Local News

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) are reminding the public to keep cooking areas clear following a kitchen fire in Milton Regis earlier today (Tuesday 15th June).

Two fire engines were sent to the scene just before 11:00am after receiving reports of a fire in the property on Newbridge Avenue and the building was heavily smoke-logged on arrival. Crews used hose reel jets to extinguish a fire in the kitchen, before clearing the property of smoke with a high pressure fan. 
 
One occupant and two pet dogs were rescued from the house, and the occupant was passed into the care of South East Coast Ambulance for smoke inhalation. The fire is believed to have started accidentally due to an item being left on the kitchen hob. 
 
Following the incident, firefighters are reminding the public to keep cooking areas clean and clear at all times. You should also ensure you have working smoke alarms on each level of your home to alert you in the event of a fire.

People are being asked how to decide which local buildings and green spaces make a positive contribution to the character of the borough.

Swale Borough Council is consulting on the criteria for a new local heritage list to promote awareness of the area’s local heritage assets and highlight their importance.

As part of its heritage strategy the council committed to creating a local heritage list and wants to work with the community to identify local assets that are valued as distinctive elements of the local identity. If a building, structure or green space is designated as being of local interest, it will be given the status of heritage asset. This makes its conservation a material consideration in any planning applications. To decide if an asset can be added to the local heritage list, the council needs to agree the criteria they must meet.

The criteria being proposed are:

• Historic interest – buildings/structures/spaces that are of special social, cultural or economic interest to Swale, and/or have proven affiliation with important local people or events, or other community associations.
• Architectural interest – buildings/structures/spaces that are of special architectural interest to Swale for reasons of their vernacular, aesthetic, type, form, style, plan technology, townscape, unity, or association with important architects.
• Age or rarity – buildings/structures/spaces that are: legibly pre-1700 in interest; of appreciable interest from between 1700–1840; of a high level of interest post-1840; of an outstanding interest and less than 30 years old.

Cllr Mike Baldock, Deputy Leader at Swale Borough Council and Cabinet Member for Planning told SFM News:- “We have such a rich and diverse range of local heritage assets, and we want to make sure we formally recognise their importance to the borough. They might not reach the nationally set benchmark for grade I or II listing, but they do have special interest or value to the local area. Any local heritage listing needs to be fairly and consistently applied across the borough, so we need as many people as possible to help us decide the criteria heritage assets will be judged against. Being on the list will not only be taken into account when considering planning applications but will also – for the first time – create an accurate record of our local heritage assets.”

The consultation will be asking people for their views on the criteria being suggested and is running until Friday 9th July.

To take part, and find out more, visit: www.swale.gov.uk/lhl-criteria

The Light Sittingbourne officially opened its doors today (Friday 28th May) after the Mayor of Swale, Cllr Paul Stephen, cut the ribbon at the formal opening event on Thursday evening. 

The Mayor was joined by The Lady Mayoress, Cllr Sarah Stephen and Cllr Monique Bonney in declaring the leisure venue open following a presentation where The Light Co-founder Keith Pullinger and CEO James Morris thanked the local council for their support.

Cllr Monique Bonney, cabinet member for property and economy at Swale Borough Council, told SFM News: “I am delighted to have a really good quality scheme opening in the town. The last year hasn’t been easy for anyone, but I am confident people will think it was worth the wait and will enjoy it for years to come.”

The opening of The Light, as part of the Spirit of Sittingbourne development at Bourne Place, will be home to an eight-screen cinema, a nine-lane bowling alley, a retro arcade and diner with three resident vendors providing pizzas, burgers, hotdogs, sides and desserts.

People are being asked how Sittingbourne’s Avenue or Remembrance should be maintained, so future generations can continue to remember those who died in the First and Second World Wars, by Swale Borough Council.

The avenue was inaugurated in 1923 with 181 name plaques of local men who had died in the First World War, together with trees. A further 94 plaques were added to commemorate those who died in World War Two. The avenue is believed to be the last remaining monument of its kind in the country that remains a roadway.

Swale Borough Council is part of a working group with Kent County Council, the Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne, Sittingbourne Society, Royal British Legion and Veterans Breakfast Club. Together the group is looking at how the Avenue is managed and maintained in future and have launched a survey to get local people’s views.

Cllr Richard Palmer, cabinet member for community, told SFM News: “The centenary commemoration of the First World War highlighted the significance of this tree lined memorial, and we are committed to working with the community to preserving its importance to the town. Over the years, plaques have been damaged and replaced, but in different styles, so we want to know what people think about their replacement. Should we carry on replacing as and when necessary, or perhaps consider replacing them all at once so they are consistent? Should we look at how we can use technology – such as QR codes – to allow people to interact with them more, and find out about the stories of those we are commemorating?

Cllr Palmer added: "I am immensely grateful to The Historical Research of Sittingbourne for their work in putting together the survey, which will help support key decisions about the avenue. This is an important commemoration to those who fell in both world wars, and we want to make sure it is maintained and managed for the benefit of future generations.”

The survey is running until 5pm on Friday, 25 June and can be completed at www.swale.gov.uk/avenue-of-remembrance. Anyone who wants a paper copy of the survey can request one by calling 01795 417420 or can email: lynnewton@swale.gov.uk.