Sweeps, door knocking and a huge thank you!

Sweeps Festival Rochester

I hope everyone had a great long, long weekend. We had a brilliant time at the Sweeps Festival when Rochester High Street becomes the lively and exciting place to be! I always think that tourists will go away from this weekend with such brilliant memories. Imagine the atmosphere if we could bring this kind of entertainment to the farmers market that runs one Sunday a month off Corporation Street.

Thanks to all the friends, supporters and neighbours who have put posters in their windows or cars. I have a pdf file of the poster that I can email if anyone else is willing to put one up. Email me on hehirsarah@yahoo.co.uk or alternatively, I will have more printed by tomorrow. Thanks for all the postcard posting - I am particularly aware that Rochester and Borstal have a very energetic band of young people who are not going to be apathetic voters! And lastly, thanks for coming out and voting whether you have already posted a postal vote or are voting in person on Thursday.

We have had a really positive weekend of door knocking. There is such passion, talent and ideas in the people we have spoken to whether it is for the environment, the arts or services for the young and the elderly. I hope I get the chance to work on your behalf as councillor to harness this energy to make the whole of Rochester West a community to be proud of.

09.10 service from Borstal

Arriva have introduced a 09.10 service from Borstal in response to our protests at the service cuts. It should start from Monday 9th May. As this new service will start from Borstal and not Maidstone, it should mean there is room for pushchairs and for people who get on in Borstal and Rochester to sit down. I will continue to appeal for more services if you let me know which ones are missed most.

New timetables on 155 Bus Stops promised to me by Tuesday 19th April.

Many of you will now be aware that there have been cuts and changes to bus services. These have most impact on young families, people without cars and the disabled and elderly members of society.

Update:

Sunday April 10th: Cuts and changes to Arriva Routes in Medway including 155 bus service.

Thursday April 14th: Mass confusion continues as almost no one is aware of changes. I wait for 13.33 for over half an hour with the girls and other Borstal residents unaware that it has been cut.

Borstal residents start to contact me about cuts and lack of information.

Friday April 15th: Ring Rochester Visitor Centre and speak to the manager. He has no idea about the changes and cuts and is still handing out old timetables.

Saturday April 16th: I go into the Council Contact Point in Rochester Library. No information. The woman at the counter prints a new timetable for me and says she can do his for anyone who needs one. At my request she also puts up a sign to alert people to the change in service. Rochester Visitor Centre still displaying and handing out old timetables.

Monday April 18th: At 9.00 this morning I rang Arriva and asked why there was no information. The man responsible for timetable information explained that due to funding cuts from central Conservative and Lib Dem Government, Arriva had cut his hours and cut costs. They were struggling to get new timetables out but he promised me they would have timetables on 155 route by tomorrow. Within an hour, timetables were being changes at Star Hill.

I then rang Phil Filmer, Conservative portfolio holder for Transport on Medway Council. As he is not a bus user he appeared not to have become aware of the problem until a few days ago. On my suggestion, he also agreed to look into the possibility of the Council providing funding to replace lost services. If I am elected on May 5th, I will make following this up one of my priorities. We have no post office, bank, library and very few shops in Borstal and we need a good, reliable, reasonably priced service. I am willing to fight for it.

To make a complaint, phone Arriva on 0844 8004411 and press 2 on the options. The more complaints they receive, the more impact they will have. Your complaint should be passed to the manager of the planning team and you should be given a reference number like 11/14772 When I rang, the woman was very pleasant and apologetic which was nice!

Sarah Hehir: working for a clean and healthy environment

Thank you for the quick co-operation of the Community Team and to the local resident who noticed that the lack of provision for dog walking on the High Street was causing a problem and alerted me to it. 

On  Monday I spoke to the Community Officer and suggested that the grassed area between Blue Boar car park and the High Street (opposite the chemist and Post Office) would be a good area for a dog bin. He was very helpful and contacted Waste Services who immediately agreed this location. The officer also promised to put up temporary dog fouling signs. These are now already in place between Dot cafe and Star Hill. More will be put up next Thursday.

Our dog, Charlie, seems to have already doubled in size!

Good points

• he likes to fetch and drop a ball
• he is touchingly loyal
• he is clearing out our over stuffed shoe rack.

Bad points

• he looks sad when he is not getting our undivided attention and we feel guilty
• poo ( designated bins and bags from Contact Points do make this more bearable!)

Happy St. Patrick's Day



The 'look' of the Irish!

It's always exciting when the parcel arrives from the girls Grandparents in Limerick full of St. Patrick's Day goodies. If you fancy celebrating, the White Horse on Borstal Street has a fiddle player tonight. There is also a St. Patrick's day dinner at Elizabeth's of  Eastgate tonight.  The Eagle Tavern on the High Street has a free gig on from 8pm. Let me know if there are any other exciting Rochester or Borstal events on tonight! I am also interested in any plans for St. George's Day. . .



Labour delivers!

Thanks to everyone who has helped to get the first newsletter out. We haven't made it to all the houses in Rochester West yet, so email me on hehirsarah@yahoo.co.uk if you would like a newsletter and I will get one to you. I will also have postal voting forms available soon.

An extra big thank you and congratulations to my friend who gave birth at home to a healthy baby boy after delivering Labour Newsletters to Ailsa Mews.

Anyone else who fancies giving this method of encouraging labour a try before the May 5th election, feel free to get in touch.

Hello Charlie

Our dog, Charlie

I have resisted getting a dog for a long time even though my husband tells great stories about his loyal childhood dog and  my three girls want to throw balls for every dog they meet in the park. They have begged and pleaded but I have always been very practical: we already have three children and two cats in a small two bedroom terrace; dogs need feeding and walking and there is always the grim matter of poo.

Then last month I finally gave in and I have to admit I am a convert. Charlie is lively and loyal. He likes the cats and the girls and  I love walking him. Along with the fresh air, exercise and companionship comes the responsibility for cleaning up after him. That's why this section from an email I received seemed particularly relevant:

'I am a resident close to Rochester High Street, although litter is sparse due to the great work of the street cleaners, since before Christmas there has been a significant increase in dog excrement along the footways of the High Street from The Crown to Capons butchers.

I note there are no disposal bins or signage re dog fouling.'

Borstal has a reasonable amount of dog bins but the lack of any on the High Street seems an odd omission that will hopefully be easily sorted as keeping the streets clean is vital for health, community pride and tourism. Medway Contact Points (one at Rochester Library) give out free doggy bags. I have contacted the council and it might help if others do too. To report problem areas that need attention phone the hotline on 01634 336699! You can also email on customer.first@medway.gov.uk

Goodbye to the Priors



Many people in Borstal and Rochester will miss Matt, Esther, Sophia and Micah. They reached far beyond the stone walls of St. Matthew's church to become a well loved family at the centre of our community.





I will miss Matt's calm, thoughtful and measured approach, especially in all the many meetings he attended and Esther's zest for life, people, cooking and feisty conversation. We wish them every happiness in their new home. Cove is lucky to have them!

Get Involved

Medway Moving Memories

Borstal Street 1940’s: thanks to Medway Archive and Local Studies Centre

As Outreach project Coordinator for Rochester Film Salon, Sarah Hehir secured funding for an intergenerational Arts and Heritage Project which will run from March 26th to April 1st.

Children from the Pilgrim Primary School will make a documentary and an animated film whilst learning about local history and developing the skills required to organise and manage a community event.

They will be joined by residents of Sheridan Court and members of the wider community.

If you have photos, artefacts or memories of Borstal and Rochester that we could use, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact Sarah on hehirsarah@yahoo.co.uk or post your ideas and memories to 49 Borstal Street. We would also love you to come and see the film premier at Borstal Community Day on July 9th.

Reckless Tory Police Cuts

Helped by a record number of police officers, crime fell by 43% under Labour and the chances of being a victim of crime were at a 30 year low. Now the Government’s reckless spending cuts will put this progress at risk.

Rochester West is now covered by the same Community Police Officer as Rochester East

less time, more crime

Community Action Delivers

WATT’S MEADOW

Community Action Delivers

After the sudden building of a fence around the entrance to Watt’s Meadow last Spring, came the sad realisation that not only had the Conservative Medway council sold the old nursery land to be built on but the public footpath through Watt’s Meadow was under threat. Derek Munton has been active throughout this campaign, holding meetings and going door to door with petitions and leaflets.

Local residents worked together to retain this important right of way by demanding that the footpath be registered as a definitive public footpath. The definitive path now goes through Watt’s Meadow but has been diverted by means of steps into Southfields.

When we photographed a notice that called for a gate to the housing site, Sarah immediately brought it to the attention of local people via her well established blog http://www.borstalgirl.blogspot.com/ . Meadows W.I. joined the protest. The combined strength of local objections forced council planning officers to take down the notice saying it was, ‘an incorrect description’ and bring the issue up at a full planning meeting. All this action means that there will be no gate restricting access to Watt’s Meadow through the new housing development in the foreseeable future.

A Great Team

Derek Munton and Sarah Hehir: Rochester Art Gallery, Tourist Information Centre

Derek Munton
Derek Munton, Vice Chair of Rochester and Strood Labour Party, was a Labour Councillor for 15 years and Chair of Planning from 1994-2001. As well as being active in the campaign against threats to Watts Meadow, he was active in the movement to protect Borstal Playing Fields from development. Speaking of Sarah Hehir’s selection, he said:

‘We make a great team. Sarah is active on many levels within the community. She has great energy, and enthusiasm. My experience on the council and my involvement in protecting green spaces locally means we are in the perfect position to fight and win this election together.’

Let’s Get Medway Moving…

A New Dynamic Voice



Vote for a new dynamic voice…

Vote for Sarah Hehir and Derek Munton



Sarah Hehir and daughters: Borstal Girls!

Sarah Hehir

Sarah lives and works in Borstal with her husband and three daughters. She is a qualified English teacher and successful entrepreneur. When asked how she sees her role if elected, Sarah replied,

‘I have a vision for our community. I want to generate more inclusive community projects, promote our arts and heritage, support local schools and encourage our entrepreneurs. I believe that Councillors should be visible, dynamic and active members of the community.’

Sarah is Governor at the Pilgrim School, on the Advisory Board of Surestart, on the Board for ABC Project, WI committee member and Outreach Project Coordinator for The Rochester Film Salon. She works at Her Majesty's Young Offenders Institute, Rochester.

Read my newsletter

Sure Start

Medway Labour believe that Sure Start centres are a vital asset to Medway and its families and are concerned by the actions of Conservative Councils up and down the country and the lack of clarity from the Conservatives.

Sure Start centres have a proven track record of improving the early years development of children, offering support and advice to families and providing a safe and welcoming community space.

Labour councillors are concerned that the Government’s introduction of the new Early Intervention Grant replaces money ring-fenced specifically for Sure Start. This money will now be in the hands of local authorities, who effectively have less money to spend on a broader range of areas; this can include, but does not necessitate, spending on Sure Start.

Cllr Teresa Murray (Rochester East) says:

“We are deeply concerned that the promise made by David Cameron to safeguard money for Sure Start has been broken, and seriously urge the council to sustain its funding for the scheme”,

Sarah Hehir (Rochester West Organiser) says:

 “As a mum, I am very concerned by the lack of clarity coming from the Medway Conservatives. They have still not clarified to local mums and dads whether these centres will continue to be fully funded or whether they are threatened. We all have to wait until March and this does not allow long-term planning for the Centres or parents.”

Medway Labour submitted a motion to full Council in January, proposed by Cllr Teresa Murray (Rochester East), urging the council to ensure that Medway’s Sure Start centres are kept safe from the round of cuts expected.

This motion was opposed by the Conservatives and watered down. This raises the spectre of a real-terms cash cut in funding.

Read more on the Rochester and Strood Labour Website

WATTS MEADOW: Future secured by community

 

Sarah Hehir and Derek Munton at Priestfields Entrance to Watts Meadow



After the shocking closure of the Priestfields entrance to Watts Meadow, came the sad realisation that the Tory controlled Medway council had not only failed to protect publicly owned land from development but that the footpath to Watts Meadow was under threat. Local residents showed their determination to hang onto this important right of way by opposing the closure and demanding that the footpath be registered as a definitive pathway.

Derek Munton has been active throughout this campaign, tirelessly holding meetings and going door to door with petitions and leaflets.

On a snowy December night, I discovered a site notice for ‘gated access’ and immediately called for local protests via this blog . I also brought this to the attention of the local Meadows Women’s Institute who objected with such force that Simon Fowler, council planning officer, quickly retracted the site notice claiming, ‘it had an incorrect description of development on it.’

Derek and I led the recent campaign, with the help of  many local residents, that resulted in the issue being discussed at a planning meeting. The outcome is a great success; the path will be reopened as a definitive pathway under the new Planning Act.

Thank you to all residents who gave their time, views and experience.

Sarah Hehir: here's to brighter days ahead!

Manor Lane Playground - view looking towards Borstal Marina and Baty's Marsh

I have promised to clarify a few points from my last Blog Post after a conversation with a committee member from Borstal Open Spaces. The good news is that the improvements to the playground are going ahead and should be completed by the end of March. This should be a perfect start to what I hope is a lovely Spring! The bad news is that there is no chance to have any input into the style or content of the playground.

I have also been asked to make clear that the Annual General Meeting on March 17th at 7.30pm is not open to the public but is open to members of Borstal Open Spaces. If you are keen to go and get information on the playground, you can join by filling in your details on the membership form at Borstal Open Spaces and you will be welcome at the AGM. There will be no consultation with the public so no getting too excited about trampolines, sandpits or picnic tables!

I have been told quite clearly that Borstal Open Spaces has absolutely no political affiliations. This is written into their constitution. I have been asked not to post any more details about upcoming events or information of interest to the public. Therefore, if you want to know details about the playground or future events, do look on their website.

Here's to brighter days ahead and to enjoying the green spaces of Borstal and Rochester!

Good News - Manor Lane Playground revamp!

Esme inspects Manor Lane Playground

NEW playgrounds promised to children in Medway by the Labour Government came under threat because of the Coalition Government's cutbacks.

The Labour Government introduced Playbuilder, the energetic scheme to build 3,500 community playgrounds. In June 2009, Medway's Conservative led Council received £1,128,320 from the Labour Government to fund playground improvements at 22 sites in the region. Howard Doe, Medway Council's portfolio holder for housing and community Services, said:

"The first year of Playbuilder was great .'

However, one year on, council grants for potential playgrounds were frozen by the Coalition's Department for Education. It looked like Borstal would not get the much needed funding for playground improvements after all.

So it is certainly something to celebrate that funding has finally been promised and Manor Lane Recreation Ground will have a new playground! Borstal Open Spaces will be holding an AGM open to all members on March 7th at 7.30pm, Borstal Village Hall if you want to find out more. I have contacted the group to see if suggestions from local children and parents would be welcome: the people who use the equipment usually know what works best for different age groups. I love bouncy pirate ships and trampolines. I mean, my girls do.

Will the council register our LOCAL FOOTPATH?

Watts Meadow update

Sarah Hehir and Derek Munton at the Priestfields entrance to Watts Meadow

Last summer, local people were shocked and horrified to find that without any prior warning the entrance to Watt’s Meadow footpath was dramatically closed off by Bellway Homes. This was done without public consultation or prior warning. We felt let down by the council who appeared to prioritise Bellway’s building work over the needs of local residents.

450 people signed a petition which showed concern for the future of the entire green area which should have made the council sit up and listen. In fact, they went on to divert the designated Watts Meadow public footpath away from Priestfields into Southfields, up the set of steep concrete steps.

Further protests came from local residents in December about a planning application for an ugly wall, two gate posts and an access gate, meaning a loss of access from Priestfields into Watts Meadow. Medway Council told us it was a mistake but our protests had a dramatic impact and resulted in a promise to re-open the footpath in the near future with full public access when the issue goes to planning committee.

But promises are not enough. If Medway council and Bellway Homes are going to guarantee to stand by their promise, then when councillors make the decision regarding Bellway’s new planning applications they must formally register the footpath and make it a condition of planning permission being granted.  Send your demands to Simon Fowler at: simon.fowler@medway.gov.uk

 Planning application goes to the Medway council Development Control Committee:

Wednesday 26 January   7.00pm

Medway Council offices:

Gun Wharf, Chatham

Please keep the emails coming before this date to keep the pressure on local councillors.

Don’t let the council, elected to serve the people of Rochester, continue to let us down!

Making contacts, getting things done!

I rang Nick Turner from Arriva this morning to thank him for putting up the bus timetables in Borstal. He said that if there are any other stops that are missing timetables in the area or if there are any vandalised or damaged shelters that need attention, to let him know. There are only two people covering the whole of Medway so he said they are usually unaware of problems until people speak to them. Let me know and I'll pass on the message.

Watts Meadow - register a Designated Public Footpath

Good to see that our protests have had an affect and that we now we have a promise to allow access through the site for walkers from Borstal or Priestfields to Watt’s Meadow!

The following is a section of correspondence from Simon Fowler to Derek Munton, me and others who had emailed him. It was sent on January 6th 2011:

'To update you all on the status of the public right of way through the site to Watts Meadow, I have spoken to a representative of Bellway Homes, a Mr Dean Chapman, and the Councils public right of way officer who have both confirmed that the right of way will be reinstated once work has been completed on site and shall not be affected by the proposed wall.'

However, it is still not clear whether the route through the houses will be a Designated Public Footpath included on the Definitive Map. If planning permission is given then this should be a condition of consent.

It is important that the route is secured for walkers permanently: being given permission to cross the development is quite inadequate. We are aware that permission granted can be refused later. The issue of access is crucial because without ease of access, Watt’s Meadow could fall into disuse and itself be threatened by housing development. 

If permission is not granted, footpath RRX15 as shown on map dated 22/9/10 should be amended to continue from Watt’s Meadow to Priestfields.

We have asked Simon Fowler to keep us up to date with progress on registering this route as a designated public footpath.

Watts Meadow is an area of natural beauty that should be protected for residents now and for future generations. Thanks to everyone who has been involved in demanding answers and showing support.

Happy New Year Rochester West!

Happy New Year to everyone and thanks for following my blog! With less than five months until the local council elections,

Success! Here comes the 155...

Bus timetables are now up on the bus stops outside the Baptist Church and St. Matthews's Chrurch. Sometimes making our local community a better place starts with small steps. Arriva was aware that the bus stops needed timetables but Borstal was not a priority. When I started my chocolate business, I learnt that being polite but persistent is often the best way to get results. I made regular phone calls to Nick Turner at Arriva and kept a good record of the promises made to ensure that our request was taken seriously. Happy travelling!

Elsie waiting for a bus on Borstal Street