KentOnline

Podcast: Sittingbourne boss calls for non-essential roadworks to be postponed until A249 slip roads to the M2 at Stockbury reopen

The boss of a business based in Sittingbourne says roadworks are costing him hundreds of pounds every day.
Slip roads on and off the M2 for the A249 are currently closed on the coastbound stretch while work takes place on a major redesign of the Stockbury roundabout.
Our reporter Megan Carr has been speaking to David Warren who wants all other non-essential maintenance to be stopped until the roads re-open.
Also in today's podcast, figures show there were more than 38,000 reports of domestic abuse in Kent last year.
Three quarters of the victims were women or girls - and only 4% of all cases resulted in a charge. We've got reaction from Oasis which supports domestic abuse victims.
Our business editor Chris Britcher joins us to explain the latest unemployment stats out today.
It's still not know what caused a large fire at one of Kent's oldest pubs.
Roads near The Dirty Habit in Hollingbourne near Maidstone remained closed this morning after the blaze broke out on Sunday night. Hear from people who live nearby.
People living near a Kent hotel popular with celebs have opposed it's bid for a new premises licence, saying music is keeping them awake at night.
Find out what decision councillors made.
A little boy from Kent who was so badly abused by his birth parents that he had to have both of his legs amputated, has been chatting to Prince Harry - hear from of their chat.
And it's EFL Trophy action for Gillingham tonight.
They welcome Colchester United to Priestfield - hear from boss Neil Harris ahead of the game.

Podcast: Fire rips through Dirty Habit pub in Hollingbourne

One of Kent's oldest pubs has been devastated by fire.

A blaze broke out at the Dirty Habit in Hollingbourne near Maidstone last night.

Hear from our reporter who's been to the scene.

Also in today's podcast, investigations are continuing after three fatal crashes on roads in Kent over the weekend.

There's been an increase in the number of people waiting to be rehomed by local authorities in Kent.

In 2020, just under 18,000 were on social housing waiting lists across the county - that's now gone up to more than 19,000.

We've got reaction from homelessness charity Porchlight.

A Kent charity has released a new film today to try and break the stigma around stillbirth.

This week is baby loss awareness week and the film has been premiered in London ahead of being used to help train midwives across the country.

Hear from the charity's founder.

Students in Kent are being encouraged to get involved in world mental health day.

Figures show an estimated one in six people have experienced a common mental health problem in the past week.

Find out about the new way to cross the Channel from Kent.

And Gillingham boss Neil Harris has been reacting to their point at Crewe Alexandra at the weekend.

The Gills took the lead before the home side equalised just a few minutes later.

Podcast: Gillingham mum says block of flats has become over-run with mice

A mum from Gillingham says the block of flats where she lives has become over-run with mice.

She's been telling reporter Amy Tregenna how her children are now too scared to sleep in their own beds.

Also in today's podcast, some parents in Kent say their children can’t get to school - because of a lack of bus passes in the county.

It comes as 1,000 weren’t issued in time for the new term last month. Hear from a mum whose son is affected.

The number of people in hospital with Covid in Kent has risen for the second week in a row.

After this summer's drought, people living in a village near Deal are angry that a water leak still hasn't been fixed - for four months.

Residents on The Street in Sholden say supplies have been streaming along the road since June. A local councillor has been speaking to reporter Sam Lennon.

A Rochester-based charity is giving families a place to reflect on baby loss as a week of events gets under way.

Making Miracles is launching its 'Standing Together in the Rain' campaign in St Margaret's Church in Rainham on Sunday. We've been chatting to founder Kelly Wells.

Feature writer Sam Lawrie joins the podcast for a look at everything going on in Kent this weekend.

Plus, hear from the Gillingham manager as they look to make it two wins from two in the league this weekend.

Neil Harris' side are travelling to take on Crewe Alexandra.

Podcast: Horror as man pulled into machine at factory in Ashford

In today’s podcast, a company in Ashford has been fined after a man was pulled into a large machine at a factory - leaving him with broken bones. Out reporter Alex Jee has the details.

 

Also today, there's been a call for urgent improvements at a pub in Thanet after a fly infestation, rooting food and dirty fridges were found in the kitchen. Inspectors visited The Bell Inn, at St Nicholas at Wade near Birchington, and gave it a one star rating.

 

The Kent Online Podcast has been told there's been a massive increase in the number of items being given out to families at a hygiene bank in Kent. We speak to the project coordinator of the hygiene bank in Tenterden.

 

Campaigners in Medway have won their fight to get CCTV installed in a park. There have been concerns about anti-social behaviour at Rainham Rec. We speak to resident’s about what they think.

 

Plus, hear about a campaign which has been launched to help children in Kent catch up with missed vaccinations.

A Strood GP says, with a sharp drop in the number of youngsters being vaccinated, more children are at an increased risk of catching deadly diseases.

 

Podcast: A controversial mural on the side of a house in Margate has been branded an ’eye sore’

A mural spray painted on the side of a house in Margate has been branded an 'eyesore'.

The artwork has been created as part of a trail around the town raising awareness of plastic pollution in the oceans.

But neighbours aren't happy.

Also in today's podcast, the home secretary has delivered her big speech at the Tory party conference.

Suella Braverman explained how she planned to stop asylum seekers from crossing the Channel to Kent in small boats. We've got reaction.

A report's warned staffing at a prison on Sheppey has reached "crisis point".

Inspectors went to HMP Swaleside in July and found officers were exhausted, under pressure, and on the brink of resignation.

We've been speaking to the Howard League for Penal Reform.

The Bishop of Dover has apologised on behalf of the church after a major report into allegations of abuse was published.

There haven't been any trains running in Kent today as another strike has been taking place.

Drivers are walking out as part of an ongoing dispute over pay.

Hear from the Aslef union.

And there was another win for Gillingham last night - this time in the EFL Trophy.

We've got reaction from goal scorer Lewis Walker and the assistant manager.

Podcast: Necrophiliac and murderer David Fuller faces further charges

A further 16 charges have been brought against a man who's in prison for murdering two women and abusing bodies in hospitals in Kent

David Fuller, 68, from Heathfield in East Sussex was given two whole life sentences in December last year for killing Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce in 1987.

Also in today’s podcast, a Medway beauty expert says she's concerned about the number of people asking to look like they do through phone filters or photo editing apps.

It's after a survey found 70% of people were so used to seeing their face through a filter, they no longer liked to look in the mirror.

Kate Monteith-Ross is the director of La Ross Aesthetics in Strood and has started a campaign encouraging people to embrace who they are.

Children playing in one of Kent's football leagues have been banned from deliberately heading the ball as part of a season long trial.

Under 12s in the north Kent youth league will give away a free kick if they do a header during a match.

We've been speaking to the Kent FA to find out why.

A Dartford entrepreneur's told the KentOnline Podcast how he thinks crypto currency is the future of the beauty industry.

Drowze, who's also a musician, has been accepting the payment at his barber shop, DPZ Parlour, in Gravesend since opening six months ago.

Gillingham are back in football action tonight - this time in the EFL Trophy.

And, find out which Kent side have officially put in plans to build a new stadium.

Podcast: Artist Mr Doodle, aka Sam Cox, guides us around his doodle covered home in Tenterden

A Kent artist who's spent the past two years decorating a Tenterden house in doodles has been showing us around the incredible living canvas.

Sam Cox is better known as Mr Doodle and already has artwork on show at the F51 skate park in Folkestone.

The 28-year-old has also revealed he's going to make Doodle House his permanent home.

Also in today's podcast, 100,000 people have signed a petition set up by the parents of a little boy who died after choking at a nursery in Ashford.

Zoe and Lewis Steeper are opposed to plans to relax the adult to child ratio in care settings.

They're now hoping the issue will be debated in parliament as soon as possible.

We have analysis from our political editor Paul Francis after a massive u-turn from the government following the mini-budget.

Find out why parents and children are being encouraged to walk to school more this month.

And, you can hear from the Gillingham manager following their win over Sutton United at the weekend.

Podcast: Dartford woman devastated after Border Collie puppy dies

In today’s podcast, a woman who purchased puppies from a breeder says she’s devastated after one died just nine hours after he got dropped off. Our reporter, Charlotte Phillips has the details.

 

For the first time since July last year - house prices in the South East have failed to rise in monthly terms. Nationwide says they're unchanged from August, but are still almost 10.5% higher than in September 2021. We speak to a mortgage advisor in Rochester.

 

There are calls for an alleyway near Sittingbourne to be blocked off because of antisocial behaviour.

People living near the cut-through in Murston say they're living in fear, after reports of people deliberately starting fires and using catapults to smash windows. We speak to a resident and a councillor in the area.

 

There are more rail strikes tomorrow. There will be no southeastern train services running all day, with the advice being not to travel. However, it’s left some people concerned how they’re going to get to the London Marathon which is taking place this weekend.

We hear from John Halsall from Network Rail.

 

And in football, Gillingham are still in desperate need of a win as they welcome Sutton United to Priestfield this weekend. We speak to the Gills boss.

 

Podcast: Vokes Taxis forced to shut Rainham office early due to abuse aimed at staff from customers

A taxi company says it's been forced to close one of its offices early, because of abuse aimed at staff by customers.

Vokes Taxis used to keep its site on Station Road in Rainham open until midnight but now shuts at 6pm.

Hear from reporter Amy Tregenna who has been speaking to the co-owner of the business.

Also in today's podcast, an organisation that gives grants to charities in Kent has told the podcast they're hearing from an increasing number that are struggling.

The voluntary sector's been hit by the cost of living crisis with more people needing support, and fewer able to make donations.

We've been speaking to the Kent Community Foundation.

Meantime, it's also feared the cost of living crisis is forcing families in Kent to give up hosting Ukrainian refugees.

More than 1,600 hosts have come forward since the Homes for Ukraine scheme launched in March but the council says as many as 1,000 may need re-matching.

Hear from the Opora charity which has concerns.

Ahead of Kent getting a new chief constable, we're being asked what we'd like them to focus on.

Alan Pughsley steps down from the role at the end of the week after eight years in the job.

Kent's police and crime commissioner is running a survey online to find out what the new person in charge should prioritise.

And finally, hear the inspirational story of a teenager who took up wheelchair racing after suffering a spinal cord injury just two years ago - and has just won her first medal.

Ellis Kottas was a competitive swimmer before being left with life-changing injuries in 2020.

Podcast: Rat infested flat near Deal making woman’s life a misery

A woman has described how a rat infestation in her flat near Deal is making her life a misery.

Marilyn Nolan says the rodents are keeping her up at night and chew on the carpet.

She's urging the council to do more. Hear what Marilyn had to say to our reporter and we've got a response from the local authority.

Also in today's podcast, we've been told how children in parts of Thanet are having to sleep on the floor or share a bed with their parents, because they haven't got furniture of their own.

Now a charity has been given £5,000 to provide beds for low-income families. We've been speaking to the chief executive of the Thanet Iceberg Project.

The people in charge of the air ambulance that covers Kent have revealed how they could use drone technology in the future to get defibrillators to patients.

There's some positive news from the boss of Britain's oldest brewery based in Faversham.

Figures show how Shepherd Neame have bounced back following the pandemic.

We have a warning from Kent Fire and Rescue when it comes to trying to save money but keep our homes warm this winter.

And, hear from the 86-year-old man whose life was saved thanks to newsagents in Maidstone.

The managed to get emergency services to Cyril Bailey who was suffering a heart attack - he's now spoken to the podcast to say thank you.