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Catch up with all your latest news from across your county with Nailah Mahomed.
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00:35Hello and welcome to Kent Tonight, live here on KMTV.
00:39I'm Naila Mahamud with your top stories on Tuesday the 10th of November.
00:43Stuck in traffic. Why have safety improvements on a deadly Maidstone roundabout halted?
00:49And I'm very, very fearful that there will be another accident.
00:53Under pressure. Graves and care providers fear rising costs could hit services.
00:58Care providers are not able to financially sustain the company.
01:03This is going to have a knock-on effect on people needing care.
01:07And Medieval Medway, the news nuggets return.
01:10This time to take a look at the history of food in Kent.
01:14It was a different part of local history I don't think any of us were aware of.
01:18We weren't aware of the food.
01:19So it was lovely to have something completely new to share with the community.
01:34I'm very fearful there'll be another accident, says one Kent County councillor.
01:40After work to improve a deadly crossing on the 8229 in Maidstone has stopped, seemingly without reason.
01:46Just last year, a pensioner on a mobility scooter was struck by a car while crossing Royal Engineers Way.
01:52And while safety improvements to the crossing of the flashing green man, why do they seem stuck at red?
01:58Well, local democracy reporter Megan Shaw has been finding out.
02:01And I'm very, very fearful that there will be another accident.
02:05Cars speeding by on Royal Engineers Road.
02:08While pedestrians wanting to cross the road have no choice but to make a run for it.
02:18This Maidstone roundabout got the green light for a safer crossing after a tragic accident last year.
02:24But once the old crossing was removed, things seemed to have got stuck in traffic.
02:30The elderly man was trying to get to this side of the road when he was hit by a car.
02:35And it's quite a busy road.
02:37It's a 40 mile an hour speed limit on both sides of the roundabout.
02:40And this stretch is particularly difficult to navigate without any crossing at all in place.
02:45It took me about five minutes for me to be able to make my way across, just to be able
02:49to film this.
02:50But one councillor in particular is fearful something like this might happen again.
02:56In August, the old crossings, two out of the three places, were removed.
03:01So this was good, the upgrade was finally happening.
03:03However, since then, the new crossings have not been installed and we are left in the ridiculous situation where a
03:11safety upgrade has actually resulted in the area becoming much more dangerous to cross.
03:16Because instead of three crossings, we now only have one.
03:18And I've seen with my own eyes people crossing the road still using where the crossings should be, but without
03:25any crossings at the moment.
03:26Which is very dangerous, especially now, nights are drawing in, it's getting darker.
03:30There is another way across.
03:32A parallel pelican crossing on the other side of the roundabout, but residents still fear for their safety.
03:39It's dreadful having to go round all the cars, they don't watch out for you.
03:44It's a nightmare.
03:46I wish, I wish it was done.
03:47That is not good enough for the poor old people in this area.
03:53I mean, I take a risk.
03:54I can run, luckily, but not everybody can run.
03:57And I had to run to get across now and before I've had to as well.
04:01Developer Redrow was supposed to have completed this project on 6th November.
04:06And they apologised, explaining that some signage has been displaced by bad weather.
04:11Kent County Council is working closely with the developer and contractor
04:16to ensure the crossing is restored as quickly as possible, once it has been deemed safe.
04:22And while traffic might continue to disrupt pedestrians trying to cross,
04:26there seems to be no sign of progress entering the fast lane.
04:31Megan Shaw in Maidstone.
04:35A warning that this next story contains details which some viewers may find upsetting.
04:41Celebrity Russell Brand has recently been sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison
04:45after being convicted of rape and sexual assault.
04:48This also comes as David Walliams has been accused of grooming girls as young as 15,
04:53allegations that he denies.
04:55So I spoke to Kurt Trevillian from Family Matters,
04:57a charity providing support to survivors of rape and sexual assault here in Kent.
05:03So we've seen that he's been sentenced for 10 years and 6 months.
05:06In your experience, do you think this will give victims the more confidence in coming forward
05:11and kind of reporting this stuff that's happening to them?
05:13I think to a degree.
05:14I think that any high-profile case is always noteworthy for victims
05:18and seeing that actually people in positions of power and fame
05:21can be held accountable for their actions.
05:24But I think it's a longer-term aim we need to look forward in society.
05:27You know, we saw this with Jimmy Savile and so forth
05:29and people thought that was a landmark change.
05:30And then here we are in 2026 with the same issues arising again.
05:34And with the trial and with Russell Brand,
05:37the Prime Minister has said that he's prepared to make some changes
05:41as to how victims are questioned in court.
05:44What are your kind of thoughts on this?
05:45And do you think it will make an impact?
05:47I think it's worth exploring.
05:49You know, I've sat in on court cases
05:50and I've seen how hard the question is for survivors.
05:53You know, they're really...the whole life is torn apart.
05:56You know, there's a real introspection into their character
05:58and they try and, you know, belittle them to a degree
06:00and it can really be something they're not prepared for.
06:04And I think people forget that, actually, you know,
06:05for survivors to come forward and actually say,
06:07look, here's what happened to me,
06:08but then, you know, be brought into court
06:11where they're suddenly then talking about your finances
06:13or your life or your behaviours or your youth
06:15and it can really be quite a traumatic experience.
06:17And it's not just Russell Brand.
06:19I mean, today we've heard that David Walliams as well
06:21has sexual misconduct allegations against him, which he denies.
06:25Do you think there's a trend there of people in powerful positions
06:30or celebrities or quite well-known to the public
06:33and on social media particularly carrying out
06:36or allegedly carrying out these crimes?
06:38I think it's clear to see over, you know,
06:40over the last...how many years you want to look at it,
06:42that it keeps rearing its head again and again.
06:44I think there'll always be an abuse with power
06:46and, unfortunately, you know, a lot of women
06:48and men as well can be affected by it.
06:51I think all we can do is actually show survivors actually,
06:54look, you can speak out, you can be heard, you can be trusted.
06:57That's one of the hardest things for survivors
06:59is actually that, will I be believed?
07:01You know, will someone be there to listen to me?
07:02And we've spoken a lot about the celebrities and the fame here,
07:05but what about those who aren't celebrities or aren't well-known?
07:08What kind of happens there?
07:09Is there a power imbalance in those situations?
07:12Absolutely.
07:13It's still a little bit about control when it comes to sexual abuse
07:15and we see it first-hand.
07:17You know, we're seeing thousands of clients in Kent every year
07:21and, you know, it's something that keeps rising throughout the county
07:24ever since I've been here.
07:25You know, when I first joined Family Matters,
07:27we were seeing sort of, you know, 500, 600 clients a year.
07:30Now we're seeing over 3,000.
07:32It's continuing to grow
07:33and I think that imbalance will continue, unfortunately.
07:37If you or anyone you know have been affected
07:39by any of the issues discussed in this report,
07:41you can reach out to the Samaritans on 116 123
07:44or reach out to other available charities.
07:48Newly released CCTV footage reveals the moment two men on trial
07:53for the fatal stabbing of teenager Ashton Harrington
07:55bought the knives allegedly used in the attack.
07:58The footage on screen soon shows Kierman Barnes,
08:02Tobias Agbaje and a third unidentified man
08:05buying what's been described as the largest knife on sale
08:08at Golding Surplus, a shop in Herne Bay.
08:11They bought the knives on the 1st of April this year
08:14and have been accused of using them to stab Mr Harrington
08:16in Woodstable two days later.
08:18Both Barnes and Agbaje have pled guilty to possessing knives
08:21but deny murder.
08:23Shop owner Paul Golding told police that Agbaje was a regular customer
08:27and thought he was a collector.
08:28The trial at Canterbury Crown Court is ongoing.
08:35Emergency services have responded to an incident on the River Medway
08:39this afternoon.
08:40Six police vehicles, an ambulance, four fire engines
08:43and the Coast Guard were seen at Blue Ball Lane
08:45at Rochester Riverside just after 3pm today.
08:48Several officers were seen running alongside the river walkway
08:51before some entered the water.
08:53Afterwards, two people were seen climbing along the riverbank
08:56before getting back onto the walkway.
08:58A rescue boat arrived to assist but had left the scene by 3.40pm.
09:04Independent care providers across the county
09:06are facing growing financial pressures
09:08following this year's autumn budget,
09:10according to one local business.
09:12While the budget introduced significant changes
09:14for the care sector,
09:16small independent care businesses are concerned
09:18by the long-term impact and sustainability.
09:21Reporter Maisie Walker visited one in Gravesend
09:23to find out more.
09:24While care providers are not able to financially sustain the company,
09:30this is going to have a knock-on effect
09:32on people needing care.
09:34Independent care providers across the county
09:36are warning their future could be at risk
09:39as rising costs put more pressure on smaller businesses,
09:43despite additional support for carers
09:45announced in this year's autumn budget.
09:48For care providers, staffing makes up a huge part
09:51of the business and so when employment costs rise,
09:54it can have a knock-on effect from everything
09:56from recruitment to the number of hours
09:58providers can actually offer.
10:00More care services in Gravesend
10:02is one independent provider
10:04that is feeling the pressure,
10:06already operating on tight profit margins.
10:09Obviously, the national minimum wage going up,
10:11which we welcome that
10:13because our carers deserve to be better paid,
10:16which is a really good initiative from the government,
10:20but it doesn't match the fair pay and the fair charge.
10:25It doesn't give us as an employer
10:29the confidence in recruiting more
10:32because together with increasing national minimum wage
10:36means increase in national insurance,
10:39pension contribution,
10:40and the cost of employing more people
10:44to work in this industry is rising
10:46and as a small care provider,
10:49it can have a massive impact.
10:52While employees, of course,
10:53have welcomed the increase in their wages,
10:55with some hoping it may encourage
10:57more people into the sector,
10:59there are concerns about whether smaller providers
11:02can absorb the additional costs
11:04and continue operating.
11:06The care sector is kind of being underrated
11:09because if you go out there,
11:11how many people want to do care?
11:12There are a few.
11:13People want to go into tech,
11:14do other kind of jobs, understand?
11:17But care is important,
11:20but they don't look into that.
11:21But now they are now kind of
11:23focusing their attention into it.
11:24You see that it will attract more people
11:26and attract, like, interest more people to do it.
11:30Financially-wise,
11:31it definitely increased the cost
11:33of the operations for the company.
11:35So it's not just about the wages.
11:39Yeah, it's the entire business
11:41because if we can't get a good rate
11:44to cover the gap increase,
11:47then it's going to be a big trouble for us.
11:51With further financial pressures ahead,
11:53there are fears that without greater support,
11:55some smaller providers may struggle to survive.
11:59Maisie Walker for KMTV in Gravesend.
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