It has taken more than 50 years but Sheerness council is finally back at its old offices.

The town was last served by Sheerness Urban District Council from Masters House in Trinity Road from 1894 to 1968.

It then merged to become the Sheppey-wide Queenborough in Sheppey District Council.

Swale council took over in 1975 to look after Sheppey, Sittingbourne and Faversham. It remained in the Masters House offices until decamping to Sheppey Gateway in Sheerness High Street along with the library.

Swale council still owns the building but manager Chris Foulds, himself a new town councillor, has offered a room free to the town council. He said: “This is a community building and it seemed the right place for the town council. It is like the council is coming home.

“There is still a Sheerness Urban District Council mosaic on the floor of the entrance hall.”

The new councillors had originally planned to rent a room at the Gateway but even with a discount were faced with an annual rent of nearly £20,000.

Vice-chairman Brian Spoor said: “We are very grateful to Chris for offering us the use of a spare room.”

Residents with questions can now visit councillors there.

Members hit the ground running by cracking down on environmental crimes.

Cllr Cherise Moorcroft said: “We won’t tolerate our town being blitzed by illegal fly-posting or fly-tipping.”

The council is now advertising for a temporary clerical assistant two days a week while it searches for a clerk.

Chairman, Cllr Matthew Brown, said: “We want a motivated person able to take minutes with a good telephone manner who also has good verbal and written command of English.”

Swale council gave the go-ahead for a town council in 2018 and elections were held in May this year. There was one vacancy which has been filled by Steve Ritchie, 20, of Unity Street.

Other councillors are Amanda Green, Chris Reed, Lee McCall and Malcolm Staines.

The next meeting is on Monday at 7pm at the Healthy Living Centre in Royal Road. For more call 07395 140407 or email sheerness-tc@outlook.com

Read more Isle of Sheppey stories here.

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