- 2 minutes ago
Catch up with all the latest news from across the county with Nailah Mohamed
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:26Hello and welcome to Kent Tonight, live on KMTV.
00:30I'm Leila Mohamed and here are your top stories on Monday the 9th of March.
00:34Day of reflection. Kent residents remember lives lost to Covid-19 six years on.
00:39I was working in the NHS, I lost I think half a dozen colleagues through that period.
00:45It does hit people really hard.
00:47Kent's most fined road revealed. We uncover the streets raking in hundreds of thousands
00:52of pounds.
00:53I definitely think the signage could be improved to make it more of a deterrent.
00:57It's fair enough if the cars aren't allowed to go through but I should have clearer signs.
01:01And finally Opera Opportunity. Sevenoaks Youth Drama Group hosts a classical performance to
01:06train young performers.
01:07There were lots of opportunities for musical theatre, MT, drama clubs but not for those
01:13who had more of a niche idea of what they wanted to do which was singing in a more classical
01:17way.
01:30Our top story tonight. Yesterday marked this year's Covid-19 day of reflection where people
01:37across Kent and the rest of the country came together to remember those who lost their lives
01:41during the pandemic. Our reporter Maisie Walker has been in Mainstone speaking to residents
01:46about how their lives have been affected.
01:50In 2020 the world came to a stop. The first national lockdown was announced and almost
01:55overnight the streets fell silent. By late November 2021 just over 5,000 people in Kent
02:02and Medway had died within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test. These deaths in Kent were the
02:07second highest in the country. Now it's been four years since the government confirmed the
02:12end of most legal Covid-19 restrictions in England. And yet reminders remain. Quiet traces of a time
02:18that changed everything.
02:32So last year was the fifth anniversary of the declaration of the Covid pandemic and we wanted to mark that
02:39here in Maidstone.
02:41For the 633 people who died during the pandemic period. So we planted 633 trees in this lovely grove in
02:51one of our parks.
02:52Through Covid I was working in the NHS. I lost I think half a dozen colleagues through that period. It
02:59does hit people really hard.
03:00It did hit people really hard. And of course people are still suffering. The effects of long Covid and the
03:06grief of losing loved ones as well.
03:08On a number of occasions I've walked into the middle of the circle and just sat there for 15 minutes
03:14and been alone with my thoughts and memories.
03:17And I think it really, it just helps people come to terms with their losses.
03:34Staying in Maidstone, Corey's experience with Covid-19 was far from straightforward. He was just 14 when he caught the
03:40virus.
03:41Now living in London, I met with him to talk about the challenges he faced after contracting Covid for the
03:46fourth time and the lasting effects it had on his health.
03:49A few years later, I went, or a year later, I was in hospital with a collapsed lung due to
03:55the amount of times I've had Covid. It weakened my mutants quite a lot.
03:59With lockdown, obviously you couldn't go outside, you couldn't see your friends. And with Covid as well, in the years
04:03when lockdown wasn't a thing, I still couldn't go outside and see my friends.
04:07And with long Covid too, it made going outside and meeting with my friends and meeting with family quite hard
04:12too, because it was something I had to deal with.
04:14I had it for about a year. It was, I couldn't smell quite a lot, I couldn't smell. My sense
04:20of taste was out for quite a while as well, I'd say about six months it was out for. And
04:26I got ill very, very easily too.
04:27To better understand how long Covid affects the body, I also spoke with a local GP.
04:32We don't fully understand why some people get long Covid, but it's more likely that it's due to the body's
04:39reaction to the virus than a direct effect of the virus itself.
04:44Sometimes our immune systems become our own worst enemies, we get sort of friendly fire, where it's starting to damage
04:49our own body whilst trying to get rid of the virus.
04:52And that is one of the things that's happening along Covid. In small numbers of people, you do find actually
04:58that the virus is persisting in their body, you can't get rid of it.
05:01But we need to understand more of it before we can really challenge it.
05:04Although the day has come to a close, we remember those who died and reflect on the impact of the
05:10pandemic, while the legacy of care and kindness shown continues like this tree to endure.
05:17Maisie Walker for KMTV.
05:20And Maisie joins us live now. So Maisie, where exactly are you?
05:26Well, of course, Nayla, I'm back in Maitstone, standing just outside the car park in Shepway Youth and Community Centre.
05:33This site actually was one of the 344 walkthrough testing centres that opened across the country.
05:41And it first started testing on November the 25th, 2020.
05:45So, of course, that's about six years ago now. And standing here, it feels quite surreal.
05:50Obviously, I grew up in Maitstone. I was in Maitstone throughout the pandemic and I actually came here to get
05:55tested for Covid-19 with my father.
05:58So the memory of that day, kind of everyone in queues being five metres apart, washing their hands, wearing masks.
06:05And I'm sure I speak for most residents, too, that it does serve as a reminder of how much, you
06:11know, how much has changed since those times.
06:15And Maisie, you spoke about long Covid in your piece. Could you explain that a bit more for us, please?
06:22Of course. So in my interview with a local GP called Julian Spinks, he offered some clarity on what long
06:29Covid actually is.
06:31So unlike the initial infection, which might last a couple of weeks, long Covid can linger for months.
06:36And of course, symptoms vary depending on the person individually, ranging from fatigue and shortness of breath to cognitive issues,
06:45often described as brain fog.
06:47But of course, I'll let Julian explain that more.
06:50Covid-19 actually stands for coronavirus, December 2019. And it basically describes when it happened.
06:59And it's one of a group of viruses called coronaviruses. And there are others around.
07:03Some of them can be quite nasty, like SARS, which caused a very dangerous outbreak in the Far East and
07:09other ones which are simpler like colds.
07:11And it's caught through inhalation. It can affect the lungs and cause a pneumonia.
07:17But unfortunately, it also can cause reactions to your immune system.
07:21And that can damage other organs, including your heart, your brain and so on.
07:25And in people who are susceptible, the problem with that is they end up in hospital and sometimes unfortunately pass
07:32away.
07:35Thank you, Maisie. And now a Met Police officer from Maidstone has been jailed after making false claims she had
07:41been sexually assaulted by a colleague.
07:45PC Lauren Evans, sorry, had been commuting to work at the Met Police's South Area Basic Command Unit when she
07:51led she'd been attacked by someone claiming to be a plainclothes police officer.
07:55Following an investigation, fellow officer Alex Watson was arrested, interviewed and later released without charge after it was revealed.
08:03PC Evans had made a false report. Evans was suspended from duty and arrested in 2023 before being sentenced to
08:10spend a year in prison last week.
08:13Next, Littlebourne Parish Council and residents have expressed disappointment after a planning inspectorate approved a new 300 home estate in
08:21Littlebourne.
08:23The development covers 40 acres of farmland between the hill and Beaksbourne Road.
08:28Current plans include a community hub, a play area and housing for the elderly.
08:33Committee members initially rejected the scheme following overwhelming objections from residents.
08:39City Councillor Lee Castle described the outcome as bitterly disappointing.
08:44Now don't forget you can keep up to date with all your latest stories across Kent by logging onto our
08:49website kmtv.co.uk
08:51where you'll find all of our reports, including this one I did about MP Helen Whateley urging the government to
08:58rethink their housing targets after noticing that there were over 20,000 houses planned for her constituency.
09:04It spoils the countryside, definitely.
09:06This was just one of the reactions to plans for new homes to be built in Faversham and Mid-Kent.
09:13Known for being the oldest market town in Kent with over 400 listed buildings and a 16th century Guildhall,
09:20Faversham and Mid-Kent is one of 18 constituencies across the county.
09:24And with this area holding less than 5% of the total population, it's been asked to take on over
09:3120,000 new homes.
09:33Almost one in five of all of those homes planned for the entire county.
09:38MP Helen Whateley is saying that these new housing should be focused on areas that have the infrastructure and the
09:43jobs to support it
09:44and that the government should not prioritise building these housing in the countryside.
09:48But do the local residents agree?
09:50We live just off the A2 and the traffic there is just unbelievable now compared to when we first came.
09:57So yes, it has an impact on the roads.
10:01If they're going to build houses, I don't actually agree with the building houses, they need to put the infrastructure
10:05in as well, better roads.
10:07It will spoil the character of this place. It's a character that we've known for years.
10:14I do like to, you know, go out into the country, the other side, you know, the Bising Woods side.
10:22But even going on the bike, you notice the increase in houses.
10:27Local MP Helen Whateley is concerned that the new homes would impact the scenery of her constituency,
10:33which is known for its proximity to rural areas, marshes and orchards.
10:38We live in a rural area. It's called the Garden of Kent. It produces a huge amount of food, particularly
10:43fruit, for the whole country.
10:46The concreting is over. You can't go back from that. This will completely change, transform, change the area and also
10:54destroy all that agricultural land.
10:56Helen also claims that three different bodies have made the plans for her constituency, including Maidstone Council and Swale Council.
11:03A spokesperson from Maidstone Borough Council said all sites included in the adopted local plan have been assessed alongside infrastructure
11:12capacity.
11:13Any decision on housing numbers are driven by government policy, not by the council acting in isolation.
11:20But with the decision of the application due to be made by Swale Borough Council on the 10th of March,
11:26and with the government saying homes must be built,
11:28residents in this corner of the Garden of England question whether it may soon give way to concrete.
11:35Naila Mahamud for KMTV in Favisham.
11:40Now it's time for a quick break, but coming up, Finn McDermott will join us in the studio to talk
11:45about sports and have a quick look at the weather.
11:47See you soon.
12:19.
12:19.
12:19.
12:19.
12:20.
12:23.
12:26.
12:26.
12:27.
12:27.
12:28.
12:29.
12:29.
12:29.
12:29.
12:29.
12:29.
12:34.
12:34.
12:36.
12:59.
12:59.
12:59.
12:59.
13:29.
13:29.
13:29.
13:29.
13:30.
13:31.
13:31.
14:01.
14:01.
14:01.
14:31.
14:31.
14:31.
14:59.
15:00.
15:00.
15:00.
15:00.
15:00.
15:00.
15:05.
15:05.
15:10.
15:10.
15:10.
15:15Welcome back. Now, one street in Tunbridge Wells has raked in nearly £1m in fixed penalty
15:21notices, making it the most fined road in Kent. Most of us can receive fixed penalty
15:27notices for parking where they shouldn't or by not following driving restrictions. But
15:33locals living near Mount Pleasant Road told our local democracy reporter, Olly Lieder,
15:37that poor signage in the area was to blame. Golden hour on a street that might as well be
15:44paved with gold. Between 2024 and 2025, Mount Pleasant Road, right here in the heart of Tunbridge
15:52Wells, raked in nearly £1m in penalty charge notices. That would make it the worst road
16:01in Kent for such fines. Based on the data obtained by Confused.com.
16:0842% of all PCNs here in Tunbridge Wells were made along this road. Locals blame poor signage
16:17near the bus zone. I definitely think the signage could be improved to make it more of a deterrent.
16:23If the cars aren't allowed to go through, but they should have clearer signs. I know lots
16:27and lots of people who've been caught. I see it all the time. I wait at the bus stop and
16:31I see them coming. I think another £70. I think that's what I fell foul of. And I know ignorance
16:38isn't a defence, but I really genuinely hadn't seen the signage properly. And so, you know,
16:43I think it's probably a common thing. Highway signage is managed by Kent County Council,
16:48who took over enforcement from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in October last year. The
16:55County Council says it has redesigned the scheme to comply with updated legislation and has installed
17:03new signage that goes beyond the required standards. While the Borough Council says the
17:09scheme was designed to make the town safer, something locals hope they won't have to pay
17:15such a steep price for going forward. Oli Lieder in Tunbridge Wells.
17:21And Oli joins me in the studio now. So Oli, this is a lot of money from just one road,
17:26isn't it?
17:27You're right now. Let me look at the data we have from Confused.com. Mount Pleasant Road
17:31bringing in 28,930 tickets compared to the next most fined road in Rochester at 6,703. It's a lot
17:43of money from just one road.
17:47£991,815. This is actually one of the most fined roads, not just in Kent, but the whole of the
17:56UK.
17:57And this could be for a variety of reasons. Obviously, we heard in my piece about the bus
18:04gate and the signage around it, those blue signs, which motorists say is misleading, encouraging
18:10people to drive down those roads. But PCNs can be issued for a variety of different driving offences.
18:18You park in a yellow box, which there isn't one on Mount Pleasant Road, but as an example, you park
18:24there, you'll get a PCN.
18:26Or if you park on double yellow lines, a bane of any driver's life, they'll also get a PCN as
18:32well.
18:33So these fines we see on the screen right here could refer to a variety of different driving offences.
18:40And it will be case by case in each of these instances.
18:44So, Oli, what other streets should motorists be looking out for?
18:47Well, I mentioned it just now. Northgate Road in Rochester.
18:51It's a nice little intersection on Rochester High Street leading up to the Cathedral and the Castle.
18:56That brought in a sizable amount of money, £1,603,000.
19:02And we can also see Market Street in Dartford bringing in more than £2,000 as well.
19:08What's interesting about this, all the data is collected slightly differently between councils.
19:12Confused.com's data here has a few gaps, particularly Graveshure, Maidstone and Swale
19:19don't collect PCN data the same as the other councils.
19:23So while we do have this picture that Mount Pleasant is the worst road in Kent for parking fines,
19:30we've got to bear in mind that some councils haven't provided all the data that others have.
19:36Thank you, Oli.
19:42And now Kent Police and a corner shop in Dartford are locked in opposition
19:46after the shop applied to sell alcohol 24 hours a day.
19:51Premier Express Zenith Supermarket in Hive Street says they will continue to operate in a responsible
19:57and controlled manner should permission be granted.
19:59But the police say that the extension would cause an increase in crime and disorder.
20:04Licensing Officer PC Daniel Hunt argued that due to the area having continued issues with drug use
20:09and alcohol-related crime, it's unclear how the shop could police any increase in problems that crop up.
20:16The application is due to be discussed by the local council tomorrow.
20:21And now NHS England has announced a pause on prescriptions for cross-sex gender hormones for under-18s.
20:27The decision has been met by scrutiny from LGBTQ plus rights groups across the country,
20:33with one trans advocacy group saying it would consider legal action over the move.
20:38I spoke to Hilary Cook from the Medway Gender and Sexual Diversity Centre and Medway Pride Radio earlier today
20:45all about what this move might mean for transgender youths.
20:49Could this have any long-term impact on teens who may have had to wait until adulthood to start their
20:54hormone treatments?
20:56Well, it would incur the pubertal development that they didn't want
21:01and would mean that they would then need to go through procedures to alter those,
21:09as well as the mental distress that it could cause.
21:14Absolutely, and I can imagine this is quite an emotional thing to be going through anyway,
21:18but what is the further emotional impact this could have on a trans teenager?
21:24For trans people and adults, the effects of not being supported can affect their mental health and wellbeing.
21:33It can cause depression and anxiety.
21:36Do you agree that the process of giving cross-sex hormones to those under the age of 18 needs to
21:42be reviewed?
21:44Well, there was a review carried out, let me think, by the NHS between 2013 and 2016,
21:50which was looking at prescribing puberty blockers and then cross-sex hormones below the age of 16,
22:00because they were quite happy at that time that puberty blocker treatment
22:06and cross-sex hormonal treatment from the age of 16 onwards was perfectly OK.
22:13And I believe that they got it wrong then because puberty isn't dependent on a specific age as a group.
22:23It's dependent on the individual and any treatment given to anybody needs to be given at the right time for
22:34that individual person.
22:35Because every child deserves medical treatment, and that includes transgender people.
22:43And now that these hormone treatments are no longer an option, what kind of support is out there for young
22:48people?
22:49There's still private treatment for hormonal cross-sex hormone treatment.
22:54Unfortunately, at the moment in the UK, puberty blockers aren't available.
23:01But the other treatment is psychological support and peer support groups.
23:11We as Medway Pride have a group run under the Medway Gender and Sexual Diversity Centre that helps support people.
23:21So there are organisations out there that can provide peer support and hopefully assist individuals in accessing what treatment is
23:34available.
23:35Thank you so much for your time today.
23:39Now here's all the latest in the world of sports with Finn McDermid.
23:53First up, the Jill striker said Palmer Holden has admitted how devastated the team are at their position after a
23:59draw to Fleetwood.
24:01Palmer Holden's late second half score at Priestfield Stadium on Saturday looked promising for the Jills.
24:07But Fleetwood struck deep into stoppage time, finishing the game at a draw 1-1.
24:11He added, I know every player on that pitch gave their all and we've got to look for the positives.
24:16We've got a point from the game.
24:19To rugby now.
24:20Medway's Regional 1 South East away trip to Amersham and Chiltern has ended in defeat with a final score of
24:2529-22.
24:28They started exchanges largely in the host's possession.
24:31Medway showed a promising strong outset, building pressure throughout the match.
24:35Their drills were disrupted by injuries as Pete Cole replaced Dawid Serac.
24:39Later, Harrison Furmore swapped with John Sapawa.
24:42Owen Churchmills progressing on to fly half.
24:45Max Bullock won Medway's first try, though missing their conversion.
24:48The score pushed them into contesting before half-time.
24:52Next, former Kent bowling coach and right arm bowler Robbie Joseph is set to join Canterbury Cricket Club as a
24:58player coach.
25:00Joseph played for Kent between 2004 and 2011 and later in 2014 and will join the Kent League Championship team
25:06ahead of 2026's summer.
25:08The club spokesman said Joseph has plenty of experience, leadership and passion for developing players to the club.
25:14He boasts 110 appearances for Kent across two playing terms, in which he took 230 wickets across all formats.
25:21After placing third and narrowly missing promotion to Kent League's top division, Joseph is hopeful the team will go further
25:27this time.
25:29Next, Ebsleet United manager Josh Wright celebrates a 3-0 victory against Torquay United in the National League South at
25:35Stonebridge Road.
25:37Wright said the fleet wanted it more than them when talking on the losses of Torquay.
25:42He added he was proud of the team's efforts, saying we're going to need that in abundance from now until
25:47the end of the season.
25:48And the fleet manager also thanked fans for helping to create an atmosphere on the pitch that pushed players' performance
25:53throughout the match.
25:55And that's all the time we have for this week's sports news.
26:09And now the weather.
26:17It's mostly cloudy for parts of Kent tonight, with some areas reaching temperatures of 8 degrees and a few of
26:239 degrees.
26:24Clear sun for most of Kent tomorrow morning around 9 o'clock.
26:27Darfur the highest at 11 degrees, others at 9 and 10 in the morning.
26:31In the afternoon, not much has changed as clear sun for most of Kent.
26:34Darfur again with the highest around 13 degrees, but it's the only town partly cloudy.
26:40Your outlook for the rest of the week.
26:42Wednesday is cloudy with 13 degrees, Thursday at 12 and Friday 13.
26:53Now it's time for a quick break.
26:58.
26:58.
26:58.
26:58.
26:58.
26:58.
27:02.
27:02.
27:02.
27:02.
27:02.
27:02.
27:04.
27:07.
27:07.
27:08.
27:12.
27:12.
27:12.
27:12.
27:12.
27:12.
27:14.
27:16.
27:19.
27:20.
27:20.
27:21.
27:21.
27:21.
27:21.
27:21.
27:22.
27:26.
27:28.
27:28.
27:28.
27:58.
27:58.
27:58.
28:28.
28:28.
28:28.
28:28.
28:57.
28:58.
28:58.
28:58.
29:28.
29:28.
29:28.
29:28.
29:58.
29:58.
29:58.
29:58.
29:58.
29:58.
29:58.
29:58.
29:58.
29:58.
29:58.
30:25Hello and welcome to Kent tonight.
30:27Live on KMTV. I'm Leila Muhammad and here are your top stories on Monday the 9th of March.
30:33Day of reflection. Kent residents remember lives lost to Covid-19 six years on.
30:39I was working in the NHS. I lost I think half a dozen colleagues through that period. It does hit
30:45people really hard.
30:47Kent's most fined road revealed. We uncover the streets raking in hundreds of thousands of pounds.
30:53I definitely think the signage could be improved to make it more of a deterrent.
30:57Yeah it's fair enough if the cars aren't allowed to go through but they should have clearer signs.
31:00And finally Opera Opportunity. Sevenoaks Youth Drama Group hosts a classical performance to train young performers.
31:07There were lots of opportunities for musical theatre, MT, drama clubs but not for those who had more of a
31:13niche idea of what they wanted to do which was singing in a more classical way.
31:27A reminder of our top story tonight. Yesterday marked this year's Covid-19 day of reflection where people across Kent
31:35and the rest of the country came together to remember those who lost their lives during the pandemic.
31:39Our reporter Maisie Walker has been in Maidstone speaking to residents about how their lives have been affected.
31:46In 2020 the world came to a stop. The first national lockdown was announced and almost overnight the streets fell
31:53silent.
31:54By late November 2021 just over 5,000 people in Kent and Medway had died within 28 days of a
32:01positive Covid-19 test.
32:02These deaths in Kent were the second highest in the country.
32:05Now it's been four years since the government confirmed the end of most legal Covid-19 restrictions in England and
32:11yet reminders remain.
32:13Quiet traces of a time that changed everything.
32:29So last year was the fifth anniversary of the declaration of the Covid pandemic and we wanted to mark that
32:36here in Maidstone for the 633 people who died during the pandemic period.
32:42So we planted 633 trees in this lovely grove in one of our parks through Covid.
32:49I was working in the NHS. I lost I think half a dozen colleagues through that period.
32:55It does hit people really hard. It did hit people really hard.
32:58And of course people are still suffering the effects of long Covid and the grief of losing loved ones as
33:04well.
33:04On a number of occasions I've walked into the middle of the circle and just sat there for 15 minutes
33:10and been alone with my thoughts and memories.
33:13And I think it really, it just helps people come to terms with their losses.
33:30Staying in Maidstone, Corey's experience with Covid-19 was far from straightforward.
33:35He was just 14 when he caught the virus.
33:37Now living in London, I met with him to talk about the challenges he faced after contracting Covid for the
33:43fourth time and the lasting effects it had on his health.
33:45A few years later, I went, or a year later, I was in hospital with a collapsed lung due to
33:51the amount of symptoms I've had Covid.
33:53It weakened my mutants quite a lot.
33:55With lockdown, obviously you couldn't go outside, you couldn't see your friends.
33:58And with Covid as well, in the years when lockdown wasn't a thing, I still couldn't go outside and see
34:03my friends.
34:03And with long Covid too, it made going outside and meeting with my friends and meeting with family quite hard
34:08too, because it was something I had to deal with.
34:11I had it for about a year. It was, I couldn't smell quite a lot. I couldn't smell.
34:16My sense of taste was out for quite a while as well, I'd say about six months it was out
34:20for.
34:22And I got ill very, very easily too.
34:24To better understand how long Covid affects the body, I also spoke with a local GP.
34:29We don't fully understand why some people get long Covid, but it's more likely that it's due to the body's
34:35reaction to the virus than a direct effect of the virus itself.
34:40Sometimes our immune systems become our own worst enemies.
34:43We get sort of friendly fire where it starts to damage your own body whilst trying to get rid of
34:47the virus.
34:48And that is one of the things that's happening along Covid.
34:52In small numbers of people, you do find actually that the virus is persisting in their body, you can't get
34:56rid of it.
34:57But we need to understand more of it before we can really challenge it.
35:01Although the day has come to a close, we remember those who died and reflect on the impact of the
35:07pandemic,
35:07while the legacy of care and kindness shown continues, like this tree, to endure.
35:13Maisie Walker for KMTV.
35:16And Maisie joins us live now.
35:19So Maisie, where exactly are you?
35:22Well, of course, I'm in Maidstone again.
35:25I'm standing just outside of one of the car parks of the Shepway Youth and Community Centre.
35:30And this site was actually one of the 344 walkthrough testing centres that opened across the country.
35:38And it first started testing on the 25th of November 2020.
35:43So, of course, that's six years ago now.
35:46And being here feels, on a personal note, quite surreal.
35:49Obviously, I grew up in Maidstone. I was in Maidstone during the pandemic.
35:51And me and my dad actually got tested here once to see if we had COVID.
35:57And that day, kind of people queuing and staying five metres apart, washing their hands, face coverings on.
36:05I'm sure I speak for many residents here as well, that it just is a reminder of how much life
36:11has changed since then.
36:13And Maisie, you spoke about long COVID in your piece.
36:16Could you explain that a bit more for us, please?
36:20So, in my interview with a local GP called Julian Spinks, he offered some clarity on what long COVID actually
36:29is.
36:30And unlike the initial infection, which lasts maybe a couple of weeks, long COVID can linger for months.
36:37So, symptoms, of course, vary depending on the individual person, ranging from fatigue and shortness of breath to cognitive issues,
36:46often described as brain fog.
36:48But, of course, Julian can probably explain this better than me.
36:52COVID-19 actually stands for coronavirus December 2019.
36:58And it basically describes when it happened.
37:00And it's one of a group of viruses called coronaviruses.
37:03And there are others around. Some of them can be quite nasty, like SARS, which caused a very dangerous outbreak
37:08in the Far East, and other ones which are simpler like colds.
37:12And it's caught through inhalation.
37:15It can affect the lungs and cause pneumonia.
37:18But, unfortunately, it also can cause reactions to your immune system.
37:22And that can damage other organs, including your heart, your brain, and so on.
37:27And in people who are susceptible, the problem with that is they end up in hospital and sometimes, unfortunately, pass
37:33away.
37:34Thank you, Maisie.
37:36Next, a charity that redistributes surplus food to people who need it across Kent say they've had a record year
37:42of impact.
37:43Following the height of the pandemic in 2021, Fair Share stated that a lot of food that they've received would
37:48have been tinned.
37:49This has now changed, and they're now seeing a surplus of donations and fresh fruit.
37:53We spoke to Ian Townsend-Blazier from Fair Share about this earlier today.
37:59We were talking about the pandemic from a Fair Share point of view, was unprecedented levels.
38:04Normally, we would be a distribution centre that would distribute about 800 tonnes worth of food.
38:09And then the pandemic hit in that period, and we excelled and went up to 1,200 to levels that
38:15we never thought would be achieved again from the warehouse that we currently occupy.
38:20But this year, we generally sort of smashed that beyond.
38:22We're about 1.300 tonnes of good quality surplus food now going out to over 150 charity groups across Kent
38:29and Medway, roughly providing about 3 million meals with that food.
38:33So, you know, a lot of it is now fresh fruit and veg produce, which is brilliant because there's so
38:40many nutritional benefits with that.
38:42And now, a proposal for 50 new homes in Higham has raised questions about whether the village's services can cope
38:49with more than 1,000 people signing a petition objecting to these plans.
38:53And for more on this, I'm joined now by our reporter, Josh Elgin.
38:58So, Josh, what are these plans?
39:00So, the proposal is for up to 50 homes on farmland in the village.
39:04It's going to be a mix of masonets and family houses with half of them classed as affordable.
39:08The plans also include parking and over a hectare of green space, including play areas for children and space for
39:14the community to use.
39:16And what is the developer saying about these plans, about these concerns?
39:20The developer's Scott Properties says the site would be a logical and sustainable extension to the village because Higgum, in
39:26their view, already has essential services in place.
39:29They also say the development could include payments towards local schools, libraries and social services.
39:34The submitted plans also claim there is a significant presence of Greenbelt and Gravesham, but a lack of opportunities for
39:40developers to build.
39:41So, their view is that to meet local housing needs, villages like Higgum will need to take some of the
39:46growth.
39:47At the moment, the developer has submitted an outline planning application to the council.
39:51That effectively means that asking whether the plans will be acceptable in principle.
39:56The next step, if granted permission, would be to submit more detailed plans for approval.
40:01And you've been speaking to residents about these plans, haven't you?
40:04Yeah, and so the main issue residents are saying is infrastructure or lack of it.
40:09The village's only GP surgery is let's close this spring.
40:14Many people have to travel elsewhere for appointments.
40:17And residents have told me it's already hard to get seen and they worry that adding even more houses will
40:20just make that even more difficult.
40:22And the local primary school is already oversubscribed.
40:25So, many say they simply don't know where new peoples would go to.
40:29And many residents have also told me they really value Higgum's countryside feel.
40:33And they worry that approving this development would lead to more.
40:36And then at that point the village would lose the rural feel that they really value.
40:41And so let's hear from some of the residents you've been speaking to.
40:44They don't need a new development because everybody's got children they're growing up and they don't want to live here.
40:55They want to move out.
40:56Well, there is always some concern that, again, it means extra traffic and an inconvenience always.
41:04Well, it's quite busy down here, really, because you've got a lot of stuff going on down the old Neuralite
41:11site.
41:12So there's always lorries and trucks up and down the school lane, which makes it quite busy.
41:19Thank you, Josh.
41:20And now it's time for one last break.
41:23But coming up, today's news features the Jewel of Kent clamping down on antisocial behaviour.
41:28We'll be taking another look at the sports stories in Kent over the weekend.
41:32And also a youth drama group in Seven Oaks hosting classical performances to train young performers.
41:38You can keep an eye on all of our social media as well by following us on TikTok, liking us
41:42on Instagram and also Facebook,
41:44where we have so much content and more stories for you.
41:47All this and more, you can join us after the break.
41:50We'll see you soon.
42:07We'll see you soon.
42:29Bye.
42:31Bye.
42:59Bye.
43:00Bye.
43:30Bye.
43:31Bye.
43:59Bye.
44:01Bye.
44:29Bye.
44:30Bye.
44:59Bye.
45:00Bye.
45:05Bye.
45:15Bye.
45:16Welcome back to Kent Tonight here on KMTV.
45:18Now, as always here in the Garden of England, there's plenty of news from across the county.
45:23Whether it's Bears in Dover or Net Zero council homes in Canterbury.
45:27Now today's news features the Jewel of Kent clamping down on antisocial behaviour, a cachery in need of donations and
45:33a medieval castle getting a reboot.
45:36Corey Miller joined me earlier in the studio.
45:39So Corey, you've got a few stories for us here today. Can you tell us your first story please?
45:44Yes, of course. So Tentadon is looking forward for a public space protection order.
45:50So with that, they are looking to try and make just the streets of Tentadon a lot more safe.
45:57So Tentadon was renowned for being known as the Jewel of Kent.
46:00And with that, recently there has been a couple reports of unsavoury behaviour.
46:05So with this sort of put in place, this can help reduce that, hopefully.
46:10So what this means is there's going to be a £100 fine for anyone who is caught doing unsavoury acts.
46:17So that could cover dog fouling, loitering or just any other act that's just generally an unpleasant site to be
46:26around.
46:27And what is a public space protection order?
46:31So as you can see on the board, this is the perimeter that it is to protect.
46:35And it is just sort of more enforcement and it gives authorities such as police the right to come in
46:43and ensure that people are sort of acting properly.
46:47And just it gives the police officers more sort of responsibility and authority to enact this sort of formality, if
46:58that makes sense.
47:00Absolutely. And I believe you've got another story for us here today about a cattery.
47:04Yes. So in Ashford Garden, there is a cattery which is on the brink of shutdown due to the lack
47:10of funding.
47:11The cattery has struggled quite a bit in terms of trying to get money in.
47:14And especially with the cost of veterinary bills and just trying to actually home the cats, it's been quite a
47:22struggle.
47:22In fact, last year, bills for the veterinary was £50,000 alone.
47:28So with that, they've been really struggling to make it through getting past all the paychecks and expenditures.
47:35And they think that they may only last until the end of the year.
47:40And Corey, you have one final story for us today. Can you tell us a little bit about what it
47:43is?
47:44A donation has been put in place to help support an ambitious attempt to help connect Scotley Castle with its
47:51surrounding environment and wildlife.
47:53So in terms of the castle itself, it was an old 14th century castle, which dates back to 1380.
48:00And it's been complemented with a new house that was put in in 1834.
48:04And with that, the National Lottery Heritage Funds have supported this in trying to rekindle its connection to the wildlife
48:14and that around it.
48:16So as such, there is a vine greenhouse, which is part of a grey-two garden, which they want to
48:22help connect to the rest of it and re-venerate,
48:25just re-decorate and make it a lot more appealing and better for people approaching.
48:30So the National Lottery Heritage Funds had already donated over £280,000 towards this and are currently looking to submit
48:41another application for around £3.25 million in future.
48:46So with that money, they, as I mentioned before, look to regenerate, redecorate the greenhouse.
48:55Also with that, they're looking to reconvene, relocate the car park to a place that's outside of the castle because
49:02at the moment it tends to be overflowing in terms of spaces.
49:05So this would, one, make it a lot more pleasant to see for people coming to visit the castle, but
49:11also a lot more safer.
49:12It would be a lot more safer in and around walking through the castle.
49:15In terms for places that you want to sort of reside and rest, they're planning to build a new barn
49:21and also a new sort of coffee shop
49:23so people can have a sit down after the day out and just relax.
49:27Now, Finn McDermott joins us in the studio to tell us more about the latest news in sports.
49:43First up, and the Gilles striker said Palmer Holden has admitted the side's frustration at their position after a draw
49:49to Fleetwood.
49:49His late second-half score at Priestville Stadium on Saturday looked promising for the Gilles, but Fleetwood struck deep into
49:57stoppage time, finishing the game at a draw at 1-1.
49:59He added that, I know every player on that pitch gave their all and that they've got to look at
50:04the positives being a point from the game.
50:08Over to rugby now and Medway's Regional 1 South East away trip to Amersham and Chiltern has ended in defeat
50:14with a final score of 29-22.
50:17The starting exchanges were largely in the hosts' possession and Medway showed some promising strong outset, building pressure throughout the
50:25match.
50:26Their drills were disrupted by injuries as Pete Cole was replaced by Dawid Sarek later, Harrison Ferma swapped with John
50:34Sapawa and Owen Church Mills came on as a fly half.
50:38Max Bullock won Medway's first try, though missed their conversion, but the score pushed them into contesting before half-time.
50:44Despite some setbacks, the team's strong performance and resilience earned them two bonus points.
50:50Next, a former Kent bowling coach and right-arm bowler, that is Robbie Joseph, is set to join Canterbury Cricket
50:56Club as a player coach.
50:59Joseph played for Kent between 2004 and 2011, later coming back in 2014, and will join the Kent League Championship
51:05team ahead of the 2026 summer season.
51:08A club spokesman has praised Joseph's experience, leadership and passion for developing players to the club.
51:13He boasts 110 appearances for Kent across two playing terms, in which he took 230 wickets across all formats.
51:21After placing third and narrowly missing promotion to Kent League's top division, just 12 points behind Whitstable, Joseph is hopeful
51:27the team will go on further this time.
51:30Next, Ebb's fleet manager Josh Wright has celebrated their 3-0 victory against Torquay United in the National League South
51:36at Stonebridge Road.
51:38The three goals came from Samuel, Appiah and Wiley, and all had strong team play and build-up.
51:44Wright said the fleet wanted it more than them, and added he was proud of the team's efforts, saying we're
51:49going to need that in abundance from now to the end of the season.
51:52The manager also thanked fans for helping to create an atmosphere on the pitch that pushed players' performance on throughout
51:57the match.
52:00And finally, Broadstairs Paralympian James Barnes-Miller placed fourth in the snowboarding upper-limb tournament in Cortina's Winter Olympics.
52:08This marks Barnes-Miller's last Paralympics, ending at the quarter-final stage on Sunday.
52:13The Kent-based athlete secured a strong position in the seating after placing fifth with a fastest time of 52
52:19.17 seconds.
52:20Though in third place, Barnes-Miller is said to have lost grip and stumbled, making strong efforts to regain momentum,
52:25but finished last, 7.73 seconds behind the first-place winner.
52:31And that's all for this week's sports news.
52:43And now it's time to take a look at the weather.
52:52It's mostly cloudy for parts of Kent tonight. Some areas with temperatures of 8 degrees and a few at 9
52:57degrees. Clear sun for most of tomorrow morning, around 9 o'clock.
53:01Darford the highest at 11 degrees, others at 9 and 10 in the early morning. In the afternoon, not much
53:07has changed as clear sun from most of Kent. Darford again with the highest.
53:12Your outlook for the next few days, Wednesday 13 degrees, Thursday 12 and Friday 13 degrees with some clear sun.
53:29And finally, opera as an art form isn't often practised by young people, but one group in Sevenoaks are looking
53:35to change that.
53:36The Kitchen Youth Opera started as a way for students as young as 9 to become classically trained opera singers
53:42and recently held a performance of the 1800s comedy, The Zoo.
53:46Finn McDermott went down to Sevenoaks Stag Theatre to meet the cast.
53:50At the Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks, the lights are lit, the stage is ready, but this isn't your average play.
53:56It's an opera. And despite their age, the cast have been trained in the classics.
54:00Back in 2015, I noticed that there was a gap in the market for children who are really interested in
54:08singing in a more classical style.
54:10There were lots of opportunities for musical theatre, MT, drama clubs, but not for those who had more of a
54:16niche idea of what they wanted to do, which was singing in a more classical way,
54:21which involves equally amount of performance and training. So I decided to set up the Kitchen Youth Opera Company.
54:28As the lights come on, the rehearsal can begin. The Kitchen Youth Opera sees those aged 9 to 18 performing
54:34opera, which traditionally is almost entirely sung.
54:38And this year, they're rehearsing for the one-act comedy, The Zoo, a classic from the 1800s.
54:42My favourite part is when I find out that Thomas Brown is the Duke of Islington and then he proposes
54:46to Eliza Smith.
54:48My favourite part is when the rest of the group, they find out that I'm the Duke of Islington.
54:54This is my first year playing a boy, which Debbie likes to do. She likes to swap the gender roles
55:04sometimes for different voice types.
55:06It's really fun and it's my first year doing hair and makeup for the show, so it's been a bit
55:15more added stress.
55:16I like the scenes where it has a lot of people singing different parts.
55:21I really like the grinder scene because it's really loud and kind of chaotic and it's just really fun to
55:26do.
55:26And while the cast has plenty of veterans, it's not afraid to bring in some newer talent as well.
55:31I've loved every rehearsal. I mean, firstly, when I first joined, the singing was absolutely incredible.
55:38I mean, it was like I was sat in a choir. I was just swept away.
55:42I'm feeling okay. I'm just like a little bit nervous.
55:46I'm so nervous, but it'll be fun.
55:49According to the Youth Opera, the production aims to help the performers beyond opening night,
55:53with there being social and mental benefits to performing,
55:56as well as former cast members going on to study at Oxford, Cambridge and the Guildhall School of Music.
56:01Now, they've been rehearsing at the zoo for about eight weeks
56:04and during that time they've been having dress rehearsals,
56:06but the nature of an opera means that it's all sung.
56:09So, they'll be sure that all this rehearsing means that they can start that very first performance on a high
56:13note.
56:17Finn McDermid for KMTV in Sevenoaks.
56:22You've been watching Kent Tonight live on KMTV,
56:25and there's more news made just for Kent throughout the evening.
56:28And don't forget, you can always keep up to date with the latest news across your county
56:32by logging on to kmtv.co.uk.
56:35You can also keep us on your social timelines by liking us on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.
56:40But for now, that's all from me.
56:42So, have a really good evening and we'll see you tomorrow.
56:44Goodbye.
56:49Bye.
Comments