Local

The first 776 local businesses that have applied for business rate relief grants from Swale Borough Council will be receiving payments worth £8.9 million between them later this week.

The council wrote to 2,600 eligible businesses in the borough with details on how to apply for the grants, which are part of the government's measures to support small businesses and businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors through the period of disruption caused by coronavirus (COVID-19).

Trio Entertainment in association with Swale Community Leisure Trust and Swallows Leisure Centre have stepped in to help disheartened families this Christmas.

Pantomime Producers Kevin Brown and Darren Paine of Trio Entertainment and the staff at The Swallows Centre were saddened to hear of the recent closure of The Maidstone Pantomime, upon hearing the news plans were put in motion that has allowed 100 free tickets to be made accessible for anyone effected by the recent closure of ‘Snow White' in Aylesford.

Pic: Shabul and Kabul (chef) both owners of Maharani...

Britain's 'korma kings' were crowned on Monday (26th November) evening 'second to naan' with Sittingbourne's very own Maharani Restaurant (in West Street) receiving the highest accolade in the curry industry - the BCA Curry Chef of the Year award for the South East.

Kent Police were called at 6.33am this morning (Tuesday 24th April) following a collision involving two cars on the Maidstone-bound carriageway of the A249 near Stockbury.

Police officers, South East Coast Ambulance Service and Kent Fire and Rescue Service all attended the scene and a woman in her 60's from the Sittingbourne area was pronounced dead at the scene. Her next of kin have been informed.

Both carriageways were closed while emergency services dealt with the incident and were fully re-opened at 1.35pm this afternoon.

Companies across Swale are being asked their views of the impact of the EU Referendum on their business.

Swale Borough Council are carrying out a business survey to help build a picture of the state of the local economy and to identify trends and issues since the last survey that was conducted in 2014.

As well as asking businesses their view on the impact of the referendum, firms are also being asked about areas such as exporting, access to broadband, property needs and training and employment.

A security guard from Sittingbourne has won more than £12,000 in the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance's lottery.

Nigel Long, who works on the Sittingbourne Retail Park, signed up to the life-saving charity's regular Lottery and Superdraw when a canvasser called at his home last year.

The Julie Gamble Advanced Skin & Hair Removal Clinic, on the High Street here in Sittingbourne, is celebrating after attaining the prestigious 'Dermalogica Circle' award.

The award is designed to recognise and reward stockists of the Dermalogica brand for their commitment to training and clinical excellence within their business.

Chief Inspector Tony Henley (pictured), Swale's District Commander, will have greater control of resources in the area to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour as part of a new model launched by the Chief Constable of Kent Police earlier today.

After much deliberation, Sittingbourne in Bloom have finally decided whose design will be planted on the station roundabout in late May.

Each year, Sittingbourne in Bloom invites the students from all the primary schools in the town to design a layout for the summer bedding on the station roundabout, which is sponsored by ‘Lets Go Green Cabs'.

Pictured left to right: Kevin Hawkins (Regional Commercial Director, Arriva Southern Counties), Councillor John Wright (Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Swale Borough Council) and Tom Pierpoint (Public Transport Team Leader, Kent County Council).

Local bus operator Arriva has invested almost half a million pounds in four brand-new buses for its services in the Sittingbourne and Faversham areas.