Local News

Local residents are being invited to help name Swale Borough Councils’ new fleet of waste collection and street sweeper vehicles.

Swale Borough Council wants people to get creative and help name 24 new waste collection vehicles and four new street cleansing vehicles that will be working across the borough from March.

The vehicles are currently being built as part of the new waste and street cleansing contract with SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd.

The brand-new fleet will "help the council deliver improved waste collections and street cleansing services across the borough in a more environmentally friendly way. They will continue to collect general waste and recycling on alternate weeks, as well as collecting food waste separately every week, which is required by law".

These new vehicles will ensure the council have the capacity for all residents of Swale to recycle their food waste, every week with some vehicles will also be dedicated to the garden waste subscription service.

The contract begins on 25th March 2024 and will make use of the latest technology such as these new vehicles.

Cllr Rich Lehmann, chair of the Environment Committee, told SFM News: “These new vehicles will massively boost our ability to provide the crucial waste services that the Borough needs. This is one of the many improvements coming to our waste disposal services thanks to the new contract with SUEZ. They will replace the old fleet with new, more environmentally friendly vehicles to provide a more reliable and greener collection service. We want to get residents involved by asking for help to name the lorries that will be driving through their streets every week.

Cllr Lehmann went on to add: “It is a great opportunity for you to be creative and we’re hoping to get better suggestions than “Binny McBinface”! Please share your ideas with us via social media or by using the dedicated email address. We can’t wait to see all of your suggestions!”

You will be able to leave your suggested names in the comments of the Council's posts on  their Facebook page, or by emailing your ideas to NameABinLorry@Swale.gov.uk.

The campaign will be running from through until Tuesday 31st October.

The council will then create a shortlist of the best ideas which will allow the public to vote for their favourites.

Councillor Ann Cavanagh, who was elected to Swale Borough Council in May this year, as a Swale Independent representing Borden and Grove Park ward, has joined the Labour Group and will sit with Labour when the Council convenes its next Full Council meeting next week.

The balance of the Council will thus change to; Labour-16 seats; Swale Independents 12; Conservatives 11; Liberal Democrats 5 and Green Party 3. It will make no difference to the balance between the Coalition administration and the opposition, as Cllr Cavanagh is exchanging one coalition group for another.

Cllr Cavanagh told SFM News "Since being elected to Swale Borough Council in May, I have found the Labour Councillors very friendly and supportive. I have known Tim Gibson. Leader of the Council and the Labour group, for about 5 years. He clearly has the respect of the whole Council. Since the elections of 2019 and the creation of the Rainbow Coalition, which I found very exciting and positive for Swale, I have followed its progress with interest. So, when asked by the Swale Independents, part of the coalition, to stand, I thought it would be a privilege to be part of the coalition. However, having seen how Tim leads his group, and how welcoming his group has been to me as a new councillor, I believe I will flourish in this group. So, for me I feel that Labour will be a better fit and am excited at the thought of getting involved with Labour both locally and in the forthcoming general election.”

Tim Gibson, the Leader of Swale Borough Council and the labour group told SFM News: “Ann is most welcome into the Labour group and of course into the Labour Party. She has developed very good working relationships with my members. With a general election looming and people focussing on liberating us from the current chaotic government, it is good to know that we have added another strong local voice to our team”.

The Full Council Meeting is at 7:00pm on Wednesday 11th October in the Council Chambers on the 3rd Floor of Swale House in East Street, Sittingbourne.

Swale Borough Council (SBC) have teamed up with Kent Police’s Rural Task Force to crack down on suspected fly-tipping on a day of action collecting evidence and taking enforcement action for waste related crimes.  
  
SBC have confirmed that 8 vehicles were stopped and searched and 4 Fixed Penalty Notices were issued.  
  
Cllr Rich Lehmann, Chair of the Environment Committee at SBC told SFM News: "We as a council are determined to crack down on fly-tipping, it is an incredibly selfish act that spoils the environment for everyone. That is why our officers are regularly teaming up with Kent Police to give out penalty notices to clamp down on fly-tipping. It can be tempting to go with someone who offers a cheap way of getting rid of your waste, but you are likely to face a fine of £400 if any illegally carried or dumped waste leads back to you.  
  
Cllr Lehmann went on to add: “The fixed penalty notice legislation has changed recently, so we will be reviewing our position and looking at increasing fines for waste related offences like littering and fly-tipping. People say scrap metal has value and that it won’t be fly-tipped, but if someone’s getting rid of metal waste from building work, for example, we need to check where the non-metal waste has gone. We all have a legal duty to make sure our waste is disposed of responsibly, so you should always ask the waste carriers for their license and ask for a written receipt or transfer note. Help us keep Swale’s environment clean by disposing of your waste responsibly." 
  
Swale Borough Council have released some tips on what YOU can do to dispose of your waste responsibly:- 
   
They say that the fly-tippers often target households via social media or local advertising, luring customers in with cheap rates to dispose of unwanted furniture, building rubble or garden waste. However, these unlicensed waste carriers often simply dump the waste wherever they can get away with it, including in Kent’s country lanes.   
   
Householders or small businesses found to be using criminals to dispose of their waste can and are being prosecuted by local authorities in Kent with fixed penalty notices that go up to £400 per offence.  Failure to pay such an FPN may result in court action where fines can be significantly larger.  
   
To prevent this, householders should check whether someone is licenced to carry waste by visiting the Environment Agency website, or by calling 03708 506 506.   
   
It also helps if householders receive a written receipt or transfer note, including contact details, description of waste removed and details of where the waste is being taken to.  

A man from Sittingbourne, who stalked a woman and threatened to throw acid in her face, has been jailed.

Duncan Friend harassed and intimidated his victim over several weeks and also made threats with a knife, to people she knew.

Friend became known to the woman in December 2022 and in the weeks that followed bought her gifts including a bag, shoes, and scarf. By the end of January 2023, the victim became concerned by constant messages she was receiving on her phone from Friend, which included demands she needed to return the gifts to him.

Friend was unaware of where the victim lived, and the messages and abuse escalated as he sought to find her address. He also called her repeatedly on several different numbers, many of which were withheld.

Some of the threats were made through people known to the victim. On Friday 3rd February, a 999 call was made to police that Friend had attended an address in Chatham, linked to a friend of the victim. He was seen to take out a weapon, described as resembling a machete, from his trousers and wave it around whilst demanding the victim’s address. He was also heard shouting threats he would throw acid in the victim’s face and kill her.

Friend was arrested the same day and later bailed with conditions as officers sought to build a successful case. He continued to send threatening messages to people including the victim, and on Sunday 19th March an investigation by the North Kent Vulnerability Investigation Team (VIT) led to him being arrested again.

Friend, 51, of Woodstock Road, was charged with stalking involving serious alarm or distress (between 3rd February and 19th March 2023), and a count of possessing a knife in a public place. He pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and on Tuesday 12 September was sentenced to two years and three months’ imprisonment. Upon his release from custody, Friend will be subject to a seven-year restraining order.

Investigator for Kent Police's VIT, Holly Felstead, told SFM News: "Duncan Friend subjected his victim to relentless harassment and intimidation and his actions have impacted deeply on her daily life. Friend has caused a huge amount of distress, fear and anxiety not only to the victim but to her friends and family. We are grateful that the victim has shown tremendous courage in coming forward and helping us secure this important sentence. I would like to praise her bravery in reporting these crimes to us and urge anyone who is being abused or harassed by someone they know to tell the police as soon as possible. Your safety is our priority and we will take whatever steps are open to us to protect you and bring to justice those who might harm you."