KentOnline

It's been revealed an almost 100-year-old Kent railway needs £30million pounds over the next 10 years to upgrade its facilities.

Bosses at Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway have set out their financial situation as they prepare to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026.

Also on today's podcast, the KentOnline Podcast has discovered there's been a large jump in reports of racism at Kent schools.

Data provided voluntarily by schools shows more than 900 racist incidents were believed to have happened last year.

The highest number, 473, were from primaries; some 332 came from secondary schools and 108 from special schools. We've got reaction from Carol Stewart from the Medway African and Caribbean Association.

A Kent MP is calling for more openness following the closure of a leisure centre.

Bosses at Folkestone Sports Centre took the decision after costs increased by a quarter of a million pounds over the last few years.

A new bike patrol has been set up by Dover Street Pastors in the hope to extend their services to the town's outskirts.

The group was set-up 13 years ago to act as a peaceful presence in Dover. We've been along to meet them.

And in sport, Kent's newest Olympic champion says he's already thinking about defending his title.

Nathan Hales from Medway won the men's trap shooting on Tuesday.

There's shock today at the sudden closure of Folkestone Sports Centre.

Trustees have released a statement saying the facility can “no longer afford to remain operational”. We've got reaction from Folkestone Swimming Club which uses the pool. A petition has also been set up in a bid to save the facility.

Also in today's podcast, a mum from Faversham has written a book to try and raise awareness after being diagnosed with a mostly symptomless condition that can cause infertility.

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb and can be extremely painful.

An urgent search is underway for more dog and cat foster carers in Kent to help victims of domestic abuse.

Charities that run the service have seen a rise in demand from people who are fleeing violence.

Lucy's been chatting to Becci Philpott from the Dogs Trust's Freedom project.

In sport, Kent's Nathan Hales has won gold for Team GB in the men's trap shooting final at the Olympics in Paris.

He set a Games record by hitting 48 out of 50 targets in Paris.

Meantime, Kent rower Emily Craig has been back in action at the Games.

She was in the semi-finals of the women's lightweight double sculls with partner Imogen Grant.

The family of a woman who died after spending months on an NHS waiting list say she was 'let down'.

43-year-old Jo Sharpe from Ashford had been referred to a specialist after suffering a seizure in January - but passed away earlier this month.

Also on today's podcast, there's a warning temperatures could top 30 degrees in Kent today.

A heat health alert is in force across the county and won't end until Friday morning. We've been chatting to Kent's deputy director of public health.

If you live in Folkestone, you're being asked what you think should happen to the town's library.

The building on Grace Hill has been closed since December 2022 because it became unsafe for customers and staff. We've been speaking to a campaigner who's keen for the facility to re-open.

There are fears introducing parking charges in part of Kent will kill the town centre.

Until now, shoppers heading into Tonbridge on a Sunday didn't have to pay.

But, plans have been approved to extend week-day charges to 8pm, and at weekends, Sunday charging will be introduced. The Local Democracy Reporting Service has been getting reaction.

And in sport, Kent's Emma Raducanu has got off to a winning start in the Washington Open.

She beat Belgium's Elise Mertens in three sets.

People living near Sittingbourne are worried sewage leaks could get worse as plans for nearly 300 new homes have been approved.

Residents of Frognal Lane in Teynham say waste water regularly runs down the street and into their gardens. Our reporter Joe Crossley's been chatting to Wayne Kennett who lives there.

Also in today's podcast, a survey's being sent out to 75,000 households in Kent to find out how you want police to deal with crime and anti-social behaviour.

The police and crime commissioner's office has identified 25 known 'hot spots' and they want to see if targeted local patrolling can drive down offences.

A man who's hoping to build an eco-home near Ashford says he's disappointed with the lack of local support.

David Marks has plans for a five-bed single-storey property with solar panels behind The Bell pub in Smarden.

A dance teacher in Kent who trained professionals and celebrities on Strictly is retiring.

Margaret Preedy has run studios in Maidstone for 24 years and was involved in the series for its first five seasons.

A silent disco is going to be taking to the streets of Canterbury later this year to mark 40 years of the city's festival.

The two week event in October includes theatre, music, comedy, talks and family shows.

In sport, we've been chatting to a former Olympian from Kent who thinks both Team GB hockey squads could get a medal.

Mel Clewlow competed at the 2000 and 2008 Games - and is now director of sport at the University of Kent.

And in football, Gillingham remain undefeated in their pre-season friendlies.

It finished 3-1 at Southend United on Saturday and we've got reaction from manager Mark Bonner.

The bin collection crisis in parts of Kent could be about to get worse, with the GMB Union confirming they're balloting members on potential strike action.

Suez has already been under pressure over waste not being taken away on time, with a recent council meeting being told there have been 36,000 missed collections.

Also in today's podcast, Kent's roads are expected to be especially busy on what's being dubbed Frantic Friday.

The summer getaway coincides with the start of the Olympics in Paris. We've been speaking to Toby Howe from the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum.

A single dad's told KentOnline more needs to be done to tackle inequality as figures reveal a huge difference in life expectancy across Kent.

Most recent data shows men in Thanet will live to an average age of 77 - four years less than those in more affluent Sevenoaks.

Dominic Watters has spoken as a group of almost 30 organisations join forces to launch the #MakeHealthEqual campaign.

A Maidstone woman has been left without a shower of bath for months after a flood caused by neighbouring pipework wrecked her bathroom.

Yvonne Eaton lives in Wallis Avenue in the Park Wood area of town and has been telling the podcast what happened and how it's affected her.

In showbiz news, Sydnie Christmas is going to star in a Kent panto this year.

The Britain's Got Talent winner will be in Sleeping Beauty in Dartford.

And, Sam Lawrie has a roundup of everything going on in Kent this weekend.

A man's been charged with attempted murder after a soldier was stabbed near an Army base in Medway.

24-year-old Anthony Esan from Mooring Road in Rochester is due in court accused of carrying out the attack near Brompton Barracks on Tuesday evening.

Also in today's podcast, every council leader in Kent has signed a letter calling on the government to reduce the risk of disruption when the new EU entry exit system is introduced this autumn.

There are concerns the biometric checks at the port of Dover and Eurotunnel at Folkestone will cause traffic congestion in the county. We've been speaking to Kent County Council leader Roger Gough.

If you regularly travel from the mainland to Sheppey, you're probably well aware the Kingsferry Bridge has been closed recently for major repair work.

The steel ropes that help the bridge move up and down need replacing. Reporter Joe Crossley has been to the site to see how work is progressing.

Tonbridge MP Tom Tugendhat has put name forward to replace Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party.

The shadow security minister says he wants to be the next Tory Prime Minister.

More than 19,000 children in Medway are already signed up to activities in the Towns this summer.

MedwayGo kicks off on Monday and will run for four weeks of the school holidays. Hear from Councillor Teresa Murray who is the deputy leader at Medway Council.

And, and the Gillingham boss has praised their new signing Marcus Wyllie.

The 25-year-old gave up a job teaching in a special needs school to join the Gills from non-league Enfield Town.

Our top story today is the shocking news that broke overnight - the stabbing of a soldier in uniform close to an army barracks in Medway.

Emergency crews were called to Sally Port Gardens which is near Brompton Barracks just before 6pm. Hear from our reporters at the scene, we've also go reaction from Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards.

Also in today's podcast, some people living in run-down tower blocks in Thanet have been told they face a huge bill to cover the cost of essential refurbishments.

Work on the buildings is said to total £40 million. We've got the full details from our local democracy reporter Dan Esson.

The fallout from Friday's IT outage is continuing - as doctors across Kent try to re-book an estimated 34,000 appointments.

The worldwide problem affected a system called EMIS which is used by the vast majority of practices across the county.

People who've contributed to culture and creativity in Medway are being recognised with honorary degrees later.

Chatham-born designer Zandra Rhodes will get a doctorate from Canterbury Christ Church Uni.

While Carol Stewart - who's chair of the Medway African and Caribbean Association - is recognised by the Uni of Kent and we've been getting her reaction.

A woman who runs a hedgehog rescue near Ashford says growing costs are making it difficult for them to help animals in need.

Lisa Steward started taking in poorly hedgehogs after finding one in her garden in Pluckley - and now has more than 100 of them, but Thorne Hedgehog Rescue relies entirely on donations. Lisa has been describing her typical day.

And in football, Gillingham have beaten Dartford 4-nil in a pre-season friendly.

Jayden Clarke and youth team striker Harry Bridle scored two goals each at Princes Park last night.

The top story on today's episode is that a huge fire that's broken out in Ramsgate.

Crews were called shortly to Northwood Road shortly after 4am to tackle the flames at a near 100 year-old business.

Also in today's podcast, a convicted killer has been sentenced to life in prison, after an attack in Dartford which left his victim with more than 70 stab wounds.

A new report by the National Police Chiefs Council has described violence against women and girls as a 'national emergency' with over 3,000 offences every day.  

It accounted for just under 20% of all recorded crime excluding fraud across England and Wales in the year to March. We've got reaction from Mina Smallman from Ramsgate whose daughters were murdered in north London.

Some families with special needs children in Kent are still waiting to find out which school they'll be going to in September.

A national shortage of psychologists means there's been a backlog in assessments for Education, Health and Care Plans.

Concerns have been raised for the future of Kent's berry farmers as the industry's been hit by increasing costs and low supermarket prices.

A national survey's found nearly half are not making a profit - and 40% could go out of business by the end of 2026.

 it's another pre-season friendly for Gillingham tonight as their preparation for the League 2 season continues.

The Gills secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Watford at Priestfield on Saturday and travel to take on Dartford.

A Kent dog owner faces an anxious wait to see if his Staffordshire bull terrier cross will be put down after it attacked another man.

He’ll learn next month if a court has decided Demba will be destroyed following the alarming incident near Whitstable.

Also in today’s podcast, the family of a one-year-old who unexpectedly died says the wait for answers and “missed opportunities” has prevented them from grieving.

During five hospital visits, medics missed the fact the “happy and always smiling” child suffered an undiagnosed and extremely rare heart condition.

Families have hit out at a former mayor and gravestone manufacturer over ‘long delays’ in getting memorials for their loved ones.

Several people have spoken up, including a sister and mother who say they have been left waiting for nearly two years to get a headstone.

Doubts have been raised over whether a town will get a promised new leisure centre, following a change of political leadership.

During the last months of the Conservative administration at Maidstone council, the cabinet committed to providing either a completely new leisure centre or carrying out a refurbishment – but that’s now up in the air. 

And you can hear from the Gillingham boss after their pre-season friendly victory over the weekend. 

Mark Bonner says he’s going to continue to push his squad as they face a run of fixtures in the lead up to the start of their League 2 campaign. 

There’s disruption in Kent as a Worldwide IT outage shuts down essential services. 

Thameslink, Southern Rail and Port of Dover have all reported problems, as well as GP surgeries, airports and banks. 

Also in today’s podcast, a waste management company that’s caused four months of bin collection chaos is to be penalised - but residents will not see a penny.

Suez started collecting recycling and rubbish across Swale, Maidstone and Ashford as part of a £152 million contract in March.

Motorists in one Kent town are facing a summer of misery thanks to what feels like an avalanche of roadworks.

Frustrated Ashford residents say the area is clogged up with diversions and shuttered roads, and their journeys are now taking three times longer.

Emergency services have been called to a school and children evacuated after an unexploded wartime bomb was discovered.

Police and military could be seen in Canterbury, where pupils were moved to the playing field for safety.

And you can hear from Gillingham midfielder Ethan Coleman ahead of their pre-season friendly. 

The 24-year-old has been struggling with an ankle injury since the players returned for training a fortnight ago.