Local News

Dispersal Order To Tackle Nuisance Vehicles

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Dispersal Order To Tackle Nuisance Vehicles

A dispersal order will be in place over the weekend to tackle nuisance vehicles in Swale. It will operate from 7pm this eveining (Friday 19th May) until 7pm on Sunday (21st May) evening and includes Ridham Dock, Sheppey Way, Old Ferry Road, Swale Way, Barge Way, Neats Court Retail Park, Rushenden and Rushenden Marshes.

Kent Police say the enforcement "is due to an increase in reports of nuisance vehicles and, in some cases, dangerous driving at weekends. It allows officers to stop anyone involved in anti-social behaviour and move them on".

Inspector Ryan Chase, of the Swale Community Safety Unit, told SFM News: "Residents and visitors to the area have reported concerns about the dangers posed to other road users and the impact on the quality of life of the local community.The order gives our officers additional powers to require anyone causing a nuisance to leave the area and, if necessary, arrest those who return once dispersed. Those who persist in this behaviour also risk having their vehicles seized."

Anybody who wishes to report instances of antisocial behaviour should report it online via the Kent Police website at www.kent.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us/

Tags: 
Kent Police
Dispersal Order
Nuisance Vehicles
A249
Ridham Dock
Sheppey Way
Old Ferry Road
Swale Way
Barge Way
Neats Court Retail Park
Rushenden
Rushenden Marshes.

Witnesses Sought To Stockbury Collision

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Witnesses Sought To Stockbury Collision

Local Kent Police officers are appealing for witnesses to a serious collision in Stockbury.

The incident was reported to have happened at around 2.50pm on Saturday (13th May) afternoon on the A249 at the junction with Chalky Road.

During the incident the driver of a white van was in collision with the driver of a red, white and blue BMW S1000 motorbike.

The van did not remain at the scene and the motorcyclist sustained serious injuries and remains in hospital.

Anyone with information, private CCTV, or dashcam footage who was in the area at the time of the incident, is urged to call the Kent Police appeals line on 01795 419 119, quoting reference 13-0856.

Alternatively information can be submitted online via the Kent Police evidence portal by clicking here.

You can also call Crimestoppers FREE and anonymously on 0800 555 111 or complete their online form.

Tags: 
Kent Police
Witness Appeal
Collision
A249
Detling Hill
Chalky Road
Stockbury

Week Of Action Against Knife Crime

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Week Of Action Against Knife Crime

Yesterday (Monday 15th May 2023) marked the start of Operation Sceptre, an initiative to tackle knife crime across the UK which brings together all 43 police forces and the British Transport Police in a week of intensified action.

Throughout the week, Kent Police has planned activity to target knife crime from its root cause right through to enforcement. 

The operation will see officers engaging with local communities, working with young people to dispel myths around knives, or carrying out test purchases with retailers. Operation Sceptre showcases the many varied and impactful ways in which policing is working to reduce knife crime and tackle violence.

The officer leading Kent Police’s efforts in the campaign, Police Sergeant Jamie Edwards, told SFM News: "Each of the county’s districts has a tailor-made plan for the week responding most appropriately to the differing demands of knife crime in their area. Members of the public can expect to see high visibility patrolling, weapons sweeps, the use of knife arches at public houses and bars, and even engagement with local schools and youth associations. Officers will also be holding knife amnesties for those in possession of bladed weapons to forfeit them in knife boxes."

Commander Stephen Clayman is the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s knife crime lead. He told SFM News: "Introduced in 2015, Operation Sceptre has galvanised activity, dedicating a week to intensified activity twice a year. This doesn’t mean we only look at this twice a year, but Sceptre is an opportunity to really focus on our efforts to tackle knife crime at a number of levels – from engaging with young people in schools to proactive patrols and knife sweeps. As ever, partnership working is integral to our approach and this week will also shine a spotlight on the many initiatives where policing joins charities, local organisations and government to bring real change for our communities. This is an ongoing mission and one which needs collective ambition, energy and patience."

Operation Sceptre will also highlight the Home Office consultation on new knife legislation proposals to tackle the use of machetes and other bladed articles in crime. The consultation is the result of partnership working between the NPCC National Knife Crime Working Group and the Home Office with proposals developed to support policing in targeting knife crime at a number of stages from retailers to offenders.

The consultation is open to everyone and closes Tuesday 6th June. To take part please click here: Machetes and other bladed articles: proposed legislation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Tags: 
Kent Police
Operation Sceptre
Week
Action
Against
Knife Crime

KFRS Infrared Drone Locates Injured Missing Woman

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KFRS Infrared Drone Locates Injured Missing Woman

Drone technology has led to the successful rescue of a woman who’d been missing for over eight hours, after she broke her leg walking alone in woodland. 

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) was called to assist Kent Police with the search shortly after midnight on Sunday (14th May) in Faversham, where the lady was believed to be following a phone call she had made earlier that day, before running out of battery. 

KFRS sent a technical rescue unit, including two drone pilots, to the search area in woodland near Colonels Lane. Two new, state-of-the-art drones with infrared technology, were used simultaneously to search two areas.

After around two hours of scouring woodland from above in the darkness, KFRS drone pilot and firefighter, Ali Gilfillan, located the woman, and the rest of crew rushed to her aid. They acted fast to assess her condition, created a makeshift splint to support her broken leg, and carried her on a stretcher around 300 meters through woodland to the road. She was handed into the care of South East Coast Ambulance Service.   

Firefighter Ali told SFM News: “You can’t describe the feeling of finding a missing person, and in those situations it can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. But this is what we are trained for – our skills combined with modern technology, and effective joined up working between blue light services, we really can achieve some amazing outcomes. We're so pleased to have found the lady, and we hope she has a speedy recovery.”

KFRS Technical Rescue Supervisor Jim Chaston said: “The drones are fantastic pieces of kit that we use quite often these days - whether that’s helping to locate missing people, or flying over fires to get a better view and understanding of fire spread, search for hot spots, assess damage and structural stability, and provide evidence for fire investigation. Technology within the fire service has come such a long way, and we’ll continue evolve and adapt to make sure we’ll always be able to help people when they need us most.”

Tags: 
Kent Fire & Rescue Service
KFRS
Infrared Drone
Locates
Injured
Missing
Woman
Faversham

New CWGC Headstone For Sittingbourne

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New CWGC Headstone For Sittingbourne

On Thursday 20th April 2023 at Sittingbourne Cemetery, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) marked the previously unmarked final resting place of 23 year old Private Leslie Anderson, of the East Kent Regiment, with a CWGC headstone.

At the same time they installed a CWGC Pedestal Marker on the grave of 33 year old Royal Navy Petty Officer Stoker Harry John Baker, who was commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

Both installations were the result of an appeal to the CWGC, following research by Stephen Palmer, a volunteer for the Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne (HRGS), whilst he was researching into the lives of Sittingbourne’s First and Second World War casualties for the HRGS’s inter-active display, in the Heritage Hub in The Forum Shopping Centre here in Sittingbourne.

Stephen’s research identified that Leslie Anderson had enlisted as a Private with The Buffs, East Kent Regiment on 22nd August 1914 and was discharged less a year later on 27th July 1915, with tuberculosis of the lung. He was regularly assessed for his Army pension, the last time being 16th October 1918, which stated his illness was aggravated by war service and was also permanent. He died on 23rd October 1918 from Pulmonary Tuberculosis. As his illness was aggravated by war service Leslie met the criteria to be recognised as a war casualty and therefore entitled to a CWGC headstone. HRGS provided the funds to make copies of his service record and death certificate available to the CWGC to appeal for this recognition, and his appeal was accepted in November 2021.

Petty Officer Stoker Harry John Baker was commemorated on CWGC’s Chatham Naval Memorial to the Missing, which records service personnel who have no known grave and normally lost at sea. This conflicted with Harry’s situation, as he died at home after he had been discharged from the navy on 14th July 1915 due to influenza and died on 8th November 1918. Like Leslie, he died from Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Stephen’s research identified that Harry was buried in Sittingbourne Cemetery in a privately marked grave, which was covered in brambles and as his headstone was not clearly readable a CWGC pedestal marker was installed.

As a spin off to Stephen’s HRGS research, he became a volunteer for the CWGC Eyes On Hands On Programme (EOHO), which allows volunteers across the country to reconnect with the war grave history and heritage on their doorstep and help CWGC to ensure these war graves – scattered across more than 12,500 locations – are clean and well-tended. This regular information from local volunteers ensures CWGC’s professional teams can be better directed and allows us to act fast if an issue is found.

There are still more CWGC headstones that the HRGS are still working on, and they are thanking all those who have been involved in the project since 2012 along with those who continue to give them encouragement and support. If you have information or wish to be involved in the War Memorials Project, you can contact: research@hrgs.co.uk .

Tags: 
New
CWGC
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Headstone
Sittingbourne
Cemetery

Swale BC Local Elections 2023 Results

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Swale BC Local Elections 2023 Results

Here are the results in the Local Elections on Thursday 4th May 2023  for Sittingbourne Borough Wards.

Across the borough only 30,599 people, out of a possible 110,088, voters turned up to vote – amounting to just 22% of the elctorate.

Bobbing, Iwade and Lower Halstow

CHAPMAN, Lloyd George - Swale Independents - 501 ELECTED
CLARK, Roger - Conservative Party - 483 ELECTED
GOATHAM, Carol Ann - Green Party - 236
OLUKOYA, Olufemi Oludamilare - Labour Party - 401
RANDALL, Gareth - Conservative Party - 343
WILSON, Marc - Liberal Democrats - 267

Borden & Grove Park

BALDOCK, Mike - Swale Independents  - 1,030 ELECTED
CAVANAGH, Ann - Swale Independents - 728 ELECTED
DOBBS, Coner Michael - Conservative Party - 262
HAMPSHIRE, Nicholas James - Conservative Party - 424
SINGER, Martin Scott - Labour Party - 184

Chalkwell

ALLSEP, Richard Thomas - Conservative Party - 173
MILLER, Charlie William - Labour Party - 298 ELECTED
TEMPLE, Hannah - Green Party - 68

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch

COOPER, Margaret Anne - Labour Party - 297
HORTON, Alan Campbell - Conservative Party - 530
PALMER, Chris - Swale Independents - 879 ELECTED
PALMER, Richard - Swale Independents - 943 ELECTED
SAROY, Asha - Conservative Party - 336

Homewood

CHEESMAN, Shelley Susannah - Labour Party - 483 ELECTED
CLARK, Simon David - Labour Party - 511 ELECTED
CLINCH, Jason - Swale Independents - 395
HOYNES, Danielle - Conservative Party - 343
LEE, Thomas Henry - Heritage Party - 240
STENNINGS, Frances - Liberal Democrat - 166
WRIGHT, John Geoffrey - Conservative Party - 340

Kemsley

CARNELL, Derek William - Swale Independents - 476 ELECTED
CLARK, Tony - Liberal Democrats - 236
DENDOR, Mike - Conservative Party - 322
GENT, Sue - Conservative Party - 356
WISE, Ashley Luke - Labour Party - 357 ELECTED

Milton Regis

DANAHER, David Graham - Conservative Party - 186
DAVEY, Stephen Arthur - Swale Independents - 303
VALLS, Angelica Tereza - Labour Party - 559 ELECTED
WILLIAMS, Stuart Roy - Conservative Party - 166
WINCKLESS, Anthony Charles - Labour Party - 674 ELECTED

Murston

HALL, James - Swale Independents - 593 ELECTED
HAMPSHIRE, Ann Patricia - Conservative Party - 211
LAST, Mark Anthony - Labour Party - 397 ELECTED
LAYTON, Miriam Natasha - Green Party - 119
LE GRYS, Glen Dean - Conservative Party - 171
STENNINGS, Alexander - Liberal Democrats - 139
ZENG, Mary - Liberal Democrats - 127

Roman

BLACKLOCK, Debra Louise - Green Party - 167
GIBSON, Tim - Labour Party - 652 ELECTED
MADGWICK, Rosemary - Liberal Democrats - 134
OKOTIE, Alfred - Conservative Party - 266
QUINTON, Mark Anthony - Conservative Party  - 300
WATSON, Karen Anne - Labour Party - 535 ELECTED

Teynham & Lynsted

BARKER, Dorothee Anne - Liberal Democrats - 135
BOTT, Janet Lyn - Green Party - 506
BOWEN, Lloyd Robert - Conservative Party - 764 ELECTED
JESSIMAN, Georgina Ruth - Labour Party - 344
MORRIS, Carol Louvain - Liberal Democrat -133
SPEED, Julien Peter - Conservative Party 666 ELECTED

The Meads

HUNT, James Christopher - Conservative Party - 395
WAKELEN, Shaun John - Liberal Democrats - 18

Woodstock

BEER, James Leslie Rashleuigh - Labour Party - 328
BURGESS, Lee - Conservative Party - 584
STEPHEN, Paul John - Swale Independents - 750 ELECTED
STEPHEN, Sarah Ann - Swale Independents - 830 ELECTED

Tune in to 106.9 SFM for the latest news and reaction to the Swale Borough Council Local Election for the wards here in Sittingbourne.

Tags: 
Swale Borough Council
Local
Elections
Results
Thursday
4th May
2023

School Issues 'Stranger Danger' Alert

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School Issues 'Stranger Danger' Alert

An email has been sent to parents by The Head Teacher of Kemsley Primary Academy, Iris Homer, after an alleged attempted kidnapping was reported near the school.

Kent Police have confirmed that they: "were called to a report of an attempted abduction of a child yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 25th April) at around 4.30pm. Officers attended and, as part of their enquiries, arrested two men from Sittingbourne, aged 29 and 60, on suspicion of attempted kidnap. They remain in custody. The victim was able to leave the scene and return home safely” they confirmed.

It is believed that all children at the school were going to be told in assemblies about 'stranger danger' following the incident.

The school told SFM News: “We have been informed there was an attempted kidnap of a child by a slight/athletic man around 5ft 9in, with dark eyes, wearing black sportswear, white gloves and a full ski mask. During assembly, the children were reminded how to remain vigilant whilst walking home from school (especially pupils in Year 5 and Year 6 who have permission to do so) - walking with a friend, how to stay safe while playing outside and how to respond to potentially dangerous situations including stranger danger".

Police are reminding parents and residents to be vigilant at all times. 

Tags: 
Kemsley primary Academy
School
Issue
'Stranger Danger' Alert
Kemsley
Recreational Ground
Sittingbourne

M2 Works - Chestnut Street & Maidstone Road Closure

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M2 Works - Chestnut Street & Maidstone Road Closure

From 1am on Monday (24th April) Highways England will be closing the section of Maidstone Road that links to the Stockbury roundabout, south of Wormdale Hill.

They have confirmed that: "while we're working on the new link to Oad Street, there will be no access to the roundabout from Maidstone Road. We’re currently due to open the new link on Monday 19th June 2023".

To access the properties and businesses on Chestnut Street and Maidstone Road, motorists will now have to use the Key Street roundabout and, due to the closure, the Arriva 334 bus service will not be able to use Danaway or Chestnut Street. It will instead operate on the A249 between the Stockbury Roundabout and Key Street.

Highways England, working with Kent County Council will now be offering FREE travel on the Kent Karrier community shopper bus service, for those residents affected, they say "to ensure there is still accessible transport around the village".

If you are a resident living on the bus route and would like to make use of the offer please go to: https://www.kent.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/travelling-around-kent/communit.... You will need to provide proof of address and a photograph when applying.

There will also be changes to how drivers use the Stockbury roundabout. They have now moved traffic heading southbound on the A249 from the Stockbury roundabout onto the new Oad Street link road while we carry out work on the main carriageway, as shown in the above picture. There’s currently no right turn from the Oad Street junction on to the northbound A249 and to join the northbound carriageway, drivers will need to turn left, go to M20 junction 7 and the return on the A249 northbound.

You can find out more information on the M2 Junction 5 improvement works by clicking: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/south-east/m2-junction-5-improv....

 

Tags: 
M2
A249
Roadwork
Chestnut Street
Maidstone Road
Sittingbourne
Closure

SFC Ladies Take The FA Kent Plate

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SFC Ladies Take The FA Kent Plate

To top a fantastic week for Sittingbourne Football Club and Brickies fans, with the Men's First Team attaining 12 wins in a row and a win in their final home match of the season on Tuesday (18th April) evening, there has been some great news for the Ladies team too.

Sittingbourne Ladies FC took on Sevenoaks Town Ladies FC, at Maidstone's Gallagher Stadium, last night (Thursday 20th April) and won 2-1 to take the Football Association's Kent Women's Plate.

The Kent Women's Plate is the grassroots competition for women’s teams in the county, who play at Tier 7 of the FA Women’s Pyramid of Football and below. This has topped a fantastic season for women's grassroots football in Kent.

For more information please visit their Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/sittingbourneladiesfc.

Tags: 
Sittingbourne Football Club Ladies
Win
FA
Football Association
Kent Plate

Spate Of Bus Shelter Vandalism Plaguing Sittingbourne

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Spate Of Bus Shelter Vandalism Plaguing Sittingbourne

A spate of bus shelter vandalism has caused damage throughout Sittingbourne in the past week.

Earlier this week a bus shelter was vandalised on Milton High Street and overnight (Friday 21st April) a number of bus shelters were attacked at the Sittingbourne Bus Hub, near The Forum Shopping Centre on St Michael's Road, in the centre of town.

It is hoped that the Town Centre CCTV may have captured evidence and a case has been made to the local PCSO in Milton Regis for CCTV cameras to be installed there to prevent further anti-social behavious that has been plaguing the town there..

Kent Police are reminding people that if they see anyone commiting an act of vandalism, and it is in progress, to call 999.

 

Tags: 
Spate
Bus Shelter
Vandalism
Sittingbourne
Milton Regis

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