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Catch up with all the latest news from across the county with Meghan Shaw.
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00:00hello and welcome to Kent tonight live on Kame TV I'm Megan Shaw and here are your top stories
00:25on Tuesday the 23rd of December council Christmas as local authorities across Kent receive multi
00:32million pound funding settlements while we may not have been punished like other councils have
00:37by the government financially we certainly have not been rewarded either ramping up teenage
00:43skateboarder raises money to build specialist training ramp to help Olympic dreams I've
00:49currently bought a vert ramp but I need to get fund the money to get new surface for it so that
00:56it's long-lasting not just for me for the whole community and Santa and spare change Rotary Club
01:02closes the festive season with final few slay trips around Medway it was really cool I like to play
01:19but first our top story this evening a late Christmas present for our local authorities
01:27as Kent County Council will see a 50 million pound funding boost under government plans it follows a
01:34review into how money is given to councils based on need and deprivation but council leaders warn it
01:40still won't go far enough local democracy reporter Olly leader has been finding out if Kent councils are
01:47in the government's naughty or nice list financial stability is a Christmas present that councils
01:53across Kent have been waiting on for months following a government review into how money is allocated to
02:01our local authorities in hopes of addressing need and deprivation with Kent County Council set to
02:07receive an increase of more than 50 million pounds in funding over the next year it's it's it's roughly
02:15what we were expecting however however while we may not have been punished like other councils have
02:20by the government uh financially we we certainly have not been rewarded either delivering our services
02:27here in Kent is costing more and more every year however the government's funding is in no way
02:34keeping up with that at the moment councils are given funding on a year-by-year basis this new
02:41financial settlement changes that by giving councils an insight into what they can expect over the next
02:49three years some district and borough councils like Ashford and Maidstone will see the money they're being
02:56given go down and if we look at our largest authorities both Kent County Council and Medway Council will see
03:04their core spending power to deliver local services increase by more than 30 percent by 2029 as we are moving
03:15away from the austerity years where in Medway we had a 91 percent cut in our revenue support grant between 2010
03:22and 2024 those days are gone but that's not to say that in one settlement even a multi-year settlement
03:29that will be enough by itself to bring us back to that position where we have uh financial sustainability
03:35councils will have to crunch the numbers to see if this will help fill in the gaps in their budgets
03:42as they prepare to outline their finalized financial plans in the new year ollie leader in kent
03:50and ollie leader joins me in the studio now so ollie what does this mean for some of kent's other
03:58authorities so we're three kinds of authority in kent we have our upper tier which is kent county council
04:03which they do your kind of your bigger things adult social care sc and d transport highways you have
04:09your boroughs and districts they do your kind of more localized services bin collections planning and then
04:15you also have merry council which does everything and it's really those upper tier authorities that
04:20seem to be benefiting from this obviously medway and kcc are seeing an increase in their core spending
04:27that is not universal across all the councils here in kent the fair funding review will see some
04:33councils losing a bit of that core spending power a few million being shaved off here and there
04:41there will be some that will gain a small boost this is because the way the formula for this money's
04:46been determined has changed it seems to account as a deprivation and we do have quite a few wealthy
04:52areas with pockets of deprivation scattered throughout as opposed to somewhere like medway we do have a bit
04:59more of a pronounced or concentrated amount of deprived areas obviously that's not the only factor
05:05issues such as housing um play a role as well as council need especially we have
05:10big services eating into your budgets i see and ollie tell us why are there such large financial
05:17challenges for councils in kent i alluded to it a bit there some councils upper tiers in particular
05:22have a lot of statutory services they have to deliver that are expensive i'm talking about se and d
05:29transport or adult social care for example as well as things like care homes there's a lot of things
05:35that can put a strain on upper tier authority i actually spoke to the deputy leader of kcc brian
05:41collins he's kind of the financial brains almost of the operation from the reform uk side and he says
05:47this money will only go so far to address those problems in the short term it may help but as i've
05:55said many times recently adult social care is a national problem it's a problem for every country
06:02every county around the country and government needs to take a bit more responsibility for it
06:08demand is increasing by on an average of about 10 percent a year
06:15so as you heard there is a case of the big issues facing authorities and now we will have to wait to the
06:21new year to find out about reforms budget they will have to set that it's statutory they have to tell
06:27us how they're going to spend their money and they have said the weight has delayed them in this but we
06:32should be finding that out sooner rather than later as well as the big question is your council tax going
06:38to go up thank you very much ollie now a weekend of action by kent police in city borne has seen drug
06:46seizures and arrests as part of the crackdown police took to the high street and retail areas
06:52in the busy weekend leading up to christmas to tackle concerns about anti-social behavior with a
06:57disposal order also in place police efforts at the railway station saw 15 stop and searches as well as
07:04two arrests with anti-spiking kits also being distributed to women arriving for a night out in the town
07:11and a car ploughed through two sets of pedestrian guard railings after crashing at a busy roundabout
07:18the incident occurred near the looting archers in chatham and involved a single vehicle yesterday
07:24evening pictures here show a silver ford fiesta which had destroyed two separate safety barriers
07:30officers closed the road at 6 pm to allow recovery vehicles recovery team sorry to retrieve the vehicle
07:36with the roof opening 10 minutes later a police spokesperson said kent police was called to
07:42report of a single vehicle collision on new road chatham officers attended the scene where no injuries
07:47were reported now a burglary has taken place at a long-standing cafe in ramsgate just two days before
07:55christmas alison's sea view cafe in king george the sixth memorial park was broken into last night
08:01damaging the locked door and although no cash was stolen racked up a thousand pounds worth of damage
08:08alison told kent online that it's very heartbreaking because he put our all into this place and described
08:13the attack and tried the break-in apologies as having appalling timing now one teenage skating
08:21sensation from broad stairs has his sets sights set on the 2028 olympic games in los angeles but he's
08:28hit a wall he needs a new ramp to be able to train like the best 16 year old tay cunningham along with
08:34his dad ted are fundraising for a new boat ramp to be installed at limington park in westgate so that
08:39tay can train specific jumps tricks and skills and finn mcdermid went down to revolution skatepark
08:44in broadstairs to find out more
08:50in most sports they say the sky is the limit but for 16 year old skateboarding sensation tay
08:55cunningham it's actually the ceiling he's training with one goal in mind the 2028 olympic games in
09:01los angeles he's gotten to the stage of his training where he says he needs a vertical ramp to drop in
09:06from in order to fight on the international stage but his local venue doesn't have the space so he's
09:12decided to make his own the money for the go fund me currently is going towards the la 2028 games for
09:18me to try and make it to there and uh just qualify and get better and travel to see all these people
09:25that are better than me to inspire me so i can get better at skateboarding and improve and then also for
09:31the vert ramp in my local community i've currently bought a vert ramp but i need to get fund the money
09:37to get new surface for it so that it's long lasting not just for me for the whole community because our
09:44clarin closest vert ramp is in surrey and i would love to have one in kent not just for me for the
09:48whole community so everyone can get better and to inspire little kids since he got permission from the
09:53town council the ramp will be installed at lymington park in westgate but for tay's dad it's just another
09:58step in a long road for the young athlete so tay um it became really obvious tay was really good i mean
10:05he entered a few comps won them all and then he went to nationals comp and he didn't do that well
10:13on the first one but while everybody else was skating the final tay was learning 540s and he got in the
10:18car and said to me um you know basically i can do everything they can do i can honestly say within
10:27about three months i could not believe how far along he'd come ted is currently fundraising online and is
10:33also looking to run 50 kilometers to raise the seven grand needed for the ramp with any additional
10:38funds going towards travel coaching and competitions watching tay i thought i'd demonstrate how high
10:43level he is by having a go myself
10:48now it's my turn now tay here has been skateboarding for about 12 years i have very little experience in
10:55skateboarding i can just about cruise around i can't even do an ollie so tay is going to be taking
11:00me to the beginner area to see if i can go down a ramp now how easy is that to do for a quite a
11:06beginner here at rev in the beginner room it's perfect because every ramp's really small so you
11:11should be just fine all right brilliant well fingers crossed
11:23i think now's a good time to hang up my board and leave it to tay and the next generation
11:27if tay wants to make it to the very top of skateboarding he knows he doesn't just need
11:32to ramp up his training but ramp up his equipment as well finn mcdermid for came tv in broadstairs
11:39now it's time for a quick break but coming up we're going to be joined by a former teacher who left
11:43the classroom to run his local pub and see it return to his former glory alongside the sports news
11:49from across the county don't go anywhere see you later
12:19yeah
14:49Hello and welcome back to Kent Tonight, live here on Kame TV.
15:10A teacher who quit his job to run his local pub says he feels proud to see it return to its former glory.
15:16Gary Carter from Ashford has enjoyed a varied career over the years, but has now settled into his role as Landlord of the Rose in Kennington.
15:23And he joined us earlier to tell us more.
15:25Okay, so first of all, Gary, you've had a varied career. Can you please take us through your story and explain how you've ended up at the Rose Inn?
15:36Yeah, certainly. So Brunel University, in the days when you decided that's what you were going to do, an engineer, I was probably the worst engineer in the world.
15:46From that, I went into manufacturing and ended up running a few businesses.
15:53And for Delarue, they're the people that used to print all the money and all the passports.
15:58So I run many of their factories around the world.
16:01And then I've had a couple of businesses of my own, based in London, facilities management.
16:09And then I met my second wife, who was in Barbian.
16:12And we decided to have an adventure in Zimbabwe.
16:14So not many factories to run in Zimbabwe.
16:17So I went and decided I was going to become a teacher.
16:20I always wanted to be a teacher, but to be perfectly frank, could never afford to be one.
16:24So I've done my PGCE in physics, and then we moved to Harare.
16:31And I talked out there in a private and a state school for five or six years.
16:36And I left there to end up running the horse racing industry in Mashonaland in Harare.
16:44Then COVID struck, come back.
16:46This is my local.
16:47And then the previous landlord decided to leave.
16:51And I thought, well, why not?
16:53So I went for it, and here I am.
16:57So having never done it before, I'm thoroughly enjoying it.
17:00Wow, you've lived many lives there, Gary.
17:03So what was it that led you to leave that teaching job, and there was a job in between,
17:08and then take on the road with a new challenge?
17:12Yeah, so, sorry, I forgot.
17:13So I went to teach at Norton Natural, teaching physics and also junior science for two and a half years.
17:21And I think by that time, I think I'd had, I suppose, enough of the teaching at my time of life.
17:31It was quite different from teaching when I was doing my PGCE.
17:36At the level of low-level disruption, et cetera, I found it difficult to actually teach.
17:43So I decided to leave the teaching profession, although I still do go back and do some cover,
17:50because I maintain that when you teach a great lesson, it's like playing a fantastic round of golf.
17:55The feedback is fantastic.
17:57And you know from a kid's eyes that you've got through to them.
18:01I mean, it's the best feeling on earth.
18:03When you first stepped inside the Rose Inn, maybe for your first day there, what was it like?
18:08What was the conditioning?
18:10Did you feel like there was a lot of work to be done, maybe?
18:12Or did you ever imagine one day you'd be running it?
18:17Yes, we moved.
18:18We only live about 500 metres away.
18:21And from when I first started drinking here, I came for the people as opposed to the pub.
18:28The pub was quite run down and needed quite a lot of TLC, both in terms of the premises and also, to be fair, the management.
18:41So, yeah, it was definitely going to be a challenge.
18:45But the support of the locals in here, they were the ones that suggested I should perhaps try and get the pub.
18:51So, with that support of the locals, I went for it.
18:58And it's been exciting.
19:01Never a dull moment.
19:03Our very own soap opera.
19:07And since you took over that, have you made any major changes to the pub?
19:12Have you given it your own play, maybe?
19:16Yes, I think so.
19:18So, Sheppard and Neem, they decorated the outer pub in my first six months, which it needed to be doing.
19:27Then we did the toilets.
19:30We did the toilets they needed.
19:32We redid the kitchen.
19:33We've now redecorated the insides, refurnished all the chairs, all the soft furnishings, and been replaced.
19:40But that's just the fabric of the building.
19:42I think the main difference is that the staff that we have now, if there was one big difference, I think it's the staff.
19:52And when you come into the pub, you're greeted with a smile.
19:55And if I'm there, you're greeted with a handshake normally.
19:57So, I think it's my staff.
20:01Fantastic staff we've got.
20:02And now for all your sports headlines with Finn McDermid.
20:14Hello and welcome to your sports headlines.
20:17First of all, it could be an early Christmas for Gillingham fans, as Gareth Ainsworth hopes to have multiple players back from the injury list.
20:23Currently, Connor Masterson, Josh Andrews, Sam Vokes, and Marcus Wiley could make a return to the starting line-up for the side's festive fixtures.
20:32Ainsworth may be looking forward to having a big striker up front in Josh Andrews and Sam Vokes,
20:37after commenting the team weren't ruthless enough up front in their recent loss away at Fleetwood.
20:42Let's hear what else the manager said the side needed after their clash at the weekend.
20:46You know, there's a couple of players who are on the sidelines today who probably will need to get games, you know,
20:54and we want to get back to something like we were at the start of the season, where we looked formidable, you know.
20:59But, again, we've got quite a few injuries and hopefully no one's picked up today.
21:05You know, I'm only let us play through, you know, almost, you know, the illness, you know, he was ill in the week and a couple of them had time off.
21:12And, yeah, it's just one of those weeks, you know, but unlucky today.
21:17And all I can say is thanks to the Gilles fans for coming up your journey.
21:20It'll be as bad as ours on the way home, but I'm sure we'll get over it with a win on Boxing Day.
21:25Next, we're heading to the rugby pitch where Gravesend put up 55 against the Canterbury Seconds.
21:31They started out strong, scoring twice in the opening 10 minutes, thanks to Sam Raj Chahal and Chris Shorter.
21:37Then forward, Lewis White and George Bruce took on an overthrown line-out to build up a 36-0 lead.
21:44The second half was a bit slower before Josh Harris got his first senior try.
21:48Les Falafatu claimed himself a brace near the end, with Canterbury adding a consolation to their tally as well.
21:55Now to golf, where Canterbury's Simon Legat earned his first hole-in-one in their December Stableford competition.
22:01He scored his first on the course's tough par-3 17th hole, but still only managed a second-place finish behind Alan Holcroft with 34 points.
22:11Legat said he was over the moon about it and he's been inches away before and never thought he'd get one.
22:16The competition was played before the juniors' end-of-season prize-giving that saw the younger members of the club earn some recognition for their efforts.
22:23And lastly, to Chatham, where the doors of the Beauville Stadium will be thrown open to fans for free to watch the quarter-final of the Kent Senior Cup against Bromley XI.
22:33With the match being played a couple days before Christmas, chairman and manager Kevin Haake is encouraging fans to make a donation to Wisdom Hospice in Rochester.
22:42He added it was a great decision made jointly by themselves, Bromley and the Kent FA.
22:46But it's not just happening in Chatham. Dover offered free entry to their National League South game against Eastbourne Borough that did end, unfortunately, 5-2 for the visitors.
22:56And Fabersham will be doing the same in the new year.
22:59Well, that's all for your sports headlines. See you very soon.
23:02Now, don't forget you can keep up to date with all the latest stories from all over kent at kmtv.co.uk.
23:18There you'll find reports like this one, which takes a look at a Canterbury charity in a race against time to save a historic building from collapsing into the River Stour.
23:27If we don't do something now, then it's going to be so much greater of a problem later.
23:33And as I say, it would be an enormous loss to the history of Canterbury and of Kent.
23:38Nestled in the heart of Canterbury High Street sits a building with hundreds of years of history.
23:43Through this low Gothic door lies former accommodation for poor pilgrims desperate to visit the shrine of Archbishop St Thomas Becket, who was murdered in the cathedral in 1170.
23:52But now these ancient sleeping quarters have had to close for visitors.
23:56I received access to the oldest part of the hospital, the former dormitory, to talk about why.
24:01The building is rotating into the river, not to put it too finely.
24:08The reality is that this building has always been falling in the river and it's just a question of whether that fall is accelerating or not.
24:17We are working with Canterbury Archaeological Trust and with structural engineers to try and make sure that this is a building that will be here for future generations and not, you know, sadly something that falls into the river.
24:32I'm stood just outside the Eastbridge Hospital alongside the River Stour.
24:37You can see just behind me there, if you look towards the bay window and down, you can see that brickwork that's experiencing damage over the 800 years this place has been open.
24:45The charity says that renovations to make the building safe for visitors again could cost up to a quarter of a million pounds.
24:51We used to get probably, in a season in this building, we used to get over, just over 10,000 people, which obviously now we've been closed for over a year.
25:01So it's had a massive impact on the finances of the charity, which is why we're now finding we can't afford to pay for the renovations and all the work that needs doing down here in the Undercroft.
25:13We're that unknown little gem in the High Street that people have heard of but maybe not been to for a long time.
25:21But I think historically there is so much here that it would be heartbreaking if this building were to close permanently and the charity finished.
25:29It just wouldn't be, it's not conceivable.
25:32Historic England has agreed to place a charity on their at-risk register, helping it towards securing grant funding for the future.
25:39But yet still, the charity say they need public support to help prevent the history here being washed away.
25:46Chloe Brewster for KMTV in Canterbury.
25:50And now the weather.
25:56This evening will be cloudy.
25:58Temperatures reaching 6 degrees in Maidstone and Dover, dipping to lows of 5.
26:03Tomorrow morning, Christmas Eve, temperatures falling slightly, lows of 3 degrees in Ashford.
26:07Into the afternoon, temperatures will remain about the same.
26:12Highs of around 5 degrees in Dartford and lows of 3.
26:15Winds continuing around 6 miles per hour.
26:17And your outlook, 4 degrees on Thursday, cloud giving away to sun on Friday and Saturday, 8 degrees.
26:24Now it's time for a quick break.
26:35But coming up, we take a look at our top story where we see the reaction of councillors to fair funding.
26:40And we'll be joining with Tudor Price to talk all about Christmas things ahead of Boxing Day sales.
26:45See you then.
30:19Hello and welcome to Kent Tonight live on KMTV.
30:22I'm Megan Shaw and here are your top stories on Tuesday, the 23rd of December.
30:27Council Christmas.
30:50but I need to fund the money to get new surfers for it
30:55so that it's long-lasting, not just for me, for the whole community.
30:59And Santa and spare change.
31:02Rotary Club closes the festive season
31:04with final few sleigh trips around Medway.
31:07It was really cool.
31:09I like a sleigh.
31:20A look back at our top story this evening.
31:24A late Christmas present for our local authorities
31:26as Kent County Council will see a £50 million funding boost
31:30under government plans.
31:31It follows a review into how money is given to councils
31:34based on need and deprivation.
31:36But council leaders warn it still won't go far enough.
31:40And local democracy reporter Olly Leder has been finding out
31:43if Kent's councils are on the government's naughty or nice list.
31:46Financial stability is a Christmas present
31:49that councils across Kent have been waiting on for months.
31:53Following a government review
31:55into how money is allocated to our local authorities
31:58in hopes of addressing need and deprivation.
32:02With Kent County Council set to receive an increase
32:05of more than £50 million in funding over the next year.
32:10It's roughly what we were expecting.
32:12However, however, while we may not have been punished
32:15like other councils have by the government,
32:18financially, we certainly have not been rewarded either.
32:22Delivering our services here in Kent
32:24is costing more and more every year.
32:27However, the government's funding
32:29is in no way keeping up with that.
32:32At the moment, councils are given funding
32:34on a year-by-year basis.
32:36This new financial settlement changes that
32:40by giving councils an insight
32:42into what they can expect over the next three years.
32:47Some district and borough councils like Ashford and Maidstone
32:51will see the money they're being given go down.
32:55And if we look at our largest authorities,
32:57both Kent County Council and Medway Council
33:00will see their core spending power
33:02to deliver local services
33:05increase by more than 30% by 2029.
33:10As we are moving away from the austerity years
33:13where in Medway, we had a 91% cut
33:15in our revenue support grant
33:17between 2010 and 2024.
33:20Those days are gone.
33:21But that's not to say that in one settlement,
33:23even a multi-year settlement,
33:25that will be enough by itself
33:26to bring us back to that position
33:28where we have financial sustainability.
33:32Councils will have to crunch the numbers
33:34to see if this will help
33:36fill in the gaps in their budgets.
33:38as they prepare to outline
33:41their finalised financial plans
33:43in the new year.
33:45Olly Leder in Kent.
33:46Say they feel that they're living in hell
33:51after their block of flats
33:53became overrun with flies.
33:55Those living in the affected building in Maidstone
33:57have been dealing with the infestation,
33:59which has taken over the communal areas
34:01and their homes since mid-November.
34:03And Maisie Walker joins me now to tell us more.
34:07So, Maisie, tell us, what do we know so far?
34:09So, tenants say that they've been dealing
34:11with this fly infestation since mid-November.
34:13This is spread through communal areas
34:16and into their homes,
34:17which they describe as crawling with bucks.
34:19And despite efforts to get rid of them,
34:21they still remain.
34:22And the properties are owned by MHS Homes,
34:25which have since apologised to customers
34:28experiencing problems with the flies.
34:30The Housing Association has also confirmed
34:32that pest contractors
34:34are investigating the issue.
34:36And you touched on that a little bit,
34:37but what are some of the tenants' concerns?
34:39Well, as you can see probably on the screen now,
34:41you can see some of the flies.
34:43So, tenant Amy Rogers believes
34:45that not enough is being done
34:46to support the residents.
34:48She claims the infestation is the result
34:49of the poor condition of the building
34:52and that the problem has been ongoing for months.
34:55And Amy has described the flies crawling up the walls,
34:58as you can see here,
34:59getting into fridges and food
35:02and said that they are growing at a wildfire rate.
35:05She has previously stayed in a hotel
35:07with her son to escape these flies.
35:09And what flies are there?
35:11Well, these insects are called phorid flies
35:14and they're slightly different from fruit flies
35:17because they're smaller
35:19and they breed in mostly moist areas
35:22and decaying organic matter.
35:25They're often seen scurrying across surfaces
35:27rather than flying
35:28and they're more common in warmer months
35:30but can also be found during the winter.
35:32And has anyone been contacted for support?
35:35So, residents have contacted their MP,
35:37Helen Grant, and their ward councillor,
35:39Rachel Rodwell.
35:41Both escalated the complaints
35:44after claims that MHS Holmes
35:46were not responding to them.
35:48I see.
35:49And has MHS responded at all?
35:52So, Gemma Hancock,
35:53who is the Executive Director
35:54of Assets and Development there,
35:57says that the issue
35:57has been taken seriously.
35:59They've apologised to customers
36:00experiencing problems with flies.
36:02The first issue was reported
36:04on November the 12th
36:06by one resident.
36:08And then following that,
36:08a pest contractor did come
36:10to inspect the flats
36:12and the communal areas.
36:14But a low number of flies were found
36:15and were thought not to be linked
36:17to damp or mould.
36:19Further visits were arranged.
36:21And on November the 24th,
36:25damp and mould were reported
36:26with mould found
36:27around the bedroom window.
36:30But further investigations
36:31are on place.
36:32Thank you very much, Maisie.
36:33We'll follow this story
36:34as it continues.
36:37Now, Christmas for many
36:39is the most expensive time
36:40of the year.
36:41But will you be budgeting
36:42for a hefty spree
36:43at Boxing Day
36:44or the January sales
36:45following the big day?
36:46The 26th in particular
36:48has been synonymous
36:48with getting up early
36:49to hit the shops
36:50or pursuing or perusing online
36:52to find the best deals.
36:54And earlier today,
36:55I spoke to Tudor Price,
36:56the CEO of the Kent
36:57Invicta Chamber of Commerce,
36:58to find out more.
37:00So, Tudor,
37:01thank you for joining us
37:02this evening.
37:04First of all,
37:04let's just speak
37:05about Christmas shopping.
37:06I know I'm quite relieved
37:07to have all of mine
37:08out the way
37:09with a couple of days to spare.
37:11In general,
37:12have we seen any trends
37:13this year
37:14in what people are buying
37:15for their friends and family?
37:17We have indeed, yes.
37:18So, I think it's been helpful
37:19that Christmas sort of falls
37:21on the Thursday.
37:22So, that's giving everyone
37:23a bit of time to rush
37:24having so many men panicking,
37:26running around
37:26at the last minute.
37:27But just sort of early,
37:28early, some indications
37:30are that we probably
37:31see a little bit more
37:31of an increase
37:32in overall spend this year.
37:34Whether that's down
37:35to raising prices,
37:37not entirely sure yet,
37:38but certainly there seems
37:40to be more spend
37:40on last year.
37:42A big increase,
37:43as ever,
37:43on online shopping.
37:45We may even top
37:46the 30% of retail sales
37:48this year.
37:49So, again,
37:49that trend continues
37:50and, again,
37:51retailers need to be
37:52sort of adapting
37:52to that approach.
37:55And interestingly,
37:56we've seen fewer
37:57physical gifts
37:58and more experienced gifts
37:59going through the markets
38:00this time around.
38:02So, clearly,
38:03people are sort of looking
38:04to sort of buy
38:04that memory
38:05rather than perhaps
38:06giving over something tangible.
38:07So, all in all,
38:08I think it's been reasonably good,
38:09but, of course,
38:10we'll have to wait
38:10to do the full analysis
38:11until after Christmas.
38:13Of course.
38:14And December is a moment
38:15where you would do,
38:16I'd imagine,
38:16spend more than average,
38:17not just on Christmas,
38:18but the kind of other events
38:20we see.
38:20So, Boxing Day, for one,
38:22I mean, I suppose nowadays
38:23it's kind of unanimous
38:24with spending
38:25and the Boxing Day sales,
38:26but do you know
38:27why it's called Boxing Day?
38:28Is it anything to do with,
38:29I suppose,
38:30the boxes that presents come in?
38:32Not too far off, yeah.
38:33So, actually,
38:34this is a sort of
38:35historical reference
38:35going back to
38:36when the wealthy landowners
38:38would give gifts
38:39to their staff and servants
38:40and traditionally
38:41would be in the box.
38:42And so, obviously,
38:43Boxing Day
38:43was sort of the name
38:45that was stuck.
38:46That's certainly
38:46the story I was told,
38:48so I'm going to stick
38:49with that one.
38:49But we've seen probably
38:52more spread spending
38:54this time.
38:54So, from Black Friday,
38:56you know,
38:57they were now referring
38:57to it as the golden quarter
38:59where you see consumers
39:00spreading their spend
39:01across several weeks now
39:03and in several months.
39:05And in particular,
39:05of course,
39:06we're now seeing
39:06into Boxing Day
39:07and there'll be
39:08a number of offers
39:08as well as retailers
39:09try to sort of clear
39:10out old stock
39:10ready for the new
39:11New Year's products.
39:13Would you say
39:13that Boxing Day
39:14is, I suppose,
39:15just as important
39:16for small businesses
39:17as Christmas was?
39:19Another chance perhaps
39:20to, I suppose,
39:21make some good sales?
39:24I think it's probably
39:25less as impactful
39:26as it used to be.
39:27And I certainly know
39:29of many retailers now,
39:30certainly the smaller ones
39:31that actually are
39:31quite rightly taking
39:32a bit of a break.
39:33So they're taking
39:34the Christmas Day
39:34and the Boxing Day
39:35before they reopen.
39:37Large retailers,
39:38of course,
39:38will always be keen
39:39to capture any exchanges
39:41or Christmas vouchers
39:43that are waiting
39:44to be spent.
39:45So it still does
39:45play an important part
39:46in the income generation
39:48over the Christmas period.
39:49But it's not as impactful
39:51now because we tend
39:52to sort of spread
39:52our spending over
39:53two or three weeks now.
39:55Of course.
39:55And I suppose
39:56looking ahead again
39:57into January,
39:59a time where,
39:59I mean,
39:59I can certainly say
40:00I have a lot less money
40:02perhaps than I might have
40:03done at the beginning
40:03of December
40:04after the festive period.
40:05So would you say
40:07businesses feel that?
40:08Do they feel
40:08a significant decrease
40:10in consumer spending?
40:12Yeah, certainly.
40:13I think, you know,
40:13there are traditional
40:14things, aren't there?
40:14Gym membership
40:15goes through the roof
40:16all of a sudden.
40:17Hospitality suddenly
40:18starts to see a drop
40:19as people try and eat less
40:20and exercise more.
40:22Retail,
40:22there would always be
40:23good bargains
40:24to be handed
40:24in the beginning of the year
40:25because retailers
40:26want to try and sort of
40:27restock with new product lines
40:29and new seasonal trends
40:30and things.
40:31So there would always
40:32be good bargains.
40:33But I think most people
40:34are being quite canny.
40:35You know,
40:35there'll be people
40:36who are sort of waiting
40:37for those opportunities
40:38to get those bargains
40:39because perhaps
40:39they've got slightly less
40:40money in their pocket
40:41nowadays.
40:42But so it's still
40:43a significant time of year.
40:44But again,
40:45it's been spread.
40:46So not as important
40:47as it used to be
40:48back in the day.
40:49Do they have any advice
40:50perhaps for small businesses?
40:52Like you mentioned
40:52hospitality in particular
40:53sees kind of drop off
40:55to perhaps stay afloat
40:56when a lot of people
40:57aren't out spending
40:58their money?
41:00So from a reach
41:01from a hospitality perspective,
41:03vouchers are certainly
41:04the best way to go.
41:05If they haven't already
41:06got an online presence,
41:07they need to make sure
41:07they have one
41:08and the ability
41:08to go to buy vouchers.
41:10As I said,
41:10we're seeing a bit
41:11of an increase
41:12in the trend
41:12around buying experiences
41:14and gift vouchers
41:15are really good
41:16from a retailer's
41:16point of view,
41:17from a hospitality
41:18point of view
41:18because only a percentage
41:21of them are actually
41:21ever redeemed.
41:22So that to some extent
41:23is money in the bank
41:24without actually having
41:25to incur the cost.
41:26So vouchers are a very
41:27good idea for both
41:28hospitality and retail.
41:29Now it's time for a break,
41:33but coming up,
41:33we're going to be joined
41:34by reporter Chloe Brewster
41:36who will be providing us
41:37an update on Operation Brock
41:39as well as seeing Rotary
41:40Club's Santa's Slave Spread
41:42Christmas Joy
41:43throughout Gillingham.
41:44All that and more
41:45after the break.
41:46All that and more
41:48after the break.
41:49is going to be joined.
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47:53system was in place it did cause quite a lot of disruption there was actually three incidents
47:57occurring within 24 hours last week so yeah a little bit of driver chaos but now after all of
48:02that they announced yesterday from national highways announced that the 13 mile stretch
48:07of road was to reopen today so drivers are back to normal now um this is because bosses expect
48:13post the port bound traffic to ease ahead of christmas so both carriageways will reopen with
48:19free lanes and the national speed limit in place so you can get driving home for christmas with ease
48:24and in plenty of time brilliant just in time for christmas as you said so i'm sure that's a relief
48:29to residents across the county thank you very much chloe now don't forget you can keep up to date with
48:36all the latest stories from all over kent by checking our website kmtv.co.uk there you'll find reports like
48:44this one which takes a look at a medway man who fought back against a fine he blames on medway
48:49council's inadequate signage with a tribunal ruling in his favor you might have seen one of these signs
48:56if you've been driving around medway warning you away from driving near certain schools at peak times
49:02when the roads there become pedestrianized that is if you can spot them for chris lee a lack of signs
49:11along saunders streets meant he was hit with a fine which he says was not his fault
49:18if you're not aware of something being there and there's no road signage on the road that
49:24you're traveling down um before you get to uh a place where you can pick up a penalty notice
49:32um then yeah it's a bit of a shock but you then think to yourself well did i make a mistake i need
49:39to check this out because i don't think that there's something right here well i got behind the wheel myself
49:46to take the same route as chris and see what warnings there were for the school street
49:52so just on the right right here is saunders street this is the road chris drove down and said
49:59there wasn't adequate signage warning him there's going to be a school street right at the end
50:05as you can see lots of cars lots of vehicles not a lot of signage for the school street in fact
50:12i can't see any warnings at all as we drive down here we're coming up to the stop line now
50:20you should be able to get a better look at the sign as we come up here if you're just about coming to
50:27view that right there is the only warning for coming from this direction that there is a school street
50:33along here well a reasonable person is not going to be looking at lampposts for every single sign
50:41if it's over wordy by the time you've even got halfway down it you've gone past it it took chris
50:47two months since getting the fine for him to receive this letter from the traffic penalty tribunal
50:54notifying him that his penalty notice had been overturned and the adjudicator here doesn't mince
51:01any words it says that that sign right behind me that is complicated and did not adequately convey
51:09that richmond road would become a school street yes i'm getting lots of feedback that some of the
51:14signage is opaque at best um it's not entirely clear when you're entering a school street scheme
51:21this scheme is all about raising money it's not about improving the lives of residents
51:27medway council say they have successfully defended a number of appeals at this location and this is
51:35the first in which an adjudicator has filed against them on signage grounds they say that while they
51:42will review the adjudicator's decision they remain satisfied that the signage at this site is adequate
51:49and compliant with the relevant legal standards and will continue to review feedback
51:55to ensure the scheme operates effectively but none of that will be a sign that gives people like chris
52:03confidence their concerns are being heard ollie leader in medway
52:11ollie leader there and now we know it won't be a white christmas the latter half of this week but will
52:16it affect those of you driving home for the big day well it's time for a quick look at the weather
52:25this evening will be cloudy temperatures reaching six degrees in maidstone and over
52:33dip into lows of five tomorrow morning christmas eve temperatures falling slightly lows of three
52:38degrees in ashford into the afternoon temperatures remaining about the same highs of five degrees in
52:44dartford and lows of three winds continuing around 26 miles per hour and your outlook four degrees tomorrow
52:51friday saturday six and eight temperatures riding hopefully sunny which will be nice on on christmas
53:05and sleigh bells will still be ringing in gillingham tomorrow as the local rotary club begins their
53:12final santa route the sleigh has been taking trips around medway for 40 years and it's a tradition the club
53:20hopes to continue as not only does it bring joy to families it also raises thousands for local
53:25charities each year reporter chloe brewster got involved in the festivities yesterday evening
53:36despite a very busy schedule at this time of year santa's been paying a visit to children
53:40in medway just ahead of the big day but he can't do it without a little bit of help
53:44gillingham rotary club helps santa make the trip around gillingham and rainham every single year
53:51gillingham rotaries existed almost 100 years in a few years time we'll be 100 years old
53:56and uh collecting wise we've been doing uh the collection with the float for probably about four
54:02years now um on most occasions we collect between 10 and 20 000 each each christmas period
54:08um this year there's the wisdom wisdom hospice um uh kent association with blind um and a few other
54:17local charities as well as just the uh obviously the collecting um it's good pr we get a huge amount
54:25of um of parents and children coming out walking around with the with the sleigh shouting a father
54:31christmas it's nice to get into the christmas spirit prior to christmas and especially on our last day
54:37always is on christmas eve and we we collect the most money on christmas eve um and that really
54:42is very festive you know it's very sluggish too because people are offering you glasses of sherry
54:47um of mince pies and so on and so forth you know so it's um yeah so it's a nice thing to do
54:52as well as a very valuable thing to do to collect um 10 000 of pounds for charity it was really cool
55:00i like his sleigh the club will embark on seven routes around the area over the festive period
55:05visiting thousands of families but what does santa think of it all all right so i did it the other
55:11day as well and it makes it to see everyone's faces when they see santa is the best it's the best
55:15feeling in the world just seeing them light up that's what christmas is about isn't it about the
55:19kids and enjoying yourselves and yeah it's it's fantastic just watching kids light up and yeah
55:25christmas spirit what's been the top present kids have been asking for this year oh top present scooters
55:30scooters scooters yeah scooters the kids love a scooter at the moment yeah they say kids don't
55:35want to go out anymore no no they're loving a scooter yeah every time i ask scooters scooters and cuddly
55:40toys always cuddly toy after a quick chat santa had to get back to his duties setting off at speed
55:46down east court lane in gillingham christmas chloe brewster for km tv in gillingham
55:52chloe that really gets you in the festive mood but unlike santa we have ran out of gifts tonight on
56:01kent tonight live on km tv there'll be more news made just for you for kent throughout the evening
56:07don't forget you can always keep up to date with the latest news across your county by logging on to
56:12kmtv.co.uk you can keep us on your social timelines by liking us on facebook and following us on tiktok
56:20and if you've got a story you think we should be covering please do get in touch for more presents
56:25to unwrap we've also have a series of special programs on our website like in victor sport
56:30based in kent and the kent film club which you can watch throughout the week or catch up with on our
56:35website but from me for now have a very good evening see you soon goodbye
56:51you
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