Woman Killed By Car On The M2

Kent Police are appealing for witnesses after a 35-year-old woman was killed when she was hit by a car after crashing her own vehicle, on the M2 motorway in Medway.

The accident happened on the coastbound carriageway near to the Junction 2 "Strood/ Snodland" entry sliproad shortly after 7.30pm on Wednesday (8th February) evening. It is believed that the woman was standing between the central reservation and her own car when she was struck by a passing Ford Mondeo. She was pronounced dead at the scene and the driver of the Mondeo, a Rochester man in his twenties, was treated at Medway Maritime Hospital for minor head injuries and was later discharged.

A spokeswoman for Kent Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit told SFM News that "officers are keen to speak to motorists who were stopped in traffic after the second collision. CCTV footage revealed that several motorists were stopped in the carriageway after the fatal collision but left before officers are able to take their details. We would like to hear from these motorists, as they may have information crucial to the investigation".

The Serious Collision Investigation Unit is based at Kent Police Headquarters in Maidstone and can be contacted on 01622 798538.


Kemsley Ward By-Election Date Set

A By-Election, in Swale Borough Council's Kemsley ward in Sittingbourne, will be held in March, to fill the gap left by the death of Brenda Simpson.

Mrs Simpson was the Conservative Borough Councillor for Kemsley continuously since 1988 and in January was given the title of Honorary Alderwoman by her council counterparts, only the 21st councillor to ever receive the honour in Swale. Mrs Simpson passed away on the 15th December and her memorial service took place at Bobbing in January.

The election will take place on Thursday 8th March and Swale Borough Council is calling for all candidates to come forward before the closing date of 12 o'clock noon this coming Friday (10th February).


Thamesteel Closure Taskforce Set Up 

A new taskforce has been convened by Kent County Council (KCC) following the announcement that the Isle Of Sheppey's Thamesteel plant had gone into administration.

The Taskforce met for the first time on Tuesday (7th February), at Kent County Hall, and is aimed at helping workers from the Sheerness plant, following news that it has gone into administration with the loss of 350 jobs. The Taskforce hopes to bring together local bodies and government agencies involved in providing support for the affected steelworkers.

After the meeting, Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development and Task Force Chairman, Kevin Lynes, told SFM News "we are all working together to look at both short term, immediate actions to provide assistance to those people who have been hit by the closure and longer term ideas to help secure a future for the site. By meeting as a Task Force we can make sure the workers get the best possible help as soon as possible. We are able to look at the support each of us can provide and make sure the workers get access to the help they need in the quickest, most efficient way".

He went on to add "amongst the actions we have agreed is to provide a 'help' desk at the local Gateway in Sheerness for people to go to for advice on a wide range of issues, and setting up a local  job club to provide an area where people can get support looking for work. We will also be calling on local employers to take those apprentices and HNC students that have lost their placements at the Sheppey site, so that they can use their extensive skills and experience and complete their qualifications. We will also ask government to speed up the process of getting redundancy money to the workers. The workers could be facing a six to eight week wait, which we think is unacceptable and we would like this to be reduced as much as possible".

Regional representative for the Community union, Ryan Slaughter, who was also at the meeting, told SFM News "we discussed whether there are ways that local people, local agencies, government departments and the county council can work together to support these people. I am optimistic that the Task Force can help support the workers with their immediate needs, such as helping them access funds so that they can put food on the table".


New Football Academy Dates Announced

Following on from the success of last year’s Sittingbourne FC Football Academy, run in association with Sittingbourne Community College (SCC), the key dates for the next enrolment/s have been announced.

•   Wednesday 15th February –  1st trials @ SCC 3G – 3.00 - 5.00pm
•   Wednesday 4th April         –  2nd trials @ SCC 3G – 3.00 - 5.00pm
•   Wednesday 18th May       –   3rd trials @ SCC 3G – 5.30 - 7.30pm

The aim of the football academy is to enable youngsters in Sittingbourne, and the surrounding area, to pursue a career in football and other sports related  professions whilst also pursuing their academic studies.

All enquiries should be made directly toSittingbourne Community College on 01795-411900 and NOT Sittingbourne FC.


Sheerness Cannabis Factory Closed Down

Kent Police Neighbourhood officers in Sheerness have closed down a cannabis factory, after executing a drugs warrant on the Isle of Sheppey last week.

The warrant was executed at an address in Alexandra Road, Sheerness, on Thursday (2nd February) morning. A total of 16 plants, which are believed to have been almost ready for harvesting, were seized by officers. Hydroponic equipment was also dismantled and seized.

Police Sergeant Darren Walshaw, from the Sheerness neighbourhood team, told SFM News "every cannabis factory we locate and shut down helps to restrict the quantity of controlled drugs that are available for sale and for use. I would encourage anyone who suspects that cannabis is being cultivated to call us and we can take positive action. In this case, we have dismantled the factory and are now turning our attention to identifying those involved".


War Memorial Plans Given Cash Boost

The fundraising committee at Holy Trinity Church in Milton Regis, who have been campaigning for a number of years to reinstate the war memorial that was damaged beyond repair in the 1987 storm, have received a gift from a kind mystery donor.

Details of the group's effort, in raising £20,000 to replace it but falling short of the £35,000 actual cost, were published in The Sunday Telegraph newspaper and an anonymous reader contacted the committee to pledge the missing money. Milton Regis War Memorial Committee publicity officer, Elvie Lowe, told the Sittingbourne KM newspaper that "[a] gentleman rang me and said: 'Can I give you £15,000?’ I must have said 'thank you’ 10 times and never got his name. I gave him the details of our treasurer and now the money is in the bank".

The project was originally instigated by Royal British Legion members Rob Jordan and Larry Smithers more than a decade ago. The committee was formed several years ago and designers and stone masons were asked for their ideas by the commitee. From these a shortlist of three was drawn up and members of the public in the local area voted for their favourite, a design by Elliot Brotherton, totalling £35,000.


Caterham Car Project Update

Parents, friends and members of Sittingborne Invicta Rotary Club recently met at the Stittingbourne Skills Centre to view the progress in the Caterham for Schools project, which encourages school children to work together constructing an example of the would famous Caterham 7 Sports Car.

With the project nearing it's half way stage, and the car on all four wheels, students were on hand to explain and demonstrate what they’d done so far and some of the problems they encountered along the way. The project has been arranged by the Sittingborne Invicta Rotary Club and SFM Radio is a proud supporter of the project. For more information on the project please click here.