KentOnline

Fed-up residents say a stretch of scenic seafront is at risk of becoming a “squatter camp” if something is not done to stop campervan owners from setting up there for weeks at a time. Locals say people are practically living at the site on Sheppey and committing anti-social acts such as urinating in public. Also in today’s podcast, a shop owner has been left with thousands of pounds worth of damage following a mass brawl in Sheerness. You can hear audio of the fight which involved as many as 15 people on Saturday night on the high street. A homeless man living out of his car in Maidstone has been telling the KentOnline Podcast of his struggle to find pet-friendly accommodation. Despite holding down a full-time job, after he’s paid his child benefit, car insurance and storage costs, he’s left with little money to live off. The boss of P&O has admitted his company pay on-board crew just £4.87 an hour - and that he wouldn’t be able to live on that wage. The CEO was paid £508,000 in his role last year - he’s faced a grilling in Westminster and been asked if he’s just a “modern day pirate”. And the new Gillingham manager has been appointed and says he can’t wait to get started. Mark Bonner has taken over top job at the club and had outlined what he expects from his team.

A Rochester woman had to undergo surgery and has been left with a broken nose after an unprovoked attack while on a night out. The 42-year-old has lost her sense of smell and taste following the assault - a man who has a history of violence against women has faced court. Also in today’s podcast, worried business owners in Medway have been left fearing for their future after seeing customer numbers plummet following a hike in car parking fees. They claim footfall has dropped by around a third since the authority decided to increase its pay and display costs for on and off-street parking by 60p earlier this year. The parents of a “kind and compassionate” man who died following a severe asthma attack are raising awareness of the condition. Dad-of-two Gary Bush was putting his young children to bed when he suffered the attack – this World Asthma Day his parents are urging people with the condition to find support. One of the last remaining businesses in a closure-hit shopping centre extension says turning the site into 200 homes could be a good opportunity. It comes as the owners of Ashford’s County Square admit the development is “failing” and could be put to better use. And you can hear from wildlife bosses as a significantly important area of marshland in Kent has been officially handed over to the Kent Wildlife Trust. The site near Faversham has been described as a “service station for birds” and is home to more than 250 species.

Staff at a nursery which has been open inside a recreation centre since 1996 say they have been told to “leave immediately” by new owners. Bosses at centre in Ashford have told the KentOnline Podcast they were informed via the new owner’s solicitors that they need to leave. Also in today’s podcast, you can hear from the RSPCA following a spate of attacks on wildlife in Kent by people using catapults. Ducks and pigeons are among the animals that have been targeted in the county – with fears it’s being made popular by videos on social media. A Kent based charity says the record number of people crossing the Channel this week is proof the Rwanda scheme won’t work. More than 700 people made the journey on Wednesday – that’s the highest daily total so far this year. One of Canterbury’s ugliest buildings could be turned into flats - with a plush rooftop penthouse boasting panoramic views. The fading five-storey building in Lower Bridge Street along the city’s ring-road dated back to the 1960s. And a disheartened Canterbury bistro boss has mounted an extraordinary fightback - by rolling out a ban on laptops. He says the "tough decision" was well received, with many punters preferring to socialise rather than spending time on the screen.

A Gillingham woman who has spent almost 20 years stuck in just one room of her home has told the podcast she often wishes she went to sleep and didn't wake up. Illa Smyth struggled with her mobility after skiing and horseriding accidents and now weighs 35 stone. She's paid tribute to her loving husband and she describes her quality of life. Also in today's episode, a woman's facing life in prison after being found guilty of murdering a pub landlord in Maidstone. Stephanie Langley, 54 from Wilsons Lane in East Farleigh, stabbed her ex-brother-in-law Matthew Bryant to death at the Hare and Hounds last September. Figures seen by KentOnline show 711 people crossed the Channel to Kent in 14 small boats yesterday. That's a record daily high this year and takes the total number of asylum seekers who've made the journey since last Friday to more than 1,600. We get to vote for who we think should be Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner today. There are three candidates going for the role with the result declared on Sunday. Council elections are also happening in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells - while two local Neighbourhood Plan Referendums are taking place in Pluckley and Chatham. An animal conservation centre near Ashford has announced a major new operation to save Lions from Ukraine. The animals are currently living at a site near Kyiv, but some of them have suffered from shellshock due to the bombings. A man who's walking from Manchester to Ibiza has now raised more than £20,000 for a Kent charity. Henry Moores has teamed up with nightclub owner Wayne Lineker, and will travel a total of 2,400 kilometres on foot. And in sport, Chatham Town are through to the Isthmian League Premier Division play-off finals. They beat Horsham on penalties in front of a sold-out stadium last night.

Plans for a an 8,000 seater stadium in north Kent have been approved. It is the centre piece of a major development on brownfield land in Northfleet which also includes houses, shops, medical services and community venues. Also in today’s episode, another person has been arrested over the deaths of five people as they tried to cross the Channel to Kent. Figures show 900 asylum seekers have made the dangerous journey since Friday. Bungalow owners in Dymchurch say they feel like they are living in a box after new houses we're built behind their gardens Residents in Hythe Road say they have been let down by council and have called for the two-storey properties to be demolished. Council bosses say plans are underway to bring back a ferry service between Gravesend and Tilbury. It has been a month since it stopped running and businesses in the town centre say they have lost up to 30% of their trade. Controversial plans to redevelop Chatham Docks have been recommended for approval. The idea is to demolish the existing warehouses on the site and build a new business campus And voting will take place tomorrow for Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner. Their job is to hold the chief constable to account and give a voice to the public.

A Sheppey woman who scammed her bosses out of nearly £80,000 has been sent to prison. Carly Miller, 39 from Main Road in Queenborough, siphoned off company money that was meant to be used to pay suppliers. Also in today's podcast, there are calls to ban lorries from a stretch of road in Kent following a number of serious crashes. Campaigners also want the speed limit on the A251 between Faversham and Challock cut from 50 to 40 miles per hour. New import checks at the Kent border that have been delayed five times finally come into force today. Businesses bringing in food and flowers have had to fill in extra paperwork - and some lorries could be sent to Sevington near Ashford for closer inspection. The organisers of this year's Pride in Canterbury have told KentOnline their socials blew up when they revealed the sad Oompa Loompa will be there this year. You'll probably remember she went viral after pictures were posted of the disappointing Willy Wonka Experience in Glasgow. And in sport, it's set to be a busy summer for Gillingham after they sacked head coach Stephen Clemence. He left Priestfield yesterday after just five months in the role. We've been getting reaction from our Gills reporter and David Garth from the Gillingham FC supporters club.

More than 40 hair and beauty students at an academy on Sheppey have been told their past year’s work was for nothing. The pupils have been left stunned they won’t be getting a BTEC qualification despite signing up for the course and studying hard. Also in today’s podcast, an award-winning architect who designed and built his “dream home” on the Kent coast says it no longer feels safe following an attempted armed raid at the property. David Liddicoat, whose work has featured on Grand Designs, was inside the house with his partner and their two children at the time of the terrifying ordeal. A court has heard a “Good Samaritan” was pummelled in the face when he bravely stepped in to save a stranger from a pub toilet beating. The attacker has avoided being sent to prison over the attack at a bar in Rochester. New rules set to be introduced by every council in Kent mean those enjoying the luxury of owning a second residence will soon have to pay a premium. It’s designed to discourage second home ownership, with many believing it will free up properties for those who need them amid a housing crisis. And in football, the season may be over for Gillingham but their head coach plans to keep working on improving the squad. Hear from Stephen Clemence who says he hopes to build a team more to his liking so they can mount a more vigorous assault on the promotion places next season.

A mum-of-four who endured cancer chemotherapy after being misdiagnosed with the disease says a hospital trust “has not learned from its mistakes”. The Whitstable resident says she has “absolutely no faith in doctors” after being told by Kent and Canterbury Hospital staff she could “drop down dead” at any moment. Also in today's podcast, furious swimmers say a “dirty” leisure centre that employs three cleaners must take on more staff as the site has “never looked so bad”. Bosses at Ashford’s multimillion-pound Stour Centre stress they are “committed to maintaining excellent standards” - but visitors say hygiene issues are putting them off using the facility. A decision is set to be made on plans to build an 8,000-seater stadium at the heart of a new waterfront neighbourhood - almost two years after they were submitted. The scheme, known as Northfleet Harbourside, will go before a planning committee next week for the first time A deaf man almost had surgery to remove his testicle without knowing the risks after a hospital blunder saw him seen by doctors without an interpreter. Medics even wrongly believed the patient had “begged” to have the surgery as he was forced to rely on lip-reading and a pen and paper to communicate. And ahead of the final game of the season you can hear from the Gillingham boss who says there's still plenty to play for. The Gills' hopes of the play-offs were dashed last week with a loss, but they're hoping to end the season on a high as they host Doncaster.

A developer has been criticised for going back on a promise to provide affordable housing in Deal. 100 properties are due be built in Cross Road and 30% were supposed to be affordable. We've been getting reaction from people who live nearby. Also in the podcast, bosses in Dartford have approved plans to build more than 12 and a half thousand homes over the next 13 years. The area's seen a 20% population increase in recent years - partly driven by the development of a garden city at Ebbsfleet. Hear from the council leader. A Gravesend dad with an inoperable brain tumour hopes a fundraiser will help him make memories with his children. John Rendle received the diagnosis last year, and has undergone treatment for the condition - but is unsure just how much time he has left. A study by the University of Kent and World Health Organisation has found underage girls are smoking, drinking and vaping more than boys. Lucy Hickmott joins the episode with the details. A dad whose young son died in a suspected hit and run has revealed he's opening a dessert parlour in Folkestone in his memory. Seven-year-old William Brown had been going to retrieve a football when it happened in December. William Brown Senior has been telling us about his project. And in sport, Maidstone United are through to the National League South play-off semi-finals. We've got reaction from manager George Elokobi.

An Eastenders legend is among those calling on a Kent council to reopen a playing field which residents have used for more than 100 years. John Altman, who played ‘Nasty’ Nick Cotton in the soap, says he “treasures” the land and that the green space should be preserved. Also in today's podcast, there are fears for the future of Kent's "music town", with some venue owners saying the town has never been so quiet. A number of business owners are selling up as the pandemic and the cost of living crisis changes consumer habits. Hear from a wildlife expert who says a significant fall in Kent’s insect numbers is ‘incredibly concerning’. Flying insect numbers have plummeted by 89% since 2004 according to a survey, which counts the number of creatures caught on vehicle number plates. A Kent school has been granted a licence for its annual fireworks display, despite neighbours’ claims the sound is “absolutely insufferable.” It means the secondary will be able to sell alcohol and more tickets to its show. And you can find out which Kent Council makes the most out of parking charges. It comes as new figures show local authorities across the county raked in £50 million was made in just one year.

A Gravesend mum has issued an invitation to Rishi Sunak, saying he should come to her home and help give mental health support to her struggling 18-year-old. It comes after the Prime Minister said he wants to tackle what he described as the UK's "sicknote culture" and strip GPs of their power to sign people off work. Also in today's episode, a child is thought to be among five people who have died while trying to cross the Channel. A huge emergency response was reporter just hours after the government's controversial Rwanda Bill was passed in Parliament. There are calls for something to be done to address health inequality in Medway. New data shows the life expectancy of the average male living in Chatham is 73, but at the other end of the 151 bus route in Cuxton it's 83. A bid to allow retirees to stay in their park homes all year round has been refused, despite claims its residents were 'victims of some serious misselling'. Occupants of Beverley Park on the Isle of Sheppey say they bought the properties on the understanding they could live there on a permanent basis. And in football, the Ebbsfleet boss has been speaking about the side avoiding relegation from the National League. Danny Searle described Saturday's goalless draw at Boreham Wood as the best day of his career.

A coroner has highlighted missed opportunities in the care of a 23-year-old man from Broadstairs, who took his own life days after being deemed "low risk" by hospital nurses. An inquest has been held following the death of Gabriel Farmer. Also in today's podcast, there are calls for tonnes of illegal waste to be cleared from woodland near Ashford before the summer. Access to the site in Hoad's Wood has now been closed off but mountains of rubbish are already causing a nasty smell and water pollution. Reporter Oliver Leonard has been speaking to the leader of the Rescue Hoad's Wood campaign. Bosses in Medway say they won't back down until they receive proper pothole funding. They sent a letter to the roads minister saying an extra £50 million was needed to fix more than 2,000 issues. We've got reaction from council leader Vince Maple to the reply they received. Roads bosses have confirmed when the highly-anticipated Stockbury flyover will open. The £92 million project is hoped to make journeys easier and safer for people travelling on the A249 between Maidstone, Sittingbourne and Sheppey. Parents of children attending an SEND school in Medway say they've been left in the lurch, as bosses say they can no longer attend due to health and safety concerns. Families were sent a letter saying the placement of students at VTC Independent School in Sittingbourne has ceased with immediate effect. And in sport, Gillingham's chances of promotion this season are over. They were beaten 2-1 at already promoted Mansfield Town at the weekend. We've got reaction from head coach Stephen Clemence and goal scorer Tim Dieng.

Tributes have been paid to a “genuine” and “caring” 37-year-old who died hours after a severe asthma attack. The gym lover, known as “Big Man” by his friends was found unresponsive by his partner last month. Also in today's podcast, a landlord has banned vaping in his Hernhill pub because he doesn’t want customers to be put off their Sunday lunches. Signs have been put up at The Three Horseshoes warning people that puffing away on the devices while inside is no longer permitted. A retired policeman is pleading with a parking company to see sense after he was fined nearly £100 for parking in a free car park. He says he is fighting a “ridiculous” fine issued at Bluewater Shopping Centre when he forgot to display his blue badge when he parked in a disabled bay. A hated “Spanish-style plaza” blocking off a stretch of seafront to traffic is set to be axed just months after being brought in. The pedestrianised square in Herne Bay has proved highly controversial since being installed earlier this year. And in football you can hear from Gillingham defender Remeao Hutton ahead of their fixture with promoted Mansfield. The Gills have the win all their remaining fixtures and hope other results go their way if they're to make the play-offs.

A pensioner left locked out of her home in the dark believes she was ripped off by a “rogue trader” who charged a staggering £1,600 to get her into the property. The Ashford woman paid the eye-watering bill after being told the job had been carried out at the “going rate”. Also in today's podcast, a Strood family of three made homeless after a blaze destroyed their home of 14 years say they have “lost everything”. They are now living in temporary accommodation after their garden shed caught alight and spread to the house. A court has heard how a father-of-three attacked a drunken man who smashed his car windscreen while he was sat in traffic with his family. The 30-year-old lost his rag after shards of glass showered his partner and children when they were stuck in a queue in Sittingbourne. As the government's struggle to get the Rwanda Bill though continues, the KentOnline Podcast has heard from a Margate artist about a new exhibition including work done by young refugees. Called 'Leave to Remain', it's a collaboration with the Kent Refugee Action Network. And in cricket, it's a big test for Kent tomorrow as they host last years winners Surry in the County Championship. You can hear from head coach Matt Walker about their tactics after coming away with a draw against Essex.

An inquest into the death of a 12-year-old girl who suffered a severe asthma attack at a Medway school has heard how staff did their best to save her life. Pearl Unu-Arubi went into cardiac arrest at Rochester Grammar School in March last year. Also in today's podcast, a Kent MP has weighed into the debate about introducing a smacking ban. Doctors have warned the current laws are "dangerously vague" and changes would help crack down on child abuse. More than £150,000 pounds is thought to have been lost to ticket scams in Kent. Among those being targeted by fraudulent tickets are Taylor Swift fans as the singer’s UK tour dates edge closer. Developers behind plans for a 92-bed town centre hotel have pulled down hoardings around the site as the project has been stalled by water quality issues. The wooden boundary was put up in Ashford just two months ago ahead of the demolition of a row of shops that currently occupies the plot. And an iconic Kent seafront bandstand turns 100 today, but there are questions over its future. The Herne Bay structure needs structural repairs, but council say they don't have the money to fix it.

A would-be arsonist who tried to set fire to a police station by pouring accelerant over a front counter and throwing a lit rag later admitted he had been having "an off day". He'd had gone to Medway police station armed with a jar filled with flammable fluid. Also in today's podcast, two teenagers have been arrested in connection with the death of a motorcyclist after police pursued a driver on the M25. Kent Police officers chased the vehicle over the Dartford Crossing on Sunday night before it became involved in a crash. There are calls for the government to step in and put an end to long drawn out plans for a “Dartford Disneyland” once and for all. Proposals for the £2.5bn London Resort project were first mooted in 2012 - the town's MP, council leader and local businesses are among those who now say “enough is enough”. Today is the day when families across Kent and Medway will be finding out which primary school their children will start at come September. More than 9 in 10 got their first choice, but the KentOnline Podcast spoke to a family law specialist from Maidstone about what people can do if they're unhappy. And, a new rock bar has been granted an alcohol and live music licence despite neighbours’ fears the noise will leave them “prisoners” in their own homes. The venue in Dover could welcome heavy metal lovers to a unit formerly used as an escape room by mid-summer.

Seafront traders thrown into “turmoil” by do-not-swim warnings on two Kent beaches fear they could remain in place for years. The water on the Romney Marsh has been found to contain high levels of a bacterium that indicates the presence of human faeces. Also in today's podcast, a Maidstone mum has been left stunned after all her possessions were moved to a storage unit more than 60 miles away after a vehicle ploughed into her home. Allana Spencer is currently living in temporary accommodation with her young daughter after their house suffered extensive damage. A popular music festival held in memory of a murdered in Medway will be coming to an end this year. Molly McLaren was killed in June 2017 in the car park of the Dockside Outlet shopping centre by her ex-boyfriend. A family-run garden centre that was put on the market last year for £5 million has been sold to new owners with fresh plans. They'll be working to open a mini golf course and a nursery alongside the existing complex. And in football, you can hear from the Gillingham boss after their League 2 win over the weekend. Stephen Clemence says he's pleased to see a reaction from his squad after they faced criticism.

A 78-year-old woman had to have her lower leg amputated after her family claim she was left on a trolley in a hospital corridor for four days. She was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital with a foot infection on Good Friday which developed into sepsis. Also in today's podcast, a Rainham teacher has shared his incredible story as part of a campaign from Air Ambulance Charity Kent, Surrey and Sussex. The dad-of-three says his bedroom was turned into a makeshift operating theatre after he collapsed out of bed at four o’clock in the morning. The owners of an iconic country house-turned-hotel have unveiled plans for an ambitious expansion. Bosses at the Canterbury venue want to make it "desirable all year round” to attract more people to the county. There's delight for Kent Wimpy fans with one restaurant set to reopen later this year There were fears the sight would close for good after the franchisee stepped down after 30-years in charge. And you can hear from the Gillingham boss ahead of their clash with Barrow this weekend. The play off places are almost impossible for the Gills at this point but Stephen Clemence says he hasn't given up hope.

Motorists are up in arms about a hike in car park charges considered so “unreasonable” many believed it was an April Fool’s prank. Residents in Herne were previously able to park for a whole day for just £2.20, but that all came to an end when new tariffs were introduced on April 1st. Also in today's podcast, a new report has found 15 percent of Kent Police officers want to leave the force within the next two years. Almost 7 in 10 don't feel valued - and even more wouldn't recommend it as a job. Stab-proof vests have been handed to cleaners at a Kent shopping centre as part of their everyday uniform to help keep them safe. A spokesman for the precinct says stab vests are becoming commonplace in shopping centres with many people coming out in support of the move. The local authorities in Kent and Medway have unveiled which routes will get a chunk of reallocated government cash for road repairs. It comes as bosses in the Medway Towns have written to the government asking for even more funding to fix potholes. And a huge leisure complex could be built on land previously earmarked for an Amazon warehouse. David Lloyd Leisure wants to build its third site in Kent on Waterbrook Park in Ashford, creating up to 100 new jobs.

An inquest has heard a dad-of-two with an agonising back injury was found dead in bed after unintentionally overdosing on painkillers. The 31-year-old was discovered unresponsive by his heartbroken partner at their home in Birchington last November. Also in today's podcast, one year on from a landslide which closed a major road, residents and businesses have been left counting the financial, emotional and physical costs. The A226 Galley Hill Road in Swanscombe collapsed and people living nearby are desperately demanding action. An alarming survey has revealed more than half of staff at a Kent NHS trust would not be happy for a loved one to be treated there. In what bosses admit is a “shocking indictment” of the organisation, just 45% of workers at East Kent Hospitals are content with the “standard of care”. Controversial ventilation units ruining one of the most iconic views in Britain are set to be moved. The rooftop equipment was installed as part of a new medical school run by Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) in the city’s North Holmes Road. And hear from a 75-year-old glass merchant from Rainham celebrating 60 years in the glazing business. He's worked for the same company since he left school and says he has no plans to retire.