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Catch up with all the latest news from across the county with Meghan Shaw.
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00:29Hello and welcome to Kent tonight, live on Kane TV.
00:33I'm Megan Shaw and here are your top stories on Thursday the 22nd of January.
00:39Still awaiting answers.
00:41Frustration grows over water outages at Tunbridge Wells meeting.
00:46Unfortunately, it's been a nightmare really.
00:49We don't yet know the cost.
00:51Tunbridge Wells' takeaway suffers damage and financial loss after vandalism.
00:56I got a phone call from a member of the staff, said a random man just started smashing the shop up.
01:03I did get here as soon as possible.
01:05And walking for awareness.
01:08We're speaking with Pride in Medway award winner about his work educating people about prostate cancer.
01:13Our top story tonight.
01:27Pressure is mounting on southeast water as Tunbridge Wells residents demanded answers at a public meeting over water outages that caused chaos earlier this month.
01:37The meeting was organised by Dry Wells Water with those in attendance voicing their frustration at the water company not even attending.
01:46But South East Water say an investigation is underway and there will be transparency around what happened in the future.
01:53Local democracy reporter Olly Leder was at the old auction house for us to hear some of the local concern.
01:59What was the real cause of this problem and what are they doing to fix it?
02:04That's the question on everyone's lips at this public meeting in Tunbridge Wells.
02:09A week on from outages that closed schools and businesses and left 30,000 homes across Kent without running water for days on end.
02:20There's many, many businesses.
02:22We're talking hundreds and hundreds which have lost tens of thousands of pounds because it's one, two, three thousand a day.
02:27And it's just devastating.
02:29On one occasion I had to cancel my morning activity and drive my kids down to East Point so they could have water at my parents' place down there.
02:36And so unfortunately it's been a nightmare really.
02:41There's been real anger in this room tonight.
02:43More than a hundred people turning out demanding answers from South East Water who aren't here in attendance.
02:50This town really has had enough in terms of the way they've been treated by this truly appalling company.
02:58And the message to South East Water from this meeting is you need to up your game.
03:03You need to invest in infrastructure and you need to not let us down again because we will be watching you.
03:09South East Water say the company was investigating what happened in January and that it's too early to confirm what went wrong.
03:18Though they have promised a public meeting in the future.
03:21This is not the first time water shortages have broken out in the borough.
03:27December saw chaos before Christmas and similar outages happened back in 2022.
03:34Everybody's saying this can't surely be happening again.
03:37This is impossible.
03:38You know, so where now what seems to happen is everybody has lost complete faith in everything.
03:46They may not be here tonight, but South East Water will still have to face tough questions from Tunbridge Wells councillors on Monday.
03:56When they're grilled by the borough's overview and scrutiny committee.
04:00Until then, those expecting answers for a month of misery will be left high and dry.
04:08Ollie Leda in Tunbridge Wells.
04:09Next, a much-loved beauty queen aged just 21 has died in a tragic accident.
04:17Today, the Faversham Carnival Club announced the shocking news that Alicia Skinner, who was Miss Faversham in 2022, has sadly passed away.
04:26She's been described as a truly lovely girl with an infectious smile.
04:30And Kristen Hawthorne joins me now to tell me more about this heartbreaking story.
04:34So, Kristen, there was a statement released today by the Faversham Carnival Club.
04:39So, what was that?
04:41Yes, so the club said that it was with deep regret and sadness that they announced the death of their beautiful Miss Faversham 2022, Alicia Skinner, who we can see her picture here.
04:51They confirmed she died on January 8th following what they described as a tragic incident.
04:55The club said Alicia was a fantastic ambassador for Faversham and a truly lovely girl, adding that she will be missed by many and that their thoughts are with her friends and family.
05:06I see.
05:07I'm sure this has rippled through the community, near and far.
05:11So, have there been any other tributes for her?
05:13Many tributes have been shared online with friends describing Alicia as a beautiful soul with an infectious smile.
05:19One tribute said she always spoke about love, about her family, while another described her as the heart of the carnival and thanked her for the memories they shared.
05:27Others said it was a privilege to know her during the years that she was Miss Faversham.
05:32I see.
05:33And if I'm correct there, I think there's been a fundraiser launched in her name.
05:38So, can you tell us a bit more about that one there?
05:40Yes.
05:40So, for the audience, you would have seen a picture of the fundraiser on screen just a minute ago that was launched in her name to support the Thames Valley Air Ambulance, which her family said in response was fantastic.
05:53They added that because of the response from the emergency services, they were then able to spend Alicia's last few days with her.
06:00And as well, almost £2,000 has already been raised in that fundraiser.
06:05A celebration of Alicia's life will take place on Friday, February 6th at 2.30pm at St Mary's, at St Mary of Charity Church in Faversham, followed by a week at Judd's Folly.
06:19I see.
06:20And Kristen, thank you so much for giving us those updates there around Alicia.
06:25Next, a dealer from Maidstone has been jailed for more than three years after being caught with drugs in his shed.
06:37Police officers were sent to Jake Ervert's home in Hubbard's Lane in Luce after reports of a disturbance.
06:44They searched the property and found cocaine, cannabis and around £25,000 in cash.
06:50Scales and money-counting machines were also discovered in a shed in the back garden.
06:56He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court to three years and six months in prison.
07:03And here is the moment the 34-year-old was arrested by police at the scene.
07:09That's lots of cash on the side.
07:12Get your hands out your pockets for me.
07:16Right, this time, out pockets, please.
07:17No, I'm not. I'm sorry for that.
07:20At this time, I'm arresting your possession.
07:22We've been sent to supply you. Do not have to say anything.
07:24I'm going to find you back, please.
07:25It may harm your sense if you do not mention any questions and you're late at the line at court.
07:28Anything you do say may be given evidence.
07:30Okay.
07:34Cash, scales.
07:36Lots of locks.
07:37And next, a dispersal order has been put in place this weekend to deter anti-social behaviour in Chatham.
07:49It's set to cover the Dockside area, including Maritime Way and Western Avenue, all the way to the water's edge, as you can see there on the screen.
07:59And it's been brought in following ongoing issues caused by a small group of young people.
08:05It will allow officers to approach anyone causing a nuisance in the area and, if necessary, make arrests.
08:12The order will come into effect at 6pm on Friday the 23rd of January and will remain in place until Sunday the 25th of January 2026.
08:23And a takeaway in Tunbridge Wells suffered a broken window, smashed ornaments and a damaged counter at the weekend
08:34after a man vandalised the store, all of which was recorded on the store's CCTV.
08:41The Happy Friar had to close the same day and are adding up the costs of their lost trade and repairs as they reopen to customers again.
08:50And Finn McDermid went down to the takeaway to see some of the damage for himself.
08:57Customers were coming through the doors, chefs were cooking in the kitchen and delivery drivers were picking up meals,
09:02all a normal Sunday evening for the Happy Friar takeaway in Tunbridge Wells.
09:07But when one customer came in, things changed and the CCTV cameras recorded him damaging the property.
09:13Many of the workers at Happy Friar are quite elderly and told the owner they were quite frightened at the time.
09:18Yeah, they are quite old, but they are very professional chefs, yeah.
09:25And just reinsuring them, yeah, this is actually safe to work here.
09:30So I got a phone call from a member of the staff, said a random man just started smashing the shop up.
09:36I did get here as soon as possible.
09:38So I managed to get here within maybe five minutes.
09:43When I got here, there was a customer waiting outside.
09:48The food was still needs passing out to the delivery driver.
09:52The police was here.
09:54And so I didn't really know what happened, but the place just looked amazing, dangerous.
10:00The loss from closure and repairs to the damaged computer totals £800.
10:05And that doesn't yet include repairs to the windows, counter and vase.
10:08The value of them isn't yet known.
10:10I haven't got a chance to look into it yet, because I was quite busy to fix the computer
10:16and the phone and the printer is all being smashed up.
10:20So I was quickly getting that done and we'll start calling for the repair,
10:26get the window glass changed.
10:30She added, they've never seen this kind of behaviour before.
10:33They've had others being disorderly, but never had any damage or had to call the authorities.
10:37In a statement, Kent Police said they received a report of criminal damage
10:40at a commercial premises in Friars Way in Tunbridge Wells at around 5.40pm on Sunday, 18 January 2026.
10:47Officers attended and a man was arrested.
10:50Ashley Inglis, 35 of Bracken Road, Tunbridge Wells, has been charged with criminal damage.
10:54He's due to appear at West Kent Magistrates Court on 18 March 2026.
10:58The shop reopened a few days later with the owner, Zenyu, saying that despite the damage
11:03to their building, their recipes weren't affected and they were operating just as they were before.
11:08Finn McDermid for KMTV in Tunbridge Wells.
11:10Finn McDermid there.
11:13Now it's time for a quick break, but coming up, don't worry, we've got plenty more.
11:18We'll be taking a look at all the latest sporting news across the county,
11:23from football to rugby with Keris Hammond.
11:27And joining us later, we'll have Professor David Rees from the Mid-Kent Astronomical Society
11:32tell us about the Northern Lights.
11:35Last night, being visible as far south as Kent, which doesn't sound very northern to me,
11:39and I would know.
11:40And after, we'll learn why a Kent Wildlife Trust has won a Great British Wildlife Restoration Award.
11:48So plenty more to look forward to.
11:50Don't move, we'll catch you after the break.
11:52So I'll see you later.
15:10Hello and welcome back to Kent tonight, live, of course, on CAME TV.
15:23First, Legionella bacteria has been discovered in Aylesford,
15:27accommodation provided for homeless military veterans.
15:32The Royal British Veterans Enterprise runs a number of apartment blocks
15:36and care homes for ex-service personnel.
15:38A spokesperson said that through their regular monthly water testing,
15:43they picked up traces of a low-risk strain of Legionella in the hot water systems
15:47at Mountbatten Pavilion in Queen Elizabeth Court.
15:52Measures have been put in place following the advice of specialist consultants
15:55and as of yet, no one has fallen ill.
16:00Next, a widower from Dartford who lost his fiancée to cancer
16:03is more than 1,000 miles into his walk to Ghana
16:06to fulfil his promise to scatter her ashes.
16:10Daniel Forrester lost his partner, Caroline Sarpong,
16:14in November 2024 after a battle with colon cancer.
16:18In one of the last conversations he had with his wife-to-be,
16:21he explained his intentions to walk her ashes to Kumasi in Ghana
16:25to take her home.
16:26Daniel has set off on a 5,000-mile journey
16:29to raise money for the St. Francis Hospice,
16:32which had looked after Caroline so well during her final days.
16:37Next, a school in Ashford has decorated its grounds
16:40with more than 80 flags in an aim to unite pupils.
16:43The John Wallis Academy has adorned the premises
16:45with numerous different national flags woven in to an infinity symbol.
16:50The school hopes the move encourages acceptance and harmony
16:53and helps to address the issue of child isolation
16:55amidst increasing anxiety and mental health issues
16:59among young people.
17:01And we can hear more from John Wallis now.
17:03But underneath that visual message
17:06is very important conversations taking place
17:10in lessons of PHSC lessons
17:12around what it means to be a good citizen.
17:14There is lots of work taking place
17:18through assemblies and through collective worship
17:20around the importance of unity,
17:25of belonging, of being part of something bigger.
17:28And these are really important messages
17:29for children right now.
17:31Next, the first part of a £20 million regeneration project
17:35has been completed in Sheppitt Town Centre.
17:39The crumbling garages in Trinity Street
17:41have been transformed into new workshops.
17:43A ribbon-cutting event was held yesterday
17:46which completed the first of three projects
17:48that make up the Sheerness Revival Scheme.
17:51They've been renovated by Swale Council
17:53and provide a professional space
17:55for artists between the ages of 18 and 30.
17:59Those who rent out the workshops
18:00will join a thriving community of small businesses.
18:05Now, a conservation charity in Kent
18:07has been recognised for its work
18:09breeding and reintroducing
18:10a much-loved native species
18:13to Britain's rivers after decades of decline.
18:17Wildwood Trust has won
18:18the Great British Wildlife Restoration Award
18:20in its recognition of
18:22the Water Vole Reintroduction Project
18:24which is helping bring water voles
18:26back to Britain's rivers.
18:27And Maisie Walker joins me now to tell me more.
18:30So, Maisie, first of all,
18:32you're going to have to help me out here.
18:33I'm lost.
18:34What is a water vol?
18:36So, water voles are often mistaken for rats
18:38but they are larger with thicker fur,
18:41a blunt face, small ears and a fur-covered tail.
18:43We can actually see one right here.
18:45Oh, they're quite cute.
18:46Isn't they?
18:47And they are obviously semi-aquatic
18:49but mainly live in borough systems
18:51along riverbanks and wetlands.
18:54But, you know, their population
18:56has declined about 90-95%
18:59since the 1960s.
19:00And this is largely due to
19:02habitat loss and water pollution.
19:04I see.
19:05And we don't have too much time
19:06but do tell us,
19:07what exactly is
19:08the Water Vole Reintroduction Project?
19:10So, Wildwood is one of the most,
19:12is one of the, you know,
19:14UK's leading conservation breeding centres
19:17and the charity managed to breed
19:19around 50 water voles
19:21which were then released.
19:23and we can actually hear
19:24a little bit more
19:25from a spokesperson at Wildwood
19:27about the event they attended
19:28for the award.
19:32You know, it's a huge achievement
19:34and to get it
19:34at such a prestigious event
19:36in front of so many MPs and peers
19:38is absolutely fantastic.
19:39We've got an amazing conservation team here
19:41that deliver these projects
19:42and it's not just water voles,
19:44it's red squirrels
19:45and pine martins
19:45and beavers
19:46and so much more.
19:47You know, we've got 12 active
19:49native species reintroduction projects
19:51at the minute
19:52and we're hoping to push that
19:53close to 20 by the end of this year.
19:57Maisie Walker there.
19:58And now for all of your sports headlines.
20:02Starting off with football.
20:03Two unsung Whitstable heroes
20:05have been praised
20:06by manager Jamie Coyle
20:07as the Oyster men bring the team
20:09closer towards a successful
20:11FA Vars defence this Saturday.
20:13Coyle said,
20:14We have got Lawrence Ball
20:15who had been out to look at them
20:17and Taylor Caldery
20:18had also gone and watched them
20:20a couple of times.
20:20They have got to take massive credit.
20:22Whitstable progressed to the last 16,
20:24three ties from a Wembley final return
20:27after they won 4-1
20:28at Harpenden Town.
20:30On to Olympic teams.
20:32Tunbridge Wells' own
20:33Matt Weston
20:34and Thanitz Taylor Lawrence
20:36have been selected for Team GB's
20:38Skeleton and Bobsleigh squads
20:40for this year's Winter Olympics.
20:42Weston spoke on returning
20:43to the Olympics after Beijing in 2022.
20:46We missed out on having fans
20:47on the ground for Beijing
20:48so there's an added sense of excitement
20:50this time around
20:51and I'm really excited
20:52to have friends and family
20:53out there with me.
20:54The Games will take place in Italy
20:55from February 6th to the 22nd
20:58and will be Weston's second Olympics
21:00after Beijing 2022
21:02where he finished 15th in the Skeleton.
21:04Next up we have Ice Hockey
21:06where Invicta Dynamos
21:07meet the Slough Jets
21:08this Saturday for their first game
21:10since December's icy brawl.
21:12Head coach Lennon said
21:13The meeting last time out
21:14was a huge game of epic proportions
21:16and we came out the victors
21:18the night before we were losers.
21:19Lennon admits
21:20he doesn't know how the game will play out.
21:22With the drama of their last meeting
21:24still fresh for the players
21:25it began after one of Slough's players
21:27challenged in victors' netminder
21:28leading to a free-for-all
21:29as both team benches emptied.
21:31Lastly we have cricket.
21:33Glenton Sturman
21:34a South African fast bowler
21:35has agreed to join
21:36for the start of Kent's
21:37County Championship this summer.
21:39Director of Cricket
21:40Simon Cook said
21:41He brings a wealth of experience
21:43to our attack
21:44with more than 250
21:45first-class wickets to his name
21:47and it will be great for him
21:48to link up again
21:49with his bowling team-mate
21:50Keith Dudgeon.
21:52Sturman is expected to play
21:53in County Championship Division 2
21:55from the start of April
21:56until the reverse fixture
21:57of Beckenham
21:58beginning May 15th.
22:01And where there was
22:02a little cloud cover
22:03people along the Kent coast
22:05retreated to a light show
22:07last night.
22:08The northern lights
22:09caused by particles
22:10from the sun
22:11hitting the Earth's atmosphere
22:12were visible
22:13even in the far south
22:15of the county
22:15with many residents
22:17sharing photos
22:17on social media.
22:19And joining us now
22:20is Professor David Rees
22:22from the Midken Astrology Society
22:24to tell us more.
22:26Hello David,
22:27how are you?
22:29Hi there.
22:29One correction,
22:30Astronomical Society.
22:32Astronomical.
22:32Apologies,
22:33my bad.
22:33So for anyone
22:34that did miss it,
22:35how rare was
22:36last night's display
22:38for Kent?
22:40Well,
22:40we've had several
22:41of these displays
22:42over the last
22:43three or four years
22:44being high solar activity
22:46and basically
22:48we were just waiting
22:49for the sun
22:49to throw off
22:50what's called
22:50a coronal mass ejection
22:52which,
22:53if it's sent out
22:54in the right direction,
22:55hits the Earth,
22:56compresses the Earth's
22:56magnetic field
22:57and then creates
22:58this fantastic array
23:00of aurora
23:01which we then
23:02are very,
23:03very pleased to see
23:04in the night sky.
23:05Obviously,
23:06clouds are a major problem.
23:08We were totally clouded
23:09out here
23:09during the entire event.
23:11I poked my head outside
23:13about a dozen times
23:14during the night.
23:15Rain, clouds
23:16and all sorts of mess
23:17but those people
23:18who were able to see it
23:19I think had a wonderful display
23:21and as I said,
23:22we have seen several
23:23of these displays
23:24and I've been very lucky
23:25to see some of them myself
23:26and being able
23:27to take images
23:28comparable to the ones
23:29that he's showing
23:29at the moment.
23:30So it's a rare event
23:32if we're lucky
23:33it occurs maybe
23:34about once every three months
23:35but only during the period
23:37of high solar activity
23:38and the solar activity
23:40is now decreasing
23:40so the chances
23:42of seeing these events
23:42over the next few years
23:44will be decreasing
23:45but we still do see them
23:46from time to time.
23:48This last event
23:48started about 1800
23:50in the evening of the 19th
23:51and went on for 42 hours
23:53which is an unusually long event.
23:56As I said,
23:56it started with the
23:58coronal mass ejection
23:59travelling from the sun
24:00hitting the earth
24:01magnetic field
24:02compressing magnetic field
24:04and setting off
24:05all those wonderful displays
24:06of the aurora.
24:07So I hope we will get
24:08more of these displays
24:09over the next few years
24:10but less probably
24:12than we've been having recently
24:13so it's a matter of luck.
24:16Absolutely
24:16and I suppose
24:17when I hear the northern lights
24:18I don't often think of Kent
24:20so what exactly caused them
24:22to be visible
24:23as far south
24:24as our county?
24:25Well I had a nice display
24:28that unfortunately
24:29you were unable to show
24:30which showed the compression
24:31of the earth's magnetic field
24:33by the effects
24:35of the coronal mass ejection.
24:36This means that the aurora
24:38occurs much further south
24:39than it normally does.
24:41For example
24:41one event in May 2024
24:44I was able to image the aurora
24:46from where I live in Rye
24:48as far south
24:50as the north coast
24:51of Morocco
24:51so that's very very unusual
24:55that was an extreme event
24:57even more powerful
24:58than the event we saw this week
24:59but a 42 hour long event
25:02is really quite unusual
25:03and we probably will see some more
25:05I mean
25:05just the week previous
25:07I was on a cruise
25:09with Fred Olsen
25:11Borealis
25:12to Narvik
25:13in northern Norway
25:14where we saw the northern lights
25:16as we had expected
25:17in the far north
25:19so it's very unusual
25:20to see these events
25:21really over southern the UK
25:23and further south than that
25:25I think this event
25:26was seen over northern France
25:28for example.
25:30And we've not got much time
25:31Professor
25:32but what advice
25:33would you give
25:34to people who might be
25:35hoping to catch a glimpse
25:36next time?
25:38Well there's a good
25:39NOAA website
25:41which gives predictions
25:42of these events
25:43and also the UK Met Office
25:45has a prediction service
25:47as well
25:47so it's worth keeping
25:49an eye on these
25:49I usually look out every day
25:51see what's about to happen
25:52and then
25:53if it's appropriate
25:54get a camera ready
25:55get outside
25:56put warm clothing on
25:58and get outside
25:59and enjoy the event.
26:00Absolutely
26:01thank you so much
26:02Professor David
26:03and on that note
26:04let's look at the weather.
26:10It's a cold start tonight
26:12temperatures drop in
26:13to 7 degrees
26:14highs of 9 in Dover
26:16under mostly clear skies
26:18into the morning
26:19turning slightly cooler
26:20temperatures peaking
26:21at 7 degrees
26:22heavy rain
26:23expected across the county
26:25the rain cleans
26:26into the afternoon
26:27highs of 9 degrees
26:28most of the areas
26:29though margay
26:29looking a little cooler
26:31at 8
26:31and your outlook
26:33for the coming days
26:349 degrees on Saturday
26:36nice and clear
26:37but clouds coming in
26:38on Sunday
26:38back to overcast
26:40on Monday
26:40at 7 degrees
26:42and now
26:49it's time for a quick break
26:50but coming up
26:51we've got plenty more
26:52we'll catch you then
26:53I'll see you later
26:54I'll see you later
26:56I'll see you later
26:57I'll see you later
26:57I'll see you later
26:59I'll see you later
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35:00just over 57 000 between march 2023 and march 2024 to over 123 000 in the following year
35:09making it the fastest growing station in the southeastern network the cost of the station
35:14raised a number of eyebrows during its launch in 2023 ending up at 44 million pounds four times
35:21larger than anticipated despite this southeastern says the growing popularity of the train station
35:26proves it was the right decision now don't forget you can keep up to date with all your latest stories
35:32across kent by logging onto our website kmtv.co.uk there you'll find all our reports including this
35:39one about residents in kent taking up veganuary as their new year's resolution aside from some
35:45poor weather january brings plenty of new year's resolutions whether it's quitting smoking picking
35:51up some weights or even reducing your screen time but here in kent and across the country
35:55are people taking on a new challenge for this month veganuary is where you become vegan for
36:00the full month of january you're not allowed to eat any meat or meat products for the whole month
36:05but in kent are there enough places for vegan people to actually eat the quills restaurant in rochester
36:10started adding meat product free options to their menus around 2020. to be fair some people ask basically
36:17demand so people was coming and asking do you do something vegan and i was saying okay we can make
36:22you vegan if you take this this this this off from the from the dish but uh the people was asking more
36:29and more so we said you know what we're going to put that in a menu which is comes vegan and then we
36:34label it as a vegan so it would be just easier for us and for a chef and for a customer and then whoever
36:40wants vegan they know where to go now i love meat as much as the next person i don't think i'd be able to
36:46go vegan for a full month but restaurants are making it a little bit easier they've started
36:51adding more vegan friendly meals to their menu and i'm not just talking about salads like the one i
36:56have here burgers full breakfasts even but going into a restaurant and ordering something vegan
37:01friendly is wholly different from being one you need special kinds of milk special kinds of cream
37:06special kinds of butter even some prosecco's aren't vegan friendly this one is but not all of them are
37:12so how easy is it to actually commit to not eating meat or meat-based products for a whole month or
37:18longer i would say that actually it's probably one of the more challenging diets really to make sure
37:23that you're getting all of the nutrition the vitamins and minerals that you need to get to be as
37:28healthy as you can possibly be so it's definitely possible in terms of a uh you know like a quick
37:36sort of fad way of eating it wouldn't necessarily be my first choice and i would always recommend
37:44that there is research and planning and forth or gone into it beforehand and if it's done in that way
37:50then absolutely you can get everything you need from a vegan diet just requires some planning
37:556.3 percent of uk adults are planning to follow a vegan diet in 2026 that's about 3.6 million people
38:02according to some new data just less than half for already vegan by the new year while 3.2 percent
38:08weren't but have decided to make the transition at the end of the day while restaurants and shops are
38:13becoming more accommodating it's up to us to see can we stick with veganuary as well as we stick with
38:19our other new year's resolutions finn mcdermid for kmtv in rochester next an english ash tree in who has
38:27been cut down angry in residents and local councillors alike this is part of a housing development with
38:33the tree being specifically exempt from being felled but jones homes development and medway council both
38:40offer different reasons for why the tree needed to be cut prompting anger among the community as i've been
38:46finding out it's a clear view to ongoing development in who which only last week were obscured by a large
38:54english ash tree now all that remains is sawdust and a reminder of the tree's middle age and you can
39:01see the remnants of the tree behind me an ash tree estimated to be at least 50 years old originally the
39:08plan included felling the tree though michael successfully lobbied to have the plan explicitly
39:13say that it wouldn't be chopped down however why has the tree been felled it seems to have left
39:19residents distressed and stopped i couldn't believe it the other day when i heard the noise of the
39:26chainsaws and i looked out the window and they were demolishing the tree and i literally i was in tears
39:33watching it happen and it's heartbreaking you know when i first came down here 10 years ago it was a
39:39lovely little village then it's become a town and now it's going into a city and it's frightening i came up
39:45and questioned them about you know who's given the order to do this and they said well it's on the plan
39:52now the plan that was approved was the one that was agreed that the tree would stay and so a second
39:58plan has been developed which has got the tree circled we're all up in arms about this tree being
40:04cut down because it was with promised that it wouldn't be destroyed and just the the countryside
40:09just being decimated the planning application for development stated that the existing mature tree
40:15on stoke road will be spared but when we contacted jones homes for comment they explained that the
40:21tree had ash dieback and therefore needed to be cut down to limit the spread of disease they claim that
40:27this was approved by medway council and 116 new trees are part of abbots grange development in
40:34recompense but correspondence between independent group councillor michael pierce and medway council
40:40planning officers cited difficulty with drainage requirements and internal roads as the reason the
40:46tree couldn't be retained no mention of a disease i think it's an absolute disgrace ice booked michael
40:52at the site and he joined me later when different explanations came to light so this is a week after
40:58the tree was felled and like you say it that you we've got two stories which are not adding up um we've
41:05got the council saying um the tree was felled because of the road layout and drainage and jones
41:10home saying that it had to be felled because it was a safety concern and the tree was diseased although
41:16when i was there on site it didn't look diseased to me um so yeah both stories not adding up um all i
41:22do know is that residents are absolutely furious that this tree has been felled when i asked medway council
41:27for comments they confirmed the tree was cut down due to drainage requirements and internal roads
41:33and while the tree may be gone forever all michael and his residents can do is route for more trees
41:40being planted in the future megan short for came tv in who well that's all we've got time for for now
41:48but be sure to stick around as we'll have another special guest who will be discussing his own
41:53experiences with prostate cancer and his work to raise awareness we'll catch you then
42:03we'll catch you then
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46:37the end of the month with giant fibre, puppet and bioluminescent garden display.
46:43We can expect to see dazzling lights brightening up the skies on Friday, January 30th and Saturday
46:50from 5.30pm to 8.30pm at various venues in and around Gravesend.
46:55This year's theme, Light and Life, focuses on wildlife and nature with exhibitions, concerts
47:00and family entertainment taking place all over the town.
47:03From glowing river monsters and colour changing dancers to guided lantern tours, it's sure
47:08to be a fond one.
47:10And now let's take a look at the weather.
47:17It's a cold start tonight, temperatures dropping to 7 degrees, highs of 9 in Dover under mostly
47:22clear skies.
47:24Into the morning, turning slightly cooler, temperatures peaking at 7 degrees but heavy rain expected
47:28across the county.
47:30The rain clearing moving into the afternoon, highs of 9 for most of Kent, Vilmargate at
47:348 degrees, slightly cooler.
47:36And for your outlay look, Saturday we'll see some sunshine developing, highs of 9, cloudy
47:42throughout on the Sunday, sun peaking through and 7 degrees on the Monday, cloudy skies.
47:49Now, don't forget you can keep up to date with all your latest stories across Kent by logging
47:58on to our website, kmtv.co.uk.
48:01There you'll find all our reports, including this one, about a school in Gravesend, organising
48:06a sponsored walk to raise awareness about mental health struggles in the community.
48:115, 4, 3, 2, 1, this was the moment that hundreds of people walked for mental health
48:29awareness in Gravesend.
48:31Organised by the Shears Green Junior School, this sponsored walk raised funds for mental
48:36health awareness and support services in the community.
48:40And the theme?
48:41Glow in the dark.
48:42But how did this come about?
48:44Well, earlier in the day, I spoke to the women behind it all.
48:48Just before Christmas, I decided that we needed to do something to build up on mental health,
48:55bring the community together.
48:57I think mental health affects quite a lot of us, probably a lot of us not even realising
49:02how much it affects everyone, especially like children as well.
49:07So I just really wanted to put something together.
49:09So when I spoke to Matt, our headteacher, I said, look, why don't our staff do like a sponsored
49:13walk?
49:14And he was like, yeah, I think that's a great idea.
49:16And then it started off something so small.
49:19And tonight we are here at the cyclo park.
49:21People of all ages turned up to walk as many laps as they could around the circuit, with
49:26Hannah saying their mental health awareness should start from a young age.
49:31If you work with them now and work with how to express their feelings and be able to even
49:37get parents to be able to have that conversation, because I think it's quite hard.
49:40And I think some parents might not know how to tackle some of the conversations.
49:45Some of the kids might say things, but they might not quite understand what it actually
49:48means.
49:49So to just open their eyes to what it means now, and then hopefully we can stop them
49:55from going through life and struggling more when they are older.
49:59The walk was hosted at the cyclo park, who say that community events like this are vital.
50:04So it's really important to have events like this to raise awareness, to put profile
50:10on the fact that there are such high levels, but also to try and help people find solutions
50:18to this as well.
50:21There was an evening of face paints, glow sticks, music, and even a group workout.
50:28Let's go, step, step, that's it, give it a little dance, come on, let's see those hips move.
50:37Hundreds of people have shown up here to show their support to the sponsored board here
50:40at the cyclo park.
50:42All of them here to help raise awareness to the mental health crisis that's here in Kent.
50:46In fact, Kent has some of the highest mental health cases across the entire country, which
50:51is why organizers say community events like this are just so, so important.
50:55In fact, every penny gained here tonight will be going to various mental health charities,
51:00both on a county level and nationwide.
51:03For many here today, every step taken was a reminder that mental health matters and that
51:08no one has to walk the journey alone.
51:11Nayla Mahamid for KMTV in Gravesend.
51:13Now, after his diagnosis with prostate cancer in 2021, Paul Dennington of Hempstead has completed
51:21a 588-mile walk across England in aid of Prostate Cancer UK.
51:27He began on the 3rd of August 2015 at North Shields, where he was born 2025, apologies, and
51:33finished 36th later at Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre in Ginningham.
51:38And Paul joins me in the studio now.
51:40So, Paul, we can see your award here, so you won the Pride in Medway Award.
51:46So, tell us about this, why is that so important?
51:48Paul Dennington Well, I think, you know, Medway gets a lot of
51:51bad press some of the time, and yet, as a community, what I've found is it's full of
51:56some really wonderful people who do some amazing work.
52:00And I think, you know, that is such a positive, and to have something that celebrates that
52:06work is super important.
52:08You know, so, I think there are a lot of people out there, they probably won't have started
52:14looking for recognition when they start doing the work in the community.
52:16But I think everybody, you know, when they get a little bit of that recognition, it's
52:20a great motivator, and it's really positive.
52:22So, I would recommend anybody who knows people are doing stuff to help people, to help make
52:28the community a better place, to raise money, to get some nominations in, because if you
52:33get to the event, it's a great event, a great evening.
52:36And as I say, it's a real boost for your motivation if you're doing that work to carry on and to
52:40do more.
52:41Absolutely, and as the winner, you won that for a brilliant reason.
52:44So, tell us about, obviously, your literal journey, and then the other journey you went
52:49on to with your diagnosis.
52:50So, tell us all about that.
52:51So, well, if I stop my actual diagnosis that got me into all of this work, so that was
52:58back in 2021, and I was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
53:03And it's what they call metastatic prostate cancer, so it had already spread, and
53:07unfortunately, I was caught too late for it to be cured.
53:10So, at the time, I was given five to eight years to live, and I never criticise anybody
53:16for the way they would respond to a cancer diagnosis.
53:19It's a pretty tough thing.
53:21But apart from feeling a lot of guilt, because I was going to put my family through this,
53:25I actually felt very, very lucky, and I was blessed with a wonderful kind of wife,
53:30family and friends, super supportive.
53:33I was given this amazing five to eight year focus to do something that most people will never get.
53:38So, what I really wanted to do was create great memories, drive awareness in the hope
53:44that people would, or I could stop some men in their families going through the same journey,
53:49and to raise funds for all the amazing work the Prostate Cancer UK do, and hopefully,
53:53in the process, be a bit of a role model for the kids.
53:56So, that's how I got started.
53:57Of course. And we saw some images on the screen there. You've glitzed up your head,
54:02and you've done all sorts, and your long walk, that's 23 million steps. How was that?
54:08Well, yeah. I've not quite finished it yet, because it's a 25 million step challenge. So,
54:13that was the very first fundraising challenge I set. I wanted something that would grab people's
54:17attention. So, it's a big number, and it works out as the equivalent of doing 14,000 steps a day,
54:25every day of the year for five years. And that would get me equivalent from here to New Zealand.
54:29And also, that would be about 12,000 miles, which is about the same number of people that die every
54:34year, sadly, from Prostate Cancer in the UK. So, it was a great event. It's challenging to do that
54:39many steps every day, but getting there, I'd say 23 million done so far, just the two million to go.
54:46Only two million.
54:47Yeah.
54:49And we can see some photos of your journey on the screen now. Any ideas how you're going to get
54:55that next two million? Have you got something else planned?
54:58Well, actually, on Saturday, I'm doing a 26 miles, so a marathon walk on Saturday.
55:04So, that one is in London. And then I will do, hopefully, I think on the 8th of August,
55:09I'm going to do what I call a sunrise to sunset walk around the Hempstead area. So, I literally walk
55:15from first daylight till the close of light in the evening. So, normally get around 40 to 45 miles on
55:21that one. And then I'm hoping to do an ultra-challenge march in September on the Thames Path, which
55:27is 100 kilometres or 63 miles within 24 hours. So, that will be a tough one to see if I can do that.
55:35I've never walked that far in a day.
55:37So, I definitely haven't either. So, all my respect to you. And for all our views at home,
55:43I'm sure a lot of people might be moved and might want to follow your journey or maybe even contribute
55:46and help you out in some ways. Is there a way for our views to be able to do that?
55:51Oh, yeah, absolutely. I mean, it's been a great journey, as you said. I mean,
55:55I've raised, I think, 130,000 so far. And if people would like to support that and boost that cause,
56:03then JustGiving. You can search my name, Paul Dennington, on JustGiving, and you'll find my
56:08current pages on there. You can probably find me on Facebook or Instagram and stuff. If people want to
56:13message me that way as well, I'd love to hear from people.
56:18And the nominations for Pride in Medway, are they open for any nominees who might be,
56:23just quickly, keen on entering themselves?
56:25Yes, I believe that the nominations are open until, I think, the closing date is the 30th. So,
56:30you've still got time to put it in. And, you know, I say anybody, no matter how big or small,
56:34if they're making a difference, then please nominate them, because people deserve it. We need to be
56:39encouraging people to do more and more to help the community.
56:41Absolutely. A worthy award there. Thank you so much.
56:46Paul, you've been watching Kent Tonight Live on KMTV. That's all we've got time for now,
56:51but we'll catch you later.
57:09Bye-bye.
57:21Bye-bye.
57:25Bye-bye.
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