KentOnline

On todays podcast, we get the latest on P&O Ferries as hundreds of staff are told they’re being made redundant.
Services between Dover and Calais have been cancelled today. We speak to a van driver who was stuck in France this morning.
 
Also today, a Dartford’s MP has withdrawn his support for plans to build a huge theme park on the Swanscombe peninsula.
 
A person’s been treated by paramedics after a boat caught alight in Medway. One man has told the KentOnline podcast it could’ve been avoided.
 
And, an historic steam train has been travelling through Kent today.

Covid cases in Kent have risen by almost 80% in a week.
Figures seen by the KentOnline Podcast show a sharp increase following four weeks of infection rates dropping.
We’ve been speaking to shoppers in Canterbury to find out if they’re still anxious about the virus.
Also in today’s podcast, green campaigners in Kent fear the current conflict in Ukraine is being used as an excuse to re-explore the idea of fracking for gas.
There have been calls to look into new energy sources so we don’t rely on supplies from Russia.
Hear from Tonbridge councillor Mark Hood who’s against the idea of fracking and Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay who reckons it should be explored.
We explain why the skies over Kent have turned orange today.
You might also find your car needs a wash after Saharan dust was blown across the county.
And, hear from the Gillingham manager following their defeat to Charlton last night.
It finished 1-0 at the Valley.

More details have emerged as to why a popular high street butchers in across Kent has collapsed into administration.
JC Rook & Sons announced yesterday is wouldn’t be opening its 11 shops in the county along with two production and service facilities.
We’ve now had a statement from the administrators – hear what they have to say.
Also in today’s podcast, a Kent MP has defended the government’s response to the Ukraine crisis.
There’s been criticism of how quickly they’ve moved to help some of the millions of refugees who’ve fled the country.
Hear from Sittingbourne and Sheppey’s Gordon Henderson. We’ve also been hearing some of your views on calls for people in the UK to make a spare room in their home available to a refugee.
Plus, a Canterbury woman who was born in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol reveals how she hasn’t been able to contact her family for two weeks.
We’ve got a round-up of cases that have been in court in Kent – plus news on a huge theft of pregnant sheep.
The Podcast has also been hearing about the hidden gems behind the doors of Rochester Cathedral.
And our sports reporter Luke Cawdell has caught up with the Gillingham manager ahead of another big game tonight as they travel to take on Charlton.

One of Kent’s oldest and biggest butchery firms has gone into administration.
JC Rook & Sons has 11 stores in the county but none of them are open today after managers were told of the news last night.
We have reaction from our business editor Chris Britcher and we’ve also been speaking to another butcher based in Deal.
Also in today’s podcast, a Kent woman who’s been a victim of cyberflashing has welcomed the news it’s going to become a criminal offence.
It’s when offenders send inappropriate images to people online without consent – often targeting victims via their email or social media.
We’ve been hearing how schools across Kent are joining forces to help with the aid effort in Ukraine.
The CEO of Our Community Multi Academy Trust has been speaking about getting collections of clothes to the border.
It’s dog theft awareness day and we’ve been speaking to a woman whose pet was stolen from her van as it was parked at Bluewater.
She’s thankfully now been reunited with her pet but has described what it was like to have him taken.
And the Gillingham manager has reacted to their huge win at the weekend.
The 1-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers means the Gills are now only in the league one relegation zone on goal difference.

An investigation has revealed the shocking number of crimes committed in a Kent park.
There have been increasing concerns about antisocial behaviour in Canterbury’s Dane John Gardens.
Our sister newspaper, the Kentish Gazette, put in a Freedom of Information request to police and we reveal the findings.
Also in today’s podcast, the family of a missing teenager have been told about the discovery of a body in the River Medway.
The sister of a Ukrainian lecturer at the University of Kent has revealed what it was like fleeing the country.
Dr Olena Nizalova managed to get her family to the UK after a 2,500 mile journey.
A Kent schoolboy has been announced as one of the winners of a national competition to design a stamp based on the pandemic.
Eight pupils have been chosen by Prince Charles to have their picture put on new Royal Mail stamps.
There are calls for lights put up along the Margate seafront for a movie being filmed in the town, to be left there permanently.
String lights are currently illuminating the seafront while Oscar winning director Sam Mendes shoots ‘Empire of Light’ starring Olivia Colman and Colin Firth.
Hear from a councillor who’s keen to keep them.
And, we’ve been catching up with the Gillingham manager ahead of this weekend’s crunch relegation game.

A Sheppey mum has criticised the justice system after the man who attacked her son walked free from court.
Bradley Holding was 16 when he was punched while cycling along Sheerness High Street in December 2019.
The offender’s been given a suspended sentence because it took so long for the case to come to court.
Also in today’s podcast, a Sittingbourne woman has spoken about how her family’s been torn apart by the conflict in Ukraine.
Marina Hughes’ sister has managed to get to America, her brother is trying to reach Denmark while her mother and grandmother are stuck in Kyiv.
There’s a warning today the coronavirus pandemic is not over, as infection rates start to rise in parts of Kent.
Across the county more than 7,700 cases were recorded in the week to last Friday.
New owners have been found for the County Square shopping centre in Ashford.
It’s positive news for the site after the closures of Debenhams and River Island and confirmation Next and H&M with also shut their stores.
And, a Kent business that makes sensory clothing for autistic children has teamed up with Katie Price’s son Harvey.
Born Anxious is launching a new clothing range – designed by the 19 year-old – at a charity fashion show in London this weekend.

A leading expert fears fuel prices could reach £2 per litre by next month.
Howard Cox is calling on the Chancellor to take action as filling up our tanks gets increasingly expensive.
Hear from the founder of Fair Fuel UK.
We’ve also been speaking to a taxi driver who says their profession is starting to become unprofitable.
Also in today’s podcast, we’ve been speaking to some of the incredible volunteers from Kent who have been taking aid to those fleeing Ukraine.
As the conflict in the country continues following the invasion by Russia, hear from Kevin Tremain from Maidstone who managed to drive 10 refugees to safety and Vilius Domarkas who drove aid donated by people in Dartford to the border with Poland.
BrewDog looks set to open it’s first Kent bar.
It’s thought they’re eyeing up a venue at the new £115 million Riverside complex in Canterbury.
Hear from our business editor Chris Britcher on the growth of the company and recent controversy.
And in sport, the Gillingham manager is in the running for February’s manager-of-the-month award.
Find out who makes the shortlist alongside Neil Harris.

A Kent bar has defended its decision to give out free shots celebrating Russian planes being shot down in Ukraine.The Coastal Bar in Ramsgate posted an image of the blue and yellow drinks on socials.Laoise Gallagher has been looking at the reaction and speaking to the bar owners.Also in today’s podcast, Dizzee Rascal’s ex-fiancee has spoken out following his conviction for assaulting her, saying “wealth and status cannot be used to silence women”.A man who claimed to have been held at gunpoint which led to armed police storming his partner’s friend’s home in Herne Bay has avoided going to prison.Hear from a little girl from Maidstone who’s trying to help others after having part of her leg amputated.Eight-year-old Ivy Glover was born with a rare genetic condition.Bosses of a theatre in Kent that’s undergone a multimillion pound renovation say they hope it becomes a real community asset.Kings School in Canterbury have restored the Malthouse to its former glory and created an auditorium, studio space and even venues to get married.Find out why the opening of the new IMAX and 4DX screens at Cineworld in Ashford has been delayed.And, in sport, we have details on Kent’s men and women who’re both in action for England.

An investigation is taking place after a man found unresponsive on a road in Medway, died in hospital.Police and paramedics were called to Kingfisher Drive in Walderslade early yesterday morning.
Also in today’s podcast, taxi drivers in Canterbury have told us they fear for their futures ahead of a ban on ‘polluting’ vehicles.The City council is looking to phase out diesel and petrol cars and have only electric cabs by 2030.Hear from one driver who says it won’t be practical or affordable.As the war continues in Ukraine, we’ve been hearing from those delivering much needed aid to the hundreds of thousands of refugees who’ve fled the country.There are also concerns post-Brexit paperwork is leading to some supplies being delayed at Dover.A Medway mum is hoping fundraising will lead to pioneering research which could improve the life of her baby son.Little Leo is one of only 16 people in the world known to have an incurable condition.A Kent charity that supports parents who’ve experienced baby loss are getting ready to open their first shop.Making Miracles founder Kelly Wells explains why it’ll be different to many other charity shops on our high streets.In sport, the Gillingham boss reacts to their disappointing defeat to Bolton Wanderers at the weekend.And we have an update from the Winter Paralympics where Kent’s Millie Knight has been in action.

The mum of a man from Deal whose body was found more than 80 days after he went missing, is calling for his death to be treated as suspicious.Alex Holland disappeared from his parent’s home in November last year.The 27 year-old was found face down in water – something a psychic has revealed she had alerted police to before he was discovered.Also in today’s podcast, hear from a Tonbridge man who’s preparing to lead a convoy of aid to Ukraine.Arthur Smith is kitting out an old coach and plans to leave this weekend.Meantime, a vigil is due to take place at Tonbridge castle tomorrow.We’ve been speaking to organiser Jason Bradshaw who’d like as many people as possible to turn up and form a human chain.Ahead of international women’s day on Tuesday, we’ve been finding out about a festival taking place in Thanet.The Artistic director of POW! Thanet has been updating us on what’s going on.Find out which Kent athletes are in Beijing for the winter Paralympics.And, hear from Gillingham’s Ryan Jackson ahead of their trip to take on Bolton Wanderers this weekend.