Sittingbourne & Sheppey News
News from Sittingbourne and the Isle of Sheppey — including Sheerness, Minster and Queenborough — in the Swale borough of north Kent. We cover Swale Borough Council, planning and regeneration, the Sheppey Crossing and A249, the prisons cluster on Sheppey, court cases and fire and rescue incidents.
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Daily Briefing Kent Weekend Briefing — Sunday, 16 August 2026
Kent Weekend Briefing Sunday, 16 August 2026 11 stories · 4-minute read Queenborough Library reopens with family support services under one…
16 August 2026 - Council Updates
Queenborough Library reopens with family support services under one roof
Kent County Council has spent £219,900 refurbishing Queenborough Library and Family Hub, combining books, digital access and family support…
15 August 2026 -
Council Updates Swale Local Plan consultation opens as council reorganisation plans confirmed
Swale Borough Council is inviting residents and businesses to comment on its Draft Local Plan until 21 September 2026, while confirming…
15 August 2026 -
Daily Briefing Kent Morning Briefing — Thursday, 6 August 2026
Kent Morning Briefing Thursday, 6 August 2026 5 stories · 2-minute read Swale Council breaks ground on 51 social rented homes at…
6 August 2026 -
Council Updates Who picked Kent’s four new councils? The question the county council is now asking itself — explained
Kent is getting four new councils. The chairman of the county council has put in writing that the winning map came from three Labour-led…
6 August 2026 - Council Updates
Swale Council breaks ground on 51 social rented homes at Sittingbourne car park site
Families on Swale’s housing register could soon be paying roughly half the going private rent for a new home in the middle of Sittingbourne…
5 August 2026 - Council Updates
Who chose Kent’s new map? The county council’s own chairman is asking whether party politics played a part
The Government’s four-council map for Kent was chosen from a proposal put forward by three councils the county council’s chairman describes…
5 August 2026 -
Local News Kent bus fares cut to £2 and £5 for summer days out
Kent County Council is backing discounted Stagecoach fares and extra Go Bus journeys across the county from August to early September 2026…
31 July 2026 -
Local News Sittingbourne Library and Family Hub holds official opening after 28,000 visits
The refurbished building, which combines library and family support services under one roof, has drawn more than 28,000 visits since…
29 July 2026 -
Local News Sunday 360 bus returns to Isle of Sheppey for summer trial
Operator Chalkwell is running the Sheerness to Leysdown route every Sunday from 20 July to 7 September after the service was axed in…
28 July 2026 -
Fire & Rescue Smoke precaution lifted near Green Porch Close after Milton Regis wildfire
Smoke precaution lifted near Green Porch Close after Milton Regis wildfire View tweet from @kentfirerescue Kent Fire and Rescue Service has…
28 July 2026 -
Crime & Justice Maidstone man charged after alleged weapon threats and erratic driving in Sittingbourne
Ben Bignall, 43, faces charges of affray, assault on an emergency worker, driving offences and failing to provide specimens when requested…
24 July 2026