Lower Thames Crossing
	Portrait of Cllr. Harold Craske
	Higham History Group AGM and Talk
	Village Shrub Areas
	Report Fly-Tipping
	Councillor & Community Warden Drop-In
	Board Game Club
	Beating the Bounds Walk
	Litter Picking
	Volunteer Support Warden Scheme
	Gardeners Arms Re-Opening
	Country Eye
	Love Higham - A Plan for the Village plus NEW 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

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]

Village History Group - AGM and Talk

On Thursday May 17th 2018 at 8pm in the Memorial Hall, School Lane, Higham the Annual General Meeting plus a Talk. Speaker: Chris Bull on WHO'S WHO IN HOO. Christoph Bull is a passionate and knowledgeable local historian who always entertains as well as informs.  In this new talk he explores the history, landscape and characters of our neighbouring area, the Hoo Peninsula.

Visitors and new Members welcome.

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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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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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'Community Asset' Pub Re-Opens

On Monday evening 23rd October 2017 the Gardeners Arms PH formally re-opened for business. Jonathan Neame, Chief Executive of Kent brewers Shepherd Neame was present to oversee proceedings.  Jonathan also presented a cheque for £1000.00 to Demelza Hospice.  The traditional 'first pint' was drawn by Patrick Murray (actor in BBC's 'Only Fools and Horses' who played Mickey Pearce), closely followed by local resident and pub regular Inder Pal Kalsi.

In early 2017, Higham Parish Council proposed to identify the Gardeners Arms as a village Community Asset.  Gravesham Borough Council then added the pub to its "List of Assets of Community Value in Gravesham" with the following detail "... for many years it has provided a focal point for residents and visitors. A pub provides opportunities for supporting cultural as well as social well-being." Photographs below, courtesy Benedict O'Connor.

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.

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 ** date changed ** (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.

Higham Parish Council recommends that residents do not rush to complete the Questionnaire which is also available on line at www.gravesham.gov.uk/yoursay. This is a really important consultation which has implications for Higham, the rural area and the Green Belt.
 

We will be providing an insight into the complexities of the issues raised by the consultation - you can make comments up until 20th June - so plenty of time. More information will be posted here on the parish website, on our Facebook page, as well as posters/leaflets. Gravesham Borough Council have set up Drop In sessions across the Borough - there will be one in Higham on THURSDAY 10 MAY 2018 - you can call in to the Memorial Hall anytime between 2.00pm and 6.00pm.

Please spread the word about the Consultation and the Review so that as many people as possible get the chance to have their say.

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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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A Thank You

Mary Clark writes -- "Is it possible to thank on line all those people from the parish who remembered Dudley Clark's birthday and those who have visited him in "Brambles" Care Home.

He misses the church in particular and was amazed at the number of people who signed the card.

Thank you.

Mary Clark"

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