KentOnline

An inquest has heard how faded road markings and a twisted give way sign may have contributed to the tragic crash deaths of a young man and his pregnant girlfriend.

Josh Alexander and Jessica Poole were killed in the accident at a crossroads near Ashford last June. 

Also in today's podcast,  a man has shed tears as he's formally cleared of stalking his ex-girlfriend after a video filmed on his phone helped to "undermine" her accusations.

The Whitstable man had been arrested and charged with harassing the woman over a four-week period following a break-up.

It's been suggested opening a Primark store in Ashford could be a lifeline for other shops and businesses. 

In a recent survey, a third of people put it top of their list for what they want in the town centre.

Two Kent mums who launched a business after becoming friends on the school run are opening a new florist in time for Valentine’s Day.

Owners Samantha Richards and Katie Hall, who live in Maidstone, have been friends for four years but worked together more than a decade before without realising.

And in football, hear from goal-scorer Oli Hawkins after Gillingham's 3 - 1 win over Notts County. 

The Gills know they must keep the momentum going ahead of their clash with Swindon Town tomorrow. 

An A&E crisis engulfing two Kent hospital trusts saw an elderly woman with dementia endure a “dehumanising” three-day wait for a bed.

Emergency departments across the county last month reported a record number of patients experiencing delays of 12 hours or more before being admitted to a ward.

Also in today's podcast, an asylum seeker who has resorted to sleeping under a rowing boat on a Kent beach is warning others “Don’t come here - the system is broken”.

Alaa Eldin is from Syria, he was left homeless and penniless after his application for asylum was struck out. 

There are concerns plans to introduce parking charges at a seafront car park in Kent will “put people off” from using it.

It's emerged that the site in Minster is to become a pay and display as local bosses look to increase revenue. 

A car power-sliding enthusiast whose antics on Kent’s roads have sparked outrage is now launching his own “drift” track.

Warren Lees, from Sandwich, admits he has “been a naughty boy” in the past, but is opening a safe place for him and others to indulge their passion.

And in football, Gillingham have teed up an intriguing Friday-night clash where victory would see them leapfrog hosts Notts County into the League 2 play-off places.

The Gills were held last Saturday at home to Walsall, which cost them the chance to already be in the top seven.

A Medway mum has told the podcast she fears for her son's future, because he's been left without a school place.

Five-year-old Louie has learning difficulties and autism. He was due to go to Abbey Court in Strood but it's now been revealed there aren't enough teachers. Kelly Smith says it is an awful situation.

Also in today's episode, we've got reaction next to news that parking charges are set to increase to as much as £3.70 an hour in some of Kent's coastal towns.

Canterbury City Council are looking at putting up prices as well as scrapping free parking concessions in parts of Herne Bay and Whitstable.

Students at the University of Kent have started a petition to save their courses from being cut.

As many as nine areas of study are a risk, as well as 58 staff, at the Medway and Canterbury campuses due to financial pressures.

A fundraiser has been launched to help a therapy dog from Chatham who has broken his leg .

Skippy started as mental health support at Maundene Primary School after the pandemic but was injured during a PE lesson.

In sport, it's been revealed Gillingham midfielder Dom Jefferies is set to be out for two months after tearing a thigh muscle.

The 21-year-old missed the game against Walsall at the weekend - hear from head coach Stephen Clemence.

A house on the Isle of Sheppey has become a bit of a local tourist attraction after the owner turned the back garden into a town from the Wild West.

Stephen Smart has dedicated the last 25 years to building a saloon, jailhouse, bank and even undertakers at the property on Minster Road. Reporter Megan Carr has been to meet him.

Also in today's podcast, work on a business park in Medway could be paused, as big name tenants like Netflix fail to commit.

The council have spent more than £11 million getting Innovation Park off the ground but so far they haven't attracted any big business.

The King's representative in Kent has told the podcast that everyone will have to step up as he has treatment for cancer.

It was revealed on Monday his Majesty has a form of the disease meaning he's cancelled all planned engagements. Hear from the Lord Lieutenant, Lady Colgrain.

The man who heads up the team at Kent Police tasked with tracking down child abuse suspects has revealed how they're using sophisticated technology.

Officers have seen a 10-15% year-on-year increase in the hundreds of images they investigate. Chris Britcher has been speaking to DCI Shaun  Creed for a special report.

You can also hear from the owner of a restaurant near Ashford who says he has nothing to hide, as he looks to turn around a zero-star hygiene rating.

Inspectors found dirty fridges, rotten vegetables and insects in store rooms at Badsha Indian Cuisine in Tenterden. It's now been given three stars following another inspection.

And in sport, Maidstone United now know who they'll be facing in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

They'll travel to take on Championship side Coventry City who beat Sheffield Wednesday in a replay last night - we've got reaction from Stone's manager George Elokobi.

A woman found dead in Ashford leading to a large part of the town centre being cordoned off has been named.

Chelsea Louise was discovered in the Lower High Street last month. Her brother has paid tribute to the 'a funny, lively ray of sunshine'.

Also in today's podcast, the government has turned down a bid by bosses in Medway to increase council tax above the current maximum 4.99% that's allowed.

The authority had been hoping to up bills in a bid to balance the books as they look to overturn a funding shortfall. Hear from council leader Vince Maple.

More than 60,000 speeding fines have been issued after the limit was lowered to 40mph on the A20, near the Swanley interchange.

The temporary changes have been introduced by Transport for London along Sidcup Road due to safety concerns over surface water flooding. We've been speaking to a solicitor who has been inundated with calls from disgruntled drivers.

Unmarried parents in Kent who have suffered the loss of a partner are being reminded they are now entitled to a pay out.

It follows a significant change in the law that was made a year ago following a long campaign for justice for bereaved children. Hear from Simon who's from the financial hardship team at Kent county council.

A Tunbridge Wells mum is calling for younger children not to have access to mobile phones in a bid to protect their mental health.

The Safe Screens campaign also wants manufacturers, suppliers and content providers to do more to keep teenager's safe. We've been speaking to Arabella Skinner to mark Safer Internet Day.

And, there's been a surge in the popularity of allotments in Kent.

Figures seen by the KentOnline Podcast show more than 3,600 people are currently on waiting lists across the county.

There have been tributes for a young jockey who died in a tragic accident at a Kent racecourse.

The 25-year-old has been taking part in in the final event at Charing yesterday when he was thrown from his horse. 

Also in today's podcast, public health officials in Kent are warning parents to make sure their children's vaccinations are up to date amid a worrying rise in measles cases. 

The UK Health Security Agency has declared a ‘national incident’ with hundreds of cases recorded across the country. 

Controversial plans to transform a million-pound property in Gravesend into houses has been approved after a five-year battle. 

Residents say the decision is "disappointing" and "frustrating". 

A father from Sheerness has told the KentOnline Podcast about how he has to wear a face mask in his own home due to black mould. 

The 50-year-old says the living conditions are so bad he's developed asthma and is scared for the health of his kids. 

And in football, hear from the Gillingham boss after their disappointing result in League 2 over the weekend. 

The Gills were held to a one-all draw against Walsall at Priestfield. 

A Canterbury woman who rescued an XL Bully now has nine of them, after the surprise arrival of a litter of puppies.

The breed has now been banned which means they cannot legally be sold or given away.

Also in today's episode, there are concerns for the future of a foodbank in Sittingbourne as the building it is in could be demolished.

Phoenix House has fallen into disrepair and Kent County Council want to knock it down or sell it to save money.

The KentOnline Podcast has been told there has been a dramatic increase in the number of pets being dumped since Christmas.

The RSPCA say the cost of living crisis is one of the main factors.

In football, Gillingham will be looking to bounce straight back from last weekend's defeat as they welcome Walsall tomorrow.

The visitors to Priestfield are three places and five points behind the Gills in the league two table.

Meantime, new striker Josh Andrews has been telling fans what they can expect from him.

The 22-year-old has signed on a permanent deal from Birmingham City.

And, a Chatham man who was born with spina bifida has joined the world's only competetive team of all-disabled racing drivers.

Dom Shore is paralysed from the knees down, and uses hand controls to drive his car.

A Medway dog walker has described their “pure shock” after part of a huge tree hit him when it came tumbling down onto a road during a storm.

The horse chestnut had already been reported to council by residents as "dangerous" years ago but nothing had been done. 

Also in today's podcast, the top floor of a closed town centre car park could be torn off in a last-ditch effort to reopen the site.

Council bosses are doing what they can to get the 300-space site in Ashford back up and running after stalactites formed on the ceiling. 

Kent Police are reminding us there's no excuse for speeding, as figures show more than 76-thousand offences were recorded in the county last year.

Officers have been telling the KentOnline Podcast about some of the reasons people give for going too fast - including being late to a child's parents evening and needing the toilet.

Hear from a Sittingbourne father who says he was left numb by grief after losing his dad, grandad, 10-day-old son and cousin in just a few years.

He's sharing his story in the hope of inspiring others to “let it out” and heal after he struggled to deal with his emotions.

And, a young woman from Maidstone has become landlady of the pub where she grew up.

The 22-year-old is taking over from her parents who are retiring today after 25 years behind the bar. 

Angry residents have packed into a public meeting in Herne Bay to have their say on a controversial seafront traffic scheme.

The debate comes amid a huge backlash to a £250,000 project to create a “Spanish-style” plaza along Central Parade. 

Also in today's podcast, hear from a woman living in a new-build block of flats in Herne Bay who's been staying in a hotel after a faulty light fitting sparked a huge fire.

All the tenants were evacuated and put up in temporary accommodation, where some remain as they face a three-month wait for repairs to take place.

Furious villagers have slammed “outrageous” plans to build 23 new homes in an area they say is already overdeveloped.

Developers are preparing to submit a bid to develop a horse field near Deal but critics say it'll cause traffic and parking chaos. 

People living in Maidstone say there will be more accidents if a  key traffic junction remains closed. 

The dispute between council and residents is far from over - local bosses say the changes have sped up traffic but there's also been an apparent increase in crashes. 

And a plasterer has defended the controversial name of his business- insisting it is just a bit of “banter”.

The Ramsgate man admits some people take offence at the branding of his Thanet-based company due to its links to infamous paedophile Jimmy Savile.

Restaurant owners who have been criticised for not paying staff on time have apologised and said they are doing everything they can to fix things.

The business in Aylesford closed last month and several employees have claimed they are owed thousands of pounds in wages, dating back to December.

Also in today's podcast, the Archbishop of Canterbury has warned the Rwanda asylum bill is “leading the nation down a damaging path”.

The policy has cleared its first major hurdle in the House of Lords, but Justin Welby has accused the Government of outsourcing the country’s “legal and moral responsibilities”,  and says he might try to block it. 

Residents in Hythe have issued a warning over a former Aldi that is “falling apart” and posing a “danger” to passers-by.

They're calling for urgent repairs to be made to the site as soon as possible, as it is “an accident waiting to happen”.

Tenants living in the last remaining part of a Napoleonic barracks face eviction after it was revealed repairs could cost more than £1.2 million.

Residents say Grade II-listed Hay House has been neglected by council bosses for years, left covered in cracks and riddled with asbestos.

And,  hear from one of the new operators of Gravesend Borough Market who has big plans to draw in street food vendors, bars, games and entertainment. 

Beer and Feast hope  to create a “foodies’ paradise” when it takes over next month.