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West Kent residents protest over traveller sites

John and Clare with the latest news, travel, and weather, plus stories from around Kent.

More than 20 people living in a part of West Kent are threatening to withhold their council tax, in protest at what they say is a lack of action against illegal traveller's sites.

The leader of the protest near Paddock Wood says he is even prepared to go to jail, to highlight the problem. He wants Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone councils to do more to remove the travellers 06:06, 07:07 and 08:07).

If you are unlucky enough to have to go to an A&E department, at least you should be seen within four hours. That is a target set by the government which says that 95% of patients should not have to wait longer than that. It used to be 98%, but was lowered by the coalition government when it came to power.

However, we have discovered that for several weeks over the last three months every A&E department in Kent has struggled to meet the lower target. In one hospital - Medway Maritime - the number of patients being seen within four hours dipped as low as 80%. The NHS says there are always going to be some weeks that are busier than others, and if you take a 12 month snapshot, all our hospitals met the targets (06:25, 07:07 and 08:07).

A Kent teenager will be one of just 41 young singers from around the country, who will form a special Diamond Choir and premiere an original work in front of the Queen.

Josie Hawthorn, from Tunbridge Wells, dreams of being an opera singer but for now, has just days to perfect her music and words in time for the Thanksgiving Service at St Paul's Cathedral next Tuesday the 5th June (06:54 and 08:53).

3 hours

Broadcast

  • Wed 30 May 2012 06:00