17/05/2012 South East Today

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

Tonight's top stories. The worker who disappeared with

�20,000 of money intended for the leader of Kent County Council gives

us an exclusive interview from china to insist he's done nothing

wrong. The British sniper who may have

fired the shot that killed a Sussex soldier tells an inquest he'd never

been trained to shoot in the dark. Also in tonight's programme.

A warning patients are being put at risk as the time ambulances spend

waiting outside accident and emergency goes up 50% in three

years. We're live with the details in Brighton.

31 miles of thread, half a million gold buttons. The team from Margate

creating a jubilee banner fit for a Queen.

And Sing 4 England is the call from a Kent songwriter picked to pen the

team anthem for the Euro 2012 Good evening. He's left Kent for a

remote region of China, accused of running off with more than �20,000

of taxpayers' money. But tonight, former county council maintenance

worker Paul Carter has given us an exclusive interview to insist he's

done nothing wrong. As we reported on Tuesday, he received seven

months of allowances intended for a different Paul Carter, the leader

of Kent County Council. When the mistake was discovered, he

disappeared. Glenn Campbell has the details.

4000 miles away from Maidstone, in a remote corner of north-west China,

Paul Carter, the former Kent County Council maintenance man prepares to

tell BBC South East Today his side of the pay packet story. Where is

the tax payer's money, this did �1,000? If I only -- at only I knew.

Someone from the offices called me and told me they have overpaid me

by �20,000 and would I mind paying it back. I said, of course. One I

got home, I checked my bank account and I could not see any overpayment.

It seems they have been overpaying me from the first day I started, so

I did not notice any discrepancy. On Tuesday, we revealed how Kent

County Council accidentally paid if the council leader, Paul Carter's

salary allowance of more than �21,000 to this 54 year-old Paul

Carter, who at the time was employed as a vehicle fitter at

their Aylesford pepper. The do state -- the mistake went are not

deprived -- went on rectified for seven months. It was only spotted

when council leader's Paul Carter bank account went into the red.

has gone with the council tax payers money, and it needs to be

paid back. In stead of paying back the council leader's money, Paul

counter -- Paul Carter the maintenance man banished. This is

not running away, it is just where the worker taken me. So to clarify,

you did not run off with �21,000 of taxpayers' money? Certainly not.

Kent County Council have my address in Tunbridge Wells, I lived there

for well over a year. Four after this dispute came to light. Why did

you ask Kent caddie council why don't they take up my author of

going to the county court to settle this? They refuse. Black. Paul

Carter in China sticks by the story that he was paid for the extra

money but thought it was right he has. This afternoon, the director

of human resources at Kent County A British sniper who's believed to

have shot a comrade he'd mistaken for a Taliban insurgent has told an

inquest he had not been trained to fire the rifle he used in the dark.

Lance Corporal Michael Pritchard from Eastbourne was shot dead on

his first tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2009. The inquest is

considering whether the 22-year-old was killed by so-called friendly

fire. Roz Upton reports. The night Lance Corporal Michael

Pritchard was killed in Helmand province was the fast -- first time

lance-corporal Michael Graham had shot his sniper rifle during --

using his night vision site. He said he was called from his bed to

an observation post where sentries were observing two heat sources. He

said the soldiers told him there were people digging improvised

explosive devices into the road. He said he was told British servicemen

were manning an observation to Fash post in the area but was not giving

their exact location until after the tragedy, nor had he polled

about Arab -- a firing line which had been drawn up to protect the

soldiers from Freddie fire. -- Lance corporal Pritchard's mother

was visibly upset and left the room before the sniper said he fired two

warning shots and for warning -- lethal shots before he sought the

The inquest has heard port Radiocommunications played a major

role in the incident. -- poor radio communications.

In a moment: Recognised for his bravery, the lifeboatman who risked

his life to save seven people in a storm in the English channel.

Ambulances across the South East are being forced to spend an

increasing amount of time queuing outside hospital Accident &

Emergency departments. The body that represents paramedics says the

situation is dangerous and unsustainable, putting patients at

risk. It should take no more than 30 minutes for paramedics to

handover a patient to A&E staff, then get back on the road to

respond to emergency calls. But over the last three years the

number of hours ambulances are spending waiting outside our

hospitals has increased by 50%, with waits of several hours in the

most extreme cases. The South East Coast Ambulance Service say it's

the highest risk they're facing. is a serious issue, number one on

our risk register, an indication of how seriously we take it as a trust.

It is a system wide issue, a problem for the whole health

service. We cannot resolve it on our own. It is an issue of patient

safety and experience. Also of staff morale, and all those reasons,

we as a healthcare system have to sort this out. So where are the

biggest blackspots for ambulance waiting times? In Sussex,

ambulances queued outside the Eastbourne District General for

over 4,500 hours in the last financial year, a 41% increase

compared to three years before. There was a 100% increase over the

same period at the Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, with waiting

times totalling over 1,600 hours. And the highest increase in our

region was at the East Surrey Hospital in Redhill, up 117%, with

ambulances queuing for 4,500 hours. The hospital last year did have a

significant problem that the number of beds it had, our capacity was

low. We have now opened two new wards which has increased capacity

and we are going through a multi- million pound project to improve

our emergency department. Now we are actually able to meet those

targets much better, and at the moment our performance is extremely

good. Our reporter Katie Inman's been following the story and joins

us live from the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. What

are the various hospital trusts doing about this problem? There was

a magic word in that clip, that his capacity. Hospitals across the

south-east say they are trying to create more space. It is happening

here in Brighton hospital, they are extending the number of beds in A&E

and increasing the waiting areas. It is not just about fixing A&E,

they want to make more beds available on wards, which means

working more closely with adult social care so that when elderly

people are ready to go home, there is a bed for them in the community.

It is also about working much more closely with GPs, so people do not

turn up at A&E unless they need to. South East Coast Ambulance Service

say that they're optimistic that action is being taken to improve

the situation. But with our hospitals facing increasing demand

for services and increasing pressure on budgets, some paramedic

union reps say they don't share that optimism.

Kent County Council is under fire tonight for continuing to invest

tens of millions of pounds worth of pension funds in tobacco companies.

The authority plays a key role in protecting public health, and a new

report says cigarette manufacturers should be treated as pariahs. Our

Political Editor Louise Stewart reports.

Over 80% of cigarette smoke is invincible -- imitable... Hard-

hitting adverts like this show the dangers of smoking. Kent county

council promotes anti-smoking initiatives on its website. But the

organisation has been criticised for investing �24 million of its

pension funds into tobacco companies. The pension fund has to

be independent of the political side of life, and the whole

objective of the exercise is to get the maximum return to camp for the

pensioners that other. It represents more than 300

organisations. From next year, local authorities like Kent County

Council become responsible for public health, taking on the powers

from the National Health Service. Campaigners say any investment in

firms like tobacco companies would then be ethically wrong. We are

calling on them to we him -- reconsider its investment in

tobacco companies. They have new responsibilities to protect and

promote the good health of Kent residents, and there is no way this

investment can achieve that, it does the reverse. That is the

feedback from anti-smoking charities. You cannot both be the

biggest shareholder in tobacco and protect your public out from

tobacco companies. It has come at a time when they are thinking, we

cannot square the circle any more, it is time to turn out of -- turn

away from tobacco. But how concerned are people in Maidstone?

Difficult, I am a smoker as well. I can see the moral side of it.

don't think you should be putting money into an ethical product, be

it tobacco or anything else. -- products which are not ethical.

has got to be down to the conscience of the individual or

organisation. Kent county council say they are holding an annual

review of how to enjoy the best returns and considering these

ethical issues. A Chatham woman allegedly murdered

by her estranged husband sealed her fate when she refused to go back to

him, a jury has heard. Danai Mohammadi is accused of setting

fire to Melissa Crook's family home, killing her, their baby son and her

father. Under cross-examination today, he denied the prosecution

suggestion that a divorce would have caused him a loss of face, a

loss of honour and a loss of control over her. He's one of three

defendants who deny murder, and the trial continues.

Plans to use private firms to carry out police roles in Surrey are

being put on hold. The controversial privatisation plans

will be delayed until after the Olympics, which will allow more

time for a public consultation. Squatters have occupied a former

supermarket in Brighton. They are protesting against a local

Conservative MP who's calling for squatting in empty buildings to be

made a criminal offence. Activists from across the country have taken

over the former Co-Op store in London Road. But the MP for Hove

and Portslade Mike Weatherley says squatters cause damage and

disruption. Squatters and homeless people are two entirely de -- said

that thing. Squatters tend to be anarchist to do not have a regard

for the law, whereas homeless people, we need to recover the

vulnerable in our society. If these squatters are so well organised

they are able to mobilise people across Europe into a conference, we

cannot call them attritional homeless people. Our Correspondent

is in Brighton. The squatters have called for four days of actors and

went -- axes and here, so what a police expecting? -- activism.

are talking to the squatters and will monitor the situation closely,

they are also talking to the MP. I think they were both expecting

squatters to take over a building in this constituency, but instead

they chose the supermarket, they plan to be here for four days over

the weekend. This is a huge weekend for Brighton, the first weekend of

the festival, a lot of visitors and a huge boost to the local economy.

Everyone is hoping that the squatters lead at the end of the

weekend having made their point. Our top story tonight.

A maintenance worker accused of disappearing with more than �20,000

of Kent taxpayers' money has contacted this programme from China

to insist he's done nothing wrong. Paul Carter was wrongly paid seven

months' worth of expenses intended for the leader of the council, also

called Paul Carter. Also in tonight's programme:

Damon Hill gears up to race out of retirement at Brands Hatch.

And singing for England, the Kent songwriter whose tune has been

picked as the team anthem for Euro 2012.

He risked his life to save seven people in a force 11 storm in the

English channel, and today Garry Clark from Dungeness has been

recognised for what has been described as his exemplary bravery.

He's been awarded the RNLI's Silver Medal for Gallantry, one of the

highest honours they can give, for his work in helping rescue the crew

of a yacht being battered by huge waves in January. Claudia

Sermbezsis has our story update. The waves were described as the

size of houses. The sea was violent, the swells were six metres high.

But as the Dungeness lifeboat pulled alongside the stricken yacht,

rescue a Garry Clark jump. We came up on the stern of the yachts, and

I got a strip -- split-second where I was able to jump across. A split

second later, they were apart again. I had a moment which was lucky so I

got a board. A bundle of first aid was thrown to Gary, he had to help

the seven people on board. One had smashed into the helm, four were

seriously seasick. They thought they were going to die. The person

that was sharing a cabin with me earlier in the night had sent it by

text messages to her family. The RNLI to the most beautiful job.

They are prepared to go out in all weathers. It was extremely bad

conditions, they were seriously jeopardising their own lives.

crew of the Dungeness lifeboat are used to rough conditions, but that

day in January was the worse they have ever seen. In total, they were

out on the altar for 11 hours. How scary was it out there? Scary, very

scary. But I have every confidence in the RNLI, they. Wonderful job.

Dover lifeboat and a helicopter team were also scrambled to rescue.

This afternoon, Garry Clark was singled out for been especially

brave and selfless. institution's silver medal for

gallantry is awarded to crew member Garry Clark. Garry Clark received

one of the RNLI's highest honours for what was described as an

outstanding act which undoubtedly saved seven lives.

It's been a real labour of love, but now a huge banner fit to

decorate the Queen's barge during next month's Jubilee Pageant is all

but finished. It took five seamstresses and one designer four

months to sew on the half a million buttons incorporated into the

banner's design, getting through 250 needles in the process. Peter

Whittlesea has been to Margate as the devoted team near the end of

their royal appointment. It is a familiar image that is on

everything from your passport to the coins in your pocket. But you

have to be on the bottom up to notice what is and different about

this. It is a memorial coat-of-arms -- you have to be on at the bottom.

A tiny section like this, you have to be about a couple of hours.

selling on military buttons at the moment, they are very bright and

give the piece a bit of depth. If you are trying to describe

something three-dimensional, you have a lot of buttons, and when it

is darker, you have less buttons. The banner will form part of the

centrepiece of the Thames Jubilee pageant, flying from the spirit of

Chartwell which will carry the Queen. The artwork was inspired by

pearly kings and queens, combining two of the capital's traditions.

would be nice to be make a piece about the royal family which is

also about the alternative -- alternative royal family of the

east end, so we have the two while families dovetailed. Well in a tree

runs through her most popular works. They have -- or royalty. They have

been snapped up by the likes of Elton John. On the day he itself,

she will be watching just in case there are unforeseen problems.

will be standing on the Millennium Bridge, hopefully it will be

passing underneath us, I will be looking out for any buttons that

might have be falling off, and I will chuck a sewing kit onto the

boat! The buttons or also on by hand, and it was no quick fix. Even

a humble button can be transformed into a gift fit for the Queen.

That is a lot of buttons! Damon Hill became Formula One world

champion in 1996 at a time when Michael Schumacher was at the peak

of his powers, arguably one of the best drivers this country has ever

produced. But for the last 13 years, he hasn't raced competitively. But

this weekend, he is coming out of retirement to race at Brands Hatch

in a special event to raise money to support young people with a

learning disability. Neil Bell reports.

Damon Hill is one of the most popular and respected drivers in

British motor racing history. Bayman hell, it's world champion. -

- Damon Hill, world champion. Against the odds, he rose to the

top in the highly competitive world of Formula One. Today he was back

on the track and he could hardly believe it was over a decade since

his last race. I don't understand, it comes back like you have never

been a way, that is the bizarre thing like this doing something you

have done a lot. It is like no time has elapsed at all. It is good fun

until you start to get competitive, then it starts to fall apart again!

After a long apprenticeship, Damon Hill began his F1 career in 1992.

He won the British bomb Prix at Silverstone in 1994, -- Grand Prix,

and two years later, he was Formula One champion. Four Damon Hill is a

huge they. He had to fight hard to get into Formula One, even though

he had the name, he still had to get in and perform to become the

world champion. I grew up watching him racing in Formula One so it is

a hero, it is great to hear him racing here in front of a home

crowd. He will compete in the Soroka Cup on Saturday. He will get

a chance to compete with his mates, raise the money for charity, and

drive round Brands Hatch once again. I know like -- I know this place

like the back of my hand, I could go with it blindfold round. I have

been coming here since I was a tiny child. I have raced here. So where

better to finish an illustrious career, and just for a few minutes,

relive some of the magic moment of your past.

The Olympic Torch Relay starts tomorrow at Lands End, and details

of how you can get a ticket for the live show when it stops at Dover on

Wednesday 18th July have been released. Rizzle Kicks will be

performing at the evening stage event on Marine Parade. A crowd of

16,000 people is expected and the free tickets will be awarded by

ballot. You can register on the Ticketmaster website from 31st May.

And I'll be presenting a special live programme from Dover,

alongside Kent's double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes

that evening at 7pm. Over the years, it's fair to say

that music and football have been uneasy bedfellows. In fact, some of

the world's worst crimes against pop music have been committed in

the name of the sport. But now Paul Baker, a songwriter from Kent, is

hoping to change that. His tune Sing 4 England has been chosen as

England's official anthem for the team's forthcoming Euro 2012

campaign. Ellie Price has the story. A manager has been chosen, the

squad is in place. Today came the last decision that could secure

England European Cup glory. The right song. This is our time to

prove them wrong, we'll win if we stand strong. This is it. It was

penned by a man from Kent. thought it was about time that can

write a really good song for the euro's. I thought, I need someone

good to front the song, somebody inspirational, someone who has got

that ability to sing. And here is my man! You may recognise the front

man, he has got experience on the pitch and in the commentary box.

One I heard the song, Paul Baker wrote it, I thought, here we go, it

will be another one of those that you hear it, you put your name to

it and it is a load of rubbish. I thought I would listen, but the

first 30 seconds, it was a proper football song. It had me gripped

straight away. And everybody I played it to says it is exactly the

same, brilliant, it is a wonderful, the fans can sing it on the

terraces. Remember this? New order? John Barnes got the world in motion,

as well as Gazza. What self- respecting England fan could forget

this? The Lightning Seeds with a deal and Skinner with three lions.

So popular, it was a pride in 1998. We never stopped believing. Then

came England United, the Spice Guards, a cow and the banning them.

It reached number nine in the chart. England got kicked out. This time

the song is a little less ambitious, but it is good enough to go the

whole way? It is surprisingly good. It is a chance for the terraces, --

it is chanting for the terraces, it is catchy enough for the pop charts.

It is rousing enough. The song is due for release in early June,

which should give advance just enough time to learn the lyrics.

Chris Kamara, cinder -- singer. The song has been launched today. How

do we think the song is going to be received? I like it, and it is

being launched tonight in central London. They obviously feeling

quite confident, they had invited lot of celebrities. Singers,

comedians and models to review it. I think the writer is pretty laid

back. He wants this sum to do well, the proceeds will all go to Marie

Curie cancer care. He thinks the sun has got all the crucial

elements, the rhymes, the chanting, and that important word, England!

We will get a cheque on the weather What a difference a day makes.

Plenty of sunshine yesterday, it has been increasingly cloudy and

unsettled through the afternoon today. Mostly dry tonight, a cloudy

but dry start tomorrow. Increasingly unsettled through the

afternoon, outbreaks of patchy light rain for us all. At the

moment, we are seeing some rain clipping the south coast.

Temperatures quite similar to yesterday bad feeling a bit cooler.

Gentle southerly breezes. Those showers are lingering through the

first part of tonight, plenty of cloud around, clearer skies by dawn.

Temperatures not too bad for the time of year. A relatively mild and

quite bright start of the day tomorrow, but low pressure is

pushing up from the south. It will be increasingly cloudy and

unsettled as well. Patchy light rain for us all. Those wins from a

south-easterly direction. -- at those winds. The rain will

eventually clear as to go through tomorrow night, plenty of cloud

around. Again, a mild night, temperatures mostly staying in