Podcast: Traders blame a drop in footfall as Petals Perfections and The Ashford Laundrette become the latest businesses in the town centre to close
KentOnline
Wednesday, 2 September 2026 - 20 minutes
A drop in footfall is being blamed for the closure of two more businesses in Ashford town centre.
Petals Perfections florist and The Ashford Laundrette have both announced they're shutting.
The borough council say they remain 'committed to supporting businesses'.
Also in today's podcast, the founder of a community shop in Chatham says there's been huge demand for their uniform bank, as children go back to school after the summer break.
Thrift and Thrive is running a free swap shop at two sites on the high street to help families who are struggling to make ends meet.
A plaque's being unveiled later in memory of a Kent firefighter who died while responding to an emergency more than 50 years ago.
Malcolm Farrow was killed when the engine he was travelling in crashed on College Road in Maidstone in 1970.
A TV medic has become an ambassador of the air ambulance charity serving Kent.
Dr Hilary Jones, who lives in the county, has spent a day with the crew to see how they deliver life-saving critical care and has been speaking to the podcast about it.
And in sport, it was a point for Gillingham on the road in league two last night, and they completed two signings on transfer deadline day.
The match which finished 1-1 at Chesterfield and we've got reaction from manager Gareth Ainsworth.
We can also hear from Eli King who has joined the squad along with Zech Obiero.
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