KentOnline

The bin collection crisis in parts of Kent could be about to get worse, with the GMB Union confirming they're balloting members on potential strike action. Suez has already been under pressure over waste not being taken away on time, with a recent council meeting being told there have been 36,000 missed collections. Also in today's podcast, Kent's roads are expected to be especially busy on what's being dubbed Frantic Friday. The summer getaway coincides with the start of the Olympics in Paris. We've been speaking to Toby Howe from the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum. A single dad's told KentOnline more needs to be done to tackle inequality as figures reveal a huge difference in life expectancy across Kent. Most recent data shows men in Thanet will live to an average age of 77 - four years less than those in more affluent Sevenoaks. Dominic Watters has spoken as a group of almost 30 organisations join forces to launch the #MakeHealthEqual campaign. A Maidstone woman has been left without a shower of bath for months after a flood caused by neighbouring pipework wrecked her bathroom. Yvonne Eaton lives in Wallis Avenue in the Park Wood area of town and has been telling the podcast what happened and how it's affected her. In showbiz news, Sydnie Christmas is going to star in a Kent panto this year. The Britain's Got Talent winner will be in Sleeping Beauty in Dartford. And, Sam Lawrie has a roundup of everything going on in Kent this weekend.

A man's been charged with attempted murder after a soldier was stabbed near an Army base in Medway. 24-year-old Anthony Esan from Mooring Road in Rochester is due in court accused of carrying out the attack near Brompton Barracks on Tuesday evening. Also in today's podcast, every council leader in Kent has signed a letter calling on the government to reduce the risk of disruption when the new EU entry exit system is introduced this autumn. There are concerns the biometric checks at the port of Dover and Eurotunnel at Folkestone will cause traffic congestion in the county. We've been speaking to Kent County Council leader Roger Gough. If you regularly travel from the mainland to Sheppey, you're probably well aware the Kingsferry Bridge has been closed recently for major repair work. The steel ropes that help the bridge move up and down need replacing. Reporter Joe Crossley has been to the site to see how work is progressing. Tonbridge MP Tom Tugendhat has put name forward to replace Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party. The shadow security minister says he wants to be the next Tory Prime Minister. More than 19,000 children in Medway are already signed up to activities in the Towns this summer. MedwayGo kicks off on Monday and will run for four weeks of the school holidays. Hear from Councillor Teresa Murray who is the deputy leader at Medway Council. And, and the Gillingham boss has praised their new signing Marcus Wyllie. The 25-year-old gave up a job teaching in a special needs school to join the Gills from non-league Enfield Town.

Our top story today is the shocking news that broke overnight - the stabbing of a soldier in uniform close to an army barracks in Medway. Emergency crews were called to Sally Port Gardens which is near Brompton Barracks just before 6pm. Hear from our reporters at the scene, we've also go reaction from Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards. Also in today's podcast, some people living in run-down tower blocks in Thanet have been told they face a huge bill to cover the cost of essential refurbishments. Work on the buildings is said to total £40 million. We've got the full details from our local democracy reporter Dan Esson. The fallout from Friday's IT outage is continuing - as doctors across Kent try to re-book an estimated 34,000 appointments. The worldwide problem affected a system called EMIS which is used by the vast majority of practices across the county. People who've contributed to culture and creativity in Medway are being recognised with honorary degrees later. Chatham-born designer Zandra Rhodes will get a doctorate from Canterbury Christ Church Uni. While Carol Stewart - who's chair of the Medway African and Caribbean Association - is recognised by the Uni of Kent and we've been getting her reaction. A woman who runs a hedgehog rescue near Ashford says growing costs are making it difficult for them to help animals in need. Lisa Steward started taking in poorly hedgehogs after finding one in her garden in Pluckley - and now has more than 100 of them, but Thorne Hedgehog Rescue relies entirely on donations. Lisa has been describing her typical day. And in football, Gillingham have beaten Dartford 4-nil in a pre-season friendly. Jayden Clarke and youth team striker Harry Bridle scored two goals each at Princes Park last night.

The top story on today's episode is that a huge fire that's broken out in Ramsgate. Crews were called shortly to Northwood Road shortly after 4am to tackle the flames at a near 100 year-old business. Also in today's podcast, a convicted killer has been sentenced to life in prison, after an attack in Dartford which left his victim with more than 70 stab wounds. A new report by the National Police Chiefs Council has described violence against women and girls as a 'national emergency' with over 3,000 offences every day. It accounted for just under 20% of all recorded crime excluding fraud across England and Wales in the year to March. We've got reaction from Mina Smallman from Ramsgate whose daughters were murdered in north London. Some families with special needs children in Kent are still waiting to find out which school they'll be going to in September. A national shortage of psychologists means there's been a backlog in assessments for Education, Health and Care Plans. Concerns have been raised for the future of Kent's berry farmers as the industry's been hit by increasing costs and low supermarket prices. A national survey's found nearly half are not making a profit - and 40% could go out of business by the end of 2026. it's another pre-season friendly for Gillingham tonight as their preparation for the League 2 season continues. The Gills secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Watford at Priestfield on Saturday and travel to take on Dartford.

A Kent dog owner faces an anxious wait to see if his Staffordshire bull terrier cross will be put down after it attacked another man. He’ll learn next month if a court has decided Demba will be destroyed following the alarming incident near Whitstable. Also in today’s podcast, the family of a one-year-old who unexpectedly died says the wait for answers and “missed opportunities” has prevented them from grieving. During five hospital visits, medics missed the fact the “happy and always smiling” child suffered an undiagnosed and extremely rare heart condition. Families have hit out at a former mayor and gravestone manufacturer over ‘long delays’ in getting memorials for their loved ones. Several people have spoken up, including a sister and mother who say they have been left waiting for nearly two years to get a headstone. Doubts have been raised over whether a town will get a promised new leisure centre, following a change of political leadership. During the last months of the Conservative administration at Maidstone council, the cabinet committed to providing either a completely new leisure centre or carrying out a refurbishment – but that’s now up in the air. And you can hear from the Gillingham boss after their pre-season friendly victory over the weekend. Mark Bonner says he’s going to continue to push his squad as they face a run of fixtures in the lead up to the start of their League 2 campaign.

There’s disruption in Kent as a Worldwide IT outage shuts down essential services. Thameslink, Southern Rail and Port of Dover have all reported problems, as well as GP surgeries, airports and banks. Also in today’s podcast, a waste management company that’s caused four months of bin collection chaos is to be penalised - but residents will not see a penny. Suez started collecting recycling and rubbish across Swale, Maidstone and Ashford as part of a £152 million contract in March. Motorists in one Kent town are facing a summer of misery thanks to what feels like an avalanche of roadworks. Frustrated Ashford residents say the area is clogged up with diversions and shuttered roads, and their journeys are now taking three times longer. Emergency services have been called to a school and children evacuated after an unexploded wartime bomb was discovered. Police and military could be seen in Canterbury, where pupils were moved to the playing field for safety. And you can hear from Gillingham midfielder Ethan Coleman ahead of their pre-season friendly. The 24-year-old has been struggling with an ankle injury since the players returned for training a fortnight ago.

A man's been arrested following reports of a sex attack in Gillingham. An area was cordoned off by police earlier - hear from our reporter Sean McPolin who was there earlier. Also in today's podcast, The mum of a boy who died in a hit and run in Folkestone is calling for reforms to the justice system. Seven-year-old William Brown Jr was trying to collect a football from Sandgate Esplanade when he was struck last December. Almost 40 fines have been issued to food delivery riders in Canterbury after new rules came into force. The public spaces protection order bans riders from aggressive driving, dangerous manoeuvres, excessive noise and putting others at risk. Footage has been released of the moment police arrested a Maidstone man as part of an investigation into half a tonne of cannabis. A bloodstain found amongst the drugs in a storage container was forensically linked to John Small, 61, from Brunswick Street. There's been a significant increase in the number of cases of rickets in part of Kent - according to figures seen by the KentOnline Podcast. 122 were recorded in 2019 by East Kent hospitals trust - that had risen to 580 last year. Cricket, and Kent's Zak Crawley says he'll continue to play aggressively as England take on the West Indies in the second Test. England have a 1-0 lead after winning by more than an innings at Lord's last week.

Parents are worried about the safety of their children as they're set to be banned from parking in a nearby village hall during the school run. They currently use the space in Wingham before taking pupils to the primary school - but from September, that won't be allowed to happen. Also on today's podcast, planning reforms, a new border security bill and re-nationalising rail firms are expected to be among the announcements in today's King's Speech. The Prime Minister's using the State Opening of Parliament to set out Labour's aims for Britain. We've been speaking to the new Tunbridge Wells MP, Mike Martin, to find out what he wants to hear. A man who was at a gig in Kent that saw more than 20 teenagers end up in hospital has revealed he didn't realise the scale of the issue. A 17 year-old girl died from a suspected overdose, and another young person is still in hospital following the drum and bass event at Dreamland in Margate. It's feared growing delays with court cases in Kent could cause some victims to give up so criminals walk free. There's been a 164% rise in cases waiting to be heard since before the pandemic. Our local democracy reporter Simon Finlay has been speaking to Kent's police and crime commissioner. Figures given to the KentOnline Podcast show there have been almost 1,400 reports of animal cruelty in Kent so far this year. That's more than 7 cases a day reported to the RSPCA in the first six months of 2024. The figures have been released as the charity launches its summer campaign. More than 18 months after it closed - Canterbury's historic market has returned to the city. It was moved away from St George's Street in December 2022 when the area underwent a renovation. We've been chatting to council leader Councillor Alan Baldock. And, a new multimillion pound sports centre in Medway has officially opened. Cozenton Park replaces the old Splashes in Rainham and has cost more than £23 million pounds to build.

There are calls for a review of Dreamland's licence as it's emerged more than 20 teenagers ended up in hospital after a gig at the venue in Margate. A 17 year-old girl had died after attending a drum and bass event at Dreamland. Emily Stoke suffered from a suspected MDMA overdose - and it's now emerged 21 other teenagers also ended up in hospital. Also in today's podcast, Figures seen by KentOnline show a 70% rise in fines issued to parents in Kent for taking their children out of school. More than 13,000 penalty notices were handed out for unauthorised absences last year - up from around 7,700 the previous year. The founder of an organisation set up to help people with neurodiversity in east Kent says their services are at risk due to funding issues. Lucie Chiocchetti set up Neurodivergent Friends Thanet after being diagnosed with autism and ADHD as an adult. Dozens of people in Larkfield have objected to plans to knock down an old workshop and replace it with a new building and offices. Neuxpark Limited have submitted an application to Tonbridge and Malling council for The Shed off Lunsford Lane. Students at a martial arts school in Gravesend have been selected to join Team GB in the world championships of stick fighting. The sport sees participants in protective gear using using slender, wooden batons for one-to-one combat.

Video footage showing people risking their lives at level crossings has been released as part of a major safety campaign. It's after near misses in Gillingham, Sittingbourne, Faversham, Gravesend and East Farleigh. Plans to scale back the number of children eligible for special needs places in Kent have been described as 'terrifying' by worried families. Kent County Council say there's an over-reliance on special school placements and want to change the admissions guidance so they're only for those with the most complex needs. A Medway man says he's been hounded by a gas company for seven months for a bill that wasn't his. The property in Rainham was supplied by British Gas who refused to set up Benjamin Robinson as a new customer until the outstanding debt was settled. One of Kent's new MPs has been chatting about getting used to Westminster - just days after he was preparing for the end of term. Secondary school teacher Tris Osborne was elected to represent Chatham and Aylesford 10 days ago. In sport, it was a very disappointing night for England fans. Gareth Southgate's side were beaten 2-1 by Spain in the final of Euro 2024. Hear from fans who watched the match at the Folkestone Harbour Arm last night. Gillingham's new manager has admitted his first match in charge wasn't the prettiest. The Gills drew 0-0 with Millwall in their pre-season friendly at Priestfield yesterday afternoon.

A teenager's been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after two people were injured at a temple in Gravesend... Emergency crews were called to the Gurdwara just after 8pm last night - the air ambulance was also seen to land within the grounds off Saddington Street. Four people have died after their boat capsized in the English Channel as they attempted to cross to Kent. The French Coast Guard says 63 people were rescued off the coast of Boulogne. We've been getting reaction from Samphire Project the works with refugees in Dover. A couple have told the podcast their damp, cold and mouldy flat in Maidstone is making their health conditions even worse. Mandy Croucher and her wife Donna have lived in the property in Willington Street since December 2022. Investigation are underway into claims a reptile and amphibian market is going to be held in Kent this weekend. The markets see snakes, lizards and frogs sold in plastic tubs and containers - with no regard for their welfare or environmental needs. The boss of a Kent pub chain says England's success at the Euros has been a real boost for the hospitality industry. Gareth Southgate's side will play Spain in the final in Germany on Sunday night. Artefacts dating back to the Neolithic or Bronze Age have been discovered near Faversham. Archaeologists have been carrying out a dig on a burial mound at Stringmans Farm on the Lees Court Estate. Ahead of their first pre-season friendly - Gillingham's Jonny Williams has told us training is going well. They reported for duty at the start of the month and have six weeks before the opening game of the season.

A mum has praised her son for saving her from a fire at their home near Dartford. The blaze broke out in a bedroom of the property on Capel Place in Wilmington, setting off the smoke alarms. Loren Ringshall has lived there for 16 years and initially attempted to fight the flames, before being dragged to safety. She's been speaking to reporter Ben Austin. More than a thousand days after major work started on the redesign of the Stockbury roundabout drivers can now use the new flyover. One lane, heading Maidstone bound, opens today - then a lane in the Sittingbourne direction opens tomorrow. A former student from Kent has welcomed a ruling by the High Court as they continue to fight for compensation for disrupted learning. A group claim they didn't receive value for money due to Covid disrupting lectures. A teenager from Kent has quit his politics degree to become, what could be, the youngest publican in the county. Hugo Willett has taken over the reigns at The Bowl Inn - a 1740s traditional tavern in Hastingleigh, near Ashford. And, the trailer for a Rom Com starring Andrew Garfield that was filmed on the Kent Bexley border has been released. The Spiderman actor was spotted with Florence Pugh shooting scenes at a Co-op in Blackfen in April last year.

Frustrated neighbours say “rude and lazy” school-run parents are making their lives hell by parking and driving recklessly. Residents in Ashford say vehicles are regularly left on double-yellow lines, across dropped kerbs and even on driveways by people dropping children at the nearby schools. Also on today’s podcast, a cleaner at a school in Sandwich who was signed off work has told of her shock at being sacked by text message. She’d been on sick leave with anxiety and Tourette’s syndrome - but was told via WhatsApp that her P45 was in the post. The long wait to use a £92 million flyover for the first time after years of work is almost over. A single lane of the new overpass on the A249 at Stockbury will open this week. We’ll hear from Kent bosses as Operation Brock is set to be deployed this week ahead of what’s expected to be a busy summer period. It’s tipped to be the busiest holiday period for the Port of Dover since the pandemic. And a three-storey shop dedicated to our four-legged friends has launched in a Kent town centre. The PupCup has a dog friendly cafe and a boutique – there are even plans for event space for yoga sessions and movie night.

The son of a Gravesend man who was attacked by an XL Bully says he was one bite from death. The 69-year-old suffered injuries to his arms, legs, shoulder and upper thigh after being mauled by the animal while on his evening walk. Also in today’s podcast, police have had to cordon off a town centre street after a man and a woman were found dead. Emergency services were called to The Butchery in Sandwich after concerns were raised for two pensioners. Furious residents say housebuilding has spiralled out of control as 1,500 homes are planned across just 1.5 square miles of Ashford. An application has been submitted for a sixth new development in the area just off the A2070. A Medway mum who saved a man's life after a motorbike crash, has used her first aid knowledge to help save her own daughter. Tiffany Smith realised two-year-old Lily Diamond, was seriously ill but had to push doctors to do blood tests. And a shopkeeper has been ordered to pay hundreds of pounds after piles of rubbish were left outside a former sweet shop in Canterbury. It’s after residents complained about the “eye sore” which has been left unchecked since November.

Kent’s first homeless pods are set to launch later this year with 23 currently being stacked on an industrial estate in Ashford. They’re designed to be an energy-efficient alternative to building new homes and will offer temporary accommodation to rough sleepers. Also in today’s podcast, plans to drastically scale back the number of children eligible for special needs school places in Kent have been described as ‘terrifying’ by worried families. Kent County Council has revealed proposals to address what it says is an over-reliance on special school placements. A lollipop lady has told the KentOnline Podcast she’s lucky to be alive after collapsing with heart failure whilst on duty. Paramedics told Debbie Marsh she would have died if she had been alone as she suffered the first stage of a heart attack whilst waiting to help pupils across the road outside school in Medway. People may have to be prepared to spend money to spend a penny following suggestions increased crime and overstretched council budgets are putting public toilets at risk. The British Toilet Association says the issue has become a national crisis with councils in Kent reporting fewer blocks today than 14 years ago. And kmfm’s Tonnes of Tins campaign has launched across Kent to help fight food poverty. It comes as a new report shows the number of people in “food insecure” households continues to rise – with the summer holidays expected to pile on extra pressure.

Labour have swept to victory in the general election. Sir Keir Starmer is the country's new Prime Minister after going to meet the King following the official resignation of Rishi Sunak. Labour claimed more than 400 seats across the country with the Tories suffering their worst results in history. In Kent, the political picture is very different with Labour and the Lib Dems taking seats previously held by the Conservatives. There are now 11 Labour MPs in the county. The Tories have six representatives while the Liberal Democrats won Tunbridge Wells. Hear from our reporters at counts across the county - and from those who've been elected to represent Kent in parliament. We've got some other news in brief and Sam Lawrie takes a look at what's going on in Kent this weekend.

A primary school teacher from Gravesend has been banned from the profession after she was caught drinking wine during her lunch break. She was in her car at the time and was later called into the office for questioning. Also in today's podcast, a former soldier from Canterbury has been telling KentOnline how medicinal cannabis "changed his life" after years struggling with PTSD. Christopher Monteiro-Sharratt served in Bosnia, and found it difficult to adjust to normal life when he came home. Thousands of people across Kent will be heading out to vote today in the general election. There are 18 constituencies in the county - and polls are open until 10pm tonight. Final preparations are underway for this year's Kent County Show. There'll be animal competitions, music, food stalls and family activities at the showground in Detling from tomorrow until Sunday. Young people are taking part in the first Teenage Market in Thanet this weekend. There'll be stalls selling items including jewellery and clothes - as well as a performance space for musicians, comedians and poets at The Centre in Margate on Saturday. In sport, Kent's Emma Raducanu's beaten Belgium's Elise Mertens to reach the third round of Wimbledon. She won in straight sets - just hours after it was confirmed she'll partner Andy Murray in the mixed doubles. And, in football, the Gillingham chairman has been speaking after the players returned to training this week. Their fitness has been tested ahead of a series of pre-season friendlies.

It’s been confirmed four Kent restaurants owned by the same company will be closing. They’re all owned by Whitbread, which is also the owner of Premier Inn, which earlier this year confirmed plans to convert 112 of its low-performing restaurants into hotel facilities and to sell 126 of its branded restaurants. Also in today’s podcast, a woman has now been charged with murder after a 25-year-old man was stabbed. Police were called to Harrietsham yesterday afternoon but the victim later died in hospital. School children have been stuck on a bus home for hours during traffic “madness” that brought drivers to a standstill in Sittingbourne. Pupils arrived home at 7.50pm on Monday, despite being picked up at 4.30pm. A cruel dog owner hacked out their pet’s identification microchip before dumping the animal to wander the streets wounded. The injured young lurcher was found in Ashford with an ugly gash to its back and taken in by the dog warden. And there are fears a new McDonald’s planned for Dover would spill over onto a former graveyard where there are still burials. Fast food bosses are calling on the public to support their proposal for a new restaurant next to church ruins.

The family of a teenage boy who suffered severe brain damage after jumping off a pier into the sea at Margate have described him as 'amazing but as wild as they come'. Jack Dolan was knocked unconscious after performing a flip off Stone Pier last month. The 15-year-old was flown to a London hospital but a scan revealed no brain activity. Also in today's podcast, with less than 48 hours until polls open for the general election, it's feared some people in Kent might not get the chance to vote. There have been concerns about delays with sending out postal ballots for those who are on holiday or otherwise unable to get to a polling station in person. A petition's been set up calling for traffic lights to be installed outside a school in Broadstairs, after a girl was knocked down. The teenager suffered serious injuries in the collision near the Charles Dickens School on Friday. The people behind a huge art trail in Maidstone this summer are hoping it raises thousands of pounds. If you've been to the town you might have seen some of the decorated Shaun the Sheep sculptures. There's more than 100 and there'll be there until the end of August. And in sport, Kent's Emma Raducanu has marked her return to Wimbledon with a first round victory over Renata Zarazua.

People living in a village between Folkestone and Dover say plans to build 90 more homes is "concreting over countryside and will spoil views". Developers have lodged plans to transform farmland in Capel-le-Ferne - and it's already raised more than 100 letters of objection. Also in today's podcast, a woman's described the moment a car crashed into her house in a village near Ashford. Jenny Garrad was upstairs in the property when it happened on Chequer Tree Farm Road in Mersham - she's now calling for improvements to the junction with Colliers Hill. With just three days until the general election, a first time voter in Kent admits he still hasn't decided where to put his cross. At the start of the campaigning, Luca Fasulo had a clear idea who he was going to vote for - but that changed after watching a hustings. A disabled woman from Sevenoaks has accused a company of discrimination after she apparently wasn't allowed on a bus because of her mobility scooter. Amanda King says the driver of the Number 8 Go Coach from the town centre was shaking his head as she used the ramp, despite the disabled bay being free - he reportedly then closed the door on her. Three school boys from Tonbridge have helped set a new tug of war world record... Owen, Freddie and Otis used a 540 meter long rope at the town's race course - with 500 other children taking part. And in sport, Gillingham are back in training for the new season today. They've had nine weeks off since finishing outside the play-off places in league 2.