24/10/2012 South East Today

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

Tonight's top stories: Shocking pictures of drivers taking their

lives, and those of others, into their own hands on level crossings,

as a new safety campaign is launched. We are live at a crossing

in Crawley where two people have been killed in recent years.

The ordeal of Kent parents whose seven-week-old baby was diagnosed

with a rare cancer. Now, at nine months, she's finally got the all-

clear. By will never forget it. It will

live with me forever. Also in tonight's programme: The

former Gillingham player who won his case for racial discrimination

- and the campaign for a separate black footballers association.

Still derelict 10 years on - the growing disquiet in Ramsgate over

the delays in developing the former Pleasurama site.

They're going ape - the gorilla family who will be part of the

biggest ever programme of releasing Good evening. It's only a matter of

time before another person dies - that's the warning from emergency

services in the South East after they released death-defying images

of pedestrians and motorists behaving recklessly on level

forces with the fire service and police in Crawley today, which has

one of the highest rates of misuse in the country. Two people were

killed on the Horsham Road crossing in the last three years. Even so,

it appears that people still aren't listening to the warnings. Chrissie

Reidy reports. Why is it that some drivers in

Crawley feel they can dice with debt at level crossings. This is a

busy thoroughfare about a quarter of a mile from the town centre. It

has one of the highest levels of crossing misuse in Sussex. We have

witnessed for pedestrians going through on a red light and two cars.

That is such a high street end. At this end we had seen a 3 cars go

through in a red light. We have had the police and fire brigade down

here, but we have still have people going through on the red light.

is not just drivers. People pushing the barriers open. Cars driving

between the barriers. You do see people jumping the crossing other

Very Rev -- very regular basis. There has been a couple of

incidents here over the years with people being run over. It is hardly

surprising when a typical eight carriage train weighs 400 tonnes.

Travelling at speeds up to 125 miles an hour it would take the

link the 20 football pitches to stop. There had been a hundred

near-misses at this notorious level-crossing since 2008.

worst incidents that we would go to would avoid -- would involve trains.

The message from us is that the barriers are there for a reason, to

keep you see a. 12 drivers were caught today ignoring that traffic

signals. The British Transport Police said they will be prosecuted.

Chrissie Reidy reporting. She is in Crawley for us now. Chrissie, what

is it about Horsham Road which makes it such a notorious hot spot?

British Transport Police said that drivers, pedestrians and cyclists

simply have no patience. A few seconds ago the barrier came down

and two pedestrians ran through. This is an incredibly busy spot.

The town centre of Crawley is just over yonder, as we have lots of

people coming through your all the time. Even with the presence of the

police today, the number of people who blatantly ignore the traffic

signals when they were on red and dodged the barriers. If we're

trying to drum home this message about the dangers of this level

crossing we have a long way to go. When Natalie Kay from Canterbury

found a lump on her seven-week-old baby's back, she thought it was

probably harmless. But baby Darcie was diagnosed with infantile

fibrosarcoma - a rare form of cancer attacking her body which had

already spread to her lung. Darcie had to undergo drastic surgery and

then chemotherapy, to which she suffered an adverse reaction that

nearly killed her. But now, at nine-months-old, she has finally

been given the all clear. Her mother has been telling Peter

Whittlsea about their ordeal. They will never forget it. It will

live with me forever. It was the moment Natalie Kay had been

dreading, confirmation that her baby had cancer, aged just seven

weeks and five days. You cure cancer and cheating death, don't

you? When it is your own, there is no offer -- other feeling. There is

no feeling like that. It is like being hit by a bus. Natalie and her

husband noticed that D'Arcy had a lumpen she was just three weeks old.

It grew and grew. It was so large you have to have chemotherapy to

shrink the tumour before it was surgically removed at Great Ormond

Street. The doctors were brilliant. Great Ormond Street were excellent.

They continuously helped us. They were always checking up on her to

say she was all right. It is a relief. Having a child with cancer,

it could come back. Fingers crossed it won't. Experts say that parents

should be vigilant. Any lump or bomb that you're worried about you

should get seen, because it is easy to get checked out. The likelihood

is that it would be anything worrying, but you get it checked.

She is nearly 10 months old now and finished chemotherapy last week.

Her parents are now looking forward to her first Christmas, which they

New schemes to help our high streets are announced, but will our

businesses actually notice them? He said he wanted it to be a wake-

up call for the whole of football. Now the case of former Gillingham

player Mark McCammon, who was unfairly sacked from the club

because of racial victimisation, is being used to support the setting

up of a separate association for black players. McCammon says he had

to bring a private case against Gillingham because of a lack of

support from existing organisations. But critics fear any new union

could be divisive. Simon Jones reports.

He was awarded �68,000 and what was called a landmark ruling. Mark

McCammon argued he was treated differently from white players. He

brought the case himself after he said those who turn to for help

didn't provide it. I thought they were there for me. I was bitterly

disappointed. I was told just to get on with it. I wasn't in a

position to do that. It just carried on and on and I got

disgusted because they couldn't bear it any more. At the weekend

several high-profile players refuse to wear kick it out T-shirts

claiming a lack of action tackling racism in the game. Those proposing

a new union for black players say the Mark McCammon case shows why it

is needed. You have to have something that is owned and

directed by black players. It has to be progressive and fit into

existing structures were possible. If necessary comic and followed

with them and tell them they're wrong. Last month John Terry

received a four-match ban for I think they are upset about the

process and the time it is taking, but didn't see any benefit in

having a split. I think their anger is directed at the wrong group in

terms of kick it out. Mark McCammon says change is needed, and quickly.

Simon Jones with that report. He's live now in Chatham. Simon, Mark

McCammon's legal battle isn't over yet. Gillingham are appealing

against the findings of the tribunal. Mark McCammon always said

that he was treated differently from white players. He said on one

occasion when it snowed heavily he was ordered into the club, while

other players were told they could stay at home. When he was told he

was injured, he would have to be treated on the NHS, while another

player was flown privately to Jay Bybee. Today the pressure -- today

the Professional Footballers' Association wouldn't comment on his

claim that we didn't get proper treatment from then. They said that

any new association would prove decisive -- would prove divisive.

A Kent MP says the chairman of the BBC Trust should consider his

position. It comes after Lord Patten warned a Government Minister

not to question the independence of the corporation in relation to the

Jimmy Savile inquiry. Sir Roger Gale, a former BBC employee, says

Lord Patten's criticism of Maria Miller could threaten his own

future. The Culture Secretary had said concerns have been raised

about public confidence in the BBC. A four-year-old girl has been saved

from a house fire, which began at a home in Eastbourne last night.

Sussex Fire and Rescue were called to the property in Percival Road

just after 1.30am this morning. Officers successfully got the girl

to safety. Brighton Pier is no longer for sale.

It was put on the market in June last year, but its owners say no

one matching the asking price has come forward. The late 19th century

structure had a �25 million price tag.

A development company with the rights to a derelict Kent theme

park has been condemned as having done diddly squat over the last 10

years, and are not fit to have the contract. SFP Ventures obtained

planning permission for the former Pleasarama site in Ramsgate,

promising luxury flats and a hotel would be built, but, so far, work

has yet to start. Our business correspondent Mark Norman reports.

It ought to be prestige development, a catalyst for regeneration.

Instead it has been derelict for a decade. The developers have at

least, but want the freeholds. The council want prove they can raise

the money first. This situation has dragged on, infuriating some

councillors. SF p ventures have proved that there are not fit to do

the job. I don't see why the council should be handing over the

freehold of this property to the developers who have done it did

police court. It is a piece of land that has history. In May 1998,

after 30 years as an amusement park, Pleasurama burnt to the ground. In

2002 the company took over the site. After various we negotiations come

in at over 2009 some groundwork began. Works in stopped and new

negotiations started. The councillor desperate as it

developed, but have no option but to deal with the company. We are

waiting for S F P to come back to us to prove that they have got

sufficient funding in the bank to complete the project. They also

have to prove to us that they have an operator for the hotel. We also

need to complete due diligence. Apparently raising the money is the

only stumbling block. The owner of the company has personally put in

�5 million. He now looks to funders to complete the project. He would

have no problems in the past getting funding, but in the current

climate he has difficulty because the people who would fund want the

security of the freehold. council want to believe that this

regeneration project will go ahead, but for now all they have to show

for their perseverance is a few pretty pictures.

Over the last few weeks we have been looking at how our High

Streets have been battling against out of town competition, online

trading, recession, and the lack of available credit from banks. In a

few moments, we'll be talking to the Minister for Local Growth about

the latest plans to revitalise our struggling High Street, after this

report from Alex Beard into how one businessman in Tunbridge Wells has

managed to make his business grow by diversifying.

Another busy lunchtime at Sankey's. Despite the state of the economy,

the owners have invested heavily in this bar restaurants and the new

fishmonger business. I have convinced the bank that our

business model will work. It is my a few that whilst people are saying

we shouldn't be spending money now, I am investing in this business, in

the property, because I believe that will make a stronger business.

It will increase revenue, which can only be a good thing. That

increasing revenue has greater profit, helped by this new

enterprise, a fishmonger's shop. based this bit is -- a business

model around the current climate. These are the overheads. We then

build our margin based on those overheads. The number one priority

is that the business makes a profit and can survive. Investing in your

business in a recession is critical, according to experts. When times

are hard is the times when you should be trained in your staff,

you should be going out to the Chamber of Commerce, you should be

doing some advertising. It won't last and the companies that were

strong will carry on. Matthew has only ever traded during this

recession and he believes his business plan is working. They are

profitable, and that bodes well for the future of his business.

Joining us now from Westminster is the Minister for Local Growth, Mark

Prisk. Mr Prisk, we've been hearing something of a success story with

Sankey's there, but we've also heard a lot of major problems for

High Street businesses, the main one being lack of credit from the

banks. What do you proposing to do to help? I know how tough it can be.

With the global credit crunch, it has been very tight on the high

street. We have been trying to make sure that we help with their costs.

It is about making sure you invest in your business. As a government,

we have been cut in corporation tax for the smallest businesses down to

20 p, and doubling the threshold where the other taxes bite. We have

been tiering -- hearing about the Mary porters projects. That is

quite small beer, isn't it? How we change our high streets, it is

about the leadership the shop has, the leadership the high street

needs. These pilots have given as good examples of things will work

for towns. Getting your markets right, getting the empty shops back

into use. We're trying to extend a pilot programme to over three

hundreds town team partners. trouble with these little project

is that a novel lot of businesses we speak to say it doesn't come up

on their radar. They're interested in business rate in getting the

banks to lend. We're helping the smallest shops with their business

rates. We shouldn't ignore the fact that by cutting the deficit it

means that interest rates have remains lower for much longer. We

should and ignored when town centres, high street to are trying

to compete with online competition, it is important they think about

what their advantages are and how they promote them better. Several

people have looked at reviving their markets. Action for Market

Towns says that over the last couple of years football has

dropped by as much as a third. Is it worth trying to keep a high

street going? It is crucial. There are not town-centre us for nothing.

They are the heart of our communities. They have to be able

to adapt and change. People are looking for a mix of retail, social

and other things. Markets are a good example of how you can attract

people back. They look at this and see that it is something that

online business can't offer. We will do all we can to help them.

Our top story tonight: Crawley has been the focus of a new campaign to

warn people of the dangers of misusing level crossings. The

Sussex town has one of the worst rates for misuse in the country.

Two people have died on the Horsham Road crossing in the last three

years. Also in tonight's programme:

Celebrating and commemorating the suffragettes - why our women MPs

have been marching on Westminster. Surely it is too soon in this

season to be talking about snow? Not necessarily. During the later

in the programme for all the Hundreds of women, among them two

South East MPs, have been marching today calling for greater equality

for women. The rally, which took place at Westminster, comes on the

same day as a landmark legal ruling which could pave the way for tens

of thousand of women to launch equal pay claims. Our Political

Editor, Louise Stewart, has tonight's Special Report.

It has been more than a hundred years since Emmeline Pankhurst

rushed into parliament demanding that women get the vote. Today

hundreds of women met its parliament again to ask for women's

rights. Things are actually going backwards. We have seen continued

attacks on abortion rights in Parliament. We have seen the

austerity agenda dare chipping away at women's hard-earned gains.

the early 19 hundreds, women who fought for the right to vote became

known as suffragettes. Emily Davidson even lost her life or

trying to throw a suffragette banner over the King's horse. Women

have come a long way since then, but many believe there is a lot

more to do. We have a record high in terms of women's unemployment.

There is difficulty for women to get childcare. There are many

battles to be fought. The role the suffragettes played was highlighted

at the opening ceremony of the Woman's Olympics. It is all about

raising awareness, making sure that government realises that women are

not yet satisfied, there is a lot more to do and we expect the

Government act and what we are Gorillas are among mankind's

closest relative in the animal kingdom. In fact, our DNA is 98%

identical to ours. They are the nature's largest primate. But they

are seriously endangered, with only about 100,000 west lowland gorillas

worldwide. Now, in what is being described as the most ambitious

reintroduction scheme ever undertaken, a family of 11 gorillas

are being released into the wild by the Aspinall Foundation early next

year. The group is headed by Jala, a 30-year-old male gorilla who was

rescued from poachers in Africa and brought to Port Lympne in Kent in

the 1990s. Claudia Sermbezis reports. This is a wild boar and

western lowland gorilla. He was fined 28 years ago tied up to a

post in an African village. Sending guerrillas back is not new to us.

This is new because no one has attempted to do with the big family

group of four. We will supply them with medication, helped to settle

their main, give them extra food. We won't just deserted him. More

than 50 guerrillas have already been released by the Foundation,

mostly very young ones. This is very different. It is an

established, cohesive group. They all get on, look after each other.

The father is very good, very protective male. Obviously, because

the guerrillas are in captivity they have only got a certain amount

of area they can move around in. When they are back in the wild,

they will be pretty nomadic. They will be looking around for food

every couple of days. The Aspinall Foundation believes that

conservation must be fundamental to the existence of any captured

gripper for animals. Damian Aspinall had such a strong bond

with gorillas as a child, he let his 18 month-old daughter played at

them. Back in June, Prince William lent his support to the

foundation's release of three black rhino to the wild and Tanzania. The

foundation is also trying to breed endangered species. We have these

animals for a reason other than just display or education. We want

to make an active commitment to conservation with the animals we

have in our care. Working in conjunction with the Congolese

government, the guerrillas will go back to protected areas. The

youngest illegal just be eight months old. It is hoped that the

In last night's football, Brighton and Hove Albion's slump in the

Championship continued, while Charlton managed a draw. Better

news for Crawley, who strengthened their place in the League One play-

off positions with victory, but Gillingham suffered their first

away defeat of the season. Neil Bell reports.

A month ago, Brighton were top of the table. Last night stripped to

Leicester's of the recent bad run continued. They went behind early

on. With goals had become by, the Albion must have been delighted to

get a penalty. But the spot kick was well saved, to make it five

games without a win. Charlton's inconsistent season continued last

night. They found themselves behind lead in the first half. However,

they never gave in and things were level DUP. Her Crawley made it five

wins from the last six games depends largely to Billy Clark, the

striker. He added a second goal late on. We are gathering a bit of

momentum. I thought for 70 % of the game we were the better side. The

15 minutes that we went the better side could have cost us. We'll will

never dominate every game for 90 minutes. If you dominated for 70

minutes, you could argue they probably deserve to win it.

Gillingham's seemed new resource last -- endless march to wardship

promotion seems to be going ahead. Torquay however managed to beat

them. It is their first away defeat It is the roller-coaster of British

weather. It is quite fitting that it is Hallowe'en next week. The

weather can be a little bit spooky at this time of year. The

temperatures Rocca did today with the bit of sunshine. In the end of

the 18 degrees. Move ahead to Friday, and a cold front will be

bringing us much cooler temperatures. Our top temperature

on Friday will only be up to nine degrees. That is for five degrees

below were we should be at this time of year. Could we be seeing

some snow soon? Not in October this year! You only have to go back to

2008 when we did get some snow around this time of year. So, it

will not be that called by the end of this week, but noticeably so,

but not just yet. Tonight will be the last of the mild nights, and

possibly the last of the murky, drizzly night. Still, hill fog

across their hills and a damned feel. That will be with us

throughout tomorrow. So, not the brightness of we had through today.

Tomorrow we will hang on to the cloud in bits and pieces of drizzle.

Also, the air temperature will be about 14 degrees, not as mild as

today. 13 or 14 degrees is were we should be at this time of year.

After tomorrow we will start to notice the colder air coming down.

It is a cold front coming down Thursday night into Friday. Waking

up on Friday, it will be feeling cooler, only getting up to about

nine degrees for Friday and staying called after that. We are swapping