29 March 2013

Village Voices (April 2013 Edition)

The April edition of Village Voices (the community magazine for Hoo St. Werburgh and Chattenden) is now available to read online. Just click the image below to see the full copy.


This edition includes an update on the Lodge Hill development at Chattenden, information about a new children’s play area in Hoo, a fascinating article by Rolf Williams from the RSPB, a Hoo Clean Up photo-special and lots of other interesting features and local advertising.

Take a look at the Village Voices website by clicking here.
  

High Halstow Times - April 2013 Edition

Here’s the latest edition of the High Halstow Times. Once again the magazine is packed full of stories, reports and things to do in the village. Click on the image below to see the full copy.


This edition includes a report by High Halstow Cricket Club, details of the Parish Council Annual Meeting (beginning at 8pm on Wednesday 17 April at The Memorial Hall), updates on the High Halstow Hikers, details of the summer show by Dramarama (taking place in early June) and lots of other useful local information.

The High Halstow Times is the magazine of High Halstow Parish Council. Take a look at their website by clicking here.
  

Allhallows Life - April 2013 Edition

The latest edition of Allhallows Life is now available. Click the image below to read the full copy.


This edition includes an interesting article about the good work done by the Parish Council to keep the village clean and tidy, information about the exciting Slough Fort Restoration Project, a special report about parking problems in Avery Way and details of the Parish Council Annual Assembly (beginning at 6.30pm on Wednesday 24 April at The Village Hall).

Another really packed edition, with lots of local information and news.

Allhallows Life is the magazine for Allhallows Parish Council, take a look at their website by clicking here, the magazine also features items from St. Mary Hoo Parish Council, take a look at their website by clicking here.
  

12 March 2013

Snow update from Medway Council

Here's the latest information supplied by Medway Council about how they're handling the snow across the area (9.37am, 12/03/2013):

Medway’s Council’s eight gritters have been out through the night and will continue treating roads throughout today.

The teams continuously retreated all of Medway’s primary and secondary roads - which are more than 335 miles long - throughout the early hours and this morning.

But high, blustery north easterly winds, below zero temperatures, which have frozen road surfaces, and continuous snow overnight and this morning have made it a difficult, with new snow continuously settling on top of grit and ice.

Grit needs to be worked into the snow and ice by vehicles driving over it to take effect, so this has made the gritting teams work extremely difficult.

However, main roads across Medway are now passable with care, but the council would advise residents to only make essential trips due to the conditions - as North Kent is one of the two worst hit places in the country.

Crews have also been out treating the third tier road network this morning.

Snow ploughs were deployed overnight on the B2000, Cooling Road, A228 Grain Road and Ratcliffe Highway.

These are used to move considerable amounts of drifting snow that needs to be shifted due to its depth, but ploughs cannot be used to move low levels of snow on the road surface.

This needs to be treated by salt and grit, which when worked in by vehicles driving over it makes the roads less slippery and therefore passable.

Contractors are also out salting town centres by hand, but this does take time so the council would ask residents to bear with us as this is completed.

For details on which roads are treated on Medway’s road network please visit. Priority one car parks are also being treated and you can find details of them here. Residents are also urged to use salt bins and details of your nearest one can be found here.
 

8 March 2013

Have your say on the 'Coleman Land' development in Hoo!

Bellway Homes say that they will soon submit a planning application to build on the last remaining field along Bells Lane in Hoo, known locally as the 'Coleman Land'.


Their application is likely to offer 119 new homes, between two and three storeys in height.

Bellway will next week hold a 'drop-in' session for local residents, where they will unveil their proposals.  A team of experts will be available from the development team to answer questions.

The event will take place on Wednesday 13 March, from 5pm to 9pm, at The Village Community Sports and Social Club, Bells Lane, Hoo, ME3 9JD.

If you'd like any further information, contact Patrick Clark on 07525 031276 or email here.
  

6 March 2013

Join the fight against litter in Hoo!

The next Hoo Clean Up event will take place on Saturday 30 March, at 9.30am.


Meeting at The Chequers pub in Church Street, volunteers will spend around 90 minutes collecting 'enemy' litter from around the village square. There'll be free refreshments back at the pub after the session for everyone that helped.

If you’d like to find out more about the Hoo Clean Ups, or to sign up for this excellent community activity, contact Michael Pearce (Clean Up Co-Ordinator) on 07919 693 095, or send an email by clicking here.
  

3 March 2013

Hoo Marina is waiting for you!

I always enjoy popping down to Hoo Marina (now known as Port Werburgh). It’s high up on the list of places to go locally whenever I have family and friends staying over - just like when my mother and sister visited last summer.


Although you have to go through a small industrial area to get there, the views of the River Medway from the marina are worth it.

And, you can enjoy a nice cuppa and something tasty to eat at Hoo Riverside Diner - perfectly placed within the marina. Next door you’ll find the office of Premier Houseboats, offering a really interesting range of boats for sale - always good to have a nose at the sales board on the window!

From Saturday 9 March another business will be opening in the marina, next to Riverside Diner, called Beach Hut 'n' Boats. They’ll be offering a colourful range of products. Take a look at their website by clicking here.

Hoo Riverside Diner is open from Monday to Friday (8am to 4pm) and Saturdays and Sundays (8.30am to 4pm).

So, when you get some spare time, pop down to Port Werburgh and see what you’ve been missing!
  

2 March 2013

Backed by the people!

I thought I’d share this photograph of my new t-shirt.

I designed it online last weekend and it was delivered this morning. One of only two made, it was produced at no cost to the taxpayer of course!




The front shows the Stop Estuary Airport campaign logo, with the most recent version of my photo-wall on the back - featuring many local residents.

Keep up to date with the Stop Estuary Airport campaign by clicking here. Alternatively, take a look at the website run by the Friends of the North Kent Marshes here.

No surrender!
  

1 March 2013

Can you offer a home to a rescue cat?

Anim-Mates is the popular local animal rescue sanctuary based at St. Mary Hoo.

This month, the sanctuary is working to find new homes for these four very cute cats pictured below - can you help?


If you can provide a home to one of these cats, get in touch with Teresa on 01634 271456 or 07743 331397. Visit their website by clicking here.
 

No surrender, no Thames Estuary airport!

It's been a while since I added anything on here about opposing the ludicrous idea of constructing an airport in the Thames Estuary. But that doesn't mean the issue has gone away, sadly. Far from it!

I thought I'd include my most recent ‘Stop Estuary Airport’ photo-wall produced last year, to highlight the parliamentary petition currently being organised by the MP for Rochester and Strood, Mark Reckless. Mark represents all of the communities on the Hoo Peninsula - from Cliffe to the Isle of Grain.


You can show your support for opposing a Thames Estuary airport, and for Mark's petition, by completing the online petition form on his website. Just click here to get involved.

If you’re concerned about the possible destruction of the Hoo Peninsula, please make every effort to get your voice heard! Tell all your friends, family, neighbours and colleagues about the petition - let's send the message, loud and clear, that there'll be 'no surrender' from the people of the Hoo Peninsula!

Stay in touch with the Stop Estuary Airport campaign by visiting Medway Council's dedicated website. Another excellent resource is the site run by the Friends of the North Kent Marches, click here to visit.

Step up and save the peninsula from destruction!
  

Village Voices (March 2013 Edition)

The March edition of Village Voices (the community magazine for Hoo St. Werburgh and Chattenden), is now available to read online. Just click the image below to read the full copy.


This edition includes an interesting ‘questions and answers’ piece with Kent's new Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Barnes, details of the next Hoo Clean Up (on Saturday 30 March), another fascinating article by Rolf Williams from the RSPB, a special 'no estuary airport' report from local MP Mark Reckless and many other interesting items and local advertising.

Take a look at the Village Voices website by clicking here.
  

High Halstow Times - March 2013 Edition

Here’s the latest edition of the High Halstow Times. Once again the magazine is packed full of stories, reports and things to do in the village. Click on the image below to read the full copy.


This edition includes information about the next Project 90 activity morning on Saturday 16 March, opportunities to meet members of the Parish Council at the Kings Kitchen Coffee Morning (Memorial Hall) on Tuesday 12 March from 10.30am, details of Mothering Sunday and Easter services at St. Margaret's Church, the latest news from the High Halstow Hikers, a special report from High Halstow Cricket Club and much more!

The High Halstow Times is the magazine of High Halstow Parish Council. Take a look at their website by clicking here.