SMIRA are co-sponsoring a boat, as we did in 2022 for the charity boat race on Sunday 28 May 2023! We have spaces in the boat for residents to take place this year too, no rowing experience needed, all swimming abilities and non-swimmers welcome (no-one has fallen in yet and everyone has to wear a life vest) over 14's only, places are free. If you want to take part and be in the team, please contact us.  Happy rowing all, fingers crossed for sunshire!

Many residents have joined My Community Voice to keep up to date with the work their local policing teams do and connect with them through a messaging service. It has been brilliant to see residents actively promoting it via the SMIRA official Facebook page.

The Island Speedwatch group continue their efforts to reduce speeding on the Island. In late May, 25 people were recorded driving over 35mph over the bridge onto St Marys Island with the highest speed being 53mph.

Residents are asked to please slow down, the speed limit is 30mph all around the Island.

Members of Speedwatch volunteer as they feel strongly about the speed in which vehicles travel and the safety of residents.

This issue continues to be a focus at each SMIRA Residents’ meeting.

SMIRA provided all residents with the latest dates for Police surgeries being held in May and June 2022 by PCSO Ellie Cox. The next surgery will be held at the Sunlight Centre in Gillingham on 10 June between 10am-12 noon.

SMIRA continues to provide updates from PCSO Saunders on a monthly basis. Please see the official SMIRA Facebook Page for all reports.

SMIRA is pleased to announce that it is teaming up with Chatham Maritime Trust to take part in this years' Dragon Boat challenge taking place at Basin 2 Chatham Maritime on Sunday 5th June.

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The challenge helps to support Medway Sunlight Rotary Club, as well as a charity of our choice. If anyone would like to suggest a local charity, please get in touch via email - admin@smira.info

From 11th April 2022, MHP updated their mailbox addresses:

kmccg.maritimehealth@nhs.net (for General Enquiries)

kmccg.maritimehealth-prescriptions@nhs.net (for Prescriptions)

kmccg.maritimehealth-reports@nhs.net (for Insurance Reports or SARs)

kmccg.maritimehealth-referrals@nhs.net (for Referral updates)

kmccg.maritimehealth-carehomes@nhs.net (for Care Home related items)

kmccg.maritimehealth-complaints@nhs.net (for Complaints)

kmccg.maritimehealth-accounts@nhs.net (for Finance related queries)

​SMIRA launched its first hybrid residents meeting held on 25 April in the Community Centre and via Zoom. Thanks to CMT for providing the technology required to help us stay engaged with residents.

SMIRA continued to work closely with Cllr. Tejan to keep residents informed on progress of the Medway City Estate works which ran over the scheduled time. In addition, Cllr. Tejan has remained engaged with the local community and joins the SMIRA Residents meetings to ensure issues and concerns are addressed.

Kent Police now has a schools based team who predominantly work in secondary schools.

The local secondary schools officer for the Rochester and Chatham area is PC Paul Dearing, he covers the following schools:

• Holcombe Grammar School

• The Thomas Aveling School

• Kings School

• He also covers The Waterfront UTC in Gillingham

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The local secondary schools officer for the Chatham area is PC Corrin Parker, she covers the following schools:

• St. John Fisher Catholic School

• The Victory Academy

• Fort Pitt Grammar School

• She also covers the GFC school in Gillingham

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The local secondary schools officer for the Rochester area is PC Dominic Nelson, he covers the following schools:

• Sir Joseph Williamsons Mathematical School

• The Rochester Grammar School

• Blue Skies School

• Medway Green School

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The local secondary schools officer for the Gillingham area is PC Rhys Williams, he covers the following schools:

• Robert Napier

• Brompton Academy

• Chatham Girls Grammar School

• The Will Adams Centre

One of our residents is a Trustee of the Streetcops Trust, which offers funding to organisations based in the Medway area whose activities help to prevent people becoming either involved in crime or victims of crime.

Please visit the Streetcops Facebook page and message Streetcops to obtain an application form if you run a local organisation that may qualify. Preferably a local Police Officer or PCSO should be involved in the application to enable them to remain involved in the communities they serve. However, this is not essential if your project / group can contribute to a Safer, Stronger community. Angela Saunders and Jody Coxon, our local PCSOs are familiar with the work of the Streetcops Trust.  https://www.facebook.com/streetcopstrust

At the SMIRA residents meeting on 21 February 2022 , residents asked Cllr Habib Tejan whether the cost of applying for a permit to hold a street party during the Queens Jubilee celebrations could be waivered by Medway Council as the cost was £100 per application.

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Cllr Habib Tejan has responded with the following response:

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With regards to the question regarding the Queen Platinum Jubilee, please note that for street parties between 2 June and 5 June 2022, residents can apply to close a road on one day free of charge. 

The fees for a road closure, have been waivered for this occasion only, however, please refer to : https://www.medway.gov.uk/streetpartiesfor further guidance on this matter.

Please kindly review all instructions and submit your form to:  traffic.management@medway.gov.uk. Please quote reference number 22/20 in all correspondence. 

Maritime Health Partnership have shared the upcoming FLU and COVID Vaccination Clinic days and times.

Flu Clinics

14.12.2021 St Mary’s Island Surgery - 9am-10am

17.12.2021 St Mary’s Medical Centre – 4pm-5pm

20.12.2021 St Mary’s Island Surgery - 4pm-5pm

29.12.2021 Pentagon Surgery Boots - 4pm-5pm

COVID Clinics

Saturday 11/12/2021:8am-1pm & 2pm-6pm St Mary’s Medical Centre

Sunday 12/12/2021:9am-1pm & 2pm-5pm St Mary’s Medical Centre

Tuesday 14/12/2021: 8am-2pm St Mary’s Medical Centre

Wednesday 15/12/2021: 1pm-7pm St Mary’s Medical Centre

Thursday 16/12/2021: 8am-2pm St Mary’s Medical Centre

Both sessions are by appointment, however, patients registered to Maritime Health Partnership are also eligible to walk in on the day.

Those that would rather have a dedicated appointment are welcome to contact the surgery and book in.

PCSO Angela Saunders informed all residents of a new initiative called 'My Community Voice'. My Community Voice was set up to allow local residents and businesses to gain insight into the work their local policing teams do, and enables residents to connect with their local police teams through a messaging service.

Residents who would like to sign up for this can do so via this link https://www.mycommunityvoicekent.co.uk/

SMIRA has signed up and will keep residents informed of any key information.

Maritime Health Partnership have been awarded the contract to provide primary care services for St Mary's Island Surgery. Their website https://www.maritimehealth.co.uk/  provides key information for residents such as the new surgery telephone number. Please follow the link above for further information.

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The transition period is still ongoing but residents are now able to call and book an appointment at the surgery. Please be aware that the Livi App previously advertised by Medway Practices Alliance is no longer free to use.

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SMIRA will keep residents informed of any updates.

Crime updates continue to be shared with residents on the official SMIRA Facebook page. The latest update in November focussed on managing incidents occurring in the river working closely with the Coastguards and CMT. PCSO Saunders noted that it is not permitted to swim from the banks of Chatham Maritime Trusts land. In addition the PCSO has been working hard to address shoplifting at Dockside, working closely with security officers. Finally, PCSO Saunders has been working with MOAT housing to tackle anti-social behaviour.

This year, our Directors; Chris Reynolds and Mona Koshkouie, have taken their position as Trustees of the Chatham Maritime Trust very seriously, and have raised many issues on behalf of the residents during the CMT Trustee meetings. Road and pathway maintenance and security have been two of the many areas covered, as well as them being very involved in trying to protect the residents' voting rights on the CMT Board with proposals currently being tabled to reduce our influence on decisions the Trustees make.

SMIRA have been involved in the review of the proposed development of the Chatham Docks with both interested parties making presentations to the residents. SMIRA conducted a poll to gauge the feelings of the residents which was in favour of saving the Chatham Docks and preserving the jobs of the workers employed on the site. Presentations were made to Kelly Tolhurst MP and she has pledged to assist as much as she can in her role as local MP. Kelly has also agreed to come along to future residents' meetings when her diary allows.

The Foundation continues to work hard to keep our Marian clean and litter free. They continue to look for volunteers to help. Please visit http://living-river.org/events for more information on how to volunteer.

The success of SMIRA and sustainability of its work with key stakeholders on behalf of the Residents’ of the Island is dependant on volunteers. We would love for you to get involved either as a Sector Rep, a Board member, or if you have an idea which will support our Community. Please get in touch via email at admin@smira.info.

​SMIRA want to hear from Residents’ and their top priorities for 2022. Please get in touch via admin@smira.info to let us know what you would like the SMIRA Board to take forward as part of their work in 2022.

​The SMIRA Board is working to take this initiative forward, and has recently met with PCSO Angela Saunders who has put SMIRA in contact with the Neighbourhood Watch Officer at Medway Police Station. In the interim, SMIRA will continue to keep Residents’ up to date with key information and advice provided to us by National Neighbourhood Watch.

The Speedwatch group supported by Residents', Speedwatch and Carl Davies from Chatham Maritime Trust met recently to prepare for the re-start of this effort to keep our Island safe.

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As always, these initiatives rely on volunteers to be a success. If anyone is interested in volunteering to assist the group in their speed checks on and around the island, or would like more information about this initiative, please contact Carl Davies - info@cmtrust.co.uk.

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As COVID restrictions begin to lift and we begin to meet with friends and family again, more of us will want to host gatherings in our homes and enjoy the sunshine.

A polite reminder to respect our neighbours and be mindful to turn off music at a respectable hour, and limit the noise which may disturb others.

​Notice to all residents that CMT will shortly be announcing their plans to review compliance with the covenants. All enquiries should be addressed to info@cmtrust.co.uk.

MPA continues to increase appointment capacity to meet rising demand.

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MPA initially commissioned 300 hundred additional appointments per week from “Livi” who will provide digital care from 29th June. The capacity of Livi appointments will be reviewed on a monthly basis and will be increased as and when required.  This additional capacity will support a peak in demand, as the Livi capacity can be increased within twenty-four hours. 

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Livi enables patients to have a consultation with a GP by video on their mobile or tablet seven days a week. Patients are able to organise a consultation on the same day or book up to seven days in advance. 

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Livi GPs are able to offer medical advice, prescriptions and referrals to a specialist if necessary. This service has full access to patients’ notes so they are aware of the previous medical history, prescriptions and allergies etc.

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Patients requiring COVID vaccinations who wish to be seen at the clinics operated by Medway Central Primary Care Network can now book appointments on the national booking service online or via 119.

A letter was sent to all registered patients of the Island Surgery regarding the latest update on the future provision of services.

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Residents are asked to read this letter and to write to the CCG if they have any views or comments to make. Our contacts at the CCG are very keen from as many people as possible.

SMIRA are in need of some eye-catching artwork for the noticeboards on our lovely island.

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You can paint, sketch, create a collage....... (the possibilities are up to your imagination!) to create an A4 sized poster with the subject of “WE LOVE OUR ISLAND”

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There is a £10.00 high street voucher for the winning design in each of the following categories: ages 11 and under, ages 11-16 and, 17+. The winning designs will be featured on our website, Facebook page, as well as the all-important island noticeboards.

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To enter: send a scan or photo of your design, along with your name and age to: admin@smira.info. Remember to keep your original artwork in case you win, as we'll need it for the noticeboard!

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Closing date for entries: 30th June 2021

Winners will be announced by 31st July 2021

The Chatham Martime Water sports Centre reopened at the start of April – please visit https://www.cmtrust.co.uk/play/water-sports/ for more information on how to book and what’s going on.

Please see below, the question and answer session with Dr Julian Spinks, Medical Director at Medway Practices Alliance, on resident’s queries with the covid-19 vaccination programme.

Q) How frequently will the surgery provide updates on the progress or changes with the vaccination programme?

A) Updates will be provided as things change. Sometimes this can be at short notice. We will communicate with patients using the surgery website and also share relevant updates with SMIRA to share with residents as appropriate.

Q) How are those eligible for a vaccine being identified?

A) Most of the groups are based on age early in the process and this is an easy and robust search. When it gets on to at-risk groups, such as those who are shielding, a lot of work was done early last year to ensure these were identified and there are nationally mandated searches to re-identify them. The practice has been working on data quality as part of our recovery programme and have been working with a company called Clinical Analytics who use sophisticated systems to look for un-coded at-risk patients. As a result I feel that the risk of people being missed is much lower than 6 months ago.

Q)Does eligibility include identifying front line workers?

A) The group where data may not be complete is the frontline workers, but these individuals should be hearing of the vaccination plan via their employers.

Q) How is the vaccination programme being organised in our area?

A) The vaccinations are currently being organised via the Central Medway Primary Care Group. After proposing several vaccination sites to the CCG/NHS England, it appears that the site will be at St Mary’s Practice , Strood (NB Not St Mary’s Island) . This was because none of the practices our side of the river was felt to have suitable space for the Pfizer Vaccine, which carries with it considerable complexity.. Unfortunately the national requirement is for a single centre with no ability to change this or for patients to have a choice. Whether this will change as the Oxford vaccine is rolled out remains to be seen but any attempt to move outside the national standard operating procedures has been firmly rebuffed until now.

Q) If the situation changes and the surgery is able to offer covid-19 vaccinations, how will patients/residents be contacted?

A) The current proposal is to contact patients by using an SMS-based system as the primary route but with telephone, email and post as a back-up. We need to use a quick method because the booking (and cancellation) of appointments is likely to be at short notice at first. Appointments will not be booked by the practice on-demand as we are required to work through the groups in strict order and need to ensure a good match between the numbers of vaccines and appointments.

Q) Have vaccinations started in our area and how many have been vaccinated if so?

A) The GP vaccine centres have been rolled out in waves across the UK and no vaccinations have happened in our area.

The SMIRA AGM will be held on 27 November 2020 at 19h30 via Zoom. Please see the meeting page for up to date information. 

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The minutes for last year's AGM as well as information on SMIRA accounts and voting for new SMIRA board members is in an 8 page booklet that has been put into all post boxes on St Mary's Island, or you can click on the image below to see an electronic copy. A copy has also been posted up on the Central Walk notice board.