Kent Tonight - Friday 4th October 2024
Catch up with all the latest news across your county with Bartholomew Hall.
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00:00Hello, good evening and welcome to Kentonite live on KMTV.
00:27I'm Abbey Hook, here are your top stories on Friday the 4th of October.
00:32No tunnel vision. After 15 years, the £8 billion Lower Thames Crossing has again been
00:39postponed.
00:40We're looking for a decision very soon from the government.
00:45Up in smoke. Stricter regulations for Kent as study finds 1 in 10 are now vaping.
00:51We do worry about younger people taking up anything with nicotine in it because of the
00:56fact that certain things like their brains are still developing.
00:59From conservation to canines, we find out how we should be looking after our pets on
01:05World Animal Day.
01:16First tonight, the Lower Thames Crossing has taken 15 years for a decision to be made and
01:20we thought that would change today. But the government have further delayed a concrete
01:25yes or no due to being in recess.
01:27The project aims to reduce pressure on the Dartford Crossing and has been in the works
01:31since 2009.
01:33It's had millions of pounds spent on it, but the delay means the government have broken
01:37their legal responsibilities.
01:39Isn't that right, Gabriel? Our local democracy reporter joins us live from Gravesend now
01:44where the Lower Thames Crossing may be built.
01:48Yes, you're absolutely right. I'm right on the edge of Gravesend. This is the field where
01:56if the decision goes ahead, this is the proposed location where the tunnel would emerge from
02:01under the river and where it would go onwards towards Essex.
02:05It's an almost nine billion pound road project and it would be 14.3 miles in length, making
02:12it Europe's longest and widest tunnel.
02:16Now, as the sun goes down tonight, we were expecting to find out a decision whether or
02:21not it was going to be scrapped or if it was going to go ahead. However, we have heard
02:25from the government this afternoon that that decision is going to be delayed.
02:30It's been controversial with the Labour Party locally here in Kent being split on it, Dartford
02:35wanting it, but in Gravesend they've been firm-footed for a long time. They're adamant
02:40that this is the wrong place for any crossing under the Thames.
02:45I've been speaking to the newly elected MP for Gravesend, Dr Lauren Sullivan, earlier
02:50this afternoon to get her reaction and to find out exactly why the Lower Thames Crossing
02:55decision was delayed this afternoon and when we might find out when the decision is due.
03:00So, Lower Thames Crossing and certainly the residents that have been contacting me have
03:04been very concerned about the impact of Lower Thames Crossing on Gravesend. The delay means
03:09that there still might be some time that we can speak with ministers or whatever to try
03:13and really put across the grave concerns that many Gravesend residents are having.
03:19The delay was announced today by the DFT. Do we have any idea of how long this delay
03:23might be and actually why it has been delayed in the first place?
03:26So, we understand that the delay is going to be until Monday, possibly so that it can
03:33be announced in the House. We are on recess at the moment, but the decision needs to be
03:37taken today. When they announce it is hopefully soon.
03:44Well, perhaps on Monday we might get an answer whether or not it's going to go ahead or not
03:49or maybe a further date down the line when that decision could be due.
03:53Well, as I said, Gravesend and Dartford Labour do want to have the Lower Thames Crossing
03:57in place. It's home to, Dartford's home to, obviously, the Queen Elizabeth 2 Bridge and
04:01the Dartford Tunnels as well going across under the Thames. And they say, well, on a
04:07Friday night like tonight, the roads can become congested right across their region. And well,
04:13they say this crossing here, the Lower Thames Crossing, could ease that.
04:17Now, this is not the first time that the Lower Thames Crossing decision has been delayed
04:22and who knows, it might not be the last time. But every delay has the potential to increase
04:28the cost of what is already an almost £9 billion project.
04:34The government have broken their statutory obligation to make a decision on the Lower
04:37Thames Crossing this afternoon. It's taken 15 years and £850 million spent on planning.
04:43However, it's understood the government recess caused by a party conference meant the project
04:48was again delayed from a concrete yes or no.
04:51Well, we've heard today that there's going to be a short delay. I think it's very short
04:55and the decision is imminent. So all of the conversations we've been having in the last
05:01few weeks about how important the new Lower Thames Crossing is, both for Dartford to deal
05:07with the congestion and gridlock, but also for the UK and Kent economy to have goods
05:12flowing freely across the Thames and towards Dover, all those arguments are absolutely
05:17still valid. And we're looking for a decision very soon from the government.
05:22The tunnel would run between Kent's Gravesend and Essex's Tilbury below the River Thames.
05:27But the project has drawn criticism for the construction of a 14-mile road directly through
05:32a green belt. It was originally proposed in 2009 to help with the pressure put on the
05:37Dartford Crossing, with National Highways suggesting a potential 20% reduction in traffic
05:42at the crossing if the Lower Thames project does open.
05:46If the plans are given the green light, construction is likely to begin in 2026, with the tunnel
05:51opening in 2032. Some officials, however, disagree with the plans.
05:56It's no real surprise that it has been delayed, unfortunately. One of our main concerns is
06:01around the loss of ancient woodland, which is woodland that has existed since the 1600s,
06:09making it an irreplaceable habitat as it takes hundreds of years to establish. And many of
06:15the woodlands threatened by the Lower Thames Crossing scheme are also sites of special
06:21scientific interest, such as Sean and Ashenbank woods, and these habitats are home to numerous
06:27rare wildlife.
06:28Well, with the decision expected any time today, if it does go ahead, it will have a
06:32massive impact on Gravesend, Dartford and Kent's transport links to Essex and the rest
06:37of the country. Finn McDermid for KMTV.
06:40We'll be hoping to bring you that update on Monday if it does come through from the government.
06:44Finn McDermid reporting there, and our local democracy reporter Gabriel Morris there live
06:48for us.
06:50Now, next tonight, more and more young people in Kent are turning to vaping, and it's not
06:54because they're trying to stop smoking. A new study found that one million people in
06:58England now vape, even though they were never regular smokers before picking it up. The
07:03number is the highest in people aged 16 to 24. Well, to find out more, our reporter Kristin
07:08Hawthorne went to a vape shop in Gillingham.
07:11A new study has found that one million people in England vape, even though they had never
07:16smoked regularly beforehand. The amount of people using vapes in this way has dramatically
07:22increased in the past few years, as figures show that in 2021, the amount of people using
07:27vapes was one in 200. But this year, it has risen to one in 28. This increase has been
07:34largely driven by young adults who had never regularly smoked before. It has also been
07:40found that vape sales are the highest amongst people aged 16 to 24.
07:45I've been outside of this vape shop in Gillingham for about an hour now, and I've already noticed
07:49a lot of young people coming into the store, buying vapes, and showing a lot of interest
07:53in different flavours and varieties that they have to offer. As an example, I picked up
07:57this one, which has an interactive screen, four different flavours, and a charging port.
08:02And after speaking to some people who vape, they told me that it's reasons like this which
08:06makes vaping so addictive, and makes it have such a large appeal.
08:10I think mostly the packaging as well, and the flavours as well, yeah.
08:15I feel like they do put the flavours out for kids, like Strawberry Unicorn, and stuff like
08:19that, they do put it out for young kids, and how colourful they are, whereas if you bought
08:24cigarettes, they'd be like, it says on it, this will kill you if you smoke it, but actual
08:28vapes are all colourful, like this one, it's literally like, it's bright green.
08:32In England, it is estimated that 5.1 million people aged 16 and over in Britain use e-cigarettes.
08:40This means that one in ten people now use vapes.
08:44When I first started, it was actually due to my friend smoking that enticed me to try
08:49it, and then I actually didn't like it in the end, and I decided to vape when they first
08:54started to come out, and yeah, then they just become more of a thing, and then I decided
08:59to do it more.
09:00Health experts are concerned with these new findings, and suggest stricter regulations
09:04to make the vapes look less appealing.
09:06We do worry about younger people taking up anything with nicotine in it, because of the
09:12fact that certain things like their brains are still developing, and their bodies are
09:15still developing, so the effect of nicotine is likely to have a larger effect.
09:20Also, if they get hooked in childhood or teenage years, and they carry on for longer term,
09:26that's a longer period of time during which they're exposed to potential hazards, and
09:30that can then lead to problems.
09:32Although plans have already been made to ban disposable vapes, many brands have already
09:37started releasing reusable products, which are marketed in the same way, and have the
09:41same appeal as the disposable ones.
09:44Kristen Hawthorne, KMTV, in Gillingham.
09:48Now fines for dropping cigarette butts in Canterbury's High Street planters have been
09:52overturned, because locals say they look like ashtrays.
09:55Hundreds of pounds worth of fixed penalty notices have been issued, but the council
09:59says the new plant pots might have been mistaken for bins.
10:03It's unclear whether the approach from the council will remain, but we've been speaking
10:07to shoppers on the High Street to find out what they think.
10:09Yeah, it's a great idea, as long as the bin people come and collect it.
10:15If it's emptied out regularly, it's a great idea, yeah.
10:18It doesn't look very nice in the plant pots.
10:20Obviously it doesn't look nice on the floor, but definitely not in the plant pots.
10:24Yes, okay, I agree with it.
10:27It's going to look ugly down there, isn't it?
10:29It will do, but if you put a few plants around it, and it'd decompose.
10:35Definitely not.
10:36Danger for the environment, and not great, and why can't people dispose of it if they're
10:41choosing to do that?
10:42I don't know, maybe people should just be responsible and throw it in a bin, but obviously
10:46that's not going to happen, so if they think that's best, then I guess that's best.
10:52No, it's disgusting.
10:54They're planters, pop the bins out is the simple solution.
10:57Same for chewing gum, I think.
10:59Interesting one there from the local democracy reporting service.
11:02Now for the weather.
11:09Tonight it's looking cool across Kent, with temperatures around 8 degrees in Margate,
11:13Temperature Isles and Maidstone Highs of 11 down in Dover.
11:16Tomorrow morning, a bright start to the weekend.
11:19You'll be pleased to see much of the same as today.
11:21A few clouds dotted between, but by the afternoon those clouds are clearing away, bringing with
11:25it some wind, but staying nice and sunny for your Saturday afternoon.
11:29And here's the outlook for Kent for the next few days.
11:32Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.
11:34Rain again on Sunday.
11:44Time for a break now, but coming up, it's World Animal Day.
11:48We'll be joined here by a very special newsroom dog.
14:55Hello and welcome back to Kent Tonight, live on KMTV.
15:12Now, a father from Canterbury is celebrating his twin son's first birthday, that a year
15:17ago they didn't think was so certain.
15:20Elliot Canburn and his wife Victoria had their boys, James and Joel, 10 weeks premature.
15:25They weighed little more than three pounds each and spent months in hospital.
15:29Now Elliot has been taking on challenges and raised £2,000 for East Kent Hospital's charity,
15:35something I spoke to him about earlier.
15:37At the beginning you think that you're really unlucky and I think you quickly realise that
15:43you're not unlucky, you are very lucky.
15:46You're very lucky to have them both here.
15:48You're very lucky to have amazing support.
15:51You're very lucky to have the resources behind you that's required to keep them safe.
15:56And those resources and hospitals are a key point.
15:59We know the challenges many new mothers and families have faced at maternity units here
16:03in the county, here in Kent, but tell us about your story.
16:07How were you treated because we have heard some really sad stories that we've been reporting
16:12on here in the past couple of years at KMTV, but your story was slightly different.
16:17You've had a good experience.
16:20We did, you know, it's always, you never think that you're going to need any of the resources
16:29and you read stuff online and you think, you know, hopefully that doesn't happen to me
16:34and I'm not associated with any of those things, but you know, when it's in front of you, you
16:38read it, but when you're thrust into it and you have a good experience, it makes you really
16:43appreciate the good people and the resources that go into providing the service that's
16:50needed. So yes, you've got your fair share of bad out there, but the good really does
16:55shine through. And I think, you know, the whole system does need a lot of help, does
17:02need a lot of help. I'd argue that a lot of it's on its knees at the moment.
17:05And, you know, when it's on its knees, it puts parents and children and other patients
17:10for other needs on their knees at the same time. We've got a fantastic system in place.
17:15I think it just needs a lot of help.
17:17And how are both the boys doing now? They were of course diagnosed with an extremely
17:21rare condition, but how are they a year on? What's their health like?
17:27They're fantastic. So they were at birth, similar to twin to twin transfusion, which
17:36unfortunately is a more common thing associated with twins and particularly identical twins.
17:40Starved, both of them of oxygen for quite a lengthy period of time.
17:46And essentially all of the blood was sent to one and none of the blood was sent to the
17:50other one. So we had blood transfusions on James right from the outset and Joel had to
17:55have blood removed from him as it was too sludgy and wouldn't go around his system.
18:00So bearing in mind everything that they've been through, starved of oxygen and James
18:05unfortunately losing his hearing and becoming deaf as well, which I don't think I'd
18:09mentioned before actually, but James is deaf as a result of his birth, simply through
18:17the condition that they were born with, which was extremely rare, which unfortunately did
18:22that. But we've tackled it all really well.
18:24We've had fantastic support from the NHS with regards to James's hearing.
18:29So yeah, we've had our challenges and things, but all looking rosy for the time being.
18:35Wouldn't have that without the help that we've received.
18:38That's amazing to hear, Elliot.
18:39What a lovely story and one that hasn't come without huge challenges.
18:44So the one you've been taking on recently probably seems like nothing to you, but tell
18:47us what you've been doing and about the money you've raised.
18:50What's it going towards?
18:52I decided, like I say, back in January to do a Tough Mudder assault course, which is
19:00just a really, really unpleasant ordeal.
19:02You get tear gassed, electrocuted, iced, and then you just have to run in the mud.
19:09Running at the best of times isn't a nice thing to do, really.
19:11But it's just a series of further and further worse things to overcome.
19:18But my boys had far worse than that to overcome, and they did.
19:22So why couldn't I?
19:24And at the same time, try and do some fundraising at the same time.
19:28And I've just been completely overwhelmed by the response that I've received from friends,
19:32family, community, work colleagues, everybody.
19:37A very important story there.
19:39Really enjoyed talking to Elliot.
19:41Now to sport.
19:42Mark Bonners hoping two of Gillingham's newest signings will be able to help as they look
19:46to bounce back from a midweek defeat against Cru Alexander this weekend.
19:51Despite the recent woes, the Gilles are still top of the League Two table after nine games
19:56played.
19:56Well, I caught up with Bartholomew Hall with the latest.
20:00So who have we got up on the screen here?
20:02Well, we've plucked out two Gillingham players here.
20:04We've got closest to me, Elliot Nevitt, and closest to you, Abbie, is Aaron Rowe.
20:08Both of these joined Gillingham in the summer transfer window under the guise of Mark Bonner,
20:12and they both came from Cru Alexander, who of course Gillingham are playing this weekend.
20:16And it was interesting, Mark Bonner actually mentioned them both by name in the press
20:20conference this week, saying that he kind of, he might have plucked them for a certain
20:23reason, or at least he's going to be talking to them this weekend, especially about maybe
20:27the approach that Cru Alexander might have to a game like this.
20:30Of course, they are playing the top sitters of League Two at the moment, Gillingham.
20:34But Cru do actually come into this game with a bit of an advantage themselves.
20:38They didn't have a midweek game because of the Wimbledon situation.
20:42I'm sure we've all seen the pictures of their stadium at the moment, whereas Gillingham,
20:45well, they did, and they lost in League Two to Grimsby earlier this week, destroying that
20:51brilliant run of form, home wins, home undefeated run since December last year, since Boxing Day,
20:57which I've been going on about every time I sit on this over here.
21:00That's now reset to zero.
21:01So we'll just have to see how well Gillingham are prepared for this game as we go into it tomorrow.
21:06Now, there is maybe a sense that maybe that's a bit of a downer going in after a loss.
21:11But if we look at the season as a whole, Gillingham have had a very positive start to the season.
21:15As I've said, they're top of the league at the moment.
21:17But let's take a listen to what Mark Bonner thinks when he was asked how he thinks the team is doing so far this season.
21:23And spoiler alert, he didn't actually have a lot to say.
21:25Yeah, so big picture miles away, short picture.
21:28I can't answer the question today because it's game nine and Saturday's game ten and our review takes place after game ten.
21:35So we're in due, not review at the moment.
21:37So all we're doing is getting ready for crew.
21:40And then next week we'll sit in here and we'll do a big review on our ten games.
21:44And then I'll have a bit more of a view on how we've done.
21:48I can be a bit more reflective on Tuesday, I think, than I can on Thursday.
21:52So maybe we'll have to wait until next week before we hear what Mark Bonner thinks of his team's progress so far.
21:57Well, in other news, after what turned out to be a largely forgettable summer for the men's side, Kent Cricket has held their end of season awards dinner.
22:04Harry Finch and Genevieve Geer took the big prizes as the men's and women's club player of the year, respectively.
22:10It comes on the week that the club announced England international Zach Crawley will be staying with the county side for another year after agreeing a contract extension.
22:19Brans Hatch will play this weekend, host to the finale of the British Touring Car Championship, where a Kent racer could be about to claim his first ever title.
22:28Platts Heath's Jake Hill is tied on three hundred and sixty five points with Tom Ingram at the top of the table.
22:33A pool of five drivers could take the crown at the West Kent track this weekend.
22:37The MB Motorsport BMW driver Hill leads the standings by way of his seven wins to Ingram's five coming after his latest last time out at Silverstone.
22:46And finally, time is running out for nominations to be submitted for the Medway Sports Awards.
22:51Back in twenty twenty two, the now intercontinental heavyweight champion boxer Moses Atalma took home the gong for the junior sports person of the year.
22:59Other winners include Olympic hockey, Olympic hockey goalkeeper Maddie Hinch and Paralympian Charlotte Evans.
23:06With categories ranging from club of the year to the unsung hero of the year, the nomination period ends on the thirty first of October.
23:14Well, that's it from me with the sport for now. We'll be back with another Invictus Sport episode on Monday.
23:21Now, don't forget, you can keep up to date with all your latest stories across Kent by logging on to our website, KMTV.co.uk.
23:27There you'll find all our reports, including this one about the impact beer duty is having on the hospitality industry here in Medway.
23:35A pub garden. It's a staple in English culture and where many in the county go to socialise.
23:41But the Tudor Rose in Rochester says it's being hit with soaring costs such as beer duty, making it difficult to keep businesses running and is driving customers away.
23:51We've got the highest beer duty in Europe, probably the world. So cut the beer duty.
23:55And with everything else going up bills all the time, it's getting harder and harder for us to sort of try and make a living because, you know, you've got to pay your wages and everything, energy and stuff.
24:04So, yeah, that's the hardest part.
24:06With more than a million people working in the industry, bosses fear that these high costs could lead to thousands of jobs being lost.
24:13Now it's calling for the government to protect the brewing and pub sector by asking for a 5% cut in beer duty, which would not only reduce costs for businesses, but also for those that are going for a drink.
24:25There's no denying the government has been great to support pubs when they were going through a once in a generation pandemic.
24:31But since then, things have still been challenging.
24:35We still have high energy costs, high inflation, you know, labour shortages.
24:39So there are so many things that continue and the government is going to have to make really tough choices in the budget.
24:44But what we're hoping to impress on them and on the general public is the role that pubs play and how important it is for communities and how sad it would be to see them close.
24:54Although some from the hospitality industry say that the government's actually been quite supportive, especially during Covid times.
25:01Others say that the price of a pint is creating an uncertain future for both bars and pubs.
25:08And finally, this evening, from conservation to canines, Luna's joining me here today.
25:13We're marking World Animal Day with our resident dog, Luna.
25:16She's being very well behaved.
25:18Now, you might not be endangered, nor is your habitat at risk.
25:21But Kristen, she's very important that we look after all our pets, all our animals on World Animal Day.
25:27Kristen, what can you tell us?
25:29Yes, well, RSPCA are holding the World Animal Day today.
25:34They are highlighting the chilling future which could lie ahead for animal welfare.
25:40If we don't act now, they have made a game which shows the impact of climate change,
25:48loss of natural habitats, rapid demographic changes and technological advances that are having an impact on the animal kingdom.
25:56And they're just preparing us for maybe how, if we don't look after animals, how things are going to look by 2050.
26:02It's very important as well. The conversation, of course, it's centred around the wild animals, what we can do to protect habitats.
26:08But Kristen, some key tips for looking after your dog.
26:11You've been looking after Luna today. Go on, give us a few of your top tips.
26:14She's being very patient.
26:16She is. I mean, the first one is definitely to have a ball there, really.
26:19Great tip.
26:21But yeah, I mean, I guess just like make sure that if you're getting the dog, that you're there at the home enough to make sure that they get enough attention.
26:29Make sure that you're getting the right dog for your family.
26:31And I know if maybe you're out of the house, maybe a dog like this wouldn't be.
26:35Amazing. You need to be able to walk it or bring her in to walk so all your colleagues can walk her as well.
26:41Well, thank you very much. Happy World Animal Day.
26:43Happy Friday. Good night. See you Monday.