KentOnline

KentOnline
  • 4.2 (13)
  • News
  • Updated daily

The top stories from the KentOnline news team

  1. 5 hr ago

    Podcast: Villagers in Benenden spells out HELP US with plastic bottles as water supply issues continue

    Villagers impacted by water outages in part of Kent have gathered thousands of plastic bottles to show the environmental impact it's having. Homes in and around Benenden have had low pressure or not water at all since last Thursday. Residents have spelt out HELP US on the local cricket ground. Hear from the landlady of the village pub who came up with the idea. Also in today's podcast, a businessman says he's been left 'on edge' after masked intruders stole expensive sculptures from the garden of his home in Kent. The bronze deer statues were taken from the property in Horton Kirby near Dartford during a 16 minute raid at the end of July. An action plan's being put together in Maidstone with a quarter of a million pounds worth of funding to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls. Residents have been putting forward ideas - including better education, youth clubs, bystander training and more female leadership. Hear from council leader, councillor Stuart Jeffery. A sports club's been left with a £4,000 repair bill after windows of their clubhouse were reportedly smashed with catapults... Ashford Hockey Club's building on Ball Lane was targeted in the early hours of Monday. Traders in Sandwich are calling for compensation after main routes into the town were cut off. The Toll Bridge has been closed for the past 11 days after it was damaged by a Southern Water tanker, while the A256 was closed for emergency sewer repairs. And in sport, Gillingham have lost their opening group game in the Premier League under-21 cup. They were beaten 4-1 by Huddersfield Town. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Podcast: Villagers in Benenden spells out HELP US with plastic bottles as water supply issues continue

  2. 1 day ago

    Podcast: South East Water staff face verbal and physical abuse as supply issues continue in Kent

    South East Water have apologised to thousands of Kent customers who've been experiencing problems with their water supply. Bosses say they've managed to get taps running again in more than 7,000 properties after issues started on Saturday, but hundreds of homes in Benenden are still experiencing disruption. The company have also revealed some water staff are experiencing abuse as they try to fix problems. Also in today's podcast, a campaign group has welcomed news Virgin Trains are a step closer to running services from London to mainland Europe. The operator's been given permission to use the Channel Tunnel from 2030. It's hoped it'll lead to services to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam stopping at Ashford and Ebbsfleet again. We've been getting reaction from Bring Back Euro Trains. People living in a block of flats say they've been unable to open their windows during the long hot summer because of a smell coming from uncollected rubbish. Residents and neighbours of Weavers Court in Rochester have had repeated issues with the collection over the years - and say it's been a problem for the past 12 weeks.  If you head to KentOnline you can see pictures from a Tunbridge Wells woman who's returned from a solo month-long trip to Alaska. While we've been experiencing several heatwaves, Siobhan Daniels faced temperatures of -15c as she travelled through Canada in a motorhome. She kept a diary during her travels which she's turned into a book due to be launched next month. And in sport, former Kent cricketer, Jordan Cox, says he's hoping to do well for England after being named in the side for the first Test against Pakistan. The 25 year-old, who was born in Margate, has been told he'll bat at number three. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Podcast: South East Water staff face verbal and physical abuse as supply issues continue in Kent

  3. 2 days ago

    Podcast: Blake's Pink Promise charity set up by mum and sister of Northfleet teenager who took her own life after viewing 'disturbing' content online

    The family of a Kent teenager have told KentOnline it wasn't until after her death they realised how much disturbing content she was viewing online. Blake Gallier took her own life in October last year and the 13 year-old's mum and sister have now set up a charity called Blake's Pink Promise. Also in today's episode, a former primary school teacher from Canterbury who was stalked online by a colleague is concerned he could be eligible for the government's early release scheme. Jonathan Bates was given a five-year sentence last January after making deepfake images of four people and posting them on adult websites. South East Water have apologised following another weekend of supply disruption in Kent. Problems started for for around 800 residents in Challock, Charing and Molash on Saturday. Meantime, farmers have also been telling us about the impact drought conditions are having. Staff at a bird of prey centre in Kent have been telling us about some of the challenges they've faced, as they mark their 30th anniversary. Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation was set up on a former cattle farm in Eynsford in 1996. And in sport, Gillingham's League Two campaign has begun with a disappointing defeat. Walsall scored three very-late goals at Priestfield on Saturday, hear from manager Gareth Ainsworth. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Podcast: Blake's Pink Promise charity set up by mum and sister of Northfleet teenager who took her own life after viewing 'disturbing' content online

  4. 5 days ago

    Podcast: People left out of pocket after sudden closure of swim school run by international athlete

    Dozens of people have been left out of pocket after a swim school run by a former international athlete closed suddenly. All About Swimming Ltd, which operated at pools in Wilmington and Cobham, was run by former Commonwealth Games swimmer Angela Wilson. Also in today's episode, hear from residents who say dust from work on a new development has left them fearing for their health. 300 homes are being built at Ufton Court Farm outside Tunstall, and the people behind the project insist appropriate measures are being taken to minimise disruption. People in Chatham have been responding to government plans to make it harder for betting shops to open up in our High Streets. Currently, a council's powers to refuse new betting shops are limited if they meet licensing requirements - however new rule changes would see that scrapped. The manager of a youth club in Broadstairs has been telling us about the challenges for staff and children during the extreme heat. The Zone Youth Club is based in the pavilion at St Peter's Recreation Ground, and is unable to afford air conditioning. And, the Gillingham manager is feeling confident ahead of their first league two game of the season. They are taking on Walsall at Priestfield on Saturday afternoon. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Podcast: People left out of pocket after sudden closure of swim school run by international athlete

  5. 6 days ago

    Podcast: Families fear there will be ‘many more deaths’ as synthetic opioid goes ‘undetected’ in Kent

    Grieving Kent families fear super-strength synthetic opioids could be responsible for far more deaths than are officially recorded. Some of the drugs, known as nitazenes, are hundreds of times stronger than heroin – you can hear from the partner of one woman who died from substance abuse in Ashford.  Also in today’s podcast, thousands of Kent pupils are discovering their A-level results today - with teenagers at schools and sixth form colleges across the county picking up their all-important grades since 8am. We’ve spoken to bosses at the University of Kent about what they’ve got on offer and what to if you miss out on the grades you were hoping for.  Two people have suffered life-changing injuries in a serious crash on a busy road. They’ve been taken to a London hospital following the collision between Canterbury and Hythe.  Medway Council is going to write to the government asking for support as it battles to fund huge increases in social care costs. Leader Cllr Vince Maple has revealed the authority is spending more than £1 million a day on people who need support. And Kent residents have flocked to spots to get a glimpse of yesterday’s solar eclipse.  Crowds gathered at vantage points across the county throughout the evening for the main event - when the moon will passed in front of and blocked around 95% of the sun. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Podcast: Families fear there will be ‘many more deaths’ as synthetic opioid goes ‘undetected’ in Kent

  6. 12 Aug

    Podcast: Drink driver sentenced after crashing into Strood grandmother’s bungalow while twice the legal limit

    A Strood woman who was twice the drink-drive limit when she ploughed into a grandmother’s bungalow has been sentenced.  The crash left 84-year-old Jill Robson, who has terminal leukaemia, living in a hotel for six months – you can hear from her about how she felt in court.  Also in today’s podcast, we hear from the experts ahead of tonight’s solar eclipse which will be visible in Kent today.  It’s a rare event that hasn’t been seen for nearly 25-years but there is a warning about safe ways to watch as the moon moves across the sun.  A Kent veteran of the UK’s nuclear bomb testing programme of the 1950s and ‘60s says the change of Prime Minister has brought new hope. The diminishing number of ex-servicemen say they have been waiting more than 70 years for proper compensation after having been used as “human guinea-pigs” while Britain was testing its first nuclear weapons. A luxury hotel and golf course that has attracted several celebrities to stay has scrapped plans for a major expansion, leaving staff and bosses “bitterly disappointed”. They had hoped to create a “country-club style” extension of its facilities, including a spa, padel courts and extra rooms. And we can bring you an update on a group of six Kent women who were taking part in a challenge to swim from Dover to France.  They wanted to take on the swim to honour the first woman to do it 100 years ago – and to raise money for a charity which teaches children life saving skills.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Podcast: Drink driver sentenced after crashing into Strood grandmother’s bungalow while twice the legal limit

  7. 11 Aug

    Podcast: Plans to "significantly reduce" the need for Operation Brock on the M20 with new holding area at the Port of Dover

    There are plans to reduce the need for Operation Brock on the M20 by turning a long-disused cargo terminal at the Port of Dover into a holding area.  In what could be good news for drivers, Kent County Council says reconfiguring the Eastern Docks will create increased queuing capacity for the equivalent of more than 500 lorries. Also in today’s podcast, drought has been declared across all of Kent as another heat health alert comes into force.  You can hear from one local leader on what this means for the county and how they’re dealing with the challenges.  Plans to bring a dozen “pods” for homeless people as part of a £4 million project have taken a step forward. The 12 self-contained units, which include some with balconies, at a former commuter car park in Blue Bell Hill, near Chatham, are being built after being given the green light earlier this year.  A mum who paid cash for her share of a new-build home says she feels “trapped” amid ongoing parking problems and dust from neighbouring construction projects wreaking havoc. She moved to Ebbsfleet Garden City in the hope of a greener and cleaner life for her and her three-year-old son but has been faced with an “insane” reality.  And to help British troops prepare for what they could face on the battlefield, the Army practises mass casualty scenarios using trained actors from recruited from job centres in Kent.  They use realistic makeup to represent injuries – you can hear from two people who take part.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Podcast: Plans to "significantly reduce" the need for Operation Brock on the M20 with new holding area at the Port of Dover

  8. 10 Aug

    Podcast: Wildfires and water disruption as Kent braces for fifth heatwave of the summer

    Wildfires have broken out in Kent and residents have been experiencing more disruption to their water supply, as we get ready for the fifth heatwave of the summer. A yellow heat health alert is in force across the county, which will be upgraded to amber from 9am Tuesday. In today's episode, hear from a man who witnessed flames spreading towards a farmer's fields on the Isle of Grain and reports of bottled water being stolen from people's doorsteps during an outage. The boss of South East Water has also issued an apology to customers following a weekend of supply issues. It comes amid growing calls for water companies to have a legal say in new housing developments to make sure they can keep up with demand. Politicians from all different parties have joined forces to try and get the planning process changed. A Kent man has been awarded compensation after two years of being chased by debt collectors over a parking dispute. John Waters was issued with a fine after the ticket he bought was issued with only the last four details of his vehicle registration. He has been giving other drivers tips on how to pursue a claim if the same thing happens to them. In football, Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth has been reacting to their defeat to Luton Town in the Carabao Cup. It was their first game of the new season, with their league two campaign due to get underway later this week. And in cricket, Kent still have a chance of reaching the knockout stages of the One Day Cup. They beat group leaders Leicestershire Foxes at Beckenham yesterday, after captain Daniel Bell-Drummond scored a massive 133 runs. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Podcast: Wildfires and water disruption as Kent braces for fifth heatwave of the summer
See All (100)

Ratings & Reviews

4.2
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

The top stories from the KentOnline news team

Information

  • Creator
    KentOnline
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    KentOnline

You Might Also Like