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00:00Good evening, welcome to Kentonite live on KMTV. I'm Bartholomew Hall. Here are your
00:26top stories on Friday the 25th of October. Why do we go from here? Politicians, gang
00:33members and those who have made the crossing explain why so many Albanians make the perilous
00:38journey to Kent. Albania was closed to the rest of the world for 50 years. Skatepark
00:46Solutions, Thanet Council, Greenlight, Seafront Skatepark to promote community inclusivity.
00:53It gives kids an outlet to express themselves. Dampened expectations, high swimming prices
01:02put parents off new multi-million pound Medway Sports Centre. At that price I think you're
01:08going to be scaring more people away. And returning home after years being nurtured
01:13here in Kent, two lions are finally released into the African wild.
01:22Is it worth risking your life to come to the UK? That's a million dollar question.
01:36Independence Day rallies and protests have brought the Albanian community together.
01:40Albania was closed to the rest of the world for 50 years. In 2022 12 to 13 000 Albanians
01:49were coming to the UK through illegal means. I've arrived in Albania, somewhere I've loved
01:54visiting growing up, but this time I'll be talking to people about their lives, society
01:59and why they want to leave.
02:01There are stories of people who come to the UK because of the life that is seen on social
02:20media and organised criminal gangs use this to traffic young men to work in cannabis farms.
02:31I feel like I re-learned everything I previously knew.
02:54Well, joining me now is Eric alongside the film's director Isabel Miller. Thank you both
03:05for joining me here. First of all, we saw a bit of what we can expect from the trailer
03:10there, but what can we expect from the documentary? Because it was quite a journey for yourself,
03:14quite a personal journey.
03:16It was eye-opening because normally I go to Albania twice a year. I go during the summer
03:21and the winter, but when we went in March I saw a different Albania, one that I hadn't
03:25seen before. Apart from the capital city, most of the place was empty, but in the summer
03:30it's quite vibrant, there's loads of people, so it was eye-opening.
03:34Absolutely. One of the things that struck me was some of the beautiful sights there,
03:38of course. It is such a beautiful country, but also considered, as I said in the opening,
03:42they're safe by the UK government and part of the discovery was finding out why so many
03:48people have made the decision to move in particular to the UK. What was one of the
03:54things that you learned the most through the journey?
03:57I think a lot of the people that come here, especially on the small boats, I don't think
04:03they have great intentions when they come here. I know it's quite a controversial thing,
04:07but this is what I think. There are loads of Albanians that have come here that I know
04:11myself that have come here through legal means. They've got a student visa or they've just
04:17got a visa as well. I think the majority of them that come here don't have good intentions,
04:22because I also, this is anecdotally, but I also do know people that have come here illegally
04:26and they also have gone into the drug trade. I think that's the main reason.
04:33Isabel, of course, being part of it yourself, some of the access that you was given as part
04:38of this documentary, you spoke to so many different voices, politicians, as well as
04:41those on the ground and going through those personal stories. What was that like for you
04:46as a filmmaker? It was just really interesting to get an insight because I came into this
04:54knowing pretty much nothing about Albania as a country, but what happened was we were given a
05:00grant by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network to make a journalistic film exploring
05:06about why people are coming here. Eric, you've touched on it a little bit, but there are some
05:11things happening in Albania, like corruption and problems with the economy. I would say
05:19Albania is very much trying to uplift itself and it's a wonderful place, but it's in that process,
05:28so a lot of people are coming here for those reasons. There are several reasons as well,
05:33like being reunited with family. That's a really key one as well that a lot of people we spoke to
05:37said. Some end up going into criminality, but also some work in construction and jobs where
05:45they can stay here and make a life here, but eventually people do go back to Albania and we
05:51explore that in the documentary too. Lots of people want to go back and celebrate the country
05:55and work there, so very much an up-and-coming place and very exciting, but maybe years ahead.
06:02Absolutely. Just quickly for yourself as well, you spoke, Eric, about that personal journey,
06:06but you actually managed to speak to your brother in the documentary as well,
06:08so what was that like for you? I can tell you it was pretty tough because
06:13when I'm with him we always laugh, so it took a few takes to do, but it was also insightful to
06:20see what he thought as well because we do talk a lot about this as well and we also do have friends
06:24that have come here through that and we always gossip about them, so it was insightful.
06:31Absolutely. Well, Albania, Why Do We Go From Here, premieres tomorrow evening on KMTV. Thank
06:37you very much. Thank you for joining us. Now, moving on tonight, after a lengthy legal battle,
06:44takeaway worker Husin Kalintu has been found guilty of murdering his girlfriend at the time.
06:50He pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter, but was later found guilty of a charge of murder
06:54by a jury. He faces sentencing before the new year. Now, Afim McDermid is going to be joining
07:00us from our newsroom, but I should just warn you that his report might contain some descriptions
07:05of abuse and serious harm. So, Afim, what can you tell us from today's verdict?
07:16Kalintu was found guilty this afternoon for the murder of Sonia Parker earlier this year in May.
07:23The court heard that Parker died from blunt force injuries and they were told of the graphic nature
07:29of the attacks, some of which I am not going to describe to you now. What I can and will tell you,
07:35it was reported that Sonia had 69 external injuries, most of which occurred before she died.
07:42He called the ambulance service and despite the paramedics best efforts, she did die at the scene.
07:47So Kalintu was arrested in suspicion of assault and apparently admitted to fighting and punching
07:54Miss Parker. Yes, and like you mentioned, he originally accepted the charge of manslaughter,
08:00but did deny that he murdered her. Well, Finn, thank you very much for those details.
08:07Next night, skaters in Margate are used to having car parks and footpaths to help them
08:12enjoy their hobby. But after last night's council meeting of Thanet District Council,
08:15it seems like they will now have a new seafront, California-style skate park to use instead.
08:21Partnering with Margate's Skate Club to promote sustainability, safety and inclusivity,
08:25almost £1.5 million will be invested to improving the surrounding area,
08:29aiming to set a positive example for other towns and reduce anti-social behaviour.
08:34Kristen Hawthorne has been down to Margate to find out more.
08:37Yesterday, a council meeting was held on whether or not to introduce a skate park to the Margate town
08:43and it seems like it will go ahead. The council have decided that they will retain ownership of
08:48the seafront site and aim to promote sustainability, safety and community involvement in
08:53the area with the new addition. They will collaborate with Margate's Skate Club and
08:57hope that it inspires other towns in the district to follow in their footsteps.
09:02What it is, is that by putting a skate park in an area, it gives kids something to do. So rather
09:08than them going out and smashing windows, they might, they will get into skateboarding. Like
09:13giving kids something to do stops them becoming, you know, getting involved in social behaviour,
09:19just having something where you can go to a skate park for like eight, 12 hours a day,
09:24skate all day, socialise, you know, it's good for your mental health, it's good for your physical
09:28health and it's also good for like, you know, learning social skills and they become valuable
09:35later on when you, you know, work, stuff like that, you know. Efforts will be made to minimise
09:40carbon emissions and ensure the site is accessible and welcoming to all, aiming to foster inclusivity
09:47and reduce discrimination. From car parks to seafronts, this is where plans for the new
09:52skate park may go ahead. The project has funding of almost a million pounds and includes things
09:58like toilets and a new food area. And after speaking to some locals, it seems that many of
10:04them are excited and feel positive for the possibility of the new addition in this area.
10:08You have a skate park near where I live and it works quite well, it's a focal point for the youth,
10:12it's good activity, it's outdoors, it's not a year-round thing so you have to consider
10:17what's going to happen in the wintertime. I think it's a good idea to have them because it gives kids
10:20an outlet to, you know, express themselves and get into a hobby and have somewhere to go
10:29rather than complaining that they've got nowhere to go. So yeah, go for it. Go for it, I'd say, it's only a
10:34good thing. Who knows, you might get an Olympian out. Exactly. As the town prepares for the possibility
10:40of the new arrival, it seems like they will be getting more than they bargained for with an added
10:44£35,000 to improve the surrounding area to help improve safety and well-being with improved
10:51lighting, railings and CCTV. Kristen Hawthorne, KMTV.
10:59We're coming up after the break promised for the community but it's only for the wealthy. We'll
11:04hear from Reynham families who say the Splash's replacement is just too expensive for this
11:09half-term. And can Gilles break their losing streak? Mark Bonner's squad head to Swindon
11:13with over 1,000 fans hoping to avoid a sixth straight defeat. We'll hear from the Gilles
11:18manager next. And of course we'll be hearing as well the heartfelt farewell for the Howlitz Lions,
11:23Zemo and Zala as they leave Canterbury for a new sanctuary in South Africa. All that and plenty
11:30more to come after this very short break.
15:00Hello and welcome back to Kentonite live on KMTV. Now developers blame nappies being flushed down
15:14the toilet after human excrement has flooded the streets of a family housing estate in Whitstable.
15:20Lee Hawkins claims the stream of sewage has attracted unwanted vermin to her family's home
15:25after residents have described the foul stench as the mess ran down the road. These pictures from
15:32earlier today residents of the estate have been troubled by the issue since construction started
15:36five years ago. The property developer has apologised. Now it was promised for the community
15:46but Reynham residents now feel priced out of their new leisure centre. Cosenton Park opened in June
15:52but this half term parents say they're being put off with sessions for families costing £45 a pop.
15:58The centre used to be known as Splashes but took five years to be rebuilt. Local democracy
16:04reporter Gabriel Morris has found many families are sticking to other pools they've found.
16:12It's Medway's brand new leisure centre but families say it's just too expensive. Cosenton
16:20Park opened this summer after the previous site was deemed structurally unsound. Reynham residents
16:26had been waiting a long time for the Splashes replacement but this half term many parents would
16:30like their children to be using these facilities but at £45 for a family of four they say that
16:36sinks too deep into their pockets. But at that price I think you're going to be scaring more
16:42people away and in the long term you're going to be making a loss. I have been going to Sheerness
16:49which is Isle of Sheppey, Swale Council and you can go there and stay there for 90 minutes at least
16:59and that is only just under £20. When it first opened when they first redeveloped it we thought
17:04it was going to be for the community so they've redeveloped it for the community and I don't know
17:08many people who have been there so we'd like to go there it's around the corner from where we are.
17:13The centre has a range of membership options which the council says provides good value and
17:18that will give you access to the gym and lane swimming. They have family holiday swim sessions
17:24where children are a pound with a full-paying adult. It doesn't give access to the slides but
17:30if you look on the council website for the fun pool there are lots of spaces still available.
17:35It feels like this is a facility that was only for the wealthy of Medway to use. I think that
17:41I think we have to call on the Medway council to look at their price and ticket and really
17:46appreciate put it into the marketing context. If you're running this as a pure business and you're
17:51only filling up a third of your capacity with customers you have to look at your pricing
17:54modelling and see what needs to work. In a statement the authority says 2,000 people have
17:59signed up for membership so far and they continue to review their programmes and welcome feedback.
18:05Costing a little less than £25 million to build residents understand that the council needs to
18:12make that money back but users hope the authority will reconsider their pricing
18:17so the investment doesn't go down the drain. Gabriel Morris in Raynham.
18:23Well Gabriel joins us in the studio now. Gabriel obviously we heard the cost of swimming there
18:27£45 for a family but the centre itself was also very pricey. It was indeed but not as pricey
18:34as it was expected towards the end of the build. I mean when this first happened the costs have
18:40shot up. It was originally just going to be refurbished when it was deemed actually a whole
18:45new centre had to be rebuilt but the final price actually came out under Medway council actually
18:50managed to save some £1.5 million on the build which not that much in terms of money for the
18:59council but that underspend is going to be redirected from the Cosenton Park Sports Centre
19:04project to improve both the Strude Sports Centre and Medway Park. Both centres are well over more
19:11than 25 years old and those funds they say will upgrade key areas like pools, changing rooms,
19:16fitness studios and also enhancing safety and customer appeal. And of course leisure centres
19:22are very important to people throughout the community and it's not just swimming here
19:28obviously it has the gym there but there are some more plans for the development. Yeah we've learned
19:33today that Medway council plans to redevelop a former nursery which is just around the corner
19:39from the Sports Centre in Cosenton Park into 23 small allotments, a community tree nursery
19:46and a garden. They're going to put in some raised beds that will be for people with limited
19:52mobility and the old glass house and structures will be removed due to disrepair. There's some
19:58section 106 money that's community money which comes along from developments in the area and
20:03some of that's going to be used. I've been speaking to Stuart Bourne who's a local Liberal Democrat
20:07about this. There's been a four times increase in the length of people waiting for an allotment.
20:16The length of time was just massive. There was a massive spike around Covid. I think people were
20:21sort of getting excited about going out and growing their own so there was a massive spike in there
20:25but still there was a huge waiting list and the council hasn't done anything to lower that.
20:29Over the last 10-20 years we haven't built nearly enough allotments for people to want.
20:35Demand's there, people are desperate for getting so allotments are the thing that council should
20:40be talking to developers to build in when they come and build all these houses.
20:45Next in sport it's a return to the pitch for Mark Bonner's Gilles this weekend as the Medway side
20:49look to avoid a sixth consecutive defeat. The League 2 side currently in 11th travel to 22nd
20:55place Swindon Town with more than a thousand fans going along for the match. Here's manager
21:00Mark Bonner ahead of the weekend. Our big focus is on making sure we're at a really good level
21:05and put ourselves in a position to win the game, most importantly to end the run of results that
21:10we're on, really importantly to give the supporters that are travelling and such big numbers that are
21:16travelling to give them a good day out because not only do they deserve it they're also desperate
21:23for it as much as we are with the results of having been the way they are. So yeah I think
21:27that's the beauty of quick turnarounds and busy periods when you're in a run like we are is the
21:35next game comes really fast which is important because it means you don't spend too long talking
21:38about the last one you have to shift your focus really quickly to the next one that's where we
21:42are that's where we've been today and hopefully we can get ourselves ready for a for a real good
21:48level game on the weekend. Now don't forget you can keep up to date with all your latest stories
21:53across Kent by logging on to our website kmcb.co.uk there you'll see all of our reports including this
21:59one. These sixth formers at Holcombe Grammar School in Chatham have been given the morning
22:03out of classes but perhaps to learn one of their biggest lessons how to save a life. It's all part
22:10of restart a heart day which aims to raise awareness about cardiac arrests and teach as
22:15many people as possible how to perform CPR and use a defibrillator. One man who knows all how
22:21important learning CPR can be is Graham Berwick. Back in 2018 Graham's heart stopped whilst playing
22:28golf in Sittingbourne. There was three people that that did the CPR one of them was my brother I was
22:33very fortunate I know that things would have been extremely different if if I'd have been in a
22:39different place in a different time you never know when you're going to need that skill because
22:43a cardiac arrest can happen any any time to any one of us. Tragically only one in ten people
22:50survive a cardiac arrest in the UK it's hoped that with even the most basic training that number can
22:56rise. So after their morning session how prepared are these sixth formers for the possibility of
23:01having to restart someone's heart? Yeah I have to say from learning from the man himself over there
23:07we've learned a lot yeah and we should be able to perform it quite efficiently and effectively.
23:12I feel really confident doing it because obviously now that I've learned how to do it I think it's
23:15kind of a skill that won't really forget. The fact that I'm knowing that I'm gonna save a life
23:20I feel like this really good training worthwhile. On hand to help with the morning's training was
23:25KSS volunteer Chris who saved his own dad's life by putting his training into practice. It's that
23:31skill for life as well you never know when you might need it you probably don't ever want to
23:35use it and the the chances of you knowing that person rather than a bystander in the street
23:40is very very high especially with family members.
23:47This is the room where pupils across the region are being taught how to perform CPR today but
23:52they don't even need to leave their classrooms to do it it's being broadcasted directly to them
23:56and of course some of the younger pupils are being encouraged to bring in their own patients as well.
24:01If you turn it on essentially what we're asking children to do is bring a cuddly toy into school
24:06today and then we've brought ours and we're going to essentially for a 30 minute live stream session
24:11show them how to do CPR and they're going to practice it on their teddies. I think we know
24:15that we've given our reach is now so significant this does and will save lives. So from primary
24:22aged pupils to urgent response paramedics with today's efforts the charity is hoping to prove
24:27that anyone can become a lifesaver. Bartholomew Hall for KMTV in Medway.
24:38Well here's the weather then expect highs tonight in the east and lows of 11 degrees
24:42celsius in the west no rain expected two miles per hour for your winds that changing as we
24:48head into tomorrow morning where we'll be seeing rain across the board temperatures highs of 14.
24:54Here's the afternoon cloudy in the east but that rain hanging around elsewhere and here is the
25:00outlook as we head into the start of next week sunny but turning cloudy. Finally this evening
25:06roaring into new beginnings Howlett's Lions Zemo and Zala have begun a new chapter in South Africa
25:12after an emotional farewell from the animal park owner who helped hand rear them as cubs.
25:18From hugs to habitats Howlett's Lions Zemo and Zala turn a new main traveling more than 6,000
25:24miles to a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa. Before moved to a public enclosure in December
25:30last year chairman of the Astronaut Foundation Damon and his daughter Freya hand reared these
25:36animals in his mansion after their mother Grace passed away when they were only two days old.
25:41In June 2023 Grace had been spotted by keepers in discomfort and was unable to regain her strength
25:47dying later that day with her mate Kari by her side. The Astronauts traveled with them ever since
25:53and Damon shared regular updates of the cubs progress on social media including a picture
25:58of his daughter having a cuddle with one of them during their stay at Astronaut Mansion.
26:03Lions Zemo and Zala are now in South Africa after an emotional farewell from the Astronauts to better
26:08their welfare and have a pawsome quality of life. A spokesperson from the foundation said we are
26:13proud to have translocated two lions from Howlett's. The sibling pair have traveled more than 6,000
26:19miles to a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa where they will be housed in a five acre naturalistic
26:25enclosure to adjust to their new surroundings. Maisie Walker reporting for us there how lovely
26:31that's it from us, good night.