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00:28Hello and welcome to
00:29Kent Tonight, live here on KMTV.
00:32I'm Finn McDermott and here are your top stories on Wednesday, the 1st of April.
00:36Support in crisis.
00:38North Kent services face closure as Age UK Kent Rivers faces liquidation.
00:43For us, it's devastating because we've got five days' notice to then find another alternative
00:50of how I can, you know, look and feed my mum.
00:54Park and ride.
00:56Trosley Country Park gets accessibility upgrades.
00:59One of the things about having a disability of any sort that means that you can't walk
01:06well is one of the things you're always worrying about is the surface you're walking on.
01:10And protection for Parkinson's.
01:12A Dartford campaign group say they're ensuring patients aren't isolated after their diagnosis.
01:18Yeah, I think it is important.
01:19You need to get out and talk and share things and things like your concerns.
01:24Who do you go to?
01:25Well, you go to people here.
01:26Claire, the two nurses are all very good.
01:28So you do feel supported, yes.
01:39But for our top story tonight, vulnerable residents across North Kent could soon lose access to
01:45essential support as Age UK Kent Rivers faces the threat of closure due to ongoing financial
01:51difficulties.
01:52One of its key services, Meals on Wheels, that delivers food directly to people's homes is
01:57expected to be withdrawn.
01:59Councillors and service users from across the county met to discuss the growing impact on
02:03communities in Gravesham, Dartford and beyond, and began exploring what support can replace
02:08the services at risk.
02:10Our reporter Maisie Walker has this story.
02:13Age UK Kent Rivers is facing liquidation following mounting financial pressures, putting vital services
02:19at risk, among them is Meals on Wheels, a service that provides freshly cooked meals delivered
02:24directly to people in their homes, which is now set to come to an end.
02:29A provisional meeting was held yesterday in Gravesend to address the impact of the cuts
02:33and the urgent need to maintain support across Gravesham, Dartford and the wider North Kent
02:38area.
02:39Despite ongoing uncertainty about what comes next, I think it's safe to say the meeting offered
02:44some reassurance, with many leaving feeling not alone in their struggle.
02:49Even if questions about the future remain unanswered.
02:52So I've just come from the meeting and the only thing that seems to be clear is the fact
02:56that nothing is.
02:58Everyone in that room was confused and counsellors from all across Kent have come together to
03:03try and solve this issue.
03:04For us, it's devastating because we've got five days' notice to then find another alternative
03:12of how I can, you know, look and feed my mum.
03:15So my dad lives at the Clarendon, which is part of AGK Kent Rivers, and it's being run
03:28by that institution and on a leasehold basis.
03:34So it's a case of if that goes down, who owns the property and who's going to be running
03:41the tenancies.
03:41There is a shared call for clarity from counsellors, who say much of the situation is unclear.
03:47Well, it's a bit of a shock really, because I come here tonight just to see what's going
03:53on, and from the meeting, it's very vague what's actually going on.
03:59Even to talk into somebody who's still working, he doesn't know what's going on.
04:05So it's very difficult to find a solution when you don't actually know exactly what's
04:11happening.
04:12And unfortunately, the people that are using the service are in the dark as well.
04:18Kent County Council is responsible for adult social care in Kent, and I spoke to one of
04:23their counsellors to find out what they're doing in response to this situation.
04:27There's a lot of questions that need to be answered, I think, and if we can ask the right
04:32questions, hopefully we can get the answers we need.
04:36Once we have those answers, then we might be able to do something as a collective.
04:41Then we might be able to help out, because services have been cut.
04:44That's without a shadow of a doubt.
04:46Services have been cut.
04:47When I requested an updated statement from Age UK Kent Rivers, they directed me back to
04:53the information on their website.
04:54So for now, uncertainty remains.
04:57But so too does the determination from the community to find a way forward for those who
05:02rely on these vital services.
05:05Maisie Walker for KMTV, Gravesend.
05:08An inquest has heard the police officer who died while on duty in Farningham suffered a
05:14fatal head injury.
05:1627-year-old PC Bradley Cork died in hospital two days after a collision on the London-bound
05:21A20 London Road near Swanley on March 19.
05:25At the inquest at Oakwood House in Maidstone this morning, the court heard that Cork had
05:29suffered a catastrophic brain injury following the crash.
05:33The inquest has been suspended pending a criminal investigation.
05:38Next, a thief who threatened and stole from a man in Maidstone has been imprisoned for
05:42more than seven years and attempted to hide under his duvet when he was arrested.
05:53Jason Woker threatened a man with a knife and stole his watch worth more than £10,000 after
05:58responding to a sale advert online.
06:00After reviewing the CCTV footage, he was identified and arrested at his home in London, where he
06:05eventually pointed out where the Rolex was hidden to the officers.
06:08He was later charged with robbery and threatening a person with an offensive weapon, pleading guilty
06:13at Maidstone Crown Court, and was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison.
06:18Nearly everyone in England will benefit from a cut in their energy bill following a shake-up
06:23in changes by the government.
06:24Prices are still more than treble what they were before the war in Ukraine, and Labour
06:30says the price cap will help families and businesses cope with the cost of living.
06:34It can all be quite confusing, so to break it down for us, our reporter Chloe Brewster is
06:38here with me now to discuss what this actually means for your household.
06:41So, Chloe, what has actually changed today?
06:44So, from today is they're bringing in the changes that Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced
06:50back in November for the budget.
06:52That is a £150 reduction of your bills that's across the entire year.
06:58The government say they're doing this to help families handle those increasing cost of living
07:02pressures.
07:03It's obviously a very volatile global situation at the moment, which means the price of oil
07:07and gas is on the up.
07:08We can see this at the petrol pumps.
07:10We can see that in our energy bills at the end of the month, which none of us want to
07:13look at.
07:13Let's be real.
07:14So, the government cap will benefit nearly everyone in England, Wales and Scotland,
07:19irrespective of their tariff, although the amounts will vary between households.
07:23Ofgem's price cap will drop from the current £1,758 to £1,641.
07:29That's a reduction of £117, or around £10 per month for the average household.
07:35Now, if you were listening carefully, the government promised £150, so that is a little bit less
07:39than what is promised, but that's in terms of the real impact on your bills.
07:44That's not the promises.
07:47That's because of the increase in price of energy, as we say, from the situation in Ukraine
07:51and other global situations.
07:53I think it's important to be aware, though, that these bills, these bills drops may not
07:58be permanent.
07:59The amount you're paying in your energy bill could rise from July due to those conflicts
08:03in the Middle East.
08:04Latest predictions are suggesting this could be around £288 increase per year on your
08:10energy bills.
08:10So, it is something to keep in mind if that's something that you'll be concerned about.
08:15Now, this has all happened, so these cuts are because the Chancellor moved 75% of the cost
08:20of the renewables obligation from household bills onto general taxation and scrapped the
08:24energy company obligation eco scheme.
08:28The estimated 22 million households that are still languishing on their suppliers' standard
08:35variable rate are paying the maximum allowed by the regulator, but it's now time for households
08:40to investigate signing up to other deals.
08:42I see. Thank you so much, Chloe.
08:44Next, a park in Metham is the latest council-owned reserve to have accessibility measures fitted.
08:50Kent County Council has unveiled horrible off-road mobility scooters, an accessible wheel-friendly
08:55footpath and toilets with comprehensive changing facilities at Trosley Country Park.
08:59This day, sorry, this marks the first day on the Cabinet for the new environmental officer,
09:03Jamie Henderson, and Megan Shaw went to see if it really was a walk in the park.
09:08A day trip to the local park might be something easily taken.
09:12But a nature trail like this one at Trosley Park can exclude those who use mobility aids
09:18to get around.
09:20That is, until now, thanks to accessibility improvements implemented by Kent County Council.
09:26One of the things about having a disability of any sort that means that you can't walk well
09:33is one of the things you're always worrying about is the surface you're walking on.
09:37And also you're worrying about other people on the path and where they're going and whether
09:40you can move out of their way in a way that's safe for you at all times.
09:45This takes away all of that because you don't have to worry about the surface immediately in front of you.
09:51So we've been able to access funding that has allowed us to not only buy the new tramper for
09:57the park, but also to resurface some of the walkways.
10:01And the changing places toilets is a key part of that as well because that's increasing the
10:06accessibility to the park by making it possible for people who've got significant personal
10:11care needs to know that there is a place where they can change, where they can use the toilet
10:15to meet their personal needs.
10:17Where before a loose shingle, the trail is now a smoother tarmac, making those hiring the
10:23new tramper mobility scooters able to enjoy the panoramic views of the North Downs.
10:28And such adjustments have been made possible by funding secured through the Department of
10:33Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, otherwise known as DEFRA, at no cost to the taxpayer.
10:39This marked Councillor Jamie Henderson's first day on the job as Cabinet Member for Environment,
10:45Coastal Regeneration and Public Health.
10:47And he was keen to lay out what could be on the horizon for the county's parks.
10:52I do have a lot of ideas for our country parks.
10:55I want to get tourists to use them as part of their stop-offs.
11:00I also want to find ways to encourage motorhomers from across Europe to come here because we find
11:08really in the sense that it's a one-day economy. People arrive from London, they spend one day,
11:14they rush back. And we'd really like people to stop, enjoy, because you don't want to rush
11:19through a country park. You really want to take your time and soak it all up.
11:23But motorhomes aside, tramper hire is still only available in a third of the country parks managed
11:30by the council. So should rolling out more off-roaders for the disabled community take centre stage?
11:37Or has the thought been parked completely?
11:41Megan Short for KMTV in Metham.
11:49Well, that's all the time we have for now, but we'll be back in just a few minutes with more
11:53of your news
11:54from the county. See you in a few.
12:28We'll be back in just a few minutes.
12:58We'll be back in just a few minutes.
13:10We'll be back in just a few minutes.
13:10We'll be back in just a few minutes.
19:54You meet people. You don't even have to talk about Parkinson's.
19:57You can talk about football, it doesn't matter.
19:59But it's just meeting people who are going through something similar to you
20:02and you kind of get at each other and it's a safe place.
20:05If you're having a moment here and you're not feeling great,
20:08we're all here. We're all looking out for each other.
20:10Parkinson's has many symptoms, whether it's hand tremors
20:13or a loss of your sense of smell or even insomnia.
20:15These vary from person to person.
20:17But there's one symptom that carries across for most of Parkinson's sufferers,
20:21and that's loneliness.
20:22And while groups like the one here at Fairfield Leisure do exist
20:25and do help with that loneliness problem,
20:28issues throughout the health service mean that Parkinson's sufferers
20:31can't always access the support that they need.
20:34What we're seeing across the country is that, you know,
20:37that health care is not the standard that it should be.
20:41And at Parkinson's, you're doing a lot of campaigning
20:43to improve the conditions.
20:46And, you know, what people can do locally is write to your MP.
20:49So, really, you know, we invited MPs to meetings
20:54so they can talk to people with Parkinson's
20:56to find out how this lack of, you know,
20:58health care support is affecting them.
21:00A spokesperson with the Department of Health and Social Care
21:03said,
21:03we're working together with the NHS and patient groups
21:06to improve care for people with Parkinson's.
21:08This includes expanding the workforce,
21:10improving training for health care staff,
21:11funding research into new treatments,
21:13and using the latest technology
21:14to help people maintain their independence for longer.
21:17The group in Dartford hosts a range of people,
21:20from those who've had the condition for almost a decade
21:22to those who've been diagnosed only months ago.
21:25It's so friendly.
21:27Every time you come, especially to this one,
21:30there's different people every time.
21:32Yeah, I think it is important.
21:33You need to get out and talk and share things
21:36and things like your concerns.
21:38Mainly, it's meeting other people.
21:42Same problems.
21:44Yeah.
21:46I enjoy it.
21:48As the number of those diagnosed continues to rise,
21:51it's volunteers and the efforts they make
21:53that ensure people with Parkinson's aren't alone.
21:56Finn McDermott for KMTV in Dartford.
22:01Now, a new men's support group has launched in Ashford
22:04with a unique philosophy,
22:06treating their group like a sports team
22:08in the middle of a huddle,
22:09giving each other encouragement through their meetups.
22:11And it's called The Huddle.
22:13And they say they aren't a therapy group,
22:14but instead offer companionship
22:16and social connection
22:17for those who need a shoulder to lean on most.
22:19I spoke to the group's founder, Lloyd Stanley, earlier.
22:23The huddle was inspired by my style.
22:28I went through a difficult period at work
22:29and I struggled for a while
22:31and I needed the huddle and it didn't exist.
22:34So I thought about ways in which
22:36I could reach out to other people and help.
22:39I'm really fortunate in that I have a really good family,
22:42lovely wife, children, friends and clubs
22:45so I belong to, hockey club, cricket club,
22:47but others don't have those opportunities.
22:50So how could I provide help to other people?
22:54I see.
22:54And the group's slogan, I should say,
22:57is strong men lift weights,
22:58stronger men lift each other.
23:00With that in mind,
23:00tell us a bit about what the group does
23:02when they meet up.
23:05So the group meet in a variety of locations.
23:07We always try and champion an independent,
23:10so we're putting money back into the community.
23:13We meet and we just have a coffee or a beer
23:15or we go for a walk or we do an activity
23:18and it's meant to be low-key, relaxed.
23:20It's meant to be open to everyone without barriers,
23:23so without huge costs,
23:25without obligation to return
23:28or even give us your name or details.
23:30We want you to come in
23:31and feel like you can engage those around you
23:34and be supported in your moment of need.
23:37And actually, even if you're not struggling,
23:39come along, meet new people,
23:41have a bit of brotherhood,
23:43belong somewhere new.
23:45If you're in a good place, that's wonderful.
23:47We want you to be in a good place.
23:48Help others who maybe aren't in such a good place also.
23:51I see.
23:52And now that you've started the group on Facebook,
23:54I believe you have more than 300 members.
23:56Was this something that you expected?
23:58Is this something that maybe Ashford had needed for a while
24:00and simply didn't have?
24:03I believe so.
24:04I think it's desperately needed
24:05and that's proven by the numbers.
24:07We're up to 330 members.
24:10I mean, the post we had shared on Kentonline
24:13has reached over 500 likes now, I believe.
24:16So there's obviously a need for this.
24:19And I think the laid-back approach is so key.
24:21It's about brotherhood.
24:22You know, it's like the huddle was born from team sports.
24:25When something goes wrong in sports,
24:27you call a timeout, you call a huddle
24:29and you make a plan to move forwards.
24:31And that's what we're trying to do every time we meet up.
24:33I see.
24:34And if someone is maybe feeling low
24:35or feeling as though they don't have anyone to turn to,
24:38is the idea that the huddle would provide that?
24:40And what would you say to someone
24:41who is having those feelings?
24:43I would say that you're not alone.
24:46Reach out, talk to someone.
24:48If it's not the huddle, someone.
24:50But hopefully you pick us
24:51and we'll invite you in with open arms.
24:54And we always say that you'll leave feeling better
24:56than when you turned up.
24:57And that's the case for everyone
24:58that comes to see us and joins us.
25:00We aren't therapists.
25:01We aren't counsellors.
25:03We're just a band of guys who had an idea
25:06of putting this together
25:07and actually it really works.
25:10And now let's take a look at the weather.
25:18Temperatures for tonight are staying around 10 degrees.
25:21A pretty cloudy night bar Ashford
25:22where you can see moon and a slight chance for rain.
25:25Into tomorrow morning,
25:26temperatures will be dropping around 8 and 7 degrees,
25:29cloudy across the county.
25:31And as for tomorrow, wind speeds are easing off.
25:33Temperatures picking back up.
25:35Highs of 13 degrees in Canterbury,
25:37lows of 10 in Margate.
25:38Looking forward to your outlook for the coming days.
25:40It's going to be cloudy skies, 15 degrees on Friday.
25:43Slightly colder when we get into Sunday,
25:45but a chance to see the sun.
25:54And finally from us tonight,
25:56four Kent businesses are set to appear
25:57on Channel 4's Four in a Bed this very week.
26:01A glamping business in Aylesford,
26:03Kitts Coty,
26:04as well as Stone Court House in Maidstone,
26:06the Crown Inn in Birchington
26:07and the Old Townhouse in Margate will be appearing.
26:10Mark and Amy from Kitts Coty said
26:12they decided to appear on the show
26:13after seeing the cost of living crisis
26:16taking its toll on the business.
26:18They said,
26:18we looked at Four in a Bed as an experience for us
26:21and hopefully it will reach a lot of people.
26:30Well, you've been watching Kent Tonight live here on KMTV
26:34and as always,
26:35there's more news made just for Kent
26:36throughout the evening.
26:38Don't forget,
26:38you can always keep up to date
26:39with the very latest news
26:40from across your county
26:41by logging on to kmtv.co.uk.
26:44Well, like I say,
26:46that's all the time we have,
26:47but thank you so much for watching
26:48and we'll see you soon.
26:49Goodbye.
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