Local News

National Highways have today (Tuesday 17th January) given an update on the M2 junction 5 improvement scheme and the eastbound slip roads.

They say that they have "made good progress on the slips, however due to the cold weather predicted this week, we’re unable to complete the last stages of the work – putting down the final layer of surfacing, and line painting. The temperatures being forecast are too low for us to carry out this work. To ensure the final surface is safe and will last, surfacing needs to be done when the temperatures are consistently a few degrees above zero. If we carry out the work when it’s too cold, the surface quickly freezes, becomes brittle and could crack, meaning we’d need to return and resurface the slips again, causing further disruption".

National Highways confimred that they are now planning to re-open the eastbound slip roads by Monday 30th January, subject to weather conditions.

You can find out more on the project webpage.

Councillors have agreed the rollout of a low cost, low emission car club to Sittingbourne.

Swale Borough Council will be launching the next local car club to help people access cleaner vehicles, without the expense and hassle of ownership.

Swale BC say "the scheme will be building on the successful trial of the first club set up in Faversham last year. This has been estimated to have saved local drivers almost £24,000, and reduced CO2 emissions by 6.39 tonnes, in the first three months".

For as little as £3 an hour, Hiyacar will provide low emission vehicles on a pay as you go system with online booking where users can sign up for free.

Members will be able to access the vehicles using Hiyacar’s keyless QuickStart technology, via the Hiyacar app. The rental price includes car cleaning, maintenance and management information and are all covered by Hiyacar’s bespoke insurance.

Cllr Julian Saunders, Chair of the council’s Environment Committee, told SFM News: "Car clubs offer people an affordable alternative to owning a car and help improve air quality and health by encouraging members to walk and cycle more often, rather than jumping in the car. The trial in Faversham has been a great success, so we are keen to roll it out elsewhere so even more people can benefit. A feasibility study identified Sittingbourne as the best place to roll out the next car club, but we are still keen to roll them out to other parts of the borough in future.”

Cllr Tim Valentine, Deputy Chair of the Environment Committee, added: “Running a car is expensive – buying it, insuring, maintaining and fuel are significant costs. People who drive less than 6- 8,000 miles annually could save up to £3,500 a year by using the car club. The trial starts next month, and at the end of the three years, we intend for the car club to be self-financing and to continue as part of our plans for more active travel options."

Graeme Risby, CEO and Co-Founder of Hiyacar told SFM News: “We [Hiyacar] are proud to have played a part in the success of the initial car club trial in Faversham and are thrilled to be further improving sustainable transport access for residents of Swale, with the launch of this trial in Sittingbourne. Providing residents with affordable access to low emissions vehicles, will help drivers in the community get where they need to go, more sustainably. We’re excited to see how this car club trial progresses.”

The council will fund the set up costs of the car club of £29,262, plus the additional cost of a dedicated charge point, from money from local developments.

The council have confirmed that the contract to run the scheme will run until February 2025 – in line with the Faversham car club – after which the scheme is expected to be self-financing.

Kent Police are seeking witnesses after 27 sheep were found dead following a dog attack in a field near Sittingbourne.

The ewes, who were all believed to be pregnant, were attacked between Christmas Eve and 1pm on Boxing Day. It happened at a location near Deerton Street, Teynham. It has been reported that barking was heard in the area between 4pm and 5pm on Christmas Day.

PC Marc Pennicott, of Kent Police’s Rural Task Force told SFM News: "This is a distressing incident which is possibly the worst livestock attack we have ever had. The sheep would have been petrified and had no way of escaping. We believe they may have been attacked by one dog but cannot rule out that more dogs may have also been responsible. The farmer has not only suffered a financial loss due to this incident but animals have needlessly lost their lives. These dogs would have been covered in mud and returned home exhausted and we are committed to identifying their owners. Sheep targeted were pregnant with twins or triplets and the remaining livestock have also been left vulnerable to a further attack, so it is extremely important that we find who is responsible for these dogs as quickly as possible."

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to call Kent Police on 01795 419119, quoting reference 26-0510. Alternatively they can call Kent Crimestoppers free and anonymously on 0800 555 111 or complete the online form on their website.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) were sent to the scene of a garage fire on Helen Thompson Close in Iwade, Sittingbourne in the early hours of this morning (Saturday 17th December).

Four fire engines were sent to the scene after the KFRS were called shortly after 4.20am and crews arrived to a fire spreading from a garage to the roof of an adjoining property.

Crews wearing breathing apparatus used main jets, hose reel jets and water from a local hydrant to extinguish the blaze.

No casualties were reported, and the cause has not been confirmed.