Local News

Witnesses are being sought after the fencing and pitches at a Sittingbourne Cricket Club were damaged earlier this week.

It was reported to Kent Police that at around 10pm on Monday (28th April), quad bikes and electric bicycles were being ridden onto the field at Gore Court Cricket Club on The Grove.

Damage was alleged to have occurred to four pitches at the cricket ground.

The bikes are believed to have entered the field from the Key Street area and left in the direction of Andrews Walk.

Officers attended and enquiries were carried out at the scene. An investigation is underway and anyone with relevant information – including private CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage – is urged to come forward.

If you can help please contact Kent Police on 01795 419 119 quoting 46/70725/25.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers FREE and anonymously on 0800 555 111 or complete the online form.

CCTV images have been issued by officers investigating a report of an assault and criminal damage to a bus in Sittingbourne.

The incident happened as the vehicle was stationary at a set of traffic lights on London Road, at around 4.45pm on Tuesday (22nd April).

A suspect tried to get on the bus and, when the driver refused, it is alleged a window was smashed. The driver received multiple cuts from shards of glass. An investigation is underway and officers are issuing an image of a man they believe may be able to assist with their enquiries.

Anyone who recognises him, or who has information that may assist the investigation should call Kent Police on 01795 419 119, quoting reference 46/66978/25.

Motorists with dashcam and residents with private CCTV are also asked to check for relevant footage.

You can also contact Crimestoppers FREE and anonymously on 0800 555 111 or by using the online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/pre-form  .

Kent County Council (KCC) has today (Friday 4th April) confirmed all the candidates standing in the County Council Election on Thursday 1st May.

The cadidates are as follows:-

Sittingbourne North

• CARNELL, Derek William – Swale Independents
• DAVEY, Stephen Arthur – Green Party
• DENDOR, Michael Rodger – Conservative Party
• PALMER, Chris – Reform Party
• WISE, Ashley – Labour Party
• ZENG, Mary – Liberal Democrats

Sittingbourne South

• EADES, Lisa Jane – Green Party
• LEE, Tom – Swale Independents
• LEEMING, Thomas – Conservative Party
• STENNINGS, Alexander – Liberal Democrats
• WATSON, Karen Anne – Labour Party
• WEBB, Paul William – Reform Party

Swale East

• GIBSON, Charles Alexander – Liberal Democrats
• KIDBY, Ryan – Reform Party 
• LEHMANN, Rich – Green Party
• REHAL, Frances – Labour Party
• SPEED, Julien Peter – Conservative Party

Swale West

• APPIAH, Chrystabel Nhyiraba – Labour Party
• BALDOCK, Mike – Swale Independents
• HOGBEN, James – Conservative Party
• PALMER, Richard – Reform Party
• WILSON, Marc Justin – Liberal Democrats

Stay tuned to 106.9 SFM for the latest on the Kent County Council Election throughout the coming weeks.

Illegal fly-tippers have been prevented from dumping waste near a popular park, thanks to Swale Borough Council and Kent Highways.

The council has had to routinely clear illegally dumped waste from Swale Way, behind Milton Creek Country Park. The isolated location meant it was difficult to catch the culprits, so Swale has worked with Kent Highways who have installed measures to restrict vehicle access, including a new fence and metal bollards.

The area has been fully cleared of all fly-tipping and now thanks to these new measures, illegal waste carriers will no longer be able to access the area with their vehicles. As well as these practical measures, the council has also installed three CCTV cameras, funded by the governments’ Rural Payments Agency (RPA), in other fly-tipping hotspots around the borough. The cameras are monitored 24/7 by the council’s CCTV control room, who will help document the evidence the cameras gather and are ready to report any illegal activity.

To catch illegal waste carriers in the act, the council work with Kent Police’s Rural Taskforce to stop suspected fly-tippers, gather evidence and take enforcement action for waste related crimes, through Op Assist. This, in conjunction with increasing the fine for serious fly-tipping to £1,000, makes being caught committing a waste related crime very costly.

Cllr Rich Lehmann, Chair of the Environment and Climate Change committee at the Council, told SFM News: “Fly-tipping is simply unacceptable, and we have been undertaking a range of activities to tackle this incredibly selfish act. Whether installing cameras, doing joint operations or working with other agencies to implement preventative measures like these bollards and fencing. The fact people believe they can just dump their waste anywhere - especially near a country park - is unthinkable to me. Not only does it damage and pollute our environment, but the bill for clearing it up ends up sitting with the taxpayer.

Cllr Lehmann went on to add: “Please be wary of cheap waste removal companies, make sure they are licensed and provide a waste transfer note. If fly-tipping is tracked back to you it could be very costly. We will continue to implement measures to crack down on, and clean up, fly-tipping but we need to work together to stop this waste from ending up in our countryside from the source.”

Neil Baker, Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, told SFM News: “I am pleased that, by working with Swale Borough Council, we have successfully implemented measures that prevent illegal fly-tipping near Milton Creek Country Park. Fly-tipping is a serious offence that damages our environment and leads to significant cleanup costs. The new fencing and metal bollards, installed by KCC, will ensure that illegal waste carriers can no longer dump waste in this area.”

Duty of care - what can you do to dispose of your waste responsibly?

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. 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 506506.

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.

You can report fly-tipping here.