27/10/2011 South East Today

Good evening. The tonight's told stories: a controversial scheme to

run commuter trains for French people to get jobs in Kent. She

lost it 10 stone after a gastric bypass but died of malnutrition. An

inquest opens into the death of a local NASA. And a Sussex police to

go live with a 24 hours' steaming of everything they go on -- they do

online. And the Happy birthday, Road to Hell. The celebration of

Good evening. A scheme to allow hundreds of unemployed people from

France to use cut-price commuter trains to get jobs in Kent has been

unveiled. Calais has a 16% unemployment rate compared with a

2% rate in Ashford. The idea is that French residents can commute

daily. But at a time of rising unemployment the idea is bound to

be controversial in the UK. It is about making a living in one place

and commuting from another. In the beginning it will advantage

more the people from Calais. But in the future it may be an opportunity

for young people to work internationally. Perhaps in the

north of France. That is what we think.

But for people like this Kent resident already looking for a job

and Ashford it is a concern. Only one application resulted in a

reply. They said I hadn't got the job and that was it. I think the

suggestion would mean even less jobs are for us.

Her how do the towns compare? The It is a fantastic that Ashford is

being recognised as a town of opportunity but we must be

realistic. We are in difficult times and this place is no

different to other towns up and down the country.

Next abuse in Ashford. -- mixed reviews.

It is a fantastic idea, opening it up for everybody.

There are very few people here who could go the other way and speak

French. There are not many jobs going. I am

not sure why people from France would want to come here for jobs.

It is hard enough for those who already live here to find a job.

Using the same tracks as Eurostar the idea is that the train would be

fast and affordable. Is this just the old argument, British jobs for

British workers? We have heard that phrase Lords

today. But the reality is that people in Europe have the right to

come here and get a job. -- we have heard that phrase a lot today. At

the moment, if you wanted to work in France there reality is that you

probably have to drive through the Eurotunnel. Take a car, get the

train, then use your car at the other men. This is all about taking

the character of the equation. But the question as how economic

revival this is. -- a viable. What do you think? We want to know. Is

this a good idea. You can contact us using the e-mail address on

screen. Many of you have already commented. Well unemployed people

in Kent get the same deal to work in Kali asks one person. -- in

Calais, asks one person. And another person says if the

unemployment rates were reversed I am sure that people here would be

happy to have a cheap service to France.

A nurse who underwent a gastric bypass operation died after being

unable to absorb nutrients from her food. Virginia Humphrey lost 10

stone after undergoing surgery to tackle diabetes and high blood

pressure. After, her condition deteriorated. She died in hospital

last May. How soon after such a rate did it become clear if

something had gone wrong? -- after surgery.

It took some months. She said she was feeling better and losing

weight. But just before Christmas, having lost seven stone, things

went downhill. Virginia Humphrey's son was only able to watch as his

mother died. Today he came looking for answers. She decided to have

radical surgery to improve her health. Instead, it led to death.

The surgeons effectively created a mini star Mark, the size of an egg.

It dramatically reduces the amount a patient can eat. -- a mini

stomach. But for Virginia Humphrey the coroner suggested today that

something had gone wrong. Over time she was unable to absorb essential

nutrients. Keyhole surgery was carried out in this a London

hospital where 250 similar procedures take place a year --

every year. Four months later she began vomiting continually and was

unable to keep down foot or fluids. Her condition deteriorated over the

next few months. Eventually she died. The family has heard from the

surgeon and a dietician. Tomorrow they will hear what happened in the

days leading up to her death. The coroner was walking through the

case chronologically. Starting with the affair will, through to the

surgery, ending with the post mortem. -- starting with the

referral. It is all about finding out how Virginia Humphrey came to

die. Coming up: an opportunity to create

jobs or destroy the countryside? The arguments continue over Boris

In what is believed to be a world first Sussex police will be

broadcasting non-stop live footage of its work for 24 hours tomorrow.

Using a live video application online debates in the Life account

of the force's activities will run on their website. -- Bay in the

life. -- day in the life. From tomorrow we will see a day to day

reality. Officers will be filmed as they work.

It is your opportunity to follow the work I do.

And it will not just the front line staff but you can also see the dog

handling unit and the underwater divers. I asked this policeman why

he had volunteer. Watch the left of the screen.

Often in the human side is missed out. This is what the police are

all about. Can I ask you a quick question?

We did not set this up. But it illustrates what the police are all

about. If you have a mobile phone this is

clearly of the scheme for you. But what if you are one of the one in

four people in this region has never been on line and is unsure

about this kind of thing? I do not have a computer. Neither

does my friend. We're not interested. What is the facility

for people like that? You are correct, this does not

capture everybody. But it still gives a new access. It is like

Chinese whispers. We hope it flows through it in different ways.

The scheme will continue for one year.

The body of a Gurkha soldier who died in Afghanistan has been

repatriated to Brize Norton today. Rifle man Vijay Rai was killed by a

gunshot wound in the Helmand Provan Swinney came under fire on up to

over 15. -- Helmand province.

Robert Crawford, 48, is induced -- accused of indecent assault and was

arrested after a detailed review of forensic evidence over several

months carried out by Sussex police. Southern Water has been ordered to

pay back �5 million to their customers by the regulator. The

company has been criticised for failing to meet targets for the

second year running. 13 million litres of water was lost from pipes

in Sussex. People are live near the Battle of

Britain Memorial are angry about plans to build a helipad in their

village. It is so that customers can take a flight alongside aspect

fire but locals believe it would create unacceptable noise levels in

Capel-Le-Ferne. It is rare that a machine can symbolise a victory.

But the spit fire and the famous few are inseparable. Now the trust

which runs the memorial to the pilots who flew in the Battle of

Britain are in a dispute with a residence. The battle lines are no

longer across the Channel but overhead. Helicopters have been

taking paying customers to watch Spitfires fly along the white

cliffs. Residents claim that the noise is unacceptable.

It came literally out of the blue. We had helicopters landing and

taking off at the bottle of the garden. It's Care Bill living

daylights out of us all. When you have a stark light that you kind

off, you are unsettled. -- a start like that.

The Battle of Britain trust accepts that there has been problems and

say they are responding to concerns by changing take-off locations and

submitting an application for a helipad on land adjacent to the

memorial. We value the views of locals. We're

working very hard to resolve this situation. It is just a few

This is our top story: a scheme to allow hundreds of unemployed people

from France to use cut-price commuter trains to get jobs in Kent

has been unveiled. Calais has the highest unemployment rate in France.

Critics say that Kent has its own unemployment problems.

Also tonight: 117 miles of Tarmac to bring you back to where you

started - Happy birthday M25. It has been a wet and cloudy day to

day. Willett brighten up for the Business leaders in Kent have been

meeting to talk up the idea of building a controversial airport in

the Thames saying it could offer economic benefits. The scheme

nicknamed Boris island after the London met Boris Johnson would see

an artificial island be created in the history to house the airport,

which bid be linked to the mainland by tunnels in the Isle of Sheppey.

Aircraft with take-off and come into land over DC. You cannot build

another runway at Heathrow, Gatwick, what is the alternative?

airport proposal has proved to be controversial. Those in favour say

it could create up to 70,000 jobs in the area. It will also help deal

with increasing demand for air travel over the next 30 years and

help make the UK more competitive economically and in comparison with

other European airports. However, many organisations such as the

Royal Protection of birds have criticised the plans saying it will

damage the vestry environment and the increase in jobs will put more

pressure on local housing. They also say there were more immediate

transport priorities in North Kent such as Roald and railways. Claudia

Sermbezis was at the meeting. Boris Johnson's right-hand man on

aviation was that the debate. What did he say? And one of the most

persuasive arguments was that in the future, because of the

predicted increase in demand, if we do not have this airport and if you

live here in Chatham and you want to go on holiday abroad, you might

end up travelling to Manchester in order to get your flight. It would

be 20 % bigger than Heathrow. Catering for 85 million passengers

a year. The Thames estuary would be the UK's biggest most important

airport. We need the business, investment that business brings us

and we need to be well connected with the rest of the world for that.

As our neighbours and competitors across the Channel are. There are

big airports, hub airports in Holland and France and we are

losing out on that because we do not have one. For 300,000 birds fly

here. Nothing could stop here so they would have to be shot to

prevent the bird strikes. Whenever a development takes place we have

to make a decision about where we draw the line. In terms of

protecting our heritage, landscapes and wildlife. I would argue that

the place to draw that line is a site that has an international

wildlife designation. Reports of a new airport had been around for

nearly a decade. This was the first time the opposing side came face-

to-face. People who live in Medway, those who moved to the area, did

not do so because there was an airport nearby. I think most people

they see this Boris Island proposal and consider it to be pie-in-the-

sky. But businesses say they want and need the opportunities to grow.

The economy is in a rut. This type of opportunity could kick

construction off quite considerably and if construction kicks off we

can get people back into work. new airport would create jobs and

better Connectivity but the opposition say the Garden of

England should not be reduced to the capital's car park.

The debate was very heated this morning. It is set to continue.

Boris Johnson will be publishing its next report in the middle of

November and the government will be responding with their new policy

for aviation by next March. You can learn more about the story

of Boris island on our website. Tomorrow Radio Kent will be looking

at the idea as they debate the programming to transport issues in

What are you doing on 12th November? How about taking part in

making a film that will get a premiere on the BBC as part of the

build-up to the Olympics. A new project called Britain In A Day

launches hoping to paint a picture of life in the UK through the

lenses of amateur film-makers right up and down the country. We have

been to Margate to meet a teenager who plans to fold in hometown --

If they look closely into Margate and stop saying, that place, I

would not go there, it is rubbish there, if they look it is not just

the high street and Newtown. We have all this new buildings and

better things to do for people and they are all free. It is fantastic.

At this workshop in Margate, Diggory its learning how to turn

his local pride into film. The inspiration is the recent cinema

release life in a day which took over 4,000 hours of pictures like

these from China from ordinary people in 159 countries and edited

them into a full-length feature. On 12th November this year, the BBC

hopes to repeat the process, catching Britain In A Day and is

asking for footage from people like degree. I really enjoy filming. I

have done a couple of things Thom and with other people and a fitting

and it is fantastic. Everyone gets an opportunity to show what they do

in a day. People you will never know about. It is not as exciting

to people news about this old seaside town coming back to light.

The only time we have coverage is when we have a festival or

something. It would be fantastic to show people what goes on here.

finished film will be shown just before the London Olympics next

summer when the eyes of the world will be on the UK.

I love Margate! If you apply to take part and submit a film, all

the details are on our website. It is variously been called the

road to nowhere and the road to hell. The M25 and this weekend the

117 mile long London orbital motorway celebrates its 25th

birthday. It is etched into the culture of the south-east and

rarely fails to get a mention in our traffic bulletins. It is hard

to imagine our road network without it but getting off the drawing

board was an uphill struggle. There is an accident on the

southbound carriageway causing serious delays. It is one of the

most verbally abused roads in history, which for a motorway it is

It is often said to transform drivers into monsters and when it

turns up, it is called the longest car park in Europe. 25 years ago,

the PM was having none of this. must say I cannot stand those who

carp and criticise when they ought to be congratulating Britain on a

magnificent achievement and beating of the jumble Britain all over the

world! For years we had believed they had good cause about

complaining about the mode where ploughing through the countryside.

The village was pretty United. The feeling was very strong that this

was an unnecessary proposal. A wrong proposal. There were angry

scenes at the 1970 a public enquiry. One of the Department of Transport

barrister and would later and leave the Conservative party. It was

heated. People protested and did all sorts of things like chaining

themselves to railings. People did feel very strongly about it. From

here you can see how the M25 looks as if it were slapped down across

beautiful countryside, but the trade of at the time it was

conceived was that it would protect villagers all around this area.

Half-a-dozen times a year when they raised a bad accident on the M25,

the traffic comes through here on the A25 and often it is nose to

tail for the whole day. If it was not for the M25, we would have that

for every day. It is the world's longest orbital motorway, a river

of tarmac and concrete bringing people together. Like Chris and Sue

from Ashford, who had their wedding reception on it. They cordoned off

a section in a restaurant. Took us out of here on a coach and we went

round for the first time, which was about four hours. With all the

guests celebrating our wedding. There is no going back on this road.

It is still controversial. A case of cannot live with it, cannot live

without it. The glamour and the romance! There

is no going back and sometimes there is no going for it! Quite

often! Tomorrow's programme we will look at what the future holds for

the M25 and ask if it is fit for purpose. Now let's get a check on

the weather. the weather.

It has been a wet, cloudy, autumnal day. That rain clears three tonight

but tomorrow another dull picture. Mostly dry it and those winds

easing off a touch. The reason for today's weather, low pressure in

control of things. The bulk of this unsettled weather has been to the

west but methinks the early Easter. Some heavy and persistent rain

around and even in parts of eastern Kent, a good deal of cloud around.

Breezy for us all, around 20 miles per hour. Highs of 14 degrees.

Feeling cool with the wind and rain. That rain Lingus for a time tonight.

Eventually it will dry up. Tomorrow morning is a tried picture but a

good deal of cloud around. A mild night with temperatures between 11

and 14 degrees. Some mist and fog patches forming as well. Tamara, a

good deal of cloud around. High pressure building so mostly settled

and dry but the chance of some drizzle particularly through the

morning. Those mist and fog patches lingering as well. The winds are

swinging to a north-easterly direction. Top temperatures

tomorrow, highs of 15 degrees. Into tomorrow night, a mostly dry

picture. Bits and pieces of drizzle and a mild night. Temperatures no

blow-up -- lower than 11 or 12 blow-up -- lower than 11 or 12

degrees. Our top story: the scheme to allow hundreds of unemployed

people from France to use cut-price commuter trains in order to get

jobs in Kent has been unveiled. French residents living in Calais

which has more than 20 % unemployment will be able to

commute into the UK on a daily basis. We asked for your thoughts

and we had quite a response. Tony from Ramsgate says, it is

ridiculous. White can we not stop being politically correct and sort

out our own employment issues? I expect the scheme will be

subsidised by detached payers. David says, this sounds like a good

idea but it is not fair on those looking for work. It is hard times

out there and there are two jobs going. Another says, there are too

many people in Kent unemployed. Ashford is not typical. There are

some who do think it is a good idea. Dennis says it is a brilliant idea.

Perhaps people could then afford the cheaper housing over there.