KentOnline

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.
 

A so-called ‘super estate’ of more than 3,000 homes linking two villages in Kent has been included in a long term plan for Canterbury.
Bosses have released details of their local plan which suggests where homes should be built over the next twenty years.
We’re being urged to report any cases of hate crime – no matter how small – in a further bid to tackle the problem.
More than 5,000 offences were recorded by Kent police in 2019 – up from 3,800 the previous year.
Hear from Ajaib Hussain, from the Kent Muslim Welfare Association, who says these incidents can only be eradicated “as a community”.
The KentOnline Podcast’s been told £4m pounds has been spent on rebuilding a club in Maidstone that burnt to the ground just days before it was due to reopen after lockdown restrictions were lifted.
A devastating blaze broke out at Mu Mu’s in Week Street in July last year.
Owner Ciaran O’Quigley has told us he considered quitting – but says he owed it to the night-time economy of Maidstone to get the venue back open.
A community farm on Sheppey says it’s hoping to get more young people interested in farming.
Curly’s Farm was started four years ago and now works with 36 schools, four colleges and two universities.They’ve set up a Young Farmers’ Group which is thought to be the first ever on the island.
Founder Kyle Ratcliffe has been speaking to our reporter.
Elsewhere, headteachers in part of Kent have admitted they’ll have to make cuts elsewhere to make sure their classrooms stay warm this winter.
The leaders of The Spires, St Anselms and Reculver Primary have had to try and rework their budgets to accommodate rising energy prices.
it’s thought plans to turn a derelict pub in Sittingbourne into flats will be refused – despite people living nearby supporting the idea…The former Kemsley Arms has been closed for almost 10 years and branded an ‘eyesore’.
And, Europe’s busiest McDonald’s drive-thru has reopened today after being closed for almost a month.
The outlet at Orbital Park in Ashford has been refurbished.
 

A radical plan to overhaul transport in Canterbury could see cars banned from travelling from one side of the city to the other.
Bosses have come up with a 20 year vision which would see the area divided into five separate zones.
Hear from council leader Ben Fitter-Harding.
Our other stories today, and a cyclist who was injured in a road rage attack in Thanet is hoping someone will recognise a description of the man responsible.
Keith Patrick was forced into a kerb when he was overtaken while riding in Birchington.
The car driver then stopped and grabbed his bike helmet – strangling him with the strap.
A couple who got rather romantic in a photo booth at a railway station in Kent have probably ended up with a bit more publicity than they bargained for..
A video of the pair canoodling behind the curtain of the machine at Faversham station was shared on TikTok.
The chief exec of the Port of Dover is warning we could see more travel chaos next summer – unless the government comes up with a solution to Brexit border checks.
Doug Bannister’s been giving evidence to the transport committee in Parliament.
Elsewhere, an exhibition has opened in Maidstone to celebrate 75 years of Alcoholics Anonymous in Britain.
Matt, who’s a member in West Kent, has been telling us more about Darkness into Light.
And in sport, Gillingham have beaten Colchester United on penalties in their final EFL Trophy group game.
Hear reaction from the Gills boss Neil Harris.
 
 
 

The boss of a business based in Sittingbourne says roadworks are costing him hundreds of pounds every day.Slip roads on and off the M2 for the A249 are currently closed on the coastbound stretch while work takes place on a major redesign of the Stockbury roundabout.Our reporter Megan Carr has been speaking to David Warren who wants all other non-essential maintenance to be stopped until the roads re-open.Also in today’s podcast, figures show there were more than 38,000 reports of domestic abuse in Kent last year.Three quarters of the victims were women or girls – and only 4% of all cases resulted in a charge. We’ve got reaction from Oasis which supports domestic abuse victims.Our business editor Chris Britcher joins us to explain the latest unemployment stats out today.It’s still not know what caused a large fire at one of Kent’s oldest pubs.Roads near The Dirty Habit in Hollingbourne near Maidstone remained closed this morning after the blaze broke out on Sunday night. Hear from people who live nearby.People living near a Kent hotel popular with celebs have opposed it’s bid for a new premises licence, saying music is keeping them awake at night.Find out what decision councillors made.A little boy from Kent who was so badly abused by his birth parents that he had to have both of his legs amputated, has been chatting to Prince Harry – hear from of their chat.And it’s EFL Trophy action for Gillingham tonight.They welcome Colchester United to Priestfield – hear from boss Neil Harris ahead of the game.

One of Kent’s oldest pubs has been devastated by fire.
A blaze broke out at the Dirty Habit in Hollingbourne near Maidstone last night.
Hear from our reporter who’s been to the scene.
Also in today’s podcast, investigations are continuing after three fatal crashes on roads in Kent over the weekend.
There’s been an increase in the number of people waiting to be rehomed by local authorities in Kent.
In 2020, just under 18,000 were on social housing waiting lists across the county – that’s now gone up to more than 19,000.
We’ve got reaction from homelessness charity Porchlight.
A Kent charity has released a new film today to try and break the stigma around stillbirth.
This week is baby loss awareness week and the film has been premiered in London ahead of being used to help train midwives across the country.
Hear from the charity’s founder.
Students in Kent are being encouraged to get involved in world mental health day.
Figures show an estimated one in six people have experienced a common mental health problem in the past week.
Find out about the new way to cross the Channel from Kent.
And Gillingham boss Neil Harris has been reacting to their point at Crewe Alexandra at the weekend.
The Gills took the lead before the home side equalised just a few minutes later.

A mum from Gillingham says the block of flats where she lives has become over-run with mice.
She’s been telling reporter Amy Tregenna how her children are now too scared to sleep in their own beds.
Also in today’s podcast, some parents in Kent say their children can’t get to school – because of a lack of bus passes in the county.
It comes as 1,000 weren’t issued in time for the new term last month. Hear from a mum whose son is affected.
The number of people in hospital with Covid in Kent has risen for the second week in a row.
After this summer’s drought, people living in a village near Deal are angry that a water leak still hasn’t been fixed – for four months.
Residents on The Street in Sholden say supplies have been streaming along the road since June. A local councillor has been speaking to reporter Sam Lennon.
A Rochester-based charity is giving families a place to reflect on baby loss as a week of events gets under way.
Making Miracles is launching its ‘Standing Together in the Rain’ campaign in St Margaret’s Church in Rainham on Sunday. We’ve been chatting to founder Kelly Wells.
Feature writer Sam Lawrie joins the podcast for a look at everything going on in Kent this weekend.
Plus, hear from the Gillingham manager as they look to make it two wins from two in the league this weekend.
Neil Harris’ side are travelling to take on Crewe Alexandra.

In today’s podcast, a company in Ashford has been fined after a man was pulled into a large machine at a factory – leaving him with broken bones. Out reporter Alex Jee has the details.
 
Also today, there’s been a call for urgent improvements at a pub in Thanet after a fly infestation, rooting food and dirty fridges were found in the kitchen. Inspectors visited The Bell Inn, at St Nicholas at Wade near Birchington, and gave it a one star rating.
 
The Kent Online Podcast has been told there’s been a massive increase in the number of items being given out to families at a hygiene bank in Kent. We speak to the project coordinator of the hygiene bank in Tenterden.
 
Campaigners in Medway have won their fight to get CCTV installed in a park. There have been concerns about anti-social behaviour at Rainham Rec. We speak to resident’s about what they think.
 
Plus, hear about a campaign which has been launched to help children in Kent catch up with missed vaccinations.
A Strood GP says, with a sharp drop in the number of youngsters being vaccinated, more children are at an increased risk of catching deadly diseases.
 

A mural spray painted on the side of a house in Margate has been branded an ‘eyesore’.
The artwork has been created as part of a trail around the town raising awareness of plastic pollution in the oceans.
But neighbours aren’t happy.
Also in today’s podcast, the home secretary has delivered her big speech at the Tory party conference.
Suella Braverman explained how she planned to stop asylum seekers from crossing the Channel to Kent in small boats. We’ve got reaction.
A report’s warned staffing at a prison on Sheppey has reached “crisis point”.
Inspectors went to HMP Swaleside in July and found officers were exhausted, under pressure, and on the brink of resignation.
We’ve been speaking to the Howard League for Penal Reform.
The Bishop of Dover has apologised on behalf of the church after a major report into allegations of abuse was published.
There haven’t been any trains running in Kent today as another strike has been taking place.
Drivers are walking out as part of an ongoing dispute over pay.
Hear from the Aslef union.
And there was another win for Gillingham last night – this time in the EFL Trophy.
We’ve got reaction from goal scorer Lewis Walker and the assistant manager.

A further 16 charges have been brought against a man who’s in prison for murdering two women and abusing bodies in hospitals in Kent
David Fuller, 68, from Heathfield in East Sussex was given two whole life sentences in December last year for killing Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce in 1987.
Also in today’s podcast, a Medway beauty expert says she’s concerned about the number of people asking to look like they do through phone filters or photo editing apps.
It’s after a survey found 70% of people were so used to seeing their face through a filter, they no longer liked to look in the mirror.
Kate Monteith-Ross is the director of La Ross Aesthetics in Strood and has started a campaign encouraging people to embrace who they are.
Children playing in one of Kent’s football leagues have been banned from deliberately heading the ball as part of a season long trial.
Under 12s in the north Kent youth league will give away a free kick if they do a header during a match.
We’ve been speaking to the Kent FA to find out why.
A Dartford entrepreneur’s told the KentOnline Podcast how he thinks crypto currency is the future of the beauty industry.
Drowze, who’s also a musician, has been accepting the payment at his barber shop, DPZ Parlour, in Gravesend since opening six months ago.
Gillingham are back in football action tonight – this time in the EFL Trophy.
And, find out which Kent side have officially put in plans to build a new stadium.

A Kent artist who’s spent the past two years decorating a Tenterden house in doodles has been showing us around the incredible living canvas.
Sam Cox is better known as Mr Doodle and already has artwork on show at the F51 skate park in Folkestone.
The 28-year-old has also revealed he’s going to make Doodle House his permanent home.
Also in today’s podcast, 100,000 people have signed a petition set up by the parents of a little boy who died after choking at a nursery in Ashford.
Zoe and Lewis Steeper are opposed to plans to relax the adult to child ratio in care settings.
They’re now hoping the issue will be debated in parliament as soon as possible.
We have analysis from our political editor Paul Francis after a massive u-turn from the government following the mini-budget.
Find out why parents and children are being encouraged to walk to school more this month.
And, you can hear from the Gillingham manager following their win over Sutton United at the weekend.