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Alan Smith

Alan Smith joined the Kent Messenger as a trainee sub-editor in 1989. In 1998 he switched to a reporting role, chiefly on the Kent Messenger and subsequently on Kent Online.

Council to net £300k from parking fees, but miss out on leisure complex rent

14 January 2025
Council to net £300k from parking fees, but miss out on leisure complex rent

A borough is set to spend more on cleaning toilets and recycling. but expects to lose out on revenue from cremations as it sets its next budget.

D-Day for plans to build 52 homes on orchard

14 January 2025
D-Day for plans to build 52 homes on orchard

Controversial plans for a housing estate are set to be decided after an investigation into whether it would harm a nearby Conservation Area.

Fears free hospital park and ride scheme is being underused

14 January 2025
Fears free hospital park and ride scheme is being underused

A councillor has called for more to be done to promote a new hospital shuttle bus.

1

Bus company trims timetable

12 January 2025
Bus company trims timetable

Falling passenger numbers and traffic congestion has led to a reduction in services for one bus company.

1

Village school to see pupil numbers grow by more than 100

12 January 2025
Village school to see pupil numbers grow by more than 100

Plans for a village school to get a new building have been recommended for approval despite traffic fears amid a surge in demand for places.

1

Police chase ends with town centre crash

12 January 2025
Police chase ends with town centre crash

The driver of a BMW who crashed into another car after speeding off following a police stop is being hunted by officers.

‘The bus is our lifeline - we’ll be stranded without it’

11 January 2025
‘The bus is our lifeline - we’ll be stranded without it’

Elderly residents on a suburban estate fear being stranded when their bus service is withdrawn.

4

Tributes to ‘highly respected’ coach boss who turned £70 minibus into multi-million pound company

07 January 2025
Tributes to ‘highly respected’ coach boss who turned £70 minibus into multi-million pound company

The founder of a highly successful Kent coach company has died aged 80.

5

Almost 1,000 people moved in from London and other boroughs

06 January 2025
Almost 1,000 people moved in from London and other boroughs

A council’s £4m temporary housing bill is due to a ‘perfect storm’ of adverse factors, according to a cabinet member.

3

Popular hotel’s £500k makeover

06 January 2025
Popular hotel’s £500k makeover

An old hotel has a new name and is getting an extensive refit.

Car sales firm plans expansion

05 January 2025
Car sales firm plans expansion

A car sales business is looking to expand and take on new staff.

Police look for owner of bike believed to have been stolen

03 January 2025
Police look for owner of bike believed to have been stolen

Police believe a mountain bike they have recovered was stolen and want to trace its owner.

Roads blocked after car hit wall

03 January 2025
Roads blocked after car hit wall

Three roads have been closed after a car crashed into a wall.

New homes ‘would make a logical extension to the village’

03 January 2025
New homes ‘would make a logical extension to the village’

A housing developer wants to build 87 homes in the green belt in an area of National Landscape Importance and next to Ancient Woodland.

8

‘We’ll lose our identity and people won’t be heard - we need a town council’

03 January 2025
‘We’ll lose our identity and people won’t be heard - we need a town council’

Plans to change the council set-up across the country have sparked fears that one town would lose its identity and people won’t get the voices heard.

9

Kent man arrested after being spotted next to dead wild boar

02 January 2025
Kent man arrested after being spotted next to dead wild boar

A man from Kent suspected of hunting wild boar has been arrested after one of the animals was found dead.

Village butchers to close after 50 years

31 December 2024
Village butchers to close after 50 years

A village is to lose its butchers as the brothers who own it decide to retire.

3

Town full of HMOs to get another one - in 18th-century building

30 December 2024
Town full of HMOs to get another one - in 18th-century building

Permission has been granted to turn an office building into a house in multiple occupation right in the heart of a town centre.

3

People asked to pay more for policing

30 December 2024
People asked to pay more for policing

The public are being asked if they are willing to fork out more money to fund Kent Police.

15

Refurb for town centre McDonald’s

30 December 2024
Refurb for town centre McDonald’s

McDonald’s is looking to smarten up a town-centre restaurant with new signage and glazing.

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