Local News

People around the Raspberry Hill Lane area in Iwade were being advised to keep windows and doors closed earlier today (Tuesday 3rd June).

The earlier advice was issued due to a large amount of smoke coming from a grass fire, which crews believed was caused accidentally after embers spread from an out-of-control bonfire.

The Kent Fire & Rescue Service (KFRS) were called at 11:37am and three fire engines attended, as well as an all-terrain vehicle. Firefighters used beaters and portable water tanks to extinguish the flames and no injuries were reported.

Pic: Dave Saunders

The Kent Fire & Rescue Service (KFRS) were advising people in the Milton Regis area to keep all windows and doors closed on Saturday (31st May) afternoon, due to heavy smoke coming from a derelict house fire on Roberts Close. 

The KFRS were called at 3:35pm following reports of a blaze on the residential street.

Six fire engines attended the scene and crews, wearing breathing apparatus and using main jets to extinguish the flames until just after 4.10am in the early hours of Sunday morning.

In an update from the Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) a spokesperson told SFM News: “Firefighting operations are now complete. Crews returned to the scene in the early hours of this morning to extinguish further flames using hose reel jets. At the height of the incident, seven fire engines and a height vehicle attended. There were no reported injuries and the cause remains unknown.”

Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has announced the winners of the prestigious Blue Flag and Seaside Awards for summer 2025, and among them are three bathing beaches on the Isle of Sheppey.

This year the beaches which have met the high standard required to be presented with a Blue Flag, Seaside Award, or both are:

• Sheerness – Blue Flag and Seaside Award
• Leysdown – Seaside Award
• Minster Leas – Seaside Award

Cllr Dolley Wooster, Chair of the environment and climate change committee at Swale Borough Council (SBC), told SFM News: “It’s brilliant news for the Island to receive these prestigious awards once again. These highlight all the hard work carried out by our officers and volunteers to maintain our beaches and their facilities for residents and visitors to enjoy. We’re lucky to have such beautiful coastline, and these awards recognise our beaches are still among the best in the country.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE told SFM News: “In England we are lucky enough to have some of the best beaches in the world. It’s wonderful to see the flags flying proudly over three beaches in Swale, demonstrating their quality to residents and visitors alike. The awards are a credit to the collective efforts of beach and site managers, volunteers, residents and businesses who should take pride today in their tireless efforts to maintain, protect and improve some of our best-loved and most popular blue spaces. Visitors to a beach flying a Blue Flag can be assured the beach will be clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards.”

The Blue Flag and Seaside Awards are aimed at improving the quality of England’s coastline and promoting the country’s best beaches.

Blue Flag, the world’s most recognised award for beaches and marinas, is an environmental education programme managed by Keep Britain Tidy on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education.

It is only presented to beaches with water which has achieved the highest classification as set by the EU Bathing Water Directive and has an environmental education programme, and, to qualify, each applicant must meet and maintain a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria.

Seaside Awards are presented to the best beaches in England and celebrate the quality and diversity of our coastline.

Among the criteria beaches are assessed against are:

• Safety and services, such as first aid, lifeguards where necessary
• Environmental information including displaying details about local eco systems
• Environmental management, including litter and waste.
• Water quality – Blue Flag beaches must meet the ‘excellent’ water quality standard as set out in the EU bathing water directive and Seaside Award winners must meet the 'sufficient’ standard.

 You can find out more about Swale's local beaches at www.swale.gov.uk/beaches

A speeding motorcyclist who fatally collided with a man as he crossed a road has been jailed.

Andy Gilchrist was travelling along the A262 Tenterden Road in Biddenden on Sunday 18th September 2022 when the fatal collision happened.

The 27-year-old, from Sittingbourne, was riding his motorcycle towards Tenterden, when he collided with 72-year-old Christopher Smith, who had stepped off a bus and had begun to cross the road.

Subsequent investigations by officers established Mr Gilchrist was travelling at more than 60mph in the 50mph limit when he collided with Mr Smith. Witness also told investigators that moments prior to the collision, Mr Gilchrist had overtaken two vehicles at approximately 75 to 78mph, within the same 50mph zone.

Mr Smith suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by SECAmb paramedics while a passenger on Mr Gilchrist’s bike was taken to hospital having suffered a serious leg injury.

Mr Gilchrist appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday (8th May) and was found guilty of causing death by careless driving, as well as causing serious injury by careless driving. He was sentenced to 18 months in jail and received an 18-month disqualification from driving.

Detective Constable David Holmes, of Kent Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, told SFM News: "This was a deeply tragic incident that led to the loss of a life, and our thoughts remain with the victim’s family.The sentence imposed reflects the seriousness of what happened and showcases the lasting impact that poor decisions on the road can have."