KentOnline

The home secretary has been criticised for describing asylum seekers arriving in Kent as an ‘invasion’.
Suella Braverman was speaking in the commons after being asked to respond to concerns of overcrowding at a processing centre in Manston.
It’s as a report also raises concerns about facilities there. Hear from the chief inspector of prisons.
Also in today’s podcast, figures seen by the KentOnline Podcast show Medway is one of the worst areas in the country for pollution.
The analysis from Friends of the Earth shows air pollution in parts of Strood, Chatham and Gillingham are double the recommended health standards. We’ve been getting reaction from GP Dr Julian Spinks.
An historic building in Maidstone looks set to stay as a jewellers after being bought by a businessman from Gravesend.
We told you last week how Cornells on Gabriel’s Hill was going to close after all their stock was sold. Hear today’s update.
Tributes have been paid to the former landlady of a popular Medway pub.
Wendy Stenhouse ran The Greyhound in Rochester until 2002 and passed away in the summer. Former regulars have been sharing their memories with reporter Nicola Jordan.
And, Joel Corry says he’s looking forward to wrapping up his tour and taking off the whole of December so he can watch the World Cup.
He’s been chatting to Numi on the Hit List on our sister radio station kmfm about his new song ‘Lionheart’ with Tom Grennan.

A man has died after throwing home-made petrol bombs at an asylum centre in Dover.
The suspect is thought to have taken his own life in a car shortly after hurling explosives at the processing centre yesterday.
Hear from our reporter Sam Lennon who spent the day in Dover and also spoke to people who were in the area and heard the explosions.
It comes as more than 100 charities call on the Home Office to provide safe and legal routes for asylum seekers.
North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale has visited a processing site in Manston which has been criticised and described as inhumane.
Also in today’s podcast, as the cost of living continues to increase, there are concerns that nurseries and pre-schools in Kent are struggling to cope. Jamie Long has the details.
The owners of a bakery in Tonbridge say their staff are being put at risk because of expensive parking.
Prices have gone up at car parks in the town centre, forcing some people to leave their cars further away and walk through unlit alleyways to get to work. Hear from workers and the council leader.
A woman has defied the odds to become female champion of Ninja Warrior UK for 20-22…
Beth Lodge, who’s originally from Sevenoaks, suffered a shoulder injury while competing in a previous season and had to have two operations. She’s been speaking to our reporter Ben Austin.
And, the Gillingham boss has given his reaction to back-to-back defeats in the league.
They lost 1-0 at Doncaster on Saturday.

In today’s podcast, an Ashford man says he’s lucky he wasn’t electrocuted after finding underground cables in his back garden.
Phil Lewis was digging to replace a fence panel on Church Road in Willesborough when he came across a warning sign.
 
Also today, we speak to a woman whose son was stabbed in Ramsgate town centre.
She says CCTV cameras haven’t made the area any safer, despite Thanet being the CCTV capital of Kent.
 
A former nurse from Sevenoaks, who has incurable cancer, is urging us to join a fundraising walk tomorrow.
Suzanne Jee is campaigning for assisted dying to be legalised in the UK, as an option for those who are terminally ill.
 
Warm banks are starting to open across Kent as thousands of people struggle to heat their homes.
The cost of living crisis is thought to have left more than 16 million people across the UK in fuel poverty.
We speak to The City Praise Centre Church in Gravsend, who are hoping to help.
 
In football, Gillingham travel to take on Doncaster tomorrow.
They’ll be hoping for a better result after a 2-0 loss to Leyton Orient on Tuesday. Hear from defender Elkan Baggott.
 
Plus, find out WhatsOn across Kent this spooky halloween weekend!
 
 

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.