Please Clean Up After Your Dog!

The age-old nuisance of dog fouling around the village has been raised with the parish council by residents angry at irresponsible dog owners for not cleaning up after their pets.

Dog waste poses a significant health risk to humans, particularly young children, as their immune systems are not fully developed.

Children are also more likely to come into contact with soil or sand that contains dog waste whilst playing in parks, gardens and playgrounds.

All waste contains bacteria that can cause stomach upsets, but the greatest risk is from Toxocariasis, which can pass from dog waste to humans through contaminated soil or sand. Children are at particular risk. It is rare, but it can sometimes cause serious health problems and even blindness.

Would you really want that on your conscience?

It is an offence to allow a dog under your control to foul a public place, and Swale Borough Council has the power to fine dog owners who do not clean up after their dogs.

You can receive an on-the-spot fine (FPN) of up to £100 if you do not clean up after your dog. 

If you refuse to pay the fine, you could be taken to court and fined up to £1000.

You can report dog fouling to Swale Borough Council at: https://bit.ly/2VA0csW

There really is no excuse for not cleaning up after your dog.

The parish council has provided litter & dog waste bins at locations around the village where owners can dispose of bagged dog waste, as well as TiksPac dispensers at the Recreation Ground and near the Paddock in Chaffes Lane.

Please bag your dog waste and put it in any public litter bin or take it home to your household green wheelie bin.

Allowing your dog to foul in a public place and not clean it up is antisocial and totally unacceptable to all residents.

Please leave our village spaces clean, tidy and safe for others to enjoy.

Thank you

Upchurch Matters

Attempted Break in - Hartlip

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/195481/23

Between 00:01 on Saturday the 28th of October and 14:00 on Wednesday the 1st of November, somebody attempted to gain access to a residential property in Spade Lane, Hartlip.

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

Upchurch Poppy Appeal and Remembrance Sunday Service 2023

Upchurch Poppy Appeal

A team of local volunteers will again be making the annual house-to-house collections in Upchurch between Saturday the 28th of October, and Saturday the 11th of November.

Upchurch Parish Council has displayed poppies on lampposts throughout the village. The knitting group has added poppy crosses and wreaths to the church and post office railings. Two Tommy silhouettes are standing guard in the churchyard with heads bowed on either side of a beautiful display of flowing red poppies with some purple poppies amongst them to remember the animal victims of war. A post box topper is in place again outside the post office. These will remain on display throughout Remembrance Tide.

Remembrance Sunday Parade to the Church

The Remembrance Sunday Service begins at 10:15am on the 12th of November in the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Upchurch.

The young people of the uniformed sections and their leaders will make their yearly parade from the Scout HQ on the Recreation Ground in Oak Lane to the church.

Leaving at 9:30am, they will march (accompanied by marshals) along Oak Lane and return at 11:30am.

Oficial KCC road closures and restrictions on driving will be in place this year during both the parades to and from the church. Further details are at: https://tinyurl.com/3ccuhfa6

Please be patient during this time.

If you need to drive through the village centre during the parades, please consider using Church Farm Road and Chaffes Lane instead.

Thank you

Wreaths will be laid at the internal war memorial in the Lady Chapel on behalf of the Church, Swale Borough Council, Ferques (our twin village in France), Upchurch Parish Council, Upchurch Scouts, Upchurch Guides and Upchurch Brownies.

After the service, crosses will be laid at the five Commonwealth War Graves Commission graves in the churchyard.

A wreath on behalf of all Upchurch residents from the Parish Council has been sent to Ferques for laying at their ceremony on Saturday the 11th of November.

“WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”

Thanks to Hon. Alderman Gerry Lewin - Poppy Appeal Organiser, for the information.

Telephone: 01634 366113 - 07946 996789 Email: lewing135@btinternet.com

Upchurch Matters

The Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church

On the 2nd Thursday of each month.

The Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church will open its doors again between 2:00pm and 4:30pm on Thursday the 9th of November.

The café serves hot and cold drinks, delicious homemade cakes and savouries with a great snack deal and stories and crafts to entertain the children.

You will receive a warm welcome and be helping us support four Ugandan children through school.

Everybody welcome!

Gill Gay and the Rainbow Café Team

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

St Mary's Church Fundraising Sale

Saturday 11th November between 10:00am - 11:30am

Homemade Cakes, Jams, Pickles, Scones and Savouries

Also Puzzles, Books, Bric-à-brac and sometimes Plants

Something for everyone!

Refreshments

Please help support this ancient building - Thank you

🍰 🍓 🧩 📚 🎨 🪴 ☕️ ➕

Upchurch Matters

A Coffee and A Chat

To all who would like a chat.

Since I lost my husband in February, I have realised the importance of getting together to have a chat.

A friendly group of us will be at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course again at 2:00pm on Monday the 13th of November.

Do join us. Just turn up - buy a drink, and come and have a chat in the Poolside Bar.

We meet once a month, but who knows, we may make it a more regular thing.

If you know someone who needs a lift, please let me know, and I will see what I can do. If you drive, why not offer a lift to a friend or a neighbour?

So you know who I am - you may already know me from the foodbank collections, the Rainbow Café or Uplift church.

I look forward to chatting with you all.

Gill Gay

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk