Local News

Detectives investigating two reported burglaries in Teynham have released a CCTV image. On Monday 3rd July, a man called at an address in Station Road and advised the resident he was there to check the smoke alarms. He was allowed into the address and, after he left, the occupant found a quantity of cash was missing.

On the same day, a pensioner also living in Station Road, was visited by a man who said he had been sent to check the electrics at the premises. Once the man had left the victim found their purse had been stolen.

Detective Constable Emma Laimbeer, of the Kent Crime Squad, told SFM News: ‘We have been investigating these incidents, including the examination of CCTV footage in the area, and are now able to release an image of a man we would like to identify. We are urging anybody who recognises the person or has information that may assist our enquiries to contact our appeal line.’

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Kent Police on 01795 419 119, quoting crime reference 46/118895/23. Alternatively they can also call Crimestoppers FREE and anonymously on 0800 555 111 or complete an online form on their website: www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Swale Borough Council is celebrating after receiving a Green Flag Award for Milton Creek Country Park and Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park.

The news that Milton Creek and Oare have achieved the accreditation - the international quality mark for parks and green spaces - "is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for the green space so that everyone can enjoy it" says the council.

Cllr Rich Lehmann, chair of the environment committee, told SFM News: "We’re delighted that Milton Creek Country Park in Sittingbourne and Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park in Faversham have both been awarded Green Flag Awards again this year. This is the second consecutive year the Milton Creek Country Park has received the award, and the 18th year in a row for the Gunpowder Works. We work hard alongside teams of dedicated volunteers to create parks and green spaces that meet the high standards expected of Green Flag parks. We are lucky to have such a fantastic variety of coastline, countryside, and green spaces across Swale for residents and visitors to explore. We know how much these spaces matter to people, so it’s pleasing to see recognition of all the hard work that is put in to maintaining them.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag award scheme manager Paul Todd MBE told SFM News: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Milton Creek Country Park and Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park in achieving the Green Flag Award. These are vital green spaces for the community in Swale, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles. The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

A full list of Green Flag 2023-24 Award-winning parks and green spaces is available here.

New CCTV images have been released by local officers investigating an assault in Sittingbourne.

The incident happened at around 1.25am on Saturday 24th June inside Lang’s Bar and Cocktail Lounge in St Michael’s Road.

While inside the bar, the victim was reported to have been assaulted after a man, not known to him, hit him over the head with a glass.

The offender then continued to assault the victim by pushing him to the floor where he was punched and kicked. The incident resulted in the victim sustaining deep lacerations to his face. 

During the incident a woman also assaulted the victim by kicking him while he was on the floor.

Officers have previously issued CCTV images of a man they would like to talk to, and are now in a position to issue further images of the same person.

A CCTV image of a woman is also being released.

Anyone who recognises the man or woman in the CCTV should call 01795 419 119 quoting reference 46/111751/23 or, alternatively they can call Kent Crimestoppers, FREE and anonimously, on 0800 555 111.

Swale Borough Council is making grants of up to £5,000 available to support activities to improve local town centres.

The council has set up the Town Centre Action Grant (TAG) scheme to help boost the borough’s principal towns of Faversham, Sittingbourne and Sheerness, as well as the smaller historic centres of Milton Regis and Queenborough.

The council wants interested groups to come together to develop co-ordinated action plans and projects for the towns, with grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 to schemes that focus on:

• local arts, cultural, heritage and creative events and activities in and around the town centres that create interest and promote footfall and usage
• promotional campaigns to encourage visits and people to explore the town centres, increasing interest and footfall
• projects that enhance the existing cultural, historic & heritage offer, helping re-enforce a sense of place and encourage visitors.

The deadline for applications to the first round of funding will be Wednesday 26 July 2023.

Cllr Monique Bonney, chair of the council’s regeneration and property committee, told SFM News: “We want to help support our town centres by providing groups with financial support for new plans for projects. The grant has been set up to help kickstart new projects that will improve footfall and increase visitor numbers. We’re hoping to receive applications from a range of different stakeholders in town centres who have new ideas that will directly benefit the area for local people, businesses and visitors.”

To find out more about the scheme, and to apply for a grant, visit www.swale.gov.uk/tag.

The Town Centre Action Grants scheme has received funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.