Sarah Hehir meets Ed Miliband

From right to left: Labour candidate Sarah Hehir, Labour Leader Ed Miliband, Councillor Theresa Murray, Young Labour member Oscar Davies and Labour candidate Derek Munton

I met Ed Miliband today at Priestfields Stadum in Gillingham at Labour's National Policy Forum. I was immediately encouraged by his confidence in a brighter Britain under a future Labour Government.  He spoke passionately of a Labour party committed to social justice and economic growth, motivated by an optimistic vision of our communities and country.

He answered specific questions: he wants to make high streets the centre of communities once again and to reclaim the idea of a 'Big Society' so that it constitutes more than hollow platitudes. Ed Miliband opposes the rise in tuition fees, he opposes changes to Royal Mail which will threaten more local services, he supports the building of new affordable homes and opposes the Coalition's drastic cuts to frontline services.

When I shook hands with Ed Miliband (52 seconds in!) I spoke to him about the people of Rochester West; people who don't discuss politics in technical, party-political terms but who have great ideas about how to improve our area and shape a more dynamic and inclusive community. People who have retained an optimism even in the face of these devastating cuts and years of Conservative misrule on Medway Council.

This afternoon some of the nitty gritty of Labour policy will be ironed out. We will have a clear manifesto. In the meantime, Labour councillors across Medway and the UK are continuing to work hard work to build better communities and support local business.

Medway has had a Conservative controlled council for 10 years. In May, there is a chance to make a change. I hope you will vote for me and give me the opportunity to implement that change.

Surestart Parents' Forum - support for family's with children under 5

Thank you to all the parents who came along to the meeting today: a vibrant crowd, full of ideas! I am looking forward to reporting back to the Surestart Advisory Board in February and in the meantime acting on some of your feedback immediately. Watch this space for more news...

Sarah Hehir: Improving Road Safety in Rochester and Borstal

I believe a local councillor should visit our community groups and talk to local people. I may not have reached you all yet but the people I talk to at schools, toddler groups, WI and in the local shops, all express a common concern; road safety. Many have mentioned the high speed that cars drive down Priestfields, Borstal Road and Borstal Street. There are insufficient traffic calming measures coming into Borstal Village and no pedestrian crossing. The speed bumps stop at the start of the residential housing on Borstal Road and Priestfields Hill seems to act as an incentive to speed up.

Simple measures can be very effective.  A few well placed speed bumps, a zebra crossing and some high visibility traffic mirrors would make a major difference to the safety of our roads.  As a driver, I know traffic calming is a minor inconvenience but it is a small price to pay for improving our local environment, especially for children and the elderly. I would like to lead the fight for safer roads in our part of Medway!

Please support me and sign the petition. There will be copies at strategic points around Rochester West and I will update you as we go along. Alternatively email me and I will send blank copies of the petition as an attachment if you are prepared to collect a page of signatures. It will all help!

Sarah Hehir - supporting business in Rochester West: Mud Pies



Sarah Hehir and sister Emily Sandford at Cocoa Bean Chocolates

My personal interest in encouraging small businesses comes from my own experience. I started my business, Cocoa Bean, eight years ago with a baby on one hip and what I thought was just a passion for chocolate and good food. It turns out that I had an entrepreneurial spirit not so far under the surface! A combination of drive, enthusiasm and targeted support means that our business is still part of a thriving artisan chocolate industry, employing more than 10 people and exporting our chocolate around the world. It's an achievement I am proud of. In Rochester West, despite a global recession, I see lots of individuals and bigger businesses starting up and thriving. The Deaf Cat Cafe and The Rochester Coffee Company on the High Street are just two examples of relatively new coffee shops that are independent and buzzing with local character.

Success is due to many factors but Cocoa Bean benefited hugely from schemes that offer financial support and training in those all important early days. Many of these schemes, courses and grants are run by local councils. I fear that under the Coalition we could lose these vital services as council funds are slashed. I am looking into innovative ways to provide this support because I worry that without start up support, the small businesses that become the backbone of our future communities, might never get off the ground.

Nicola Chard reading while the muffins cook

Local Mum, Nicola Chard, has launched her new business this month, Mud Pies! The classes currently run at Borstal Cleave Warne Hall , behind St. Matthew's Church, and are for preschoolers. Her youngest recruit is 19 months - catch them young and you might have a personal chef for life! If you want to get in touch with Nicola email cookmudpies@aol.com



Iris Hehir measuring flour

Iris and Elsie are at the Thursday afternoon class running until Christmas and are having a fabulous time. So far they have made healthy burgers, apricot biscuits and vegetable pasta bake. That is not all! They have also brought home pasta necklaces, laminated place mats decorated with their own food inspired designs and listened to a new favourite story, 'Burger Boy'. They have learnt stirring, measuring, grating, peeling, sieving, chopping, tasting and most fun of all, washing up!



Elsie Hehir masters the scales



There are spaces left on the Thursday morning class from 10-10.45 am and a few spaces on Thursday afternoon from 1.30 - 2.15pm. A new set of classes will run after Christmas. The Monday classes are also proving very popular. Children at the Pilgrim School will take part in a healthy eating Mud Pies course during this terms university week and after Christmas there is a Thursday after school club running for Reception and years 1 and 2. There is only one place left, so hurry if you think you might have a young Ramsay or Nigella!

Moving Memories Animation Project

Great news! As Community Project Manager with Rochester Film Salon, I am delighted to announce that we have been awarded a grant from Medway Council Small Grants programme. Here is an section from the successful bid:

Our project is an inspirational and inclusive arts initiative in the heart of Borstal. It will involve local residents from all generations working together as a team, solving problems and cultivating creative and organisational skills. The end product will be a timeless artistic record of our local heritage.

We have planned this project, working closely with community leaders from the school, church and sheltered accommodation for the elderly. We have secured the involvement of pupils from The Pilgrim Primary School, residents of Sheridan Court  (sheltered housing scheme) and members of St. Matthew's church and our wider community to make an animated film; ‘Moving Memories.’

The project will be carried out in three parts:

1) Gathering Stories and Participants

This initial phase involves drama workshops in The Pilgrim School to explore the theme of memories and prepare the pupils for a visit to Sheridan Court. Here the residents will watch a short performance by the pupils and then be invited to reflect on their lives and experiences in an informal setting. These stories will be recorded and edited by participants to form the audio track of the finished animation.

At this point, we will encourage residents of Sheridan Court to join the project and engage in activities such as: art, research and pre-production; animation; post-production and screening; event organisation.

2)  Making the Animation

This involves three full-day workshops in Cleave Warne Hall and The Pilgrim School Community Room where participants will design and produce an animated film with audio track. We envisage those involved including school pupils, residents from Sheridan Court and other interested locals.

3) The Screening

The culmination of the project will be a screening of the animation ‘Moving Memories Borstal’ and ‘The Making of Moving Memories.’  Drinks and canapés will be served and the event will be open to the participants and the public. We will invite the media and interested members of the local and wider community in Medway.

The project will take place during the Pilgrim School's University week 28th March - 1st April. If you have skills, tales or general enthusiasm and would like to get involved, I would love to hear from you!

Hope to see you all at the open meeting about Sure Start which I've organised as a member of the Advisory Board - details below...All Welcome!

Parents Forum

Friday November 26^th

Pilgrim School Community Room 12-1pm

A chance to share your comments and ideas on Surestart in our area

All welcome

Informal and Friendly

We can help shape

Surestart for the future

Tea and Coffee served

Snacks for children provided

(For information about the Sure Start centre at St Margaret's at Troy Town click here)

Bus timetables on Borstal Street

If you are one of many who are frustrated by the lack of information on bus stops in Borstal Village, then you will be pleased to hear that I have spoken to Nick Turner at Arriva Buses who says he will make it a priority and get timetables up by mid December. So, by the time you are dashing into Rochester High Street or Chatham for your last minute Christmas pressies, you should know when the 155 bus will arrive!

Sarah Hehir

I moved to Borstal in August 2007 with my husband, Aidan and my daughters Esme and Elsie. Esme started at The Pilgrim School in year 1 and Elsie and I quickly met friends through Borstal playgroup at The Baptist Church. Iris was born in November 2008 at Medway Maritime. She has just finished a fabulous first week at ABC community project.

I have been selected to stand as Labour candidate for the local council elections to be held in May 2011. I feel very proud to have been chosen to represent our local community and excited about the future possibilities to build on some of the great work being done by community groups, volunteers, businesses and our local school.

I willl use this blog to let you know of my plans, ideas and the progress that is being made with projects. I will also let you know why I will make a great councillor for Rochester West and why I hope you will come out on May 5th to vote for me. 

Please tell me your ideas!