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The Kent Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene of a crash involving a car and a lorry on the A249 Maidstone-bound carriageway between Stockbury and Keycol at Danaway. just before 9.00pm last night (Thursday 17th March).
Crews used hydraulic rescue equipment to remove the roof of the car to release one female occupant, so that she could be cared for by the attending ambulance.
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The new Sittingbourne Carnival Court was selected on Saturday (5th March) evening at the Woodcombe Sports And Social Club in Murston.
15-year old student Gemma Stokes was selected as Miss Sittingbourne Carnival Queen by a judging panel. The two Princesses on the Court this year will be Rebecca Port and Kendle Hunter. All the girls were crowned by Mayor Of Swale Cllr Anita Walker at a ceremony on the night.
On the Judging Panel were former Miss Sittingbourne 1981, Angela Maybourne, 106.9 SFM's very own Pete Flynn and Swale Borough Council's Regeneration Officer, Jill Read.
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The woman who died in a fatal road traffic collision in Teynham yesterday (Saturday 13th February) has been named by her family.
Barbara Phipps, aged 73, of Lynsted, died when the bicycle she was riding was in collision with an HGV on the A2 London Road.
Kent Police are still appealing for witnesses to the collision, which happened at 10.15am yesterday morning.
Senior investigating officer, Sergeant Hannah Brown, told SFM News: "The HGV and the cyclist were both heading towards Sittingbourne when the collision occurred opposite the Swan pub. We have already spoken to a number of witnesses but are keen to speak to anyone else who saw the incident and has yet to speak to us, or who saw the cyclist or the HGV prior to the collision."
Anyone with information is asked call the dedicated Serious Collision Investigating Unit, at Kent Police Headquarters, Appeal Lne on 01622 798538 quoting 13-0365. Alternatively they can email: sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk.
The driver of the lorry, a 58-year-old man from Chelmsford in Essex, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop. He has been bailed until Tuesday 5th July while enquiries continue.
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Sittingbourne's very own 'Whistling Postman', Dale Howting, has won yet another award for his tireless fundraising work.
80-year-old Dale has cycled across all areas of the world raising money for local charities since 1977. He has raised over a quarter of a million pounds for charities and has been raising money for Demelza Hospice, The Kent Air Ambulance plus 29 other charities!
Dale famously now cycles on a static bike in the middle of the high street (at the entrance to Roman Square) from 8am every single day creating a fantastic community spirit here in the centre of Sittingbourne.
Dale has won the Halifax Bank's Kent 'Giving Extra Community Award' and has already raised £686 during January making a total of £1,506 for the current year. His total fund has now reached over £260,500.
Well done Dale from everyone here at SFM Towers!
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Kent Police officers investigating a serious collision in Brielle Way, Sheerness, earlier today (Wednesday 10th February) are appealing for witnesses.
A motorcyclist in his mid-20s was airlifted to a London hospital following the incident at about 10.10am this morning and remains in a critical condition.
He was riding his black Yamaha YQ 100 near the Blue Town end of Brielle Way when he was involved in a collision with a red Citroen C2.
The road was closed for nearly 8 hours whilst officers carried out their initial enquiries. They are also appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision to come forward.
PC Jamie Woodhams told SFM News: ‘We are looking to trace a silver or grey Ford Fiesta that was travelling from Blue Town towards Queenborough that has stopped along Brielle Way after colliding with debris along this road. I would urge anyone with information who has not already spoken to us to call the witness line on 01622 798538 or they can email: sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk quoting reference 10-0270.'
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The government inspector who could eventually agree Swale Borough Council's Local Plan has published her interim findings.
The Local Plan is currently being examined by the Planning Inspectorate, who heard evidence from the council, developers and local groups about the council's proposed Local Plan, at the end of 2015.
Following a series of hearings, the inspector has now published her interim findings, which include:
• A target of 776 dwellings per year being built, for which the council needs to allocate sufficient additional sites;
• The Local Plan period is revised to 2014-31, making a total housing target of 13,192 dwellings over the whole 17 year period;
• The evidence base, particularly the Strategic Housing Market Assessment and Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment were found to be compliant and sound;
• The Plan's settlement strategy of two planning areas is confirmed with the focus of development on the Kent Thames Gateway part of the Borough. A ‘proportional' boost to allocations in Faversham and rural areas in a sensitive way, without detriment to the settlement strategy is also recommended.
• Indicates the new housing need figure can be met without incursion on local landscape designations, but notes that this does not preclude use of countryside gap areas
• The Duty to Cooperate with neighbouring districts and key service providers during plan preparation and on the additional work to inform proposed modifications has been found to be met.
• There is no need to rely upon an early Local Plan Review and the Plan should plan positively for the full period to 2031.
Commenting on the findings, Cllr Gerry Lewin, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning at Swale Borough Council, told SFM News:"Throughout this part of the examination in public, we presented the case for 540 dwellings per year. It is therefore disappointing that the housing target has been increased and our concerns about the deliverability remain. But we have no choice but to plan for the new target. Some comfort can be gained from knowing that the inspector did not accept the arguments put to her by others that the target should have been in the region of 900-1200 dwellings per year. The approach we are taking to housing distribution has been found to be sound, so means we can now work towards identifying suitable sites to meet this higher target. This will not be easy - suitable brownfield sites have already been allocated and the new target will inevitably mean that additional green field sites will also need to be considered."
There will now be a six week public consultation on modifications to the plan during the summer and any responses to the consultation will be sent to the Inspector before she issues her final report.
The Inspector's Interim Findings, plus all of the Local Plan documents and evidence, an indicative programme and all the objectors' statements can be viewed at www.swale.gov.uk/examination-document-library.
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Highways England have confirmed that both lanes on the northbound A249 should re-open tomorrow morning (Friday 5th February) following the completion of work to repair damage caused by a burst water main last month.
The northbound carriageway has had temporary restrictions since the water main underneath the road burst on Monday 11th January, leaving a large void beneath the road. Following the completion of detailed work to assess and repair the damage, final work to remove the restrictions and resurface a damaged section of the slip road will be carried out tonight and the main carriageway will re-open in time for the peak period tomorrow morning.
The northbound exit slip road at the Bobbing junction will remain closed for a further day and is expected to re-open on Saturday. A clearly signed diversion remains in place directing drivers to the B2005 junction, where they can turn round and approach Bobbing via the southbound A249.
During tonight's work, from 8pm, the northbound A249 will be closed between the A2 and the Bobbing junction with traffic diverted onto the Sheppey Way.
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Pic: Google Streetview
A man, believed to be in his 60's, and a dog had to be rescued earlier this afternoon (Wednesday 3rd February) by firefighters from a 20 foot hole in Matts Hill Road, Hartlip.
KFRS (Kent Fire And Rescue Service) were called shortly after 1.20pm this afternoon and had to use a short extension ladder to help both of them to safety.
There were no apparent injuries.
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Sittingbourne fire crews were called to a domestic shed fire in the back garden of a property in William Street earlier today.
Kent Fire And Rescue (KFRS) were called just after 10.30 am this morning (Tuesday 2nd February) and had to access the blaze using a hose from a fire engine in Park Road.
Park Road was closed to vehicles until 11:15am.
It is thought that a faulty tumble dryer, being used in the shed at the time, caused the blaze which also damaged ajoining fence panels.
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Update Kent Police is appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision on the M20 late last night (Thursday 28th January).
The incident occurred at around 10.03pm on the London-bound carriageway between Junctions 4 (Leybourne) and 3 (M26). A Fiat Ducato van collided with a white DAF truck close to the junction with the M26. The van then caught fire and the driver was reported to have been unable to escape the vehicle.
Police, Kent Fire and Rescue Service and ambulance crews attended the incident and the driver was declared dead at the scene. Efforts are on-going to establish the identity of the deceased and contact next of kin.
Officers from Kent Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit are now appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the collision or who saw either of the vehicles in the moments leading up to it to get in touch. If you have any information please call the witness appeal line on 01622 798538.
Following overnight investigations Kent Police were able to fully re-open the M20 in both directions shortly after 6:30am today.
