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Catch up on all the latest news from across the county with Kristin Hawthorne.
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00:34Hello and welcome to Kent Tonight Live on KMTV. I'm Kristen Hawthorne and here are your top stories on Thursday
00:40the 9th of April.
00:42A sign for change? Resident complaints Skull Street signage in Chatham isn't clear enough.
00:47There's a penalty charge notice telling me that I'd entered a Skull Street scheme at a restricted time zone. I
00:54was quite baffled because I didn't even know it was here.
00:56Kent's hidden crisis. Those struggling with day-to-day anxiety aren't meeting the NHS clinical threshold for a diagnosis.
01:04So I used to have a job until my mental health got really bad and since, because I've been really
01:12struggling with it of late, I'm not working at all. I'm living on benefits.
01:16And be on the call. An author launched his latest children's book in his paramedic series.
01:22We see so many things negative at the moment, so we can reverse that from a young age and that's
01:29one of the purposes behind the books, is to reverse that thinking.
01:44Our top story this evening, it's at a side profile. That's how a Medway resident described Skull Street signage onto
01:51Glencore Road in Chatham.
01:53Michelle Oliver received a fine for entering the road when the vehicle restrictions were in place, then later appealed, but
02:00that was unsuccessful.
02:01But she maintains that the sign should face the driver turning onto the road, not the CCTV camera.
02:07So Megan Shaw went to Chatham to see the sign for herself.
02:10How can one road sign in Medway cause so much confusion?
02:16This sign marks the start of the Skull Street scheme here in Chatham on Glencore Road, where the road is
02:23temporarily closed off between school pick-up and drop-off times.
02:27However, some say the sign shouldn't point this way and should instead point that way, facing a driver turning right,
02:35which is what Michelle believes landed her with a fine in the first place.
02:40I've come up Magpie Hall Road, it was very busy, took in all the signs that I could see and
02:47made the turn.
02:48And about a week later, maybe 10 days, I got this piece of paper through the post from the council,
02:53which was a penalty charge notice, telling me that I'd entered a Skull Street scheme at a restricted time zone.
02:59I was quite baffled because I didn't even know it was here.
03:02So obviously I appealed because the first thing that I noticed was the photographs that they had used to send
03:11my PCN out, which was from that camera over there.
03:13And that camera over there was the only thing that had a full face view of the sign with the
03:20restrictions on it.
03:21As you can see, it's at a side profile.
03:23The fact is, is that there are very, very few accidents involving children outside of primary schools.
03:30In the year before Trance One, which is the first lot of schools actually came in, there were only two
03:36very minor incidents involving primary school children.
03:39Whilst I think the intentions are good, the fact is, is Medway under the labour group has been a disaster.
03:49And money is the important thing here. They're doing it to raise money.
03:53And, you know, the lady you spoke to about the signage is just a symptom of a much bigger problem.
04:01Michelle's appeal was ultimately rejected by Medway Council. So I approached them for comment.
04:07They said, we remain satisfied that signage at our school street sites is adequate and compliant with the relevant legal
04:16standards, as did the tribunal in this case.
04:19However, we will continue to review feedback, including comments on signage to ensure the schemes operate effectively.
04:27Megan Shaw in Chatham.
04:31A lorry driver has pled guilty after killing a man in a three vehicle crash on the M20.
04:38Zvonka Tomisa from Croatia originally denied the charge of causing death of Aran McManus by dangerous driving in November last
04:49year.
04:49The victim from Ashford was at the wheel of a Nissan when Tomisa's lorry collided with his vehicle alongside another
04:56lorry near Lenham.
04:57At the time of his death, Mr McManus's partner, Ashley Devlin, released a tribute in which she described herself as
05:04heartbroken at the loss of her soulmate and best friend.
05:07Tamisa has been remanded back into custody to await sentencing.
05:13Next, a group in Maidstone have come together as they work to tackle their struggles with anxiety.
05:18New research has suggested that millions of people are struggling with day-to-day anxiety that may not meet the
05:23NHS threshold for a clinical diagnosis, including residents here in Kent.
05:28As nearly three in ten adults say they've taken time off work, school or caring responsibilities, Maisie Walker has been
05:35finding out more.
05:36In Kent, mental health issues continue to affect many people every day.
05:41At the start of this week, an inquest found that a man from Raynham, Simon Smith, died by suicide after
05:47struggling with depression and anxiety.
05:50Although he had been diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder, many people are still unable to access support,
05:57with research suggesting that a significant number do not meet the threshold for a clinical diagnosis.
06:02So this research has been commissioned by Calm's Herbal Remedies, and it's had a look at the real impact that
06:11day-to-day anxiety is having on people.
06:13So it's that sort of persistent unease, people experiencing everyday pressures.
06:18So, you know, your work, your home life. I think sometimes we don't realise what we're carrying on our backs
06:25sometimes.
06:25The research says nearly three in ten adults take time off work, school or caring responsibilities due to anxiety, coming
06:33to around 15 million working days lost nationwide.
06:37To better understand how debilitating anxiety can be, I travelled to Matestone to speak with members of the community using
06:44Mid-Kent Mines free services.
06:46So I used to have a job until my mental health got really bad, and since, because I've been really
06:54struggling with it of late, I'm not working at all, I'm living on benefits.
06:59I had a really bad experience one time, years and years ago when I went up to Priority House, and
07:04I was self-harming at the time.
07:05And the lady said, oh, a cat could have done that.
07:10Understandably so, some people that I spoke to did not wish to share their face on camera due to the
07:15severity of their anxiety, concerned about how they might be perceived.
07:20It took the group quite a long time actually to get comfortable with me and share their experiences,
07:25because I'm a new person which is alone enough to trigger their anxiety, let alone bringing a camera with me.
07:32I put forward a question to a member of the group if they've ever felt like their anxiety wasn't severe
07:38enough to seek professional help.
07:40Yeah, people have made me feel that way, people I thought were friends, people in my family and relationships.
07:48Awful really to say that even people in my family have belittled it or made it seem like they're not
07:54interested.
07:54Some of them didn't even realise what was happening to me, didn't even know and didn't want to know.
07:58In the claims made against Priority House in Matestone, a spokesperson for the Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust
08:06has apologised,
08:07saying patient and family experience is extremely important to us.
08:11And with the voice of lived experience, we remain committed to listening, learning and continually improving care.
08:18There's no magic wand to make anxiety disappear.
08:21But from what I've learned, meeting with these individuals brave enough to face their own struggles and share their stories,
08:27shows just how important it is to talk to others.
08:31Maisie Walker for KMTV, Medstone.
08:35And of course, if anyone was affected by anything in that report,
08:38you can find support at Samartans.org or their helpline at 116 123.
08:44But next tonight, the British Touring Car Championship has been preparing for the 2026 calendar,
08:50with its season opener held yesterday at the Brands Hatch Race Circuit.
08:54Tim Forster went to the circuit to find out more.
08:58The thundering sound of engines can be heard as the British Touring Car Championship returns to the Brands Hatch Race
09:04Circuit for the season opener.
09:06The event marks the beginning of the series' 69th season and offers teams and drivers a final opportunity to test
09:12cars before the first round at Donington Park on the 18th of April.
09:16Tim Forster's 2026 has started really well for us. We had a great pre-season test at Croft. At the
09:22right end of the timesheet, very happy with that.
09:25We've made some changes in the office in the off-season and that's beginning to reap rewards already.
09:31But what is it about the BTCC series that draws in so many drivers and attracts a global fan base?
09:38I've grown up watching British Touring Cars and I just love the spectacle of it.
09:44I love the close action on the racing, I love the sound of the cars, the way they look.
09:49It's just, for me, in Europe certainly, this is the most exciting racing you will see.
09:54It was here at Brands Hatch back in 1957 that the very first British saloon car championship race was held.
10:00That year saw the title come down to a head-to-head battle between Tommy Stockwith and Jack Sears.
10:06And at the final round of the season, again held at the Kentish circuit, it was Sears who claimed victory.
10:12But it's been almost 70 years since that inaugural season and though the name may have changed, the competitive spirit
10:17remains the same.
10:19End of the season is really about how many points we score. If we score enough points, things like the
10:25Independent Drivers' Championship,
10:26the Independent Teams' Championship, Jack Sears will take care of themselves. We're only interested in winning this year.
10:32There are familiar faces returning to the paddock as well.
10:36Jason Plato began his BTCC career as a driver.
10:39Thirty years later, with two championship titles to his name, he's back, this time as a team owner.
10:45But what does this new role entail?
10:46Well, first thing is I look at when the drivers touch things, like they drive their wing mirrors or their
10:53front wings into tyres.
10:55I have a different feeling now to when I was in the car because I just see pounds going out
10:59the window.
11:01I mean, it's very different. It's not easy because I want to be in the car. I've got itchy feet.
11:06With competition high and drivers and teams eager to get out on the track, the season is off to a
11:11flying start.
11:14A controversial music festival in Folkestone has been given the go-ahead despite resident pushback.
11:20Love on the Lees music festival will take place on May 23rd and 24th, after it was approved by Folkestone
11:26and Hyde's licensing subcommittee.
11:29But the decision has been met by anger from some people living in the coastal beauty spot, who say that
11:33last year's event brought about unprecedented noise levels.
11:37David Laniel, one of the managers, at the festival said he was super happy with the decision and insisted it
11:44was a family friendly event rather than a party.
11:48Now, it's time for a quick break, but don't go anywhere as we have lots more to bring to you.
11:53We'll also be speaking to Chris Deasy about biopics as well.
11:56And a man who used his experience as a paramedic to create a children's book.
12:01All that and more to come. Bye-bye.
12:57Bye-bye.
13:24Bye-bye.
13:57Bye-bye.
14:27Bye-bye.
14:53Bye-bye.
15:23Hello and welcome back to Kent Tonight Live here on KMTV.
15:27New drone images show the cleared site of a former Chatham supermarket ahead of the construction of 300 new flats.
15:35Demolition work for the former Tesco and Go Outdoors store in The Brook began in March last year, removing a
15:41recognisable landmark.
15:42Plans for the new development said the clearing of the site for housing would have a beneficial effect of regenerating
15:48the centre of Chatham.
15:49The designs show five block of flats which will be five to seven storeys high across the 1.11 hectare
15:56site.
15:58One author has launched his latest children's book at Fort Amherst.
16:02Tim Parsons, who used to work at the South East Coast Ambulance Service, wrote paramedic Chris Beyond the Call about
16:09a real-life encounter he experienced while meeting up with a friend for coffee.
16:13Our reporter Naila Mohammed went to the book launch and has that report.
16:17Have you ever had something happen in your life and wish you could write a book about it?
16:21Well, for Tim Parsons, that's exactly what happened. Not once, not twice, not even three times, but on five separate
16:28occasions.
16:29And though the books are fictional, each one is influenced by his experiences while being on call with C-CAM
16:35or while working privately.
16:36And here at Fort Amherst, Tim is launching his latest book.
16:41Paramedic Chris Beyond the Call tells the lucky tale of one man in need of serious medical assistance while in
16:48the presence of not one, but two paramedics and an ambulance car.
16:52The children's book was officially launched in the cafe of Fort Amherst and written by Tim, who used to work
16:58for C-CAM.
16:59Well, they're saying they're very educational and they're also helping children know what happens when the community comes together and
17:06how to support one another.
17:07So, in my opinion, we see so many things that are negative at the moment, so we can reverse that
17:15from a young age.
17:16And that's one of the purposes behind the books, is to reverse that thinking.
17:20And for Simon, the other paramedic on scene, this book is a positive representation that ambulances need.
17:26So, there's lots of different books and children's programs for emergency services, you know, like the fire brigade, for example.
17:35So, I just think it's nice that there's one now out there for the ambulance service and paramedics and that
17:45side of thing.
17:46Because it's good for children not to be afraid of the emergency services, especially ambulance services, because they may end
17:54up being treated at some point.
17:55But we're there to help them and to make them better again and that actually we're not that frightening and
17:59that we're all very friendly and nice to work with.
18:02As the story is based here at Fort Amherst, it only makes sense that the illustrations of the book are
18:06heavily influenced by the place too.
18:08So, I've decided to take a walk around and see if I can spot the significant spots of the story.
18:13I've already come across the cafe, which is where help is called for, and I've now found the place where
18:18the chairman had the stroke, the main part of the story.
18:21I came out here, I was leaning on the wall here, and all of a sudden I just came over
18:27very dizzy, very dizzy, lost all realisation of what was going on and collapsed.
18:34But luckily, as she shouted out, there were paramedics downstairs having coffees and, you know, killing some time.
18:41And they all came rushing up, so I had a group of paramedics all around me helping me out.
18:48This book is the latest addition to the Paramedic Chris series, and the message to children in each of them
18:53is the same.
18:54Emergency services are here to help.
19:01A spectacular artwork originally crafted on an iPad has gone on show at Margates Turner Contemporary.
19:09The colourful works by one of the world's most celebrated living painters, David Hockney, measures 10 metres by 7 metres
19:15and now occupies the floor-to-ceiling sunrise window at the Turner Centre.
19:20It marks the venue's 15th anniversary. I spoke to Alice Randall, who has the details.
19:25What are the advantages of David Hockney's work being shown?
19:29Well, as we can see here, Mr Hockney has created an exceptional piece of work.
19:34The advantage is that it's very creative and unique. It was created on an iPad, it was in 2020.
19:40And it really brings a sense of educational purposes.
19:44We've had primary school children come to the Turner Contemporary Gallery in Margates to view the paintings.
19:54And it's had a lot of great success, really.
19:58And tell us about the work and why it's been so successful as well.
20:01So, I think it's been really successful because this is something that's really unique.
20:07Mr Turner, you know, has not just, you know, had your original painting, but actually has developed something on an
20:15iPad,
20:16which with these days, with the use of AI and stuff, anybody can really do that.
20:21It's also been scaled up for this occasion as well.
20:25So, it's actually quite big in the gallery.
20:27And I think it's definitely making people maybe decide to go into a career with art, really.
20:34Yes, it's certainly different.
20:36How long will it be on show for?
20:38When can people go and see it?
20:40So, it will be on show until this November, 2026.
20:45So, basically, it's on show till then.
20:48And really, because the gallery wants to, you know, to celebrate, this is its 15th anniversary.
20:56And it wants to celebrate Mr Hockney's success, really.
21:00And now for a quick look at the weather forecast.
21:09It's going to be very warm across the county.
21:13We've got ranges of 11 to 13 degrees, wind speeds of 15 and 11.
21:17Then we've got highs of 9 degrees over there in Dover into tomorrow morning.
21:21Wind speeds going down, so it might be quite warm.
21:23We've got cloudy skies then into the afternoon.
21:26Temperatures rising to highs of 13 degrees across much of the county.
21:30Saturday, 15 degrees, cloudy skies.
21:32Sunday and Monday, partly cloudy skies, staying at 14 degrees.
21:36So, still staying warm.
21:47And now, as always, as it's a Thursday, we are joined by our resident film expert, Chris Deasy.
21:52And this week, we're talking about the world of biopics.
21:55And for viewers who aren't sure what a biopic is, it's a biographical movie about a prominent person or a
22:01business.
22:01But, Chris, do you think the film industry is running out of ideas?
22:05We've got the Michael Jackson one, which I believe is coming out soon.
22:08It is later this month, yes.
22:09I mean, I'm looking forward to this.
22:11I mean, obviously, the actor playing this is a family member.
22:15So, it's a Jackson playing a Jackson.
22:18And one wonders, therefore, whether this is going to be a film that is not going to touch any raw
22:24notes.
22:25I mean, this is always the thing with biopics, that there's a sense of being faithful to the life of
22:31the person, but also not offending the family.
22:33I remember feeling that with the Johnny Cash film, Walk the Line.
22:36It was very good with an Oscar-worthy performance.
22:38He was nominated by Joaquin Phoenix.
22:40But, at the same time, it felt like it was straddling a line.
22:44And, sort of, on the one hand, not wanting to offend the family, not risking any sort of litigation, but
22:49also being true to the man.
22:50And, of course, biopics are normally made after the person has died.
22:54There are exceptions.
22:55There was a biopic of George W. Bush while he was still in office.
22:58We were back in 2008.
23:00But this film has one of the best trailers that I've seen.
23:04I cannot wait to watch this.
23:06But will it live up to expectations?
23:08I feel that with all of them.
23:10They always seem, in my view, to promise so much, but often there's almost an enforced rags-to-riches story
23:18and the childhood and the dysfunctional life.
23:20But they all feel the same, the Aretha Franklin one.
23:24They're very worthy, but one almost feels that they're interchangeable.
23:28And, to me, there's something that doesn't quite hit the right notes there.
23:30Do you find that it's kind of taking over the movie scene at the moment?
23:34Because we've got, I mean, if we look at the recent films that have come out, we've got sequels, remakes,
23:39now we've got a lot of biopics.
23:41Do you find that maybe directors are losing a bit of creativity?
23:43Well, there's one creative way around it, because I think you're right, is that sometimes, like with the Bruce Springsteen
23:48one,
23:49is that they then have not so much biopics of the person, but they use the music of the person
23:56to tell a different story.
23:58I mean, Mamma Mia does the same thing. So, in a way, it's the music of ABBA, but it's not
24:02the ABBA story,
24:03but it's using the ABBA story to tell another story where you have the influence of that music in the
24:08life of someone.
24:09Bruce Springsteen, a good example, we've had the Elvis story, but two versions of that,
24:14including the really introspective one made by Sofia Coppola, which couldn't be different from the huge bombastic spectacle that Baz
24:21Luhrmann made.
24:21So, in a way, you're always going to have, it's like Jesus biopics, you know, have just come out of
24:26Easter.
24:26It's the same thing. They're always going to be, you know, people in their mind will imagine what it should
24:31be like.
24:32The Freddie Mercury one was brilliant, but it could have been Sacha Baron Cohen who played him, and there were
24:37creative differences.
24:38So, you see the fine line between a really successful biopic and one that just feels a bit, oh, ho
24:44-hum, I'd rather just listen to their music rather than watch the film,
24:48which in some ways almost has to be a bit more contrived in order to sort of really get at
24:52the heart and tell the story.
24:54And sometimes we think, well, are we really that interested?
24:57Yeah, well, there's also to say, I mean, with journalism, you have to be impartial with making a film like
25:01this,
25:02I suppose you would also have to be quite impartial and make sure that you're not, I mean, you might
25:05be a huge fan of Michael Jackson,
25:06but you need to be aware that there's maybe more to the story than the fact that you're just a
25:10fan.
25:10I always wonder sometimes if there are any directors who don't really like the subject matter,
25:15and they're almost like they're doing this as directors for hire, and you feel sometimes, how far can they go?
25:21I don't think we're going to see anything too controversial with the Michael Jackson one, because it's clearly a family
25:26affair.
25:26But just imagine if you have a biopic. There was one of Peter Sellers many years ago, and it felt
25:31like they had to be so careful.
25:33Some characters were portrayed almost as saintly, and you're thinking, those people are still alive.
25:37There probably were huge litigation matters involved. It's actually really quite funny, but sometimes they do feel a bit the
25:43same.
25:43They do feel a bit interchangeable.
25:45And then quickly then, what are your predictions for the next biopic?
25:49Biopic? Is it biopic or biopic?
25:51A biopic would be one. Well, you see, there's a few artists that haven't been done.
25:55I mean, I'm a huge fan of Carly Simon, for example, but how far can we go with this?
26:00Do you have to wait till, I mean, she's still alive, do you wait for the person to, what about
26:03a Cliff Richard biopic?
26:04You know, I mean, it's not inconceivable, but often the best way to do it would be in the context
26:08of other people who were around at the same time,
26:11not just focusing perhaps on one artist. Maybe it's like an era, the 50s, for example.
26:15And we've got 30 seconds to the end of the show. So what is your favourite one that's come out
26:20so far?
26:21My favourite one, I would say, I mean, the Elvis one was good.
26:25It was.
26:26And do you know why? Because the Colonel Tom Parker was almost this cartoon character.
26:30And I thought they probably thought, how do we portray him? Because he has this reputation.
26:34So it's almost as though they were deliberately almost like sabotaging it by having this bizarre performance by Tom Hanks.
26:41But it kind of worked despite itself.
26:44Yeah. Well, thank you so much, Chris. Hopefully we'll get your review on the Michael Jackson one when you see
26:48it.
26:49All right. You've been watching Kent Tonight Live on KMTV.
26:52Thank you so much for watching. We'll be back with The Bulletin at 8pm.
26:55See you there. Bye bye.
26:58Bye bye.
26:59Hi.
26:59Hi.
27:06Hi.
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