Latest news with #Dartford
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
The Southeastern trains cancelled this last weekend of May
Several Southeastern trains will be cancelled, diverted, or replaced by buses this last weekend of May. The changes are due to engineering work and will affect trains on Saturday and Sunday (May 31 to June 1). We have outlined and simplified the details so you can plan your journey this weekend. Saturday and Sunday (May 31 to June 1): Engineering work is taking place in the London Victoria area, closing all lines used by Southeastern services. Sole Street Line: Trains between London Victoria and Ramsgate or Dover Priory via Chatham will run from London Cannon Street instead. These trains will run non-stop between London Bridge and St Mary Cray (Saturday only) or between London Bridge and Rochester / Bromley South (Sunday). Stopping services between London Victoria and Gillingham will not run on Saturday. Maidstone East Line: Trains between London Victoria and Ashford International via Maidstone East will run from: London Charing Cross on Saturday, running non-stop between London Bridge and St Mary Cray. London Cannon Street on Sunday, also running non-stop between London Bridge and St Mary Cray. Bromley South Line: Trains between London Victoria and Orpington will run from London Blackfriars, calling additionally at Elephant & Castle on both days. Bexleyheath Line: Trains between London Victoria and Gravesend or Dartford via Bexleyheath will not run. Additional services will run between London Charing Cross and Dartford via Bexleyheath on Saturday. Additional Services: Trains will run between London Blackfriars and Orpington via Denmark Hill, Lewisham, and Bromley South. Brixton Station: Closed all weekend. Use London Underground for travel to/from Brixton.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Nightclub security guard accused of raping teenager in his car around corner from bar was not allowed to work in the UK, court hears
A nightclub security guard accused of raping a 19-year-old was not permitted to work in the UK and used false ID to get the job, a court has heard. Morenikeji Adewole, 47, from Dartford, Kent, is on trial accused of raping the woman in his car near Heaven nightclub in central London in the early hours of November 1, 2024, which he denies. He had been in the UK on a five year tourist visa that did not allow him to work in the country, Southwark Crown Court heard on Tuesday. It also meant he could not stay for more than six months at a time and he returned to Nigeria when those stints were up, jurors were told. The defendant had been employed at Heaven under the name Olusola Julius Alabi and gave a fake name to police when he was arrested following the alleged rape, the court heard. He was charged for having a false Immigration Residence Permit Identity Card under the name of Olusola Julius Alabi and a false SIA (Security Industry Authority) card with the name O Alabi. Officers discovered his real name through finger print evidence after his arrest, jurors were told. Adewole previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of an identification document with improper intention. Giving evidence, the defendant said he 'used a false ID to obtain work, to get a job' and that it was 'to make a living... to save for my partner - I'm the one who paid for the rent'. He said he had come to the UK on vacation and later to find employment. Asked why he gave officers a false name, he said: 'I was panicking, that's the name people call me at my work.' At the time of the alleged rape he was living in an apartment with his partner and at work supervised three other Heaven security guards, the court heard. He said he had met the complainant, who cannot be identified, months before the incident when she said hello to him by the club. On the the night of the alleged rape she said 'hello uncle how are you', 'you look handsome' and later kissed him, he claimed. Adewole, who wore a blue suit and tie, added that 'almost every night' at work he has 'interactions' that can include people trying to kiss him. He said he told her to stop and she later asked him for water. Jurors were previously told that the woman was visibly drunk and stumbling and that a person can be too intoxicated to give proper consent. 'I told her I can't go inside the club to get her water, but I have water in my car,' he added. The defendant said he then took a work break and walked with the woman and her friend to his nearby Lexus and gave the friend water, which the complainant also drank. He said the complainant needed the toilet and he went with her to a nearby tunnel, leaving the friend. The teenager asked him to join her because 'the phone snatcher and the bag snatcher' operate in the 'dodgy area', he said. CCTV showed the defendant and the complainant in the tunnel and Adewole claimed they kissed there. Footage appeared to show her stumbling in the tunnel that was behind a shutter. Prosecutor Marion Smullen said the complainant could be seen falling and asked Adewole why he did not radio for assistance. He said the teenager had not fallen but she 'goes down' and that he would not contact welfare or a medic 'for this kind of falling'. Adewole claimed that the teenager said she 'wanted sex from him' but that he told her this could not happen in the tunnel. The defendant then collected his car and drove the teenager to nearby Adelphi Terrace. He told the court he was wearing a hi-vis jacket with a body-worn camera, a walkie-talkie and an earpiece when they arrived. It is alleged that he then raped her in the back seat of the parked vehicle. Adewole claimed there was sexual activity but he did not have penetrative intercourse with the woman. He removed his earpiece and camera but still had the radio on at that point, he said. He added that the woman had earlier told him she was 25-years-old but in the car she said she was 19 and he 'stopped immediately'. Asked why, the defendant said: 'I can't date someone below 25.' He said he has a science degree and had previously been employed as a hydraulic and civil engineer, meaning he worked on construction and roadworks. The trial continues.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
We live in town deemed one of the best for families – it's FILTHY and gangs rule the streets, we're too scared to go out
RESIDENTS of a town deemed one of the best in the UK for families have said they're scared to go out at night. The historic market town on the outskirts of London was just named amongst the top ten most popular affordable towns for families in the UK. 14 14 14 Dartford, Kent, is best known for its famous crossing and for where The Rolling Stones were born, but its also proving popular with brand new homeowners. It ranks as the cheapest place to live for families in England and is the most popular area for first-time buyers in the UK. Property experts at Zoopla compiled a top-ten list based on the average prices of three-bedroom homes in each local authority, comparing them to average household earnings. While Glenrothes, Scotland, took the top spot, Dartford came in seventh place with an average three-bedroom priced at £423,600. But speaking to the locals about what it's like to live in the town where Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were born, many thought it wasn't quite rock'n'roll. Asked whether they thought Dartford was an affordable area, Shar Phillips, 27, and Vicky May, 30, scoffed. Shar said: "Getting a house round here is ridiculous, people can't get housing and you get people coming in and they get a house straight away." For a town deemed one of the cheapest for families, the pair said they did not feel safe walking the streets at night, highlighting gangs and drug dealing in the area. On this, Shar said: "Sometimes in the day, you'll get all the gangs walking around here, you get all the trouble with the police. "They'll see something happen and turn a blind eye. "Everywhere you go, even Dartford Park, you get drug deals going on." Gesturing toward Dartford High Street, she added: "I've been here when there's a boy stabbed right over there, and they took no notice and walked away. "I used to go out with my friends a lot at night and my Nan gets so worried about me being out in public. "I get shouted at in the streets, I get abuse and you can't get away from it." The pair also pointed toward how they felt Dartford was "dirty" with Vicky saying: "It's not clean, they don't care about it." This sentiment was echoed by Carol Rawlins, 80, and Sue Taylor, 67, retelling what they had heard the local busker say that very morning. 14 14 14 Chuckling, Sue recalled: "A bloke was singing earlier and he said, "Welcome to Dartford, or should I say Dirt-ford!" "It's dirty, I went to use the cash machine earlier and it had food all down it." Pointing toward the bronze Mick Jagger and Keith Richards statues just a stone's throw away, the ladies said they were grateful they hadn't been touched. Carol said: "I'm so glad that hasn't been defaced because you just don't know anymore." A short commute away from London, with a train taking just 41 minutes into London Bridge, first-time buyers are flocking to the Kent town. According to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in 2023, Dartford had the highest rate of first-time buyers in the country at 20.2 sales per 1,000 dwellings. This figure has jumped up from 15.0 per 1,000 over the last 10 years. At the same time, and not unsurprisingly, first-time buyers looking for properties in the capital has decreased in the last decade. For a three-bedroom home, those looking to move to Dartford will be looking at paying an average of £1,680 in monthly mortgage payments. But not everyone was unhappy that Dartford was the place they called home and it hasn't stopped manager of Mann Letting Agents, Tim Knight, 40, buying a property himself nearby. He cited ongoing developments in Dartford, good grammar schools that parents flock to and good transport links and green spaces, saying "it's nice to have things on your doorstep". Tim said: "I've lived in the borough for over 10 years and I've really enjoyed where I live. "It's absolutely popular for first-time buyers - the road links to London are good, train links are good and there's a lot of investment being put into Dartford." 14 14 14 Most people on the street agreed they enjoyed the green spaces with some admitting a lot of effort and investment has gone into the area. Dartford is almost spoilt for choice when it comes to open spaces including Central Park, Hesketh Park and 300 acres of Dartford Heath which has a rich history going back to 1660. Tim added: "I think when Bluewater Shopping Centre was originally introduced years ago, it had a huge impact on the town over the years. A lot of investment has gone into the town and there's been a real focus in trying to bring this small market town back to where it was.' However, Tim did admit that it's still more expensive overall than other areas in Kent and, in the last couple of years, there's been a "big increase in rent". Residents clearly feel a strong sense of community and care about what is going on in Dartford. The popular Dartford Community group on Facebook has a staggering 69,000 members. And many of the locals are concerned not just about the town's cleanliness, but the crime on the streets. Addressing concerns, the District Commander for Dartford at Kent Police, Chief Inspector Will Lay, said: "Dartford has a dedicated team of beat constables and PCSOs focused on tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in the area. "They work closely with partner agencies to ensure a joined-up approach to concerns raised by residents and business owners. "The result of their diligent efforts has been continual reductions in victim-based crime over the last three years. Incidents involving serious violence have also seen a reduction of 28.9% over the last twelve months." They stressed they "fully understand" the concerns about crime and disorder committed by "the minority of offenders who live in our community". He added: "I would seek to reassure them that our local officers are determined to provide a visible and effective deterrent. "They will use a range of tactics, including closure orders on disorderly properties, to ensure persistent criminals understand there are consequences for their unlawful actions." But there are also concerns about the pace of change felt in the community. 14 14 14 Catherine, 55, has lived in Dartford all her life and said the town has "changed a lot". She said: "It's a bit run down, especially the town, and we saw a dawn raid just this morning. "Nothing ever changes really what they spend the money on, it's the same old rubbish." Turning to her daughter Gabby, 20, she asked whether she thought that was a fair assessment. She stressed she was trying to be polite about her hometown but said: "I know they've tried to make it better, but I still feel like it's "Dirty Dartford." "That's what people have always called it!" Caroline added that "the people of Dartford are nice, mostly" before adding with a wry smile: "Not in our area though!" But not all parents are downbeat about raising a family in the Kent town. One mother, who wished to remain anonymous, said it was a "family-led community". With the local Orchard Theatre and Dartford Museum, there's family entertainment on offer. There's even Dinotropolis, a dinosaur adventure park, complete with impressive animatronics and raptor racing. She added: "It's a good place to live - a good community and they do a lot for the kids in Dartford, it's good for families." UK adults fear being priced out Zoopla's latest research also found a third of UK adults fear being priced out of their ideal area. While mortgage rates have declined recently, they're still higher than pre-2022 levels, with the average monthly payment for a £304,600 three-bedroom house sitting at £1,210. This is at odds with the £870 figure respondents felt was a reasonable monthly mortgage price. The survey also revealed that three-bed homes in the most popular affordable towns, such as Dartford, were viewed twice as many times as the average three-bed home in their respective regions. Richard Donnell, Executive Director at Zoopla, commented: 'This heightened popularity, coupled with the significant portion of would-be buyers expressing concerns about being priced out of housing, underscores the ongoing challenges facing movers and the clear appetite for value. 'The willingness of many to consider different regions or compromise on property features further highlights the adaptive strategies families are employing in today's market.'
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Loose Women star signs up for money-spinning new role away from ITV as stars face pay cuts and axings in ITV chaos
A LOOSE Women star has signed up for a money-spinning new role away from ITV, as the stars of the show face pay cuts. It comes after a major ITV shake-up was revealed this week which will see the female-led, lunchtime talk show cut to 30 weeks a year. 4 4 4 It means the full 26-strong pool of Loose Women. presenters and panellists will no longer be required. Up to a third of the cast, which includes Linda Robson, Denise Welch, Christine Lampard, Coleen Nolan and Charlene White, could be left without a seat at the table in the shake-up. Not one to take things lying down, one of the stars has already taken on a new job that will boost the coffers. Linda Robson has revealed she will be treading the boards this Christmas in panto. She will take center stage at Dartford's Orchard West Theatre. Theatre Director, Tal Rosen said: "We're absolutely delighted to announce Linda Robson is starring in this year's pantomime, Aladdin, as Jasmine's Mother. "As a much-loved household name, Linda will undoubtably bring her warmth, humour and unmistakable personality to Orchard West. "She is a perfect fit for Dartford this Christmas, and Aladdin is guaranteed to be a special festive production. "We look forward to welcoming Linda in her first panto role here in Dartford and we know our audiences will welcome this exciting news." MORE ITV CUTS Loose Women isn't the only show affected by these changes at ITV. Katie Price reignites bitter Loose Women feud seven years after panel exit, ranting 'I hated that show' Lorraine Kelly 's show has been cut to just 30 minutes a day and will also only air for 30 weeks of the year. Good Morning Britain, with hosts including Susanna Reid, Ed Balls and Kate Garraway, will take half an hour from Lorraine and will run from 6am to 9.30am. More than 220 jobs will be lost as part of the shake-up — almost half of the 450 employed on the four flagship shows GMB, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women. The reshuffle comes amid a desperate cost-cutting drive at the broadcaster, and follows changes already made to its soaps. But bosses insist the cuts will bolster other areas of the channel including new drama and sport. The overhaul was announced on Tuesday by Kevin Lygo, managing director of ITV 's media and entertainment division. He said: ' Daytime is a really important part of what we do, and these scheduling and production changes will enable us to continue to deliver a schedule providing viewers with the news, debate and discussion they love from the presenters they know and trust as well as generating savings which will allow us to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres. 'These changes also allow us to consolidate our news operations and expand our national, international and regional news output and to build upon our proud history of trusted journalism at a time when our viewers need accurate, unbiased news coverage more than ever.' 4
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New town centre wardens introduced to make Dartford 'safer and cleaner'
Dartford Borough Council has introduced new town centre wardens to help support residents, visitors, and businesses. The wardens are part of the council's plan to make Dartford a safer, cleaner, and more welcoming place. Their role is not just about enforcement; they will focus on community engagement, building relationships, and being a visible, approachable presence in the town. The wardens will regularly patrol town centre hotspots, providing guidance, reassurance, and a friendly point of contact for the public and businesses. They will also work closely with shopkeepers, security teams, and the police to share information, keep people informed, and help prevent anti-social behaviour. Jeremy Kite, leader of the council, said: "The new town centre wardens are the advocates and champions of Dartford's town centre – whether that's offering directions, supporting local shops, or calmly addressing behaviour that affects the quality of life in our town. "They're an extra pair of eyes and ears on the ground and an important part of our commitment to a vibrant and welcoming Dartford. "If you see them about, please come and say hello to them." While their main focus is on encouraging positive behaviour, the wardens have enforcement powers when needed. In cases of persistent anti-social activity, such as street drinking, littering, or nuisance vehicles, they will gather information and report it to the council or Dartford Town Against Crime (DTAC) for further action. The wardens will also report environmental issues such as broken street lighting, graffiti, and street cleaning, helping to ensure Dartford remains a clean, safe, and inviting place for everyone. Local businesses are encouraged to connect with the wardens via the council's radio network, where they will be the first point of contact for day-to-day support and quick response. The introduction of the wardens is part of the council's wider commitment to making Dartford a safer, cleaner, and more welcoming place for everyone. The council hopes that the wardens will help to create a more positive atmosphere in the town centre, benefiting both residents and businesses.
