KentOnline

Work has finally started on a controversial new housing development in Ashford.
Diggers have moved onto land in Kennington that will eventually become Conningbrook Park.
Reporter Liane Castle explains why it is so controversial and how many homes could eventually be there.
Also in today’s podcast, the new owner of a Whitstable coffee shop says she never imagined having sleepless nights over shortages of tomatoes and cucumbers.
Lidl has become the latest supermarket to bring in limits on how much fresh fruit and veg we can buy.
Hear from Sarah Osborne who owns The Kitchen @ Whitstable.
A Sevenoaks mum has praised NHS doctors and nurses for saving her baby’s life minutes after being born.
Emma Innes had just given birth when it became clear her daughter Sophie wasn’t breathing. She’s now written a book about her experience.
You can also hear from a woman who she’s doing her very own ‘Escape to the Chateau’ after getting so fed up with traffic in the county.
Heidi Muir had lived in Allington near Maidstone for 30 years but says local roads couldn’t cope with increased house building.
And in sport, Gillingham are back in action as they look to make it five wins in a row at Priestfield.
They welcome Bradford City tonight after beating AFC Wimbledon at the weekend.

Police have been called to Kent’s biggest secondary school after a protest by pupils, similar to ones that have been shared on TikTok.
It is understood students at Homewood School in Tenterden staged a rally over issues around toilets, access to changing rooms and uniform policy.
Also in education news, the headteacher of a secondary school in Herne Bay has told parents his staff will no longer intervene in disputes originating on social media.
We have been getting reaction from a social media consultant.
A young dad suffering from burns and vision problems following an explosion in East Malling has told the podcast he wants answers.
Curtis Bartley-Rae was visiting neighbours in Catlyn Close when a blast tore through their apartment. Hear what the housing association has had to say.
Ofgem’s reduced the energy price cap – but bills are still expected to rise in April.
The regulator’s knocked nearly £1,000 off the typical total suppliers are allowed to charge – but at the same time the government’s cutting financial help.
We’ve been getting reaction from the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce which represents businesses in the county.
Libertines frontman Carl Barat is going to perform at a benefit gig for to help save a Kent art school.
More than £50,000 was raised in January to stop The Margate School from closing –  but they need even more to secure their future.
And in sport, hear from the Gillingham manager following their 2-1 win over AFC Wimbledon at the weekend.

A Real Housewives star has been named as the new owner of a Kent castle.
Hear from our reporter on who Ann Kaplan Mulholland is and what her purchase means for weddings that were due to take place there.
Also in today’s podcast, it’s a year since the start of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
We’ve been speaking to one of the founders of Mission Ukraine, a charity providing aid, a volunteer from Sittingbourne who has visited the country several times over the past year and also a Canon from Rochester Cathedral which is holding a special service tonight.
Protesters have gathered outside the headquarters of Medway Council to demand a pay rise.
Bosses were inside the building in Chatham discussing a potential wage increase at the time.
The manager of a Sheppey care home has admitted she doesn’t know how they’ll cope with an energy pay rise…
Costs for Oakdene Rest Home are set to go up 150% from £2,000 a month to £4,500.
An event’s launching in Thanet this weekend to help new parents cope with the rising cost of living.
The first Mummy to Mummy fair is being held in Broadstairs on Sunday. Hear from the founder.
And in sport, the Gillingham manager has been paying tribute to one of their players who has been forced to retire.
Olly Lee announced this week he was suffering from a form of arthritis.

A mum, dad and neighbour have described the moment an explosion ripped through a house in East Malling.
They all suffered burns after it happened at the property on Catlyn Close on Sunday evening.
Hear from Megan and Lee Holland and Curtis Bartley-Rae.
Also in today’s podcast, you may well have noticed empty shelves in the supermarkets due to issues with supplies of fruit and vegetables.
We’ve been speaking to a farmer near Canterbury and also the founder of a food bank in Gillingham who says his staff are being abused for not having enough produce.
A Maidstone man who’s been in and out of prison after becoming addicted to heroin says having to say a final goodbye to his mum from behind bars spurred him on to turn his life around.
Dan Grossett was smoking cannabis by the age of just 12 and started stealing to fund his drug habit – he’s been telling us his story.
And in sport, one of the biggest ever shake-ups in men’s football in England is being published today, following a review by former sports minister and Chatham MP Tracey Crouch.
A new regulator will make sure clubs have a financially sound business model, and fans will get a bigger say on how things are run.

People are being urged not to swim in the sea at a Kent beach because of concerns about the water quality.Checks at St Mary’s Bay have been carried out by the Environment Agency – our reporter Rhys Griffiths has the full details.
Also in today’s podcast, a taxi driver from Chatham who helped smuggle Vietnamese people into the UK has avoided going to prison.They were brought across the Channel in lorries and driven to the West Midlands.A young Kent woman has spoken to the KentOnline Podcast about the lasting impact having explicit pictures leaked on socials has had on her life.Eleanor – which isn’t her real name – was just 14 when her ex-boyfriend posted the images online without her consent. Hear her story.The man in charge of the union representing rail workers in Kent has told our colleagues at KMTV they’re no closer to a deal which would end strike action.Services in Kent have been brought to a standstill over recent months by members of the RMT walking out. Hear from general secretary Mick Lynch.People living in part of Rainham say they’re furious as even more rubbish is being added to the mountains of fly tipping outside their homes.Mattresses, microwaves and car parts are just some of the items dumped outside garages on Scott Avenue.A lack of lifeguards at a Kent swimming pool has led to the diving boards, rapids, slides and teaching pools being regularly closed.Visitors to Maidstone Leisure Centre at Mote Park say they’re disappointed at still having to pay the same entry fee. We’ve got a statement from the company that runs the facility.And in sport, Gillingham midfielder Olly Lee has announced he’s retiring after struggling with arthritis.The 31 year-old has thanked fans for their support, but say his body won’t allow him to “perform to the levels” he’s capable of.

Security has been brought in at a Hobbycraft store in Kent after staff and customers were targeted by a group of young people.
Hear from our reporter Sean McPolin who has been speaking to staff at the shop in Maidstone.
Also in today’s podcast, hear how virtual wards are helping to reduce bed blocking at Kent’s biggest hospital.
Delays in discharging patients can often have a knock-on effect – meaning people who’ve been taken to A&E struggle to be admitted to a ward.
Now tech has been brought in to monitor patients at home, rather than keeping them at Medway Maritime. Reporter John Nurden has been speaking to a nurse there.
As another earthquake hits Turkey, we’re told about fears for the tourism economy in the country.
A Maidstone firefighter has revealed how stopping to have a conversation saved another man’s life…
Sam has spoken out as the Samaritans launch a campaign encouraging all of us to have a chat with someone if we’re worried about them.
A restaurant run by a celebrity chef in Folkestone is closing after just six months, as the cost of living crisis continues to impact businesses.
Mark Sargeant set up The Brasserie MS last August, but says “tough trading conditions” mean they can no longer operate. Louis Walker has the details.
And find out which part of Kent has been named the dog waste capital of the county.

Three people have been taken to hospital following an explosion at a flat in East Malling.The suffered burns and breathing difficulties after it happened last night. Hear from our reporter Ben Austin at the scene.
Also in today’s podcast, people living in rural parts of Kent fear they’ll be isolated as bus cuts come into force today.Kent County Council has axed several services as it looks to balance the budget by £2.2 million. Hear from a mum who has had to arrange a taxi to take her son to and from school.A Kent MP says he’s considering his future after being rejected as the Conservatives’ candidate for a new constituency.Our political editor Paul Francis explains how the Weald of Kent seat will be added at the next general election.There’s anger over plans to ban fishing in part of Kent where it’s been a popular and much needed activity for many over the last 25 years.People using the moat at Park Farm in Ashford say they’ve formed a community there which has helped lots of people through dark times.Hear from those who use the site, the parish council and what the local authority has to say.A teenager from Sittingbourne’s been telling the KentOnline Podcast what it’s like to be a young carer for her mum and brother who both have epilepsy.Nicole Baxter was just seven when she started learning about the condition, and was taught what to do in an emergency.The new landlords of a Medway pub say they want to give it back to the community.David Carroll and Emma Smith took over The Angel in Rainham just before Christmas, and are planning a £185,000 refurbishment next month.And in sport, it was another win for Gillingham at the weekend as their bid to avoid relegation from league two continues.Hear from manager Neil Harris following the 2-0 victory over Rochdale.

A Medway mum claims to have been held hostage at a petrol station because she was unable to pay for her fuel.
Odette Browning says she called police after a shop worker at the Esso garage on Watling Street in Gillingham refused to let her go.
Our reporter who wrote the story for KentOnline explains the full details.
It could be a busy weekend at the Port of Dover as strikes by border force officers are expected to cause delays.
They’re walking out for the next four days over pay, just as thousands of families return home from half-term trips abroad.
Hear from Kent-based company Holiday Extras about how people can manage the potential disruption.
A woman from Kent features as an extra in a new music video, starring a Game of Thrones actor, aiming to raise awareness of MS. 
The life-long condition can cause fatigue, problems with balance and vision, and sometimes serious disability.
Amy Hinds from Dartford has been campaigning to highlight what it’s like to live with, since being diagnosed seven years ago.
And in sport, it’s another big game for Gillingham this weekend as they try to avoid falling back into the League Two relegation zone.
The Gills are away to bottom-of-the-table Rochdale – hear from the manager.

A huge entertainment venue hosting West End shows, music concerts and opera could be built in Ashford.
The ambitious plans would see the Vicarage Lane car park and former Mecca Bingo Hall transformed into a 3,000-capacity facility known as Ashford Live.
Multi-millionaire Paul Gregg –  a former director of Everton Football Club – is behind the proposal and has been telling us his vision.
Elsewhere, a vigil’s been held on Herne Bay seafront to remember a mother and daughter who were found dead in a burger van in Whitstable.
Leah Churchill and 17 year-old Brooke Wanstall are thought to have suffered carbon monoxide poisoning after turning on a generator.
Tyla – who found his mum and sister’s bodies – has spoken to us.
And, parents in part of Ashford have started a campaign to improve safety at a park they’ve described as “dangerous” for children.
£400,000 was spent on renovating the playground at Central Park in Park Farm last year.
But a local dad has told us he’s worried someone will get hurt – if changes aren’t made.

Tributes are being paid to a mother and daughter who’ve died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning in Whitstable.
Leah Churchill and 17 year-old Brooke Wanstall helped run a burger van business, and were found dead in the vehicle off the Old Thanet Way yesterday morning.
Our reporter tells us the details after speaking exclusively to a family member.
Residents of a flood prone town near Maidstone have told the KentOnline Podcast they’re choosing to stay and face future risk instead of moving to higher ground.
Yalding is located between three rivers and is one of the county’s most at-risk areas for flooding.
We hear from Village Postmaster Tim Chapman who’s home has been affected eight times since 2006.
Cian Ducrot’s been chatting to our sister station kmfm about his new song ‘I’ll be waiting’ – and his upcoming tour.
You might have seen his videos on TikTok where he surprises cafe staff with a flash mob choir.
He’s been telling Numi about all of that on the Hit List.
And in sport, Gillingham are finally out of the League Two relegation zone after beating Grimsby Town last night.
A dramatic late goal from Oli Hawkins gave the Gills a 2-1 victory at Priestfield.
Manager Neil Harris gave us his reaction.