Local News

Two Arrests After 'Bin Men' High Street Brawl

Two Arrests After 'Bin Men' High Street Brawl

A disturbance in Chatham High Street has led to two men being arrested, one of which is from the Sittingbourne area.

Last Wednesday (4th August) investigating officers arrested a 30-year-old man from Sittingbourne on suspicion of affray. He was additionally arrested for two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.

A second man, aged 28 and from the Gillingham area, was arrested on suspicion of affray on Thursday 5th August.

They were arrested in connection with an incident which was filmed by several people and posted online on Monday 5th July. It took place in Chatham High Street at around 5:00pm.

Following the report of the incident patrols attended the area but those responsible had already left the scene.

Officers have worked with partners to identify the individuals involved which lead to the arrests being carried out.

Both men have since been released, pending further enquiries.

Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident who has not yet spoken to officers can call 01634 792209, quoting reference 46/118487/21.

Alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers in Kent free and anonymously on 0800 555 111, or complete the online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Mud Rescue Undertaken At Conyer Creek

Mud Rescue Undertaken At Conyer Creek

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) were called to reports of two people stuck in mud on Conyer Wharf in Sittingbourne earlier this afternoon (Sunday 8th August).

Three fire engines and a Water Safety Unit were sent to the scene, and crews wearing dry suits used a throw line to access the casualties, before towing them to safety in a dinghy.

They were then passed into the care of South East Coast Ambulance. Kent Police and the Coastguard was also in attendance.

Following the incident, crews are reminding people to be aware of tide times by rivers and the coast, and to be careful in muddy areas, since it can be easy to become stuck. You should also always bring a mobile phone out with you, so that you can call for help if you're in an emergency.

Witness Appeal Following 'Suspicious' House Fire

Witness Appeal Following 'Suspicious' House Fire

Local detectives are investigating a fire at a house in Sittingbourne and appealing for witnesses.

At about 10.40pm on Sunday 1st August, it is believed the front door of the property in Frederick Street had been set alight. No-one was in the house at the time, but the door, the porch and a large amount of belongings were destroyed.

A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. He has been released on bail while enquiries continue.

Officers would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the fire or who may have information that could assist with the investigation.

You can call Kent Police on 01795 419119 quoting reference 46/138098/21 or, alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers free and anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or by filling in the online report form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information

Dispersal Order In Murston And Great Easthall Issued

Dispersal Order In Murston And Great Easthall Issued

Individuals involved in anti-social behaviour are the target of a Kent Police dispersal order, which is being enforced in the Murston and Great Easthall areas of town.

Across July and the beginning of August, Police have received reports of young people verbally abusing members of the public and shop staff in the Murston Road, Church Road and Harkness Court areas.

It is also reported that teenagers have been seen poorly riding quadbikes and mopeds, in addition to swimming in a lake off Mulberry Way.

The dispersal order gives officers the power to move on any individual who they suspect is involved, or likely to become involved in, nuisance behaviour. It also gives patrols the power to escort anyone under the age of 18 home. 

The order will remain in place until Friday 6th August and failure to comply with an instruction to leave the area is an offence that risks arrest.

Inspector Joel Mitchell, from the Swale Community Safety Unit, told SFM News: ‘After what has been a very disruptive year, we fully understand why people want to enjoy the summer months but that cannot be to the detriment of the wider community. Since the beginning of the school holidays, we have already received 11 reports of nuisance and abusive behaviour in this particular area and that cannot be allowed to continue. Our officers will regularly be patrolling the Murston and Great Easthall areas and will not hesitate to take proportionate action on anyone who exercises a disregard for the wellbeing and wishes of the surrounding community. I also encourage anyone affected by such behaviour to make a report, either through our website or by calling 101. This will help us continue to monitor the problem and determine any future courses of action."

Council Reviews Existing Conservation Areas

Council Reviews Existing Conservation Areas

Local residents and interested parties can now have their say on conservation areas in the Milstead and Sittingbourne area.

Swale Borough Council is reviewing the existing conservation areas and has opened it up for public consultation.

Cllr Mike Baldock, cabinet member for planning at the council, told SFM News: “We’ve committed to regularly reviewing important conservation areas across the borough. We reviewed conservation areas in in Borden Parish and Tonge earlier this year and made changes to include some historic parts of the borough that we felt needed protecting. For Milstead and Sittingbourne conservation areas, we are proposing to extend some of the current boundaries, and we want to know people’s thoughts".

Cllr Baldock went on to add: "The current Sittingbourne boundary is at the east end of the high street and we are proposing to extend it to also include parts of East Street down towards Aldi. In Milstead, we’re proposing to extend the boundary to include a number of areas, such as the historic cricket ground and Trotts Hall, which was moved brick-by-brick from a site off Bell Road in the 1970s. We want to hear opinions from local people on these proposed changes. What makes their local conservation area special? Are the boundaries in the right place? Do we need to have additional controls in place? We have a rich heritage in Swale and it’s important that we protect it for future generations.”

To find out more and have your say visit www.swale.gov.uk/conservation-areas.

The consultation runs from Monday 2nd August, until Sunday 19th September and the documents can be viewed at Sittingbourne Library. The Milstead documents are also available from the Milstead Parish Clerk.

Comments can be emailed to: conservation@swale.gov.uk or posted to CA Consultation, Planning Services, Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne ME10 3HT.

Road Safety Campaign Targets Speeding Motorists

Road Safety Campaign Targets Speeding Motorists

Speeding motorists will be targeted by Kent Police as part of a two week national campaign aimed at reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads.

Between Monday 26th July and Sunday 8th August 2021, Kent Police and other forces across the country will be supporting an operation led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council to educate and enforce the law against those who speed and place other road users at risk.

Kent Police say that "speeding is one of the ‘fatal factors’ that contribute to the highest number of road collisions resulting in deaths and serious injuries, along with not wearing a seatbelt, driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs, and using a mobile phone or other electronic device at the wheel".

The traffic operation here in Kent will see officers from the Road Safety Unit supported by other roads policing colleagues and volunteers from the Special Constabulary visit speeding hotspots across the county. The Safety Camera Team will also be deployed to existing authorised locations to provide a visible deterrent to anyone considering driving over the limit.

Meanwhile, Community Speedwatch volunteers will also be taking part in the operation at approved sites across Kent with 20, 30 and 40mph speed limits. Community Speedwatch is an educational alternative to enforcement, with warning letters sent to registered owners of vehicles caught exceeding the limit.

The last national speeding operation was held in April 2020 when around 10,800 speeding offences were recorded in Kent including more than 500 that were serious enough to warrant a court appearance.

Chief Inspector Elena Hall, Head of Roads Policing at Kent Police, told SFM News: "Whilst the vast majority of motorists drive in a safe and responsible manner on a daily basis, there are still too many travelling at unacceptable speeds who put themselves and other road users in harm’s way. Motor vehicles are potentially lethal weapons and the faster your speed, the less time you have to react to unforeseen hazards or mistakes from other drivers and the greater the impact any collision may be – making it more likely that you or someone else will be killed or seriously injured. We therefore will not hesitate to take enforcement action against anyone caught driving in such a reckless manner, not only during the course of this national operation but every day when our officers are on patrol. Road safety is a shared responsibility and we work regularly with our partners including Kent County Council, Medway Council and Highways England to help educate all motorists about the best way to ensure we all reach our destinations safely."

Appeal Following A Serious Assault In Sittingbourne

Appeal Following A Serious Assault In Sittingbourne

Witnesses are being sought following a serious assault of a young woman in Sittingbourne earlier today (Thursday 22nd July).

Kent Police were called shortly before 8:00am this morning to Highsted Road in Sittingbourne, to a report that the victim had suffered injuries.

Officers are currently at the scene and the young woman has been taken to a London hospital for treatment. Her condition is described as serious.

Anyone with any information, in relation to the incident, is asked to call Kent Police on 01474 366 149 quoting reference 22-0255 or, alternatively, you can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers free and anonymously on 0800 555 111 or complete an online form at: crimestoppers-uk.org

Council To Help Young People To Reconnect

Council To Help Young People To Reconnect

Children and young people in Swale who receive free school meals are being offered the chance to take part in a range of activities to help them reconnect with their lives before the pandemic.

Swale Borough Council have been working with local providers to subsidise a range of activities – from swimming sessions to cinema tickets – thanks to £12,500 of funding from Kent County Council’s Reconnect programme.

Cllr Richard Palmer, cabinet member for communities at the council, told SFM News: "Since the pandemic began, we have all struggled, but I do think that sometimes we forget about the impact on our children and young people. Most parents complain about their kids being on screens too much, but for large parts of the last 18 months, they – like the rest of us – simply haven’t been allowed out. It’s not just their education that has been impacted, but also their social development has been stifled by the pandemic".

Cllr Palmer went on to add: “Kent County Council are running a range of activities to help children and young people reconnect with the things they used to do before the pandemic. They have kindly supported us with some funding for activities for those children and young people on free school meals so we can help make sure they get the opportunities which we hope will help them reconnect with their pre-covid lives again.”

The activities being supported by Swale Council between Monday 26th July until Sunday 5th September are:

Subsidised swimming tickets at Faversham, Swallows and Sheerness pools:

Faversham Town Pool sessions will run between 9am to 2pm, and 2:30pm until close, every day. Under 10s must be accompanied by an adult). To book visit www.favershampools.com/booking or call 01795 532426

  • Family ticket £15 / single child £3
  • Tickets for Swallows/ Sheerness will be available from reception at each leisure centre
  • Family ticket £10 / single child £3
  •  

Subsidised activity mornings at The Light Cinema, Sittingbourne:

Activity Club mornings at The Light. You can join in the fun Monday to Thursday between the 9th and 19th August, from 9am until 11:30am. You will be able to either:

  • Watch a film + popcorn and a drink, or take part in a bowling game with popcorn and a drink (these will be running on alternate days);
  • There will be a craft activity each morning (Monday - Thursday) between the 9th - 19th August
  • Single Child Ticket: £1.99 / Family Ticket £7.96 Prebooking is essential, and will be available from the week commencing 26 July.

To find out information on how to book please contact stephcarbutt@swale.gov.uk

Subsidised heritage & education tickets for:

  • Raybel - Learn about the history of the local trading ship and take part in fun activities such as clay making (9 August), wood construction (16 August) and drawing and painted wood (23 August) for just £3.00 per person, or a Pizza Oven workshop at £4.00 per family from 30 July to 1 August. To book please visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/raybel-charters-cic-ltd-31079547521,
  • Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway - Take a ride with your family and friends on Wednesdays and Sundays throughout the summer holidays. Tickets are £10. To book call 01795 424899 or email bookings@sklr.net
  • Bluetown – Throughout the summer they will be offering discounted family annual passes (£10) or single day visit (£2.50) tickets. To book please call 01795 662981.
  • Medway & Swale Estuary Partnership - Based on Minster Leas Beach there will be two 1/2 day activities on the 30th July and 27th August from 10am to 12:30pm. These activities are free of charge and will include Rock Pooling / Bird Watching / Clay Art. To book please contact: info@msep.org.uk.

To benefit from any of the above activities a valid Reconnect Pass/free school meals letter must be presented. Failure to present these at your bookings will mean access is denied.

Kent Police Supports ASB Awareness Week

Kent Police Supports ASB Awareness Week

Nuisance and abusive behaviour are the focus of a week-long campaign which is being supported by The Swale Community Safety Partnership and Kent Police.

Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week runs from today (Monday 19th July) through to Sunday (25th July) and has been organised by Resolve, a national agency which specialises in community safety.

Throughout the week, important advice on the support available will be shared online and this will be done on top of the work officers do on a daily basis. Such work is done in partnership with partner agencies, including councils, with the aim of preventing incidents and ensuring robust action is taken against perpetrators. 

Superintendent Pete Steenhuis, from Kent Police, told SFM News: "Anti-social behaviour is committed by a very small minority of people but it can have a wide-reaching impact on a community. We know from our engagement work that members of the public sometimes feel hesitant to make a report to us because they believe what they are experiencing does not warrant police action, but that could not be further from the truth. Abusive and nuisance behaviour has a significant impact on an affected person’s quality of life and is not something that should be tolerated. Each day our officers work hard to achieve good results for the communities they serve and they will always pursue the most robust and proportionate options available to them. Anyone affected by anti-social behaviour is encouraged to contact us so we can take action."

Throughout the week, Kent Police will be sharing advice on what to do if you are affected by ASB and members of the public are encouraged to follow Kent Police on social media. Policing teams will also be patrolling their communities and anyone who wants advice, or to bring an item to their attention, is welcome to engage with them.

Further information and advice can also be found by visiting: https://www.kent.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/asb/asb/antisocial-behaviour/

Anyone affected by ASB is encouraged not to tolerate it and to make a report via the Kent Police website, or by calling 101 and, if a crime is progress, by dialing 999.

Temporary Road Closures Removed Next Week

Temporary Road Closures Removed Next Week

Swale Borough Council have confirmed that the temporary road closures in Sittingbourne, Faversham and Sheerness will be removed from next Monday (19th July) following the Government’s latest announcement on the easing of restrictions.

The council said that "closures were put in place last summer to help encourage visitors back to town centres after the first lockdown by creating space to safely social distance and with restrictions coming to an end on Monday 19th July, the closures will be removed allowing traffic to use the high streets again".

Cllr Monique Bonney, cabinet member for economy and property at Swale Borough Council, told SFM News: "we can confirm the temporary road closures in our town centres will be removed from that date. The Government has taken the view that despite rising cases the restrictions can be eased, but we are urging people to remain cautious and behave sensibly. The vaccination programme is helping to reduce the impact of the pandemic, but we aren’t out of the woods yet. We all need to do what we can to keep each other safe, and to try to avoid restrictions being reimposed later in the year. If restrictions are reintroduced in future, we will consider using the temporary road closures again as an option to help people use the town centres safely.”

 

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