KentOnline

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.

A woman’s revealed how she’s been forced to wear a body cam and fears leaving her own home after being followed by a stalker.
28-year-old Anthony Laslett from Addington Street in Margate has avoided being sent to prison.
Hear from our reporter who followed the case in court.
Also in today’s podcast, there’s concern noisy people could disturb residents in part of Canterbury as bars and restaurants moving into a new leisure complex apply to stay open into the early hours.
A Curzon cinema’s already launched at the £115m Riverside development in Kingsmead, and a licence has been granted for a BrewDog craft beer bar.
It’s been confirmed the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative has been extended until March next year to give people the opportunity to plant trees in memory of Her Majesty.
The idea was originally created to mark The Platinum Jubilee, with plaques being made by veterans at the Royal British Legion Industries in Aylesford.
A children’s author from Canterbury is hoping a story she wrote after her god daughter was diagnosed with cancer, will raise awareness but also encourage more funding for research.
12 children and young people in the UK are diagnosed with cancer every day – but it’s feared many parents don’t know what signs to look out for.
In sport, it’s a huge weekend for Kent as they play in the final of the One Day Cup.
Hear from interim head coach Simon Cook and all-rounder Darren Stevens.
And we look ahead to Gillingham’s game against Mansfield Town in league two this weekend.

Next bosses have done a u-turn and confirmed they are going to keep their store at County Square in Ashford.
We’d previously been told they were going to follow in the footsteps of Debenhams and H&M in leaving the centre.
It’s now been confirmed they will remain open.
Also in today’s podcast, we’ve got an update on yesterday’s top story about trouble at a McDonald’s in Maidstone.
Police have confirmed there has been a charge after trouble broke out on Week Street on Sunday night.
Hear from people from Kent who have been queueing to see the Queen’s coffin lying in state at Westminster Hall in London.
Meantime, there’s some frustration from patients that GP and other medical appointments have been cancelled on the day of Her Majesty’s funeral.
Strood GP Dr Julian Spinks gives us his thoughts on the decision to close surgeries.
You can also hear from the Sheppey woman who hit the headlines when she met the new King and called him Char Char.
And TV’s Steve Backshall has finally graduated at Canterbury Cathedral – three years after finishing a masters.
He’s been telling us about his studies and how pleased he is that the ceremony has taken place.

Police have confirmed they are investigating after a pregnant woman had a drink thrown over her and staff were allegedly assault at a McDonalds in Maidstone.Witnesses say trouble involving a group of girls broke out at the fast-food restaurant on Week Street.Hear what was captured on video. We’ve also got a statement from the chain.Also in today’s podcast, a boy who broke his hip after falling off monkey bars on the first day of secondary school has been told he has a rare condition.11-year-old James slipped from the equipment at Turner Free School in Folkestone during morning break.Further tests revealed he has a condition which means the hip isn’t in the right place and one day, he may need a replacement. His mum has explained more about what happened.As preparations continue in London ahead of the Queen’s funeral, Kent’s rail provider is putting on extra trains to get people there.Southeastern say they’ll run services 24-hours a day between now until Monday which will be a bank holiday.Thousands of people are waiting to see Her Majesty’s coffin lying in state. Hear from our reporter who is there.The KentOnline Podcast has been told how the cost of living crisis is affecting people trying to buy their first home.A report out earlier this year revealed how 70% of potential home owners were delaying getting on the property ladder.We’ve been speaking to an estate agent from Tunbridge Wells.And in sport, it was a draw for Gillingham in league two last night.It finished 1-1 at Grimsby, hear the thoughts of manager Neil Harris.

A teenage boy has been stabbed outside a school in Chatham just days into the new term.
The Year 11 student was taken to hospital after it happened near Victory Academy.
Hear from our reporter with the latest information.
Also in today’s podcast, a man’s been banned from driving and given a fine after being caught drunk behind the wheel by McDonald’s staff in Medway.
TV’s Dr Hilary Jones, who lives in Kent, talks about worrying new data that shows a significant drop in the number of women reporting gynae problems to their GP.
Seven Labrador puppies have been rescued after being dumped by the side of the A249.
The fox reds were underweight and suffering from mange.
An abandoned former prison in Dover could be turned into a hotel and leisure centre.
The Citadel at the Western Heights was originally built as a fortress, but then used to house inmates and most recently became an immigration detention centre.
Our reporter Sam Lennon has had an exclusive tour.
A food and drink festival that was due to take place in Medway this weekend has been postponed following the death of the Queen.
We’ve been speaking to the chief executive of Ebbsfleet United as people living near the club say they are generally in favour of plans for a new ground.
Bosses want to secure its long term future with an 8,000 seater stadium.
We have an update on a story we had in the podcast last week about a cat that had been left in an abandoned house in Gillingham after its owner was evicted.
And in sport, Gillingham are back in action tonight as they travel to take on Grimsby in league two.