Local News

Local detectives have issued an appeal for information following a report of a robbery in Sittingbourne.

At around 7:00pm on Saturday 16th January, three men entered a shop in St John’s Avenue where two shop assistants were working.

It is alleged one of the men, who was holding a bladed weapon, threatened a staff member while the other two suspects stole a quantity of tobacco. The second shop assistant is reported to have been assaulted and the men then stole cash and some bottles of alcohol before leaving the premises.

One of the suspects is described as wearing a black coat, white or grey gloves, black tracksuit bottoms with a white stripe down the legs and black trainers. He was carrying a green holdall and had a black face mask. The second had a blue coat with a grey hooded top underneath, blue or grey gloves, a black hat, grey jogging bottoms and black trainers. He was wearing a blue surgical face mask. The third suspect is described as wearing a dark coat, grey jogging bottoms, dark trainers, a dark woollen hat and a blue surgical face mask. He had black and orange gloves.

Investigating officer, PC Harry Groves, of the Chief Constable’s Crime Squad, told SFM News: ‘While investigators are completing enquiries in the area, including the examination of CCTV footage, we are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the incident or saw somebody acting suspiciously, to contact us.'

Anyone with any information, that may assist the investigation, is urged to call the Kent Police Appeal Line on 01795 419119, quoting crime reference 46/8283/21, or alternatively they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers FREE and anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or by using their anonymous online form at: crimestoppers-uk.org.

A popular former councillor from Sittingbourne has been made a Freeman of the Borough of Swale.

Peter Morgan, was given the honour at a special meeting of the council last night (Wednesday 3rd February), having been nominated by the council leader, Cllr Roger Truelove.

Cllr Truelove told SFM News: “In my long time associated with this council, I cannot think of anyone who has represented the sense of service with greater distinction than Peter Morgan. Honouring him sets a high benchmark for us now serving on this council. Peter schooled many community groups into existence and very frequently stayed with people’s projects, usually as chairman. A few years ago, when Peter fell in his cellar at home, he had to go into the Memorial Hospital. After visiting him there, I put a short message on a Facebook page to let people know he was progressing well and the public response was overwhelming".

Cllr Truelove went on to say: “In wishing Peter well, a multitude of people recalled their lifelong thanks to him, for all he had been to them as a councillor, but also in the wider community and strikingly as a teacher. Peter is a Welshman, with a gift for public speaking, and came to Sittingbourne in 1948 and made it his lifelong home. He was first a teacher at the Milton Butts and then at Westlands School. He was elected to the Sittingbourne and Milton District Council in 1962 and campaigned for years for council recognition of the Citizens Advice Bureau. He became the first Liberal Mayor of Swale in 1987 and Chair of Kent County Council in 1996.

Cllr Truelove concluded: “Among his many community roles he has been a lay preacher, chair of the Swale Footpaths Group, founder member of the Twinning Association between Sittingbourne and Ypres, chair of the Dolphin Barge Museum, founder of the Sittingbourne Heritage Museum, governor of Schools in Sittingbourne and Queenborough, co-founder of the Sittingbourne Music Society, founder of Crossroads Care, founder and Chair of Home Start, chair of Sittingbourne and District Volunteer Bureau. Many words are abused these days and one of them is legend. But even so, Peter Morgan’s service to the community is legendary. Peter put service first and politics second. His career is an example and inspiration to us all and I am pleased members unanimously supported the call to honour him as a Freeman of the Borough of Swale.”

Peter joins other Freemen of the borough such as Bob Geldof KBE and Paralympian and TV presenter Steve Brown.

One hundred and ninety-seven families impacted by COVID-19 have received pre-packaged essential food boxes through Swale Borough Council’s COVID Winter Support Scheme.

The scheme is a partnership between the council, West Faversham Community Centre and Diversity House, who have processed and delivered a total of 398 food boxes to residents’ doors, supporting 707 people across the borough since its launch last month.

The boxes have been a helping hand to those who have had a change in their financial situation, received a positive covid test, are self-isolating following contact from the NHS Test and Trace system or experiencing a change of personal circumstances because of the pandemic.

Nine different pre-packaged essential food boxes including essentials such as pasta, soup, fruit, cereal, toilet roll and handwash, alongside vegetarian, Free-From, Afro-Caribbean, Eastern European, and Asian boxes to meet the various dietary, cultural and religious needs of local residents are available, and each box provides enough food for seven days.

Cllr Richard Palmer, cabinet member for community at Swale Borough Council, told SFM News: "The winter support scheme is a new service that is in direct response to those who are suffering hardship because of the COVID-19 pandemic. So far we’ve delivered 355 pre-packaged essential food boxes to people who are struggling to feed their families. West Faversham Community Centre and Diversity House have been working hard to process applications and deliver boxes to people’s doors."

He went on to add: "We’re aiming to deliver a minimum of 2,000 boxes this winter, so I encourage anyone who has received a reduction in income, loss of employment, positive covid test result or other change in personal circumstance due to the pandemic to get in touch. Once your application is submitted, our community support team will carry out an assessment. If successful, an essential food box will be delivered to you within a couple of days. We know this has been a difficult year for people and we’re doing everything we can to help support families experiencing exceptional hardship this winter.”

 For more information, or to apply for the winter grant scheme please visi:t www.swale.gov.uk/cwgs. 

Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible people must:

• have recently been made unemployed within the last two months and are still out of work
• have been furloughed and receiving less income
• have lost income because you cannot work from home
• are not already receiving support from Kent Support and Assistance Service (KSAS), local foodbanks or food support services
• are currently self-isolating because of a positive COVID-19 test or you’ve been contacted by NHS Test and Trace
• are currently receiving support from the Swale Borough Council self-isolation payments
• are leaving your home because of domestic abuse
• are currently living in temporary accommodation
• have recently been discharged from hospital.

Those NOT eligible include people who:

• are quarantining after travelling abroad (unless you test positive during the 14-day quarantine period)
• continue to receive full wages
• are self-isolating without a positive COVID-19 test result or without being contacted by NHS Test and Trace
• are already regularly receiving support from KCC's KSAS (Kent Support and Assistance Service) , local foodbanks or food support services.