Is it farewell to The White Horse?

Perhaps it was only a matter of time before a proposal came forward to demolish The White Horse pub in Upper Stoke, but I’m still rather sad about the prospect.

A planning application was submitted to Medway Council (the local planning authority) on 8th June to demolish this old building and replace it with a number of dwellings. The summary advises the following:

“MC/18/1736 - Outline planning application with all matters reserved for the demolition of existing public house and outbuilding and construction of three detached four-bed houses with integral single garage and a pair of garages linked detached four-bed houses with associated parking and landscaping - White Horse Public House, The Street, Stoke, Rochester, ME3 9RT”.

I’ve mentioned The White Horse a few times on this website (click here, here and here for a few examples) explaining my links with the place.

I love old buildings so it’ll be sad to see The White Horse disappear from the Upper Stoke streetscape.

I hope I win the National Lottery this evening!

Click here to be directed to the relevant section on Medway Council's planning portal.
  

Step up to oppose a massive game-changer in Hoo!

It’s (almost) that time again for battle plans to be decided upon and drawn up to oppose yet another mad-cap idea of building even more houses in Hoo – destroying what I thought were precious greenfield sites!

Although housing developer Taylor Wimpey are yet to submit a formal planning application for ‘their’ land west of Hoo, a leaflet about their proposal claims they are looking to build up to 500 houses.

Taylor Wimpey recently submitted a ‘scoping opinion document’ to Medway Council’s Planning department, number MC/14/1391. The purpose of this is to inform an Environmental Impact Assessment, which will eventually accompany an outline planning application.

For me, the idea of building west of Hoo is a massive game-changer. Not only would it destroy the existing ‘entry landscape to the Hoo Peninsula’ of open green fields, but it would just about join the villages of Hoo and Chattenden together, albeit with a road acting as an insignificant separation.

For what it’s worth – I feel a proposal to build 500 houses west of Hoo is completely unacceptable and would destroy something very special forever.

I will certainly add more information to this blog when more details are known about the contents of the planning application, but in the meantime – it is worth attending the exhibitions planned by Taylor Wimpey this week.

They will be held at Hoo Village Hall (Pottery Road) on Friday 27th June from 3pm to 8pm and on Saturday 28th June from 10am to 2pm.
  

Help throw the Lodge Hill project into the dustbin of bad ideas!

Yep, the outline planning application to build a new 5,000 dwelling town (or a ‘new heart for the Hoo Peninsula’ as I was unashamedly told by project architects last month) is set for its grand appearance at Medway Council’s Planning Committee within a matter of months.

The application, originally submitted in 2011, has reared its ugly head once more and local people are encouraged to speak up loud and clear.

Land Securities say numerous and extensive consultations have been carried out with local people over many years - and rightly so of course! That said, I think it strange, even bizarre, that so many local people are completely unaware of the Lodge Hill project. And those that do have knowledge of it either believe the whole thing is a done deal (because the site is owned by the Ministry of Defence) or that it’s a dead duck (referring, I suppose, to the SSSI notification - Site of Special Scientific Interest - confirmed by Natural England last year).

I believe the Lodge Hill project would have a major impact on the identities of existing villages and communities on the Hoo Peninsula. Despite this, the only ‘public’ sign of its re-emergence that I have so far seen is a solitary laminated A4 size yellow notice tied to a lamp post near SPAR supermarket in Hoo village centre - and it only uses the words ‘Lodge Hill’ once. (Update on 13/03/2014: Have seen two more signs - one opposite the parade of shops on Knights Road in Hoo and the other at Main Road (Chattenden) at the junction with Elm Avenue.

As far as I am concerned, the Lodge Hill project would bring chaos and disruption to our communities for the best part of 20 years. I see it as one of the biggest threats to the way of life enjoyed by so many on the Hoo Peninsula. Generation after generation of local families have appreciated our unique local landscape and we must do all we can to protect it for future generations.

Aside from the destruction of more countryside and the impact on wildlife (including the nightingales), there are many other reasons why the Lodge Hill project should be confined to the dustbin of bad ideas. We are told that it is ‘the most significant development in Medway’s history’, but the latest plans don’t even show any major changes or significant improvements being made to the existing road network, which already feels pressured by increased usage.

Local people can submit their views about the Lodge Hill project to Medway Council, as part of the consultation for the ‘refreshed’ outline planning application. The consultation formally closes on Wednesday 2 April, although I understand Medway Council will continue accepting responses until 12 noon the day before the application is presented to the Planning Committee. A specific date for this meeting is not yet known. (Update on 11/03/2014: The formal closing date on the consultation has been extended to Tuesday 15th April).

My advice to anyone reading this blog: get writing straightaway and submit your views to Medway Council. Be sure to tell all your friends, family and neighbours as well. Everyone needs to take this opportunity to voice their concerns, views and opinions in what is probably the very last chance to do so.

Only two exhibition events about the Lodge Hill project (concerning the refreshed outline planning application) have been organised by Land Securities (agents acting on behalf of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation). Despite the impact that this proposal would have on everyone living on the Hoo Peninsula - both events will be held in Chattenden. It is, of course, completely understandable and correct that events are held in Chattenden, as it is the front line community affected. I do think though that it would have been appropriate for additional events being held in other villages too. Nevertheless, the scheduled events will take place at Chattenden Community Centre (Swinton Avenue, Chattenden, ME3 8PH) on Thursday 20 March (6pm to 8.30pm) and Friday 21 March (4pm to 8pm).

Should approval be given - it will mean valuable parts of the Hoo Peninsula are permanently deleted from the map, no doubt opening the door to developers for many more years to come.

I wish someone somewhere had the imagination, vision and confidence to look seriously at the advantages of protecting the entire Hoo Peninsula landscape. If handled correctly, sensitively and in partnership with local communities and interest groups - our area, particularly the natural environment, historically important locations and sites of local heritage, could be positively transformed for the benefit of the whole community and visitors. This could be achieved without damaging or destroying the things we care about. Take a good look at other parts of the UK, like Scotland, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Norfolk, Suffolk, Wales etc. These areas have sympathetically and fundamentally protected important areas like the Hoo Peninsula. By doing so they have created thousands of new jobs and opportunities for local people. It can be done!

To read the refreshed outline planning application for the Lodge Hill project (MC/11/2516) click here. By clicking the ‘documents’ tab you will find all application documentation. To go directly to the feedback section, click here.

Alternatively, you can email your responses to: planning.represenations@medway.gov.uk and quote reference MC/11/2516. You can also write to: Development Control, Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TR - remembering to quote the application number on all correspondence.

If you would like further reading - take a look at an informative article by Martin Harper (RSPB Conservation Director). This was produced earlier this year - click here.
  

Road Closure – Britannia Road, High Halstow

Medway Council will be carrying out works to repair the highway drainage on Britannia Road in High Halstow from Monday 10th March until Friday 21st March.

During this time Britannia Road will be closed to through traffic from 8.30am to 5pm (Monday to Friday) to enable the works to be carried out safely, but it will be open outside of these hours and during the weekend. Access to Clinch Street will be maintained at all times.

191 bus services will continue to operate as normal, using Christmas Lane to both access and exit High Halstow – using Harrison Drive for turning.

  

The first Hoo Clean Up of 2014

It was good to join the first Hoo village litter pick of the year, last Saturday (25 January). It was great to see 20 local residents turning up to help!

The Hoo Clean Up meets every month (usually the last Saturday of the month) and the new meeting point is Hoo Library (Church Street, Hoo). Many thanks to the staff at the library for all their help and assistance with organising the refreshments after the session. Special thanks to SPAR supermarket for supplying all the cakes and nibbles (for free).

The next opportunity to get involved is on Saturday 22 February, meeting at 9.30am outside Hoo Library.

See you there!

  

Volunteers needed at Hoo Youth Club!

News from Medway Youth Service Detached Team:

Volunteers are needed:  To support a junior youth session for 10-13 year olds on Wednesday evenings. To support the senior youth session for 13-19 year olds on Wednesday evenings. To support a football project for an hour on Monday nights. To be a funding finder for Hoo Youth Project. Read on for details.

We have had lots going on over the summer, in both Hoo and Chattenden. Young people have enjoyed trips to Thorpe Park, Go-Karting and Paintball, as well as free workshops in street dance, music production, cake decorating, jewellery workshops, ceramic painting, circus skills and sports activities - about 30 young people from Chattenden and Hoo have gained an AQA in some of these workshops. We ended the summer, in both villages, with inflatable fun and a BBQ - more than 80 young people attended.

The Youth Club had a stall at Hoo village fun day in July and we would like to thank all those who attended and those who donated prizes for our raffle and tombola. We raised over £70 for the Youth Club.

The original funding that young people applied for back in 2006, to set up Hoo Youth Club, is coming to an end. If any local businesses or individuals would like to support this cause, contact Lindsay Hartney on 07795 236289 or email here.

Hoo Youth Club currently runs on a Wednesday night throughout the year, from 7.15pm to 9.15pm for 12-19 year olds at the Jubilee Hall, Pottery Road. We are always looking for volunteers for the Youth Club, as the original idea was to have a Youth Club run by the community.

Another emerging idea is to separate the age groups and run an earlier session for 10-13 year olds from 5.30pm to 7pm on Wednesday evenings, but volunteers are needed to support this initiative. We need at least three people to volunteer before we can open this session. Contact Lindsay Hartney on 07795 236289 or email here.

From discussions with the young people of Hoo, they would like us to bring back the football project that we used to run on Monday nights at Hoo School, for an hour. One volunteer has expressed an interest in helping to run this project and discussions are now taking place with Hoo Academy to see if it will be acceptable to use the astro turf again. Ideally, another volunteer is needed to help, especially someone with a keen interest in football. If anyone is interested contact Lindsay Hartney on 07795 236289 or email here.

A Youth Club also runs at Chattenden, at the Community Centre, Swinton Avenue on Monday evenings from 6.15pm to 8.30pm, for ages 12-19. For more information contact, Gemma Matten on 07534174351 or email here.

Young people who attend both youth clubs can work with youth workers around any issues which may concern them, such as improving the local area, creating a CV, or any personal issues. They can also engage in positive activities such as cookery, music, Xbox, pool, table tennis and arts and crafts and take part in AQAs.

If you know any young people aged 11-19 who might be interested in FREE cookery, music or motorbike mechanics courses - Medway Youth Service will run a series of courses across Medway. Register your interest by visiting the dedicated website, or by emailing here.

  

Stegosaurus seen in Hoo!

Despite a sprinkling of snow and a chilly breeze, it was good to attend the opening of a new play park in Hoo a couple of weeks ago (on 23 March), along with the Mayor of Medway Cllr Vaughan Hewett.

Located behind Hoo Swimming Pool on Main Road, the dinosaur themed park is called ‘the lost world’ and is equipped with eye-catching play equipment, ranging from dinosaur springer and dinosaur eggs (which are a roundabout and seats), a rope swing, climbing tower and a Stegosaurus sculpture for children to climb.

The colourful playground is apparently the only one like it in the whole of Medway and cost around £120k to create. The funding came from a developer contribution, resulting from the Coes Green housing development in Chattenden.

Many thanks to Sheila Mudge for supplying the photo.

  

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.
 

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!

  

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!

  

Grain Youth Club

The Youth Club on the Isle of Grain meets at St. James’ Pavilion, Pintail Close, Isle of Grain, ME3 0DW.

Sessions are held on a Thursday from 4.30pm to 6.30pm (after-school club for 8 to 10 year olds) and, also on a Thursday, between 7pm and 9.30pm for 11 to 19 year olds.

The Youth Club is run by fully trained and CRB checked staff from Medway Council. For more information contact Karen Yusuf on 01634 338743 or 07740 590115, or send an email by clicking here.

  

Let’s face it - they’re our Public Rights of Way!

Medway Council recently launched a useful Facebook page called ‘Medway Public Rights of Way’, to help promote local walking routes, and to highlight the excellent work done by many local people, and the local Council, to maintain our paths, bridleways and byways.

The site is very good and, being on the Hoo Peninsula, you’ll find many items of interest - with many parts of our rural area being highlighted in detail.

Well done to Medway Council and everyone responsible - a good job!

Take a look at the Facebook page by clicking here.

  

Kent's new Police and Crime Commissioner comes to Hoo!

It was really good to be invited along to meet Kent’s new Police and Crime Commissioner, Ann Barnes, yesterday afternoon, at Taggs Coffee Shop in Hoo. The purpose of the meeting, organised by Hoo Parish Council Chairman Lionel Pearce, was to discuss policing and crime.

Much of the meeting was spent discussing general concerns about policing and crime, but we also discussed specific issues, such as the the recent and terrible assault in Knights Road - an incident that is worrying many villagers at the moment.

As well as the new Police and Crime Commissioner, we were joined by our new area sergeant, a PCSO, Medway Council’s community officer Johnny Robinson and the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Safety - Cllr Mike O’Brien. It was a positive and productive meeting and I very much hope that only good will come from it.

In the meantime, please report all crimes you see to the Police. Call 101 (non emergencies) or if a life is in danger or a crime is in progress, dial 999. You can also phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
  

New evening bus services for Hoo!

Medway Council have this week announced the launch of new evening bus services, on the 191 route, operating between Chatham and Hoo.

The new Monday to Saturday services will come into play on Monday 18 June and will be operated by Arriva.

Here are the additional services:

This will come as really positive news to many, so spread the word!

  

Get ready for a big Jubilee party in Hoo Village Square!

The Hoo Village Events Committee are hard at work organising ‘The Queen’s Big Diamond Jubilee Lunch Party’. The event is taking place in Hoo Village Square on Sunday 3 June from 12.30pm to 5pm.

It’s free and, as you’ll see from the poster below, lots of entertainment will be provided throughout the afternoon. Make a note of the date and be sure to tell all your friends, family and neighbours!

Another Jubilee event being organised during the long Bank Holiday weekend is the lighting of a community Jubilee beacon. As part of the nationwide celebrations, Hoo will be one of six locations in Medway with a beacon. Located at Kingshill recreation ground (at the end of Fourwents), the beacon will be lit on Monday 4 June at around 10.30pm. I’ll add confirmed arrangements for this event soon.

Lots of events are taking place across Medway and around the Hoo Peninsula. I will try and feature a village by village event listing shortly, looking at all those activities taking place during the special Bank Holiday weekend (from Saturday 2 June to Tuesday 5 June).

If you are organising an event on the Hoo Peninsula and would like it mentioned on this website, send me a copy of your event poster using the contact page.

  

Stop the Thames Estuary Airport!

The campaign to prevent our area being destroyed by a Thames Estuary Airport has really taken off!

Medway Council, the RSPB and Friends of the North Kent Marshes continue to work hard, and in partnership with local residents, to prevent this catastrophe from happening.

My Photo Wall - a work in progress!

Although the media hype has calmed down in recent weeks, local residents are being encouraged to ‘keep up the pressure’ and maintain the campaign momentum.

That's why it is great to see more and more residents and businesses across the Hoo Peninsula displaying posters, leaflets and car stickers.

The dedicated Stop Estuary Airport campaign website, run by Medway Council, provides detailed information about where you can pick up leaflets, posters and car stickers. It also explains how you can get involved in the campaign.

As well as the Medway Council site, it’s also worth taking a look at the website run by the Friends of the North Kent Marshes by clicking here. The RSPB website also has an interesting section about the Estuary Airport proposals, with lots of useful and detailed analysis and information.

Step up, get up and together let’s Stop the Thames Estuary Airport from becoming a reality.
  

News of Thames Estuary Airport proposals reach Switzerland

An unexpected package landed on my doormat yesterday, post marked Zurich. As I don’t know anyone in Switzerland, I wondered what on earth it could be!

It was from an organisation called SVS / BirdLife Switzerland and contained the latest edition of their magazine ‘Ornis’ - which reminded me of a request a couple of months ago from them to use one of the pictures from this website.

I don’t claim to be anything other than a keen amateur when it comes to photography, but it was nice to see one of my snaps actually published in a magazine. The image they selected shows a view of Hoo Flats, as seen from the Saxon Shore Way along the River Medway. The photo appears as part of an article about the Thames Estuary Airport proposals. Not speaking very good German, I’m afraid I can’t tell you ‘exactly’ what the article says.

Lots of interest in our little corner of the world. But not really a great surprise given that parts of our local area are internationally important to wildlife.

If you want to know more about why our local landscape is so important, visit the dedicated pages on the RSPB website here.

  

Picking at the litter in Hoo!

The latest Hoo Clean Up took place on Saturday with a litter pick around Hoo Village Hall and the recreation ground along Pottery Road.

Despite being a very foggy morning, the Parish Council event attracted a good bunch of residents keen to help make our community a bit cleaner. Some of those who came along are pictured below - many thanks to Sheila Mudge at Village Voices for the photograph.

After all the hard work everyone headed back to the Village Hall to enjoy a nice hot cuppa and a few cakes, kindly donated by ‘Icing on the Cake’, the bakers shop in Hoo Village Square. Thanks for the cakes - they were lovely!

The next Hoo Clean Up will be on Saturday 12 May, from 9.30am until 11am. This time the meeting point will be the car park behind the Village Square. If you'd like to get involved, and for more information, contact Parish Councillor Ron Sands on 07770 747820 or send him an email here.

Look forward to see you!

  

Have your say on the future of the Hoo Peninsula

A new project has been launched to bring investment to the Hoo Peninsula. It’s called ‘GIFT Hoo Peninsula’ and local businesses, residents, community groups and other organisations are invited to get involved.

The new initiative is part of a three-year European funded project, led by Greening the Gateway (Kent & Medway) and Medway Council.

Copyright:  English Heritage.NMR

The launch event, and first working meeting, will take place on Thursday 12 April, from 2pm to 4.30pm, at the Hundred of Hoo School. Click the documents below to find out more.

Sign up to go along on 12 April by clicking here.

I hope to see you there!
  

No Estuary Airport - the community delivers!

The last couple of weeks have been busy, with local residents across the Hoo Peninsula getting involved and delivering thousands of Medway Council and RSPB ‘anti airport’ campaign leaflets. And we haven’t stopped delivering yet - there are still more to do!

I’ve been out delivering with a team of residents from Hoo. We have nearly completed deliveries in the village - the largest settlement on the peninsula. 

We were given a morale boost at the beginning of the month when Mayor of Medway, Councillor Ted Baker, visited the village. The Mayor attended a meeting of the Parish Council and met with its representatives and members of the local community. He was happy to show his support for the campaign objecting to an airport being built in the Thames Estuary.

If you would like to find out more about Medway Council’s campaign, visit their dedicated website by clicking here.