Podcast: Yoga instructor ‘heartbroken’ as Thanet District Council brings in £1,000 charge to use beach

A yoga instructor has been left “heartbroken” by a council’s decision to charge her £1,000 to use the beach for classes.

She has been hosting early morning sessions on the sand at West Bay in Westgate-on-Sea at a cost of £5 a person but says the new charges will cripple her business. 

Also in today’s podcast, two special independent schools in the county are closing at short notice in a move it’s feared will leave “a lot” of families in the lurch and potentially without places.

A letter was sent to parents from the chair of school governors explaining how the forecast for the number of pupils attending in September “has fallen such that the school is not financially viable”.

A damning report says a Kent prison has become "more unstable" with drugs being smuggled in via drones as one of the major problems.

It follows inspections of HMP Elmley in February and March this year. 

Controversial plans for a new McDonald’s drive-thru have been approved for a second time - but campaigners say they will continue fighting the scheme.

Bosses in Dover first gave the green light for the fast food-chain to open a restaurant in December – but concerns were raised and it was sent back for review. 

And a school leavers’ celebration turned into an emotional tribute as pupils gave a heartfelt standing ovation for a classmate left severely brain-damaged after a tragic accident.

15-year-old Jack Dolan was unable to attend the farewell event, but classmates and staff made sure he wasn’t forgotten.