Kent Tonight - Monday 27th May 2024
Catch up on all the latest news across your county with Abby Hook.
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00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 - Hello, good evening and welcome to Kentonite Live on KMTV.
00:29 I'm Abbey Hook, here are your top stories
00:31 on Monday the 27th of May.
00:34 It's not enough, Kent voters have their say
00:37 as conservatives talk energy policy in Dartford.
00:40 - It's not enough considering how much is already gone up.
00:43 It's not even getting back down
00:45 to what we would consider reality.
00:47 - To blean or not to blean, Canterbury protesters
00:50 say building 2,000 new homes isn't sustainable.
00:54 - It's a really dangerous thing
00:57 that they're proposing to do.
00:59 - Sun, sea and skin.
01:01 Kent Cancer Charity issues warning ahead of summer
01:04 as melanoma cases increase.
01:06 - First of all, if you have a history of melanoma,
01:08 then you really have to be aware of it
01:10 and hopefully you'll be on the case.
01:12 - First tonight, the Secretary of State
01:25 for Energy Security and Net Zero has visited Dartford
01:29 as the conservatives announce their election energy policy.
01:32 It would see an extension of the energy price cap
01:35 while Labour's planning a public-owned green energy company.
01:39 But some Kent voters aren't convinced of either.
01:41 Oliver Leader de Sacks has more.
01:44 - The Dartford British Gas Academy,
01:45 where the Secretary of State for Energy Security
01:48 and Net Zero hopes to deliver more than just hot air.
01:52 The conservatives plan to introduce a new code of practice
01:54 for smart meters, attempt to make it easier
01:57 to compare energy prices and keep the energy price cap
02:01 for another five years to lower the cost of bills.
02:05 But with nearly 10% of people in Kent
02:07 living in fuel poverty, according to Kent County Council,
02:11 does it go far enough?
02:12 - Well, I think the first thing is that our priority
02:15 is going to be on cheap energy
02:17 and that's very distinct to the Labour Party.
02:20 So what I wanna do is,
02:21 whether it's the energy that we're putting in
02:23 or the way that people are experiencing their bills,
02:25 absolutely prioritise low costs of energy for people.
02:29 But yes, you're right, we've got to do more
02:30 and that's why in post and during our time in office,
02:33 we've set out plans to increase competition.
02:35 I'm taking that further today by making sure
02:37 that people will be able to compare different suppliers,
02:40 really hold them to account for their service,
02:43 customer service as well.
02:44 - Meanwhile, the Labour Party aims
02:46 to set up Great British Energy,
02:48 a new state-owned renewable energy company
02:51 with the goal of cutting energy bills.
02:53 The Labour Party's sedentary policies
02:56 are just a bunch of empty buzzwords.
02:59 But the Conservatives say Labour's plan
03:02 takes us back to square one
03:03 by making voters pay more for net zero.
03:07 Down the road in Rochester,
03:08 Kent voters have mixed feelings
03:11 about whether either policy will fuel their electoral fire.
03:15 - It's a start. (laughs)
03:18 - Do you not think it goes far enough then?
03:20 - Not really, like I say, I think the whole,
03:22 I would rather it was set up non-profit.
03:26 That's what I like.
03:27 You know, it's difficult to do
03:28 'cause the genie's out the bottle,
03:29 but actually that as a system would be preferable.
03:32 - Particularly for the lower end of wages
03:35 and things like that,
03:36 they should have a larger price drop and cap.
03:41 Yeah, just, it's not enough
03:44 considering how much it's already gone up.
03:46 It's not even getting back down
03:47 to what we would consider reality, I would guess.
03:50 - Smart meters should be more enforced.
03:53 It does let you see what you are actually using.
03:55 I'm only two people in our family.
03:57 If you've got eight people in a family,
03:59 they've all got phones, they've all got tablets,
04:01 you've got a lot of energy going out.
04:03 - While the two largest parties
04:04 are talking about very different energy policies,
04:08 it's clear they will have to go a lot further
04:10 to convince Kent that they will keep the lights on
04:13 after the election.
04:15 Oliver leaves the sacks for KMTV.
04:18 Police cordoned off parts of St. Mary's Island
04:21 after reports a man fell in the water today.
04:23 Officers were called to the area in Chatham
04:25 just after 9.30am,
04:27 near where Chatham Maritime Food and Drink Festival
04:30 was being held.
04:31 An air ambulance joined the large emergency response
04:33 and a green tarpaulin was used
04:35 to screen off part of the path.
04:37 Police say the man has been taken to hospital for treatment
04:39 and the area has now reopened.
04:41 Now, the University of Kent has come under public scrutiny
04:46 after allowing Canterbury City Council
04:48 to use their countryside land
04:50 in a plan to build 2,000 homes, shops and offices.
04:53 The University say they're committed to biodiversity,
04:56 but the Save the Bleen campaign organised a march
04:59 to protest against these plans.
05:01 Finn McDermid was there.
05:03 - The University of Kent has landed itself in controversy
05:06 after giving permission for land they own
05:07 to Canterbury City Council to build 2,000 houses,
05:10 shops and offices in the heart of the Bleen,
05:13 a rural countryside and ancient woodland,
05:16 only three miles north of the city centre.
05:19 Protesters say what would essentially be a new town
05:21 on areas like Tyler Hill, Bleen and Rough Common
05:24 could have an extremely detrimental effect
05:26 on the wildlife and woodland.
05:27 - The University of Kent say they're committed
05:29 to biodiversity and environmental issues,
05:32 but the people behind me don't believe them.
05:34 Save Our Bleen aim to stop 2,000 homes being built
05:37 in the Bleen countryside, just outside of Canterbury.
05:40 - Public consultation is open until the 3rd of June,
05:43 so this Saturday 25th,
05:44 concerned citizens alongside Kent Wildlife Trust
05:47 marched from the Dane John Gardens
05:49 to the University of Kent's registry,
05:51 crossing through the city centre for a total of two miles.
05:55 - So we're calling the march
05:57 in order to really raise awareness for the university
06:00 to how people feel, but also to urge them to work with us.
06:04 They've got a new VC in place.
06:05 We urge her to show some bold leadership
06:08 and actually work with us, with residents,
06:11 with the council and other stakeholders
06:13 like Kent Wildlife Trust,
06:15 to come up with a better solution
06:17 and use this land in a different way.
06:20 - Other issues with the site include the landscape,
06:22 which suffers from poor drainage and flooding,
06:24 several heritage sites, including an Iron Age settlement,
06:27 and the increase of traffic and people through the area.
06:30 This is all against what the university themselves
06:33 have stated for their sustainability policy.
06:35 The development company, Allison Young,
06:37 have been quoted as saying there is an economic need
06:40 for the sites to be delivered
06:41 to ensure the future success of the university.
06:44 The university has been known to have financial issues,
06:46 shutting down several courses on their Medway campus
06:48 to save money.
06:50 The 2,000 buildings in Blean
06:52 aren't the only expansions planned by the council,
06:54 with the Brooklands Farm area in Whitstable
06:56 earmarked for 1,400, leading people like Emily
07:00 to also join the march against the council's plans.
07:02 - And we know what's down there.
07:04 There's so much rare wildlife, birds, fish.
07:09 And I've had a report from the Environment Agency
07:12 speaking about eels being up there.
07:15 And if both developments go ahead, or either one,
07:20 they will kill those streams with concreting.
07:23 The streams won't be filled from aquifers.
07:29 It's a really dangerous thing that they're proposing to do.
07:34 - Even if the march has ended,
07:35 the council's plans are still set to go ahead
07:37 and would take until 2040 to finish.
07:40 Finn McDermid for KMTV.
07:42 - Now for the forecast, a clear night.
07:50 Temperatures dropping to nine degrees near Margate
07:52 in Tunbridge Wells, highs of 11 in Dartford and Dover.
07:55 Tomorrow, a rainy start cloud across most of the county,
07:58 some sunshine near Canterbury,
07:59 temperatures between 13 and 15.
08:02 Picking up in the afternoon to around 16 degrees
08:04 near Ashford, a bit more sun towards Medway as well,
08:06 but staying wet and rainy.
08:09 And here's your outlook, looking much of the same
08:11 right up until Friday, a mixed pitch to highs of 17.
08:14 And finally, on National Sunscreen Day,
08:23 we're being reminded how crucial it is to use it
08:25 not only on the beach and on holiday,
08:27 but here in Kent every day now summer is approaching.
08:30 It comes as a time where the number
08:32 of melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK is rising.
08:35 But with research so readily available about sun damage,
08:38 why are we still exposing our skin?
08:40 I asked Michelle Baker from
08:41 Tunbridge Wells-based charity Melanoma Fund.
08:44 - Firstly, we're an ageing population
08:46 and a growing population.
08:48 So there's going to be more incidents.
08:50 But when it comes to melanoma,
08:52 obviously people are more aware of it now.
08:55 So there's more campaigns,
08:56 so people are checking their skin.
08:58 And so really, now people are aware that
09:02 if it's a dodgy mole, you check it
09:04 and you go to the doctor,
09:05 there's going to be more awareness.
09:09 Secondly, people are now paying the price
09:11 of years of sunbathing.
09:13 You know, after cheap package holidays boomed in the 60s,
09:17 we are now getting to the case where, you know,
09:19 this is now coming to the fore.
09:21 - And our bodies and our skin,
09:22 it all changes over time right up until our 30s.
09:25 So how are we supposed to tell between something
09:28 that's unusual and something that's very normal?
09:32 I can imagine people will be worried at home
09:34 when they need to get this checked,
09:36 especially if they have quite a lot of different moles
09:38 on their body, trying to determine what's worth going
09:41 to the doctors, reaching out for help for.
09:44 - Absolutely, and I can imagine a lot of people
09:47 are thinking about their skin more,
09:48 looking at their moles, thinking,
09:50 well, is this good or not?
09:52 I think the most important thing to remember is that,
09:54 if, first of all, if you have a history of melanoma,
09:57 then you really have to be aware of it
09:59 and hopefully you'll be on the case.
10:02 But the most important thing is knowing that a mole,
10:04 if it's itchy, if it's scabbed over a bit,
10:08 if it's bled at all, or if it's got a crusty edge,
10:11 you know, the A, B, C, D rule is really important here.
10:14 So A, for asymmetry, if it's got an odd side,
10:18 so it's not symmetrical.
10:20 B, the border, if the border's ragged.
10:23 C, if there's any change, as I say,
10:25 with regards to bleeding or itching.
10:28 D, the diameter, obviously,
10:31 if it's bigger than a normal mole,
10:33 so just a little bit bigger, then you have to,
10:34 you know, obviously keep an eye on it.
10:36 And E, evolution.
10:38 So have a check on the A, B, C, D, E rules
10:41 and you will have a better idea
10:43 whether or not you have a problem mole or not,
10:44 or a lesion, it can be a mole or a lesion.
10:47 - And something you've been looking at in particular
10:49 is protecting people from the sun
10:52 while playing sports as well.
10:54 Do you think enough's being done within the industry,
10:56 within sports clubs, the federations,
10:58 to actually highlight this as a really key issue?
11:00 Because the amount of time athletes may spend outside
11:04 playing football, rugby, these different outdoor sports,
11:07 they have a lot of sun exposure.
11:09 - Absolutely.
11:11 And the thing is that a lot of people believe
11:13 that SPF or sunscreen is reserved for the beach,
11:16 and we've got to get over that.
11:17 You know, if you're outside for a long period of time,
11:20 you need to wear sunscreen
11:21 and other forms of sun protection.
11:24 And that means when you're playing football, rugby, tennis,
11:27 any sports.
11:29 With regards to the question,
11:30 is the industry doing enough?
11:32 No, I don't believe they are.
11:33 We have free resources that we send out to sports clubs,
11:38 and we are supported by a lot of national governing bodies,
11:41 but more needs to be done.
11:43 - Well, enjoy the rest of your bank holiday.
11:45 Bye-bye.
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