Gravesham Local Development Framework Consultations

Our local Gravesham Borough Councillors have provided an update to the recent Consultation...

Community Warden Afternoon Tea and Surgery Dates

A invitation to Afternoon Tea and a Community Surgery at St Johns Church Vestry Hall Hermitage Road Higham throughout 2012. Come and have a chat with your local KCC Community Warden, Steve Gray. Any issues or ideas about how to improve our local environment are welcome. Or just pop in for a cuppa and a natter with Steve!

2012 Dates

Thursday 23rd February 02.30 pm – 4.00 pm)
Thursday 29th March (2.30 pm – 4.00 pm)
Thursday 26th April (2.30 pm – 4.00 pm)
Thursday 31st May (2.30 pm – 4.00 pm)
Thursday 28thJune (2.30 pm – 4.00 pm)

For more information about Kent Community Wardens, please telephone 07811 271256 or visit www.kent.gov.uk/communitywardens

Help People Help Each Other - A Public Competition

Kent Connects are running a competition for members of the public to come up with ideas on how to improve public services. Do you have an idea on how to make your local area a better place to live using technology? Do you want to win the chance for your idea to be turned into reality and win up to £3000 in prizes?

This competition is to stimulate collaboration between public services, entrepreneurs and communities to develop innovative ways of using technology to improve their neighbourhoods…and we need your ideas!

Here are the two sub-challenges:

1. Help people help each other in your neighbourhood

2. Make it easier for you to report issues to your council

For a lot more information and to submit your idea: Go to http://bit.ly/submityouridea

Thames Estuary Airport Proposal

Oh Dear, here we go again!  On 2nd November 2011 the architect Lord Foster, in association with other construction consultants and Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, announced outline proposals for a four-runway airport in the Thames Estuary which would cost at least £50bn.

See Higham Parish Council's comments and reaction. 

Charity Everest Trek By Higham Heart Disease Survivor

Higham resident and previous Youth Club Leader Barrie Howes underwent major heart surgery in 2006. Following his recovery, he went on a fund-raising expedition to Peru and raised over £4,000 for The British Heart Foundation.  Barrie says, after such an experience, he has had itchy feet to take part in a similar trek and more importantly, raise further funds for The British Heart Foundation.  So, he is planning to undertake an 18 day trek to Everest Base Camp, Nepal, in March 2012 for the same charity.  Barrie writes...

"How can you help me reach my target of £4,000 for the British Heart Foundation? Maybe by attending one or two of the following events?

A play, ‘The Inimitable Dickens’ at the Medway Little Theatre, Rochester, on 4th February 2012, to mark the occasion of the bi-centenary of his birth, at a price of £7.50.

An original Murder Mystery evening costing £12.50, including a buffet, at the Sir John Falstaff P.H. at Higham, on 3rd March 2012.

If you are unable to attend one of these events, perhaps you would be able to make a small donation at www.justgiving.com/Barrie-Howes

Contact me: Mob 07759 798850 Home 01474 822847 Email barrie.howes@btinternet.com

British Heart Foundation Registered Charity Number 225971

Read much more (including local fund-raising events) about Barrie's Everest Trek and visit his own webpage with an opportunity to support Barrie by a donation.

Chalkfoot Theatre Production, 25th March 2012

"RUNNING FOR GLORY", a new play by Philip Dart, is the next performance by Chalkfoot Theatre Arts, a fully professional company at Higham Memorial Hall, School Lane, Higham ME3 7JL on Sunday 25th March 2012 at 7pm.

Is an Olympic athlete born or created? What matters most - training or faith in your own ability to win? "Running for Glory" is a exciting blend of sporting spectacle and theatre following the lives of a group of young British athletes including Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams (featured in the film Chariots of Fire) as they strive to compete in the 1924 Paris Olympics. The play has all the tension and excitement of an Olympic race recreated on a small stage.

Full details on the Chalkfoot website. Tickets from Sally Starbuck 01474 823342.

2012 Olympic Flame Comes to Higham

Parish and Local Borough Councillors for Higham welcome the announcement that the Olympic Flame will travel through Higham on Friday 20th July 2012. The Flame will be in its final few days of travelling around the UK and starts the day in Maidstone.  It then progresses through Chatham, Gillingham, Rochester and Higham onwards to Gravesend, Sevenoaks and Guildford where it spends that night.

Harold Craske, Borough Councillor for Higham said "This is very good news for the Village. There has been so much bad news lately, with the possibility of a Third Thames Crossing, a new Airport at Grain and incursions into the Green Belt, that it is great to have something to celebrate. I am sure the whole village will turn out on 20th July2012".

More details later but here is more information from the 2012 organisers and some interesting facts about the Olympic Torch for 2012.

About the Television Signal Digital Switchover

TV is going digital all over the UK, and the traditional TV signal will be switched off in our area during the Summer of 2012. This means that if you haven't got digital TV already, you will lose your current analogue TV service. But you don't need to worry -- help is available to convert your TV to digital:

•If you have Freeview, Top Up TV or BT Vision, you will need to retune your digital TV or box at switchover or you will lose channels. Switchover is a two-stage process and you need to retune at both stages.

•If you have a satellite or cable service on all your sets, you will not need to retune as these are not affected by switchover.

•If you have 5 channels or fewer (i.e. analogue TV) on any of your sets, you will need to convert them to digital.

•are aged 75 or over; or

•get or could get Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance or mobility supplement; or

•have lived in a care home for six months or more; or

•are registered blind or partially sighted.

There is more about a Help Scheme to make sure your TV set will work with digital. The Switchover Help Scheme is run by the BBC under an agreement with the Government. If you are eligible for the Help Scheme, they will write to you to offer you practical help to convert one of your TV sets to digital. For more information ring 0800 40 85 900 for free or e-mail info@helpscheme.co.uk. When your home switches to digital will depend on where you live in the UK. All households with a Freeview TV or box will need to re-tune at both stages of switchover and from time to time to keep receiving channels and services.

You can find out when your ITV region switches to digital by checking where you live on this map.

You can find out much more here about digital tv and the switchover or call Digital UK on 08456 50 50 50.

In addition, local volunteers are sought to help with a switchover programme to ensure that no-one misses out on the help that’s available to assist with making the necessary changes. If you choose to volunteer, you will use your local connections, knowledge and networks to speak to those people in and around Higham who are likely to know those people who are most at risk of not switching. 

For more detailed information on volunteering, see this leaflet .

'21st Century Kent' Report & A Lower Thames Crossing

In early 2010, Kent County Council published their report into future developments within Kent.  One vital aspect considered is transportation and links outside of Kent.  The potential future need for another crossing over the River Thames is mentioned.  A Public Meeting was held in early February 2011 to hear more details on the proposals.

For more information on this whole issue, visit the Lower Thames Crossing web page. 

Kent Police Launch 101 as the New Non-Emergency Number

As from Monday 14th November 2011 there is a change to the Phone Number that you should use to contact your local Kent Police for non emergency calls.

101 is the new 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. The current non emergency number (01622 690690) is being phased out.

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.

Higham Youth Club

Kent Police Area Commanders Award North Kent

Joanne Raff

This Area Commander’s Certificate of Merit is awarded to Joanne Raff for her services to the Higham Youth Club and contribution to reductions in youth related disorder within the Higham area.   Joanne Raff took over the responsibility of running the Higham Youth Club at a time when attendees were often disruptive and it attracted very few new members.  The youth attending the club were often associated with drinking, swearing and general disorder within the village of Higham.  Joanne worked very closely with the local Neighbourhood Policing Team, KCC Wardens, the Parish Council and parents to set up rules, deal with the disruptive individuals and encourage new members to attend the Youth Club.  She also secured significant funding for new equipment, advertised the club amongst local schools and set up a website.   Since Joanne assumed the role of leader, the youth club in Higham has gone from strength to strength.  The number of attendees has increased to such a degree that a further club night has been set up in Higham.  She was also asked to set up a further youth club for Cobham, Sole Street and Luddesdown.   Due to the hard work and commitment Joanne Raff has dedicated to the Higham Youth Club, youth related crime and disorder has significantly reduced in the area to a level where it is virtually non-existent and for this she is to be commended.

(signed) T/Chief Superintendent Alison Roden Area Commander 9th September 2010

Jo Raff has written the following in response to her award:

"I am very honoured and proud to have received this award. However I would like to add that the success of the youth club has been down to the dedication and hard work by many people, including our great team of dedicated helpers who give up their time on a weekly basis. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped, and continue to help with the clubs that are serving so many young people living in Higham."

If anyone ever wishes to help with either Monday or Wednesday youth club on a regular or occasional basis please contact Jo. To find out more and to offer your help for just a couple of hours, please take a peek at our website – www.higham-youth-club.btck.co.uk or call Jo on 07934 562085.  See below here for just some of the fun and activities that the teenagers get up to.  And the adult helpers get involved as well...

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Higham Youth Club recently attended a High Ropes activity day (pictured above) where the young people were able to take part in climbing, the leap of faith, archery and climbing along the H bar. We have also had trips to the ten pin bowling alley and cinema and a group will be going to take part in Midnight to 3am ice skating soon. We have also arranged a kayaking session at Leybourne Lake. During weekly sessions we usually hire the outside courts so many use these in addition to all the activities taking place inside the hall.

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The owner of the Meadows Newsagent in Higham has just raised £342.16 for the club (which is absolutely fantastic and has helped towards the cost of a projector and screen that we will be able to use in many ways). The shop owner, Mr. Hariharan came along to our club to present the cheque on 24th February 2010. We are extremely grateful for this kind donation. Small shops like the Meadows really do serve the needs of local communities, especially in villages such as Higham, and in the present economic climate they are merely trying to survive day by day, therefore to be able to help us in this way is excellent.

Higham Youth Club runs on two nights - Mondays for the 14+ age group and Wednesdays for the 10+ age group. Both clubs have very enthusiastic young people enjoying themselves with their friends. We have a number of activities each week and lots of equipment including a pool table, table football, table tennis, basketball, swingball, Nintendo Wii (two consoles plus guitar hero complete band set, snowboarding, wii fit, dance mat and many other games), Playstation 2 (including Singstar), Karaoke, Scalextrics, Keyboard, Circus equipment, Board games..... We also have an iPod docking hi-fi so the young people can bring along their iPods if they want to listen to their own music... Often we run cookery evenings, circus skills, hair and beauty, arts and crafts plus many others..

Recently we have enjoyed a "Midnight to 3am ice skating" event, 10 pin bowling, and next month we are running a watersports (kayaking) session. We always welcome new members in our clubs... You can keep up with what's going on by looking at our website... www.higham-youth-club.btck.co.uk

If anyone in the village would like to give up a couple of hours per week of their time and help us as a volunteer please contact Jo for more information on 07934 562085. All adult helpers are checked through the Criminal Records Bureau, and we do ask for 2 referees.. You will understand that this is purely to safeguard our young members. Working with the young people at these clubs is a very enjoyable experience and also gives you the opportunity to take part in exciting activities too!

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Teenagers on the booze? Not always! Jamie, one of the Youth Club members speaks his mind about alcohol in a BBC2 'Revealed' interview.  A short clip from the interview can be viewed here. [Opens in a new window]

Higham Youth Club arranged a village tidy up in October 2009. See photographs here.

Higham Neighbourhood Forum (was previously Higham PACT Panel)

The Neighbourhood Forum for Higham is a range of local people plus representatives from Parish Council, the Kent Police and the Community Warden.  We meet quarterly to discuss any concerns about the quality of life or community safety issues within the village. SPEEDWATCH is one of our activities.  Regular reports and liaison with the Parish Council, Police, Community Warden and other key partners allow free and frank examination of things that may be of concern.  At our past meetings we have had officials from Gravesham Borough Council and Kent Highways who advised us and assisted in discovering solutions to local issues. 

If you have a concern about your local neighbourhood or have ideas that would improve your quality of life in Higham then do either come to a Forum meeting or a Parish Council meeting to speak your mind.  For more information, please visit our new Forum website at http://www.spanglefish.com/highamneighbourhoodforum  

Date of next Forum meeting -- Tuesday 6th March 2012.

Meetings are normally 7.30pm on Tuesdays in Higham Library, Villa Road, Higham and all are welcome to come.

HiARA - Higham Active Retirement Association For the time being, the Parish Council is providing website space to host the HiARA website.  There is lots of information and details of HiARA's activity programme plus dates for outings.  Visit the web site. January 2012 HiARA News... click here to view in new window with any PDF viewer.

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.

Higham Primary School

WALKING BUS

The Parish Council is sponsoring the new Walking Bus at Higham Primary School which launched after Easter 2008. This new initiative is to get children to and from school and to reduce the amount of traffic congestion on the village roads in the vicinity

The Walking Bus is an organised column of children who are escorted to and from school along a set route. All involved wear high-visibility tabards for safety and routes are approved by council traffic engineers.

To find out more about this initiative or to become a volunteer helper on the Walking Bus please contact Higham Primary School.

Hearing Aid Aftercare Service

Hi Kent is the country of Kent's deaf and hard of hearing registered charity, established in 1986 and last year we were the only Kent organisation to win the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. We provide free advice on how to cope with hearing loss and can provide a wide range of assistive equipment to help deaf and hard of hearing people.

In Higham we run a monthly hearing aid aftercare clinic at Highcliffe Medical Practice in Hermitage Road on the second Tuesday of each month from 2.30 to 3.30pm, where people can come along to get their hearing aids cleaned and retubed, and pick up free replacement batteries.

Further information from 01622 691151 or visit www.hikent.org.uk

Share your journey, share your costs!

kentjourneyshare is a free, simple, secure, internet-based service that enables you to register your car journey on-line and match drivers and passengers with those who do similar journeys, sharing driving costs and reducing congestion.

Over 1,750 are now members of kentjourneyshare since the launch by Kent County Council in September 2005 and more and more people are discovering the benefits of carsharing. New members join by registering for free on the site www.kentcarshare.com and record their journeys. The system matches those traveling similar journeys and members then make the arrangements to start car sharing.

More than 1700 people countywide have already joined the scheme. As a result they have reduced the number of miles traveled on Kent's roads by over a million miles a year. Kent has one of the largest road networks in the country and the volume of traffic creates a high demand for road maintenance.

To find out more, or register visit www.kentcarshare.com

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