Cooks Lane, Sittingbourne

Over the last few months our site teams have been working hard to deliver our first hand overs consisting of 18 units. The first of these units will be occupied within the first quarter of 2021.

Work has been progressing with the construction of the next hand overs and we are currently constructing timber frame for units that will be handed over late 2021.

Planning works have progressed for the new road entrances on Cooks Lane and these works will start on the 4th January 2021, and will kick start the first handovers in March 2021.

Cooks Lane will need to be temporarily closed off to allow these works to take place and progress in the shortest amount of time to reduce disruption to local residents.

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Did you know that hedgehog numbers have fallen by 30 percent in just over 10 years and they are disappearing from the parks and gardens of Britain at an alarming rate. This decline is likely caused by the loss and degradation of habitats due to pressures such as development or agricultural and climate change.

Helping hedgehogs is not as difficult as you may think and there are lots of small changes we can all make that will combine to have a huge positive effect…..

• Link your garden with your neighbours
• Build a hedgehog home
• Create a wildlife area in your garden
• Put out food & water
• Pick up litter
• Stop using chemicals
• Check before strimming
• Make your pond safe with a ramp

GIVE A HEDGEHOG A HOME

To help the hedgehog population and our important eco systems, ENGIE are donating free hedgehog homes to local residents, schools and charities to encourage everyone to lend a helping hand and to use them to educate young people about our wildlife, habitats and environments.

If you would like to receive a free igloo hedgehog house for your garden like pictured below, please contact Vicky for more details

victoria.bangay@engie.com

Members of the Cooks Lane project including the ENGIE team, Sanctuary Homes and various subcontractors, all came together to donate food and toiletries to the local food bank in Faversham.

It is difficult to think that anyone in our community should have to face going hungry, which is why the Swale Food Bank provides food and support to local people who are referred to them in crisis. They are part of a nationwide network of food banks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.

Due to COVID and social distancing, the usual churches that accept the donations are not currently allowing people to go there, so instead they have set up drop off points within local supermarkets to allow people to donate which will then be collected by the charity.

www.swale.foodbank.org.uk

Congratulations to our Employees of the Month for September 2020.

Supervisor of the Month; Ian Cloete – O'Connell's

Operative of the Month; Don Graves – ENGIE Labourer

Ian Cloete has impressed ENGIE Management by showing true leadership and supervisor skills towards his operatives. He encourages his team to stick to the new COVID walkway systems to ensure social distancing, and always ensures that his operatives are wearing the correct PPE.

Don Greaves is an incredibly hardworking individual who the ENGIE Management can always rely on to use his own innovative and complete a task to a very high standard within deadline.

Both have received a £20 gift voucher.

Over the last few months our site teams have been working hard to deliver our first handovers consisting of 17 units which include 4 show units, complete with spacious gardens parking and surrounded by public open space. The first of the units will be completed by October 2020.

In the forth coming months Engie will be carrying out essential highways works to Cooks Lane, to form permanent ingress and access into the new development this work is critical to the above handovers and therefore Cooks lane will need to be temporary closed off to allow these works to take place and progress in the shortest amount of time to minimalize disruption to local residents.

The programmed works is forecasted to run for 8 weeks and notice will be issued by Kent, County, Council.

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, people are unable to work in their normal working environments, and worst case are being made redundant from their jobs. This is resulting in a high increase of people losing their homes and becoming homeless.

ENGIE wanted to help by donating food, drinks and toiletries that would go to families that need it the most during this difficult time. However due to social distancing and travel restrictions, it became difficult to deliver donations to the chosen charity called One Big Family.

As an alternative, ENGIE donated a cash donation of £500 directly to the charity which can be used by them to purchase essential items for the local food banks and soup kitchens that they provide.

"With grateful thanks for your donation - the money will be used to fund home starter packs for people who are newly accommodated. Liz at One Big Family".

Congratulations to our Employees of the Month for July 2020.

Supervisor of the Month; James Poulton – EJ Roberts

Operative of the Month; Mark Thomas – ENGIE Labourer

James Poulton has helped other trades as well as his own in being proactive with solving issues on site. He encourages his team to keep their work areas clean and tidy.

Mark Thomas took on extra tasks and duties whilst his colleague was on leave and has gone above and beyond to help others. He is efficient is cleaning and sanitising the offices to ensure we all keep within the COVID guidelines of cleanliness.

Both have been rewarded with a £20 Love2Shop voucher.

Due to COVID-19, face to face scouting had to come to an end in March and thanks to donations from parents and virtual fund-raising events, they had managed to keep the Scouts Hut open during this difficult time.

However, due to a lack of funds the Scout Leaders put out an appeal asking local businesses and supporters for donations of specific materials and items that will help them to comply with COVID-19 regulations and allow them to reopen their doors in September.

ENGIE and Gallagher at Cooks Lane answered to their appeal and were able to donate a number of items from the Scout’s wish list.

ENGIE donated a total of £100 worth of cleaning and sanitising items, and Gallagher donated a total of 12 metal barriers that will be used to create one-way systems and meeting points for when the 60+ young people return back to the Scout’s Hut.