KentOnline

KentOnline
  • 5.0 (1)
  • NEWS
  • UPDATED DAILY

The top stories from the KentOnline news team

  1. Podcast: Plans for 725 new homes would "double the population" of Meopham as campaigners say it's "beyond comprehension"

    51M AGO

    Podcast: Plans for 725 new homes would "double the population" of Meopham as campaigners say it's "beyond comprehension"

    Campaigners have branded plans to build 725 homes in their village as “beyond comprehension”, claiming it would double the population. The outline planning application for a mixed-use neighbourhood in Meopham would be 50% affordable and targeted at first-time buyers and downsizers. Also in today’s podcast, a controversial massive housing development backed by Prince William has been given the green light despite claims it would be an “eyesore” and a “Trojan Horse” for even more homes. After hours of debate in a council meeting last night, the 2,500-home estate on the southeast edge of Faversham has been approved.  A mum-of-two says she was “put through hell” by one of her late husband’s clients who refused to pay for building work carried out shortly before his death. You can hear from Jo-Anne Mapp, whose husband was in the process of renovating a home in Whitstable when he died in July last year. One of Medway's MPs has told us graffiti in her constituency is making the area look uncared for and unloved. Naushabah Khan's reported an increase in tags on walls in Gillingham and has started a campaign to clean it up. And in football, you can hear from the manager after Gillingham were soundly beaten at home by Milton Keynes Dons last night.  The Gills conceded three goals in 18 first-half minutes – they’re the third team since the start of the year to beat the Gills at Priestfield by three goals or more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    23 min
  2. Podcast: Two planning applications emerge for Traveller sites on land off White Post Lane in Sole Street as families "just need a place to live"

    1D AGO

    Podcast: Two planning applications emerge for Traveller sites on land off White Post Lane in Sole Street as families "just need a place to live"

    New proposals to create two Traveller sites have been submitted just weeks after legal action started because several mobile homes had been stationed without permission. It follows several ongoing planning disputes over the use of the farmland near Gravesend in the past three years.  Also in today’s podcast, dramatic police footage has emerged showing a fleeing thief leaping from a second-floor window to avoid being arrested. When officers tried to arrest Bobby Thorpe, he refused them entry to the Tonbridge property, and they forced their way inside. A campaign started in Kent calling for the age women are first called for a mammogram to be lowered could now be debated in parliament. It's after a chemotherapy nurse noticed an increase in the number of younger women with breast cancer.  The boss of a dedicated live music venue opening this weekend says it will bring “quality entertainment” to a town that is currently “underserved”. Stuart Cameron is launching The Swale Assembly in what used to be Life nightclub in Sittingbourne High Street.  And in football, Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth has spoken of the ‘seemingly endless resources’ available to midweek visitors MK Dons. They’re second in the League Two table ahead of their visit to Priestfield tonight, five points behind leaders Bromley and with a game in hand. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    22 min
  3. Podcast: Drunken Sittingbourne man violently attacked Travel Masters school bus full of children after being refused a lift home by the driver

    2D AGO

    Podcast: Drunken Sittingbourne man violently attacked Travel Masters school bus full of children after being refused a lift home by the driver

    A Sittingbourne man’s avoided jail after becoming violent and punching the windscreen of a packed school bus when he was denied entry by the driver.  He was “extremely intoxicated” at the time and demanded to be let on board while the vehicle had been stopped in traffic.  Also in today’s podcast, you can hear from a Kent charity who say they've had a record year for the amount of surplus food they've redistributed. FareShare collects products from supermarkets that would otherwise go to waste - bosses say they’ve hit targets they haven’t seen since the pandemic.  Parts of a former Debenhams are set to undergo a major transformation starting this week - with a medical centre earmarked for the site in Folkestone.  Plans to transform the Art Deco section of the town centre building, known as Folca Two, have been in motion to bring the property back into public use. We’ve got the details on a bid to make Thanet the “Isle of Culture” for 2029  Artist and Margate resident Dame Tracey Emin, along with East Thanet MP Polly Billington, have kickstarted the campaign. And in football, we’ve heard from manager Gareth Ainsworth after a late equaliser denied Gillingham victory on Saturday. The Gills looked set to earn all three points before Fleetwood struck deep into stoppage time to rescue a point, the game ending 1-1. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    25 min
  4. Podcast: Snodland man speaks about road rage attack near roundabout on A249 in Maidstone that left his arm broken

    5D AGO

    Podcast: Snodland man speaks about road rage attack near roundabout on A249 in Maidstone that left his arm broken

    A Snodland man has spoken of the moment he suffered a broken arm during a road rage attack in Maidstone. Phil Webster had been approaching a roundabout on the A249 when he says he was cut up by another vehicle. Also in today's podcast, more than 40 people have been arrested as Kent Police crack down on fraud. Officers have been targeting suspected criminals who defraud others through romance scams, unnecessary building repairs and postal scams. Campaigners have welcomed news that a merger of two private schools in Kent has been put on hold. St Lawrence College in Ramsgate announced last week it was going to close its site and join forces with Dover College. Parents criticised a lack of consultation and bosses now say they will reconsider options open to them. Hear from Laura Holden who has a child there. There are plans to spend £4 million on another bridge over the River Medway in Maidstone. It would run alongside the existing High Level Rail Bridge and be specifically for cyclists. In sport,  it's a home game for Gillingham this weekend, following last week's victory away at Barrow. The Gills scored in the dying seconds to secure a 1-0 victory after three losses in a row. We've been catching up with striker Seb Palmer-Holden and 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.

    24 min
  5. Podcast: Firefighters battle blaze at derelict Swanton House in Elwick Road, Ashford

    6D AGO

    Podcast: Firefighters battle blaze at derelict Swanton House in Elwick Road, Ashford

    Firefighters have been tackling a blaze in a derelict building next to Ashford College. Huge plumes of smoke were seen coming from Swanton House in Elwick Road yesterday evening. Hear from our reporter Max Chesson who has been to the scene. Also in today's episode,  a document detailing where 23,000 homes could be built in Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay will be debated by councillors for the first time tonight. It's known as a Local Plan and also sets out where things like roads will need to be constructed to support new developments and growing populations. Our local democracy reporter Dan Esson has more information. The MP for Ashford is warning that exposure to misinformation on social media is damaging children's mental health. It's as TikTok videos have emerged encouraging so called "school wars" across the county, with organised fighting between pupils. A number of schools have sent letters home to parents saying it's already impacting children. We've been speaking to Sojan Joseph. Vouchers will be handed out in schools across Kent as we celebrate World Book Day. It's as recent figures from the National Literacy Trust show daily reading levels for children have reached a 20-year low. Hear from award winning Kent author Annabel Steadman who wrote the Skandar series. And in sport, the Maidstone United manager's admitted he may need to add to his squad due to injury problems. Strike Muhammadu Faal was stretchered off on Tuesday night while goalkeeper Nathan Harness suffered concussion. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    20 min
  6. Podcast: Work to fix 'rollercoaster' A299 Thanet Way to start this summer

    MAR 4

    Podcast: Work to fix 'rollercoaster' A299 Thanet Way to start this summer

    It's been confirmed work to fix a stretch of the Thanet Way will start this summer. The A299 between the Dargate Services and Roman Galley pub has been reduced to 50 miles per hour since last September after bumps appeared in the surface. The county council say repairs will be carried out over six weeks from June 1st. Also in today's podcast, police have released footage of the moment they found a burglar hiding in the loft of a house in Ashford. Antony Allen, 47, who doesn't have a permanent address, had targeted a home in the town at Christmas while the owners were away. As the conflict in the Middle East continues, holidaymakers in Kent are being urged not to panic if they have got future flights booked to countries like Dubai. Thousands of Brits have been left stranded after the country was caught up in retaliatory strikes over the weekend. Hear from Chris Scoble who owns a travel agents in Tunbridge Wells. Meantime, we're told pupils at a school in Dubai that's partnered with one here in Kent are being offered support during the unrest. Explosions were reported in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday and students at Kent College Dubai are currently doing remote learning to stay safe. A construction graduate from Canterbury says more needs to be done to help women and girls get into the building industry. 25 year-old Jessica Scanlon works on a site in Deal, after getting a degree in project management. She's calling for an end to gender stereotypes when career advice is given in schools. And in sport, Scott Wagstaff has been named as the new manager of the youth team at Gillingham. He takes over from Joe Dunne who left the club last month. The 35-year-old made 66 appearances for the Gills over two years, scoring four goals, and still plays for Tonbridge Angels. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    25 min
  7. Podcast: Tunbridge Wells dad living in Abu Dhabi speaks about seeing missiles intercepted as a conflict in the Middle East continues

    MAR 3

    Podcast: Tunbridge Wells dad living in Abu Dhabi speaks about seeing missiles intercepted as a conflict in the Middle East continues

    A Kent dad who lives in Abu Dhabi has told the podcast about the moment he was alerted to potential missile strikes. Justin Cooke received a message on his phone shortly before seeing puffs of smoke in the sky as the missiles were intercepted. The retaliatory strikes on Saturday followed an attack by America and Israel on Iran which killed the country's leader. Also in today's episode, the head of the Met Police says he's fiercely committed to restoring trust, five years on from the murder of Sarah Everard. The 33-year-old was abducted in Clapham by then serving officer Wayne Couzens from Deal, her body was later found in woodland near Ashford. We've been asking women in Rochester how safe they feel now. The Canterbury MP has raised concerns in the commons about funding for children with Special Educational Needs in Kent. It follows an announcement from the government that £4 billion will be invested to make mainstream schools more inclusive. A Kent football club say they've been left in limbo after developers dropped plans for two 3G pitches, as part of proposals for a new housing estate. Larkfield and New Hythe Football Club have been working with Obee Estates to deliver a community sports hub at the site of the former Oast Park Golf Course. However, a revised application includes 320 houses and a grass pitch only. And in sport, there's action in the quarter finals of the Kent Senior Cup tonight. Gillingham take on Tonbridge Angels at the Longmead Stadium. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    20 min
  8. Podcast: Traders in Sheerness High Street say they are 'fighting a losing battle' after a number of small businesses closed

    MAR 2

    Podcast: Traders in Sheerness High Street say they are 'fighting a losing battle' after a number of small businesses closed

    Traders in Sheerness High Street say they're fighting a losing battle to keep their shopping promenade alive after the closure of several small businesses. Black Cat hardware closed on Valentine's Day with the owner telling customers it was no longer feasible to keep it open due to a drop in footfall. It follows other independents who have shut in recent months and our reporter has been getting reaction from Declan Forley who runs Sheerness Mobility Ltd with his dad. Also in today's podcast, the foreign secretary says they're working to bring home tens of thousands of British nationals stranded in the United Arab Emirates following a weekend of airstrikes. Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been targeted in revenge for the US and Israel carrying out an attack on Iran over the weekend which killed its supreme leader. Dr Yaniv Voller is a senior lecturer in Middle East politics at the University of Kent, he's been explaining why the UAE has been caught up in the dispute and what Britain's involvement is. A KentOnline investigation has found a car park company has made nearly £20,000 from drivers in Kent through what's known as 'major keying errors'. It happens if you enter a digit incorrectly when putting your number plate into a payment machine at various country parks. Hear from one man who was issued with a penalty notice. A Kent footballer's been telling us what it's like to train and play during Ramadan. Throughout the holy month many Muslims choose not to eat or drink during daylight hours. Muhammadu Faal plays for Maidstone United and has praised how supportive the club have been. And,  it was a dramatic last minute win for Gillingham at the weekend. They beat Barrow 1-0 away from home from pretty much the last kick of the match in the 103rd minute. We've got reaction 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.

    27 min
See All (100)

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