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00:02 - Hello and welcome to Kentonite live on KMTV.
00:27 I'm Sophia Akin and here are your top stories
00:29 on Friday the 31st of May.
00:32 The fight goes on.
00:33 Medway Council Planning Committee
00:35 approves controversial Chatham Docks decision.
00:38 - We set up for our barristers a number of scenarios
00:42 and this was top of the list of the scenario
00:45 that we anticipated.
00:46 So don't worry, the fight goes on.
00:49 - Air pollution crackdown.
00:51 Ramsgate motorists could face fines
00:53 if engines left running whilst parked.
00:56 - At the moment it's difficult to find enough
00:58 parking attendant wardens so, you know,
01:01 I question how this could be policed.
01:03 - Sky high dreams.
01:05 70 year old woman takes the 12,000 foot leap
01:09 in Headcorn for charity.
01:11 - My grandchildren just see this as something
01:15 that their crazy super gran is doing again.
01:19 (upbeat music)
01:22 (upbeat music)
01:24 - First tonight, a Medway Council Planning Committee
01:32 has approved plans to turn parts of Chatham Docks
01:35 into a business park.
01:36 Phil Walter, who are behind the plans,
01:39 say that it will create hundreds of jobs
01:41 and council officers say it won't stop Chatham Docks
01:44 from being a working port.
01:45 But businesses say they may not be able to operate
01:48 if the plans go ahead with up to 800 jobs on the line.
01:52 Oliver Leder de Sacks was at the meeting.
01:55 - Save Chatham Docks!
01:57 - Anger and frustration ahead of a very special
02:00 Medway Council Planning Committee meeting
02:03 determining the future of Chatham Docks.
02:06 Earlier this year, owners Peel Water
02:08 put in a planning application to turn part of Medway's
02:11 only working dock into a business park called Basin 3.
02:16 They say the plans will create hundreds of jobs.
02:20 Originally penciled in for the beginning of May,
02:23 a council decision on the plans was delayed until yesterday
02:26 following a legal challenge by Kent Wire.
02:29 You can hear the strength of feeling in the air
02:31 outside of St. George's Centre.
02:33 Dozens of workers protesting the plans,
02:36 saying it could cost their jobs and their futures.
02:39 - I've lived in Medway all my life.
02:41 If they were to close, for sure,
02:44 it sounds like my job would go.
02:46 I may have to relocate out of the area,
02:48 move away from my family.
02:49 An immediate family will cause issues as well.
02:53 It's difficult.
02:54 These are well-paid jobs that people have got here.
02:57 They're not just any old jobs that people have got.
03:00 They're well-paid jobs and people rely on them.
03:04 - Workers piled into the public gallery for the meeting
03:07 where the ward councillor for the area
03:09 gave an impassioned speech against the plans.
03:13 - These jobs are not just numbers.
03:16 They represent families and are crucial
03:20 for our local and national economy.
03:22 - But Labour councillors were quick to point out
03:25 their obligation to focus on planning concerns alone.
03:29 - And you're just trying to hold back the tide.
03:32 This is a planning committee,
03:34 so we should be reviewing things
03:35 on this planning merit alone.
03:38 Because if we don't, if we don't,
03:41 we will set precedent for other planning applications.
03:44 And I think you're overcooking the subject.
03:49 - Planning officer, the Mayoral Council,
03:51 who recommended the plans,
03:53 said they should be voted on based on their merits.
03:56 - It does not stop the basin being used
03:58 for a commercial port,
04:00 and therefore in itself will not result
04:03 in the docks closing.
04:04 It does not impact,
04:08 it does not impact on the continued use
04:10 of the larger northern parcels for B2, B8 uses,
04:15 including a commercial port.
04:17 - Those against.
04:21 - When it came to making a decision,
04:23 there was only one vote in it.
04:25 - That's eight, four, seven against.
04:27 The application is approved.
04:32 - But after the meeting,
04:33 Kent's Wires said they're not backing down.
04:35 - We set up, through our barristers,
04:37 a number of scenarios,
04:39 and this was top of the list of the scenario
04:42 that we anticipated.
04:43 So don't worry, the fight goes on.
04:46 - The decision last night does not necessarily mean
04:48 plans will go ahead.
04:50 The Department of Leveling Up and Communities
04:51 have put in place an Article 31 holding order.
04:55 This means any decision will need the approval
04:57 of the Secretary of State to go ahead.
05:00 And with the election on the way,
05:02 that now won't happen until July at the earliest.
05:05 But with the decision made last night,
05:08 Medway is one step closer
05:09 to a very different Chateau Docks in the future.
05:12 Oliver, Leader of the Sacks, for KMTV.
05:15 - Now, Fannet motorists are being warned
05:18 they could be fined for leaving their engine running
05:20 when stopping on the side of the road.
05:23 It's something many of us do,
05:24 parents waiting outside their children's school
05:27 or picking up a friend.
05:28 The District Council says the enforcement approved
05:30 last night will be primarily focused on education
05:34 to clean up harmful pollutants from the air.
05:36 But as our local democracy reporter,
05:38 Gabriel Morris reports,
05:39 many say it will make no difference at all.
05:42 - The dreaded rush hour in Ramsgate,
05:47 and it brings more than just traffic jams.
05:49 It also increases emissions.
05:52 Well, in a bid to reduce air pollution,
05:55 Fannet District Council enforcement officers
05:56 will now have the power to fire motorists
05:58 if they pull over part of their car
06:02 and don't switch their engine off.
06:04 Well, that is called idling.
06:07 It's now hoped the £20 fixed penalty notice
06:09 rising to £40 if not paid in time
06:12 will make people turn off their engine.
06:15 - Not particularly, no.
06:17 If you're idling, it's gonna be for a very small period.
06:20 You're gonna create much more emissions when you pull away.
06:23 - You know, if you switch your engine off,
06:26 at least that people are prepared to know
06:29 that you've stopped, not gonna suddenly pull off
06:34 and they're in the back of you.
06:35 - Two reasons.
06:36 One, you're wasting fuel,
06:38 which is expensive enough as it is.
06:40 And the other one is you're polluting the atmosphere.
06:43 - The Labour-run authority says the nitrogen dioxide
06:46 and fine particles produced by an idling engine
06:49 need tackling, and a fine will only be issued
06:51 if a driver refuses to turn an engine off.
06:54 But will this make any difference?
06:57 - In principle, it sounds a good idea.
06:59 I would question the logic of it for a number of reasons.
07:05 We've gotta have the resource to enforce this issue,
07:08 somebody to speak to the driver
07:10 and request that he turns it off.
07:12 At the moment, it's difficult to find enough
07:14 parking attendant wardens, so, you know,
07:17 I question how this could be policed.
07:20 In addition to that, the impact would be so minimal.
07:24 - It's not the first time a Kent council
07:25 has adopted enforcement powers like this.
07:28 Canterbury City Council introduced fines two years ago.
07:31 We asked the authority how many notices they'd issued.
07:34 They responded by saying they were pleased
07:37 nobody had been fined.
07:39 Well, in Fanet, these powers will initially be around
07:42 schools and air quality management areas.
07:45 The authority says it's a move primarily focused
07:48 on education and raising public awareness,
07:51 rather than enforcement.
07:53 Gabriel Morris in Ramsgate.
07:56 - Well, with just over a month until the general election,
07:59 we've been out and about across the county
08:01 to see what the voters have to say.
08:03 This week, we were out in the centre of Canterbury
08:06 asking those on the high street
08:07 what the big issues for them will be
08:09 going into the ballot box.
08:11 - Just the cost of living, really, for people, I think.
08:14 The fact that there's not enough money being spent
08:16 where it needs to be, but wasted in other things.
08:18 - The NHS, I would say, is priority, definitely.
08:21 The cost of living for most people,
08:24 so food prices, housing, gas, electricity,
08:27 just people being able to live.
08:30 - Too high, taxes far too high.
08:32 Too much public money's wasted.
08:36 Too much of it's tipped down the NHS.
08:37 And I suppose some issues around policing as well.
08:43 - Big issues for me.
08:46 We're actually quite local.
08:47 We live in a village that surrounds Canterbury,
08:49 and the thing that we were just taught,
08:51 we've just walked in, and of course,
08:52 the thing that we know is that Canterbury,
08:54 it's lovely to see the tourists and Westgate Gardens,
08:57 but the actual Canterbury high street
08:59 and what it offers now is, it's really quite sad.
09:02 - And also address the homelessness as well.
09:04 We've got a big, big problem in Canterbury
09:07 as opposed to other towns and cities locally.
09:09 So I think it's definitely an area
09:12 that needs to be addressed.
09:13 - The big issues for me is the lack of attention
09:17 that veterans get, and our own homeless.
09:22 - To sport now, and Gillingham FC held a pop-up event
09:25 in the town's high street today,
09:27 where the League Two club unveiled a brand new kit
09:30 and its latest summer signing.
09:31 Well, with more on this and the rest of today's sports news,
09:34 here's Bartholomew Hall.
09:35 (upbeat music)
09:39 - Thank you, Sophia.
09:46 We'll be starting with Gillingham,
09:47 where new manager Mark Bonner
09:48 has made his second signing of the summer.
09:51 Former Wimbledon midfielder, Armani Little,
09:53 is set to join the club after turning down a new deal
09:56 with the London club.
09:58 The 27-year-old's move to Gillingham
09:59 was made in the town's high street today,
10:01 the announcement at least,
10:02 where he appeared for a meet and greet with fans
10:04 and unveiled their new green third kit.
10:07 With a career spanning more than five clubs now,
10:09 the Southampton Academy graduate scored four times
10:13 in 44 appearances last season.
10:15 And sticking with Gillingham,
10:17 former Priestfield boss, Stephen Clements,
10:19 is back in football just 32 days after being sacked.
10:22 Now likely to go head-to-head against his former club,
10:25 Clements has been appointed as the new head coach of Barrow.
10:29 The 46-year-old made his managerial debut
10:32 for Gillingham in November last year
10:34 following the departure of Neil Harris.
10:36 After 180 days in charge for the Medway club,
10:39 Clements secured 10 league wins,
10:41 his biggest actually against his new club, Barrow,
10:43 which was a three-nil.
10:47 The husband of a Kent horse rider
10:49 has paid tribute to his strong and beautiful wife
10:52 following her death after a riding accident.
10:55 Georgie Campbell from Lambethurst died on Sunday
10:58 after suffering a fall in a cross-country event.
11:01 She was competing in the Bickon International Trials in Devon
11:05 when she and her horse, Global Quest,
11:07 fell into water at a fence on the course.
11:09 In a statement released on social media,
11:11 her husband, Jesse, said,
11:13 "People will talk about her smile and it was incredible.
11:16 "It would make you feel like you were the centre of the universe."
11:19 Finally from me, Tunbridge teen Iona Winifrith
11:23 is set to become the youngest member
11:25 of the Aquatics GB swimming squad
11:27 at this year's Paralympic Games at just 13 years old.
11:30 The Tunbridge Swimming Club competitor
11:32 has been with her West Kent club since the age of five
11:35 and was recently tied for gold in the 100m breaststroke
11:38 at the British Championships.
11:40 After setting a time under the nomination standard,
11:42 she found out she secured her ticket on her 13th birthday.
11:45 Well, that's it from me with the sport.
11:47 I'll be back later on with a bit of a preview from Victor.
11:50 Thanks for having me.
11:50 Time for a break. See you very soon.
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15:09 Hello and welcome back to Kentsonite live on KMTV.
15:14 Now one of the UK's top radio hosts has withdrawn from the contest
15:18 to be a Tory MP in Tunbridge Wells just 48 hours after he announced he'd be standing.
15:24 LBC's Ian Dale announced on Wednesday he'd be throwing his hat into the ring
15:29 and resigning from his daily show to be a parliamentary candidate.
15:33 But he's now withdrawn after comments resurfaced of him in 2022
15:37 saying he never really liked the town he was hoping to represent.
15:41 It came after Greg Clark, who'd been an MP for Tunbridge Wells since 2005,
15:46 announced he wouldn't be standing for the upcoming election on the 4th of July.
15:50 But it's not yet known who the Conservative candidate will be.
15:55 A dessert parlour in Folkestone dedicated to a seven-year-old hit-and-run victim is opening tomorrow.
16:01 Will Brown Juniors will welcome customers at 10am on Saturday in the town centre
16:06 where they can enjoy ice cream, waffles and other sweet treats.
16:10 It'll also feature the UK's biggest gumball machine.
16:13 It was set up in memory of William Brown by his father
16:16 after he was struck by a van whilst collecting a football in Sandgate back in December.
16:21 The family say the support has been overwhelming.
16:25 Well, it's time now for your pick of the papers.
16:28 Taking a look at what's making the headlines in Kent's newspapers, online and radio.
16:33 Earlier I was joined by Jamie Levy to talk about a shock swimming pool closure in Medway,
16:38 the 70-year-old jumping out of aeroplanes and a rising singer star from Gravesend.
16:43 We'll be able to bring you that in just a second.
16:50 There we go. I think we can bring you that now.
16:54 First, tell us about this girl from Kent on Britain's Got Talent.
16:57 Yeah, this is Sydney Christmas. She's from Gravesend.
17:00 She received a standing ovation from all four judges for her performance on Britain's Got Talent on Wednesday.
17:06 So, she's 28 and she made it through to the live semi-finals.
17:09 Simon Cowell actually described her performance as 11 out of 10.
17:13 I don't think I could sing like that.
17:14 That's very impressive from Simon Cowell in particular.
17:16 Pretty good. So, she's been put through, as I said.
17:20 And the final will air on ITV this Sunday at 7.30pm.
17:24 Brilliant. And we've seen some pictures pop up now of her with her father before, I imagine.
17:29 Great. And tell us a little bit about your next story.
17:32 So, the next story, you can see this lady here.
17:35 She's a daredevil gran.
17:37 She's finally achieved her dream of jumping out of a plane after 30 years.
17:41 She's from Tunbridge. It's Shirley Ellis.
17:43 And she leapt 12,000 feet at Headcorn Aerodrome.
17:47 Now, she did plan to do it 30 years ago.
17:50 She had to call it off because of a sprained ankle and some bad weather.
17:53 But she's finally done it.
17:55 And she's actually raised a lot of money as well for her favourite charity, which is Stand By Me,
17:58 which supports some of the world's poorest families to help them lead a better life.
18:02 We can actually hear from her now.
18:04 It's not something you do every day of your life.
18:06 But I've got a very supportive family.
18:10 I mean, over the years, I have done some crazy things.
18:14 And, yeah, from abseiling to driving in a racing car.
18:21 I've been gliding.
18:23 I bought myself a motorbike when I was 60.
18:26 I've slept on the floor for a month.
18:29 And that was to raise money for Stand By Me.
18:32 But, yeah, they were the big things.
18:34 But I've done some other small crazy things, like dye my hair blue,
18:39 like do handstands in the sea on New Year's Day with my daughter.
18:45 So, yeah, my grandchildren just see this as something their crazy super gran is doing again.
18:56 Much braver than me. Would you do that?
18:58 I would. Would you do it? I would do it.
19:00 No, I wouldn't do it. I'm terrified of heights, but I'm very impressed.
19:03 Tell us your final story.
19:04 So, yeah, not perhaps the weather for it today, but this is the outdoor swimming pool in Medway.
19:08 It's the Strand Lido in Gillingham.
19:10 It's been forced to close overnight suddenly.
19:12 It's a popular attraction. It usually attracts thousands.
19:15 Actually, last night it was shut with no reopening date.
19:18 Now, Medway Council have issued a statement.
19:20 They've said, "We're very sorry, but we've had to close the Strand Lido pool unexpectedly due to a significant water leak."
19:25 So, no reopening plans just yet, but we have to keep an eye out for that.
19:28 Great, Jamie. Thanks for joining us for those stories.
19:31 As Jamie said, perhaps not the weather for a Lido today, but let's see what's in store for the weekend.
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19:42 Tonight's going to be remaining cloudy all over Kent with an average of 12 degrees, lows of 11 in Tunbridge Wells.
19:49 Starting off the weekend, the clouds continuing, some sunshine poking out in Maidstone.
19:54 Highs of 14 staying dry.
19:56 Through to the afternoon, warming up, highs of 17 across the board, sunshine particularly on the east coast.
20:03 And ending the weekend, cloudy with some sun, 19 degrees on Sunday, rising to 21 on Monday.
20:09 [Music]
20:18 Now, don't forget you can keep up to date with all the latest stories across Kent by logging on to our website, kmtv.co.uk.
20:25 There you'll find all of our reports, including this one about the importance of being aware of nesting birds during the spring.
20:32 Kent County Council is apologising after admitting one of its workers killed eight birds which were nesting inside a letterbox.
20:40 Lindsay Gorham found a nesting great tit alongside eight eggs by accident when looking for letters at her village farmyard in Staple near Canterbury.
20:49 The 61-year-old says she quickly took measures to protect the birds by taping the letterbox shut and adding a sign to deter any posties from using it.
20:58 But when she discovered the hatchlings had died as a result of a council letter which she said had been forcibly delivered inside of the box, Lindsay was devastated.
21:08 Absolutely so sad because the nest must have taken her weeks to make. It was absolutely beautiful.
21:16 All moss, the nest was to one side and it's obvious from the letter that she'd been trying desperately to get it off of the babies so she could feed them.
21:26 Which she couldn't do because she'd have to stand on the letter while trying to flick it over and she obviously gave up and left them and they died.
21:34 The letter was a notice from KCC about drainage works taking place in Ripple, a village more than 10 miles away from where she lives in Staple.
21:43 Lindsay's now calling for people to be more aware of nesting birds during the spring.
21:49 Just have a look, stop and look and think, ah, they've obviously written that on there and taped up their post flap to stop anything going in.
21:59 The postman, he was good with it straight away and then the irony of it is when you look at the letter that killed these birds, it wasn't even for this area, it was for about 15 miles away.
22:13 So that makes it even more sad that it needn't have gone in there at all.
22:18 A spokesperson for the council says it's written to Lindsay to offer its sincere apologies for the incident and that it wants to assure Lindsay that this was a genuine mistake and that council staff had no intent of causing any harm in any way.
22:33 So as it may not have been a happy ending for this family of birds, Lindsay hopes that with their story shared around, more can be protected in the future.
22:41 Bartholomew Hall for KMTV.
22:44 Well, coming up straight after Kent tonight is a brand new episode of Invictus Sports.
22:49 So to find out what's to come, the show's producer and presenter, Bartholomew Hall, joining us once again.
22:54 So tell us what's to come in the show tonight.
22:56 Well, it's an exciting one tonight, as it always is on a Friday.
22:59 No football to look forward to, but we will be previewing a bit of the cricket.
23:03 Of course, the T20 season finally gets underway for Kent this evening at Middlesex.
23:07 Really exciting part of the summer season for me.
23:10 I do enjoy the T20s.
23:12 We've also got a really cool interview with Kent Online's Player of the Year, voted by the readers of Kent Online, Joe Taylor from Ramsgate.
23:20 He's had an incredible season, a real goal machine.
23:23 And we can hear a clip from him in a second.
23:25 But just to give you a bit of a preview, 53 goals, more than anybody in the top four steps of non-league.
23:31 He was in contention for the golden boot in the FA Cup and he did it in his league as well, obviously.
23:37 And yeah, I mean, he's had a really, really good end to the season.
23:40 Let's take a listen to him.
23:42 Well, first of all, I was in the team of the season, the Kent Online team of the season, which is a proud moment.
23:47 And then to get the star man in it, in the fan voted poll there, was another proud one for me.
23:54 And I've got to pick up golden boot at the awards the other day, the non-league paper awards for most goals at step one to four.
24:03 So, yeah, something I've never won before and another really proud one.
24:07 And the awards for the SME and South East division top goal scorers coming up soon.
24:13 So, yeah, it's been really busy, but a really proud time.
24:16 And obviously to add on to that as well, a new contract down at Ramsgate, extending your time there.
24:21 So it's all positive at the moment.
24:23 I want to talk about the Kent Online award, obviously the player of the year.
24:26 It comes around every year. It's fan voted.
24:29 And talking of fans, down at Ramsgate, you've had quite the following this season.
24:33 Obviously that was the success of the FA Cup, so there was a big spotlight on Ramsgate.
24:38 But week in, week out in your league games as well, having those four-figure attendances at the grounds.
24:43 What's it been like to have that following behind you?
24:47 It's been brilliant. It's been really, really good to play in front of.
24:51 And I was there in my first World Cup when I was a lot younger.
24:55 We had 180, 200 fans turning up to games.
24:58 So we played, I think the average was over a thousand this season.
25:02 And we played in front of big crowds in the FA Cup and in the Pivotal League games.
25:06 There was always big, big, big crowds.
25:09 So, yeah, it's amazing. There's loads of kids there now as well.
25:13 And it's a real family day out.
25:16 Well, we'll be hearing a bit more from him in Invictus Sport, won't you Bartholomew?
25:20 And what else is coming up tonight?
25:21 Yeah, well, this week we've been looking at wheelchair rugby.
25:24 We were invited down by the Gravesend Dynamite team to have a little look at their club.
25:29 We've invited one of our reporters to give wheelchair rugby a try.
25:32 It's something that I've tried in the past. It's a really difficult sport.
25:34 It's challenging, isn't it?
25:35 Yeah, you don't think. I think when you look at some of these people that play it week in, week out,
25:38 the ease that they kind of get into the seat and they go in with it,
25:42 you don't know how much really is because you're completely propelling yourself along with your hands.
25:46 But, yeah, we'll be looking at wheelchair rugby.
25:48 It's kind of rise, how easy it is to get into.
25:51 And we'll have one of the wheelchair rugby squad here on the sofa to kind of unpick them about that.
25:56 And action replay?
25:57 Action replay, of course, is my favourite part of the show.
25:59 It's Friday, so there is a new action replay.
26:01 It's the segment where we, of course, feature the best clips and pictures from across Kent, really.
26:07 People send them in. We take a look, see who's raising money, who's doing some amazing things, whilst also getting active.
26:12 And always looking for new people to send in their videos, aren't we?
26:15 Absolutely, yeah.
26:16 If you're active in Kent and you want to be on KMTV, just send in your clips to sport@kmtv.co.uk
26:23 and you'll be on Invicta Sport on a Friday.
26:25 Great, well, thank you very much, Bartholomew.
26:27 You'll be hearing more from Bartholomew straight after the break with a brand new episode of Invicta Sport.
26:31 As Bartholomew said, all the latest sports news from across Kent.
26:35 But from me, that's all. Thank you very much for watching and stick around for Invicta Sport straight after the break.
26:40 Good night.
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