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Catch up with all the latest news from across the county with Cameron Tucker.
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00:00Hello and welcome to Kent Tonight, live on KMTV.
00:28I'm Cameron Tucker, here are your top stories on Wednesday the 29th of October.
00:33Building a future, Lower Thames Crossing looking to train next generation of construction workers in Gravesham.
00:40If this is going to work, that local people feel, and it will take time, that this is a bonus, it's a plus, not a minus.
00:48Housing hotspot, Medway house prices have increased almost five times more than in the rest of the South East.
00:55This is as a result of us not meeting our housing targets for new builds.
01:00It's also a result of us not having a local plan in place.
01:03And bundles of joy, we meet some of the newest additions at Wingham Wildlife Park.
01:08The meerkats have been very much hidden away, cared for by mum, but the Kathy boroughs, they're crazy little things.
01:14Local jobs for a once-in-a-lifetime project.
01:28That's been the message from those behind the Lower Thames Crossing, as a new skills hub has opened in Gravesend.
01:34Gravesham MP Lauren Sullivan and former Education Secretary Lord David Blunkett were on hand to establish the hub,
01:40which they say will provide jobs to 5,000 local residents.
01:44The hub aims to tackle industry skills shortages and unemployment in the region,
01:48with an estimated 35,000 construction sector vacancies across the country.
01:54Megan Shaw has more.
01:565,000 vacancies and the long pathway to the UK's most ambitious road project in over 35 years.
02:03The solution? A skills hub in Gravesend designed to train up the next generation of construction workers,
02:10steel fixers and engineers to get the project off the ground.
02:15Behind me is the Gravesend Skills Hub for the Lower Thames Crossing, seeing new students every month.
02:21These will offer a range of employability and functional skills courses for free,
02:26to upskill or reskill those at the start of their career or looking to change career.
02:32The opportunities still here are endless and we're working in collaboration with the local supply chains
02:38so that we're sourcing real gaps in the market so these people who come in and work with those local people
02:42can gain free, effective training, guaranteed job interviews and then go on to deliver the construction we need here in Kent.
02:49But in Gravesham, a constituency where in 2021,
02:53the ONS found that just over a quarter of school leavers held a level 4 or above qualification.
02:59This is just as much about levelling up an entire generation than it is about boosting productivity.
03:05Really important, if this is going to work, that local people feel, and it will take time,
03:11that this is a bonus, it's a plus, not a minus.
03:15So getting the jobs that are necessary from the locality, getting people to feel that this is about them.
03:23Embedded into the development's plans is a pledge to ensure that 45% of the workforce
03:29lives within 20 miles of the project, prioritising local people and community.
03:35But for Dr Lauren Sullivan, Gravesham's MP, holding this to account is a major priority.
03:41It's about opportunities and fundamentally this is a huge infrastructure project
03:45with lots of money coming to Gravesham and the surrounding areas.
03:49We need to make sure that local people have those opportunities.
03:53We know that it costs, you know, a train ticket to London is for a youngster £30, right?
04:00That is a huge amount of money to participate in those opportunities in London.
04:07They are out of the loop of that.
04:08So I need to make sure that those opportunities that are here can be felt by all.
04:12But with the speeches made, the targets set and the programmes unveiled,
04:17there's only the hardest part yet to do.
04:20Deliver.
04:21And ensure those in and around Gravesend can feel the benefits of a once controversial project.
04:28Megan Shaw for Kane TV in Gravesham.
04:32Megan joins me now.
04:34The Lower Thames Crossing, we've covered it here on the channel.
04:36Obviously a huge development.
04:37But there have been a lot of environmental concerns over the years and recently.
04:42Absolutely.
04:43Such a large road development.
04:45I think the report mentioned the most ambitious in 35 years.
04:48So it's a huge development.
04:50And Kent Wildlife Trust have spoken out in concern.
04:54They've said that the construction of the Lower Thames Crossing
04:56will destroy up to eight hectares of irreplaceable woodlands.
04:59Obviously there's huge environmental concerns there
05:02and knockoff effects around wildlife and habitats.
05:05Again, the construction of such a project brings a lot of noise
05:07and light pollution.
05:09And it's been said that the Lower Thames Crossing will have the biggest carbon footprint
05:12of any of the UK's major road schemes
05:15and will generate approximately 6.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
05:20I imagine today they were obviously focusing on the positives
05:23and talking about how it will comply with net zero targets and that sort of thing.
05:27And what was that sort of response from those you spoke to today?
05:31Of course, yes.
05:32They were speaking about how a lot of the courses and the training available
05:35will include net zero training for low carbon construction.
05:39So all of the trainees, the students, the workers will be kind of briefed on that
05:44and taught how to implement that in their practice.
05:47On a wider scale, this is the first infrastructure scheme in the country
05:52where there will be a lead environmental regulator.
05:54So Natural England will oversee all of that,
05:57which will kind of streamline that process in theory, of course.
06:00And National Highway is also announced in February
06:03a commitment to reduce construction carbon emissions by 70%.
06:07This has been upped by 50%.
06:09So that was the original recommendation and they've upped that in response.
06:13Megan, thank you very much for all of those updates.
06:17Now, the owner of a sitting-born animal sanctuary has described her heartbreak
06:21after more than 60 of her birds had to be culled
06:24after avian flu was confirmed on her site.
06:27Amy James of the Happy Pants Ranch announced on Facebook
06:31that her centre had been hit by the outbreak
06:33and that her heart is numb from the discovery.
06:35We heard from Amy earlier on.
06:38Obviously understand why they have to, you know,
06:41why they have to cull everything.
06:43But it's obviously frustrating and even more upsetting
06:47when it's birds that are looking completely healthy
06:50or, like, that area of the sanctuary hasn't been affected.
06:54Like, we've had no deaths with the actual hens
06:57and with the rears and the emus.
06:59I mean, they're, like, they're the biggest loss, I think, as well
07:03because their immune systems naturally does fight off avian flu.
07:08But obviously they can't risk them being carriers of it
07:12and then passing it on to a wild bird and then a wild bird flies off sight.
07:16So I do understand, but...
07:18A Grey's End resident has said she was horrified
07:22when staff at Darant Valley Hospital wrongfully signed a medical form
07:26not to readmit her elderly father who has dementia if he was taken ill.
07:31Claire Debbins said the incident came just one year
07:34after staff at the same hospital were filling in a do-not-resuscitate form with him
07:38while she had left the room to get a drink.
07:40Claire turned to her local patient advice and liaison service
07:43to rectify the issue, only to find that it was closed.
07:47She then had a meeting with a consultant over the mistake
07:50who apologised and claimed another consultant had finished completing the form
07:54without their knowledge and sent it home with her dad.
07:57Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, who run Darant Valley Hospital,
08:00reproached for comment.
08:03Gillian Mann, who attacked several members of a family
08:05at an 18th birthday party in Newington, has had his prison service extended.
08:11Jason Howell was described as enraged as the Hulk
08:14and faced nine charges at Maidstone Crown Court.
08:17He'd only been out of prison for 11 months,
08:19having served a 12-year sentence for rape in 2011.
08:22The extended sentence comprises a seven-year prison term,
08:25of which Howell will have to serve two-thirds
08:27before he can apply for parole and a three-year additional licence period.
08:31He was also made subject to a 15-year restraining order.
08:35During the trial, Howell spoke about his traumatic upbringing
08:38combined with being in a custodial environment for so long
08:41as normalised violence for him.
08:45Now, Medway Council's local plan proposes that 24,000 homes
08:50are to be built across the five towns by 2041.
08:54But data from the housing delivery test shows that the area
08:57did not meet their required goals for the past three years.
09:00And with housing prices in Medway spiking 5% in the last year
09:04compared to the rest of the south-east, which has risen by 1.2%,
09:08Daisy Page has been investigating the impact on residents.
09:131,658.
09:15This is the number of homes Medway Council needs to build each year
09:18to reach their 2042 target.
09:21With over 24,000 houses expected to be across the five towns
09:25in the next two decades,
09:26this hopes to release the pressure off the growing demand.
09:29In the south-east of England, housing prices have increased 1.2%
09:33in the last year, but here in Medway, they've increased 5%.
09:37But with buildings on the rise, the question remains
09:40why Medway prices have exceeded the rest of the county.
09:43I feel it's because of the shortage of supply that we've got here in Medway
09:46and an increased demand.
09:48The number of people looking for accommodation,
09:51living in temporary accommodation, is outgrowing our supply.
09:55This is as a result of us not meeting our housing targets for new builds.
10:00It's also a result of us not having a local plan in place for a number of years.
10:04The council created the Medway Development Company
10:06to help deliver residential developments on land owned by the council.
10:10By transforming underused spaces and regenerating land
10:14into residential living areas.
10:16With the data from the housing delivery test showing
10:18that the area has not met their required goals in the last three years,
10:22how is the housing shortages and rising expenses
10:24impacting the lives of Medway residents?
10:27It might not affect me so much,
10:29but our children within the next couple of years
10:31might be starting to look for a home in this area.
10:34So yeah, I don't fancy their chances.
10:36For youngsters nowadays,
10:38they just can't afford to get onto the property ladder.
10:42You need a certain amount of deposit.
10:45You've got lots of new houses going up,
10:48but none social for people that can afford.
10:53Rent prices are just astronomical.
10:56They're all stretched.
10:57I think everyone would acknowledge that,
10:59but I think there does need to be additional support
11:02for people who can't afford to live in their own homes at the moment
11:06and for opportunities to be present to them,
11:09they will have to have additional support.
11:12With the council's regeneration projects occurring across the towns,
11:15it hopes to reach their housing goals
11:17and deliver affordable homes to the area.
11:20Daisy Page for KMTV in Medway.
11:23Now time to head for a quick break,
11:25but next up we take a look at the latest in sports headlines
11:28from across the county with Etterley Reynolds.
11:31Right after, we take a look at the forecast for the coming days
11:33and our resident health expert, Dr Julian Spinks,
11:37takes us through two major medical stories dominating the news.
11:41We'll see you for that and more after the break.
11:44We'll see you for that and more after the break.
15:11Hello and welcome back to Kent Tonight, live here on KMTV.
15:16An American diner on North Fleet High Street was forced to close after a major fire ripped through the former Portland building opposite it.
15:22The high street has been closed since Monday after the fire that burned throughout the weekend because of the clean-up.
15:28Kent County Council has said the road may still be closed until November the 16th.
15:33Manager of Hot Rods Diner, Laura Chandler, was expected it to be busy for Halloween.
15:37Unfortunately, she's disappointed because of a lack of communication between the council about the closures.
15:44An owner of a Chinese restaurant in Sittingbourne said she isn't going anywhere despite plans for flats to replace the restaurant.
15:51Owner of the dinner house in Sittingbourne, Ada Chen, submitted plans for the restaurant to be turned into five new flats.
15:58Ada's promised she will keep some of her business running and the building will become a mixed building so it can still operate as a takeaway but it will lose its eat-in section.
16:06Ada has been running the restaurant since 2005.
16:09A set of customers are now like her friends and family and so she wants to keep it open.
16:13Now let's take a look at all the latest sporting headlines with Etterley Reynolds.
16:27First, looking at football, Gillingham striker Sam Vokes insists that history won't repeat itself this season for the team.
16:34Gillingham have seen a poor run of results this month, taking just one point from four league matches.
16:40Despite a loss to Salford, Vokes is confident that they can turn things around and get back to their winning form.
16:47The Welsh international said they're still fighting to the last minute to get a result and that may have been different in previous seasons.
16:54He added that he doesn't believe the recent losses have anything to do with manager Gareth Ainsworth being away.
17:00And keeping with football, Chatham Town women will now turn their focus back to the league after winning a place in the round two of the Women's FA Cup.
17:10Over the weekend, the team beat Wimbledon on penalties after a three-all finish.
17:1538 minutes in, Ellie Jeffkins scored a free kick from near the halfway line and then before halftime scored another, putting Chatham ahead.
17:24Wimbledon hit back during the second half, but substitute Amy Ross equalised late on for Chatham.
17:29This success follows a 1-0 loss to Dulwich, Hamlet in the National League Cup game last week.
17:35The team will now play them at home tonight and will play Cambridge United on Sunday.
17:40Chath's boss, Keith Bonas, has said these points are needed to keep the momentum going.
17:45And finally, in rugby, new Harley Quinn Centre and Medway's own Rachel Burford has been named one of 25 female pioneers of rugby by the RFU.
17:56A female rugby pioneer is defined as an individual who has made a significant and lasting contribution to the sport.
18:03Burford has enjoyed a 20-year professional career, including multiple six-nation titles, more than 80 England caps and lifting the Rugby World Cup back in 2014.
18:14Both on and off the field, her influence has been significant, serving as the first female representative on the Rugby Players Association Players Board.
18:24Burford said she was inspired to help grow and develop the game in the right way and with the players at the heart of it.
18:31RFU President Deborah Griffin commented that they are delighted to honour Burford and the other 24 exceptional individuals and that they have been nothing short of transformative.
18:42And that's all your sports today.
18:53And now time for a quick look at the weather.
19:01Clear skies across Kent this evening. Temperatures sitting around 7 to 8 degrees with a moderate breeze from the west.
19:07You can expect sunny skies tomorrow morning. Temperatures remaining around 9 degrees across the board,
19:11with a very slight high of 10 in Dover.
19:14The afternoon we'll see cloudy skies as temperatures bump to 13 degrees across much of the county.
19:21And the outlook for the coming days shows Friday rising to an average of 16 degrees with continued cloudy skies.
19:26Saturday we'll see light rain and an average of 14 degrees, dropping to 12 as the rain continues into Sunday.
19:31Now don't forget you can keep up to date with all the latest stories from across Kent by visiting our website at kmtv.co.uk.
19:44There you'll find all our reports, including this one, where we ask shoppers in Rochester about the World Health Organisation wanting to put cigarette-style warning labels on products like bacon and ham.
19:54No, no idea.
19:55No, no idea.
19:56I did not.
19:57No, I didn't, no.
19:58I didn't know.
19:59I think more of where people should be eating more natural foods that haven't been preserved and definitely going to local farmers markets or shopping locally as possible.
20:08Yeah, buying fresh food is definitely better for you because you know that there's not going to be as many chemicals in there.
20:13More vegetables and pasta, but not so much meat at all. Whatever, whatever type of meat it is, not so much meat.
20:23More veg, more whole grains, pulses, things like that. Fruit.
20:28It was definitely going to make me think twice about where I get my bacon from, that's for sure, yeah.
20:34But yeah, other processed meats, I don't get that as much so that doesn't matter anyway.
20:40But yeah, bacon, going to have to look into that.
20:43It definitely will.
20:44Now I have that information, it definitely will.
20:46Yes.
20:48Bacon is not the only health headline this week with more of the top stories from across the county.
20:53We have our resident health expert, Dr Julian Spinks with us now.
21:03Right, Julian, let's go to this bacon story first.
21:06Yeah.
21:07As I was saying off camera, it's probably one of the ones that's shaken me the most out of all the recent medical stories we've had.
21:13How serious are nitrates? How worried should members of the public be about having bacon, having ham, having those kind of products?
21:21We've known for quite a long time that processed meats, particularly cured meats, are associated with problems.
21:27And particularly it's to do with the use of nitrate, nitrate as a preservative.
21:32It's the thing that stops the bacon going a grey colour.
21:35It keeps it nice and pink and people like that.
21:38But we do know it's associated with problems.
21:40It gets converted to something called nitrosamine, which is a potential cancer-causing chemical.
21:45This is about labelling.
21:47We want people to be aware which sort of bacons and things have got the nitrate in it and which haven't,
21:55because you can get it without.
21:56And also to just think about how often you have it.
22:01If you're having bacon every morning, then you're getting quite a lot.
22:04If it's an occasional treat, cooked breakfast or something like that, then the likelihood is it's going to be okay.
22:10But pick a lower nitrate, nitrite bacon.
22:13Now with this story, I know that the World Health Organisation, or specifically experts in bowel cancer with the World Health Organisation,
22:20have been pushing for this for almost ten years to get these cigarette-style labels.
22:25Why do you think there's such a reticence to have those labels on those products?
22:31It's worked obviously with cigarettes and tobacco products.
22:35Why is there such a reticence to apply it to pork-based products?
22:39Equally, I struggle to know why they're very slow to do it.
22:43I'm sure the manufacturers who are using these chemicals don't want to stop using them because it actually reduces their costs.
22:49And also things like supermarkets, it may mean that the shelf life is longer.
22:53But at the same time, we do need to be making sure that people are aware of the risks of the food they're having.
22:59And we have got traffic-like systems of things like sugar and fat and so on.
23:03And this is just another one.
23:04But also we need to educate people what it actually means.
23:07And this programme is part of that process.
23:09Absolutely.
23:10On to another story now.
23:12We've got a Residence and Deal that's been reported that they're going to be able to get blood tests done at the Victoria Hospital for the first time in four years.
23:20It's come after extensive campaigns, trying to reduce waiting times, improving care.
23:25You must have seen a lot of these campaigns over the year.
23:30This is obviously quite impactful.
23:32But four years to just get basic tests, it must be really frustrating for the local community.
23:37I can share the frustration.
23:39Because actually when I was looking at the story, I came across one from two years ago,
23:42which was the announcement that they were going to restart it.
23:45It's taken two years from then.
23:47Being able to get rapid blood tests is really quite important.
23:51And GP practices do provide blood tests, but sometimes it's difficult for us to actually respond very rapidly for this allergic blood test.
23:59So the idea of this is that you've got another place you can get blood tests.
24:03They're going to concentrate on those urgent tests that are done very rapidly.
24:07And that makes a big difference because it means people aren't going to have to travel miles to actually find anywhere to get their blood tests taken.
24:13And with blood tests, because obviously I imagine that if you've gone in for a particular reason,
24:17they'll be looking for markers related to the condition that you might be going in for.
24:21How, you know, how does it work with, you know, you hear cases of people finding other situations wrong with them through blood tests.
24:29How does that work?
24:30How, if you're so focused on finding that one thing that someone's come in to report about,
24:34how does it work with reporting other issues that might be with the patient?
24:38We have to ask for the specific tests we want.
24:41However, some of them will cover a broad range.
24:43So if you're looking at something like a full blood count, that can show infection, it can show cancers, it can show anemia and so on.
24:49So we can spot these other things.
24:51And the two types of tests we're doing, you're doing diagnostic tests, but also remember there's lots of people who need monitoring tests.
24:57And actually, you never know when that routine test is going to need to be urgent, because you suddenly discover that their blood is off and we need to take some action.
25:06We reported earlier on in the show about cases of bird flu being found in Sittingbourne.
25:10There's an exclusion zone that's been set up there.
25:14How worried should residents and indeed the rest of us in Kent be about finding these avian flu cases?
25:21At the moment, the risk is low.
25:23The transmission is from birds to humans, but not humans to humans.
25:27And there's only been about 25 to 30 cases worldwide with bird flu going across.
25:32We've had one case in the UK.
25:34But at the moment, it's not something to worry about unless you are being exposed a lot to birds.
25:39And we've got time for one more story as well.
25:42We've seen that monkeypox cases are also on the rise throughout Europe.
25:48UK health officials are encouraging people to get vaccinated.
25:51I remember this story came up a year, a couple of years ago as well.
25:54Is that a similar warning that it's quite a low risk, people to just be vigilant?
25:59What would be your words on that?
26:01Well, it was upgraded then downgraded and it's back again because of cases in Europe and the suggestion that it is going from person to person rather than from animal to things.
26:11It's a particular group, particularly men who have sex with men who indulge in things like group sex.
26:17And those people can actually get vaccination on the NHS.
26:20The actual thing gives you a nasty flu-like illness and sort of spots.
26:24And one version, the one that's coming around at the moment, is more serious.
26:27So we do need to take it seriously.
26:29Julian, thank you as ever for coming in and telling us all about those stories.
26:34Dr Julian Spinks, KMTV's resident health expert there.
26:37It's time for a break now.
26:38Next up we'll be having a look back at our top story related to Lower Thames Crossing
26:43and more stories from across the county, all in a few moments time.
30:11Hello and welcome back to Kent Tonight Live on KMTV.
30:15I'm Cameron Tucker and here's a reminder of your top stories on Wednesday the 29th of October.
30:21Building a future Lower Thames Crossing looking to train next generation of construction workers in Gravesham.
30:28Housing hotspot Medway house prices have increased almost five times more than the rest of the southeast.
30:35And bundles of joy, we meet some of the newest additions at Wingham Wildlife Park.
30:40We'll look back at our top story this evening.
30:44Local jobs for a once in a lifetime project.
30:46That's been the message from those behind the Lower Thames Crossing as a new skills hub was opened in Gravesend.
30:52Gravesham MP Lauren Sullivan and former Education Secretary Lord David Blunkett were on hand to establish the hub,
30:59which they say will provide jobs to 5,000 local residents.
31:03The hub aims to tackle industry skills shortages and unemployment in the region with an estimated 35,000 construction sector vacancies across the entire country.
31:13Megan Shaw has more.
31:155,000 vacancies and the long pathway to the UK's most ambitious road project in over 35 years.
31:23The solution? A skills hub in Gravesend designed to train up the next generation of construction workers, steel fixers and engineers to get the project off the ground.
31:34Behind me is the Gravesend Skills Hub for the Lower Thames Crossing, seeing new students every month.
31:40These will offer a range of employability and functional skills courses for free to upskill or reskill those at the start of their career or looking to change career.
31:51The opportunities still here are endless and we're working in collaboration with the local supply chain so that we're sourcing real gaps in the market so these people who come in and work with these local people can gain free investment training, guaranteed job interviews and then go on to deliver the construction we need here in Kent.
32:09But in Gravesham, a constituency where in 2021, the ONS found that just over a quarter of school leavers held a level 4 or above qualification.
32:18This is just as much about levelling up an entire generation than it is about boosting productivity.
32:24Really important, if this is going to work, that local people feel, and it will take time, that this is a bonus, it's a plus, not a minus.
32:34So getting the jobs that are necessary from the locality, getting people to feel that this is about them.
32:42Embedded into the development's plans is a pledge to ensure that 45% of the workforce lives within 20 miles of the project, prioritising local people and community.
32:54But for Dr Lauren Sullivan, Gravesham's MP, holding this to account is a major priority.
33:00It's about opportunities and fundamentally this is a huge infrastructure project with lots of money coming to Gravesham and the surrounding areas.
33:08We need to make sure that local people have those opportunities.
33:12We know that it costs, you know, a train ticket to London is for a youngster £30, right?
33:19That is a huge amount of money to participate in those opportunities in London.
33:25They are out of the loop of that, so I need to make sure that those opportunities that are here can be felt by all.
33:31But with the speeches made, the targets set and the programmes unveiled, there's only the hardest part yet to do – deliver.
33:40And ensure those in and around Gravesend can feel the benefits of a once controversial project.
33:47Megan Shaw for Kame TV in Gravesham.
33:50As Bonfire Night approaches, Kent Fire and Rescue have been warning those in the county to be aware of the risks that come with bonfires, sparklers and fireworks.
34:00With Kent skies set to sparkle again during the autumn festivities, fire safety awareness is essential, as Vicky Board from the service told us.
34:08Vicky, thank you so much for speaking to us today.
34:11We're going into what I imagine is a very busy season for you at Kent Fire and Rescue with Halloween and then Guy Fawkes Night coming up shortly after that.
34:20What are some of the common call outs that you get at this time of year?
34:24So, the majority of our call outs this time of year are weather related.
34:30So, today, if it's raining, we could see an increase in road traffic accidents and we just ask people to be aware of wet roads and drive to the conditions of the roads and the weather.
34:46We don't see a dramatic increase in calls in relation to fireworks night.
34:51I think that's mainly because most people attend organized events.
34:56They're well organized with risk assessments and safety at the forefront of the events.
35:00And that's what we encourage all of the public to do is if they would like to enjoy Guy Fawkes Night and fireworks is to go to an organized event.
35:08And what words of advice would you have to those at home?
35:11You know, there's obviously going to be a lot of Halloween events, trick or treating, you know, flames related to that as well with lanterns, etc.
35:20So, what word of warning and advice do you have to families who might be staying at home and be celebrating those events with those open flames?
35:28So, if you have any fireworks or sprinklers at home, sparklers at home, we advise that these are kept at arm's length.
35:38We ask that everyone stands well back from any fireworks and that children are kept away from fireworks and sparklers.
35:46If you are unfortunate enough that clothes catch fire, then we ask that you just remember the stop, drop and roll protocol that we use and that you call any burns.
35:57In relation to candles, we recommend battery operated candles rather than licked candles.
36:04But if you do like candles to keep them on a solid surface and away from any materials and make sure that they're blown out and never left unattended.
36:14And I want to focus on that, on the point about materials there.
36:18Are there specific materials that people should avoid, you know, really?
36:23Because you want, obviously, you want people to have fun and you talk about sparklers a few moments ago and that sort of thing normally could be quite innocuous.
36:30But are there particular materials related to flames or even costumes in particular that really people should be avoiding at this time of year?
36:38We just ask that everybody buys their fancy dress outfits or clothes from reputable retailers on a supermarket and on the high streets.
36:49And if you're going to have sparklers that young children don't have them and that they're kept at arm's distance for anyone is holding them and that everyone is supervised by an adult.
37:00We generally want everybody to enjoy this time of year.
37:04And that's why our recommendation is that you go to an organised event where people will be there to help and advise, particularly around sparklers and fireworks.
37:14Do you also find that there's some common misconceptions around fire safety around this time of year?
37:21You know, we're talking about some of those large organised events.
37:25They obviously have good health and safety policies and officers around a lot of those events to ensure that there's no issues that flare up.
37:36But do you find there's a lot of misconceptions about fire safety maybe around this time of year that you're having to advise people and keep having to repeat certain messages?
37:44We obviously have seasonal messaging.
37:46So this time of year we are talking about fireworks.
37:49We are talking about sparklers.
37:51We are talking about candles.
37:54We are talking about electric blankets.
37:56We are talking about driving.
37:58So all the things that people start doing as autumn comes in.
38:03But we just have our seasonal messaging that we deliver according to the year, time of year.
38:10Vicki, thank you very much for coming to talk to us.
38:13Obviously, make sure that everybody keeps safe at this time of year.
38:16And I'm sure we'll have you on as we come into the Christmas period shortly.
38:20Vicki, thank you very much.
38:24Next, budget proposals from Canterbury City Council show plans to further raise car park prices in the borough are already at a high with £2.10 last year.
38:35The increase has been met with anger by businesses who say the charges are pushing away potential customers.
38:40The council have explained proposals are intended to attract people to cheaper car parks that are located further out of town centres to mitigate pollution and traffic.
38:49Megan Shaw has more.
38:51How much is too much to pay for a day by the seaside?
38:56Under Canterbury City Council's new proposals, this figure might increase as plans to hike up council car park prices loom over Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay.
39:07This would be the second price hike in two years, as measures brought in last year rose some by up to £2.10 an hour.
39:15Announced last year but then scrapped in February, these plans seek to bump up ban one car park charges by ten pence.
39:23But as Whitstable is already the priciest place to park on Kent's coastline, residents and locals alike were disgruntled by even the smallest increase.
39:32I think it's diabolical and I can't see what we're getting for that.
39:37I think it's greed on behalf of the councils and it will push the independent shops into wondering if it's worth the while staying in the winter.
39:46We did look at the price per hour and kind of go how much when we got here?
39:51Yeah, but we knew what we wanted to do and fortunately we're in a position where we can pay that.
39:57I think it's quite expensive £3.70 an hour in this car park here is quite a lot of money.
40:02But I appreciate it's gone up quite a lot recently which is obviously quite a shock to the locals.
40:07But those who seem to be most affected by these increased prices doesn't seem to be those paying them.
40:13Instead it seems to be those who own businesses within Whitstable who are feeling a pinch.
40:18Carol Ridley owns dress shops in Whitstable and Sandwich and worries this decision might put businesses like hers at risk.
40:26Parking is outrageous. I mean I have wonderful clothes and yes they're quite expensive but they're worth it.
40:34And all my people say to me is I come for the day, we want to go to the beach, we want to fraternise the restaurants and the businesses.
40:45But now adding another 30 minimum to their day out just on parking.
40:53Instead of coming once a week they're coming once a month and I know that for a fact.
40:59I mean it's outrageous they are so out of touch.
41:03But for the council pricing people out of the most expensive car parks seems like part of the plan to improve the area.
41:10And the idea behind this is that we obviously want to limit the impact of parking prices on people as much as possible.
41:18We want people to have that choice. If you want to park right in the town centres then that's something you can do.
41:25But that will come at a premium. We want people to use those cheaper car parks.
41:29And the reason we want them to do that is because they are the less polluting areas.
41:33It discourages people from driving into those areas.
41:36With the proposal still up for consultation, it's uncertain if freezing prices for 80% of Canterbury City Council's car parks will keep residents and tourists coming.
41:46Or if pushing ahead with price hikes, we'll see them out the door.
41:50Megan Shaw for Kame TV in Whitstable.
41:53More after this break.
41:54Megan Shaw for Kame TV in Whitstable.
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45:23NHS staff are still waiting to find out the full impact of the changes, but the hope
45:27is that this move will strengthen patient care and ensure sustainable services.
45:31We discussed the merger further with Unison's Deputy Head of Health, Alan Lofthouse, who
45:36explained to us what he considers was most important to safeguard going forward.
45:39It talks about, you know, making cost savings or running a more efficient service.
45:46And of course, we want public money to be spent as efficiently and effectively as possible.
45:50And you couldn't reduce the number of frontline ambulances because, you know, they're not keeping up with demand anyway.
45:55But there are whole teams of people that work behind the paramedics and technicians and emergency care assistants in the ambulance.
46:01There's the teams that answer the calls and dispatch the ambulances.
46:04And what we've seen in previous merges is obviously the organisation have these call centres, these control rooms where they answer the calls and send out ambulances.
46:12One of the risks, of course, is in a new organisation, they may not need as many as they've currently got.
46:17Boxing legend Barry McGuigan has been on hand to help launch the Canterbury Food Bank's winter campaign.
46:23Former featherweight and promoters announced the bank's introduction of their reverse advent calendar as winter approaches and financial pressures increase on families.
46:32With more details, here's Deputy Chair of Canterbury Food Bank, David Holt.
46:35What we hope will happen, it's a very simple project, it's called the reverse advent calendar.
46:42And instead of taking chocolate from an advent calendar, people make donations, one every day for 24 days starting 1st of November.
46:51And the donations are placed in your own bag for life.
46:57And there'll be the things that are delivered to people's homes throughout the year.
47:02Tins of soup, pasta, tins of tuna, meat.
47:07When you get to the 24th, you add a Christmas pudding.
47:09And then at the very beginning of December, you drop off that bag for life to one of five donation points that we'll have set up.
47:20And now it's time for the Business Roundup.
47:27Plans for a new 70-acre lorry park in Dover have been revealed.
47:34The facilities will provide space for 600 HGVs heading to Dover and will sit just 8 miles from the Euroturnal Terminal.
47:42The aim of the works is to ease regular disruption caused by the congestion at the Port of Dover.
47:47The facilities will be open 24-7 and will include a restaurant, gym, shop, shower and toilets.
47:53The Port of Dover has welcomed the proposals, which will be subject to a public consultation in December, prior to plans being submitted to Dover District Council.
48:02Earlier this week, Deal said goodbye to yet another high street staple.
48:06This follows Poundland's June statement, where they announced their plan to permanently shut 68 shops.
48:12With other shops and banking branches closing down in Deal, locals are left worried that the lack of variety leaves very little to do in the town.
48:19Fast food restaurant Pizza Hut has announced its nationwide closing of branches, with 132 restaurants being sliced to 64.
48:26Ashford and Blue Water restaurants could be saved as a part of a buyout deal involving the American hospitality giant Yum Brands, which owns the global Pizza Hut business.
48:35Across Kent, however, Chatham and Broadstairs branches are set to close their doors.
48:39And as many locals have noticed, the Canterbury branch shut down earlier this year, with bosses suggesting it was no longer in the best position to meet demand.
48:46Unfortunately for Broadstairs residents, after the closure, the nearest Pizza Hut is located nearly 40 miles away in Ashford.
48:54Plans for the opening of Kent's largest indoor paddle centre have begun.
48:58The centre will be situated in Bowton-1-Chelsea, near Maidenstone, including four double courts and one single court.
49:05Paddle is one of the fastest growing social sports, with it being set to overtake golf as the sport for business and networking within the next few years.
49:12Director Mike Williams describing the proposal as something exciting for Maidenstone.
49:23Nicole Shurek, keep it on there with the Business Roundup.
49:26Now remember, you can keep up to date with all our stories from across the county by going to kmtv.co.uk.
49:32There you'll find everything, including Kristen Hawthorne's report on three mothers in Canterbury joining forces to raise awareness of a rare genetic disorder called B-Pan, which affects their children.
49:44We don't ever really look at him on a daily basis and be like, oh, he's got B-Pan, all this stuff's going on inside of him.
49:52We don't ever do that because he's so happy.
49:54For Emily, every day is a race against time.
49:58Her son Bertie has a rare genetic disorder, so rare that under 50 families in the UK are known to be affected.
50:06With no current cure, children with B-Pan will have problems with movement, speech and delays.
50:12The disorder can also lead to symptoms similar to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, often causing premature death.
50:19But for boys, life expectancy can be even lower.
50:24I think we have got a very good advantage because our kids are still quite young.
50:30I know that the second degree normally happens around 16, 17, isn't it?
50:37And so, yeah, we have still got time, but it's just funding.
50:40That's why we just need the funding, do you know what I mean?
50:43Because time does go quick as well, do you know what I mean?
50:46Due to such low numbers of those that are affected, awareness is limited.
50:52But there is hope.
50:53Action for B-Pan is a charity established by Kelly and Nicole, who've come down to Birdie School in Canterbury,
51:00hoping to shine a light on the disorder and raise money for a cure.
51:04In the next couple of years, we need to raise £2.3 million, which is an enormous amount.
51:09But, you know, in the last eight months so far, we've actually managed to raise £100,000 since we've been going,
51:16which is incredible.
51:17But when you compare that to the £2.3 million that we've got to get to, you know, it doesn't feel so good.
51:25But we're all completely dedicated.
51:27You know, we spend as much time as we can around our family commitments, trying to make it happen.
51:32And the wider that the message gets out there, the more and more support we're getting from, you know, just people that want to help.
51:39Through a family friend, Emily has been able to set up a charity football match with Sturry FC, which is happening in November.
51:46This will add to the £100,000 that they already have, helping them reach their goal of £2.3 million,
51:52which will fund the next and hopefully final stage of the cure.
51:55I asked Nicole what the next steps would be if they got the money tomorrow.
52:00So little mice that have B-Pan and they're actually giving them the gene therapy and curing them to collect all the data about how to transfer that then into a study for,
52:13a human study for the children.
52:16And that would be next steps is to get that going.
52:19And then obviously the kids can have a chance at, you know, that's going to be their greatest shot, really.
52:27Gene therapy was, yeah, it'd be great.
52:32Although £2.3 million is a large goal to meet, the women here feel confident that they will reach the finish line, one fundraiser at a time.
52:41Yeah, it's just trying to reach out to everyone just to be like, please, please help save our kids.
52:47Do you know what I mean?
52:47Kristen Hawthorne for KMTV, Canterbury.
52:54Now it's time for a quick look at the weather.
53:02Clear skies across Kent this evening with temperatures sitting around 7 to 8 degrees with a moderate breeze from the west.
53:08You can expect sunny skies tomorrow morning with temperatures remaining around 9 degrees across the board with a very slight high of 10 in Dover.
53:15The afternoon will see cloudy skies as temperatures bump up to 13 degrees across much of the county.
53:22The outlook for the coming days shows Friday rising to an average of 16 degrees with continued cloudy skies.
53:27Saturday will see light rain and an average of 14 degrees dropping to 12 and rain on Sunday.
53:32Now, Wingham Wildlife Park's newest arrivals are causing quite a stir.
53:43From meerkats to capybaras to orangutans, Wingham Wildlife Park has been busy with a whole new cohort of babies.
53:50The latest arrivals are growing up fast and full of energy as Maisie Walker has been discovering.
53:54It's been a super exciting time at Wingham Wildlife Park and it all started with one very special arrival.
54:04The first ever Beringian orangutan was born at the end of July.
54:08Now approaching its three-month milestone, the youngster is hanging in there for the future of its species and still loves a good cuddle.
54:16But the orangutan isn't the only new arrival they've seen since then.
54:21It's been a baby blast here at Wingham Wildlife Park with loads of new arrivals, such as meerkats.
54:28These meerkat pups were born on the 2nd of October, making them nearly four weeks old.
54:33They're cared for by the entire meerkat mob, taking turns to protect, feed and keep them warm.
54:39It's true teamwork that ensures the pups' survival.
54:43Round of a pause, anyone?
54:44They were a little shy when I got too close, running into their burrows while their older relatives watched on, curious but calm.
54:52And, as you can see, making full use of the heat lamp, even as a makeshift hat.
54:58Yeah, so we are pretty hands-off with them, to be honest.
55:02So mum and everyone else in the mob are looking after them.
55:05Soon as the babies kind of get our scent, mum won't look after them much.
55:10She won't understand they're her babies.
55:11So we do have to be really hands-off with them and let them do their thing.
55:15Obviously, we'll step in if need to, but at the moment, everyone in the group's doing really well at looking after them.
55:20And don't worry, be cappy.
55:23It's not just the meerkats stealing the spotlight.
55:26On 7th October, keepers announced the arrival of three tiny capybaras, the newest members of the world's largest rodent family.
55:34Now approaching their three-week mark, they're full of energy, dashing around their enclosure and mimicking the adults by chewing on sticks and exploring everything in sight.
55:44Within the first hour, they were running around, causing some chaos, where the meerkats have been very much hidden away, cared for by mum.
55:52But the capybaras, they're crazy little things.
55:54They're on top of the logs, they're pushing everyone else out of the way for food.
55:59I ring their little recall bell and they came scooting around the corner this morning waiting for food.
56:03And they're a week younger, so it's crazy how different they've developed.
56:06So from orangutans to meerkats and capybaras, it's been a busy few months for Wingham Wildlife Park.
56:13A reminder of just how much life can change in just one season.
56:18Maisie Walker for KMTV, Canterbury.
56:23You've been watching Kent Tonight live on KMTV.
56:26There's more news made just for Kent throughout the evening.
56:28Don't forget you can always keep up to date with the latest news across the county by going to kmtv.co.uk.
56:34And you can also keep us on your social timelines by liking us on Facebook and following us on TikTok.
56:39We'll be back with the news evening bulletin a bit later on and with more stories tomorrow on Kent Tonight.
56:44But for now, goodbye.
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