Kent County Council seeks solution to 'painful' Operation Brock
Operation Brock is funded by the Department for Transport (DfT), with decisions on its use made by the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum (KMRF).On average the operation costs about £250,000 each time it is deployed, a Freedom of Information request revealed.Mr Osborne said the council had looked at sites for an off-road holding facility, but the site needed to be between Ashford and Folkestone and on the left side of the M20.Discussions had included the Sevington inland border facility, which the government is reportedly considering selling following its post-Brexit deal with the EU, but Mr Osborne said the site was on the wrong side of the road.Toby Howe, highways and transport strategic resilience manager at the KMRF, told Radio Kent that "being realistic, it [Operation Brock] won't be fixed this summer and it won't be fixed next summer".The DfT was approached for comment.
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Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Labour-run council approves plan to fine locals for swearing
A Labour-run council has approved a plan to fine locals up to £100 for swearing, drinking and 'misusing' public spaces. The crackdown on antisocial behaviour will be enforced in four seaside hotspots in Kent. Thanet District Council announced the bid to enforce the new public space protection order (PSPO) earlier this month in Birchington, Margate, Ramsgate, and Broadstairs. The newly approved order will make it an offence to refuse to stop using certain language if requested to do so by an officer. Under the order, the language restricted is described as 'foul or abusive language [used] in a manner likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress to a person within hearing or sight, judged by the standards of a "reasonable person."' The council said the plans were introduced because of a rise in antisocial behaviour in Kent. They were approved on July 24 and will come into force after the required legal notice period. A spokesperson said: 'The Proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) was approved at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday 24 July 2025. 'The PSPO was put forward with the aim of reducing antisocial behaviour in Thanet's main towns, and is similar to previous PSPOs in place between 2018 and 2024. 'They mirror the same restrictions in place across many other districts and boroughs, including in other parts of Kent in line with powers under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. 'There was strong support for proposals in response to a recent public consultation, with a majority of respondents indicating agreement.' In addition to swearing, the order also restricts gathering in anti-social groups, misusing public places, excreting bodily fluids, consuming alcohol, consuming legal psychoactive substance, and causing humiliation or degradation. In the first instance, anyone found to be breaking the rules will be spoken to by enforcement officers. However, if the behaviour continues, fines of up to £100 can be issued. The council initially tried to introduce the PSPO in July 2024 but the proposals were scrapped after the Free Speech Union (FSU) blasted them as 'draconian' and threatened legal action. Commenting on the order's approval, Councillor Heather Keen, Cabinet Member for Communities at Thanet District Council, said: 'We've listened and these measures are designed to reassure residents and set clear expectations around acceptable public behaviour in Thanet. 'It crucially provides us with the tools to intervene earlier which we hope will successfully prevent situations from escalating. 'The overwhelming support from local people, businesses and the police during the consultation process is evidence that these measures are welcomed. 'Every year our residents tell us feeling safe is a top priority. 'I'm proud to say that we've listened and hope this serves as a reminder that antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated in Thanet.' Councillors have said that signs explaining the PSPO's rules will be displayed in each town. A report explained: 'The causes of this are complex and the PSPO is recognised by all of those working with such behaviour as being one of the effective tools for dealing with this. 'The Council sought to implement a PSPO in similar terms to the one that it is currently proposed in the summer of last year. 'This was however subject to the threat of legal challenge. As a result, a decision was made not to implement this PSPO. 'Since that time police report experiencing increased difficulties in managing some of the identified forms of anti-social behaviour.'
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Labour-run council approves controversial plan to fine locals £100... for SWEARING
A Labour-run council has approved a plan to fine locals up to £100 for swearing, drinking and 'misusing' public spaces. The crackdown on antisocial behaviour will be enforced in four seaside hotspots in Kent. Thanet District Council announced the bid to enforce the new public space protection order (PSPO) earlier this month in Birchington, Margate, Ramsgate, and Broadstairs. The newly approved order will make it an offence to refuse to stop using certain language if requested to do so by an officer. Under the order, the language restricted is described as 'foul or abusive language [used] in a manner likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress to a person within hearing or sight, judged by the standards of a "reasonable person".' The council said the plans were introduced because of a rise in antisocial behaviour in Kent. They were approved on July 24 and will come into force after the required legal notice period. A spokesperson said: 'The Proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) was approved at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday 24 July 2025. 'The PSPO was put forward with the aim of reducing antisocial behaviour in Thanet's main towns, and is similar to previous PSPOs in place between 2018 and 2024. 'They mirror the same restrictions in place across many other districts and boroughs, including in other parts of Kent in line with powers under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. 'There was strong support for proposals in response to a recent public consultation, with a majority of respondents indicating agreement.' In addition to swearing, the order also restricts gathering in anti-social groups, misusing public places, excreting bodily fluids, consuming alcohol, consuming legal psychoactive substance, and causing humiliation or degradation. In the first instance, anyone found to be breaking the rules will be spoken to by enforcement officers. However, if the behaviour continues, fines of up to £100 can be issued. The council initially tried to introduce the PSPO in July 2024 but the proposals were scrapped after the Free Speech Union (FSU) blasted them as 'draconian' and threatened legal action. Commenting on the order's approval, Councillor Heather Keen, Cabinet Member for Communities at Thanet District Council, said: 'We've listened and these measures are designed to reassure residents and set clear expectations around acceptable public behaviour in Thanet. 'It crucially provides us with the tools to intervene earlier which we hope will successfully prevent situations from escalating. 'The overwhelming support from local people, businesses and the police during the consultation process is evidence that these measures are welcomed. 'Every year our residents tell us feeling safe is a top priority. 'I'm proud to say that we've listened and hope this serves as a reminder that antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated in Thanet.' Councillors have said that signs explaining the PSPO's rules will be displayed in each town. A report explained: 'The causes of this are complex and the PSPO is recognised by all of those working with such behaviour as being one of the effective tools for dealing with this. 'The Council sought to implement a PSPO in similar terms to the one that it is currently proposed in the summer of last year. 'This was however subject to the threat of legal challenge. As a result, a decision was made not to implement this PSPO.
BBC News
16 hours ago
- BBC News
Manston International Airshow postponed until summer 2026
Organisers of an airshow in Kent have made the last-minute decision to postpone event until next Manston International Airshow was due to begin on 16 August, but will now take place in June Bill Giles said it followed extensive discussions between the Flying Display Committee and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regarding "possible additional requirements over and above the statutory safety regulations surrounding airshows".He said that while the CAA had approved its plans, the late conclusion of talks had left insufficient time to finalise them "to a satisfactory level". Ticket holders will be able to apply for a full refund or defer their tickets to next year's event Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey and Sussex (KSS) and Brain Tumour Research were to be the charity partners of the 2025 event, had it gone ahead. They will now be beneficiaries of the 2026 show added that RiverOak Strategic Partnership, which owns and runs Manston Airport, had confirmed its commitment to supporting the airshow when it returned.
