30/07/2014 South East Today

a UN school and a crowded marketplace in Gaza. That is all

It's devastating to see the pier gunfire. It's a real shame that

something like this has happened. A Police Community Support Officer

who stole more than ?15,000 Victims of anti`social behaviour

will get the chance to decide how offenders are punished under new

plans by police chiefs in Stssex. Definitely, a victim should have

more of a sea. They always get the headlights of people getting away

with light sentences. If we can have an influence, that makes sense to

me. And we take a first look

at Folkestone's centenary arch to mark the town's unique role

in the First World War. A huge fire and plumes

of thick black smoke have engulfed People in the town could only watch

as the two`storey building at the front of the iconic Victorian

pier went up in flames. More than 60 firefighters from

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service have been battling the blazd,

which spread quickly on a hot but The fire's rapid progress w`s

documented by onlookers who've posted dramatic

pictures on social media. Well let's cross live to Eastbourne

and speak to Rebecca Willials. Rebecca, from what you can see,

how much damage has been catsed Yes. Around 33% of the pier has been

destroyed. As you can see, there is still thick smoke here. Hundreds

have gathered to get one last glimpse of what remains. We

understand that the fire st`rted at 3:15pm. We believe it began inside

wood panelling inside the arcade. A giant plume of smoke fills the air

over Eastbourne. It started just after 3:00pm this afternoon. Flames

ripped through the roof of the budget building on the pier leaving

an empty shell. The popular seaside destination was very busy. Witnesses

say up to 100 people were inside when it started. Eastbourne beach

crowded with people enjoying the sunshine. There was smoke coming in

the games room and then the alarms went off and we had to get out

quickly. How long did it take to evacuate? It must have been about

five minutes. It's an absoltte tragedy. It's part of our hdritage.

It has always been with us. Around 60 firefighters from stations around

Sussex were said to fight the flames. Lifeboats were sent to

rescue anyone who had jumped from the pier. We could see flamds very

high in the sky. There are ` dozen emergency services on scene at the

moment. Fire engines are all over the place at the moment. It is just

a really bad site. We just had a coach driver tell us he could see

the smoke in Hastings. Thesd are the dramatic images posted on social

networking sites as the fird took hold. It is understood it started in

wall panelling building arc`de games. Hundreds gathered to watch

the pier garden. Police prevented people from getting too close.

Causing devastation to Eastbourne's beggars to list attraction `t the

height of summer `` biggest tourist attraction.

This of course is a pier stdeped in history, officially opened hn 1 47.

The local MP saw what happened. I was working in my office 200 yards

away. Someone told me the pher was on fire. I rushed outside and there

was a little fire on top of the arcade room. Minutes later, it was

ablaze. I spoke with the police and firefighters and, thank God, as far

as know one is injured. My second concern was that if it spre`d, we

would have had what happened in Hastings. I think it has bedn

stopped at the arcade which, thank God, means the bulk of the pier is

still there and should be able to be restored. It is a private sdctor

company that owns it and have had it for ten years or so. I had ` meeting

with the general manager wedks ago. He was telling me about his

investment of opening new stores, so it is a real blow for Eastbourne. I

have a meeting tomorrow with the council leader to work out how we

can get through this and have a good summer. I'm joined by locals who saw

what happened. Describe the scenes this afternoon. It is reallx

upsetting to see the pier gone. What was such a brilliant, iconic

statement of Eastbourne is slowly disappearing. Terrible shock. I just

came around the corner along the seafront and the main amuselent area

was just engulfed in flames. Luckily, the lifeboat has s`ved

people at the pier. During the Second World War, this pier was

ordered to be destroyed so the enemies couldn't land. It m`naged to

stay put but, as you can sed today, is thought of it has now bedn

destroyed. As Eastbourne Pier burns, so too

does nearly 150 years of history. The structure has been

the focal point of the town since the Victorian era,

surviving two World Wars and rising It was opened in 1870,

the vision of the famous pidr designer Eugenius Birch who also

designed Hastings Pier. In 1940, the decking was reloved

and machine guns installed And the pier has already bedn

the victim of fire with the theatre Piers Hopkirk has been lookhng

back at its chequered history. For nearly 150 years, it stood as a

monument to Victorian engindering. This grade two listed buildhng was

described as one of the findst of its kind. Today, fire has rdduced

Eastbourne's historic pier to a shell. It is the end of an dra. It

is a question of going back to the drawing board. It is was tr`gic to

lose a structure like this that has stood for well over a century. This

is a very distinguished one from architectural point of view.

Probably the finest on the south coast, often used for filming on

television. I can only be grateful that there is no loss of life. The

beer was officially opened hn 1 70. 1000 feet long, it was one of the

great Victorian seaside strtctures. Designed by Eugenius Birch, it was

one of his last remaining creations, a symbol of the dra us

passion for piers. There ard elements of his original designs

there. It is a serious blow. We hope it will not be a mortal blow to

Eastbourne pier. It was a focal point for Eastbourne's angldrs. In

the 50s, it was the set of point for day trips to France. It served as a

double for Brighton's Palacd Pier. Eastbourne Pier is not alond and

falling victim to fire. Brighton's pier was destroyed in a blaze in

2003. Seven years later, thd same fate befell Hastings pier. Ht has

only now been restored. Obvhously, it is a tragic event in Eastbourne.

But I think the lesson from Hastings is how much people care abott their

pier. Hastings has been abld to relay channel that amazing

perfection for the structurd and memories that the pier evokds. That

is what has really given hope for the future. Tonight, the qudstion

for many is what can be savdd? What can be restored?

Well let's speak to BBC Radho Kent reporter Phil Harrison.

Phil, I understand you were on the beach when the fire started?

We drove into the town about 4:15pm. We saw the towering plume of

smoke come over the seaside area. We realised it was the pier. Sloke

brown and grey in colour, w`s rising 250 metres of the peer. We realised

we had a fire on her hands. Obviously, you had gone for a nice

day at the seaside. Was it frightening? What was the rdaction

of people looking? It seemed that people had begun their summdr

holidays, on the beach in their swimming costumes. They werd all

looking along the seafront to see the fire. They had their calera

phones out, taking pictures, just surprised by what they were seeing.

I don't think there was fear in the era. It was only when fire trucks

arrived about 15 minutes later that we realised they could have been

something a bit more serious happening. When she had a chat with

people, what was the reaction like? I think it was a leaf more than

anything, people telling me we couldn't believe what they were

seeing. I spoke to a couple who were with their young children. They were

in the amusement arcade when the fire alarm went off and thex calmly

what of the pier to safety. They praised the safety officers for

getting them out of there any calm manner.

We'll have more on this story later on in the programme and

of course you can tune into the BBC Sussex who will be covering this

all evening and we have full coverage on our website also.

Success for the South East on day seven of the Commonwealth G`mes

A Police Community Support Officer who stole more than ?15,000

from airport passengers is tonight facing the prospect of jail.

Alexis Scott, who worked at Gatwick, was found guilty

of conning seven long`haul travellers out of sums ranghng

She is alleged to have told departing passengers they wdre

not allowed to take more th`n ?1,000 out of the country.

Canterbury Crown Court heard that Scott then took

their money seconds before they went through the departure gate

The disgraced former police community support officer, pictured

on Camara, having just call and the passenger at Gatwick out of more

than ?1000. Alexis Scott abtsed her position, targeting passengdrs.

Clearly the victims have thd right to expect that police officdrs are

people that they can trust. On this occasion, she was woefully below

that standard and, as a restlt, has been found guilty. Alexis Scott was

found guilty of six counts of theft at Gatwick Airport in April last

year. She dishonestly told passengers they couldn't take more

than ?1000 in cash out of the country. Alexis Scott took ?300

from a women travelling to Turkey that was intended to help p`y for an

operation. Her crimes came to light because she had told some of the

passengers they could reclahm the money she had taken from thdm when

they returned to the United Kingdom. Some of them tried to do thhs,

approaching the airport information desk only to be told that the money

was not there and they had been conned. The judge said it w`s

inevitable that she will face a custodial sentence. He said she had

seriously undermined public trust in a public service.

Nine beaches in Thanet that were closed to bathers after a sdries

of sewage discharges have bden reopened this afternoon.

Businesses in the area had to close yesterday after debris

Southern Water say they had to release sewage from pumping stations

in Margate and Broadstairs to ensure local homes were not flooded

A partnership between the University of Kent and the Kent Messenger Group

has been awarded a new local TV licence for Maidstone and Tonbridge.

The stations will broadcast on Freeview Channel 8.

It's the second local TV licence to be granted in the South East,

following Brighton's Latest TV which launches at the end of August.

Victims of anti`social behaviour will decide how the perpetr`tors

are punished under proposals put forward by police chiefs.

Sussex Police and Crime Comlissioner Katy Bourne has put together

a list of possible punishments including repairing damage to

property, behaviour contracts and financial reparations.

The initiative which is being taken on by all crime commissioners builds

on the idea of punishing lower`level offenders outside of the cotrts

It's the kind of behaviour that can blight a community and causd anguish

for individuals who have to live with it. But now victims of

anti`social behaviour will be able to pick what punishment shotld be

handed down. Later this year, victims will be able to choose from

a list of options, from an `pology to repairing damage that has been

caused. It is all about givhng the victim some power. That's what

victims need. We need a gre`ter say in the punishment of offenddrs and

keeping them out of the court system so that they don't get a crhminal

record. It has been shown that it can't stop them from offendhng

again. There are already schemes were those convicted can make amends

as part of the sentence. It goes further, with victims having a

direct say on what should h`ppen. The measures are meant to ddal with

low`grade anti`social behavhour like this which make many lives ` misery.

But how much say should the victim have? Definitely, a victim should

have more of a say. The law is skewed against that. I'm not a rabid

right`winger or anything like that. It seems the logical thing to take

forward. We all read about her sentencing is a challenge and you

always get headlines about people getting away with light sentences.

It makes sense to me. If thd perpetrator is cleaning up the

graffiti or whatever, that's good, isn't it? I think the victils have

to be at the centre of this. Frankly, if someone damages your

property, you want them to pay to repair it and say sorry. Th`t's a

lot better than dragging its record for months or years. It's a good

idea but only when the victhm wants it. Sussex's police and crile

commission showed that anti`social behaviour had been one of the

biggest concerns for local people. On Monday, the town of Folkdstone

will play a major role in the nation's commemoration

of the outbreak of World War One. Prince Harry will unveil

a memorial arch, the only pdrmanent structure to be built in Brhtain to

remember those who took part A parade will then follow the route

marched by millions of soldhers along the road which became the

gateway to the trenches in France. Our reporter Sara Smith is

in the town for us now. Glinting in the sunshine, it has

taken years to get to this point but at last, Folkestone has a mdmorial

to mark the role it played hn World War I. Its first, an act of

commemoration to remember the soldiers and services. Secondly it

is to educate the children, which is what our charity is all abott.

Today, it is a host to thosd enjoying the sunshine. On Monday,

1000 people of military and civilian, will congregate at the new

memorial to March. Prince H`rry will formally unveil a new memorhal. 100

years ago, men across Britahn and the Empire came to Folkestone on

their way to the front line. At the top of the steep road, they were

told to step short so they could take the hill in their stride. On

Monday, marchers will take the same order progressed in the Wrote Of

Remembrance Sends Back. `` Road The Simple Shape Is Designed To Resonate

Around The World. It Has Bedn Used For Thousands Of Years And

Architecture. If It Had Been Here Hundreds Of Years Ago, he would

recognise it. Hopefully ever give you comfort and a manger of why you

were here and what you were doing `` it would give you comfort. The

creation of this new memori`l arch which will be unveiled by Prince

Harry is a real community project. I have been part of it for six or

seven years with the group of volunteers. We have raised loney to

create this memorial which H believe is a perfect tribute to the memory

of those soldiers and the role that Folkestone played during thd First

World War. At 11:00pm on Monday the lights you will dim to mark the

moment is the well across the country `` lights here.

And our World War One commelorations continue with a special event

in Folkestone on the 4th of August, the day that war was declardd 1 0

BBC South East Today and BBC Radio Kent will be broadcasting

live and you can join us at a free all`day event on the harbour.

It's 6:49pm. This is our top story tonight:

And many of you have been contacting us about Eastbourne Pier.

We'll be reading out your thoughts a little later in the progr`mme

We go live to images from E`stbourne pier. Firefighters are still there

trying to bring the fire under control. We're not losing the

sunshine altogether, but it does seem unsettled towards the dnd the

week. There's been no medal winning

performances from the South Easts competitors so far on day sdven

of the Commonwealth Games btt it The England women's hockey team

containing six players from Kent and Sussex, are through to the last four

and Canterbury bowler Sian Gordon Neil Bell joins us from Glasgow

Another busy day? Plenty going on but the acthon was

temporarily overshadowed by the arrival in town of

our very successful shooting team. Back on Super Sunday,

Sussex shooters Charlotte Kdrwood and Steve Scott both won

their double trap competitions We couldn't have hoped for

anything better, winning together. Definitely not. It's an amazing

experience. I watched Charlotte shoot and win

her gold and then, a couple of hours You have both won Commonwealth

medals before but I guess it is For me,

it is my third individual one This is the one that I wantdd

to come home with and I did. Same here. I had a pairs in India

and now I managed to do it by my Were you able to watch Charlotte

compete, She was able to watch me

in the final. For the qualifying rounds,

that wasn't the case because we were close together

but she was there cheering le on. I could hear her quite clearly

through the crowd of thousands! So it was a good inspiration,

that's for sure. The highlight of today's action came

early this morning when the England women's hockey team beat arch rivals

Scotland 2`1. Canterbury's Susannah Townsdnd put

England two up shortly before half time with a neatly taken go`l but

the Scots rallied and pulled a goal back through Nikki Kidd, ond of two

Canterbury players in the Scotland side but England held

on to make the last four. England skippered by

Canterbury's Sian Gordon also beat Scotland in the bowls this `fternoon

which helped them to top thdir group Brighton's Seb Rodger finished

a creditable fourth in the semi finals of the 400 metres hurdles

but sadly that wasn't good dnough Gillingham's Grace Clements has two

more events in the heptathlon to come and Brighton

badminton player Heather Olver is Let's go back to Eastbourne Pier.

The fire is thought to have began in a games arcade. There's got back to

our reporter, Rebecca Willi`ms. What more do to be now?

Around 33% has been destroydd in the fire. People are taking photos of

what remains. He very sad d`y. Indeed. It is an important part of

our Victorian seaside. It w`s built in 1870 by Eugenius Birch. The front

end has been totally destroxed. The good news is that everybody was

evacuated safely and there `ren t any injuries to the public or

firefighters. What will you be doing now? We will be having a medting

tomorrow to see what plans we can get together to get it oper`tional

again as soon as possible. @ very sad day.

Lots of you have been commenting on Facebook and Twitter and posting

pictures. Here is a sample. Jamie Smith says it is incredibly sad

Sylvia says another Sussex pier up in flames. What is going on? Chris

Austin echoes views. Heather steeply says I cannot believe it has

happened again. Peter says, with a note of optimism, it could be the

best thing that ever happendd as Hastings Pier was fully rebtilt and

will hopefully be better th`n ever. Join in the conversation on our

Facebook and Twitter. A very warm day we have had so far.

Cooler along the coast with a westerly breeze. There is more late

sunshine to look forward to. A very clear night and feeling fresher with

temperatures down to 14 or 05 Celsius. Still a fairly warl night

but comfortable to. A fair `mount of sunny spells tomorrow but l`ter on

we see the risk of showers. Our corner of the world is feelhng

pretty well compared to somd part of the UK. `` parts. We are looking at

temperatures in places like Gravesend getting to 24 Celsius The

coast will make it to 20 Celsius. More clear spells through the night.

We might have heavy bursts first thing in the morning with

temperatures down to 15 or 06 Celsius but during the day there is

a brighter risk of showers. Saturday is looking bad to, but much better

on Sunday. We will leave yot be short of Eastbourne Pier.

Cos the more he can't have you the more he'll want you.

When wild animals get sick, it takes radical thinking,

extraordinary medical skills and great bravery