Podcast: Grandmother told by Ashford Borough Council she can't return to her home of 25 years after devastating fire
KentOnline
Wednesday, 25 February 2026 - 22 minutes
A grandmother of 12 has been left heartbroken after a council confirmed she cannot return to her home of more than 25 years following a devastating fire.
The blaze ripped through her three-bedroom house in South Ashford last month and she was initially told she would be able to return once repairs to the council-owned property had been completed.
Also in today’s podcast, the KentOnline Podcast has been told the Port of Dover will be ready for the full rollout of new border checks for passengers heading to the EU.
From the 10th of April, everyone travelling through to mainland Europe will have to provide a fingerprint and photo – you can hear from the Port CEO ahead of the changes.
You can hear from a mum-of-two was told she had multiple brain tumours after previously battling breast cancer twice.
The 35-year-old underwent successful surgery in 2024 but just before Christmas last year, she started suffering from severe headaches and problems with her vision.
Another Kent town has bid to become the first-ever UK Town of Culture.
The competition aims to celebrate the legacy and creativity of some of the country’s smaller places – Chatham’s bid is being led by Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust.
And the local authority in Maidstone say there's been an incredible community response to a campaign to save Swift colonies.
They're taking action to try to bolster declining populations but handing out free boxes for the birds to nest in.
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