Local News

The New House Youth and Sports Centre on Chalkwell Road, closed as a result of Kent County Council budget cuts in late 2023, has gone up for sale.

The Freehold building is For Sale by Online Auction set for Thursday 6th February by Clive Emson Land & Property Auctioneers, based in Maidstone. They have the property listed with a guide price of £500,000. 

The entire plot extends to 0.31 hectares (0.77 acres) and It is considered that "the buildings may be suitable for a variety of uses, conversion and/or redevelopment, subject to all necessary consents being obtainable" accoring to the auctioneers.

You can see the listing at: https://www.cliveemson.co.uk/properties/255/91

Locals were hoping that the centre could be brought back back to life by the KCC, after they received some direct funding from the Government recently but "it appears to be a loss of another great asset for young people and the local community" according to local MP Kevin McKenna.

He told SFM News "sites like this are essential for future citizen's and help to tackle anti-social behaviour. Whilst I appreciate the pressures local authorities are under, the rush to sell off assests such as this, whilst we are trying to restore local services across the country, seems shortsighted".

Bus operator Stagecoach have announved that bus route 3 (Canterbury > Faversham Bysing Wood) will no longer operate from  this coming Sunday (12th January).

The route currently makes up part of the service frequency between Faversham and Canterbury (alongside the X3). Stagecoach confirmed "unfortunately daytime bus use on this corridor hasn't recovered to pre-pandemic levels and it's no longer possible to sustain the half hourly daytime frequency. That said it's really important to emphasise that peak-time services, in particular school-time buses, won't be affected".

You can view the new 3/X3 timetable by clicking here.

A suspected cocaine dealer has appeared in court after a police dog located class A drugs in a car in Sittingbourne over the weekend.

On Sunday (29th December 2024), officers were on a routine patrol in the town when they stopped a VW Passat on the Avenue of Remembrance. They suspected the driver was involved in the supply of drugs and he was detained for a search. The constables then seized a mobile phone and PD Charlie attended the scene to check the vehicle over.

A cigarette packet containing 25 deals of suspected cocaine was recovered from behind a door panel and the driver was subsequently arrested. A search at a house near Sittingbourne led to the seizure of £1,710 in cash, some cannabis and bags of white powder.

Andre Mehmetaj, of Blossom Street on the Spring Acres estate in Bapchild, was later charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to supply and possession of cannabis with intent to supply. The 26 year old appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (31st December) and was remanded in custody with a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday 27th January.

A roads policing expert has been awarded The King’s Police Medal for his dedication to keeping Kent moving during times of disruption over many years.

Recently retired Police Constable Ross Dorman played a key role in helping prepare the county for the impact of new border controls following the UK’s exit from the European Union.

He was also instrumental in helping partner agencies respond to new rules on freight drivers introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent closure of the French border in December 2020.

The King’s Police Medal is awarded by His Majesty The King as part of his New Year and Birthday Honours, and recognises those who have achieved a specially distinguished record in policing.

Former PC Dorman, 56, from Sittingbourne, retired from the force in May 2024.

He told SFM News: ‘I thoroughly enjoyed my career with Kent Police and to even be nominated for The King’s Police Medal is a huge honour for me. I could barely believe it when I received the news but I am very happy and grateful to have been recognised in this way. Being a police officer is all about serving the community and that is a responsibility I have always taken seriously. I will treasure this honour for the rest of my life.’

Former PC Dorman has been at the heart of the local response to border disruption for many years, playing a vital role in keeping traffic congestion in Kent to a minimum whilst also ensuring UK citizens continue to have access to vital supplies at times of major disruption.

He also helped forge strong relationships between Kent Police and its partner agencies responsible for highways management including Kent County Council, National Highways, and the Department for Transport who view him as a national expert in his field.

Chief Constable Tim Smith told SFM News: ‘The role former PC Dorman played in helping Kent and the UK as a whole prepare for disruption at the borders cannot be understated and I am delighted his contributions have been recognised by His Majesty The King. Keeping people safe is every police officer’s priority and Ross has helped to ensure that when there is severe traffic disruption on Kent’s roads that could pose a risk to public safety, it is kept to a minimum. He has achieved this with modesty, humility and a great deal of professionalism, and we are very proud of him."