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!