find out more about accepted forms of photo ID, how to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate, and what to expect on polling day, visit: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voter-id

To register to vote, visit: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Upchurch Matters

Medway Council - Free Parking Mondays in Selected Car Parks Across Medway

Free Monday parking in 10 car parks

From Monday the 3rd of April 2023, there will be free parking every Monday from 9:00am in 10 car parks across Medway.

You do not need to do anything, just park and enjoy the benefits that your local high street has to offer.

Be aware that if your vehicle is still in the car park when the next charging period starts, you will have to ensure that payment is then made to cover your continued stay.

Times vary, please see below for details:

Chatham

• The Brook car park - free from 9:00am on Monday until 12.01am on Tuesday

• St Johns car park - free from 9:00am on Monday until 7:00am on Tuesday

Rochester

• Blue Boar Lane car park - free from 9:00am on Monday until 7:00am on Tuesday

• Cathedral car park - free from 9:00am on Monday until 7:00am on Tuesday

Gillingham

• Littlewoods car park - free from 9:00am on Monday until 7:00am on Tuesday

• Balmoral Gardens car park - free from 9:00am on Monday until 7:00am on Tuesday

Rainham

• Longley Road car park - free from 9:00am on Monday until 7:00am on Tuesday

• Cricketers car park - free from 9:00am on Monday until 7:00am on Tuesday

Strood

• Temple Street car park - free from 9:00am on Monday until 7:00am on Tuesday

• Commercial Road car park - free from 9:00am on Monday until 7:00am on Tuesday

Encouraging more people to visit our high streets

Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Alan Jarrett, said:

“We are committed to supporting local businesses and this free parking initiative aims to encourage more people to visit our high streets. Motorists do not need to do anything to use the free parking, simply park and enjoy the wide variety of shops on offer in our town centres.”

Helping small businesses

Tim Aker, Development Manager for the Federation of Small Businesses in Kent and Medway, said:

“Introducing these periods of free parking will help small businesses on the high street. Footfall matters to independent retailers and those businesses struggling with the increasing cost of doing business. We are aware of the financial pressures councils are under, and this move demonstrates Medway Council’s commitment to its high streets and small businesses.”

Medway Council

Holywell Primary School - School Council | Afternoon Tea and Discussion

You are invited to an Afternoon Tea (tea and cakes) for the children to interact with people from the local community and discuss how Upchurch has changed over the years, what the best things about living in Upchurch are and what problems people in Upchurch may face, such as litter, overpopulation etc.

These conversations will then inform our decision on what we will focus our young citizens' action project on.

Please RSVP by Monday the 20th of March.

Email: office@holywell.kent.sch.uk

Telephone: 01634 388416

Holywell Primary School

Appeal to Build up to 74 New Homes on Land off Otterham Quay Lane, Upchurch, Allowed

The Secretary of State and Planning Inspectorate has allowed (subject to a schedule of conditions) an appeal by Gladman Developments Limited challenging Swale Borough Council's refusal 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 site is part of a commercial pear orchard located in Otterham Quay Lane at the junction with Lower Rainham Road.

Click plan to enlarge.

Swale Borough Council refused the planning application in May 2022, and the developer subsequently lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate in October 2022 and requested a public inquiry. The Inspector's hearing for the appeal took place over 2 days at Swale House on Wednesday the 11th and Thursday the 12th of January 2023.

The Planning Inspectorate appeal decision document can be viewed at >> http://bit.ly/3TqNIRO

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

Become a Local Cause - Register Your Interest Now for the Co-op Local Community Fund

The Co-op Local Community Fund

The Co-op Local Community Fund supports projects across the UK that its members care about.

Every time Co-op members buy selected Co-op branded products and services, 2p for every pound spent goes to them, and the Co-op gives the same to support community organisations and local causes.

Co-op members have helped raise £101.08 million for UK causes and £43,847 for causes near Upchurch.

Register your interest now

To apply to be a local cause, you must be part of a not-for-profit group and run a project that will benefit your local community.

To find out if you can apply to become a local cause in t

he Co-op Local Community Fund and to read the fund terms and conditions, visit: www.coop.co.uk/membership/lcf-who-can-apply

Applications are currently closed and will open again in spring 2023, 

but you can register your interest now at: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/LCFRegsiterInterest, and the Co-op will contact you when they are open for applications.

If successful, you will be part of the Local Community Fund, usually for 12 months.

You can encourage Co-op members to support your local cause, and the more members that shop at the Co-op, the more money your project will receive.

Co-op membership

To become a Co-op member and choose a local cause to support, visit: coop.co.uk/membership

Our current 3 local causes are:

1st Upchurch Brownies and Guides

Upchurch Village Hall

SATEDA

Sally Butcher - Member Pioneer

Email: sally.butcher@coop.co.uk