Join Oliver Leader de Saxe and Kristin Hawthorne with all the latest news for Kent, in the morning!
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00A disabled mother from Walderslade has said she's been given a court order of more than
00:24£200 for dropping her child off at school.
00:27Marlene Nowakalo's daughter attends a primary school on a school street and although she
00:32holds a blue badge and is currently using a courtesy car, the council has issued nearly
00:3620 fines.
00:38Medway council has promised to cancel them but Marlene is still receiving letters chasing
00:43the money as local democracy reporter Gabriel Morris has been reporting.
00:48Drive down one of these roads that drop off and pick up times and you'll face a fine of
00:53up to £70.
00:55It's designed to get parents to walk their children to school but there are exceptions
01:00for residents, buses and emergency services and anyone with a blue badge.
01:08Marlene has one.
01:10She's been using a courtesy car after an incident and she told the council the new number plate.
01:16Her exemption should still apply despite that Medway council has sent her fines totalling
01:23more than £1,000.
01:25I actually got to the point that I'm scared to open the mail now because every time I open
01:31the mail there's a new citation or a penalty charge.
01:35And unfortunately in my case mental illness is part of my disability and receiving these
01:41letters is just making my health a lot worse.
01:45Enterprise, the car hire firm, forwarded 18 fines to her.
01:49When she contacted the authority they promised to council them.
01:53But soon after the PCNs were directly sent to Marlene.
01:57She asked for them to be counselled once more but she's now receiving court orders.
02:02I've only received one so far but I'm expecting to receive 18 because I've received 18 citations.
02:11That would devastate my credit.
02:13Credit is something so important.
02:15That's what annoys me the most is that they have assured me that I am exempt, that I don't
02:21need to pay for this and yet they're now taking it to court because I haven't paid.
02:27School streets have been in Medway for more than a year now and the St Thomas More primary
02:32behind me is just one example.
02:34The whole idea is to make it safer for children to get to school during rush hour.
02:40For council's sake they do check each fine on a case by case basis but the whole scheme
02:46has proven to be nothing but controversial.
02:50I think particularly in this specific case obviously the council clearly needs to carry
02:54out an investigation and I'd call for the portfolio holder to really be looking into
02:58that and taking a pragmatic and genuine approach towards the public in terms of the engagement
03:02on that.
03:03Medway council have now apologised and said they're working to ensure all remaining correspondence
03:09related to these PCNs is withdrawn and no further action is taken.
03:14They also say they're reviewing internal processes to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
03:19Marlene's worried she's not alone and this is happening to others.
03:23And the council are now consulting on plans to roll the scheme out even further.
03:28Gabriel Morris in Waterslade.
03:34Across Kent there are plenty of people quietly making a difference in their communities.
03:39And in Chatham one man has become something of a local legend by doing just that.
03:44He's known as Burger Man Surge and he gives out free burgers to people who are homeless
03:48or struggling with the cost of living.
03:50He films it all on live on TikTok with nearly 300,000 followers and donations come in to help
03:57him keep going.
03:59I spent a day with them last week to see what life is like behind the grill.
04:03But there is a full version coming out tonight so keep watch for that.
04:07I've had the burger stand at the shop for about three and a half years now.
04:11TikTok itself, my live streaming career started about a year and a half ago.
04:15When I first started the burger stand I didn't know it would come to this.
04:18As a business I think it's my duty to try and care for our community so we do as much
04:23as we can as a business, as an individual, as a live streamer to try and help out those
04:28around us.
04:30It's such a rare thing nowadays to see a store like this cooking in public, street food.
04:34We see this all the time back in the day, you don't see it anymore.
04:37When I first came across it I was like wow, I can do something with this.
04:41It's fun.
04:42I'm not closed into my business, my doors are open, my burger stand is out there.
04:46I can do something with this.
04:47Did I think I'd be a live streamer, live streaming every day from a burger stand?
04:50No, that was totally new for me, totally different but this itself was something that got me
04:56going.
04:57It gave me a lot of ideas and that's why I chose this place specifically.
05:01We've had so many moments where we'd go to certain homeless shelters, we'd give out
05:05boxes and boxes of meals, we'd do special events for New Year's, for Christmas, we've
05:10done so many different things.
05:13But the most important thing is to look after the own community that housed you, that welcomed
05:18you in.
05:19You can't forget the people that you serve, the community that welcomed you in.
05:24Retired firefighter and testicular cancer survivor has been invited to a special reception at
05:29Buckingham Palace after spending the last 12 years bringing vital treatment to patient
05:33stores.
05:34That's right.
05:35Brian Bird drives one of 14 mobile care units operated by cancer support charity Hope for
05:40Tomorrow which helps bring treatment to isolated communities or those who struggle to get to
05:45the hospital.
05:46Now, after showing so much dedication to the thousands in need of support in Kent, he's
05:50been invited to a special royal celebration.
05:53Well, Brighton joins us here on the show, thank you for getting up bright and early for joining
05:58us here in the studio.
05:59I just wanted to kind of get a sense.
06:00Good morning.
06:01What is your role within Hope for Tomorrow?
06:04What do you do?
06:05Right.
06:06I first got involved with Hope for Tomorrow when, after having cancer myself, I applied
06:14for a job working on a mobile cancer care unit which is run by the NHS from Canterbury Hospital.
06:24It soon became very apparent that the unit itself is run by a charity and I got involved
06:31virtually straight away with the charity and I've done numerous, everything from opening
06:38flower shows to doing presentations for organisations like Rotary Club, Round Table, Inner Wheel, that
06:47sort of thing, Masonic Lodges, all sorts of things.
06:50I've done presentations too which I ended up, now I'm one of their community champions.
06:56It's all culminated now with me getting a call a few weeks ago inviting me to go up to Buckingham
07:03Palace next Wednesday to meet Charles and Camilla at a reception for cancer charities that make
07:11a difference to local communities, raise awareness and support people with cancer which is exactly
07:18what we do and Hope for Tomorrow is just amazing how it keeps going but as it has become apparent
07:29they get absolutely no government funding so there are numerous ways that people can raise
07:35money to support Hope for Tomorrow.
07:37I'll ask people to go and have a look on their website because they can find out what they
07:42can do, how they can get involved.
07:45The unit that I drive is actually named Karen, after Karen Keating, Gloria Hunniford's daughter,
07:50former Blue Peter presenter and it was named in memory of her.
07:57We have initiatives like the Cup of Cancer which happens every February, where groups of
08:07people get together, talk about cancer, sell cakes and stuff like that and raise money for
08:13cancer.
08:15It's a really amazing thing that you do for these communities and I think it's really
08:17interesting because you can see the unit that you drive behind you on the screen.
08:20I kind of wanted to know a bit more about these mobile care units because it's something
08:24you don't really think about, right?
08:25You normally go to hospital for your treatment but obviously Kent's a really rural community,
08:30like a really rural county and it really helps kind of bring that treatment and support
08:35and diagnosis to communities as well, right?
08:38The advantage of what we do is the fact that at the moment we go to three locations around
08:47South East Kent.
08:48We go to Dover, we go to Folkestone and we go to Herne Bay and every patient that comes
08:54on to us is one less patient that has to go into the hospital environment.
08:59So it's taking the strain off the hospital.
09:03It makes life so much better for the patients themselves and the families, they're not having
09:10to go into a main hospital environment and the continuity of care is just so much better.
09:17My actual, because they're dealing with the same people all the time and a small, I work
09:22with an absolutely amazing team of people and it works really, really well which is why
09:27I'm so passionate about it but I'm very fortunate now, the fact I've been working on this for
09:3512 years after I retired from the fire service.
09:39I wanted to give something back and this is my opportunity to do it.
09:44Around the country there's been an army of people that have done various fundraising events
09:49like my actual team that I work with.
09:52Two of them have just done the London Landmark Marathon with a family member of one of the
09:57team as well which was very successful and I would just like to ask anybody that they
10:03can to help it because the feedback that we've had from our patients over the years is just
10:08amazing and I genuinely feel that it's a worthwhile thing for people to support.
10:14Yeah I mean you treated nearly 3,600 patients last year which is extraordinary and not only
10:21in of itself that you helped all these people but that there's such a need for this service.
10:26I mean how must that feel to help all these different people?
10:30It's a great feeling which is why I do it because I took it on after I retired and I did it full
10:39time for 10 years and then when I got to national retirement age I went part time that was a couple
10:46of years ago and I've jokingly said that I'll review the situation when I was 70 which isn't
10:51that far away but we'll see how it goes but at the moment I feel like I'm making a difference.
10:56I thoroughly enjoy what what I do and having this invitation to Buckingham Palace at the
11:03end of it well now has it's just I don't know it just makes the thing sort of worthwhile and
11:10it just makes you think that over these years somebody has noticed something that you've done
11:14you know which is a lovely feeling.
11:16You've been on such an extraordinary journey because you started getting your treatment for
11:20your autistic cancer cancer at Kent Academy Hospital.
11:22I did.
11:23Now you drive the unit there and now you go to Buckingham Palace.
11:27Did you ever imagine all those years ago?
11:29No I didn't.
11:30I had my treatment from 1986 into 1987 and then I continued on with my career after that.
11:38I had a couple of operations and a very aggressive chemotherapy regime and then I moved on,
11:47finished my career in the fire service and I wanted to give something back.
11:52Footballing legend Tony Adams says recovery, housing and employment are crucial to kicking
12:10an addiction after meeting those on their way to sobriety in Margate.
12:14Now three decades sober himself, he hopes this three-point attack will defend those relying
12:20on drugs and alcohol from relapsing.
12:22Members of the Forward Trust, the Dependents Charity, say having Mr Arsenal as their new chair
12:28will help settle their score with addiction.
12:30Abby Hook has this report and a warning that contains a reference to suicide.
12:35Maybe this is the sweetest of all given what he's been through.
12:39Including drug addiction, alcohol abuse and even time in prison.
12:44Tony Adams is considered one of Arsenal's greatest ever players.
12:48But off the pitch, life wasn't quite kicking in the right direction.
12:52It was nearly 30 years ago when he became one of the most high-profile recovering addicts
12:57in the country.
12:58And now he's supporting those facing that same battle here in the county.
13:03You've got people here that are no different from me.
13:07We're in the same kind of, you know, whether it's a footballer, this illness doesn't discriminate.
13:12It doesn't matter who you are, whether you're the groundskeeper at Margate or you're a postman
13:18or a doctor or a nurse or a professional footballer.
13:21It's the same illness and there's a certain way out of that illness.
13:25And we need connection, we need friends.
13:27And there's a lot of people in this that I've met today that have got that connection,
13:33that have been through the same process.
13:35Some of them have gone through quickly, some of them slowly.
13:38My journey was now 29 years of recovery, you know, a day at a time.
13:43So would the Tony in your addiction recognise the Tony now in recovery?
13:49Jesus, I was scared of that man.
13:52He was a frightened little boy.
13:55And when you're frightened and scared, they're quite dangerous.
13:59We've got this thing in recovery, we say like that little boy wanted a big hug,
14:03but I was putting up the face, you know, you couldn't talk to me.
14:06I wouldn't have done interviews like this, you know what I mean?
14:08I was like, oh, go away, you know, I'd have been too scared, too scared.
14:11But now you can see me, you know, you can see who I am, warts and all.
14:16Well, he might be Mr Arsenal and a captain for England on the pitch,
14:20but the legacy that Tony wants to live on is that help and support offered to those facing addiction
14:26and now in recovery just like him, especially here in East Kent.
14:31I've struggled with addiction for years, really.
14:35I think I was born one, but I lost my mum to suicide in 2008
14:42and sort of struggled ever since, really.
14:45I know that's not an excuse, but I just never knew, never really knew what to do.
14:50And I went into rehab in July last year and yeah, I've been really lucky with it, really.
14:57To be honest, when I was in addiction, I didn't really know much about it, about recovery.
15:04And as a man, to ask for help is quite difficult.
15:07Now, I would ask for help for anything because I know that it's there.
15:12And while I was in prison, a forward trust come to me
15:16and I went to fellowship meetings and stuff like that.
15:20And then I realised that this is my opportunity.
15:23So I took it with both hands.
15:25It's been a very difficult year.
15:27It's been one of the hardest years of my life.
15:29While each journey is different,
15:32many say they've only been able to bench their addictions
15:35with guided support from charities like Forward Trust
15:38and idols like Tony, both on and off the pitch.
15:42Abbey Hook for KMTV in Margate.
15:45A powerful piece there from Abbey Hook.
15:47And help can be found online at Forward Trust
15:50by calling to Samaritans on 116 123.
15:55Earth Day is a global environmental campaign
15:57where they can call for people and world leaders to take action on climate change.
16:01This year, the theme is Our Power, Our Planet.
16:04And EarthDay.org are aiming to raise awareness about renewable energy
16:09with the goal of tripling the global generation of clean energy by 2030.
16:14But here in Kent, is Earth Day well-known or even practice?
16:17Well, Phil McDermott went down to Maidstone to find out more.
16:20Today marks the 75th anniversary of Earth Day.
16:23It was started back in the US in 1970 by Senator Gaylord Nelson,
16:28who created it after seeing an oil spill.
16:30It's come a long way.
16:32Even in 2020, the Paris Climate Agreement was signed on this very day.
16:36And today's aim is all to unite around renewable energy
16:40so they can triple the amount of clean electricity by 2030.
16:43But is this possible?
16:45And here in Kent, do people actually know about Earth Day?
16:48So what, is it like a happy birthday for the Earth and that?
16:51No one ever did, no. It's the first time.
16:54Yeah, I found out through work a couple of years ago.
16:57Yeah, I've heard of Earth Days. I mean, it's the 22nd of April.
17:01Do you guys know what Earth Day is? Do you guys know tomorrow is Earth Day?
17:04No. No. Exactly. What is Earth Day?
17:07But with the cost of living crisis still going on,
17:09can people really afford sustainable energy sources,
17:12like the ones here on Maidstone High Street?
17:15100%! Cost of living is too much, man. It's too, too much.
17:19So, of course, it's going to cost a lot, you know?
17:23All the energy has just gone up ridiculously, you know.
17:28Mine has doubled. Gas, electricity, everything doubled this month.
17:33So, the quicker everybody gets the green energy,
17:36I think the better will be for us, for Earth, for everything, so, yeah.
17:43Yeah, but then also, there's more to think about,
17:45because if you're living in rented accommodation,
17:47how do you choose where your energy comes from?
17:50Because it's given to you by the landlord,
17:52and they're only interested in their, line in their pocket, so...
17:55If you've got an option of doing solar panels,
17:57I don't think too many people have.
17:59Most people are renting nowadays.
18:01Probably ask someone who's got a mortgage or something like that,
18:03or whose landlord really cares, you know what I mean?
18:05Now, according to Earth Day themselves,
18:07they say they want people to educate, advocate,
18:09and mobilise their communities to create real change.
18:12But here in Maidstone, many people aren't even aware of the day itself.
18:16So, rather than shining a light on solar panels,
18:19we might need to start shining a light on Earth Day.
18:22Finn McDermid for KMTV in Maidstone.
18:24Well, to find out how we can be celebrating a World Earth Day here in Medway,
18:30we have Liz O'Hanlon from the Raynome Eco Hub.
18:32Thanks for joining us bright and early this morning.
18:35Can you give a rundown a bit about what you and your organisation do?
18:38Because it's quite fantastic work here in the five towns.
18:41Oh, thank you. Yeah, so we advocate for people in Raynome to do what they can
18:49to be more sustainable within their home, within their community,
18:52and within places that they can influence.
18:55So, the Eco Hub kind of is a platform, almost,
18:59for everyone who's doing whatever they can,
19:02either within their home, within their business,
19:04and there's really amazing community groups as well.
19:07So, we kind of celebrate, bring people together,
19:09and let people know how they can get involved.
19:11And how can people get involved,
19:13and what sort of things are you encouraging people to do?
19:16Maybe it's throwing out their waste in a different way,
19:18or what sort of things are you encouraging people to do?
19:21Well, I mean, we share all sorts of things.
19:26So, it could be from what people could do within their own home.
19:28So, it's everything from having a look at where you get your energy from,
19:33where you invest your money, where you bank,
19:36where you buy your clothes from.
19:38So, some really kind of simple changes
19:40that don't necessarily cost anything more and can save money.
19:44We celebrate local schools who do things like second-hand uniform banks,
19:50so thinking to go and have a look to buy your uniform bank from the school,
19:55as opposed to buying it brand new,
19:58saves a huge amount of CO2,
20:01because around about 85% of all textiles end up either being incinerated
20:05or going into landfill.
20:07So, kind of just talking around those extra areas
20:10that can not just save money, but are really good for the environment as well.
20:13We've got repair cafes,
20:16so places where you can take watches and bikes
20:19and broken toys or textiles or whatever.
20:23They're at the libraries all across Medway.
20:26Next one's in Hoo.
20:28And you can take items there and try and have them repaired
20:31as opposed to buying new.
20:33reducing waste, but also reducing kind of the cost of energy to make new things.
20:40We've got a refill hub,
20:44which is where people can bring their old plastic bottles
20:48and have them refilled with palm oil and paraben-free products.
20:54So, rather than buying kind of new plastic bottles every time you go to the supermarket,
20:58you can bring your bottles along to the Circle Refill Hub
21:01and they'll refill them with products.
21:03Those refill hubs are incredible, aren't they?
21:05Because I've used them before.
21:07I've got organic peanut butter,
21:09so everything from pasta and washing up liquid.
21:11It can really help save you both money and on plastics.
21:16I was kind of wondering,
21:17you mentioned there's so many projects happening in the local community,
21:20in schools, in businesses.
21:23I was kind of wondering, what does Earth Day mean to you?
21:28I think Earth Day is a really important kind of refocus.
21:31I think everyone you speak to will say they want to help improve the environment,
21:35whether that's clearing up litter, whether that's reducing CO2,
21:39whether that's reducing waste.
21:42But I think Earth Day is just a really nice opportunity to reflect, to talk, to learn.
21:48And I think, you know, there's a lot of things we can't do.
21:52The lady in your previous clip mentioned, you know,
21:56people who live in rented accommodation may find it really difficult to access things like solar energy.
22:02And obviously that's difficult for people who are perhaps on a lower income
22:06or are thinking of moving houses, loads of restrictions.
22:09But Earth Day is a really good opportunity to start conversations, to learn, to read,
22:14to challenge yourself around what your normal looks like.
22:18So it may actually be a case that you can't put solar panels on your roof,
22:23albeit it's a great way to, in the long term, save money.
22:26The payback period, because the energy bills are so high,
22:28is around about eight to eleven years to be in cost neutral.
22:32But if that isn't available to you, what can you do?
22:35And things like looking at where you bank, where you buy your clothes from,
22:41whether you walk or drive.
22:43Looking for alternatives to be able to try and reduce the amount of carbon
22:47that you personally release into the atmosphere is really all that people do have available to them.
22:53But looking at what the impact of where you shop, where you buy, where you travel, where you bank,
23:00those are things which people can have a look at,
23:02which are kind of quite subtle ways that you will have an impact on your,
23:06reduce your impact on the environment.
23:08Yeah, I mean, a lot of these things that you're saying are things that people might not know.
23:12So it's kind of, it's maybe not so much that people are resisting against doing this,
23:17but maybe they just don't know.
23:18We just don't know these facts about, you know, that a lot of our clothes go to landfill
23:22and doing things save, I think you said about 80% of CO2 and stuff like that.
23:28Have you found that when you've been speaking to people that a lot of people
23:31don't know these facts even to start doing them to help the earth?
23:35Most people are broadly good and most people want to do the right thing.
23:41And sometimes, I mean most of the time, the restrictions, and we did a survey,
23:46the restrictions are mainly around time to be able to dedicate to this mentally,
23:52but also, you know, physically making changes and money.
23:55And money.
23:56The