Notice Board

Wednesday 5 December 2018

Companionship At Christmas Supported by SCVS and SCC

If you or someone you know will be alone this Christmas, please let them know about Companionship At Christmas.

SCVS and SCC are looking for volunteers to help on Christmas Day and or Boxing Day.

To volunteer or to book your place, please contact Julia or Zoe for more information on: 01795 473828.

Upchurch Matters

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Up to 64 New Homes Planned for Lower Rainham Road, Rainham

Click plan to enlarge.

Up to 64 new homes are planned for land on the Lower Rainham Road, west of Station Road.

Kodiak Land have submitted outline planning application: MC/18/3160 with some matters reserved (appearance, landscaping, layout and scale) for up to 64 dwellings (including 25% affordable), planting and landscaping, informal open space, vehicular access point from Lower Rainham Road and associated ancillary works. Land off Lower Rainham Road (west of Station Road) Rainham, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 7UB.

The application can be viewed online at: https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=PHF2QEKNIGU00

Comments on the application should be made in writing and reach Medway Council by 17th December 2018 (remember to include the planning application number).

There are a number of ways you can send your comments.

You can either:

• Submit your comments online at: https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=PHF2QEKNIGU00

• Send a letter to: Medway Council Planning Service, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham,
Kent ME4 4TR

• Or Email: planning.representations@medway.gov.uk

Upchurch Matters

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Tuesday 4 December 2018

Live Chat Added to Kent Police Website

A “Live Chat” icon now appears at the bottom right of the “Contact us” page on the Kent Police website at: www.kent.police.uk/contact-us

“Live Chat” is for general, non-urgent enquiries only.

Select the icon to begin a one-to-one chat with an advisor.

If “Live Chat” is offline, please consider using online crime reporting.

• If there is a threat to life or public safety, or a crime may be in progress dial 999.
• To report a crime other than a crime in progress call 101.
• To report a crime other than a crime in progress you can also go to: www.kent.police.uk/report to report it online.

Upchurch Matters

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Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham

Blood Tests Results

From 1st December 2018 patients will not be contacted with the results of their blood tests as a matter of routine, unless a Doctors appointment is required.

Patients are requested to contact or visit their surgery for their own results.

Christmas and New Year Period Opening Hours

Both surgeries will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing day and New Years Day

However, extended hours are as below:

Monday 24th December 2018 7:00am - 8:00am at Rainham Surgery

Thursday 27th December 2018 6:30pm - 7:30pm at Upchurch Surgery

Friday 28th December 2018 7:00am - 8:00am at Rainham Surgery

Monday 31st December 2018 7:00am - 8:00am at Rainham Surgery

Wednesday 2nd January 2019 6:30pm - 7:30pm at Upchurch Surgery

Friday 4th January 2019 7:00am - 8:00am at Rainham Surgery

If you have any questions or suggestions on the local practice, please Email:

Jan Bunting (Secretary) janannbunting@outlook.com or

Ray Kemsley (Chair) raykemsley@btinternet.com

Ray Kemsley

Chair - Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham

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Sunday 2 December 2018

December News from Upchurch Horticultural Society - From the Potting Shed

Sponsored by Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd

With December knocking on the door my enthusiasm for the garden has waned a bit, although for those who are not just fair weather gardeners there is still lots to keep you occupied. For recommended tips visit www.thompson-morgan.com/in-the-garden-this-month I will make the effort to rake leaves off the lawn as it needs all the help it can get and look after the winter vegetables, but other than that the garden has now been tidied up and put to bed for the winter.

The seed order for vegetables will be placed this month having waited to allow for old seed stocks to be used up that may not be fully viable. This may be cynical but I have become suspicious of seed suppliers following poor germination in recent years. The rhubarb has been transplanted to a wetter part of the garden as even this was affected by the dry summer. I have about 450L of rain water storage in the garden that collects run-off water from the guttering. In very dry weather this enables continued watering with a can for about 10 days. This is not fully adequate for most summers especially this one so an outside tap is also essential. However temporary water storage is useful to have and there are a lot of fascinating types of water butts available on line that can provide decorative options for water storage so take a look at www.waterbuttsdirect.co.uk who presently have Christmas Offers.

There is actually one last job I must do in the garden before retiring for the winter and that is to lift the spray and charm chrysanthemums. This is normally completed by this time of year but the unusually mild weather has kept them flowering. Chrysanthemum growing is an art in itself and is normally done for competitive exhibition and many expert gardeners specialise in these plants. However, there is always room for spray and charm chrysanthemums in any garden and charms make excellent pot plants. Once lifted the stems are cut back to about 6” and any basal growth removed. The tubers can then be stored in slightly moist compost in a dry shed or greenhouse and left dormant until January when gentle watering and feeding will produce basal shoots in February. These can be taken as basal cuttings in 3” pots to produce fresh colour later in the year. The old plant goes on the compost heap. Charm chrysanthemums produce a mass of small flowers in a variety of vivid colours that provide an amazing show in the Autumn. The plant maintains a natural ball shape and some varieties can easily reach a size of 3’ in diameter in 7 months. They can be grown as perennials, but are at their best grown from cuttings each year with a 12 month life cycle.

That’s it for 2018, it’s been a challenging year but here’s to next year and a Happy Christmas, and on that note I will toast your good health.

We are always looking for new members and try to encourage a fun attitude towards friendly competition. So if you want to grow your own fruit, vegetables and flowers or even enter any of the 3 shows we hold each year, then please get in touch, we would be happy to hear from you.

If you are interested in becoming a new member, (all ages are welcome), please contact Rosey on: 01634 377812 (evenings) or Email: rosemary@ringwoodaccounting.co.uk

Sean Barry - Upchurch Horticultural Society

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