Local News

Swale Borough Council have raised concerns about Kent County Council (KCC) proposals to change youth services across the borough. 

The council has written to Kent’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Regulatory Services, Cllr Clair Bell, to set out its opposition to cut externally commissioned youth services, as part of proposals to create new family hubs to support children and families. 

Swale Borough Cllr Richard Palmer told SFM News: “The proposed new structure will cut externally commissioned youth services, which could see nine different types of provisions delivered by the Swale Youth Consortium being lost. The suggestion that outreach youth work will be provided by KCC is unclear, and we have doubts about if this would replace existing youth work or not. The proposed hubs would be in Sittingbourne, Faversham and the Isle of Sheppey. For Sheppey in particular, the proposed location in Queenborough is a key concern due to transport links across the Island".  

Cllr Palmer then went on to add: "The services that would stop under this proposal are in some of the more rural areas, or areas identified by local partners as higher levels of youth related ASB and crime, such as Faversham and Thistle Hill.  Another concern is not all young people will want to go to a physical building, making the outreach work the external youth services provide even more important. These services have been successful with 57 new sign-ups per month according to Brogdale CIC who are one of the key providers within the consortium, with demand almost doubling since 2021.  We firmly believe that the proposal to stop youth activities in Swale would have a very negative affect on our communities".

Cllr Palmer's final comments were: “Swale doesn’t have one central town so every area and town, even the most rural, must have access to the same level of service and this is unlikely to be achieved with the current proposal.  We already experience a high level of youth related antisocial behaviour and crime, without the opportunities offered by youth services this is likely to get even worse.” 

The consultation ends on Wednesday 13th September and you can have YOUR say here: https://kent.gov.uk/familyhubservices

A man has been given a 26-year jail term after a violent assault on a lone woman in Sittingbourne.

In the early hours of Sunday 11th December 2022, the victim was walking near Canterbury Road when she was approached by a man she knew, Matthew Breaker.

He suddenly launched a violent attack, hitting her repeatedly with a hammer before pinning her to the floor and thrusting a blade towards her face and torso.

Patrols were called to the incident and Breaker was arrested. They also seized the hammer and two knives.

Later the same day, the Crown Prosecution Service authorised a charge of attempted murder against Breaker. He was also charged with possession of a knife in a public place.

The case went to trial at Maidstone Crown Court and Breaker, of Swanstree Avenue, Sittingbourne, was found guilty of attempted murder. He had pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article.

The 46-year-old was sentenced on Thursday (31st August) to 26 years’ imprisonment. Upon his release, he will be subject to an extended licence period of four years. He will not be able to apply for parole until he has served at least two thirds of his sentence in prison.

Investigating officer DC Poppy Edwards told SFM News: "Matthew Breaker is a very violent individual who launched a sudden and brutal attack on a lone woman during the hours of darkness, after lying in wait for her to return home. His actions were appalling, and it is only right he is now behind bars. He inflicted atrocious injuries and has shown no remorse for the lasting impact this will have on his victim. I would like to commend the victim who has shown great courage in assisting our prosecution and helping us bring this dangerous individual to justice."

Click here for further information, advice and support relating to Violence Against Women and Girls. This page also includes details on how Kent Police is tackling offences including domestic abuse, stalking, harassment and other forms of violence.

If you have been a victim of violence and wish to report an offence to Kent Police, click here.

Kent Police have confirmed that 40 drivers have received fines as part of their ongoing work to crack down on motorists committing offences in Swale.

On Saturday 12 August officers from Kent Police’s Special Constabulary spent time in Mill Way, Sittingbourne, where they stopped drivers. During the operation 47 offences were identified and robustly dealt with.

Of these stops, 16 Traffic Offence Reports (TORs) were issued for motorists driving without seatbelts, one motorist was seen speeding, two were using their mobile phones and two were driving with illegal number plates.

Other offences included windows being too heavily tinted, a child not being restrained correctly, and two Vehicle Defect Rectification Notices being served after two damaged cars were seen being driven when they should not have been.

Officers also issued words of advice for offences including a tyre below the minimum tread, broken brake lights and incorrectly fitted and missing number plates.

Kent Police Community Safety Unit Inspector Vanessa Foster told SFM News: "‘Proactive operations such as these are important to ensure those motorists driving within our community understand that it will not be tolerated and that they will face consequences for committing these offences. We will continue to patrol the area and will ensure motorists seen using their vehicles dangerously, or in an anti-social manner are dealt with accordingly."

Gordon Henderson at Ridham, pictured in the orange jacket

Our local MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, Gordon Henderson, learned how Biomass plants powered by waste wood can contribute to the UK,s energy security and net zero goals on a visit to MVV Environments Ridham Dock facility recently.

The 25MW combined heat and power biomass plant had opened in 2015 and processes 195,000 tonnes of end-of-life post-consumer waste wood each year into renewable electricity.

The visit was organised by MVV Environment in partnership with the Wood Recyclers’ Association (WRA) and was part of the WRA’s ongoing MP engagement programme aimed at improving understanding of the wood recycling industry in the Houses of Parliament.