KentOnline

Podcast: Teenager stabbed outside Chatham school, Victory Academy, just days after the start of term

A teenage boy has been stabbed outside a school in Chatham just days into the new term.

The Year 11 student was taken to hospital after it happened near Victory Academy.

Hear from our reporter with the latest information.

Also in today's podcast, a man's been banned from driving and given a fine after being caught drunk behind the wheel by McDonald's staff in Medway.

TV's Dr Hilary Jones, who lives in Kent, talks about worrying new data that shows a significant drop in the number of women reporting gynae problems to their GP.

Seven Labrador puppies have been rescued after being dumped by the side of the A249.

The fox reds were underweight and suffering from mange.

An abandoned former prison in Dover could be turned into a hotel and leisure centre.

The Citadel at the Western Heights was originally built as a fortress, but then used to house inmates and most recently became an immigration detention centre.

Our reporter Sam Lennon has had an exclusive tour.

A food and drink festival that was due to take place in Medway this weekend has been postponed following the death of the Queen.

We've been speaking to the chief executive of Ebbsfleet United as people living near the club say they are generally in favour of plans for a new ground.

Bosses want to secure its long term future with an 8,000 seater stadium.

We have an update on a story we had in the podcast last week about a cat that had been left in an abandoned house in Gillingham after its owner was evicted.

And in sport, Gillingham are back in action tonight as they travel to take on Grimsby in league two.

Podcast: Questions over future of Broadway Shopping Centre in Maidstone as Lidl prepares to move out

Historic events have taken place in Kent over the weekend following the death last week of Queen Elizabeth II.

Hundreds of people have gathered in town centres to hear proclamations for the new King, Charles III.

Kent's MPs have also been paying tribute to the late monarch in the Commons.

You can also hear from a veteran who is an ambassador for the Royal British Legion Industries in Aylesford and has spoken of his pride in serving Queen and country.

Also in today's podcast, there's anger in Kent after it was announced a ban on fracking for shale gas has been lifted.

New Prime Minister Liz Truss made the decision last week in a bid to boost the amount of energy produced in the UK - rather than imported from elsewhere.

Businesses near Dartford are calling for urgent action to tackle flytipping after a series of huge fires.

On the hottest day of the year this summer, crews spent seven hours tackling a blaze and two commercial warehouses were destroyed when a fire broke out near to the Darent Industrial Estate.

Hear from the MD of a company based there.

You can also hear from our reporter who's been to a shopping centre in Maidstone as questions are asked about its future.

Lidl is following in the footsteps of Matalan and leaving the Broadway centre not far from St Peter's Street in the town.

And in sport, we have news on a victory for England's cricketers thanks to a good knock from Kent's Zak Crawley.

Podcast: Kent reacts to the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

A period of national mourning is under way following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Her Majesty passed away peacefully at Balmoral in Scotland yesterday afternoon.

During her 70 year reign, the Queen made many visits to Kent.
In this special episode we'll hear about some of the places she went to and speak to some of those who met her.
We've also been speaking to religious leaders, one of Kent's MP and Her Majesty's representative in the county.
Bells at churches across the county have been rung and in London a gun salute took place.
King Charles III has returned to London from Scotland and greeted mourners outside Buckingham Palace.
Later this evening he will address the nation and is expected to have his first audience with the Prime Minister.
And over the weekend, services will take place with prayers said for Her Majesty and the rest of the Royal family.

Podcast: Driver taken to A&E after car crashes into the front of Darent Valley Hospital

A car has crashed into the front of a hospital building near Dartford.

It happened at Darent Valley earlier this morning.

Hear from our reporter who has been to the scene.

Also in today's podcast, the new Prime Minister has announced a cap on energy bills in a bid to help families struggling with the rising cost of living.

Help has also been offered to businesses over six months.

We have reaction from Canterbury Food Bank and the chief exec of the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce.

Police in Kent say they've dealt with a record number of reports of young people who've had intimate photos of them shared without their consent.

There were 38 cases last year involving under 18s - which is the highest since new laws designed to tackle the issue came into force seven years ago.

Hear from Childline which has launched a service to help young people have images removed from the internet.

A Sitingbourne woman's spoken about the moment a fire swept through her home - leaving her with just her nightdress, address book and pet dog.

Deirdre O'Neil managed to escape the blaze which broke out at the property on Sheppey Way in Iwade last week.

There are calls for a cat that's been left in an abandoned house in Gillingham, to be rescued and given a proper home.

The pet was left behind when the tenant was evicted from the property on School Avenue six weeks ago.

And, a driver's taken advantage of a Kent town centre's new water feature - by using it as a free car wash.

Footage at KentOnline shows the black Audi getting a rinse from the giant metal rings recently installed in Dover's refurbished Market Square.

Podcast: Bosses at De Bradelie Wharf in Dover say revenues are down 40% since RingGo-only parking payments were introduced

Bosses at a shopping centre in Dover say they've suffered a 40% drop in revenue since RingGo was introduced as the only way to pay for parking.

Machines at the site have been removed and customers have to use an app or make a phone call.

Our reporter Sam Lennon has been speaking to the centre manager and some customers - you can also find out how he got on parking there.

Also in today's podcast, an invention by a Kent woman which could help with the early detection of breast cancer has won a leading award.

Dotplot uses sound waves to check the breast tissue - the data is stored in an app and the user is alerted if there are any significant changes that need investigating.

The Kent MP who stood against the new Prime Minister during the Tory leadership contest has been given a job in government.

Tonbridge and Malling's Tom Tugendhat is now minister for security. Hear from our political editor Paul Francis.

A Chatham man diagnosed with HIV says it's important people realise it's no longer a death sentence.

Steve Bamford was told he had the virus after being admitted to hospital with pneumonia in 2018.

He's been sharing his story and explaining how he's trying to raise awareness.

And in sport, Kent's Alessia Russo scored for England last night as they completed their Women's World Cup qualifiers with an incredible 10-0 win.

Podcast: Huge fire rips through historic water tower building in Sheerness

A huge fire has ripped through one of Sheppey's most historic buildings.

Firefighters were called to the Victorian water tower on Trinity Road in Sheerness last night.

Hear from our reporter who has been to the scene of the blaze.

Also in today's podcast, Britain has a new Prime Minister and business in Kent are already urging them to take action on rising energy prices.

Hear from a guitar maker to the stars from Canterbury and a pub owner in west Kent who say their bills are set to rise astronomically in the next few months.

Tonbridge and Malling MP Tom Tugenhat has also been sharing his thoughts on what needs to be done.

A legal challenge against the government policy to send asylum seekers - who cross the Channel to Kent - to Rwanda is continuing at the High Court.

An attempt to get it underway was blocked by the European Court of Human Rights.

A huge sculpture made from more than 100,000 seized blades is back in Kent to highlight what's been described as the country's knife crime epidemic.

The Knife Angel - which has previously been on display at Rochester cathedral - is going to be at the Lighthouse Church in Maidstone for the next month.

And, an award winning Kent hotel has hit back at a bad review left on TripAdvisor which described how one bed was propped up on bricks.

Podcast: What Kent wants to hear from new Tory leader and Prime Minister Liz Truss

Liz Truss has been confirmed as the new leader of the Conservative Party and will become the next Prime Minister.

She beat Rishi Sunak in a leadership contest following the resignation of Boris Johnson and will travel to Scotland tomorrow to meet the Queen.

We've been finding out what the new PM's challenges will be in Kent and what some of you want her priorities to be. Hear from our political editor, the chair of the National Care Association, the chief exec of the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce and shoppers in Sheerness.

Also in today's podcast, we find out why so many strikes are happening at the moment.

This time it's drivers at bus company Arriva who've walked out with industrial action happening in Northfleet, Gillingham, Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells.

It's emerged children in Kent as young as 12 are being given drugs to deliver by their parents who're struggling with the cost of living.

Refocus Project - which helps young people get away from gangs - says soaring inflation has led to a rise in county lines dealing.

Plans for a care home in Ashford, described as 'monolothic', have been thrown out.

The 75 bed facility could have been built along with houses on a former hospital site in the town.

And in sport, hear from the Gillingham boss following their goalless draw against Swindon Town at the weekend.

Podcast: Man dies after crash on A2 in Dover

In today’s podcast, a man has died after a crash on the A2 in Dover.

Police and paramedics were called to Jubilee Way in the early hours of this morning. Our reporter has the details.

 

A cafe owner from Hythe says she has 'no idea' what she’s going to do, as energy bills are becoming unaffordable.

Nicola Robinson owns The Nutmeg Cafe and says her renewal price is shocking. We chat to her on today’s podcast.

Meanwhile, there's a warning schools in Kent might have to cut staff numbers to deal with soaring energy bills.

 

A Kent mum is on a mission to raise awareness of food allergies following the death of her 9-year-old daughter. 

Sadie Bristow went into anaphylactic shock about four years ago. We speak to Clare about the dangers of allergies and why it’s so important to raise awareness.

 

The Operation Brock contraflow system is being removed on the M20 this weekend.

We’ve been chatting to Toby Howe from the Kent Resilience Forum about why it was implemented over the summer and why it’s now being removed.

 

And, three-time olympic gold medallist Adam Peaty has been giving swimming masterclasses to youngsters in Kent.

His race clinic is touring the country, with the latest stop being at a sports centre in Strood. Hear from him in today’s podcast. 

Podcast: Cause of enormous harbour blaze finally revealed

In today’s podcast, it’s emerged a major blaze that destroyed a business on a Kent harbour had been caused by contractors working for Canterbury city council.

The Crab and Winkle Restaurant and Whitstable Fish Market were destroyed in May after the fire broke out in the neighbouring cockle shed. We speak to the co-owner of the restaurant and fish market.

 

Also today, it's feared there could be a severe shortage of midwives in Kent as a training course has been suspended.

Dozens of people have suddenly been told they can't study midwifery at Canterbury Christ Church University. The regulator's stepped in following concerns about students being left unsupervised with patients.

 

A foodbank in Margate has been left considering whether to close, after being broken into for the third time in twelve months.

Shopkeepers at MiCommunity in Duke Street found someone had made off with £1,000 worth of stock on Tuesday.

 

And, the KentOnline Podcast has been told it’s more important than ever to protect the Swanscombe peninsula.

 

It’s after one of the UK’s rarest bumble bees was spotted at the site. We caught up with Jamie Robins from Conservation charity Bug Life.

Podcast: Bikers making residents’ lives ’miserable’

In today’s podcast, police in Maidstone have been criticised over their failure to deal with off-road bikers.

One resident, from Longfield Place in the town, says the anti-social behaviour is making her life a misery. We’ve got the details from our reporter, Lucy.

 

Also today, a bakery in Herne Bay has been given a zero hygiene rating after ants and flies were seen crawling on food.

A report raised serious concerns about the cleanliness of Bayked in Richmond Street.

 

An agreement's been reached to save a number of school bus services in Kent that were due to be cut.

Some companies previously announced that certain routes were unviable because of financial pressures and a drop in passenger numbers. We speak to the leader of Kent County Council.

 

Former Strictly contestant HRVY's been on the Hit List with Numi on KMFM. The 23 year-old, who's from Kent, finished as runner-up on the dancing show in 2020 - and is also a YouTuber and singer.

He's been chatting all about his new single 'I Wish I could Hate you’. We’ve got the highlights in todays podcast.

 

And, hear from our Sports reporter Luke Cawdell, ahead of Gillingham’s game against Charlton in the EFL Trophy tonight. 

The Gills will be hoping for a better performance, following another disappointing defeat in the League at Carlisle at the weekend.