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Catch up with all the latest news from across the county with Kristin Hawthorne
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00:00Hello and welcome to Kent Tonight Live on KMTV, I'm Kristen Hawthorne and here are your top
00:28stories on Friday the 26th of September. Back on the map, Kent's political leaders come together to
00:35demand international real return in Ashford. I just don't know what's going to happen, we're really struggling to help these guys continue. The final number, Isle of Sheppey Brass Band hosts Farewell Party. We're very, very touched to see that people have actually travelled from further afield to come and say hello, come and say goodbye and come say thank you, so we're really grateful for that.
00:57And park protectors. Broadstairs campaigners rejoice as council press pause on auctioning abandoned depot.
01:05And we are determined to make it better and yeah, we are the friends of Piermont Parks and this is our little park and we love it.
01:11First tonight, Kent political leaders from all parties have called for international train services to return to the county in the biggest push yet.
01:29Eurostar hasn't run services to Ashford or Epps Fleet since 2020, but council leaders put their names to a joint agreement calling for further operators to step up, something that the real regulator could allow in the coming weeks.
01:42Local democracy reporter Ollie Leader has been finding out what all the song and dance is about.
01:47It was a rare moment of political unity in Epps Fleet and Ashford as campaigners, council leaders and even the power of performative dance came together for one reason.
02:08To ensure international rail services return to the county families no longer can easily jump on a train and get to Ashford to get to Paris, to get to Lille, to get to Europe, go on to their further on to their holidays, the ski train, the Disney train, let alone all the businessmen that were commuting on a regular basis.
02:29It's an absolute devastation.
02:33The Kent countryside barreling past me between Ashford and Epps Fleet, the familiar sight of tourists using the Eurostar services, as these services have not stopped here in Kent since 2020.
02:46And that's why everyone's gathered here today to try and bring those services back and put pressure on Eurostar to stop taking the mickey.
02:56We need to end the monopoly of Eurostar. We need a competition. We need new operators. That's the only way we can generate growth, bring more passengers and the train to stop in Kent station.
03:10For another operator to step in, that's something the Office of Rail and Rows, which regulates the sector, will be making a decision on in the next month.
03:19But even if operators have the opportunity to run the services, there's no guarantee about their frequency or when they'll start.
03:28We need to hold them accountable. We need to ask them what we can do to help them make the right decision to open this up.
03:36Because we can't wait three years, four years until the other operators can do it.
03:40So Eurostar needs to be held to account. We need to really, really start talking to them about how can we help them do this?
03:46Eurostar says it will review whether to reopen its Kent stations next year and that they are closely monitoring the situation.
03:56But as a petition signed by more than 70,000 local people was handed over calling for services to return
04:04and political leaders signed a joint agreement outlining their shared commitment on the issue,
04:11the message was clear, despite uncertainty about when international rail will return.
04:19Well, I can tell you what I'm not going to do and that is give up.
04:21I mean, you've seen the size of the event today in Ashford and here at Ebb's Fleet.
04:25I think it shows that we have got a lot of very influential, very clever people behind us.
04:32We're going to keep lobbying. We will keep going until we return those stopping services to Kent.
04:36The memorandum signed by key political figures from all parties here in Kent
04:40shows the political willpower to bring services back to Ebb's Fleet and Ashford.
04:45And with a decision expected from the rail regulator regarding that depot space any day now,
04:51those services could be returning sooner rather than later.
04:56Ollie Lieder in Esfleet.
04:59Now, four men have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder
05:02after a man is said to have been stabbed in Sheppey.
05:06These details emerged this morning about the alleged serious assault in Halfway Road.
05:11Police responded to reports of a disturbance inside a property on Tuesday just after 11am
05:16where paramedics were called to a man and then he was taken to a London hospital after sustaining injuries.
05:24Around 10 officers were seen combing the area for evidence
05:26and the police have since vacated the site, took the tape down after it was cordoned off since Wednesday morning.
05:34And now the St John's Ambulance Brass Band on the Isle of Sheppey
05:38hosted a farewell party thanks to the community for their support over the years.
05:42The closure was announced in June following a review of the building by the charity
05:48which decided to close it due to high running costs and maintenance expenses.
05:53The band will be moving to a temporary home at the Sheppey Rugby Club.
05:57Our community reporter Henry Luck has more.
06:00It's the end of an era for the St John Ambulance's Brass Band here on the Isle of Sheppey.
06:07Despite a battle that's lasted for months to stay at the unit
06:11the group are now temporarily relocating to the Sheppey Rugby Club
06:18and they've hosted one last goodbye party at the building that they've played at for many years.
06:26Wherever we're going at the moment will be temporary
06:29so yeah it is a very sad occasion that this is the last night
06:35but it's good that a lot of people have turned out
06:37so it shows what support that the community have given to St John
06:43and certainly the band anyway.
06:45As you can hear behind me
06:47tonight isn't about sadness
06:50but rather of hope, happiness
06:53happiness and new beginnings
06:55as the Brass Band members of the St John Ambulance on the Isle of Sheppey
07:00move on to their temporary new home.
07:05So really pleased, we had no idea
07:07we put an open invitation out on our social media
07:10we didn't know where we'd get 10, 20
07:13but we've actually, we've probably exceeded 100 in the hall
07:16and we're very very touched to see
07:18that people have actually travelled from further afield
07:21to come and say hello, come and say goodbye
07:23and come and say thank you
07:24so we're really grateful for that.
07:26But some people believe
07:27there should be more support from St John Ambulance for the band
07:31because as well as music
07:33they can also provide medical aid.
07:36There is nowhere, there is nowhere in the country
07:39that has got a higher level of social deprivation
07:42as here on the Isle of Sheppey
07:43there are other places as, as high in terms of social deprivation
07:47but nowhere, nowhere is more, has more of those challenges.
07:51And I think, you know, to show commitment to
07:53when people are really standing up for themselves
07:55and standing up for their community
07:57I'd really hope that the national organisation
07:59at St John's Ambulance steps in behind them
08:02and sees how it can help support them.
08:03People who want to deliver that first aid support,
08:06first response support.
08:07St John Ambulance reviewed the building
08:10and decided to close it
08:12because of running maintenance cost
08:14the unit's condition
08:16and location
08:18which deemed the facility
08:20unsuitable for the charity
08:22however
08:24it says it remains committed
08:26to helping the brass band
08:28find a permanent home
08:30but one thing is certain for this group
08:33they're determined to make sure the beat goes on
08:38Henry Luck for KMTV
08:41on the Isle of Sheppey
08:43Now, a housing developer is preparing to submit
08:47a planning application for around 200 homes
08:49on Greenbelt land
08:50and residents are preparing to fight back
08:53Miller Homes is currently in the pre-application discussion stage
08:57and the Tunbridge and Mulling Borough Council
08:59about the proposed seat
09:01in West Mulling near Offham Road
09:04A community group called Friends of Offham Road
09:07is looking to fight this
09:08with a founding member, Mark Croucher
09:10saying they don't believe it is inappropriate
09:12for a sustainable development
09:14Miller Homes has made a statement
09:16saying that they are working with planning officers
09:18and looking forward to sharing their plans
09:20with local residents
09:21A council spokesperson said
09:23no formal planning has been submitted at this stage
09:26however
09:27I met with Mark Croucher
09:28who has lived on Offham Road for 10 years
09:31So we've got a great action group
09:33across all of the residents
09:34particularly those that live on Offham Road
09:36and everybody shares the same view
09:38we all appreciate the need to meet the housing targets
09:41but our goal is to try and find the most sustainable way to do that
09:45it's very clear to us that this really is not the best place
09:48to build over 200 new homes
09:51over 500 cars
09:53and all of the local residents and traffic
09:55that would come with that
09:56this isn't a suitable location
09:58it's consistently constrained
10:00from the country lanes
10:01and the narrow roads
10:03so access is really limited
10:04services aren't available
10:06it just is not an appropriate place
10:08to build 200 new houses
10:10So just to reiterate
10:12Tunbridge and Mulling Council
10:14are proposing the site
10:17in West Mulling near Offham Road
10:19and it's at the discussion stage
10:20the full report is on Kent Online
10:22and we will be following the story as it continues
10:23but last night
10:25Tunbridge and Mullings
10:26oh there we are again
10:27what do we see
10:29we'll move on to this
10:30Lionesses
10:31last night
10:32the London City Lionesses
10:33are set to have some
10:35of what some are calling
10:36the world's most advanced
10:38women's football training campus
10:41the committee approved the transformation
10:43of Cobb Town Park
10:44to what we can see on screen now
10:47creating over 50 new jobs
10:48and increasing investment
10:49into the local economy
10:50the site will also have
10:52a community 3G pitch
10:54and space to expand
10:55for schools and pubs
10:57we spoke with Sarah Batters
10:59the managing director
11:00of London City Lionesses
11:01to find out more
11:02the facilities will be
11:05the best in the world
11:06and we'll be there to
11:07you know
11:08serve our first team
11:09who are the first
11:10independent club
11:11to be participating
11:12in the Women's Super League
11:13but also create an academy
11:15with all the age groups
11:18to allow girls
11:19to access pathways
11:21into football within Kent
11:22and we will also have
11:24a community pitch
11:25so we can invite our community
11:27in to come and play football
11:28on our site
11:29that could be anyone
11:31from our local Kent girls
11:32and ladies football leagues
11:34to local schools
11:36or SNED
11:37or even veterans
11:39walking football
11:40Time for a quick break now
11:43but coming up
11:43we will hear more
11:46from lots of different people
11:49thank you so much
11:49we're also going to take
11:50a look at the weather
11:51we'll see you then
11:51bye bye
11:52we'll see you then
11:53we'll see you then
11:54we'll see you then
11:55bye
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15:55AstroTurf pitch. Highworth Grammar School has already raised £22,000 for its Pitchin
16:02for Our Pitch campaign. Last Friday, hundreds of students went on a six-mile walk through
16:07Victoria Park, along Turr Valley Way and around Goddington House. The head teacher, Duncan
16:13Beer, stated that it was a great joy to see the school community enjoying the walk and
16:17that they're a little closer to replacing the school AstroTurf.
16:21But now, don't forget you can keep up to date with all our latest stories across Kemp by
16:25logging onto our website, kmtv.co.uk. There you'll find all our reports, including this
16:30one about the first cohort of medical students graduating after the university opened only
16:35five years ago.
16:37Every year, Canterbury Cathedral sees thousands of students graduate, but there's something
16:42quite special about this particular ceremony. The students at the Kent and Medway Medical
16:47School will be the first group to graduate since the joint partnership between the University
16:52of Kent and Canterbury Christchurch University began back in 2020.
16:57In September 2020, Kent and Medway Medical School officially opened, making it the only
17:03medical school in the UK to open during a global pandemic. For many students, this unique
17:09opportunity was something that drew them to study here in Kent.
17:13Yeah, well, for me, it was very much the selling point of coming to this medical school. They
17:17sold it as having the opportunity to be a part of shaping the school and what it would become.
17:23And that was very much why I wanted to come here. I wanted to be a part of the school and
17:28the process and what the training would be like to help mould it for the future years. And that
17:34is what it has felt like throughout my time here.
17:36Today, there are over 500 students across the five years studying to become future healthcare
17:41workers here in the county, aiming to address what the school are calling a chronic shortage
17:47of doctors within the region.
17:50Why are we here in Kent and Medway is well-grounded in the experience of lots of other countries
17:55and lots of other healthcare systems where we know that medical students and medical graduates
18:00tend to stay closer to their own medical school. And so by feeding that workforce pipeline in
18:06Kent and Medway, we really hope that we'll make a difference to the medical workforce here
18:10in the county.
18:11And for many students, they look forward to joining the workforce in an area they've already
18:16taken on placements.
18:17Yeah, I think it's really good to be on the other side of things and be the doctor now.
18:24So I'm part of East Kent Hospitals Trust, which includes Ashford, Margate and Kent to Canterbury.
18:30My placements are mostly going to be between Kent to Canterbury and William Harvey. So my
18:34first placement is only five minutes away from where I live, which is excellent. And then
18:39I'll be doing some commuting to William Harvey. But yeah, it's been really good. It's been
18:43quite good to see very familiar faces because I've done placements there before as well.
18:48So a lot of support. So yeah, it's been good.
18:51It's clear to see that the students have not only studied locally, but are also joining
18:56the local workforces as well.
18:59Despite only being five years old, the Kent and Medway Medical School is offering opportunities
19:04to those who may have not even considered a profession in healthcare initially.
19:09Etterley Reynolds for KMTV in Canterbury.
19:14So if you've been listening to the radio, you might have heard this today, but if a general
19:17election were held tomorrow, Reform UK would win 14 out of Kent's 18 constituents, according
19:23to a new projection from YouGov. This pattern reflected across the UK would see a major transformation
19:29of a political map in Kent, where Reform UK currently have no parliamentary seats. We are
19:34now joined by our reporter Alfie Rowe to break down the numbers.
19:38So Alfie, how big of a result is this for Reform UK?
19:42Well, if the YouGov poll is to be believed, this would be a huge result for Reform UK.
19:48The national headline figure here is that Reform UK would win 311 seats across the country,
19:53which is just 15 short of an outright majority, and sets this man, Nigel Farage, up to become
19:58the next prime minister.
20:00On the local level, the results are pretty bad for Labour, to be honest. Labour would lose
20:0510 out of the 11 constituencies it won in 2024. And the last one, it no longer holds because
20:12its MP, Rosie Duffield, resigned from the party late last year. This is in Canterbury.
20:18And the Conservatives wouldn't do much better. They would only retain two of the six seats
20:22they currently hold. These are Tombridge and Sevenoaks. And the last remaining non-reform
20:27seat would remain a non-reform seat, which is Tombridge-Wells, which remains safely in the
20:31hands of the Liberal Democrats. As we can see here, you've got the full map of the UK.
20:35The light blue is what reform was projected to win, courtesy of YouGov. And as you can
20:39see in the Kent district, a lot of light blue.
20:43And is this how YouGov came to this conclusion? Or how did they get to this answer?
20:48Through a lot of complex polling data. YouGov is regarded as one of the most sophisticated
20:53and largest polling organisations in the country. Essentially what they do is combine a large polling
20:59sample. In this case, over 13,000 voters with other data such as census data. And this allows
21:05them to predict voter preferences on a granular constituency level.
21:09And are there any shortcomings from this data?
21:12I mean, yes, polling is notoriously never perfect and projections are not the same as guarantees.
21:20For example, as even YouGov would acknowledge, it's really hard to factor in tactical voting,
21:25which is when certain voters will lend their votes to other parties in order to stop parties getting
21:30in. You could see progressives do this to stop reform in the UK winning certain seats. And the
21:35same thing with Tories and reform to stop Labour winning key seats throughout the constituency.
21:39And timing is also key. It needs to be remembered that the general election is still nearly four years
21:45away. And fortunes can change very rapidly in politics. And that certainly seems to be the line
21:50that local Labour MPs are pushing. For example, we got the response from Jim Dixon, who's the Labour MP
21:56for Dartford. I see reformers now projected to win, courtesy of the local democracy reporting service,
22:02which we can see now.
22:04I think we're all clear as MPs and as Labour Party members that we're in this for the long term.
22:09It's about changing Britain for good. The plan has started, change is coming. We never said it would
22:16come quickly, but it's beginning to be noticed by people. And short term polling is not the issue
22:22here. It's about long term improvements to public services, unlocking economic growth,
22:27making sure that people's lives in Dartford and across Kent are improved. And that's what I'm
22:31singularly focused on. Thank you Alfie for joining. Now it's time to take a quick look at the weather for
22:37the coming days. Tonight is looking cloudy with mild, partly cloudy skies and temperatures of
22:48around 9 and 13 degrees. Into tomorrow morning, much of the same weather with temperatures rising to
22:5313 and 14, 15 then down in Dover. And into the afternoon, temperatures rising again to 18 degrees,
22:59while wind speeds pick up to 7 and 9 miles per hour. Some sun, though, expected in the south east.
23:05On Sunday, we have partly cloudy skies, 18 degrees. The exact same on Monday,
23:10although on Tuesday, it rises to about 19 degrees. But looks like cloudy.
23:20And finally, campaigners in Broadstairs celebrate as Thanet District Council decide
23:25not to auction off a section of Paramount Park. The park is home to an abandoned council-owned depot,
23:32which was potentially set to be sold, with campaign groups like the Friends of Paramount Park,
23:38worried that seven trees in the park were in danger of being cut down. But as Megan Shaw has
23:43been finding out, that's no longer the case. In the centre of Broadstairs lies Paramount Park,
23:51nestled between the High Street and the Town Hall. At just over 12,000 square metres,
23:57it has been the focus of discussion and dispute over the last few months. Thanet District Council,
24:02just last month, had their own planning application to create four properties rejected,
24:08and just last night had further plans to the park shelved. Well, the council have got a depot,
24:15which has been unused for several years now, and they wanted to sell it off. They need to sell assets
24:19to raise money. The trouble with this asset here is that it had its own access. So what they did was
24:25they put up part of our park as part of the access road, which is completely, you know, not right.
24:30The intention here was to auction this land off, but that would also include the stretch of pavement
24:37accessing the depot. This raised the concern of campaigners and councillors, who felt the access
24:42road would be at risk of being developed, disrupt wildlife, or cost a small stretch of Precious Park.
24:48Just behind me is the abandoned council depot that last night, Thanet District Council voted to decide
24:56not to sell. As an environmentalist, we're always trying to protect the environment,
25:02and Thanet has some of the lowest tree coverage in the whole country at between four and five percent,
25:07so every tree needs protection. The Facebook group, Friends of Piermont Park,
25:12has been a focal point of community rallying. I guess I was sort of influential in helping
25:18to bring everybody together, and you know, we designed some posters, and we ran around,
25:21and we talked to people, and we put stuff out on social media, and we wrote to all the councillors,
25:26and yeah, that's me. A spokesperson from Thanet District Council confirmed the Cabinet's verdict
25:33with the decision subject to call in. Putting the depot on the disposal list does not mean,
25:39however, that the council intend to do so, but opens the possibility in the future. For campaigners,
25:45they are adamant the battle is not over. As it is still possible the depot could be disposed of in
25:51the future, the sights are set on what kind of facility the depot could become. I'd like it to
25:57come to the town council. The town council are the natural residents, representatives to own that,
26:05and I'd like it to be used by the community. Megan Shaw for KMTV in Broadstairs.
26:11Well, that's it. You've been watching Kent Tonight Live on KMTV. There's more news made just for you
26:17throughout this evening. At 8pm, we'll have our bulletin, and then you can, don't forget,
26:23you can keep up to date with all the latest stories across Kent by logging on to kmtv.co.uk.
26:28You can also keep us on your social timelines by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.
26:33We'll also have the full report about the 200 homes on Monday as well, so don't forget to tune in then
26:39as well. But all that and more then. We'll see you on Monday. Bye bye.
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