Just weeks after thousands of homes in Tunbridge Wells were left without water, it's been revealed how much bills will be going up by.

From April, customers of under-fire South East Water will have to pay £21 more following a 7% hike.

The town's MP says residents are 'paying the price for years of underinvestment', while the company say it'll fund improvements including a new reservoir. We've got reaction from the chief executive of the business improvement district in Tunbridge Wells.

Also in today's podcast, a Sheppey family fear their son won't have a suitable school place in September, after education bosses refused to assess his special needs.

Raie was diagnosed with autism when he was three, and his parents want him to get an education, health and care plan before he leaves Queenborough nursery. Hear from mum Natalie Jacobs who has been speaking to reporter Joe Crossley.

The KentOnline Podcast has been told the probation service covering Kent is still significantly understaffed, but improvements are starting to be made in keeping the public safe.

Inspectors have been looking at how inmates are dealt with after they leave jail - for the first time since a damning report in 2024. Hear from Martin Jones who is the chief inspector of probation.

A Kent MP has been been telling us how important it is for everyone to eat more locally produced food in 2026.

Sir Roger Gale, who represents Herne Bay and Sandwich, says crucial farmland is being lost to housing.

And in sport, Gillingham have finally completed a deal to sign international striker Ronan Hale.

The 27-year-old is joining for an undisclosed fee from Scottish Championship side Ross County.

He's previously played for Northern Ireland and scored 18 goals for his club last season.

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Dreamland bosses are facing a storm of outrage after announcing the permanent closure of the Scenic Railway.

Britain’s oldest rollercoaster at the Margate attraction will no longer operate as a ride, with park bosses confirming they are looking for new ways it can be used.

Also in today’s podcast, thousands of pounds have been raised for the family of a much-loved dad-of-four who died on a construction site.

Tributes have been paid to popular footballer and coach Joe Heath, from Folkestone, described by his wife as a “caring, bubbly and absolute gem of a person”.

A heartbroken mum is backing calls to change the law around reporting collisions with cats after her beloved family pet was killed in a hit-and-run.

At present motorists who hit dogs and certain farm animals, such as horses and cattle, must stop and report it as an accident under the Road Traffic Act 1988 – but cats are not included.

Local campaigners say they're happy government is finally listening to their concerns about the dangers of domestic wood burning.

A public consultation has been announced and will look at things like stricter emissions guidelines on new stoves and introducing mandatory labels.

And you can hear from the MP for Gravesham who says her fight to reinstate the Gravesend to Tilbury ferry will continue in 2026.

The passenger service made as many as 100-thousand trips a year until it was scrapped in 2024 due to a lack of funding.

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The devastated family of a former shopping centre manager say life will never be the same following his death - aged just 41.

Gareth Tyrrell, a familiar and popular face across Ashford, ran the Park Mall complex for 15 years, where he was known for stopping to chat with traders and shoppers.

Also in today’s podcast, a campaign group in Tunbridge Wells say they're determined to make sure the town's recent water issues stay on the agenda.

Tens of thousands of homes and businesses were without water in major outages in recent months – last night bosses from South East Water declined to attend a council scrutiny meeting.

There are calls from a Kent MP for the government to do more to help young people into work.

Helen Whately told the commons there are nearly one million young people are not in education, work or training and 700,000 university graduates are on benefits.

Figures seen by the KentOnline Podcast show one town is facing a shortfall of 1,765 secondary school places by 2033.

But while most new housing developers in Maidstone are being asked to contribute towards the cost of expanding school capacity to meet the demand, at least one site of 272 homes doesn’t have to pay a thing.

And a 16-year-old skateboarder is raising funds to set up a 14-foot ramp at his local park help him achieve his Olympic dreams.

The teen already competes across the world and has hopes of kickflipping his way to the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

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Bosses in Deal are being urged to crack down on campervans parking outside homes.

People living near Sandown Castle Community Garden say it's led to rubbish, including gas canisters, being dumped near their properties.

Hear from our reporter Louis Walker who has been covering the story.

Also in today's podcast, a Kent woman says she's 'lost all faith in the NHS' after being diagnosed with an incurable cancer.

Victoria Rodwell from East Malling first went to her GP with throat issues 16 months ago. She's been speaking to reporter Davina Jethwa.

A Dartford man is starting a campaign to have defibrillators in all schools and colleges after managing to save his wife's life.

Suzanne Cutler suffered a cardiac arrest while travelling home from a family celebration with her husband and daughter.

Pupils at a Kent school who have been taking part in a smartphone detox, have told the podcast they would support a ban on social media for under 16s.

The government is consulting on the idea of introducing restrictions similar to Australia.

A couple who run escape rooms in Chatham have expanded to a third site in the county.

Rob and Nikki Kimber set up Hysteria Games eight years ago after visiting a similar venue in London on a date.

The new venture is based in a unit in Sittingbourne - our reporter Joe Crossley has been along to get a sneak peak.

Football, and Gillingham have made it back-to-back wins in league two.

They beat Harrogate Town 3-0 away from home on Saturday, following a victory over Newport County the previous weekend.

Hear from manager Gareth Ainsworth and goal scorer Conor Masterson.

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Residents have made a desperate plea to their housebuilder: Please finish our estate.

It is well over five years since the first families moved into The Meadows development in Staplehurst but they are still living with unfinished roads, crumbling pavements and a children’s play area that has never opened.

Also in today’s podcast, officers searching a property in Maidstone have found a drug dealer hiding in his garden shed.

Police were called to reports of a disturbance but found cocaine, cannabis and cash – we’re got audio of the moment he was arrested.

There’s community anger over a crucial cut-through road which has been shut 22 times in the past two years.

The road in Sissinghurst, which is little over half a mile long, has been closed for a variety of roadworks but half were related to South East Water.

A Kent veteran who became the first double above the knee amputee to climb Mt Everest says there's more work to do to reduce the stigma around disability.

Former Gurkha Hari Budha Magar, from Canterbury, has just returned from his latest challenge of climbing the highest peaks on all seven continents.

And in football you can hear from the Gillingham manager ahead of this weekend’s away fixture at Harrogate Town.

Gareth Ainsworth says they’ll be looking for gain momentum following last week’s dramatic victory over Newport County.

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A restaurant boss who built an illegal outdoor dining area before “gaslighting” authorities for years with promises to pull it down has been fined and ordered to pay court costs totalling more than £40,000.

The glass-fronted enclosure outside A La Turka in Herne Bay was put up in 2019, despite there only being planning permission for awnings.

Also in today’s podcast, a public meeting's been held in Tunbridge Wells to discuss the recent water crisis.

Around 100 people showed up last night to express their frustrations following a number of outages before and after Christmas.

Controversial plans for a solar farm have been approved - despite residents warning it will despoil a “historic, rural agricultural landscape”.

Covering 40 hectares - roughly the size of 55 football pitches - the site on Romney Marsh is currently used to grow crops.

A sports and social club with more than 650 members will close at the end of the month.

The facility in Maidstone is set to shut following a “difficult decision” by the organisation that runs it to cease its affiliation.

And a school with pupils from more than 80 nationalities has launched a community campaign to celebrate togetherness and belonging.

Ashford’s John Wallis Academy has put up flags, banners and posters around its grounds – you can hear from their Head who says it’s come at a time when we know the world is increasingly divided.

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A Chinese takeaway was forced to close after thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused to the shop.

Police were called to the restaurant in Tunbridge Wells after a man went inside and lay down on the floor, before smashing up screens and equipment.

Also in today’s podcast, a group of doctors are calling for better resilience within NHS IT systems after a major outage affected GP surgeries across Kent.

Medics were unable to access patient details, appointment lists or process prescriptions on Monday and health bosses say it’s led to a huge backlog.

A councillor who struggles to speak after developing motor neurone disease is using pioneering AI technology to communicate using his own voice.

Nick Varley, who represents Kippington on Sevenoaks district and town councils, made recordings of himself speaking, which were used to train the AI to produce an accurate copy of his voice.

Protesters held a large banner demanding “Keep your hands off Rays Bottom” as they voiced their anger over plans for a new housing estate.

More than 300 letters of objection have been lodged in little over a month against proposals to build 75 houses on farmland near Deal.

And an ice cream man who “gambled” on serving scoops when work dried up during the pandemic is in the running for a top national award.

You can hear from the Rainham resident who runs Bossie’s Ice Creams’ who told us he’s excited to have his hard work recognised.

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Investigations are underway following reports a woman had her drink spiked while out celebrating her 21st birthday in Maidstone.

Tia Jennings was at Bierkeller on Gabriel's Hill on January 10th when she started acting out of character - she then collapsed outside a short time later. We've asked the venue a number of times for a comment.

Also in today's podcast, the mother of a teenager killed in a crash in Thanet says the number of people caught over the limit during a crackdown last month is 'shocking'.

18-year-old Ethan Entwhistle was a passenger in a car that hit a tree in Broadstairs in October 2023 - the driver was more than twice the drink drive limit.

Police stopped around 300 motorists for drink and drug driving offences in the county in December.

Families in Kent are being asked to share their experience of maternity and neonatal care for a major national review.

The 'Call for Evidence' will be used to shape recommendations to improve services across England - hear from Zoe Finn who lost her son Carter when his heart stopped beating while she was 35 weeks pregnant.

The MP for Ashford has signed an open letter to the Prime Minister calling for a ban on social media use for people under the age of 16.

Sojan Joseph is the only Kent MP to put his name to the letter and joined 60 others from across the country.

Campaigners from Kent are due at the High Court as a legal challenge against plans for a second runway at Gatwick Airport gets under way.

It's after the transport secretary gave approval last September for the airport to bring its Northern runway into regular use as part of a 2-point £2 billion expansion.

In sport, Lenni Cirino has signed a contract extension with Gillingham. The new deal keeps the left-back at the club until the end of this season.

And, find out who Chatham Town's women will be playing the fifth round of the FA Cup.

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