Author: Benjamin

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Our readers from across the county give their weekly take on the biggest issues impacting Kent and beyond.Some letters refer to past correspondence which can be found by clicking here. Join the debate by emailing letters@thekmgroup.co.uk‘Unless a school is within reasonable distance of a child’s home, that child should be able to access vehicular transport’Most children need transport to schoolGone are the days when children were able to walk around the corner to their school.Many schools have been closed, families live in sprawling new estates, miles from the nearest school and other children live in remote rural areas.When they arrive…

Player-of-the-match Charlie Groombridge kept up his impressive scoring record to help Deal retain the Kent Intermediate Cup at Holm Park on Wednesday night. Groombridge has scored in every round of the competition and his stunning first-half goal was key as Deal made it back-to-back league and cup doubles. Deal Town celebrate winning the DFDS Kent Intermediate Cup Final. Picture: PSP Images “Charlie has scored in every round he’s played in this tournament now,” said Deal manager Andrew Crush. “He’s a big game player and I thought he was class, he ran his socks off, won his headers and his individual…

Darrell McArdle, of The Orchard, had been in relationships with both victims but subjected them to physical and psychological abuse. These included banning the women from meeting other men or friends. The 24-year-old started seeing one of his victims in February 2020, and by June he “sought to control every aspect of her life”, reported Kent Police. He began to insist that she did not speak to other men or see her friends, and would beat her if she wore clothing he deemed to be inappropriate. McArdle forced her to erase any social media accounts she had and threatened to…

JAYDEN DAVIES, 29, of Northover in Bromley, admitted drink driving on Rectory Road, Bromley, on December 19. He gave a reading of 130mgs per 100mls of breath, the limit is 35mgs. Davies was given 16 weeks sentence suspended for 18 years. He was also ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for four years.  MICHAEL BUCKLEY, 38, of Wodehouse Road in Dartford, admitted that on Molesworth Street, Lewisham, on May 4 he drove while disqualified and uninsured. He was also in possession of cocaine. Buckley was disqualified from driving for another year and jailed…

A regular customer at a seaside bar says he will not be returning after being charged £9.50 for a 250ml can of wine.Keven Truelove ordered the drink at The Pilot Bar at Folkestone’s harbour arm over the bank holiday weekend and was shocked by the price.Keven Truelove says he will not be returning to The Pilot Bar in Folkestone after being charged £9.50 for a can of wine. Picture: Keven TrueloveBut bosses of the outdoor venue have defended the cost, saying it is similar to that of a glass of wine in local pubs.Meanwhile, some residents say visitors to the…

Details regarding closure timings, diversions, and affected tunnels are provided below. The Northbound East Tunnel will be closed from 10pm to 5am on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. There will be no overnight closures over the upcoming weekend. The Dartford Crossing, linking Dartford in Kent and Thurrock in Essex, is a vital road crossing over the River Thames. Please note that the information shared is accurate at the time of publication, but may be subject to change, particularly in adverse weather conditions. Tuesday, May 7 – Wednesday, May 8 A282 Northbound A282 northbound Dartford Crossing East Tunnel 10pm – 5am Tunnel closure…

The work will affect trains from Tuesday, May 7 to Sunday, May 12. We have compiled a full list of the works taking place so that you can plan your journey. Wednesday and Thursday From 11.25pm until the end of service, accessible buses replace trains between Dartford and Gravesend. The 11.50pm London St Pancras International to Faversham services will be replaced by accessible buses between Ebbsfleet International, Gillingham and Faversham. Wednesday to Friday From 12.15am until the end of service, trains via Maidstone East will be diverted after Otford to run to or via Sevenoaks. Accessible replacement buses will run…

A Kent MP’s call for the government to “step in” and fork out the upfront costs of repairing a collapsed road shut for more than a year has been rejected.Dartford MP Gareth Johnson brought forward a debate in Parliament on the issue of the A226 Galley Hill Road in Swanscombe which remains shut following a landslide.The A226 Galley Hill Road in Swanscombe has been shut since April. KCC’s Toby Howe, top right, is working to get it reopened Photo: High Profile AerialIt comes after part of the cliff collapsed, between Swanscombe High Street and Ebbsfleet’s Kuflink stadium in Northfleet, taking…

Police were called to the QEII bridge at around 9am after receiving a report about concerns for the welfare of a man. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The bridge was closed before fully reopening at around 11am but delays continued until around midday. Police have said that the man’s family have been made aware. A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “Officers were called to the QEII bridge at around 9am this morning (7 May) following a concern for welfare report. “Emergency services were in attendance and sadly, a man was pronounced dead at the scene. “His family are…