West Kent Local NewsYour trusted source for local news and community updates
News
Council decisions, crime, community life and the stories shaping day-to-day life across West Kent.
All Articles
224 total
Garden Fire Spreads to Three Properties in Tonbridge, One Treated for Burns
A fire that started in a garden at Shipbourne Mews in Tonbridge spread to multiple neighbouring gardens and three properties, with six fire engines called and one person treated for a minor burn.
Two Arrested After Elderly Paddock Wood Resident Targeted by Rogue Traders
Kent Police have arrested two men after an elderly Paddock Wood resident was allegedly overcharged for unnecessary home repairs over several weeks, as officers appeal for other potential victims in the Staplehurst and Paddock Wood area to come forward.
Appeal After Teenage Girl Dies in M20 Collision Near Aylesford
Kent Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage after a teenage girl died in the early hours of Saturday morning when she was struck by vehicles on the M20 near Aylesford.
Ten Engines Battle Overnight Wildfire in Tunbridge Wells as Second Blaze Hits Yalding
Kent Fire and Rescue Service sent ten engines to an overnight wildfire on North Farm Lane in Tunbridge Wells that burned from Friday evening into Saturday morning, while a separate wildfire in Yalding, near Maidstone, is believed to have been started deliberately.
Burst Main Leaves Nearly 1,400 Homes Without Water Across Cranbrook and the Weald
A burst water main in Swattenden Lane, Cranbrook, cut off supply to almost 1,400 properties across Cranbrook, Benenden and Rolvenden from Friday morning, with South East Water blaming a combination of heatwave demand, firefighting hydrant use and repeated bursts in the area.
Marden Drug Dealer Caught Discarding Cocaine as Officers Moved In
Dean Smith, 51, of The Cockpit in Marden, has been jailed for three years after officers investigating suspicious activity at his home watched him try to ditch a package of cocaine under a parked car moments before his arrest.
Friday's National Wildfire Alert Wasn't a Drill for West Kent - Here's Why It Was Sent
Millions of phones across England and Wales blared out a 10-second siren on Friday evening as the Government issued its first-ever emergency alert for an active incident, warning of a very high wildfire risk. For West Kent, it followed weeks of real grass and woodland fires already keeping crews busy locally.
The Pantiles and Commons Go Up for Sale, as Council Rules Out Bidding Itself
TargetFollow has confirmed it intends to sell its whole Tunbridge Wells estate, including the Pantiles and the Commons, while continuing a programme of repairs to the Pantiles in the meantime. The borough council says it won't be entering any bidding process itself, but continues to back a community bid for the Commons and points to legal protections it says would survive any change of owner.
A-Level Results Day 2026: The National Picture, Before West Kent's Own
Students across West Kent collected their A-level results today alongside hundreds of thousands of others nationally, in a year Ofqual is calling one of stability — with the South East among the strongest-performing regions. School-by-school results for West Kent to follow once they're confirmed.