HELP KEEP GREENHITHE SAFE

Ebbsfleet Consultation - Business Event

Ebbsfleet Consultation - Business Event

Last Updated: 11 Sep 2014 8:33am

Monday 15 September at The PHB Stadium, Stonebridge Road
10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm 

An opportunity for local businesses to hear about the proposal to create a Development Corporation at Ebbsfleet and ask questions.

To book a place at one of these sessions:

Please contact EbbsfleetConsultation@communities.gsi.gov.uk or call 0303 444 1649.

Source curtesy of Dartford Borough Council website http://www.dartford.gov.uk/news/News-Archive/ebbsfleet-consultation-business-event 

We can't let this keep happening!

Our seas are under immense pressure: too many fish are being taken out, too much rubbish is being thrown in and too little is being done to protect our precious marine wildlife and vital fish stocks.
The Marine Conservation Society champions the need for marine wildlife protection, sustainable fisheries and clean seas and beaches.
MCS' vision is for seas rich in wildlife, abundant fish stocks and pollution free beaches and bathing waters - seas that are fit for wildlife to thrive in and for people to enjoy, and seas that will support future generations with abundant resources.

Get involved this September with the Great British Beach Clean

 

Greenhithe Marina where there’s a will there’s a way...

It seems everything is being outsourced today, even ingenuity… Greenhithe Marina of course it would, where there’s a will there’s a way…

 

Highest accolade for the community centre heroes Eddie and Angie Ward of Greenhithe

 By  Lizzy Massey lmassey@thekmgroup.co.uk

Knockhall Community Centre

A husband and wife team have been honoured for their tireless work transforming a community space.

The Greenhithe Community Centre in Alexander Road was draughty and cold, the toilets and kitchen were not fit for purpose and parking was a problem.

Cue Angie Ward, who began volunteering as the centre’s secretary in 2010 after illness forced her to give up her job as a secretary and payroll manager.

The 55-year-old convinced her husband Eddie to volunteer as the booking clerk, and he took over as chairman in 2011.

Straight away the couple, of Hasted Close, Greenhithe, began to turn the centre around.

Eddie, 76, said: “I hadn’t appreciated how much local charities struggle to get volunteers. I was shocked to see the state of the facilities.

“It has been a challenge but we now have a community centre to be proud of.”

The couple accumulated grants from Dartford council and Kent County Council totalling £32,000.

The centre now has double glazing as well as a new overflow car park, toilets, kitchen and energy efficient lighting.

It was reopened in all its glory on Saturday and Angie and Eddie were presented with Dartfordian Award – the borough’s highest accolade – at the same time. Angie said: “I have gained so much from the experience, from the challenge of learning how to fill in grant applications to the joy of seeing the transformation of the centre.

“These improvements have only been made possible by the support of our fellow trustees and local councillors.”

They were the first Dartfordian Awards presented this year.

Dartford council leader Jeremy Kite (Con) and the town’s mayor Cllr Avtar Sandhu and Mayor of Swanscombe and Greenhithe Cllr Susan Butterfill all gathered for the ribbon cutting.

Lower Thames crossing announcement, 15 July 2014

The Secretary of State for Transport has today announced the governments’ response to consultation on options for a new Lower Thames Crossing.

The response sets out the decisions government has reached taking into account the numerous and diverse points raised during consultation. Namely, it

·         confirms there is a need for a new crossing,

·        advises that, as there is as yet no clear preference, government will develop and appraise route options for both location options A and C before choosing where to site a new crossing. (Option A is at the existing crossing and Option C is a new link connecting the A2/M2 with the A13 and M25), and

·        advises that government expects to consult on a proposed solution in late 2015 or early 2016.

For further details please access the government website at www.gov.uk/government/collections/lower-thames-crossing for

• a short public information video
• Written Ministerial Statement

·         Press notice

• Response to Consultation document
• 5 technical notes

Department for Transport, London SW1P 4DR

Paramount London Consulting on how best to consult...

For more information please click on this link: http://www.londonparamount.info/

Ingress Park Family Fun Day (IPFFD) now in its 4th year

London Paramount takes a huge step forward as first non-infrastructure Planning Act 2008 scheme direction announced

First non-infrastructure Planning Act 2008 scheme direction announced

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has announced that proposals for a major new Disney-style theme park in Kent will be determined by the Planning Act 2008 regime originally set up to handle nationally significant infrastructure projects.

The scheme, currently known as London Paramount, is earmarked for a 200-hectare site at Swanscombe, close to Ebbsfleet Station.

The project is the first to be treated as a development of national significance following the Government’s decision to allow certain specified non-infrastructure schemes to use the regime.

The minister’s direction letter said he considered that “the proposal would be likely to have significant economic Impact, be important in driving growth in the economy, and that it would have an impact on an area wider than a single local authority area. The Secretary of State also considers that the substantial physical size of the proposal is relevant to his decision that this project is of national significance.

“The SoS also thinks that this would be a project that would benefit from the ‘single authorisation’ process offered by the Planning Act 2008 regime.”

London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH), the company behind the theme park proposal, has welcomed the move.

The location of the project on the North Kent coast straddles the boundary between two local planning authorities - Gravesham and Dartford Borough Councils.

FREE Dog Micro-chipping - 6 March 2014.

FREE Dog Micro-chipping - 6 March 2014.

Swanscombe and Greenhithe Town Council. Please call 0207 8370006 with enquiries or for further details of this event.

follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2014 Swanscombe and Greenhithe Town Council, All rights reserved.

Devastating weather wreaks havoc at Ingress Park Greenhithe

Wind rips open the top of a new build flat in Greenhithe

By Heloise Wood

The weekend's tempestuous weather wreaked havoc in Greenhithe as winds ripped a huge hole in a new build apartment complex. 

A gap is clearly visible under the roof of the building in Ingress Park, London Road, following extreme weather on Friday evening (FEB 14). 

The incredible pictures, showing gaping gaps where bricks should be, were captured by resident Tom Harris. 

The devastating weather is continuing this week with 16 severe flood warnings in place for southern England and the Met Office has issued a yellow (“be aware”) weather warning for certain parts of the UK.

Justice for Claire? Former milkman Colin Ash-Smith has been found guilty of murdering schoolgirl Claire Tiltman in a "frenzied attack" in 1993

Former milkman Colin Ash-Smith has been found guilty of murdering schoolgirl Claire Tiltman in a "frenzied attack" in 1993.

The 46-year-old stabbed Claire Tiltman from behind as she took a short cut through an alleyway to a friend's house in 1993, four days after her 16th birthday.

More follows...

Tragic loss: Claire Tiltman

Read the full story here: News Claire Tiltman Daily Mirror

Happy Holidays and Warm Wishes for a Happy New Year

Environment Agency puts Kent on flood alert as high tides combine with gale-force winds

Coast from Dartford to Allhallows

• Current status:

  
  

  Flood Alert

  Flood status last changed at  17:02 on 04 Dec 2013

• Location:

  River Thames from Dartford and Crayford to Allhallows including; Dartford, Crayford, Greenhithe, Denton, Swanscombe, Northfleet, Gravesend and Cliffe
  View map of Flood Alert area
  

• Region:

  Southeast
  

Latest Information:

• High spring tides, combined with a prolonged surge, mean that water levels are forecast to be high. This poses a serious risk for both high tides on Friday. For the 02:30 tide the predicted astronomical tide level is 3.06 mAOD. The forecast surge is 1.06 m. The total water level at Sheerness is 4.12 mAOD. For the 14:45 tide, the predicted astronomical tide level is 3.18 mAOD. The forecast surge height is 0.93 m. The forecast high water at Sheerness is 4.11 mAOD. Forecast wind speeds are northwesterly force 4 to 7, wave heights are low. Our staff are working to minimise the impacts. Water levels may be dangerously high before the predicted astronomical tidal peak. This is because the surge is raising water levels before the peak of the astronomical tide
  15:06 on 05 Dec 2013
  

• Floodline:

  Call Floodline on 0845 988 1188, select option 1 and enter Quickdial number 01261 to get more information
  

• Related Flood Warning Areas

  This area is covered by our general early notification of possible flooding, known as Flood Alert. We can also issue more specific Flood Warnings in this area. Follow the link(s) below to check if Flood Warnings are also in force for the following location(s):
  
  • Severe Flood Warning
    • Properties seaward of the tidal defences in Gravesend, Denton and Greenhithe
    • Coast from Higham Marshes to Seasalter, excluding Sheerness and Queenborough
  • No warning
    • Coast from Dartford Creek to Shorne Marshes
    • Dartford and Crayford

• Previous statuses:

  • No warning 09:07 on 05 Nov 2013
  • Warning no longer in force 08:38 on 04 Nov 2013
  • Flood Alert 20:31 on 03 Nov 2013
  • No warning 08:40 on 29 Nov 2011
  • Warning no longer in force 08:11 on 28 Nov 2011

KCC Budget Consultation

Dear GMRA Members and regular blog readers,

Kent County Council launched its budget consultation on Friday 8 November. 

Kent residents are being asked for their views on our spending proposals; a process that is hugely important in shaping our future decisions. 

There are two ways you can get involved and help us set the right priorities for spending:

·        Take 2 minutes to answer 2 questions

·         Help balance KCC’s budget using our online tool

Visit www.kent.gov.uk/budget by Friday 13 December to read the proposals and give us your views – please cascade to your contacts as well.

Community Engagement Officer - Dartford

G37 Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone, ME14 1XQ

HAVE YOUR SAY... visit: www.kent.gov.uk/communityengagement

Christmas Lights Switch On Stone Parish Friday 29th November 3:30 - 6;30pm

Stone Parish Christmas Lights Switch On

DIGNITY & GRACE... EVEN WHEN THERE'S NO LOVE LOST...

Dear GMRA members and readers,

Following the recent Kent County Council Elections we received a lot of emails from members who were concerned that by endorsing a political candidate, as we did, meant that we, the residents association would no longer be seen as a non-political group.

The Greenhithe Conservative Councilors have recently published and hand delivered their newsletter throughout Greenhithe and at the risk of further wrath from members we have copied it into this post below: This newsletter tell us that we endorsed the right man in Cllr Keith Kelly, who following his election defeat, didn't throw his toys out of the pram, no instead, he showed dignity and grace in accepting his fate.

We also admire the fact that both Cllr Kelly and Cllr Mote have openly opposed the proposed Lower Thames Crossing at the Swanscombe Peninsula which is of course a view we share as it is not only the correct decision its the right decision for Swanscombe & Greenhithe as well as for the whole of Kent Thameside and the Tames Gateway.

Apologies if this is political, but we need more local representation and thank goodness for people like Cllr Mote & Cllr Kelly who are not afraid to speak up for local residents.

by Thom Morris tmorris@thekmgroup.co.uk

• 
  

The panel at last night's meeting

The leader of Kent County Council has said that the authority will be opting for option C – a new Thames crossing cutting through Gravesham. Appearing at a meeting last night, Paul Carter said he had substantial modifications to the plans put forward by the government, but would not reveal them until later this week.

He said: “Yes I do believe we need a new crossing. We’ve been doing quite a lot of work on our own feasibility studies and the work we did suggested it should be east of Gravesend.

“We’ve had some reservations from members of my group and the Gravesham area but we do believe it should be a tunnel, not a bridge. 

“We would object to the link road going through Shorne and we will put that in our response.”

KCC will not sign off its formal response to the consultation until a meeting of the cabinet on July 15 – a day before the consultation closes.

The meeting, held at Hilton Dartford Bridge Hotel on Crossways Business Park, was organised by BBC Radio Kent and BBC Essex.

During the meeting, the Dartford crossing was closed after an accident.

The leader of Kent County Council has said that the authority will be opting for option C – a new Thames crossing cutting through Gravesham.

The panel consisted of David Burch from the Essex Chambers of Commerce; Natalie Chapman from the Freight Transport Association; John Kent, Labour leader of Thurrock Borough Council; Richard Knox-Johnston from CPRE Protect Kent; and Mike Stephens from the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Present in the audience of about 150 people was Gravesham council leader John Burden, Dartford council leader Jeremy Kite, and people from Essex and Kent. Cllr Kent stuck to the same line that Gravesham council is supporting, that of “none of the above”.

He said: “I don’t think the case has been proven – if you remove the tolls I believe you will free up capacity.

“We don’t need a new crossing and removing the tolls is a lot cheaper than building a new bridge and will give some respite from the congestion we get, day in and day out. “We need to wait and see what the impact is from free tolling.”

But Jeremy Kite, whilst agreeing that waiting to see what the free flowing tolls will bring, said option C was the best of the three.

He said: “I do think we need a new crossing and while I do think we should see what happens with the free flow technology, we’re being asked to pick one of those and we think it should be C.”