KentOnline

Families in one village in Kent say they're considering hiring private transport to take their kids to and from school after council scrapped a price cap on bus passes. 

The price of the Kent Travel Saver is expected to rise nearly £200 next September once a current price freeze expires. 

Also in today's podcast, two police officers have been given final written warnings, after sharing what detectives call a 'deeply hurtful' graphic about the murder of Sarah Everard.

The 33-year-old was killed by serving officer Wayne Couzens from Deal in March 2021.

 A 72-year-old builder says a lifetime of tools has been stolen as well as his van which was taken from outside his home near Maidstone. 

£3000 worth of goods were in the back of the Ford Transit when it was stolen last week. 

A Kent farm that's been growing hops for more than 100 years is set to welcome visitors for the first time.

An old oast house at Hukins Hops in Tenterden is being converted with a brewery moving on-site, a brasserie, tap room and glamping.

And in sport, Gloucestershire are the visitors to Canterbury later for Kent's first game in the T20 Blast.

The Spitfires won the short version of the game two years ago.

Whitstable residents say they're being driven out of their homes by the increasing number of holiday lets. 

They say homes previously filled by neighbours are now being used by visitors throwing loud parties, blocking driveways, taking up vital parking spaces and leaving the streets covered in rubbish.

Also in today's podcast, concerns have been raised over a care home in Herne Bay, after a woman claimed her grandmother was left lying in her bed for 18 hours after her death.

Staff at Herne Place say they were aware the 105-year-old had passed away, but an administrative error led to the long delay. 

Pedestrians in Sandwich have had a near miss after a bin lorry mounted the kerb after taking a corner too fast.

The moment was captured on dashcam, witnesses described it as "horrendous". 

New plans to double the number of new homes on a  site near Canterbury have been submitted.

A total of 19 homes could now be built on unused land either side of Preston Garden Centre.

And, Hollywood has come to Canterbury with a major star spotted filming in the town. 

Production crews have taken over the Cathedral and parts of the Precincts. 

A former solider from Canterbury who lost both of his legs while serving in Afghanistan has made history by reaching the summit of Mount Everest.

Hari Budha Magar is the first double above the knee amputee to scale the world's highest mountain - he tells the KentOnline Podcast how it felt.

Also in today's podcast, have we found the pothole capital of Kent? Find out how many divits have been discovered in a half-mile stretch in Deal.

A temporary library is set to open in Folkestone after the original was closed due to water damage.

The 135-year-old building in Grace Hill flooded last December - and in March Kent County Council bosses said it was unlikely to ever reopen. We've been getting an update from deputy leader Peter Oakford.

Dozens of teaching and support staff have been recognised at the Kent Teacher of the Year Awards.

The annual event is designed to highlight those who really go above and beyond to educate and support children across the county. Hear from the overall headteacher of the year.

And in sport, the Gillingham manager has been speaking about his plans to recruit during the summer break.

Last week, the club released their retained list and confirmed they've offered contracts to David Tutonda and Alex Macdonald.

A family from  Gravesend say they're thankful for a second chance after their son was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder. 

Since November last year 12-year-old Louis has received more than 30 blood transfusions but, in March, he was able to receive a bone marrow transplant. 

Also in today's podcast a group of teenage girls are being hailed heroes after coming to the rescue of a man on Margate beach. 

The group noticed the man in trouble after he went into diabetic shock and paramedics say their actions saved his life. 

Three people have been arrested after a vehicle crashed into a bus stop following a police chase in Rochester. 

The driver and two passengers were given medical treatment before being taken into custody. 

People living in a village near Ashford fear plans for new homes will put too much pressure on water supplies.

Residents who had to rely on bottled water when the taps ran dry last summer are calling for improvements to infrastructure first.

And in sport, Kent continue their county championship campaign today - it's day two of their match against Surrey.

They finished their first innings on 278 at the Oval yesterday. 

Investigations are under way after two stabbings in Gillingham.

Hear from reporter Alex Langridge who has spent the morning in the town. It comes just days after a teenager was taken to hospital following a stabbing near Medway Park Leisure Centre.

Also in today's podcast, after dozens of sewage spills at beaches in Kent, water companies are investing £10 billion to help tackle the problem.

They've apologised for not acting quickly enough as figures show more than 300,000 waste releases across the country last year.

Just a year after a multi-million pound leisure centre opened in north Kent, there have been complaints about poor hygiene and rotten toilets.

£20 million was spent on White Oak in Swanley - find out what managers have said.

A Kent homelessness charity has welcomed news so-called no fault evictions are set to be banned.

New laws being put forward would also prevent people being barred from renting if they're on benefits, keep a pet or have children. We've been speaking to Canterbury based Porchlight.

As mental health week continues, bosses of a mental health café in Kent say they've been delighted by the public response to their reopening.

The Revival Café in Whitstable was forced to close two years ago but after a community campaign to find it a new home, it's now trading again as Revival Food and Mood.

And, A dad who set up a football club in a deprived part of Gravesend has been nominated for a local hero award...

Punjab United started out 20 years ago as a group of friends playing in a Sunday league - and has now evolved into a semi-professional side.

A Herne Bay family are desperate for a new council home after a young boy contracted lead poisoning. 

Three-year-old Elijah has a rare condition that causes him pick off and eat the paint from the walls of their home. Council say they're doing all they can to get the family moved. 

Also in today's podcast, a large chunk of woodland near Dover's gone up for sale - sparking concerns it could eventually be built on.

Residents are concerned the area at Gorse Hill could be snapped up by developers.

There are calls to improve safety at a roundabout near Bluewater amid claims drivers are taking their lives in their hands.

Despite a recent redesign, those travelling from Bean onto the London-bound A2 say there have been a number of recent near misses. 

A Medway man says he's struggling to pick up after his dogs because of overgrown grass at a park outside his house.

He says he's complained to council three times about the site in Strood

And in sport,  bowler Arafat Bhuiyan has signed for Kent for the rest of the season.

The 26 year-old goes straight into the squad for the county championship game at Surrey. 

There are calls for a Kent councillor to be sacked after suggesting it's the 'in' thing to have a child with special educational needs.

The comments were made during a committee meeting at County Hall in Maidstone. Hear what was said and what the reaction has been from parents.

Also in today's podcast, there are concerns the UK's on the brink of a public health crisis with parents stealing baby formula to keep their children fed.

Figures from First Steps Nutrition show the cost of the cheapest brand has risen by 45 percent in the past two years. We've been getting reaction from Gillingham Street Angels founder Neil Charlick who runs a food bank.

Medway's Dr Ranj has been telling us how being active and spending time outside can help boost our mental health.

He's been speaking as part of mental health awareness week which this year is focussing on anxiety.

People living in a Kent town fear the landscape could be changed forever if plans for the latest stage of a multi-million pound seafront development go ahead.

A huge block of flats could be built on the car park at Folkstone harbour arm - as well as parking spaces, it's feared sea views would also be lost. We've been speaking to residents to find out what they think.

Fundraising's under way to try and buy a defibrillator for a preschool in Maidstone.

Bosses at Tiny Treasures in Tovil have been telling the podcast how it could be used by the whole community.

And, the Marvel and DC Comic-Con's returning to Kent this weekend.

Thousands of people are expected to turn up to the event at Quex Park in Birchington on Sunday.

News that a new restaurant in a garden centre between Canterbury and Sandwich is due to open this summer is one of our most read stories on the website today.

Layham Garden Centre in Staple was taken over by the Johnson family five years ago with the hope of turning it into a community hub for local people.

Also in today's podcast, there are fresh concerns some school children are becoming "feral" while others are falling behind, due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic.

There have been reports across the country of students returning from home schooling with poor attitudes, and an inability to cope in a classroom. We've been speaking to Matt Paterson who's head teacher of Shears Green Junior School in Gravesend.

A man's been charged with two counts of attempted murder following a stabbing in Rochester.

A 19 year-old was flown to hospital with serious injuries and another was also hurt on the High Street near Star Hill on Friday.

KentOnline can reveal people who drop litter in parts of Kent have racked up fines of more than half-a million pounds in the past year.

It follows a crackdown in Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable. Kate Faulkner joins us with the details.

As mental health awareness week gets under way, a Kent GP says he's seeing cases of anxiety in his surgery on a very regular basis.

Dr Jack Jacobs works in Hamstreet near Ashford and reckons it's down to a combination of the fall-out from the pandemic, and current cost of living crisis.

And, the new owners of a pub near Maidstone say they're looking forward to working with locals to make it a real hotspot.

Stepbrothers Rick Bucur and Carlo Podac have launched the recently renamed Duke of Edinburgh in Barming.

A former Kent MP, who pleaded guilty to downloading and distributing indecent images, has been jailed for more than two years. 

Labour's Paul Clark, who represented Gillingham from 1997 to 2010, pleaded guilty to the charges. 

Also in today's podcast, trains across the county have come to a standstill because of strike action. 

ASLEF union members have walked off the job, which means no trains at all are running on Southeastern, Southern or Thameslink. Disruptions are also expected tomorrow. 

Howard Cox has revealed what his plans would be if he's elected Mayor of London next year. 

The Kent campaigner, who founded FairFuelUK, is the candidate for the Reform Group says and he's more than just a 'one trick pony'. 

A mum from Herne Bay says she's 'petrified' that an accident in a playground could permanently damage her son's eye. 

The young boy is having his sight tested after he was struck on the head by a gate. 

And in sport,  Conor Masterson's been speaking after signing a permanent deal at Gillingham Football Club 

The defender will officially join the squad after their summer break on July 1st.

A father from Kent says he's been left outraged after his son was allocated a secondary school place ten miles from where they live. He's appealed to council, but they say his chosen school was oversubscribed and he failed to list more preferences. 

Also in today's podcast, the Bank of England has confirmed an interest rate rise - taking it to levels not seen since 2008. We spoke to a local area mortgage manager about what it means for homeowners and first time buyers in Kent. 

Howard Cox, a Kent fuel campaigner, has announced plans to run in the London mayoral race next year. Previously a staunch Tory supporter, he'll be standing for the Reform Group. 

A former Met Police Officer is facing a disciplinary hearing over allegedly failing to properly investigate accusations of indecent exposure made against Wayne Couzens.

A former soldier from Canterbury who's attempting to become the first ever double above-the-knee amputee to climb Everest has completed the first part of the journey

And,  Kent's head coach is urging Joe Denly and Daniel Bell-Drummond to focus on preparations for the T20  after they were dropped from the county championship squad. Kent are welcoming Hampshire to Canterbury for their fifth match of the season in the longer format.