KentOnline

More job losses have been announced in Kent as companies continue to feel the impact of the pandemic.
Hear from KentOnline’s business editor Chris Britcher.
Also in the podcast – a Kent MP is calling for ‘fast action’ to be taken on laughing gas amid concerns more young people are using it and Anne-Marie chats about her new single To Be Young.

Boris Johnson has been in Kent today to announce more funding for schools.
 
The Prime Minister visited The Discovery School in Kings Hill – joining pupils in an art class where he painted a ladybird.
 
Also in the podcast – hear from the mum of a boy from Sevenoaks who’s set to travel to New York for pioneering cancer treatment and from the boss of a holiday park on Sheppey who says business is picking up as we search out a staycation this summer.

Two men have been jailed for their role in the death of a man found stabbed in Rochester.
Peter Beale, 39, from Sittingbourne was discovered close to Rochester Bridge in September 2018 after a drugs deal went wrong.
The victim’s family have reacted to the sentences outside court.
Also in the podcast – a leading charity fears children in Kent could become the forgotten victims of the pandemic, a Kent mosque is reopening for Friday prayers for the first time since lockdown and hear from the Canterbury farmer growing climate change resistant blackcurrants to go into bottles of Ribena.

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.