Vote for better Broadband on the Hoo Peninsula!

Broadband coverage on the Hoo Peninsula is patchy at the best of times. I sometimes feel it would be quicker to use a pigeon to send a message!

Faster broadband services could become a reality though - thanks to a partnership between Kent County Council (KCC) and Medway Council.

Later this month, a poster campaign will be launched across Kent and Medway, encouraging residents to ‘sign up’ to the Better Broadband Scheme.

I’ve already signed-up and you can too by going online (here) and registering your support for better Broadband – it only takes 5 minutes to register! And it is important that lots of local people do.

The more people that make the effort to register, the better the prospects of KCC and Medway Council being able to secure the private sector investment required for upgrading local broadband services.

And the information gained from the registration process will also help with further funding bids to bring improvements to the area.

It’s really important to vote - so tell all your friends, family and neighbours about it - click here and make it happen!
 

New Year Walk around Higham Marshes

I picked a good walk to start the New Year this morning - all flat and not very long!

I started out from St. Mary’s Church, in the hamlet of Church Street and within the Parish of Higham and Merston, at the very western end of the Hoo Peninsula. Before setting off, I had a good look round this lovely old building - originally Norman, but remodelled and enlarged in the 14th century. One of two Churches on the Hoo Peninsula managed by The Churches Conservation Trust (the other being St. James’ Church at Cooling) an information board inside proudly boasts that Charles Dickens’ daughter Katey married there in 1860.

With my Ordnance Survey map in hand (Gravesend, Rochester and Hoo Peninsula -163), I headed north following the Kent County Council walking route NS138, also labelled as the ‘Naughty Nuns and Nightingales’ walk. Not sure it’s the right time of year to see either though!

Although it was a lovely sunny morning, it was predictably very muddy under foot for the long stretch northwards passing ditches, pools and the nearby Gravel Works (towards Cliffe Pools). Predictably in hindsight that is - as unusually I didn’t bother to wear my walking boots. A lesson well and truly learnt!

Eventually arriving at the Shorne Marshes Nature Reserve and Higham Saltings, there were good views across the River Thames, of Cliffe Fort and, on the opposite side of the river, Coalhouse Fort.

I then headed westward along the Saxon Shore Way towards Shornmead Fort and then, after a short distance, south towards Beckley Hill - passing Barrow Hill on route. After crossing back over the railway line, I returned on the track back to St. Mary’s Church.

Although I doubt that too many ‘festive’ calories were burnt up on this walk, it was really enjoyable all the same, and getting some New Year fresh air is never a bad idea. It took just over an hour to complete - but would have been quicker with proper boots on!

For more information about St. Mary’s Church, visit the Friends of St. Mary’s Church (Higham) website by clicking here.

More information about this walk can be found here.