Changes to Chalkwell 326/327/328 Bus Services from 29th August 2023

The timetable for 326/327/328 bus services between Sittingbourne and Chatham is changing from Tuesday the 29th of August 2023.

A key reason is changes to school finishing times, both in Sittingbourne and Medway, which have been particularly challenging, whereby one bus can serve multiple schools, which change their finishing times independently of each other.

This September, Chatham Grammar is finishing later than previously, whereas Rainham Mark Grammar is finishing earlier. Operator Chalkwell Coach Hire has tried to achieve a reasonable compromise, given the varying school finishing times.

The Saturday 326/327 service will be reduced, but buses will be timed to enable better connections with the 334 service between Sittingbourne and Sheerness.

The new timetable can be found at >> https://chalkwell.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/326-8-chalkwell-timetable-wef290823-web.pdf

For further information on bus times, Call: 01795 423982 or Email: coachhire@chalkwell.co.uk

For travel information on routes, times, tickets and fares, visit: www.chalkwell.co.uk/bus-services

Upchurch Matters

RESCHEDULED: Temporary Road Closure - Lower Rainham Road, Upchurch

It will be necessary to close part of Lower Rainham Road, Upchurch, from Saturday 16th September 2023, for up to one day, between the hours of 09:30 and 15:30.

Lower Rainham Road, Upchurch, will be closed between Otterham Quay Lane and the Medway boundary to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route is via Otterham Quay Lane, A2 High Street, B2004 Station Road, Lower Rainham Road and vice versa.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce, while duct works are undertaken by Openreach.

For information regarding this closure, please contact Openreach on: 0800 023 2023, 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

New Homes in The Paddock for Birds, Bugs and Bats

When Cllr Pan Denny met children from Holywell School last year, they gave her plenty of good ideas for the new woodland trail in the Paddock, including a wooden trim trail and boxes to encourage more wildlife to take up residence in the area.

Upchurch Parish Council installed the trim trail balance equipment the children requested in December 2022, funded by a collective grant from Queenborough Fishery Trust and Swale Borough Council.

And more recently, bat boxes were hung high from the large trees around the perimeter of the Paddock, adding to the bird boxes and bug hotels that have already been fitted in the wooded area.

The new boxes will hopefully encourage children to use this area to play and explore more, which will be educational.

Thanks to Phil Newbery for building the boxes for the parish council and to Les Oxley for climbing high to fit the bat boxes.

We are fortunate to have the Paddock as a lovely green space in the heart of our village, so why not take the children to go and explore there during the school summer holiday?

Please supervise them while they play safely and ask them not to disturb the birds, the bugs and the bats - Thank you.

Upchurch Matters

Changes to Chalkwell 326/327 Bus Services: 6th - 11th August 2023

The A2 Keycol Hill, Bobbing, will be closed from Sunday the 6th to Thursday the 10th of August while UK Power Networks and Southern Water carry out new connection works.

This temporary road closure will cause considerable disruption to the 326/327 bus services.

All 326/327 buses will operate from Sittingbourne to Key Street, then via the A249 and M2 to TESCO at Rainham Mark, where they will resume their usual route to Medway Hospital and Chatham, Waterfront Bus Station.

The reverse will apply to journeys towards Sittingbourne.

In order for residents of Upchurch, Lower Halstow and Newington to receive a basic level of service, a minibus will operate at the following times and use the diversion route:

Ottherham Quay - 09:24

Upchurch Church - 09:30

Lower Halstow - 09:36

Newington - 09:45

Sittingbourne Bus Hub - 09:56

Sittingbourne Bus Hub - 12:30

Newington - 12:41

Lower Halstow - 12:50

Upchurch Church - 12:57

Otterham Quay - 13:03

For further information on bus times, Call: 01795 423982 or Email: coachhire@chalkwell.co.uk

For travel information on routes, times, tickets and fares, visit: www.chalkwell.co.uk/bus-services

Upchurch Matters

Works Bulletin A2 Keycol Hill, Bobbing 6th - 10th August 2023

If you do have any questions regarding this, please contact UKPN on: 0800 028 4587 or via their website: www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/keycol-hill

KCC 24hr Contact Centre: 03000 418181

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

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

Upchurch Poppy Appeal - 2023

Remembrance Sunday will be on the 12th of November this year, with the Poppy Appeal taking place in the preceding two weeks.

This annual act is a National opportunity to remember the service and sacrifice of all those that have defended our freedoms and protected our way of life. We will remember the Armed Forces, and their families, from Britain and the Commonwealth, the vital role played by the emergency services and those who have lost their lives as a result of conflict or terrorism.

The Royal British Legion is the country’s largest Armed Forces charity which provides support from day one of service and continues through life, long after service is over. From providing expert advice and guidance to recovery and rehabilitation, through to transitioning to civilian life. It’s not just the members of the Armed Forces, but their families too.

This year's Appeal will see the introduction of an all paper poppy, which will eventually replace the current poppy.

I am beginning the planning for the Upchurch Appeal, which this year is from Saturday the 29th of October to Saturday the 11th of November, by forming a team of the house-to-house collectors allocated to specific areas so that the whole Parish is contacted.

I know at this stage that I shall require volunteers for Butchers Green, Drakes Close, Eastwood Meadow, Forge Lane, Kent Terrace, and Pear Tree Grove - if you would be willing to give up to two hours of your time on one day during the appeal, to collect in one or more of these areas, please contact me. For new collectors, I will provide all the support and assistance you need leaving you only the task of seeking donations in your allocated areas.

If you have any special orders for Poppy Appeal items, please contact me.

Also, I would welcome help with organising the Upchurch Appeal with a view “to learning the ropes” and taking over in 2024. This will be my last year as organiser of the Upchurch Appeal, which I have been associated with for 30 years.

“WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”

Hon. Alderman Gerry Lewin - Poppy Appeal Organiser 

Telephone: 01634 366113 - 07946 996789

Email: lewing135@btinternet.com