Local News

Kent Police have confirmed that two men have been arrested follwing the theft of a parcel delivery van, that was out on it's rounds earlier today.

Officers were called at around 11.30am this morning (Thursday 13th November) following reports that a vehicle had been taken while the driver was making deliveries in Cherry Close, Milton Regis.

Officers from Kent Police's Rural Fask Force found the vehicle in Bewick Walk, Iwadeat around 11:50am and apprehended the two suspects.

The Public Inquiry stage of the Secretary of State's ‘call in’ of the proposed Highsted Park development has now concluded (wednesday 5th November 2025), almost a year since Swale Borough Council’s Planning Committee was set to determine the application.

The Public Inquiry was examining the two planning applications for a development of up to 8,400 homes to the south and east of Sittingbourne.  It is understood to be the longest inquiry for a housing-led scheme ever considered by the Planning Inspectorate.

The applications were called in by the then Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner MP, on 7th November 2024, meaning the final decision will be made by the government, not the council.

Following the call in, the council’s Planning Committee considered the applications to indicate what decision would have been made. In both cases the committee would have refused the applications, and this was the position the council maintained throughout the inquiry.

The council presented detailed evidence to the Planning Inspector on key issues, including the significant impact to the landscape, loss of ancient woodland, harm to heritage assets, loss of high-quality agricultural land, and the proposals' conflict with the adopted Swale Local Plan.

Cllr Tim Gibson, leader of the council, told SFM News: “I want to thank all the residents, community groups, councillors, parish councils and officers who dedicated an enormous amount of time and energy to participate in this long and complex inquiry. We believe the case against this unsustainable development is overwhelming. From the beginning, we have been firm that this proposal is the wrong development in the wrong place. We presented a robust case to the inspector, and we now await the final decision, hopeful for an outcome that respects the wishes of our local communities and protects our borough’s character.”

With the Public Inquiry now closed, the planning process now moves to its next stage. After a short window of opportunity for parties to the Inquiry to comment on the legal agreement that is being prepared in the event that planning permission is granted, the Planning Inspector will review all the evidence, and prepare a detailed report on the applications.

This report will include her findings on the key issues and a formal recommendation to the Secretary of State on whether the planning applications should be approved or refused.

The new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed OBE MP (who was appointed to the role on the 5th September) will make the final decision, taking the Planning Inspector's report and recommendation into account.

There is no statutory timeframe for the decision, but it is typically issued several months after the inquiry closes. Swale Borough Council will share the final decision with the public as soon as it is published.

The Happy Pants Ranch animal sanctuary, in Newington, has confirmed positive for the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 strain.

DEFRA (The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) announced that a number of the captive birds at the premises had tested positive on Monday (27th October) and were destroyed.

A 3km controlled zone was immediately implemented on Monday evening, and requires anyone who owns birds in this vicinity (which borders Upchurch, Hartlip, Iwade and Kemsley) to monitor and safely house them inside.

DEFRA also confirmed that some strains of the disease can spread through to humans in close contact with infected animals, or exposure to contaminated environments.

Earlier today (Wednesday 29th October), the remaining 61 birds on the ranch were culled - these included ducks, geese, rehea, seagulls, hens, cockerels, pigeons and pheasants and a well-known local avaian celebrity the emu called "BB".

Amey James, who runs the Happy Pants Ranch, was "teary-eyed" when she spoke to local press confirming that "last Wednesday I found a duck that appeared to be lethargic and brought it inside for a shower and feed. Within 24 hours, it had died, which I thought was strange, but put that down to genetics or an underlying illness at the time".

A lockdown on the site has been implemented for the next 7 days but can be extended by DEFRA. Only Amey and three other volunteers will be allowed on site and all movements in and out must be logged.

Speaking on social media Amey said "I don’t think in all my 10 years of running the sanctuary and keeping birds, I’ve ever had a more devastating blow - and there’s definitely been a few over the recent years.. but this has ripped mine - and all the crew's hearts right out. I can’t even begin to explain it". 

If you wish to donate to The Happy Pants Ranch Animal Sanctuary please visit: https://gofund.me/5e39bdcab

A motorist, who fatally struck a cyclist before fleeing the scene, has been jailed for 12 and a half years.

Danny Gibson, 38, was sentenced after admitting to causing a fatal collision on The Street in Wormshill, on Tuesday 18th October 2022.

Gibson had spent the afternoon drinking in Sheerness before taking his mother’s car without permission. He then drove through Wormshill and surrounding areas before he collided with the victim, who was cycling near his home. Gibson abandoned the vehicle in a nearby field and left the scene on foot.

A witness reported that at about 5pm she heard a loud bang shortly after seeing the cyclist pass by, and later saw the car in a field. Gibson was seen leaving the area but failed to report the incident or seek help for the victim.

Officers attended his address later that evening following a report about a domestic incident but at no point did Gibson report the collision.

The victim was discovered later that evening by a friend who had gone searching for him when he failed to return home. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by paramedics at 8.45pm.

Gibson, from Oast Court in Sittingbourne was arrested and later identified by the witness through an ID procedure. He was also forensically linked to the vehicle after a piece of the broken glass was found in his hair. He was charged with multiple offences including causing death by careless driving while over the drug-drive limit, driving while unlicensed and uninsured.

He initially denied the offences, claiming it couldn’t have been him because he doesn’t have a licence. But Gibson later admitted to the offences at a hearing in April 2025. A charge of aggravated vehicle taking was ordered to lie on file.

At Maidstone Crown Court earlier today (Friday 17th October), Gibson was jailed for 12 years and six months. He has also been banned from driving for 20 years and will be required to pass an extended re-test.

Detective Constable Dave Holmes from Kent Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit told SFM News: "This was a tragic and entirely avoidable incident that has devastated a family and a community. Gibson’s reckless actions and decision to flee the scene showed a complete disregard for human life. We hope this sentence brings some measure of justice to the victim’s loved ones."