Local News

Members of the NUT (National Union Of Teachers) and NASUWT (National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers) are taking industrial action on Thursday 17th October and a number of local schools in the Sittingbourne area are likely to be affected.

The unions are taking the action over a range of issues affecting teachers including pay, pensions, what they say are excessive workloads, working conditions and job cuts. They say teachers are deeply concerned about the impact these imposed changes are having on the morale of the teaching profession, the recruitment and retention of teachers and on the provision of quality education for pupils.

The Government's Education Secretary, Michael Gove, is accused of making changes to teachers' pay, pensions and conditions of service which in turn are making it harder for schools to recruit and retain good teachers. The main bone of contention in this dispute is the Government's intention to introduce of a tougher version of performance related pay in, what the unions describe, is an attack on national pay structures. 

It is anticipated that three Sittingbourne schools will be completely closed to pupils tomorrow - Westlands, Sittingbourne Community College and Murston Junior School. These three schools will be shut to all year groups whilst there will also be partial closures at Fulston Manor, Borden Grammar and the Milton Court Academy.

Stay tuned to 106.9 SFM for the latest on those school closures from 7.00am on "Pete Flynn In The Morning" or check this website and/or our Twitter feed @SFMRadio - which is also displayed on our Main Page on this website.

Officers from Kent Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit have released an image of a car they would like to trace following a fatal road traffic collision in Teynham.

Collision investigators are keen to speak to the driver of a dark coloured hatchback that is seen to stop momentarily at the scene before driving on.

Officers were called to the A2 London Road at 5.40am on Sunday 8th September after reports a red Honda motorcycle had been in collision with a white Scania articulated HGV.

The motorcyclist, 44 year old local man Jeremy James Nicholson, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the HGV was uninjured.

A 74-year-old man from Dover was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been re-bailed pending further investigation until 8 January 2014.

Investigating officer, Police Sergeant Glyn Walker of SCIU, told SFM News "CCTV footage shows the car slow down and stop momentarily. We are keen to speak to the driver who it's believed might have been following the motorcyclist in the same direction and could have witnessed the collision. It's important to point out that the driver is not in any trouble in relation to this, we just want to speak to him as we continue to build a picture of what happened that day."

Anybody who may have witnessed the crash is asked to call the Kent Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit, at Kent Police Maidstone Headquarters, on 01622 798538.

A scooter seized by Kent Police officers in Sittingbourne will be destroyed as efforts to target nuisance bike riders continue.

The Piaggio Liberty Scooter was confiscated after youths were caught riding it without helmets or insurance near The Meads area. Officers spotted two males riding the vehicle along Woollett Road on Tuesday 3rd September. A 15 year-old boy from Sittingbourne has been summoned to appear at court for having no licence or insurance and for not wearing a crash helmet.

Police have the power to seize, and in some cases, destroy a vehicle that is being driven uninsured or where the motorist is causing a nuisance. New community support officer for Grove ward, Ian Henderson, reassured residents that measures to tackle anti-social bikers would continue to be enforced.

PCSO Henderson told SFM News "residents have told us that there is a problem with young people riding bikes dangerously in this area. This bike was seized and will be destroyed. Those riding these bikes often claim they are having harmless fun, but they can be also be very dangerous for pedestrians, especially young children or elderly people".

Kent Police's drive to tackle anti-social behaviour has led to other nuisance bike riders having vehicles destroyed. In April and May, community support officers targeted youths riding illegal mopeds and pit bikes in the Chalkwell and Milton Regis areas of Sittingbourne and action resulted in warnings to offenders and the forfeiture and destruction of vehicles.

Kent Police are reminding residents that if they are affected, or want to report any incidents, they can call them directly on 101.

The latest, following the 130 vehicle accident on the A249 Sheppey Crossing at 7.18am this morning, is that 8 people were seriously injured and more than 60 were treated for minor injuries on the scene by the South East Coast Ambulance Service.

It is believed that firefighters used hydraulic cutting equipment to release six people from their vehicles. 

Medway Martime Hospital has confirmed that they are dealing with 3 injuries in intensive care and that their A&E Department is closed to all new admissions until they have dealt with the backlog from the incident.

Stay tuned to Tony Weaver "In The Bourne" LIVE on 106.9 SFM or follow us on Twitter @SFMRadio for the very latest.