The New & Proposed Housing Estates and Associated Highway Problems

Car Parking

With the impending development of Sandacres (primarily the 35 new homes proposed by Taylor Wimpey) and MoD Land in Lower Upnor, the problem of car parking will reach a critical stage.
The Upnor Residents Association has lobbied Medway Council for no more house building in Lower Upnor until the Council show a positive commitment to considering having a new Public Car Park built at the western entrance to the village.
The Association have stated that any future Planning Applications should not receive consent until the Council have identified suitable areas for a car park holding at least 50 spaces, possibly part of Sandacres or the surrounding MoD Land.

Pavement

The Association have also requested the Council pro-vide a much-promised pavement on Upnor Road to Wainscott, as discussed but not implemented when 110 new homes on Admirals Place were consented to in 2001. A growing number of pedestrians and cyclists (some schoolchildren) have their lives placed in jeopardy using this road particularly at this dark time of the year.

Lower Upnor Riverside Project Update

Further to the consultation exhibition held on 13th January 2007, at the Arethusa Centre, the group overseeing the project (Medway Council, Frindsbury Extra Parish Council, The Arethusa Venture Centre, Medway Yacht Club, Upnor Residents Association, Medway Swale Estuary Partnership and Greening The Gateway (Kent and Medway), have approved a masterplan and planning permission will be applied for in the New Year. In the near future, Frindsbury Extra Parish Council are hoping to have a copy of the masterplan on their web site. We will keep you informed on progress. Some residents who live on the main road by where the changes are being made should be receiving letters from Medway Council once the plans have been submitted in the New Year.

Christmas Worship

St Philip & St James Church welcomes everyone to their Christmas services.
Unfortunately, this newsletter is being published too late to inform you about the Carol Service which was held on 9th December, but hopefully you’ll receive this in time for the All Age Worship with Christingle Service (a service particularly suitable for families and primary aged children) on Sunday 16th December at 9.15am.
Then on Christmas Day at 9.15am there is a Service of Holy Communion for Christmas Day. All are welcome.

Quiz Night - Sat 10th Nov

The quiz night held in the Arethusa Centre on 10th November, proved to be a great success, with a full house, hot competition and plentiful prizes. Moreover, you didn’t need to be a winner to enjoy the great buffet. Many thanks to all those who helped to organize the event, and to those who came to compete.
There will surely be at least one quiz in the year to come, so watch this space.

Toddlers

Toddler group has enjoyed the mild autumn weather with two fun autumn walks around the church and towards Upper Upnor, collecting leaves and cones to 'help' decorate the Church!!!!!!
We restart on Wednesday 9th January 2008, 10am to 11.30am, and we always welcome people who would like to help with making teas and coffees or assist on the craft table.
A big thank you to the URA for a generous donation which has contributed to the heating bill we incur and also provided Santa with presents to deliver at the Christmas party on 12th December.

Seasons Greetings

Wishing all the villagers of both the Upnors a very Happy Christmas and a Happy & Prosperous New Year 2008 - The Upnor Residents Association.

New Spar Supermarket
If you fancy a walk up to the Hoo Common, behind Margetts Place in Lower Upnor, through the woods, then down Elmes Ave or the track to the left of the AVC playing fields to the Jet Garage, you will find that there is a new small Spar Supermarket within the Garage Forecourt; a new source for all those little essentials.

Dog Fouling
Unfortunately, once again it has been reported that the old age problem has returned of irresponsible dog owners letting their dogs foul, WITHOUT cleaning it up, in areas where children play i.e. the play park at the back of Admirals Estate and the green in front of the town houses in Galleon Way. Please do not allow your dogs to foul our villages, there are plenty of dog bins for the animal lovers amongst us who want to pick up after their dogs and make it a pleasant village for all to live in; of course this is not just Lower Up-nor but applies for the areas of Upper Upnor as well.

Santa's Grotto

So as to ensure that the Hoo Peninsula does not miss out on a visit from Santa, the Homeleigh Garden Centre (on the A228 past Hoo on the way towards the Isle of Grain) is to set up a Santa’s Grotto on the 15th & 16th and also the 22nd & 23rd Dec. There will be real 'live' reindeer, photo's with Santa, who will also take your letters for all those lovely presents, Honey Tasting, Clowns, Face Painting and much more, SANTA WILL BE IN TOWN & WILL BE PLEASED TO SEE ALL YOU CHILDREN THERE ..... NO MATTER WHAT AGE!

Useful Phone Numbers
Community Support Officer: 07772 226118
New Police Stn, Chatham: 01634 792346
To Report a Crime (non-urgent): 01622 690690
To report (Mini-) Motor Bikes: 01634 891055
Kent Crime Stoppers: 0800 555111

Web Site
The Upnor web site is closing with immediate effect until 2008. A big thank you to Geoff Taylor for all of his hard work in running the site for the past couple of years. Information about the area can be found on Frindsbury Extra Parish Council's web site for the time being on www.frindsburyextra-pc.gov.uk

Your Newsletter
This newsletter is an integral part of our lobbying of Medway Council to stop so many new homes being constructed on Sandacres until residents are satisfied their deepening concerns are properly addressed. If you have any additional points that relate to your village, and would like the Association to consider lobbying the Council on your behalf; of course if you have any photo's to highlight your concern, remember ....... a Picture Paints a Thousand Words!!.
Or if you simply want to share a joke, write something of interest, a poem say or something about the history of the Upnors, share a few photo's with others then please write to Ade Dixon, Chairman Upnor Residents Association, 12 Schooner Walk, Lower Upnor, Rochester, Kent ME2 4GZ email adedixon33@aol.com

New Chairman and Secretary Required
Ade Dixon and Jane Higgs have both performed sterling work in the above roles for more than two years on behalf of both the Association and the villagers of The Upnors. They feel, however, that it is time for someone else to be given the opportunity take on these posts.
Accordingly, the positions of Chairman & Secretary will become vacant as of the Annual General Meeting in March 2008. If anyone would like to be considered for this post then please contact Ade or Jane on the following numbers - 07885 307132 & 07780 911122 respectively.

Street Representatives

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