12/03/2012 South East Today

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

Tonight's top stories: Hose pipe bans to be brought in

across Kent and Sussex as firms try to save water in the drought. We

will be speaking to South East Water live from Ardingly Reservoir.

Keeping order. Sussex Police back proposals for bars and nightclubs

to pay towards managing drunkenness on the streets. We contributed so

much revenue in various different ways that we are the wrong people

to look at. If there is more people needed on the streets.

Also in tonight's programme, he was killed by the asbestos dust that

settled on his books, claims the widow of a former Sussex teacher

who is suing the council for damages.

18 months to build, 18 seconds to destroy. Now the hard work of

clearing away the remains of Richborough Cooling Towers begins.

And, remembering the original People's Princess. How Brighton

mourned the loss of Charlotte Good evening. Water companies

across Kent, Sussex and Surrey are to bring in hosepipe bans next

month in an effort to conserve water supplies in drought

conditions. Seven firms are introducing water restrictions

following two dry winters that have left reservoirs, rivers and

underground aquifers well below normal levels. Ellie Price reports.

Catherine from Tunbridge Wells makes the most of the water in her

garden after April the 10th she won't be allowed to any more.

like to grow vegetables and we have put in some summer plants. It

doesn't need watering. But it suppers. This is the first hosepipe

bans since 2005. It follows the second try as deer on record in the

South East which has seen water levels at the reservoirs drop to

40% of capacity. The South East is a part of the country that is

traditionally dry, so it is as prepared as it can be to deal with

these conditions, but its decision today to introduce a hosepipe ban

is about conserving water as early as we can so more severe

restrictions don't have to be put in place later. We know it has a

hosepipe ban but the restrictions apply to the watering of public

parks and gardens, and filling up swimming pools and ponds. All three

water companies in the South East are announcing restrictions so it

is something we will have to consider. The price of ignoring it

could land you with a �1,000 fine. It is not to match for this town.

It is bidding to win a competition. We have about 50 shops. They take a

bit of watering. We have got a bit of water from the rooftops of the

town, which holds 1,000 litres. But we cannot totally rely on that.

water companies say the announcements are an attempt to

avert the water rationing seen in the 1970s but with the sunshine

training and no sun -- no sign of the rain, a preparation for the

summer needs to start now. The new water restrictions are

going to affect you wherever you live in the South East. Southern,

South East, Thames, and Sutton and East Surrey are among the water

companies bringing in hosepipe bans in the face of drought conditions.

They say a garden sprinkler uses over 1,000 litres of water per hour,

enough to supply a family of six for a whole day. Southern Water say

their last summer hosepipe ban helped save 43 million litres of

water per day. The water restrictions will not only affect

gardeners. This is a temporary measure. It will be in place

throughout the summer. We have had so little rain that the deficit of

rain is about 1 ft, so we will need a lot of rain for a long time to

get the ground water back where we needed to be and things back on an

even keel. Filling swimming pools or paddling pools will be banned.

You won't be able to wash your car with a hosepipe. And although

taking a bath won't be banned, the water companies are urging us all

to take showers instead. Well, David Shore is Operations Director

for South East Water and joins us live from Ardingly Reservoir, near

Haywards Heath. Thank you for joining us. If the water companies

did more to stop hundreds of millions of litres of water leaking

away this hosepipe ban wouldn't be needed, would it?

Well... That is not exactly true. We have an excellent track record

on released -- reducing leakage. We have been set tough targets by the

regulators and we have met those targets every year for the last 11

years, so we are doing our bit, but up the moment we are increasing

resources, we have put 25% more people in to drive leakage down

below that target, so we are doing our but as well. If you are

entirely serious about reducing water usage over time, should you

not be introducing water meters for every customer? Well, we are. We

started a programme of metering all of our domestic customers in August

of last year, and we are installing 1,000 metres a week. The plan is to

have all of these domestic customers metered by 2020. What

other options are you looking at? If this is going to become a

recurrent problem over the next few decades, are you looking at longer

term solutions? Like all water companies, we produced a 25 year

Water Resources Plan. That was in 2010. That includes a number of

measures. There was metering, which is being implemented, and

developing new resources, reducing leakage, and it looked at water

efficiency. Part of the plan is also to try to build two new

reservoirs, one in Kent and one in Sussex. OK, thank you very much.

Let us know what you think. Are our water companies right to introduce

a hosepipe ban to conserve supplies this summer? Send an email... Or

join the debate on our Facebook page and we'll hear your views

later in the programme. In a moment, the Government has let

us down, say the family of extradited Kent businessman

Sussex Police say they support Government proposals that could

force pubs and nightclubs to pay a late night levy to help cover the

cost of keeping order at closing time. It's estimated that the cost

of alcohol misuse in Brighton alone costs �100 million each year. But

there's opposition to the levy from landlords who say they already

contribute in taxes. Jon Hunt joins us live from Brighton. Jon, how

would the levy work in practice? Well, pubs, clubs and off-licences

to -- that stay open after midnight could be drudged a levy, and the

amount would vary. Local authority is could use a proportion of that

money to help contribute towards the cost of policing the night-time

economy. Night life in our big towns can be

ugly at times, with alcohol-fuelled disorder meaning more police are

needed. There are proposals now to get late-night pubs, clubs and off-

licences to contribute to the cost of that. Licensees do not like that

idea. I think to impose further costs on already overburdened

industries isn't the solution on the problem. We contribute so much

revenue in various different ways that we are the wrong people to

look at if there is more police needed on the streets. The late-

night levy could cost as much as �4,500 a year and landlords

described it as a stealth tax and say they are already paying the

highest business rates and a folk - - forking out for expensive

security staff. An extra 45 officers are often needed to keep

the streets safe in Brighton alone. There are certain parts of the city

where there is a high concentration of clubs, where people come out of

those clubs into the streets, and it is up to the police to have then

pick up the pieces and deal with those, very often at 5 am. But some

feel that pubs and clubs are not the sole cause of the problem.

There is a lot of freeloading, which is drinking at home, meaning

people are coming onto the streets, 10pm, and they are already

inebriated. And we are taking the brunt for that action. What is

something the Government needs to tackle, and if it is beyond their

hands, we cannot do anything about it. Officers are meeting with the

Home Office to discuss the night- time levy and they hope the

measurable help them tackle the issues arising from the misuse of

alcohol. The misuse of alcohol is the --

causing major problems, but the night-time economy also has

significant value. Local a authorities will have to walk a

fine blind if they are to solve the problems without putting too many

people out of business. -- a fine line.

A serial sex attacker who violently raped a complete stranger was

traced through his DNA more than 20 years later, the Old Bailey has

heard today. Antoni Imiela, from Appledore near Ashford, is accused

of assaulting his victim in London on Christmas Day in 1987. He denies

the charges against him, and the trial continues.

The mother of a soldier killed in a friendly fire incident in

Afghanistan fears Government plans to hold sensitive inquests in

secret could deprive the public of the truth. Royal Military Policeman

Michael Pritchard, from Maidstone, was 22 when he was shot. His mother

Helen Perry has waited more than two years for an official inquest

to explain his death. Children in Kent looked after by

friends or relatives in informal fostering arrangements could be at

risk of abuse, according to the British Association for Adoption

and Fostering. The charity says the county receives an influx of

children from abroad via the port of Dover and the Channel Tunnel.

But some carers fail to inform the authorities that they're looking

after a child, even though they're legally required to do so.

The Government has let us down. That's the claim tonight from the

son of a Kent businessman who is being held in an American prison,

accused of selling missile parts to Iran. Christopher Tappin was flown

to Texas last month after losing a lengthy battle against extradition.

And his family say they're not getting the support they need from

the British authorities, as Elaine Parke reports.

It is just over two weeks since Christopher Tappin was extradited

to the US accused of expire at -- conspiring to sell missile parts to

Iran, but for his family, having limited contact and not knowing

what happens next, it has been difficult. Neil says his father has

been coping well despite the ordeal but the family feel angry at the

Government's BBCi Islands. I have written to the Prime Minister, to

Theresa May, asking for some support, try to help him get bail

because it is very difficult for him to put a case together without

bail. They have not responded at all. The Home Office says this case

is a matter for the US authorities. Christopher Tappin was extradited

to the US on 24th February to face charges of conspiring to sell

batteries for use in Iranian missiles. Four days later, his wife

broke down in tears as she gave evidence to MPs about his case and

his experiences in jail. Last Monday, he was refused bail by a

court in Texas. Christopher Tappin's case has highlighted the

controversies surrounding the extradition agreement between the

UK and the US and critics say it is easier to extradite somebody from

here than from the US, due to a different burden of proof.

Prosecutors in America think that if there is an extradition request,

he has a duty to surrender himself to the United States authorities

immediately and if he doesn't, he can be treated as a putative and

not get bail. Christopher Tappin's lawyers are to appeal against the

bail decision. This is our top story tonight:

Hosepipe bans are to be introduced throughout the South East following

one of the driest years on record. Seven water companies are bringing

in the measures on April 5th, affecting millions of customers.

Also in tonight's programme: After the spectacular demolition,

the big clean up. We take a look at the destruction of the former

Richborough Power Station. And remembering when the nation

grieved for the People's Princess, but not Diana. Charlotte, nearly

The widow of a Sussex teacher who died from cancer claims he was

killed by asbestos dust that settled on the books he used. Susan

Beck is claiming hundreds of thousands of pounds in damages from

East Sussex County Council for failing to protect him during his

teaching career in Eastbourne. Neville Beck taught history at this

call in Eastbourne for 26 years and left in 1998, and died aged 71

several years later. His wife believed he was affected by

asbestos from a cupboard in his classroom. We realised the cupboard

had two asbestos shells. He was using the cupboard every day to

keep his books and pens and pencils. Also his overhead projector which

they used in the Seventies and every time he put a pile of books

on the shelf, the dust came up and Dean held it. His family claimed

�200,000 in compensation from the local authority. We asked the

council for a statement but they said they were unable to comment

because the case is ongoing. But the school has been rebuilt since

Neville Beck left in 1998. It is not alone, a BBC investigation

found 90% of schools in the South East contain asbestos in some form.

One teacher and mother is dying because of asbestos. In the old

schools, the asbestos will be taken out. Since the funding has changed,

it hasn't happened. East Sussex County Council say they take their

responsibilities for asbestos management extremely seriously.

Work has begun to clear thousands of tonnes of rubble following the

demolition of the Richborough cooling towers in Thanet. The 100m-

tall concrete landmarks at the former power station were put up 50

years ago, but came down in less than 20 seconds yesterday. The land

will be used to generate power in a more environmentally friendly way,

as our environment correspondent reports.

Sacrificial cameras caught the moment explosive spit cooling tower

number one. -- Split. That brief show was two months in the planning.

It went precisely to plan. They now have 18,000 tons of concrete to

clean up. The remainder of the towers will be brought down, to

make a base for what is planned for the site. It is for a green energy

park, to bring energy in generation back to the site, but this time

without fossil fuels. This time we are talking about an aerobic

digestion. And other things. will bring in an electricity cable

linked to share power with Belgian. It is iconic to see the end of this

oil fired station. People thought it was not environmentally friendly.

And now something that will allow and enable more use of renewable

energy, particularly intermittent energy. People came out in their

thousands. Cameras at the ready. Some thought of them as an icon.

Others thought they were an eyesore. Whichever way, the old industry

will make way for new. And then they were gone!

It was an extraordinary weekend for the South East's leading football

teams. Their four games contained no fewer than 19 goals. But as Neil

Bell reports, Brighton and Hove Albion were the only winners.

Rodriguez Vicente! Brighton continued their unbeaten run but

did not go ahead until 15 minutes from time thanks to the super

substitute's free-kick. For a remarkable seventh time, they

scored in the 80th minute or later. It was Rodriguez Vicente again who

made sure they return to the play- off places. The weekend got better

when the manager one the outstanding managerial achievement

prize. I am lucky to be at Brighton now. There have been plenty of

managers in the last ten years. I was the lucky one to be there at

the right time. Charlton suffered a second embarrassing home defeat in

five days. A hat-trick from Jonathan Forte put Notts County

four up at half-time. Charlton rallied after the break, thanks to

this effort from Bradley Wright- Phillips. And then this head of.

But that was as good as it got. have been excellent. We have prided

ourselves on defending and doing the basics right. We did not do

that today. Gillingham trailed Crewe a half-time. The second half

was dramatic with six more goals and a sending off. Paszek made it

3-3. In the 95th minute, Max Clayton headed home the winner to

consign Jillian to their -- She has been described as our first

People's Princess, with the public mourning that followed her death

only matched by that for Princess Diana. George IV's daughter

Princess Charlotte was adored by the 19th-century public, but she

has been largely forgotten in modern times. But a new exhibition

at Brighton Pavilion is aiming to change that. Sara Smith is there.

Brighton Pavilion was her family home?

Yes it was bought by her father as a seaside retreat. He was then

Prince of Wales and he became George IV. After a miserable

childhood, it seemed she was happy when she came here and so it is

fitting this is where we look back at her life and the impact of her

untimely death. The shops closed for two weeks.

Everybody was in black. Byron's said it was like an earthquake in

Venice. A poets, the press and the public

grief at the -- greeted the death of Princess Charlotte. It was said

to be because her parents were so popular. She was called the

daughter of England, hope the a new beginning. Her childhood was marred

by her parents' separation. She died at 21. This exhibition charts

the life of a forgotten Princess. It her father's seaside residence

that she began the happiest period of her life. She met Prince Leopold,

the man she would marry. She said she had perfectly decided and made

up her mind to marry and the person she had fixed on was Prince Leopold.

Within a year and a half of marriage, she was dead, dying

shortly after the delivery of her stillborn son. It was like when

Diana died. A huge outpouring of grief. The once Victoria ascended

the throne, she was pushed to the back of the public memory.

We hope this exhibition will bring her back to public prominence.

traits and commemorative china, even the night shirt made for her

stillborn baby -- portraits. They are now on public show to tell her

story. If Charlotte and her son survived,

she would have been Queen and he would have been cleaned. Instead,

the Crown moved to a young cousin, Victoria, and it is her great-great

granddaughter who is now celebrating her Diamond Jubilee.

We will go back to our top story and the news that water companies

across Kent, Sussex and Surrey are bringing in hosepipe bans to try to

conserve water supplies. Seven -- seven firms are bringing in

restrictions. Our reporter is joining Ardingly Reservoir. The

water company said they have no choice but to impose a ban.

They do, because this reservoir is only 49% full. Normally, at this

time of year, it would be 100% full. If it were a full, the water level

would B6 metres above my head. -- would be.

Earlier we asked if you thought the water companies were right to

introduce a hosepipe ban. Thank you for your comments.

Susan Martin said she is sick of companies taking profits while

still allowing water to leak away through old pipe systems. And we

continued to build more houses in areas that are struggling with

natural resources, she says. Another says if the companies

introduce a ban, will they lower their prices? If we cannot use it,

why should we pay for it? John says tap water is increasingly

expensive with another above- inflation increase and a hosepipe

ban will have little effect because many households are metered and

find it too expensive to use a hosepipe. And another says they

should focus on fixing the leaks more quickly. That way we will not

more quickly. That way we will not lose so water. And now the weather.

We might get some rain next weekend, but for the next week it will be

the same, cloud and Miles. Sunshine breaking through if you are lucky -

- cloud and it will be mild. Towards the end of the week, there

could be systems coming in from the Atlantic and bringing outbreaks of

rain. That is only half the story. It is quite warm at the moment. As

we head into the weekend, that front will move south and introduce

cooler air. It will be pretty different when we get to the

weekend. Before then, more of the same. Today, cloudy in the eastern

parts of Kent. That has been feeding further westward. It made a

big difference to the temperatures this afternoon. Getting up to 18

degrees this afternoon where they had sunshine, whereas to the east,

they struggled around eight degrees. The grey weather will head

westwards. There will be fog in places. Not a particularly cold

night. Tomorrow, a grey start. Some fog around, too. It will slowly

brighten up, but not as much as today. And that is it for now.

Thank you very much. 18 degrees! Or on Friday, we will be in

Hastings as a new gallery opens. It is hoped the Jerwood Gallery will

help to regenerate the town. We will hear from people who are for

will hear from people who are for will hear from people who are for

and against it. I cannot see how it cannot be positive. His

controversial. We have the banners up. -- it is controversial.

takes time for people to accept new buildings and places. It will be a

place for people to enjoy and to feel good and to go away thinking

that life has a very broad palate. And we will be coming live from the

Jerwood Gallery on Friday as it gears up for the launch. Join us on

BBC One. We will have an exclusive look behind the scenes and talked