24/11/2011 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today, I'm Polly Evans, and I'm Rob Smith.

Tonight's top stories: A motorway U-turn being welcomed by

drivers - planned rises on the Dartford crossing tolls have been

put on ice. We'll bring you the details on the story live from

dartford. Unions accuse the government of

"blind panic" as civil service volunteers are asked to staff

border controls during strike action. To suggest that people are

such senior civil servants or with two days training is a nonsense.

Also in tonight's programme: An extra million pounds a year -

Kent's social services say they are struggling to cope with the number

of homeless teenagers needing care. A handmade history of Sussex - the

Sixties scrapbooks of the WI detailing the shocked reaction to

mini-skirts and other momentous changes.

And he's not even old enough to drive a car, but behind the wheel

of a powerboat, 11-year-old Ben Good evening. Plans to increase

toll charges at the Dartford Crossing next month have been

dropped. The government has also scrapped another planned rise in

April, but it has left the door open for rises in the future.

Ministers decided on the U-turn after carrying out public

consultation into the plans. Let's cross live to Ian Palmer in

Dartford. There was strong opposition to the proposed

increases, wasn't there, Ian? there were. They are very pleased

that they have been reversed, but other people are seething with

anger that there at any toll charges at all. In the past, you

will know why. In November 2008, the toll charge was �1.50, end in

November of this yet it was proposed that would be increased by

�1, and a further charge increase in April,. 2012 those charges have

been scrapped, of course, and it will remain at their present levels

until 2013 at least. At last, some good news for

motorists and the South East. increases will way over inflation.

What we need to ensure is that any future increases are in line with

current inflation levels. That has got to be good for everyone. If

people are going over there every day to worker, and coming back,

that is an extra �1 a day. That is a lot of money. I think it is a

good idea. I use the tunnel very often. However, some drivers are

furious toll charges have not been scrapped altogether. They have gone

back on their word again. When it was paid, they said they would be

no toll. So you never believe what they say. Governments in the past

have ignored consultations. I will look very carefully vetted, and I

have deferred them now. -- carefully at it. The MP for

Dartford says it is vital traffic in the area it is kept moving.

we need is to get rid of the congestion. I welcomed the fact

that that will happen in 2013 by removing the toll barriers

themselves. I would like to see the toll removed in its entirety. We

need to get rid of the toll books, and using technology instead.

therein lies the problem: Roads are becoming more congested. New

alternatives and solutions need to be found. But who will pay for

them? Take a look behind me is the reason why the government says it

needs to continue charging to cross the River Thames. It is because of

the congestion, which is costing business money. The Government

needs to invest in barrier less toll technology, and possibly the

building of another bridge. It has to charge that money, and has to

keep car uses paint. -- pay in. Ministers have been accused by

unions of blind panic that could put our border security at risk for

plans to line up civil servants to act as border staff during next

week's public sector strike action. The Government fears there could be

major disruption for travellers at our ports and airports, so

volunteers are being asked to step Border agency staff are at the

front line when it comes to detecting drugs, illegal immigrant

and even bombs, but the staff who police our borders are expected to

strike next Wednesday in protest at government pension changes. The

government says civil servant volunteers will stand in, but union

say they won't have the proper training. I think it is an insult

to our professional members, many of whom have 30 years of experience,

to suggest that somebody could do a two day course and replicate the

work they carry out. But not all residents share the concerns.

professionals seem to do a bad job of it anyway, so I can't see if

they make a threat. They would do a better job, I think, because I

don't they make him do a worse job. Shut or the airport down, and that

is it for the day. The strike action will put the government in

conflict with the border agency. Earlier this month, more than 10

million people entered the UK in August without being fully checked.

The head of the operator, Brodie Clark, was forced to resign, but

fought back, telling MPs he was no road offers a. On Tuesday, Damian

Green told the same committee that they had not been told to relax the

cheques. -- broke officer. Heathrow and Gatwick are two of our big

airports. Much of the affect of the strike will be felt in the South

East, that is why we have taken the measures. Be Prime Minister says

the government would do what it can to make sure that airports remain

open. But the one thing they don't seem to be prepared to do is put

more money on the table. Our reporter Katherine Downes is

live in Dover. Katherine, what kind of impact can people expect to see

in Dover? The unions claim that 97% of staff are unionised. In fact,

the border agency have admitted that passengers should be prepared

for extra long waiting times at checkpoints if the strike goes

ahead, and that is looking unlikely since the war of words between the

government and the unions has stepped up a notch. David Cameron

has accused strikers of causing disruption. The unions have hit

back saying the government is desperate, and instead of

scratching around looking for volunteers to man the borders, they

should be coming back to the table towed renegotiate. But that is

looking unlikely. In a moment: Removing the Staffie

stigma - animal charities call for the reputation of the Bull Terriers

An extra �1 million is needed to cope with the number of homeless

teenagers needing care in Kent, according to the county's social

services. Some 16 and 17-year-olds are currently being placed in Bed &

Breakfasts, despite a ruling by Law Lords that they should have

supported accommodation. 16-year-old Chelsea, who wants to

remain anonymous, said that she was asked to leave home. I felt like I

had nothing. I went into a massive stage of drinking and drugs because

of it. I couldn't cope with the thought I had in my head of why I

got rejected. I used drink and drugs to cover that up. She has

found a place in supported accommodation. But others are still

being placed on their own in bed and breakfasts, despite a court

ruling saying councils have to provide support and accommodation.

So on times, it is unavoidable will -- sometimes, a for a teenager to

be placed in a bed-and-breakfast. Kent County Councils says teenagers

come to them each yet needing accommodation. -- come to them

needing. The bill is �1 million a year. Increasing numbers of

youngsters seeking accommodation and support is creeping up, but we

also have the ban ability of these young people. We have got people

with mental health problems. -- at the vulnerability. All of that adds

to the problem. Kent County Council says its goal is to reduce the

number of teenagers turning up on the doorstep needing accommodation

by investing more in preventative services, trying to stop the

problem before it gets to that stage. You feel like worthless. You

are sitting there on a street corner or bench, and seeing

everyone go past and knowing they have homes to go to. The government

says it is up to councils how they spend their money.

Two teenagers have been found guilty of recklessly starting a

fire that caused thousands of pounds worth of damage at a retail

park in Eastbourne last Christmas. More than 80 firefighters were

needed to put out the flames. The 17 and 18-year-old, who can't be

named for legal reasons, will be sentenced next month.

A 72-year-old woman is in a critical condition following a

crash involving four vehicles on the A27 near Eastbourne yesterday.

Seven people were injured in the incident. Sussex Police are

appealing for witnesses. People who fail to pay library

fines in Kent will soon find themselves being chased by a

private American debt collecting company. Kent County Council, which

issued over 700,000 fines last year, is still owed more than �100,000.

Our social affairs correspondent, Yvette Austin, is live in Tunbridge

Wells. So why has Kent County Council decided to go abroad for

help? �100,000, a lot of money in these tough times, and the library

is one their books back, so they have enlisted the help of an

American company which specialises in this type of work. It will send

out letters under the company heading, unique international

recovery is. What are people here think? I wouldn't mind if it is

doing a good job. It wouldn't bother me. It should be sorted out

by somebody in Britain, really. If there is a problem here, I don't

see why the Americans should get involved. Provided it is done in a

reputable way, I don't think it matters whether they are American

or Burmese or whatever. Has there been other reaction? A spokesman

for the Citizen's Advice Bureaux said he was flabbergasted at the

news. They are concerned people's credit references will be affected.

And a spokesperson for the union says it should be local people

employed for this work. They have been stigmatised as

dangerous dogs, often portrayed as the first choice of drug dealers

and thugs. But today, animal charities and MPs have called for

the reputation of Staffordshire Bull Terriers to be restored. At

the Kent branch of the Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, experts say the

breed makes up one in five of all their abandoned dogs - that's up

from one in 10 five years ago. And while it takes them 53 days to

rehouse a dog on average, one abandoned Staffie was in their care

for 18 months before they could However affectionate he is, many

people will walk past this dog. He is a young, healthy dog, but there

is no getting past his breed. He is a Staffordshire bull terrier, and

that comes with baggage. I think it is because of the look. They are

associated with other dogs around. Their true nature of the dock, they

are a happy, from the dock. As long as you didn't care and attention

when they are young, they will be a lovely family pet. Staffordshire

terriers have a bad press. When pit-bulls were outlawed, many

people who wanted a canine knuckle- dusters Mouton to Steffi's. --

moved on to Staffordshire bull terriers. There was that the debate

on the dangerous Dogs Act today. There has been a stigmatisation of

an entire breed, which makes up a huge number of the abandoned dogs a

Battersea Dogs Home. By are hard to re-homed. These people do not need

any persuasion. They have this dog from a dog's home in August. He is

a loving dog, and he has had lots of fun with our grandson. He has

fitted writing. They just want to please all the time. You could

train him to be nasty, but what would you do that? Today, Battersea

Dogs Home launched a campaign to remove the stigma. Those who

stigmatise are putting the blame at This is our top story tonight.

Plans to increase toll charges at the Dartford Crossing next month

have been dropped. The government says they have also scrapped

another planned rise in April - but have left the door open for rises

in the future. Also in tonight's programme: Piecing together a

history of Sussex. An exhibition of scrapbooks from the WI - marking

the death of Churchill and the arrival of the miniskirt! And in

the driver's seat at the tender age of 11, the Kent boy who's already a

powerboat champion. And I will be letting you know why we will not

get a frost tonight, but we might one get -- might get one tomorrow

night. You can conduct us. -- It's one of Kent's most important

Victorian landmarks. But the Grade II-listed Beaney Institute in

Canterbury has been closed for three years, while master craftsmen

carry out painstaking restoration work inside. The �13 million

project is nearing completion - and Peter Whittlesea's been given a

tour of the building for tonight's War-torn Canterbury was the setting

for a Canterbury Tale. A I do not blame me for not known way you are.

The revered Copper Institute was inspired by the Beanie Institute in

the City, where a current restoration project has been

delayed by a beetle. It cost around �500,000 more. There was a 10 month

delay. We had to a pawn up -- apply to the Heritage Lottery, he gave us

�500,000 towards the cost of the restoration. We have received more

in France, which is fantastic. Although it was something we did

not want to find, the results are fantastic. The building is named

after someone who gave �10,000 to the city of his birth in 1897. He

was a philanthropist who but Creek -- bequeath the money on condition

that the money was spent in the main hall. The result is a

hotchpotch of styles which has made the restoration challenging. This

is a mixture of various architectural start --

architectural styles, and some of it is reminiscent of the medieval

period, and it also has the arts and crafts as well. They are made

up of small pieces of white marble and pink sandstone chips. All of

the marbles have been prepared piece by piece. It has been left in

its natural colour. It's it's easy to distinguish between the old and

new work. The art gallery and library will return in March next

They're a valuable record of Sussex life in the 20th century, offering

an insight into the way we reacted to momentous events - like the

death of Winston Churchill and the emergence of the mini-skirt! Now a

collection of scrapbooks compiled by members of the East Sussex

Women's Institute nearly 50 years ago have been donated to the County

Records office in Lewes. Natalie Graham has been taking a look at a

Rural life in Sussex in the 1960s was pretty primitive by today's

standards, but not untouched by the changes taking place in the wider

world. 0 -- no one more -- knew more about the changing in life

than the Women's Institute. As this scrap Cheers -- scrapbook shows,

many houses did not have mains water, and a main bathroom was

considered a luxury. Action -- fashions were changing too. The

photograph on the extreme lower These are two representatives of

both sexes. They are a wonderful resource. They cover such a wide

range of items. They are snapshots in time. The same year at the

scrapbooks were made, this film and in Pilbrow was filmed -- this farm

was filmed to demonstrate farming changes. BWI recorded bay lies on

the brink of change, dominated by the natural world. A farmer's wife

contributed to the book. For you breathed, lived, ate, slept farming.

It was the main thing. You were closer to nature than, I think.

1960 FA, the Derby why had 750,000 members across the country. -- 1965.

It was a place where country women of all sorts got together, the one

place where women could meet from across social boundaries.

scrapbooks were made for a national competition to mark the debut why's

golden jubilee. Now many have given them to East Sussex County

Council's archives, so they can be Independent research has revealed

that The Open golf championship contributed �77 million towards the

Kent economy. 180,000 people flocked to Royal St George's during

July's tournament in Sandwich. The Bahamas Olympic Team will train in

Crawley ahead of the 2012 Games. Swimmers, athletes, boxers and

tennis players will use the K2 leisure centre and Crawley boxing

club gym as their training base. It brings the number of confirmed

South East Olympic and Paralympic A grandmother from Eastbourne, who

took up weightlifting just to keep fit, has won a silver medal at the

World Championships. Angela McNamara - who is also a prize-

winning body builder - broke the European and world records during

the competition in Latvia, but she was beaten into second place by a

rival from Russia. He came in and sat on the sofa with us. They were

sat on the sofa with us. They were Sujit! Let's get a recap of the

weather. Others reported hearing about how the south-east was the

warmest place in the whole UK, but I rang beat South West weatherman,

and they -- they beat us by 0.2 degrees! It should be 14 degrees

today -- he should be ten degrees. It was 14 degrees. Compare this

time last year. It was the start of the big freeze. Temperatures only

got up to five degrees, and they just carried on dropping. Within

one week, we have quite a lot of snow, we seem to last all winter.

Nothing but mildness overnight tonight. An increasing amount of

cloud, with increasing wins, which means temperatures of nine or 10.

That will not drop, which means we are totally frost free. We do have

the weather coming towards the end of the night. It is going to start

Temperatures getting up to 13 around the coast. The winds will be

breezy, and the cold front -- cold front will deliver some crisp air.

We could see it being fairly chilly. Some sheltered spots may see a bit

of frost. But we will get the sunshine back on Saturday. Attempt

is a ponce -- up to 13 degrees. As for Sunday, a little bit of a damp

start, but by the afternoon, the sunshine is back again. Plenty of

sunshine, but a little bit of brain at the end of tonight! We were

hoping to bring you the story of Ben from Harwich and. He has been

driving powerboats since he was eight years old. But we have had

some problems getting that package back to Tunbridge Wells. Instead,

we are going to offer you the Edward Borough recorded the rhythm

of life in the jazz age. He recorded music. He stayed in

Holland in the early 1930s. He laughed recording the night life.

The man and his art always had an edge. His mother gave him money to

edge. His mother gave him money to treat his spleen. Instead, he got a

tattoo. It was 1928. He would go off, and at one point, he came back

several weeks later, and he was in America. Edward borrowed worked

exclusively in watercolour, but his works were never wishy-washy. He

achieved strong colours by using spit to mix some of the paint.

Throughout his life, he suffered from poor health. He could hardly

hold a brush because of arthritis. He wanted his pictures to do the

talking. He hated discussing his art. Why don't you show the

picture? I don't know what all this puts Maddie has to do about it. I

Home was always Sussex. You live near Rye, and painted the Sussex

coast he had known since childhood. In the last decade of life, he said

he saw the British landscape scarred by development. Use the

motorways, pylons, electricity, things like that, crossing

beautiful landscapes. You could, in a way, we'd the current

environmental concerns about the landscape in the work. I think the

countryside has completely changed, Edward could sprint -- smoke like a