Podcast: Developer pulls out of controversial luxury £30 million hotel plan for Betteshanger Country Park near Deal

It’s understood plans for a £30 million hotel at a country park have been quietly dropped after the intended operator pulled out.

The controversial scheme at Betteshanger, near Deal, was met with huge opposition and took two years to get planning permission.

Also in today’s podcast, the family of a sub-postmistress convicted of stealing thousands from the branch will be given the chance to clear her name after “an abuse of process”.

Pat Owen was found guilty of theft from the Broad Oak Post Office in Sturry, near Canterbury, in 1998, despite denying any involvement in a £6,000 shortfall in its accounts.

There’s a warning from the RNLI about using inflatables in the sea after two men had to be rescued after being blown out to sea in strong winds while on a paddleboard and inflatable flamingo.

It happened on Monday afternoon when the pair got into difficulty off Leysdown beach on the Isle of Sheppey.

You can hear from teenagers in the county following the bombshell news people as young as 16 can vote in the next UK general election for the first time.

We also spoke to a Kent County Councillor to get his thoughts on what’s been called the biggest electoral reform in 50 years. 

And in football the Gillingham manager says he’s pretty happy with how the squad is shaping up as their pre-season continues. 

They’re hosting Luton Town tomorrow at Priestfield.