A college principal has said his students' futures are being "gambled with" unless politicians decide on a clear economic vision for east Kent.
Graham Razey, of Thanet College, said it must be decided whether tourism, the expansion of Manston Airport or green policies offer the best opportunities.
Unemployment in Thanet is more than double the South East average.
Thanet District Council said the private sector is also responsible for growth.
Kent County Council figures show unemployment in Thanet is 6.2% of the population, compared with the south east average of 2.6%.
'Lost opportunity'Mr Razey disagreed with Thanet District Council's decision to oppose all night flights at Manston Airport.
"I just hope we haven't lost an opportunity to create many jobs for our young people," he said.
"Farnborough College of Technology has a specialist centre for the training of aviation. Why not Thanet College working in conjunction with the airport to create the specialist training needed for the 3,000 to 4,000 jobs that I think are achievable?"
Mr Razey said in order to design the right courses, he needed to know what sort of employment the area was trying to attract.
He said: "We need to know what we want to be. We need to have a coherent strategic plan for east Kent."
Rob Hetherington, head of regeneration at Thanet District Council, said: "What we're trying to do on the economic development side is move away from it just being the council driving this.
"Regeneration is not just the remit of the council, there are other public sector bodies involved in it and the private sector.
"We've bought together the Thanet Regeneration Board to widen the remit of people trying to steer the regeneration agenda, so it's not just the local authority."
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Plamen Petkov honoured for West Wittering beach rescue - BBC News
A man who drowned saving a young child from being swept out to sea off West Sussex has been rewarded for his "self-sacrifice and courage".
Plamen Petkov, of Sutton, south London, died after saving a five-year-old girl off West Wittering beach on 26 May.
Mr Petkov, 32, who was a British citizen of Bulgarian origin, has been posthumously awarded the highest civilian Bulgarian distinction.
His family have also set up an RNLI fund in his name.
Mr Petkov dived into the water after he and a friend spotted a mother shouting for help because her daughter was adrift on an inflatable ring being taken out to sea.
'Heroic act'He managed to reach the girl but after he passed her to a woman from Guildford, who also entered the water, he was dragged under the water by strong currents.
Mr Petkov was pronounced dead at the scene by the emergency services despite attempts by the woman to resuscitate him.
He has been posthumously awarded the Honorary Decoration of St George by the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria for his "self-sacrifice and courage".
A spokeswoman for the Bulgarian Embassy in London said the award had been given in recognition of Mr Petkov's "illustrated bravery, self-renunciation, civil courage" and for "upholding the prestige of the Republic of Bulgaria".
In a statement, his family said: "Although tragic, we are touched by the fact that Plamen's heroic act has been so widely and internationally praised.
"We would like to direct the support of those who have been moved by Plamen's bravery to the RNLI in their efforts to make Britain's beaches safer."
Gemma Nightingale, of the RNLI, said: "We are honoured that the family of Plamen Petkov have chosen to remember his life with a Forever by the Sea fund.
"It is a fitting tribute that this young man's ultimate generosity of spirit will be reflected in the generosity of those who now visit the site."
The young girl was reunited with her family who are from north west London.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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