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Catch up with all the latest news from across the county with Gabriel Morris.
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00:00Hello there and welcome to Ken Tonight, live here on KMTV.
00:29I'm Gabriel Morrison, here are your top stories on Tuesday, the 5th of August.
00:33Short changed mixed reception from businesses as Chancellor visits Medway Holiday Park.
00:39That is a real sign of confidence and it's great for Kent as well.
00:45Forgotten funds, could you have a share of the £2.5 million unclaimed in premium bond wins across Kent?
00:52If you've had a premium bond that's a pound from 1968, I would have thought that before, I don't know, 2020,
00:59I might have got a short note from the government saying you might want to check this.
01:04And funding ideas, Council Grant helps Maidstone's creative scene grow.
01:09The sense of community in that room when we're doing the pantos is just, you can feel it.
01:15But first tonight, a vote of confidence in Kent's economy.
01:29Well, at least according to the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves.
01:32She's been pointing to tens of millions of pounds being invested into Medway's tourism infrastructure.
01:39The senior minister spoke to our local democracy reporter, Olly Leder, at a visit to All Hallows yesterday.
01:46But with many businesses still reeling from national insurance hikes, it wasn't all fun in the sun.
01:52School's out, but no sunshine for the Chancellor on a visit to the Who Peninsula.
01:59But even a typical British summer's day couldn't stop the smiles or the high-vis coming out for one of the UK's growth sectors.
02:11Staycation spots like this one have seen a major boost to their investment, which raises the question,
02:16Does the £14 million invested right here in All Hallows signify a change in the UK economy?
02:25Or is that a getaway at Pipe Dream?
02:27To see businesses and international investors backing Britain with investments like this,
02:33£143 million investment in Great British holidays, that is a real sign of confidence.
02:41And it's great for Kent as well.
02:43Growth was part of the change Labour promised.
02:46When they were first elected.
02:49But after hikes to national insurance and minimum wage, is business in Kent feeling that change in their pockets?
02:58Well, look, the NI hit was definitely a hit to our business.
03:00I don't think that would surprise anyone.
03:02However, we've been growing our business sufficiently quickly that we're staying ahead of the curve, as it were.
03:07And actually, when consumers feel a little bit squeezed, staycations tend to do quite well.
03:12And that's what we're seeing at the moment.
03:14But for smaller businesses, the last few months have been tough.
03:20Is pint-sized progress all they can expect from this government?
03:26I do recognise that things are often tough, particularly for smaller businesses.
03:30And that's why we're exempted the smallest businesses from paying any national insurance contributions at all.
03:37So if you're a small business employing the equivalent of four people on the national living wage,
03:42you will pay no national insurance whatsoever.
03:44Record numbers at Haven Park's this year will be seen as a ray of sunshine.
03:51But after a frosty reception to the last autumn budget, a scoop of optimism might be what's needed to melt away business woes in the coming months.
04:05Oli Leder in all hallows.
04:07Well, there we go.
04:11Thank you, Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the county.
04:14Oli, you were there yesterday.
04:16You said she had a frosty reception.
04:18Sun wasn't really shining yesterday for her.
04:21She was on a business trip yesterday.
04:23But for the Labour Party, does she think that the sun loungers will be coming out soon in terms of popular opinion?
04:30Got any more puns you want to throw in there, Gabriel?
04:31I mean, it was an interesting day because before the doom and gloom that we've seen in the economy, it did retract in May.
04:39And there are concerns about what's going to happen to it in the future.
04:43She seemed in quite good spirits, better spirits than she has been in the last few months, at least.
04:49We saw her going around speaking to some of the apprentices at Haven.
04:53It's one of the big employers up in the Who Peninsula.
04:57Around 400 people work at that holiday park.
05:00It's perhaps the reason why they were so impacted by these national insurance and minimum wage hikes.
05:05They do hire short-term and seasonal workers.
05:09But there's a lot of confidence there from the CEO, who you can see right beside Rachel Reeves on the screen in the middle of our studio,
05:16because he says that downturns in the UK economy benefit staycation spots like Haven.
05:24And they are making some big investments.
05:26There's a reason why the Chancellor is smiling in this picture.
05:29There's around £10 million per year being put into the park up in All Hallows.
05:35So it's not all doom and gloom, though.
05:38Perhaps that is because Haven is quite a big business owned by quite a big American company.
05:46This isn't the same as a smaller business on Rochester High Street.
05:50And that's where some people are a bit unhappy.
05:54Well, we saw lots of activities there.
05:56You can do all sorts.
05:57You've got a penny machine.
05:58She can have an ice cream, have a pint, lots of things to do at Haven holidays.
06:03Did she partake in much of that?
06:05Did she have a bit of fun whilst down there?
06:07Well, she did pull a pint, as we saw there after much coaxing.
06:11But unfortunately, we couldn't get her on the change machine.
06:14But change is what she's been promising throughout the last few months.
06:19It's a change for the worse in the views of the opposition.
06:23We spoke to the shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer.
06:26All the politicians coming down to Kent over the last few weeks.
06:29Keir Starmer had a curry here over the weekend.
06:32So everyone's coming down to Kent.
06:33But one, Mel Stride, was not as happy with the situation as some of the other politicians we've spoken to.
06:43And we'll get that in just a second.
06:45And here we go.
06:47I do worry about it.
06:48I mean, you take something like the national insurance increases.
06:50That's been also a reduction in the threshold at which those national insurance charges start to come through.
06:57And that's affected particularly younger workers, part-time workers.
07:00These businesses have got to be right at the heart of our economy.
07:04And a lot of them are suffering under this Labour government at the moment, particularly with higher taxes, more regulation coming down the line, with employment regulation.
07:12So I'm here really to listen and to work out exactly what it is that a future Conservative government needs to do to get behind our business.
07:20Now, Rachel Reeves will probably not be happy with what I've said there.
07:25She says that lots of these changes won't impact small businesses, around one million small businesses aren't impacted at all by national insurance.
07:34She says it's almost for the birds.
07:36But whether she can coast on the success of what happened yesterday at Allhaven remains to be seen as we go into autumn with another budget on the way.
07:45Maybe we'll have another high-profile ministerial or shadow ministerial visit before then.
07:50We'll have to see.
07:50Fingers crossed.
07:50Or maybe just a visit for a curry.
07:54Now, Kent Police body cam footage shows the moment officers intercepted teenagers carrying catapults in Mainstone.
08:02We've had multiple reports of kids firing at birds in the trees.
08:06Now, I've seen you up there looking up at the trees with a catapult in your hand.
08:10So, you're entitled to copy the search record and your parents will be informed?
08:14Yep.
08:15Alright?
08:15Yep.
08:16Do they know that you've got catapults?
08:18No.
08:19What are they going to say about it?
08:20I don't know.
08:21Huh?
08:21Or will they be impressed?
08:23Will they be impressed that you're killing animals?
08:25Anyone in here make yourself know?
08:28Stay there!
08:30Come out here now, all of you!
08:32I'm going to be searching you for items that I believe you've come here equipped to commit criminal damage with.
08:38XF14.
08:39So, a catapult.
08:41Yeah.
08:43And ball bearings.
08:45Well, the footage you just saw there comes from a wider crackdown and officers began receiving an average of 14 calls a day about catapult use.
08:55Well, CCTV caught four children shooting pigeons in Coxsey.
08:58Police issued community protection warnings to their parents, banning catapults and stopping them from gathering in large groups for antisocial behaviour.
09:07Officers have also seized catapults across Citiborne, Sheerness, and other parts of the county.
09:12And police say nuisance calls have since dropped in seven of Kent's 13 districts.
09:17They've now written to every school to raise awareness of catapult laws.
09:21And the government's saving body for National Savings and Investments is sitting on more than £100 million in unclaimed premium bond prizes.
09:31And critics say it's not doing enough to track down the winners when it faces criticism for failing to give people to gifted bonds or for those who only have paper records.
09:41Here in Kent, more than £2.5 million is waiting to be claimed.
09:46That includes 11 people who each won £100,000, the second biggest prize available.
09:51Kristen Hawthorne's been out on the streets of Medway.
09:54The UK government owe people more than £100 million in premium bonds.
09:57In Kent, that figure is more than £2.5 million, owed to 67,480 people.
10:03So I'm here in Rochester to see how often people are checking their premium bonds and what they would do if they won a large amount of money.
10:10I do have a premium bond and I got it when I was born in 1968.
10:16So my parents bought me one for a pound and it sat in the drawer for about 45 years, 45, 50 years.
10:23And not so long ago I checked it and I've won nothing.
10:29And what stopped you checking it for so long?
10:31I didn't, I forgot I had it.
10:32Yes, I've actually got a bond that my grandmother purchased.
10:36It was a £1 bond and I've actually kept it.
10:39But I've never checked that bond to see if that won.
10:43Yes, maybe it's worth checking.
10:45Absolutely, I could be a millionaire.
10:47The other day I just checked it, but we haven't won anything lately.
10:51Yeah, but you have won.
10:52We have won a couple of times, yeah.
10:54But not big amounts.
10:55What do you think about the fact that in Kent people are owed within £2.5 million?
10:59Um, pretty bad actually because we're losing out somewhere.
11:04So yeah, I think we should take up on the new information and check them because you could
11:09be owed some lovely money.
11:11Oh, move away.
11:14Move out of Kate.
11:15Oh, I'd probably give it to the kids, maybe go on a nice little holiday, friends and family,
11:22certainly go for a nice meal.
11:24I'd invest it wisely.
11:26Maybe have a little treat, but I would invest it wisely.
11:29If you've had a premium bond that's a pound from 1968, I would have thought that before,
11:34I don't know, 2020, I might have got a short note from the government saying you might want
11:40to check this.
11:41So it seems that although people have been checking their premium bonds, it does take
11:44them quite a while to get round to it.
11:46So if you have one, make sure to have a look and see if you could be the next lucky winner.
11:51Kristen Hawthorne for KMTV, Rochester.
11:54We'll have a financial advisor later in the programme, but now a quick break.
15:10Welcome back.
15:14Well, if you had to name the UK's greenest town,
15:16you might not expect to find it just inside the M25 and in Kent.
15:22But that's exactly where it is.
15:25What comes to mind when you think about the best town in the UK?
15:28Is it a buzz, a community, spirit or maybe some hidden gems?
15:31Well, according to Let's Celebrate Towns Awards,
15:34that title goes to Swanly this year.
15:37Maisie Walker is here to tell us what makes that town
15:40on the edge of our county stand out and why it captured the crown,
15:44particularly when it came to its green credentials.
15:47Maisie, what steps did Swanly take?
15:49It's inside the M25.
15:51It's very close to London, one of the most polluted areas.
15:54With all the motorway traffic there, you might think.
15:57So what made the crown become the crown jewel this year?
16:02Well, you know, Swanly has long been known across Kent
16:06for its green reputation, a legacy dating way back into the 1960s
16:12when London doctors would actually send their patients there
16:15for fresh air away from the city's smog.
16:18However, fast forward to 2020,
16:21and Swanly Town Council have launched a 10-year plan
16:25to become carbon neutral by 2030.
16:29And just last month, obviously,
16:31Swanly was named the best town in the UK for its green efforts
16:35at the Visor Let's Celebrate Towns Awards.
16:39Interesting that.
16:40So being recognised for this award,
16:42I'm sure there are other different awards across the UK,
16:44so there might be other towns which claim to be greener than Swanly,
16:47or maybe Swanly is the greenest in the county.
16:50What's next for the town?
16:51What sort of things will they be doing?
16:53And what other steps do they do to get to this green credential?
16:56Right, yeah, no, so town CEO Ryan Heyman has said
17:00that major steps have already been taken.
17:03Nearly 5,000 trees have been planted in the past five years,
17:08creating carbon sinks, improving air quality
17:11and boosting local biodiversity.
17:16Community groups like the Swanly Wildlife and Nature Group, or SWAN,
17:21have also played a big, big role.
17:25With help from the council,
17:26they've created a dedicated environmental area in Swanly Park,
17:31complete with wildflower meadows,
17:34native trees and habitats for insects and wildlife.
17:39Swanly has also rolled out public EV charging points
17:43across several locations,
17:46and in addition, free solar panels
17:48have managed to be secured in agreement
17:51with reduced electric costs by nearly half.
17:55Now, all interesting stuff,
17:56and of course, it's in the Sevenoaks district, Swanly,
18:00and it will have a challenge.
18:01I believe it's about 93% of their borough
18:03is in the Greenbelt land,
18:05but of course, they're probably going to have to start building
18:07on some of that soon.
18:08I know Ped and Place is one of those controversial developments
18:10you can read more about now on Kent Online and KMTV.
18:13So, Macy, thank you so much for your time.
18:16Now, next night, for some news in brief,
18:19a family were forced to leave a Dover holiday park
18:22at 1am in the morning
18:23after finding bedbugs crawling on their pillows.
18:26Take a look at this.
18:27Catherine Allen and her husband and their four children
18:30have booked a five-night stay at Park Dean Resort
18:34when they spotted insects under their duvet
18:38and on the three-month-year-old's pillow.
18:41Park bosses apologised, issuing a full refund
18:44and brought in specialist cleaners.
18:46But Ms. Allen says staff showed no care or concern.
18:50She goes on to claim they refused to move the family
18:53to another room, fearing the bugs would spread
18:56and her efforts to escalate the complaint went nowhere.
18:59But Park Dean has apologised.
19:02Now, after more than 15 years,
19:05Dartford Council leader Jeremy Kite has stepped down
19:08from the board of directors at Dartford Football Club.
19:12When the Conservative Party took control of the council
19:14back in 2004, Kite played a key role in securing funding
19:19and leading the push to build the club's Princess Park Stadium,
19:22opening in 2006.
19:24A few years later, he has been a known and much-loved figure
19:28and an outspoken figure as well.
19:30Kite says he's stepping away due to a mix of work
19:33and personal reasons.
19:34But his passion for the club remains as strong as ever.
19:37And in recognition, Dartford FC has made him
19:39an honorary vice-president.
19:41And Brides Cross Kent have been left devastated
19:44after C's wedding footage was returned
19:46to a Tunbridge videographer.
19:49Well, police launched a fraud investigation
19:51into wallflower weddings in January of this year,
19:54following complaints that customers have waited years
19:56for their wedding videos.
19:58A police spokesman said that they found no evidence
20:01of criminal offences and have advised those affected
20:03to consider pursuing a civil claim.
20:07Couples are now being told to contact the business owner,
20:11Sarah Stanton, directly, despite the long delays.
20:15Ms Stanton has been contacted for comment.
20:18We do apologise for some technical issues on that clip there.
20:21Now, in Maidstone, a council grant is giving local organisations
20:25a boost to expand their work in the community.
20:28The funding is supporting everything from workshops
20:30and performances to public art projects.
20:33Groups who've received the money say it's helping them
20:35deliver bigger events which not only spark creativity
20:38but also support people's wellbeing.
20:40Daisy Page has the story.
20:42A new fund by Maidstone Borough Council
20:45is investing in the community.
20:47The Creative Community Grant offers up to £2,000 per project.
20:52One organisation which has received funding is Harmony,
20:55who provide opportunities for young people
20:57to help with a variety of skills,
20:59ranging from drama, music to graffiti workshops.
21:03But receiving this fund has allowed the charity
21:05to expand its work.
21:07This year, they had a stage at the River Festival.
21:09We had music workshops, beatboxing workshops,
21:12we had some poetry,
21:14and then we opened up the stage for our young people to come and jam.
21:17And as part of that event, we also had young people backstage.
21:20So our photographer was 15,
21:22our videographer was only 18,
21:25we had a 19-year-old sound engineer,
21:27a 15-year-old stage manager.
21:28So it was really about bringing the young people in
21:30and getting them involved in the activities and in the events.
21:34And then as part of that grant,
21:35we're also hosting an event on Saturday, the 23rd of August,
21:39in Branchley Gardens,
21:40which will form part of the Switch Outreach event.
21:43But it's not all about art and culture.
21:45The fund also looks at promoting health and wellbeing.
21:49Fusion Healthy Living Centre is a community hub in Parkwood,
21:53providing accessible healthcare
21:54and support for physical and emotional wellbeing.
21:57With services ranging from a coffee shop,
21:59social gatherings like Knit and Natter,
22:01and health checks,
22:02the Fusion staff and their over 100 team of volunteers
22:06work to support their community in a range of ways.
22:09Some of the services we offer are to look at public health
22:12and address the health inequalities in the area.
22:14So we would offer, for example,
22:16we have a diabetic eye screen in here four days a week,
22:19NHS sexual health comes in,
22:21we have a full one-new service offering,
22:24so one-new offer programmes around smoking cessation,
22:27healthy eating, living well,
22:30so things like that.
22:32And then the other programmes and services we offer
22:34were four core values that Fusion works with.
22:37So it's public health,
22:38food poverty,
22:40social inclusion
22:40and mental health.
22:42The creative fund is helping sport
22:44one of their larger annual events,
22:46the Fusion Panto.
22:47The sense of community in that room
22:49when we're doing the pantos
22:51is just, you can feel it.
22:53Everyone's so happy,
22:54they're so thankful
22:56that we've brought this activity to them.
22:59In our feedback,
23:00they've told us that normally
23:01they wouldn't be able to go to these shows
23:02because they're too expensive,
23:04they don't have access to transport
23:06and so bringing the pantomime to Parkwood
23:10has just had an overwhelmingly positive reaction.
23:13Providing organisations with funding
23:15to support their work
23:17helps communities in more ways than one.
23:19Daisy Page for KMTV.
23:21And now don't forget,
23:23you can keep up to date
23:24with all your latest stories across Kent
23:26by logging on to our website.
23:28It's kmtv.co.uk
23:31There you'll find all our latest reports,
23:33including this one
23:34about a centre in Canterbury
23:36which received an award
23:37for supporting the Parkinson's community.
23:40Parkinson's is a disease
23:41that with its diagnosis
23:42often brings a lot of misconceptions,
23:45making it difficult to get treatments
23:47that go beyond just physical needs.
23:49But at the University of Kent
23:50in the Parkinson's Centre for Integrated Therapy
23:52which has been open for just two years,
23:55they've been working and researching
23:56to change this.
23:57So much so that they've already gained
23:59global recognition for their work.
24:01The current support and provision
24:03for people with Parkinson's
24:04isn't really enough.
24:06People need ongoing support,
24:08not just therapies,
24:10but wellbeing activities,
24:11access to social community,
24:14social opportunities,
24:15to lead the richest,
24:17fullest life you can with Parkinson's.
24:18It's a cheap
24:19but really effective solution
24:20and we really think that actually
24:22looking after people
24:24with Parkinson's in this way
24:25is a way to look after
24:26people with all sorts of
24:28long-term neurological conditions,
24:30not just Parkinson's.
24:31This place now is,
24:32it's much more than a research hub,
24:33it's not a research hub,
24:34it's a hub for therapy
24:36and wellbeing and hope.
24:38So the singing really helps
24:40with maintaining the voice strong
24:43and being able to project the voice.
24:45Obviously dance is really good
24:46for that as well
24:47because it works on posture
24:48and that really helps
24:50with having a strong voice too.
24:54And yeah, so I think it helps a lot
24:56with confidence
24:56and also helping people
24:59to feel more relaxed.
25:00This is just one of the facilities
25:01that they have
25:02but they also have things
25:03like singing, dancing,
25:05a cosy room,
25:05a sleep clinic, a gym.
25:07But one of the main things
25:08that people enjoy here
25:09is the sense of community.
25:11You know, one of the things
25:12was that you felt quite alone
25:14even though I've got family
25:15and that.
25:17I didn't know anyone else
25:19who got Parkinson's
25:20but one of the best things
25:21about this place
25:22is it's the social aspect of it.
25:26Everyone's very supportive.
25:28I'd probably be sitting at home
25:31watching television,
25:32reading a book,
25:33thinking what am I going to do
25:35with the rest of my time
25:36kind of thing.
25:37Whereas this,
25:39as well as all the therapies
25:44and everything around here
25:45it gives me a purpose.
25:46By providing community
25:47in what can be
25:48a lonely disease,
25:49members here get the chance
25:50to not only raise their voices
25:52but raise their confidence.
25:54Kristen Hawthorne
25:54for KMTV, Canterbury.
25:58Alright, time for a quick
26:00look at the weather.
26:00Right, for the rest of tonight
26:07it's looking rather mild.
26:08Clear night skies
26:09and temperatures
26:10hanging around the mid-teens.
26:12Into tomorrow morning
26:13sunny skies across the board
26:15with temperatures rising
26:16to 17 degrees,
26:1718 down in Dover.
26:19The afternoon brings
26:20temperatures rising further
26:21averaging at 22 degrees,
26:2323 in the Dartford area
26:25and Medway.
26:26And here's your outlook.
26:2724 degrees on Thursday
26:29and Friday warming up
26:30to 25 on Saturday
26:31with some clear skies.
26:34That's something to look forward
26:35to the weekend, isn't it?
26:42Alright, time for a quick break
26:44but coming up
26:44we'll be speaking to
26:45a financial advisor
26:46a little bit about
26:47what you can do
26:48if you think
26:49or perhaps you might have
26:50some premium bonds
26:51hidden away
26:51somewhere out there.
26:52all that and more
26:53see you then.
29:52Hello and welcome back
30:14to Ken Tonight Live
30:15here on KMTV.
30:17I'm Gabriel Morris.
30:18If you've just joined us
30:19this evening
30:20let's take a quick look
30:21back at some of our
30:22main stories tonight.
30:25Short change
30:26mixed reaction
30:27from businesses
30:28as Chancellor
30:29visits Kent Holiday Park.
30:36Forgotten funds
30:37could you have a share
30:37of the £2.5 million
30:38unclaimed
30:40in premium bond wins
30:41across the county?
30:43And funding ideas
30:44Council Grant
30:44helps Maidstone's
30:45creative scene grow.
30:46But back to our main story
30:50tonight
30:50a vote of confidence
30:52in Kent's economy.
30:54Well at least
30:54according to the
30:55Chancellor
30:55Rachel Reeves
30:56she's been pointing
30:57to tens of millions
30:59of pounds
30:59being invested
31:00into Medway's
31:01tourism sector.
31:03The senior minister
31:03spoke to our local
31:04democracy reporter
31:05Olly Leder
31:06at a visit to
31:07All Hallows yesterday
31:08but with many businesses
31:09still reading
31:10for national insurance
31:11hikes
31:11it wasn't all
31:12fun in the sun.
31:13Schools out
31:16but no sunshine
31:17for the Chancellor
31:18on a visit
31:19to the Who Peninsula
31:20but even a typical
31:22British summer's day
31:24couldn't stop
31:24the smiles
31:25or the high-vis
31:27coming out
31:28for one of the
31:29UK's growth sectors.
31:32Staycation spots
31:33like this one
31:34have seen a major
31:35boost to their investment
31:36which raises the question
31:38does the £14 million
31:40invested right here
31:41in All Hallows
31:43signify a change
31:44in the UK economy
31:46or is that a getaway
31:48at Pipe Dream?
31:49To see businesses
31:50and international investors
31:52backing Britain
31:53with investments
31:54like this
31:55£143 million
31:56investment
31:57in Great British holidays
31:58that is a real sign
32:01of confidence
32:02and it's great
32:03for Kent as well.
32:04Growth was part
32:05of the change
32:06Labour promised
32:08when they were
32:08first elected
32:09but after hikes
32:11to national insurance
32:13and minimum wage
32:14is business in Kent
32:16feeling that change
32:18in their pockets?
32:19Well look, the NI hit
32:20was definitely a hit
32:21to our business
32:21I don't think that
32:22would surprise anyone
32:23however, we've been
32:25growing our business
32:26sufficiently quickly
32:27that we're staying
32:27ahead of the curve
32:28as it were
32:29and actually
32:29when consumers
32:30feel a little bit
32:31squeezed
32:32staycations tend
32:33to do quite well
32:34and that's what
32:34we're seeing
32:34at the moment
32:35But for smaller
32:37businesses
32:37the last few months
32:39have been tough
32:41it's pint-sized progress
32:43all they can expect
32:45from this government
32:46I do recognise
32:48that things are
32:49often tough
32:50particularly for
32:51smaller businesses
32:52and that's why
32:53we exempted
32:53the smallest businesses
32:55from paying any
32:56national insurance
32:57contributions at all
32:58so if you're a small
32:59business employing
33:00the equivalent of
33:01four people
33:02on the national
33:03living wage
33:03you will pay
33:04no national insurance
33:05whatsoever
33:05Record numbers
33:07at Haven Parks
33:08this year
33:09will be seen
33:11as a ray of sunshine
33:13but after a frosty
33:15reception
33:15to the last
33:17autumn budget
33:18a scoop of optimism
33:20might be what's needed
33:21to melt away
33:23business woes
33:24in the coming months
33:26Ollie Leder
33:27in All Hallows
33:28Well just last week
33:32the shadow chancellor
33:33was in Kent
33:34this is what
33:34Mel Stride
33:35had to say
33:36on his visit
33:36to a pub
33:37in Bethesden
33:38I do worry about it
33:39I mean you take
33:40something like
33:40the national insurance
33:41increases
33:42that's been
33:42also a reduction
33:43of the threshold
33:44at which those
33:45national insurance
33:46charges start
33:47to come through
33:48and that's affected
33:49particularly younger
33:50workers
33:51part-time workers
33:52businesses have got
33:53to be right at the
33:54heart of our economy
33:56and a lot of them
33:56are suffering
33:57under this Labour
33:58government
33:58at the moment
33:58particularly with
33:59higher taxes
34:00more regulation
34:01coming down the line
34:02with employment
34:03regulation
34:04so I'm here really
34:05to listen
34:05and to work out
34:06exactly what it is
34:07that a future
34:08conservative government
34:09needs to do
34:09to get behind
34:10our business
34:11well keeping
34:13with small businesses
34:14a couple
34:15who lost
34:15their jobs
34:16in London
34:16have turned
34:17a setback
34:17into a sizzling
34:19new business
34:19in Medway
34:20Frank and Linda
34:22were made redundant
34:23from their top
34:24tech jobs
34:25last year
34:26partly because
34:27of AI
34:28Linda says
34:29it felt like
34:29the last 10 years
34:31of her life
34:31didn't matter
34:32but they bounced
34:34back by launching
34:34what they call
34:35the world's
34:36tiniest taco truck
34:38a converted cargo
34:39bike
34:39they've named
34:40Tini
34:41from Texas
34:42now they're
34:43serving up
34:44breakfast tacos
34:45at Medway City
34:46Estate
34:46and they're
34:47already building
34:47a loyal crowd
34:48one regular
34:49told us
34:50it feels
34:51just like
34:52home
34:52and a cafe
34:54and new retail
34:55space has opened
34:56at a former
34:57visitor centre
34:58on the Romney
34:59Marsh
35:00the nest
35:01run by
35:01Nicola Adam
35:02opened its
35:03doors on
35:03Saturday
35:04and saw
35:05queues of
35:05people lining
35:06up to visit
35:07this comes
35:08as last
35:08summer
35:09Kent Wildlife
35:09Trust
35:10made the
35:10decision
35:11to terminate
35:12the visitor
35:12centre's
35:12lease
35:13and has
35:13been closed
35:14ever since
35:15well now
35:15the nest
35:16is home
35:16to a cafe
35:17as well
35:17as a
35:18retail area
35:19where local
35:19artists have
35:20been able
35:20to display
35:21some of
35:22their arts
35:22and sell
35:23sets alongside
35:24other
35:24homemade
35:25products
35:25on offer
35:26the business
35:27says that
35:28they still
35:28want it
35:29to be a
35:29place for
35:30information
35:30as it
35:31was a
35:31visitor
35:31centre
35:32and have
35:32lined up
35:33events
35:33for the
35:33space
35:34to host
35:34such as
35:35a pond
35:35dipping event
35:36nature
35:36visits
35:37and creative
35:38classes
35:38in the
35:39future
35:39now the
35:41national
35:41savings and
35:42investment
35:42bank owns
35:44more than
35:44100 million
35:45pounds of
35:46unclaimed
35:46premium bond
35:47prizes
35:47causing
35:48criticism
35:48that the
35:49government
35:49owned
35:49savings
35:51scheme
35:51isn't doing
35:52enough to
35:52find the
35:53winners
35:53and needs
35:54reform
35:54especially for
35:55those who
35:56got investments
35:56as a gift
35:57or only have
35:58paper records
35:59in kent
36:00in kent
36:00more than
36:00two and a
36:00half
36:01million
36:01pounds
36:01is owned
36:02and among
36:02those are
36:0211 winners
36:03of 100,000
36:05pounds
36:05the second
36:06largest prize
36:07available
36:07we'll have to
36:08find out how
36:09often people
36:09check it
36:10or if anyone
36:10forgot about it
36:11in the first
36:11place
36:12Chris and
36:12Hawthorne's
36:13been out in
36:13the streets
36:13of rochester
36:14the uk
36:15government
36:15owe people
36:16more than
36:16100 million
36:17in premium
36:17bonds
36:18in kent
36:19that figure
36:19is more
36:20than
36:20two and a
36:20half
36:20million
36:21owed to
36:2267,480
36:23people
36:24so i'm here
36:25in rochester
36:25to see how
36:26often people
36:27are checking
36:27their premium
36:27bonds
36:28and what they
36:29would do
36:29if they won
36:29a large
36:30amount of
36:30money
36:30i do have
36:31a premium
36:31bond
36:32and i
36:33i got it
36:35when i was
36:35born
36:35in 1968
36:36so my
36:37parents bought
36:37me one
36:38for a pound
36:39and it sat
36:40in the drawer
36:41for about
36:4145 years
36:4245-50
36:43years
36:43and not
36:45so long
36:45ago
36:45i checked
36:46it
36:46and i've
36:48won
36:48nothing
36:48and what
36:50stopped you
36:50checking it
36:51for so long
36:51i didn't
36:52i forgot
36:52i had it
36:53yes i've
36:53actually got
36:54a bond
36:54that my
36:55grandmother
36:55purchased
36:56it was a
36:57one pound
36:57bond
36:58and i've
36:58actually kept
36:59it
36:59but i've
37:00never checked
37:01that bond
37:01to see if
37:02that won
37:02absolutely
37:06i could be
37:07a millionaire
37:07the other day
37:08i just checked
37:09it but
37:10we haven't won
37:10anything lately
37:11we have won
37:13a couple
37:13of times
37:14yeah
37:14but not
37:15big amounts
37:16what do you think
37:17about the fact
37:17that in kent
37:18people are owed
37:18within two and a half
37:20million
37:20um pretty bad
37:23actually because
37:23we're losing out
37:24somewhere so yeah
37:25i think we should
37:26take up on the new
37:27information and check
37:28them because you
37:29could be owed
37:30some lovely money
37:31move away
37:34i'd probably give it
37:37give it to the kids
37:39maybe go on a nice
37:39little holiday
37:40uh friends and
37:42family certainly go
37:43for a nice meal
37:44i'd invest it
37:45wisely
37:46maybe have a little
37:48treat but i would
37:48invest it wisely
37:49if you've had a
37:50premium bond
37:51that's a pound
37:52from 1968
37:53i would have
37:54thought that
37:54before i don't
37:56know 2020
37:56i might have
37:57got a like
37:57a short note
37:59from the government
38:00saying um
38:00you might want
38:01to check this
38:01so it seems that
38:02although people have
38:03been checking their
38:04premium bonds
38:04it does take them
38:05quite a while to get
38:06around to it
38:07so if you have one
38:08make sure to have a
38:08look and see if you
38:09could be the next
38:10lucky winner
38:11kristin hawthorne for
38:12chemtv rochester
38:14well earlier today i
38:15spoke to a financial
38:16advisor a little more
38:18about these premium
38:18bonds
38:19well oliver thank you
38:20so much for joining us
38:21today so potentially
38:23somebody watching this
38:24tonight in kent could
38:26be sitting on quite a
38:27bit of money what tips
38:28would you give them to
38:29find out maybe if they
38:30have got a long lost
38:32premium bond
38:33so i suppose um some
38:37people might have had
38:38them as children and
38:39their parents or
38:39grandparents might have
38:40purchased them for them
38:42and with that in mind
38:43uh potentially ask family
38:46members that may have
38:47purchased premium bonds
38:48or alternatively the
38:50mylostaccount.org.uk has
38:53a the ability to grace
38:55uh nsni premium bonds
38:57along with other bank
38:57accounts if you've ever
38:59lost touch with them
39:00and how much money do
39:04you think somebody could
39:05have out there are we
39:05going to be talking you
39:07know i mean a couple of
39:08quid or could we be
39:09talking thousands well if
39:12you're really lucky it's
39:13a hundred thousand pounds
39:14because that's the largest
39:15prize pot that's uh
39:17currently outstanding with
39:18multiple people not
39:20claiming as as much as
39:22a hundred thousand
39:22pounds so if you're very
39:24lucky it might be that but
39:25it could be uh quite a
39:27nominal sum like ten
39:28pounds um but i suppose
39:30anything's a bonus well i
39:32myself do actually have
39:33premium bonds so i don't
39:35think i'm going to be one
39:35of those lucky people
39:36watching tonight but i
39:38suppose for quite actually
39:39a lot of the younger
39:39audience watching i don't
39:41really understand what a
39:42premium bond is could
39:44you just explain a little
39:44bit about what it is and
39:45uh a little bit of its
39:47history yeah so they were
39:50started uh in 1957 and
39:52they're they're effectively
39:53just savings accounts but
39:55the big difference to a
39:57normal savings account is
39:58rather than getting a rate
39:59of interest so a bit of
40:01growth on it you go into a
40:03prize pot and potentially
40:05win prizes instead um with
40:07that in mind if you're
40:08lucky obviously you'll get a
40:10higher return and if you're
40:11unlucky you'll get lower
40:12than you would in a normal
40:14savings account the beauty
40:16of them is that they're
40:17tax-free so if you get
40:19quite a bit of a winnings
40:21you won't have to pay any
40:21tax on it and they're
40:23government-backed so they're
40:25the most secure way of
40:26saving and uh would premium
40:30bonds be a good option for
40:31younger people watching this
40:33right now
40:33potentially um it's one of
40:38those accounts where if you
40:39if you like something a bit
40:41different and uh potentially
40:42like the idea of uh winning a
40:45prize it can sort of gamify
40:47saving a little bit for people
40:49um it's it's horses for
40:51courses really um some
40:53people like the idea of
40:54of winning a bit of extra
40:56than than the standard rate
40:58of return but interest rates
41:00are quite attractive in
41:02savings accounts at the
41:03moment so you might get a
41:05better rate just by putting
41:06your money in a in a high
41:07interest instant access
41:08account and going back to
41:11the premium bonds story in
41:12question um do you think
41:14the government should be
41:15letting people know if they
41:16have got a missing uh so
41:18are money sitting out there
41:19absolutely uh the people
41:23that have won those prizes
41:24are entitled to that money
41:25but i suppose the the
41:27biggest question is whether
41:28um whether they have the
41:30information people move
41:31house um originally they
41:33may not have even had
41:34phones when when the
41:35premium bonds were first
41:36um taken out so contact
41:39details and might might be
41:41hard to come by well
41:43oliver thank you so much for
41:44joining us this evening
41:46thanks for your time
41:47thank you very much
41:49well time for now for a quick
41:52break we'll be back in a few
41:53minutes with more
41:54thank you
42:03you
42:04you
42:05you
42:06you
42:06you
42:07you
42:07you
42:08you
42:13you
45:17Now, animal cruelty on social media is rising and the RSPCA is demanding tech giants follow new laws to stop it.
45:25Reports of abuse online have surged 27% this year, with Facebook seeing the most cases.
45:31Under the Online Safety Act, platforms must now remove harmful content, but the charity says progress is just far too slight.
45:39Joining me on the line now to discuss this more is David Bowles from the RSPCA.
45:45David, thank you so much for joining us this evening.
45:47Now, these new figures are quite shocking, I think, to our viewers.
45:51What type of cruelty are you seeing being posted online?
45:55So, yes, as you say, the Online Safety Act makes it illegal for any content to be posted online, which involves animal cruelty.
46:05We're seeing images such as people boating, but we're also seeing deliberate acts such as rats being drowned in water, cats being kicked across the room.
46:19And yesterday we had the BBC investigation into the online cruelty of kittens, which was being filmed in China.
46:29So, the RSPCA is very concerned that these images seem to be increasing.
46:35As you said, we had a 27% increase from this time last year on the number of images that we have seen online showing animal cruelty.
46:45These images, if they are against the Animal Welfare Act, they should be moderated and taken offline.
46:50But obviously, there are quite a few images that are still online, and we are hoping that the moderators at the major companies will start to take action.
46:59I'm just going to clarify a few of the images we're seeing on the screen now, not the images in question.
47:03They're one safely in the hands of you guys at the RSPCA.
47:06But I don't know if you, why have we got you here, David?
47:08Comment on one of our other stories we're looking at today.
47:10It relates very closely to this and on catapults.
47:13Chem police have told us that they're on average receiving 14 calls a day concerning the possession of them.
47:19Is catapults a tax on animals, something you're starting to see more often?
47:23It is. It's something that we have come across in the last couple of years.
47:28I'm not really sure why they're starting.
47:31The RSPCA has usually seen people using air rifles to target particularly birds, but also sometimes cats going into people's gardens.
47:40I think it's because catapults are readily available.
47:43There are very few rules about buying catapults.
47:46There are very few age restrictions about buying catapults.
47:50And, yeah, we are seeing an increase in those.
47:52And obviously that involves deliberate animal cruelty because we're seeing them being used against not just animals such as swans and ducks in parks,
48:01but also people's domestic animals such as cats.
48:04And, of course, the Online Safety Act came into force earlier this year.
48:08Social media platforms, do you think they're doing enough to comply?
48:10No, they're not.
48:13There has been this ongoing discussion, particularly between the ones based in America, as to how they're going to implement the legislation.
48:21The legislation has now been in place since March when it has been a legal requirement for moderators to take images that are cruel and would be prosecuted in the UK, take them offline.
48:33But as the RSPCA data shows, we are seeing a reverse to what we hope we'll be seeing.
48:40We are seeing an increase of 27% on images that we are finding online, and it should be going the other way.
48:45So the RSPCA is worried that companies such as Facebook, who are number one in our list of companies that publish these images,
48:57they have reduced rather than increased the number of moderators.
49:00So a lot more needs to be done by the tech companies.
49:04And we hope that Ofcom, who regulates and enforces the legislation, will start to take some meaningful action as well.
49:11We haven't got long left, but what steps are you guys taking to help?
49:15So we are moderating and we're finding images, as our article today says.
49:24We are processing those and we're handing those over to Ofcom, who are the enforcement agencies.
49:30So we, and obviously we are also asking your viewers and members of the public,
49:35if they see images that they think could be cruelty and contrary to what the Online Safety Act says,
49:41then report them to Ofcom as the regulator, but also let us know and we will investigate them,
49:46particularly if they've occurred in this country.
49:49David, thank you so much for your time.
49:53Now in Maidstone, a grant by the Council is helping to support local organisations expand their work in the community.
49:59It can help from all things such as arts and crafts for putting on shows.
50:03David C. Page has been finding out more.
50:04A new fund by Maidstone Borough Council is investing in the community.
50:09The Creative Community Grant offers up to £2,000 per project.
50:14One organisation which has received funding is Harmony, who provide opportunities for young people to help with a variety of skills,
50:22ranging from drama, music to graffiti workshops.
50:25But receiving this fund has allowed the charity to expand its work.
50:29This year, they had a stage at the River Festival.
50:32We had music workshops, beatboxing workshops, we had some poetry,
50:36and then we opened up the stage for our young people to come and jam.
50:39And as part of that event, we also had young people backstage.
50:42So our photographer was 15, our videographer was only 18,
50:47we had a 19-year-old sound engineer, a 15-year-old stage manager.
50:51So it was really about bringing the young people in and getting them involved in the activities and in the events.
50:56And then as part of that grant, we're also hosting an event on Saturday, the 23rd of August,
51:01in Brennishley Gardens, which will form part of the Switch Outreach event.
51:05But it's not all about art and culture.
51:08The fund also looks at promoting health and wellbeing.
51:11Fusion Healthy Living Centre is a community hub in Parkwood,
51:15providing accessible health care and support for physical and emotional wellbeing.
51:20With services ranging from a coffee shop, social gatherings like Knit and Natter and health checks,
51:25the Fusion staff and their over 100 team of volunteers work to support their community in a range of ways.
51:31Some of the services we offer are to look at public health and address the health inequalities in the area.
51:37So we would offer, for example, we have a diabetic eye screen in here four days a week,
51:42NHS sexual health comes in, we have a full 1U service offering,
51:46so 1U offer programmes around smoking cessation, healthy eating, living well, so things like that.
51:54And then the other programmes and services we offer were four core values that Fusion works with,
51:59so it's public health, food poverty, social inclusion and mental health.
52:05The creative fund is helping sport one of their larger annual events, the Fusion Panto.
52:10The sense of community in that room when we're doing the pantos is just, you can feel it.
52:15Everyone's so happy, they're so, like, thankful that we've brought this activity to them.
52:21In our feedback, they've told us that normally they wouldn't be able to go to these shows
52:25because they're too expensive, they don't have access to transport,
52:29and so bringing the pantomime to Parkwood has just had an overwhelmingly positive reaction.
52:36Providing organisations with funding to support their work helps communities in more ways than one.
52:42And you can check out plenty more videos on our website, just like that one.
52:48Here's a glimpse of one about anti-social behaviour.
52:51The seaside town of Broadstairs is used to having many tourists,
52:55but now the area seems to also be getting used to underage street drinking,
52:59aggressive behaviour and loitering.
53:01On multiple occasions over the last two months, they've seen crowds of young people,
53:05with some intent on causing violence, damage and disorder.
53:08Locals say it was at its worst near the end of June,
53:12when A-levels and GCSE takers had finished their exams.
53:15But it has continued.
53:16In the last three weeks, Broadstairs has seen the most dispersals in Thanet,
53:20with 58 people made to move from an area,
53:22ahead of Margate with 56 and Ramsgate with only 10.
53:26Two teenagers were also arrested in the town last week
53:28for assaulting a police officer and shopkeeper.
53:31So as we get closer to the summer holidays,
53:33are people in the town worried about any more violent behaviour?
53:36Yeah, only this year really has been a main problem.
53:39Last year we had a few problems on the beach,
53:41but this year we seem to have a lot of people coming down
53:42from parts of Medway and South London,
53:45in sort of hundreds and hundreds of people coming down.
53:47I've grown up here and it was always like a safe place to come,
53:50and it was fine to kind of hang out with all your friends in the evening.
53:53And I have a younger sister who's just turned 15,
53:56she's sort of just the age where she wants to come out
53:59and kind of be around with her friends,
54:01but it's kind of, yeah, it's scary, especially for young women.
54:03It's not nice, it doesn't create a nice environment to live in,
54:06especially with quite a quiet, idyllic seaside town
54:10and it completely ruins that.
54:11And it also kills the tourist trade, that's the big thing.
54:14You know, people come here for a holiday with their family,
54:16they're never going to come again
54:17if they've watched a massive fight break out.
54:20And it's massively, it's terrible for local businesses.
54:22Now, the question does still stand.
54:25Was this a one-off incident of young people from across the county
54:28coming down to celebrate the end of their A-levels and GCSEs,
54:32with a select few taking it a bit too far?
54:34Or is this a systemic problem, not just here in Broadstairs,
54:38but across some of Kent's bigger tourist spots?
54:41It's something that's a recurring problem.
54:44It's something that happens every year.
54:47I think what we saw this year was possibly the worst we've ever seen.
54:51And I think the police now know.
54:54They have, they applied for dispersal orders,
54:56they put them in place, they were given reinforcements,
55:00they brought more officers into the district, into the town
55:04to help combat the problems.
55:06So I've got my fingers crossed.
55:08And actually, I don't expect any additional problems.
55:11Kent Police District Commander for Thanet,
55:13Chief Inspector Ian Swallow,
55:14said that Kent Police has been working with partners
55:16and listening to businesses and residents in Thanet
55:18as part of our drive to deter antisocial behaviour
55:21and identify anyone suspected of being responsible for causing disorder.
55:25This summer, our neighbourhood teams will continue
55:27to provide that reassuring presence.
55:29Many in the town, especially local businesses,
55:32seem hopeful that the disorder, like the poor weather,
55:34will pass rather than repeat throughout the summer.
55:38Finn McDermid for KMTV.
55:39And before we go, here's a look at the weather.
55:50Tonight is looking rather mild with clear skies and temperatures around the mid-teens.
55:56Heading into the morning, sunny skies across the board
55:58with temperatures rising to 17 degrees, 18 down and over.
56:01Into the afternoon, temperatures rising even further,
56:04averaging at 22 degrees, 23 up in Dartford and Medway.
56:08Now for your outlook, partly cloudy weather on Thursday
56:11with highs of 24 degrees, exactly the same on Friday,
56:14but then the sun coming out as the weekend kicks off
56:17with highs of 25 degrees and clear skies.
56:20Well, you've been watching Kent tonight live here on KMTV
56:30and there's more news made just for Kent throughout the evening,
56:34so don't go anywhere.
56:36And don't forget, you can always keep us up to date
56:38on your social media timelines by finding us on Facebook and Twitter
56:43and TikTok as well.
56:44From me and the rest of the team, have a lovely evening.
56:47Good night.
56:47Good night.
56:48Good night.
56:49Good night.
56:50Good night.
56:51Good night.
56:52Good night.
56:53Good night.
56:54Good night.
56:55Good night.
56:56Good night.
56:57Good night.
56:58Good night.
56:59Good night.
57:00Good night.
57:01Good night.
57:02Good night.
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