Welcome to High Halstow

Calendar

Please note where comments are made name of the author should be identified or the comment will not be shown

Save Deangate Petition

The Deangate Community Partnership was set up on the 6th February 2018 to promote Deangate Ridge as a centre of health and wellbeing for the people of the Hoo Peninsula and surrounding area. For more details of the aims of the Deangate Community Partnership please click here

Medway Council’s “New Routes to Growth” consultation shows details of a new spur “relief” road from a new roundabout on Peninsula Way. The new road will effectively destroy the western end of Deangate Golf Course and split it in two. Medway will not release the traffic assessment to justify the road. It is clearly linked to proposals to develop Deangate with luxury housing, described in the plan as “Parkland living”. For details as to how you can help and read more click here February 2021

Tearfund Big Quiz Night

Friends of St Margaret’s Annual Scarecrow Festival

High Halstow Parish Council
Road Reps
ROAD REPS IN HIGH HALSTOW
IF YOU ARE SELF-ISOLATING YOUR COMMUNITY IS HERE TO HELP!

What is Road Reps?

Road Reps is a community initiative set up in reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic.

What do Road Reps do?

In short, we help those within our community that are either self-isolating, because they may have the virus or are at high risk of complications, should they be exposed to the virus. Road Reps are on call to help. We are able to collect shopping, pick up urgent supplies, have a friendly telephone chat or even post mail.

How much does it cost?

Nothing, Road Reps is a free community-based programme. Do not charge/pay anyone for helping.

But what if I need shopping?

If you are unable to do an online shop for collection by a Road Rep or a direct home delivery, we advise the Road Rep to call the recipient to discuss payment for the shopping. Further advice for Road Reps will be available when they sign up. For reasons of security, recipients are advised not to give anyone their bank details and Road Reps are advised not to accept bank details.

What if I can’t afford shopping?

Please consider using the village hall food bank or contact George Crozer 07711 433 598 Stephen Gwilt on 01634 250637. Medway food bank telephone number is 01634 757057. They will also advise.

Can you help with putting shopping away?

NO YOU SHOULD NOT ENTER ANOTHER’S HOME. If the person is too frail or is disabled and unable to pick up the shopping bag/s from their front door, the self-isolator should be referred to Medway Council for a Social Care Assessment on 01634 334466. If the homeowner agrees you may be able to install a hook at a higher height to hang a bag on, but this will be for the Road Rep and the homeowner to agree upon.

I need medication collecting, can Road Reps collect?

I’m afraid not, however most GP surgeries now offer a prescription delivery service, we therefore advise you to contact the surgery to make arrangements. What is involved in becoming a Road Rep? Quite simply being available and willing to help. If you would like to become a High Halstow Road Rep, please get in touch. See Contact details below.

Why do you need my address?

In order to know where our Road Reps are available and which roads have been covered.

Will you pass my address on to others?

Certainly not, we may use the road name in order to let people know the area is covered but we will not pass your house number on to anyone.

Can I cover more roads than just my own?

You certainly can but please let us know which roads before, so that we can confirm the road isn’t already covered.

Health & Safety

For the safety of both the self-isolator and the Road Rep volunteer it is extremely important that no one enters another’s home. In addition Road Reps are volunteers who are unlikely to have been CRB checked so please do not allow anyone in to your home. All correspondence should take place over a telephone or at a distance of 2 meters. If at any point you believe you are infected with Covid-19 then speak to your area coordinator (see below) who can pass on any enquiries to another Road Rep.

How do I get in touch?

If you are interested in volunteering as a High Halstow Road Rep please email (preferably) Marilyn.Stone@HighHalstowpc.gov.uk or call 01634 250509. If you would like the support of your community hopefully a High Halstow Road Rep will be in touch soon. April 2020

High Halstow Neighbourhood Plan (NP) Residents Survey Consultation on ‘Policy Ideas’

Overview and update

Last autumn we asked for your thoughts on the draft objectives for the NP . We had an excellent response and the percentage support is starred on the flowchart in the Halstow Times. Based on your comments we are now presenting our initial ideas for potential policies in the NP . These are linked back to the objectives and grouped around four key themes:

1. Community 2. Environment 3. Movement 4. Place Quality
We would now like your feedback on whether you agree or disagree with these policies. We’d also like to

know whether you have any other ideas or suggestions that should be included in our NP.

Please click here for the survey within the April High Halstow Times and submit to the shop, or alternatively you can complete online at by clicking here. Either way the Parish Council would be grateful for your view to influence the way High Halstow progresses in the future April 2020

April High Halstow Times 2020

For news and views of what is happening in High Halstow.Please click here to read the full edition. For previous editions please click here April 2020

High Halstow Neighbourhood Plan Residents Survey. October 2019

You will know that Medway Council are preparing a Local Plan that will define development across Medway up to and beyond 2035. The Local Plan which is due to have its last public consultation in December 2019 relies on a successful HIF (Housing Infrastructure Fund) bid for £170million. Medway had previously indicated its wish to secure the money to “unlock the potential” of the Hoo Peninsula. In its present draft form the Local Plan puts forward four scenarios for development in Medway. All four scenarios indicate significant development on the Hoo Peninsula including around 700 new homes in High Halstow.

Your Neighbourhood Plan group are committed to keeping High Halstow a great place to live and are working hard to achieve its vision.

“High Halstow’s future will continue to be a vibrant community, physically separate from neighbouring villages. It will remain an attractive place to live within the peninsula and not a mere dormitory settlement for surrounding towns.”

In order to achieve this vision they have formulated the following objectives. Before proceeding to the next stage of the Neighbourhood Plan it is important to have a consensus of agreement to the objectives required to make the Vision a reality. Please click here to complete and have your say November 2019

High Halstow Village Hall Proudly Presents

Tickets £15 from Wenda on 253169 November 2019

Presentation to Parish Councillors

In October there was a presentation given to Parish Councillors showing them the history of the HUGH Fund, the refurbishment programme that was carried out as well as the governance of the hall committee. It was a celebration of what the community as a whole achieved to turn the Village Hall into the best community facility on the peninsula.

This presentation was given to the Parish Council in October explaining how the Village Hall Committee went about refurbishing the Village Hall.

Please click here to view October 2019

The Friends of St Margaret’s – Why Scaffolding?

If you have ventured into Forge Lane you will have seen scaffolding under two Church windows. This is because the FOSM have started a program of restoration to the ancient windows which were reported to be in need of renovation in the church Quinquennial survey four years ago. Member’s subscriptions and grants from the Friends of Kent Churches, the Headley Trust and the High Halstow Lottery have made this possible. The first two windows are now complete at a cost of £11,425 + VAT. We have now given the go ahead for two more windows to be renovated but will need further funds to complete the remaining four windows still requiring attention.

The Friends of St Margaret’s are a group of like-minded people who work to preserve the church fabric for future generations and are separate from day to day running of the church. From our subscriptions and fund raising events we are still accumulating a reserve to repair the roof which had a large amount of lead stolen from it eight years ago.

If you would like to become a member or make a donation please take a leaflet from under the Church history board in the churchyard or from the Church Porch or contact the treasurer on 250105. October 2019

Friends of St Margaret’s Christmas Concert

Macmillan Cancer Support

Songs for a Summer Evening

Stay & Play

June High Halstow Times 2019

In this month details of the new Parish Councillors, Lenten Appeal Thank You, Village Hall Annual Report, High Halstow Hikers and much much more.

Please click here to read the full edition. For previous editions please click here June 2019

Christmas Lane Resurfacing Scheme

I am writing to advise you that Medway Council will shortly be carrying out footway resurfacing at the attached location overleaf. The work is programmed to start on or after MONDAY 10th JUNE 2019 FOR TWO WEEKS, between the hours of 7am to 7pm. Please note that dates may be subject to change if poor weather conditions or other difficulties are encountered. Please click here to read more June 2019

Murder Mystery Evening

High Halstow Charity Fun Day In Aid of JDRF

For more details please click here May 2019

Sunflower Competition

Time again to show your horticultural expertise in growing the tallest Sunflower.

From 18 May £2 starter kits will be available from the school or from Tamsin at 67 The Street, High Halstow.

They will be measured when requested to do so.

Supporting The Friends of St Margaret’s Church May 2019

Scarecrows on Parade

Following the success of previous year’s Scarecrow Parade we are repeating the event again this year.

The format will be to start erecting your scarecrows in your front gardens from 22 June. On 6 July they can all be taken to the “The Church Garden Party” at the Rectory for display. The two following weeks they can be viewed arranged around the Churchyard after which we request they are collected.

For a small fee a trail will be available with clues to find some of the scarecrows around the village.

The Friends of St Margaret’s

May 2019

High Halstow Village Hall May 2019

May High Halstow Times 2019

In this month details of candidates standing in the Parish Elections, Annual Report from Parish Chairman and other groups, updates from Coffee Tree, High Halstow Hikers, why High Halstow Rocks, and much much more.

Please click here to read the full edition. For previous editions please click here April 2019

April High Halstow Times 2019

Please click here to read the full edition. For previous editions please click here April 2019

Parish Council Elections 2nd May 2019

Parish Council Minutes Published August to December 2018

Please click here to review the Council minutes. March 2019

Irish Dance Showcase

Auction of Promises

March High Halstow Times 2019

Update on Parish Precept for 2019/20, latest on Youth Club, High Halstow Hikers, WI and much much more. Please click here to read the full edition. For previous editions please click here March 2019

How To Stand As a 2019 Local & Parish Elections Candidate

On 2 May 2019, elections are being held for all 55 Medway Council seats in all of the 22 wards in Medway and the 11 parish councils.

A total of 163 seats will be available for election.

Election Timetable

For more details please click here February 2019

High Halstow Primary School Admission Policy 2019/20

Children reach compulsory school age at the start of the term following their fifth birthday. High Halstow Primary School will admit four year olds into its Foundation Stage Two class. The children due to be admitted during the 2019/2020 academic year are those born between 1 September 2014 and 31st August 2015. To read full article please click here February 2019

Air Quality Consultation

Medway Council currently has four Air Quality Management Areas which are above the annual objective for nitrogen dioxide (a pollutant present in vehicle exhaust emissions).

The air quality management areas are:

Central Medway
Pier Road, Gillingham
High Street, Rainham
Medway Four Elms Hill

To read the rest of the article and then complete survey please click here. February 2019

High Halstow’s Hidden Site of Special Scientific Intererst (SSSI)

While most people of the village will be aware that the Northward Hill RSPB nature reserve is an SSSI, or at least would not be surprised to find that it is, few seem to know that there is another area of the village designated as an SSSI or the reason for it being so.

Map of the area occupied by the Dalham Farm SSSI.

Please click here to read more February 2019

February High Halstow Times 2019

Update as to what happened Christmas, planned events for the hall 2019, High Halstow Hikers and much much more. Please click here to read the full edition. For previous editions please click here February 2019

Notice – Footpath Closure

January 2019

January High Halstow Times 2019

Please click here to read the full edition. For previous editions please click here January 2019

Interested In Being A Parish Councillor?

On 2 May 2019, elections are being held for all 55 Medway Council seats in all of the 22 wards in Medway and the 11 Parish councils, including High Halstow.

Information briefings for prospective candidates

Prospective candidates for the Local or Parish Council elections are invited to attend an information briefing by the returning officer and his staff on Monday 14 January 2019 at 6.30pm at the council’s offices at Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TR.

It would be helpful to know in advance if you are intending to come and we would ask you to email jane.ringham@medway.gov.uk Please click here to read more January 2019

ALIVE & SINGING Homeless Choir Celebration Album

Following on from the Christmas Carol please find further details of the chosen charityHomelessness creates social isolation and can seriously damage confidence and self-esteem.

AMAT’s choir will work with musical professionals to produce an album of new songs written and performed by them, reflecting on their experience of homelessness and celebrating AMAT’s 21st anniversary. Please click here for further details. December 2018

A Taste of Christmas

Remembrance in High Halstow

High Halstow has a number of events marking the 100 years since the end of World War One. Please click here to see details November 2018

October 19th – Road Chaos

Is this the shape of things to come. It wasn’t Friday 13th but it certainly felt like it for villagers who were stuck in long traffic queues trying to leave the peninsula. An overturned lorry caused delays for motorists after it shed its load of soil. Click here to read more November 2018

Dramarama – Proudly Presents Christmas Carol

“Dramarama” proudly presents a Musical Show “A Christmas Carol” to celebrate 20 years. Shows Friday 30 November 7.30pm & Saturday 1 December 7pm Tickets £5 each available from Wenda 07807 983 248 or the Village shop from 3 November.

The High Halstow Tommy

Ever wondered where the start of the High Halstow Tommy began. Read the article from Steve Joyce who started it by clicking here. November 2018

November High Halstow Times 2018

Please click here to read the full edition. For previous editions please click here November 2018

Hits From The Blitz

High Halstow Village hall

Proud to Present

Saturday

10th November

Five Star Swing Brings you

‘Hits from the Blitz’

This will be a four piece band with food provided all for £15 including a donation to the Royal British Legion.

Licensed bar

Tickets will be available soon so please watch this space

High Halstow village will be adorned with Poppies on lamp posts in November!

The Poppies on Lamp post Committee are excited at the prospect of seeing these fantastic poppies on lamp posts in Christmas Lane, Cooling Road, The Street going through down to the beginning of Britannia road There will be 102 in all.

We are hoping that villagers will enter into the spirit of the commemorations and sponsor a lamp post. Please help us to play our part in funding raising for the British Legion in this unique way (our own design). Email linda23atkinson@gmail.com or call/text 07825 619 353. We have already received a few enquiries but we really need to ask for your support now that November is only a month away.

We are now unsure whether there will also be a small number of poppies available for the public to purchase. There have been issues with the materials delivered. When calling or texting to sponsor we will be able to confirm whether there will be garden poppies to purchase. We expect these to be in the region of £20-£30. https://www.gofundme.com/manage/poppies-on-lamp-posts-in-high-halst October 2018

WW1 Commemorative Concert