KentOnline

Thousands of people have signed a petition calling on the government to allow indoor soft play centres to reopen.
With many business now able to trade again, it’s feared those catering for youngsters have been forgotten.
We visited a soft play centre in Ayleford to see how social distancing would work.
Also in the podcast – a man’s been arrested after a woman died when she fell from a bridge over the A21, and golf’s Open Championship should have been getting underway in Kent today, but organiser say it’ll be even bigger in 2021.

There are concerns about the impact the compulsory wearing of face coverings in shops could have on people with autism.
It’s feared those with sensory issues won’t want to wear them and others may not be able to communicate with people who’ve got them on, especially if they can’t lip read.
We hear from the mum or a teenager who has autism and from the Kent Autistic Trust.
Also in the podcast – new rules could be brought in for jet skiers, the lavender fields in Kent that helped Yardley become a global success and why we’re all talking about star signs.

After conflicting reports on how effective they might be, the government’s finally confirmed we WILL have to wear face masks in shops and supermarkets.
The new rules will come into effect next Friday – that’s July 24th.
Also in the podcast – just six cases of revenge porn in Kent in the past year ended with a charge or caution, we hear from the police.
And, a young woman with an eating disorder bravely speaks out after being told she could have to wait a year for treatment.

Work is getting underway on a customs checking centre in Kent designed to deal with any potential disruption after Brexit.
The site off the M20 near junction 10a at Ashford will be able to hold thousands of lorries – hear what the town’s MP thinks about it.
Also in the podcast – the first mental health facility of its kind in the country opens in Kent and there are fears children could slip through the net if they don’t go back to school in September.

A family of bison are going to be reintroduced to the wild in Kent as part of a million pound project.
The Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood near Canterbury are involved in bringing the animals over from Europe to live in Blean Woods.
Also in today’s podcast – a beauty salon owner has welcomed news from the government they can reopen and the Gillingham chairman talks about his plans to bring an investor on board to help the club move forward.

There’s startling news today of more job losses in Kent as the economic impact of the pandemic continues to take it’s toll.
Folkestone based holiday and insurance firm Saga have announced they’re cutting around 300 positions as a result of the impact of Covid-19 on its business.
Also in the podcast – the future of Kent’s Manston Airport is looking more secure and hear from one of the man who stages some of the biggest pantomimes in the country on whether he thinks they will happen this Christmas.

The scale of the pandemic on just one food bank in Thanet has been revealed.
The facility in Cliftonville fed nearly 1,000 people last month – up from just 166 during the same time last year.
Also in today’s podcast, the Kent Wildlife Trust calls for targets to reduce pesticides and the Dogs Trust have advice on how to help our pets cope with lockdown being eased.

Our top story today is about care homes and some controversial comments made by the Prime Minister…
Boris Johnson’s suggested ‘too many’ care homes didn’t properly follow procedures during the coronavirus pandemic – he’s now being urged to apologise.
Also in the podcast, the lockdown litter blighting our woodlands and why a shrine at Canterbury Cathedral has been recreated digitally 850 years on.

Theatres, museums and music venues are being given £1.5 billion to help them survive the pandemic.
They’ll be able to access the grants via government loans and grants.
It follows weeks of warnings about the future of performance venues, but what about panto this Christmas? Hear from our senior features writer Angela Cole.
Also in the podcast, tributes are paid following two fatal crashes in Kent, and a salon boss is angry they still can’t reopen.

Ahead of so-called ‘Super Saturday’ we’ve been finding out how police and volunteers are planning on keep people safe as pubs reopen.
Also hear from a Kent MP who’s urging us to ‘be careful’.
Also in the podcast, hear from a hairdresser who’s opening her salon at midnight to cope with a demand for appointments and the University of Kent prepares for its first ever virtual open day.