Local News

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."

The Labour Group on Swale Borough Council have confirmed that the five year coalition has come to an end with the council now becoming a hung Council with Labour Leadership.

The Labour group have said "it is time to agree that the coalition has played its part but it is time to move on to a more representative and inclusive form of decision making".

The Leader of the group, and Leader of the Council, Tim Gibson, told SFM News: "I met my group on Tuesday (17th December) and we decided that with the recent departure of the Green Party, which follows that of the Liberal Democrats last year and the merging of the two Independent groups, what we are left with is not a fair cross section of the councillors who the public elected. With the co-operation of other parties we would like to see the key chairmanships in the Council shared across all groups based on their relative strengths, and not to confine those positions to only three parties".

Cllr Gibson went on to add: "This is not a time for disappointment but a time to go forward, recognising that the coalition period has led to a better kind of politics. What was a 5 group partnership is now only 2 and that is not a fair reflection of public support. Over the last five years the coalition has provided stability and change and we can go forward from that if all groups show mutual respect for our real role, to foster the community of Swale. With the ending of the coalition, we ask all leaders to work together now for the people of Swale at a time of great challenge to local government".

He also added: "In the spirit of a Labour leadership working across groups for the good of Swale, I feel it is not appropriate any longer to have the Leader of any of the other parties providing my Deputy. Therefore as Leader I have asked Cllr Ashley Wise, who represents Kemsley ward, to be Deputy and he has agreed".