- 23/05/2025
Catch up on all the latest news from across the county with Bartholomew Hall
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00:00Hello and welcome to Kent Tonight, live on KMTV.
00:29I'm Bartholomew Hall, here are your top stories on Friday the 23rd of May.
00:34What a stink, weeks of traffic disruption from gasworks on a main Maidstone route causing locals a headache.
00:42Turquoise Tsunami, Reform UK officially starts county council term with divisive policies announced.
00:50And Prickly Pole for prickly porcupine name closes, we reveal your choice for what this newborn could be called.
00:56Good evening. For five weeks straight, Loose Road in Maidstone has either been partly or fully shut as ongoing gasworks continue,
01:05with those affected describing the disruption as a headache.
01:09But the main road, which provides a link between Maidstone and the south-west of the county,
01:13has gone from being a commuter hotspot to a quiet cul-de-sac, with some saying they're enjoying the short-lived peace.
01:19Well, Finn McDermott has been speaking to those at the heart of the major roadworks.
01:24If you had to describe the works in just one word, what word would you think?
01:29Oh, massive headache. That's two words, but headache.
01:32First it was to repair the gas pipes and then it became a matter of replacing them.
01:36Since Friday the 18th of April, Loose Road in Maidstone has been either partially or fully shut in both directions.
01:44The main road provides a strong link between Maidstone and south-west Kent.
01:47And with it closed, traffic has been diverted elsewhere.
01:50But despite what you might think, locals are saying that what they've noticed most about it is the quiet.
01:55I've lived in this house for, off and on for 40 years, I can tell the time by the traffic.
02:03So it feels like the lockdown, feels like Covid, it's very, very peaceful, apart from the digging.
02:10What I've learnt, or what I feel like we've learnt, is this work has been put off for years and years and years
02:16for fear of closing the road.
02:20And actually, closing the road hasn't been that bad.
02:23Sarah continued to say that the public outcry may have been unwarranted.
02:28And although occasional noise has disturbed her sleep, she'd rather see the roads fixed
02:32than have it become a bigger issue down the line.
02:35For local businesses, however, the quiet presents a different problem.
02:39Well, there's no traffic, so nobody can get here very easily.
02:45So people have got a point.
02:46We've had quite a few cancellations because of people unsure about getting here and the timing
02:51and where they're going to park and stuff.
02:53But your locals have still managed to get through, especially people who walk a ball.
02:57You know, you can't avoid it, so we just have to go with it and keep smiling.
03:02But that can be difficult, with local leisure and sports clubs affected by the wide area of roadworks.
03:07With the number of local clubs that we play against and having our team members, rearranging a match is quite difficult.
03:17A, whether we're going to play it here or at an away team, getting there, ensuring people that don't have cars are picked up.
03:25They may not then be available on the next match day.
03:27So, yes, it does have an impact.
03:30According to SGN's latest update,
03:33For everyone's safety, while we carry out this work, loose road has had to remain closed until Sunday, the 1st of June.
03:39During this time, we also aim to replace a section of old metal gas mains along Cripple Street and into the junction with Bowton Lane.
03:46Now, whether the roadworks will stop at the 1st of June, as predicted by SGN, or if, according to other sources, they continue further than that, people here just aren't sure.
03:56They're stuck in a little bit of a limbo, but they will say that it doesn't matter how long it takes, just as long as the work gets done.
04:03Finn McDermid for KMTV in Luz.
04:06Now, a no-swim warning has been issued after a sewage pipe leaked onto Sandgate Beach.
04:12It comes after these pictures show brown liquid seeping from a storm drain near its promenade.
04:18Southern Malta says it's confident the wastewater has not entered the sea and affected its quality.
04:23Meanwhile, Folkestone High District Council has put up signs to deter swimmers.
04:27It's understood works to repair the leak are underway.
04:32An historic waterfall in Ramsgate has been targeted by vandals right after undergoing a restoration.
04:38Originally opened in 1890, the Madeira Walk waterfall is a history of being vandalised and filled with washing-up liquid.
04:47Well, after three years of closure, a similar soapy situation has been spotted today, with white foam filling what would usually be a picturesque feature.
04:55It's understood the pond has now been cleaned up, with special non-foaming solution added to prevent further antisocial behaviour.
05:02Reform UK has announced cuts to members' allowances and a brand new Department of Efficiency at Kent County Council.
05:12The leader has outlined the changes during the first full council meeting since the local elections, when the party came out on top.
05:19But the opposition says there's no detail behind any of their proposals.
05:24Our local democracy reporter, Olly Leader, was in the chamber.
05:26The first day of school for Reform UK's Class of 2025, as the party's 57 new Kent County councillors prepared for their first full council meeting in Maidstone.
05:41Though there was still time to get a yearbook photo before they got down to business.
05:46The meeting marked the formal coronation of Lyndon Kankaran as leader, and she had clearly done her homework, announcing a new cabinet post for local government efficiency, and a 5% cut to councillor allowances.
06:05What I've done is rejigged my cabinet posts, and I've actually scrapped one post and redistributed their responsibilities around the rest of the cabinet.
06:16And in doing so, I've not had to spend a single extra penny in appointing Maidolge, who will have free reign to look at every single part of this council.
06:23So really, it's cost us nothing, but it's going to save us a great deal.
06:27But on the opposition benches, there's unhappiness that the new leadership aren't showing they're working.
06:34And I thought there was a real absence, actually, of any proposals on adult social care, supporting children with special educational needs,
06:41which are the two big services that Kent County councillors have to provide, and has been failing to.
06:46If they come back with efficiencies and savings, that doesn't affect front-line services and impact on the most vulnerable in Kent, then fair enough. I have my doubts.
06:58With the new cabinet installed today, it's hard to grade their performance just yet.
07:05But with some sharp words towards local government reorganisation, the new class could be rowdier than anticipated.
07:15Olly Lieder in Maidstone.
07:17Now, the government has announced motorists in Kent and the rest of the UK will soon be able to use a one-app-fits-all platform for parking.
07:28The aim is to cut confusion between the number of apps that are already out there, reduce the chance of fines, and open up the parking market to fairer competition.
07:37But what do drivers make of the announcement of yet another app being introduced for something as simple as paying for your parking?
07:44Well, our reporter, Ronnie Glassthor, has been finding out.
07:46The UK government has announced its latest initiative through collaboration with the British Parking Association,
07:52which is a simpler, singular app to pay for the use of car parks across the country, the national parking platform.
07:58The platform has already been rolled out in 10 local authorities in government-backed trials,
08:03handling over half a million transactions a month, and will soon be made available to all drivers across the UK.
08:09But how necessary is this app's creation?
08:11I asked drivers in Rochester how many are currently using apps to pay for their parking.
08:16I'm a bit of a technophobe, so I never use apps.
08:19It's a lot easier, and I rarely carry cash around with me nowadays.
08:23I only use them when I have to, because there are places where you can't use anything else.
08:31So you have to, but unless I have to, I don't.
08:33I don't really use car parks that often, so I don't feel the need to actually have the app.
08:37My wife has, but for me, I don't use them.
08:39And what are their thoughts on the rollout of the national parking platform?
08:43I think it's a good idea, yeah, because there's lots of different apps.
08:46There's Ringo and Pay to Park, and there's a few others.
08:50There's quite a lot.
08:51So yeah, it's a really good idea, actually, yeah.
08:53I wouldn't have multiple apps that I would possibly use.
08:56Maybe if there's one, I might do.
08:57I don't know.
08:58It's the only answer.
08:59Yeah, I'd use other methods, really, yeah.
09:01There's too many apps in this world.
09:03Everything's an app now, and it gets confusing after a while.
09:06I think that'd be really helpful, because the way I work, I travel all over the UK.
09:11I want to download multiple apps in different areas, so one app that will fit all, that would be helpful.
09:17But not just drivers could be impacted.
09:19What could this mean for businesses around car parks?
09:21I spoke to one to get their thoughts.
09:23We were originally a bit further down the road, so car parking's always been an issue
09:28where people would have to park up and walk.
09:30So we've just had the parking rises, which has been a nightmare.
09:34Well, some of our customers, they're not too happy.
09:37They have subscriptions, and if somebody has just one title a week, that's about £3.50,
09:42and they'll have to pay £2.50 just to park, just to come in and pick it up.
09:48So to have our regulars just drop in, because that's what a lot of customers are.
09:53They want to come in and pick up what they've seen, unless they're coming to stay on the high street,
09:57which is a good thing, but you don't always have time.
09:59Hopefully, if it makes it easier for people to pay, that's a good thing.
10:02But then when the government is getting involved and backing something,
10:06it normally means there's going to be more costs.
10:08So I'm slightly concerned about that.
10:10Ronnie Glassthal for KMTV.
10:12Now, if you've been watching our programmes over the past week,
10:17you'll have seen the original Dunkirk little ships recreating their historic journey
10:21from Ramsgate to France, 85 years on.
10:27And our reporter, Gabriel Morris, has been following that journey.
10:30You actually went out to Dunkirk.
10:31You're back in the studio with us now.
10:32He's here with us in the studio.
10:34Gabriel, there has been some disruptions to actually getting those boats back to Kent.
10:40What more can you tell us?
10:41Yeah, well, they were all originally meant to go back on Monday, bank holiday Monday.
10:46But the problem is there's unfavourable weather conditions on that day.
10:50These are old boats, most of them more than 100 years old,
10:53and many not designed for open water.
10:56So about a third of them were going to come back today.
11:00But the weather, again, is not great, so that's been delayed.
11:03So what we're in a situation now where they could be stuck there for a number of days
11:07and in some cases possibly even weeks,
11:09because you've got to forget lots of these crews have also taken time off work.
11:13So they've got to be back at work for Tuesday, Wednesday of this week.
11:18So this is a bit of a bittersweet moment for them,
11:22but they will now be able to be there for the ceremonies.
11:24But obviously these are cherished ships and they've got to be protected well.
11:28Let's have a quick look.
11:29Well, I was speaking to Chris Cox from the Royal Temple Yacht Club.
11:32He was on the crew for Brown Owl, and this is what he told me yesterday.
11:38OK, Gabriel, I think we might be having some issues getting to that little clip.
11:42But what we'll do is we're going to go to a break now.
11:44When we come back, we'll continue this discussion
11:46and we'll hear from some of those crews.
11:47We'll be back after this.
11:48We'll be back after this.
15:05Hello and welcome back to Kent Tonight, live on KMTV.
15:17Now, if you've been watching our programming over the past week,
15:20you'll have seen we've been following those little ships to Dunkirk,
15:24those original little ships recreating that historic journey from Ramsgate to France,
15:28what was later known as Operation Dynamo, 85 years on.
15:32Well, those vessels are now docked in France and they plan to return on bank holiday Monday,
15:37but worsening sea conditions have meant that that homecoming has been delayed.
15:41So about a third of the fleet was aiming to set off this morning,
15:45but they've been unable to because of weather deterioration.
15:49Well, many of those ships weren't built for open water, many of them also now more than 100 years old.
15:54Well, joining us in the studio now is Gabriel Morris.
15:58Gabriel, you were with some of these little boats, you followed the journey over to Dunkirk.
16:02You managed to get back on the Eurostar, I believe.
16:04You took the sort of easier route home.
16:06Tell us what the current situation is for these little boats because they'll want to return.
16:10They are a big piece of history.
16:12Yeah, they will indeed, but also they've got to think about the safety of themselves.
16:16These are old boats, many, as you were just saying, not designed for open water.
16:21And secondly, also, actually, they've got to make sure they can all do it together,
16:28or in a large group.
16:30And there's timing issues as well.
16:32Many of these crews would have taken time off work.
16:34They've got to be back on Tuesday, Wednesday, into the office or whatever they do for a living.
16:39And the weather just isn't great at the moment in the channel.
16:42Not really safe enough.
16:44So the decision has been made not to go on Monday.
16:47That was made yesterday.
16:48And many were trying to go on that crossing today.
16:52As you were saying, the weather still isn't looking great.
16:56So this is good news in some senses because they will be able to now be there
16:59for the commemorative events over the weekend, which many were worried they were now going to have to miss.
17:06But this will be a logistical challenge for them as they're going to have to now find probably other ways of getting back.
17:11If they are having to go back to work, then come back in a few weeks and sell them back when the weather's good.
17:16Or some, if they have the time, they can probably make a journey next week.
17:20Well, I know I went over on a pleasure boat.
17:23My crew was going to go back on Monday as well, but they've actually managed to get back today.
17:26That's because they're on a more modern vessel.
17:28But for these, they've got to put the safety first for the crews and also protect them
17:32because these are more than 100 years old.
17:34They are historic artefacts.
17:36And crucially, no living veterans alive now from Dunkirk.
17:41These little ships are the veterans, so they're protected at all costs.
17:45I was speaking to one of the crew members from Brownow, which led the fleet on Wednesday.
17:51Well, we're figuring out how to get back to Ramsgate because we had lovely calm conditions outbound,
17:58and that is not the same.
18:00The high pressure that's dominated the UK for two weeks is shifting,
18:04and we've got a classic low-pressure depression coming through,
18:08which will bring some strong winds, far too strong for these lovely old ladies.
18:14Well, Gabriel, 85 years on from that historic crossing,
18:17it just goes to show how important it was for the conditions to be calm as they were on the day.
18:23Well, exactly.
18:2585 years ago, conditions were really good.
18:27Churchill asked people in England to pray to God for good weather, and it did happen.
18:32There was very clear weather on that day, so it was able to be safe for that journey.
18:37But I'm sure if it was rough conditions, I think they probably would have still risked it
18:41because 300,000 troops, they believe, were well saved.
18:45And actually, it wasn't just civilians on these boats.
18:47Quite a lot of the time, the Royal Navy, so really experienced crew members,
18:50would have been on board those little ships as well back in 1940.
18:54But, yeah, a momentous occasion in history.
18:57A miracle, they say, and remembered again this week.
18:59Yeah, and, of course, Kent played a huge role in that.
19:03Of course, leaving from Ramsgate, and there's plenty more that can be read
19:06about all of the commemorations taking place over at Kent Online as well.
19:10Thank you very much for those details, Gabriel.
19:13Now, a campaign group has delivered life jackets via helicopter
19:17to a school in East Kent in memory of a boy from Deal.
19:20Lucas Dobson drowned after falling into the River Stour at just the age of six back in 2019.
19:27Well, in a bid to prevent such tragedies from happening to other children,
19:30the aptly named Lucas Dobson Water Safety Campaign
19:33has so far delivered more than 2,000 life jackets to schools across Kent
19:38and the rest of the UK.
19:39Our reporter, Etalee Reynolds, went down to St Faith's prep school in Ash to find out more.
19:44In Ash, pupils from local primary schools gathered,
19:52excitedly waiting to welcome a very special helicopter.
19:57A helicopter from the Lucas Dobson Water Safety Campaign.
20:01In August 2019, Lucas Dobson sadly passed away after drowning in the River Stour.
20:10Following this, Lucas' dad, Nathan Dobson, and Peter Folding,
20:16chief executive of Specialist Group International, created the campaign.
20:21Well, I got together with Lucas' dad, Nathan Dobson,
20:24and I decided let's try and move forward to help prevent drowning.
20:30And I asked Nathan if that would be okay,
20:32and he agreed just after he lost his son, sadly.
20:36Initially, the public raised £13,000.
20:39They had a GoFundMe.
20:40They bought around 1,000 life jackets plus water safety equipment for the side of the river.
20:46Once that money went,
20:48Now, this is purely funded by my company, Specialist Group International.
20:54We pay for everything now,
20:55and I use my helicopter to deliver the life jackets.
20:58Peter and the campaign travel to many different primary schools,
21:02and St Faith's prep and Cartwright and Kelsey primary are the next to receive these.
21:09These are life jackets,
21:11and children can rent them out as easily as library books.
21:15So far, the campaign has delivered over 2,000 of these life jackets
21:20that bear Lucas' image and campaign logo.
21:24The campaign sits close to the community at St Faith's prep,
21:28and they hope to use their own facilities
21:30to further the importance of the campaign's message and resources.
21:35And actually, from talking to parents in our school community,
21:38lots of parents remember joining in that search and rescue effort.
21:41So we feel really honoured to welcome the helicopter,
21:44and these life-saving equipment to us.
21:48So we'll make use of these life jackets in our school swimming pool.
21:52It's so important that the children get the chance
21:54to try on the life jackets
21:55and experience just the impact they can have in the water
21:58and just how important they are.
22:00So we'll use them in that way
22:01and then have them as a fantastic resource.
22:04With life jackets delivered,
22:05Peter and the campaign continue to spread such an important message.
22:10Etterley Reynolds for KMTV.
22:17Now, reports of shoplifting have fallen by more than 25%
22:21in the west of Kent.
22:23It comes as Kent Police is continuing a crackdown
22:25on town centre thieves,
22:27with areas such as Sevenoaks seeing drops of 50% left,
22:3150 less being reported since February.
22:34Well, Kate Buddle takes us through the details.
22:36We are going to be placed under arrest with theft on two occasions.
22:40If you don't have to say anything,
22:41but it may harm your defence
22:42if you do not mention one question or something.
22:43According to recent reports,
22:45West Kent has seen a 25% drop in instances of shoplifting.
22:49The ongoing police crackdown across various town centres
22:52has resulted in a significant decrease in the local crime rate,
22:55with shoplifting offences in Sevenoaks reduced by a third
22:58as well as a fall of 25% in Tunbridge Wells.
23:00This is also as a result of various local initiatives,
23:03both with and without police involvement,
23:05and seem to promise further results.
23:07Kate Buddle for KMTV.
23:10Now, don't forget, you can keep up to date
23:11with all the latest stories across Kent
23:13by logging on to our website, kmtv.co.uk.
23:16When you're there, you can find all our reports,
23:18including this one.
23:19These are the non-league heroes
23:26that have brought a wave of glory to the Whitstable coast.
23:30And to the fans that have lined the streets
23:32to see their open-top bus parade,
23:34this is what it means to them.
23:36We're very excited and we're very proud.
23:38We were hoping there were going to be a parade.
23:40Didn't know whether they were going to be on fishing boats
23:42in the harbour or on an open-top bus,
23:43but we'll take anything.
23:45So this is great, great to celebrate.
23:46I mean, it shows that anything could happen
23:49when you're playing football.
23:51Winning the FA Vars a week earlier
23:53in front of 7,000 fans at Wembley Stadium
23:56was the biggest day in the 140-year history of this club,
24:00which became the first in Kent
24:02to lift the trophy in 25 years.
24:07It might be coming slowly,
24:08but you can hear the cheers here,
24:10the celebrations up and down the high street.
24:12Thousands of people moving along with the...
24:14Players, managers, backroom staff,
24:18all celebrating this massive achievement,
24:21the win at Wembley.
24:22Making its way from the iconic harbour
24:25through the high street
24:26and ending up at the club's ground,
24:28the celebrations then moved from the bus
24:30to the pitch where the trophy run all started.
24:33For the players now cornered
24:35with requests for selfies and signatures,
24:37this is the stuff of boyhood fantasy.
24:40I think it's really good, to be fair.
24:41I mean, I was like that as well.
24:43Getting my shirt signed, getting everything signed.
24:45So, yeah, it's amazing.
24:46It's really amazing.
24:47It's so surreal.
24:48I mean, even since Sunday,
24:50it still hasn't really sunk in what we've done.
24:53I was just talking with a fan, you know.
24:54It's not like we've won the league
24:55or we've won a cup in the league.
24:57This is the pinnacle of what it means to be non-league.
25:01From Wembley to Whitstable,
25:02here is the silverware
25:03that's brought all of these celebrations
25:05to Whitstable today.
25:06And with it, £13,000 to this non-league club,
25:09which I'm told will go very far.
25:11We'll invest that money wisely into the club,
25:14as we always do.
25:15Every penny we make here goes back into the club.
25:17We're totally run by volunteers.
25:19So that's one of the joys of doing the club,
25:22that we continue to build and improve
25:24and improve the facilities.
25:25You want to retain the people
25:27that were there at Wembley,
25:28the people that are there today.
25:29And that will help build the football club for the future.
25:31So that's the biggest aim for us.
25:33And you just want to get more people
25:34through the gates week in, week out next year.
25:36and help us win the league.
25:38It's often said non-league football
25:40is the heartbeat of communities.
25:42And well, from these scenes today,
25:44it's clear Whitstable's oystermen
25:45have cast a victory
25:46that's anchored this town as one.
25:49Bartholomew Hall for KMTV in Whitstable.
25:55Good fun there in Whitstable.
25:56Now, Port Lim Safari Park
25:58has welcomed a new baby porcupine
26:00with over 300 people voting in a Kent Online poll
26:04for the new name.
26:05Well, the youngster is the second baby
26:07of resident porcupine's
26:09Tiombe and Mbilo,
26:10who have been at the park since 2024.
26:13The arrival of this new baby
26:15was a surprise to keepers,
26:17since porcupines typically
26:18hit just one litter per year.
26:20Well, the baby has recently been confirmed
26:22to be a boy,
26:23with the park teaming up with Kent Online
26:25to complete the search for its new name.
26:28And so, after 300 votes were submitted,
26:31this porcupine's new name is Lebele,
26:34which means lightness and joy.
26:37Good stuff.
26:38Well, that is it from us on Kent Tonight this evening.
26:41We've got plenty more news for Kent over the weekend.
26:44We'll see you soon.
26:45Bye-bye.
26:58Bye-bye.
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