21/03/2012 South East Today

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

Tonight's top stories. The government backs a new Bexhill -

Hastings link road in the Budget, but opponents say it will be

environmental disaster. We'll have reaction from our business

correspondent in East Sussex and our political editor in Westminster.

A warning to teachers to be vigilant after reports a middle-

aged man posed as a teenager, to befriend dozens of Kent schoolgirls

on line. Also in tonight's programme: The Kent scientists

designing new plants to help combat drought in the future.

By Royal Appointment - the Sussex glove makers who have been keeping

the Queen's hands clean for more than 60 years. It doesn't matter.

Of course it matters. Upstairs Downstairs actress Sarah Gordy

talks to us about life to front of the lens and growing up in Sussex.

Good evening. Controversial plans to create a new bypass through the

East Sussex countryside have won government support, after a ten-

year fight. As part of today's Budget announcement, the minister

said �56 million would be available to build the Hastings to Bexhill

link road. Supporters of the scheme say improved transport links are

critically important to regenerate one of the most deprived areas of

the South East. But opponents say it will be nothing short of an

environmental disaster. Our business correspondent Mark Norman

reports. To some the fact that a Bexhill to Hastings link road is

going ahead means jobs and regeneration, to others it means

heartache and disappointment. beautiful. And saw it. The this

family had been fighting the road scheme for 20 years and it will now

be built within feet of their land. It is a very sad day. This is the

third attempts by the council to cut this road here. Unfortunately,

they have succeeded. In 1989 proposals for a buyer has were

first discussed by the council. -- for a bypass. The government

rejected those plans. In 2003 the council was asked to develop new

proposals. Those plans were on hold but now residents know that the

road will go ahead. Are those who have campaigned against the plans

and want to protect his Valley our struggling to understand today's

decision. This looks like a risky development. Using public funds to

the degree that they are being used for a speculative development, we

think is completely wrong. I argue this against the politicians who

believe the link road it will regenerate the town, create jobs

and build new homes. This is about jobs, businesses and houses. This

is a plan which has been analysed and gone through four years and now

finally it has the go-ahead and it is good news. Perhaps 1,200 homes

and 2000 jobs. It is We've had Premier League football in recent

years, Hull's rugby league and ice This family what the council to buy

their homes so they can move away. The Department of Transport said

there are still some environmental measures to be looked at and they

have to find proof that developers want to build these homes and

businesses we are hearing about. They will also have to provide a

plan to show how local unemployed people will be given appropriate

support. I think this is probably going to go ahead because at the

heart of this our government plans that large infrastructure projects

like this are what will grow the economy in the future.

Well, the other big announcement affecting us in today's Budget

concerns plans for airport expansion in the South East. Last

week, in an exclusive interview on this programme, the Virgin Atlantic

boss Richard Branson said he was opposed to the idea of building a

huge new airport off the Kent coast. But on Monday, the Prime Minister

gave his strongest endorsement yet of project, saying that bold

thinking is needed to ensure the UK retains its status as a global

aviation hub. Today the Chancellor George Osborne made it clear he

shares that view. This country must confront the lack of airport

capacity in the South East England. We cannot cut ourselves off from

the fastest growing cities in the world. The Transport Secretary will

set out government thinking later this summer. Let us go live to

Westminster now and our political editor. Is this a sign of

government support for the so called Boris Island planned? It is

a sign that government realises bold action needs to be taken to

address the lack of aviation capacity in the South East and for

the whole country. Joining me now to discuss that is the deputy

chairman of the Conservative Party and the Transport Minister and the

South East champion for labour. The Prime Minister mentioned this on

Monday, the Chancellor used the bunch it -- the budget to mention

it again. Does this mean there is growing support for a hub airport

in the South East? Guineas we accept we have to modernise our

infrastructure. There is a start date going on to see how we can use

their capacity better. -- there is a study going on. A you did not

support this link road initially, why the go-ahead now? It is a

difficult decision. There is an environmental press to be paid but

there is clearly an economic benefits. -- environmental price.

new road costing millions of pounds, Greater internet connectivity for

its cities, surely this is a budget for growth? We welcome anything

which supports growth. That is why it is off sad that forecasts are

down this year. I have to say that when the coalition government Cane

End they either appeared on the back burner or stopped a whole

number of infrastructure projects. -- came in. I realise this is very

important to the South East. Also presses like rail fares are very

important to the South East. -- prices. I a lot of criticism

nationally they jeered/the top rate of tax. It is a much fairer tax

system as a result. -- that you have slashed. It is the biggest

increase in personal allowances for 30 years. The rich will pay more,

they are losing relief, they will pay more in stamp benefit -- stamp

duty and will lose child benefit. The Lib Dems did not get their

mansion tax, are you happy with the budget? We have secured our top

priority which is to take people at the lower end out of tax altogether.

2 million people will not pay tax and they need the most help. The

loophole has been shut will mean rich people pay five times more.

They also addressed the cliff-edge for child benefit which will help

people in the South East? Many of them will still lose their child

benefit because if you are on around 50,000 tie-ins with one

earner, you will lose some of your child benefit. If you're both

earning, you'll keep your benefit. We had seen a huge tax cut to the

most wealthy in the country and meanwhile people on benefits and

pensioners will be losing out. Thank you very much. You heard it

here - an agreement between coalition partners on tax.

If you want to hear more about the If you want to hear more about the

impact of the budget - go to our block. Coming up in a moment - it

is not a village green at all. Dismay Newhaven as the High Court

Dismay Newhaven as the High Court decides against them.

Teachers at a Kent school have been warned to be alert to the dangers

of internet abuse, after reports that a middle-aged man posed as a

teenage girl to befriend dozens of schoolgirls. It is thought that 61

pupils at Homewood School in Tenterden became Facebook friends

with the bogus teenager, before the faked online profile was deleted.

By accepting a friend request from a teenage girl they did not know,

pupils at the school may have inadvertently befriended and

middle-aged man. Alarm bells started ringing for a one parent

when one child shared the conversation she had. Four there is

enough concern that it might not be what this person was saying they

wear. When she saw the kind of conversation that had been going on

with her child, she felt there was more than just friends. Talking to

each other on Facebook. The parent contacted the school and the school

contacted the police but the profile had been deleted, leaving a

trail called. The internet is so anonymous and it is so easy to

build a persona on there. Do not trust people because they say who

they are. It is thought that over 60 peoples were contacted on

Facebook. Parents say they keep a close eye on their children's

activity. -- 60 pupils. I am a friend of hers on Facebook and I do

go on and have a look at what she is up to. I do go in and ask to see

what is going on. Ken to police say the content was not sexual but

experts say cases of sexual grooming can start with seemingly

harmless conversations. The child- protection agencies say they

protected 413 children as a result of their investigations. 513

arrests were made and 132 higher risk sex offender networks were

disrupted. Teachers have said they have provided all pupils with

awareness about the risks of making new friends on line.

Four current Brighton and Hove Albion footballers and one former

player have been re-bailed over an alleged sexual assault. Anton

Rodgers, Lewis Dunk, George Barker and Ben Sampayo answered bail in

Sussex this morning, along with Steve Cook, who now plays for

Bournemouth. All five were first arrested in January and have been

bailed until May. Firefighters are tackling a large fire in scrubland

in Hastings is evening. Four fire engines and two off-road vehicles

are at the scene, the fire is around two miles long.

A man has been airlifted to hospital after falling off the

railway line near Brighton station. It is thought he fell from the road

above the line. Police officers had spoken to him an hour earlier and

the Independent Police Complaints Commission is now investigating the

incident. Campaigners fighting to restore

public access to any Sussex beach say they are devastated, after

losing their legal battle. The West Beach in Newhaven was closed four

years ago by a company that runs the town's port. County councillors

then gave the beach a village green status to try to ensure it reopened

- but that decision has been overturned by a High Court judge.

John Young reports. It is just a small stretch of sand but today

people seemed angrier than ever that it is out of their reach. When

this woman stop our camera, she shouted across to us, did we know

the result of the court case? lost. That is absolutely dreadful.

I think it is very sad, it is another space in a community where

people can meet. Why have people not be able to meet here in the

last four years? The owners said the wall was dangerous and so they

closed it. They said they intended to develop the port around the

corner but after a long campaign the town council won the right to

open after declaring it a village again. The owners appealed and

today the council lost. Campaigners had a very strong case a High Court

judge said but its heritage was trumped as a place of fun. People

are hoping this is one final piece of good news that Newhaven can get

but it has not gone at our way. Some people say it is it because it

allows the developers to develop the region. They can do that anyway.

They have fantastic plans for the other side of the river.

developers said they welcomed is it -- the decision and looked forward

to working with the council to bring jobs to the time. But options

do the council now have? -- what options. One option is to give up

but they do not want to do that. They have a bigger Facebook

campaign going up. There is also further legal action and appealed

but that has financial consequences. The council would not tell me how

much money this has so far cost taxpayers. If they are further

appeals there will be cost and they will be funded by the taxpayer.

Thank you very much. The top story - the government has pledged �56

million for a new Bexhill to Hastings link road. Ministers say

it will facilitate economic regeneration in a deprived area of

the South East. Opponents say it will spell environmental disaster.

Sussex Upstairs downstairs actress Sarah Gordy tells us about her

career and her movie role in New York.

A another warm spring day today and temperatures should be higher

tomorrow. Join me later in the programme for the details.

A hosepipe ban is just days away, consequence of the drought

conditions her suffering at the moment. -- we are. But it is hoped

that research by scientists at East Malling Research, near Maidstone,

could soon help our farmers to produce fruit and vegetables using

a third less water than before. New irrigation techniques are currently

on trial across the south-east, as our environment correspondent

reports for the latest in our Food Chain seriess. Jane Simpson manages

a number of farms in Kent. Most of his apples and pears rely on water

from reservoirs only two-thirds full. He is looking to science for

help. In this orchard we monitor this soil moisture deficit, how

much soil bash where water is in the soil so we can plan irrigation.

Knowing what that she requires, we do not know exactly so the research

will be very valuable to as. -- that the treaty requires. We could

save water. There growing crops on at least 50 % less water. The East

sensors measure how much water you have in the soil. You bury these in

the soil. They measure the way that plant perceives the water. Inside

work continues on strawberries. of our scientific trials are

conducted under these conditions. We can show we can reduce the

amount of water applied by up to 80 % and still maintain yields and

quality. A you are trying them out in the fields now? Yes, we used a

similar approach in different regions and saved up to 40 %. We

increased yields and improved quality. This drought year will be

an important one for the scientists, putting their ideas to the test.

The Queen is the most travelled monarch in history, having visited

more than 300 countries in her lifetime, and met more than four

million people apparently. When you shake that many hands, you need a

really decent pair of gloves. Ever since her wedding to Prince Philip

in 1947, those gloves have been supplied by Cordelia James Ltd and

made in the workshop in East Sussex. Sara Smith has been to meet the

Royal glove makers. 1947 and all eyes are on Princess Elizabeth as

she sets off on her honeymoon. On her hands, a pair of camellia James

gloves. Eight years previously Cordelia had fled Vienna and the

Nazis. She would build a company which became a favourite with the

royals, eventually earning the Royal warrant. Today her daughter

has taken over the reins. This is very pretty which my mother

designed. It is vintage. Madonna like these. The tradition of

wearing gloves and his country has faded so while they hand make

gloves, 90 % of those go overseas. The Americans love the Royal Family,

the Japanese are nuts about the royal family and the love

accessories so we do very well as outside Britain. I am sorry to say.

Royal family members have worn a selection of gloves from Sussex.

The most high-profile outing - the Queen to the wedding of her

grandson last year. It is their patronage which insures the Royal

warrant remains. It is almost the best brand you can have in the

world. It is internationally recognised as a mark of excellence.

No matter how much money you spend, you cannot get it with money.

aim for this company now is to get British women who are not in the

Royal Family, back into gloves. In the run-up to Diamond Jubilee

celebrations in June, we are running a special series of My

Photo. Have you got a photograph or a video of the moment you met the

Queen? We would love to hear from you. Contact us - and your story

could feature on the programme. Onto football, and Brighton and

Hove Albion and Charlton Athletic both had good wins last night to

boost their promotion prospects. It was Crawley who came out top at

Gillingham in the South East's League Two showdown. But as Neil

Bell reports, it did not produce the fireworks some had predicted.

The teams last met on Boxing Day when seasonal goods will was

conspicuous by its absence. It was Crawley who settled first last

night and deserved to go-ahead early in the second half.

Gillingham did manage to end the game with a flourish, forcing a

series of corners and coming close to scoring an equaliser. After the

final whistle, both managers were keen to play down acrimony. I shook

his hand the night before and after the game. We lost the game and

tickets on the chin. They were the better team, that his life and

football. A good day for us, a good three points. We will not get

carried a get -- away and were trained again tomorrow to get ready

for Saturday. Brighter now to to the play-off points. This corner

was converted to give them an early lead. This link-up play after the

interval set-up the 13th goal of the season to complete a

comfortable victory. Charlton's recently it appears to be over. Top

scorer Bradly Wright Phillips made it two-nil early in the second half

with his 20 goal of the season. In a final minutes, Darel Russell made

it three-L. -- 3-nil. She is living proof that people

with Down's syndrome can lead a rewarding life. The Sussex actress

Sarah Gordy stars in the costume drama Upstairs Downstairs. Roz

Upton went to meet her at home in Lewes.

Her 1930s character in the revival Upstairs downstairs suffers from

Down's syndrome. So someone telephoned the station, saying

there had been a murder. It was me! Lady Pamela was locked away in

asylum and only brought back to her family later. A I did some research

about how they treated people with disabilities in an appalling way in

the 1930s. You do not see it now. The executive producer of the

series is full of admiration for her range and ability. She is a

fantastic role model, she is so professional. She always has her

lines immaculately learned. She is wonderful on set. She is great.

has appeared in adverts, on stage and in many TV programmes. Her

passion for drama was sown at school. Her coat and supportive

mother says she was born to act. When she is in character, she is

truly happy. She just lives this other character. She told me being

an actress was great because she could live more than one life.

she come across any prejudice in her career? She has never been

bullied by some of her friends have. You are an individual, whoever you

are. Sarah is in her early 30s but his into play at 15 year-olds in a

comedy. It is being filmed by Tom - - by an award-winning director.

We're going to set it in New York and China. The final episode of

Upstairs downstairs is on Sunday. It is practically somewhere out

there today. What does the weather have in store?

Tomorrow will be a shade warmer than today with plenty its hazy

than today with plenty its hazy sunshine. It is certainly a settled

picture. This high pressure is dominating - heading eastwards

today, bringing gentle winds. Plenty of sunshine on offer for

most of us. Temperatures up to 15 degrees. Several degrees above

average for this time of year. We will hold on to the clear skies

tonight, but it remains mild. It will be a bright and mild start.

Into the afternoon, nothing changes with plenty of sunshine around. The

rain looks like petering out before it reaches us. Not much rain for a

Friday. Tomorrow will be a bright story from the word go. Those

easterly winds pick up a little. Those temperatures will be in the

mid- to high teens for most of us. Average for the time of year is 10

degrees. The mild is March the a record was in 1968. Tomorrow will

feel much like summer. This band of rain will move northwards tomorrow.

Rain for the rest of the UK but not for us. Staying dry on Friday and

brighten up in the afternoon. Tours the weekend - high pressure once