Upchurch Parish Council Report - May 2023

Report of the Parish Council May 2023 

Planning

I. 23/501726/FULL 130 Horsham Lane single storey rear extension.

UPC has no objections.

II. 23/501751/FULL Court Lodge, Breach Lane detached garage.

UPC has no objections.

III. 23/501110/FULL 19 Woods Edge garage door.

UPC has no objections.

IV. 23/501613/FULL land to East of Orchard House defer to next meeting.

Clerk to get an extension.

Upchurch Parish Council reporting

I. General Purpose & Planning Committee - No updates

II. Paddock and Recreational Ground

Bat boxes - Cllr Ripley to arrange with Les Oxley to start the work when Cllr Denny returns.

III. Burial Ground & Churchyard

(a) Consider request from resident for ashes interment in burial plot.

It was resolved to allow ashes interment as long as all rules regarding interments are met.

IV. Highways & Street Lighting

(a) EDF - it was proposed by Cllr Bernsten and seconded by Cllr Horton and resolved to speak to EDF and hold all payments until issue on estimated annual consumption are resolved with EDF.

Clerk to report next meeting.

(b) Highways - Cllr Horton reported that residents have commented about Upchurch Village following other local areas and introducing 20 miles an hour zone.

UPC has already had a consultation with the public regarding this and UPC has no plans to consider this at the present time.

(c) Clerk to chase KCC regarding the warning signs for horse riders in the village.

(d) Loose kerbs reported on Oak Lane.

(e) Clerk to chase planning officer for any updates on the traffic calming in Oak Lane.

V. Footpaths - No updates

VI. Environment

Clerk to chase date for planters. Cllr Bernsten to chase Co-op for sponsorship.

VII. Village Hall

Cllr Lewin reported new planting outside UVH.

Cllr Horton reported the use of the village litter pickers for village litter picks.

VIII. KALC

Cllr Lewin reported the lack of local plan causing issues. Cllr Ripley reported any councillor can attend the KALC meetings if needed.

Clerk to speak to KALC about adding comments to agenda for meetings.

IX. Allotments - To receive update

(a) Clerk has visited site and confirmed plots available.

Clerk to investigate a new numbering display.

(b) Repairs to fence, one quote received.

clerk to ask for 2 more quotes.

X. Village Defibrillators

(a) Cllr Sheppard to report to next meeting with options to consider updating the units.

It was proposed by Cllr Rosewell seconded by Cllr Ripley and resolved to arrange a schedule for the upgrades.

(b) Clerk to investigate grant options for the upgrades.

Insurance

It was proposed by Cllr Horton, seconded by Cllr Ripley and resolved to renew the insurance.

Grant Application

Clerk reported this was still ongoing with no updates.

Noted.

Adoption of policies and documents for the ensuing year

It was proposed by Cllr Horton, seconded by Cllr Ripley and resolved to approve and re-adopt all policies.

Annual Return

I. To approve the Annual Governance Statement for 2022/23 Section 1 of the Agar for the year ending 31st March 2023.

The council considered and approved section 1 of the AGAR the Chair and Clerk signed and dated on behalf of the Council.

II. To approve the Accounting Statements for 2022/23 Section 2 of the AGAR for the year ending 2022/23 with the supporting Bank reconciliation to 31st March 2023 and the explanation of variances.

The council considered and approved section 2 of the AGAR.

The Chair and the Clerk signed and dated on behalf of the council.

Clerk Updates

I. Clerk noted UPC is no longer eligible for General Power of Competence.

Items to be considered for inclusion on the next Full Council agenda

Planning 113 Chaffes Lane 23/501613/FULL.

Quotes for the Scout Road resurfacing.

Access issues to the Scout Hut / Gates.

Upchurch Parish Council Meeting Schedule 2023/24

Full Council

Thursday 6th July 2023

Thursday 7th Sept 2023

Thursday 5th Oct 2023

Thursday 2nd Nov 2023

Thursday 7th Dec 2023

Thursday 4th Jan 2024

Thursday 1st Feb 2024

Thursday 7th March 2024

Thursday 4th April 2024

GPC & Planning Committee

Wednesday 19th July 2023

Wednesday 20th Sept 2023

Wednesday 18th Oct 2023

Wednesday 15th Nov 2023

Wednesday 20th Dec 2023

Wednesday 17th Jan 2024

Wednesday 14th Feb 2024

Wednesday 20th March 2024

Wednesday 17th April 2024

Nina Henley

Clerk and Proper Officer to Upchurch Parish Council
Tel: 07798 600696
Email: clerk@upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk
Website: www.upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk

Newington History Group - The Mystery of Amy Johnson

Newington History Group brings you the mystery of the pioneering pilot Amy Johnson at its meeting on Thursday (June 22nd) at 7:00pm in the Village Hall, Newington.

Jane Priston, director of the Amy Johnson Project, will shed light on Amy's final hours. Her death - when her aircraft crashed off Herne Bay in 1941 - left many questions. Why was her plane off-course? Was she on a secret wartime mission? Was she shot down by 'friendly fire' or did she run out of fuel?

Amy was 37 and the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia, but her bravery and pluck continue to inspire.

All welcome, £4 at the door, includes refreshments, free parking.

Visit the group's tent at the Coronation Village Fete on Saturday, July 15th, (1:30pm-4:30pm) on the recreation ground, off Orchard Drive. This free event is organised by Newington Parish Council.

NHG actively seeks to unearth, preserve and promote the heritage of the village and neighbouring areas. It meets on the fourth Thursday at 7:00pm.

For more details:

Email: newingtonhistorygroup@outlook.com

Call: 07506 239970

Visit the website: www.newingtonhistory.uk

Follow: Newington History Group on Facebook and Twitter: @newingtonhg

Richard Thompstone

Newington History Group

Upchurch Horticultural Society - Best Garden In Upchurch Competition 2023

Overall competition winners in 2016.

Tina and Roger Harris at 15 The Poles.

The hard work and skills of keen Upchurch gardeners will be recognised once again, thanks to Upchurch Horticultural Society.

The Upchurch Best Kept Garden competition was last held in 2019, before the Covid pandemic began in 2020, and was organised by Upchurch Parish Council.

UHS has now taken over the reins and brought the competition back for 2023.

Village front gardens will be judged at the end of June. And don't worry if you are out or on holiday - your garden will still be judged.

This year's 3 competition categories are:

• Traditional Garden

• Hanging Baskets & Containers

• Nature Inspired

The winners will be invited for presentations at the Upchurch Horticultural Society - Summer Show on Saturday the 1st of July.

Summer Show details are at >> https://bit.ly/3CmctXB

Good luck!

For information, please contact Membership Secretary Tracy Wells: upchurchsociety@gmail.com

Upchurch Matters

Urgent Road Closure - Matts Hill, Hartlip & Gillingham

It will be necessary to close Matts Hill, Hartlip & Gillingham from Monday 19th June 2023 for up to 2 days.

The road will be closed in its entirety.

The alternative route is via Matts Hill Road, Meresborough Road, Meresborough Lane, Place Lane, Warren Lane and vice versa.

It is planned that the road will be closed between 07:30hrs and 15:30hrs each day.

This is to enable carriageway repairs to be carried out by Kent County Council.

KCC 24hr Contact Centre: 03000 418181

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

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

Kent Police and Crime Commissioner - Special Rural Edition Newsletter 2023

Click newsletter to enlarge.

The Office of the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner website is >> www.kent-pcc.gov.uk

Upchurch Matters

The Upchurch Coronation Celebrations of 1953 by David Wood

The coronation of a young Queen Elizabeth II was perhaps the largest event in the UK in 1953. The first coronation to be fully covered on TV. It captivated the nation with pomp and ceremony, similar to the recent coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla.

In Upchurch, a committee chaired by Cecil Bishop from Horsham Lane was formed to decide how the event should be celebrated in the village and how money should be raised.

Money raising events were soon underway in April, with a jumble sale and a house to house collection that raised £16. The committee also decided that all children under school age should receive a coronation souvenir and that a competition should take place to find the best decorated house and garden in the village. Mrs Porter from Crown Cottage at Ham Green won the Best Decorated House Competition, and Mrs Brunt from Oak Lane won the Best Decorated Garden Competition. This proved to be a very popular and well supported activity.

Upchurch Football Club planned to stage a coronation six a side football competition in May, but the KCFA refused permission. This setback soon passed as a coronation marathon was arranged for June 5th, and in preparation for this, the trophies were put on display in the post office. With competitions for men, women and juniors, it proved to be a great success and raised £30 for the coronation funds. The winners included Trevor Syfleet (men), Pat Atkinson (women), John Gilbert (boys) and Janice Lacy (girls). Carnival Queen Inys Hales presented the prizes. A hard working committee consisting of Mr Atkinson, Mr Bass, Mr Stewart, Mr Higgins and Mrs Bronger organised the event.

Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh in

their coronation portrait, 1953.

The following Saturday saw the opening of coronation activities in the Paddock by Upchurch vicar Reverend Clark which also proved successful, raising £120. Events included maypole dancing, a fancy dress parade and races. Red, white and blue balloons and bunting decorated the Infants School, where free teas were served to children and pensioners by Mrs Burton, Mrs Grigg and Mrs Colvin. In addition, the Rainham & District Co-operative Society presented a special silver Elizabethan coin to Upchurch children to celebrate the coronation. Coronation mugs were also presented as souvenirs to all families in the parish.

A special coronation cricket match took place between Upchurch and Rainham at Berengrove Park in Rainham the following Monday. Unfortunately, Upchurch lost the match, but a collection raised £3 on the ground. However, the most popular and most well attended activity took place at the Old Forge in Forge Lane, where Vic Mannering, representing the Upchurch branch of the Conservative Association, showed a blockbuster film every second week to raise money for the Coronation funds. 

In October, at a special coronation committee funds meeting at the Infants School, secretary Ted Tress explained that £134 had been obtained from donations, £104 had already been spent on the celebrations, and £30 was in hand. This led to a public meeting being called on Thursday, November 12th, to decide how the excess money should be spent, and demonstrated that with sound organisation and fundraising efforts, the village coronation celebrations had proven to be highly successful, making 1953 a year to remember.

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.