Local News

Local MP Gordon Henderson, in partnership with Sittingbourne and Sheerness JobCentres, welcomed over 30 local businesses on Friday (17^th September) morning to their Kickstart Scheme Seminar, where they were encouraged to offer 6-month work placements to young people on Universal Credit.

The £2 billion Kickstart Scheme was set up by the Government in November and has created 331 placements, for claimants aged between 16 - 24 years old, in Sittingbourne and Sheppey so far. This has been achieved with the help of the 101 local employers who are already taking part. Those employers received £1,500 of grant funding per placement to help with setup and training costs, with the Government fully funding the pay and National Insurance for 25 hours work a week and, where necessary, offering transport-to-work assistance for the young people taking part.

Mr Henderson told SFM News: "The Kickstart Scheme is a brilliant Government initiative, which has benefits for both the employer and the young person taking part, because it funds placements in local businesses that provide work experience. In order for local youngsters to realise their potential and fill the many jobs that are being created locally, it’s important they gain experience and confidence in a workplace. That’s what the Kickstart Scheme helps them achieve and I hope many more local employers will take part in Kickstart and help give those young people a positive start to their working life.’

Liz Elsden, Partnership Manager for the Sittingbourne and Sheerness Jobcentres, told SFM News: "It was great to see so many local employers attend this event to find out more about the Kickstart Scheme and how they can support young people in the community get that first step on the employment ladder. Young people in Swale need the support of local employers to help build their confidence and skills by offering them a placement under the Government’s fully funded Kickstart Scheme.’

For more information about the Kickstart Scheme, please visit: https://kickstart.campaign.gov.uk/.

Thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes, suspected to be stolen, have been seized following a police pursuit in Sittingbourne.

Officers recovered the tobacco last Thursday (9th September) after witnessing a van drive past them on the wrong side of the road near the A2 at around 2.15pm.

Patrols requested the vehicle to stop however it failed to do so. A short pursuit then took place, before the driver and passenger decamped the vehicle.

Officers located a man at Sittingbourne Train Station, believed to be the driver of the car, and he was arrested.

Following a search of the van officers recovered approximately £16,000 cigarettes which were suspected to be stolen.

The suspect, who is in his 30's and from Lancashire, was detained on suspicion of dangerous driving, theft, failing to stop when directed and theft of a motor vehicle.

He has been released pending further enquiries.

A Sittingbourne driver has been jailed after a teenage girl who was a passenger in his car died following a collision near Ashford.

Fahren Smith was behind the wheel of a Suzuki Swift which had five passengers inside when it left Mundy Bois Road, Egerton and collided with a tree on the evening of Saturday 4th July 2020.

Millie Greenway, 17, suffered serious injuries in the collision and died in an ambulance on the way to hospital. The car's four other passengers all sustained serious injuries and continue to receive ongoing treatment.

Smith, of West Street, was arrested on the night of the collision and was later charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

The 20-year-old later admitted that charge, along with four counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and causing death while unlicensed and uninsured and was jailed for six years and four months at Maidstone Crown Court today (Monday 13th September). He will be banned from driving for four years upon his release from prison.

Investigators from Kent Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit found that, on the night of the incident, Smith had been drinking alcohol with friends in a pub before driving to pick up three further friends. On his way back, his driving drew the attention of a passing police van, but he drove off at speed, evading the police vehicle in country roads near Maidstone. After drinking more alcohol at the pub, the six friends got back into the car. The group had no knowledge that Smith did not hold a driving licence or insurance for the car.

As the car exited the pub car park, Smith saw another police car and again drove off at speed. A witness saw the vehicle travelling at an excess speed before it left the road and crashed into the garden of a property. Police medics, paramedics and an air ambulance attended the scene to treat the injured and, following his discharge from hospital, Smith was arrested having failed a roadside breath test. He was later found to be over twice the legal drink drive limit.

Investigating officer PC Lee Berridge, of Kent Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, told SFM News: "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Millie Greenway, whose life was so tragically cut short by this collision, as well as the victims who continue to suffer both physically and psychologically. Smith's actions were reckless, having no regards for the rules of the road or the safety of his passengers. He twice tried to evade police on the night of the incident, with the second occasion while his car was dangerously overloaded. Driving laws are in place to protect motorists, passengers and the public and I urge young people, and all drivers, to behave responsibly when behind the wheel to avoid unnecessary loss of life like that in this case."

Swale Borough Councillors are set to be discussing the lack of options for secondary school places in Sittingbourne and Sheppey at the next round of area committee meetings.

At the Sittingbourne and Sheppey meetings, councillors will receive an introductory paper from Swale Council Leader, Roger Truelove, a statement from Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson, and a presentation from Marisa White, Area Education Officer at Kent County Council (KCC) outlining how the provision of secondary schools can be improved.

Cllr Roger Truelove, leader at the council, said: “We know education is not a borough council service, but elected members are well aware of the distress caused to families because of the shortage of secondary school places in Swale. This year, many youngsters have been allocated spaces at schools that were not their first choice. As an authority wishing to see progress in our local economy, we want to see an expansion of skills to help young people access good jobs in Swale. The provision of vocational schooling is important to us, and although perspectives will be different in our different areas, we fully support the possibility of a new school in north west Sittingbourne. It is also important that young people have more choice on the Isle of Sheppey.

He went on to add: “Everybody is welcome at the area committee meetings, they are a forum for the public to have their say on local issues that are important to them. I encourage anybody who is affected by this issue to come and join us.”

Upcoming area committee meetings:

Tuesday 7th September

Kemsley Hall

Sittingbourne

7:00pm                                                            

Tuesday 14th September

Minster Working Men’s Club

Sheppey

7:00pm