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Alan Smith

Alan Smith joined the Kent Messenger as a trainee sub-editor in 1989. In 1998 he switched to a reporting role, chiefly on the Kent Messenger and subsequently on Kent Online.

'This is a pleasant surprise': Housing estates handed £20m to become ‘trailblazer neighbourhoods’

22 June 2025
'This is a pleasant surprise': Housing estates handed £20m to become ‘trailblazer neighbourhoods’

A councillor was “surprised” to learn his town is to receive a regeneration grant from the government - despite not being “particularly deprived”.

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Calls for second market for town centre

20 June 2025
Calls for second market for town centre

A town is looking for an operator to run its second market, specialising in food.

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Pub and club staff must undergo Ask for Angela training to keep customers safe

19 June 2025
Pub and club staff must undergo Ask for Angela training to keep customers safe

A scheme where people can seek help on a night out by using a recognised phrase is to become mandatory for new premises licences in one part of Kent.

Cost of flagging down a taxi to rise by 25% after cabbies ask for increase

19 June 2025
Cost of flagging down a taxi to rise by 25% after cabbies ask for increase

Councillors have agreed to the first fare rise for taxi rides in three years.

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New fitness centre near M20 could include padel courts

19 June 2025
New fitness centre near M20 could include padel courts

A health club’s plans for a new gym, pool and spa have been approved, with padel tennis likely to follow.

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New bus stop scheme causing ‘horrendous’ hold-ups for drivers

18 June 2025
New bus stop scheme causing ‘horrendous’ hold-ups for drivers

It was supposed to make things safer for passengers but a new bus stop scheme is resulting in long delays for motorists.

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Class of 1966 to reunite after Facebook post led to chance meeting

18 June 2025
Class of 1966 to reunite after Facebook post led to chance meeting

Classmates who last met in the year England won the World Cup are holding a reunion after spending years tracking down faces in an old photo.

‘We’ve lost everything, it’s heartbreaking’: Pregnant mum and her children flee house blaze

18 June 2025
‘We’ve lost everything, it’s heartbreaking’: Pregnant mum and her children flee house blaze

A shocked community is rallying around to support families who have lost everything after a blaze tore through their homes.

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Work on level crossing to close key bridge to traffic

17 June 2025
Work on level crossing to close key bridge to traffic

A key bridge over the River Medway will be closed to traffic to enable work on a nearby level crossing.

Teacher banned after confessing to having sexual thoughts about pupils

17 June 2025
Teacher banned after confessing to having sexual thoughts about pupils

A teacher at a prestigious public school has been banned from the profession after confessing to having sexual thoughts about his pupils.

‘It seems madness to take this away’: Anger at plans to sell-off community green

17 June 2025
‘It seems madness to take this away’: Anger at plans to sell-off community green

Residents have rallied against plans to sell-off a treasured green space used by the community for generations to a social housing provider.

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Cleaning up chewing gum costs councils £7m a year

17 June 2025
Cleaning up chewing gum costs councils £7m a year

A Kent council has won a grant from Keep Britain Tidy to help in the battle against discarded chewing gum.

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Town council campaign hots up

16 June 2025
Town council campaign hots up

Will a new town council fill a “democratic deficit” or simply add to bills - residents are invited to a public meeting to find out.

‘The road markings look ridiculous - there’s no common sense any more’

15 June 2025
‘The road markings look ridiculous - there’s no common sense any more’

The way road markings have been repainted, following weeks of gas works and disruption, has been slammed as “ridiculous” by frustrated residents.

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Trampolining champion left disabled after horrific training accident now battling cancer

15 June 2025
Trampolining champion left disabled after horrific training accident now battling cancer

An appeal has been launched to help a former UK trampolining champion and paramedic who has been diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer.

‘It’s an honour to represent this great town’: Tory pub manager bucks the national trend

11 June 2025
‘It’s an honour to represent this great town’: Tory pub manager bucks the national trend

Meet the Tory assistant pub manager who gained a seat for the Conservatives amid Reform UK’s landslide victory.

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Council offices in ‘appalling state’ to get £7.7m eco-friendly makeover

11 June 2025
Council offices in ‘appalling state’ to get £7.7m eco-friendly makeover

Plans to spend up to £7.7 million on making council offices more eco-friendly have been described as an “irresponsible use of public funds”.

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‘This space has made a really big difference to the community already’

10 June 2025
‘This space has made a really big difference to the community already’

A new club has moved into an “underutilised” space, based at a social housing complex, to much fanfare.

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Missing teen last seen at shopping centre found safe

09 June 2025
Missing teen last seen at shopping centre found safe

Police concerned for the welfare of a missing 19-year-old have now safely located him.

More HMO applications ahead of tougher rules on converting family homes

09 June 2025
More HMO applications ahead of tougher rules on converting family homes

A council is considering two more HMO applications ahead of a new tougher policy to control the spread of the developments.

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