KentOnline

Podcast: Chatham town centre is among the hardest hit by the pandemic

A Kent high street has been named as one of the most affected by the pandemic.
According to experts, Chatham has lost 28 weeks of sales since March 2020 when the first lockdown came into force.
It also has the fifth highest town centre vacancy rate in the south east.
Reporter Chris Hunter has been there to find out what shoppers, buskers and business owners think.
Also in today's podcast, a criminal investigation is under way into allegations of lockdown-breaking parties at Downing Street.
It's after claims emerged that Boris Johnson had a birthday party at Number 10.
Hear from our political editor Paul Francis.
Figures seen by the KentOnline Podcast show flytipping has increased in every part of Kent over the past year.
We've been getting reaction from a farmer whose fields have been repeatedly targeted.
A Kent MP is backing calls for new laws to prevent drowning, following the death of a six-year-old boy.
Lucas Dobson fell into the River Stour in Sandwich in August 2019, and his body was found four days later.
Olly Alexander has been speaking to our sister radio station kmfm about the release of his new album.
Hear some of what the Years and Years singer had to say to Numi on the Hit List.
In sport, Gillingham are back in action tonight and desperate for points.
They welcome Shrewsbury Town to Priestfield in league one and the caretaker boss has described the came as crucial. 

Podcast: Police officer left with serious injuries after being hit by motorbike on the M25 near Swanley

A police officer has been left with serious injuries after being hit by a motorbike being driven the wrong way on the M25.
The collision happened near the Swanley junction yesterday afternoon.
Lucy has been reading some of the messages posted to the officer on social media as he receives treatment in a London hospital.
Also in today's podcast, startling figures show how many households in Kent are struggling with fuel poverty.
Thanet is said to be the worst affected part of the county. We've been speaking to Alexander Rourke from the Thanet Iceberg Project who says the problem is so serious, some people have taken their own lives.
A Kent MP has been speaking about the current situation in Ukraine.
Both the UK and America have now withdrawn some people from embassies there, over fears Russia could be about to invade. Hear from Tonbridge and Malling's Tom Tugendhat who is chair of the foreign affairs select committee.
A former Kent midwife has told the KentOnline Podcast that she had no choice but to leave the profession, after being dangerously overworked and massively under-appreciated.
She's spoken out as new figures show that for every 30 midwives who train - 29 will end up leaving.
In sport, hear from Gillingham's caretaker manager as they dropped to the bottom of league one following a 3-2 defeat to top of the table Wigan Athletic.
And, there have been more medals for Kent snowboarder James Barnes-Miller at the World Para Snow Sports Championships in Norway.

Podcast: Calls for more police patrols in Canterbury’s Dane John Gardens at night

There are calls for more police to patrol a city centre park in Canterbury at night.
Dane John Gardens has been the seen of anti-social behaviour and a number of serious crimes over the past decade and people living nearby are becoming increasingly concerned.
Hear from councillor Nick Eden-Green who regularly has to walk through the park in the evening - we've also had a response from police.
Also in today's podcast, five drug dealers who were involved in the supply of cocaine across Kent have been jailed for a total of more than 50 years.
The men were part of an organised network of criminals who bought and sold Class A drugs while using an encrypted phone platform called ‘EncroChat’.
There's growing concern in Downing Street that Sue Gray's investigation into lockdown parties at Number Ten has uncovered damaging evidence.
Hear from our political editor Paul Francis.
Figures seen by the KentOnline Podcast show there’s been a big increase in the number of people buying electric cars in Kent.
Almost 10,000 Ultra Low Emissions Vehicles were registered in the county between July and September last year - we've been speaking to EVision in Rochester.
Caretaker Gillingham boss Steve Lovell shares his thoughts ahead of this weekend's match against promotion chasing Wigan Athletic in league one.
And, para-skier Millie Knight has been chatting after claiming gold at the World Championships.

Podcast: Hersden dad who stabbed daughter while having psychotic delusions sues NHS

A dad who repeatedly stabbed his daughter while experiencing a psychotic episode is suing the NHS for more than £1 million.
Marc Traylor attacked his then 16-year-old daughter at their home in Hersden near Canterbury in 2015 and was only stopped when he was shot by police.
Find out why he's taking legal action.
Also in today's podcast, candles will be lit tonight in memory of a man who went missing last August. The body of Dan Venes has been found in France.
Ministers have been defending their decision to list Plan B Covid restrictions in England.
We hear from our resident GP from Strood, Dr Julian Spinks.
And as Kent artists Tracey Emin asks for a piece of her work to be removed from Downing Street, shoppers in Rochester have been telling us if they think Boris Johnson should resign as Prime Minister over lockdown-breaking parties.
A new inquiry's looking into the supply chain of goods between Kent and the EU.
Members of the transport committee have visited the Port of Dover and we've caught up with the chief executive there.
A Maidstone couple, who won a million pounds on the lottery have revealed how it's made a massive difference to their severely disabled daughter’s life.
Adam and Amy Pryor picked up the win on the EuroMillions in August 2017 and have now got an assistance dog for five-year-old Charlotte.
Find out which park in Kent will be hosting a series of concerts this summer.
And, it's disappointment for Emma Raducanu at the Australian Open while the fixtures are out for Kent's cricketers.

Podcast: Sheppey mum ’most likely’ distracted by phone before fatal crash

It's emerged a mum from Sheppey who died when the car she was driving veered into the wrong lane and collided with a lorry was 'most likely' distracted by her phone.
Charlotte Buesden had just dropped her son at school when the crash happened on Swale Way in Kemsley near Sittingbourne last August.
Our reporter Sean McPolin was at the inquest and has the details.
Also in today's podcast, we have news on changes to Plan B Covid restrictions - some of which come in as early as tomorrow.
The mum of a three-year-old girl from Sandgate who was killed by her stepdad is calling for his prison sentenced to be reviewed.
27 year-old Paul Marsh from Sandgate Road in Folkestone was locked up for 11 years in December after being found guilty of the manslaughter of Jessica Dalgleish.
Here mum Hannah Butler has given a heartbreaking interview to our colleagues at KMTV.
A man who's thought to have been involved in drugs crimes in Kent is being hunted by police in Spain and has been named today as one of 12 most wanted fugitives.
Hear from the National Crime Agency who are trying to track them down.
We've also been speaking to a food bank in Medway as figures show the cost of living is at its highest for 30 years.
And find out who Gillingham are interested in being their next manager following the departure of Steve Evans.

Podcast: Three face jail after stabbing outside troubled Century Club in Maidstone

Three men are facing jail following a stabbing outside a snooker club in Maidstone.

Violence erupted when two groups, who'd been in Century Club on Lower Stone Street, clashed on the street outside in the early hours last July.

Hear from our reporter at Maidstone Crown Court who's been following the trial.

Also in today's podcast, could there be disappointment for Canterbury's high street? It's feared plans to transform the former Debenhams in the city may now not happen.

We've got more reaction to news the military are going to be drafted in to help tackle the issue of asylum seekers crossing the Channel to Kent in small boats.

Some politicians in the county have welcomed calls to reform the BBC and how it's funded.

The licence fee is going to be frozen at £159 for the next two years.

The corporation says that will lead to 'tougher choices' that'll affect viewers - but the government reckons it'll help keep costs down for families.

We have the latest as demolition work at the old Splashes sport centre site in Rainham continues.

A park in Kent is getting a bench inspired by the Ricky Gervais series After Life.

Netflix is donating 25 of them to councils across the country, to give people a place to sit, reflect and share - find out where it'll be going.

And, we have the latest from the Australian Open tennis where Kent's Emma Raducanu has been in first round action.

Podcast: Former Maidstone Grammar School for Girls teacher jailed for grooming and sexually assaulting pupil

A former teacher who groomed and sexually assaulted a pupil has been jailed for six years.
Carly Dear was teaching PE at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls at the time. Hear from our court reporter Sean Axtell who's been following the case.
Also in today's podcast, the military are going to be put in charge of preventing small boats of asylum seekers from crossing the Channel to Kent.
We have reaction from Samphire refugee charity based in Dover.
New rules around how long you have to isolate for if you test positive for Covid have come into force today.
Dr Jack Jacobs from Hamstreet Surgery near Ashford has been telling the KentOnline Podcast what he thinks and if it's part of living with the virus.
Residents living on a new estate in Canterbury blighted by vandalism say they're having to cover a £20,000 repair bill.
Bollards, trees and swings on the Royal Parade site off Littlebourne Road have been damaged - our colleagues from KMTV have spoken to two women living there.
You can also hear from wildlife charity BugLife after tens of thousands of pounds was raised to fight plans for a huge theme park in north Kent - in just 48 hours.
And in sport, there was further disappointment for Gillingham at the weekend as they suffered yet another defeat in league one.
We caught up with caretaker manager Steve Lovell after they lost 3-1 to Burton Albion on Saturday.

Podcast: Video footage emerges of Ashford man stripping naked in front of police after crash

Video footage has emerged of the moment a man stripped naked in front of police after crashing his car and impersonating an officer.
David Saunders had also threatened someone with a knife and shouted abuse while surrounded by police when it happened in Ashford.
Hear the moment it happened in November last year. The 37-year-old from Beaver Road has now been jailed.
Also in today's podcast, there's reaction from a Kent MP following yet more revelations about gatherings at Downing Street - this time, the day before Prince Philip's funeral.
North Thanet's Sir Roger Gale has already called for the Prime Minister to resign.
French officials are investigating the death of a person who was pulled from the water in the Channel overnight.
Kent Refugee Action Network say news like this is becoming a sad inevitability.
We've been speaking to cross-Channel ferry firm DFDS and Getlink which owns Eurotunnel as restrictions for UK travellers heading to France are lifted.
In sport, hear from Steve Lovell as he prepares to take charge of Gillingham tomorrow following the departure of Steve Evans.
The former boss is in caretaker charge of the side who will welcome Burton Albion to Priestfield.

Podcast: Ashford man pretended to be a police officer then stripped naked after crashing his car

A man who pretended to be a police officer after narrowly avoiding running down a family before crashing into a fence in Ashford has been jailed.
The labourer brandished handcuffs and waived a knife around before stripping naked and eventually being pepper-sprayed by police.
Our Canterbury Crown Court reporter Sean Axtell has been following the case.
Changes to Covid rules have been made today.
Hear what the health secretary has had to say about isolating if you've tested positive. We've also got reaction from DFDS, which sails from Dover, after France lifted travel restrictions for UK tourists.
It's feared there aren't enough school places for the number of children moving with their families to live in a huge new development in north Kent.
Thousands of homes are being built at Ebbsfleet Garden City but a number of parents say they're having to travel miles out of the area to take their children to school.
The chief executive of the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation has updated us on the situation.
A report out today has found there is a dangerous 'chemical cocktail' running through our rivers.
The Environmental Audit Committee found only 14% of English rivers meet good ecological status. We've been getting reaction from Sally Burtt-Jones from campaign ground SOS Whitstable.
Social media influencers in Kent have welcomed calls for a logo to be put on photos of people that have been digitally-altered.
Former GP Dr Luke Evans, who's now a Conservative MP, wants new legislation, because he's worried about people with eating disorders being driven by 'perfect' bodies.
And Kent's Sam Billings is with the England cricket squad ahead of their final Ashes test.

Podcast: Paramedics from Margate who stole drugs from dying patients are jailed

Two paramedics who stole drugs from dying patients have been sent to prison.

The pair, from Margate, used their position to identify victims.

A man from Strood who was targeted just hours after his wife had passed away has spoken to our Canterbury Crown Court reporter Sean Axtell.

Also in today's podcast, hear the statement from the Prime Minister as he admits going to a lockdown-breaking gathering in the garden of Number 10 Downing Street.

Boris Johnson said he went out on May 20, 2020 to thank staff and thought it was a work event.

Our political editor Paul Francis gives his analysis.

A man is in hospital following a stabbing in Dymchurch. Our reporter Alex Jee is at the scene where police have also made an arrest.

A meeting designed to rebuild trust in Southern Water following a sewage spill scandal has been called off by the company because so many people wanted to attend.

They say the venue wasn't big enough to accommodate social distancing.

More than £10,000 has been raised in memory of a 21-year-old paramedic killed in a crash on the A21 Sevenoaks bypass.

We've been speaking to Alice Clark's former lecturer.

And Steve Lovell says he didn't think twice about coming back to Gillingham following the departure of Steve Evans.