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Catch up on all the news from across the county with Chloe Brewster
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00:34Hello and welcome to Kent Tonight, live here on KMTV.
00:38I'm Chloe Brewster and here are your top stories on Tuesday the 24th of March.
00:43Business as usual, Canterbury businesses and local tourism impacted from the meningitis outbreak.
00:48And when you come out shopping, you're not in close contact with people, are you really?
00:52So I think people are beginning to understand.
00:55Cafe Crisis, emergency crews called to early morning fire on Strewd High Street.
01:00And finally, Save the Cats, and RSPCA Cattery is fundraising to save itself from closure.
01:06You know, our concern is if we do close, where do all of these cats go?
01:22But first, our top story this evening.
01:25It's now week two of the meningitis outbreak over in Canterbury and thousands have been vaccinated against it.
01:31But what are the scenes like in Canterbury?
01:33And with many students and residents still conscious of the outbreak, how has local tourism been faring?
01:38Well, our reporter Naila Mohamed went to Canterbury to find out.
01:41All over social media, Canterbury has been compared to a ghost town.
01:46Many are leaving the city and others are strongly encouraging people not to come and visit amid the outbreak,
01:52over fears of its spreading.
01:55But what is the reality on the ground?
01:58Well, it's week two of the meningitis outbreak and this is what Canterbury High Street looks like.
02:03Found just three miles from the Canterbury campus of the University of Kent,
02:08the High Street is busier than expected, full of tourists and residents alike.
02:13But how have local businesses been coping amid the outbreak?
02:17Basically, we are the tourist shops.
02:20So mostly our customers are like tourist base.
02:23So it directly got affected our business.
02:28We have seen like a drop in like last past week.
02:32And this week is also very quiet.
02:36See, things have been quite slow.
02:39Foot traffic is down by about sort of 25 percent and takings were down.
02:44I think it's a really good time to start coming back to Canterbury.
02:48It's safe.
02:49It's comfortable.
02:49All the businesses are open and ready to welcome you.
02:54Everyone's taken extra sort of precautions.
02:55So I think you can feel very safe and very comfortable coming back to Canterbury.
02:59We need you.
03:01Business being open as usual was a sentiment also shared by Alan Baldock.
03:06So I asked him, why was the High Street suddenly so busy?
03:09It's been quieter last week, to be honest, but I think people have got used to it now a little
03:13bit more.
03:14We know it's safe because energitis is not spread in the same way that Covid was spread.
03:19It's much, much harder to get energitis, much more about close contact.
03:24And when you come out shopping, you're not in close contact with people, are you, really?
03:27So I think people are beginning to understand.
03:34And only a few steps away from the High Street, towards the Cathedral, Canterbury gets even busier.
03:40As you can see behind me, it's absolutely bustling here in Canterbury.
03:44You've got a busker on one side.
03:45And all surrounding me, actually, you've got school trips and tourists and residents all enjoying this lovely sunny day.
03:52In fact, as I was walking through the High Street earlier, I came across three different school trips from other
03:57countries.
03:58And I had spoken to a few students as well.
04:00He said they're very excited to come and spend the week here in Canterbury.
04:04And with the new installation of the Archbishop being this Wednesday, is tourism back on the rise for this historic
04:10city?
04:11Nayla Mahamed for KMTV in Canterbury.
04:15With Canterbury set to host the installation of its Archbishop, Dame Sarah Mullally,
04:20tomorrow we spoke with Lisa Carlson from the Canterbury Business Improvement District
04:23about if people should be wary of visiting the city.
04:26So, obviously, the last week with the meningitis outbreak has been particularly challenging for our community.
04:32And our hearts go out to those who have been impacted by that, the students and their friends and their
04:38family.
04:38The impact on the city has been really devastating.
04:41So we saw about a 25, over 25 percent drop in footfall.
04:45At the beginning of the week, we saw language school group cancellations, hotel group cancellations,
04:51attractions, seeing cancellations, and just fewer people coming in.
04:56We saw about, you know, most of our businesses reported about a 50 percent drop in sales.
05:01And that's really challenging at this time of year because the sun came out last week.
05:05We're in the run-up to the Easter holidays.
05:07And we're off the back of a really challenging five or six years that businesses and their staff have faced
05:14with rising costs.
05:16And so we've been through the pandemic.
05:18We've now got, you know, an unstable situation politically and globally, uncertainty over energy prices,
05:25uncertainty over rising business costs, business rates, national insurance, you know, all of it.
05:30It means that even if we do see that footfall increase, businesses aren't making a lot of money right now.
05:36And so this time of year in the run-up to the Easter holidays is so, so important.
05:41So it really has been a challenging time.
05:43Should tourists be wary of coming into Canterbury, or would you say it's a celebration coming?
05:49It's a really important celebration that's happening here in Canterbury,
05:53as we welcome the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally.
05:58And we really look forward to her installation service tomorrow.
06:00There will be hundreds of people here, probably over 2,000 people here.
06:04Canterbury is a completely safe space.
06:06And I understand off the back of the pandemic, when something like a meningitis outbreak happens,
06:12people are concerned.
06:13And that makes complete sense.
06:15But it's absolutely fine.
06:16We've not heard any medical advice to indicate that we shouldn't gather, we shouldn't come out.
06:20And of course, Canterbury, you're never more than five minutes from a park or a garden.
06:24There's lots of outdoor space.
06:26There's fantastic hospitality.
06:27So if you just feel like you want to be outside, you can.
06:30But otherwise, come and explore.
06:33It's a beautiful city.
06:34And we welcome you.
06:36Now, the latest data on the outbreak says there have been no new meningitis cases
06:40linked to the original cluster in Canterbury for the second day in a row.
06:44The vaccine rollout has also been extended to Year 11 at the affected schools.
06:49It means 20 cases have been confirmed, with three still under investigation.
06:54Now, Swale Borough Council has upped safety measures at its HQ in Sittingbourne
06:58after anti-immigration protesters destroyed its council building.
07:02It comes after a meeting back in December that was thrown into chaos
07:05and was paused after members of the public disrupted proceedings
07:08and caused thousands of pounds of damage to the building.
07:11However, even the politicians that were targeted by the Rowdy demonstrators
07:14say the move could risk making public meetings feel less open
07:18or make the chamber look like, I quote, a Russian court.
07:21Maisie Walker joins me now to tell me more.
07:24So, can you just take us back to what happened for us to get to this point?
07:27So, in December, a council meeting at Swale Borough Council, as you said,
07:31had to be paused after members of the public disrupted proceedings
07:35shouting abuse at councillors.
07:38That night, £10,000 worth of damage was caused to the council offices
07:41in East Street, Sittingbourne.
07:44Lift doors were broken and a bathroom was flooded.
07:47The building was unable to open the next day
07:50and the scenes were even condemned in the House of Commons
07:53and we can take a look at some of that now.
07:59Thank you, Mr Speaker.
08:02I'm horrified to report to you and to the House as a whole
08:04that last night in Swale Borough Council, there were violent scenes
08:09as people wearing balaclavas in the public gallery itself
08:12violently intimidated councillors.
08:15They were threatening them, pelting them with eggs and missiles from the gallery.
08:21Mr Speaker, my honourable friend speaks very powerfully
08:24of the appalling actions which have taken place
08:28and I join him in condemning the actions of those involved.
08:35There was Kevin McKenna there at the beginning,
08:38a Labour MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey,
08:40but of course we can see there that the scene's being described as appalling.
08:43The disruption followed a debate on a motion to declare Swale
08:47a district, sorry, of sanctuary for refugees and asylum seekers
08:52and since then two children have been charged with criminal damage
08:56in connection with the vandalism
08:57and we can see some of the footage from that evening now.
09:01We say no, we say no, we say no, we say no, we say no, we say no, we say
09:07no, we say no, we say no.
09:08So as you can see now, there was significant damage
09:11in documents presented to the Council Economy and Property Committee
09:14on March the 19th, so the incident led to a thorough review
09:18of how public meetings are run.
09:22So what's the update now then, what's Swale Borough Council doing about all of this?
09:27So Swale Council is now increasing security
09:29after disruptions by these protesters against immigration.
09:35So new measures include radios for staff, CCTV covering the public gallery
09:40and body-worn cameras for security and council workers.
09:44Safe spaces have also been identified for councillors and staff.
09:48The council was also working with Kent Police on a risk rating system for meetings,
09:52including age restrictions for unaccompanied young people
09:57and bringing in a ticketing system for some sessions.
10:04And plans to move all meetings online were considered but ultimately rejected.
10:09But there is still ongoing review into installing a screen
10:12between the public gallery and the council chamber,
10:15as well as introducing mandatory ID checks.
10:18Amazing. Thank you so much for joining me, Maisie.
10:21Now, a nightmare neighbour who terrorised residents in Brooklyn
10:24has been caught in the act.
10:26Get off my property now.
10:29Get off my property.
10:31Get off of my property.
10:33Or what?
10:34The police are on their way.
10:37Folks in Magistrates Court heard how Anthony Merritt
10:39had repeatedly harassed residents in their homes.
10:42One couple were so impacted by the abuse,
10:44they say they were left feeling like prisoners in their own home.
10:47The 62-year-old also threw bricks at a gardener working outside the property.
10:52The court heard how Merritt had been suffering mental health issues
10:54at the time of the harassment.
10:56Merritt admitted to the fences in November
10:58and was later charged with three counts of harassment without violence,
11:01common assault and possession of cannabis.
11:04Now, motorists in Medway faced long rush hour delays this morning
11:08after a tunnel shut due to a power failure.
11:11The A289 Medway Tunnel shut in both directions
11:14between Antony's Way at Medway City Estate
11:16and Maritime Way at Chatham Docks.
11:18Medway Council confirmed the tunnel was closed
11:20following a power failure overnight and apologised.
11:23The tunnel has since reopened.
11:25A former Reform UK County Councillor who defected to UKIP
11:28has formed her own political party.
11:31Amelia Randall was elected in Reform's landslide victory
11:34at Kent County Council in May 2025
11:35but became the first to leave to vote for UKIP.
11:38The Fanatec Councillor has now launched her own party,
11:41Better Way Of, under the banner of patriotism and humanity.
11:44She now intends to register the party with the Electoral Commission
11:46before seeking new members.
11:49Now, it's time for a quick break
11:50but please don't go anywhere
11:51as we'll be giving you more news from across the county
11:54including a cap on vet bills and an update on a fire.
11:57Thank you so much. Join me soon.
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15:24tonight live here on KMTV. In the early hours of the morning, a fire broke out at Ramos Cafe
15:30in Strood High Street with emergency services arriving at the scene just after 4am. A police
15:36investigation has now been launched to determine the cause. To tell us more, Kristen Hawthorne
15:40joins us live from outside the cafe. Kristen, what are the details here?
15:46Yeah, well, like you said there, Chloe, an investigation has been launched into the cause
15:50of the fire which started at around 4am this morning. A witness there, Josh Lowe, said that he
15:57was there around that time and fire crews arrived just at about 4.11am this morning. He told Kent
16:05Online that the building had thick black smoke coming from the front of it with an orange glow
16:09at the top. He said he heard things smashing and breaking inside and before the fire brigade
16:16arrived he heard those and a few minutes later they blocked off the road which has now been
16:20reopened which you might be able to see in some pictures on screen. In total it's reported
16:25that at the height of the fire, seven fire engines and a hype vehicle were in attendance
16:29with police, two more fire engines and several vans being used to block the A2 Strood High Street.
16:36In a statement issued this morning by Ramos Cafe, they said we regret to inform you that Ramos Cafe
16:42has suffered a fire and is temporarily closed. The safety of our staff and visitors is our top priority.
16:47We're assessing the situation and we'll provide updates regarding reopening and any
16:52alternative arrangements as soon as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience and thank
16:56you for your understanding and support during this time. I did have a look into the window of
17:01the cafe at the front and the damage inside does look quite severe so those alternative sites may be
17:12something that Ramos needs to look into. Next door is Lucky Star Gaming Amusement Centre which has now
17:19been reopened along with the road although this morning it was cordoned off with two police cars
17:23outside but that has been reopened now. Two fire engines remained at the scene this morning as well
17:30as they continue to expel the flames from the rear of the building of which I'm standing at now.
17:37In an update issued by Kent and Fire Rescue at 9.30am which is when the fire was fully expelled,
17:45they said work is now complete at the commercial building and crews were wearing breathing apparatus
17:52extinguishing the flames using hose rail jets and main jets along with those seven fire engines and
17:57the height vehicle. Kent police confirmed officers attended the scene and closed the high street while fire
18:03crews extinguished the blaze the fire and they have also confirmed that an investigation is now underway
18:10into the cause of the fire. Thank you so much for telling us about that Kristen and I really hope
18:18that cafe does open again soon. Now a care home in Whitstable has been forced into special measures
18:26after residents were found to have rolled out of bed 19 times in one month. Bed rails were removed at
18:33Harrier Lodge without evidence of people being asked if they felt safe without them. The home had previously
18:39been rated inadequate because of this same reason. The Care Quality Commission report added that staff told
18:45inspectors that handovers were not always detailed and agency staff did not always know where to record
18:51incidents. But the provider which runs the home says it is challenging the rating and is calling for inspectors to
18:57return to a fairer evaluation. A man from Medway who's on trial after a teacher was killed in an alleged
19:04hit and run
19:05has denied seeing the victim in the road. Maidstone Crown Court heard how Jordan Bannon said he never saw
19:12a dancing and waving Ben Allen at the time of the collision on Station Road in Cliff near Rochester.
19:18The 33-year-old said that although he regretted his decision not to get out of his car to investigate
19:22what
19:23caused the loud bang and shattered his windscreen. He was not drunk despite saying otherwise in police
19:28body-worn camera footage shown to the court. Bannon continues to deny he saw the man and argues that
19:33he has no recollection of any comments he made due to a hypoglycemic episode caused by his diabetes.
19:39And the trial there continues. A plan to develop a former power station next to the Dartford Crossing
19:47into a clean energy hub is said to be taking shape. Aegis Energy has secured an electric HDV site at
19:53the
19:53former Littlebrook power station near the Amazon warehouse. Michael Shaw, Chief Executive of Aegis
19:59Energy, said Dartford sits at one of the UK's most important freight gateways and infrastructure like
20:05this is essential if we want to support cleaner transport while keeping supply chains moving.
20:11Aegis Energy will begin preparing and submitting a planning application for the Littlebrook hub
20:16later this year. Now vet prescription fees to be capped are to be capped sorry at £21 and practices
20:23will have to publicize price lists for services. That's what the UK's competition watchdog has said.
20:28The Competition and Markets Authority, the CMA, has said a price comparison website should also be
20:34introduced to help boost competition and drive down prices faced by the consumer. I spoke to a
20:40veterinary practice in the county at the beginning of the consultation for these measures,
20:43so we can take a look back at that report now.
20:49Whether you're an animal lover or prefer a fur-free home, I think we can all agree prices for everything
20:55have risen. But for the more than 10 million households in the UK that own a pet, the increasing
21:01costs have become all the more apparent. Vet bills have risen more than 60% in 10 years,
21:06with 80% of owners saying the cost of having their pet has increased. In response, the Competition and
21:12Markets Authority have proposed 21 new measures for the industry. The CMA's recent report found that vet
21:18bills have risen way above inflation. They've come up with a couple of solutions to try and keep prices
21:24low for consumers. Measures the CMA have proposed include capping prescriptions at £16, requiring vets to
21:31provide itemised bills and encouraging owners to shop online for medicines rather than paying the prices
21:36in store. But here at Broadway Vets in Herne Bay, they say the answer just isn't that simple.
21:42They haven't fixed the problem, which is where we get our drugs from. In some areas of Europe,
21:47I think actually most of Europe, they get their drugs direct from the provider of the drug. In the UK,
21:52we have to buy from a wholesaler. So at every stage that product is touched by someone else,
21:58there's a markup on it. And every time there's a markup, by the time it gets to that end user,
22:02that price has gone up two, three, four times. I think it's really important that people understand
22:07what they're paying for. And I think the most important thing for us is that once we've had
22:11that conversation with how much that procedure costs, whatever it is, that we can have that dialogue
22:16with the customer and that we can interact on what the next steps are. Not only are the measures
22:22aimed at reducing prices, they also hope to make them much clearer from the outset.
22:26We're really supportive of the remedies in the report around transparency. I think it's really
22:32important for pet owners to know when they go into a practice, who owns that practice,
22:36whether it's part of a large group or not. And I think that's really important. There are some
22:41remedies in there which are common practice already across the sector, such as providing people with
22:46itemised bills and written estimates before treatment is undertaken. There are some practices that
22:53aren't doing that, which is why the CMA have included it in their provisional remedies.
22:57This investigation has highlighted a lot of press pieces around the veterinary sector that can
23:03sometimes feel a bit hostile to the people working on the ground who don't control the prices
23:08and just want what's best for people's pets. These measures are provisional,
23:11with final reforms to be decided in March. While opinions are mixed in industry, we're sure pet
23:17owners are hoping for an improvement with the poor prices. Chloe Brewster for KMTV in Herne Bay.
23:24Now it's time to take a look at the sports news from across the county with our reporter Chloe Smith.
23:38It was an unfortunate weekend for Kent teams in League Two with Gillingham's 2-1 defeat against
23:43Bristol Rovers, starting off strong with a penalty in the 16th minute taken by Ronan Hale,
23:47gaining the Gills a 1-0 lead. The second half saw two more goals, both from Bristol,
23:53as Gillingham struggled to recover after conceding 12 and scoring once in their previous three matches.
23:58Manager Gareth Ainsworth continues to encourage the team, stating that I want them to realise how
24:02close they are. In the National League South, Dover wins 2-1 against Chelmsford City after replacing
24:07sidelined midfielder Ryan Hansen with Dover defender Jacob Mensah. Dover managers stated that
24:12after Mensah had come out the team a couple of weeks ago that he didn't really deserve to,
24:16and we just felt we would change it up. Midway and Dartford Valley players Amelia Williams and Jasmine
24:21O'Donri are to be included in the England Women's Under-21 Rugby Squad for an upcoming development
24:26camp. The three-day session in Berkshire will also host Canada Under-21s for an opposed training in
24:31preparation for the Six Nations Under-21 series. Head coach LJ Lewis stated that facing Canada provides
24:37a valuable opportunity to test our connections, and that they're pleased to add Amelia, who has worked
24:41tirelessly through injury. Midway women also had great success in the NC1 Southeast against
24:46Aylesford Bulls ladies, with a 34-14 win. Midway's dominance in the game left little room for
24:51Aylesford to compete, despite gaining two tries in the second half. The only disadvantage for the
24:56visitors being a collision between Esme Conway and Lucy Osborne, forcing both off the field in need of
25:01stitches. Ashford-born batsman Sam Northease returns to Kent Cricket Club after helping Glamorgan
25:06in their promotion last year. Northease states that his goal is to help Kent regain their top-tier status,
25:12and that he wants to make sure that Kent is right up there with the top clubs in the country
25:16again.
25:16Rejoining on a two-year deal, Northease previously served as Kent captain from September 2015 to
25:21January 2018. Northease will return for his first game back against Durham on the 3rd of April,
25:27stating that it's going to be special. Chloe Smith for KMTV.
25:40And now let's take a look at the weather.
25:48Tonight, Kent will see clear skies with temperatures ranging from 6 degrees to 10. And then into tomorrow
25:55morning, it's expected to be a variety of sun and rain with temperatures of 6 to 7 degrees,
26:00rolling into the night. You can expect to see light showers with hints of sunshine while temperatures
26:04staying around that 8 degree mark. And your outlook for the coming days consists of 9 degrees on
26:10Thursday with sunshine, 13 degrees of cloudy skies on Friday and 11 degrees on Saturday.
26:28Now it's time to take a short break, but we'll be back with another look at our top story this
26:34evening,
26:34where we'll be looking into the fallout of the Canterbury meningitis outbreak on local businesses.
26:39We'll also be getting a recap on the numbers of meningitis in the area now. And then in the same
26:45vein, we spoke to the CEO of Kent in Victor Chamber of Commerce about so-called bad press in Canterbury
26:51and the rising fuel prices across Kent. See you in a bit. Thank you very much.
30:34Hello and welcome to Kent Tonight live here on KMTV. I'm Chloe Brewster and here are your top
30:40stories on Tuesday the 24th of March. Business as usual, Canterbury businesses
30:46and local tourism impacted from the meningitis outbreak. And when you come out shopping, you're
30:51not in close contact with people, are you really? So I think people are beginning to understand.
30:56Cafe crisis. Emergency crews called to early morning fire on Strood High Street.
31:01And finally, save the cats. And RSPCA Cattery is fundraising to save itself from closure.
31:07And you know, our concern is if we do close, where do all of these cats go?
31:22It's now week two of the meningitis outbreak over in Canterbury and thousands have been vaccinated
31:27against it. But what are the scenes like there? And with so many students and residents still
31:32conscious of the outbreak, how has local tourism been faring? Well, our reporter Neela Mohamed went
31:37to Canterbury to find out more.
31:39All over social media, Canterbury has been compared to a ghost town. Many are leaving the city and
31:46others are strongly encouraging people not to come and visit amid the outbreak over fears of it
31:51spreading. But what is the reality on the ground? Well, it's week two of the meningitis outbreak and
31:58this is what Canterbury High Street looks like. Found just three miles from the Canterbury campus of
32:04the University of Kent, the High Street is busier than expected, full of tourists and residents alike.
32:10But how have local businesses been coping amid the outbreak?
32:15Basically, we are the tourist shops. So mostly our customers are like tourist base. So it directly
32:24got affected our business. We have seen like a drop in like last past week and this week is also
32:33very quiet.
32:33The things have been quite slow. Foot traffic is down by about sort of 25% and takings were down.
32:41I think it's a really good time to start coming back to Canterbury. It's safe. It's comfortable.
32:47All the businesses are open and ready to welcome you. Everyone's taken extra sort of precautions.
32:53So I think you can feel very safe and very comfortable coming back to Canterbury. We need you.
32:59Business being open as usual was a sentiment also shared by Alan Baldock. So I asked him,
33:04why was the High Street suddenly so busy? It's been quieter last week, to be honest,
33:08but I think people have got used to it now a little bit more. We know it's safe because
33:13energitis is not spread in the same way that Covid was spread. It's much, much harder to get
33:18energitis. It's much more about close contact. And when you come out shopping, you're not in close
33:23contact with people, are you really? So I think people are beginning to understand.
33:31And only a few steps away from the High Street, towards the Cathedral, Canterbury gets even busier.
33:37As you can see behind me, it's absolutely bustling here in Canterbury. You've got a busker on one side
33:42and all surrounding me actually, you've got school trips and tourists and residents all enjoying this
33:47lovely sunny day. In fact, as I was walking through the High Street earlier, I came across three
33:53different school trips from other countries. And I had spoken to a few students as well. He said
33:57they're very excited to come and spend the week here in Canterbury. And with the new installation of
34:03the Archbishop being this Wednesday, is tourism back on the rise for this historic city?
34:08Naila Mahamud for KMTV in Canterbury.
34:12With Canterbury set to host the installation of its Archbishop Dame Sarah Mullaly tomorrow,
34:17we spoke with Lisa Carlton from the Canterbury Business Improvement District
34:21about if people should be wary of visiting the city.
34:24So obviously, the last week with the meningitis outbreak has been particularly challenging for
34:29our community. And our hearts go out to those who have been impacted by that, the students
34:34and their friends and their family. The impact on the city has been really devastating. So we saw
34:40about a 25, over 25% drop in footfall. At the beginning of the week, we saw language school group
34:47cancellations, hotel group cancellations, attractions seeing cancellations, and just fewer people coming
34:53in. We saw about, you know, most of our businesses reported about a 50% drop in sales. And that's
35:00really
35:00challenging at this time of year, because the sun came out last week, we're in the run up to the
35:04Easter
35:04holidays. And we're off the back of a really challenging five or six years that businesses and
35:11their staff have faced with rising costs. And so we've been through the pandemic, we've now got
35:16an unstable situation politically and globally, uncertainty over energy prices, uncertainty over
35:23rising business costs, business rates, national insurance, you know, all of it. It means that even
35:29if we do see that footfall increase, businesses aren't making a lot of money right now. And so this time
35:35of year in the run up to the Easter holidays is so, so important. So it really has been a
35:40challenging time.
35:41Should tourists be wary of coming into Canterbury? Or would you say it's a celebration? Come in.
35:47It's a really important celebration that's happening here in Canterbury, as we welcome
35:52the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally. And we really look forward to her
35:57installation service tomorrow. There will be hundreds of people here, probably over 2000 people here.
36:02And Canterbury is a completely safe space. And I understand off the back of the pandemic,
36:06when something like a meningitis outbreak happens, people are concerned. And that makes complete
36:12sense. But it's absolutely fine. We've not heard any medical advice to indicate that we shouldn't
36:17gather, we shouldn't come out. And of course, Canterbury, you're never more than five minutes
36:20from a park or a garden. There's lots of outdoor space, there's fantastic hospitality. So if you just
36:26feel like you want to be outside, you can. But otherwise, come and explore. It's a beautiful city
36:32and we welcome you. Now, the latest data on the outbreak says there have been no new meningitis
36:39cases linked to that original cluster in Canterbury. That's for the second day in a row.
36:45The vaccine rollout has also been extended to year 11s and the affected schools. That's in addition
36:49to those who are at the University of Canterbury Christchurch or University of Kent and sick formers.
36:55That means also that 20 cases have been confirmed and there's also three still under investigation.
37:02Now, has the meningitis outbreak caused bad press for Kent's only city?
37:07And what could rising fuel prices mean for those across the county wanting to fill up their car?
37:12These are the two pressing questions that I put to the CEO of the Kent and Victor Chamber of Commerce
37:18earlier on today. So, Tudor, first of all, what is the impact of something like
37:24meningitis and all the bad press around Canterbury on businesses there?
37:31I think you said the word there, bad press. I mean, unfortunately, that's what travels
37:35furthest and fastest. You know, whatever the sort of genuine situation on the ground,
37:41it's the anxiety that's caused by that sort of word of mouth and that sort of promotion,
37:46if you like, around the broadcast sphere. What happens, of course, is we see an immediate impact
37:53with cancellations of bookings, so hotel rooms, tourist visitor attractions, and of course,
38:00people sort of start to sort of change reservations or move things back.
38:04I'm pleased to see that quite a lot of people that we've spoken to in the area have actually
38:09had bookings deferred. So, you know, they've either offered a sort of a voucher or a gift card.
38:15So they will hopefully still see that business come back in. But certainly in the short term,
38:19there's been an immediate hit straight away.
38:22Thanks so much. And another thing that everyone across Kent will be noticing at the moment is fuel
38:28prices. Filling up your car is so expensive at the moment.
38:31Can you tell us a little bit about why that is?
38:35Well, so as many of us will have seen, of course, there's a sort of conflict in the Middle East.
38:41Iran is actually the third largest producer of oil. And of course, all that oil has to come down
38:46through the sea and then get around to us where it's then turned into fuel and diesel and petrol.
38:51Of course, if it's not getting out of the country, then of course, it's not long before the tanks
38:55start to run dry here in the UK. And of course, it's not just the price of the pump,
39:00but obviously the things that oil goes into, so the number of plastics, fertilisers.
39:04And of course, that means that there's less of it about. So the price goes up because it's a more
39:09sort of scarce resource. And that, of course, has an impact on a lot of different aspects,
39:14whether that's farming, food production, manufacturing and so forth. So the longer the
39:18conflict goes on, unfortunately, the more it'll cost us.
39:21And what sectors are being hit the hardest at the moment with the increasing fuel costs and
39:27also the energy costs?
39:29So it's more to do with the immediate impact has been around the petrol pump price, I guess,
39:37really. So haulage companies, distribution companies, anyone that burns fuel to sort of
39:42generate the energy. That has the immediate hit because the price went up literally overnight as
39:48soon as the warplanes went in. You can see the costs rise. Things like food, obviously,
39:55the price of fertiliser is going to go up as the manufacturing of that costs more because of the
40:00sort of lack of the oil. That then gets passed on to the farm and the farmers will then have
40:05to sort
40:05of pass that on to the consumer through increased product prices. So all in all, I think, you know,
40:11we will still have some knock on effect, even if this conflict wraps up overnight.
40:15I think there's a lot of confusion in the communication about when prices are going to go
40:21up and what is actually going on. We hear from Trump that there is peace on the horizon and we're
40:27hearing from Iran that there isn't. How does it work with when we have these huge international
40:34players communicating with the public? How does that impact the markets? How does that impact what
40:40people are actually going to be paying on a day to day basis? So the way in which the markets
40:45operate
40:45is that they take a view as to how available or unavailable a particular commodity is, whether
40:51that's oil, gas, coal, minerals, whatever it might be. So if a market trader hears that there could be
41:00a shortage of oil because it's not getting out of the ground because of the conflict,
41:04they will immediately assume that there's going to be less oil available. Therefore,
41:09they put the price up to try and maximise the return they can get on what's left.
41:13So it's around the scarcity and availability of a particular product. And that's really what
41:17happens is to do with the market, getting anxious about the availability of a particular product or
41:22commodity. All the time that Trump comes out and says, we're going to carry on or we're going to stop,
41:27it then has an immediate effect on the concerns and anxiety of a market trader. And unfortunately,
41:32that's how a lot of our global economy now operates. Now it's time for a quick break before
41:38our final segment of the evening, but stay tuned as we'll have more Kent stories, including about
41:44a scout team set to be the first to undertake an organised expedition project to the North Pole.
41:49Yes, you heard that right, the North Pole. Johnny Depp was also been sighted in Maidstone filming his
41:55latest project. All that and more after this short break. Goodbye.
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