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Catch up with all the latest news across the county with Kristin Hawthorne
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00:36Hello and welcome to Kentonite Live on KMTV. I'm Kristen Hawthorne and here are your top stories on Thursday the
00:4328th of May.
00:44Whitstable without water. We're in the seaside town as dozens of businesses are forced to close following the outage.
00:51We'll be looking to earn somewhere between £700 and £1,000. So it's quite a dent in the finances.
01:00Scorching heat threatens livestock. A fruited-in farmer says animals are at risk as temperatures continue to soar.
01:07We're now in a period of global gradual warming and we get long periods without rain so it makes the
01:15grass very short for animals.
01:16And from Brazil to Medway, former Arsenal midfielder De Nielsen becomes an ambassador for a local team in Gillingham.
01:24I'm very grateful to be here. So I'm hoping to see a lot of Arsenal fans and I want to
01:29wish that we win the Champions League on Saturday.
01:43Our top story tonight. Water outages continue to affect Kent with 8,000 residents in Whitstable suffering from failures at
01:51the hands of South East Water.
01:52Hospitality venues face the brunt of this, having to shut up shop until supplies return, unable to wash dishes or
01:59flush looes.
02:00Megan Shaw was in Whitstable earlier today.
02:03A beautiful day by the sea and not a drop to drink.
02:08As Whitstable becomes the latest region in Kent to be plunged into water outages.
02:13According to South East Water, 8,000 residents in the town are without water to drink, wash or flush toilets
02:22with.
02:23And although tourists might have had their day out by the sea ruined, it's the business owners who worry they
02:30might struggle to stay afloat.
02:33Nobody can use the loo, can get water.
02:36All the hospitality, pubs, restaurants have all had to close and we don't know when they're going to reopen and
02:45that is a big, big worry.
02:47Because obviously it's people's livelihoods.
02:50Hospitality venues in particular, unable to serve water, maintain hygiene or wash dishes, were forced to close.
02:58On a busy bank holiday weekend, on school holiday for the kids, we'll be looking to earn somewhere between £700
03:07and £1,000.
03:08So it's quite a dent in the finances, yeah.
03:12Hot weather and the half-term holidays are normally very profitable times for businesses, particularly hospitality venues in a tourist
03:19town like Whitstable.
03:21But rather than being able to enjoy serving customers on a busy day, businesses are left wondering when will they
03:28be able to reopen.
03:29It's got a domino effect on all the suppliers.
03:31You know, should we get our weekend produce in?
03:33Some people would already have that in the door.
03:35I know we have.
03:36We've just had a cheese supply come in from Italy, which is not something you can stop.
03:40It's pre-ordered a week in advance and it's just the unknown.
03:45It's choppy waters for traders in Whitstable, but they aren't alone.
03:49South East Water confirmed that their supplies have filled 14,000 customers across Kent, including Herne Bay and Ashford and
03:58its surrounding areas.
04:00For those in Whitstable, they explained that they are without supply because the storage reservoirs which serve the area have
04:07reached a critical level.
04:08Parts of Whitstable will see supplies returning later today and this will continue through to tomorrow morning.
04:14Tap water is likely to remain intermittent across the weekend.
04:19Hospitality venues in seaside towns like Whitstable rely on busy summers to help keep them going in the winter.
04:26But now, even summer seasons seem far from plain sailing.
04:32Megan Shaw, The Cane TV, in Whitstable.
04:36It's short-termism.
04:37That's what Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield said when we asked why she thinks the government has failed to act, as
04:43more and more Kent residents have their water supply fail.
04:47Thousands of her constituents are without water in Whitstable and she told us earlier the coming months could be disastrous.
04:54Obviously, I'm just as livid as all of the residents affected.
04:58I know that nurseries have had to shut and restaurants have had to shut and old people's homes, which is
05:03perhaps the most worrying of all.
05:06And it's just not OK, it's not acceptable, it's not good enough.
05:09And it's very easy for people like me to blame one set of people, the water company.
05:14But I think the problem is much wider than that.
05:17And we really have to look at this as a problem in the whole and do something about it.
05:23And one of our reporters was in Whitstable this afternoon speaking to business owners, a lot of whom felt they
05:28were in the dark because there's little direction or advice from elected officials.
05:31Yeah.
05:32Are you doing anything to help yourself?
05:35Yeah, I mean, I'm doing what I always do in these crises and unfortunately they're far too frequent.
05:40And that is replying to and helping individuals and businesses as they contact us and just holding the water companies
05:48to account.
05:49I mean, I've just this minute been on another Zoom with them and we're trying to get better comms from
05:54them about where the stations are, when they're open, when we can expect water to be returned to people.
06:01Why, you know, asking them questions about why some areas are on, some areas are off.
06:06So that's what MPs in these situations do constantly.
06:11And essentially we're just trying to get answers for people all of the time and trying to put individual cases
06:17to them.
06:17And then wider neighbourhood cases to them.
06:20So it's full on all the time.
06:22And, you know, that's what me and my team are doing.
06:25Yeah.
06:25So it's kind of a response to what's been happening, which you could say is quite reactive.
06:29And how do you think we could prevent something like this happening again in sort of a preventative style?
06:35Million dollar question.
06:36We've got to look at the issue as a whole.
06:39We've got to look at our water use.
06:41We know that there's climate change, for example.
06:44We know that temperatures are getting hotter.
06:45We've got to be honest about that.
06:48Unfortunately, the water companies have just told me that they can't even impose a hose pipe ban in a straightforward
06:54way.
06:55They have to give a week's notice.
06:57And this particular incident took them by surprise.
07:00They didn't expect the huge temperatures, apparently.
07:03And therefore they didn't have time to impose a hose pipe ban.
07:07So all of that seems crazy.
07:08I think that me and other local MPs have got to look at how we can change legislation to allow
07:15that to happen in a better way.
07:17And why do you think that the government has failed on this?
07:20I mean, it is quite a big issue.
07:23I think it's a question of short-termism, like we see with the NHS, like we see with education.
07:28If governments change and they promise a whole list of things and they don't work with the opposition or the
07:35previous government,
07:35if we don't do long-term planning, this is such a prime example of why we need long-term planning.
07:41I mean, we're already looking at a really disastrous potential summer for the area.
07:47And, you know, do we start warning people?
07:49We've got to build in that resilience if we possibly can.
07:52And that involves removing the politics from it, I think.
07:56Kent's farmers have said they're concerned with how livestock are dealing with the sudden change in temperature.
08:02One former sheep farmer in Frididin has been tracking the heat in his local village for many years
08:07and has predicted the weather will get calmer as we move into June.
08:12But for farmers across the county, they're struggling to keep their livestock cool at the moment.
08:17Finn McDermid went down to Manor Farm in Frididin to find out more.
08:21Since the bank holiday weekend, Kent has been one of the hottest regions of the country.
08:25And with that, heatwave has come water supply issues across the county.
08:29So for Kent's farmers, this has presented a new challenge,
08:32as they're worried that their livestock, who consume gallons of water per day,
08:36could be impacted by the supply issues.
08:40Well, I mean, we're hearing on the radio people being cut off from water.
08:46We've had reduced pressure from time to time, which isn't fatal to us.
08:50But I'm just terrified that we're going to end up being cut off.
08:55And I've got to go and collect lorry loads of water bottles from southeast water in order to fill the
09:03trough.
09:03But we'll deal with that when it comes.
09:07Green Farms is based in Ashford, but across the county,
09:11one former sheep farmer has been recording the temperature in his village near Tunbridge Wells.
09:15In an attempt to gauge when the livestock kept in his fields can come out of the shade
09:20and graze across bearer pastures.
09:23The trouble is we're now in a period of global gradual warming
09:27and we get long periods without rain,
09:31so it makes the grass very short for animals,
09:34so they don't get the grass to feed on it that they should have, or cattle.
09:41With a shortage of water at times,
09:43it makes it extremely difficult for farmers
09:46to give the water necessary for their animals.
09:49Now using his weather station and his knowledge of the climate,
09:52Lester has predicted that we should be back to normal weather by the beginning of June.
09:57Temperatures of 19 and 20 rather than the oppressive heat coming up to 30
10:01that we've seen across the bank holiday weekend and into this week.
10:04But as we know, the hot weather can be very difficult for multiple kinds of farmers.
10:08If you're a crop farmer, you might have less water,
10:11or if you're a livestock farmer,
10:13you need to make sure that your cattle or sheep are getting enough shade and water.
10:17I would say if you're able to,
10:19to plant as many trees as possible to give them shade,
10:23and also, if you're able to,
10:26to be able to have your own ability for your own reservoir,
10:29so you might be able to give your animals water,
10:32because we're going to get more of the weather like we've got now
10:36more often as time progresses.
10:39Lester's predictions show that it's likely the climate will cool as we get closer to June.
10:43But while the high temperatures remain,
10:45farmers will be feeling the heat
10:46to make sure they can keep their livestock healthy and hydrated.
10:49Finn McDermid for KMTV in Frittenden.
10:54And on staying with that topic,
10:56here is the weather forecast for the coming days.
11:04Well, here we go.
11:05So we've got 21 degrees in Dartford and Medway.
11:09That's the highest you're going to get.
11:10Wind speeds of 7 and 9.
11:11Slightly increasing into tomorrow morning.
11:14Some cloudy skies coming in towards the middle of the county.
11:16We've got highs of 22 degrees.
11:18Into the PM, though, it goes straight up to 28 there over in Maidstone.
11:23Lows of 23 then in Margate near the coast.
11:26Then we've got cloudy skies on Saturday, 25 degrees.
11:29The same on Sunday, but 22.
11:32And then rain on Monday, 20 degrees.
11:42And we've got a short break now,
11:43but coming up in just a few minutes,
11:45we'll be talking to Chloe Brewster
11:47about an emergency response
11:48that found a body in a North Fleet pond.
11:51And we'll also be taking a look
11:52at the latest update
11:53of the Miller Heights block of flats in Maidstone.
11:56And they were sent false information
11:58about being able to return.
12:00All of that and more to come in just a few minutes.
12:02See you then.
15:25Well, hello and welcome back to Kent Tonight Live here on KMTV.
15:29A teenage boy has died after getting into difficulties in a pond in North Fleet.
15:34Police, paramedics and fire crews were called to the water near Black Eagle Drive where they recovered the 15-year
15:41-old's body.
15:42Chloe Brewster is here with me now to tell us more.
15:46Chloe, dramatic story.
15:48What happened here?
15:49Yes.
15:50Yes.
17:22figures from the national water safety forum putting the southeast as one of the highest
17:27one of the places experienced the highest level of fatal water-related incidents um in 2024
17:33five people died across kent and medway in 2024 and inland incidents like this one with with the
17:40pond um and other areas like lakes rivers that is the place that people may pass away 84 of the
17:47time
17:47but that's in accidental deaths in the uk so that's obviously shocking numbers you'd expect
17:51it to be happening near seas um other other areas like that um kit and fire and rescue service have
17:57reminded people what they what they say if you see someone in difficulty if it's inland water
18:02call 999 and ask for the fire service but if it is happening in the sea or yeah tidal area
18:09you call the coast guard all right thank you so much chloe
18:15and medway social media influencers who've been accused of stirring up anti-social behavior on
18:20broad stairs have taken to tick tock to push back against local anger hundreds descended on the
18:26seaside time with scenes of underage drinking running rife as ethan madaringe has been discovering
18:31businesses worry that this could happen again we shut it off me and lanks shut it off we absolutely
18:39shut it off there was hundreds of people going mental for us down at the bottom with the football
18:43if you haven't seen the video go look at it it's absolutely jokes a bank holiday no one wanted in
18:50broad stairs there's been a dispersal to put in place on the beach now as anti-social behavior ran rampant
18:57over the weekend with hundreds descending on the beach and police making six arrests but tick tock
19:04influencers who've been accused of stirring up trouble deny causing seafront chaos
19:11we actually came to enjoy ourselves first of all guys to everyone in broad stairs that was nice
19:18and welcomed us i appreciate you because you made our day and we made your day but to all the
19:23low life
19:24people that that that say no we came to broad stairs we ruined it we well me marcus did not
19:29even have a
19:30fight that day underage drinking dispersal orders and dozens being moved on forced businesses to close
19:38in peak trading season the impact has been huge i've got three cafes and a mini golf course and i
19:46love
19:46this town and it's upsetting to see it happen but it happens every year it just needs to be nipped
19:52in the
19:53bud you know we we put a lot of effort into trying to make it nice for everybody and yeah
20:00they just ruin it
20:02and it's our livelihood at the end of the day this is our business it's our home and it's deeply
20:08upsetting
20:09for us it's already been a difficult start to the summer for thanet and with many more sunny days
20:16expected fears that this will happen again won't go away ethan materingay for kmtv
20:27now i don't forget you can keep up to date with all our latest stories across kent by logging on
20:31to
20:31our website kmtv.co.uk there you'll find all the reports including this one about a free community
20:38free shop in ashford crowds of people gathered outside for the opening of a brand new free shop
20:49food books clothes and toys everything in the store has been donated by multiple businesses
20:56or even members in ashford and it was set up by carolina a single mother of four who wanted to
21:02thank
21:02her community for all the support they've given her nobody should travel alone nobody should feel
21:07lonely so ashford free shop is about showing the love the compassion the kindness that we still have
21:15for one another and the world where there's so much negativity they're still good people they're still
21:21kind people that care about people this has to work in ashford because people need it people need to
21:29know that they don't have to suffer alone opening for the first time in ashford this center marks the
21:35expansion of my street shop in herne bay and there are plans to expand this even further even in
21:41birmingham and in coventry but what is a free shop well finder maya says it's a shop with no till
21:47everything is free all these clothes have been donated by the local community or to help the community here
21:53in ashford and some things have even been brought over from herne bay so according to maya a donation
21:58is a donation and no matter where it's from it needs to go and help someone i wanted people to
22:04know that not only we can run the free shops but we can help them to open their free shops
22:09in their
22:09town serving their community poverty doesn't wait cost of living doesn't wait so what we do
22:15we just keep going free shop is a movement it's a green plant free recycling center it's a bridge between
22:25waste and people in need more free shops we open more people in need we will help and more waste
22:32we will save
22:35and the community gives back to the store too in more ways than one because i've been homeless i was
22:43homeless for a while i've sofa surfed i've been on the streets i've witnessed people passing away through
22:51ammonia things like that and people being cold um so when i heard something about this it was kind of
22:58inevitable to be there and to put a face and help out as much as i can because i needed
23:05it when i was
23:05homeless at a time when many are struggling ashford's food shop shows how compassion dignity and community
23:12spirit can make all the difference nayla mahomed for kmtv in ashford miller height residents in maidstone
23:21were sent false information claiming a ban on entering their flats had been lifted and that they
23:26could move back in the housing agent centric sent a notice titled prohibition lifting confirmed but this
23:33proved to be a mix-up with another building it owns in plymouth more than 20 minutes later the company
23:38sent out a correction and apologized for the confusion that it may have caused the residents
23:43are still set to wait at least six more weeks as the building has been deemed too dangerous to live
23:48in
23:49due to a lack of water and electricity folkestone's tourist hotspot has celebrated its busiest trading
23:57days in as the uk heat wave drives a surge in sales folkestone harbour arms saw a surge in visitors
24:04over the bank holiday weekend as the scorching heat drew crowds to the coast
24:08over 1500 portions of fish and chips were served 1200 pizzas sold and 500 oysters shucked from some of its
24:17businesses earlier this month the businesses won food destination of the year at kenton midway food and drink awards
24:27this premier league campaign saw arsenal take the league title after 22 years without it and to celebrate
24:34non-league gillingham town has welcomed a former brazilian midfielder to their pitch danielson played
24:40for the gunners between 2006 and 2013 and he was down in medway today as jude moulton has been finding
24:47out
24:48gillingham town football club are transforming with some brazilian flair the non-league side have gained
24:54the support of former premier league player danielson who previously played for arsenal he has come down to
25:00take a look at the training facilities today hoping they are up to his premier standard the former arsenal
25:06man has nearly a hundred premier league appearances and can bring some vital experience to the club
25:12now former arsenal and brazil player danielson is here as a club ambassador for gillingham town fc but i
25:19have asked him why has he made the trip down here to medway
25:23so first of all because of alex i've known him since i came to arsenal um and he lives here
25:34alex lives
25:34here and um i'm delighted to be here to look at the city to look at gillingham i am very
25:40grateful to
25:41be here so i'm hoping to see a lot of arsenal fans and i want to you know wish that
25:46we win the
25:47champions league on saturday now i asked him if he would use his brazilian ties to bring his culture
25:52to grassroots football and why this would be important to the local area this is what he had
25:58to say yes definitely i think mixing different cultures to football grassroots sports is really
26:04important um especially brazilian because we love football i already work with some players in brazil
26:11and i do want to bring them over here and it'll be good to to bring them so that you
26:16can experience
26:16the english football how he's played now the club are excited at his involvement and do
26:22believe that this is the push that they need to gain a greater foothold across the county with
26:27former players such as gilberto silver also being an ambassador for the club this non-league
26:33side have the backing of some top talent and notable names but we will have to see how the story
26:39plays out at this football club and will these former players be enough to keep the window of
26:44opportunity open june moulton km tv you've been watching kent tonight live on km tv but there's
26:52more news made just for kent throughout the evening at 8 pm so we'll see you then thank you so
26:57much for
26:57watching bye
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