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Kent Fire and Rescue Service have confirmed that they were called at 5.31am this morning (Friday 7th March) to reports of a fire at a paper mill in Kemsley.
It's believed that at the height of the fire six fire engines attended and crews, wearing breathing apparatus, used main jets to put out the flames.
There were no reported injuries and the cause is not yet known.
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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
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A dash to the hospital turned into a dramatic roadside birth for one local mother, who has now reunited with the team who helped bring her baby into the world in the back of an ambulance.
Lisa and Ant from Teynham had been to the William Harvey Hospital on Tuesday 14th January but were discharged to rest at home. However, soon after arriving, Lisa's waters broke and she and her husband, Ant, set off for the hospital, but just minutes into the journey, it became clear they wouldn’t make it in time.
At 16:30, Ant called 999, speaking to Emergency Medical Advisor Charlotte Davis. Charlotte instructed them to pull over and wait for an ambulance while doing her best to keep the couple calm.
“I remember the call like it was yesterday. Lisa was amazing and getting to be a part of bringing baby Imogen into the world was truly special.”
Resource Dispatcher Ritchie Washington coordinated a team of five clinicians to the roadside, paramedics, Kenneth Martin and Craig Stoneman, trainee associate ambulance practitioner, Samuel Burnard, advanced paramedic practitioner, Robert Truzzi-Franconi and emergency care support worker, Peter Neal.
Only moments after getting Lisa into the ambulance, baby Imogen arrived into the world safely and in good health.
Lisa told SFM News “We will be forever grateful to them and I’m just so glad they all got to us when they did. It was so amazing from start to finish.”
At just five weeks old, Imogen was able to reunite with the team, alongside Lisa, Ant and their son Vincent at SECAmb’s Medway Make Ready Centre, where they enjoyed a cuddle with little Imogen.
Kenny said “I feel privileged to have played a part in bringing Imogen into the world safe and healthy and it was amazing to be able to reunite with them and hear about how they are getting on.”
Lisa and Imogen were taken to the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate before going home to dad, Ant and big brother, Vincent.
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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).
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A swift arrest by officers in Sittingbourne has led to a suspected burglar being charged.
Kent Police was called at 12.30am on Friday (21st February) to a report of a break-in at a business on the High Street, Milton Regis.
It was reported that a window was broken and items were taken from inside the premises before a man left the scene on foot.
Officers attended and shortly afterwards a man was detained.
A cash register was recovered following a search.
On Saturday (22 February) Mark Barton, aged 43 of Wesleyan Road in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, was charged with burglary, going equipped for burglary, criminal damage, possession of a bladed article and obstructing a police officer.
Mr Barton appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court later that day and was remanded in custody to appear before Maidstone Crown Court on Friday 21st March.
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After nearly four years in the heart of Sittingbourne High Street's community The Swale Media Art Centre (SMAC), at number 34, is set to close on Friday 4th April.
The founder of SMAC, local long-standing resident and former film director and ex-Swale Borough Councillor, Ken Rowles, told SFM News: "I am very angry with the closure of our gallery and community hub. We have been offering a range of arts and media activities, workshops and classes for all ages and activities. We have supplied room hire, and gallery space, Art classes, film screenings, art and craft afternoons, a networking IT room with equipment available for training".
Ken went on to add: "our museum in the centre features celebrities who live or have lived in the borough including Sittingbourne, Sheppey and Faversham including the villages. Names such as Terry Nation, who wrote episodes of Dr Who and inventor of the Dalek, Michael Crawford star of theatre, film and television series, Bob Todd who started life in Faversham as a farmer and had difficulty becoming a comedy actor of television, film Bernard Lee well known as M in early James Bond 007. Eric Barker star of my Carry on films and a wealth of comedy film 50's and 60's. The Museum includes posters, memorabilia along with film and television cameras and editing equipment.
Ken told 'In The Bourne' listeners: "the Sittingbourne community are losing a venue that, for four years, has been a valuable asset to the town and has been a home for education for the young and not so young. Parents have said that we have given their children something schools are now lacking. We were told by our landlord that they couldn’t guarantee another five-year extension to our lease which, because we’re a charity, we would need for further funding. I'm sorry that we didn't get any support from Swale Borough Council either, who have other ideas for 34 High Street Sittingbourne or will it become just another empty building or nail spa?"
Stay tuned to 106.9 SFM for the latest on this breaking news story.
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(Stock Picture)
Another dispersal order is in place for two days, as Kent Police target those responsible for incidents of antisocial behaviour in Sittingbourne.
The enforcement started at 7.30pm last night (Tuesday 18th February) and has subsequently been extened to operate until 7.30pm on Saturday (22nd February) evening.
It encompasses the town centre including the A2, West Street, High Street, East Street, the Sittingbourne Retail Park, Eurolink Way, Mill Way and Albany Park.
Inspector Julia Bassindale, of Kent Police, told SFM News: "Our officers have received recent reports from residents and business owners about incidents of antisocial behaviour and disorder, involving a minority of young people. The town centre is frequently patrolled and we will not hesitate to require anyone causing a nuisance to leave the area. They are then risking arrest if they choose to return. Our constables are also working with schools and youth organisations and, where a child is found to be consistently causing an issue in the town, the officers will be speaking to parents and issuing warning notices where appropriate."
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Feedback is being encouraged from patients, their families, carers and members of the public in Medway and Swale, about a proposal to extend visiting times in adult wards at Medway Maritime Hospital.
To make it easier for families, carers and visitors to spend time with patients while they are in hospital, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, which operates the hospital, is planning to extend visiting hours from 8am to 8pm across most inpatient areas (most adult wards are currently 1pm to 8pm).
There will continue to be flexible arrangements in some specialist areas, such as Maternity, Intensive Care Unit, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Paediatrics (children's’ wards), to reflect the needs of the patients. Special arrangements are also made, and will continue to be made, for any patients receiving End of Life care.
Sarah Vaux, Interim Chief Nursing Officer for the Trust, tld SFM News: “We know that being around family, friends and their own carers helps our patients recover more quickly, by supporting their personal care, encouraging them to get up out of bed and dressed and generally providing company and familiar faces, which boosts wellbeing. We believe extending visiting hours in this way will offer families more flexibility and ultimately improve the hospital experience for everyone involved.”
A short survey is now open to find out what people from Medway and Swale think of the plans. The survey takes less than five minutes to complete and closes on Sunday 23rd February 2025. You can find it here.
All feedback will be considered by the Trust before a final decision is made in March.
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Pic from left: Cllr Richard Palmer, branch chairman Maxwell Harrison, Cllr Lloyd Chapman, Cllr Peter MacDonald and Cllr Christine Palmer
Four members of The Swale Independent group on Swale Borough Council have defected to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, fearing the country is “heading for a Labour-run dictatorship”.
Councillors Richard Palmer - representing Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward, Councillor Chris Palmer - representing Hartlip, Newington, & Upchurch Ward, Councillor Lloyd Chapman - representing Bobbing, Iwade, & Lower Halstow Ward and Councillor Peter MacDonald - representing Minster Cliffs Ward have all defected with immediate effect (Friday 7th February).
They all will now join Cllr Kieran Mishchuk, who was elected to the council in the Milton Regis by-election in December, to form a new five-strong Reform UK group on the council.
In a statement released on behalf of the four, they told SFM News: “We feel that democracy will soon be a distant memory, and we are heading for a Labour-run dictatorship. Nobody is listening to the people in our communities. We need common sense applied to our politics and policies that will advance the UK to a better and brighter future for the next generations. People are struggling to pay bills and put food on the table. A healthcare system that is failing nationally. The power that developers have has gone from strength to strength, and with the support of the government, they now have all the power they need to build what they want and where they want it".
They went on to add: "Councils have had year-on-year cutbacks and are now struggling to support vital services. We feel that democracy will soon be a distant memory, and we are heading for a Labour-run dictatorship. Nobody is listening to the people in our communities. The only Party that offers a workable alternative that will see the investment that will make our country great again is Reform UK".
Cllr Mike Baldock, Leader of the Swale Independents on Swale Borough Council, told SFM News: “The Swale Independents would like to apologise to all those who voted for the four Swale Independent Councillors who defected to Reform UK this week. Like you, we believed them when they said in their leaflets to get elected that they only wanted to represent their local residents and rejected the national parties with their whips and enforced policies".
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Sittingbourne have just beaten Southend United to reach the FA Trophy quarter-finals.
The Brickies won 1-0 at Roots Hall away to Southend, thanks to an added-time debut goal by new signing Anthony Church in the 97th minute.
Boss Ryan Maxwell, a former Chelsea youth player, who went on to appear for 27 clubs in four different countries before spells as manager at Walthamstow and Braintree, told SFM News: "It's brilliant, amazing, incredible - I'm so full of pride in my players. My style is certainly very demanding. I believe we can beat anyone as long as you sign the right players and give them the right instructions. I wasn't coming here just to take part and be part of their entertainment, that's not my style. If I'm paid to do a job, like I am here, I'm coming here to win".
Full match report to follow.
