KentOnline

We're starting today's episode with reaction to the shock political news that Natalie Elphicke has defected to Labour.

The Dover MP released a statement criticising the Prime Minister's record on tackling small boat crossings - saying he's 'failing to keep our borders safe and secure'.

Hear from a leading charity in Dover that works with asylum seekers, we have also spoken to the leader of Dover District Council and Rochester and Strood rep Kelly Tolhurst.

Also in today's podcast, drivers have reported having to queue for an hour to pay to get out of a car park in Folkestone after new charges were introduced.

Cameras have also been installed at the site on Sandgate Road. Kate joins us with the details.

Volunteers at a youth club in north Kent have started a petition after it was forced to close.

The facility on Hall Road in Northfleet is one of a number across the county that have shut - as the county council creates 'family hubs' instead. Hear from a teenager who worked there, and a mum whose son used to go along.

A Kent school's been given funding to take children to visit an art gallery, as figures show more than a quarter of pupils across the country haven't been on a school trip.

Long Mead Community Primary in Tonbridge took the Year 4 and 5 classes to the Turner Contemporary in Margate.

And in football, there'll be an open-top bus parade this weekend to celebrate Bromley's pomotion into league two...

They beat Solihull Moors on penalties in their final at Wembley.

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.