KentOnline

KentOnline

The top stories from the KentOnline news team

Episodes

May 21, 2024 22 mins

An exotic animal is on the loose after escaping from its zoo enclosure - and we're being warned not to approach her. 

The Tayra - a weasel-like mammal from Central America - was discovered missing from the Hemsley Conservation Centre on Sunday. 

Also in today's podcast, drivers have had their say on a new £650k turbo roundabout as work comes to an end.

Some claim the redesign of the Running Horse Roundabout in Maidstone is a waste of ...

Mark as Played

A group of residents in Maidstone claim a parking company is trying to charge them from parking on their own land.

Half a dozen signs were put up in a private car park just off Northumberland Road by UK Car Park Management. Hear from one of the residents and what the housing association have said.

Also on today's podcast, a Whitstable man who was infected with hepatitis and HIV as a child has spoken about how it's affected his life.

R...

Mark as Played

The petrolhead behind Kent’s first car ‘drifting’ school says he will continue to operate the new track - despite being advised to slam on the brakes by local bosses. 

It's after complaints about the noise of revving engines and screeching tyres at the Skidz Advanced Driving School set up at Manston Airport. 

Also in today’s podcast, a secure school designed to turn around the lives of some of Britain’s most violent young offenders i...

Mark as Played

Several staff from a Kent prison have been taken to hospital after their canteen food was spiked with drugs.

Paramedics were called to HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey last Thursday. Hear from  Andy Hamlin from the Criminal Justice Workers Union.

A childcare worker has described the moment a baby boy started choking on his food at an Ashford nursery.

Nine-month-old Oliver Steeper was being fed penne Bolognese by Nazia Begum when h...

Mark as Played

A serial conman from Maidstone has been jailed for defrauding two companies straight after leaving prison for the same offence.

Darren Carvill was locked up in 2019 for taking £260,000 from his work in Strood and changed his surname when he was released.

More food parcels have been handed out in Medway than any other part of Kent according to new figures given to KentOnline.

The Trussell Trust say they delivered over 15,000 parcels in...

Mark as Played

A Dymchurch woman who stabbed her husband when he fell asleep as she told him about her life problems, has avoided being sent to prison.

He needed emergency treatment but pleaded with a judge not to jail his wife - blaming the outburst on menopausal symptoms.

Also in today’s episode, a Kent MP says she hopes measures will be put in place urgently to ensure women receive better care when giving birth.

Canterbury’s Rosie Duffield has co...

Mark as Played

A Gravesend mum has hit out at her son's school after receiving a letter criticising his attendance, despite the fact he was having life saving treatment.

Louie Wilders missed most of Year 8 after being diagnosed with aplastic anaemia.

Also in today’s episode, an Ashford woman says she has been left unable to sleep because of the stress of living in a mould-ridden flat.

Barbara Hasiuk suffers from leukemia and says issues with damp at...

Mark as Played

The Labour leader has been in Dover to explain how his party would tackle the issue of small boat crossings.

Sir Keir Starmer described it as 'one of the greatest challenges we face' and confirmed he would scrap the government's Rwanda scheme.

He was joined by Dover MP Natalie Elphicke who defected to the party earlier this week.

Also in the podcast, a leading Kent doctor is urging mums-to-be to get the whooping cough vaccine after a ...

Mark as Played

We're starting today's episode with reaction to the shock political news that Natalie Elphicke has defected to Labour.

The Dover MP released a statement criticising the Prime Minister's record on tackling small boat crossings - saying he's 'failing to keep our borders safe and secure'.

Hear from a leading charity in Dover that works with asylum seekers, we have also spoken to the leader of Dover District Council and Rochester and Str...

Mark as Played

Fed-up residents say a stretch of scenic seafront is at risk of becoming a “squatter camp” if something is not done to stop campervan owners from setting up there for weeks at a time.

Locals say people are practically living at the site on Sheppey and committing anti-social acts such as urinating in public.

Also in today’s podcast, a shop owner has been left with thousands of pounds worth of damage following a mass brawl in Sheerness...

Mark as Played

A Rochester woman had to undergo surgery and has been left with a broken nose after an unprovoked attack while on a night out. 

The 42-year-old has lost her sense of smell and taste following the assault - a man who has a history of violence against women has faced court. 

Also in today’s podcast, worried business owners in Medway have been left fearing for their future after seeing customer numbers plummet following a hike in car pa...

Mark as Played

Staff at a nursery which has been open inside a recreation centre since 1996 say they have been told to “leave immediately” by new owners.

Bosses at centre in Ashford have told the KentOnline Podcast they were informed via the new owner’s solicitors that they need to leave.

Also in today’s podcast, you can hear from the RSPCA following a spate of attacks on wildlife in Kent by people using catapults. 

Ducks and pigeons are among the a...

Mark as Played

A Gillingham woman who has spent almost 20 years stuck in just one room of her home has told the podcast she often wishes she went to sleep and didn't wake up.

Illa Smyth struggled with her mobility after skiing and horseriding accidents and now weighs 35 stone. She's paid tribute to her loving husband and she describes her quality of life.

Also in today's episode, a woman's facing life in prison after being found guilty of murdering...

Mark as Played

Plans for a an 8,000 seater stadium in north Kent have been approved.

It is the centre piece of a major development on brownfield land in Northfleet which also includes houses, shops, medical services and community venues.

Also in today’s episode, another person has been arrested over the deaths of five people as they tried to cross the Channel to Kent.

Figures show 900 asylum seekers have made the dangerous journey since Friday.

Bunga...

Mark as Played

A Sheppey woman who scammed her bosses out of nearly £80,000 has been sent to prison.

Carly Miller, 39 from Main Road in Queenborough, siphoned off company money that was meant to be used to pay suppliers.

Also in today's podcast, there are calls to ban lorries from a stretch of road in Kent following a number of serious crashes.

Campaigners also want the speed limit on the A251 between Faversham and Challock cut from 50 to 40 miles p...

Mark as Played

More than 40 hair and beauty students at an academy on Sheppey have been told their past year’s work was for nothing.

The pupils have been left stunned they won’t be getting a BTEC qualification despite signing up for the course and studying hard.

Also in today’s podcast, an award-winning architect who designed and built his “dream home” on the Kent coast says it no longer feels safe following an attempted armed raid at the property.

...

Mark as Played

A mum-of-four who endured cancer chemotherapy after being misdiagnosed with the disease says a hospital trust “has not learned from its mistakes”.

The Whitstable resident says she has “absolutely no faith in doctors” after being told by Kent and Canterbury Hospital staff she could “drop down dead” at any moment.

Also in today's podcast, furious swimmers say a “dirty” leisure centre that employs three cleaners must take on more staff ...

Mark as Played

A developer has been criticised for going back on a promise to provide affordable housing in Deal.

100 properties are due be built in Cross Road and 30% were supposed to be affordable. We've been getting reaction from people who live nearby.

Also in the podcast, bosses in Dartford have approved plans to build more than 12 and a half thousand homes over the next 13 years.

The area's seen a 20% population increase in recent years - part...

Mark as Played

An Eastenders legend is among those calling on a Kent council to reopen a playing field which residents have used for more than 100 years.

John Altman, who played ‘Nasty’ Nick Cotton in the soap, says he “treasures” the land and that the green space should be preserved.

Also in today's podcast, there are fears for the future of Kent's "music town", with some venue owners saying the town has never been so quiet.  

A number of business ...

Mark as Played

A Gravesend mum has issued an invitation to Rishi Sunak, saying he should come to her home and help give mental health support to her struggling 18-year-old.

It comes after the Prime Minister said he wants to tackle what he described as the UK's "sicknote culture" and strip GPs of their power to sign people off work.

Also in today's episode, a child is thought to be among five people who have died while trying to cross the Channel.

A ...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.

    The Nikki Glaser Podcast

    Every week comedian and infamous roaster Nikki Glaser provides a fun, fast-paced, and brutally honest look into current pop-culture and her own personal life.

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Crime Junkie

    If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people.

    Start Here

    A straightforward look at the day's top news in 20 minutes. Powered by ABC News. Hosted by Brad Mielke.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2024 iHeartMedia, Inc.