Catch up on all the latest news across your county with Abby Hook.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Hello, good evening and welcome to Kentonite live on KMTV.
00:29I'm Abbey Hook, here are your top stories on Wednesday 12th June.
00:34High Street unhappiness. Could the local economy decide the vote in Rochester and Strood?
00:40Chatham's dead now, isn't it? You'll find that most people now go shopping in Gillingham.
00:46Care from the council. Medway Authority to make care experience a protected characteristic.
00:53One of the things it does very clearly is it shows, we understand, for that relatively
00:57small cohort of young people, that they have got those challenges.
01:01Building for the future. Students celebrating architecture and design at the University
01:07of Kent.
01:08Use the expertise of our students and actually to have a role in the real world, so we're
01:12really excited about the potential of live projects.
01:26Data from the Office of National Statistics shows the economy flat-lined during April,
01:30raising concerns about what it will mean for the election in Medway seats.
01:34Rochester and Strood has been rocked recently by plans for Chatham docks, which could potentially
01:39cost 800 jobs, but the High Street seems to be the big issue for voters, as Oliver Leader
01:45de Sacks reports.
01:46Earlier today, new data from the Office of National Statistics revealed there was zero
01:51growth in the UK economy in April. Now some are worried what the future could mean for
01:57the economy of Rochester and Strood, a Labour target seat going into this election.
02:03Boarded up shops, empty lots and big businesses taking up the High Street. That is what Chatham
02:08High Street looks like here in Rochester and Strood. There's sometimes been a big debate
02:13amongst the candidates going into this election. Many voters I've spoken to today feel a bit
02:18disillusioned with the whole voting process. They won't be voting either way. They don't
02:22feel enough has been done to tackle this issue right here. But what do the ones that do want
02:27to speak to me say?
02:28Chatham's dead now, isn't it? You'll find that most people now go shopping in Gillingham.
02:34Yeah, I've noticed that there are some businesses that are having to shut down and that's not
02:41their fault because they're not gaining enough income.
02:44Back in the day it used to be thriving, with a lot more shops, a lot more people, but now
02:48it's not anymore. It's because there's hardly any shops anymore for people to come and shop
02:52in. I mean you see along here there used to be every shop that used to be open, but there's
02:57not anymore.
02:58Meanwhile, the Conservative candidates and former MP Kelly Tolhurst wants to reimagine
03:03the High Streets within the constituency.
03:07The reality of it is the Golden Mile that was once the Rochester to Chatham High Street
03:14in this 2024 is probably not sustainable. Therefore, that is why it is really important
03:21that we come up with proper visionary regeneration plans for our town centres that meet the needs
03:28of people who are currently using those facilities.
03:34With such concerns about flatlining economic growth, the Green candidate for the seat says
03:39there needs to be a completely different approach to keeping the High Street afloat.
03:45We can see that we can have an economy growing whilst we can still have poverty growing,
03:52food banks increasing, homelessness increasing. A growth in the economy doesn't necessarily
03:57translate into reducing inequality and tackling poverty. So I think we really need to consider
04:03how we look at our economy. So we're not just looking at GDP, but what is a successful economy.
04:08The Liberal Democrat candidate says more needs to be done to protect our High Streets.
04:13This has been happening over many, many years. I once had an office on Chatham High Street.
04:18I've seen it decline since then. It is that the government favours big capital rather
04:26than small business. Lib Dems, for example, would abolish business rates and have a tax
04:32on the owners of business properties.
04:36While the polls might peg the seat at a two-horse race, local candidates in Rochester and Strew
04:41could face the cost of voters, disillusioned by vanishing high streets and vanishing jobs.
04:48All of the leads are sat for KMTV in Chatham. And for a full list of candidates, just go
04:54to Kent Online.
04:55Well, it's not just the economy that matters to residents and politicians. With all the
05:00manifestos coming in this week, what pledges are being made for our health service? Well,
05:05to find out, I'm joined now by KMTV's health expert, Dr. Julian Spinks.
05:16Julian, thank you very much for joining me. A busy week of manifestos, but only at Wednesday.
05:22A lot of the, we'll start with the Conservatives, a lot of the promises, sort of restated policies
05:28and targets established over the past five years, from increasing the number of doctors
05:33and nurses to 120,000, to introducing a cap on care costs next year. Also, the mention
05:39of 40 new hospitals, a 2019 manifesto pledge. Will that happen? Do you think that's key?
05:45That's the key issue that we need within our health service?
05:48Well, those 40 hospitals, a lot of them are not actually complete new hospitals. They
05:54may be a new wing and they haven't moved along very fast, actually. And so one would hope
05:58they'd accelerate on that. They're also promising 250 new GP surgeries. But when you realise
06:04we've got 109 practices just in Kent, 250 across the country isn't going to go a long
06:09way. Although, you know, I mustn't grumble because we've been desperately crying out
06:13for more GP accommodation because we can't see more patients, so we haven't got rooms
06:17to see them in. And a huge point of discussion has been waiting
06:21lists. Tories say that they're coming down. Sir Keir Starmer of the Labour Party says
06:26it's not. It's one of the big takeaways from that ITV debate that we all saw between the
06:31two of them. What's your opinion on the waiting lists and how the party's views lie on them?
06:38Well, it all depends on where you start as your starting point. If you take very recently,
06:44waiting lists are coming down. But if you look back a little bit, actually they've gone
06:47up some way. So both of the parties were right. We're still in a pretty dire situation because
06:53to actually get the waiting lists down means we've got to be able to do more work and we're
06:58barely coping with the sort of stuff that's coming in, the new work we need to do. And
07:02so to be able to cut that back will be a big challenge whatever party gets in.
07:06And then part of the Labour pledge is a ban on energy drinks for under 16s. Conservatives
07:12had planned to put in this ban as well. That move was scrapped. How key is this when you
07:16look at issues, health issues, for young people in the county?
07:21I certainly think both that and stopping vaping are very positive moves. Some of those
07:26energy drinks have got the equivalent of three or four cups of espresso coffee. And you wouldn't
07:31be giving your children that. And it impacts on behaviour. It reduces their ability to
07:36learn and so on and increases things like anxiety.
07:40And the Green Party today launched plans. There's their manifesto to boost health part
07:44of it and social care. They're spending by £50 billion a year. And the Liberal Democrats,
07:50we saw, pledged an £8 billion package for health and care services. What number here
07:54is going to be realistic?
07:57Well the Green Party are the only ones who are actually saying they'll put up taxes to
08:00pay for it. The Liberal Democrats, one of their policies I really agree with, which
08:05is really concentrating on social care. Because a lot of the NHS problems are because we can't
08:10get people back out of hospitals into homes and so on. A lot of these numbers are probably
08:16never going to happen. And it is a big challenge because you can't do more without spending
08:22more money.
08:23Well Julian, a very interesting conversation that we will continue to have with you over
08:27the next few weeks and seeing how the NHS really fits into those manifestos. Julian,
08:31thank you very much.
08:34Now Medway Council is considering bringing in powers to make the care experience a protected
08:40characteristic. It would mean any young person who has been through the care system being
08:45considered alongside disability, age and race in future policy making and decisions.
08:51The council says care experience wrongly correlates with homelessness and they hope these powers
08:57will start to make changes to that. Our local democracy reporter Gabriel Morris has more.
09:03This is a motion with cross party support and what it would do if implemented would
09:07treat people with care experience as a protected characteristic alongside others such as age,
09:12disability and race when the council makes decisions going forward. Now being care experienced
09:19refers to anyone who has spent time living under the local authority's care or with friends
09:23or family without the council's support. Now Medway isn't the first local authority to
09:29implement this. More and more councils across England are following a campaign by Terry
09:33Galloway of the Care Lever Offer, an organisation to give rights to people with care experience.
09:40One of the reasons why this campaign started in the first place is because it was found
09:44four out of ten young people with care experience are not in education, training or employment
09:51compared to one in ten of all young people. And it's for that reason and many others that
09:58the leader of Medway Council thinks it's very important that this motion is implemented.
10:03One of the things it does very clearly is it shows we understand for that relatively
10:08small cohort of young people that they have got those challenges that sometimes the system
10:13as a whole, not necessarily the council, but the system as a whole trying to work through
10:18that sometimes can be in some cases against them almost. So putting this down, putting
10:24a clear marker to say for the young people, many of whom we have responsibility for as
10:30councillors as corporate parents, to say actually we've got your back.
10:36But there are many reasons why the council want to implement this policy. Data shows
10:40that people with care experience are more likely to end up homeless and it's hoped if
10:45this policy is implemented it will give better opportunities to young people. So will it
10:51go through? Well, this motion, like all others, will be scrutinised by the councils and the
10:57political groups, but it will likely end up in July's full council with cross-party support
11:03and so Conservatives are backing this motion.
11:06I think this is a really good move. It demonstrates that Medway is truly child-friendly, which
11:12has been the focus of the Conservatives over the past 20 years in our leadership of the
11:16council. And of course, with that good offset and the outstanding progress that was made
11:22towards that last year and under our leadership over the past three years in particular, this
11:29demonstrates that commitment to being truly child-friendly.
11:32Well, it's time for a quick break, but when we come back, more news from across the county,
11:36including what you need to know about the upcoming general election with our channel
11:41director, Andy Richards. We'll hear all you need to know in just a few minutes' time.
12:02Thank you.
12:32Thank you.
13:02Thank you.
13:32Thank you.
14:02Thank you.
14:32Thank you.
14:33Thank you.
14:34Thank you.
14:35Thank you.
14:36Thank you.
14:37Thank you.
14:38Thank you.
14:39Thank you.
14:40Thank you.
14:41Thank you.
14:42Thank you.
14:43Thank you.
14:44Thank you.
14:45Thank you.
14:46Thank you.
14:47Thank you.
14:48Thank you.
14:49Thank you.
14:50Thank you.
14:51Thank you.
14:52Thank you.
14:53Thank you.
14:54Thank you.
14:55Thank you.
14:56Thank you.
14:57Thank you.
14:58Thank you.
14:59Thank you.
15:00Thank you.
15:02Hello and welcome back to Kent tonight.
15:14Live, on KMTV.
15:15Now, three men have been arrested during a drug raid at a site off the A249, near Maidstone.
15:22Drivers faced delays during the Met Police operation between the Stockbury flyover and
15:26Detling.
15:27You can see on the screen now, the tailbacks and that left lane closed.
15:30One driver claimed they'd counted 34 police vehicles.
15:34It's been linked to an ongoing investigation into drug supply, and officers seized imitation
15:38firearms, a stolen van and cash, as well as Class A drugs and a taser.
15:43All three men, aged between 21 and 30 years old, remain in custody.
15:49Voters in Kent will be watching on for the next Live Leaders Debate this evening on Sky.
15:54And just three weeks from tomorrow, those voters will be taking to the polls.
15:58Our channel director Andy Richards is here to take us through the wider election campaign
16:02so far.
16:03Andy, what's been going on a lot?
16:05Well, first of all, Abbie, I know I'm kind of gate-crashing, but when there's a general
16:09election on, I can't help myself, I need to get in front of a camera and talk politics.
16:14It's been absolutely fascinating so far.
16:16And what I really wanted to talk about today is more about the behind-the-scenes stuff,
16:23the ethical things, what goes on during a general election at media organisations as
16:30well, because it really is like our World Cup or our Euros when a general election happens.
16:36And it has been fascinating, the various different campaigns.
16:39Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, has had, let's call it a challenging time, that's probably
16:44the best way to describe it.
16:46And something happened over the last couple of days which, in terms from an ethical perspective
16:52and reporting, something's come to light.
16:54And obviously we train young reporters here.
16:57And we're going to show you this clip that was from ITV News, and it was capturing just
17:03before a really important interview that's happened, that's done a lot of rounds on social
17:08media today.
17:09So we'll just play this and then we'll have a chat about it afterwards.
17:11Prime Minister.
17:12Gosh, hello.
17:13Good to see you.
17:14Very nice to see you.
17:15Sorry to have kept you.
17:16No, not at all.
17:17We're a bit Normandy.
17:18It all just ran over.
17:19Of course.
17:20It was incredible, but it just ran over everything.
17:22I'm sure it was.
17:23So apologies for keeping you.
17:24No, not at all.
17:25I'm sure it was a powerful trip.
17:26I mean, so pertinent as well this year, you know, considering what's happened in Ukraine.
17:29Yeah, which I haven't seen President Biden's remarks, but I think that's kind of the echo
17:32of what he's saying.
17:33Yeah.
17:34Did you get to meet any of the veterans or did you just have to do the ceremonial?
17:35Oh, no, no, gosh, lots.
17:36Oh, my God, lots.
17:37Over yesterday and today.
17:38Yeah, I've already spoke to almost everyone that was there, I hope.
17:42So it seems pretty innocuous, but basically this is all around the D-Day celebrations
17:47and the prime minister coming home early and not doing that now infamous international
17:52picture with the other international leaders.
17:54Now, ITV have put this out.
17:57It's basically to give some context that he'd left to do this interview and they'd recorded
18:02this just before.
18:04So there was quite some small talk.
18:06You've done it many times with interviewees before and it's given some insight that he
18:11said, well, overran.
18:12That's why I'm late.
18:13I'm really sorry.
18:14And he probably wasn't thinking about what was happening.
18:17So I did a little poll today on my ex-account, formerly known as Twitter, and I was just
18:23asking young journalists out there if they thought that it was OK for ITV to release
18:32the footage because the prime minister didn't realise he was being interviewed or no, it
18:36was absolutely fine because it was in the public interest.
18:3950 votes, it's not bad.
18:41It's a good number of votes.
18:42It's OK.
18:44And it's quite clear that they're saying yes, 76% was nearly 77% saying yes.
18:52Although I have had BBC journalists and ITV journalists contact me directly to say that
18:58they disagreed, that it shouldn't have gone up, which is really interesting.
19:02It's definitely an interesting story and a lot more we'll be seeing of this kind of stuff
19:06and those ethics surrounding it in the coming weeks.
19:08Andy, thank you for those details.
19:10Thank you, Abi.
19:12Next tonight, students at the University of Kent have been building to this moment, the
19:16end of their, end of year, sorry, showcase at the Architecture, Design and Planning School.
19:22From bridges to buildings, they're shaping up the very beginning of their careers.
19:26We follow our production assistants, Daisy, Elyse and Chantel as they visit the exhibition.
19:31Let's see what they got up to.
19:32Hi, I'm Daisy.
19:33I'm Elyse.
19:34And I'm Chantel.
19:35And we're at the Marlowe Theatre for the end of the year showcase for the School of Architecture,
19:40Design and Planning.
19:41Let's go have a look.
20:00Today is the day that we celebrate three very important, I suppose, moments for the School
20:09of Architecture.
20:10Firstly, we've taken on two new design courses.
20:14So, Spatial Interior Design, Graphic Design, and so we've changed our school name to reflect
20:20that addition and expansion.
20:22So, we're now School of Architecture, Design and Planning.
20:25So, that's the first big change.
20:28Second celebration would be about the culmination of our funded live project with Historic England
20:34and Edgeway Council.
20:36So, it's a live project where we've been really rethinking the relationship between, I suppose,
20:41how higher education relates to society at large and how we can try and use the expertise
20:48of our students and actually to have a role in the real world.
20:51So, we're really excited about the potential of live projects and the funding has allowed
20:55us to really capitalise on the opportunities there.
20:58We think this school, ATP, is a very special architecture school.
21:02It's a nice size.
21:04It has beautiful studios.
21:06It sits in the middle of a beautiful campus in the garden of England and it has a really
21:12kind of friendly, family atmosphere and the students really enjoy being here.
21:29I'm Sam Jacob and I'm the designer of the new studios here at the Kent School of Architecture.
21:38My role has been really to reimagine the studio.
21:42So, we redesigned it, reworking with the existing building, making the new studios for the students
21:50to work in this year.
21:52So, this, I suppose, is the first year that they've been using them.
21:56It's really amazing to see the exhibition they put on amongst the design that we created.
22:06I think there's a very special atmosphere.
22:08It's always nice for me to visit and to see how the students are working, how the school
22:15is setting itself up.
22:16I think it's really nice the way it works with the community and the environment around
22:22it.
22:23It's really nice to see that connection and the imagination that they bring to thinking
22:28about those kinds of local situations.
22:30I find that really unusual, really exciting to see.
22:35Me and my fellow friends here from Graphic Design, we created a group, a graphic design
22:41consultancy agency and it's called JamLab.
22:44We won this award for designing the show.
22:46It was amazing.
22:47It was really good.
22:48We spent a lot of hard work and time on it.
22:51So, it means a lot to us to win something as our first project together.
22:55It was really good, yeah.
23:00This has been the end of year showcase for ADP.
23:03It was amazing seeing all the students' work.
23:05They're incredibly talented.
23:06We hope you've had as much fun as we have.
23:08This has been Daisy, Elise and Chantelle for Game TV.
23:12Now to sports and ahead of Kent's historic final of the Bill Bymont County Championship
23:17this Saturday, Director of Rugby Taft Williams says this county's team is not deterred by
23:22having three weeks out of play.
23:23Well, with more of this and the rest of today's sports headlines, here's Bartholomew Hall.
23:37Hello there.
23:38We start with rugby where Kent are in final preparations for this weekend's Bill Beaumont
23:42County Championship Division 1 final at Twickenham.
23:45Last year's win was the county's first since 1927 and this year will make it 120 years
23:51since Kent last reached a consecutive final.
23:54They'll take on Yorkshire who beat Hull Aeonas last week.
23:58Well, the Director of Rugby Taft Williams told us what the break means for the team
24:04as well as his thoughts about their opponents, Yorkshire.
24:08Well, it's maintaining the conditioning of the players.
24:14Three weeks is a long gap between matches.
24:20We really have got to keep the players in a condition where they're fit to play on Saturday.
24:26From what we know about them, they're a big, powerful team.
24:31They beat last year's finalist, Lancashire, to get there.
24:36We know we're in for a very tough physical game and we're preparing for it.
24:40Two teams, one game, one venue.
24:43We know what it takes because we've done it before.
24:45We've got a much younger group this year and it will be what it will be.
24:52But it won't be for the lack of effort, I can assure you.
24:57Spitfires head coach Matt Walker says having a few days away from playing will allow his
25:02side to put new plans into practice ahead of their T20 Blast campaign continuing this Friday.
25:08The Spitfires have two wins and two defeats in the South group so far and whilst they're
25:12not set to play until a visit to Somerset this Friday, some other teams have been playing
25:16in the midweek.
25:17The county boss says a break of a few days allows his players to rest and reflect and
25:21to work on their sixth count, both for and against the team.
25:25And history has been made at Brands Hatch as Jack Davidson has become the first British
25:29driver to win a Euro NASCAR race.
25:32The series makes up one of four international versions of the famous American stock car
25:36racing brand.
25:37Last weekend's event was the 11th running of the American Speedfest at Brands Hatch.
25:41Davidson took part in all four Euro NASCAR races at the West Kent Circuit where he took
25:47his first win by 2.9 seconds.
25:50Well that's it from me with the sport for today.
25:58Right, here's the weather forecast this evening.
26:00The temperature will be staying cool across the county, lows of 9 degrees, highs of 11
26:04in Dover.
26:05Tomorrow morning there will be some sun and some cloud all throughout the county, temperatures
26:09rising to 15 degrees across the board.
26:11Into the afternoon, temperature will be staying pretty consistent, highs of 16, a bit of sun
26:16by the coast.
26:17And here's your outlook for Kent.
26:19Friday rain, Saturday the same, right up until Sunday I'm afraid, highs of 18.
26:25Well that's all we've got time for this evening.
26:27You've been watching Kent Tonight live here on KMTV.
26:30There's of course more news made just for Kent throughout the evening.
26:33I'll see you again tomorrow.
26:34Bye bye.
26:54you