Members of Medway Council's Planning Committee have granted permission to build the Leigh Academy Rainham Secondary School on land at Westmoor Farm, Rainham.
Serving the eastern part of the borough, the new school represents a significant investment in the area funded entirely by the Department for Education with new facilities that will be available for community use outside of school hours.
The new mixed 11-18 yr secondary academy will open in September 2021 and be part of the Leigh Academies Trust group of schools on a site south of the railway at Otterham Quay Lane, at the junction of A2 Moor Street, known locally as Westmoor Farm.
The main contractor Bowmer + Kirkland hopes to start on site soon and will keep the community informed of progress through regular newsletters.
Carl Guerin-Hassett who will be Principal of the school when it opens in September next year spoke after the planning meeting:
“We are thrilled to have had Medway Council’s approval for Leigh Academy Rainham. I find the prospect of being instrumental in raising aspirations and attainment in this community enormously exciting and look forward to welcoming our first students from September 2021.”
Pupil Places and Interested Staff
If you are interested in a school place or working at Leigh Academy Rainham, the Leigh Academies Trust have set up a website: www.leighacademyrainham.org.ukwhere you can register to be kept up to date regarding open events and the admissions process for the new school.
Between Sunday the 12th and Monday the 13th of January, several sheds and containers were broken into in the Woodlands on Iwade Road, Newington, and a bicycle was stolen.
If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.
Highways England is making improvements to the M2 junction 5 / A249 Stockbury Roundabout which they say will support improvements to safety and the potential for economic development and growth in the region.
The scheme includes a new flyover which will create an uninterrupted link for drivers staying on the A249 and will free up extra space on the Stockbury roundabout.
Objections
Stockbury Parish Council and MP Helen Whately, with residents and business owners, have raised concerns and objections over the current plans put forward to upgrade the junction. Because of these objections, the Secretary of State has now ordered a Public Inquiry to take place.
It's believed all would support the scheme providing a bridge or underpass is added to the proposed new road layout. They are concerned that as a result of the upgrade scheme, the village could be cut off and become dangerous and difficult to get to.
They acknowledge and support the need to modernise the Stockbury roundabout but cannot support the current scheme which they believe will irreparably harm the cohesion of the community, which has small businesses and significant settlements on both sides of the A249.
Public Enquiry - Cancelled
The Department for Transport has now cancelled the two-week Public Inquiry announced by the Secretary of State which was due to open on Tuesday 10th March 2020 and continue for up to two weeks.
The inquiry was due to be held at Hempstead House, London Road, Bapchild, Sittingbourne ME9 9PP in the Heritage Suite.
Members of the public were invited to attend the proceedings but if they wished to make an objection, declare support or have specific questions, they had to submit their intention of this to the Inspector by 17th February 2020.
An independent Programme Officer was appointed. Information about how to appear at the inquiry, the programme and additional documents were made available on their website at: http://programmeofficers.co.uk/m2j5
If you have questions specifically about the inquiry you should contact Yvonne Parker directly via Email: posltd@virginmedia.com
England’s 10,000+ Village Halls are at the heart of rural community life - providing an important hub for social activities, classes and services.
Village Halls Week ran for the first time in 2018. The campaign is an annual and national celebration of rural community spaces and the people whose time and dedication keep them going. Organised by the ACRE Network, the campaign runs in January and sees a huge variety of events happening across England.
This year's Village Halls Week will run from Monday 20th January to Sunday 26th.
The aim of the week-long campaign is to champion the diverse range of buildings which make up the network and promote the sheer volume of services they offer.
There will be an opportunity to say thank you to the volunteers who run the buildings and learn more about the groups, organisations, individuals and businesses who are making use of these buildings week in and week out. Predominantly the week will take place on social media (Facebook, Twitterand Instagram) however, ACRE Network members will also host events to engage with people in their area.
Nationally ACRE speaks up for Village Halls, ensuring Government policymakers are aware of the challenges faced by volunteers who are often struggling with red-tape and the demands of managing a community building.
Village Halls Week by Kate Fox. The video may not be visible in your Email. Watch it at the link here >> youtube.com
The National Rural Touring Forum commissioned poet Kate Fox to write a poem about her experiences with rural touring and village halls for the 2019 Village Halls Week, in partnership with ACRE. Upchurch Village Hall Upchurch Village Hall was built over 60 years ago and as a registered charity all Upchurch Village Hall Management Committee (UVHMC), members become a ‘Trustee’ of the Village Hall for the duration that they are on the Committee. All Trustees have a legal responsibility for the running of the Hall, along with all the associated health & safety and financial responsibilities. Maintenance and future planning are also part of the role.
The Village Hall Management Committee members are volunteers who meet regularly throughout the year to ensure the smooth running of the Hall for all the local groups and organisations that hire it on a regular basis, and for those individuals who hire the Hall for private parties and special family occasions.
Thank you for everything you do 👏🏼 To book Upchurch Village Hall, please contact Mollie Harriss on: 01634 364859
Improvement Project Many residents will have already seen the necessary remedial work carried out by the Village Hall Management Sub Committee recently to bring the Hall up to standard. In recent years, generous donations have been received from numerous individuals, local Councillors, Council grants, the Co-op Membership Local Community Fund and from numerous fundraising events held in the Hall itself. Together all these have enabled essential work to be carried out, and keep the Hall in good working order. The Friends of Upchurch Village Hall has raised thousands of pounds so far and UpARA has nominated the Village Hall as their chosen charity for this year. Thanks to all the well supported fundraising events, the Sub Committee has been able to complete parts of the improvement project using their own funds.
The fundraising continues this year at UpARA's Quiz Night at the Hall on Friday 17th January and their Valentine's Party on Friday 14th February. Ticket details here >> http://bit.ly/3a7GhI2 Thank you for everything you do 👏🏼 Celebration
Help ACRE celebrate the huge contribution that Village Halls and the volunteers running them make to rural communities throughout England, with the hashtag #VillageHallsWeek and support your local Village Hall!
Thanks to Caroline Smith for sharing this old photograph of children at Holywell School. It's not known exactly which year the photo was taken but those pictured are believed to be around 60 now.
Caroline's husband Pete Smith is pictured crouching just to the left of the girl wearing a tartan skirt. Caroline found the photo recently (possibly from a local newspaper) at the house of Pete's parents Joyce and Tom Smith.
The caption reads:
“Fellow pupils crowd round a couple of junior school boys having a quiet game of chess - a pastime they learned while on an Easter Holiday in Ostend.”
