KentOnline

Podcast: Driver taken to hospital after bus crashes into houses in Tunbridge Wells

A driver has been taken to hospital after a bus crashed into houses in Tunbridge Wells.

Emergency crews were called to Greggs Wood Road at about 8pm yesterday.

Hear from our reporter Sean McPolin who's spoken to a neighbour who heard it happen.

Also in today's podcast, P&O Ferries have been given until 5pm to explain why 800 workers were sacked without notice.

Hear from some of Kent's MPs who've been debating the issue in the Commons.

A Sittingbourne woman has spoken about the moment her step-son pretended to be asleep as a burglar stood at his bedroom door.

Their home was targeted by so-called creeper burglars who took keys and stole the family's car.

Businesses on one of Kent's high streets have signed up to be safe spaces to help women and girls feel safer.

Anyone who's been a victim of a crime, or is feeling uneasy or lost can go there to be looked after until experts are called if necessary.

Hear from Kent's police and crime commissioner who bid for funding so it could happen.

And, find out which Olympic star will be getting an honorary degree from the University of Kent at a ceremony this evening.

Podcast: Whitstable fisherman takes boat to petrol station to protest rising price of red diesel

There's more today following P&O's decision last week to sack all 800 of their employees.

Labour are forcing an emergency vote in Parliament and want the government to outlaw the company's decision. 

Hear today from the shadow work and pensions secretary and also the general secretary of the RMT union who have been campaigning on behalf of the staff made redundant.

Also in today's podcast, a Whitstable fisherman has taken extreme action to raise awareness of the rising price of red diesel.

Chris Attenborough normally uses it to fill his boat - but says it's now 70p a litre more expensive.

To prove his point, he's taken the vessel on the back of a lorry to a petrol station.

A cafe has opened in Tunbridge Wells to help victims of domestic abuse.

Serenity Cafe is based in a secret location and will offer a safe space where survivors can meet and socialise with each-other.

We've been speaking to the manager and a domestic abuse survivor.

And, the Gillingham manager has been reacting to their point against Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend.

The result means they are now out of the league one relegation zone.

Podcast: Protests and anger after P&O job cuts

In today's podcast, we get reaction to the news P&O have immediately terminated the contracts of around 800 employees.

Protests have been held in Dover today, our reporter Sam Williams is there. 

We also speak to a solicitor, who says P&O will have some legal questions to answer.

 

Also today, Sarah Everard's killer Wayne Couzens has been charged with four counts of indecent exposure.

Anti-vaxxers have been accused of 'ruining' lampposts in Herne Bay.

And, The Range has opened a new store in Ashford this morning. We hear from excited shoppers who were there.

Podcast: P&O Ferries staff made redundant, as services cancelled

On todays podcast, we get the latest on P&O Ferries as hundreds of staff are told they're being made redundant.

Services between Dover and Calais have been cancelled today. We speak to a van driver who was stuck in France this morning.

 

Also today, a Dartford's MP has withdrawn his support for plans to build a huge theme park on the Swanscombe peninsula.

 

A person's been treated by paramedics after a boat caught alight in Medway. One man has told the KentOnline podcast it could've been avoided.

 

And, an historic steam train has been travelling through Kent today.

Podcast: Saharan dust turns skies over Kent orange and pink

Covid cases in Kent have risen by almost 80% in a week.

Figures seen by the KentOnline Podcast show a sharp increase following four weeks of infection rates dropping.

We've been speaking to shoppers in Canterbury to find out if they're still anxious about the virus.

Also in today's podcast, green campaigners in Kent fear the current conflict in Ukraine is being used as an excuse to re-explore the idea of fracking for gas.

There have been calls to look into new energy sources so we don't rely on supplies from Russia.

Hear from Tonbridge councillor Mark Hood who's against the idea of fracking and Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay who reckons it should be explored.

We explain why the skies over Kent have turned orange today.

You might also find your car needs a wash after Saharan dust was blown across the county.

And, hear from the Gillingham manager following their defeat to Charlton last night.

It finished 1-0 at the Valley.

Podcast: Drop in trade during Covid pandemic is reason for JC Rook & Sons going into administration

More details have emerged as to why a popular high street butchers in across Kent has collapsed into administration.

JC Rook & Sons announced yesterday is wouldn't be opening its 11 shops in the county along with two production and service facilities.

We've now had a statement from the administrators - hear what they have to say.

Also in today's podcast, a Kent MP has defended the government's response to the Ukraine crisis.

There's been criticism of how quickly they've moved to help some of the millions of refugees who've fled the country.

Hear from Sittingbourne and Sheppey's Gordon Henderson. We've also been hearing some of your views on calls for people in the UK to make a spare room in their home available to a refugee.

Plus, a Canterbury woman who was born in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol reveals how she hasn't been able to contact her family for two weeks.

We've got a round-up of cases that have been in court in Kent - plus news on a huge theft of pregnant sheep.

The Podcast has also been hearing about the hidden gems behind the doors of Rochester Cathedral.

And our sports reporter Luke Cawdell has caught up with the Gillingham manager ahead of another big game tonight as they travel to take on Charlton.

Podcast: Sadness as JC Rook & Sons butchers close shops in Kent after going into administration

One of Kent's oldest and biggest butchery firms has gone into administration.

JC Rook & Sons has 11 stores in the county but none of them are open today after managers were told of the news last night.

We have reaction from our business editor Chris Britcher and we've also been speaking to another butcher based in Deal.

Also in today's podcast, a Kent woman who's been a victim of cyberflashing has welcomed the news it's going to become a criminal offence.

It's when offenders send inappropriate images to people online without consent - often targeting victims via their email or social media.

We've been hearing how schools across Kent are joining forces to help with the aid effort in Ukraine.

The CEO of Our Community Multi Academy Trust has been speaking about getting collections of clothes to the border.

It's dog theft awareness day and we've been speaking to a woman whose pet was stolen from her van as it was parked at Bluewater.

She's thankfully now been reunited with her pet but has described what it was like to have him taken.

And the Gillingham manager has reacted to their huge win at the weekend.

The 1-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers means the Gills are now only in the league one relegation zone on goal difference.

Podcast: Calls to keep Empire of Light movie lights on Margate seafront

An investigation has revealed the shocking number of crimes committed in a Kent park.

There have been increasing concerns about antisocial behaviour in Canterbury's Dane John Gardens.

Our sister newspaper, the Kentish Gazette, put in a Freedom of Information request to police and we reveal the findings.

Also in today's podcast, the family of a missing teenager have been told about the discovery of a body in the River Medway.

The sister of a Ukrainian lecturer at the University of Kent has revealed what it was like fleeing the country.

Dr Olena Nizalova managed to get her family to the UK after a 2,500 mile journey.

A Kent schoolboy has been announced as one of the winners of a national competition to design a stamp based on the pandemic.

Eight pupils have been chosen by Prince Charles to have their picture put on new Royal Mail stamps.

There are calls for lights put up along the Margate seafront for a movie being filmed in the town, to be left there permanently.

String lights are currently illuminating the seafront while Oscar winning director Sam Mendes shoots 'Empire of Light' starring Olivia Colman and Colin Firth.

Hear from a councillor who's keen to keep them.

And, we've been catching up with the Gillingham manager ahead of this weekend's crunch relegation game.

Podcast: Sheppey mum criticises the justice system after the man who attacked her son walked free

A Sheppey mum has criticised the justice system after the man who attacked her son walked free from court.

Bradley Holding was 16 when he was punched while cycling along Sheerness High Street in December 2019.

The offender's been given a suspended sentence because it took so long for the case to come to court.

Also in today's podcast, a Sittingbourne woman has spoken about how her family's been torn apart by the conflict in Ukraine.

Marina Hughes' sister has managed to get to America, her brother is trying to reach Denmark while her mother and grandmother are stuck in Kyiv.

There's a warning today the coronavirus pandemic is not over, as infection rates start to rise in parts of Kent.

Across the county more than 7,700 cases were recorded in the week to last Friday.

New owners have been found for the County Square shopping centre in Ashford.

It's positive news for the site after the closures of Debenhams and River Island and confirmation Next and H&M with also shut their stores.

And, a Kent business that makes sensory clothing for autistic children has teamed up with Katie Price's son Harvey.

Born Anxious is launching a new clothing range - designed by the 19 year-old - at a charity fashion show in London this weekend.

Podcast: BrewDog set to open first Kent bar in Canterbury later this year

A leading expert fears fuel prices could reach £2 per litre by next month.

Howard Cox is calling on the Chancellor to take action as filling up our tanks gets increasingly expensive.

Hear from the founder of Fair Fuel UK.

We've also been speaking to a taxi driver who says their profession is starting to become unprofitable.

Also in today's podcast, we've been speaking to some of the incredible volunteers from Kent who have been taking aid to those fleeing Ukraine.

As the conflict in the country continues following the invasion by Russia, hear from Kevin Tremain from Maidstone who managed to drive 10 refugees to safety and Vilius Domarkas who drove aid donated by people in Dartford to the border with Poland.

BrewDog looks set to open it's first Kent bar.

It's thought they're eyeing up a venue at the new £115 million Riverside complex in Canterbury.

Hear from our business editor Chris Britcher on the growth of the company and recent controversy.

And in sport, the Gillingham manager is in the running for February's manager-of-the-month award.

Find out who makes the shortlist alongside Neil Harris.