KentOnline

In today’s podcast, a woman who purchased puppies from a breeder says she’s devastated after one died just nine hours after he got dropped off. Our reporter, Charlotte Phillips has the details.
 
For the first time since July last year – house prices in the South East have failed to rise in monthly terms. Nationwide says they’re unchanged from August, but are still almost 10.5% higher than in September 2021. We speak to a mortgage advisor in Rochester.
 
There are calls for an alleyway near Sittingbourne to be blocked off because of antisocial behaviour.
People living near the cut-through in Murston say they’re living in fear, after reports of people deliberately starting fires and using catapults to smash windows. We speak to a resident and a councillor in the area.
 
There are more rail strikes tomorrow. There will be no southeastern train services running all day, with the advice being not to travel. However, it’s left some people concerned how they’re going to get to the London Marathon which is taking place this weekend.
We hear from John Halsall from Network Rail.
 
And in football, Gillingham are still in desperate need of a win as they welcome Sutton United to Priestfield this weekend. We speak to the Gills boss.
 

A taxi company says it’s been forced to close one of its offices early, because of abuse aimed at staff by customers.
Vokes Taxis used to keep its site on Station Road in Rainham open until midnight but now shuts at 6pm.
Hear from reporter Amy Tregenna who has been speaking to the co-owner of the business.
Also in today’s podcast, an organisation that gives grants to charities in Kent has told the podcast they’re hearing from an increasing number that are struggling.
The voluntary sector’s been hit by the cost of living crisis with more people needing support, and fewer able to make donations.
We’ve been speaking to the Kent Community Foundation.
Meantime, it’s also feared the cost of living crisis is forcing families in Kent to give up hosting Ukrainian refugees.
More than 1,600 hosts have come forward since the Homes for Ukraine scheme launched in March but the council says as many as 1,000 may need re-matching.
Hear from the Opora charity which has concerns.
Ahead of Kent getting a new chief constable, we’re being asked what we’d like them to focus on.
Alan Pughsley steps down from the role at the end of the week after eight years in the job.
Kent’s police and crime commissioner is running a survey online to find out what the new person in charge should prioritise.
And finally, hear the inspirational story of a teenager who took up wheelchair racing after suffering a spinal cord injury just two years ago – and has just won her first medal.
Ellis Kottas was a competitive swimmer before being left with life-changing injuries in 2020.

A woman has described how a rat infestation in her flat near Deal is making her life a misery.
Marilyn Nolan says the rodents are keeping her up at night and chew on the carpet.
She’s urging the council to do more. Hear what Marilyn had to say to our reporter and we’ve got a response from the local authority.
Also in today’s podcast, we’ve been told how children in parts of Thanet are having to sleep on the floor or share a bed with their parents, because they haven’t got furniture of their own.
Now a charity has been given £5,000 to provide beds for low-income families. We’ve been speaking to the chief executive of the Thanet Iceberg Project.
The people in charge of the air ambulance that covers Kent have revealed how they could use drone technology in the future to get defibrillators to patients.
There’s some positive news from the boss of Britain’s oldest brewery based in Faversham.
Figures show how Shepherd Neame have bounced back following the pandemic.
We have a warning from Kent Fire and Rescue when it comes to trying to save money but keep our homes warm this winter.
And, hear from the 86-year-old man whose life was saved thanks to newsagents in Maidstone.
The managed to get emergency services to Cyril Bailey who was suffering a heart attack – he’s now spoken to the podcast to say thank you.

New research has found nine in 10 people in Whitstable are concerned about the impact short-term holiday lets, or Airbnb properties, are having on the town.
The result of an online survey of residents carried out by the Canterbury District Green Party have been published.
We’ve been speaking to a local councillor and heard what one Airbnb owner has to say about it.
Also in today’s podcast, we’ve been hearing how small businesses in Folkestone town centre face tough choices this winter.
As the cost of living continues to bite, a number of firms in the High Street – including restaurants – have closed down.
But some have decided to launch, just as the government’s pledged to discount wholesale energy costs for non-domestic users for six months from October. Hear from the owner of a new coffee shop.
There’s more reaction in Kent after last week’s mini-budget after it was confirmed the county could become an ‘investment zone’. Find out what that would mean.
Journeys in part of Kent made by people using a wheelchair have been described as like ‘dicing with death’.
Councillor Tim Prater is able-bodied but has been out in a wheelchair in Folkestone so see what it’s like for those who need them to get around. Hear what he thought.
And in sport, Kent cricket fans have been celebrating the career or Darren Stevens.
He’s been welcomed to the pitch at Canterbury on the second day of their final match of the season.

The mum of a 10-year-old girl from Maidstone with autism says she may consider putting her into foster care if she’s unable to go to a specialist boarding school in Sussex.Liz Lindenbauer has told the podcast how she is struggling to cope with Eva’s autism.She is now desperate for something to be done and has been speaking to our reporter Megan Carr.Also in today’s podcast, a couple say they’re disappointed after being told they couldn’t pay with cash at a new cinema complex in Canterbury.Carol and Richard Riley had been out for a walk and stopped off at the cafe in the Curzon. Hear their story and what some of you think.There are calls for an eviction ban in England to be re-introduced amid the cost of living crisis.It was first brought in during the pandemic and stops landlords from forcing people to move out, without a good reason.We’ve been getting the thoughts of Canterbury based homelessness charity Porchlight.You can also hear the inspiring story on a woman from Maidstone who is now helping others, after beating a four year battle with anorexia.23-year-old Emily Hale was first diagnosed with an eating disorder when she was 18 and has decided to speak out.Former Strictly dancer Ola Jordan has been chatting about not leaving it too late to have children.And in sport, hear from the Gillingham manager following their goalless draw with Hartlepool at the weekend.Plus we want to say thank you as the KentOnline Podcast reaches a major milestone.

Dozens of people have been made redundant after a 284-year-old Kent business went into administration.
Bosses at Chartham Paper Mill are blaming tough trading conditions on things like Covid and the rising cost of living.
Hear what administrators have said.
Also on today’s podcast, we get reaction to the chancellor’s not so mini budget as he announced the biggest tax cuts since 1972.
Plans to redevelop part of Sheppey have been criticised for focusing on building a new crazy golf course – instead of upgrading a swimming pool.
Bosses have applied for £20 million of funding through the government’s levelling up scheme. But a local councillor isn’t happy with how it could be spent.
The KentOnline Podcast has been told people are too scared to use a park in Medway because of worsening anti-social behaviour.
Residents say attacks on children, broken bottles, drug use and vandalism commonly happen at Rainham Rec – hear from the local community group.
Former Strictly pro-dancer and Kent resident Ola Jordan has been chatting ahead of the launch show of the new series tonight.
And in sport, we’ve been catching up with Gillingham defender Max Ehmer ahead of their long trip north to take on Hartlepool this weekend.

In today’s podcast, a dad from Brazil has had his tyres slashed, and a car and two motorbikes stolen, in what he says is a vendetta because they’re ‘foreigners’.
Marcelo Gomes and his family came to the UK for a better life but regularly get abused – being told to leave the UK as they “do not belong” here.
Our reporter, Juliana, has the details.
 
Also today, the KentOnline Podcast has been told 15% of the adult population in Kent – or more than 1 in 10 – are binge drinking.
Over 300,000 are also said to be consuming dangerous levels of alcohol.
We speak to Penny Williams, Chief Exec of the Kenward Trust.
 
It’s World Car Free Day. Schools, parents and teachers in Maidstone are being urged to join a project designed to improve air quality.
It’s called Pollution Patrol and is aimed at primary aged pupils. They’re taught where air pollution comes from, how it can affect our health and what can be done to reduce it.
We speak to Maidstone Green Councillor, Stuart Jeffery.
 
Plus, hear from the new co-chairman at Gillingham Football Club who says he’s working with the club’s owner to find an investor who can move the club forward.
Paul Fisher took over the day-to-day running of things at Priestfield last month when Paul Scally announced he was stepping back.
He’s been answering questions from fans.

A 91-year-old great-grandmother has died in agony after suffering a fall at a care home in Deal and waiting almost six hours for an ambulance.
Phyllis Hopley-Dodd suffered a broken hip after falling at St Winifreds.
Hear from our reporter Chantal Weller who’s been speaking to Mrs Hopley-Dodd’s granddaughter.
Also in today’s podcast, Aylesford football club have paid tribute to one of their players who was found dead after being reported missing.
20 year-old Jay Carr was discovered yesterday after not being seen since Monday.
There’s been some positive news today for businesses in Kent after it was confirmed they will get help with soaring energy bills.
The business secretary says there’ll be a price cap on non-domestic electricity and gas prices.
We’ve got reaction from Jo James who is the chief executive of the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce. But, there’s also a warning from the owner of an Indian restaurant in Rainham – who says people could be left out of work if more support isn’t given.
The man in charge of overseeing policing in Kent has told the podcast he’s concerned about viral videos showing violence in town centres.
It’s after footage emerged of girls allegedly causing trouble outside a McDonald’s in Maidstone – and a fight involving several men near the fast-food restaurant in Ashford.
We’ve been speaking to police and crime commissioner Matthew Scott.
The family of a young man from Ashford who died exactly a year after being diagnosed with leukaemia say not enough people know the symptoms.
27 year-old OJ Brignall was found to have a very aggressive form of the disease.
His mum has spoken out to raise awareness.
And, it’s been confirmed when Kent’s first Wendy’s will open.
We’ve got the all important details for you.

Video of a fight outside McDonald’s in Ashford has gone viral.
Violence is thought to have broken out near the fast-food restaurant in the High Street last Friday.
It’s since had millions of views and isn’t the first time there’s been trouble in the area in recent months.
Also in today’s podcast, there are calls to save a former Debenham’s in Folkestone from being demolished.
The three-storey Edwardian building on the corner of Sandgate Road and Bouverie Place is set to be pulled down and replaced with a 16 million pound health centre.
But a survey’s found 85% of people would like it to remain – hear from the vice-chairman of the New Folkestone Society.
A man from Maidstone is encouraging other men to get checked, after surviving prostate cancer.
Alastair Deards was diagnosed three years ago, at the age of 58.
He’s decided to speak about it following the death of TV’s Bill Turnbull from the disease.
Fundraising’s under way to try and prevent a project in Rainham designed to reduce plastic waste from closing down.
The Circle Refill Hub has been running for the past two years.
The original founder has decided to step away from running it from home and the new idea is to make it more mobile and run it from a milk float.
Hear from Kat Korff who’s fundraising and taking it on.
 

Thousands of people have gathered in London for the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The Queen’s coffin was transported on a gun carriage to Westminster Abbey where dignitaries from around the world had gathered along with members of the Royal Family.
Hear from the Archbishop of Canterbury who delivered the sermon and has also spoken about his final meeting with the Queen.
We’ve also been speaking to people from Kent who made the journey to the capital to see the huge military procession following the funeral service.
The Bishop of Rochester has shared his thoughts on today’s events and we’ve spoken to a historian from the University of Kent on the significance of a State Funeral.
Finally, you can hear from the chairman of one of the many organisations the Queen was patron of. The Sir John Hawkins Hospital in Chatham has spanned two Elizabethan eras.