Local News

Kent Police investigators have charged a woman with attempted murder following an allegation a pedestrian was deliberately struck by a vehicle near Sittingbourne.

The incident involved a white Volkswagen Golf and happened at the Bobbing Roundabout on the A249 at 5.22am on Friday (31st May).

Patrols and South East Coast Ambulance Service attended the scene where a man was treated for injuries. He was taken to a local hospital for further medical attention and has since been discharged. A woman was also reported to have been assaulted during the incident.

On Sunday 2nd June, Lauren Willis, of Wollaston Close in Gillingham, was arrested in connection with the incident.

Following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service, Ms Willis was charged with attempted murder, two counts of actual bodily harm and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The 26-year-old is due to appear at Medway Magistrates’ Court later today (Tuesday 4th June).

Officers are appealing to witnesses who have not yet spoken the police to contact the appeal line. Motorists with dashcam are also asked to check for relevant footage.

Anyone with information should call 01795 419 119 quoting reference 46/89053/24.

A teenage suspect has appeared in court after a woman was injured during a serious assault in Teynham.

The victim had walked down Conyer Road and was on a footpath near St Mary’s Church at around 1.30pm on Wednesday 22nd May, when a person approached her from behind.

It is reported she was pushed to the ground where she was punched and stamped upon. The victim, who is in her 50s, subsequently received treatment at hospital and since been discharged.

Officers from north division’s Criminal Investigation Department carried out immediate enquiries and later the same day a 15-year-old boy was arrested.

He was also detained in connection with three other assaults reported in Teynham and Ashford between Sunday 18th February and Friday 19th April.

The teenager, who is from the Swale area, has since been charged with attempted grievous bodily harm with intent. He appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court earlier today (Friday 24th May) where he was remanded into youth detention.

His next hearing is at the same court next Thursday, 30th May.

Investigators are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident or who has relevant mobile phone, private CCTV or dashcam footage to contact them.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the appeal line on 01795 419 119, quoting reference 46/84043/24. Alternatively you can also contact Kent Crimestoppers FREE (from any phone) and anonymously on 0800 555 111 or complete the online form on their website.

Swale Borough Council are taking legal action to remove 31 unauthorised caravans from a site in Hartlip and they say "to stop more being brought onto the site". 

The New Acres site, on Spade Lane currently has temporary planning permission for 8 plots with space for 16 caravans.  

This permission was granted by the Planning Inspector on appeal in 2022 and expires in June 2025.  

The council issued an enforcement notice for the breach of planning permission on Tuesday, 16th April. This means the owners have 6 months to remove the additional caravans, and failure to comply is a criminal offence which would lead to prosecution. A stop notice was issued at the same time, which makes it a criminal offence for any further caravans to be brought onto the site. 

Evidence gathered by council officers found 24 static caravans and 23 touring caravans spread across the plots, with the number increasing up until service of the enforcement notices.

Swale Borough Council confirmed to SFM News that they previously issued a temporary stop notice on the site in 2023. This gave the site owners the opportunity to apply for retrospective planning permission for the unauthorised developments whilst preventing any further development in the interim.

The council say "working proactively with site owners to find positive solutions to breaches is a key part of the council’s Enforcement Strategy. However, the site owners’ application did not contain the level of information needed for it to be considered by the council. Despite numerous attempts to reach the applicant’s planning agent, the further information that was required was never received."

Cllr Mike Baldock, Chair of the council's Planning Committee, told SFM News: “We all have to abide by the rules of the planning system and given the scale of the unauthorised development taking place at the site we have been left with no choice but to take legal action. We've received numerous complaints from residents about unauthorised development at the site, and despite council officers trying to work with the site owner, the situation has got worse. We’ll be monitoring the site to make sure they are complying with the notices, and if not, we will take whatever legal action is necessary.”

Faversham Town Council have commenced services on the new Hopper Community Bus Service.

The Council undertook a 'Transport Needs' Survey during December 2022 and January 2023 and the survey highlighted the need for transport within Faversham and its immediate locality for access to vital services.  It also found a need from some outlying villages, which had no bus service and where residents identified Faversham as their service centre.

The results of the survey led the Town Council to successfully bid for £60,000 of funding from Kent County Council to set up a community bus service.  Faversham Hopper will be a not-for-profit service run by Faversham Town Council with a strong social ethos to benefit the local community and will use volunteer drivers.

Whilst fares will be charged to ensure that the scheme is financially sustainable, the good news is that the service will accept concessionary bus passes.

Faversham Hopper will now provide a service in response to local needs on a fixed timetabled route using a minibus with wheelchair accessibility, under a Section 22 permit.  Areas already identified include Lower Road, Broomfield Road, Love Lane and the Aldi superstore.  With the support of local parish councils, it aims to help residents in rural communities to access facilities within Faversham where traditional bus services have been reduced or cut.  These areas have been identified as Oare, Newnham, Doddington and Lynsted.

The Town Council are initially organising, administering and promoting the scheme and also recruiting and ensuring volunteer drivers are trained.

They are currently seeking volunteer drivers and would also like to speak to any local businesses interested in sponsoring the service. 

For more information please contact Rob on 01795 503286 or you can email: hopper@favershamtowncouncil.gov.uk