Local News

The Highsted Park development, proposed by Quinn Estates, to the south and east of Sittingbourne has been "called in" by The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Swale Borough Council’s Planning Committee were due to decide on the application at a meeting at Swale House last night (Thursday 7th November), but the decision was “ripped out of its hands at the eleventh hour” as Swale BC confirmed it had been called-in by the government at short notice after a letter was received from them at 3:00pm.

In a statement Cllr Elliott Jayes, Vice Chair of the council’s Planning Committee, told SFM News: “The Secretary of State has called in the applications for land to the west of Teynham (21/503906/EIOUT) and land south and east of Sittingbourne (21/503914/EIOUT) and will now be determining them. We will work closely with the Secretary of State as they make their determination, but we will robustly explain the council’s reasons for recommending refusal. We understand the importance of these two applications but would appreciate being informed of the Secretary of State’s decision before less than three hours until the planning committee meeting so we can adequately prepare our response."

The Planning Committee meeting did go ahead, and members of the committee discussed the council’s response to the Secretary of State’s request for information and also unanimously voted to oppose both applications. Cllr Mike Baldock told the meeting "these plans have been ill thoughtout" with Cllr Monique Bonney adding "fundamental issues have never been addressed".

It is understood that the council’s vote does not mean the application was officially rejected. Instead, it will inform the case that they can make to an inquiry which would be similar to a planning committee, with representatives of developers, the council and local communities all making their case.

All documentation will now be sent to The Planning Inspectorate and there is a time limit of 22 weeks for them to complete an inquiry to report back to Angela Rayner MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

At the current time it is not known if this inquiry will be held locally.

Last night's meeting can be watched in full on Swale Borough Council's You Tube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d8JNp3K3fQ 

Alex Whitmey, the Managing Director of local company William Whitmey Independent Funeral Directors, has been elected as President for the Kent area of the National Association of Funeral Directors.

The company has it's head office in Chalkwell Road, Sittingbourne which opened in April 2014 and also has another office on London Road in Teynham.

Alex has been elected for the next two years and will represent funeral directors throughout Kent, at a regional level, going forward.

Alex told SFM News: "I am extremely honoured to have been elected and will continue to attain the highest standards of service and care across the industry and across the county".

Swale Borough Council is organising this year’s civic Service of Remembrance in Sittingbourne on Sunday 10th November.  

The council’s Remembrance Sunday service begins at 10am at St Michael’s church on the High Street and will be followed by a procession through the high street ending at the War Memorial on Central Avenue. 

The procession, led by the Royal British Legion Riders, will arrive at the Cenotaph at 11am where the remembrance and the laying of wreaths will take place until 12pm. 

They are also offering, one off, free parking in all their car parks across the borough - except for Bourne Place Multi-Storey Car Park - on Sunday 10th November between 8am and 2pm. 

Remembrance Sunday can be used as a day to appreciate the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces, who defended our freedoms and protected us and our way of life. 

Central Avenue, from the Police Station to the High Street, and Central Avenue car park will be closed from 9am until 12pm to facilitate the Service of Remembrance and procession. 

Cllr Ben J Martin, Mayor of Swale, told SFM News: “We are very proud to be hosting this years’ civic Service of Remembrance in Sittingbourne, alongside community groups and organisations in the borough. Services like this are a reminder of the sacrifices people made to keep us safe and protect our way of life and gives us an opportunity to show our appreciation for the Armed Forces. I would like to offer a personal thank you to all the people who have, and are, serving in our Armed Forces and to their families who help support them.”  

Cllr Richard Palmer, Chair of the Community and Leisure Committee at the council, told SFM News: “To support the attendance at Remembrance Sunday services across the borough we will also be offering free parking at our car parks between 8am and 2pm. Sadly, government cuts and increasing costs have put a strain on our budget, making offering free parking difficult, but we have worked hard to make it possible this year. Anybody who wants to attend a local service on Remembrance Sunday can park for free, take part in the service and spend time with their friends and family without having to worry about paying for parking between 8am and 2pm.” 

What is Remembrance Sunday? 

Originally Remembrance Day was held on 11th November each year, as First World War hostilities ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. In 1956 the date was fixed as the second Sunday of November. Each year Remembrance Sunday remembers all those who fought and died in any conflict, as well as veterans and soldiers who are still serving for their country. 

Why Poppies? 

The most recognisable symbol of Remembrance Sunday is the red poppy, which became associated with World War I memorials after scores of the flowers bloomed on the former battlefields of Belgium and northern France. (The phenomenon was depicted in the popular 1915 poem “In Flanders Fields,” by Canadian soldier John McCrae.) In 1921 the newly formed British Legion (now the Royal British Legion), a charitable organisation for veterans, began selling red paper poppies for Armistice Day, and its annual Poppy Appeal has been enormously successful. 

Why Two Minutes Silence? 

This silent pause gives us an opportunity so that, in perfect stillness, the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on remembering those who have sacrificed so much. The first minute represents all those who have died; and the second minute is for those who survived. 

Where can you park? 

To find a car park in borough you can visit https://swale.gov.uk/find-a-car-park

Three suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with a phone shop robbery in Sittingbourne earlier this week.

The two men and a teenage boy are alleged to have stolen thousands of pounds of stock after forcing their way into a Vodafone store in the High Street.

The incident happened at around 5.20pm on Thursday (17th October) afternoon. By 7pm, responding patrols had made arrests in a park near Canterbury Street, Gillingham. Several devices suspected to be stolen were seized.

Enquiries to locate a silver Audi A3 are ongoing, and anyone with information that may assist the investigation is urged to call Kent Police on 01634 792209, quoting reference 46/176454/24. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or complete their online form.

Ionut Calin, 22, of Milton Road in Gillingham; Valentin Ciuraru, 24, of Central Park Road, E6 and a 17-year-old boy also from East London were all charged with robbery.

They are set to appear before Medway Magistrates’ Court later today (Saturday 19th October).