Kent Current
@kentcurrent.news
Independent news for Kent
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Join thousands of readers getting local news without the clickbait or ads at https://www.kentcurrent.news/
We met @sundersays.bsky.social in a Dartford café for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation where we talked about identity, immigration, free speech and the 'anxious middle'...
“Intent matters and reception matters”
What we asked Sunder Katwala, Director of independent think tank, British Future
www.kentcurrent.news
February 12, 2026 at 6:10 PM
We met @sundersays.bsky.social in a Dartford café for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation where we talked about identity, immigration, free speech and the 'anxious middle'...
Ed is live at today's KCC budget meeting. Follow below 👇
Good morning. I'm here at today's Kent County Council meeting, where the Reform-led administration will propose its first budget.
It is the only item on the agenda, but expect it to be contentious.
It is the only item on the agenda, but expect it to be contentious.
February 12, 2026 at 9:31 AM
Ed is live at today's KCC budget meeting. Follow below 👇
Reform’s flagship 'efficiency' project at KCC has a new lead.
After last week’s resignation over budget comments, the replacement is a councillor whose public feed is heavy on conspiracies and culture-war reposts.
After last week’s resignation over budget comments, the replacement is a councillor whose public feed is heavy on conspiracies and culture-war reposts.
Reform's new DOLGE boss is extremely online
Reform’s flagship efficiency project at Kent County Council is back in the spotlight this week, following a cabinet appointment that raises fresh questions about credibility, competence and communicat...
www.kentcurrent.news
February 11, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Reform’s flagship 'efficiency' project at KCC has a new lead.
After last week’s resignation over budget comments, the replacement is a councillor whose public feed is heavy on conspiracies and culture-war reposts.
After last week’s resignation over budget comments, the replacement is a councillor whose public feed is heavy on conspiracies and culture-war reposts.
Dreamland’s Scenic Railway has been shut, with key evidence still unseen. Councillors, heritage groups and residents are now asking how a publicly funded landmark became 'unviable' overnight. Plus planning, council scrutiny and more from across Kent.
Questions grow over Dreamland’s Scenic Railway closure
A heritage row in Margate, plus planning news, a disputed car park, water woes, and more
www.kentcurrent.news
February 3, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Dreamland’s Scenic Railway has been shut, with key evidence still unseen. Councillors, heritage groups and residents are now asking how a publicly funded landmark became 'unviable' overnight. Plus planning, council scrutiny and more from across Kent.
Kent County Council billed it as a friendly “cuppa and a chat” with MPs. It ended in complaints about attendance, effort and political optics. We look at how an attempt at cooperation turned awkward, plus the latest from across Kent.
Our full briefing:
Our full briefing:
Kent’s “cuppa and a chat” got awkward
An awkward show of cooperation at County Hall, plus council meetings, protests, planning news and the latest news from across Kent
www.kentcurrent.news
January 28, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Kent County Council billed it as a friendly “cuppa and a chat” with MPs. It ended in complaints about attendance, effort and political optics. We look at how an attempt at cooperation turned awkward, plus the latest from across Kent.
Our full briefing:
Our full briefing:
Kent’s taps are running again, but the water system behind them is still broken. Regulators are investigating, and politicians want heads to roll.
Today's Kent Current briefing:
Today's Kent Current briefing:
Kent’s water crisis isn’t over yet
The taps are running again, but the arguments, investigations and political rows are only just getting started
www.kentcurrent.news
January 19, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Kent’s taps are running again, but the water system behind them is still broken. Regulators are investigating, and politicians want heads to roll.
Today's Kent Current briefing:
Today's Kent Current briefing:
KCC has balanced its £1.6bn budget for next year, but only by selling assets and raiding reserves, with a £95m funding gap already looming. Plus storm damage across Kent and another major water crisis.
KCC balances the books. For one year.
A bridged budget at County Hall, storm damage across Kent, and another water crisis unfolds
www.kentcurrent.news
January 12, 2026 at 4:26 PM
KCC has balanced its £1.6bn budget for next year, but only by selling assets and raiding reserves, with a £95m funding gap already looming. Plus storm damage across Kent and another major water crisis.
Some of Canterbury’s Victorian lampposts are being removed and replaced after years of unresolved communication between councils, leaving replacement as the default outcome rather than a decision.
Our latest briefing explains what’s happening and why it matters.
Our latest briefing explains what’s happening and why it matters.
How Canterbury’s Victorian lampposts are being lost
Years of drift between councils have left replacement as the default option.
www.kentcurrent.news
January 5, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Some of Canterbury’s Victorian lampposts are being removed and replaced after years of unresolved communication between councils, leaving replacement as the default outcome rather than a decision.
Our latest briefing explains what’s happening and why it matters.
Our latest briefing explains what’s happening and why it matters.
The final Kent County Council meeting of the year is happening this morning.
Good morning from Kent County Council, where things are about to get underway for the last time this year.
On the agenda today: Cutting committee meetings, introducing political assistants, Tunbridge Wells water issues, and more.
On the agenda today: Cutting committee meetings, introducing political assistants, Tunbridge Wells water issues, and more.
December 18, 2025 at 11:44 AM
The final Kent County Council meeting of the year is happening this morning.
Large illegal waste sites continue to operate across Kent despite regulators knowing about them. Around Sittingbourne, dumping has continued after repeated interventions, raising questions about whether enforcement can keep up.
Kent’s 'mega dumps' expose the limits of waste crime enforcement
Large illegal waste sites are thriving in Kent and no one seems able to stop them
www.kentcurrent.news
December 16, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Large illegal waste sites continue to operate across Kent despite regulators knowing about them. Around Sittingbourne, dumping has continued after repeated interventions, raising questions about whether enforcement can keep up.
Reposted by Kent Current
More great journalism from London Centric
Really encouraging to see increasing quality local media with rise of @millmedia.bsky.social @kentcurrent.news and many others
Really encouraging to see increasing quality local media with rise of @millmedia.bsky.social @kentcurrent.news and many others
What if Thames Water aren’t always the baddies when it comes to sewage in London rivers? It’s hard to comprehend, so in April I challenged @rachel-rees.bsky.social to find a single example of a misconnection and chase it to the Thames. It became an epic quest: www.londoncentric.media/p/misconnect...
London's other sewage scandal
London Centric chases illegal sewage from a single polluting pipe on its toxic journey across the capital.
www.londoncentric.media
December 13, 2025 at 10:42 AM
More great journalism from London Centric
Really encouraging to see increasing quality local media with rise of @millmedia.bsky.social @kentcurrent.news and many others
Really encouraging to see increasing quality local media with rise of @millmedia.bsky.social @kentcurrent.news and many others
A Swale Borough Council meeting was suspended after coordinated far-right activists disrupted a debate on becoming a District of Sanctuary. Councillors reported abuse, intimidation and damage to the building.
What happened, and why it matters:
What happened, and why it matters:
When intimidation replaces debate
What Swale’s meeting tells us about local democracy. Plus the latest from KCC, Tunbridge Wells still faces water uncertainty, news in brief, and more
www.kentcurrent.news
December 12, 2025 at 8:49 AM
A Swale Borough Council meeting was suspended after coordinated far-right activists disrupted a debate on becoming a District of Sanctuary. Councillors reported abuse, intimidation and damage to the building.
What happened, and why it matters:
What happened, and why it matters:
Our big weekend interview is with Sittingbourne & Sheppey MP @kevinmckenna.co.uk.
He spoke about becoming an MP, ICU nursing, living with HIV, and the challenge of uniting a constituency split between mainland and island.
He spoke about becoming an MP, ICU nursing, living with HIV, and the challenge of uniting a constituency split between mainland and island.
"My job is to try and bring everyone together"
What we asked Kevin MᶜKenna, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey
www.kentcurrent.news
December 8, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Our big weekend interview is with Sittingbourne & Sheppey MP @kevinmckenna.co.uk.
He spoke about becoming an MP, ICU nursing, living with HIV, and the challenge of uniting a constituency split between mainland and island.
He spoke about becoming an MP, ICU nursing, living with HIV, and the challenge of uniting a constituency split between mainland and island.
Unauthorised lamppost flags in Kent are now incurring damage bills, with FOIs showing more than £4,000 has been spent by Kent County Council, which still has no checks in place to spot risks.
Our Monday briefing is out now:
Our Monday briefing is out now:
Damage bills mount from Kent’s lamppost flags
FOIs reveal the cost of Kent’s lamppost flag policy and what happens when risks go unchecked
www.kentcurrent.news
December 8, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Unauthorised lamppost flags in Kent are now incurring damage bills, with FOIs showing more than £4,000 has been spent by Kent County Council, which still has no checks in place to spot risks.
Our Monday briefing is out now:
Our Monday briefing is out now:
Reposted by Kent Current
Best article that I have read so far on the inept shambles that have been happening where I live in Tunbridge Wells. I still think not enough is made of the fact they sent the emergency water to a completely different town.
Tunbridge Wells has endured nearly a week of water failures, broken deadlines and a boil notice that will stretch well beyond the return of supply, exposing long-flagged weaknesses in South East Water’s network and a collapse of trust across the town.
The week the water stopped
A week of dry taps, false deadlines and emergency queues reveals a broken system and a town running out of patience
www.kentcurrent.news
December 5, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Best article that I have read so far on the inept shambles that have been happening where I live in Tunbridge Wells. I still think not enough is made of the fact they sent the emergency water to a completely different town.
Reposted by Kent Current
This is a very good write up of the water situation in Tunbridge Wells.
Tunbridge Wells has endured nearly a week of water failures, broken deadlines and a boil notice that will stretch well beyond the return of supply, exposing long-flagged weaknesses in South East Water’s network and a collapse of trust across the town.
The week the water stopped
A week of dry taps, false deadlines and emergency queues reveals a broken system and a town running out of patience
www.kentcurrent.news
December 5, 2025 at 10:44 AM
This is a very good write up of the water situation in Tunbridge Wells.
Tunbridge Wells has endured nearly a week of water failures, broken deadlines and a boil notice that will stretch well beyond the return of supply, exposing long-flagged weaknesses in South East Water’s network and a collapse of trust across the town.
The week the water stopped
A week of dry taps, false deadlines and emergency queues reveals a broken system and a town running out of patience
www.kentcurrent.news
December 4, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Tunbridge Wells has endured nearly a week of water failures, broken deadlines and a boil notice that will stretch well beyond the return of supply, exposing long-flagged weaknesses in South East Water’s network and a collapse of trust across the town.
Hopefully you won't notice much difference, but today, we have left Substack and migrated our work to Ghost.
Read more about why we've done it here:
Read more about why we've done it here:
The Kent Current has a new home
We’ve moved, but nothing should change for most of you.
A quick update: The Kent Current has now moved off Substack and onto a new home powered by Ghost. You don’t need to resubscribe, you don’t need...
www.kentcurrent.news
December 3, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Hopefully you won't notice much difference, but today, we have left Substack and migrated our work to Ghost.
Read more about why we've done it here:
Read more about why we've done it here:
Maidstone leader Stuart Jeffery faces a no-confidence vote this week. Conservatives say the council has been distracted by “symbolic” projects. Jeffery calls it “silly posturing” and expects to survive.
Today’s Kent Current briefing is out now.
Today’s Kent Current briefing is out now.
Maidstone leader hit with no confidence challenge
Plus Reform set to raise council tax, Goudhurst sees off smugglers, and is Kent really the largest council in the country?
www.kentcurrent.news
December 1, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Maidstone leader Stuart Jeffery faces a no-confidence vote this week. Conservatives say the council has been distracted by “symbolic” projects. Jeffery calls it “silly posturing” and expects to survive.
Today’s Kent Current briefing is out now.
Today’s Kent Current briefing is out now.
Reposted by Kent Current
Had the pleasure of sitting down with Lupen Crook in his studio and talking about his art and music.
www.kentcurrent.news/p/ive-got-en...
www.kentcurrent.news/p/ive-got-en...
“I’ve got enough reasons to break down over music and painting”
What we asked Lupen Crook, artist and musician
www.kentcurrent.news
December 1, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Had the pleasure of sitting down with Lupen Crook in his studio and talking about his art and music.
www.kentcurrent.news/p/ive-got-en...
www.kentcurrent.news/p/ive-got-en...
Docker is a Folkestone-based brewery and bakery. Steven talks to Head Brewer and Director Pete Nelson to talk about how he got into brewing, why they opened a new bakery in Ashford, and his advice for new brewers.
“Sourdough cultures will sour beer”
What we asked Pete Nelson, Head Brewer at Docker Bakery
www.kentcurrent.news
November 26, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Docker is a Folkestone-based brewery and bakery. Steven talks to Head Brewer and Director Pete Nelson to talk about how he got into brewing, why they opened a new bakery in Ashford, and his advice for new brewers.
📣 Kent's far right moves into the mainstream
🚨 A fake town for civil unrest near Gravesend
➡️ More analysis of Reform at County Hall
🌹 Folkestone MP speaks out
🗞️ News in brief, our Kent event calendar, and lots more
🚨 A fake town for civil unrest near Gravesend
➡️ More analysis of Reform at County Hall
🌹 Folkestone MP speaks out
🗞️ News in brief, our Kent event calendar, and lots more
Kent’s far right moves into the mainstream
Plus a fake town for civil unrest near Gravesend, more from Reform, Folkestone MP speaks out, and more
www.kentcurrent.news
November 24, 2025 at 2:29 PM
📣 Kent's far right moves into the mainstream
🚨 A fake town for civil unrest near Gravesend
➡️ More analysis of Reform at County Hall
🌹 Folkestone MP speaks out
🗞️ News in brief, our Kent event calendar, and lots more
🚨 A fake town for civil unrest near Gravesend
➡️ More analysis of Reform at County Hall
🌹 Folkestone MP speaks out
🗞️ News in brief, our Kent event calendar, and lots more
The FAR Academy is an award-winning education provider for students with special educational needs. We spoke with headteacher Brent Lewis about the dispute they are now facing with Kent County Council over funding, which could detrimentally affect their students.
"If some of these kids weren’t here, they would be dead"
What we asked Brent Lewis, CEO of the FAR Academy
www.kentcurrent.news
November 19, 2025 at 3:20 PM
The FAR Academy is an award-winning education provider for students with special educational needs. We spoke with headteacher Brent Lewis about the dispute they are now facing with Kent County Council over funding, which could detrimentally affect their students.
🚓 Kent to lose its Police Commissioner in 2028
☀️ The mega-solar farms of the future
🧑💼 Senior staff at Manston suspended
➡️ More Reform expulsions, and lots more
☀️ The mega-solar farms of the future
🧑💼 Senior staff at Manston suspended
➡️ More Reform expulsions, and lots more
Kent to lose its Police Commissioner in 2028
Plus the mega-solar farms of the future, senior staff at Manston suspended, more Reform expulsions, and lots more
www.kentcurrent.news
November 18, 2025 at 3:14 PM
🚓 Kent to lose its Police Commissioner in 2028
☀️ The mega-solar farms of the future
🧑💼 Senior staff at Manston suspended
➡️ More Reform expulsions, and lots more
☀️ The mega-solar farms of the future
🧑💼 Senior staff at Manston suspended
➡️ More Reform expulsions, and lots more
🗳️ Wincheap (Canterbury) by-election result:
🟢 Peter Campbell (Green): 842
🔶 Guy Meurice (Lib Dem): 518
➡️ Colin Spooner (Reform): 351
🌹 Jasmin Dallos-Foreman (Labour): 276
🌳 Elliott Curryer (Conservative): 166
Green GAIN from Liberal Democrat
🟢 Peter Campbell (Green): 842
🔶 Guy Meurice (Lib Dem): 518
➡️ Colin Spooner (Reform): 351
🌹 Jasmin Dallos-Foreman (Labour): 276
🌳 Elliott Curryer (Conservative): 166
Green GAIN from Liberal Democrat
November 14, 2025 at 12:30 PM
🗳️ Wincheap (Canterbury) by-election result:
🟢 Peter Campbell (Green): 842
🔶 Guy Meurice (Lib Dem): 518
➡️ Colin Spooner (Reform): 351
🌹 Jasmin Dallos-Foreman (Labour): 276
🌳 Elliott Curryer (Conservative): 166
Green GAIN from Liberal Democrat
🟢 Peter Campbell (Green): 842
🔶 Guy Meurice (Lib Dem): 518
➡️ Colin Spooner (Reform): 351
🌹 Jasmin Dallos-Foreman (Labour): 276
🌳 Elliott Curryer (Conservative): 166
Green GAIN from Liberal Democrat