Local News

Illegal fly-tippers have been prevented from dumping waste near a popular park, thanks to Swale Borough Council and Kent Highways.

The council has had to routinely clear illegally dumped waste from Swale Way, behind Milton Creek Country Park. The isolated location meant it was difficult to catch the culprits, so Swale has worked with Kent Highways who have installed measures to restrict vehicle access, including a new fence and metal bollards.

The area has been fully cleared of all fly-tipping and now thanks to these new measures, illegal waste carriers will no longer be able to access the area with their vehicles. As well as these practical measures, the council has also installed three CCTV cameras, funded by the governments’ Rural Payments Agency (RPA), in other fly-tipping hotspots around the borough. The cameras are monitored 24/7 by the council’s CCTV control room, who will help document the evidence the cameras gather and are ready to report any illegal activity.

To catch illegal waste carriers in the act, the council work with Kent Police’s Rural Taskforce to stop suspected fly-tippers, gather evidence and take enforcement action for waste related crimes, through Op Assist. This, in conjunction with increasing the fine for serious fly-tipping to £1,000, makes being caught committing a waste related crime very costly.

Cllr Rich Lehmann, Chair of the Environment and Climate Change committee at the Council, told SFM News: “Fly-tipping is simply unacceptable, and we have been undertaking a range of activities to tackle this incredibly selfish act. Whether installing cameras, doing joint operations or working with other agencies to implement preventative measures like these bollards and fencing. The fact people believe they can just dump their waste anywhere - especially near a country park - is unthinkable to me. Not only does it damage and pollute our environment, but the bill for clearing it up ends up sitting with the taxpayer.

Cllr Lehmann went on to add: “Please be wary of cheap waste removal companies, make sure they are licensed and provide a waste transfer note. If fly-tipping is tracked back to you it could be very costly. We will continue to implement measures to crack down on, and clean up, fly-tipping but we need to work together to stop this waste from ending up in our countryside from the source.”

Neil Baker, Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, told SFM News: “I am pleased that, by working with Swale Borough Council, we have successfully implemented measures that prevent illegal fly-tipping near Milton Creek Country Park. Fly-tipping is a serious offence that damages our environment and leads to significant cleanup costs. The new fencing and metal bollards, installed by KCC, will ensure that illegal waste carriers can no longer dump waste in this area.”

Duty of care - what can you do to dispose of your waste responsibly?

Fly-tippers often target households via social media or local advertising, luring customers in with cheap rates to dispose of unwanted furniture, building rubble or garden waste.

However, these unlicensed waste carriers often simply dump the waste wherever they can get away with it, including in Kent’s country lanes.

Householders or small businesses found to be using criminals to dispose of their waste can and are being prosecuted by local authorities in Kent with fixed penalty notices. Failure to pay such an FPN may result in court action where fines can be significantly larger.

To prevent this, householders should check whether someone is licenced to carry waste by visiting the Environment Agency website, or by calling 03708 506506.

It also helps if householders receive a written receipt or transfer note, including contact details, description of waste removed and details of where the waste is being taken to.

You can report fly-tipping here.

A three-month inquiry regarding the two applications known as 'Highsted Park' commenced at 10am this morning (Tuesday 11th March) at Swale House here in Sittingbourne.

The inquiry is being heard by HM Planning inspector Christina Downes and refers to two applications of Land West of Teynham London Road (21/503906/EIOUT) and Land South and East of Sittingbourne (21/503914/EIOUT) both of which can be viewed online via the website: https://pa.midkent.gov.uk/online-applications/ and by using the relevant Reference Numbers in bold.

In total the application would include 8,400 homes, a hotel, a new recycling centre, two primary schools, one secondary school, provision for a new M2 motorway junction (5A) and the completion of the southern relief road.

The applications have been submitted by Quinn Estates Kent Ltd, GH Dean & Co Ltd, Atwood Farms Ltd, Atwood Trustees and AG Kent Holding BV.

Swale Borough Council will continually update the inquiry website with the latest details, or stay tuned to 106.9 SFM for the latest  developments throughout the inquiry.

Kent Police investigators are renewing their appeal for witnesses following a serious collision on the A249 near Stockbury.

The incident happened at 10.05pm last Tuesday (25th February), when a silver Land Rover Discovery and a black BMW 1 series collided near the Chalky Road junction.

Officers attended the scene along with South East Coast Ambulance Service and Kent Fire and Rescue Service and a passenger from the BMW, a man in his 30s, was flown to a London hospital where he remains in a serious condition.

The driver of the Land Rover, a man in his 40s, was also taken to hospital with serious injuries and is now recovering at home. The passenger, a woman in her 30s, sustained minor injuries.

Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit would like to hear from anyone who may have seen the BMW travelling from the M20 junction seven roundabout, up Detling Hill towards Sittingbourne or the Land Rover travelling in the opposite direction before using the slip road for the Chalky Road junction in the moments before the collision.

Sergeant Chris Oliver-Jones told SFM News: "This is a well-travelled road, even at that time of night and believe there may be further witnesses to the incident who might hold valuable information."

Anyone who can help should call 01622 798538, or email sciu.td@kent.police.uk, quoting reference XX/HG/013/25.

Dashcam footage can be uploaded here: https://kep.uk.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/a249stockbury-rtc

Investigators are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage following a report of a serious assault in Sittingbourne in the early hours of this morning (Thursday 27th February).

Patrols were called to an injured man near Rectory Road shortly after midnight. Officers and South East Coast Ambulance Service attended the scene where the victim, who is in his late teens, was treated for an injury consistent with a stab wound. He was taken by air ambulance to a London hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

Kent Police have arrested a local woman, aged 19, on suspicion of assault and she is currently in custody.

An investigation is underway and officers are appealing to anyone who witnessed an altercation or a disturbance in the area to call them. Drivers with dashcam and residents with private CCTV are also urged to check for relevant footage. Anyone with any information is asked to call Kent Police on 01795 419119, quoting reference 46/33242/25. Alternatively they can also call Kent Crimestoppers FREE and anonymously on 0800 555 111 or complete the online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/pre-form.

** UPDATE FRI 11:32AM 28/02/25 ** The woman arrested in connection with the incident and taken into custody has been named as Leah Scantlebury, of Commonwealth Close in Sittingbourne. She has been charged with wounding with intent. The 19 year old was remanded in custody to appear before Medway Magistrates’ Court later today (Friday 28th February).