Local

The GMB Union has raised fears over the parent company of Stonegate Pubs, who owns a number of local "watering holes" and their current refinancing bid.

Almost 200 Stonegate pubs across Kent could be “at risk” of closure after private equity parent company TDR capital seeks to refinance £2.5 billion of debt the union warns.

Some local pubs that could be affected include The Beauty Of Bath, Bunters, The Red Lion  and The Vineyard in Sittingbourne along with The Sun Inn in Bredgar and The Fruiterers Arms in Rodmersham.

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.

Swale Borough Council is celebrating after receiving a Green Flag Award for Milton Creek Country Park and Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park.

The news that Milton Creek and Oare have achieved the accreditation - the international quality mark for parks and green spaces - "is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for the green space so that everyone can enjoy it" says the council.

Here are the results in the Local Elections on Thursday 4th May 2023  for Sittingbourne Borough Wards.

Across the borough only 30,599 people, out of a possible 110,088, voters turned up to vote – amounting to just 22% of the elctorate.

Bobbing, Iwade and Lower Halstow

People are being asked how to decide which local buildings and green spaces make a positive contribution to the character of the borough.

Swale Borough Council is consulting on the criteria for a new local heritage list to promote awareness of the area’s local heritage assets and highlight their importance.

Here are the results from the local Kent County Council Elections here in Sittingbourne:-

SWALE EAST:
Turnout: 42.5%

RICH LEHMANN (Green): 3,067
CHARLOTTE WHITNEY-BROWN (Conservative): 2,443
FRANCES REHAL (Labour): 420

SWALE WEST:
Turnout: 31.9%

MIKE BALDOCK (Swale Independents): 3,018
MIKE WHITING (Conservative): 2,367

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.

Businesses that have been forced to close or have been severely affected by the new restrictions can apply for one of the following business grants from Swale Borough Council:

• Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) or
• Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG)

Businesses in rated commercial premises that have been forced to close can get grants of between £1,334 and £3,000 to cover the 28-day period from 5 November through the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed).

A Flood Alert has been issued due to the high tide forecast for this afternoon (Sunday 10th May).

The Environment Agency has confirmed that the highest tide level is expected to be at 3:30pm this afternoon. Flooding is possible two hours either side of this time.

They say they are monitoring the situation, though flooding to properties is not expected. The main areas of concern include Faversham and Conyer and response staff are checking flood defences and structures and are prepared to respond if required.