KentOnline

Kent Strictly Come Dancing stars James and Ola Jordan say they’ve found themselves “homeless” after meeting with a “very rude” landlord.
James posted on Instagram saying he’s searching for somewhere to live for six months before moving into a new home with his wife and two-year-old daughter.
Also today, a mum says she’d rather sleep in a car than in what she says is ‘mouldy’ temporary accommodation in Ashford.
Jade Connor and her four-month-old son are now homeless after rejecting the property.
Our reporter explains the story.
The man who oversees the running of Kent Police has admitted the 101 call system needs to improve.
It’s after we were told in some cases it was taking up to 40 minutes for a call to be answered, while other people who’d dialled simply gave up.
The number is meant to be used to report non-emergency matters like suspicious behaviour.
Hear from Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott, and charity Victim Support.
People living on an estate in Dover say they’re ‘worried and unnerved’ after an asylum seeker walking into a woman’s house.
It happened in Aycliffe with the man demanding to use a phone and be driven to Manchester.
Carly Bishop lives in the area and spoke to our reporter.
Environmental campaigners in Kent are welcoming Rishi Sunak’s decision to re-introduce a ban on fracking.
The move is in line with the Conservatives’ 2019 manifesto.
But, Tonbridge Green Councillor Mark Hood still has concerns.
Meanwhile, a man leading a delegation from Canterbury to Cop27 is urging the King to attend.
It’s being reported Charles has decided not to travel to Egypt for the climate conference next month.
Dr Carl Wright is chair of the Canterbury Climate Action Partnership told the KentOnline Podcast why he wants to see him there.
And, it’s hoped thousands of pounds will be raised for charity thanks to an incredibly spooky house in Medway.
The property has been decorated – with a giant spider on the outside – for Halloween.
Our reporter has been along to meet Kieron King who created it.
 

A businessman has won a seven year battle to close his scrapyard and open workshops on the Sheppey site instead.
He first applied to the council to end his car-breaking business at Monkey Farm in Sheerness back in 2015.
Our reporter explains why it’s taken so long.
Also in today’s podcast, the ambulance service covering Kent has been told it requires improvement.
Inspectors visited South East Coast Ambulance Trust in August – our reports talks us through the result of their findings.
It’s been revealed 96% of people who crossed the Channel in small boats in 2021 are still waiting to have their asylum claim processed.
Home Office staff have been giving evidence to a parliamentary committee – as figures show 38,000 men, women and children have made the dangerous journey to Kent so far this year.
Concerns have also been raised about the short-term holding facility in Thanet.
A Home Office official says they’re dealing with a “very difficult” situation at the site.
It comes as Rishi Sunak’s been defended re-appointing Suella Braverman as Home Secretary – as he faced the Commons for the first time as Prime Minister.
People in Dartford have been giving their verdict on his performance as PM, while the MP for Faversham thinks he’ll be able to unite the country and the party.
Elsewhere, the KentOnline Podcast’s been getting an update on work being done to secure water supplies to the Isle of Sheppey.
You might remember 40,000 residents and businesses were left without supplies on the hottest days of the summer when pipes to the island burst.
Three months on, an operation is underway to lay two new vital supply pipes.
Southern Water have been telling us more about it.
And in football, Gillingham have been beaten 2-0 by Leyton Orient in league two.
Boss Neil Harris spoke to us after the match.
 
 
 

The KentOnline Podcast’s been told how the conversion of the old Newtown railway works in Ashford will be one of six major projects bringing investment to the town.
It’s set to become studio space and has already been linked to Netflix, Amazon and HBO.
It’s rumoured it could be open by July 2025 – hear from council leader Gerry Clarkson, who says it’s “very exciting times” for the area.
Also today, Kent has been reacting to Rishi Sunak becoming the first British Asian Prime Minister.
It comes just days after Liz Truss said she couldn’t deliver the mandate on which she was elected by the Conservative Party.
Our Political Editor explains what we can expect from Mr Sunak, and we speak to the Kent Chamber of Commerce about what businesses need amid economic instability.
We’ve also been chatting with Gurvinder Sandher, the Chief Executive of the Kent Equality Cohesion Council, about what his appointment means for under-represented communities.
And in football, Gillingham are away to table-toppers Leyton Orient in League Two later.
The Gills – who’re 19th – have picked up in form lately, having gone seven games unbeaten in all competitions.
But manager Neil Harris has told the KentOnline Podcast that they’ll have to play much better against tonight’s opponents.
 

A marshal at a paintball centre in Longfield has been convicted after shooting a group of nine-year-olds during a party.
19-year-old Zach Ramage, from from Hartley Bottom Road, also verbally abused the group of children while he was supposed to be looking after them.
Our reporter gives us the full details.
Also in today’s podcast, members of the LGBTQ+ community are calling on the media to help change the conversation – as hate crimes based on sexuality and gender identity are on the rise.
It follows new statistics that show there were 839 recorded cases in Kent last year – a five year high.
Hilary Cooke, CEO of the Medway Gender and Sexual Diversity Centre, has been chatting to one of our colleagues at KMTV.
The parents of a little boy from Faversham who was born without a digestive system say they’re struggling to find somewhere suitable to live when he’s finally allowed out of hospital.
Little Lenny is having to be fed through a tube into his chest which makes him vulnerable to germs.
Hear from his mum about how difficult life has started out for him.
Elsewhere, RNLI Lifeboat crews in Sheerness say they’re desperate for new volunteers.
The team say businesses leaving the Isle of Sheppey has led to few people being available to join their pager system.
Our reporter’s been down the station, and has been chatting with Paul Jarvis – who’s Coxswain and mechanic.
Thousands of reflective keyrings are being given out to children across Kent as part of a road safety campaign.
Our sister station , kmfm’s, teamed up with the county council for ‘Be Bright Be Seen’.
Safer road user officer at KCC, David Williams, explains the key messages behind the campaign.
And in football, it’s now seven games unbeaten in all competitions for Gillingham.
They’ve continued their turn around in form, following a 1-1 draw at home to Barrow in League Two.
But, the Gills manager Neil Harris wasn’t impressed by his side’s performance – hear what he had to say after the result.
 

The family of a 12-year-old boy from Sandwich say they’re outraged, after he was knocked out by a man who’d punched him in the face and kicked him to the ground.
Owen had just been to the Co-op to buy sweets with his older brother and sister, when he was allegedly attacked near St Barts Road.
Our reporter talks us through the story.
It looks like Boris Johnson could try to return as Prime Minister following the resignation of Liz Truss.
A former advisor says he’s cut short his Caribbean holiday and is ‘taking soundings’ about running for the top job again.
A fast-tracked leadership campaign is underway – hear from local Conservative politicians. 
Also in today’s podcast, around a dozen barber shops in Thanet and Canterbury have signed up to support customers struggling with their mental health.
Hair stylists will receive training from charity East Kent Mind, so they can identify signs of depression, be non-judgemental listeners and effective at signposting to where extra help is available.
We’ve been chatting to Matthew Adams from Malcolm’s Barbers in Broadstairs – he’s one of those getting involved.
A bison calf has been born into the UK’s only wild herd near Canterbury.
You might remember, three adults were introduced to woodland in Blean over the summer to help manage the landscape – and it turns out one of them was pregnant.
Bison ranger Tom Gibbs tells us about making the discovery after noticing one of the herd didn’t turn up for their food as normal.
And in football, Gillingham will be looking to continue their unbeaten run in the League Two this weekend, as they welcome Barrow.
Our sports reporter has been catching up with manager Neil Harris ahead of the match.

An investigation has found illegal vapes being sold on one of Kent’s busiest high streets.
One of our reporters went undercover and discovered five retailers in Canterbury city centre selling the disposable vapes for between £15 and £20.
Even though they’re banned in this country – some stores were openly displaying them in their windows.
After just 44 days in the job, Liz Truss has resigned as Prime Minister – making her premiership the shortest in British History.
A new leader of the Conservative Party is set to be decided within the next week, but Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP want a general election.
Our political editor talks us through how we got here and what’s set to happen next.
The head of East Kent Hospitals Trust has admitted more needs to be done to improve maternity care, after a damning report into baby deaths.
An inquiry’s found at least 45 newborns might have survived if they had been looked after better at the QEQM in Margate and Ashford’s William Harvey.
Hear the government’s response to the findings of the Kirkup Review.
Also today, the KentOnline Podcast’s been told how a Maidstone man saved his dad’s life by performing CPR.
Colin Harley had collapsed in his garage, and was found by his wife who decided to ring their son Steve before 999.
He’s been chatting to our reporter about what happened.
And, we’ve got some more Tom Cruise news.
The Hollywood A-lister’s been back in Kent for a second day.
 
 

A harrowing report has revealed at least 45 babies died at two hospitals in Kent because of failures in care.
An independent inquiry’s been looking into more than 200 cases involving maternity services at East Kent Hospitals Trust – dating back more than 10 years.
It was commissioned in 2020 following growing concerns over the quality of care at the QEQM in Margate and the William Harvey in Ashford.
Hear from Dr Bill Kirkup, who led the investigation, and from a few of the bereaved families.
Also in today’s podcast, an RNLI crew member has been describing how he and colleagues have been abused and shunned by friends for saving asylum seekers in the Channel.
He’s spoken out anonymously as the charity releases harrowing footage of a rescue of five people attempting to make the dangerous journey, including a 14 year-old girl.
Elsewhere, a self-made millionaire who left school at just 16 has opened Sheppey’s first business hub.
Six acres of land near Queenborough will eventually be home to 30 units for national and local companies.
Our reporter’s been chatting to Tom Allsworth who has spent £18m on it.
The KentOnline’s Podcast’s been given data showing which parts of Kent have the best and worst recycling rates.
At the top end of the scale, Ashford and Tonbridge residents recycle the most, whereas, people in Dartford are the lowest ranked in the county. 
Helen Bird from campaign group Recycle Now talks us through the research.
And, Tom Cruise is thought to have flown into Kent to film his latest movie.
He apparently arrived in Chatham by helicopter yesterday afternoon, before being taken to the nearby historic Dockyard.

It’s been a second day of major disruption at the Dartford Crossing as Just Stop Oil protesters are still on top of the QEII Bridge.
Two men have been up there since yesterday morning, and overnight, slept in hammocks dangling from the cables.
We’ve been hearing from the activists, and also spoke to a logistics company about how the closure of the crossing is impacting their business.
Also in today’s podcast, an Ashford man who carried out a campaign of abusive and controlling behaviour against his ex-girlfriend has been jailed.
But, the victim says she fears intimate footage of her that he’d secretly recorded could re-emerge and is calling for tougher sentences for such a crime.
People living in a retirement village in Snodland say they’re living in fear after it was targeted by a group of youngsters. 
Residents of Rectory Close say the group have been pushing over fences and climbing on the roof – we’ve been chatting to someone who lives there.
How often do use the self-check outs when you do the shopping?
An Aldi in Dover is going to lose some of its manned tills, as the budget chain introduces a self-service option.
Our reporter Liane Castle has been speaking to regulars who say they’re worried their shopping experience.
Thousands of 10-year-olds will be finding out today what secondary school they can apply to go to next year.
The results of the Kent Test determine which ones will be eligible for a grammar.
But some campaigners say the system should be scrapped because it’s out of date – hear the thoughts of Joanne Bartley from campaign group Comprehensive Future.
Companies across Kent are being urged to make sure they’re talking about the menopause and supporting women going through it.
Today is all about raising awareness and highlighting some of the symptoms.
Deborah Thomas is a wellbeing manager at Southeastern and told Nicola Everett that she started to go through it at 36.
Elsewhere, one of the most deprived schools in Kent has been recognised by Microsoft for the way it’s using technology to help teach children.
Richmond Academy in Sheerness is one of just a few hundred around the world singled out by the tech giant.
Our reporter Megan Carr has been along to the school to find out more.
And, it’s understood part of a “big budget” movie is being filmed at a Kent Tourist attraction
A giant lighting ring has been craned into position at the Historic Dockyard in Chatham.
The same crews are thought to be behind the closure of the Kingsferry Bridge on Sheppey at the end of the month.
 

Just Stop Oil protesters have warned of plans to keep the Dartford Crossing closed for 24 hours.
Images at KentOnline show two men from the environmental group straddling the suspension cables of the QEII Bridge.
Hear from one of them, as the group calls for an end to the use of fossil fuels.  
Also in today’s podcast, the remains of a woman from Deal who was murdered by her husband more than 20 years ago have been found buried in a garden in Dorset.
34 year-old Debbie Griggs disappeared in May 1999.
Her husband Andrew denied being involved but was found guilty and jailed for life in October 2019.
Elsewhere, a mum is calling on a Medway school to do more to tackle bullying, after her son was sent home covered in blood.
Staff apparently said he was fine, but he was later found to have a broken nose.
New data shows which schools in Kent have the highest suspension rates.
That includes children at Oasis Academy – which runs two sites on Sheppey – were sent home more than 700 times in the last academic year.
Hear from education expert and former Gravesend grammar head teacher Peter Read, who says he’s worried about children’s mental health.
The new Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has scaled back support for energy bills and overturned almost all the tax cuts announced in the mini budget.
We’ve been getting reaction from Professor Catherine Robinson – the deputy dean of Kent Business School at the University of Kent.
A Kent woman – who’s among 17 people – being evicted by developers near Dover claims they’re making her “homeless”.
Janice Shales is facing the exit in less than two weeks after the building was snapped up by a new developer to refurbish the site.
A mum’s calling for road safety improvements – a year after the death of her daughter.
13 year-old Mya Lawrence was killed after being hit by a car at Whitfield Hill in Dover.
Mum Dawn Hopkins has told the KentOnline Podcast that she doesn’t want this to happen to anyone else.
Letters and pictures about a man who served with the RAF during the war have been found hidden at a home in Ashford.
Darren Songhurst says the documents were discovered while renovations were being carried out at the property in Bromley Green.
And in football, Gillingham have managed to hold League Two table-toppers Stevenage to a 1-1 draw at Priestfield.
Hear from the Gills manager Neil Harris.
 

A Gravesend mum has compared a school to Belmarsh prison over what she’s called “unspeakable violence” towards her children.
Alexandra Mason claims her 13 year-old twins have been punched, verbally abused and threatened multiple times at Meopham Secondary.
The 50 year-old’s told the KentOnline Podcast she wants serious action to be taken against those responsible.
The school haven’t responded to our requests for a comment.
Also in today’s podcast, there are questions about the future of several businesses in Maidstone if an historic site gets turned into flats.
A developer wants to transform the Grade-II listed Powerhub, but firms based there say it’ll force them to close.
Wildlife bosses have warned against Kent becoming a so-called investment zone – saying it’s an attack on nature.
It was one of the announcements from the controversial mini budget and would see planning rules made simpler so big developments could be pushed through quicker.
Kent Wildlife Trust say 17 wildlife sites in the county could lose protected status if the plans go ahead – hear from their Chief Executive, Evan Bowen-Jones.
Elsewhere, we speak to people living in a new development in Medway who say they’re shocked it’s within an area that has the highest burglary rate in the county.
There were 6,500 burglaries in Kent last year – with 127 of them in the River ward.
A foundation’s being set up in memory of a little boy who passed away six years after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
James O’Connor first had surgery when he was just two, after spells of being sick and feeling dizzy.
He passed away in February with his family by his side.
His dad Carl, who’s from Sittingbourne, says it was important they did something in his name.
As we edge closer to Halloween, the boss of one of the biggest pumpkin picking farms in Kent believes the craze is only getting bigger.
Our reporter Cara has been chatting with Charles Eckley – he launched the 25-acre Pumpkin Moon in Maidstone in 2016, but because of its popularity, has since opened a few other sites in the county.
And, top of the table Stevenage – and former boss Steve Evans – are the visitors to Gillingham this weekend.
The Gills are down in 19th in league two but will be looking to continue their three game unbeaten run.