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Catch up with all the latest news from across the county with Finn Macdiarmid.
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00:36Hello and welcome to Kent Tonight, live here on KMTV.
00:40I'm Finn McDermott and here are your top stories on Wednesday the 13th of May.
00:45Housing hell? Fears over 63-bed HMO in the heart of Gillingham.
00:51And it's going to do nothing to enhance the area whatsoever, quite the opposite.
00:56From Keir to Kings, our reporter is in Westminster to give you the latest news on the Prime Minister and
01:03the King's speech.
01:04And cheers to a new challenge.
01:0723-year-old T-Total pub landlord is set to put his own spin on a street local.
01:14Good food, good beer, good atmosphere and just welcoming.
01:29First tonight, dread and disappointment on the streets of Gillingham today as residents brace a new 63-bed HMO.
01:38The planning team at Medway Council say the house of multiple occupancy might actually be better than the student flats
01:44that were there before.
01:45But the local MP has now weighed in, saying it should have gone through the elected councillors first.
01:51Our local democracy reporter, Olly Leader, has the story.
01:54Student accommodation isn't usually built with year-round renting in mind.
02:00But those living on Geoffrey Street in Gillingham could soon have dozens of new neighbours,
02:07all in this one repurposed house of multiple occupancy.
02:12Plans for a 63-bed HMO in this student block here were approved without even going to planning committee.
02:21Locals now fear what this could mean for their community.
02:26I suspect it will lead to even more villainy and drug problems.
02:33There will be massive issues with parking.
02:37Because I think it's unfair on the students, because obviously that will be a lot cheaper for them,
02:45because they'll have enough to pay out for student loans.
02:48Plans have also been opposed by local MP Neshaba Khan,
02:53who has written to the Chief Planning Officer at Medway Council
02:58to express her disappointment that democratically elected members were bypassed.
03:05Firstly, I think we should be really carefully looking at every single HMO that comes forward in the Gillingham area,
03:09given the volume that we already have.
03:11Secondly, I do believe that student lettings is quite different in terms of how a student lives their lives,
03:19how they live their lives, the time that they're in their community, etc.
03:23is quite different to how a 63-bed HMO for single-person living could potentially be used by others.
03:30The change of use was allowed after JG Student Letts argued that falling numbers of students living privately
03:39meant the building needed to be repurposed,
03:43with council officers arguing a HMO would not significantly impact the area,
03:49and that it could actually be beneficial,
03:52as those living there would be more invested in the neighbourhood.
03:56But those arguments will do little to sway the naysayers who have lived here for decades.
04:03Olly Leader in Gillingham.
04:06A woman has been left injured and a dog has died after two separate dog attacks in Canterbury over the
04:12past month.
04:13Sam Russell had just returned home in early April when a Rottweiler charged at her and her two cockapoos,
04:18until a neighbour eventually helped pull the dog away.
04:21She suffered multiple injuries requiring medical attention after the incident,
04:25and was left devastated after initially being told by police they were treating it as a dog-on-dog incident,
04:31rather than a dangerous dog attack.
04:34In the same month, Amanda McDonnell also suffered an attack whilst walking her two chihuahuas,
04:39Roxy and Willow, which ended in Roxy's death.
04:41Both women say more must be done to tackle dangerous dogs before someone is seriously hurt.
04:47A disabled mother has resorted to living in a tent,
04:50because taking the stairs to her council flat is too painful.
04:54Crystal Smith has spent the last month sleeping in a tent in the communal garden of her Herne Bay Council
04:59flat block.
05:00She suffers from a fused vertebrae in her lower back, causing her unbearable pains through her legs.
05:06Crystal says that Canterbury City Council seem to be dragging their heels in getting her ground floor accommodation.
05:12The council say they've been in touch with her to discuss the support available,
05:15and identify the most appropriate and sustainable solution for her and her family.
05:21Residents in Miller Heights, Maidstone, say they still have no date when they can return to their flats.
05:26After an electrical fault, a prohibition notice was issued after a burst.
05:30Water main led to a power failure.
05:32All residents had to leave their homes, with some being put in emergency accommodation.
05:36Provisions have been made to allow residents to collect their essential items from their homes.
05:42Now, today marked a very important date in our country's political calendar,
05:46the King's Speech, that sets the tone for important laws and bills to come,
05:50including news on the Lower Thames Crossing.
05:52This year, for Kent and the rest of the country,
05:55with news of a potential challenge to Keir Starmer's leadership,
05:58has an extra layer of politics involved.
06:00I spoke to Kristen Hawthorne about how this might affect us here in Kent earlier.
06:06Kristen, what did the King actually announce in today's speech?
06:11Well, Finn, it was a King's speech like no other,
06:14as it was possibly overshadowed by the challenges Labour is currently facing.
06:18Some MPs have suggested that Sir Keir Starmer is not capable of leading the Labour Party.
06:23In the King's speech, however, he set out the government's legislative programme for the year ahead,
06:29with proposed new laws on the cost of living, trade, infrastructure, public services, housing and defence.
06:35There were plans to strengthen trading links with the European Union,
06:39support small businesses hit by late payments and reduce unnecessary regulation.
06:45On public services, the government proposed reforms to the NHS,
06:49policing, the courts, immigration and asylum.
06:52There were also plans to clean up the water industry,
06:55re-establish Great British Railways,
06:57reform special educational needs provision
07:00and increase investment in social housing.
07:02So, in simple terms, it was a speech focused on stability, growth,
07:06public services and national security.
07:09And, Kristen, how does this relate specifically to our viewers here?
07:13And what kind of bills and changes might affect them particularly?
07:20Well, Finn, for Kent, the biggest headline is the focus on the lower Thames crossing.
07:25That project would connect Kent and Essex through a new road tunnel under the Thames
07:29with the aim of easing pressure on the Dartford crossing.
07:33Supporters say it could reduce congestion, improve journey times
07:37and help businesses moving goods across the south-east.
07:40But it's also controversial, particularly for communities in North Kent
07:44because of concerns around traffic, cost disruption, air quality
07:48and the impact on the countryside.
07:50But there are other Kent angles as well.
07:53Any move to strengthen trading links with the EU matters here in Kent
07:57because it's the gateway to Europe through Dover,
08:00the Channel Tunnel and the wider road network that supports fright.
08:04Water reform is also significant for our country
08:08with major coastal communities.
08:10We've heard a lot recently that there are problems with sewage and our waterways.
08:13We've covered those stories recently.
08:14And with that reform, that could be really astounding.
08:17Something could change there.
08:18Real reform will matter to south-eastern passengers,
08:21especially with those frustrated by reliability, fares and service levels.
08:25And the NHS, SEND and housing announcement
08:28all touch issues we hear about regularly in Kent,
08:31from pressure on GP services and hospitals
08:33to families struggling for support in schools
08:36and young people being priced out of the area.
08:39To find out a little bit more about how this would affect Kent economically,
08:43we spoke to Tudor Price from the Invicta Chamber of Commerce.
08:48It's one of the biggest infrastructure projects we've seen
08:50in this part of the world for a very, very long time.
08:53So, I mean, we're really keen to see the government
08:55continue to sort of endorse and support.
08:57I think leveraging that private sector investment
09:00has been a critical element to the project now.
09:03We've got past all the planning.
09:04We've got all the sort of groundworks that started underway.
09:06We've got all the suppliers and the opportunities in place.
09:09So, seeing this move forward to the next stage
09:11is going to be absolutely fundamental
09:13to some of the economic prosperity we will face here in Kent and Medway.
09:17We are already doing a huge amount with the supply chain,
09:19making sure that, you know, the opportunities are felt here locally.
09:22But also, there's a long-term social impact and legacy
09:25that's going to be created from the skills and career choices
09:28that will be sort of brought off the back of this
09:30are going to be really, really significant.
09:31So, this is a real positive thing.
09:33And now, aside from the Lower Thames crossing,
09:35let's catch up with all your business headlines
09:37with Crystal McPherson.
09:45Noise complaints in Birchington has seen Kent's largest
09:48car-breaking yard's operating permit cancelled.
09:51The Environment Agency stated the noise
09:53from car-breakers Reclame were too severe.
09:56Reclame looked to salvage the situation,
09:58appealing the decision made by the EA
10:00in a public inquiry next week.
10:01One of the neighbours who looked to support this decision
10:03are Graham and Sarah Catterall
10:05of the Nelson Park Riding Centre.
10:07They stated,
10:08We have a lot of special needs
10:09and disabled children and adults coming here,
10:11going on to say the noise spooks our horses
10:13and risks the riders getting bucked.
10:15St. Lawrence College in Ramsgate
10:17has seen an investigation launched
10:18after having to enter administration
10:20and closing earlier in this year.
10:22500 pupils and 170 staff members
10:25were all left without a school,
10:26with the Charity Commission now having launched
10:28a regulatory compliance case
10:30to assess financial concerns raised
10:31by the corporation of St. Lawrence College.
10:34It is unclear when the investigation will conclude,
10:36but it does not mean there has been any wrongdoing.
10:38Parent Laura Holden stated the closure
10:40is nothing short of catastrophic for most parents.
10:43Ashford has seen a shopping centre car park
10:45fully reopened for the first time
10:47since the end of March.
10:48NCP entered administration,
10:50resulting in their County Square car park,
10:52as well as 20 other sites,
10:53all being deemed unliable.
10:55Another car park,
10:56the smaller of the two,
10:57remained open for free.
10:59Hosea, a UK-based parking technology company,
11:01is now managing both car parks
11:03and has had them reopened.
11:04With that, they have introduced
11:05new automatic number plate recognition cameras
11:08for the locations.
11:09An Iceland supermarket in Swanly
11:11has seen a one-star food hygiene rating.
11:13This comes after an inspection
11:14on the 3rd of March
11:15saw many issues being raised,
11:17including items being stocked above the load level,
11:19some items being stored at incorrect temperatures,
11:22and an out-of-date packet of sausages
11:23being left out for sale.
11:24The one star has been given,
11:26as the branch was found needing urgent improvement.
11:28An Iceland food spokesperson said,
11:30Iceland takes safety, hygiene and standards
11:32with the utmost seriousness
11:33and is committed to maintaining
11:35a safe and clean environment.
11:36Crystal McPherson for KMTV.
11:45Well, that is all the time we have for now,
11:48but coming up after this very short break,
11:51we'll be bringing you more news from across Kent,
11:54including news of an ongoing alleged murder trial,
11:57as well as a video all about
12:00the new owners of a pub in Stroud.
12:02See you in a few minutes.
12:56I'll see you in a few minutes.
13:57I'll see you in a few minutes.
14:27I'll see you in a few minutes.
14:57I'll see you in a few minutes.
15:26I'll see you in a few minutes.
15:31In a few minutes.
15:36I'll see you in a few minutes.
15:39I'll see you in a few minutes.
15:43I'll see you in a few minutes.
16:14I'll see you in a few minutes.
16:31Mr. Belsham.
16:42I'll see you in a few minutes.
16:44I'll see you in a few minutes.
17:28I'll see you in a few minutes.
17:34I'll see you in a few minutes.
17:45I'll see you in a few minutes.
17:59I'll see you in a few minutes.
18:00You in a few minutes.
18:47I'll see you in a few minutes.
19:15I'll see you in a few minutes.
19:39You in a few minutes.
20:16I'll see you in a few minutes.
20:19I'll see you in a few minutes.
21:14I'll see you in a few minutes.
21:29I'll see you in a few minutes.
21:35I'll see you in a few minutes.
21:46I'll see you in a few minutes.
21:47Now, The New Mayor of Favisham has been elected, but she is not the first in her lineage in
21:51the role.
21:52Her family history can be traced back with being the mayor for nearly
21:56400 years.
21:58The town's new mayor has stepped up to uphold a long-standing family tradition, as between
22:02her and her husband, Kenneth, a total of seven of their ancestors have held that
22:06very same title.
22:07The branches of her family tree continue to grow.
22:10She's also appointed her 21-year-old daughter Ruby as mayoresce.
22:13Liberal Democrats councillor Martin says she is looking forward to
22:15the year ahead and getting out and meeting her local community. Now let's have a look at the
22:20weather. Tonight it's looking like light showers across the county temperatures of eight and nine
22:30degrees gentle winds blowing to the southeast speeds of nine miles per hour in the east near
22:34Dartford 14 in Margate. Tomorrow morning temperatures eight degrees most of the county
22:38looking quite dull and overcast into tomorrow afternoon. I shouldn't have said anything it's
22:42getting quite wet lots of rain and showers going slightly warmer to 11 and here's your outlook for
22:48the coming weekend Friday 14 degrees getting a little bit hotter as we get towards Sunday
22:52but that rain coming down with a little bit of sun peeking out.
23:01And finally tonight how young is too young to manage a pub? Well 23 year old Carl Blair has taken
23:08on his second after becoming a landlord at 20 at the time making him one of the county's youngest
23:13publicans. The three cruises just outside of Strood came under new management less than a fortnight ago
23:20and the owner is already busy renovating and upgrading the menus and to add to the challenge
23:26he's never drank a drop of alcohol but when Megan Shaw met him he was certainly in high spirits. Let's
23:33take a look. A new era at the three crutches in Higgam is brewing and it might be an unexpected
23:40one.
23:42Now I have a question for you would you go relax and unwind in a pub owned by a 23
23:48year old that
23:49doesn't drink? It might seem odd but for the new landlord of the three crutches he believes this is
23:55the new era of pubs. Let's take a look. He was thought to be Kent's youngest publican when he took
24:04on the black horse in Bean at just 20. Now three years later Kyle Blair is ready to say cheers
24:11to his
24:12next project. It was a pub that my partner always knew all her life and when we stepped out of
24:17our
24:18previous pub we wanted a new adventure and being food led that's where we wanted to go. We've put
24:24in two great chefs we've injected a great team into the pub and we're able to open both sides of
24:29the pub one being the top bar one being the bottom and the gardens all tidied up now for the
24:33summer
24:33so we're able to cater for more and have more people in and keep the flow flowing. Going from an
24:40exclusively drinks venue to now balancing both new food and drinks menus will certainly pose its challenges.
24:48But maybe not as big of a challenge as running a bar stocked with beverages he can't drink.
24:53But Kyle insists that being both 23 and tea total max a new style of pub tailored towards the younger
25:00generation. The younger generation nowadays don't actually drink then there was a stat that said like
25:06more people on new year's eve were at the gym than in the pub but i think it's understanding the
25:12new
25:12age the new culture what people want we don't show sky we don't need sky but can we
25:17offer something else. Redecoration of the venue is well underway with Kyle set to add a new outdoors
25:24bar in the expansive beer garden despite only taking the reins less than a fortnight ago and if you're
25:31looking for a new place to wet your whistle what can you expect? Good food good beer good atmosphere
25:38and just welcoming. While Kyle might be short on experience his ambitions seem crystal clear.
25:45Megan Shaw for Kame TV in Higgum.
25:49And just before we go for those of you who missed the golden age of clubbing we've got some good
25:53news
25:53because on the 15th of May touring event company Discos for Grown Ups planned to make a stop right
25:59here in Kent. Later this month the Assembly Hall in Tunbridge Wells will be hosting a nostalgic
26:04homage to all the best music from the 70s 80s and 90s. The set list features a wide range of
26:11artists
26:11from the late 20th century ABBA, Earth, Wind and Fire, Madonna, the Bee Gees and many more. Guests are
26:17encouraged to embrace disco glamour as you can see there to add to the atmosphere to make for a memorable
26:23night out. Well you've been watching Kent tonight live here on KMTV. There's more news made just for
26:32Kent throughout the evening but as always you can check out all of our shows on our website
26:38kmtv.co.uk. You can also keep us on your social timelines by liking us on Facebook and following us
26:44on our TikTok. And if you have a story you think we should be covering then please don't hesitate to
26:49get in touch. But that's all the time we have for now. See you soon.
27:20you
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