Podcast: Homeowners shocked as six-bedroom HMO in Rock Road in Sittingbourne approved without consultation

A homeowner has issued a stark warning after he says his life was “destroyed completely” by having an HMO next door.

The resident in Sittingbourne was stunned to wake up and find scaffolding and the roof missing on the adjoining property in the terraced street.

Also in today’s podcast, a mum has branded Medway council “clueless” after it wrongly refused her 17-year-old daughter a parking permit — and then asked for hers back as well.

She’d applied on behalf of the learner driver for an additional pass to park outside the family’s terraced home in Gillingham but the authority insisted they aren’t living within a controlled parking zone. 

People living at an retirement complex fear “every day will become a nightmare” if a live music venue opens directly opposite.

Those living in Folkestone town centre say the prospect of late-night music and “people drinking on the street” is making them “incredibly anxious”.

Plans have resurfaced to convert a pub into a place of worship – just six months after they were refused.

Charity Al-Haqq Academy initially wanted to transform the ground floor of the now-closed public house into an academy with community and religious services, including a prayer hall, a food bank, a youth club, and a mosque.

And there’s been plenty of football action across the long weekend – with Gillingham FC, Maidstone United and Dover Athletic all having reason to celebrate. 

We’ve spoken to their managers about unbeaten streaks, league finals and promotion.