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Catch up with all the latest news from across the county with Izzy Miller.
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00:00Hello and welcome to Kent Tonight Live on KMTV.
00:28I'm Isabel Miller and here are your top stories on Monday the 11th of August.
00:33Shepi suspects. Three teenagers arrested on suspicion of murder after a man dies in Laysdown
00:41on Sea.
00:42Very sad and solemn, but there's a lot of people up here obviously watching and obviously
00:47today come up here to pay our respects, lay some flowers and see us at crime scene.
00:52Chaos in County Hall, Maidstone reacts to Reform UK's first 100 days.
00:59I haven't noticed any changes whatsoever.
01:02We need a change and I think it's good but…
01:04It's early days isn't it?
01:05I'm sure they've got a lot of work to do.
01:07Pick-tock parking on the clock.
01:09Rain and businesses say parking fees are driving customers away.
01:13The other shopping centres, you have one hour, one and a half hour and somewhere even six
01:20hours parking is free.
01:22First tonight, police have arrested three children on suspicion of murder after an altercation
01:36last night in the Warden Road area of Laysdown on Sea which led to a man's death.
01:41A 16-year-old girl and two boys aged 15 and 14 remain in custody pending further enquiries.
01:49Here with the full story is Finn and you're at the scene today.
01:53So, tell me, what's the story here and what happened?
01:58Well, the story really all begins when police were called to the Warden Bay Road area of
02:04Laysdown which is a small village in the Isle of Sheppey.
02:07This was around 7pm last night and it all followed reports there had been an altercation.
02:13Now, this involved a small group of people where a man was assaulted and suffered serious
02:18injuries at the scene.
02:20Officers then attended along with paramedics and a man in his 40s was then confirmed dead.
02:25His next of kin have been informed.
02:28Then it came out a short while later that a 16-year-old girl and two boys aged 14 and 15
02:34were arrested on suspicion of murder.
02:36They remain in custody pending further enquiries.
02:39We can see coming into today that investigations are still ongoing in this field that's sort
02:45of positioned between the bay and the town of Warden.
02:49And what was the atmosphere on the beach today?
02:52It was certainly a strange one.
02:53I mean, you can – I'll come back to that in a second – but you can see now some pictures
02:58of the investigations where officers were in a line patrolling across this open field.
03:05I say it was a strange one because when you hear an investigation of this sort of scope,
03:10you would think it more serious.
03:11But the sun was shining and because it was so close to the beach, there were families
03:15nearby.
03:16So it was an odd atmosphere as plenty of people were simply watching the police doing their
03:19investigation work.
03:20And what do police know about what happened?
03:23Well, what we've been told so far about three children being arrested on suspicion of murder
03:29after the death of a man in a seaside village.
03:32Additionally then, they are asking for any more witnesses for Sunday's incident and any extra
03:38information that may help in the investigation process.
03:41And what about people in the area?
03:42What have they been seeing?
03:43Well, I actually spoke to a man who's holiday making at the moment in the village and he
03:49was telling me all about what he saw actually on that night where the incident took place.
03:54I saw an air ambulance landing, thought it was the Coast Guard at first.
04:01And then obviously saw a crowd of people up in this embankment and someone getting resuscitated.
04:07Obviously it's not prevailed.
04:09And then the air ambulance never took off.
04:12And as night fell, it turned into obviously a crime scene.
04:15Forensic tents went up.
04:17And obviously it was very sad and solemn, but there's a lot of people up here obviously
04:24watching.
04:25And then obviously today, come up here to pay our respects, lay some flowers and see us
04:30at the crime scene.
04:31Thank you, Finn, for the latest on that.
04:34Now, a man faces charges of drink driving after crashing into a seaside pub in Dungeness.
04:41Police arrested 52-year-old Howard Sargent from Lyd-on-Sea shortly after midnight on Sunday.
04:47He is accused of drink driving and driving while unfit and is due before Folkestone magistrates
04:52later this month.
04:54Staff at the Pilot Inn worked through the night to clear the wreckage after the crash destroyed
04:59half the restaurant.
05:01Pub boss Rob Miulis says it's the fourth serious incident on the dangerous Battery Road bend
05:08and is calling on the council to act.
05:11Luckily no one was injured.
05:13A sitting-born GP practice is preparing to leave its 200-year-old home for a revamped unit
05:20in the town's Memorial Hospital.
05:22Chestnuts Surgery says the move will allow it to expand its patient list from 9,500 to
05:29more than 13,000 in an area with one of the country's lowest GP to patient ratios.
05:35The NHS will submit plans this month to transform the disused Frank Lloyd unit, which has been
05:41empty for four years.
05:42If approved, Chestnuts hopes to relocate by April and hire two new doctors.
05:47You can read more on Kent Online.
05:50Now, in political news, this weekend marked 100 days since Reform UK took control of Kent
05:56County Council, seizing the local authority in May.
05:59In the last few months, the party has made controversial decisions that have sparked mixed opinions across
06:06the county.
06:07But what do people in Maidstone think of its achievements?
06:11In that time, well, our local democracy reporter Oli Leda went to find out.
06:15How are we?
06:16All right?
06:17Good to see you.
06:18Good to see you.
06:19Well, no problem.
06:20A week is a long time in British politics.
06:23What about 100 days?
06:26That's the milestone that Reform UK has just hit at Kent County Council over several months,
06:35defined by high-profile visits, calls for cost savings and fierce debate on everything
06:42from flags to trans library books.
06:45For journalists like myself, Reform sweeping victory in May was something of a seismic shift
06:52in Kent's political landscape.
06:55Well, after 100 days here at County Hall, do people here in Maidstone feel that political
07:02earthquake on their doorstep?
07:05And do they actually know what Reform has done in that time?
07:11I haven't noticed any changes whatsoever immediately.
07:15No changes at all?
07:16Have you heard much about what they've done?
07:18I've heard bits and pieces about commentary on the OSA, but other than that, nothing about
07:26what they're doing locally.
07:27I've lived here for about 25 years.
07:30And you don't know anything about what they've done in their first 100 days?
07:34No, I don't.
07:35We need a change, and I think it's good, but to say what he, she, or what they have done
07:42in the last 100 days, I'm not so sure.
07:44I suppose I haven't really seen any changes in Maidstone itself, but then perhaps I've
07:48not been paying much attention.
07:49Because I suppose I'm a bit against reform in principle, so I'm a bit negative towards
07:55us generally.
07:56Trying to sort of reduce the waste in council spending has a good aim, but I've no
08:02idea how far they've got with that.
08:04It's early days, isn't it?
08:05I'm sure they've got a lot of work to do.
08:07Maidstone divided or in the dark then.
08:11Something that doesn't surprise opposition leader Anthony Hook.
08:15If people in Kent don't know what the council is doing, that in itself tells a story about
08:20reform's failure to communicate, failure to inspire people.
08:24And I think our staff should have been treated better.
08:27We should have had meetings right from an earlier stage with fuller agendas addressing
08:32all the issues that people in Kent care about.
08:34So has it been a rocky start for the new administration?
08:37Well, the group's chief whip, Maxwell Harrison, only has one way of describing that.
08:44Nonsense.
08:45I think the idea that we council meetings is for the birds.
08:48You only see it on a fringe of the left who are complaining about it online.
08:51When we got in, we had a very large cohort of individuals, many of whom had never been
08:56in elected politics before.
08:57This is not a joke.
08:58This is real people's lives.
08:59We had to make sure that our councillors were trained, that we knew what was going on.
09:03Actually, we could understand the scale of the issues.
09:05So yes, maybe it took us a little bit of time to start our first full council meeting,
09:09but we're actually taking the job seriously.
09:11New management was always going to bring fresh controversies.
09:16And with local government reorganisation speeding into gear in the coming months,
09:23the next 100 days could be even more contentious than the last.
09:30Even if most people in Maidstone wouldn't know it.
09:33Olly Leader at County Hall.
09:37And joining me in the studio now is Olly Leader.
09:39So explain why reform has caused such a stir.
09:42Well, to start, Lizzie, I mean, it's been a busy couple of weeks and months for us political aficionados.
09:48I think for Reform UK, they came in here with the intent of changing things up,
09:54giving it a bit of a shake-up.
09:55As Maxwell Harrison told me, their meetings are a lot more fun,
10:00a lot more all over the place than perhaps their predecessors were.
10:04We've heard a lot of controversies such as trying to ban trans library books in some of the KCC libraries.
10:10We've heard stuff about banning flags such as the LGBTQ plus flag during Pride.
10:16One thing that did cause a lot of concern for staff in the lead-up to the election at KCC
10:20was there was talk about cutting back, trying to reduce council spending.
10:26Some staff were worried that would mean it would be their jobs on the line.
10:30So I actually put that to Maxwell Harrison, he heard in the clip,
10:34about what his biggest regret was when he was during the election campaign and in the last couple of months.
10:41If there was anything you could have changed in those first 100 days, what would it have been?
10:45Ooh, that's an interesting one.
10:48I think coming into this building, you know, I think what has been the most surprising thing at all, actually,
10:54is that this idea of the blob and establishment that has reported,
10:59I've actually met some really lovely people working here.
11:01And, you know, going into here, I think people were nervous and worried about what reform would be doing.
11:06And actually, I think we've been working hard, actually, to restore confidence,
11:09not only for those who may not agree with us politically, but also who work in this building.
11:13And so the only thing I regret, maybe, is the idea that, you know, during the campaign,
11:18people in this building were scared and worried and apprehensive of us coming in.
11:21We're coming in now. We've got meetings happening very regularly.
11:24We've got proper agendas. We've got good people on our benches.
11:26I think that's starting to seep through.
11:29And what can we expect for the next 100 days?
11:32More fireworks, I suppose. It's always going to be like that,
11:35with a new radical party taking control.
11:38I think those people will be divided on what they're going to do next
11:41around local government reorganisation.
11:43But all eyes on what's going to happen next.
11:45Thank you very much, Oli.
11:46But that's all we have time for for this part of Kent tonight.
11:48We'll see you after the break.
12:08Hello?
12:17Wait.
12:27Where are you, Toby?
12:29have your engagements started.
19:38and their services are now resumed to normal.
19:40We've also heard from SGN, who said,
19:43the shopping centre self-evacuated as a precaution
19:45due to environmental smells coming from the local power station.
19:49We did not evacuate the shopping centre
19:50and have found no traces of gas inside or outside the buildings.
19:55Thank you, Daisy.
19:56Next tonight, the government could introduce mandatory eye tests
19:59for drivers in the county in a major shake-up of UK driving laws.
20:04Motorists over 70 could be banned from driving
20:07if they fail a compulsory eye test
20:09and there may be stricter rules surrounding drink driving,
20:13with the strategy set to be published this autumn.
20:15But do those behind the wheel in Rochester agree
20:18that it should be full speed ahead on this
20:20or is it pushing drivers towards their limit?
20:24Anything to prevent danger, anything to prevent accidents,
20:28people with loss of life, anything like that, I agree with it.
20:31I don't think you should be drinking anything
20:33if you know you're going to be driving.
20:34I think it's just, like, even one drink,
20:37as much as some people can say it doesn't affect them,
20:39I still think that it's not worth any risk
20:43being on the road behind the wheel.
20:44I don't agree with that at all.
20:46Reason being, you know, if you go out the night before
20:48and have a few drinks and then you get in the car early morning,
20:53perhaps you go to work,
20:54and you're over the prescribed limit,
20:58then you've got a problem even though you feel pretty good.
21:00We should all have our eye tests every couple of years at least.
21:04Well, they're saying every three years, aren't they?
21:06Which I think is too long.
21:07Yeah, it's too long.
21:09I think it should be compulsory.
21:11Yeah, I'd be happy to have an eye test
21:13if it meant I could keep my licence.
21:15See if they've got really, really bad eyesight
21:17and they can't see, it's probably a good idea.
21:20I think that they should monitor people
21:22to make sure they're roadworthy
21:23and they're fit to drive.
21:25And I think there's no reason why we shouldn't be tested
21:28for that sort of thing on a regular basis anyway.
21:30And don't forget, you can keep up to date
21:34with all your latest stories across Kent
21:35by logging on to our website, kmtv.co.uk.
21:39There you'll find all our reports,
21:41including this one about Maidstone River Festival.
21:44Hundreds of boats took to the River Medway
21:47to celebrate the Maidstone River Festival.
21:51This time of the year gives boat lovers
21:53a chance to sink their jaws into racing
21:56and showing off their amazing vessels.
21:59Well, the river in Maidstone is obviously its biggest asset
22:03and then we come down here and we make the most of it
22:06because we're from the high level bridge to Lock Meadow
22:07so we cover the main sound centre bit of the river.
22:11The Firmin family is one of our biggest sponsors.
22:14Maidstone Boer Council have got involved this year
22:17which has been utterly excellent.
22:19And of course behind me is Maidstone's River Medway
22:22and as its name suggests, it stretches all the way here
22:27right to Medway
22:28and it's served many purposes throughout history
22:31from trade to being the stage of naval battles.
22:36But the event also served the purpose of raising money
22:40for charities across the county.
22:43I think it's amazing and it's so...
22:45everybody's joining in, everybody's happy and so, so good, so good.
22:51The festival has supported the Heart of Kent Hospice for many years
22:55and we're extremely lucky that everyone in the community
22:58is willing to support us
23:00because the work everyone does at the hospice
23:03is so vital to the local community here.
23:05The Mayor of Medway was also there to deliver flags
23:09and find the best decorated boats from pirates to even a snowman.
23:15Great fun. I've been doing it for years and I love it.
23:18It's the highlight of my year.
23:20When I came to the River Festival many years ago,
23:24we won Best Dress Boat
23:26and I didn't even know there was a Best Dress Boat.
23:29I had a really great time.
23:31It was always a good day down here at the festival.
23:33One group managed to win the raft race for two years in a row
23:38and shared the secret of their scallywagging success.
23:43We all worked together to make the raft
23:44to the design that we'd written up
23:46and we had six good people on the raft
23:49to make the raft go along as fast as it did.
23:52So it all worked out well.
23:53We did. We did well.
23:56Well done Ian.
23:56We did really well.
23:58We worked as a team, won as a team
24:01and we're going to celebrate as a team later.
24:04The celebrations finished with a firework display
24:07at Fremlin Walk
24:09making a merrily merrily time for those involved.
24:14Henry Luck for KMTV in May.
24:18Now it's time to look at the weather.
24:26Cloudy skies this evening
24:27with highs of 20 degrees in Dartford and Medway
24:30lows of 19 degrees
24:31and a sunny start tomorrow
24:33with highs of 24 degrees in Ashford
24:35winds reaching 7 in the west
24:37and into the afternoon
24:39temperatures reaching the low 30s
24:41and wind speeds picking up
24:42to 12 miles per hour in the east.
24:45And for the rest of the week
24:46cloudy skies on Wednesday
24:47but clear sun for the rest of the week.
24:49And now Medway Culture Club celebrated the fifth anniversary
25:06of its annual carnival
25:07which was bigger than ever.
25:10The event involved 2,000 people in a local parade
25:13and offered a chance to learn all about the wonders of the Caribbean
25:17right from the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham.
25:20This year's theme promoted inclusivity
25:22and broke down barriers surrounding social isolation.
25:27Well, the club's co-founder, Camilia Xavier, Chikota, spoke to us earlier.
25:32Our fifth anniversary at Medway Culture Club
25:35is a huge moment of pride
25:37because what started out as just a conversation in this kitchen
25:42it was through the pandemic
25:46it was in 2020 when we wanted to
25:50not only talk about change
25:52in a time of pain and uncertainty
25:54but also to be the change that we wanted to see.
25:58So to think that five years on
26:01we would be able to celebrate in such a big way
26:05the impact that we've had
26:06with over 50 monthly sessions
26:09four Black History bus tours
26:12we've had three exhibitions
26:14and even a Caribbean Christmas fair
26:17it's a massive moment of pride
26:20for myself
26:21but also all of the dedicated volunteers
26:24past and present
26:25who have helped us to get where we are today.
26:28So, yeah, immensely proud.
26:31Time for a break
26:32but coming up
26:33a murder investigation is underway
26:35in Laysdown on Sea
26:37after a man dies
26:38following a late night altercation
26:40three teenagers are in custody.
26:42Also, meet the Swanley schoolboy
26:44sitting his GCSE maths five years early.
26:47in Laysdown on Sea
26:56in Laysdown on Sea
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30:22lays down on sea, and chaos in County Hall, Maidstone reacts to Reform UK's first 100
30:30days, and tick-tock parkings on the clock, random businesses say fees are driving customers
30:36away. There are headlines for today. But to our main story. Police have arrested three
30:42teenagers on suspicion of murder after an altercation last night in the Warden Road
30:47area of Lays Down on Sea, which has led to a man's death. A 16-year-old girl and two boys
30:53aged 14 and 15 remain in custody, pending further enquiries. Well, here with the full story is
31:00Finn, who is at the scene today. So can you tell me a little bit more about what's happened?
31:04Well, the story all really started, Izzy. Last night at around 7pm, police were called to
31:10the Warden Bay Road area of Lays Down, which is a village on the Isle of Sheppey. There
31:16were reports they were responding to that an altercation had broken out that involved
31:20a small group of people. A man was assaulted and reportedly suffered serious injuries.
31:26And here's the scene today, after that man in his 40s was confirmed dead in that evening,
31:32with officers investigating in that small field that's between the bay and Warden Road
31:37itself and the small village of Warden. And what was the atmosphere like on the beach today?
31:42It was a very strange one. Like I mentioned there, you can see the police investigating
31:47this field. Because of how close it was, both to the residential area of Warden and to the
31:52seafront of Warden Bay, there were members of the public walking past, able to look and
31:57see what the police were doing. As the day continued, and we have some videos of this, there were trained
32:04dogs on the scene. There were also drones. The police were investigating the entire field.
32:10And you can see there those pictures of the trained dog they were using. So while it was
32:15still a sunny day and people were enjoying themselves on the beach, there was this still
32:20very sombre atmosphere. So it was a different atmosphere than you might expect.
32:24And when you were there, what did people in the area say?
32:28Many locals didn't comment too much outside of, this is quite rare for our area and it's
32:33shocking to see this kind of thing. But I spoke to one holiday maker who was actually present
32:38at the scene last night when the air ambulance arrived and the police were still attending
32:48as it was happening. And we can hear a bit from him now.
32:50I saw an air ambulance landing. Thought it was the Coast Guard at first. And then obviously
32:57saw a crowd of people up underneath the embankment and someone getting resuscitated. Obviously
33:02it's not prevailed. And then the air ambulance never took off. And as night fell, it turned
33:09into a crime scene. Forensic tents went up. And obviously it was very sad and solemn.
33:16But there's a lot of people up here obviously watching. And then obviously today, come up
33:21here to pay our respects, lay some flowers and see us at the crime scene.
33:26And currently the police are still appealing for witnesses to Sunday's incident and any
33:31extra information that people might have, they say, to send to them immediately.
33:36Thank you for that, Finn. Now in political news, this weekend marked 100 days since Reform
33:42UK took control of Kent County Council seizing the local authority in May. In the last few
33:48months the party has made controversial decisions that have sparked mixed opinions across the county.
33:54But what do people in Maidstone think of its achievements in that time? Well, our local
33:58democracy reporter, Olly Leader, went to find out.
34:01How are we? All right? Good to see you. Good to see you as well.
34:06A week is a long time in British politics. What about 100 days?
34:13That's the milestone that Reform UK has just hit at Kent County Council over several months,
34:21months defined by high profile visits, calls for cost savings and fierce debate on everything
34:28from flags to trans library books. For journalists like myself, reform sweeping victory in May was
34:37something of a seismic shift in Kent's political landscape. But after 100 days here at County
34:45Hall, do people here in Maidstone feel that political earthquake on their doorstep? And do they actually
34:53know what reform has done in that time?
34:57I haven't noticed any changes whatsoever immediately.
35:01No changes at all. Have you heard much about what they've done?
35:04I've heard bits and pieces about commentary on the OSA, but other than that, nothing about what they're
35:12doing locally.
35:13I've lived here for about 25 years. And you don't know anything about what they've done in their first 100 days?
35:20No, I don't.
35:21We need a change and I think it's good, but to say what he, she, what they have done in the last 100 days, I'm not so sure.
35:31I suppose I haven't really seen any changes in Maidstone itself, but then perhaps I've not been paying much attention.
35:36Because I suppose I'm a bit against reform in principle, so a bit negative towards us generally.
35:42Trying to sort of reduce the waste in council spending and sorts, that's a good aim, but I've no idea how far they've got with that.
35:50It's early days, isn't it? I'm sure they've got a lot of work to do.
35:53Maidstone divided or in the dark then. Something that doesn't surprise opposition leader Anthony Hook.
36:02If people in Kent don't know what the council is doing, that in itself tells a story about reform's failure to communicate,
36:09failure to inspire people. And I think our staff should have been treated better.
36:13We should have had meetings right from an earlier stage with fuller agendas addressing all the issues that people in Kent care about.
36:20So has it been a rocky start for the new administration?
36:24Well, the group's chief whip, Maxwell Harrison, only has one way of describing that.
36:30Nonsense. I think the idea that we council meetings is for the birds.
36:34You only see it on a fringe of the left. You're complaining about it online.
36:38When we got in, we had a very large cohort of individuals, many of whom had never been in elected politics before.
36:44This is not a joke. This is real people's lives.
36:46We had to make sure that our councillors were trained, that we knew what was going on.
36:49Actually, we could understand the scale of the issues.
36:52So yes, maybe it took us a little bit of time to start our first full council meeting, but we're actually taking the job seriously.
36:57New management was always going to bring fresh controversies.
37:02And with local government reorganisation speeding into gear in the coming months, the next 100 days could be even more contentious than the last.
37:16Even if most people in Maidstone wouldn't know it.
37:19Olly Leader at County Hall.
37:22Now, a cafe in Raynham has reopened after shutting its doors in May due to rising wages and parking fees.
37:29But after a month of reopening, they say the increased charges are still driving customers away.
37:35Many now refer to Hempstead Valley as the place to be.
37:39But we sent our reporter Maisie Walker down to the cafe to see whether time will be running out for Tiktok Cafe.
37:47Tiktok Cafe in Raynham closed in May due to rising costs and reduced foot traffic.
37:53Nearly a month after reopening, they're celebrating their return.
37:56But high parking fees and other financial pressures remain a concern.
38:00Definitely the parking prices have been hiked.
38:04And also, you know, the other thing is the parking is not free here.
38:09And in most of the shopping centres, like if you go to the other shopping centres, you have one hour, one and a half hour and somewhere even six hours parking is free.
38:22And then there you can see that means the people visit a lot because they are free from paying parking.
38:32The price hikes aren't just hitting businesses.
38:34They're affecting staff and the wider community too.
38:37Absolutely ridiculous it becomes.
38:39They need to generate more revenue.
38:42I understand that.
38:43But I've got to provide more parking spaces as well.
38:46It should be controlled.
38:48It should be a gradual increase, not a very big parking parking spaces.
38:54So, you know, I mean, Raynham has turned into a ghost town.
38:58It's a disgraceful the way it's gone up in leaps and bounds.
39:02Whereas you pay £1.90 and you drain them for half an hour.
39:09And then you go over to the dockside and you get the first hour for it.
39:13And then even then, for two hours, it's a lot cheaper than you.
39:19The other issue obviously is that my staff have to park locally to be able to come in and work.
39:24So that's impacting them.
39:26So in terms of the local economy, it's certainly not helping.
39:31It's not promoting business, not promoting trade.
39:35And for our local residents, it's certainly impacting them.
39:39A Medway Council spokesperson said it is widely known that local authorities across the country are under increasing financial pressure.
39:48And unfortunately, this meant we were faced with some difficult decisions in setting this year's budget, including an increase in parking fees.
39:56Nevertheless, Medway remains a great location for business with more than 14,000 businesses located there.
40:02And we are committed to supporting them as best we can.
40:06As rising costs continue to ripple through Raynham, members of the public are calling for change before more beloved businesses are potentially forced to shut their doors for good.
40:15Maisie Walker for KMTV, Raynham.
40:18And Maisie joins me in the studio now.
40:21So are other businesses feeling the pressure too?
40:24Yeah.
40:25So TikTok Cafe closed in May after struggling to keep up with rising costs.
40:30The owners spoke to Kent Online at the time and they were described as being heartbroken.
40:35They specifically mentioned two main challenges, one being national wage increases and the other being a sharp rise in parking fees.
40:45These parking charges, they said, had a direct impact on foot traffic in Raynham's town centre, which meant fewer customers were coming through their doors.
40:57So to answer your question, yes, multiple local traders shared the same concern that the increase in parking charges at Raynham's shopping centre has changed customer interest.
41:11People are simply choosing just not to go anymore where they can go to somewhere else like Hempstead Valley, where parking is still free.
41:21And that makes a huge difference, especially for small independent businesses.
41:27And staff are being affected quite badly too, aren't they?
41:30Yeah, no, definitely.
41:31When I was out, I spoke to a business and they mentioned how that even their own staff are being impacted by the rise in parking fees.
41:41Many are now having to factor in daily parking costs just to come to work.
41:46Thank you very much for that.
41:48And hopefully people will go to the TikTok Cafe.
41:50But see you after the break.
45:00Hello and welcome back to Kent's Night Live on KMTV.
45:15Now, an 11-year-old Swanley schoolboy has taken his GCSE Maths five years early.
45:22Year 7 pupil Brian Eidegan from Orchards Academy sat the exam after being inspired by his older brother, Jason, who scored a distinction in Year 6.
45:33His parents, both academics, coached him at home and registered him with a private exam centre.
45:39Brian says maths is his favourite subject and that the paper wasn't as difficult as he expected.
45:45He's confident ahead of results day on August 21st and hopes to beat his brother's score.
45:51And a Canterbury pub claiming to be Britain's most dog-friendly has spent more than £1,200 on Polaroid film snapping hundreds of visiting pooches.
46:03Each proudly displayed on a sprawling dog wall, the Thomas Becketts serves everything from £5 roast dinners to poor-style martinis for four-legged guests.
46:16And landlaw Chris Leukook says the Canine Focus keeps customers coming despite tough trading conditions.
46:23Named one of the Telegraph's 500 best pubs and camera's local pub of the year, the venue also prides itself on never stocking the same ale twice.
46:34Now, don't forget, you can keep up to date with all your latest stories across Kent by logging on to kmtv.co.uk.
46:41There, you'll find all of our reports including this one about how Scotney Castle is connecting the past to the present with grazing cattle.
46:49Among the ancient woodlands of Tunbridge Wells, you may find a picturesque scene.
46:58Scotney Castle has a rich history dating back to the 12th century and some of the oldest parts of the castle were built in 1378.
47:07The estates were then purchased by the Hussey family.
47:10Edward Hussey III transformed this castle into a ruin for a new focal point of his new landscape garden.
47:17Originally built by Roger Ashburnham as a fortified manor house to protect against a possible French invasion.
47:24The medieval castle now is a part of the garden which is the centrepiece of Edward Hussey III's vision.
47:30As in the mid-19th century, they built this Victorian mansion.
47:34Scotney Castle became a part of the National Trust in 1970 and after three generations of the Hussey family calling the castle their home,
47:42the site opened to visitors in 2007.
47:45And since, they have been trying to conserve the diverse landscape with a helping hand from native grazing cattle.
47:52The land has a deep-rooted connection with the Sussex cattle with the first herd appearing in 1896.
47:59Scotney Castle has got this really good history of having prize-winning Sussex cattle.
48:04And in the house, there is a picture of one of the prize-winning cows at one of the truffle ward at one of the local agricultural shows.
48:11Today, the herd is a combination of Longhorn and Sussex.
48:15Selected to help biodiversity thrive, the cows have a unique grazing technique which helps create space for more diverse plant life.
48:22I started to notice there was a deterioration in some of the plant species that we had here.
48:27And I was backed up with some ecological survey work done as well.
48:30I wanted to bring back these rarer species, so like the orchids, the kind of birdfoot truffles back in,
48:34back into this park and landscape to make it look fantastic how it used to be.
48:38As this is one of the best preserved picturesque landscapes in the country now,
48:43so actually trying to bring back those elements are also very good for wildlife back into it.
48:47We're really noticing things like your insect-eating birds,
48:50so we're having things like the woodpeckers coming in, bigger numbers as well.
48:53We're noticing that butterflies as well, the numbers are also increasing.
48:56So these two species really are fantastic to see coming back.
48:59With the conservation efforts to increase biodiversity and create a climate-resilient landscape,
49:04the herd will graze their way into Scotney's history.
49:09Daisy Page for KMTV.
49:22There will be cloudy skies this evening with highs of 20 degrees in Dartford and Medway,
49:28lows of 19 degrees.
49:30And a sunny start tomorrow with highs of 24 degrees in Ashford,
49:34winds reaching 7 in the west and into the afternoon,
49:37temperatures reaching the low 30s and wind speeds picking up to 12 mph in the east.
49:42And for the rest of the week, cloudy skies on Wednesday,
49:45but clear sun for the rest of the week.
49:53An amber heat health alert has been issued for the whole of Kent
49:56as temperatures are set to soar.
49:58The UK Health Security Agency warns significant impacts are likely,
50:03including a rise in deaths among vulnerable people,
50:06as well as a strain on services and travel disruption.
50:09With the alert in place from 9am tomorrow until Wednesday evening,
50:13this could be the UK's fourth heat wave of the summer.
50:16I was joined earlier by Jonathan Valtry,
50:19operational meteorologist from the Met Office.
50:22This week is expected to be one of the hottest of the year,
50:25reaching temperatures in the 30s.
50:27So what advice has the public been given to remain safe,
50:30especially when they're out and about?
50:32Certainly over the next couple of days,
50:36it's worth taking care and making sure that you stay hydrated,
50:39you know, on the shady side of the streets where possible.
50:43You know, many people will want to get out and enjoy these hot conditions
50:47over the next couple of days.
50:48But it's worth remembering that there will be people that will suffer a touch more,
50:53and particularly the vulnerable and elderly,
50:55younger people as well, even pets as well.
50:58So, you know, make sure that you're looking after those family members
51:01and animals that are around you that might suffer that little bit more.
51:05And this might be the time that people flock to the beach.
51:08So what advice do you have for people and drivers in these conditions?
51:14Certainly over the next couple of days,
51:16it is going to be that little bit fresher, that little bit cooler by the coast,
51:19and many people will want to head there for a little bit of relief from the heat.
51:24Do take advice from the authorities around coastal regions,
51:30the lifeguard societies, and make sure that you are staying safe by the beach,
51:34you know, using the water responsibly.
51:37And make sure that, you know, again, looking after those people around you as well.
51:41It's not just about yourself, but all of those who are enjoying the beach.
51:44And, you know, there could be some traffic difficulties
51:47if lots of people are heading to the same area.
51:50So again, just be patient and ensure that you are sort of travelling with safety.
51:54Yes, and always carry water. That's what I say as well.
51:57So can you tell me why this heatwave is actually coming to the UK in Kent?
52:03So our winds are starting to come from a southeasterly direction.
52:08That's partly in thanks to ex-tropical storm Dexter that is coming out of the Atlantic.
52:14Meanwhile, high pressure is across parts of continental Europe.
52:18And it's between those two systems that we're seeing those southeasterly winds develop.
52:22In addition, continental Europe is also experiencing a heatwave.
52:26Parts of France have already been recording 40 degrees Celsius.
52:30And whilst we won't be seeing temperatures quite that high,
52:32it is that heat that we're going to be tapping into.
52:35And how long is this heat expected to last?
52:38The peak of the heat is looking to be Tuesday, particularly for areas of Kent.
52:45Things will tend to ease up a little bit as we head later into the week,
52:51but still temperatures are expected to remain above average for the time of year,
52:54right throughout the week and even into the weekend ahead.
52:57So whilst the sort of 30 degrees Celsius is certainly possible for areas of Kent on Tuesday,
53:03things will drop off a little bit as we head later on down the line.
53:07And you've mentioned our pets and vulnerable people.
53:10So what advice would you give to people who want to watch out for their furry friends and family?
53:15Certainly if you have any pets, make sure that they are not left in warm buildings or warm cars at all.
53:26Make sure that you take them outside and they're not suffocated too much in there.
53:34Ensure that people are staying shady overall in general, particularly those vulnerable people.
53:40And they do have sort of regular updates just in terms of water levels
53:44and keeping safe from the heat as well.
53:48Particularly those who suffer the most.
53:50Closing curtains and windows on sort of southern facing side of buildings
53:56can also sort of reduce the amount of hot air that is entering buildings as well.
54:01Thank you very much for joining us. We'll bear that advice in mind.
54:06And we spoke to the people of Rochester to see how they'll be spending this upcoming heatwave.
54:11Just try and keep calm, drink plenty of water and I think sometimes now you have to stay inside
54:18because it does get too hot as much as you want to go out.
54:22I just try to keep out of the sun because I've just had a mould checked
54:27and it turns out I've got to have, I don't sunbathe, but I've just got to have it removed.
54:32So it shows you you've got to be good with the sun cream.
54:36Yeah.
54:37I'd say like whenever it's hot outside I try to stay inside as much as possible.
54:42Like pull the curtains, keep it nice and cool and like maybe have like a fan on as well
54:47and like as many windows open as possible because it just, it's unbearable otherwise.
54:52Sit in the garden in the shade with a glass of water, feet up, good excuse for doing nothing.
54:57Yeah, I'll go with that.
54:59We're very lucky that we can do that.
55:01I'll go sailing, where it's a bit cooler.
55:03Flannel, usually, but I haven't got one at the minute, but just stay hydrated.
55:07I stay hydrated, I tend to stay inside, but stay hydrated.
55:11And finally, Medway Culture Club celebrated the fifth anniversary of its annual carnival,
55:16which was bigger than ever.
55:17The event involved 2,000 people in a local parade and offered a chance to learn all about
55:22the wonders of the Caribbean, right from the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham.
55:28This year's theme promoted inclusivity and broke down barriers surrounding social isolation.
55:33Well, the club's co-founder, Camilia Xavier-Ciota, spoke to us earlier.
55:39Our fifth anniversary at Medway Culture Club is a huge moment of pride
55:44because what started out as just a conversation in this kitchen, it was through the pandemic.
55:53It was in 2020 when we wanted to not only talk about change in a time of pain and uncertainty,
56:01but also to be the change that we wanted to see.
56:05So, to think that five years on, we would be able to celebrate in such a big way the impact that we've had
56:14with over 50 monthly sessions, four Black History bus tours.
56:19We've had three exhibitions and even a Caribbean Christmas fair.
56:24It's a massive moment of pride for myself, but also all of the dedicated volunteers, past and present,
56:32who have helped us to get where we are today.
56:34So, yeah, immensely proud.
56:37You've been watching Kent Tonight live on KMTV.
56:41There's more news made just for Kent throughout the evening, but that's it from me for now.
56:45Goodbye.
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