HERNHILL NEWS AUGUST 2020 If you didn’t get a printed copy of the NEWS, it is always available on-line at hernhillforum.wordpress.com TERRY SMART (1927 -2020) Terry had a great relationship with Hernhill and did many things for the Parish. He was Parish Clerk for many years, mended village benches and village notice boards. He was always present at village events and would set difficult questions for the village quizzes. I am sure that those who knew Terry will join me in sending his wife Ann, son Bill and the grandchildren our condolences. Tony Chapman MARY CLARIDGE Many of you will remember Mary (nee Kay) who lived her earlier life in Hernhill. Mary passed away recently after many years of ill health. Mary had been born in Hernhill, then on her marriage moved to Gloucestershire for a few years. She returned to Hernhill with Ian to raise her family. In their retirement they moved to Harbledown to be near family. We will remember her cheery smile when working in the village shop. Her friends will miss her. Anne Butler PARISH COUNCIL August between the junctions of Dar- The planning application for the local gate Road and High Street Road. needs housing at Staplestreet by Eng- On Thursday 20th August, Graveney lish Rural was considered at the Swale Road at the Love Lane end is due to be Borough Council Planning Committee closed until Thursday 17th September on the evening of Thursday 23rd July. between the junction for B2040 Whit- The committee voted unanimously in stable Road for up to 220 meters in ei- favour of the planning application. ther direction. There are a number of forthcoming The Parish Council held an extraordi- road closures. nary meeting on Thursday 9th July to Plum Pudding Lane in Dargate will be discuss the current proposals for the closed for one day on Wednesday 5th crematorium and the land south of Sta- Chairman:Jill Geliot 01227 750974 [email protected] Clerk: Rebecca Parr 07876 221580 e-mail [email protected] KCC Representative: Andrew Bowles ple Street by the Faversham Show- concerned the loss of the use of the ground. A number of concerns were Faversham Showground it only being raised and the key ones are mentioned available Sundays and Bank Holidays. here. The main concern was with re- We now wait to see if the feedback has gards to traffic. The current junctions at been addressed should the proposals Staple Street and Graveney Road with go forward to a formal application. the Thanet Way are not considered suitable for such an increase in traffic. The Parish Council has received notice Concerns were also raised regarding that there have been a significant in- traffic arriving and leaving from the crease in trucks attending to George Canterbury direction, that even if sign- Bell Farm and adjoining Evaluna. This posted to go via Brenley Corner, Sat- has been reported with Swale Borough Navs are still likely to direct people Council and the Environmental Agency through Boughton and either Sta- and the Parish Council also contacted plestreet or Bull Lane. Especially if cars our Ward Councillor for support in rais- are leaving arriving together on the ing the issue with the enforcement de- hour every hour. Neither road consid- partment. ered suitable for such an increase vol- Rebecca Parr ume of traffic. Feedback received also Clerk to the Parish Council SWALE BOROUGH COUNCILLORS our first virtual Annual Council meeting, It has been a busy few month since our when the new mayor of Swale, Paul last report. During the lockdown Swale Stephens, will start his term of office. Borough Council has taken on major At the end of May we heard the ex- new areas of work; setting up and run- tremely disappointing news that the ning the community support hubs, and Cleve Hill Solar Power Station has been processing the distribution of millions of given consent by the Conservative gov- pounds worth of government grants. ernment. Although the Council under- Lockdown has also seen a surge in de- stands the need to generate renewable mand for temporary housing. energy at scale, it is equally important We are pleased that Swale has kept the to protect our very few remaining wild waste, recycling and garden bin collec- places. Swale Borough Council sought tions going in very difficult circumstanc- legal advice on the prospect of over- es. There was just one collection of turning the decision at judicial review, garden waste suspended, and all sub- but were advised that there are no scribers will receive a free one-month grounds to challenge the decision. extension to their service. The developer must submit proposals Throughout lockdown we have been to Swale Borough Council for manage- collecting levels of waste and recycling ment plans for battery safety, land- normally only seen at Christmas. This scape & biodiversity, public rights of has caused some delays as the vehi- way, fencing, drainage, archaeology, cles have to return to the depot to un- construction (environmental, traffic and load more frequently. At the same time, noise), protected species, operational like most other organisations, the noise, local skills, supply chain & em- Council has adapted to working on-line. ployment, decommissioning & restora- Following changes in the law, meet- tion, and managed re-alignment. The ings, such as Planning Committee, are Council is required to consult some of- being held on-line. Next week we have ficial bodies such as the Health and 2 Safety Executive, Kent Fire and Res- ple can do to influence the final propos- cue, Natural England and Kent County als and reduce the negative impact as Council. The Council will go beyond the much as possible. We hope all interest- minimum required by consulting local ed parties will engage with the consul- community groups, such as Graveney tations and make the development the and Goodnestone Parish Council, best it can be. Faversham Town Council, Graveney Alastair Gould Rural Environment Action Team ([email protected]) (GREAT), the Faversham Society, Tim Valentine CPRE and Kent Wildlife Trust. ([email protected]) Although the development will go 07752 191807 ahead, there is still a lot that local peo- Seems there is nothing new. This was published in 1931 This cough I’ve got is hacking, The pain in my head is wracking, I hardly need to mention my flu. The Board of Health has seen me. They want to quarantine me, I might as well be miserable too. Howard Dietz FROM THE VICAR her face. In a sense, one’s face repre- I made a face mask, several weeks sents the whole person. ago, from the leftover fabric of a clergy For the Biblical writers the human face shirt, but sadly most of you won’t have could represent the entire person and the opportunity to see the matching in the same way God’s face is his pres- outfit. From Friday 24th July face cov- ence. We are told to ‘seek God’s face’, erings were compulsory in shops and that means desiring to know him and ‘strongly recommended’ in public in- wanting his presence more than any- door worship. I think they give people thing else. We do that through prayer a false sense of security and there is and worship. little publicity about what to do with it A favourite Old Testament blessing is once you have worn it. They are main- ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; ly intended to protect other people, not the Lord make his face shine upon the wearer, from Covid-19 and they are you, and be gracious to you; not a replacement for physical distanc- the Lord lift up his countenance ing and regular hand washing. upon you, and give you peace.’ Important as it is to wear a face mask (Numbers 6:23-26) they are dehumanising, yes, we can May God’s face shine, or smile, upon still see a person’s eyes but what you as we continue to journey together makes us ‘us’ is taken away. A per- through this pandemic, thank God he son’s face reveals much about his or doesn’t wear a mask, and may you her character and personality. The in- know his peace. ward emotions of a person are ex- Keep well, keep praying, keep con- pressed outwardly on the face. We nected. recognize a person by looking at his or Revd Jean Burrows 3 HERHILL SCHOOL school office after 33 years. We wish July was a busy month despite many her a long and happy retirement. of the usual end of term events being cancelled. The school had approxi- And now, we have finally come to the mately 80 children attending each end of an academic year that will live day from Reception, Year 1, Year 5 long in the memory for all of us. and Year 6, along with key-workers’ Thank you to my staff for being the children from across the year groups. most incredible team. Without their There were lots of active and creative commitment, positivity and sheer lessons going on right up until the last hard work, Hernhill would just have day! fallen apart since March. Instead, we We were really pleased to be able to have navigated our way through and, continue some of the Year 6 tradi- I believe, made it the most positive tions - just with added safety meas- experience possible for our children ures! We even managed the and families. I wish everyone in our traditional shirt signing by printing the community a safe, restful and happy children's goodbye messages and summer, especially for those families signatures onto special transfer pa- and staff who have sadly been direct- per and ironing them onto the chil- ly affected by this crisis.