Local News

Kent County Council (KCC) Trading Standards have advised that a local elderly resident has been targeted by bogus council officials into paying £4,000 for urgent home repairs.

Here's what happened:-

• Cold called by two men claiming to be from Swale Borough Council
• Told occupant that they needed urgent repairs to be carried out on their house
• The work would cost £4,000 but that they would be able to claim the money back

If this happens to you here's what to do:

• Do not respond to cold callers
• Check the identity by calling your local council on a number you have. Do not use any phone number the cold callers give you - it may not be genuine.
• Report to Kent Police on 101, or if you feel threatened call 999.
• Please warn vulnerable family members, friends and neighbours.
• Report it

Find out about how scammers may be trying to target you and your family during the Coronavirus pandemic. We can all be vulnerable to these criminals and the best way to protect yourself is to make sure you are aware. KCC Public protection have created a page that lists scams that are using the Pandemic to target you. Please visit: https://www.kentpublicprotection.info/covid19alerts.

Kent Police officers have issued 30 fines across the county over the weekend, which included breaches at the ports, people failing to isolate, gatherings outside and indoors and unnecessary trips into the county.

Locally on Saturday (9th January) a woman, in Regis Crescent, was fined £200 for leaving her home to visit someone outside of her bubble and household and another woman was fined £200 for being outside of her home without a valid reason at Sittingbourne Railway Station.

On Sunday (10th January) a man was fined £200 for being out, on his way to friends and in breach of the restrictions with no valid reason in Sittingbourne.

Kent Police Assistant Chief Constable, Claire Nix, told SFM News: "The vast majority of Kent residents continue to do the right thing and are following the rules, helping to protect the NHS and ultimately save lives. Unfortunately, there are still some people who think it is acceptable to throw parties, gather outside in large numbers or commit other serious breaches of Covid-19 regulations. Holidays within the UK and abroad are also prohibited unless for permitted reasons and, despite this advice, 7 people attempted to cross the Channel at the weekend without valid reasons and were fined as a result.

"The Government has been very clear that the best way to protect everyone is to stay at home as part of this third national lockdown and no one should be attempting holidays or breaching other rules, not just for their own protection but to prevent the spread of the virus. I am urging all Kent residents to visit the government website and know what is acceptable at this time. Anyone who is permitted to travel abroad should also obtain a negative Covid-19 test prior to departure. Anyone who turns up at the ports without one will also be turned away.

"It is also unacceptable that officers around the county are still finding some individuals organising or attending house parties with no regard for the seriousness of this pandemic.

"In these situations we will have no choice but to take enforcement action. People doing this are not only putting their own lives at risk but that of anyone they meet, some of whom will be extremely vulnerable. Anyone who flagrantly or repeatedly breaks the rules at a time when there is so much pressure on Kent’s health services should be left in no doubt that action will be taken against them."

The Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have confirmed that COVID-19 vaccinations will be given to people in Sittingbourne from this coming Saturday (16th January).

Age UK's Heather House Day Centre, on the Avenue of Remembrance, will be providing vaccinations for: The Chestnuts Surgery, London Road Medical Centre, The Memorial Medical Centre, Grovehurst Surgery, Iwade Health Centre, The Meads Medical Practice, Milton Regis Surgery, The Surgery in Teynham and The Lakeside Medical Centre.

The CCG have advised that people will be contacted when the vaccine is available for them and are asking residents not to phone GP surgeries, the CCG, or any other NHS service with general queries about when they will be able to get the vaccine.

Cllr Roger Truelove, Leader of Swale Borough Council, told SFM News: "This will be a great relief to local people, many of whom have been contacting me in recent weeks concerned about the lack of any service in our town. The NHS concern, here and elsewhere, was that the fragile Pfizer vaccine would have to be dispensed at one central site, not around several GP surgeries. Swale Borough Council met with the NHS before Christmas and a suitable site was agreed and a prospective start date. As a Council we have been anxious to inform the public, to allay their natural anxiety. We have been continually pressing for progress as has the local MP. However, the NHS have put an embargo on information until all aspects of the arrangements were fully confirmed. In due course, the Astra/Zeneca Oxford vaccine will come on stream and this can be administered at a number of sites, so we look forward to acceleration as the Government seeks to reach its ambitious target. The management of this, including the commissioning of sites, will be in the hands of the NHS.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT: https://www.kentandmedwayccg.nhs.uk/your-health/coronavirus/covid19vaccine

A new Asymptomatic (symptom-free) Test Centre has opened at The Kemsley Community Centre, Ridham Avenue, Kemsley, Sittingbourne ME10 2SF

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT: https://kcc.healthit.org.uk/.

As the new fast coronavirus testing station opened at Kemsley Community Centre on Ridham Avenue in Kemsley (ME10 2SF), to help bring down the infection rates in the Sittingbourne area the Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the third National Lockdown.

Today's figures were announced at 4pm today (Tuesday 5th January) and appear above.

Stay tuned to 106.9 SFM for all the information you need 24 hours a day and remember to #StayAtHome and #ProtectThe NHS and to #SaveLives.