KentOnline

A drug-driver from Faversham who left three people injured in a crash has been locked up and given a driving ban.
Jacob Luton repeatedly drove past his former partner while shouting abuse out of the window of the car in February last year.
The 19-year-old from Herne Hill lost control of the vehicle which hit a tree before flipping over.
Also in today’s podcast, as a Russian ceasefire begins in Ukraine, we’ve been speaking to a Sittingbourne man who’s delivering aid near the frontline.
Brian Grove has spent the last few days taking medical supplies and generators to villages that are being attacked.
A stretch of the M20 is going to be closed overnight so Operation Brock can be deactivated.
It was put in place over Christmas and New Year to reduce disruption if there were delays crossing the Channel.
It’s feared more parents will book cheaper holidays during term time this year because of the cost of living crisis.
It’s thought more than a quarter in the south east will be prepared to pay the fine for taking their child out of school – because it’ll still work out less expensive. We’ve been speaking to Kent based company Holiday Extras.
Find out where in Kent has been named one of the best places in the UK for a romantic getaway.
And in sport, we look ahead to Gillingham’s huge game in the FA Cup this weekend.
They welcome premier league side Leicester City to Priestfield tomorrow.

People living in a village near Ashford are calling for the speed limit on a main road to be cut, claiming it’s being used ‘like a race circuit’.The most recent crash saw a car plough into the front of a house after coming off the A252 in Molash. Hear from our reporter Rhys Griffiths.Also in today’s podcast, bosses at Kent’s biggest hospital have apologised after an elderly man was left waiting in A and E for 15 hours.Brian Hooker, 86, ended up discharging himself from Medway Maritime in Gillingham before being seen by a doctor – he then suffered a fall while trying to walk home.Hear from an Ashford GP who has been updating us on the latest situation facing the health service.Plans to carry out three years of major roadworks on Blue Bell Hill have been pushed back.Almost £200 million is due to be spent on upgrading the dual carriageway linking Maidstone and Medway.It’s been confirmed today that 2022 was the hottest year on record in the UK.The Met Office say last year’s average temperature topped 10c for the first time. We’ve been getting reaction from Maidstone Green councillor Stuart Jeffery.The podcast been hearing how a new film set in Margate helped boost the local economy by £4.8 million.Olivia Coleman’s been nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in Empire of Light, which is directed by Sam Mendes.It’s out on Monday and we’ve been chatting to the woman in charge of the Kent Film Office.And in sport, a familiar face is returning to Priestfield as Gillingham fight for survival in the football league.Fine out who has been appointed ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup clash against premier league side Leicester City.

Data given to KentOnline has revealed the scale of crime at railway stations across Kent.We submitted at Freedom of Information request to British Transport Police – find out which station saw the highest number of offences in the 12 months to September 2022.
Also in today’s podcast, detectives investigating reports of a sex attack in the early hours of New Year’s Day in Ashford have released an image of man they want to speak to.It happened in an underpass between Station Approach and Torrington Road.As pressures continue to build on the NHS, it’s been revealed an elderly man with severe dementia was left in a corridor at Kent’s biggest hospital for 24 hours.Paul Coombs was taken to Medway Maritime in Gillingham with an infection and had to wait a day before being admitted to a ward.We’ve also been getting an update on the situation facing hospitals at the moment from the Chief Medical Officer of NHS Kent and Medway.The owner of a cafe in Medway says it’s at breaking point as the business tries to grapple with the cost of living crisis.Frasers in Gillingham is having to rely on volunteering from friends and family to stay afloat.Elsewhere, it’s hoped a cinema in Sittingbourne that’s been forced to close could still be used as a community venue.The New Century showed a film for final time last Thursday.A former clothes shop in Whitstable is going to be converted into a cafe aimed at helping people with their mental health.Revival has been without a permanent home for the past two years. Hear about their plans for the building on the High Street.And in sport, the new owner of Gillingham has been revealing why he invested in the club.Brad Galinson flew in from America to see their defeat at Stevenage on Monday.

A man who has slept rough in Maidstone for the past four years says the town has become unsafe.Aaron has now been moved into temporary accommodation but has described having to sleep with one eye open while on the streets.He has been speaking to reporter Cara Simmonds after receiving support from Maidstone Homeless Care.Also in today’s podcast, there’s been a huge emergency response after “skeletal remains” were found in the River Medway.Police and firefighters were called to the Riverside Country Park in Gillingham yesterday.A Kent pensioner claims a ‘do not resuscitate’ order was signed by doctors at the QEQM hospital in Margate – without his permission.Pat Burke had a seizure while visiting the hospital for a routine appointment.He was taken to a ward to be monitored and his wife found the note the following day. Hear from Pat and the response from the hospital.More than 30 people from Kent have been recognised in the King’s first New year honours list.Among them is Paula Hudgell who campaigned for tougher sentences for child abusers. And, Ish has been chatting to April Jane Homer from Snodland who got a British Empire Medal.There are concerns ripping up the cobbles on Ashford’s Lower High Street will lead to a drop in footfall and business.A £600,000 programme will see the uneven pavements replaced with black tarmac. Hear from a trader and a local councillor.And, a Rochester man says he plans to immediately retire after winning £500,000 on the national lottery.We’ve been catching up with Len Parsons and his wife Hazel.In sport, it’s been a disappointing start to the new year for Gillingham.They were beaten 1-0 by promotion chasing Stevenage – our sports reporter Luke Cawdell has been getting reaction from manager Neil Harris.

A man in his 50s has died following a crash on the M20.
He was driving an Audi which collided with two other vehicles on the London bound stretch yesterday evening.
It meant the motorway had to be shut for more than 14 hours.
Also in today’s podcast, it’s been confirmed, nurses in Kent and Medway will be part of national strikes for the first time in the New Year.
The Royal College of Nursing says there’ll be new walkouts at hospitals across much of England on the 18th and 19th January.
Hear from a former nurse at East Kent Hospitals Trust.
We’re being warned to expect disruption on Kent’s roads over the next couple of days, as millions of people travel for Christmas.
The AA’s issued an amber traffic warning, with particular concern for motorways like the M25 and M20.
We speak to Toby Howe from the Kent Resilience Forum, which plans for events like this.
A man who almost died after contracting TB while living on the streets in Canterbury is going to feature in a new three-part documentary.
Nick Chamberlain’s told us he kept going to A&E because he was feeling so unwell, but struggled to get treatment.
He was being filmed by Joe Spence who was doing a PhD at the University of Kent –  he covered Nick’s story for five years and helped him get live-saving treatment.
Elsewhere, a homelessness charity has told the KentOnline Podcast, they fear more people will be out on the streets in the New Year because of the cost of living crisis.
Figures from Maidstone Homeless Care show the number of people in need of food parcels has reached more than 300 a month.
And, a Kent historian’s been giving us her predictions for what will feature in the King’s Speech this weekend.
It’s the first time he’ll deliver the special Christmas message since becoming monarch.
 
 
 

People living on a housing estate near Ashford say roadworks are making life a “living hell”.
A major junction upgrade started on the A2070 in May, to give better access to the Finberry development.
Residents have been telling us that traffic’s becoming a nightmare.
Elsewhere, work’s continuing to restore water to thousands of homes and businesses in and around Tunbridge Wells, after more than a week of disruption.
The arctic blast and then sudden rise in temperatures caused a number of pipes to burst.
A pub owner’s told the KentOnline Podcast they’re losing money at what should be their busiest time of the year.
And, a Kent homelessness charity’s criticised the county council for cutting their funding just as demand soars…
Porchlight will miss out on £2.5m, which could mean they have to scale back support for people at risk of ending up on the streets.
We’ve been speaking to Jo Dawes who’s their head of fundraising.
 

It’s been revealed someone walked into an accident and emergency department in Kent every 23 seconds in November.
The number of people waiting more than 12 hours to be admitted to a ward has also risen.
In the three months from September, it was more than 4,000 patients – compared to just over 500 during the same period last year.
It comes as the government’s urging us not to take unnecessary risks today, as thousands of ambulance staff go out on strike.
Paramedics and call handlers here in Kent are among those walking out in a dispute over pay and working conditions.
The army’s been drafted in to help out as NHS leaders warn they cannot guarantee the safety of patients.
We spoke to Murray Robinson from the GMB union – who was out on the picket line at Medway Ambulance Station.
Our other top stories, and investigations are underway following the death of a man in Sittingbourne.
The victim was found with stab wounds at a property off College Road in the early hours of this morning.
The future of one of Medway’s oldest pubs is uncertain after the landlord announced he was calling time on New Year’s Eve.
John Brice has run The King George 5th in Brompton for the past 20 years – he’s been telling us why he’s decided to shut.
The MP for Dartford’s described an expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone to the border of Kent as ‘the most unfair, undemocratic form of taxation this country has ever seen’.
From next August, motorists using older vehicles will have to pay a charge to drive into all 33 of the capital’s boroughs.
It’s part of efforts to cut air pollution.
But during a debate in Westminster Hall, Gareth Johnson said it would be financially damaging for residents and the economy, and accused Mayor Sadiq Khan of just trying to make money.
And, in football, Gillingham have been knocked out of the Carabao Cup after losing 2-0 to Premier League side Wolves in the fourth round.
Gills manager Neil Harris spoke to us after the match.
 

A dad-of-five is still unconscious in hospital nine days after falling down the stairs at his home in Walmer near Deal.
Simon Norton was taken to Ashford’s William Harvey hospital after being discovered by his wife.
Hear from reporter Liane Castle who has been speaking to Katie about what happened.
Also in today’s podcast, a Tunbridge Wells mum says she’s completely changed her Christmas plans because she can’t guarantee having any running water.
Supplies in the west of the county have been disrupted for the past week – hear from Grace Ockwell and find out what South East Water have had to say.
Train drivers at 15 rail companies, including Southeastern, are to stage another strike early in the New Year. 
Members of the Aslef union are to walk out on January, 5 in a row over pay. 
With families due to spend more time together over Christmas, those in Ashford are being told where to turn if there’s a dispute.
Tensions within families and between neighbours and groups of young people have increased in recent years.
We’ve been speaking to David Jonker from Ashford Mediation Service which is launching the next phase of their Keep Ashford Talking programme.
The owner of a tea rooms on Sheppey has been told to remove tables he’s put up outside to display Christmas decorations.
Swale council say Stephen Jackson doesn’t have a licence to have a seating area on the pavement.
And, Gillingham face Wolves in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup tonight.
The Gills will be hoping to cause another upset, after beating fellow Premier League side Brentford in the last round.

Ahead of the Christmas getaway, the AA has issued a rare amber traffic warning.
They are particularly concerned about the M25 and M20 in Kent.
Also in today’s podcast, the High Court has ruled government plans to deport asylum seekers who’ve crossed the Channel to Kent in small boats to Rwanda are lawful.
Find out what the Dover MP has said and also hear from a refugee charity.
People living in Margate say they feel scared to walk through a local park at night, because of faulty lighting.
It comes after the recent attack and sexual assault of a teenage girl in Dane Park – and other reports of robbery and vandalism.
It’s feared the cost of living crisis could see some of us turn to unsafe electrical items in a bid to keep warm.
The warning comes after an Edenbridge man needed oxygen when he forgot to turn off an electric blanket which started smouldering and giving off toxic smoke.
Hear from Leanne McMahon from Kent Fire and Rescue Service.
New data has revealed council bosses in Canterbury have made nearly 45-million pounds from parking charges over the last five years.
That’s by far the highest amount of income generated across the whole of the county.
And, we’ve spent the past two weeks delivering the thousands of gifts you donated to the Give a Gift appeal on our sister radio station kmfm.
The toys and games have been taken to charities, hospitals and children in care this Christmas.

There’s been major disruption on the roads after the sudden closure of the Medway Tunnel.
Engineers have been working to fix the problem but drivers are having to use alternative routes leading to long delays.
Hear from one driver who got stuck in the congestion.
Also in today’s podcast, a search in the Channel has been called off, more than 40 hours after a boat carrying asylum seekers capsized.
Four people died and 39 were rescued from the icy waters near Dungeness.
A teenager’s been told to expect a long prison sentence after admitting killing a father in an attack outside a Maidstone pub.
Andrew Looseley died in hospital a few days after being punched in the head near the Hare and Hounds in Lower Boxley Road in August.
The KentOnline Podcast has been told how more and more professionals are turning to a foodbank in Kent for help this Christmas.
The Trussell Trust runs the Deal Area Foodbank which opened 10 years ago – hear from their project co-ordinator.
Kent’s first so-called eco-hotel has opened on the site of a former language school in Folkestone.
The building in Cheriton Place had sat empty for two years before Emma Howitt and her business partner took it on. Emma has been speaking to our reporter Chantal Weller.
And, Gillingham’s game this weekend has been called off because of a frozen pitch at Stockport County.
Meantime, boss Neil Harris has been chatting about Elkan Baggott’s decision not to take up the chance to play some international football.