Swale Foodbank Collection and Call into the Church for A Cuppa and a Chat

Swale Foodbank Collection

Thank you, Upchurch.

As usual, in March, you were very generous with your donations towards the work of Swale Foodbank. 

I know that February and March caught some of you out with the first Wednesday of the month actually falling on the 1st. 

This month the first Wednesday in April falls on the 5th.

So I will be collecting your Swale Foodbank donations at the bus stop opposite the church again on Wednesday the 5th of April, between 10:30am and 11:30am.

Please bring your items in carrier bags. We will then deliver them to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.

All donations are helpful, providing the food is long life and well within date.

When I started collecting for the Foodbank by waiting in the layby, those of you who were there from the beginning will remember that my husband Ron was helping me. Ron became ill around September 2021 and could no longer help. Sadly he passed away on the 12th of February this year.

Despite such a terrible loss, God willing, I will continue to be in the layby on the first Wednesday of every month because I want to support those who are struggling, as I know you also want to help them too.

Thankfully Sue and Georgina from St Mary's are helping and supporting me to continue - bless them.

Thank you 🙏🏼

A Cuppa and a Chat

While you are there, why not call into the church for A Cuppa and a Chat in the Lady Chapel.

We will have the kettle on from 10:00am until 12:00pm.

You will receive a warm welcome and there will be cake!

Followed by a prayer for our village from 12:00pm until 12:30pm.

Pop in and join us or write a prayer in our prayer book and we will pray for your concerns. And if you have anything you would like to have a prayer for, speak to Jill, William or Elizabeth, and they will help you.

just call in, and we will be pleased to see you!

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator
Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

Temporary Road Closure - Dane Lane, Hartlip

It will be necessary to close part of Dane Lane, Hartlip from Monday 15th May 2023, for up to one day.

Dane Lane, Hartlip will be closed in the vicinity of Ivy Cottage, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route is via Place Lane, Mount Lane, The Street, Munns Lane, Dane Lane and vice versa.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while electrical installation works are undertaken by UK Power Networks.

For information regarding this closure, please contact UK Power Networks on: 0800 029 4285, 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

Upchurch Horticultural Society - Spring Plant Sale

Saturday 22nd April 2023

The Paddock, Upchurch

9:00am - 12:30pm

A wide variety of locally sourced plants will be available at

great prices with experts to assist you with your choice.

Homemade Cakes - FREE Parking

For more information, Email: upchurchsociety@gmail.com

Visit: https://linktr.ee/upchurchhorticulturalsociety

Sponsored by Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd

Upchurch Matters

M2 Junction 5 - A249 Stockbury Interchange Improvement Scheme: Additional Phase - Temporary Road Closures - Various Roads, Maidstone and Swale

Update:

An additional phase of works is now required, as detailed below.

11^th April Overnight 9:00pm to 5:00am

The A249 Sittingbourne Road, Stockbury & A249 Sittingbourne Road, Thurnham will be closed southbound between the junctions with A249 M2 J5 Roundabout and Rumstead Lane.

 

The alternative route for motorway traffic is via M2 J5 to J4 On Slip, M2, M2 J3 Off Slip, Taddington Wood Roundabout, Blue Bell Hill, A229 Chatham Road, Cobtree Roundabout, M20 J6 to J7 On Slip, M20, M20 J7 Off Slip.

 

12^th April Overnight 9:00pm to 5:00am

The A249 Sittingbourne Road, Detling, Detling Hill, Detling, Sittingbourne Road, Thurnham, Sittingbourne Road, Stockbury will be closed northbound between the A249 Newnham Court Roundabout M20 J7 and the A249 M2 J5 Roundabout.

 

The alternative route for motorway traffic is via A249 Sittingbourne Road, Newnham Court Roundabout, M20 J7 to J6 On Slip, M20, M20 J6 Off Slip, Running Horse Roundabout, A229 Chatham Road, Cobtree Roundabout, A229 Chatham Road, Bluebell Hill, Taddington Wood Roundabout, M2 J3 to J4 On Slip, M2, M2 J5 Off Slip.

 

No Right Turn - Oad Street, Stockbury

From the 12^th April a No Right Turn will be in place from Oad Street onto the A249 until the end of the M2 J5 Improvement works.

 

22^nd April - 19^th June

Maidstone Road, Stockbury will be closed between the junctions with Wormdale Hill and A249 M2 J5 Roundabout.

 

The alternative route is via Maidstone Road, Chestnut Street, Key Street Roundabout, Key Street Slip Southbound On, A249 Maidstone Road, A249 M2 J5 Roundabout and vice versa.

 

*Please note once these works are completed the permanent traffic order will come into place and Maidstone Road will be closed indefinitely. Vehicles will need to use the new link road between Maidstone Road and Oad Street*

 

12^th - 15^th May, 9pm on Friday 12^th May to 5:00am on Monday 15^th May

The A249 Sittingbourne Road, Detling, Detling Hill, Detling, Sittingbourne Road, Thurnham, Sittingbourne Road, Stockbury will be closed northbound between the A249 Newnham Court Roundabout M20 J7 and the A249 M2 J5 Roundabout.

 

The alternative route for motorway traffic is via A249 Sittingbourne Road, Newnham Court Roundabout, M20 J7 to J6 On Slip, M20, M20 J6 Off Slip, Running Horse Roundabout, A229 Chatham Road, Cobtree Roundabout, A229 Chatham Road, Bluebell Hill, Taddington Wood Roundabout, M2 J3 to J4 On Slip, M2, M2 J5 Off Slip.

Temporary Road Closures

Various Roads, Maidstone and Swale

1^st October 2021

It will be necessary to close various roads in the Maidstone and Swale district.

This Order takes effect on or after 1st October 2021 for a period of up to 31 months or until works have been completed. Planned dates will be published in advanced of the works on https://one.network and indicated by signage displayed on site 14 days before they start. 

These works are subject to weather and other factors which may potentially cause changes at short notice; every effort will be made to keep as close as possible to the planned dates that are notified, and any changes will be publicised.

Each individual restriction will be signed on site and will follow the construction programme as required. 

Schedule

Road Closures

The A249 Sittingbourne Road, Detling, Detling Hill, Detling, Sittingbourne Road, Thurnham, Sittingbourne Road, Stockbury will be closed northbound between the A249 Newnham Court Roundabout M20 J7 and the A249 M2 J5 Roundabout.

The alternative route for motorway traffic is via A249 Sittingbourne Road, Newnham Court Roundabout, M20 J7 to J6 On Slip, M20, M20 J6 Off Slip, Running Horse Roundabout, A229 Chatham Road, Cobtree Roundabout, A229 Chatham Road, Bluebell Hill, Taddington Wood Roundabout, M2 J3 to J4 On Slip, M2, M2 J5 Off Slip. 

The A249 Sittingbourne Road, Stockbury & A249 Sittingbourne Road, Thurnham will be closed southbound between the junctions with A249 M2 J5 Roundabout and Rumstead Lane.

The alternative route for motorway traffic is via M2 J5 to J4 On Slip, M2, M2 J3 Off Slip, Taddington Wood Roundabout, Blue Bell Hill, A229 Chatham Road, Cobtree Roundabout, M20 J6 to J7 On Slip, M20, M20 J7 Off Slip. 

Maidstone Road, Stockbury will be closed between the junctions with Wormdale Hill and A249 M2 J5 Roundabout. 

The alternative route is via Maidstone Road, Chestnut Street, Key Street Roundabout, Key Street Slip Southbound On, A249 Maidstone Road, A249 M2 J5 Roundabout and vice versa.

Oad Street, Stockbury & Bredgar will be closed between the junctions A249 Sittingbourne Road and Woodgate Lane. 

The alternative route is via Maidstone Road, Stockbury Roundabout, A249 Sittingbourne Road and vice versa.

Honeycrock Hill, Stockbury will be closed for its entire length. 

The alternative route is via A249 Sittingbourne Road, A249 M2 J5 Roundabout, A249 Sittingbourne Road, Church Hill. 

Church Hill, Stockbury will be closed for its entire length.

The alternative route is via A249 Sittingbourne Road, A249 M2 J5 Roundabout, A249 Sittingbourne Road, Honeycrock Hill.

50mph Speed Restrictions

A temporary mandatory 50 mph speed restriction will be imposed on A249 Sittingbourne Road, Stockbury (Northbound and Southbound) & A249 Sittingbourne Road, Thurnham (Northbound and Southbound) between A249 M2 J5 Roundabout & 600m South of Chalky Road.

30mph Speed Restrictions

A temporary mandatory 30 mph speed restriction will be imposed on the following roads:

• • Oad Street, Bredgar & Oad Street, Stockbury between the junctions with A249 Sittingbourne Road and Woodgate Lane.
• • Chestnut Street, Borden between the junctions with Key Street Roundabout and Maidstone Road.
• • Maidstone Road, Borden & Maidstone Road, Stockbury between the junctions with Chestnut Street and A249 M2 J5 Roundabout.

No Right Turn Restrictions

A restriction on turning right will be imposed on the following roads:

• • A249 Sittingbourne Road, Stockbury - restricting traffic from turning right into Honeycrock Hill and Church Hill.
• • Oad Street, Stockbury - restricting traffic from turning right onto A249 Sittingbourne Road.

Width Restriction and No Parking Restriction

It will be necessary to temporarily suspend the width restriction Order and prohibit waiting on Chestnut Street, Borden for its entire length.

The restrictions are required for the safety of the public and workforce while highway improvement works are undertaken by Graham Construction on behalf of National Highways.

For the most up to date information on these works please visit: https://one.network

For information regarding this Order please contact National Highways on: 0300 123 5000, who will be able to assist with the scope of these works and any further enquiries.

The Kent County Council Highways Helpline phone number is: 03000 418181

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

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

New FREE App to Help Patients Wait Less for Urgent NHS Care

Get the right treatment when you need it.

Patients in Kent and Medway can now use an app to view waiting times at NHS urgent treatment centres (UTCs) and minor injury units (MIUs).

The WaitLess app will help patients who have decided to go to a UTC or MIU make an informed choice about which site to visit.

The app displays the number of people waiting and the longest waiting times, along with travel information, so patients can decide to visit a site that is not so busy.

Kate Langford, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Kent and Medway, said:

“I would always advise patients to contact NHS 111 first if they are not sure where to go or what service they need.

"NHS 111 will continue to offer booked appointments at our urgent treatment centres, where needed.

“However, we know some people decide to go straight to our UTCs without contacting NHS 111 first, and this app will help them find UTCs that are not as busy, where the wait is potentially less.

“Kent and Medway has more than a dozen UTCs and MIUs. By checking the waiting times before they travel, patients can choose which one they go to when they have an urgent medical issue.”

You can download the WaitLess app FREE from the Apple App Store and Google Play

Download the NHS app to access a range of services from your phone or tablet.

More information about using the right health service is available at www.stopthinkchoose.co.uk The site also includes a map of all pharmacies in the county. Pharmacists are trained professionals who can help with a wide range of common health issues.

Upchurch Matters

Holywell Kids Club - Easter Holidays 2023

Booking is essential and is taken on a first come first served basis, please use Arbor to book if your child attends Holywell or call/text the team: 07706 002060 or Email: kclub@holywell.kent.sch.uk for other schools.

Holywell Primary School