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Local residents are being invited to help name Swale Borough Councils’ new fleet of waste collection and street sweeper vehicles.

Swale Borough Council wants people to get creative and help name 24 new waste collection vehicles and four new street cleansing vehicles that will be working across the borough from March.

The vehicles are currently being built as part of the new waste and street cleansing contract with SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd.

New CCTV images have been released by local officers investigating an assault in Sittingbourne.

The incident happened at around 1.25am on Saturday 24th June inside Lang’s Bar and Cocktail Lounge in St Michael’s Road.

While inside the bar, the victim was reported to have been assaulted after a man, not known to him, hit him over the head with a glass.

The offender then continued to assault the victim by pushing him to the floor where he was punched and kicked. The incident resulted in the victim sustaining deep lacerations to his face. 

On Thursday 20th April 2023 at Sittingbourne Cemetery, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) marked the previously unmarked final resting place of 23 year old Private Leslie Anderson, of the East Kent Regiment, with a CWGC headstone.

At the same time they installed a CWGC Pedestal Marker on the grave of 33 year old Royal Navy Petty Officer Stoker Harry John Baker, who was commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

Swale, along with two other Kent councils, have signed a new waste and recycling contract with SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd.

Ashford, Maidstone and Swale councils – who work together as the Mid Kent Waste Partnership - have awarded the eight-year contract to Suez after a joint tender process.

The new £19 million a year contract begins in March 2024 and will bring improvements to all the existing service and make use of the latest technology.

Parking in one of Swale’s pay and display car parks should soon be easier with new pay units being rolled out by the council from next month.

Swale Borough Council are installing 38 new pay units that accept debit or credit cards and contactless payments, as well as the existing cash or RingGo App options.

The new pay units are being installed in the council’s 24 pay and display car parks around the borough from November.

Victims of domestic abuse in Kent will now be provided with an enhanced response, additional support and safeguarding through a dedicated Domestic Abuse Hub.

Cllr Mike Baldock has become the new leader of Swale Borough Council.

Cllr Baldock was elected at an extraordinary council meeting held last night (Wednesday 27th April) and he replaces Cllr Roger Truelove, who announced he was stepping down as leader last month.

Councillors have agreed to designate a new conservation area in Rodmersham Church Street.

Swale Borough Council’s proposal to create a new conservation area around the church was agreed at last week’s cabinet meeting (Wednesday 16th March).

People across Swale are being encouraged to check if they are eligible to receive help under a new scheme being launched to help local householders be warmer in their homes, lower their carbon emissions, and save money on their fuel bills this winter.

Councillors have approved a new draft planning enforcement strategy and service charter outlining how breaches of planning permission are handled.

Swale Borough Council sought approval of the new draft strategy and charter at last month’s cabinet meeting on Wednesday 22nd September. The strategy sets out how the council protects the borough’s built and natural environment from unauthorised developments. It includes identifying priority issues for the service and explains what action can be taken.