The bin collection crisis in parts of Kent could be about to get worse, with the GMB Union confirming they're balloting members on potential strike action.
Suez has already been under pressure over waste not being taken away on time, with a recent council meeting being told there have been 36,000 missed collections.
Also in today's podcast, Kent's roads are expected to be especially busy on what's being dubbed Frantic Friday.
The summer getaway coincides with the start of the Olympics in Paris. We've been speaking to Toby Howe from the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum.
A single dad's told KentOnline more needs to be done to tackle inequality as figures reveal a huge difference in life expectancy across Kent.
Most recent data shows men in Thanet will live to an average age of 77 - four years less than those in more affluent Sevenoaks.
Dominic Watters has spoken as a group of almost 30 organisations join forces to launch the #MakeHealthEqual campaign.
A Maidstone woman has been left without a shower of bath for months after a flood caused by neighbouring pipework wrecked her bathroom.
Yvonne Eaton lives in Wallis Avenue in the Park Wood area of town and has been telling the podcast what happened and how it's affected her.
In showbiz news, Sydnie Christmas is going to star in a Kent panto this year.
The Britain's Got Talent winner will be in Sleeping Beauty in Dartford.
And, Sam Lawrie has a roundup of everything going on in Kent this weekend.
Can't online news news. You can trust. This is the Kent online podcast, Nicola Everett. Hello. Hope you're OK. It's Friday the 26th of July. Thanks ever so much for downloading today's podcast. We got to the end of the weekend. We'll have details on everything going on in Kent over the weekend coming up for you. But first, Kent's roads are expected to be especially busy. And what's actually being dubbed Frantic Friday? Now, the summer getaway coincides with the start of the Olympics in Paris. Operation Brock, as you may already know, is already in place on the M20 to try and manage traffic if there are any delays, particularly at the Port of Dover. I've been chatting to Toby Howe, who's from the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum. Many schools have been breaking up over the past couple of weeks, but this is the real big one, as the masses of schools have now broken up. So today will be a very busy day as will tomorrow. We saw already very busy traffic through Wednesday and Thursday as well. And of course, today coincides with the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games as well. Are we expecting more people perhaps to be heading to France because that huge event is taking place? Yes. Throughout the summer, we are expecting still very busy weekends and actually weekdays as people do head over for the Olympics and the Paralympics. So ordinarily in the summer, we'll see those first few weekends being really busy as people get away for their holidays, but we see data showing that there will be that continued busyness across the Portals throughout the summer. Now, we know Kent can get pretty congested very, very quickly if there are any forms of delays. So please talk us through what plans you've got in place to try and keep disruption to an absolute minimum. So we have a number of different plans in place depending on how busy it does get and what we saw, for example, last weekend in particular, which was a busy one. These plans did come together, but it also showed that it is a very fragile system. So last Friday, everything was flowing well, all of the plans were in place, but then we had a couple of instances of problems where we had a crash on the M20. We also had a couple of other issues as well. Plus, all that was it, people coming down from the airlines instead because of the ITSU and instantly we did then have some congestion within the town of Dover, then Saturday, we didn't have those problems, and again, it all flowed well. So we have traffic management plans within Dover to make sure everything does go through the A20 to the Port and work very closely with the Port, but we have also brought in a permitting process for HGVs this year. And that's key to make sure we keep compliance so that HGVs are only allowed into Dover and into the Port if they have that permit that's been issued from either a truck stop or within BROC, and that is helping the process as well. And Toby, what can travellers do themselves to try and keep disruption to a minimum if they are heading to either Eurotunnel or to Dover over the next couple of weeks? It's really following the advice from the ferry companies and from Eurotunnel, so I think they also don't turn up any more than two hours too early because they can then control if people are there or in time to go, whereas if people all turn up too soon, then that adds to the congestion at Eurotunnel and at the Port, which then impacts the rest of the traffic and delays everybody else. And if there are delays as there will be at times, possibly make sure that you've got sort of good provisions in the car such as water and a bit of food, sweets, et cetera. So just come prepared. Elsewhere Eurostar is urging passengers to postpone journeys between London and Paris after French railway lines were hit by arson attacks. Many services have already been cancelled ahead of the official opening of the Olympics and authorities in France have condemned what they call acts of sabotage. Now don't forget, you can hear over on our sister radio station KMFM regular travel updates. You can also get the very latest via the KMFM app. It's online news. Other top stories for you today in a man has been flown to a London hospital following a crash in Larkfield. Two vehicles collided on the A20 London Road near B&Q at about seven this morning. Three other people were also injured. If you follow Kent online on socials, you can see a picture of a man police hunting following an attack in Swanley. We're told the victim was trying to help a woman when he was assaulted in an Ali near Westview Road earlier this month. Members of a people smuggling gang who tried to hide two Vietnamese nationals in a campervan headed to Kent have been jailed. Border force officers found them crammed into a dangerously small compartment when the vehicle was searched at the Eurotunnel entrance in France. Two people have been sentenced to a total of eight years at Canterbury Crown Court. Two others got suspended sentences. Now the bin collection crisis in parts of Kent could be about to get even worse, with the GMB union confirming their balloting members on potential strike action. Kate has been following this story for the Kent online podcast and joins me now. So Kate, this is going to be an unwelcome development for an awful lot of people in the county. Yes, it sure is. It's the latest in a long line of disruptions for residents in Swale, Ashford and Maidstone since Suez took over the contract back in March. In the last three months, the company has been under constant fire for its inability to handle the collections. With many people saying their bins haven't been emptied for weeks or even months with rubbish piling up in the streets at a council meeting in Swale. Earlier this week, it was revealed up until July 2nd there had been more than 36,000 reports of missed collections. Following the end of a three month grace period on June 25th, it's understood the firm has had to pay punishment fines to the councils for a lack of service delivery. We can understand why residents are so upset, but why is staff now talking about going on strike? Well, it comes down to a dispute about pay. The GMB union says Suez employees in Swale and Ashford are earning less than the company's employees in Maidstone who are doing the same work. For example, loaders there are on £13 an hour and drivers are on £17 an hour, while in Swale and Ashford staff receive £12 and £15 respectively. Suez has confirmed it is aware of the strike ballot, but they don't wish to comment further. So finally, Kate, where does this leave residents then? I think most people will be concerned about the future reliability of the service. Council bosses have acknowledged that there have been far more issues than they anticipated and that it's taken far too long to put them right. Previously, a spokesperson for Suez said they were expecting there to be challenges as their crews get used to new routes, trucks and technology. They say they're making improvements to address collections that are being missed and looking at deploying additional resources to make sure it doesn't happen in the future. In terms of the potential strike action, the GMB will ballot its members this coming Monday. Kent online will be keeping an eye on the outcome. Kate, thank you ever so much. If you've got a view on this story, you can comment by heading to Kent Online or getting in touch via our socials. Kent Online reports. A protest is due to take place in Gravesend by a group opposed to a building being used to house young asylum seekers. The property is on Trinity Road in the town and is set to be converted for children who've arrived in Kent without their family. Now, neighbours claim they weren't told about it. The county council say they need to increase capacity. A folks to mum whose five-year-old son died in a quad bike accident has paid tribute describing him as a happy and sporty boy. George Davenport was visiting his grandparents when he died in the crash in County Kerry last year. His mum Laura is now returning to Ireland to climb a mountain in her little boy's memory. A teenager left brain damaged after jumping from a pier in Margate, has managed to speak for the first time since it happened. Jack Dolan was flown to a London hospital last month and a scan revealed no brain activity. While his stepdad's now revealed the 15-year-old has also been able to move his arms and toes. A single dad has told Kent Online that more needs to be done to tackle inequality, as figures today reveal a huge difference in life expectancy across Kent. Most recent data shows men in Phoenix will live to an average age of 77. That's four years less than those in more affluent seven eggs. Dominic Watters lives on a council estate in Canterbury. He says the pandemic highlighted some of their issues, but much more now needs to be done. It's really hard for a lot of people out there now, but, you know, poor people were in a custody of inquestes long before the phrase was popularised. And it's only now that these price rises and everything are impacting wide elements of society that it seems to be getting this sort of coverage. You said you tried to use your voice to really highlight the issues at the moment. Do you mind telling me a bit about your story and your situation? Yeah, no. I'm a single dad. I've raised my daughter by myself. We live in the most deprived blocks of my council estate. And I kind of, I got the opportunity to just speak on a couple of platforms and what I said seemed to really resonate with some people. It's grown since then. And I've just recently started my own community interest company, Food Is Care. And it's even with the help of the Food Foundation. I recently spoke at the House of Lords Food and Diet Select Committee. So it's trying to highlight how voices like mine have not been included in policy discussions and how if they are going to come up with truly sustainable solutions around food system transformation and, you know, developing free school meals system, they need to hear people that are actually experiencing these hardships and inequalities because otherwise it's people outside looking in. And sometimes they don't have the best ideas. Obviously, we've got a new government now, Dominique, are you more hopeful for the future? Does that give you some positivity? I think there's, there's now the opportunity for, for care starmer and the new government to acknowledge that we're the ones that politics has forgotten about. We're the ones that haven't been included in these discussions. And I'd say to the Labour government that is now is the time to stop the hunger games that are played with the poor. Obviously, these sorts of issues, they're not easy to fix. It's not a quick fix either. But what do you want to see happen over the next months, years of this new government to try and bring more people out of poverty? The universal credit system is a dehumanizing system. It also, it doesn't cover your dating necessities. I'm on pay as you go gas and electric and, you know, we struggle just to get food and be able to cook it. So a lot of my neighbours spend all day on the buses trying to get the best deal on microwave meals. But then that's not, you don't get as good nutrition from those sorts of processed food as you do from fresh. But it's also, it's really, I would like them to involve the people that are experiencing the inequalities in discussions around policy development. And you mentioned there about, about healthy food. I mean, we've heard of a couple of projects of like community gardens and things like that. I mean, do you think that sort of thing should be encouraged to get people, you know, if they can to grow produce and then to share it amongst the community? I mean, that could, in theory, it could work well. But whether that's just me looking at through roasting to glasses at a possible solution to try and help people get some more healthy food. I'm doing a lot of work at the moment with the Agri Food Network, AFN Network, and they work closely with different farmers from all over the country. And it was interesting when I spoke on their panel, how farmers, they didn't, they weren't aware that there were communities such as my council as they, that were food deserts. So I think what you, what you pointed to is something where if we could raise that awareness and understanding and somehow build community gardens, that would be something that we can grow through. That would be beneficial to the community on lots of levels. I will only add one negative thing from speaking on the news is I've often said had people in the comments or trollings and we'll just grow your own food. But once again, there's a lack of understanding. We live in a tower block on my balcony. I'd inspired by different urban gardeners. I have tried to grow like tomatoes and herbs and stuff, but you can't grow enough to feed your child a healthy meal every day on a balcony. So that's something where I think a bit of awareness and understanding would be, would be helpful. I really appreciate Dominic chatting to us. He's spoken as a group of almost 30 organisations joined forces today to launch the Make Health Equal Campaign. Can't online reports. A pony has been rescued after being found dumped in South Fleet. Our SPCA inspectors were called to park Corner Road and found the animal sick and injured, which all he is responding to treatment and will move to stables in the coming days and investigation is also underway. A window fitter claims he could be owed compensation after tripping over a manhole cover in Broadstairs and breaking his arm. Steve Morgan also suffered ligament damage and severe bruising, leaving him unable to work for two months. The area has now been resurfaced, but he's got three years to put in a claim. We've contacted the council for a comment. Yesterday in a made stone woman has been left without a shower or a bath for months after a flood caused by neighbouring pipework wrecked her bathroom. If one eaten lives in Wallace Avenue in the parkwood area of town, the 72 year old is on the ground floor of a block of masonets and has been telling the podcast about what happened and the impact it's had on her. I've been here for four years. Last year in July, there was a flood with pubs that burst in the bathroom and now there's been a second flood on the 9th of April, which has flooded my whole flat and it was about two inches under the water and I've had to get the plumber to come and dry it out and repair it, but the owner is not doing the last lot to finish it. I don't have a bath. It's standing up straight in the bathroom. I can't bath. I've got to go every second day, pack a bag and then go up to my daughter in Bowers Street and go and shower there. I've got no choice. I can't shower. Yeah, I've just got to have a bit of a body wash every day, but every second day I go up to my daughter to go and shower and I think it's unfair. Why should I be suffering like this? I mean, I've been here four years. I've always paid my rent on time and why? Why must I suffer like this? It's not fair. All I want is to have a bath. I can't even have a bath. You know, a simple shower, a simple bath. I can't even do that because the bath is standing up straight looking at me in the bathroom. Well, property management company Sanderson's UK have told us they can perfectly understand everyone's upset as there have been significant delays in repairing the damage. They go on to say they're waiting on the insurer to give permission to refit the bathroom. They've also confirmed that if one will be given alternative accommodation whilst the work is being done. Kent Online Showbiz. Got some what's on news for you now and Sydney Christmas is going to star in a Kent Panto this year. The Britain's Got Talent winner will be in Sleeping Beauty in Darford. The show will be at the temporary Orchard West Theatre while the main building in the town centre is renovated. Well, Sydney has been chatting to Bartholomew Hall from our colleagues at KMTV. I can't believe this is my life. I don't know where it's heading. Every week's different, but that's just brilliant. That's fun. And, you know, I can't wait to see what happens and I'm excited for new doors to open. Did you expect that much support from your hometown? No, absolutely not. So what I can do and give back and say thanks, he's come home for Christmas. Come back to Darford because I'm from Groves there and so everybody near and far in Kent come and see us. It has been a big part of your life. I mean, in that audition you sang tomorrow from Annie. How has it felt coming back into all of this now? I mean costumes, scripts, things like that. Is it natural? Very exciting. Very exciting. It's where my heart lies, you know. I think it's what I'd do best. I'd like to think it's what I'd do best. We should see. Panto is very new to me. So I haven't done anything like this. So this is exciting. Yeah. I mean, how did you decide to do it then? If it's not something you'd done before, you must have had offers coming in and you tried to come stop it. I actually tried to get into Panto like loads, especially as a kid. Even when I was young, all my friends were getting in Panto. I couldn't book it. Then the last time I went to a Panto audition was about three years ago, then I went back to Starlight and then, yeah, I'm leaving my Panto dream. I ticked it off. Yeah, you're giving something back to your younger self as well. Absolutely. We've done it, Sid. We've got into a Panto. And tune in Dartford as well. Oh, of course. It's close to your hometown. Of course, with what's going on here as well. I know. This is in Panto in a row in a temporary theatre. It's kind of supporting the industry as well. 100%. This is fantastic. This is amazing. I'm so impressed. I think everyone's going to love it. I used to go to the Orchard to watch Panto as when I was young. So it's really good to now be a part of it. You've done some theatre before. How's your, you know, you can sing. What you've seen on stage before, but how's your dancing? My dancing. I love acting. Acting is obviously the singing is my absolute passion, but acting is, if not, if not the exact same with singing. Oh, I love, love, love acting. And it's, you know, acting through song is my thing. But dancing, I love dancing, may not be too gifted in dancing. I'd say I'm a strong mover. Strong mover. And now with the round up of everything else going on in Kent for this weekend, here's Sam Lorry. It's another great weekend for music lovers. I mean, really, don't you just love the summer months? It's my favourite time of year when it feels like everywhere you look, there's another brilliant festival or outdoor concert to be part of. This week is, of course, no exception, and we kick things off tonight with a headline performance from pop star Jess Glim. The Grammy award-winning chart-topper will be playing fan favourites, including I'll Be There and Hold My Hand, as well as music from her latest album at Dreamland in Margate Tonight. Also opening its doors today is Blue Reef Festival, a chilled out festival that's giving us a taste of the Californian beach vibes right here in Kent. The festival, which is on today and tomorrow at Loddington Farm, just that side of Maidstone, will see performances from Beans on Toast, Brandon Block and Headline as Scouting for Girls. Now, if your ears pricked up at that last name, Blue Reef isn't the only place you can catch the indie pop band this weekend. Scouting for Girls, who are best known for singles she's so lovely and this ain't a love song, will also be at the sausage and cider festival in Quex Park in Bertchington on Saturday. The festival has, you guessed it, lots of different flavours of sausages and cider to choose from, as well as karaoke, silent discos and children's activities. And for all you old school fans out there, legendary DJ Pete Tong is bringing his Ibiza anthems to Mote Park in Maidstone on Saturday. The radio one hit maker, who was born and raised in Dartford, will be playing a string of classics from the Summer Island, all reimagined with the help of Jules Buckley and the essential orchestra. Now onto some theatre and there's still just enough time to catch the hilarious sister act before it continues its UK tour. The show, starring former coronation street actor Wendy Peters, is at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury until Saturday night. It'll then make way for the Marlowe's next show, Pretty Woman, which opens from Tuesday next week. The musical has been adapted from the blockbuster film with the help of Canadian rock star Brian Adams and currently stars former Love Island winner Amber Davies and TV presenter and Strictly Champ O'Reya Duda. And if you're looking for some family fun this weekend, look no further than the Maidstone River Festival. The annual festival returns to the County Town on Saturday for a day of raft races, illuminated boats, fun fair rides, markets, food, drink, music and a fireworks display. It's all free and takes place on the River Medway and Lock meadow Entertainment Centre throughout the day. And finally, if you've got boisterous children in your family, they can burn off some energy at the Military Festival and Country Fair at Bettshanger Park in Deal. The two-day events use vintage vehicles, tractor rides, Spitfire and helicopter displays, food stores, re-enactors and dancers take over the park on Saturday and Sunday. Also, for the first time this year, there will be a comic on where visitors can meet their favourite characters from Star Wars, Ghostbusters and more. So hopefully the rain can hold off for the next couple of days and we can all enjoy plenty of music, theatre and family fun, and whatever you get up to, I hope you have a fantastic weekend. Ken's Online Sports Quick hit first up and Ken to get their campaign. In the one-day cup underway today, the Spitfires travel to take on Somerset. In football, Gillingham play another pre-season friendly this weekend. They travel to take on South End United tomorrow. So far, the Jills are unbeaten in their pre-season friendlies as they get ready for the new League Two season, which kicks off on August 10th. And finally, Chatham Boxer Moses Aetama is set to defend his WBO Intercontinental heavyweight title this weekend. He faces Mario's watch at the O2 Arena due to fight on the undercard of the British heavyweight clash between Joe Joyce and Derek Chizora. Well, that's all from us for today. Thanks ever so much for listening. Don't forget you can, of course, follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and threads. It can also get details on the top stories direct to your email each morning via the briefing. To sign up to that, you just need to head to kentonline.co.uk. And whilst you're on the site today, don't forget to check out the latest review from our secret drinker. And you can also download the very latest episode of the Kent Politics podcast from wherever you get your pods. News you can trust. This is the Kent Online podcast.
