Kent Tonight - Monday 5th May 2025
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00:00Hello and welcome to Kent Tonight, live on KMT.
00:30I'm Bartholomew Hall. Here are your top stories on Wednesday the 7th of May.
00:35Backing the ban, Maidstone weighs in on Reform UK's new flag policy.
00:40Remembering and commemorating, Chatham's Fort Amherst goes back in time to mark VE Day.
00:47And kicking on for charity, Maidstone football team hosts annual charity match in memory of its players.
00:53But we begin this evening with a debate engulfing Kent County Council.
00:59Which flags should be flown over its county hall?
01:02It comes as Reform UK has announced a policy that will limit the type of flags being flown by local councils run by the party.
01:09With some worried what it would mean for special commemorative flags such as the Pride or Ukrainian Solidarity flag.
01:17While our reporter Oli Leder has been hitting the streets of Maidstone to find out where people stand on the issue.
01:21An empty flagpole. But is this a sign of things to come?
01:26After sweeping the local elections last week, Reform UK have announced a new policy for English councils they've taken control of.
01:37No flags to be flown above public buildings.
01:40Except for the Union Jack, St George's Cross and the county flag.
01:47No, we're British. We're proud to be British on council buildings.
01:51I think it's a good thing to fly flags on appropriate days like Ukraine.
01:56You know, we've flown the Ukraine flag down in New Romney and in Leard and in Folkestone.
02:00I think there's nothing wrong with some self-belief.
02:04You know, I'm proud to be British.
02:06So I think we should be flying the Union flag.
02:08Maidstone saw six new reform councillors elected.
02:12Is this what people on the streets of the county town had in mind on polling day?
02:19Sounds a little pedantic, but frankly that's democracy.
02:22I'm all for democracy and if that's what the policy is, then let them do it.
02:26Absolutely.
02:27Yes, I feel very strongly that we should honour our legacies.
02:31Because as I've said, the George Cross and the Union flag seems to have connotations of far right.
02:38Which is clearly not the case.
02:41So what is the problem with flying them?
02:44And then if other flags want to be flied, then they can be.
02:48I possibly wouldn't even notice, to be fair.
02:52County Hall is no stranger to flying a variety of flags.
02:58The Ukraine flag has been a common sight alongside the Union Jack
03:03since the beginning of the war with Russia back in 2022.
03:09But with this new reform policy, it's now unclear whether or not the flag will continue to be flown.
03:19It suggests that the reform party are going to make announcements without really thinking about what they're saying and what the effects will be.
03:26Because we fly lots of flags here at Kent County Council.
03:29We've had the flag for Armed Forces Day, for Commonwealth Day, for Pride in June.
03:35But for many Ukrainians living here in Kent, support is more than just a flag.
03:45There are many ways how people and local governments can demonstrate and provide tangible support.
03:52The demonstration of the flag, that's of course a very important symbol, but it is a symbol of what matters is the practical support.
04:01Kent County Council have been approached for comments.
04:04But just taking a look around Maidstone, it's clear the Union Jack is here to stay, both on the high street and high above County Hall.
04:17Olly Lieder for KMTV.
04:23A row of disused garages in Favisham have been described as a breeding ground for antisocial behaviour.
04:29Well, it comes after this fire tore through the structures on the North Preston estate earlier this week.
04:35Now, red and white safety tape surrounds the area, which is owned by Southern Housing.
04:40Town councillors are calling for the Housing Association to demolish the buildings following recent reports of antisocial behaviour.
04:47In a statement, Southern Housing says it acknowledges the concerns and is actively reviewing the future use of the garage.
04:55A road in Graves Ends remained closed today following a large sinkhole.
04:58Southern Water's repair teams cordoned off part of Milton Road on Monday afternoon.
05:03It's understood to have been caused by a burst water main.
05:06The closures led to disruptions throughout the town, including bus services having to be diverted.
05:12Well, a spokesperson for Kent County Councils told us repairs are expected to be completed by Thursday evening.
05:22Well, next this evening, in anticipation of the 80th anniversary of VE Day,
05:26this week Kent has seen a whole host of celebrations being held across the county.
05:30At Fort Amherst in Chatham, a special VE Day Knees Up gave the community a chance to celebrate the event
05:36with live music, food, as well as tours of the Fort Amherst tunnels,
05:41which have been restored to their original wartime appearance.
05:44Our reporter, Tim Forster, has more on the story.
05:46The 8th of May marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.
05:56Here at Fort Amherst, they've organised special celebrations honouring the event.
06:00It is a huge event for me to pay thanks to the armed forces and everything they do to protect Britain
06:07and, on this day, Europe.
06:10We've had music, we've had some fun entertainment, and we've just all had a laugh, really.
06:15It's about getting the community together and really enjoying ourselves.
06:19During the Second World War, Fort Amherst played a vital role here in Kent for British defences,
06:25both as an ARP station and an anti-invasion headquarters.
06:30With a focus on the war overseas, the fort instead aims to look at the unsung heroes on the home front.
06:36Alongside today's celebrations, the fort's tunnels have undergone a historic restoration.
06:42Underground here in the tunnels, you had the anti-invasion headquarters for the Chatham garrison
06:47who were going to coordinate the defence of the Medway towns if the Germans had actually landed.
06:52The rooms we're in now form part of what is called the Medway Group Control.
06:58This was the control centre for all the air raid precautions activity in the Medway towns
07:03throughout World War II right until the end of the war.
07:06All the bombing incidents were coordinated here, the rescue responses.
07:11The tunnels have been restored to a specific date, the 28th of August 1940.
07:16This was the day that the ARP network very nearly collapsed,
07:19with bombing across Medway stretching the emergency services almost to breaking point.
07:25But why is the anniversary so important to remember?
07:28And what makes the event so special?
07:30This could be our last opportunity to say thank you to our veterans that have gone past for World War II.
07:39After this, we will continue to celebrate the veterans, but this is a big day for us.
07:45Tim Forster at Fort Amherst for KMTV.
07:54Fantastic celebrations going on there.
07:56And ahead of more events happening across Kent this week,
07:59we were joined by Rebecca Nash, the director of the Royal Engineers Museum,
08:03on the Kent Morning Show earlier.
08:04So the museum here in Gillingham have a full day of events and activities planned.
08:12We're really privileged to be hosting the Medway Council's flag raising of the official VE Day flag.
08:23That's going on in the morning from 9.30.
08:26And will be flown on top of the museum throughout the celebrations.
08:31Then in the afternoon, from 2 o'clock until 5 o'clock,
08:36the museum has working with Brompton community.
08:40We're hosting a street party for anyone that wants to come.
08:44We've got music, games, activities, and lots of other things going on throughout the afternoon.
08:54And we are free for the whole day.
08:57I think the museum felt that the 18th anniversary was such an important day
09:03that we wanted everyone to be able to participate.
09:05So we are free to anyone that wants to come and visit the museum all day tomorrow.
09:11And we hope that we get lots of people coming in.
09:13It's incredible, isn't it?
09:15It is the 80-year mark.
09:17I'm curious because it's such a big occasion this year.
09:20How are you ramping it up compared to previous years?
09:24So I think this year, yeah, as the video just showed from Fort Amherst,
09:30it's the last year that we can really say thank you to those that actually fought
09:36as sadly their numbers dwindle.
09:39And so the museum has decided to go all out and actually make it a really community feeling,
09:45working, as I say, with the local council and with our local community
09:50to host a really wide range of activities.
09:55Our evening tomorrow, our day commences,
09:58sorry, our day finishes with the opening of a new Bailey Bridge display at the museum.
10:04And this will be available to anyone, accessible to anyone that visits the museum going forward.
10:12And really, it's our way of marking the 80th anniversary,
10:18but also the effort, the whole national war effort that saw new technologies,
10:26industry, the military and civilians really pull together to deliver victory in Europe 80 years ago.
10:33I suppose we're celebrating this event right now.
10:36I know we've got the anniversary of the Dunkirk evacuation in just a few weeks' time,
10:41but some might say apart from these big celebrations,
10:44do we actually remember what happened in World War II enough?
10:47Is there more learning we need to do about what happened during those years?
10:51And should we actually take more of a care what actually happened during World War II
10:56and those who lost their lives?
10:57I think World War II is one of, if not the most significant event in human history.
11:07It's the most impactful conflict in human history.
11:14Millions of people were killed, millions of people's lives were affected,
11:19and we're still really feeling the implications of that conflict.
11:27Time for a very quick break now, but when we come back,
11:30we'll have more on a major shopping centre in Sittingbourne that's set for a revamp.
11:34And are you eating your five a day?
11:36We've been asking people in Rochester.
11:38See you in just a few minutes.
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15:09Hello and welcome back to Kent Tonight live on KMTV.
15:19Now, a Kent shopping centre will see major changes over the next few years
15:23as new plans, as new plans aim to turn it into a must-visit destination.
15:27Well, the owners of the Forum in Sittingbourne have revealed a multi-million pound redevelopment with new shops, cafes and even flats on the roof.
15:35Kristen Hawthorne has more.
15:36Big plans are underway to fill the gaps and transform Sittingbourne's town centre as the new owners of the Forum shopping centre unveil a multi-million pound redevelopment plan to Kent Online.
15:48Following a £2.4 million takeover, Vanguard Properties says it wants to turn the site into a key destination for Kent shoppers.
15:56We are trying to live the community more, to make this area so much better for, and you can see, the place is so busy.
16:05So what we really want to focus on, here you have cinemas, you have Nandos, you have an arcade, here you have other shops, different type of shops.
16:12So then when the consumer or the customer or the resident come to this area, they don't need to go anywhere else, they have everything here around them.
16:20And we also have very big plans to add around 74 units on top of the shopping centre, and this for us is to convert it from just a normal shopping centre in the heart of Sittingbourne to be a major mixed-use development.
16:36Since December, five of the centre's nine empty units have already been filled, including the upcoming Julian's Pie and Mash shop and a new cafe.
16:46Talks are also ongoing with a major national retailer.
16:49The Forum shopping centre is in the heart of Sittingbourne, very close to the high street, very close to the train station, very close to the main bus station in Sittingbourne.
16:58So the location was very iconic.
17:00So as it stands now, we are focusing on major retailers to come to our shopping centre.
17:05We are also focusing on adding some F&B, and you cannot really get F&B online.
17:11So that is our goal.
17:13We want to attract a higher number of footfall into the shopping centre.
17:16The only way to do this is by attracting shops that you cannot find online.
17:21Since our takeover, we have added a Sunbat shop, we have added a Piamat shop and some other shops.
17:28This is a very big development that we have taken place from this time for the next two, three years.
17:35It is not a one-day mission.
17:38It's happening in stages.
17:40We are going to do full refurbishment for the shopping centre inside, changing the look and the feel to make it more attractive to all the customers.
17:49We'll be adding more shops.
17:51We'll be adding a big anchor shop for Unit 19, where the previous Tesco's used to be.
17:56And, yeah, I mean, I hope we can serve the community.
17:59With up to £7 million being invested, it's a bold bid to revive one of Sittingbourne's best-known shopping hubs.
18:07But Vanguard hopes the site's location will help draw even more footfall and keep people shopping local instead of online.
18:13Now, new research has revealed that despite a growing interest in health and wellness, many Brits are still confused about what actually makes up a balanced diet.
18:27With one in five unsure what counts towards their five a day and more than a third unaware of what nutrients their diets are actually missing,
18:34it's clear there's a growing gap between intention and understanding.
18:38But to find out what people in here in Kent think about their diets, we went to Rochester High Street.
18:43No, I definitely haven't had my five a day today.
18:47I don't think I've had any fruit or veg today, actually.
18:50No, definitely not.
18:51No.
18:52Very rarely.
18:54Oh, never.
18:55I think there has to be a conscious effort.
18:57I guess in regards to fruit, I guess some people only have, like, certain favourite fruits that they like, but to then eat that on a consistent basis every day is quite difficult.
19:04I would say I don't achieve my five a day very often at all, to be honest.
19:09See, I'm a contractor, so I tend to eat, you know, like microwave meals and things like that all the time.
19:16I like sandwiches, bought from stores quite a lot, so I can't say I do too well on my five a day.
19:22I'm not a great lover of veg.
19:23I like fruit, but veg, no.
19:27Well, I cook my own meals, but it's, like, expensive to just buy, like, vegetables, fruit, like things like that.
19:34So I don't think I get my five a day really.
19:36Food's cheaper as well if it's processed.
19:38It's, um, when you see the offers that are on in the shops, it's processed food that's on the offer.
19:43Always an offer.
19:43Not like fresh veg, meats, not so much.
19:46Partly expense. Partly it's easier to go and get a meal and stick it in the microwave.
19:55I think it feels like a visible reminder, um, because you get to talk stuff when you're at school and colleges and then you forget about it.
20:02Eat your five a day. Excellent. Don't be like me.
20:06Well, earlier on the Kent Morning Show, we heard from Dr. Jemmin Newman, who is a GP and nutritionist.
20:14I think the big gap probably arises from a number of reasons.
20:18Um, I think a lot of people get their information from social media, from friends, from family,
20:24and they're less likely to really consult a nutrition professional because sometimes that's not really very easy to access.
20:31Uh, new research by Whitworth states that 41% of people would eat healthier if professional nutrition advice was more affordable.
20:40We'll really be eating then. What should a balanced diet look like?
20:45Well, obviously, our five a day is a great guideline.
20:48It was actually developed by the World Health Organization and the UK government on the fives a day to help people remember to eat more fruits and veggies.
20:56Fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes, nuts, pulses, seeds, dried fruits as well, they count.
21:05Well, these are all the kinds of things that we should really be focusing a little bit more on in our diet.
21:10You always hear about the hidden sugars and the things that appear healthy but actually aren't.
21:16What do you think, as a nutritionist, is the biggest misconception that's happening at the moment when people are going out,
21:23they're thinking they're going to have something healthy when they're actually not?
21:27I think there's a number of misconceptions around what's healthy, but what I really love to emphasize is where we can improve nutrition gaps.
21:36I think nutritional deficiency is actually one of the sort of silent but really important contributors to poor health.
21:42And, you know, this is where we want to make it easy for people.
21:45And I think sometimes, you know, when you go to social media, it can be very confusing.
21:51You know, people are trying all these new fad diets and talking about them with their friends and family and getting back to real whole foods,
21:59ideally home-cooked foods, and plugging those nutritional gaps wherever possible.
22:04And interestingly, you know, today with the obesity figures out, you know, we do need a helping hand,
22:10which is why I think, yeah, nutritional support is a wonderful thing.
22:14Is a five a day enough?
22:17If I go to, if I go for a day and make sure I eat five fruits and veg combination throughout that day,
22:23is that enough or do I need to be eating more fruit or is there actually other things I need to be looking at?
22:27I would say five a day is a minimum guideline.
22:31We want to have as many fruits and vegetables as we possibly can.
22:35And also remember, nuts and seeds can contribute as well.
22:38So can pulses and whole grains.
22:40So just trying to get those fiber targets in is really important.
22:45So, yeah, I think sometimes having a very specific focus on fiber is really helpful.
22:51And adding in things like chia seeds and flax seeds can massively improve your fiber intake without too much extra effort.
23:00Well, it's made me think that I maybe need to rethink some of my diet.
23:03Let's take a look now at the weather.
23:10Well, it's going to be cloudy across the county tonight.
23:12Low of nine degrees throughout.
23:14As we look towards tomorrow morning, it will start off a little bit warmer.
23:1811 degrees and 12 in Ashford, with the sun starting to show through.
23:23As we go to the afternoon, the sun will be out.
23:25Temperatures rising as well.
23:26Highs of 16 in Maidstone, loads of 12 in Margate as we go towards the weekend.
23:31And the start of next week, looking rather clear in the sky.
23:35Highs of 21 degrees.
23:37And finally, this evening, a disability football team in Maidstone has held its annual charity match in memory of two of its former players.
23:55Charlie Bolt and Rhys Van Sertimer lost their lives in separate car accidents back in 2023.
24:01The match not only remembers them, but raises money for the disability-focused club too.
24:05Our reporter, Henry Luck, has more.
24:08They may have been part of their team, but to the Maidstone Raiders, they were family.
24:14To honour the lives of Charlie Bolt and Rhys Van Sertimer, who both died in separate car crashes in Sittingbourne and Snodland,
24:22a charity match was held at Gallagher Stadium between the Raiders and the Old Rectory FC.
24:28Every year since their death, we've done a charity match to raise money to pay for the Raiders.
24:35If you look at the guys out there at the moment, you'll probably see someone with RVS shirts on.
24:42That's Rhys Van Sertimer.
24:43So we bought shirts from the last charity match in his memory, and the guys are wearing them today to obviously remember him.
24:51A lot of the players in that team are the players that played with him.
24:55So it's coming together and obviously celebrating their lives.
25:00The mayor of Maidstone even turned up to show the team his support as the Maidstone Raiders host the third anniversary of these remembrance matches.
25:11Well, it's very, very sad, you know, and it's something, it's very difficult, I think, to explain, really.
25:19But for me, I'm a supporter of Mason United, and to me, losing two players is something that's extraordinarily sad.
25:29It's sad for the families, and it's sad for the club as well.
25:32So it's something we need to keep in our memories.
25:35Money raised from the match will be going towards the Raiders, which will help to fund the local disability team.
25:42Rain Hum runs the disability football for the club, and she's done so much work over the years, and see charities as well, charity fundraisers and stuff.
25:53So again, as well as obviously remembering the boys, it's a case of trying to raise money for the local team as well.
26:00It was a close game, but the Raiders managed to take the win for free.
26:05But not being a league match, the main focus was to remember Rhys and Charlie.
26:11There's an even bigger goal here today, and that's making sure that the memories of Rhys and Charlie, here with the Maidstone Raiders, is never forgotten.
26:23Henry Luck for KMTV in Maidstone.
26:27That's some lovely work going on there.
26:29Well, you've been watching Kent Tonight live on KMTV.
26:32There's more news made just for Kent throughout the evening.
26:34Don't forget, you can always keep up to date with the latest news across your county by logging on to our website, kmtv.co.uk.
26:41We'll be back with the Kent Morning Show from 7 o'clock tomorrow.
26:44See you then. Bye-bye.
26:46Thanks for coming on.
27:01Bye-bye.
27:05Bye-bye.
27:06Bye-bye.
27:11Bye-bye.
27:11Bye-bye.