Sittingbourne

Report by Mike Green

Emirates FC Cup history was made at the Staxson Stadium yesterday afternoon (Saturday 28th September), but sadly for Sittingbourne it was visitors Plymouth Parkway making the historical move as the Devon side clinched a place in the Fourth Qualifying Round of the Greatest Cup Competition in the World for the very first time in their history. 

Newly installed CCTV cameras in Sittingbourne and Sheerness Town Centres have gone live.

Swale Borough Council have purchased nine new public space CCTV cameras as part of their 'Safer Streets' Project which aims to tackle antisocial behaviour, and violence against women and girls.

Six pan, tilt and zoom cameras have been installed, five in Sittingbourne and one in Sheerness, to bolster the network of existing cameras already monitored 24/7 by the council’s CCTV control room.

A local charity, supported by 106.9 SFM, has been awarded funds from The Asda Foundation through their Sittingbourne superstore.

Asda's Sittingbourne Community Champion, Claire Fosbeary, presented the cheque to the charity's CEO, Jason Firmanger and a number of volunteers at their recent Tuesday night meeting at Holy Trinity Church (next to Lidl).

The free weekly group meet every Tuesday at 7:30pm and is for men who want to make positive changes in their lives and combat Mental Health issues.

It's been reported that a 31-year-old man, who was part of a small group of inmates released from HMP Swaleside on Tuesday (10th September) , has been arrested folowing an attack in Sittingbourne.

The man has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman at Sittingbourne Railway Station just an hour after being released from prison under the government’s early release scheme, according to the MailOnline website.

The website reports that the man then got on a train to London and was arrested in Croydon on Wednesday (11th September).

Swale Borough Council have teamed up with Kent Police to implement measures to tackle anti-social behaviour, such as street drinking and youth nuisance, in Sittingbourne High Street.

Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) are in place to address street drinking and give officers from Kent Police and the council powers to give fines or take court action, to make the high street a safer place.

Milton Creek Country Park have won Silver at this year’s Wilder Kent Awards for their hard work in helping to create a Wilder Kent.

The awards, supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust, saw 87 organisations shortlisted and their efforts resulted in a staggering 120,000 people in the county receiving the nature benefits from the actions taken by the entrants. The finalists covered four categories, businesses, community groups, schools and villages, towns and cities. 18 received the highest accolade of gold, 23 silver, 27 bronze and 19 awarded commendations.

Witnesses are sought following a report of a man exposing himself near Sittingbourne.

At around 7pm last night (Wednesday 21st August) it was reported that a man was seen exposing himself from inside a car in Cryalls Lane, near Borden.

The man is described as in his 40s or 50s, bald, with thin facial hair and was wearing a grey T-shirt.

Anyone who witnessed the incident and has yet to speak to officers, or who has dashcam footage which may assist police, is urged to call Kent Police on 01795 419119 quoting 22-0229.

Secondary school pupils across Sittingbourne were able to pick up their GCSE Results from 8am this morning (Thursday 22nd August).

Nationally the pass rate across England, Wales and Northern Ireland has fallen for the third year running – with 67.6% of all grades at 4/C and above. Since 2017 scores have been used in a numerical scale with grades being ranked from 1 (which is the lowest) to 9 (the highest). A standard pass is considered to be a 4 and a strong pass as a 5.

A Sittingbourne woman has been prosecuted for illegal dog breeding following a council investigation.  

Elzbieta Tarnowska was found guilty of breeding three or more litters of puppies within a year, and breeding and advertising a business selling dogs - “Kayadinowska German Shepherds” - without the appropriate licences.  

Swale Borough Council began an investigation in 2022 after receiving noise complaints of dogs barking uncontrollably. Neighbours and other concerned members of the public also made allegations of unlicensed breeding.