Local Residents with Tony at one of the unmanned crossing.
Tony met with local residents and the Press this week to pubilicise their campaign to reduce noise from the 2 unmanned crossings near their homes in Milton. The issue is that the train drivers have to sound their horns when approaching each crossing and some trains sound horns too long and at inappropriate times (after midnight, for example). Both Milton Councillors (Tony and Steve Davey) have written to South Eastern and have recieved a reply promising some reduction. The local residents are no organising an online petition to go to South Eastern to try to get a better resolution.
Press Statement from Leader of Swale Borough Council Roger Truelove:
It’s been a couple of weeks since my last message, and I’m pleased to see that the people of Swale have – with limited unfortunate exceptions – continued to observe the rules on staying at home and social distancing.
This is the most important thing we can all do to help bring this
crisis to an end, and I hope we all continue to follow the guidance to
say at home, protect the NHS and save lives.
It is now
just over four weeks since we at the council began adjusting to the
challenges brought about by the pandemic and by government expectations
of the role we should play.
This has often been hectic
and demanding and I want to repeat my thanks to our staff who have
worked tirelessly over the past month.
I also want to pay tribute to the many volunteers in the community who are helping us to meet these challenges.
I would also like to thank my fellow councillors from all parties who
are working with their local communities and coming together as a
council.
Despite increased pressure, we are working hard
to keep control of the increasing level of people presenting to us as
homeless. Officers have been working to try to make sure no-one is
sleeping rough on the borough’s streets.
Our community
support hub is up and running to help those clinically extremely
vulnerable people that the government has asked to shield themselves by
self-isolating for 12 weeks. Most of these have a network of support
that can help them remain safely at home by helping with things like
shopping. For those that don’t, we can help them if they call us on
01795 417525.
We have now also made grants to local
foodbanks and Citizens Advice Swale who are helping local people through
difficult times, and we have brought forward our members grants scheme
so that individual councillors can offer financial help to local
community groups.
We have also contacted 2,600 local
small businesses to help them apply for the grants of up to £25,000, and
the first payments will be arriving in business accounts this week.
Our waste collection service is being maintained, and I am immensely
grateful to the public for the support and understanding they are
showing when there have been some delays. The wall covered in thank you
messages at the depot shows the warm appreciation we all have for those
who are continuing to collect our bins in difficult circumstances.
I know I speak for most of us when I offer my appreciation for the
dedication of those working on the front line. Our health and social
care workers, those who are working so hard in our supermarkets,
delivery drivers, manufacturers, the list goes on. It is devastating
when we hear stories of these good people being abused, through
misunderstanding, ignorance or just plain jealousy.
It
has never been more important to work with our partners – in the NHS, at
Kent County Council and Kent Police – to keep people safe. The police
were a tremendous help over the Easter weekend as we worked to
discourage people from visiting our popular beaches and parks.
We are also receiving regular briefings from government ministers as
they recognise the vital part being played by local councils in fighting
back against this virus.
We are still a long way from winning this battle, and I know it’s incredibly hard for many.
Isolation, uncertainty and worry for the future are not uncommon. But
among all this, I see incredible amounts of hope and reasons to be
optimistic.
People are coming out of retirement to help
the NHS and others are volunteering to help their neighbours and friends
get food and supplies while they stay safe.
Parents are
sharing ideas to help teach their children at home, and friends and
relatives are checking in on each other to remind those that are
isolating that they are not alone.
All the windows
filled with children’s rainbows remind us that the sun can still shine,
and the weekly clap for the NHS reconnects us with our friends and
neighbours even though we must – for now – remain at a safe distance.
But, if we continue to do what we must, and remember why we are doing
this – to stay safe, protect the NHS and save lives – we will, to quote
The Queen, “meet again.”
Vital services for the
most vulnerable in our communities are now stretched to breaking point by the
Coronavirus crisis.
For the latest information about council services and details of
how to volunteer as part of the community response please see the Swale Borough Council
website:
