Swale Borough Council - Op Assist

Waste Carriers were targeted on Friday (12th February) as part of a day of action to crack down on fly-tipping. Swale Borough Council teamed up with Kent Police’s Rural Task Force to carry out enquiries, arrest people suspected of fly-tipping, seize vehicles and collate evidence with a view to prosecuting offenders for waste-related crimes.

Outcomes of the day are:

• 6 vehicles stopped and searched

• 2 Fixed Penalty Notices issued

• 1 vehicle seized

Cllr Julian Saunders, cabinet member for environment at the council, said:

“We’ve been cracking down on fly-tipping across the borough.

“These crackdown days give us the opportunity to work with the Police Rural Task Force to prosecute offenders for waste-related crimes.

“Six vehicles were stopped and searched, two fixed penalty notices were issued, and one vehicle was seized by the police on Friday.

“We also spoke to drivers who had failed to keep a record of where they had collected their waste from and explained how important it is for waste carriers to not only be licensed properly but to retain a log of their collections and delivery waste transfer notes. Failing to do so can result in an on the spot fine of £400.

“We also issued two fixed penalty notices to drivers. One who failed to have a waste carrier license and one for not having waste transfer notes for the waste on the vehicle.

“One vehicle was seized by the police for traffic offences, including not having current tax, insurance or MOT for the vehicle.”

More and more of these action days are taking place across the county. A tremendous amount of preparation takes place ahead of these days, including the gathering of vital intelligence to support the council’s enforcement team with their duties.

What can you do to dispose of your waste responsibly?

Fly tippers often target households via social media or local advertising, luring customers in with cheap rates to dispose of unwanted furniture, building rubble or garden waste. However, these unlicensed waste carriers often simply dump the waste where ever they can get away with it, including in Kent’s country lanes. Householders or small businesses found to be using criminals to dispose of their waste can and are being prosecuted by local authorities in Kent with fixed penalty notices that go up to £400 per offence. Failure to pay such an FPN may result in court action where fines can be significantly larger.

To prevent this, householders should check whether someone is licenced to carry waste by visiting the Environment Agency website below or alternatively call: 03708 506506. It also helps if householders receive a written receipt or transfer note, including contact details, description of waste removed and details of where the waste is being taken to.

https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers

The 13 Kent councils, along with Kent Police, are working in partnership to Keep Kent Clean.

To keep updated with the councils’ efforts to tackle fly-tipping and littering, follow: #KeepKentClean

Swale Borough Council

Winner of the Valentine's Breakfast in Bed Hamper at Upchurch’s Co-op - Raising Money for MIND

Congratulations to Helen Boakes, winner of the Valentine's Breakfast in Bed Hamper at Upchurch’s Co-op.

Thanks to everyone who bought tickets 🤗

You helped us raise £62 for our chosen charity this year, MIND - the mental health and support charity.

Please keep a lookout for future raffles and events to come.

Read more about MIND at: www.mind.org.uk

Sally - Upchurch’s Co-op

Kent Fire and Rescue Service - Animal Rescue Unit

Kent Fire and Rescue Service - Animal Rescue Unit.

Meet the KFRS crew specially trained to rescue animals across Kent.

To many of us, animals are like members of the family, or crucial livelihood for farmers, which is why animal rescue emergencies are as important as any other for Kent Fire and Rescue Service, especially its Animal Rescue Unit.

🎥 Watch the video at >> http://bit.ly/2LM00pg

Upchurch Matters

Temporary Road Closure - Iwade Road, Newington

Kent County Council has made an order to temporarily prohibit through traffic on Iwade Road, Newington from Tuesday 2nd March 2021, with estimated completion by 4th March 2021.

The road will be closed in the general vicinity of Oak Manor, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route for any through traffic is via Iwade Road, Church Lane, A2 High Street, Boyces Hill, Keycol Hill, Key Street Roundabout, Sheppey Way, Stickfast Lane and vice versa.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while renewal works on apparatus are undertaken by Southern Water.

For information regarding this closure please contact Southern Water on: 0330 303 0368, who will be able to assist with the scope of the works.

Kent County Council 24hr Contact Centre: 03000 418181

For details of roadworks see: https://one.network

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

Swale Borough Council Waste and Recycling Wheelie Bin Collections - Update

This has been a challenging week with icy conditions on the roads and pavements, which look to be continuing into tomorrow.

Whilst we had crews out today trying to catch up on general waste, we will not be able to complete all collections so the recovery plan will be focussing on next week.

We will not be collecting over the weekend so we can put resources to better use from Monday 15th when the conditions are expected to be more normal and all roads are hopefully accessible.

Any collections due next week will be collected as planned.

Garden waste collections are being suspended, to free up resources to help catch up the general waste (green bins) missed this week.

Recycling collections missed this week will likely be collected the following week (i.e. we will collect double). However, if the catch up for the general waste makes good progress, we may be able to catch up on the recycling collections sooner. If this is the case, we will provide updates on our website and social media pages.

Side waste may be collected, but we are not actively promoting this as too much additional waste will have a further impact on the service.

If we didn't get to you today, Friday 12th and you were due a general waste collection- please make sure your green bins are out for Monday and next week as we will be investing all our efforts into catching up next week when the weather improves.”

Thank you for your understanding this week.

Swale Borough Council

NHS Kent and Medway CCG - Community Bulletin: Covid-19 Vaccine Update

Covid-19 vaccine update

Over 70s and shielded patients encouraged to book now

Anyone aged 70 and over or on the Shielded Patients List (because they are clinically extremely vulnerable) who has not yet had a first dose vaccine can use the National Booking System to book an appointment. You do not need a letter from the NHS. Members of the public not in these groups still need to wait for a letter.

You can book for yourself or on behalf of a relative. The person being vaccinated will need to be registered with a GP. You'll need the name, date of birth and home postcode of the person being vaccinated. The person's NHS number is helpful but not essential.

You can use the national booking service to arrange an appointment at one of three large vaccination centres or seven community pharmacy-led services in the county.

The vaccination centres are in:

• Folkestone
• Gravesend
• Tonbridge

Pharmacy services are running in:

• Sevenoaks Pharmacy
• Lawsat Pharmacy, vaccinations at Cliffe Woods Community Centre
• New Romney Pharmacy, vaccinations at New Romney Old School
• Clockwork Pharmacy, Deal
• Boots Bluewater
• Boots Chatham
• Pharmacy2U, Maidstone, vaccinations at Odeon Cinema, Lockmeadow

There is no restriction on where you live, you can book at any of these sites if slots are available.

To book visit: http://bit.ly/3aToVjb

If you can’t book online, you can call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7:00am and 11:00pm seven-days-a-week. British Sign Language, text relay and interpreter services are available.

GP-run vaccine services and housebound visits

The national booking service cannot make appointments for GP services or home visits.

GPs and their teams continue to invite people to local vaccination services and are prioritising going out to housebound patients who haven’t already been vaccinated.

If people over 70 or clinically extremely vulnerable, who have not yet had a first dose Covid-19 vaccine, want to use GP services they should now contact their GP practice.

Members of the public not in these groups still need to wait to be contacted. Please do not call your GP practice at this stage.

Read the full bulletin at >> http://bit.ly/3tOdzFR

NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group