25/04/2012 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today. I'm changes to maternity care are

announced in east Kent - two midwife-led birthing units will

close in Dover and Canterbury. We'll be live in Ashford which will

see more midwives recruited. There's record youth unemployment

so why did seven people who were offered a job fail to turn up for

work? The initial pay we were offering was equivalent to the

Jobseeker's Allowance that all seven are currently and were

receiving. Also in tonight's programme:

The slightest touch - the little girl living with a genetic

condition that brings her skin out in blisters.

What drought? After weeks of rain, we ask if water levels are any

closer to being restored. And Tim Edey and Brendan Power from

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

Kent will be joining us in the Campaigners are not impressed.

Home births and birthing unit births are considered to be the

future way forward for the NHS and we seem to be decide that we're not

going to follow that trend and I think it is bad for the NHS because

it is more expensive for mothers to give birth in hospitals and it is

also depriving them of choice. Why do you think closing two

centres will make things better? This has been about ensuring the

best possible care for women who deliver their babies in East Kent

every year. By stopping births in the two maternity units in Dover

and Canterbury, we have flexibility of staff and we can ensure that all

women can have one-to-one care from a midwife.

The majority of people wanted to keep the two centres open. So are

you ignoring people that took part in your consultation? We have been

very moved by some of the stories that we've heard during the public

consultation. In particular, we have heard stories from women who

have delivered on our consultant- led units.

Have you ignored the people who wanted the centres kept open?

have not ignored the results of the public consultation. In addition to

the questions around the options for maternity care, people have

strongly supported the view that co located midwifery units provide the

best possibility of a national home life birth. The recruitment process

starts now. The two new centres On the day Britain has gone into a

double-dip recession, a Kent businessman has claimed some

unemployed people simply don't want a job, after several new members of

staff failed to report for work. Carl Cooper runs a telephone

marketing firm near Canterbury. He was expecting seven new workers to

start today, but not one of them turned up. He believes many are

simply happy to claim benefits seven new recruits. We were quite

offended. These are people we had spoken to and arranged these

positions with. The general feedback was that the initial pay

we were offering was equivalent to what they could take home from the

Jobseeker's Allowance payments that all seven were and are receiving.

REPORTER: They would rather stay on the benefits? It seems to be the

case. Personally, I can't relate to that attitude.

Under 25s can get up to �54.25 for Jobseeker's Allowance. Karl Smart

were offering �100 a week retainer fee plus commission meaning wages

could be �300. Karl Cooper said the seven who didn't turn up today were

recruited via the YouGov website. He has been at the Jobcentre

begging them to send him applicants. Those people who can can show no

work experience, why not? It is a question of being able to

demonstrate the attitude. We have got to change the ethic and

we have got to make painful decisions on benefits and we are in

the process of introducing changes. Jobseekers in Canterbury insist

they want to work. Is it telesales or sales? A lot of

people don't want to do it, but I would take any job. I think that is

wrong. I mean I don't sit on benefits and I'm disabled. And I

would rather work. The Jobcentre insists it has and

will continue to work with Karl Smart to allow the company to

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

It lacks the quality venues needed to attract national teams. Ian

Palmer is at only accredited Olympic venue now. Ian, what is the

criticism? Poly, imagine if we could get long limbed beach

volleyball players training ahead of the Olympics, that's what they

want to see, but can they make it happen?

The moment it all began. But the Olympics won't be come to go this

jam nastics club in Hove. The converted church was on a Russian

federation's list of possible training venues, but coaches had to

turn them away and their much needed money. I have been in the

sport for about 30 years and I am just sad for the children of

Brighton and Hove that they don't have a facility, that's worthy of

their abilities. Down the road, this venue is good

enough. This sport centre has the stamp of approval. It has been

verified as Olympic standard. It is fantastic and we are most

excited for the locals and the regulars who play here all year

around in winter and in rain and on days like this, for them to see

other people playing at such a high level and be inspired to keep

training themselves. Who is coming to the South East

this summer? Well, in all, 20 squads will be heading this way in

a few weeks time. 14 of them will be based in Kent. The others are in

Sussex. Many of them will call the K 2 Sports Centre home for the

Games. Kent County Council says its success in attracting interest was

down to hard work. We sent a message worldwide, "Come

to Kent for training. Come to Kent for tourism." We set up a structure

and we are rolling that out. London won the Games partly because

of its commitment to building a legacy for sports participation,

particularly amongst young people. One councillor in Brighton,

believes sports enthusiasts, young and old have been let down.

We are a city in the top quarter in the country for people taking part

in sport, but through lack of investment over many, many years,

we are poor in facilities. In a few weeks time, the most

gifted athletes in the world will be here. They will entertain,

astound and in some cases inspire us. The fear is when they leave,

rather than a sporting legacy, all It is all about creating those, "I

remember when." Moments particularly for children and if we

can even here in Brighton, who knows that might lead to more gold

Two birthing centres in Canterbury and Dover are to close. They will

be replaced by new mid-wife led units in Ashford and Margate.

Those campaigning to keep the existing centres open say their

views have been ignored. Does this endless rain mean an end

to the drought soon? And the fabulous sound of folk. We

Ciara Paczensky from Dartford is a little girl doing her best to live

a normal life, despite having to deal with a skin skin that's so

serious that the slightest bump brings her out in blisters. She has

a condition called epidermolysis of getting Ciara ready in the

morning. It hurts her, but she has to wear them to give her skin some

protection. It limits her ability to interact

with everybody else because you have to be careful of bumps and

knocks, bruises, the slightest touch can sheer her skin off. She

is bandaged from neck to foot on a daily basis.

Ciara's parents didn't know she had the condition until the day she was

born. Even as a baby, her skin was so fragile any contact brought her

out in blisters. There is no cure. It is just

something she and the family had to learn to live with.

Sometimes I get lumps. REPORTER: Does it hurt?

You are a very brave girl, aren't you? Do you just get used to, do

you think? I do look after my sister. Sometimes she is a little

annoying actually, but not always. The family have some help. Nicola

works for a local charity and comes every morning to help with Ciara's

bandages and even though it is painful when they have to be

changed, this six-year-old is determined to lead a normal life.

I don't think there is a "I can't." In Ciara's vocabulary.

That's what her last school report said.

She is determined not to be singled out in anything. The children are

very, very caring and they go out of their way to make sure she is

safe. Ciara's parents say her condition

won't limit her life expectancy and she is not letting it limit her

life either. It has been 20 days since a

hosepipe ban was introduced and since then it rained and rained and

rained! Especially today when 25 millimetres fell across the South

East. The Environment Agency is maintaining that even so, it is far

from being enough to end the drought. Our environment

correspondent Yvette Austin has been investigating.

One of the environmental agency's most vital weapons against flooding,

this barrier. It holds back water to prevent Tunbridge flooding along

with towns and villages downstream. But it has not been called into

action since March 2010 and whilst the river is swollen now, the level

is expected to be just temporary. the past few weeks which has been

helpful for our river levels. We do expect as soong as the rain -- --

soon as the rain stops for river levels to reduce to what they were

before and we will see danger for ecology in our rivers. The recent

downpours meant the average amount of rain for April has fallen.

Anything else is extra. It has been a welcome boost to this reservoir

which at the beginning of the year stood at 40% full. Southern Water

began pumping into it. In these recent wet weeks, the level has

risen by a further 6%. Much of that is down to the fact that they have

been able to pump extra water from the River Medway into here. But the

level is 20% lower than what it should be at this time of year and

this is a fraction of our drinking water supply. Most of our water

comes from underground suppliers like this borehole in Sussex. The

rain will have done little to improve water levels deep down.

Coming into the summer period, we are way off. We are looking for

weeks, if not months of rainfall before we get near close to getting

the resource levels back to where they should be.

The hosepipe ban remains as does the prospect of restrictions next

Of course, we will have a full weather forecast for the next dull

ug later on! Tim Edey and Brendan Power have

been regulars on the folk scene in Kent for years. Now their talent

has been recognised on a wider stage. They scooped to awards at

the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards earlier this year. First, here is a glimpse

Now we are joined by Brendan Power and by Tim Edey. Harmonica and what

is this? Well, this is a squeeze box! I like squeeze box.

You have been performing together as a duo for 18 months. How did

that come about? We have known each other, I moved down to East Kent

about ten years ago and Tim I got grew up in Broadstairs and I saw

Brendan headline that in 94, but he is still young.

You have only been taking it seriously for 18 months and already

you have been named as the best folk musicians in the country.

have We have got a really good agent and that helps a lot. Our

first album got a lot of play. You were on Jools Holland last

night. Yes, we were playing with the

Chieftans. How was that? Last night was great.

Yeah, Nora Jones was on it. I was there, this guy from Broadstairs.

You were star struck? I really was star struck. You are not going big

time on it, you have got an important gig coming up in a couple

of weeks in Canterbury? That's right. We are calling it our folk

award celebration show! It is our first gig in Kent since we won the

award. It is a fantastic hall in Canterbury. There is a great crew

keeping it going. Part of the proceeds are going to keep the

Westgate Hall going. both do. I mean we have played a

lot locally. Not only is it our folk celebration for the awards, it

is just really nice toll come together in a venue -- to come

together in a venue that was in danger of closing.

And that's on the 12th May. We expect to see you guys.

We are going to hear you play some stuff in the studio.

You are going to play us out. Now You are going to play us out. Now

we will get a check on the weather. Good evening.

It has been a wet and windy day. We have had a Met Office warning out

about the rain and that will be valid to 11pm. Tomorrow, it is a

day of blustery showers. Those winds easing off a touch. But

between 25 to to 30mph. Another wet and windy picture. The reason for

the wet weather, this deep area of low pressure has been spreading

north-east wards today. We had rain showers. As you can tell from the

tightly spaced isobars, a gusty day. The south easterly winds up to

20mph. Temperatures not too bad, between 11 and 12 Celsius, but

feeling cooler with the wind and the rain. Rain through the first

part of tonight. That will clear. We are going to be left with cloud

and scattered showers. It will abmild night -- be a mild night.

Lows of 8 or 9 Celsius. A cloudy, mild start to the day tomorrow. Low

pressure very much in control of things. As you can see, we are

going to be holding on to the winds now from a south-westerly direction,

around 25 to 30mph. Scattered, heavy showers for us all. Away from

the showers, sunshine. Temperatures up to highs of 13 or 4114 Celsius.

-- 14 Celsius. It will be a mild picture tomorrow night.

Temperatures not dropping much below 8 or 9 Celsius. Friday, it

looks to be a cloudy and dry picture. Temperatures again 13 or

14 Celsius. Some level of uncertainty as we we head towards

the weekend on the timings. It looks like a dry start to Saturday.

Wet and windy for Sunday. Dry for a film, but further rain for month.

Lots of much needed rain in the forecast. Temperatures around

average, but the wind and the rain and feeling cooler than the numbers