Kent Tonight - Monday 7th October 2024
Catch up with all the latest news across your county with Abby Hook.
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00:00Hello, good evening and welcome to Kentonite live on KMTV. I'm Abbey Hook. Here are your
00:26top stories on Monday 7th October. A bridge too far, no update on £9 billion Kent Crossing
00:34as Parliament returns. I mean it's an absolute nightmare, the air quality issues, the congestion
00:39that spreads right across our little town. Top of the hill, Platz Heath racer Jake Hill
00:44takes his first British Touring Car Championship title. How are you feeling? Emotional, proud,
00:52fantastic job by the team and amazing by everybody. The Future of Farming, a Kentonite special
00:59airing tonight on KMTV. Getting into farming has been really unique for myself.
01:06First tonight, shambolic. That's how the leader of Dartford Council has described the
01:21government's failure to decide whether a multi-billion pound attempt to ease congestion goes ahead
01:27as Parliament returns from recess. Legal guidelines meant the decision had to be made four days
01:33ago but there still hasn't been word from the government on the future of the Lower Thames Crossing.
01:38It follows a chaotic few weeks for the Labour government with Kent MPs resigning and a shake-up
01:43at the court of government. While our politics producer Oliver Leeder de Sacks joins me now.
01:48Oliver, we've been waiting for this decision for a long time. Abbey, it's been 15 years in the works
01:57the Lower Thames Crossing and we thought today might be the day we get some clarity on its future.
02:02That's why we're up in Westminster. Decisions should have been made four days ago.
02:07That was the submission deadline but we haven't heard anything since. That was four days ago.
02:13We thought it might be announced to parliamentarians earlier today. Now recess is over after conference season
02:21but not a word. And that might be concerning for some in Dartford and in Kent because it has cost
02:28£850 million so far without a single shovel hitting the ground. And this project is worth about £9 billion.
02:37It's designed to ease congestion in Dartford, reduce air pollution in the area and improve the Kent economy
02:44by connecting up Essex and Kent in a much better way. Though Thurrock Council and Gravesham Borough Council
02:51aren't particularly happy with the proposals and conservationists say it's going to destroy historic woodland in Kent
02:59but we don't really know when this will be announced. It was supposed to be announced last week.
03:05I've been on the phone to DFT. They say they can't comment on it. They say it will happen in due course
03:11but there's no real idea why there's been roadblocks to the decision-making process.
03:16We understand it might be to do with that recess period and the government not willing to make a decision during that time
03:23but we don't really know why there hasn't been a decision or when it will be announced.
03:28But there is a real human cost to this as Jeremy Kite, the Dartford Borough Council leader, explained to us earlier today.
03:36Anyone who uses the Dartford Crossing now knows on a Friday night and a Saturday night and sometimes all through the week
03:43you simply cannot make any reliable arrangements. That means not getting into hospital appointments.
03:48It means businesses can't go about their business. It means that people can't get to school.
03:52I mean it's an absolute nightmare. The air quality issues, the congestion that spreads right across our little town.
03:58It is an absolute nightmare for local people. There's a big range of human issues here.
04:03It's not just about the economy. It's about real stories of real people suffering.
04:09Jeremy Kite there and Oliver Leader de Sacks joining us live from Westminster.
04:13Now a man has been left hospitalised after being stabbed in Shrewd.
04:17Police were called just before midnight to Medway Maritime Hospital after a man in his 20s attended with stab wounds.
04:24There's an ongoing investigation and a cordon has been placed at a property on Shrewd High Street.
04:28You can see here in connection with the incident.
04:30He's now said to be in a serious but stable condition and Kent Police ask anyone with information to get in touch.
04:36Now obesity rates for children in Medway are up by almost 4%
04:39and it comes ten years after the council limited takeaway restaurant opening times near schools.
04:44But where does the blame lie? Is it with schools? Is it with parents? Or is it with the council?
04:49We asked people in Rochester.
04:51I don't think it's effective. I mean children can get junk food from anywhere.
04:56I think it's sad that society has come to it. But I think it's a good idea.
05:00I personally don't think it's effective. I think restaurants should be able to trade whenever they want.
05:06If that's your child it should be up to the parent.
05:08It's a nice idea but I don't imagine it will be super effective.
05:12Whilst there's lots of fast food everywhere, ultimately I think it's down to each individual to make choices about what they eat.
05:19I think it's down to the parents to take notice of what their children are eating and take care of what their children are eating.
05:26I think the responsibility really falls on the parent from a young age to maybe try and get their kid a balanced diet.
05:35Now it was a history making weekend for Kent's role in the British Touring Car Championship.
05:39A West Kent circuit with a West Kent born driver eyeing up arguably the biggest prize in British racing.
05:45But it didn't come easy. MB Motorsport driver Jake Hill went into the weekend tied on points with his championship rival Tom Ingram.
05:53Bartholomew Hall takes us through the day's action.
05:56As the crowds pile in and the tension builds, the stage is set here at the jewel of Kent Motorsport, Brands Hatch Circuit.
06:03Five drivers are still in with a possibility of taking the British Touring Car Championship title for this year.
06:09But there's only one local man looking to grab his first.
06:13Can Platz Heath's Jake Hill finally get his hand on a championship trophy after a wait of more than 10 years?
06:21After qualifying sixth for the first of the day's three races, Kent's Jake Hill was instantly on the back foot to stay in front in the title battle.
06:28But thankfully for him, the drama of the championship fight came as early as the starting lights.
06:33As three of the five drivers in with a chance of taking it came together on the opening lap.
06:39Leaving Hill's closest rival Tom Ingram down in seventh while Hill himself was able to pass into first after a hectic start to the day.
06:46On to race two then and starting where they'd finished in race one, Hill was overtaken early into the second lap
06:52and just didn't have enough in the tank to fight back against the charging Ingram.
06:56Leaving a tense podium celebration as the pair knew exactly what it meant.
07:00One point apart and still all to win going into the very final race of the season.
07:06So as the cars took their position on the grid for the final race, it was the team spirit that came to the forefront.
07:19Months of hard work, tough battles and consistent belief all came down to this.
07:24Starting in sixth, one place ahead of Tom Ingram, the damp conditions meant it was a tricky start for Jake's rear wheel driven BMW which was immediately overtaken.
07:34That was until the fourth lap when an all or nothing outside overtake seemed to be the difference for Hill
07:39who continued his crusade to the end, climbing up to fourth and suddenly the championship had fallen into his hands.
07:57Emotional, proud, emotional, fantastic job by the team.
08:03Just extremely happy, happy for Jake.
08:12The first driver from Kent to take the championship crown in Kent since 1960.
08:18From his first race in 2013 to a victory back where it all started, Jake Hill becomes champion.
08:26Bartholomew Hall for KMTV at Brands Hatch.
08:30What a moment for our local lad.
08:32Well finally this evening, straight after the break, we'll be bringing you a brand new Kent Tonight special, The Future of Kent's Farmers.
08:38A look into how independent farmers, local colleges and Kent's residents are taking steps towards keeping the Garden of England growing with the next generation.
08:47Here's a sneak peek.
08:48Getting into farming has been really unique to myself.
08:51Meet Jack. He got into farming even though he had no agricultural background.
08:56He joined Nonnington Farms as a vegetable grower to pursue his passion.
09:00Despite people like Jack, the farming industry is struggling to recruit young talent, with 84% of all agricultural workers in the UK aged above 45.
09:10I think it's not shown as the actual career you can get into, the industry you can grow into.
09:15Some people, like Harry, get into farming through the more traditional route of higher education.
09:21So I currently go to Reading University and I would say most of us have all come from a farming background.
09:27Other ones, like Jack, he's got a plot of land of someone that he's just growing vegetables on.
09:33But not proper farming, it's very difficult to get into having your own tractor and stuff like that.
09:39But there is a solution. We spoke to Emma, who's trying to make farming more accessible to young people.
09:46We have a really big education programme and have done for at least 15 years.
09:52And initially that was just running school visits, so getting schools out on farms so that they'd understand a bit about farming.
09:58We took to the streets of Maidstone to find out whether young people there would consider farming as a possible career.
10:04Someone always said to me, oh your A-levels would be great for being a farmer.
10:08In secondary schools you don't get taught what farming is. It's more just something that people know about.
10:15Everyone knows about farming, but you wouldn't actually get taught how to do it or where to start.
10:18In our school we have enrichment days and in these enrichment days we can have special days about going green and learning how to farm.
10:25Caitlin and Clemmie are studying agriculture at Hadlow College.
10:29But whilst Caitlin comes from a farming background and Clemmie doesn't, both are welcomed the same.
10:35I mean they require you to have a certain amount of licences, a certain amount of experiences.
10:40And if you don't come from a farming background or you don't go to a farming college, I feel like some people really struggle with that.
10:45And that's why I believe that most people aren't coming into the industry.
10:48If you're just starting then it's really difficult to get into.
10:51Farm manager Tanya is another person pushing for younger people to treat farming as a realistic career option.
10:58There are opportunities in farming for young people and a great way to get into it is obviously a route in through education.
11:05Finding good people is as challenging for farmers as often times it is for students to find that opportunity.
11:12But the two will always find each other.
11:14Kent Tonight Special, the future of Kent's farmers.
11:18And the full documentary will air right after this very short break.
11:22That's it from me for now, I'll see you again soon.
11:24But stick around for that Kent Tonight Special, the future of Kent's farming industry, straight after the break.
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