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Daniel Esson, Local Democracy Reporter

Daniel Esson joined the KM Group in September 2022 as a Local Democracy Reporter, covering second-tier local authorities.

Daniel Esson, Local Democracy Reporter

Plans for 24-hour “budget” gym at disused carpet shop

21 February 2025
Plans for 24-hour “budget” gym at disused carpet shop

Plans have been submitted for a new 24-hour gym in a disused unit at a town retail park.

‘Don’t celebrate leaks – not every indiscretion needs revealing’

21 February 2025
‘Don’t celebrate leaks – not every indiscretion needs revealing’

After the Labour WhatsApp scandal, Dan Esson asks if we want to live in a world where politicians fear every personal indiscretion being publicised.

4

Coffee shop bus owners told to move on from pub car park in planning row

21 February 2025
Coffee shop bus owners told to move on from pub car park in planning row

Owners of a coffee shop hosted in a bus are locked in a planning battle with a council which claims they have no right to be there.

6

‘Exciting’ plans for £120m redevelopment of town centre

20 February 2025
‘Exciting’ plans for £120m redevelopment of town centre

Plans for a huge revamp of a town centre including a leisure centre, homes, a market hall and new footpaths have been altered after public feedback.

8

Huge solar farm to power new Kent ‘town’ and make council £20m

19 February 2025
Huge solar farm to power new Kent ‘town’ and make council £20m

A huge solar farm is set to power almost half of a Kent ‘garden town’ and make millions for the council behind the plan.

23

Controversial plans to let people live in Premier Inn for £790 per month

14 February 2025
Controversial plans to let people live in Premier Inn for £790 per month

The new owners of a former Premier Inn have backtracked on plans to rent out rooms for people to live in.

£2m investment planned for historic concert venue

13 February 2025
£2m investment planned for historic concert venue

Hopes of rejuvenating an ailing music hall have returned once more after the local authority suffered a funding blow.

1

Plans for third fish and chip shop within 200 yards dashed

11 February 2025
Plans for third fish and chip shop within 200 yards dashed

Plans for a city centre’s third fish and chip shop within 200 yards have been dashed due to concerns over its extraction fan system.

3

‘Hare-brained’ plans for holiday lets and nursery at famous farm refused

10 February 2025
‘Hare-brained’ plans for holiday lets and nursery at famous farm refused

Proposals for a new nursery, holiday lets and industrial units at a farm hosting the country’s biggest collection of fruit have been rejected.

1

Four councillors defect to Reform

07 February 2025
Four councillors defect to Reform

A council in Kent now has five members of Reform after four members defected to Nigel Farage’s party.

45

Football club’s plans for new grounds and clubhouse on old golf course

07 February 2025
Football club’s plans for new grounds and clubhouse on old golf course

Plans to move a football club onto new grounds and to build homes on the pitches it’s leaving behind have been submitted but not everyone’s happy.

1

‘It's eroding the green lung': Concerns remain as Prince's housing plans take next step

06 February 2025
‘It's eroding the green lung': Concerns remain as Prince's housing plans take next step

Fears remain over plans to build 2,500 homes on land owned by Prince William, as developers hold events where residents can probe planners on details.

15

Plans emerge for huge solar farm near ancient ruins

04 February 2025
Plans emerge for huge solar farm near ancient ruins

Plans for another solar farm close to important historic ruins have been unveiled, leading to fears the area will turn into a “large industrial park”.

6

Ex-Ukip leader on war zones, Farage and the infamous glamour model affair

04 February 2025
Ex-Ukip leader on war zones, Farage and the infamous glamour model affair

We talk to a man who’s braved war zones, had two Russian wives, and had his political career derailed by an infamous affair with a glamour model...

20

'Everybody’s struggling - then landlords go and hike the rent by hundreds’

02 February 2025
'Everybody’s struggling - then landlords go and hike the rent by hundreds’

Landlords are selling up or hiking rent charged to councils by up to £600 a month on vital properties used to provide emergency accommodation.

37

Plans to hike fees in Kent’s most expensive council car parks scrapped

01 February 2025
Plans to hike fees in Kent’s most expensive council car parks scrapped

Controversial plans to make Kent’s most expensive council car parks even pricier have been axed following a public backlash.

2

Restructure described as ‘complete waste of time and money’ scrapped

31 January 2025
Restructure described as ‘complete waste of time and money’ scrapped

Councillors have voted to scrap a restructure slated as a ‘complete waste of time and money’ despite it already costing £70,000.

1

Plans for energy storage site the size of nine football pitches lodged

30 January 2025
Plans for energy storage site the size of nine football pitches lodged

Plans have been revealed for a battery storage site the size of almost nine football pitches on farmland near a Kent hamlet.

5

Police detective sacked after sexually touching junior officer

27 January 2025
Police detective sacked after sexually touching junior officer

A Kent detective sergeant has been sacked after sexually touching a junior female colleague twice – including inside a police station.

Home Office applies to demolish buildings at immigration centre

25 January 2025
Home Office applies to demolish buildings at immigration centre

Several buildings in poor condition at an asylum seeker processing centre are set to be demolished as part of upgrades at the site.

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