Environment Agency

Two lorries have been seized by officers during a multi-agency operation here in Swale.

Officers from Kent Police’s Rural Task Force joined forces with staff from the Environment Agency on the morning of Saturday (25th March) in response to concerns surrounding waste being illegally transported and tipped in Eastchurch.

During the operation police stopped three Scania tipper lorries to check they were road worthy and had the relevant waste licences. While one lorry driver was sent on their way, two other drivers had their vehicles seized.

The Environment Agency have issued a Flood Alert for the Isle of Sheppey and the coastal areas from Kemsley to Seasalter for tomorrow (Tuesday 11th October).

A high spring tide and positive tidal surge is expected to affect the coast overnight tonight and in the early hours of tomorrow. Tides will be at their highest between midnight and 04:00 BST on Tuesday morning.

The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted an Iwade man, who was fined £4,500 and ordered to pay £6,779 costs, a £190 victims’ surcharge and £11,086 in compensation to Iron Mountain (UK) PLC, at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court. The total came to £22,555, with the magistrate took into account his guilty plea during sentencing.

Joint working by Kent Police's Rural Task Force and Road Safety Unit in Swale saw one arrest for drug driving and two arrested for theft offences.

On Monday (9th May) the two teams, along with the DVSA and Environment Agency, spent the day on the A249 on the Isle of Sheppey and in Mill Way, Sittingbourne checking vehicles carrying all types of waste.

In total, 25 vehicles were inspected with waste carriers’ licenses and documentation checked.

This Flood Alert has been issued by the Environmant Agency due to the high tide expected to affect coastal and tidal locations this afternoon (Monday 21st February).

The Agency say that flooding is possible two hours either side of high tide, between 2pm and 6pm today, with strong winds and unsettled weather causing higher water levels than normal. Flooding will affect lower lying locations nearest the coast throughout this area, particularly around Faversham Creek, Conyer and low-lying parts of Seasalter.

Swale’s popular beaches have earned top marks again after last year’s monitoring by the Environment Agency.

Minster Leas, Sheerness and Leysdown all achieved the highest rating of Excellent, bringing the beaches one step closer to earning a blue flag in time for summer.

The ratings from the Environment Agency are based on more than 30 monitored measures at over 400 bathing waters in England between May and September every year.

Officers from the Environment Agency’s Environmental Crime Team, along with Kent Police officers, seized a vehicle from a farm near Iwade on Thursday (25th February).

The seized vehicle is an 8-wheeled tipper truck and is believed to be have been used to fly tip waste in the Rainham area.

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Alert due to the high tide forecast for this afternoon (Tuesday 15th December).

The highest tide level is expected to be around 12:40pm with flooding possible two hours either side of this time.

The Environment Aganecy confirmed that they "were monitoring the situation, though flooding to properties is not expected. Our incident response staff are checking our defences and structures and are prepared to respond if required.".

A Flood Alert has been issued due to the high tide forecast for this afternoon (Sunday 10th May).

The Environment Agency has confirmed that the highest tide level is expected to be at 3:30pm this afternoon. Flooding is possible two hours either side of this time.

They say they are monitoring the situation, though flooding to properties is not expected. The main areas of concern include Faversham and Conyer and response staff are checking flood defences and structures and are prepared to respond if required.

A Kemsley man, caught transporting scrap metal without a licence, is nearly a thousand pounds out of pocket after being prosecuted by Swale Borough Council.

David Varrier, of Ypres Drive, was stopped as part of a joint operation between the council and Kent Police in June 2018. He was found to be carrying the waste on Newbridge Avenue, Sittingbourne, without the necessary waste carrier certificate or waste transfer notes.