Kent Tonight - Wednesday 13th March 2024
Catch up on the latest news from across the county with Sofia Akin.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 - Hello and welcome to Kent Tonight live on KMTV.
00:28 I'm Sophia Akin and here are your top stories
00:31 on Wednesday the 15th of March.
00:34 Hitting the most vulnerable.
00:36 Disabled woman from Maidstone
00:37 caused rise in care bills cruel.
00:40 - I know friends that have said, well, why am I alive?
00:45 - Saved by a whisker.
00:48 Rochester Animal Rescue sees rise
00:50 in litter related injuries.
00:53 - So Kenneth, he's either been living in rubbish
00:56 or he's, as you can see, his head trauma is quite big.
01:00 That is actually got a lot better.
01:02 - And Clemence's praise.
01:04 Gillingham head coach proud of his team
01:06 despite 10 man loss.
01:08 - I already know what team I'll pick on Saturday
01:11 from that performance I saw in the second half.
01:13 - First tonight, a disabled woman from Maidstone
01:25 fears increases in care will cost people their lives.
01:29 The disability campaigner says the proposed rise
01:31 in care bills from Kent County Council
01:33 comes at a time when vulnerable people
01:35 are financially squeezed.
01:37 Vicky Chittenden has multiple sclerosis
01:40 which impacts her brain and nerves.
01:42 So it's reliant on full-time carers.
01:44 But as our local democracy reporter, Gabriel Morris reports,
01:47 the authority is defending the decision
01:49 saying they're not the first council to do it
01:51 and they need to balance their books.
01:54 - Vicky has had MS since she was 17.
01:57 Now 72, she says the financial security of disabled people
02:02 is becoming increasingly squeezed.
02:05 And now the cost of her personal assistance
02:07 which she requires around the clock could be increasing.
02:11 But the charging policy for people who receive care
02:13 in their homes could be changed by Kent County Council.
02:18 It's looking to be an increase of around 30 pound a week.
02:22 She's worried about what cuts she'll have to make
02:24 to fund the proposed changes with her unable to work herself.
02:29 - I've been attacked enough in some ways
02:32 and that we don't choose to be like this.
02:35 We don't choose to, we want to be out there
02:38 living our lives and contributing.
02:41 Yeah, so I think it's a frightening tactic
02:45 to disabled people sometimes
02:48 when they know the charges are going up.
02:51 And I know friends that have said,
02:55 "Well, why my life?"
02:58 No, it's awful.
03:00 - KCC have explained to Vicky
03:02 that more income will be taken into account
03:04 as part of their means testing
03:06 to find out how much she has to pay.
03:09 The authorities consultation runs until the start of April
03:13 and they say they want to hear
03:14 from all residents about this.
03:17 But a local disability charity says
03:19 there are more than 15,000 people
03:22 who could find their financial situation disrupted
03:26 if Kent County Council go ahead
03:28 with the changes to chargeable care.
03:30 - People who require sort of round the clock
03:33 or nighttime support as well
03:35 are likely to be those people with more complex needs
03:40 or higher levels of disability.
03:43 And therefore they're going to be less likely
03:45 to be able to supplement their income
03:47 with things like paid employment.
03:50 - The 2014 Care Act has given Kent County Council
03:53 the power to make these changes,
03:55 but it's been argued they are just too complex to figure out.
03:58 They're based on enhanced or higher rates
04:00 of nightcare attendance allowance
04:02 alongside the care component
04:04 of the disability living allowance
04:05 and the daily living section
04:07 of the personal independence payment.
04:10 - People don't actually understand
04:12 and know where the increases are going to come from.
04:15 So from that point, it is not fair.
04:18 The fact that people have to pay more and more
04:20 for their care and care services, again, is not fair.
04:23 The cutbacks that have been made are choices.
04:26 There are other choices
04:27 and there were other choices presented
04:29 at the budget meeting.
04:30 - In a statement, KCC says they're facing
04:33 ever increasing demands for complex care services,
04:35 rising costs of care,
04:36 and a lack of adequate funding from central government.
04:39 And that means that alongside other councils,
04:42 they say they're having to make tough decisions
04:44 and find ways to ensure their services
04:46 are sustainable for the future.
04:48 But as KCC moves to alter care charges,
04:51 Vicky's fears highlight a broader struggle
04:54 for financial stability amongst the disabled community.
04:57 Gabriel Morris in Maidstone.
04:59 - If you've been impacted by Vicky's story,
05:02 there is support out there.
05:03 The Samaritans can be reached by calling 116 123.
05:08 That's 116 123.
05:10 Now, an animal rescue in Rochester
05:13 says they've seen a rise in litter-related injuries
05:16 in recent months.
05:17 It comes as the RSPCA says that Kent
05:19 is the third worst county for this particular incident
05:23 involving animals.
05:24 Wisteria Cat Rescue wants to see more done
05:27 to reduce fly-tipping in Medway,
05:29 despite the council offering free bulky waste collection.
05:32 Oliver Leader de Sacks has the story.
05:34 And just a warning, there may be some images
05:37 in this report that viewers could find distressing.
05:40 The cost of littering marked across the face
05:43 of one of Kent's most vulnerable cats.
05:46 Over the past four years,
05:47 the RSPCA have received thousands of reports
05:50 of animals being injured or trapped by litter,
05:54 with 526 in Kent alone.
05:57 - So Kenneth, he's either been living in rubbish
06:00 or he's, as you can see, his head trauma is quite big.
06:05 That has actually got a lot better.
06:06 - The Wisteria Cat Rescue in Rochester
06:09 have seen this rise firsthand.
06:12 - Yeah, we've seen a rise in the cats
06:13 that have come into our care
06:16 that have been a result of living on rubbish
06:19 that's been fly-tipped,
06:21 or even plastic that's been caught around the neck.
06:25 It could be to find food, it could be to shelter,
06:28 it could be to have kittens.
06:30 It could be due to a homely smell
06:32 that these cats are attracted to rubbish
06:34 that then start living in it.
06:36 It's not even stray cats.
06:38 It is also your domestic cats,
06:39 the cats that are owned,
06:41 they will go in because they're inquisitive.
06:44 - What has happened to Kenneth is not uncommon.
06:48 Kent is the third highest for litter-related call-outs,
06:51 according to the RSPCA.
06:53 - If we look at the statistics nationally,
06:56 we've received at the RSPCA 13,000 reports
06:59 over the last four years about animals severely impacted
07:02 by carelessly discarded litter.
07:04 And just last year alone, in 2023,
07:07 we received an average of 13 reports a day.
07:11 It is something that we can control,
07:12 and everyone has the responsibility
07:15 to do something about that, and we can.
07:17 And that's why it's so sad
07:18 when we see animals impacted in this way.
07:21 - But Billy says responsibility for littering
07:23 and fly-tipping rests with local authorities.
07:27 - It's purely down to the fact that it's very hard
07:30 to book a appointment
07:31 with the local rubbish recycling centres now.
07:34 So people want a quick, easy fix
07:36 to get rid of their rubbish,
07:37 so they're paying next to nothing to get rid of it,
07:41 and then that's being tossed out.
07:43 - Medway Council have been approached for comment.
07:46 With the Great British Spring clean starting on Friday,
07:49 there's never been a better time to help keep rubbish
07:52 out of the paws of Kent's wildlife.
07:55 Oliver, Leader of the Saks, reporting for KMTV.
07:58 - Now, a mum is appealing for information
08:01 after her son died falling into the river Medway.
08:04 Charlie Saywell was confirmed dead
08:07 when his body was recovered
08:08 from the river near Maingate Road in Chatham
08:11 just before 11 on the 5th of March in the morning.
08:14 The 25-year-old soldier had been socialising with friends
08:18 the night before, before taking a cab to his home in Brompton.
08:22 But rather than going into his home,
08:24 it's thought the boy walked into Chatham Town Centre
08:26 between 12 and just before three in the morning.
08:29 Police think he may have then mistakenly got
08:31 into an unidentified car,
08:33 where it's reported he was assaulted by the driver,
08:36 suffering facial injuries.
08:38 His mum, Victoria Brown, desperately wants to understand
08:41 what's happened to him.
08:42 Now, Ashford residents are concerned as up to 200 homes
08:47 could be built on a flood plain next to the M20.
08:50 They say the area's being overdeveloped,
08:52 with hundreds of homes also being built nearby.
08:55 One resident says there isn't enough infrastructure
08:58 to cope with more people in the area.
08:59 He fears if houses are built on Kennington Road
09:02 in periods of high rainfall,
09:03 the excess water would have nowhere to go.
09:06 Developers say sustainable drainage systems
09:08 would be used to manage and reduce water runoff.
09:11 Parts of the properties would be built in low-risk areas,
09:13 with wetlands in high-risk flooding areas.
09:16 The land's already been subject to survey work,
09:18 and a consultation seeking views of local people
09:21 is set to follow.
09:22 A Love Island star has avoided prison
09:26 after being caught speeding on the A2 with false plates
09:29 under the influence of cocaine.
09:31 Jack Fincham from Swanley was stopped by officers
09:34 after they spotted the 31-year-old in a white BMW,
09:37 driving without due care and attention near Dartford.
09:41 The TV personality, best known for winning Love Island in 2018
09:44 alongside Danny Dyer,
09:46 appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court this morning.
09:49 He admitted to multiple offences,
09:50 including driving without third-party insurance
09:53 and driving under the influence.
09:55 Mr Fincham was handed a 12-week suspended sentence
09:58 and has been banned from driving for more than five years.
10:01 Now, Dover's MP Natalie Elphick says vital decisions
10:06 are still needed to avoid disruption,
10:08 with the implementation of the new EU entry/exit systems
10:12 later this year.
10:13 The new software would see travellers scanning their passports
10:16 at an automated self-serve kiosk.
10:18 It would also take fingerprints to track any non-EU citizens.
10:22 But this could lead to delays of 14 hours or more,
10:25 as checks which once took 45 seconds
10:28 could now take as long as 10 minutes.
10:30 Here's the Dover MP at today's Prime Minister's Questions.
10:34 Later this year, a new digital EU border system will come in,
10:38 and yet key changes that are required,
10:41 key details have still not been decided by the EU.
10:46 There are urgent decisions that are needed
10:47 on additional funding and preparation
10:49 to keep Dover clear and Kent moving through with its traffic.
10:54 Can my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister assure me
10:56 that this issue is being taken seriously
10:58 at the highest levels of government,
11:00 and that funding and support will be made available
11:03 to keep Dover clear, support the residents of Dover and Deal
11:06 and Kent, and to secure our vital cross-channel trade and tourism?
11:10 - Prime Minister.
11:12 - My hon. Friend's right to raise this issue,
11:14 and I can assure her that it is being discussed
11:16 at the highest levels of government
11:17 between UK Ministers and EU and French counterparts
11:21 to make sure that we have practical
11:22 and constructive solutions that will ease the flow of traffic
11:25 in the way that she describes,
11:27 and will benefit her local community.
11:29 - Time for a break now, but coming up,
11:31 we'll get the latest on Kent's health headlines
11:33 with Medway GP, Dr. Julian Spinks.
11:36 And in football, Gillingham's head coach has been praised
11:39 despite losing 2-0 to Wimbledon.
11:41 And with the end of the National League South season approaching,
11:43 Maidstone hosted Chelmsford.
11:45 More from Bartholomew after the break, and more news for Kent.
11:48 I'll see you in a few minutes.
11:50 (upbeat music)
11:53 (upbeat music)
11:55 (upbeat music)
11:58 (upbeat music)
12:01 (upbeat music)
12:03 (upbeat music)
12:06 (upbeat music)
12:08 (upbeat music)
12:11 (upbeat music)
12:14 (upbeat music)
12:16 (upbeat music)
12:19 (upbeat music)
12:21 (upbeat music)
12:25 (upbeat music)
12:27 (upbeat music)
12:30 (upbeat music)
12:33 (upbeat music)
12:36 (upbeat music)
12:39 (upbeat music)
12:41 (upbeat music)
12:44 (upbeat music)
12:47 (upbeat music)
12:50 (upbeat music)
12:52 (upbeat music)
12:55 (upbeat music)
12:58 (upbeat music)
13:01 (upbeat music)
13:03 (upbeat music)
13:06 (upbeat music)
13:09 (upbeat music)
13:11 (upbeat music)
13:14 (upbeat music)
13:16 (upbeat music)
13:19 (upbeat music)
13:22 (upbeat music)
13:24 (upbeat music)
13:27 (upbeat music)
13:29 (upbeat music)
13:32 (upbeat music)
13:35 (upbeat music)
13:37 (upbeat music)
13:40 (upbeat music)
13:42 (upbeat music)
13:45 (upbeat music)
13:48 (upbeat music)
13:50 (upbeat music)
13:53 (upbeat music)
13:55 (upbeat music)
13:58 (upbeat music)
14:01 (upbeat music)
14:03 (upbeat music)
14:06 (upbeat music)
14:08 (upbeat music)
14:11 (upbeat music)
14:14 (upbeat music)
14:16 (upbeat music)
14:19 (upbeat music)
14:21 (upbeat music)
14:24 (upbeat music)
14:27 (upbeat music)
14:29 (upbeat music)
14:32 (upbeat music)
14:34 (upbeat music)
15:04 (upbeat music)
15:07 - Hello and welcome back to Kentonite live on KMTV.
15:18 Well, it's time now to look at all the latest
15:20 health headlines with KMTV's health expert,
15:22 Dr. Julian Spinks.
15:32 Julian, thank you for joining us as usual.
15:35 Now, the first thing I wanted to talk to you about this week,
15:37 the NHS is urging over 40s to come forward
15:40 for free blood pressure checks.
15:42 It's something that thousands across Kent are living with
15:45 undiagnosed according to these new figures.
15:47 So they're saying it could be a silent killer
15:50 if it's untreated.
15:51 So firstly, what are some of the causes of high blood pressure
15:53 if there are thousands in Kent with it?
15:56 - The majority of people who have it,
15:58 it's standalone high blood pressure.
15:59 There's no obvious reason,
16:01 but there are blood vessel changes.
16:03 But it also can be a sign of your arteries furring up
16:06 because of things like excessive cholesterol and so on.
16:09 And so if we do find someone's got raised high blood pressure,
16:12 then we start to look at these other risk factors.
16:15 Smoking will also raise it as well.
16:18 It's a silent killer because there's no way for you to know
16:20 what your blood pressure is.
16:22 Until it gets incredibly high,
16:24 there are no symptoms whatsoever.
16:26 So if it isn't checked,
16:27 you won't know and you won't get treated.
16:29 - So it's more common for those over the age of 40?
16:32 - Yes, it gets more common as you get older,
16:35 particularly in the over 40s.
16:37 We want to catch it early on
16:39 because the longer we treat it for,
16:41 the less chance you are going to have the problems with it.
16:44 And the biggest thing is that it increases your risk of stroke.
16:48 - And where can people go and get these free blood pressure checks?
16:50 Am I right in thinking you can now just go to your local pharmacy and ask for this?
16:54 - You can get it at your local pharmacy.
16:56 We've always been able to contact your GP about getting a test done.
17:00 Some of the practices I work in have got a machine in the lobby,
17:02 so you don't even have to go and book an appointment.
17:05 You can go in and have the test, have a little printout of paper,
17:07 hand it in to reception and we have a look at the results.
17:10 - You can even just get your own kits and do it at home, can't you?
17:12 I know many people do that themselves.
17:14 Another story making the headlines this week.
17:17 A Folkestone woman was given laxatives by a nurse
17:21 before being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
17:24 She's now urging other women to go and get it checked out
17:28 if they believe that they have symptoms of this disease.
17:31 So I wanted to ask you, how important is this?
17:35 If you believe you might have a symptom of cancer
17:38 or something's a little bit off, something's not quite right,
17:40 how important is it to go and get this checked out and how can people do this?
17:45 - Well, all cancers, including ovarian cancer,
17:47 the earlier you catch it, the more likely you are to have a genuine cure.
17:51 At the moment with ovarian cancer, about half of women live five years.
17:55 80% live about a year.
17:57 But a 50/50 chance of living five years is not that good
18:00 compared with things like breast cancer.
18:02 The big problem is that ovarian cancer symptoms aren't that obvious.
18:07 They can be things like bloating, feeling full early,
18:11 having to wee more often and so on.
18:15 Or even having symptoms of things like irritable bowel, indigestion,
18:18 constipation or diarrhea.
18:20 So I think if there's a change in your body,
18:22 particularly if it's associated with losing weight,
18:24 you definitely should go along to your doctor
18:26 and we'll have a look and make sure you haven't gotten something nasty like a cancer.
18:29 - Okay, yeah, absolutely so important.
18:31 And the last thing that's been sort of floating around this week
18:35 is the idea that what breakfast you eat makes you more attractive.
18:38 Is this one you've heard of floating around in the news at all?
18:41 - Yes, it's a French bit of research and I have to say it's particularly ridiculous.
18:46 - It's crazy, isn't it? There's been a few different ones.
18:49 One of them said if you eat a full English,
18:51 you're more attractive than someone eating a continental breakfast.
18:54 But surely that's not as good for your sort of health, is it, if you eat a full English?
18:59 - You've got to have the balance.
19:00 And this latest research was looking at highly refined carbohydrates versus less refined.
19:06 So it was done in France. It was baguettes versus sort of bread, which was wholemeal.
19:11 And they claim that people who ate a lot of wholemeal were judged to be more attractive.
19:15 I don't think that's very sensible.
19:17 I think what we need to major on is actually making sure people are healthy in what they eat.
19:21 - I'd probably rather have a baguette. What would you rather have?
19:24 - I actually quite like bacon and eggs.
19:25 - Oh, there we go. Perfect. Julian, thank you very much for joining us.
19:28 And we'll see you the same time next week.
19:31 Now in football, Stephen Clements says he's proud of his team,
19:34 despite losing 2-0 away to Wimbledon last night after one of his players was given a red card.
19:41 Meanwhile, with just a handful of games to go,
19:43 George Elakobis, Maidstone United took on Chelmsford City
19:46 as they continue their efforts at getting a playoff spot
19:48 come the end of the National League South season.
19:51 Bartholomew Hall has your round-up of this week's midweek games.
19:55 After a weekend defeat against St Albans,
19:58 George Elakobis, Maidstone were back out in force to host Chelmsford City
20:02 under the floodlights on Tuesday.
20:04 But it was a slow start as things got underway,
20:06 both sides having their moment with Ralph Brown finding the back of the net,
20:10 although subsequently ruled out for handball.
20:13 The visitors found their feet eventually and almost scored from a free kick.
20:17 City's George Alexander forced an excellent save from Lucas Covillin.
20:21 Half-time and still 0-0.
20:23 Time to regroup and rethink the attack,
20:25 although the second half still left much to be desired
20:28 as neither side had a good chance at breaking the deadlock.
20:31 But with less than 20 minutes left on the clock,
20:34 Maidstone won a penalty thanks to a handball from the opposition,
20:37 and their FA Cup hero Sam Corns stepped up to the mark,
20:41 belting one in and sending the Stones up 1-0,
20:44 sending the City goalkeeper the wrong way.
20:46 Jubilation at the Gallagher with minutes to go
20:49 and the chance of another penalty came Maidstone's way.
20:52 City had last man Barbic sent off for bringing down Rush at the end of the box,
20:56 but at the fifth minute of added time,
20:58 Maidstone found the winner with a cracking strike from the edge of the box.
21:02 Final score rests at 2-0 to Maidstone,
21:04 with George Elakobis' side moving up to eighth in the table
21:07 and missing out on a playoff spot on goal difference.
21:11 Elsewhere in the National League South,
21:12 ten-man Dartford lost to Braintree after the hosts doubled their advantage in stoppage time,
21:18 and Dover were denied their fourth win of the season with a late Eastbourne equaliser.
21:23 In League Two, Gillingham travelled to playoff rivals Wimbledon.
21:26 The hosts came away victorious against the ten-man Gilles
21:29 after Connor Masterson picked up two cards in the space of as many minutes in the first half.
21:35 Omar Bughal scored twice to leave the scoreline at 2-0.
21:38 Despite the loss, however, the Gilles' head coach had a message of positivity about his side.
21:43 I've told them I was really proud of them for the way they kept going in the second half.
21:48 I already know what team I'll pick on Saturday from that performance I saw in the second half.
21:52 I think it's easy for players to go and chuck the towel in when they go down to ten men and give up.
21:59 The boys certainly didn't give up,
22:00 and that's when you learn even more about people and players.
22:04 They all stood up to be counted.
22:06 The loss now means the Medway club fall to tenth in the table, four points from the top seven.
22:11 In the National League, Ebbs Fleet faced their first defeat under new manager Danny Searle,
22:15 who faced his former club Aldershot.
22:18 After taking an early lead, the fleet were brushed aside by the hosts,
22:21 who looked well on course for a top-five finish in the table.
22:25 Ebbs Fleet now sit 19th and two points in safety of relegation.
22:29 And finally, a special mention to Chatham Town,
22:31 who found themselves bagging a spot in the final of the Velocity Cup after beating Kent rivals Ashford for two.
22:38 Kevin Hakeside will now take on #United for a shot at silverware at the home of Averley FC on the 17th of April.
22:45 Now, don't forget you can keep up to date with all your latest stories across Kent
22:51 by logging on to our website, kmtv.co.uk.
22:55 There you'll find all our reports, including this one,
22:57 about a playground closing in Folkestone following recent landslides.
23:01 A Folkestone coastal playground has been forced to shut
23:05 after the town has seen its fifth landslide in a matter of months.
23:10 One mum brings her son to Lower Lees Coastal Park often.
23:14 She's now fearful the town is falling apart.
23:17 I bring my son here, so the idea of it happening whilst kids are playing here is quite a big shock and very distressing.
23:24 It probably would put me off because it's not exactly safe and they're happening everywhere,
23:29 so you just kind of don't really know what's going on.
23:31 Now, this is usually a really popular spot for families and their children,
23:35 but their hope is slowly starting to crumble away much like the cliffs,
23:39 as this isn't the first landslip of its kind in Folkestone.
23:43 Whilst the rest of the park remains open,
23:46 those wanting to take their children to the play area won't be able to until the problem's resolved.
23:52 One locals won't be forgetting anytime soon is when trees came tumbling down on Remembrance Road.
23:59 The trees falling down has damaged the back of a few shops,
24:03 with two of the businesses temporarily closing their doors.
24:06 But for one chippy, it's business as usual.
24:09 No one coming to help, no one asking anything.
24:12 Just only a couple of times come in the council, they check in, they check that everything's okay.
24:20 If the road is closed, not many people come in there or not many people are walking as well.
24:28 The main road has to be open because it affects all together.
24:32 It's the second time this road has been impacted, something the local MP has spoken out about.
24:39 We have had landslips in Folkestone area, particularly on the road to Remembrance, as you referenced.
24:44 I think that is partly due to the very heavy rainfall we've had this year,
24:47 unusually high levels of rainfall, the highest I've seen I think for more than 10 years.
24:51 So work will be done to put right.
24:54 Locals nearby weren't surprised to see another landslip.
24:58 I think if they were to actually look after the trees and cut the trees when they needed cutting,
25:05 so that they're not top heavy, obviously you need the root system.
25:10 But I just think that it's been left to grow and not maintained.
25:15 The council says landslips along the Lees aren't uncommon,
25:18 with shallow depth landslips occurring due to the geological make-up of the cliffs.
25:23 They believe the heavy rainfall also plays a part.
25:26 They're investigating what their next steps will be.
25:29 As the coastal town has hit with its fifth landslide since November,
25:33 locals try to remain hopeful, but if rainfall continues in weeks to come,
25:38 could this optimism come tumbling down?
25:41 Sophia Akin for KMTV in Folkestone.
25:47 Time now to look at the weather for the next few days.
25:50 [Music]
25:56 Going to be dry this evening, cloudy though across the county.
25:59 Lows of 10 on the south coast and up in Canterbury.
26:03 Some sunshine coming out tomorrow, followed by some cloud.
26:06 13 degrees in Chatham and some light winds.
26:09 Getting a little bit warmer as the day goes on, but staying cloudy.
26:13 Some sunshine in East Kent and here's the outlook for the next few days.
26:17 Rain returning through to the weekend I'm afraid, but getting slightly warmer.
26:22 [Music]
26:30 Well, you've been watching Kent Tonight live on KMTV.
26:34 There's more news made just for Kent throughout the evening.
26:37 And don't forget you can always keep up to date with the latest news across your county
26:40 by logging on to kmtv.co.uk.
26:43 But stick around because straight after the break we've got
26:45 all the environmental news from across Kent.
26:47 I'll see you in a few minutes.
26:49 [Music]
27:01 [Music]
27:11 [Music]