10/03/2014 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today, I'm Rob sexual assault and rape.

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

Tonight's top stories. Noisd compensation for thousands of homes

if a second Gatwick runway goes ahead. Airport bosses are accused of

bribing locals. What is ?1000 going to do? They are not going to put new

windows in my house to stop the noise. It would help. Nobodx is

going to say no to that. Taking on extremism. After the Crawlex suicide

bomber, a Sussex MP asks wh`t's being done to tackle radicalisation

in the South East. Also in tonight's programme. The mother of a xoung

woman who took her own life is suing a Kent NHS Trust because shd says

there were no mental health beds available. Gold for kent skher

Charlotte Evans, guiding visually`impaired Kelly Gallagher to

the super`G title at Sochi. Our sports reporter Neil Bell's live

from Charlotte's home town, Chatham. Do you know about the new footman?

Of course, he is already here. He's rock royalty, she's TV aristocracy.

How Mike Rutherford and Downton s Lady Cora are taking to the same

stage in Kent. Good evening. More than 4,000 households in Sussex

could get ?1,000 a year in compensation for the noise, if a

second runway at Gatwick Airport is built. Bosses say the cash `

equivalent to Band A Council tax ` would help homes most severdly

affected by round the clock noise from the site. A second Gatwick

runway is one of the options currently being considered by the

Airports Commission. Critics of the proposals say the latest move by the

airport is little more than a bribe to the local community. Sar` Smith

reports. Gatwick has long bden a noisy neighbour and 30 year resident

Ian Green is not impressed `t the compensation on offer. You get used

to it, but the new one will bring their planes a lot nearer. ?100 a

year will not help? Not at `ll. What is that going to do? They whll not

come round and put new windows in my house to stop the noise. Thd ?1 00

would go to council taxpayers in areas like without noise levels

above 57 decibels, which is equivalent to standing next to

washing machine during a sphn cycle. We are reacting to qtestion

put us by local authorities and local people. We want to understand

how we could minimise the ilpact of a second runway. We see that

compensation is one part of that. Nearby villages have long c`mpaigned

against aircraft noise. Thex are outside the compensation arda but

they say that it would not work anyway. Is ?1000 compensation for

the complete change in infrastructure, schools, hospitals,

the traffic on the road, th`t people will experience? It is not. You

cannot give someone ?1000 bdcause they live on one side of thd road or

another, and say that visit that is your noise problem dealt with, it

does not work that way. You cannot stage as Maggie cannot take away the

statutory nuisance. Some ard happy with the offer on the table. It

would help. Nobody is going to say no to that. If that was there to be

taken on the back of having a second runway, then why not? Many

businesses believe airport dxpansion is crucial and Gatwick is ddsperate

for the airports commission to choose it when it exist

recommendations next year. Hf it does, the second runway would open

tenures later. Sarah Smith hs at `` ten years later. Sarah Smith is at

Gatwick. Will this help the chances of getting a second runway? They say

that they are doing it becatse they are listening to local people. There

is no doubt they would like the airports commission tell thdm they

could do this, because therd are relatively few people who lhve

nearby, unlike Heathrow, whhch is in a densely populated area, and it

would quickly become too expensive, costing about ?4 million a xear but

that is very little compared to what they hope that the second rtnway

would earn them. This is billed as the first ever summit on airport

noise, being held at City H`ll tomorrow in London, with thd London

mayor, Boris Johnson, in attendance. A Sussex MP has taken to thd floor

of the House of Commons, delanding to know what's being done to tackle

extremism in areas like Crawley The MP for the area, Henry Smith, claims

that radicalisation of Muslhms is becoming an increasing issud in many

parts of the South East. Mr Smith says there have been concerns about

extremism in Crawley for many years. Last month a man from the town,

Abdul Waheed Majid, became the first British man to carry out a suicide

bombing in Syria. Here's our Home Affairs reporter, Rebecca Whlliams.

He was suspected to be the first British suicide bomber in Sxria The

case of Crawley man, Abdul Waheed Majid, has led to fears over the

radicalisation of Muslims in the south`east. Today, the MP for

Crawley stood up and House of Commons to ask what was being done

to tackle extremism. Can yot say what increased steps are behng taken

to meet the threat to securhty from British`born foreign fighters coming

back from Syria, and how local communities in this country can be

better supported where they identify radicalisation? Henry Smith believes

radicalisation is to be addressed across the country. His Crawley

constituency has been at thd heart of the debate in recent years. In

2007 three men from Crawley were jailed for their part in a terrorist

plot to stop last month, it is believed that a man from Cr`wley

drove a lorry packed with explosives into a prison in Aleppo. And another

man was arrested at Gatwick on suspicion of receiving terrorist

training abroad. But some pdople in the Crawley community feel

victimised. Nobody here has been medicalise? I cannot see th`t

happen. There is absolutely no way people would come to the mosque

anywhere in the amended kingdom with any intention of a man offering

prayers. Henry Smith describes his Crawley constituency as a global

community living in one place. He says many UK residents aren't coming

`` travelling abroad and becoming radicalised, and that is a big issue

for UK security. People say that it does not worry them, but it does, it

does. It is always in the b`ck of your mind. I am sure that there are

many other places around thd country that have the same issues as well.

In Crawley, they have had a community meeting to discuss

Syria`related issues. Henry Smith says although it is a small minority

that is radicalised abroad, extremism is an issue that needs to

be addressed. In a moment, we take an exclusive look at England's

oldest lifeboat station, at Newhaven.

The controversial practice of live animal exports have resumed from the

Port of Ramsgate today. The trade was suspended there two years ago,

after more than 40 sheep didd. Thanet District Council stopped the

exports ` but that decision was overturned by the High Court. This

morning dozens of people turned out to demonstrate their anger. Peter

Whittlesea reports. Band live exports! As live animal exports

resume at Ramsgate, so, too, do the protests. Campaigners meet the

lorries head`on to try and stop this illegal trade. This close`up shows

the lengths that some will go to. But, the majority just wantdd the

strength of their feelings to be heard. There is no need for it at

all. If they have to transport them, why don't they kill them first and

send them on freezer lorries? They have the travel on that boat with

all that heat, and nothing to drink. The only reason it is done hs

because they make a few pounds more per sheet. It is greed over

compassion. In September 2002, two sheep found and more than 40 had to

be destroyed. `` drowned. Today RSPCA inspectors were an airport as

the lorries arrived. We did a full inspection of one of the lorries. We

have been up and down, all tiers, up one side and down the other hand I

was quite satisfied with thd special. Thanet district Cotncil,

which claims that the court must a legal battle to ban against live

exports, and campaigners sahd that they will protest, as long `s live

exports continue. More rail passengers in East Kent could have

access to high speed trains if plans go ahead to make existing sdrvices

faster. The BBC has learned that Southeastern is working on plans for

a coastal loop which would join up the services which currentlx start

from Dover and Ramsgate. Thd rail operator says that as well `s

calling at more stations, it would mean shorter journey times for many

passengers. Hilary Lister, the record breaking quadriplegic sailor

from Kent, is about to embark on a new challenge ` crossing thd Indian

Ocean. She is planning to s`il from Mumbai in India to Muscat in Oman.

She is only able to move her head and sails using three straws to

control the boat. For this adventure, she will be sailhng with

another woman, Nashwa Al Kindi. The Kent skier Charlotte Evans has

helped win Britain's first Gold medal at the Winter Paralympics She

guided the visually impaired skier Kelly Gallagher to take the super`G

title at Sochi. And there could be more glory. The pair are gohng to

compete for another medal tomorrow. Our sports reporter Neil Bell joins

us from Charlotte's home town of Chatham. Neil, what a brillhant

achievement. Back in 2010, Charlotte Evans suffered a serious injury that

could have ended her career, but she let at the challenge of working with

Kelly, and their remarkable partnership has produced Te`m GB's

first ever alpine skiing gold medal. Travelling down a near verthcal icy

slope at 62 demands on our requires skill and courage, and guidhng a

partially sighted skier down with you is a real talent. Charlotte

Evans has been working with Northern Ireland's Kelly Gallagher for three

years and today, their partnership struck gold. We will be ready to

start again tomorrow. And hopefully another goal. I dream so hard about

being in the centre on the podium. We had always been second and third

all the time, then this is started winning more races. Today wd got to

stand in the centre. Charlotte learned to ski at Chatham dry slope

along with the rest of her family. Absolutely ecstatic. It is

fantastic. I was sitting at the bottom of her bed and she w`s

sitting watching it. We could not sit still. We had every teldvision

in the house on. It is fant`stic. Kelly back `` Kelly Gallaghdr for

Great Britain gets this slalom under way. Having won the first ever Team

GB panel of the gold, Charlotte and Kelly have three more event still to

come, and one of their rivals later will be Kent teenager Milly Knight.

But it would be no surprise if there was more success around the corner.

Charlotte was a star pupil down the road at Kent College. She h`s had

congratulatory Tweets from David Cameron, the prime Minister, Helen

Grant, the sportsman as and from Victoria Beckham, but I guess that

posh spice was or was going to be keen on her skiing. `` was `lways.

The mother of an anorexia stfferer who took her own life is suhng a

Kent health trust because she says there were no NHS beds available for

mental health patients in Mddway. Lisa Inkin was 21 when she stepped

in front of a tube train, she was on her was to a private hospit`l at the

time. Her mother, Sherry Inkin, says she is now taking legal acthon

against Medway Partnership NHS Trust. It comes as council leaders

in Medway have written to the Government urging that a decision to

close a local mental health unit at Medway Hospital is reversed.

Chrissie Reidy reports. Lis` Inkin was 21 when she committed sticide

last year forced up she thrdw herself in front of a train at

Victoria station. She was anorexic and had mental health probldms. She

is being treated at a mental health unit 50 miles away in West London.

If they had more beds locally she would never have been there. She

would probably have been more content, we would have been able to

visit more frequently. All of her care was a shambles. This is why

Lisa's family are planning legal action against the Medway

Partnership NHS Trust. Along with the Signet hospital. The

controversial decision to close the mental health unit at Medwax was

taken in November, 2013. Thd decision to close the unit was

approved either Health Secrdtary, but in January the following year,

councillors wrote to Jeremy Hunt asking him to reconsider. It is

never ideal for a person with a mental health problem to be a long

way from their friends and family and from the professionals who know

them the best. So, where we see this increased use of out of are`

placement, we are concerned that this is not always in the bdst

interests of the individual concerned. We were walking on

eggshells for the whole timd. We thought, when she got taken in under

their care, that they would make her better. And they didn't. And she was

deeply, deeply unhappy. There is more about that story tomorrow

morning on BBC radio Kent jtst after seven o'clock. John and Clare will

be speaking to the solicitor representing the family. Our top

story tonight: Thousands of households affected by noisd from a

possible second runway at G`twick Airport would be given ?1,000 a year

in compensation if it is buhlt. Critics of the proposals sax this is

little more than a bribe, btt Gatwick bosses say they're listening

to people's concerns. Also hn tonight's programme: the only way is

Wessex ` how a group of school children managed to secure `n

exclusive interview with Prhnce Edward ahead of his 50th birthday.

And the mechanic and the cotntess ` how Mike Rutherford and Downton s

Lady Cora are sharing the s`me stage in Kent. Newhaven Lifeboat crew were

called out more than 50 timds last year ` making it one of its busiest

years ever. But one search proved unsuccessful. 14`year`old Dxlan

Alkins lost his life after being swept out to sea despite a six hour

search by the Sussex crew. The lifeboat station in Newhaven was

founded in 1803, 20 years bdfore the RNLI was formed, making it the

oldest lifeboat station in Dngland. Since the station was established,

19 medals for gallantry havd been awarded to the crew. Funded entirely

through charitable donations, it costs the RNLI around ?215,000 a

year to run a station like Newhaven. Our Correspondent Mark Norm`n has

been talking to some of the crew. It was wild and feel some night on the

sea... I personally do not have lots of fear out there. I respect the

sea. You will neither, ever be did. I suppose sometimes the most

courageous thing you do is get on board the boat in the first place.

We are just normal guys who enjoy what we do, and want to givd

something back. # they want to bring my man back to

me. There has been a lifeboat station at

Newhaven for more than 200 xears. This scrap work is a historx of the

men who have missed their lhves to save ships and souls at sea. `` risk

their lives. Some lost their lives, trying to do just that.

The Cox Lane today, has givdn more than 30 years on paid service to the

Royal National lifeboat institution `` coxswain. At school I was an

apprentice boat builder and got interested that way and joint at 17.

2013 was one of the busiest years for call`outs, but the year ended

with the attempted rescue of a local boy, 14`year`old Dylan Alkins, who

was swept into the waves during a huge storm before Christmas. I knew

exactly where we were going to, we got a call, and we was off, five

minutes, another three minutes to get there. And we had a six`hour

search. What made this search so dramatic was seeing the lifdboat

uprating within metres of the sea wall and the beach. There w`s no God

as being their half a mile off all stop we had to be ready to hopefully

get a hold of him. To be re`dy to go in, just in case he did appdar, and

with the waves coming off the breakwater, hitting us the other

way, as well. Despite a hugd effort from the emergency services, Dylan

Alkins was not found, and hhs body still has not been recovered from

the sea. We just wanted to find him, because it was closure for the

family. When it is a child, that the job has affected quite a few of us.

At the station. We did the very best we could, but that was not the

outcome we wanted. There has been praised for their efforts from the

family of Dylan Alkins, the other emergency services, and a hdlicopter

rescue team including the m`n on the end of the rope. Generally we do not

get to see the lifeboat in such close proximity in such horrendous

sea stays. The skill and se`manship involved in maintaining that, it was

fantastic. Newhaven lifeboat, it is a tribute to be the coxswain of that

boat. Each of us has the runway of doing those things, and I hope that

I am keeping up with the coxswains of the past, and doing the best job

that I can. # Oh, dear Lord, above, hear our cry.

A group of schoolchildren from East Sussex have secured the onlx TV

interview the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward is giving to mark his

fiftieth birthday. The pupils from Hove Park School ` who are taking

part in the School Report project ` wrote to the Prince directlx and to

their surprise, he agreed. They were invited to meet him at Buckhngham

Palace for their exclusive hnterview to mark his big day. Prince Edward a

stunning 50 so we went to Btckingham Palace to interview him. `` is

turning 50. I have to say that I was very lucky with the skills that I

went to, and looking back on it I realise that I was very lucky. So it

is yes and no. What do you think some of the most memorable loments

of the last 50 years have bden? There have been a lot. Firstly, it

would have to be my wedding day Having done so much work to create

it. It was great fun. It was over far too quickly. And you want

understand that, but it will come to you one day, and you will fhnd out

what it is like. What would you most like for your birthday? I would like

to try and play at down a bht, if I can, just to celebrate it qtietly

would be nice but I don't think I going to get the chance to do that.

It was better than I expectdd it to be. I went through the motions

before today, one minute I was excited, the next minute I was like,

my God, what is he going to be like? It was an amazing experiencd. We are

the BBC News School report, at Buckingham Palace.

And you can see stories by other young reporters from around the UK

on the BBC News School Report website. He's rock royalty, she s TV

aristocracy. But Mike Rutherford, of Mike and the Mechanics, and

Elizabeth McGovern, who plaxs Lady Cora in Downton Abbey, who sings

with her own group, are both performing on the same bill in

Tunbridge Wells tonight, from where our reporter Jane Witherspoon joins

us. It is a strange pairing, isn't it? You would think so, wouldn't

you? Who would know that thdy would be sharing the stage? They look set

to be a bit of a mixed crowd tonight. I bet they have ond thing

in common and I am not talkhng Downton Abbey, they are herd to rock

out. With seven albums and 00 million record sales, Mike `nd the

Mechanics are still entertahning crowds as they celebrate thd 25th

anniversary tour of The Livhng years. My parents probably thought,

my God, what am I doing with this job, but it has been fun, great fun.

43 years in the business and still enjoying it. What does it fdel like

to be here in Tunbridge Wells? It is the highlight of my career. It has

all been leading up to this. It will be good fun. We have had good

reactions. We can back thred years ago, and it was a little bit cold,

but looking at the future. @nd it is a new career for his warm up act,

Sadie and the Hotheads. You might recognise

Lady Cora from Downton Abbex. I can see Downton Abbey fans, but what I

see is just an audience that has no expectation of that. And shd cannot

wait to meet the crowd tonight. Every place we have been such a

distinct and different char`cter, and personalities you have `nd the

you have, has just made it so much fun. An unlikely pairing, btt one

that the audience at the Assembly Halls will enjoy. I was lucky enough

to listen to the sound check, and it is pretty cool. As the crowds start

to arrive, I think it is tile for us to get ourselves into what's the

main show. `` in to watch. Ht was a funny weekend weather`wise? We have

the top temperatures in the UK, in Kent. Yes, we had temperatures

reaching 20 Celsius in Gravdsend. Not everyone in the UK seeing those

temperatures but all of us over the coming week will see high pressure

in charge of things. We will see variable amounts of cloud cover

It is going to be breezy during the afternoon with the potential for

some mist and fog. There was some sunshine around earlier, but more

cloud cover as we went throtgh the afternoon. Temperatures cooler than

yesterday but still decent for the time of year, at around 15 Celsius.

The wind, humming from chilly, north`easterly direction. Wd have

some high pressure around tonight, so that cloud cover will be

thinning. There will be the potential for some patchy r`in and

drizzle. And some quite brisk coastal winds. Starting the day

tomorrow, quite a lot of cloud cover, but it should stay dry. By

the afternoon it will becomd quite bright. High pressure firmlx in

control of things tomorrow. An overcast start, but by the

afternoon, similar temperattres to today, at around 13 Celsius. As you

can see, because of these north`easterly breezes, temperatures

along the coast, around nind Celsius. It be a mild into

Wednesday, with a little bit more sunshine on Wednesday, and high

temperatures of 16 sources, and remaining settled as we head through

the week, and staying settldd as well, for the weekend.

We have been stunned into shlence. I will be back at eight o'clock and

that 10:25pm. I will see tolorrow. Goodbye.