News

FOR ACTION: Review of The Highway Code to improve road safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders

The Department of Transport have opened a consultation seeking the UK’s views on proposed changes to The Highway Code to improve safety for vulnerable road users, particularly the groups of:

  • cyclists
  • pedestrians
  • horse riders

The main alterations to the code being proposed are:

  • introducing a hierarchy of road users which ensures that those road users who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat they may pose to others
  • clarifying existing rules on pedestrian priority on pavements, to advise that drivers and riders should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross the road,
  • providing guidance on cyclist priority at junctions to advise drivers to give priority to cyclists at junctions when travelling straight ahead
  • establishing guidance on safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking cyclists and horse riders

Higham Parish Council are urging our parishioners to have their say in this consultation as cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders are well represented in the area and particularly as the activities mentioned are very popular in and around our village.

Please follow the link below for all of the details on how to respond:

Gov.uk - Review of The Highway Code to improve road safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders

The consultation closes at

The Parish Council

August 1, 2020 in Community, Transport

Lower Thames Crossing Design Refinement Consultation – July/August 2020

Please read the following release from The Lower Thames Crossing Community Engagement Team

On Tuesday 14 July Highways England and the Lower Thames Crossing Community Engagement team will be launching a consultation on proposed design refinements to the Lower Thames Crossing. This consultation follows the Statutory Consultation in 2018 and Supplementary Consultation, completed earlier this year.

From the 14th July you will be able to have your say on our proposed refinements, which include:

*Minor refinements to elements of the highways design
*Updated paths for walkers, cyclists and horse riders
*Proposals for redirecting and upgrading utilities
*More detailed landscaping proposals
*Further developed ecological mitigation measures

The consultation will be a digital first consultation – meaning that from 14th July to 12th August all materials, including an online feedback form, will be accessible online at

Lowerthamescrossing.co.uk - How to submit your response

If you would like to order printed copies of our consultation materials you can do so by emailing

info@lowerthamescrossing.co.uk

Consulting during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions

With social distancing measures still in place, and in line with Government guidance, we have adopted a ‘digital first’ approach. We will also be putting additional measures in place to ensure members of the public can engage fully in the consultation, including:

*Leaflets distributed to 135,000 properties within 2km of the route, giving residents advance notice of this consultation from today
* From today, people can register their interest in the consultation and pre-order hard copies of our consultation packs to arrive from consultation launch on 14 July
* Extensive media and social media campaigns to raise awareness about the consultation

During the consultation period – from 14th July to 12th August we will provide:

* A freephone consultation and call-back service for people to find out more and give their feedback on our proposals
* An online public information exhibition – including videos, displays and a documents library
* Webinars to explain the key changes open to all members of the public
* An updated and newly interactive website
*Ongoing social media updates

How to pre-order your consultation materials

Visit the Highways England website here:

Highways England - LTC Design Consultation Materials

Please bear in mind that whilst you need a space between the first and second part of the postcode, check you haven’t also put a space in after
the postcode.  You may also find manually entering your postcode works better than using auto complete feature.  The form seems to be very
particular and has caused some problems in entering their address.

Alternatively you can email info@lowerthamescrossing.co.uk or call 0300 123 5000 to request a copy of the pack is sent to you as soon as they
are released.

New Project Director

We would also like to take this opportunity to let you know that we have a new Project Director, Shaun Pidcock. Shaun joins the project having led the Highways England Smart Motorway Programme for four years. He leaves the Smart Motorway Programme in good shape and is now ready to lead the Lower Thames Crossing as we approach our Development Consent Order (DCO) planning application, and get prepared for project delivery.

We will be contacting Higham Parish Council on the 14th July when all the consultation materials will be published on our website to send you the links to all the new information/materials and to ask you to use your channels to communicate the information to your contacts at that point.

Lower Thames Crossing – Community Engagement

We will keep you posted on developments via our website and facebook page.

The Parish Council

 

June 29, 2020 in Lower Thames Crossing

A further message from your Borough Councillors Leslie Pearton and Harold Craske

COVID-19
Lockdown is easing and many people are getting back to a ‘normal’ way of life. Schools, which never closed, are taking in more children; our village shops have continued trading, as has many of our businesses and the surgery whilst observing social distancing procedures; many more people are returning to work; and, our places of worship are now gradually opening for short periods of time whilst providing collective worship through that wonderful platform, and previously unheard of ZOOM.
For some, however, the virus is still as dominant in their lives as it was earlier in the year and many are suffering because of its consequences. The tireless task to assist those in need has been continued throughout by our ‘Helping Hands’ volunteers. All our village key workers and volunteers have continued regardless whilst also trying to juggle their own personal lives and families.
Our heartfelt thanks go out to all to all the volunteers, the shopkeepers and staff, our Parish church and the Congregational church, the garages, the surgery and to both our village schools to keep Higham village going through the lockdown thus far. Some innovative ideas have kept the community together – the rainbows, the pebbles, the essentials kits, the VE Day kits, the sunflower kits, the Joyce sweetshop kits and much, much more. Volunteer aid has kept going whether via the churches, the schools, the shops or individual members of the Parish community.
We must not forget that some village businesses have suffered, but spirits have remained high and everyone has pulled together wherever possible.
There are too many ‘Heroes’ to name individually and in fear of missing anyone out – you know who you are and you are applauded.
On behalf of the whole village and your Parish Council – THANK YOU!
Harold and Les
July 1, 2020 in Community, Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Anisa Celebrate Key Workers and Local Volunteers

You may or may not be aware that for several Sundays in a row throughout May and June, Anisa (our local Indian food takeaway) has been providing free take-away curries to NHS staff during the lunchtime period.
On Sunday 21st June, Anisa, wished to say a big ‘Thank You’ to the NHS, police, fire brigade, Higham volunteers and their families for all of their hard work during the lockdown period. Heather Harvey, one of the main Administrators with ‘Higham Help’, Lauren Sharman and the owner and employees of Anisa organised a small (and socially-distanced) gathering outside Anisa to celebrate the good work that has been done by our community here in Higham.
Councillors Les Pearton, Liz Jeffery and our Chair, Councillor John Grey, also attended the event to extend their gratitude for all of the hard work and dedication that has been shown by key workers in these difficult times and to thank Higham Help and Anisa for their wonderfully generous contributions to the community.
Please take a look at the photos of the event below:
Thank you for your continued support.
The Parish Council
June 29, 2020 in Community, Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Higham commemorates 150th anniversary of the death of Charles Dickens

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the death of Charles Dickens. The author spent the latter part of his life residing at Gad’s Hill Place where he wrote some of his most famous works. In addition to Higham, many buildings and landmarks around Gravesham feature in his works also.

On Tuesday 9th June 2020, to recognise his strong links with the village, members of Higham Parish Council and the Mayor of Gravesham, placed geraniums (Charles Dickens’s favourite flower) beneath our beloved (and newly-painted) ‘Higham’ signpost located on Gravesend Road.

Strictly observing Government social distancing guidelines, the Chair and Vice-Chair of Higham Parish Council (Councillor Grey and Councillor Mendzil, respectively), the Parish Clerk and Councillor Gilby (also official photographer), assisted the Mayor in placing the planters below our Charles Dicken’s ‘Higham’ sign (recently repainted by Terry Morris, a local signwriter). The planters will be present for the entire summer giving a splash of colour to passers-by as they drive through our village.

The Mayor said:

Thank You very much for inviting me today and for the photo, the sign looks fantastic with its blaze of colour,  a real credit to all those on the Higham parish council. You should all be applauded for looking after the village for everyone to enjoy and celebrate being part of the Charles Dickens legacy.
I hope we can all get together again soon
Kind Regards
John
 Cllr John D Caller, Mayor of Gravesham

Higham Parish Council would like to thank a few people that made this commemoration possible: Councillor Liz Jeffery for organising the event;  the Oakleigh Garden Centre, Higham for the planters; Terry Morris for ensuring our village sign was looking its best for years to come and also a thank you to Carol Janz (local resident) for volunteering to keep the displays watered throughout the summer – a most generous undertaking for which we are very grateful.

For photos of the morning, please see below:

Higham Parish Council

 

June 9, 2020 in Culture

For Info: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Higham Parish Council team up with Helping Hands

HELPING HANDS – HIGHAM VILLAGE

ARE YOU SELF ISOLATING DUE TO CORONAVIRUS COVID-19?

ARE YOU ABLE TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE SELF ISOLATING?

Higham Parish Council  has joined forces with the Helping Hands Facebook group which has been set up in the neighbouring villages of Cliffe, Cliffe Woods and Wainscott to ensure all those in Higham receive any assistance that they need.

Assistance given may include:-

  •   Picking up shopping
  •   Posting mail
  •   Getting urgent supplies
  •   A friendly phone call

If you are able to help , or you need help, please contact the Parish Clerk by email on highampc@hotmail.com or by telephone on 01474  822642 (email is preferred). Higham Parish Council will use the bank of volunteers to ensure those who are unable to go out receive the support that they need.

If you are able to offer your help you will be asked to select a road in the village and fill in copies of the Helping Hands slips (shown below) with your contact name and a number for the self-isolating person to contact you, before posting through the front doors.

IMPORTANT :  Please be aware that people may be targeted by criminals who seek to take advantage of those who are in self-isolation. Please only deal with people that you know, or who have been arranged via Higham Parish Council.

For more information please contact:-

Linda Carnall

Clerk to Higham Parish Council

01474  822642 / highampc@hotmail.com

 

April 5, 2020 in Community, Coronavirus (COVID-19)

FOR INFO: An update from Matt Joblin of ‘Higham Help – Coronavirus (COVID-19)’

We thought that you might like an update on what Higham Help – Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been doing in the village to support the elderly and vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic. Matt Joblin from Higham Help – Coronavirus (COVID-19) has sent us this:
“We’ve set up this crowdfunding page to look after our elderly, vulnerable and those at higher risk of coronavirus in our village during the pandemic.

Staying at home and away from other people (social distancing) presents a lot of challenges for the elderly, vulnerable and those at higher risk.

We intend to support them in overcoming these challenges, enabling them to stay safe at home and stop the infection spreading by shopping for their basic necessities (food and medicine) providing anti bacterial soaps, hand sanitiser, tissues, toilet paper FREE of CHARGE.”

Matt Joblin, Higham Help

1) We’ve fundraised £1885 via Just Giving (as of 11th May 2020)

2) Ensured we have 100% of the village covered by 35+ volunteers to pick up shopping/urgent medical supplies, friendly phone calls and posting letters paying bills etc
3) Have produced and distributed 150+ Essential Kits painted by local chidren in the village for elderly, vulnerable, pregnant, those at increased risk inc soaps, antibac, hand sanitizer, tissues, toilet paper disinfectant etc partnering up with Hayleys of Higham and The Village Greengrocers of Higham for delivery/ logistics
4) Bottled and distributed Alcohol Hand Sanitizer FREE of charge to the most vulnerable and fitted dispensers in all local shops and sheltered housing entry/exit points
5) Launched a FREE library for ALL to use at Hayleys of Higham
6) Developed NEW kits to keep an active mind with books, crosswords, sudoku, jigsaws, painting, DVD’s
7) Easter cards designed and delivered by Nick Harvey with all proceeds going towards supporting the elderly/ vulnerable
8) Cards designed by village artists based on their favourite places in Higham – all proceeds once again to support elderly/vulnerable – special edition 1 created for Captain Toms birthday
9) Sunflower seed grow kits for approx 150+ people in the village to plant where everyone can see on their permitted daily excercise to promote an active body and mind – Kits are also supplied to the elderly and vulnerable to keep them physically active and grow at home – create a community excercise everyone can get involved in
10) Disinfect and sanitize all comunual entrance/exit points in sheltered housing
11) Record and produce Vic Bailey (Local Musician) CD with all proceeds going towards helping the elderly/vulnerable
12) Working with Anisa on new concept NHS Sunday FREE Biryani for ALL NHS workers living in Higham
We would like to continue the valuable work we’re doing in the village and would appreciate your support our Just Giving page details are below
This is such a fantastic achievement and ashows what a real sense of community we have here in Higham. To further support Matt and his team of volunteers, Higham Parish Council have donated £1000 to Higham Help to help in their work across the village.
Thank you for your continued support.
Higham Parish Council
May 11, 2020 in Coronavirus (COVID-19)