KentOnline

Podcast: Gillingham woman left traumatised after man tried to force his way into flats in Mill Road

A woman says she has been left traumatised after a man managed to get into a block of flats in Gillingham and started banging on doors.

Police and paramedics were called after it happened in the early hours of the morning on Mill Road. Hear from reporter Megan Carr.

Also in today's podcast, talks to try and avert strikes by firefighters in Kent have been taking place today.

It comes after more than 8 in 10 members of their union voted in favour of walking out in a dispute over pay.

A car has been written off after being hit by a lorry when the driver got lost trying to find a new lorry park in Dover.

The HGV ended up in Aycliffe after missing the turning for the nearby facility.

There are calls for all parts of Kent to separate food waste so more of it can be turned into biofuel and fertiliser.

The county council currently recycles about 36,000 tonnes of it every year, through a processing facility near Kings Hill.

The KentOnline Podcast has been told how apprentices could held reduce waiting lists within the NHS.

Job vacancies in the health sector are currently at a record high - but one trust in Kent is hoping to ease that problem by offering 300 apprenticeships.

We've been speaking to a man who is training to be a physiotherapist after being made redundant during the pandemic.

A young woman from West Malling has won a national award for her technology repair company.

Engineer Megan Hale has created a sustainable subscription service that teaches children how to repair and re-use gadgets.

And, for the very first time, a beaver has been spotted living in the wild on a river in Ashford.

Podcast: Huge Saga headquarters in Kent to close

Saga has announced it's going to close its headquarters in Kent.

The over-50s travel and insurance firm has a large base in Sandgate near Folkestone.

Reporter Rhys Griffiths explains why the decision has been made and the reaction to it.

Also in today's podcast, a Medway man has been jailed for 12 years for his part in a knifepoint robbery at the home of Olympic cyclist Mark Cavendish.

Expensive watches were taken from the property in Essex in November 2021.

A Kent mum whose baby was stillborn at just 20 weeks has told the podcast how she would have had a breakdown, if it hadn't been for the support from a Kent charity.

A scan last November revealed baby Brynn had passed away and she was born at Medway Maritime.

Cheryl Griffiths was able to spend time with her baby in the hospital's bereavement suite funded by Abigail's Footsteps.

It's Internet Safety Day and a new programme is going to be running in Kent to make sure children have healthy relationships online.

Workshops will be put on in schools to teach pupils how to spot things like coercive behaviour, bullying or harassment.

A Medway toddler has rung a bell to mark the end of his cancer treatment that started just weeks after he was born.

Tadhg Mealey from Wigmore had a small lump under his left eye which doubled in size within days.

And, as the cost of living crisis continues, the owner of shop in Herne Bay has decided to give everything away for free.

Maya's Free Shop has donated clothes, handbags, pillows, candles and even paintings that have all been made available for no charge at all.

Podcast: Maidstone mum raises money for Abigail’s Footsteps in memory of baby daughter Brynn who was stillborn

A Kent mum whose baby was stillborn at just 20 weeks has spoken to the KentOnline Podcast about how being able to spend several days with her little girl has helped her process what happened.

Cheryl Griffiths from Maidstone went for a routine scan last November - tragically a heartbeat couldn't be found.

A hospital visit confirmed little Brynn had passed away.

Cheryl gave birth at Medway Maritime hospital which has a dedicated bereavement suite with cold cots which allow parents to stay with their baby.

This is Cheryl's story.

Podcast: Woman fined £100 for feeding ducks a slice of bread on River Medway in Tonbridge

A woman has been fined £100 after being spotted feeding ducks on a stretch of the River Medway in Tonbridge.

Susan Watson tore up a slice of bread and scattered it into the water before being approached by an enforcement officer.

The council have since admitted they 'got this one wrong' and given a refund - find out what some of you have had to say about it.

Also in today's podcast, ambulance workers in Kent have gone out on strike.

It's the third time they've walked out in recent weeks in an ongoing dispute over pay. We've been speaking to the GMB Union.

A Kent man whose dad died as a result of a contaminated blood scandal says he hopes vital lessons will be learned.

Peter Wratten got hepatitis C after being given infected blood products that had been imported from the US - hear from his son Tim.

Final preparations are being made ahead of the opening of what's set to be one of Kent's biggest charity shops.

Volunteers have already sorted through three tonnes of donations to the Salvation Army's new building in Folkestone.

The work of a charity that started out in Kent is now going to be felt across the world.

The Street Soccer Foundation uses football to work with young people and has been endorsed by Commonwealth bosses.

A Higham salon owner has announced she's finally hanging up her scissors after more than 50 years.

Irene Carter was just 15 when she started an apprenticeship. She's been speaking to our reporter Alex Langridge.

And in sport, hear from the Gillingham manager following their win in front of a sold-out Priestfield at the weekend.

It finished 1-0 against Crawley Town thanks to a goal from captain Shaun Williams in the second half.

Podcast: Grieving mums told to remove ornaments from babies’ graves in Boughton-under-Blean

Grieving mums have been told to remove ornaments and fences from babies' graves.

They've received a letter from the parish council which they have described as cold and unsympathetic.

Hear from one mum who has lost two sons and believes the rules need to change.

Also in today's podcast, hear the moment a van driver led police on a chase through Dartford at speeds above 100 miles per hour.

Connor Hitchin is said to have shown a "shocking disregard" for other road users.

A project is under way in Faversham to try and help us recycle more items that traditionally can't go in kerbside recycling collections.

Plastics like cheese wrappers, Pringle pot lids, coffee capsules and bread bags are being collected by a charity in the town.

Canterbury's Mimi Webb has been chatting to our sister radio station kmfm just weeks after being nominated for a Brit Award.

Hear what she had to say to Garry and Chelsea on breakfast earlier.

And in sport, we've been speaking to the Gillingham manager ahead of their sold-out game at Priestfield this weekend.

They are taking on Crawley Town and hope to climb out of the league two relegation places.

 

Podcast: TikToker Charlie Hayes from Folkestone receives abuse online for outfits she wears on the school run

A Kent mum has vowed to continue wearing eccentric outfits on the school run, despite getting abuse online.

Hear from Charlie Hayes from Folkestone who has been speaking to reporter Millie Bowles.

Also in today's podcast, a Northfleet man has spoken out after his house was targeted by young people throwing stones.

Hugh Wood has no idea why he is being singled out - and has been telling Alex Langridge how the abuse has escalated.

We're going to be paying more money to Kent Police through our council tax from April.

An increase of £15 a year for the average Band D home has been approved by a special panel.

There's been another worrying decline in the number of bugs in Kent.

Figures given to the KentOnline Podcast show flying insects have reduced by nearly 75% in less than 20 years. Hear from charity Buglife.

And in sport, Kent cricket are looking for a new batting coach.

Ryan ten Doeschate has left after just a year to work in the Indian Premier League.

Podcast: Schools across Kent close as teachers go out on strike

Hundreds of teachers across Kent have gone on strike in a dispute over pay.

Marches and rallies have been taking place across the county as they urge the government to increase their wages and improve funding for education.

Our reporters have been out speaking to some of those on picket lines.

Also in today's podcast, a new report's raised concerns about coastal communities like Margate being overlooked in the government's levelling up agenda.

Research has found household income in coastal areas is almost £3,000 a year lower than places inland, with nearly one in five jobs paying below the living wage.

Hear from Sally-Ann Hart who is chair of a parliamentary committee that's been looking into the issue.

Four sites on the high street between Rochester and Chatham have been given protected status.

An old brewery, small cottage, Jewish burial ground and a tomb have been listed as Grade II. We've been speaking to Posy Metz from Historic England.

And, as expected, Gillingham added to their squad on the final day of the football transfer window.

Our sports reporter Luke Cawdell as all the details.

Podcast: Soft play at Ashford’s Stour Centre branded ’filthy’ and ’disgusting’

Parents have criticised a soft place facility - branding it 'filthy' and 'disgusting'.
Pictures of the venue at Ashford's Stour Centre were posted online and attracted dozens of comments.

Bosses who run the site say it was due to staff sickness over the weekend - hear their statement in full.
Also in today's podcast, more details have emerged about how a boy died at a funfair in Dover.
14-year-old Mackenzie Croxford-Cook was discovered at the site within Pencester Gardens last August.
There's due to be significant disruption tomorrow as teachers across Kent go on strike.
Members of the National Education Union are walking out in a dispute over pay. We've been speaking to one teacher on the impact wages are having.
Meantime, firefighters in Kent could announce strike dates as early as next week.
They voted yesterday to walk out. The amount they are paid is also the issue. We've been speaking to Joe Weir who is from the Fire Brigades Union in the south east.
There are calls for a 20mph speed limit along a busy road in Margate where one resident has had three cars written off.
The most recent crash on Dane Valley Road left two men in a serious condition.
A Kent theatre is at risk of closure after seeing audience numbers fall by around 60% compared to before Covid.
Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells needs to raise £100,000 - hear from the executive director.
And in sport, Maidstone Lioness Alessia Russo could soon become the most expensive female footballer in the world.
It's understood Arsenal are thinking of putting in another record bid for the 23 year-old to move from Manchester United.

Podcast: Parents angry after being told The Sunflower Nursery in Chatham is to close this week

Parents have been left needing to find alternative childcare arrangements after a nursery in Medway suddenly announced it was closing.

Bosses at The Sunflower Nursery in Chatham are blaming recruitment issues.

Meantime, campaigns are under way across the county to try and save 35 children's centres that are at risk of closure.

It's part of the county council's plan to save millions of pounds amid huge pressure on their budgets.

Hear from a mum who uses a Ramsgate nursery that's at risk, we've also been speaking to the manager there and the lady in charge of children's services at the county council.

Also in today's podcast, a Kent MP is promising government plans to tackle the crisis in the NHS will include recruiting more staff.

You're going to start to see adverts telling you to take photo ID if you want to vote at the local elections in May.

It will also apply to General Elections from October. Hear from bosses at Gravesham Borough Council.

The new owners of a Kent pub insist turning it into a place for car lovers won't encourage so-called boy racers...

Roger Gray and Edd Little have taken over the Halfway House in Challock, between Ashford and Canterbury.

Three teenagers have been praised for saving an elderly man who collapsed in Rainham High Street.

The Howard School sixth-formers sat down with the 81 year-old, gave him some water and carried his shopping home after he fell.

Zara Larsson's been telling our sister radio station kmfm how her new song was inspired by 80s music...

She teamed up with MNEK to write 'Can't Tame Her'.

And in sport, it was a point for Gillingham on the road at the weekend.

They drew 3-3 with Swindon - hear from manager Neil Harris.

Podcast: Herne Bay woman escaped from police car while half-naked after crashing her car

A court's been told how a Herne Bay woman who was high on cocaine, escaped from a police car while half-naked.
Hear from our reporter Sean Axtell who covered this case at Canterbury Crown Court.

Also in today's podcast, a man's been arrested following what police have called an "unexplained death" at a Kent Shopping centre.
A man in his 30s was confirmed dead at County Square in Ashford yesterday evening.
A hairdresser's explained how she's had to stockpile water to rinse customer's hair, because she can't rely on normal supplies.
Loose near Maidstone has been affected by low pressure or no water at all over the past year.
Sharon Hope has been speaking to reporter Cara Simmonds.
Former Bake Off presenter Sandi Toksvig has met with the Archbishop of Canterbury to discuss the church's position on gay marriage.
There are plans to allow same-sex unions to be blessed - but campaigners are calling for more progress on equality for the LGBTQ+ community.
The man behind plans to re-open Kent's Manston Airport has been telling the podcast more about a potential return for passenger flights.
Tony Freudmann from RiverOak has also been revealed how many jobs the site could create.
We're being asked to keep an eye on how many birds are in our gardens in Kent this weekend.
The RSPB wants us to spend an hour counting the different varieties to see how populations are faring.
And, Gillingham will be hoping to make it three wins in a row when they travel to Swindon this weekend.
The Gills have seen a real turn around in form after bringing in new players during the January transfer window.