Podcast: Bosses at Ashford Designer Outlet increase car parking fees as shoppers hit out at latest hike
KentOnline
Friday, 12 September 2025 - 20 minutes
Parking charges at one of Kent’s most popular shopping destinations have been branded “insulting” after rising for the third time in as many years.
Ashford Designer Outlet has increased its minimum parking fee to £3 for four hours - up from £2.50 last year and £2 the year before.
Also in today’s podcast, a serial burglar has been jailed again after cutting a hole in Bluewater shopping centre’s roof and stealing £1.4million worth of watches.
The notorious thief, who has previously targeted the home of Lord Alan Sugar, was on licence when he targeted Watchfinder at the shopping complex in February.
There's just one month to go until the new Entry/Exit System is rolled out in Dover and Folkestone.
It will involve people from non-EU countries – such as the UK – having their fingerprints registered and photograph taken to enter the EU but we’re being assured it won’t lead to long delays and backlogs of traffic.
In football Gillingham will face a different kind of challenge this weekend as they look to maintain their impressive start to the season.
The Gills welcome Notts County to Priestfield this Saturday – you can hear from boss Gareth Ainsworth and midfielder Jonny Williams.
And we’ve spoken to the boss of a textile business in Kent who welcomed the Princess of Wales for a royal visit.
Kate was at the Marina Mill in Cuxton as part of a series of engagements celebrating the British textile industry.
