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Nailah Mohamed reports
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00:30Hello and welcome to Kent Tonight, live on KMTV.
00:34I'm Nayla Mohamed and here are your top stories on Tuesday 10th March.
00:39Clash in Cliftonville as voters prepare for hotly contested KCC by-election.
00:44I actually feel very disillusioned. Two-party system is broken.
00:49But I prefer reformed policies, Nayla.
00:53Believe in B Corp. Tombridge Wells hosts local summits to encourage more Kent businesses to make the switch.
00:59This B Corp business, which is about your community, your staff and your business,
01:06all of those work together really well in Tombridge Wells.
01:09And finally, Made in Kent, our weekly show that takes a look at local businesses that shape the county.
01:15Um, the challenges are, um, none.
01:31Your top story tonight.
01:33The fight for a hotly contested by-election in Thanet is underway in Reform UK's first electoral test
01:39since taking County Hall last summer.
01:42Sparked by the previous councillor for the area being put behind bars for coercive behaviour,
01:46all the major parties at Kent County Council are looking for a win in Cliftonville,
01:51which was one of the divisions that turned turquoise in 2025.
01:55Local democracy reporter Olly Leeder was out speaking to voters on the coast about where their heats lie.
02:00The first spring sunshine here in Thanet and the promise of change in the air.
02:08After all, a month from now, voters will flock to the polls
02:12for a Kent County Council by-election touted to be hotly contested.
02:18Cliftonville isn't just an idyllic slice of Kentish coastline, but the first electoral challenge for Reform UK
02:26since sweeping the local elections last year, with the Greens, Conservatives and Labour all confident
02:34they could win here in the division.
02:37No, I'll never vote Conservative or Labour.
02:40To be honest, I've, yeah, lost, lost faith in the system.
02:44They're thinking about just only big business.
02:47Down here, I don't know. I'm a bit of a lost soul.
02:51Blue skies and turquoise waves, a political divide looming on the horizon.
02:56This was once a safely Conservative division, until last May, when Daniel Taylor was elected under the reform banner.
03:06Less than a year later, Taylor is behind bars after pleading guilty to coercive behaviour.
03:13A criminal history showing little sign of coming back to roost in the by-election sparked by his sentencing.
03:21I know he's a couple of doors away from me.
03:25I mean, well, it's not Reform's fault, is it really?
03:29Well, I suppose I'd probably go to Reform rather than any of the others, but that's mainly because of disappointment
03:36with both Tory and Labour.
03:39I probably might do Reform again, actually, because it won't be that same bloke anyway.
03:45A cliff edge in support was always unlikely.
03:49Reform UK did secure 40% of the vote here last year, but a turn in electoral fortune isn't unprecedented.
03:58Labour painted than it district council red back in 2023 among the bungalows.
04:05That success feels further away than it has ever before.
04:10People is thinking Labour is being doing for work people, for small businesses is going better.
04:17My opinion is not now.
04:20With Labour facing challenges in Westminster, voters closer to home are casting their eyes
04:28elsewhere.
04:29So, I look at the Green Party as what I think people saw the Lib Dems as being, which was
04:33the option if you didn't want to vote Labour or Conservative.
04:37I like their policies and believe what they're saying, which is quite refreshing in politics at the moment.
04:43So, they are most likely to get my vote.
04:46It's just that awful stalemate of is it a wasted vote.
04:50Are they fit to run a country?
04:52Probably not.
04:53Are they fit to run local council?
04:55Council by-elections are notoriously low turnout, margins matter here and there are plenty of unknowns.
05:04But speaking to those on the street, local issues are barely coming up.
05:09Drawing a line in the sand against the national picture might prove difficult.
05:16Olly Lieder in Cliftonville.
05:20And if you live in that division and want to vote, you'll need to register by the 20th of March,
05:25where you can choose from the following candidates.
05:28Charlie Lays for the Conservatives, Rob Yates for Greens, Dr Mo Chaffee for Liberal Democrats, Joanne Brides for Labour and
05:35Mark Vatigan, sorry, for Reform UK.
05:40And now, a baby was left with two skull fractures and brain hemorrhages after being attacked by an XL bully.
05:47The owner, Jordan Williams, then aged 18, was upstairs in his bedroom when Hunter attacked, leaving onlookers to pull the
05:54canine away.
05:55The child had to be airlifted to King's College Hospital and placed in a medically induced coma.
06:00Williams was given a six-month custodial term, 150 hours of unpaid work and disqualified from owning a dog for
06:07six years.
06:08Now, dramatic police footage has captured the moment a thief in Tunbridge tried to escape arrest by jumping from a
06:14second floor window.
06:16Officers say they were taken aback by the risk that he took.
06:19Now, our reporter, Josh Elgin, joins us in the studio now.
06:23So, Josh, can you talk us through a bit of the footage, please?
06:26Yes, Sila. So, the footage shows officers trying to arrest 33-year-old Bobby Thorpe.
06:30As they attempt to force their way in, officers hear a loud crash outside.
06:37When the officers run to the back of the building, they realise he's jumped straight out of the second floor
06:41window and landed on a neighbour's garage.
06:43One of the officers, PC Ben Cooper, then makes his way over a garden fence in pursuit of Thorpe.
06:49As he follows a trail of broken tiles strewn across the garage roof, a member of the public points police
06:55in the right direction.
06:57The officers are then seen running after him and PC Cooper spots him hiding in the corner of a neighbour's
07:02garden.
07:03And that's where the arrest happens.
07:05He's now been jailed for 36 weeks of offences including theft, handling stolen goods and fraud.
07:11And what have police said?
07:13Kent Police says it shows just how quickly officers have to react in unpredictable situations.
07:17Chief Inspector Mark Subberfield praised the team for acting decisively.
07:23And thank you, Josh.
07:26Now, a fire at the former Odeon Cinema in Canterbury sent shockwaves around the city when smoke could be seen
07:32for miles.
07:32But while the flames were quickly distinguished, the nightmare continued for neighbouring businesses.
07:37Several were forced to close immediately following the incident with some remaining shut two weeks later.
07:42But what is the future for the area?
07:44Well, our reporter Chloe Brewster went to see.
07:47You may remember the images of the former Odeon in Canterbury engulfed in flames.
07:52Well, now the structure is causing issues next door.
07:55Tokyo Tea Rooms is one of the most popular clubs in Canterbury.
07:58But for the past two weeks, it's that vacant after the fire in the Odeon deemed the area to be
08:02structurally unsound.
08:04So, the fire, we had a really successful night the night before on the Friday.
08:08And then at about two o'clock on the Saturday day, Valentine's Day, I got a call from a friend
08:14saying, or a message saying that there was a fire and did I know?
08:19And at that time I didn't know.
08:20And then I got here, the area was cordoned off.
08:23There were a few points where I really thought the building, the whole lot was going to go.
08:26Canterbury City Council says urgent work is required to remove the danger, which could include demolishing all or part of
08:32the structure.
08:33And the council told us in a statement that the owners, Kent Estate Holdings, are actively working with the council
08:39and that they have already installed temporary support to the building.
08:42But they say the councils are waiting the structural design for the scaffolding so that it can be assessed for
08:47any risks to neighbouring properties.
08:50Once that's done, I'm hoping we can get back in there.
08:52So, it could be a few weeks, it could be a few months.
08:57I'm hoping it's the former.
08:59The cinema had been officially abandoned for five years at the time of the fire, but it was a popular
09:04spot for urban explorers.
09:06The owner of Ilpus Tosino told Kent Online that he'd regularly see kids accessing the building via old stairs and
09:12that he'd seen videos online of kids filming inside the cinema.
09:15Now, in terms of the cause of the fire, two 14-year-olds and a 15-year-old remain on
09:21police bail on suspicion of arson.
09:23Chloe Brewster for KMTV in Canterbury.
09:27And Chloe joins me now in the studio to discuss this further.
09:31So, Chloe, this is a really worrying time for businesses, but is there a risk or a worry that the
09:35Odeon could collapse?
09:37Now, this is something that none of the neighbours want to hear, but there is that risk of the building
09:41collapsing.
09:42Building inspectors have deemed the site to be unsafe and Canterbury City Council has issued a Section 77 notice, which
09:48is a dangerous structure notice, which means the building requires urgent action to remove that risk.
09:53It means the building owners must respond within two weeks with either a programme of work or proof that plans
09:59are being put in place for the future of the building.
10:01At the moment, from my understanding, scaffolding has been put up in place in the meantime, so no collapsed walls,
10:07hopefully.
10:08But the Council says the building freeholders, Kent Estate Holdings, are working with the Council to figure out exactly what
10:13will be going on into the future.
10:14And on that note, what is the future of the building?
10:18So, many people have great memories of the Odeon, but it does seem like, if not a partial demolition of
10:25the building, a total demolition of the building is pretty likely.
10:28I was told Goody Demolitioner are on the job and they've been securing and clearing the site.
10:32You can see there the fire raging on, clearly causing a lot of damage to that building.
10:37It isn't yet certain what exactly will happen for the building.
10:40The site had been earmarked in the Council's draft local plan to be a 50-home redevelopment,
10:46but that wasn't set in stone before the fire took place, and it's definitely a spanner in the works, these
10:52fires happening now.
10:54And when will businesses like Tokyo Tubing reopen?
10:57At the moment, we don't know.
10:59As Louise said in my report, she doesn't know whether it will be weeks or whether it will be months.
11:04Kent Estate Holdings, that's the freeholder, as I mentioned, said they can't confirm exact timings for lifting those restrictions yet,
11:10as it depends on the findings of any engineer inspections and directions from the relevant local authorities.
11:17As you might have seen in my piece there, the scaffolding is in place around the front.
11:21The Tokyo Tea Room says it's not necessarily around the back, which means it's still a danger to that club.
11:28It looks like it'll be a wait-and-see situation for now.
11:30Thank you, Chloe.
11:32And now it's time for a short break.
11:34But coming up, we'll hear from Megan Chor, a reporter who attended the Kent Be a Local Summit
11:39where tradespeople discuss how businesses can work better.
11:42We'll also take a quick look at Swell Assembly in Sittingbourne, hosting Metallica Reloaded,
11:47and some drone footage showing damage to an abandoned Ashford building.
11:50All that and more sport and weather after the break.
11:53See you soon.
12:08We'll see you soon.
13:11We'll see you soon.
13:42We'll see you soon.
14:10We'll see you soon.
14:41We'll see you soon.
15:28We'll see you soon.
15:45We'll see you soon.
15:47This might be a familiar logo to you if you consume products by companies like these.
15:53And yesterday, Tunbridge Wells was the host of Kent's Local Impact Summit, where B Corp leaders across the county discussed
16:01how businesses could be better.
16:03I'm here to represent Grips, but I'm here to represent Grips, but I'm here to represent Grips, but I'm also
16:06here as an interested person in Kent.
16:09Grips is very proud to be a B Corp and bringing other B Corp together.
16:13We meet quite often as a B Corp. We all believe in a B Corp. We all believe in a
16:22number of things which has led us to become a B Corp.
16:24And it wasn't just tradesmen in attendance.
16:27Tunbridge Wells is certainly the place to be if you want to establish a business.
16:32It's a fantastic, motivated workforce. We've got a great community. All of the businesses work together.
16:39It's that when we come back to this B Corp business, which is about your community, your staff and your
16:46business,
16:47all of those work together really well in Tunbridge Wells.
16:50Mike Martin is a supporter of the Better Business Act, a campaign led by B Lab
16:55that is lobbying to change UK law by amending the Companies Act.
17:00Section 172 of the legislation currently states that
17:04A director of a company must act in the way he considers, in good faith,
17:09will be most likely to promote the success of the company for the benefit of its members as a whole.
17:14But the Better Business Act wants to change this,
17:17to make it a legal requirement for directors to act in ways that considers their stakeholders,
17:22workers, customers, communities and the environment.
17:26It's March right now, which is B Corp month, and we run this campaign every year.
17:30And really what we're trying to do is we're spotlighting B Corp within the movement.
17:34And we're really demonstrating through B Corp what purposeful business looks like.
17:39And the idea is that it inspires companies not only to potentially become B Corp themselves,
17:44but to actually act like B Corp.
17:48Now, all that might seem good in principle, but in practice, what does it really mean?
17:53B Corp, that is better corporations, have made a legal pledge to not just consider profit when running their businesses.
17:59Instead, things like the impact on people, that includes both customers and the employees,
18:04and the environment, are factored in to how a business is run.
18:08And here, on the high street of Tunbridge Wells, there are many different businesses, big and small.
18:13And one of them, Coq, was founded in Sittingbourne.
18:16They manufacture frozen ready mills like this one here.
18:19And one of the co-founders, Edward Perry, was one of the founding members of B Corp here in the
18:24UK in 2013.
18:25And with notes being made and business cards exchanged, the summit may have been a success.
18:31But the next time you find yourself on the high street,
18:34what a so-called better corporation will be at the top of your list.
18:39Or just plan B if your usual choice is unavailable.
18:43Megan Shaw for Kame TV in Tunbridge Wells.
18:47Next up, a new dedicated live music venue called the Swale Assembly is set to open this weekend in Sittingbourne
18:54High Street.
18:55The site, formerly the home of Live Nightclub, was originally bought in January by Stuart Cameron,
19:01owner of the live music venue The Booking Hall in Dover.
19:04He has since spent around £35,000 renovating the site,
19:08including a new bar, stage, flooring, as well as a new Art Deco paint scheme.
19:13And with the works entering their final stages,
19:16the venue's opening night is set to take place on Saturday and headlined by a Metallica tribute act.
19:23And now new drone footage has captured the extent of damage to an abandoned building in Ashford,
19:28following a huge fire.
19:31Swanton House in Elwick Road was originally built back in the 19th century,
19:35but had stood empty for more than 20 years before part of the structure caught fire last week.
19:39The cause of the blaze has yet to be determined.
19:42The new footage shows the part of the top section of the building that was destroyed in the fire,
19:47which took crews more than 12 hours to tackle.
19:49Now, Ashford Borough Council bosses say that they have moved swiftly to instruct demolition works
19:54at the building after experts deemed the building safe.
19:59Next, a woman from Folkestone has written two children's books
20:02inspired by her experiences growing up with selective mutism.
20:05By sharing her story, she hopes to raise awareness and help young people feel seen and understood.
20:10And I spoke to her husband, Simon, earlier.
20:13What has your understanding of it been through supporting Gemma?
20:16And how does this affect communication in certain situations for her?
20:21Yeah, so selective mutism, it's an anxiety disorder that affects around one in 140 people.
20:28And for Gemma specifically, it's something that started from when she was able to talk.
20:34There were certain people in her life that she'd never been able to communicate with,
20:39very close family members, for example.
20:42And it also affects her ability to communicate with authority figures, like doctors or teachers at school,
20:51which obviously then created a lot of significant challenges for her at school.
20:56And as her husband, I find that I have to communicate for her in a lot of situations
21:03where we're in public or talking to other people that she's not able to talk with herself.
21:10And you mentioned that you sometimes would communicate for her.
21:13But how do you navigate that in public?
21:15How do you know when to speak for her without taking away her autonomy and if she wanted to speak?
21:21That is actually a very difficult challenge to overcome because you don't want to make it seem like you are,
21:31like you said, taking away her own ability to talk.
21:33There have been circumstances where I've kind of just because I've naturally become accustomed to talking for her,
21:42I find myself doing it when I necessarily shouldn't be.
21:46But it's all about learning Gemma's specific triggers and the way that she will approach situations.
21:56There will be little physical cues like touches or facial expressions that will tell me that she's feeling anxious or
22:05not able to say anything.
22:06And so Gemma has authored a few children's books.
22:09Can you tell us a little bit about these books that she's written, please?
22:12Yes. So she's written two books.
22:15There's Emma's Grandad's and there's Don't Ask, Don't Get.
22:20And these are two children's books that are written about, based upon real life experiences that Gemma had as a
22:30child.
22:31She was unable to talk to either of her grandfathers.
22:37And so that is a book that goes into her experiences being somebody who's not able to talk to her
22:45grandparents
22:45and then how they felt about it as well.
22:48And then Don't Ask, Don't Get is about how she would navigate school.
22:55And here's Finn McDermott with all your sporting news.
23:07First up, and the Jills will be heading to Stadium MK tonight to face off against the club currently second
23:13in the league.
23:15MK and Dons have gone unbeaten in their last 11 league games, winning seven of them, with a 4-1
23:20thrashing of Harrogate at home, their most recent.
23:23They're currently five points behind Bromley with the game in hand, and they'll be hoping to extend that run against
23:28the Jills.
23:28Manager Gareth Ainsworth says he believes that the Dons have an endless limit to what they can do because of
23:33their financial resources.
23:35He added, they've spent a lot of money bringing some real top-quality players in, well above this level.
23:41If we get something out of that game, it'll be a real positive as well.
23:45Midstone United goalkeeper Lenny Holden has spoken on how it's been to take the spot in between the sticks over
23:50injured first-choice man Nathan Harness.
23:53While the number one is recovering from a concussion, Holden says he's made big strides in his game.
23:57He added, I feel I've matured in my decision-making.
24:00Things like when we're playing out from the back, deciding when to go long and when to play, and commanding
24:04my area.
24:05The former Leighton-Orient man is set to continue his starting stint, this time against Dagenham and Redbridge tonight.
24:11After a loss to Maidenhead at the weekend, there's no doubt the 20-year-old is looking to keep a
24:14clean sheet.
24:16Over to rugby now, and Medway women's put in a staggering 13 tries to clip the wings of the Portsmouth
24:22Valkyries, defeating them 81-0.
24:24Early tries from Ellen MacDonald and Abigail Garthwaite set the tone, leading them 12-0, before more poured in from
24:30Esme Conway and Steph Rookin.
24:32This meant that Medway came into the break 31 points ahead without any reply.
24:36Garthwaite and Rookin added one more each to their tally, and once the Valkyries were reduced to 12 players after
24:41a card, they continued the fight, but it wasn't enough.
24:44The dominant match marked Caroline Jordan's 200th for Medway, while Michelle Darby made her 50th appearance.
24:49Let's head over to the rink now, where Invicta Dynamics continued their winning ways with a victory over Milton Keynes
24:54Falcons B.
24:56The nine-goal thriller was a physical battle on the ice, but was won thanks to a hat-trick from
25:00Charlotte Davenport-Jeffrey and a penalty save from Stacey Randall.
25:03It was a fairly standard game in the first two periods, two goals for the Dynamics, one for the Falcons,
25:07but the third held all the drama.
25:09An equaliser meant Davenport-Jeffrey had to restore the lead, then it seesawed back to 4-3 for Milton Keynes.
25:14Two more strikes for the number four gave Invicta the lead, and the points, they'll host Coventry on the 22nd.
25:20And the founder and chief instructor of Canterbury's Sochin Karate Club has won a regional award for his decades of
25:25service to the martial art.
25:27Georges Desartes is 78 and has been selected as one of the winners of the 2026 Revival Community Awards.
25:33He started the club to help boost mental well-being through physical activity and took on a This Girl Can
25:38campaign to get more women involved in the sport.
25:40The club stages Tai Chi taster sessions as a way of introducing a more gentle version of martial arts for
25:45the public
25:46and also delivers self-defense sessions to connect with younger audiences.
25:50And that's all the time we have for your sports news. See you soon.
26:03And now let's take a quick look at this week's weather.
26:11This evening we're going to have rain across the county with temperatures staying around 9 to 12 degrees.
26:16Into tomorrow morning, Kent will see some partly cloudy skies with temperatures staying about the same, 9 to 11 degrees.
26:22Temperatures getting warmer in the afternoon, ranging from 11 to 13 degrees with partly cloudy skies all over.
26:28Looking ahead to Thursday, stays partly cloudy with highs near 12 degrees.
26:32Friday turns cooler around 9 degrees with a spell of drizzle and Saturday brings similar temperatures with few brighter sunny
26:38spells developing.
26:47Now we've got a short break, but stick with us because there's plenty more coming up afterwards.
26:51We'll see you soon.
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30:30Hello and welcome to Kent Tonight, live on KMTV.
30:34I'm Naila Mohamed and here are your top stories on Tuesday 10th March.
30:38Clash in Cliftonville as voters prepare for hotly contested KCC by-election.
30:44I actually feel very disillusioned. Two-party system is broken.
30:49But I prefer reformed policies, Naila.
30:52Believe in B Corp, Tunbridge Wells hosts local summits to encourage more Kent businesses to make the switch.
30:59This B Corp business, which is about your community, your staff and your business, all of those work together really
31:07well in Tunbridge Wells.
31:09And finally, Made in Kent, our weekly show that takes a look at local businesses that shape the county.
31:16The challenges are none.
31:31A reminder of your top story tonight.
31:33The fight for a hotly contested by-election in Thanet is underway in Reform UK's first electoral test since taking
31:40County Hall last summer.
31:41Sparked by the previous councillor for the area being put behind bars for coercive behaviour,
31:47all the major parties at Kent County Council are looking for a win in Cliftonville, which is one of the
31:52divisions to turn turquoise in 2025.
31:54Local democracy reporter Olly Lieder was out speaking to voters on the coast about where their heaths lie.
32:00The first spring sunshine here in Thanet and the promise of change in the air.
32:07After all, a month from now, voters will flock to the polls for a Kent County Council by-election touted
32:15to be hotly contested.
32:17Cliftonville isn't just an idyllic slice of Kentish coastline, but the first electoral challenge for Reform UK since sweeping the
32:27local elections last year.
32:29With the Greens, Conservatives and Labour all confident they could win here in the division.
32:37No, I'll never vote Conservatives or Labour.
32:40To be honest, I've lost faith in the system.
32:43They're thinking about just only big business.
32:47Down here, I don't know. I'm a bit of a lost soul.
32:50Blue skies and turquoise waves.
32:53A political divide looming on the horizon.
32:56This was once a safely conservative division until last May when Daniel Taylor was elected under the reform banner.
33:06Less than a year later, Taylor is behind bars after pleading guilty to coercive behaviour.
33:13A criminal history showing little sign of coming back to roost in the by-election sparked by his sentencing.
33:21God, I know he's a couple of doors away from me. I mean, well, it's not Reform's fault, is it
33:28really?
33:29Well, I suppose I'd probably go to Reform rather than any of the others.
33:33But that's mainly because of disappointment with both Tory and Labour.
33:38I probably might do Reform again, actually, because it won't be that same bloke anyway.
33:44A cliff edge in support was always unlikely.
33:49Reform UK did secure 40% of the vote here last year.
33:53But a turn in electoral fortune isn't unprecedented.
33:58Labour painted than it district council red back in 2023.
34:03Among the bungalows, that success feels further away than it has ever before.
34:09People is thinking Labour is doing it for work people, for small businesses, it's going better.
34:16My opinion is not now.
34:19With Labour facing challenges in Westminster, voters closer to home are casting their eyes elsewhere.
34:28So I look at the Green Party as what I think people saw the Lib Dems as being,
34:32which was the option if you didn't want to vote Labour or Conservative.
34:36I like their policies and believe what they're saying, which is quite refreshing in politics at the moment.
34:43So they're most likely to get my vote.
34:46It's just that awful stalemate of is it a wasted vote.
34:50Are they fit to run a country?
34:52Probably not.
34:53Are they fit to run local council?
34:55Probably.
34:55Council by-elections are notoriously low turnout.
34:59Margins matter here and there are plenty of unknowns.
35:03But speaking to those on the street, local issues are barely coming up.
35:08Drawing a line in the sand against the national picture might prove difficult.
35:15Oli Lieder in Cliftonville.
35:19Now if you live in that division and want to vote, you'll need to register by the 20th of March,
35:23where you can choose from the following candidates.
35:26Charlie Lees for the Conservatives, Rob Yates for Greens,
35:29Dr Mo Chaffee for Liberal Democrats,
35:31Joanne Wright for Labour and Mark Rattigan for Reform UK.
35:36And don't forget you can keep up to date with all your latest stories on our website,
35:40kmtv.co.uk, like this one.
35:43Another year of government support, but will it be their last?
35:47Huge deficits marked Labour-run Medway Council's budget.
35:52Passed with no amendments.
35:55Mr Mayor, the budget is agreed.
35:58It's important for the people of Medway to know what they can see from their council
36:02over the next 12 months.
36:04Of course, we know the backdrop to a council budget here in Medway
36:07is that really challenging financial circumstance that we inherited
36:10from the previous Conservative Council.
36:13But on top of that, we spend £1.35 million every single day
36:17on adult services, children's services and, of course, temporary accommodation.
36:22But while Labour struggle to balance the books alongside ensuring services
36:27like festivals and libraries continue to run,
36:31the opposition have little faith in the council's arithmetic.
36:35No, well, look, we've got serious concerns regarding the budget this evening.
36:39You know, £10 million worth of borrowing this year in order to plug the gap
36:42over the medium term, over recent years and also in the next two years.
36:46That's going to see £60 million worth of borrowing in order to fund day-to-day spending.
36:50We've still got a gap in the budget of £8 million.
36:53Next year, the administration is saying that it's confident it can close that gap.
36:56We haven't seen that tonight in the medium-term financial projections.
37:01But numbers aside, if you live in Medway, how will the budget affect you?
37:06And what are the key takeaways you need to know?
37:09Medway Council's tax might be the lowest in Kent,
37:12but it's set to rise again by 4.99%,
37:15the highest amount without holding a local referendum.
37:19Although stays until half an hour will drop to just a pound,
37:24the one-hour tariff will rise by 50p,
37:27and all other hourly tariffs by 60p.
37:30It's a razor edge between spending and saving,
37:34as the council tries to map out the future of the five towns,
37:38all squeezed by rising costs of living.
37:42Megan Shaw in Medway.
37:45Now, a mum from near Folkestone is raising awareness about Rett syndrome,
37:48which doctors diagnosed her daughter with when she was a toddler.
37:51The disease, which affects one in every 13,000 girls and is very rarely seen in boys,
37:55is a genetic mutation that is degenerative.
37:58So Poppy Allard, now 11, was born with no symptoms.
38:01The condition only revealed itself slightly later.
38:04We spoke to her mum earlier.
38:05When Poppy was born, everything was completely normal.
38:09And then between a year and 15 months,
38:12we could see that she wasn't meeting her milestones,
38:14and she began to regress.
38:16And then we had genetic testing and found out that she had Rett syndrome.
38:24It involves so many different things, epilepsy, musculoskeletal problems,
38:32inability, sometimes inability to mobilise.
38:37Girls can't use their hands.
38:39So it's a complex and profound disability,
38:45and it has multiple disabilities, basically.
38:49We apologise for the technical issues there.
38:52Next, the conflict in Iran has entered its second week,
38:54and with the Strait of Hormuz blocked,
38:56oil and gas prices have risen on a global scale.
38:59But what does this mean for businesses in Kent?
39:01Well, I spoke to Tudor Price about this earlier today.
39:05So there's two elements, really.
39:06Obviously, in terms of the energy increase,
39:10that's going to have a big impact on many businesses
39:12that essentially just have their energy bills just go up,
39:15because retailers will very quickly pass that on,
39:19and it's not just about the fuel that you put in your tank,
39:21but actually it's the fuel that's used to drive power stations
39:25and all the rest of it.
39:26So it will have a huge impact on the bottom line of many businesses
39:29just when they're sort of starting to recover
39:31from some of the tax rises they had in the last budget.
39:33And you said there's two elements to this.
39:35The first part was the transport.
39:36But then when you think of the wider supply chain,
39:39it's not just transport costs that are being affected.
39:41You know, it's also consumer goods.
39:43And could even food prices be expected to rise?
39:47Absolutely.
39:48No, you're quite right.
39:49So that supply chain is a big element,
39:51because what happens,
39:53although we've got ships currently queuing
39:55to go through the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf region there,
39:57obviously most people associate those with oil tankers,
40:00there is still a huge number of cargo ships,
40:03which are currently stuck and not being able to move.
40:05And, of course, they will be scheduled to be somewhere else in the world
40:09carrying something else for someone else.
40:12So that's having a huge knock-on effect to the supply chain,
40:15and we'll suddenly start to see supply issues,
40:18you know, in areas where they're expecting a delivery
40:21or a shipment to come.
40:22And, of course, it's now delayed
40:23because that ship is stuck somewhere else.
40:25And there's a lot of uncertainty around this,
40:28because, like you said,
40:28we're not really sure what's going to happen next.
40:31So how do businesses prepare for this,
40:33or can businesses in Kent prepare for this?
40:37It's a really difficult one to try and anticipate,
40:40because ultimately you want to know
40:42how long this is going to go on for,
40:43and therefore what sort of provision or preparations
40:45you need to put in place.
40:47And sadly, as we know,
40:48the US foreign policy at the moment
40:50is pretty random and sporadic,
40:52and so it's very hard to know
40:53if this is going to end next week
40:55or we're going to carry on for months.
40:56And we also have a lot of local businesses here in Kent.
41:00So how are they going to be able to handle these prices,
41:03and what can we expect to see happening to them?
41:07Well, hopefully many of them will be in a better condition
41:11than they were perhaps three or four years ago,
41:13when obviously we had Ukraine and things.
41:15The challenge, of course,
41:16is that the economy is being sort of recovering very slowly,
41:20and interest rates play a huge part in that,
41:23because that affects consumer spend
41:25and consumer confidence.
41:27So if interest rates have been going down,
41:29which they have been,
41:30then that means people sort of have mortgages
41:32and things like that, or debt,
41:33they'll be paying slightly less,
41:35and therefore they'll have more money in their pocket,
41:37and ultimately that turns into consumer spend.
41:40But if they're anxious about interest rates going up,
41:43and therefore costs to their debt
41:45and things going up as well,
41:46then they're more likely to keep those pounds in their pocket,
41:48and that, of course, means that the retailers
41:50and hospitality firms won't get that consumer spend.
41:54Now it's time for our final break,
41:55and we'll see you soon.
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45:19Welcome back to Kent Tonight here on KMTV.
45:22Now, as always, here in the Garden of Eden, there's plenty of news from across the county.
45:27Today's features the nominations for the Kent Children's Awards,
45:30a new school scheme that sees small libraries dotted across the county to encourage reading,
45:34and an abandoned cinema in Ashford coming back to life as a theatre.
45:38And Julia Drimo joins me in the studio now.
45:40So, Julia, can you tell us about this first, Tori?
45:43Yeah, so nominations are now open for a set of awards celebrating some of Kent's most courageous and inspiring children,
45:50families and charities.
45:52Residents across the county are being encouraged to nominate individuals or organisations that have made a positive difference in their
45:59community.
46:01The Annual Awards Children Awards aim to recognise everyday heroes, including brave young people who have overcome challenges,
46:09selfless volunteers, families who support those around them, and charities that work hard to help others.
46:15The organisers of the awards believe that many acts of kindness and determination often go unnoticed,
46:20so these awards are an opportunity to celebrate those who make a real impact on people's lives.
46:27Anyone in Kent can submit a nomination for someone that they believe deserves recognition for their efforts and dedication.
46:34After nominations close, a judging panel will review the entries and select the finalists,
46:41and the winners will then be announced at a special awards ceremony later on this year.
46:46The organisers say that they hope that the awards will highlight uplifting stories from across the county
46:51and shine a light on people helping to make Kent a better place.
46:56Nominations are now open, and the closing date for the nominations is Friday the 8th of May.
47:00That sounds really lovely.
47:02And you've got another story for us about some free libraries dotted around the county?
47:05Yeah, so the next story is about the Global Little Free Library Scheme,
47:09which is becoming increasingly popular across Kent.
47:12The idea of the scheme is very straightforward.
47:15Small bookcases are placed outside homes, in parks, or in community spaces.
47:21Anyone passing by can take a book to read or leave one for someone else to read.
47:25The scheme encourages people to read more and connect with their neighbours.
47:29More of these little libraries are appearing in neighbourhoods across the county,
47:32giving people the opportunity to read more and swap stories,
47:38discover new authors, and encouraging people of all ages to read.
47:43Supporters of the scheme believe that it helps bring communities together
47:47and it makes reading more accessible for everyone.
47:50And what helps to make the scheme work is the people who help run them.
47:54Each little library is looked after by volunteers who keep them stocked and tidy
47:58and accessible for the community.
48:01John Vinner is one of the residents helping to maintain a little library
48:05in his area in Maidstone, and he has done so since 2016.
48:10He said he got the idea to start a little library after visiting family in the United States
48:14and seeing a few of them around Washington, D.C.
48:18After launching one in his area, he began helping residents launch their own in their own areas
48:22by donating books to get them started and offering guidance on how to build these structures.
48:27So if you see a little library in your area, feel free to take a book or leave one for
48:33someone else to read.
48:34And have you ever seen a library like this?
48:36I actually haven't.
48:37I don't think I have either.
48:39And I know this year is the year of reading.
48:40So do you have a favourite book?
48:43I like the Bridgerton books.
48:46I've known the, I've seen the series and I can't say I'm that much of a fan.
48:50But you do have one other story for us.
48:52Can you tell us a little bit about that, please?
48:54So the next story is about plans to bring an old building in Ashford back to life.
48:59An abandoned cinema and former bingo hall on the High Street could be turned into a new theatre
49:04with space for around 200 people.
49:06The building used to be an Odeon cinema before becoming a mecca bingo hall, but it's been empty for a
49:12number of years.
49:13And now the council leaders say they want to transform the site into a small theatre and performance space.
49:19The idea is that it could host things like plays, comedy shows, live music and community performances.
49:25Supporters say it could help bring more people into the town centre, especially in the evenings,
49:29and give local performers somewhere to showcase their work.
49:33If the plans do go ahead, the theatre would hold around 200 people, making it a smaller venue focused on
49:40local productions and events.
49:42And the hope is that the project would also help to revive the empty building and breathe new life into
49:47that part of Ashford's High Street.
49:49And do you go to the theatre often yourself?
49:51I've been a few times in the past.
49:53Is this a theatre, one that you would go and visit?
49:56Yeah, definitely.
49:56I think I would, too.
49:57I quite like the theatre.
49:59Well, thank you so much for joining me in the studio today.
50:01Thank you for having me.
50:03Now, later tonight, our latest episode of Made in Kent Airs, a show where we take a look at how
50:09local businesses shape the county.
50:11So let's take a look at some of the show's previous episode highlights.
50:29I'm here at Yielding Forge to learn more about the craft of blacksmithing.
50:34Owner Tim Dunmore told us about his work and the services he provides to the local community.
50:40The majority of my work is commission-based, so customers will come to me wanting a particular thing.
50:46They might have a design in mind or they might have no idea what they want, but they need a
50:50rating, for example.
50:51I headed down to the goodshed in Canterbury to understand how the fresh produce trade works and also to get
50:56a sense of the community around it.
50:59My business is Patreana Limited, which was started in 2005 with the aim to import products from France and Spain
51:07initially, but now we have Italian products as well.
51:11So we mostly import direct or get through specialist disputers.
51:16The challenges are none. It's just an amazing place. You get to interact with, you know, wonderful, wonderful customers, you
51:27know.
51:27So first and foremost, art and culture has the potential to benefit the economy and fabric of society.
51:33It is also evident that participation in artistic activities like theatre, dance, crafts and photography can reduce social isolation, often
51:41improving mental health and fulfilment and self-esteem.
51:45We're here at Humphreys and Parks, a family-owned car dealership right here in Westmoreling.
51:49And I've just spoken to the owner and his son about what a family business means to them.
51:53When children grow up, we have a lot of time with them when they grow up.
51:58You rarely see them. They move away. Perhaps you might only see your kids once a month. I see the
52:03boys every day.
52:04Trading card games, or TCGs, have been around for years.
52:08Modern TCGs are now over 30 years old with the release of Magic the Gathering in 1993 and has continued
52:14to expand throughout the decades.
52:16I visited the many card stores in Kent to see what the local community is like.
52:20There has always been a big gaming community in Kent. Magic the Gathering is very strong here. Pokemon is very
52:26strong here.
52:26We've got a great TCG community around us. Specifically, that community focuses on Pokemon.
52:32As a town, we see a lot of the same faces in here quite regularly.
52:41And Foye joins me in the studio now.
52:44So Foye, what can audiences expect from your average Made in Kent episode?
52:49Yeah, so well, Made in Kent is a show that dives into the business and cultural side of Kent's economy.
52:53The show highlights how unique Kent businesses are.
52:56We speak to small local business owners, their colleagues and employees to get a wider view of the business, the
53:02behind the scenes of the work.
53:04We also, from time to time, ask customers as well as the general public.
53:07But every week we explore an array of businesses through particular themes.
53:12Over the past weeks, we have done topics like arts and crafts, music and hair and beauty.
53:18And what can viewers expect from tonight's Made in Kent episode?
53:21For tonight's episode, we'll be going into the world of Kent's multicultural businesses, looking at the cultural diversity of businesses.
53:29Tonight's episode, we'll be looking at the Asian food market in Canterbury, South Asian fashion, as well as speaking to
53:35general public about what they thought of multicultural businesses and whether they should be supported.
53:40And, of course, our deep dive chat, where we'll explain the history of Kent's multicultural society and, as always, the
53:48key starts.
53:49And why should people tune in?
53:51Well, I think it's important to learn more about the local area.
53:55Kent is one of the top ten biggest counties in the country, so it's important to explore all it has
54:00to offer.
54:01We at Made in Kent look at a variety of different businesses week by week and have given several people
54:07a voice to tell their livelihoods.
54:10It's also important to provide the audience a better chance to better understand the local economy, as well as why
54:19supporting small businesses can go a long way.
54:22And so, Fauri, can you tell me what's been your favourite week so far?
54:24What's been your favourite episode?
54:25So, my favourite week was the Arts and Crafts Week. It was really interesting to see all the creative businesses
54:31that are here at Justin Kent.
54:32We looked at candle making, pottery making, and it was just really interesting to talk to the business and see
54:38how they make their money and how they survive off their businesses.
54:42And tell me a bit about the businesses. I bet you've spoken to so many different types.
54:46Yeah.
54:46What's been your favourite one to visit so far?
54:48My favourite one has been Textures and Curls, which is the first black hair beauty products shop in Canterbury, and
54:56this has been like a really, it was a really good shop to go and visit because it was like,
55:01we spoke to a lot of different customers and a lot of different people and they said that they would
55:05have to travel so far just to get some hair beauty products.
55:08So, it was really encouraging to see that the county or the city was diversifying and it was bringing in
55:16more black hair awareness, honestly, and it was really good to see.
55:21And from being involved in the show, what do you think people may not be aware about Kent's businesses or
55:26their economy?
55:27I don't think people know all the small local businesses they could go to.
55:30So, I think people are just used to the big chains and just like going to the regulars that they
55:35normally do and nobody really looks into, or not many people look into the little smaller shops that you could
55:41visit and you could also enjoy equally as the chain restaurants.
55:44So, I think Made in Tent is a really good opportunity to draw light to those type of businesses and
55:49also just show that these small businesses are here as well and they are also as good as the chains
55:56that you would normally visit.
55:57So, I think it's really important and it's really nice to showcase those aspects as well.
56:02And really quickly, where can viewers watch Made in Kent?
56:05Well, of course, people can, all of our previous episodes are on kmtv.co.uk, but our upcoming episode tonight
56:12will be live at 7pm on Freeview Channel 7 and Sky 159.
56:17Well, thank you so much for joining us today.
56:19Thank you for having me.
56:21And you've been watching Kent Tonight Live on KMTV.
56:25There's more news made just for Kent throughout the evening.
56:28Don't forget, you can always keep up to date with the latest news across your county by logging on to
56:32kmtv.co.uk.
56:34You can also keep us on your social timelines by liking us on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.
56:39And if you think you have a story we should be covering, then do get in touch.
56:43We also have a series of special programmes you've just heard about Made in Kent.
56:47We also have Invictus Sports and Based in Kent, which you can watch throughout the week.
56:51But for me, for now, that's all.
56:53And have a very good evening.
56:54We'll see you soon.
56:55Goodbye.
56:55Bye-bye.
56:56Bye-bye.
56:57Bye-bye.
56:58Bye-bye.
57:10Bye-bye.
57:12Bye-bye.
57:13Bye-bye.
57:14Bye-bye.
57:14Bye-bye.
57:15Bye-bye.
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