Lower Thames Crossing
	Summer Sounds
	Theft of Floral Displays
	KCC Rights of Way Consultation
	Train Services from Higham Station
	History Group Meeting
	Portrait of Cllr. Harold Craske
	Village Shrub Areas
	Report Fly-Tipping
	Councillor & Community Warden Drop-In
	Board Game Club
	Beating the Bounds Walk
	Litter Picking
	Volunteer Support Warden Scheme
	Country Eye
	Love Higham - A Plan for the Village plus Gravesham Local Plan
	Faster Broadband
	Volunteer Drivers Needed
	Youth Club
	Highcliffe Medical Practice
	Kent Police Local Contact
	Phone Scam
	HiARA
	Thames Estuary Partnership
	A Thank You from Mary Clark
	Parish Allotments
	Garden Bonfires
	Overgrown Vegetation
	Lower Higham Rural Conservation Area

Higham Village History Group
  

Our Next Meeting is on Thursday 19th July 2018 at 8.00pm in Higham Memorial Hall, School Lane, Higham, ME3 7JL. There will be a talk ~ "KENT URBAN LEGENDS" by speaker Neil Arnold.

In his usual inimitable fashion, Neil brings us his quirky view of our county’s curiosities and strange happenings. All welcome. Members free, visitors £4.00 per person.  More information on our website www.highamvillagehistory.org.uk.

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WARNING - Thefts of Floral Displays
  

In mid-July 2018 some Higham residents had their lovingly tended floral displays, planters or hanging baskets of flowers stolen.  This was usually during the night but some reports indicate suspicious vehicle movements during the day.

Higham Parish Council advises parishioners to keep an eye on their floral displays and report any suspicious behaviour to Kent Police on 101 or report direct on line here.

KCC Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018–2028

Rights of Way Improvement Plan – Have Your Say

Kent County Council is consulting on their draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan which outlines their objectives for Kent’s Public Rights of Way network and wider public access for the next 10 years. This consultation closes on 12 September 2018.

Visit www.kent.gov.uk/rightsofwayimprovementplan to find out more and take part in the consultation.

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Higham Station Users and Residents
  

A message and update from Cllr Les Pearton:-

On behalf of the passengers who use Higham Station, I met with two representatives from Govia Thameslink, Yvonne Leslie (Senior Stakeholder Manager) and Stuart Cheshire (Passenger Services Director) on Wednesday, 27th June, along with two Higham residents representing London commuting and local commuting at Adam Holloway MP's Cabinet Office in Westminster regarding the debacle our station users are suffering.

It was a very productive meeting whereupon your concerns and experiences were discussed in full. Although our situation is similar to many other small stations throughout under Govia Thameslink, Higham’s plight is taken seriously being quite high up the ladder in importance. Unfortunately, the problem Govia Thameslink have is part of a much bigger nationwide plan whereby their timescale given was only three weeks out of the expected twelve to implement a takeover and large scale new timetable. However, the Representatives were fully supportive in finding solutions. Solutions are already underway with Govia Thameslink already playing catch up on those initial twelve weeks. We were given reassurance that come Mid July 95% of Peak timetable will be operational and 100% with Off-Peak during the school holidays. In the meantime, they will consult with South Eastern to allow the High Speed Train to stop at Higham.

Keep on Claiming to make our voices continue to be heard!! Also, please alert me to any unusual hiccups in the service other than what we already know about. Contact me on leslie.pearton@gravesham.gov.uk so I can collate and further with Govia Thameslink should they not fulful their reassurance of mid-July.

Your Borough and Parish Councillor serving you

Regards

Cllr Leslie Pearton

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Please Note: As numbers are restricted and even though under 18 year olds do not have to pay for a ticket …… they MUST have a ticket to gain admittance. So once all the tickets are gone we can not allow any more people into the Summer Sounds event. We urge everyone to get your tickets in advance - from the Higham Post Office or the Village Greengrocers.  Also, Parish Councillors will have tickets at various village meetings and events over the next couple of week. If any tickets remain unsold on the night they will be available on the gate at £7.50.

We ask people coming to the Summer Sounds to please walk or car share where possible.

His Worship the Mayor of Gravesham 2017-2018

With the end of his Mayoral year fast approaching, Members of Higham Parish Council surprised Harold Craske, and his wife Veronica, at this year's Annual Parish Assembly by presenting him with a portrait they had had commissioned of him dressed in his full Mayoral robes as a reminder of his time as Mayor of Gravesham.

[Photo Credits: Michael Papadopulos and Sue Sparks]

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Report Illegal Fly-Tipping

Unwanted rubbish, dumped builders rubble, old furniture, discarded sacks -- these items spoil our lovely village and countryside.  If you see flytipping, please report it directly to Gravesham Borough Council:-

• by telephone 01474 337000
• online www.gravesham.gov.uk/home/street-care-and-cleaning/fly-tipping/report-fly-tipping

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Garden Bonfires
  

Please be considerate if you light a bonfire - the smoke can cause problems, especially for people with health problems.

During hot, dry periods, lighting a bonfire can be hazardous.

There are alternatives to a bonfire - for example:

•   Composting garden waste
•   Reusing or Recycling items

If you do light a bonfire, and, indeed if you’re "firing up" your Barbecue, please consider your neighbours and give them some warning before you start.

There are no specific by-laws prohibiting bonfires or specifying times you can light a bonfire.

More information about Smoke and Bonfires can be found here.

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Overgrown Vegetation - Advice from KCC Highways to local Residents and Landowners
  

Every year throughout the spring and summer KCC Highways & Transportation receive numerous complaints regarding trees, hedges and other vegetation, which overhang the highway from private property. This matter can pose a number of problems for people trying to use the footways, especially if they are trying to pass with buggies, wheel chairs and scooters. It would be greatly appreciated if you could ensure that any trees and hedges that are bordering the Highway are maintained and cut back to your boundary which would greatly benefit all Highway users. This will help us all keep the highway safe and prevent the need for KCC Highways & Transportation writing to you requesting that you cut back your vegetation.
  

So that you are aware of our requirements, please refer to the text below.
  

If the boundary of your property borders the footway, then please be aware that:
  

•   The full width of the footway/pavement must be available for use by pedestrians.
•   As well, there must be a minimum height clearance over the footway/pavement of 2.1 metres / 7 feet for any vegetation.
  

If the boundary of your property borders the carriageway, then please be aware that:
  

•   If you have vegetation that overhangs into the road, there must be a minimum height clearance of 5 metres / 16 feet, to accommodate buses and HGV’s that may use the road.
•   If your property is rural, then vegetation should be 0.45 metres / 1’6” feet behind the edge of the road and all signs need to be kept clear of foliage for at least 20 metres.
  

Also, I would ask that you pay special attention to your trees, hedges and vegetation if your property is on or near a junction, and/or inside bend of the road, to maintain maximum visibility for road users.  Read more information and advice.
  

Highway Steward
Kent County Council Highways & Transportation

Lower Higham Conservation Area - Summer 2018 Survey
  

During the coming months Gravesham Borough Council will be carrying out surveys of properties within our rural conservation areas in order to update the Article 4 Directions. The surveys will entail noting existing external elements; windows, doors and roofing materials etc. and taking external photographs of building elevations visible from the public highway, public footpath or open public space. The surveys will be carried out by an officer from Gravesham Borough Council who will carry appropriate ID and take place during our normal office hours Monday to Friday 9am – 5.30pm.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact Elizabeth Straupmanis on 01474 337405.

Elizabeth Straupmanis BA(Hons)
Projects Officer
Regeneration Services
Gravesham Borough Council
Tel: 01474 33 74 05
Fax: 01474 33 79 42
email: elizabeth.straupmanis@gravesham.gov.uk

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Beating the Bounds

The ancient tradition of “Beating the Bounds” takes place around Gravesham every year with the Mayor walking around the Borough perimeter - that’s about 30 miles! 
 
This year the event took place over the weekend of 7 and 8 October.

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Councillor & Community Warden Drop-In Neighbourhood Surgery

Do you have any comments, ideas or concerns about your village and local surroundings?  Then come to a Drop-In Surgery on the last Thursday monthly between 2.30pm and 4pm in Higham Library.
 

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Volunteer Support Warden Scheme

Calling all passionate community-driven people for an exciting new volunteer role.

Kent County Council is introducing a new volunteer role working alongside existing Kent Community Wardens. As a Volunteer Support Warden you’ll make a difference to residents and create resilient neighbourhoods. The role will be challenging at times but rewarding and you’ll be improving the well-being of the residents in your local area.

For more information and to find out which areas this role is being launched visit www.kent.gov.uk/communitywardens.

Report on a Previous Village Litter Pick

Another successful Litter Pick last Sunday, 2nd October 2016. A BIG thank you to our 13 volunteers who collected 20 bags of rubbish, plus a hub cap, 2 balls, a red pole, 20 glass bottles and several other strange objects from School Lane, Church Street and some surrounding roads, hedges and grass verges plus the Recreation Ground.

There is no doubt there is less litter around the village and thanks are also due to anyone who picks up litter in their area on a regular basis - that makes a huge difference.
 
Just need to find a way of reducing the number of people who drop litter - any ideas out there - legal methods only!!
 
Watch this space for the details of the next session - if you would like to become a volunteer just message the Parish Clerk or email sue3906@gmail.com and we'll add you to the list.
 

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Dates for Higham Parish Council Meetings in 2018

Mondays:-
 

15th January

26th February

16th April
21st May(Annual Parish Council Meeting and Parish Council Meeting)

2nd July

10th September

15th October

19th November (Budget and Finance only)

26th November (Christmas Meeting with the Mayor of Gravesham).

The Annual Parish Assembly will be held on Thursday, 12th April 2018.

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Country Eye -- Helping Keep the Rural Community in Kent Safe

Country Eye has been built to help Kent residents, farmers and countryside users receive rural information and to report information quickly and efficiently. The mobile phone app allows users to record and share information on crime, suspicious behaviour and damage in their home community or whilst out and about. 

The Country Eye app is now available to download for free on iPhone and Android.

Visit www.countryeye.co.uk.

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Love Higham - A Village Plan
  

From all the comments gathered at the Love Higham Day, it is obvious that you would all like a safe, healthy, clean and tidy village. The rural environment is important to you as is the community spirit. Most of you love living in the village and its sustainability is the key to the future. 
 

Village Plan Draft

The first draft of the Plan is here!!

HIGHAM VILLAGE PLAN 2018-2028 YOUR VILLAGE – ITS FUTURE can be downloaded here

     www.lovehigham.co.uk
     www.higham-kent-pc.gov.uk

Paper copies are available in the Library.

To find out more about Love Higham and to chip in with your ideas, please email, text or phone.
 
       Email: information@lovehigham.co.uk or Phone: 07480 518493 www.lovehigham.co.uk

 
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A Love Higham day was held on Saturday 4th February 2017. See some photographs...

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The Gravesham Local Plan Review Consultation documents are being delivered to every home in the Village in late April 2018 - look out for your copy.

This is a really important consultation which has implications for Higham, the rural area and the Green Belt.
 
Local Plan Consultation - now CLOSED .

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Highcliffe Medical Practice

Our local GP surgery has a web site ( www.highcliffemedicalpractice.nhs.uk/ ) to provide patients with useful information about the services available.  In addition they are also looking to recruit younger local resident to join our patient participation group.  Please contact:

Kevin Creasey
Practice Manager
Highcliffe Medical Practice
Higham Surgery
Hermitage Road
Higham
Rochester, Kent
ME3 7DB

Tel: 01474 823841
Fax: 01474 824155

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Kent Police Local Contact Point Dates

Need to speak to a neighbourhood police officer? Visit one of the Police Contact Points, available in nearly 200 locations across Kent, including Higham. Police vans stop at a prominent location for one hour per visit; come along to talk to a neighbourhood officer about any policing concerns you may have, to get safety advice or to collect a free crime prevention item.

To confirm the times and locations of the Police Contact Points near you, visit www.kent.police.uk/policecontactpoints.

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Unwanted Mail

By registering with the Mail Preference Service you can reduce the amount of personally addressed junk mail received.
You can register by writing to:

The Mailing Preference Service
DMA House
70 Margaret Street
London
WIW 8SS

or calling 0845 703 4599 or logging on to: www.mpsonline.org.uk

Unwanted Telephone calls

You can reduce phone calls from companies offering to sell goods or services by registering your telephone number with the Telephone Preference Service.

Write to:

The Telephone Preference Service
DMA House
70 Margaret Street
London
WIW 8SS

or call 0845 070 0707 or logging into www.tpsonline.org.uk

Silent Callguard Service

If you receive a phone call and when you pick up the receiver there is nobody speaking, you may be receiving calls generated by automatic dialling equipment that dial more numbers than there are operators to take the calls.

You can reduce these calls by registering with the Silent Callgard Service on 0844 3722 325.

Telephone "Yes" Scam Alert

Information from Swale area shows how a simple phone scam can catch people out.  Read more and how to avoid being scammed.

Parcel Scam Alert

Kent Police Neighbourhood Watch are aware of a warning Royal Mail have put out. They have advised that there is currently a scam happening due to Christmas fast approaching.

A Card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on 09066 611911 (a premium rate number).

If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already have been billed for £315 for the phone call.

If you do receive a card with these details then contact Royal Mail Fraud.

Royal Mail's website has very helpful details in relation to Scam mail.  Please make all family and friends aware that there may be many other scams similar to this. If you are ordering online and getting deliveries, confirm who your item will be delivered by/to.

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101 is the Police Non-Emergency Number

101 is the national non-emergency number to contact Police in your area. Residents in the Kent policing area should call 101 to contact their local officer, make an enquiry and to report non-urgent crimes.

Examples when to use 101 are:

• if your car has been stolen,
• if property has been damaged,
• if you suspect drug use or dealing,
• to report a minor traffic collision,
• to give information about a crime or criminals in your local area.

Each call will never cost more than 15p. Callers will be put through to Force Control Room in Kent and not a national call centre.

As always, dial 999 in an emergency when life is in danger or a crime is in progress.

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Thames Estuary Partnership

The Thames Estuary Partnership (TEP) is a forum for local authorities, national agencies, industry, voluntary bodies and local communities to work together for the good of the Thames Estuary. The Partnership is a charity which co-ordinates projects and holds events and workshops to provide information and to gather feedback. 

The threat of climate change and increased flood risk is an ever present feature of the Estuary, yet many local people are not aware that plans are already being developed to help those responsible to adapt to these threats.  More detailed information can be found on the TEP website, www.thamesweb.com

Viewable Thames Estuary & North Kent flood risk map - click here.   format, needs .

Environment Agency flooding risk & advice - click here.

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Contact us by email: enquiries@higham-kent-pc.gov.uk