Local News

A £520,000 scheme to replace a three-inch pipeline, in Pond Farm Road and Wises Lane, is set to get underway on Monday 14th January.

The pipe, which has burst 25 times in the last five years and 14 times since 2015, is set to be replaced with a larger pipe which can withstand high water pressures and deliver a more resilient drinking water supply for the future.

South East Water's Project Manager Jeremy Dufour told SFM News: "There have been a high number of customer contacts and complaints over bust pipes in Borden in recent years and the situation is now critical requiring replacement of the old water main. We are also taking the opportunity to increase the capacity of the local network to further safeguard future supplies of top quality drinking water to our customers."

The replacement water main work is expected to take 25 weeks although engineers hope to complete the project earlier by drilling the new pipeline rather than cutting open trenches in the road surface.

Traffic diversions will be in place at Pond Farm Road, then Wises Lane, as work gets underway.

For further information and for the road diversion map please click here.

Two cousins have received prison sentences following a violent disturbance at a private address near Stockbury earlier this year.

At 6.20am on Saturday 5th May, William Smith, aged 29, and 23-year-old Eli Smith, went to a static caravan in a yard off the A249 occupied by two men and two women who were known to them. They smashed the patio doors and started to cause damage inside the caravan, which was also destroyed by a fire during the incident. William Smith also drove a car into some parked Transit vans owned by the victims.

The occupants of the caravan got out and were later found by attending officers standing on a grass verge at the side of the A249. Police patrols, including armed officers, and Kent Fire and Rescue Service went into the yard where the fire was extinguished. The caravan had been completely destroyed and two vans had been damaged. Officers later recovered 13 shotgun cartridges from the scene.

William Smith had left the yard and was arrested later that day, while Eli Smith was tracked down in Sittingbourne and arrested on Tuesday 8th May. William Smith, of Miller Close, Kemsley, later pleaded guilty to affray while Eli, of Lewis Close, Faversham, admitted violent disorder. They were jailed for 19 months and 33 months respectively at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday (21st December).

William Smith's father, also called William, is due to be sentenced in the New Year after pleading guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered, and violent disorder.

Investigating officer, Detective Inspector Chris Greenstreet, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, told SFM News: "This was a very violent incident and it is only chance that nobody in the caravan was seriously injured. These convicted men have shown no remorse and a lengthy prison sentence is entirely appropriate".

Trio Entertainment in association with Swale Community Leisure Trust and Swallows Leisure Centre have stepped in to help disheartened families this Christmas.

Pantomime Producers Kevin Brown and Darren Paine of Trio Entertainment and the staff at The Swallows Centre were saddened to hear of the recent closure of The Maidstone Pantomime, upon hearing the news plans were put in motion that has allowed 100 free tickets to be made accessible for anyone effected by the recent closure of ‘Snow White' in Aylesford.

Anyone wishing to take the opportunity to access these free tickets must bring proof of purchase of the Snow White tickets - the tickets will be then issued on a first come first served basis and will only be available for this Saturday (22nd December) at 7:00pm. These tickets can be reserved by emailing andrea.chase@serco.com with proof of purchase for Snow White. Those that are successful in receiving the free tickets will receive a confirmation email as confirmation - the venue would advise that they bring this with them.

The Producers of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk' are also offering 10% off any performance with proof of purchase - and are looking at adding an extra performance on Christmas Eve. Jack and the Beanstalk stars Steven Arnold, who played Coronation Street favourite Ashley Peacock for 14 years, He will be starring as the giant's evil henchman Fleshcreep in the Sittingbourne panto.

Joining him on stage at The Swallows will be Katie Burke, who is returning after playing Belle in Beauty and the Beast last Christmas. And for the third year in a row, resident dame Tilly Trott will be played by Harry Moore. The role of Jack will be played by Tom Balmont and Olivia McLaughlin is Fairy Beansprout. The cast will also be joined by youngsters from the Kent School of Dance, which have their regular meetings at The Swallows.

Tickets for the eighth annual pantomime are on sale now priced between £8.50 to £12.50.

To book, call the Swallows Leisure Centre reception on 01795 420 420 or visit www.sittingbournepanto.co.uk.

The Spirit of Sittingbourne, the developer behind the town centre regeneration, will be offering free parking at all car parks in Sittingbourne this coming Saturday (8th December).

They have told SFM News that move comes as an expression of gratitude to Sittingbourne residents for their patience during the recent re-generation roadworks. Spirit Of Sittingbourne has covered the cost of parking with Swale Borough Council and the decision to cover the costs followed feedback from local businesses who were concerned after Swale BC announced they will not be providing free car parking this December, as they have done in previous years.

The free parking will apply to all car parks in Sittingbourne, listed below:

Location     Type Spaces Disabled Motorcycle  Bicycle
Albany Road        Pay and Display - short stay 104     5     1     4
Central Avenue      Pay and Display - short stay     60     4     1             4
Cockleshell Walk    Pay and Display - long stay     96     6     0     0
Crown Quay Lane Pay and Display - short stay     42     3     1     0
The Forum     Pay and Display - short stay    162     6     2     4
Swallows     Pay and Display - short stay        86     6     0     20
Swale House*        Pay and Display - short stay        72     0     0     0
Milton High Street  Pay and Display - short stay        10     0     0     2
Spring Street     Pay and Display - long stay     72     0     0     0
Bell Road     Pay and Display - long stay     24     2     0     0

A Spirit of Sittingbourne spokesperson told SFM News: "We are delighted to be offering free car parking in Sittingbourne town centre as local businesses have understandably felt the impact over the disruptive summer of roadworks and we wanted to make sure thar they get some extra help over the crucial festive trading period. We are encouraging shoppers to take advantage of the free parking and support their local businesses by visiting Sittingbourne town centre as part of their Christmas shopping this December."