KentOnline

A drop in footfall is being blamed for the closure of two more businesses in Ashford town centre.

Petals Perfections florist and The Ashford Laundrette have both announced they're shutting.

The borough council say they remain 'committed to supporting businesses'.

Also in today's podcast, the founder of a community shop in Chatham says there's been huge demand for their uniform bank, as children go back to school after the summer break.

Thrift and Thrive is running a free swap shop at two sites on the high street to help families who are struggling to make ends meet.

A plaque's being unveiled later in memory of a Kent firefighter who died while responding to an emergency more than 50 years ago.

Malcolm Farrow was killed when the engine he was travelling in crashed on College Road in Maidstone in 1970.

A TV medic has become an ambassador of the air ambulance charity serving Kent.

Dr Hilary Jones, who lives in the county, has spent a day with the crew to see how they deliver life-saving critical care and has been speaking to the podcast about it.

And in sport, it was a point for Gillingham on the road in league two last night, and they completed two signings on transfer deadline day.

The match which finished 1-1 at Chesterfield and we've got reaction from manager Gareth Ainsworth.

We can also hear from Eli King who has joined the squad along with Zech Obiero.

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A well-known hotel in Maidstone, which was forced to close following a £500,000 refurbishment, could be turned into a 42-bed HMO.

Proposals which have been sent to the local council, show the recently rebranded The Apartell would be turned into 42 co-living accommodation units with communal workspaces, a gym, community living area, laundry room, communal garden and allotment spaces.

But some people living nearby, and a local councillor aren't happy with the proposals.

Also in today's podcast, AI is being rolled out across part of Kent's water network to help reduce the number of storm overflows.

Southern Water say they've been tasked with reducing the number of spill events at Kings Hall in Herne Bay from 17 to less than ten each year.

We've been hearing the manager of a Kent farm shop who says business has boomed since the pandemic.

Before Covid, weekend trade at the Brambledown Farm Shop on Sheppey would see around 750 sales - but that number is rising steadily and now sits at around one-thousand. 

Boss Alex Dent says the lockdowns sparked a change in people's spending and eating habits.

And in sport, it's set to be a busy Tuesday for the Gillingham manager with a league two fixture coinciding with transfer deadline day.

The Gills are away at Chesterfield following a 1-1 draw with Northampton Town at Priestfield over the weekend.

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The family of a Faversham woman who died outside her university accommodation say her former landlords have shown no remorse.

21-year-old Eleisha Skinner was crushed when he car slid down the icy driveway in High Wycombe in January.

The property owners are going to install a new vehicle stop barrier and put up a sign saying tenants are responsible for their own safety - Eleisha's family saying putting that burden on young students is "wrong".

Also in today's episode, a Medway Councillor says the devastation of the flash floods in Nepal goes beyond disbelief.

More than 400 people have died - with at least 33 British nationals among those who are still missing.

Ebbsfleet United fans are planning to stage a protest this weekend as the side remains suspended from the National League.

Following talks on Wednesday, it was decided that suspension would be extended - so games against Farnborough and Horsham over the bank holiday won't take place.

A compliance and licensing committee said a tax bill still hadn't been paid and a winding up order remains in place. The club says the bill has now been paid in full.

In sport, it's a home game for Gillingham this weekend.

They're still looking for their first goal of the season after a defeat and a draw so far in the campaign and welcome Northampton Town to Priestfield.

And, Moses Itauma's former teachers from Medway have been wishing him good luck ahead of his world title challenge this weekend.

The 21-year-old from Chatham is bidding to become heavyweight champion.

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A man involved in a so-called dine and dash at a Kent restaurant has been ordered to pay compensation and court costs.

The 44-year-old,  a woman and children left Stubbs in Kennington after racking up a £250 bill last November.

Also in today's podcast, a Kent nightclub's reopening later, six months after being forced to close following a huge fire next door.

The derelict Odeon cinema in Canterbury's St George's Place went up in flames on Valentine's Day.

It left the structure in a dangerous condition and Tokyo Tea Rooms had to stay shut. Hear from owner Louise Jones-Roberts.

More volunteers are needed to help the Royal British Legion run their Poppy Appeal in Kent.

The annual event raises vital funds to help veterans and other service men and women.

Around 3,000 volunteers take part, but there's currently a shortfall in Aylesford.

In sport, Ebbsfleet United have been told their suspension from playing in the National League has been extended.

A committee's met to discuss the club's future and say a tax bill still hasn't been paid and a winding up order remains in place.

And, Kent's Moses Itauma has been described as being "a million times better" than Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury by one of the sports' legends.

Prince Naseem Hamed has backed the young heavyweight from Chatham ahead of his world title bout

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A man has been charged with murder following an alleged double stabbing in Ramsgate.

A 52-year-old man died in hospital after being found injured on Harbour Street on Sunday - another man was also discovered nearby with stab wounds.

21-year-old Kieran O’Rourke, from Seafield Mews in the town, is due in court.

Also in today's podcast, a Kent taxi boss says he's in shock after being told to remove Royal British Legion stickers and poppies from his fleet.

Neil McLennan runs iCars in Sittingbourne and Sheppey and was contacted by the council who'd received a complaint.

He's been told he can't have advertising or slogans on his cabs, but the decision's caused outrage among councillors and the local MP.

Figures seen by the KentOnline Podcast show more than a third of young people here in the south east are cutting back on food so they can afford other essentials.

Meantime, 31% of 16 to 25 year-olds have missed meals in the last three months and one-in-eight have gone without hygiene and sanitary products.

We've been speaking to Trussell Trust who carried out the research.

And in sport, former Gillingham defender Conor Masterson will be playing league one football this season.

He's signed a deal with Reading until January after impressing during training.

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A woman who grabbed a person by the hair during an attack in Primark in Canterbury has avoided being sent to prison.

A court was told a dispute broke out in a lift before spilling out onto the shop floor with other customers trying to intervene.

Donna Baker - who's 41 and from Plaxton Way in Herne Bay - initially denied an assault charge but changed her plea and has been given a suspended sentence.

Also in today's podcast, staff at a youth club in Kent have been telling us how they've managed to get children off their phones over the summer holidays.

The Zone is based in a former cricket pavilion at St Peter's Recreation Ground in Broadstairs.

Manager Victoria Suchak says the building is so old it doesn't have Wifi.

A goat sanctuary near Maidstone is set to be able to welcome even more animals after buying up extra land.

Buttercups in Boughton Monchelsea has purchased 17 additional acres next to its existing site.

The charity helps abandoned, neglected and surrendered goats as well as funding routine healthcare, complex procedures and rehabilitation.

In football, Gillingham wing-back Kdeem Harris is facing months on the sidelines after rupturing his ACL.

The 33-year-old joined from league two rivals Salford in June - and was stretchered off in the 70th minute of the Gills draw with Fleetwood Town.

Meantime, defender Logan Dobbs says he's keen to show the club what he can do after making his first Football League start.

The 19-year-old stepped into the side on Saturday.

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A Folkestone doorman says an assault at work has changed his life and left him feeling badly let down by the justice system.

Jonathon Proctor suffered serious leg injuries while working at the Old Cigar and Olive in November 2024.

Last month, his attacker admitted causing actual bodily harm and was ordered to pay compensation, but Jonathan says he wasn't told about the sentencing hearing.

Also in today's podcast, police investigating a double stabbing in Ramsgate have now launched a murder investigation after one man died.

Two victims were found in Harbour Street and Harbour Parade in the early hours of yesterday.

A young woman from Herne Bay is warning others to make sure they know the potential side effects of steroid creams, after she was left with a severe skin condition.

Sophie Cooper had been prescribed cream for eczema, but says she was never verbally warned about something called TSW, or topical steroid withdrawal.

The 21-year-old has almost 17,000 followers on TikTok and has been sharing her story.

A charity shop in Maidstone abandoned during the pandemic has been transformed into a new home.

Save the Children were operating out of the Grade II listed building on Union Street - and even hosted Princess Anne during a royal visit in 2017.

And in sport, Gillingham have picked up their first point of the season.

They're game away to Fleetwood Town on Saturday ended goalless. Hear from boss Gareth Ainsworth who spoke to us after the final whistle.

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People living in part of Sittingbourne fear an area of land they describe as an 'oasis of calm' could be lost to housing developers.

Three acres of space in Riddles Road, which used to belong to a school, has been used by the community for around 75 years.

However, the owner of the land - which is Kent County Council - have decided to sell it.

Also in today's podcast, a Kent mum is campaigning to get a drug that could help her 18-year-old son available on the NHS.

Jake Officer from Tonbridge suffers from Friedreich’s ataxia - but didn't show any symptoms until he was seven.

He was eventually diagnosed after having spinal surgery soon after his ninth birthday.

A supermarket delivery van has damaged a Grade Two-listed well in Lyminge, near Folkestone.

St Eadburg’s Well dates back centuries and was the village’s main fresh water source until 1905.

And in sport, the Gillingham manager says his side need to bounce straight back from a defeat in their first league game of the season.

They were beaten 3-0 by Walsall at Priestfield last time out - with all of the goals coming in the last 10 minutes.

Tomorrow, they travel to take on Fleetwood Town.

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Thousands of teenagers across Kent have been collecting their GCSE results.

For the first time, they're being made available on an app too.

Nationally, the number of top grades being given out has risen - and the key pass rate has returned to pre-Covid levels.

Hear from 16-year-olds at Leigh Academy Ebbsfleet and from the principal of EKC College Broadstairs.

Also in today's podcast, the Prime Minister's ordered the clean-up of 1,500 tonnes of illegal waste in Kent.

Andy Burnham's also said anyone caught dumping it in future could face a 5-thousand pound fine under plans to tackle organised crime.

A Maidstone man has described his shock after getting a phone call to say his water bill had soared to £7,000.

While drinking supplies in parts of the county are at critically low levels because of the hot dry summer - Mick Foy's meter recorded him using enough in 24 hours to fill 300 baths.

A little boy from Sittingbourne who was born with three rare genetic conditions has defied medics and is preparing to celebrate his third birthday.

Jude Bedingfield's parents were told he may not survive birth, after being diagnosed during his mum's 22 week scan.

And in sport, the Gillingham boss says Seb Palmer-Houlden's move to Scotland is a success story for the club.

The striker's joined Motherwell following a season at Priestfield.

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Villagers impacted by water outages in part of Kent have gathered thousands of plastic bottles to show the environmental impact it's having.

Homes in and around Benenden have had low pressure or not water at all since last Thursday.

Residents have spelt out HELP US on the local cricket ground. Hear from the landlady of the village pub who came up with the idea.

Also in today's podcast, a businessman says he's been left 'on edge' after masked intruders stole expensive sculptures from the garden of his home in Kent.

The bronze deer statues were taken from the property in Horton Kirby near Dartford during a 16 minute raid at the end of July.

An action plan's being put together in Maidstone with a quarter of a million pounds worth of funding to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls.

Residents have been putting forward ideas - including better education, youth clubs, bystander training and more female leadership. Hear from council leader, councillor Stuart Jeffery.

A sports club's been left with a £4,000 repair bill after windows of their clubhouse were reportedly smashed with catapults...

Ashford Hockey Club's building on Ball Lane was targeted in the early hours of Monday.

Traders in Sandwich are calling for compensation after main routes into the town were cut off.

The Toll Bridge has been closed for the past 11 days after it was damaged by a Southern Water tanker, while the A256 was closed for emergency sewer repairs.

And in sport, Gillingham have lost their opening group game in the Premier League under-21 cup.

They were beaten 4-1 by Huddersfield Town.

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