herne bay

Angry residents have packed into a public meeting in Herne Bay to have their say on a controversial seafront traffic scheme.

The debate comes amid a huge backlash to a £250,000 project to create a “Spanish-style” plaza along Central Parade. 

Also in today's podcast, hear from a woman living in a new-build block of flats in Herne Bay who's been staying in a hotel after a faulty light fitting sparked a huge fire.

All the tenants were evacuated and put up in temporary accommodation, where some remain as they face a three-month wait for repairs to take place.

Furious villagers have slammed “outrageous” plans to build 23 new homes in an area they say is already overdeveloped.

Developers are preparing to submit a bid to develop a horse field near Deal but critics say it'll cause traffic and parking chaos. 

People living in Maidstone say there will be more accidents if a  key traffic junction remains closed. 

The dispute between council and residents is far from over - local bosses say the changes have sped up traffic but there's also been an apparent increase in crashes. 

And a plasterer has defended the controversial name of his business- insisting it is just a bit of “banter”.

The Ramsgate man admits some people take offence at the branding of his Thanet-based company due to its links to infamous paedophile Jimmy Savile.

A Kent postman says he used to be proud to wear his Royal Mail uniform but now he feels embarrassed. 

He's written a letter revealing what it's like to really work for the service following a KentOnline report that showed some people in the county are waiting weeks for vital letters. 

Also in today's podcast, the family of a young woman from Herne Bay who took her own life say she still might be alive if more had been done to treat her anxiety and depression. 

She went missing just hours after a phone consultation with her GP where she admitted to having thoughts of self harm. 

A bully who mugged a vulnerable man of his bike will miss the birth of his first child after being sent to prison. 

The Faversham man cried in the courtroom as the verdict was read out - the judge said he'd deliberately picked on a victim who he considered to be an "easy target". 

One of the leaders of a  school trust has defended plans to introduce transgender education into a Kent primary school. 

They're proposing to teach students about things such as gender identity and the term non-binary. 

And, there's backlash over a Christmas display in Dover. 

Residents say they're "insulted" by the reindeers which have been placed around the War Memorial. 

A Romney Marsh stabbing victim says she tried to keep her eyes open and stay awake after being attacked because her children needed her. 

The mum-of-four suffered wounds to her abdomen, chest and arms and was flown to a London hospital.

Also in today’s podcast, four men have gone on trial accused of murdering a homeless man in Canterbury earlier this year.

The victim was a former barrister and was attacked with a wooden gavel and a laptop. 

A man from Herne Bay is still shielding from covid more than three years since the pandemic hit. 

He says he's doing it to protect his vulnerable family members but often gets criticised over his decision to wear a mask in public. 

Hear the reaction from shoppers in Gillingham and from local business after it was announced there will be no Christmas lights in Medway this year. 

Council say it's been scrapped as they try to tackle a budget overspend of 17 million pounds. 

And in sport, interim manager Keith Millen says he's disappointed by the result of Gillingham's clash in the EFL trophy. 

They lost 5 -  1 away to Portsmouth. 

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 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. 

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.

In this episode, I’m chatting with Jacqui Delbaere, the owner of The Little Green Bookshop, and bookseller, and in-store pianist Tim Jenkins about Herne Bay, literary events, and where to visit, dine and explore in the seaside town on the north coast of Kent in southeast England.

 The Little Green Bookshop

 The Whalebone Theatre, Joanna Quinn

 Hamnet, Maggie O’Farrell

 Persuasion, Jane Austin

 The Power Of Now, Eckhart Tolle

 The Seawomen, Chloe Timms

 Lucy Strange Books

 This Beating Heart, Laura Barnett

 Julie Wassmer Books

 Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, Katherine May

The Bookshop Podcast
Mandy Jackson-Beverly
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Whitstable Town vs Herne Bay (8/12/2018)

Osyters, fights, pubs and a lovely man named Chris. Sean and Gus experience a wet and windy Saturday visiting Whitstable Town football club. And highly recommend it.

This episode covers all that, and also:

- Two quizzes
- Question marks over stewarding levels
- A long joke about baby balloons
- Discussion about the sad demise of Thamesmead Town FC

We also talk about the match a bit too.

Contact details

Please get in touch via Twitter at: @20000leaguespod   
Or email us at: 20000leaguespodcast@gmail.com