KentOnline

Twelve weeks worth of lane closures are starting today on the main road linking Medway and Maidstone.

It's so survey work can take place on the A229 Blue Bell Hill before a £250 million improvement scheme goes ahead.

There'll be a temporary speed limit of 40 miles per hour while work is being carried out.

Also in today's podcast, residents of a housing estate on Sheppey say they've been left with thousands of pounds worth of debt after getting rid of their property management firm.

FirstPort was removed by people living on the Queenborough Phase One development earlier this year.

The MP for Canterbury says she'd love to return to the rank of Labour, but not under the leadership of Sir Keir Starmer.

It's been a year since Rosie Duffield quit the party to stand as an independent over heavy-handed management.

A Rainham man has stepped into help renovate the home of a 16-year-old girl who was left brain damaged after collapsing at a park in Ashford.

Rubie Boyton now has severe, complex disabilities after suffering cardiac arrest at Bridgefield Park in May last year.

Plasterer Dan Boalch is giving his time and expertise free of charge to help adapt her family home.

In sport, Gillingham have equalled their club record - going 20 games unbeaten.

They secured a 1-0 victory over Notts County at Priestfield on Saturday thanks to a goal from Josh Andrews - hear from him and manager Gareth Ainsworth.

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Parking charges at one of Kent’s most popular shopping destinations have been branded “insulting” after rising for the third time in as many years.

Ashford Designer Outlet has increased its minimum parking fee to £3 for four hours - up from £2.50 last year and £2 the year before.

Also in today’s podcast, a serial burglar has been jailed again after cutting a hole in Bluewater shopping centre’s roof and stealing £1.4million worth of watches.

The notorious thief, who has previously targeted the home of Lord Alan Sugar, was on licence when he targeted Watchfinder at the shopping complex in February.

There's just one month to go until the new Entry/Exit System is rolled out in Dover and Folkestone. 

It will involve people from non-EU countries – such as the UK – having their fingerprints registered and photograph taken to enter the EU but we’re being assured it won’t lead to long delays and backlogs of traffic. 

In football Gillingham will face a different kind of challenge this weekend as they look to maintain their impressive start to the season.

The Gills welcome Notts County to Priestfield this Saturday – you can hear from boss Gareth Ainsworth and midfielder Jonny Williams. 

And we’ve spoken to the boss of a textile business in Kent who welcomed the Princess of Wales for a royal visit. 

Kate was at the Marina Mill in Cuxton as part of a series of engagements celebrating the British textile industry. 

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A pregnant woman who pulled into a McDonald’s car park after feeling faint has been forced to pay a £100 fine for overstaying the time limit.

The mother-of-four stopped at the fast-food restaurant in Orbital Park, Ashford, as she feared she would pass out at the wheel.

Also in today’s podcast, we’ve got more reaction to the news the University of Kent and the University of Greenwich are going to merge to form one “super uni”.

We’ve spoken to university bosses who haven’t ruled out redundancies, and the Canterbury MP who’s unhappy about how the news broke.

Floral tributes and touching messages have been placed at a school as heartbroken staff, pupils, and parents mourn the loss of a much-loved teacher.

Concerned colleagues went to the 45-year-old’s home on Monday, after she did not turn up for work and failed to call in sick.

A Reform UK councillor has launched a campaign to try and prevent drink spiking after he was targeted at a pub in Ashford.

Dean Burns is thought to have had his beer tampered with while out with friends and was left virtually unconscious.

And a former boxing coach is hoping to launch a pie and mash empire after opening his first east London-style shop to much fanfare.

You can hear from the owner of Julian’s Pie and Mash in the Forum Shopping Centre in Sittingbourne which opened last week.

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The Universities of Kent and Greenwich are set to ‘merge’ in a shock move that’s the first of its kind.

An email's been sent to staff at the University of Kent this morning announcing the "formal collaboration" – it follows a difficult period financially for the Uni of Kent.

Also in today’s podcast, a group of MPs says our food security could be at risk as 'alarming amounts' of meat and diary products are being illegally imported into the UK.

A report by the committee has described conditions within a facility at the Port of Dover where checks are carried out as 'inadequate'.

A  man who had just put down a deposit on a house with his partner is fighting for his life after suffering four strokes and a bleed on the brain.

The 23-year-old from Maidstone had suffered a headache all week when he sneezed in Costco last month. 

A town that has been without direct train services to London for almost four decades could see them return.

Since 1989, passengers heading to the capital from Sheerness have had to get off at Sittingbourne and wait for a connection – but Southeastern is looking to bring back a direct service. 

And final preparations are being made for a relay around Kent and Medway to spread the message of suicide prevention. 

More than 130 baton bearers will carry the Baton of Hope across the county in memory of people who've been lost - we’ve spoken to one of the organisers. 

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The owner of several vape shops says he’s not the criminal he’s being made out to be and claims he’s being “harassed” and “targeted” by the authorities. 

It’s after a new report accused him of an “ongoing pattern of criminal behaviour”, from underage sales to selling fake designer goods and illegal products. 

Also in today’s podcast, a body has been discovered in the sea amid a search for a missing woman.

Police and the coastguard were called to St Margaret’s Bay yesterday afternoon. 

A family-run hotel has been forced to deny rumours it is housing asylum seekers after organisers of an anti-immigration protest planned to demonstrate outside.

Bosses at The King Charles Hotel have slammed claims it was housing people under government schemes as “completely untrue”.

A campaign urging action on the impact of smartphones and social media on students has gained the support for a local MP. 

You can hear from Independent Rosie Duffield who was at a public meeting held by Whitstable Unplugged - a local group pushing for more regulation. 

And a much-loved community marching band has been granted an extension to stay in its home while it battles to find a permanent solution.

The St John Ambulance music group on Sheppey, the last of its kind, was first handed an eviction notice at the end of June.

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The mum of a hit-and-run victim says he was stunned to discover he had been discharged from hospital and someone else was in his bed.

Azar Harnden spent months being treated at King’s College Hospital in London before being transferred to the QEQM in Margate after sustaining serious injuries in a horror crash in Westbrook in April.

Also in today’s podcast, we've been hearing from a war veteran from Canterbury who says the "Raise the Colours" campaign is just a passing phase. 

The controversial movement has seen St George's Flags put up across the county and red crosses spray painted on signs and roundabouts. 

The eviction deadline for a Kent boat club fighting for survival has been extended by a month.

The campaign to save Broadness Cruising Club  has now received the backing of Thamesbank, a group of stakeholders and campaigners for the Thames, which champions its users and the environment.

A Larkfield man has described his surprise at finding around three tonnes of fly-tipped waste inside his garage.

Martyn de Young has had his lock-up for the past 30 years without any problems, but on Bank Holiday Monday, he found it full of rubbish.

And in football it was a dramatic comeback that saved Gillingham during their match at Bromley over the weekend. 

You can hear from manager Gareth Ainsworth and from penalty taker Max Clarke. 

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An irate motorist who gave chase after another driver clipped her car ended up in court herself thanks to her own child’s video footage.

She was so enraged when her wing mirror was hit she followed the other driver for four minutes, getting her teenage daughter to video what was happening on her mobile phone.

Also in today’ podcast, a small Kent firm used by Angela Rayner to buy a flat she has since admitted underpaying stamp duty on has denied giving her tax advice.

The Deputy Prime Minister has said incorrect “advice from lawyers” led her to pay too little tax when she purchased the property in Hove this year.

The boss of several secure re-educational centres in Spain says he was “disappointed” after hearing about England’s first “secure school” in Rochester shutting due to problems with violence.

It follows an announcement Oasis Restore would be temporarily closing after safety concerns were raised over children making weapons and kicking down doors. 

Charities in Kent that help reduce crime and keep people safe are being given the chance to bid for cash from the man who oversees the police in Kent.

You can hear from Matthew Scott who’s announced up to 2-thousand pounds will be made available after items seized by police were auctioned off. 

And in football, it’s a huge weekend for Gillingham as they travel to take on the only other undefeated league two team this season. 

It’s a local derby against Bromley – we’ve spoken to manager Gareth Ainsworth. 

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Disgruntled drivers are refusing to pay their admin fees and say they’re prepared to go to court over parking fines at one of Kent’s country parks. 

It’s after it was revealed some were issued penalty notices, despite having proof they’d paid to park. 

Also in today’s podcast, a drink-driving teacher has avoided being banned from the profession after claiming he only got behind the wheel because he “feared for his life” following a knife attack.

The former head of chemistry was more than double the legal limit when he was stopped by police. 

People living on newbuild estates across part of north Kent are banding together to help others in their battle with management companies.

Firms have been coming under the spotlight following reports of charges going up - but work not being carried out.

You can hear from wildlife experts who were against plans for 2000 homes near Canterbury and are now welcoming news the land's been removed from the city council's local plan.

The site is not included in a revised document which sets out where building could take place - meaning properties will need to go elsewhere in the district.

And with children back at school this week and autumn under way - we're being encouraged to make sure winter vaccines are booked in.

Online bookings have opened for Covid and flu jabs which will start to be delivered next month.

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A  man suffering serious health problems, and currently living in a tent under a bridge in Maidstone , has reached out to the community for help.

The 72-year-old has found himself with nowhere to stay while suffering with a chronic condition which leaves him struggling for breath after any exertion.

Also in today’s podcast, three recent inspections by the health watchdog have revealed the extent of the crisis facing adult social care in Kent, as the local authority warns of even core services “stretched to the brink”.

During visits to services in Bearsted, Gravesend and Dover, the Care Quality Commission found inadequacies that plunged them into special measures. 

In a shock announcement, the county’s tourism champions – Visit Kent - has ceased trading and is to be liquidated.

They were behind the hugely popular long-running Kent Big Weekend event which saw thousands of tickets to leading tourism attractions given away free to local residents.

You can hear from teenage defender Logan Dobbs who’s described the last few days as “unreal” after scoring his first professional goal for Gillingham last night. 

His opener against Fulham under-21s in the Vertu Trophy – in a 4 – 1 win for the Gills –  came just days after a netting dramatic FA Cup equaliser for Welling United.

And a campaign is underway in Kent to raise the profile of disability football.

Despite having 18 clubs across the county and south east London with 75 teams - there's no pathway so players can progress – we’ve spoken to an ambassador from the Kent Disability Football League. 

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A bouncer has been sacked after a man was left bruised following an altercation at a nightclub.

Footage from ATIK in Dartford shows the victim being dragged and punched near the exit to the venue in the early hours of Saturday.

Also in today’s podcast, an empty shop overrun with pigeons has been branded the “most disgusting” building in the town centre – but the landlord says his hands are tied by planning rules.

The former Evans unit in Ashford is feared a “health hazard”, with one woman saying she was kept up at night due to its terrible condition.

While most Year 7 pupils are settling into their new secondary schools this week, some families are seeking alternative ways to educate their children.

You can hear from one Kent parent who says they’re facing paying for private tuition after their child received a place 25 miles away.

In football, we’ve got a wrap up of what was a busy transfer deadline day at Gillingham which saw three arrivals and two departures. 

You can hear from some of the new signings as well as the manager as he looks ahead to tonight’s EFL Trophy clash. 

And rehearsals are underway for the 2025 celebrity pantomime in Chatham’s Central Theatre 

This year’s production will features Lee from Steps – you can listen in as he tells us he’s no stranger to the Christmas tradition. 

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