KentOnline

This week Oliver Kemp and our political editor Paul Francis break down everything that  happened in the constituency of Canterbury over the last week, including scuffles between the Liberal Democrats and a racy gambling advert. 

This week is inter faith week, a practice which has been steadily growing across the UK for the past ten years. 
The idea is people of all different religions – and even those who have no religion – should reach out to one another and come together despite their differences. 
To discuss why it might be important to open a dialogue between religions, we were joined by Imam Safeer Khan of Nasir Mosque in Gillingham, Saju Muthalay, vicar of St. Marks Church and Dalia Halpern-Matthews, representing Chatham Memorial Synagogue.
 

A new food hall in west Kent is being hailed a success after boosting the number of people visiting the town.Ely Court in Tunbridge Wells is said to have increased footfall by 10% around the rest of the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre, and owners now say there’s been more interest from business to move into the high street.Also in today’s episode: Kent could soon be producing red wine, Gillingham are getting ready for their league one match against Lincoln City, and the first women’s football weekend is getting underway.
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NHS statistics show just 81% of A&E patients in Kent were seen within four hours last month, which is below the national figure for October of 83.6%.The government target is 95% – but across England that hasn’t been met for over four years.Also in today’s episode: climate change is leading to flooding fears, a food redistribution charity is asking for more volunteers, and we hear from Dartford Football Club’s new manager.
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A man’s starting a life sentence in prison today for murdering a man at a caravan park near FavershamThe 30 year-old victim was stabbed to death at the site in Dunkirk earlier this year, and now 48 year-old Dumitru Palazu has been told he’ll spend a minimum of 30 years behind bars.Also in today’s episode: more people than ever before are relying on food banks in Kent, a recovering alcoholic has spoken out as part of an awareness week, and we get reaction to Gillingham’s win in the EFL Trophy.
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In our first episode of Talking Points, co-hosts Paul Francis and Oliver Kemp discuss political alliances in the wake of the winter election and the abuse faced by women in politics. 

Pregnant women in Kent are being urged to get the flu jab as figures show just 4 in 10 got it last year.Catching the virus could lead to complications for mums-to-be as their immune systems are already weaker.Also in today’s episode: a former cricketer is starting a new career as a firefighter, a dog’s been rescued from an abandoned badger sett, and a Kent Paralympian is setting her sights on a new sport.
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A man who was found with 60 guns in his car at the Port of Dover has been sentenced to nine years in prison.37-year-old Robert Keogh from County Meath in Ireland was stopped by border force officers in August, in what’s thought to have been the largest seizure of lethal weapons at a UK port.Also in today’s episode: former army officer and Tory candidate supports Conservative promise to do more for military personnel, parking charges could be going up in Canterbury, Dua Lipa has been on kmfm and we get reaction from the Dover and Gillingham managers after their FA Cup games at the weekend.
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The former partner of a missing mum-of-five from Kent has been jailed for 27 years for her murder.Sarah Wellgreen was last seen at Bazes Shaw in New Ash Green on the 9th of October last year and her body has never been found. 39 year-old Ben Lacomba has always denied killing her, but was convicted by a jury last week. Also in today’s episode: trauma kits could save a life in Maidstone, we hear from the veteran who will be in the plane that’s dropping 750,000 poppies over the White Cliffs of Dover on Remembrance Sunday, and there’s anger after a closing down sale at Mothercare didn’t turn out to be as good as promised.
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An investigation is underway after a chemical leak near Maidstone left 57 people struggling to breathe.More than 40 firefighters, hazardous material officers and a specialist chemical unit were called to an industrial estate in Langley yesterday afternoon, and 48 people have been treated for exposure to carbon monoxide.Also in today’s episode: a woman ha spoken out after it took 16 months for doctors to diagnose a cyst the size of a football, we hear from the director of Kent’s fastest growing company, and a new theatre company hoping to bring Shakespeare to life is putting on its first performance.
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/