KentOnline

A shopkeeper has spoken of his shock after discovering a woman had defecated outside his store.Colin White checked CCTV from the shop thinking a pet owner had failed to clean up after their pet – it was then he discovered it was human faeces.Also in today’s podcast, the cost of filling up a family sized car has now topped 100-pounds for the first time.Hear from Kent fuel campaigner Howard Cox who is again calling on the chancellor to take urgent action.Dame Emma Thompson has criticised the government’s plan to send some asylum seekers who’ve arrived in Kent in small boats to Rwanda.More than 10,000 people have now made the dangerous journey this year.The Children’s Commissioner has been in Kent as part of a review into what makes a successful family.Hear from Dame Rachel de Souza who’s been asked by the government to look at how mums, dads, grandparents and children are coping following the pandemic.Meantime, there’s a warning children with special educational needs in Kent who are being home-schooled are ‘falling through the cracks’.Figures show 465 youngsters in Kent are SEN and being taught at home – while just 193 have an education health care plan.And in sport, one of Kent’s players has kept his place in the England team for the second test with New Zealand.Plus we have a tennis update ahead of Wimbledon later this summer.

Plans for a new swimming pool on the Isle of Sheppey have been scrapped.It was due to be part of a bid for £20 million in goverment cash to boost Sheerness. Hear from our reporter John Nurden who broke the story.Also in today’s podcast, a leading Kent academic is calling for overdose prevention centres to be set up.They would allow addicts to take drugs in secure and hygienic facilities where help would be available if they got into trouble.Professor Alex Stevens says they’re needed to try and cut the number of drug deaths which are at a record high.We’ve been speaking to one of the companies taking part in a national trial of a four day working week.Staff still get 100% of their pay but only work 80% of the time.We’ve also got reaction from a Maidstone based agency which started something similar back in 2018.A Medway mum has spoken about the moment her baby was rushed to hospital after struggling to breathe – only to find out she had a birthmark growing in her throat.Sophie Collins has been chatting to reporter Alex Langridge about the incredibly rare condition.And, a Kent school is hoping to open a visitor centre so more of us can visit their wartime tunnels.They were built under Maidstone Girls Grammar and used by pupils in the early 1940s.

There are calls for safety improvements on a road in Thanet after it was revealed almost 50 people have been hit by cars.
Northdown Road runs through the centre of Cliftonville and people living nearby want the speed limit reduced to 20 miles-per-hour.
Also in today’s podcast, we have reaction after Prime Minister Boris Johnson narrowly won a confidence vote.
More than a third of Conservative MPs wanted him out of the job. Hear from North Thanet’s Sir Roger Gale and our political editor Paul Francis.
A report seen by the KentOnline Podcast has again raised concerns about levels of violence in a youth jail in Kent.
We’ve got reaction from the Howard League for Penal Reform.
Hear from the incredible children who helped save their dad’s life after he suffered a cardiac arrest at the wheel of his car.
They’ve now been given bravery awards as he continues to recover.
And find out who’s signed a pro deal at Gillingham plus hear from tennis star Emma Raducanu as she gets her grass court season under way.
 

Kent’s MPs will vote tonight on whether they still have faith in Boris Johnson as Prime Minister.
Hear from our political editor Paul Francis on why the confidence vote is happening now and what the ramifications could be.
North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale has also spoken out and we’ve been asking some of you what you think.
Also in today’s podcast, a Gravesend mum says her special needs son no longer wants to leave the house because he’s been out of school for a year.
10-year-old Ethan has autism and ADHD, as well as additional speech and language needs. Find out how it’s affecting them.
A Dartford woman who was born with a birthmark on her face has been explaining how she uses TikTok to campaign against bullying.
Caitlin Ounsworth grew up being ashamed of her port wine stain – and was even picked on at school.
She’s shared her story as part of the Changing Faces campaign.
And in sport, Kent have got their first win of the season and Gillingham now know all of the teams they’ll be taking on in league two next season.

One of Kent’s MPs has been recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours.
Tracey Crouch, who represents Chatham and Aylesford, has been awarded a CBE for the work she did on the fan led review into football governance.
Meantime, the CEO of a company that arranges community events across the county to bring people of all faiths together has also been honoured.
Gurvinder Sandher gets an MBE.
Also in today’s podcast, it’s two years since a large cliff collapse destroyed a home on Sheppey.
People living there say they are still battling to protect their properties.
Hear about the many events taking place in Kent to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
And in sport, Gillingham have made their first signing of the summer.

The KentOnline Podcast has been told people are missing medical appointments because they simply can’t afford the petrol to get there.Prices at the forecourts have reached another record high – and there’s a warning it’ll get even worse within days.Hear from Kent campaigner Howard Cox from FairFuelUK.Also in today’s episode, Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner is accusing the Met of trying to “poach” the county’s best officers.As part of a major recruitment drive, the London force is offering new officers a £5,000 incentive to join them.We’ve spoken to Matthew Scott and got a response from the Met.Meantime, more than 1 in 10 police officers are struggling to make ends meet, according to the results of a survey seen by the KentOnline Podcast.130,000 members of the police federation were invited to take part at the end of last year – before the cost of living crisis really took hold.Laoise Gallagher has been speaking to the man who heads up the federation in the county.Ahead of the long jubilee weekend, we’ve been speaking to the Queen’s representative in Kent.Lady Bella Colgrain is the Lord Lieutenant and carries out duties on her majesty’s behalf.She’ll be at a thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral which forms part of the national celebrations.And, a takeaway in Canterbury has come under fire after a customer complained over the size of their pizza.The disgruntled customer ordered a 12 inch pizza, but whipped out the tape measure when it arrived – Joe Wright has the full story.

A woman has issued a warning after a suspected tracker was found on her car.
The device had been attached to the Audi and was spotted when the owner returned to the vehicle while it as parked at Bluewater.
Also in today’s podcast, a woman who broke her friend’s eye socket and assaulted two children at a birthday party has avoided being sent to prison.
Hear from our reporter Sean Axtell from Canterbury Crown Court.
For the first time ever, we’ve found out just how long it takes police forces across the country to answer 999 callls. And it’s not great news for Kent.
Out of 43 forces in total, the county came 33rd when it comes to speediness – we’ve got reaction from Chief Superintendent Mark Nottage.
It’s been revealed children as young as 10 in Kent are worrying about the cost of living crisis.
The findings are from UK Youth charity.
A Folkestone barber who’s dedicated his salon to his favourite TV comedy is hoping it’ll lift spirits and help get men talking about their mental health.
Nathan Scotford has rebranded his business Cushty Cuts in honour of Only Fools and Horses and has been speaking to reporter Rhys Griffiths.
And, a new LGBTQ+ audio tour is being set up in Maidstone to celebrate pride month.
Hear from Amy Riley from the Hazlitt Theatre which is setting up the project.

Pet owners in a village near Maidstone say they are worried about their animals’ safety following a series of dog attacks.Residents in Marden say a Bully breed dog has attacked several other animals – including a Dachshund that died from the injuries.Find out what the RSPCA and police have had to say.Also in today’s podcast, drivers are still being urged to avoid part of Gravesend town centre after a huge fire saw part of a building collapse into the street.It’s still not known what started the blaze at the listed property on Queen Street last Thursday.The councillor for the area has described the devastation.A best man and his wife from Snodland have been injured after a car ploughed into a wedding convoy as they headed to the ceremony in Crete.Dean and Gemma Fitton were left trapped and had to be flown back to Britain by air ambulance after it happened earlier – Dean has been recounting what happened.As half term gets under way, lifeguards are returning to patrol beaches in Kent.Last year, the RNLI teams attended more than 500 incidents on the coast in the county and saved four lives.And, with just days to go until the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, hear from the hospice in north Kent recording a song for her Majesty.You can also find out where to get information on the beacons being lit across the county.

Buildings have been left badly damaged following two large fires in Kent.The blazes broke out at Whitstable Harbour and in Gravesend town centre at around the same time yesterday lunchtime.
Hear from our reporter who’s seen demolition crews turn up to tear down the cockle shed on the coast.Also in today’s podcast, two men have been arrested after a fight involving a knife in Chatham High Street.Hear the moment it was caught on camera.A Medway charity has been reacting to the Chancellor’s announcement to help struggling families with the cost of living.Neil Charlick is from Gillingham Street Angels which supports a number of people through their food bank.The KentOnline Podcast has been told there is now an “epidemic” of mental health issues among students.Bosses at The Howard School in Rainham have told us children are coming to them every day asking for help.Hear from assistant headteacher, Julie Parish and Steve Julian who is deputy head of sixth form.It’s being claimed the Lower Thames Crossing will be the “greenest road ever built in the UK”.It’s hoped the tunnel linking the A2 near Gravesend with Tilbury in Essex will help reduce congestion at Dartford and we’ve been speaking to one of the chiefs behind it.And, in sport, the Kent Spitfires are back in T20 Blast action and find out how the Gillingham boss is getting on with signing new recruits.

Firefighters have been tackling a large fire in a building at Whitstable Harbour.Crews were called at around 1.30pm – hear from our reporter Lydia Chantler-Hicks at the scene.
Meantime, there’s been disruption in Gravesend following a blaze at a former pub.Aerial footage shows the roof of the building on Queen Street has collapsed.Also in today’s podcast, ahead of schools breaking up for half term tomorrow, we’re being warned there could be major disruption on Kent’s roads as people look to get away.Highways bosses are predicting lorries will need to queue within Operation Brock on the M20.Hear from Toby Howe who is part of the Kent Resilience Forum.Eight million low-income households are getting a one-off payment of £650 to help with the rise in the cost of living.The Chancellor’s been detailing measures in the House of Commons, to support the most vulnerable.Friends of a Kent teenager who was murdered while walking to meet a friend have paid tribute at the opening of a new centre named in her memory.16-year-old Claire Tiltman was attacked in an alleyway in Greenhithe back in 1993.A new 145-mile cycling route is being launched in Kent.It starts and ends in the village of Wye near Ashford with the people behind it saying it’s the perfect introduction to cycling tourism – we’ve been speaking to Cycling UK.And, ahead of next week’s long weekend, the first of many Jubilee street parties has been held in Kent.Hundreds of school children gathered in Gravesend along with people from the town celebrating their 70th birthdays.