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/
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
Joe Bill is the Editorial Director at the award-winning ‘cene magazine, who has recently launched a new magazine looking at the world of padel. Padel is growing as a sport across Kent, so we sat down with him to discuss his route from the Medway News to ‘cene, publishing, and just what is padel?
“Magazines are on the way back”
What we asked the Joe Bill, Editorial Director of 'cene and Padel Culture magazines
www.kentcurrent.news
November 12, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Joe Bill is the Editorial Director at the award-winning ‘cene magazine, who has recently launched a new magazine looking at the world of padel. Padel is growing as a sport across Kent, so we sat down with him to discuss his route from the Medway News to ‘cene, publishing, and just what is padel?
🚒 Fire authority in limbo as Reform suspensions stall oversight
🏴 Faversham flag wars latest
🎤 Thanet's last youth centre
💷 Latest financial interests of Kent MPs
🗳️ Canterbury by-election, and lots more
🏴 Faversham flag wars latest
🎤 Thanet's last youth centre
💷 Latest financial interests of Kent MPs
🗳️ Canterbury by-election, and lots more
Fire authority in limbo as Reform suspensions stall oversight
Plus Faversham flag wars, Thanet's last youth centre, latest financial interests of Kent MPs, a Canterbury by-election, and lots more
www.kentcurrent.news
November 11, 2025 at 8:33 AM
🚒 Fire authority in limbo as Reform suspensions stall oversight
🏴 Faversham flag wars latest
🎤 Thanet's last youth centre
💷 Latest financial interests of Kent MPs
🗳️ Canterbury by-election, and lots more
🏴 Faversham flag wars latest
🎤 Thanet's last youth centre
💷 Latest financial interests of Kent MPs
🗳️ Canterbury by-election, and lots more
🎄 Flags spark as a festive stand-off, with one village claiming it can't put up Christmas lights until flags come down
🗣️ A chaotic Kent County Council meeting
➡️ What else is happening at KCC this week?
🗞️ News in brief, and more
🗣️ A chaotic Kent County Council meeting
➡️ What else is happening at KCC this week?
🗞️ News in brief, and more
Flags spark festive stand-off
Plus what's going on at KCC this week, a chaotic council meeting, news in brief, and more
www.kentcurrent.news
November 7, 2025 at 9:24 AM
🎄 Flags spark as a festive stand-off, with one village claiming it can't put up Christmas lights until flags come down
🗣️ A chaotic Kent County Council meeting
➡️ What else is happening at KCC this week?
🗞️ News in brief, and more
🗣️ A chaotic Kent County Council meeting
➡️ What else is happening at KCC this week?
🗞️ News in brief, and more
KCC is underway and it's already a bit weird.
Kent County Council is getting underway.
Slightly odd arrangements in place where usual press seats have been closed, leaving us in the public gallery, which has 14 seats. Far more than 14 people are here, leading to several journalists and others being left outside of the room.
But we’re in.
Slightly odd arrangements in place where usual press seats have been closed, leaving us in the public gallery, which has 14 seats. Far more than 14 people are here, leading to several journalists and others being left outside of the room.
But we’re in.
November 6, 2025 at 10:09 AM
KCC is underway and it's already a bit weird.
Reposted by Kent Current
Another one gone in Kent.
Cllr Isabella Kemp, elected for Reform in May, is now listed as an independent. It is unclear at this point precisely why Cllr Kemp has exited the party.
This means Reform has now lost 9 of the 57 councillors they saw elected only six months ago.
Cllr Isabella Kemp, elected for Reform in May, is now listed as an independent. It is unclear at this point precisely why Cllr Kemp has exited the party.
This means Reform has now lost 9 of the 57 councillors they saw elected only six months ago.
November 6, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Another one gone in Kent.
Cllr Isabella Kemp, elected for Reform in May, is now listed as an independent. It is unclear at this point precisely why Cllr Kemp has exited the party.
This means Reform has now lost 9 of the 57 councillors they saw elected only six months ago.
Cllr Isabella Kemp, elected for Reform in May, is now listed as an independent. It is unclear at this point precisely why Cllr Kemp has exited the party.
This means Reform has now lost 9 of the 57 councillors they saw elected only six months ago.
In the course of three years, @stuartjeffery.bsky.social went from being the only Green on Maidstone Borough Council to leading it. We talk to him about his journey to becoming leader, the recent by-election around Lenham, and his support for new Green Party leader Zack Polanski.
“We’re focused on the practical aspects rather than petty politics”
What we asked Stuart Jeffery, Leader of Maidstone Borough Council
www.kentcurrent.news
November 5, 2025 at 8:09 PM
In the course of three years, @stuartjeffery.bsky.social went from being the only Green on Maidstone Borough Council to leading it. We talk to him about his journey to becoming leader, the recent by-election around Lenham, and his support for new Green Party leader Zack Polanski.
🚄 A win for Virgin, but not for Kent. As a new operator is granted permission to run cross-Channel services, is there any prospect of them actually stopping in Kent?
Plus:
➡️ Reform fractures deepen
🗳️ Two very different by-elections
🗞️ News in brief, and more
Plus:
➡️ Reform fractures deepen
🗳️ Two very different by-elections
🗞️ News in brief, and more
A win for Virgin, but not for Kent
Plus Reform fractures deepen in Kent, two very different by-elections, news in brief, and more
www.kentcurrent.news
November 4, 2025 at 11:55 AM
🚄 A win for Virgin, but not for Kent. As a new operator is granted permission to run cross-Channel services, is there any prospect of them actually stopping in Kent?
Plus:
➡️ Reform fractures deepen
🗳️ Two very different by-elections
🗞️ News in brief, and more
Plus:
➡️ Reform fractures deepen
🗳️ Two very different by-elections
🗞️ News in brief, and more
We lead our Monday briefing with the horrifying fact that 56 children have vanished after arriving in Kent as unaccompanied child refugees.
Plus:
➡️ Assessing Reform's running of Kent
⬅️ A Dartford defection
🚛 New truck stop proposed, and lots more
Plus:
➡️ Assessing Reform's running of Kent
⬅️ A Dartford defection
🚛 New truck stop proposed, and lots more
56 children vanished after arriving alone in Kent
Plus assessing Reform's running of Kent, a Dartford defection, new truck stop proposed, and more
www.kentcurrent.news
November 3, 2025 at 2:46 PM
We lead our Monday briefing with the horrifying fact that 56 children have vanished after arriving in Kent as unaccompanied child refugees.
Plus:
➡️ Assessing Reform's running of Kent
⬅️ A Dartford defection
🚛 New truck stop proposed, and lots more
Plus:
➡️ Assessing Reform's running of Kent
⬅️ A Dartford defection
🚛 New truck stop proposed, and lots more