Key Link

In partnership with Kent Police, Kent KeyLink provides a vital service to help keep homes throughout the county of Kent safe.


· Peace of mind as Kent Police has 24-hour access to your keyholders’ details, 365 days a year.


· Kent Police will contact your nominated keyholders in the event of an incident and contact your nominated trade services should emergency repairs be needed.


· Kent KeyLink are a partner of Kent Police, based at Force HQ Maidstone, managing the Kent Police keyholders’ database.


· As a not for profit company, any profit made from membership fees is reinvested into crime prevention initiatives within Kent.


As a partner of Kent Police, Kent KeyLink would like to offer all Neighbourhood Watch members one year’s residential membership to the Kent Keylink keyholder scheme for only £10 for one year, half the standard price (usually £20). For more details and to register visit Kent KeyLink at:

http://www.kentkeylink.co.uk/neighbourhood-watch/

Jonathan Styance

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Borough Council election results

Results now in for Swale including Upchurch can be viewed here on The Swale Borough Council Website:


http://www.Swale.gov.uk/election-results-2011/#Hartlip-B


Upchurch Matters
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Coach trip to Wisley Gardens

The Upchurch Horticultural Society has arranged a 33 seater coach for a visit to Wisley Gardens on Saturday 4th June leaving at 9.00am from the bus layby opposite the church in Upchurch and arriving back at at 5.30pm. 


There are six seats available - cost is £15.00 per person and this includes entry to the gardens.  If you are interested in coming along, please contact Maxine Budden on: 1634 366822 or, Email: maxine.budden@btopenworld.com.
Latest date for notification is 19th May as I need to advise Wisley on the final number.


Maxine Budden
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The Well

Come along to Newington Village Hall.

The Well includes good home-cooked food (and lunch boxes for the kids), loads of activities for children, a space for teenagers, the Sunday 'papers and the 'Community Exchange' - a space to share local news, requests and offers of help - all of this for £2.

The Community Exchange' is an area where people can post notices with information about events and groups in the local area, as well as requests and offers of help and items.

It takes place in Newington Village Hall on the 2nd Sunday of the month between 12:30-2:30.

The next one is this Sunday, 8 May - no need to book, just come along.

Website: www.thesix.org.uk/thewell.htm

Rev Hugh Nelson

Curate, The Six

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Summary of local needs housing survey

SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS OF THE UPCHURCH HOUSING NEEDS SURVEY – JUNE 2009

1. Approx 980 surveys sent – 300 returned = 30% response rate. Good response.

2. Housing costs – in excess of £37,000 needed to purchase a 2 bed property in Upchurch.

3. Survey shows that 91% respondents are owner occupiers.

4. 48% of respondents have lived in the parish for more than 16 years.

5. 79 respondents said family members had left in past few years; a total of 131 people. 19 respondents indicated they would return if cheaper accommodation was available. Employment and ‘other’ were most frequently given as the reason for people leaving.

6. 60% of respondents who answered the question/57% of all respondents said they would not object to a development which would help to meet local needs.

7. The most frequently given answers to the question ‘what kind of housing do you think is needed in the parish’ was housing for young people and shared ownership.

8. Suggested Site - many respondents suggested Oak Lane, Chaffes Lane and Four Gun Field.

9. In total 13% (38) respondents indicated that they had a housing need.

HOUSING NEED SECTION – Assessing the housing need

10. 38 responses to section 2 (14 of these were excluded because they all wanted to buy on the open market only).

11. That leaves 11 households in need of housing now and 13 in need of housing  in the next 3 years.

12. People in housing need range from 0-15 – 75+ 

13. Total households in need are 14 single people, 5 couples and 5 families = 24 households with a housing need – only 6 of these households are registered on the local authority’s housing register.

16. Reasons for needing a new home were mostly first independent home.

17. Majority of people indicated wanting a house or flat with 2 older residents wanting a bungalow.

18. Majority of people wanted to rent from a Housing Association or shared ownership, some chose either option. From figures given only 3 households indicated sufficient income to afford SO.

19. The survey has found a need for up to 24 affordable homes for local people. A mix of 1,2 and 3 bed properties are needed. 

Any resident wishing to view the full survey can arrange an appointment to view this. A charge may be made if they wish to have their own copy.

For your information, the housing needs survey attached was carried out by Action with Communities in Rural Kent.

Upchurch Parish Council
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Upchurch Best Kept Garden 2011

This is a reminder to all residents that judging for the Best Kept Garden will take place over a weekend in the middle of July. The judges will be asked to assess what can be seen at the front of each house as follows.

Enter and you may win a prize.

Firstly a garden which is predominately growing flowers, secondly a garden which is mixture of flowers, trees and or shrubs, and finally for those with only a small or no front garden the judges will assess any hanging baskets or flower troughs.

Prizes for the above will be presented to the winners at the September Horticultural Society Show in the Village Hall.  

Would you please contact me if you wish to sponsor a prize (cash or in kind) - Gerry Lewin on: 01634 366113 or


Email: lewing135@tiscali.co.uk

Gerry Lewin

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