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Catch up with all your latest news from across your county with Chloe Brewster.
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00:33Hello and welcome to Kent Tonight live on KMTV. I'm Chloe Brewster and here are your top stories on Wednesday
00:39the 21st of October.
00:41Drills to lower bills? Kent reacts to approved plans for North Sea gas drilling.
00:46It massively impacts the climate and it shouldn't be happening. I understood it had been banned, that was the end
00:51of it. Just understanding that's been completely flipped.
00:55Protect your pets. That's the message from Kent Vets following a decline in animal vaccinations.
01:02The virus is a nasty disease. It causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea and is definitely life threatening in a lot
01:10of patients.
01:11And apple of my eye. This World Apple Day we visit a Favisham orchard claiming to know the origin of
01:17your fruit.
01:18And I'll be here at Brogdale Farm putting that to the test.
01:44We'll be here at Brogdale Farm.
01:53Heating homes, boiling water, the gas running through our pipes could soon be coming from somewhere slightly closer to home.
02:01The government has given the green light to Project Jackdaw which allows drilling for gas in a new area of
02:07the North Sea.
02:08But what could this mean for people in Kent?
02:10Jackdaw is one of the largest unexploited gas fields in the North Sea and this approved drilling means that its
02:17gas could start supplying British homes and businesses by as early as the end of this month.
02:23Now some say they're concerned about the plan's environmental impact while those in favour emphasise the need for Britain to
02:30improve its energy security.
02:31But what do people here in Rochester make of the plans?
02:35Awful. They shouldn't be doing it.
02:37And why is that?
02:38I just understand that it massively impacts the climate and it shouldn't be happening.
02:42I understood it had been banned. That was the end of it.
02:45Just understanding that it's been completely flipped the opposite direction is terrible.
02:50We need the gas. We're going to need it for some time because there's not enough electrical capacity in the
02:54country at the moment.
02:55The solar and wind power isn't good enough yet so we still need gas.
03:00And the fact that we're using it for the UK rather than selling it onto the open market, I think
03:06that's a good idea.
03:07Obviously if we have energy that will probably boost the economy which would be good.
03:12Obviously fuel prices are crazy but on the other hand the more that we just kind of use the earth
03:19in that way it's going to be worse for climate change and we need to think about the future and
03:24future generations.
03:25The government says they are also investing in renewable energy projects through a new energy wealth fund but councillor Mark
03:31Hood says he isn't convinced.
03:33It's absolutely climate vandalism. It's incomprehensible and again this nonsense with the wealth fund.
03:43This is too little too late. It's a sob to the environmentalists who have been campaigning against this. It will
03:49achieve almost nothing.
03:52Energy Secretary Miata Fambula has said the decision will support the country's energy security and will help minimise the UK's
03:59use of imported higher emission fuels.
04:01She added the decision is compatible with climate commitments and they remain resolute in ending new licences for oil and
04:07gas and achieving net zero by 2050.
04:10But one energy researcher says the impact of Project Jackdaw will be limited.
04:15I think in the short term it's not going to really change things for people very much.
04:21They've said it's not really going to affect the needle in terms of how much our energy prices are at
04:25the moment and it gives this tiny little bit of improvement perhaps to our energy security.
04:29As we begin to turn the heating on, the debate over where our gas should come from continues to heat
04:35up.
04:36Sophie Denny for KMTV in Medway.
04:39A motorcyclist who hit speeds of almost 200 miles per hour on a motorway has been sentenced to prison today
04:45at Maidstone Crown Court.
04:48Amin Belakucha uploaded videos to social media of himself blowing kisses at pursuing police, which you can see on screen
04:55now.
04:56He pleaded guilty to 22 counts of dangerous driving between July 2024 and June 2025 in Kent, Essex and London.
05:04Judge Catherine Moore told the court, you arrogantly believe the rules of the road were for other vehicles and not
05:10for you.
05:11He was handed a sentence of four years and disqualified from driving for 11 years, as well as having his
05:16motorcycle seized.
05:19Cyber crime officers are investigating two false bomb threats to Kent schools.
05:23Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Faversham and Herne Bay High School were both contacted by an unidentified caller yesterday,
05:30with the headteacher of the Faversham School telling parents there were several more affected.
05:35Police were contacted, both schools were evacuated and precautionary safety checks were carried out in response.
05:41Similar hoax emails were reportedly sent to over 300 schools in Scotland and another 300 in Northern Ireland.
05:47While the local threats are being treated as a hoax, they remain under investigation by specialist cyber crime officers who
05:53are seeking out who could be behind them.
05:57A vet in Maidstone is urging dog owners to get their pets vaccinated after an outbreak of potentially deadly disease.
06:04Cases of canine parvo virus have been confirmed in the area, but some owners say they're still hesitant to vaccinate
06:10their dogs,
06:11despite the guidance from professionals.
06:14Sophie Denny has the story.
06:16Checking everything's in order.
06:19This vet in Maidstone is urging dog owners to make sure their pups are protected,
06:24following an outbreak of a potentially deadly virus.
06:28Maidstone Barrow Council has confirmed that cases of canine parvo virus have been reported in the area,
06:36and Henard Vets, which operates across the county, says owners should ensure their dogs are vaccinated against it.
06:43Parvo virus is a nasty disease.
06:46It causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea and is definitely life-threatening in a lot of patients.
06:53So as it's something that can be prevented with a simple vaccination, then that's obviously what we're recommending to owners.
07:00However, there are growing debates among pet owners about whether or not to get their dogs vaccinated.
07:07Kent Online asked them to share their opinions, with many saying it's the cost that puts them off.
07:13But Salah says a vaccine is a small price to pay to prevent sickness.
07:18The cost of vaccination pales into insignificance compared to, for example, if your dog did contract parvo virus,
07:25you're talking about hospitalisation, fluids, a lot of medication, that would be way more expensive than a vaccine.
07:32Some say they're worried about vaccines' potential side effects, but Great Dane owner Darren Prescott says he's more worried about
07:40his dog Zeus getting sick.
07:42Everything has a risk. There are always risks with anything medical.
07:46But I decided on the balance of probability it was better to take the very small risk of something going
07:53wrong with the vaccines
07:54rather than risk him catching distemper or parvo virus.
07:58And Darren says that vaccinating Zeus here isn't just about keeping Zeus safe,
08:03but it's also about keeping all the other dogs he might interact with safe as well.
08:08As a responsible dog owner, you've got to make sure your dog isn't anybody else's problem.
08:13And that's where vaccines come in.
08:14If he were to carry something and pass that on to an unvaccinated dog, that would be awful.
08:20So it's a mixture.
08:22It's ensuring the dog's welfare, but also ensuring the well-being of other people that you're around.
08:29With parvo virus still in the area, the advice from professionals is to do what you can to keep your
08:35four-legged friends safe.
08:38Sophie Denny for KMTV in Medway.
08:41An area of Maidstone could be transformed into a culinary quarter in new proposals.
08:46Earl Street in Maidstone is set to become pedestrian only with plans to create an oasis of outdoor dining and
08:52community hangouts.
08:53Trainee journalist Latia Applewhite joined me earlier to tell me more.
08:58So what has been proposed so far?
09:00Well, currently, Maidstone Borough Council intend to transform Earl Street into a more attractive, friendly area with ultimately a new
09:13restaurant quarter.
09:15Hopefully, it will be looking to have more greenery and with improved public spaces, as well as a welcoming environment
09:23for people to shop, eat and just socialise.
09:28I mean, it seems like a pretty positive proposal from what you've said so far, but there has been concerns,
09:33hasn't there?
09:34Yes, there has been concerns, with some businesses reaching out, saying how they are concerned about their deliveries and how
09:44some of them rely on deliveries coming in day to day
09:47and are concerned about the impact of their fresh products and being able to withhold a decent quality and standard.
09:55However, the council have acknowledged these specific concerns and have stressed that they intend to consult residents and businesses as
10:04the proposal develops.
10:06So what happens next?
10:07Well, actually, the proposal is still just a proposal and they're actually deliberating it tonight.
10:14So hopefully, we'll be able to hear more about these next steps, the further consultations.
10:20And therefore, while some people and residents of the town may be excited for this new event, it is still
10:27at the moment just in deliberation.
10:30No major changes will be happening overnight.
10:33Well, I guess we'll have to see then. Thank you so much for joining us.
10:36Thank you for having me.
10:37Thank you for having me.
11:02Thank you for having me.
11:34Bookshops?
11:34We could have more bookshops.
11:36We could have, we have furniture shops, we have food shops and things.
11:43I'm not a great shopping person, I don't think I'm afraid.
11:47Well, that's all we have time for in this part of the show.
11:50But they say apples might not fall far from their tree.
11:53But Justine Laster was headed back to Faversham to celebrate National Apple Day by bringing us a report from a
11:58farm there.
11:58So much more coming your way, stay tuned.
19:35The way to stay around.
19:42Now,
19:53of bell ringers at Rochester Cathedral Church bells it's a sound familiar
20:02wherever you are in England but especially here in Rochester where the
20:09sounds been heard since at least the 11th century but there are concerns they may
20:15be falling silent in the last 20 years the number of bell ringers has dropped
20:20by nearly 20 percent here in Kent they are determined to buck this trend and
20:26unlock ringing for the next generation so we're heading up the bell tower now to
20:32the ringing chamber for the evening practice and we have about a hundred
20:37steps before we get there the man who's made it his mission to inspire the next
20:42generation of bell ringers is Rochester Cathedral Tower Captain Neil Jones you
20:49can imagine a village scene as the sound of church bells come across the
20:53landscape and as we lose our ringers that sound of England is one that's
21:00gradually dying away you estimate there's about 30,000 of that we estimate about
21:0760% of those are aged over 60 I spoke to some of those learning the ropes it kind
21:14of it's not on a screen and butterflies in my stomach because it's just like wow
21:20everyone can hear me so I've been ringing for eight years I started at age five I
21:29would really love to start teaching people since I've been doing it for so
21:32long oh it's quite exciting because you know that you're with loads of different
21:38people and you can feel the different ways of people talking having fun maybe a
21:45lot of church is closing because ringing is becoming something that's more rare so
21:49we need to recruit more young ringers so that the tradition can be passed down
21:54for now the bells have fallen silent but not forever thanks to those keeping the
22:09tradition alive for the future Harry Smith kmtv in Rochester Cathedral a zoo
22:17closure has brought six white rhinos to Wingham Wildlife Park near Canterbury the
22:22rhinos will be joining the park following the closure of South Lake Safari
22:26Zoo in December 2024 as part of an ongoing expansion project the rhinos are
22:31set to enable Wingham's viral pygmy hippo Haggis while they are not part of a
22:36conservation projects they will be ambassadors for the attractions
22:39conservation education efforts curator Margus Wilder said he's incredibly
22:44excited for the rhinos arrival well if you didn't know already today is world
22:52Apple Day and here in the Garden of England thousands of different varieties
22:55of apples are grown every year but how have apple farmers cope with the drought
23:00that the county experienced this summer our reporter Justine Lata was our local
23:05farm for us earlier and sent us this report well wherever you are Justine looks
23:11very aesthetically appealing you're amongst the foliage where are you I am indeed
23:18Chloe so I'm here at brogdale farm which is just outside of faversham and brogdale
23:23collections is home to the national fruit collection and they provide access and
23:28education all about fruit and apples and although you know we're past harvest season
23:34just about this farm grows over 2,000 different varieties of apple which is
23:39actually the largest fruit collection in the world and here to tell me more about
23:43all of these different types of apples is Neil Franklin who is a fruit agronomist
23:48and a trustee at brogdale collections Neil thanks for joining me just tell me a
23:53little bit more about the apples that you grow here at brogdale yes our apples go
23:57back to 84 50 our oldest varieties aroma variety we have lots of Kent varieties here we
24:04have apples and each apple has a very interest or apple variety has a very
24:09interesting story to tell all all weird and wonderful names all different tastes shapes
24:15and sizes and colors can you tell me some of those names those interesting names have
24:20you ever heard a little peck over or lady soothley they're two just two of the names
24:25that are green custard now there's a very interesting variety indeed and can you tell
24:30me how have you been celebrating world apple day here at brogdale unfortunately world apple day by
24:37its name come somewhat late we as you already said we're at the back end of our picking but we
24:42did
24:42have a very large apple fair in early October which was incredibly successful where the fair basically
24:49involved not only could you come and pick the apples and taste the apples but everything connected
24:54connected with apples cooking courses etc we held on site and as I say is very well attended from
25:00people from a long distance away as well that's amazing and I understand here at brogdale you do
25:06a fruit identification service can you just tell me a little bit about how that works quickly yes
25:12basically you send your apples in it costs 30 pounds send the apples in with a sample of leaves it
25:18runs
25:19between September and October so if you've got an apple tree in the garden that you want to get ID'd
25:23send
25:24it in pretty quickly you need to go to the website and all the details are on there and we
25:28do have an apple
25:29here for you just to guess could you just what do you think that apple is that you've been very
25:35kind
25:35on me this is royal gala that's quite a straightforward easy variety to identify um yeah it's uh called
25:42royal because actually Queen Elizabeth the second was connected with it uh she liked this apple when
25:47she's on her honeymoon and actually took some more apples back with her brilliant thank you so much
25:53neil and there you have it that's world apple day being celebrated in style at a local farm here in
25:59kent and i've certainly made the most of my visit here there's lots of apples to see thank you so
26:05much justine well how lovely i hope she brings us back some apples or else that's a wasted trip i
26:11have
26:11to say but so far in kent tonight you've watched it all there's more news made just for kent though
26:16throughout the evening don't forget you can always keep up to date with the latest news from across your
26:20county by logging on to kmtv.co.uk you can also keep us on your social timelines by liking us
26:27on
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26:35think we should be covering then please get in touch we also have a series of special programs like
26:41invictor sport the kent politics show the kent business show with zoe cairns and much more but thank
26:47you so much for watching i'll catch you soon goodbye