Podcasts about Herne Bay

The ambulance service has apologised after a Canterbury man with a fractured eye socket had to get a taxi to hospital.Lee Newman had been out clubbing with friends at Club Chemistry and was attacked as he walked home.Also in today's podcast, a Canterbury woman who killed her husband then hid his body in their garden has been convicted of murder.A court heard Jeremy Rickards had suffered injuries from weeks of domestic abuse before he was killed last summer. Hear the moment his wife was arrested and from police who's spoken outside court.Two children's centres in Kent that were facing closure have been saved by a last minute U-turn from the county council.Seashells in Sheerness and Millmead in Margate were under threat as KCC looked to save money in order to balance their budget.As part of English Tourism Week, the KentOnline Podcast has been hearing how the sector in Kent is almost back to pre-pandemic levels.It's an industry that creates nearly 80,000 jobs and generates £4 billion for the local economy. We've been chatting to Jim Dawson from Visit Kent.Dog owners have made complaints to the National Trust after their pets were banned from a café in Dover.The policy at the White Cliffs of Dover visitor centre was introduced because customers reported having food stolen and being disrupted by barking.A Whitstable and Herne Bay version of Monopoly has launched today.The game features local landmarks including Whitstable Harbour and Herne Bay Pier, as well as Tankerton Slopes and the Oyster Bay Trail.And in sport,  it's a trip to Accrington Stanley for Gillingham in league two this weekend.Both sides have had a similar run of form this season with the Gills 19th and the home side two places below.

Car park visits in two Kent coastal towns have dropped by more than 30,000 since “eye-watering” fee hikes were imposed last year. New figures reveal a slump across sites in Whitstable and Herne Bay following the decision to increase hourly rates to as much as £3.70 in April.Also in today's podcast, a former lifeguard who “violently” shook a toddler he was babysitting and punched his legs and hips has been jailed.He faced a child cruelty charge after he was seen by his then partner hurting the 18-month-old boy in his own home in Sittingbourne in August 2023. A bomb squad has descended on a remote property this morning sparking the closure of a major route.Police raided a home near Canterbury at about 8am in a bid to smash a suspected drugs syndicate.A company named one of the best in Britain is set to create more than 150 new jobs if its plans for new facilities are approved.They want to put a new building at its Swale Way site - which it says will allow it to continue to grow.And you can hear from staff at the Wildwood Trust near Canterbury who say Boki the bear has emerged from hibernation happy and healthy after last year's brain operation.He had pioneering surgery in October to remove fluid after suffering from seizures.

There's still a long way to go this season, but we've already had our first managerial exit ahead of next season after Jay Saunders announced he was to leave Tonbridge Angels - club chair Sophie Purves reflects on that news, discusses the criteria for his replacement and looks ahead to a bright future at Longmead. Ryan Hanson is back at Dover on loan and has found a better club than the one he left - he reflects on his return and scoring the opener to help the Whites get back to winning ways over Bowers & Pitsea. Herne Bay also found the winning touch on Tuesday night, for the first time under new manager James Collins, who discusses his start to life at Winch's Field, the potential of the club and the challenges of trying to strengthen his squad. We also discuss the axing of Folkestone boss Andy Drury, the plight of Welling United and the race for the SCEFL play-offs, and have all the usual chat and nonsense, this week including Uni mates, art auctions, Wales, interior design, Chat GPT logos and loads more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A police sergeant caught naked near a children's play park has been spared a criminal conviction after prosecutors rejected appeals for him to face more serious charges. He's escaped with just a caution after he was spotted by shocked dog walkers loitering with no clothes on in woodland in Chatham.Also in today's podcast, an inquest has heard a father of two was killed in a crash caused by speed, the damp road surface and the condition of his tyres.He died last September on the A2 after he lost control of his black Vauxhall and smashed into the central barrier and a bridge parapet.A planning battle that has been raging for 13 years may finally be reaching an end. A public inquiry starts tomorrow to determine the future of the popular fishing centre in Marden.A teenager who was savaged during a dog attack has been hailed a “hero” for shielding his puppy and younger brother during the ordeal.Police were called to Herne Bay after a 17-year-old boy and a Dachshund had been attacked by an aggressive dog.And in sport you can hear from the Gillingham manager following another goalless draw over the weekend. The Gills were at away Carlisle United and John Coleman was full of praise for the traveling fans. 

A 16.2 kilometre tunnel is being built between Herne Bay and the Mangere Wastewater Treatment Plant, and this afternoon, the Southern half is being switched on.

A drunk mum who broke her friend's eye socket in a vicious nightclub attack has been spared jail after her victim told a judge: “I don't want her to go to prison, she's pregnant.”Nadine Telfer, who is due to give birth in two weeks, faced a spell behind bars after dragging another woman to the floor by her hair and punching her in the face. Also in today's podcast, a popular Kent school fitness and activity coach has been horrifically injured after being hit by a scooter while jogging on holiday.He suffered a shattered leg, ruptured artery and deep muscle laceration in the accident in Goa, leaving him fearing he could lose the limb.A “sorely missed” country pub which burnt down after being struck by lightning could soon rise from the rubble more than three years on.Plans have been submitted to rebuild the Green Man pub in Hodsoll Street and return it to its former glory in the same spot overlooking the green.Seven years after almost 1,400 people signed a petition to “save the soul of Dover”, the KentOnline Podcast has gone back to the high street to see if it's survived. The fears were sparked after the £53 million St James' retail and leisure park was built just a few hundreds yards away from the pedestrianised precinct. And in football you can hear from both the Gillingham manager and one of their new signings after their draw with top of the table Walsall. John Coleman says he was pleased to see his players regain some lost pride. 

My Story  Talk 3  Home, Family, Christmas & Holidays (1947-1953) Welcome to Talk 3 in our series where I'm reflecting on the goodness of God throughout my life. From what I've said so far it's clear that after the war my life in the 1940s was largely comprised of school and church. I suppose that was true of most Christian children in those days and continues to be so today. And what was true of my years at primary school and Sunday school was also true of the years that followed. Most of my activity was to be centred on school and church. But before I move on to those things in the next talk, I need to say more about my family, because without a doubt our family is by far the strongest influence in the formation of our character, our behaviour, and our outlook on life. And life is not just about our education or work or church. It's about relationships, people, recreation, having fun, and healthy enjoyment of the things God has so graciously lavished upon us. So this talk is about my home, my family, Christmas and holidays.   Home For the first 23 years of my life I lived with my parents in the home in Hornchurch where I was born. It was a fairly standard three bedroomed semidetached house, but it benefited from a rather large garden which backed onto the railway. We weren't disturbed by the noise of the trains because the garden was some 200 feet – about 60 metres – long, but by walking to the end of the garden and looking down the railway embankment we could watch electric trains on the District Line and the steam locomotives on the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. My parents were both keen gardeners and had chosen the house because of the size of the garden. They planted several apple trees, two pear trees, two plum trees, a greengage tree, as well as strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants and redcurrants. My grandfather had also planted for me an ash tree at the very end of the garden and, by looking at Google Earth, it looks as though it's still there today. Sadly, the large fishpond which I helped my father build when I was about ten seems to have gone.   Family and Friends One of the advantages of having a large garden was that there was a big enough lawn for my father to teach me to play cricket and football. So, although I was an only child, I was never a lonely child. There were always plenty of friends who liked to come and play. I also enjoyed playing board games with my grandad, my mother's father, who lived with us for about five years, and later with my grandmother, my father's mother, who came later to live with us for six years and who died at the age of 86 when I was 16. Having elderly parents living with us for eleven years was not easy for my mother, but she seldom if ever complained, and her example taught me the real meaning of love, a commitment to serving others despite the cost to ourselves. I also got some idea of what it's like to be in your eighties!   Family at Christmas I saw relatively little of other family members as my uncles, aunts and ten cousins all lived too far away for frequent visits. But we did see most of them at Christmas and sometimes during the other school holidays. Because, with one exception, all my cousins were older than I was, Christmas was usually spent with my Auntie Addie – Adelaide actually, but I never heard anyone actually call her that! She was a year or two younger than my mother and had two sons, Brian who was a year older than me, and Geoffrey who was born shortly after the war when Uncle Bert returned from years away fighting in Burma (now known as Myanmar).   We usually alternated where we would spend Christmas, either at our house in Hornchurch or at their prefab in Woodford Green near Walthamstow. Prefabs were prefabricated bungalows introduced after the war to provide housing that could be erected more quickly than by using the usual methods of construction. Originally they were intended to last for, I think, only ten years, but in practice most of them lasted for decades. One of the exciting things about them was that they were all provided with a fridge with a small freezer compartment, so we could have ice-cream whenever we liked. Fridges were a luxury in those days and it was many years later that we ourselves had one. Eileen and I had our first fridge in 1968, six years after we were married. Brian and I had to share a bed every Christmas and I have vivid memories of waking up in the early hours of the morning to see what Santa had left in our ‘stockings' – which were actually pillowcases, as stockings weren't large enough to accommodate the vast number of presents we each received. I don't remember how old I was when I realised that Santa wasn't real, but it must have been well before I left primary school. I do know that some Christians, quite understandably, believe it's wrong to tell their children something which isn't true, fearing especially that, when they finally understand that the whole Santa thing is a myth, they will conclude the Christmas story found in the Bible is a legend too. That's a view that I understand and fully respect, but I can only say that it was never a problem for me, or, as far as I know, for my children and grandchildren for that matter. If we teach our children that what is in the Bible is true, they will soon discover that Father Christmas is nowhere to be found in the Bible, but is just a nice story that, although it isn't true, gave them a lot of fun when they were too young to understand otherwise. But each of us must follow our own conscience in this matter, as we always must when confronted with issues over which Christians disagree. Christmas dinner, as I remember it, was very similar to what most people have today, with one notable exception. I can't remember when we first had turkey, but for several years our celebratory meal was roast chicken. Unlike today, chicken was then very expensive, and Christmas was the only time we had it. At other times our regular Sunday roast was lamb, which, also unlike today, was the cheapest meat you could get. Our typical weekly menu was roast lamb on Sundays, cold lamb on Mondays, minced lamb in the form of shepherd's pie on Tuesdays, and lamb stew with dumplings on Wednesdays. So chicken at Christmas was a real treat! Apart from eating, we spent most of Christmas Day and Boxing Day playing with the games we had received as presents. These were always very competitive and included subuteo football, a form of cricket you could also play on the table, table tennis, darts, and a bagatelle pin board. We also enjoyed heading a balloon to one another and counting how many times we could keep it up. When we later tried it outside with a football we found it was much harder! Another good thing about staying at Auntie Addie's house was that we were able to visit other family members, as three of my aunts lived quite near to her. There was always quite a crowd in the evenings when we all joined together for a party, when we played traditional party games like musical chairs and pass the parcel. Years later I was to discover that some people's idea of a party was a time when you did little more than sit around and drink too much. This shocked me because our parties had never been like that. My parents were both teetotallers and, although most of the rest of the family were not, they respected their wishes and rarely drank in the presence of children and teenagers. Of course, the consumption of alcohol is another of those matters where Christians disagree, but hopefully all would at least agree that abstinence is the best policy in the presence of those who might become addicted. I personally think of myself as an abstainer, but not a total abstainer.  And I'm grateful that, because of the example set by my family, I have always been cautious in these matters and am happy to say that I have never been drunk, something which even some Christians find hard to believe.   Family and Holidays But Christmas was not the only time when I met other family members. There were the summer holidays too. Hotels were too expensive, and we usually spent a couple of weeks away from home staying with family. During my primary school years we went several times to Cowes on the Isle of Wight where my father's sister, Auntie Lil, had a flat overlooking the sea. Her husband, Uncle Ernie, was a lighthouse keeper on the Needles, an impressive rock formation just offshore at the western end of the island. His job required him to live on the lighthouse for several weeks at a time, so sometimes we never saw him at all during the weeks we were on holiday with Auntie Lil. But when he was able to be with us, I remember that he was very generous. We usually had to travel everywhere by bus, but on one occasion he paid for a taxi to take us on a tour of the whole island. Another time, when I was eight, he paid for my father and me to go on a ‘joy-ride', a five minute trip on an aeroplane, an Auster light aircraft with just enough room for Dad and me to sit behind the pilot. I realise that this might not sound very exciting to young people today. Plane travel is so common, and many families take flights abroad for their holidays. But in those days it really was something exceptional. No one in my class at school had ever been in a plane, and my teacher got me to tell them all what it was like. We had only gone up to 1000 feet, but the experience of flying was exhilarating as we looked down on houses that now looked no bigger than a matchbox and were able to see so far into the distance, across to the southern coast of England and beyond. I'm so grateful to Uncle Ernie for making that experience possible for me. (It cost him seven shillings and sixpence which was a lot of money in those days, but which in today's decimal currency equates to 37.5p). Due to his kindness and Auntie Lil's hospitality we always enjoyed our holidays on the Isle of Wight. Another favourite holiday destination, particularly during my early teens, was Canterbury where my mother's sister, another Auntie Lil, lived with her husband Will and her daughter Doreen who was an English teacher in a Grammar School. I remember listening to her discussions with my dad about the nature of language, something I was particularly interested in because by then I was already studying French, Latin, and Greek at school. But more of that later. While in Canterbury we enjoyed visiting its wonderful cathedral and other places of historical interest like the Westgate Tower and the ducking stool where in less enlightened centuries women who scolded their husbands were ducked in the river to teach them a lesson!  We also took advantage of the beautiful countryside around Canterbury and particularly enjoyed walking across the golf course which immediately overlooked my aunt's back garden. Other days were spent taking bus trips to the coastal resorts that lay within easy reach of Canterbury – places like Herne Bay, Margate, and Ramsgate, all lovely places, but nothing of course to compare with the beauty of Devon where I now live! My first holiday in Devon was when I was fifteen – but that's something I'll come back to next time when I talk about my teenage years at church and my life at Brentwood School where I was privileged by God's grace to receive a first-class education.   But finally, I'm conscious that in this talk I've made little mention of God, but I'm reminded that in the book of Esther God isn't mentioned either, yet it's very clear as we read it that he was at work in every detail of the story. So it is with us. His purpose for each of us is different, but he is at work in the ordinary everyday things in our lives, not just in any miracles he may perform for us. So I thank God for the home I grew up in, the family I was part of, and the fun we had together at Christmas and on holiday. These things, I believe, played an important part in my childhood and teenage years enabling me to grow into adulthood, confident to face the future, knowing that God loved me and had a purpose for my life.

Statistics seen by the KentOnline Podcast show five towns in Kent have topped a list of where property prices dropped in 2024.Broadstairs, Herne Bay, Westgate, Birchington and Deal experienced slumps in the cost of a house according to Zoopla. We've go some analysis from an estate agent in the county.Also in today's episode, a mum and her three daughters who fled to Kent from Colombia have been told their asylum claim has been rejected.Luisa Rodriguez came here in 2023 after receiving threats from a violent drugs cartel and shots were even fired at their home. The 37-year-old has been sharing her story.The MP for Tunbridge Wells is urging the government to invest more money in defence to help deter war across Europe.Mike Martin says he's worried the UK could be directly involved in conflict within the next 10 years because of instability in Ukraine and Middle East. He's been on the latest episode of the Kent Politics Podcast.We've been hearing from a Kent based company who have gone from cleaning for friends and neighbours, to taking on a castle .Sophie Brown started Capable Cleaners out of Lordswood 12 years ago and since then, the business has grown and she now has 150 clients and employs 25 people.And finally, a host of West End stars will be taking to the stage in Gravesend to help support creative youth services in Kent.Performers from shows such as Hamilton, Les Misérables and Hairspray will join up with Gifted Young Gravesham for a one-off night of music and entertainment. 

A carer who, along with a colleague, stole £12,000 from an elderly couple in Sittingbourne has been ordered to pay back just £1.Money was withdrawn from the victims' bank account over a four month period.Also in today's podcast, huge changes to the way local councils in Kent run are set to take a big step forward today.Bosses at County Hall in Maidstone are going to decide if we should be in the first step of the process - known as the Devolution Priority Programme.It's likely to see smaller councils scrapped and replaced with fewer unitary authorities, with a mayor overseeing them.Hear from the leader of Maidstone Borough Council and from a protest outside County Hall.The MP for Ashford is calling on Sir Keir Starmer to help get Eurostar trains to stop in Kent again.Services from the county to mainland Europe started 29 years ago but haven't run since the pandemic. Sojan Joseph raised the issue at Prime Minister's Questions.A Kent expert's played down the chances of another pandemic despite a surge in cases of HMPV in China.The virus was first discovered in 2001. It can cause a cough, fever and runny nose, but more vulnerable people could get bronchitis or pneumonia.A Herne Bay man has decided to speak to the podcast about his frustration at not receiving any post since before Christmas.Roger White claims he hasn't had important letters about health appointments or festive cards and gifts from family. Hear from Roger and the response from Royal Mail.And, a Kent woman who launched a hotel service for hens is set to appear on the new series of Dragon's Den tonight.Katriona Shovlin launched her business in Upchurch after noticing an increase in the number of chicken owners needing help during holidays.

The owner of Kent's first cat café says she's determined to keep it open despite rising costs and falling customer numbers.Cosy Cat Café in Herne Bay opened in 2018 and is home to 13 rescues. Reporter Millie Bowles who's been covering the story joins the podcast to explain more.Also on today's episode, we're being urged to check on our older neighbours and relatives after temperatures dropped well below freezing in Kent overnight.An amber cold health alert is in force until next Wednesday and there are concerns about wintry conditions putting more pressure on the NHS. A weather warning for snow and ice is also due to come into place this weekend.Hear from a worker at an ambulance control room in Medway, Kent's director of public health and a forecaster from the Met Office.A Maidstone man says he's been 'humiliated' after being told to leave a swimming pool because he was using a snorkel.Kiril Georgiev from Bearsted had major back surgery just over 10 years ago and can't twist in the pool to breathe. He's been speaking about the situation and we've got a statement from the operators of the leisure centre.A Kent business expert has been telling us how 2025 looks set to be a difficult one for our retailers.It follows figures which show 13,000 shops on UK High Streets closed last year, costing nearly £170,000 jobs. Hear from Tudor Price who's from the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce.A Gravesend woman has returned to her former school to try and inspire more girls to get into fitness and PE.Megan Branch has taken a group of students at St John's Catholic Comprehensive through strength training which aims to help them feel confident in their bodies and abilities.And in football, Gillingham's poor run of form has continued with a defeat to Bromley.They lost 3-0 at Priestfield last night. Hear from a very disappointed manager Mark Bonner.

It was a great pleasure for this week's Nostalgia Interviews podcast to meet screenwriter, author and award-winning podcaster Mark Stay. We begin by talking about Herne Bay and its cultural dynamics and learn that Mark has always been drawn to creativity, with Star Wars playing a formative influence. His teachers encouraged him, and Mark discusses the importance of reaching out to people in the know, and the time Mark bottled it when a director once rang him. We chat about what happens when you interact with ‘famous people' and we find out why it's the people two thirds up the ladder who can be the most useful. We discover why Mark gave up on acting and prefers writing, and we learn that Mark is a fan of Mike Leigh. We also hear about the three short films that Mark made and that he has written a full length screenplay. While learning his craft, Mark would make the most of every spare minute to write, and we find out what keeps Mark going, as well as why one can only run one's own race, and Mark talks about the importance of resilience and persistence. Mark also gives advice on the best strategies with, say, writing a novel. Mark has kept a diary since 2006, and we learn that his diaries and books are handwritten and then subsequently typed up. We talk about the Witches of Woodville books which Mark says are a cross between Dad's Army and Bedknobs and Broomsticks set during the Battle of Britain with a trio of bickering witches. They are grounded in reality. We also learn whether Mark's younger self would be surprised to discover what he is doing now, and how one can start out as an author in one's 50s. We learn why there is no such thing as an overnight success. We discuss the art of self-mythologizing and we find out why Mark is so wary of nostalgia, seeing it as a slippery slope towards fascism. Things weren't actually better in the past. Then, at the end of the interview Mark explains why he believes things are getting better and how it is important to live in the now and to have the imagination to look forward.

Watercare's seven year Central Interceptor project is over halfway complete. The aim of the project is to reduce water overflow in the central Auckland area with the construction of New Zealand's largest wastewater tunnel. The team is about to hit the penultimate breakthrough before arriving at Point Erin Reserve in Herne Bay in March/April of 2025. Watercare Chief Programme Delivery Officer Shayne Cunis told Kerre Woodham that Auckland is going to get a lifetime of benefits from the project. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A police control room manager who sent unarmed officers to a Dartford home hours before a woman was shot, has been cleared of gross misconduct.A neighbour had told 999 call handlers the victim's boyfriend had arrived with a handgun.The police watchdog launched an investigation into Inspector Thomas McCall following the murder suicide.Also in today's podcast, The owner of an animal sanctuary near Sittingbourne says she may be forced to leave Kent.Amey James founded Happy Pants Ranch but has been given nine months to get off her current site in Newington after losing an appeal over planning.A fake customer has managed to scam a Chatham vet out of thousands of pounds, by using their card machine.A man in a tracksuit and crocs walked into the Clover Street Veterinary Clinic.A social club in Herne Bay has won its bid to open later at night, despite concerns over loud noise.The facility on Clarence Road can now welcome guests until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.And in sport, it was a win for Gillingham at the weekend.They beat Salford City 1-0 at Priestfield which means they have moved up to 10th in league two.

It ended all square in both big top of the table clashes at the weekend - and Cray Valley PM boss Steve McKimm reflects on the late drama that saw his side come away from Dover with a point, and he reflects on their brilliant Step Three debut so far. Herne Bay player-coach Liam Friend looks back at his "soft" red card in the weekend win over Beckenham and looks back at an inconsistent start to their Isthmian League South East campaign. Plus the FA Vase is back this weekend and Whitstable Town get us underway with a lunchtime visit from unbeaten Jersey Bulls - Oystermen boss Jamie Coyle discusses that tie, having to pull his boots back on and his side's campaign to date. We discuss all the rest of the news, including the end of Ramsgate's unbeaten record, Ebbsfleet's ongoing struggles and Maidstone getting the gang back together. Plus there's all the usual chat and nonsense, including personalised number plates, takeaways, mash disasters and, frankly, some woeful banter from Matt Gerrard. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A housing developer is trying to pull out of contributing more than £50 million worth of new infrastructure and community facilities - including a £30m major road improvement.The future of the A28 dualling project in Ashford has been thrown into doubt as it emerged Hodson Developments wants to scrap or delay dozens of agreed commitments.Also in today's podcast, staff have been left in tears after their much “lifeline” charity store had to permanently close following a backdated rent increase.The rental hike left them in £20,000 of arrears and meant it was unable to continue trading.A plan to build 65 homes on what was once part of West Malling Airfield has been recommended for approval despite more than 1,500 objections. The application, first submitted in 2021, has proved deeply controversial with a petition against the plans gathering hundreds of signatures. A pensioner whose sinking house needs critical repairs says a council blunder has caused months of anxiety and cost him thousands of pounds.He's been told he even faces prison if he carries out any work on the 19th-century home in Herne Bay. And, while most of us get ready for Christmas, a Maidstone man is preparing to row the Atlantic.You can hear from Andy Purvis who will set off on the 3-thousand mile journey to Antigua to raise money for charity. 

With Matt sunning himself on holiday, non-league programme columnist, blogger, podcaster and Kentish Man Trevor Knell sits in for a bumper show after another brilliant weekend of football. Rochester United came back from 3-0 down on their way to an FA Vase upset at Lordswood and their boss Matt Hume reflects on that comeback, explains what he said at half-time and discusses the SCEFL Division One season so far. There's a new man in charge at Phoenix Sports and Darren Anslow discusses the challenges of building a side in the middle of a season and swapping top for bottom in the Isthmian South East. Herne Bay overcame Phoenix on Saturday and Bay manager Steve Lovell reflects on that win and discusses his passion for bringing young players through. And with Dover Athletic sitting top of the table, their top scorer George Nikaj tells Matt about the season so far, how he has found the goal trail and why he's not getting too carried away. There's all the rest of the news, including seven more FA Vase wins and a 6-6 draw, plus all the usual chat and nonsense, including Biffy Clyro (shock!), songs that last a million years, Joan and loads more besides. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Auckland rich-listers Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray will be facing community feedback on their proposal to build a helipad at their Westmere home. It will now be publicly notified, so opponents will get a say at a public hearing. Herne Bay Residents Association co-chair Dirk Hudig says helicopters are incredibly noisy and dirty. He says they're not needed in an urban environment - and explained there was a facility where they can launch 10 minutes from their house. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 10,000 parking fines have been issued at country parks in Kent in the last year, according to figures seen by KentOnline.The data also reals how thousands of people have appealed the penalty, claiming to have legitimately paid for a ticket.Reporter Elli Hodgson joins the podcast to explain more.Also in today's episode, we're  still expecting to hear a decision on whether or not the new road tunnel linking Kent and Essex will finally be built.The future of the Lower Thames Crossing is being considered by the Labour government and an announcement that was due on Friday was delayed.It's been confirmed a contraflow that's been causing delays for drivers between Whitstable and Herne Bay will be lifted later this month.Jet fans that clear fumes or smoke from the Chestfield Tunnel are being repaired - but will eventually need replacing.Work's been going on since June and it regularly causes traffic on the A299 Thanet Way.New parking restrictions could come into force of Medway City Estate, in a bid to ease congestions and improve safety.Single and double yellow lines could be painted around the site in Strood to stop HGVs parking along main routes and effectively turning two lanes into single lane traffic. We've been finding out what local traders think.A gala in Kent aimed at bringing different cultures together is returning this month for a second year.It's the brain child of an Ashford mum who wanted to celebrate the county's diversity.In sport,  the Gillingham manager says his team lacked quality in their match against Crewe Alexandra at the weekend.The Gills lost 2-0 and dropped to second in the league two table.It was a mixed weekend for Kent's Invicta Dynamos in ice hockey's south division one - and in motorsport, hear from Kent's Jake Hill after he won the British Touring Car Championship.The 30-year-old from Tunbridge Wells claimed the trophy after the final race of the season at Brands Hatch yesterday.

A Thanet man who stabbed a bouncer and another man at a bar in Ramsgate pleaded with a judge not to send him to prison.A court was told the attack happened at Clique Bar in Ramsgate in January this year - leaving one man with multiple wounds.Also in today's podcast, Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield has quit the Labour party.She's been a critic of Sir Keir Starmer for some time, but it seems the final straw was his acceptance of tens of thousands of pounds worth of free gifts from donors.Police have been given £15,000 so more officers can patrol Herne Bay as stats show it's the most dangerous part of the district.Bosses at Canterbury City Council have been told how the town centre and seafront has become a violent crime hotspot. Hear from our local democracy reporter Dan Esson.A Gravesend mum's described the terrifying moment she was told about her daughter choking on food at nursery.Three-year-old Bella had been eating some potato - and thankfully back blows by staff managed to dislodge it. Angela Chapman's now decided to raise money to buy the nursery a LifeVac.A circus performer left paralysed after breaking her back is going to be performing in Kent his week.Silke Pan fell from a trapeze in 2007 and spent seven months in hospital. She's been telling us about her remarkable return to the Big Top.A florist who's been trading in Swanley for more than 60 years is closing, as rising costs have made it impossible to continue  Michelle Avery has worked at Flowerworks since she was 15 and took over the store in 2011 - she's been speaking to reporter Charlotte Phillips.And in sport, Gillingham are top of league two after another win at the weekend.They beat fellow promotion hopefuls Barrow 2-0 at Priestfield. We've got reaction from manager Mark Bonner and man of the match Armani Little.

Ahead of a big weekend of FA Cup action, we hear from two men desperate to make it into the fourth qualifying round - and a manager whose side have made a great start after promotion last term. Maidstone midfielder Jordan Higgs discusses their 2-2 weekend draw with Chesham, his injury frustration since his summer move and why no-one will be taking their tie at Herne Bay for granted. Cray Wanderers face Hastings on Saturday looking to make it through too, in stark contrast to their league form which sees them propping up the Isthmian Premier - boss Neil Smith reflects on their start to the season, life at their new stadium and the tie against their divisional rivals. Erith Town have got 13 points from their first six games as a Step 4 team and their boss Adam Woodward discusses their form, the difference in levels and the club's hard work on and off the pitch. There's all the rest of the news from across the county and, of course, the usual chat and nonsense, including ducks, the rain and the Great British Bake Off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Angry parents living close by to a new school in Ebbsfleet have slammed the admissions policy – and say they were sold a dream they just haven't got. They launched a petition which forced the school to change its criteria and increase its intake after it was revealed that if it was oversubscribed, other pupils would get priority over those who live nearby.Also in today's podcast, a Herne Bay mum says she's horrified after a child found a small blade in chips bought on a Kent pier. He'd bought the portion to share with his friends and was lucky it was spotted before someone bit into it. There are calls for bosses in Tonbridge and Malling to put an end to parking restrictions which are threatening the survival of a popular farmers' market. Critics say the four hour limit is putting unwelcome pressure on traders and at this rate they'll have no market left. You can also find out which KFC outlet in Kent has been ranked as one of the country's worst when it comes to hygiene. The Colonel has responded to the claims – saying they have high standards and since the result have been working hard to get things back up to scratch. And the KentOnline Podcast has been speaking to the owners of a new family entertainment centre that's opened in Sittingbourne. The £20,000 refurb to the old Snooker and Sports bar now includes an 18-hole neon crazy golf course, pool room and darts facilities. 

Another bumper podcast after another excellent week in the FA Cup where no fewer than ten of our sides made it through to the Third Qualifying Round. Top billing goes to Herne Bay, who beat Hendon 3-0 to set up a tie with Maidstone - Bay boss Steve Lovell discusses all things FA Cup, his side's lack of league action so far this season and working closely with his son Mark. Ashford United also made it through and Danny Kedwell reflects on his start to life at Homelands, the squad he's built and the potential of the club. It was the end of the line for Corinthian though, and their manager Michael Golding admits it's a struggle for him this season after coming up short against the Nuts and Bolts. In the SCEFL, VCD made it eight wins in nine with a 2-0 win at Snodland - joint-boss Danny Joy discusses their start to the season, looks ahead to the FA Vase this weekend and discusses the importance of signing proven winners like keeper Andy Walker. And Snodland boss Byron Walker remains upbeat despite the loss to VCD, discussing his start to life as a manager and the backing he gets at the club. There's all the rest of the news from around the county, including a perfect start for Ebbsfleet's new boss, and all the usual chat and nonsense, including Toto Schillaci, Italia 90, a "posh breakfast" and being a celebrity... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A pub landlord could be stripped of his licence after a fight broke out in the wake of England's Euro 2024 final defeat which left one punter with potentially life-changing injuries.The incident happened in the pub garden in Wainscott, but police say it wasn't properly reported to them until the next day.Also in today's podcast, a former Sturry pig farmer embroiled in a planning war after switching up his business without permission says he will defy council if it tries to shut him down.His retrospective application has been rejected, but he's vowed to continue trading even if enforcement action is threatened.The KentOnline podcast has spoken to a woman who thought she'd be rich six months after opening a sandwich shop in Dartford but is now struggling to survive. She's told us the cost of living crisis is still affecting small businesses, with costs doubling and customer numbers falling. A garage boss on Sheppey is worried his firm's reputation has been damaged due to a water leak saga that's been going on for 19 months.He says he's unfairly getting the blame for the issue, which has turned the pavement outside his business into a “dangerous joke”.And gym bosses in Herne Bay say they're not feeling the pressure despite plans for a huge luxury health and fitness complex in the town. You can hear from some gym owners who say they're not scared of the proposals for the new David Lloyd Leisure site – as it will attract a completely different clientele. 

More than 100 people have signed a petition calling for a Kent school to take down a gate that stops students using a toilet block during class time. It's reportedly made children at Herne Bay High feel like they're "in prison" while parents have described the move as "bureaucratic madness".Also in today's podcast, residents of a block of flats in Maidstone say they're being punished for the actions of mavericks who fail to recycle properly. All of the bins outside the complex were rejected by refuse workers last week and are now overflowing with rubbish. You can also hear from a man who lives on an estate in Canterbury who has his own rubbish problems – he says fly-tippers are turning his neighbourhood into a junkyard.He's lived there for 30 years but it's now got so bad he's considering moving away. There are fears it's only a matter of time before someone is killed on a "nasty" stretch of road on the Kent coast.Residents are calling for local bosses to introduce safety measures to the area known as "the Bends" between Whitstable and Herne Bay. And a family-run riverside pub with a chequered history is going to reopen after mysteriously closing last year.The Ship Inn at Conyer Creek will be ready to welcome customers again this month after being taken over by a first time landlord. 

A town centre shop has been hit with its second zero-star hygiene rating in less than a year after inspectors uncovered blood-soaked floors.The business in Ashford received another damning report highlighting a catalogue of failures including poor hygiene practices, damaged equipment and mould.Also in today's podcast, a pensioner with a fetish for listening to women urinate claimed he was “desperate” from a stomach upset when caught using ladies' cubicles.The 67-year-old was busted in Herne Bay om June this year, when he was subject to a court order banning him from "lingering, waiting and standing" outside public loos.We've spoken to a Kent pub boss about proposals to introduce smoking bans in some areas including beer gardens. Some say it will be the final nail in the coffin for the pub industry. You can also hear from the manager of a Morrisons daily who tells us why he stayed in the job for 51-years despite once being held up at gunpoint. The 65-year-old is giving up his 4am starts after starting with the company as a paperboy aged 14.And a former vaccine centre in Sittingbourne that has been left empty since the pandemic is being transformed into a “much-needed” cafe and food bank.The Podcast has spoken to some of the people behind the renovations and what they mean for the community. 

A young boy cried “Mummy, I'm scared” as they hid from her knife-wielding boyfriend as he chillingly warned: “I'm going to get you!”The pair cowered in dark alleyways and behind cars after the bare-chested man chased them out into the street from her home in Deal.Also in today's podcast, there's confusion among local leaders as a former prison in Kent is sitting abandoned and empty despite the current overcrowding crisis. Blantyre House closed in 2016 for refurbishment but never reopened – but the government say they have “no plans” to bring it back into use. Britain's oldest rollercoaster, at an amusement park in Kent, was forced to close after gaping holes appeared in the tracks.Wooden bars supporting the rails broke due to a “fault” – while passengers were still on the ride. The boss of a newly reopened pub has welcomed plans to build 40 homes on its doorstep.The landlord says he intends to be at the pub near Ashford “for the long-term”, and is excited by the prospect of a new neighbouring estate bringing in extra trade.And a Netflix star has finally secured permission to extend his Kent home at the third time of asking.The actor has been given the green light to transform the chalet bungalow in Herne Bay following a planning saga lasting more than two years.

It has been revealed 12-hour corridor waits at East Kent Hospitals are now the third worst in England.Figures show the trust that runs A&E departments in Margate and Ashford is struggling with the persistent strain on its services.A man in his 40s has died in a house fire in Faversham.There was a huge emergency response when the blaze broke out on Salters Lane in the early hours of Saturday.A charity worker from Herne Bay says she has been assaulted by people who were accusing her of being a 'dirty immigrant'.Maya runs a community support centre and free shop in the town, and has also been abused online after a video was shared on social media.A disabled man has criticised Ashford Borough Council after being told he cannot live in his dead dad's bungalow.Rob Pollock has osteoarthritis, and wanted to move into his father's house in Charing because of his mobility issues and the memories attached.The new Labour MP for Ashford, Sojan Joseph, has joined a campaign for Eurostar trains to stop in Kent again.The service stopped calling at Ashford and Ebbsfleet International stations during Covid, but thousands of people have signed a petition for it to resume.New speed restrictions are set to come into force in parts of Sevenoaks.A number of roads are being reduced to 20 miles per hour in a bid to improve safety and reduce pollution.And in football, Gillingham got off to a great start in the new league two season with a 4-1 win over Carlisle United.Hear from manager Mark Bonner, who took charge of his first game for the Gills at the weekend.

A woman's calling for answers after some of her mum's jewellery went missing after she passed away at a Kent hospital.Iris Phillips died at Darent Valley in Dartford in April following a fall. At the time she was wearing a bracelet, watch and six rings on two fingers - but only three rings were returned.Her daughter Anne has been speaking to reporter Keely Greenwood.Also in today's podcast, a Kent nurse who slept during shifts and sometimes failed to respond to patient alarms has avoided being struck off.They used to work at the William Harvey hospital in Ashford and Margate's QEQM.This weekend is the final time to have a say on plans to install an electricity cable linking Kent to Suffolk.The Sea Link project will make landfall at Pegwell Bay - a wildlife area in Ramsgate. We've been speaking to the Kent Wildlife Trust.A new Monopoly board is being created for Whitstable and Herne Bay.The towns beat other areas including Dover, Rochester and Sandwich to get their own version of the game.Sam Lawrie's got a roundup of everything going on in Kent this weekend.And in sport, Gillingham get the new season under way tomorrow.They welcome newly relegated Carlisle to Priestfield in league two. Hear from manager Mark Bonner and defender Max Clark.

An Ashford dad who hit rock bottom after divorce and redundancy says he was drinking two bottles of vodka a day before he was saved by a Kent charity. He's turned his life around and is preparing to open his own gym in Dover to help others through their struggles. Also in today's podcast, residents in Gravesend are furious after they were “kept in the dark” over plans to house unaccompanied asylum seeking children in their street.Dozens of protestors gathered outside the building yesterday – they say they fear for their safety. A father with multiple sclerosis says he is missing his daughter growing up after being placed in a care home 30 miles away from his family.The 61-year-old asked for help with his living arrangements after his condition, which affects the brain and nerves, left him crawling around his home on his hands and knees.Campaigners have hit out at plans to build more homes next to a former colliery where developers have already got permission for 165.Some argue people in the area already have six-week waits for doctor appointments, and claim the area will be unable to cope with more development.And a Netflix star has launched a third bid to extend his family home in Kent.It comes as the first two attempts at getting the plans through Canterbury City Council were rejected. 

The Kent candidates for the general election have been confirmed.Nominations had be in by Friday and they've now been checked and verified and published for each constituency.This time around there are 18 seats up for grabs in the county - hear from our local democracy reporter Dan Esson.Also in today's podcast, the head teacher of a Kent grammar school has branded Ofsted inspections "tick-box exercises" after it was stripped of its 'outstanding' status.Folkestone School for Girls has held the top rating for the last 12 years - but has now been downgraded to 'good' by the education watchdog.The boss of a tourist attraction near Sittingbourne says he's losing tens of thousands of pounds because of water works.Bill Best has been speaking to reporter Joe Crossley and says people have been put off coming to the Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway because of nearby "road closed" signs.A gardening group on the Kent coast is stepping up their campaign to tackle food and fuel poverty by creating a community kitchen.Herne Bay in Bloom are already tending the garden in the memorial park that provides free produce.And, a Gravesend shop owner's told KentOnline how rising rents and the end of the Tilbury ferry are among the reasons she's closed.Forget-Me-Not Vintage and Dollshouse on the high street shut for the final time over the weekend - hear from Sarah Cheshire.

People living in a new-build block of flats in Ashford say its “inefficient” green energy system is making their bills much higher than they should be.Residents say the building is always boiling hot and they would never have moved in had they known how much they would have been forking out for heating - including covering payments missed by their neighbours.Also in today's podcast, residents fear their village between Ashford and Canterbury could be turned into a “concrete jungle” after swathes of land were put forward for new homes in the area.They've launched a campaign to save the site from developers over concerns the number of houses in the green belt could double. The owner of a popular seafood restaurant in Tunbridge Wells says the property has been up for sale since he bought it 17 years ago.The town centre venue has been operating since the early 1980s and is listed as the third best place for seafood in the area on TripAdvisor.You can hear from the Kent Wildlife Trust who are urging election candidates to make climate issues one of their top priorities.They say things strong stances on protecting nature, tackling water pollution and encouraging sustainable farming are some of the main things voters care about. And a Kent couple who posted a clip on social media playfully describing their life after having moved in with family in Herne Bay have gone viral. It's been viewed 14 million views times – striking a chord with the increasing number of twenty-and thirty-somethings ending up back under Mum and Dad's roof.

A mum from Deal has hit out at a London hospital after receiving a letter booking her son in for an appointment - more than a year after he died.Imogen Holliday was sent an email inviting three-year-old Raffy for a visit to Great Ormond Street exactly 14 months after he'd passed away there.Also in today's podcast, a leading Kent charity is calling on whoever forms the next government to ban so-called no-fault evictions.It was part of the renters reform bill that was going through parliament before the election was called. We've been speaking to Canterbury based Porchlight.A business owner in Rainham says a new red route along the high street is turning customers away.The introduction of the double red lines along the A2 was meant to help enforce existing traffic restrictions and tackle congestion. Find out what one trader's had to say and the response from the local council.A Kent veteran who landed on the beaches of Normandy on D Day is returning there this week to mark the 80th anniversary.Peter Smoothy from Herne Bay was one of 156,000 allied servicemen who took part in the invasion. He'll travel to Normandy thanks to the Taxi Charity which is run by London black cab drivers. Hear from Micky Harris from Longfield who's one of them.And in sport, it was a mixed weekend for Kent after two games in the T20 Blast.The Spitfires beat Middlesex away from home on Friday night, but lost to Hampshire Hawks yesterday.

Tributes have been paid to a “genuine” and “caring” 37-year-old who died hours after a severe asthma attack.The gym lover, known as “Big Man” by his friends was found unresponsive by his partner last month. Also in today's podcast, a landlord has banned vaping in his Hernhill pub because he doesn't want customers to be put off their Sunday lunches.Signs have been put up at The Three Horseshoes warning people that puffing away on the devices while inside is no longer permitted.A retired policeman is pleading with a parking company to see sense after he was fined nearly £100 for parking in a free car park.He says he is fighting a “ridiculous” fine issued at Bluewater Shopping Centre when he forgot to display his blue badge when he parked in a disabled bay.A hated “Spanish-style plaza” blocking off a stretch of seafront to traffic is set to be axed just months after being brought in.The pedestrianised square in Herne Bay has proved highly controversial since being installed earlier this year.And in football you can hear from Gillingham defender Remeao Hutton ahead of their fixture with promoted Mansfield. The Gills have the win all their remaining fixtures and hope other results go their way if they're to make the play-offs. 

An inquest into the death of a 12-year-old girl who suffered a severe asthma attack at a Medway school has heard how staff did their best to save her life. Pearl Unu-Arubi went into cardiac arrest at Rochester Grammar School in March last year. Also in today's podcast, a Kent MP has weighed into the debate about introducing a smacking ban. Doctors have warned the current laws are "dangerously vague" and changes would help crack down on child abuse. More than £150,000 pounds is thought to have been lost to ticket scams in Kent. Among those being targeted by fraudulent tickets are Taylor Swift fans as the singer's UK tour dates edge closer.Developers behind plans for a 92-bed town centre hotel have pulled down hoardings around the site as the project has been stalled by water quality issues.The wooden boundary was put up in Ashford just two months ago ahead of the demolition of a row of shops that currently occupies the plot.And an iconic Kent seafront bandstand turns 100 today, but there are questions over its future. The Herne Bay structure needs structural repairs, but council say they don't have the money to fix it. 

An inquest has been held into the deaths of two young men following a crash on the A20 near Farningham.Jake Green and Alfie Green were friends who worked together.Police have charged a 12-year-old boy with attempted murder following a stabbing in Sittingbourne.A 15 year-old girl was taken to a London hospital after she was injured on Adelaide Drive on Friday. Reporter Joe Crossley has been to the scene.A coroner's found the death of a Sittingbourne mum could have been prevented if her cancer diagnosis hadn't been delayed .44-year-old Kerri Mothersole died in 2022  and an investigation found reports from a Kent ultrasound clinic weren't passed on to doctors. Her son Jordan has spoken out.The boss of a cancer charity in Herne Bay says he's having to close his shop because of shoplifting and a drop in donations.Graeme Sergeant runs the Chemotherapy Cancer Project which supports patients going through treatment.The Dartford council leader is calling on transport bosses to 'get on' with building the new Lower Thames Crossing.The tunnel would link Gravesham and Essex, reducing congestion elsewhere, but estimates say it won't open until 2030.More than 30 shopping trolleys have been pulled from the river Medway during a clean-up operation.Water levels in Tonbridge have been lowered for five weeks as part of yearly repairs and maintenance.A 12-year-oldboy from Ashford is preparing for the trip of a lifetime - all thanks to his passion for Pokémon.Harrison Holden-Smith is so good at the card game he's currently ranked 12th in the UK - and 37th in Europe. Later this year, he'll be travelling to Hawaii for the World Championships.And in sport, and it was a fantastic three points on the road for Gillingham at the weekend.They came from behind twice to beat Morecambe 3-2 on Saturday.

A family of Show People say they have no choice but to continue living on green belt land as they cannot find space on the county's “overcrowded” Traveller sites.They've applied to change the use of land near the M25 to create permanent quarters for the 25 adults and 12 children to pitch on.Also in today's podcast, the University of Kent has confirmed six courses are set to be cut, following a consultation.Undergraduates at the campuses in Canterbury and Chatham who will see the subjects “phased out” over the next years say they are devastated. A court has heard how a cowardly thug dragged his girlfriend along Herne Bay pier and threatened to throw her into the sea during a campaign of controlling abuse.He subjected his partner to coercion and sometimes violence, which culminated in the harrowing ordeal on the town's landmark, during which he asked her: “Can you swim?”Fears of “traffic Armageddon” have been sparked by plans to build a 300-home estate and huge secondary school on the outskirts of Whitstable.Proposals are being considered for the sprawling development on land off the Old Thanet Way. And, hear from Gillingham boss Stephen Clemence ahead of their league 2 match with Morcambe. It's another chance of the Gills to get into the play-off places but they've not had a win in the last four games. 

A Kent head teacher's issued a warning after a pupil collapsed shortly after using a vape that had been spiked with a deadly synthetic drug.In a letter sent to parents it says the teenager had just finished classes for the day at Herne Bay High and had been handed the vape by another  youngster.Also in today's podcast, Operation Brock has been put in place on the M20 ahead of the Easter Holidays.The contraflow system between Maidstone and Ashford allows for lorries to be parked on the motorway if there are delays getting across the Channel at Dover.A Folkestone man who spent 26 years in prison for a murder he says he didn't commit has told the podcast he'll keep fighting to prove his innocence.Paul Cleeland was convicted of shooting his friend following a fight in 1972.Questions have since been raised about evidence presented at his trial - but appeals to clear his name have failed. Mr Cleeland has been speaking to reporter Sean Axtell.Could a town on the Isle of Sheppey become a tax-free haven like Monaco?A local historian had been hoping so after discovering an ancient document which excluded Queenborough residents from paying legal tariffs - including duty on wine.A public inquiry's under way as campaigners near Maidstone try to save a piece of former farmland from being built on.Developers are looking to put more than 400 homes on the former Bunyards Farm in Allington - but people living nearby want it to be given protected village green status.As we mark World Rewilding Day, we've been taking a look at some of the conservation work done by animal parks in Kent.The Aspinall Foundation specialises in reintroducing rare and endangered species and protecting habitats.

House prices are rising again in nearly 60 percent of the country's suburbs. CoreLogic NZ says median estimated property values rose in 549 of the 935 suburbs analysed in the three months to March. It says Herne Bay remains Auckland's most expensive market with a median value of $3.31 million dollars. CoreLogic's chief property economist Kelvin Davidson spoke to Morning Report.

Large patches of red paint on roads in Herne Bay as part of a new 20 mile per hour zone have been branded 'ugly and lurid'.The markings have appeared at nine junctions in the town.The boss of a dairy farm near Dover has been telling us about the huge financial impact of the Bluetongue outbreak.A control zone's been in force after the virus was identified in cows in Canterbury back in November.12,000 people have now signed a petition calling for courses at the University of Kent to be saved.Last month we told you a consultation's underway into plans to stop running nine of them - and cutting almost 60 staff.A former English teacher from Tunbridge Wells has written a book inspired by her experience in a cult.Anthea Church spent 20 years in group Brahma Kumaris.A business owner has revealed why he has decided to expand into a high street despite shops closing throughout the county at an alarming rate.Compton's Kitchens started in Faversham about 12 years ago and is now launching its third showroom in Tenterden.And a gluten-intolerant baker who struggled to find her passion in life has finally opened her own store.Mia Dahl recently launched a traditional Danish bakery called "Blomst" on Hartnup Street in Maidstone.

A Medway mum has told the podcast she fears for her son's future, because he's been left without a school place.Five-year-old Louie has learning difficulties and autism. He was due to go to Abbey Court in Strood but it's now been revealed there aren't enough teachers. Kelly Smith says it is an awful situation.Also in today's episode, we've got reaction next to news that parking charges are set to increase to as much as £3.70 an hour in some of Kent's coastal towns.Canterbury City Council are looking at putting up prices as well as scrapping free parking concessions in parts of Herne Bay and Whitstable.Students at the University of Kent have started a petition to save their courses from being cut.As many as nine areas of study are a risk, as well as 58 staff, at the Medway and Canterbury campuses due to financial pressures.A fundraiser has been launched to help a therapy dog from Chatham who has broken his leg .Skippy started as mental health support at Maundene Primary School after the pandemic but was injured during a PE lesson.In sport, it's been revealed Gillingham midfielder Dom Jefferies is set to be out for two months after tearing a thigh muscle.The 21-year-old missed the game against Walsall at the weekend - hear from head coach Stephen Clemence.

Angry residents have packed into a public meeting in Herne Bay to have their say on a controversial seafront traffic scheme.The debate comes amid a huge backlash to a £250,000 project to create a “Spanish-style” plaza along Central Parade. Also in today's podcast, hear from a woman living in a new-build block of flats in Herne Bay who's been staying in a hotel after a faulty light fitting sparked a huge fire.All the tenants were evacuated and put up in temporary accommodation, where some remain as they face a three-month wait for repairs to take place.Furious villagers have slammed “outrageous” plans to build 23 new homes in an area they say is already overdeveloped.Developers are preparing to submit a bid to develop a horse field near Deal but critics say it'll cause traffic and parking chaos. People living in Maidstone say there will be more accidents if a  key traffic junction remains closed. The dispute between council and residents is far from over - local bosses say the changes have sped up traffic but there's also been an apparent increase in crashes. And a plasterer has defended the controversial name of his business- insisting it is just a bit of “banter”.The Ramsgate man admits some people take offence at the branding of his Thanet-based company due to its links to infamous paedophile Jimmy Savile.

There's anger over changes to recycling rules that have come into force across Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable.Households have been warned blue and red-lidded recycling bins will not be collected if they're "contaminated".Also in today's podcast, Rishi Sunak's Rwanda bill has passed its final hurdle in the Commons - despite some rebellion from his own Conservative backbenchers.Former home secretary Suella Braverman and ex-immigration minister Robert Jenrick were among just 11 Tories who voted against it. The Prime Minister has been giving a news conference at Downing Street.A Sheerness mum says her stillborn son would still be alive today if she'd been admitted to hospital sooner.Kristina Pepper contacted Medway Maritime after experiencing unusual pregnancy symptoms but was told to "stop being silly". Kristina and her partner Lee have been sharing their story and we have a response from the hospital.A Tunbridge Wells couple are celebrating winning a quarter of a million pounds on a lottery scratch card.Michelle Newton and John Simpson are planning to pay off their mortgage and do some house renovations.And in sport, Gillingham have made their first signing of the January transfer window.Remeao Hutton is joining from Swindon Town - he's been speaking to the club's media.

There's shock today as a popular bakery has announced it's closing four of its shops in Kent.Cheran Friedman started Cheran's Bakery in Sittingbourne in 2022 before expanding across the county. Hear what she's said in a statement.Also in today's podcast, hear from a former post office manager who was sent to prison because of the Horizon scandal.It's as the government announces plans for a new law to override the wrongful convictions of 700 staff and pay compensation.A Maidstone mum has described the moment a car crashed into her home.Allana Spencer's now having to live in a hotel after the property on Farleigh Hill was badly damaged when it happened during a police chase.Following news that no Eurostar trains will stop at Kent stations this year - a businessman from Meopham has been speaking about how it's affecting his life.Thomas Draper has family in the Czech Republic and regularly travels to the continent for work.A Kent mum who retrained as a councillor after her daughter was abused says it's vital adults seek help if they suspect a child is in danger.Miranda from Lamberhurst has spoken out as new stats show reports of child sexual offences in the county remain close to record levels.We've got an update on the controversial plaza and one-way system in Herne Bay after a public meeting had to be abandoned because so many people turned up.Reporter Ruth Cassidy was there and spoke to a resident who had tried to get in.And, It's been revealed Christmas TV added £1.75 million pounds to the Kent economy.Locations in the county were used by major production companies including Netflix .

Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling for a new one-way system in Herne Bay to be scrapped, just weeks after it came into force.The new road layout has been set up as part of the seafront is now cordoned off to make way for a new plaza area.A woman who lost everything in a fire at her home in West Kingsdown says she has her rescue dog to thank for still being alive.Emma Churchill's caravan caught alight on Christmas Eve but luckily she was alerted by her pet dog Dobby.We are now into a second day of strike action by junior doctors in Kent and the rest of England.A row has broken out between NHS leaders and union bosses after some medics were asked to return to work, because of fears over patient safety.There could be more flooding in parts of the county as a weather warning for heavy rain is in force.The yellow alert lasts until 3am tomorrow, and forecasters say some areas could get as much as 50 milimetres of rain in the space of 9 hours.And, a little boy from Canterbury has been given an award for his bravery by the cast of the panto at the city's Marlowe Theatre.Four year-old Atlas was two when he was found to have a brain tumour after initially developing a twitch in his leg.

Top Boy star Ashley Walters has revealed he'll have to move if a Kent council keeps rejecting his plans to extend his home.The former So Solid Crew member wants to make changes to the bungalow he owns near Herne Bay.Also in today's podcast, two parts of Kent have been named among the worst places for homelessness in the south east.We've been speaking to Shelter who compiled the figures.Meantime, a charity based in the county town say they saw a spike in families relying on foodbanks during the first week back at school in September.Maidstone Homeless Care says spiralling costs mean households budgets can quickly get out of control. Hear from manager Tara Beckett.The MP for Canterbury is calling for more action to tackle sexual assault and harassment in the health service.Figures from the British Medical Association show a third of NHS female surgical staff have been attacked by colleagues in the past five years. Rosie Duffield has been leading a debate in Parliament.There are calls for more education about transgender issues in schools, after an academy was criticised for adding it to the national curriculum.Bosses at Meopham Community Academy wanted to introduce gender identity for primary pupils, but some parents complained. We've been speaking to a transgender woman from Gravesend who says education would have helped her.And, we're finally able to see Rochester on the small screen as part 2 of the last season of The Crown is released today...The Guildhall in the High Street was used for scenes showing Charles and Camilla's wedding - which actually happened in Windsor.

A Kent postman says he used to be proud to wear his Royal Mail uniform but now he feels embarrassed. He's written a letter revealing what it's like to really work for the service following a KentOnline report that showed some people in the county are waiting weeks for vital letters. Also in today's podcast, the family of a young woman from Herne Bay who took her own life say she still might be alive if more had been done to treat her anxiety and depression. She went missing just hours after a phone consultation with her GP where she admitted to having thoughts of self harm. A bully who mugged a vulnerable man of his bike will miss the birth of his first child after being sent to prison. The Faversham man cried in the courtroom as the verdict was read out - the judge said he'd deliberately picked on a victim who he considered to be an "easy target". One of the leaders of a  school trust has defended plans to introduce transgender education into a Kent primary school. They're proposing to teach students about things such as gender identity and the term non-binary. And, there's backlash over a Christmas display in Dover. Residents say they're "insulted" by the reindeers which have been placed around the War Memorial.  

It's time for another trip around the solar system! In this week's Science Weekly, Dan chats to Eddie Murray, a Bison Ranger based in Herne Bay about Kent's latest wildlife conservation project Dan explains why an asteroid is coming to the UK, why we could soon be flying with zero emissions & answers your questions about how water affects our body and our senses.All on this week's episode of Science Weekly!Join Fun Kids Podcasts+: https://funkidslive.com/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mum and her former boyfriend have been found guilty of murdering her toddler son at a caravan near Faversham.Alfie Phillips was found to have 70 injuries including broken bones when he died in Hernhill in November 2020. Police have reacted to the verdict outside court.Also in today's podcast, the man who founded the Oasis group says the recent strike action by some teachers at a troubled school on Sheppey is heartbreaking.Staff at the academy sites in Minster and Sheerness have taken to the picket line over safety fears because of student behaviour. We've been speaking to Steve Chalke.Funding to local youth services is set to be cut - as council bosses have voted in favour of bringing in a one-stop-shop for help and support.Family Hubs will bring multiple services all under one roof, but they will divert money away from existing groups. Elderly people living in a tower block in Herne Bay say they've been left "freezing cold" after waiting six weeks for the heating to be fixed.Many residents at the St Anne's Court retirement complex have health conditions which can be made worse by the chilly weather.World leaders are gathering in Dubai for the start of the Cop28 climate conference.It's been described as a "milestone moment" as we take stock of progress on the Paris Agreement from 2015. We've been catching up with  adventure activist Kate Strong who's been in the county.And finally, this is one of our more unusual stories - we've been chatting to a man who can often be seen walking down Rochester High Street - with a duck on his shoulder.58-year-old Mark Colyer and his birds, Dog and Goldie are also regularly spotted in the castle grounds, and even at the pub.

The family of a Herne Bay man who was taken into custody after being pulled from a railway line have criticised police who gave him a train ticket after he was released.Daniel Little went on to take his own life - now, his loved ones have issued a statement following an inquest.Also on today's podcast, we've got reaction to a ruling by the Supreme Court that the government's Rwanda policy is unlawful.Hear from the Dover based charity Care4Calais.Pharmaceutical company Pfizer has been accused of sacrificing hard-working people after announcing plans for 500 job losses in Kent.Staff at the Discovery Park in Sandwich are set to be made redundant as bosses look to save money. We've been speaking to the deputy leader of Dover District Council.Footage has emerged of a man racially abusing and threatening a woman at Folkestone railway station.A Southeastern employee had to step in following the incident on Armistice Day.Medway Council bosses say they're working hard to balance the books and have reduced their overspend to £12 million - that's £5 million less than expected.They will still have to make cuts to services to save money by February so they meet their budget. Hear from the council leader.And in sport, Cray Valley are taking on Charlton Athletic in their FA Cup first round replay later.The winner will take on Gillingham at Priestfield.

A one-eyed biker from Herne Bay has appeared in court after threatening to kill another man's dog and beat him over the head with the carcass. A court heard a vicious exchange of WhatsApp messages that erupted after a row over a repair job to an exhaust pipe. Also in today's podcast, part of a road in Gravesend will be closed until 2025 while an old pub is turned into a care home. The Ascot Arms has sat empty for four years and now construction work is underway to build a three-storey facility in its place. Plans for a new SEN school in Gillingham have resurfaced, giving Medway students the chance to learn where they live. Parents have been calling for more suitable places with some youngsters missing out on classroom time due to a lack of provisions. There are fears the building of a new crematorium near Faversham has led to a decimation of wildlife. Villagers claim the site has caused severe damage to habitats in a nearby pond and council have now launched an investigation. And in football, defeat for Gillingham this week in Stephen Clemence's first time in charge of a League 2 game Hear his reaction to their 2 - nil away defeat.