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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.

Questions over funding promised to improve town centre traffic

25 March 2025
Questions over funding promised to improve town centre traffic

KCC has been criticised for a ‘calamitous waste’ of £14m supposed to have been spent improving a town’s road junctions.

6

‘Houses planned for farmland will expand village by 50% - where will it end?’

25 March 2025
‘Houses planned for farmland will expand village by 50% - where will it end?’

Villagers say a developer’s plans for 120 new homes will complete a 50% expansion of their close-knit community.

6

Preferred site for new leisure centre revealed

24 March 2025
Preferred site for new leisure centre revealed

Town centre car park chosen for new leisure centre, but farmers market will have to move.

Victory for campaigners as daily bus service introduced for estate

24 March 2025
Victory for campaigners as daily bus service introduced for estate

A daily bus service is being introduced to help people living on the outskirts of a main town into the centre.

1

Controversial road closure completed after three years

21 March 2025
Controversial road closure completed after three years

Kent County Council has completed a permanent closure of one arm at a key junction - ending residents‘ hopes the closure might be reversed.

Kent contestant on ITV game show hosted by ‘new Ant and Dec’

18 March 2025
Kent contestant on ITV game show hosted by ‘new Ant and Dec’

A Kent resident is among 100 contestants in the new 99 To Beat game show on TV this weekend.

‘We fully expect it to go again’: Anger as tenants suffer repeat water supply issues

18 March 2025
‘We fully expect it to go again’: Anger as tenants suffer repeat water supply issues

Families have been left without water at a new-build apartment complex for five consecutive weekends after struggles with a faulty pump.

9

New barbershop owner enjoys ‘challenge’ of cutting men’s hair

17 March 2025
New barbershop owner enjoys ‘challenge’ of cutting men’s hair

After almost seven decades, a barber’s shop has relaunched with a female owner.

‘Our homes are 150 years old - why should we lose parking to help new estate?’

17 March 2025
‘Our homes are 150 years old - why should we lose parking to help new estate?’

Residents say they feel “victimised” over proposals to paint double yellow lines outside their cottages to make life easier for their new neighbours.

19

Plan for 87 flats in office block includes just 21 parking spaces

15 March 2025
Plan for 87 flats in office block includes just 21 parking spaces

A seven-storey office block that has sat empty for four years could soon become houses.

6

Tougher rules unveiled to control the development of controversial HMOs

15 March 2025
Tougher rules unveiled to control the development of controversial HMOs

New rules have been revealed which will see tighter controls over turning family homes into houses of multiple occupation.

1

Calls for government review of laughing gas laws

13 March 2025
Calls for government review of laughing gas laws

There are calls for a review of the rules around the sale of nitrous oxide as the number of large canisters being dumped soars.

3

Music, food, boats and fireworks: Town gets ready for huge festival

11 March 2025
Music, food, boats and fireworks: Town gets ready for huge festival

Plans are under way for a town’s river festival with entries invited for the raft race.

Council aims for maximum increase

10 March 2025
Council aims for maximum increase

Residents learn how much their council tax bill will rise in April.

Man charged after two teenage girls report sex attacks

10 March 2025
Man charged after two teenage girls report sex attacks

A teenage girl sitting on a park bench was allegedly sexually assaulted.

Permits could cost more to tackle parking problems near HMOs

10 March 2025
Permits could cost more to tackle parking problems near HMOs

A council will look at charging more for residents’ permits in a bid to solve parking problems.

9

‘It’s heartbreaking’: Protests fail to stop tree felling for flats

09 March 2025
‘It’s heartbreaking’: Protests fail to stop tree felling for flats

Villagers have been left dismayed after trees on a treasured amenity space were felled to make way for a social housing project.

4

Road still closed while council and firm work out who’s responsible

09 March 2025
Road still closed while council and firm work out who’s responsible

A key junction could be closed for another two weeks following a burst water main.

2

More than 2,000 people back petition to save farmers market and stop ‘unfair parking charges’

06 March 2025
More than 2,000 people back petition to save farmers market and stop ‘unfair parking charges’

More than 2,400 people have signed a petition calling for a lifting of parking restriction that threaten their monthly farmers market.

Pub licence suspended over fears of ‘serious crime and disorder’

04 March 2025
Pub licence suspended over fears of ‘serious crime and disorder’

A pub recently featured on Channel 4’s Four in a Bed has had its licence suspended following a fight.

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