11/09/2013 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today, I'm Rob Smith. And I'm Bryony MacKenzie.

Tonight's top stories. A week on from the Sheppey crash — calls for

the Government to carry urgent safety review. We're live at

the scene of the crash with the details. In Margate for the money?

Mary Portas denies she misled parliament over her high street

champion role. If I was getting half £1 million from Channel four for my

programme I would be a happy woman. I think that she was misleading

Parliament. Also in tonight's programme. An inquest begins into

the death of a motorist killed by an ambulance on a 999 call — witnesses

say they didn't hear sirens. Remembering Tokyo with four time

olympian Paul Nihill, who won silver in the 50 kilometre walk in 1964.

And looking forward to a night on the tiles — the roofer who's won

£3.6 million on the national lottery. If Good evening. It was one

of the biggest incidents the South East's emergency services have ever

had to deal with. More than 130 vehicles colliding in thick fog on

the Sheppey Crossing in Kent. And tonight, the local MP has urged the

Government to carry out an urgent safety review. The Sittingbourne and

Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson has written to the Transport Minister,

asking him to ensure the chaos and terror seen last Thursday can never

happen again. Peter Whittlesea reports. The twisted wreckage

slashed as far as the eye could see. On the day that the local MP was

shocked by the numbers involved, he said his priority was casualties.

Now Gordon Henderson wants to transport Minister to act to make

sure these scenes are never repeated. I have written to the

Secretary of State for transport to ensure the safety of the crossing

and to come up with measures to make sure nothing like it ever happens

again. More than 130 village King — more than 130 vehicles where

involved in the crash on Sheppey Crossing. Those who survived the

crash said that safety lessons can be learnt from their ordeal. Mainly

the human element. People driving more safely according to the road

conditions. One week on and everyone is still talking about the pile—up,

because everybody on the island know somebody who was involved. We have

been asking for lights and warning lights and other things that the

ministry did not want to afford or did not deem possible or needy,

until such time as the trauma and I think 130 cars in one pile is enough

to get some action. It is dangerous. Professional driving organisations

agree that something has to be done. Clearly, there is a risk of folk

occurring on this bridge —— fog. Look at what is used in the Dartford

Crossing in recent years. It looks as if we're going to need safety

measures like that for Sheppey. Almost a week later there are still

disbelief that nobody was killed. Many think that this should be used

as a warning to improve safety, before it is too late. Peter's live

for us on the Isle of Sheppey. It's not the first time the local MP —

and others — have raised safety concerns about the Sheppey Crossing,

is it Peter? Ever since the bridge was opened in 2006, safety concerns

have been raised. Even before he became an MP, Gordon Henderson said

he raised safety issues about the bridge. Today the Department of

Transport would not comment on safety because there was an ongoing

police investigation as to what happened on Thursday. The ones

survive that I spoke to said that something has to be done to slow

down drivers, because they do not treat it as a bridge, but as a

launch pad. The retail expert Mary Portas has been accused tonight of

misleading Parliament over money she received in her role as a champion

for high street regeneration. The so—called Queen of Shops rejected

suggestions she'd only got involved in Portas Pilot towns like Margate,

Dartford and Brighton to make money from spin off TV programmes when she

gave evidence to MPs last week. In a select committee hearing she

specifically denied receiving a 500—thousand pound fee from Channel

Four — but has now admitted that IS the amount she's paid by the

broadcaster. Simon Jones reports. She was accused from the start of

being more interested in self—promotion than in promoting

attempts to revitalise the town attempts to revitalise the town

proved no less controversial. You have said repeatedly that you have

not been paid for any of the work that you have done for the

Government. Last week, MPs asked if she was being paid half £1 million

by Channel four, for her shares, as was reported by the newspapers. If I

was getting £500,000 for my shows from Channel four I would be I happy

woman. I'm surprised that you listen to the Daily Mail. She has said that

she misinterpreted the question about her payment from Channel four.

She is on a two—year contract worth half £1 million but at this to make

20 programmes, not just the Queen of the high Street show. The MP who

quit was not impressed. I think she was misleading Parliament, no doubt

about it. I can't think of many people who can't recall receiving a

payment of half £1 million. It is bizarre. One shopkeeper who featured

in the programme is defending her. She might have made money out of it

but she is not a charity, and I have not got a problem with that at all.

But, a different view on the high Street. With Mary Portas it was all

about her own career rather than anything, to be honest. Mary Portas

took it with the again to say that she had misinterpreted the questions

from MPs, under fire. She says that she believes in honesty, and that

she will roll with the punches. Today, plans were unveiled for a new

60 bed hotel next to the Turner contemporary gallery. It has started

to create debate through the Turner Gallery, through the new hotel, to

bring tourists into places like Margate. But the role of Mary Portas

in that regeneration has proved as ever. —— as divisive as ever. In a

moment — controversial plans to close a quarter of the Surestart

children's centres in Kent meet with criticism from Conservative MPs. An

inquest into the death of a Sussex motorist killed in a collision with

an ambulance answering an emergency call has heard from witnesses who

say they didn't hear any sirens. Gary Tucker died from head injuries

at the scene of the collision in Brighton in February. Fiona Irving

reports. Gary Tucker was an exceptional and beautiful person,

his friend said. The court inquest heard that he was killed immediately

when his car collided with an ambulance responding to an emergency

call. It sounds a bit corny, but every day of the week he used to

send me naff jokes. Friends used to say, keep sending us these jokes.

The crash happened on the jewel carriageway section in Marine Drive

in Brighton in February. A witness saw the vehicles collide and bend

the wheels of the ambulance drive over Gary Tucker's vehicle. Andrew

Brown, who was in the passenger seat, was thrown into the middle of

the road. In court today he was asked:

Tomorrow, the coroner will hear evidence from the paramedics

involved. Fiona joins us outside the coroner's court in Brighton. Fiona,

I understand this was a routine journey for Gary. They made the tour

—— the journey every Thursday evening. It was routine to them.

Andrew had replied to Gary asked if he could turn right here,

go for it. There were paramedics in tears during parts of the evidence

being read out. Tomorrow, we hope to hear from the driver of the

ambulance involved in the crash. She said she believed staff had withheld

information about how her mother had fractured ankle. Plans for the first

phase of a six hundred and fifty —million pound regeneration scheme

at Chatham Docks could be given the go—ahead by Medway Councillors.

Developer Peel Ports wants to build a thousand homes, a supermarket, a

hotel and leisure facilities. They claims the scheme would create 3500

jobs. Councillors unexpectedly rejected the original plans in June

— but will consider a revised application this evening. Four men

are awaiting sentencing for their part in a Kent drugs supply ring

worth millions of pounds. Hugh Webb, brothers Danny and Michael Malone,

and Martin Merritt were arrested in March, after Kent Police seized

almost two tonnes of cannabis resin. Plans to close dozens of children's

centres have sparked a row between the Conservatives running Kent

County Council, and two Tory MPs. The authority's planning to save one

and a half million pounds by closing 23 Sure Start centres — that's one

in every four across the county. Councillors say Government funding

cuts are forcing them to make difficult decisions, but two Kent

MPs say the move will leave families without access to vital services.

Our political editor Louise Stewart reports. Lynne Marie Cook has three

children and uses sure start facilities. She says it provides

vital support for families like ours, but it is now earmarked the

closure. I think it being taken away is disgusting. They are not thinking

about young parents, middle—aged air and saw all the parents that need

the extra help and advice. Kent County Council ones to close 23 sure

start centres. The cuts will save 1.5 William pounds but local MPs say

that the funding should be found elsewhere. We have to look at where

the site closures are. Some of them in Folkestone and new Romney are in

areas of real need, well supported by the local

communities, which support a number of other activities. I think we

should keep them open. Labour says that the Conservative lead counsel

has got its priorities wrong. It is unfortunate that the cuts been

chosen to make in these areas with the most vulnerable children's and

families. It was promised prior to the election that the centres would

be safe. Kent County Council says that the closures are necessary, and

that children will be able to access other centres close by. Most of them

are part time and have signed poster children services elsewhere in the

community, and the majority of users also use other children centres that

we do not propose to close. Back in Sittingbourne, mothers say that they

would only be able to access other centres if they have a car, which

would leave the poorest families with nowhere to go. Kent County

Council said that they have got to make these decisions because of the

Government cutting local budgets. Sure start was set up under Labour

in 1998, with the idea of Mick giving children the best possible

start in life, and David Cameron output texted —— pledged to protect

the centres, but because of cuts from central government to local

authorities, centres have closed across the

country, and the south—east has been the hardest hit. So, now, we have

Conservative MPs in Kent, urging the Conservative lead counsel not to

close any more of these centres. It has to be said, no decisions have

been taken yet. This is a consultation. The public can still

have their say, until October the 4th. A family from East Grinstead

are campaigning for Government funding to access specialist drugs

for their son —— who has a rare and incurable condition. Six—year—old

Benedict McAlister has a rare muscle wasting disease — which means he's

unlikely to reach adulthood — but his family believe the right

treatment could prolong his life. Rebecca Williams reports. Benedict

has a rare muscle wasting disease which means that he can only walk on

his tiptoes. As a parent, the thought of that loss or potential,

it is like you have to deal with the grief of it, and it is very

difficult. And it does not ever go away. The disease means Benedict is

unlikely to live much past his early 20s. They have gone too far with my

wobbly legs now. It is a hereditary disease affecting 200 people in the

UK. It causes muscle weakness and curvature of the spine. Later in

life some patients might experience respiratory problems or even

paralysis. At the moment, there was no cure for the disease. Clinical

trials have been done. The family is now backing calls for the muscular

dystrophy campaign to get extra funding so that access to drugs is

made easier. The campaign is calling on the Government to set up a new

fund that will support these kinds of treatments and hopefully, we will

be able to see a ring fenced fund for these particular conditions. Too

often, these are overlooked and neglected. The Department of health

says that it is working to develop a UK wide strategy for people with

diseases like Benedict's, which will be published by the end of the year.

Our top story. There are calls tonight for the Government to carry

out an urgent safety review of the Sheppey Crossing in Kent. The local

MP has written to the Transport Minister, asking him to ensure there

can never be a repeat of last week's pile—up there. More than 130

vehicles collided in thick fog. Looking forward to a night on the

tiles — the roofer who's won £3.6 million on the national lottery. And

is going to rain later? Join me later in the programme to find out.

And if you have a story you think we should be covering, you can contact

us. The decision to award the 2020

Olympics to Japan has brought memories flooding back for a Kent

Olympian who competed there almost 50 years ago. Paul Nihill won a

silver medal in the 50 kilometre race walk when Tokyo last hosted the

games, in 1964. He went onto compete in three further Olympic Games — and

Alex Beard has been to meet him for tonight's Special Report. Swinging

his hips all the way to a silver medal, Paul Nihill said the success

in Tokyo changed his life. I got onto the world stage there. I was

thought that I could get a medal. I was thought I might get a medal, but

on the day, it rained like mad and it was a home from home for me. The

50 kilometre race is the longest athletic event. Competitors must

maintain contact with the ground throughout. There is no middle

ground. Walking is unbroken contract —— —— contact with the terra firma.

Most of the athletes at the time had day jobs. Now they have got all day

to train. They have got a team with physiotherapists and doctors. In our

day, if you had trouble with your legs, you popped down to the local

GP. Paul went on to collect numerous more world titles, but Pace walking

was something that he chanced upon. There was an advert in the paper

that said, have you —— can you walk five miles per hour, and I thought,

I will have a bash at that. I was did what I did best, and they seem

to be doing best at Pace walking, so I stuck to it. And he has only

retired recently. As we approach the

start of the First World War, the most familiar images of the conflict

for most of us are those of trench warfare. But this weekend a new

exhibition opens in Kent, which looks at the story of the Great War

at sea. Sir John Lavery was a society painter turned war artist,

who travelled society painter turned war artist,

bases, shipyards and munitions factories. Sara Smith has been to

the Historic Dockyard Chatham to see his work. Battleships waiting to

sell into danger, and airmen looking for the enemy. Woman at work in

munitions factories. That did not mean that he did not have a story

worth telling. He travelled the length of Britain, to the Orkneys,

for the British fleet had its base at the harbour of Scapa flow, and to

the dockyards were ships were built to take the wounded home. The

background was very important for the prosecution of the war. They

needed the munitions and food. All of that was being shown in his

paintings. Mostly it was naval life that took his attention. The ground

fleet before and after battle. He intended to go to the Western front,

but, almost 60 when the war began, his health and the insistence of his

wife kept him on these shores, but his paintings help tell the story of

what was going on well beyond them. Trench warfare was only one aspect

of the First World War. What we're trying to put forward to is not just

the dockyard, but the Navy played an important part, and without the war

at sea and the home front work, the war would have been lost. Sir John

Lavery witnessed and painted one hugely significant moment bash the

surrender of the German fleet, with the high command from both sides

negotiating terms aboard a British flagship. The exhibition opens at

Chatham historic dockyard on Friday. A couple from Crawley say they've

been left shocked, speechless, sleepless. But its not the arrival

of a new baby that's turned Stuart Hunt and Nicky Martin's life upside

down — its the unexpected windfall of £3.6 million from the National

Lottery. Their good fortune is especially timely because Stuart —

who is a self employed roofer — hasn't been able to work for weeks

because he injured his knee playing football — with his daughter. Robin

Gibson has more. Special numbers that he chooses every week. Numbers

he thought no one else would choose. Finally, the dream has come true. I

had to sit down. It still has not sunk in now. It is also surreal. He

is a self—employed roofer, she is a full—time mum, looking after their

three young children. Now they face cameras, questions and the

inevitable champagne. I haven't slept. Have not eaten. Hopefully I'm

going to get a good nights sleep tonight. The lucky day came after a

long lay—off from work for Stewart. They join an elite group of lottery

winners from Sussex and Kent. Earlier this year, a Brighton

lottery syndicate of dinner ladies 12.1 million pounds. In 1995, a

giant haul of £22.5 million went to Paul Maddison and Mark Gardner from

Hastings. Stewart and Nikki found out on Sunday. They kept quite to

all but a few before deciding to go public. It was exciting and nervous.

It was good, good. It has been a good experience. They have got a new

lottery number to remember, and life will never be

We are so jealous, aren't we? So, are you going to be a millionaire

this weekend? I wish! The weather is not going to beanie and the as

exciting. —— to be nearly as exciting. Tonight, we have rain, on

the way, it is going to become increasingly murky. Top—10 bridges,

around 17 Celsius today, not too bad for the time of year. —— top

temperatures. This evening, we're going to be seeing that rain. Behind

it, lots of cloud around. Temperatures not quite as cool as

they have been recently. We're going to be seeing outbreaks of rain.

Eventually it will clear. Going through, heading towards dawn,

temperatures of around 12 Celsius. Lots of fog and mist around.

Starting the day, it is going to be overcast, but mostly dry. It is

going to be increasingly windy over the next couple of days. Another

band of rain is going to be heading our way. For Match of the Day two,

we will stay dry. —— for much of the day, we will stay dry. High

temperatures of around 18 Celsius, and the wind is still from a

westerly direction, at around ten miles an hour, so easing off, from

today. Tomorrow night, increasingly unsettled, with that rain becoming

heavy and staying with us throughout the night. Temperatures around 15

Celsius. It is going to be a wet start on Friday, remaining wet and

windy, with temperatures not getting much above 18 Celsius, and heading

to the weekend, pretty blustery, but lots of rain around and Is of around

19 Celsius. —— highs. You will need your umbrella over the next couple

of days. I don't think I am going to have a barbecue on Saturday, after

all. Harvest 2013 will be looking at the method used by some food

producers. And Thanet Earth, the method used by some food

feature on Harvest 2013.