25/07/2011 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today. I'm John Young.

And I'm Polly Evans. Tonight's top stories:

A woman turned away from a Kent Hospital in the final stages of

labour, because it was too full, receives a personal apology. When

his head was coming out, we heard that the midwife wasn't coming for

me. That was the worst bit. A mother accused of murdering her

two young children in Sussex chooses not to give evidence in her

defence. Also in tonight's programme:

Going up - rail fares on the rise again, and some commuters have had

enough of it. We're live at Brighton Station tonight as

passengers make their feelings clear.

Eyesore or ice-breaker? Police in Kent are told to cover up, but can

a bit of body art be a good thing? And sailing sensation - we meet the

19-year-old who's rounded the globe in time for regatta week in

Good evening. A woman who was refused admission

to the new Pembury Hospital when she was in the last stages of

labour has received a personal apology from the hospital at her

Frant home. Chloe Myers had been booked to have

her delivery at Pembury, her nearest hospital, but when she

called to let them know she was on her way, she was told that the

hospital was full. Now she's made an official complaint and as Peter

Whittlesea reports, her MP is offering her his backing.

Baby Arthur's journey into the world was so fraught, hospital

managers have apologised. Chloe Myers contacted Pembury Hospital as

soon as her waters broke. That was the start of a 12 hour ordeal.

were told Pembury was full and I was in such pain, I ask for an

ambulance, knowing that I was going to have to have my baby at home.

With no other options, she dialled for an ambulance or stopped I

Eyes. -- I remember looking at him and asking him how he could get

this baby out. Can you deliver this baby, what happens if it gets

trapped? The paramedics expected an emergency midwife would follow.

When half a's head was coming out, we heard that the midwife was not

coming for May -- offer's. That was the worst bit. A Panorama

investigation has revealed other causes for concern. These Kent

hospitals had to close maternity services 30 times last year for the

new admissions. 18 women were transferred to other hospitals. At

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust, three women were transferred while

the hospital carried out its controversial plans to restructure

maternity services. Despite living just a few miles from Pembury

Hospital, Victoria was told she would have to go to have made

strength -- Maidstone. contractions were very painful and

very close together. The idea of being strapped on a bed and being

whizzed along the country roads to Maidstone, that was really

terrifying. Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust has seen an increased

in women wanting to use the Maternity Centre in Pembrey, but

the trust says there has not been an increase in unplanned home birds.

Peter Whittlesea joins us now from Tunbridge Wells. What is a hospital

actually doing about this? Maidstone and Trombert Wells Trust

is now in a transitional period -- Tunbridge Wells. The alternative

Service will not be fully open until September, and before that

period, by asking for winter stick with the centre they have been

allocated and not switch at the last minute -- they are asking

women to stick. They say they have learned lessons from the case of

Chloe Myers and standards have fallen below the standards they

expected. A mother accused of killing her two

young children in East Sussex chose not to give evidence in her defence

today. Lewes Crown Court heard that Fiona Donnison was advised by

barristers that jurors "may draw inferences" if she did not enter

the witness box. The bodies of three-year-old Harry

and Elise, who was two, were discovered in two holdalls in her

car in Heathfield last January. Jon Hunt reports from Lewes Crown Court.

The defence case in Fiona Donnison's trial opened today.

Accused of murdering her two children, Harry and Elise, the

fortified year-old former City worker decided not to give evidence.

Instead, forensic clinical psychologist Dr Amory Clarke told

the court about examinations he had made about the defendant earlier

this year. Simon Russell Flint, Dr Amory Clarke then described a

series of tests he had carried out to try and measure Fiona Donnison's

state of mind. On one of the tests, she rated as having close to the

highest score on the scale that measured her feelings of guilt, but

she blamed Iraq should not have mental health. -- blamed her

actions on her mental health. She is to us -- said to have said

something was seriously wrong with her. But it comes to deciding

whether she is guilty or not guilty of murder, the jury have to decide

whether she was suffering from an abnormality of mind that would

impair her judgment. She denies murder.

In a moment: The family fighting for their son

to get more of a drug shown to have a remarkable effect on his muscular

Rail commuters in Brighton have protested against planned fare

increases this evening, calling on the Government not to raise season

ticket prices. Season ticket fares to London are

due to rise by an average of 21% across the south-east over the next

three years. By 2015, commuters from Brighton will be paying �4,215

a year. That's a 28% increase on this year's prices, an extra �931

on this year's prices. Paul Siegert is at Brighton Station

for us now. I can imagine the mood amongst commuters.

And yes, some of the commuters that I have spoken to today, you will

hear in a moment, some are absolutely furious about the

proposed increases. Others say they do not mind paying more money so

long as the service improved accordingly. They said they are

they are concerned that despite these increases, none of the money

would go on improvements. With fares rising four times faster than

wages, next year as season-ticket from Brighton to London is set to

increase by �226. So today, MPs Simon Kirby came to me to rail

protesters as a national petition was launched. I have written to the

minister and like everything, there is a balance to be struck between

what the taxpayer pays and what the commuter pays, but I would like to

see a more efficient travel service, more efficient trains and a better

deal for commuters. It is an important issue and we should

support them. Brighton has been chosen as one of 40 key commuter

stations have to campaign against the rise. Protesters want of

ministers to know just how unpopular the fare hikes are.

are to stage now where fares are rising four times faster than wages

and it is really difficult for people accessing work, and also

pushes people back into their cars, with more pollution and congestion.

Protesters are calling on the Government to reverse his decision

to raise fares by 28% over the next three years, in favour of more

affordable increases. But can it is this afternoon had mixed views.

is already expensive enough. I think any increases the last thing

we need. I have got a young person's rail card, so it doesn't

affect me too much. But I don't think it is a good thing, because

the services and grade. It will be quite expensive. I commute every

day, up and you feel it. A further protests are due tomorrow in

Margate and in Eastbourne on August 11th.

A harsh reality is that despite increases in the past, trains are

busier than ever and fares will keep rising until people vote with

their feet. The harsh reality is that the many people who want to

live in Brighton at work in London, there is no option but to get the

train. We want to know what you think. Are

the campaigners right in their call for the Government to reverse its

decision to raise rail fares over the next three years, or should we

just accept that if we want investment in our railways, fares

will have to keep rising? Email us at [email protected]. Or you

can post a comment on our Facebook page.

Four men have been charged after a yacht carrying around �12 million

of cannabis was intercepted by investigators in the English

channel off the Sussex coast. Four tonnes of cannabis was found on

board the Dutch-registered vessel after it was escorted into Newhaven

harbour. Three men charged with importation of controlled drugs

have been remanded in custody. A Dutch national is due in court

tomorrow. Plans which could see 19 of the

county's youth centres close have been discussed at an open meeting

in Maidstone this morning. Kent County Council wants to stop

funding all but 12 regional hubs. They hope that volunteers will step

forward to keep some of the other centres open. Today's meeting was

attended by youth workers and some of the teenagers who could be

affected. A media group based in Kent has

been referred to the Office of Fair Trading after bidding to take over

its rival. The Kent Messenger Group, which produces nearly a dozen

newspapers in the county, has made an offer to buy another newspaper

group, Kent Regional News & Media. Mark Norman is at the Kent

Messenger's headquarters in Larkfield now. Mark, this is quite

a shake-up for Kent's newspapers? Yes, it is. It is also hugely

important to all of us who have a favourite local paper that we read

every week. The KM Group currently and 10 titles, the Kent Messenger,

at the Medway Messenger and at the Whitstable Gazette. They are buying

Kent Regional News & Media, who have seven titles, largely in East

Kent. Interestingly, that News Group was sold off a few years ago

as part of a 64.1 �5 million deal. And here they are getting sold off

again. They are big figures. What are the

risks to jobs and the historic titles themselves?

As you say, many of the seven titles are historic. They have been

serving the local committees for hundreds of years. It is almost

inevitable that some jobs will go and some titles will be lost,

because the KM Group will face the same set of problems, how to make

money from newspapers when you are struggling to sell them, struggling

to get advertising revenue, but your costs are rising? And this

will be about cutting costs. A south-east police chief has

called for a ban on officers showing tattoos to be lifted

because they present an opportunity to break down barriers with the

public. New guidelines from Kent Police say

that excessive body art should be covered up, but the Chairman of the

Kent Police Federation, who represents rank and file officers,

says they can be an ice-breaker. Simon Jones has been looking at the

debate. Mike Smith has chosen to have his

first tattoo where it could easily be covered if his future employer

to could dislike to it. Now Kent Police is telling officers they

must cover up excessive tattoos. Even though the police Federation

says it has never received complaints about them. It begs the

question, what is excessive? Officers have said to me,

particularly when they are dealing with younger people, that their

tattoos can be something of an ice- breaker. This highlights a

generational gap in attitudes to generational gap in attitudes to

tattoos. The latest guidance from tattoos. The latest guidance from

Offensive tattoos are said to be discriminated, violent,

intimidating or rude. Personally, I think having something like a

tattoo, which normalises the police force, could possibly make them

more approachable and make them seal pup -- seem like normal people,

not somebody to be scared of. that they wouldn't change my

opinion of that person, no matter what their job. Kent police have

told us that there is an expectation that staff and officers

maintain a standard of appearance and dressed that is considered

professional, smart and approachable when they are on duty.

Experts say celebrities like David Beckham have made tattoos more

mainstream. Cheryl Cole is said to have sat for 11 hours for one of

hers, and even Samantha Cameron has one that can sometimes be seen

peeking out of her shoe. But what about the law enforcers? If they

are in a position of responsibility, it is what is appear that matters.

-- up here. I have tattoos but I don't agree with them being on show.

I got one when I was in the army. - Kent Police says it is up to each

officer's manager to decide what constitutes excessive tattoos.

It is fast approaching a quarter to seven. Staff at Pembury Hospital

have apologised to a mother from Kent who was refused entry in the

final stages of labour because it was to fall, despite being booked

in to have her baby there. Chloe Myers has made an official

complaint and has received backing from her MP.

Still to come tonight: Apples, apples everywhere - and

it's not even August yet. We investigate a very early crop.

And we set sail for Ramsgate and the biggest boating bash in the

south-east. If you have a story you think we

should be covering on South East At family from Chatham waiting for

the supply of a nude drug for muscular dystrophy for their son

said they are running out of time - - new drug. The Lancet has shown

that the treatment can regenerate muscle tissue but the family have

been told good or not be available until next year.

11-year-old can Edmans lustre draw, but in a few years' time, he will

not be able to use his hands. He has muscular dystrophy. In time, it

will affect his breathing, his heart, he will use -- to lose the

use of his arms, and it is devastating. This video was taken

in 2007, just before the family were given fresh hope. He took part

in a clinical trial. Today, the results were published in the

Lancet and it shows the drug helped to regenerate his muscle tissue.

see him go from being a normal child to deteriorating and dad or

the sudden, getting some of him back. -- all of a sudden. Three

years on, his condition is deteriorating again. Six months ago,

he could climb the stairs again on his own. Most died, I have to take

him up. And he isn't deteriorating rapidly. That is the most

frustrating thing, when you know something is out there that can be

done to help him. The drug company promised a follow-up study, but now

the family have been told it could be another year. We are basically

on a ticking time bomb and we just want it sped up, up and done.

could take him and keep him where he is now, I would take that all

day long, because it gives us time, which is something we are seriously

running out of. The charity for the disease say all involved are

bitterly it disappointed by the delay. The trial for those who were

successful, around 70% of those who took part in the trial, they were

showing significant improvement. By stopping giving them the drug, they

are now into decline again. drugs company says it is trying to

secured funding and approval, so it can offer more of the drug. The

dead man's family fear that their son will be in a wheelchair by then,

You can normally rely on cherries being in season from May,

strawberries from June - in time for Wimbledon - and apples at the

start of September. But this year, apple growers in Kent and Sussex

have been taken by surprise with the picking season coming months

earlier than usual. While the weather has caused

problems for some farmers, it's led to bumper crops for others. For the

latest in our Food Chain series, Lynda Hardy reports on the

resurgence in the English apple market.

The first English apples of the season, ripe for picking up, now.

Ahead of the traditional picking period, normally in late August and

early September, these Discovery apples are ready and appearing in

shops three weeks earlier than usual. The cold winter last year,

it forces dormancy in the trees, and then the warm spring,

everything has come a long early, the blossom was early, and it all

came together and set very well, and the weather has been good for

them. Nice and dry, a bit of rain and a bit of sunshine. And with

such traditional English apples like this one arriving so early, it

means that local growers are better able to compete in our supermarkets.

Over the last seven years, we have seen a huge increase in consumer

demand for local supplies. The Malta Pauls, that is the

supermarkets, have become aware and have wanted to stock more and more

English apples. The industry has invested in new orchards and new

varieties. Since 2006, 40% more locally grown apples from the farms

like this one in Maidstone have been sold to supermarkets. Saving

�50 million per year in import. That growing fan base for the

English apple was evident this afternoon in a Sussex farm shop.

have come to pick up some apple juice, which we buy regularly from

this farm. I am seeing my brother over the weekend, so I'm taking it

to north London. They wouldn't have apple juice from anywhere else.

the early apple crop sets the scene for a healthy season for the rest

of the year, with Archer bash other varieties set to be picked at least

a week earlier than usual. -- with other varieties.

So at least if it rains until September, it will be doing the

fruit some good. There were some pretty scenes from

the cliffs of Thanet over the weekend, as an international fleet

of sailing boats made their way to Ramsgate for the annual regatta,

which begins today. And this year, the star attraction

was a sailor who's not only sailed around the world, not only done it

single-handedly - but has done it at the age of 19!

You are looking at the youngest sailor ever to have taken a yacht

single-handedly around the world. He was 17 years and 164 days old.

Today, Mike Parham is an elderly 19-year-old who has come to be a

part of Ramsgate week. He is here to inspire people that sailing is

not just for the elite. I started saving $1 around seven years old, I

was very young and I was given some fantastic advice -- when our was.

Hopefully with something like this, we can encourage some others to get

out on the water and experience and adventure. He says his next

adventure is to fly, he wants to be the first person to sail and fly

across the globe single-handed and to be the youngest to have done

both. What a man to have that your regatta. Ramsgate week has been

dubbed the friendly sailing event. It is certainly one of the most

prestigious on this part of the closed. There are boats from

Holland and Germany. Lots of local day cruises are giving it their

best as well. It is a team effort, we have got nine crew and they have

all got jobs and they all sail regularly together, so they know

how to do the manoeuvres. They can get heated sometimes, but it is all

sorted out in the bar. A harbour and the Waterfront provide a

picturesque setting, and the sailing brings with it the

following it, he will be spending their money in town. We hope to

have about 55 boats for the week, Reading 2 series, one from Monday

to Wednesday and one from Thursday to Saturday -- running a two series.

But we have fantastic weather. sailing festival for all. But for

the out-and-out racers, this is one they want to win, before moving on.

They have a lot of sailing to do before the week is out.

Books absolutely glorious. But is it set fair for the rest of the

week -- it looks. I think today was probably the best

day and the rest of the week, light winds but staying dry. Sub not that

bad about really glad that it is bad about really glad that it is

not as it -- Bath as it was in 1988. In 1988, there was some really

hideous hailstorms. In Canterbury, they recorded hailstones the size

of golf balls. Throughout the month of July, 23 wet days. Days of rain.

So it has not been that bad, and today we have even had some

I can only really describe this as an reverse control. -- a reverse

control. There is so much moisture in the upper atmosphere that the

heat from the aeroplane has meant that the water droplets within the

cloud has evaporated, so in a crowd of -- instead of creating cloud,

you have a string of a clear sky. Thank you for sending back in,

something I have not often seen. For the rest of tonight, it is

staying dry and that is the theme for the rest of this week. High

pressure and things will stay settled with light winds, but cloud

amounts are going to be annoying. We will have quite a bit bad times

and overnight tonight, it will stop temperatures falling much lower

than 13 or 14. Wherever we do get a clearer skies for longer,

temperatures could fall as low as 10 or 11. But nothing else really

to report and through tomorrow, very much the same as today. The

further west, the best of the sunshine, but overall, there will

be more cloud for us all tomorrow, so the temperatures will take a bit

of a kicking it, only getting up to 19 or 20 degrees. Not feeling that

summary tomorrow, and even as we go into Tuesday night and Wednesday,

although we have high pressure and things should stay mostly dry, at

the worst being the splash of drizzle occasionally, you want to

be way to the west, where the best of the sunshine is. So although on

the face of it this looks like a glorious week of weather, the

sunshine is a bit stingy and there sunshine is a bit stingy and there

will be a lot of cloud. But the drive.

That is the story of July. A look at the closing headlines, and

Norweb's self-confessed mass- murderer is claiming that he worked

with the two underground cells. In a court appearance Behind Closed

Doors, he said he wanted to send a signal about what he called a

Muslim takeover of Norway and Europe.

Apologies have been given to a mother after her local hospital

told her she could not be admitted to have her baby, despite being in

the last stages of labour. And the launch of a petition

against rail fare rises has taken place. We asked you what you think,

are campaigners right to object or should we accept it if we want

investment in railways? Fares will have to keep up. Paul is still at

Brighton station. What have campaign has been saying?

Optimistic that they can get the Government to make a U-turn and we

know that already, this government has made a couple of high-profile

new turns so -- so whether they can achieve it, we will save. But all

the Times, the trains are packed and it is that they room-only, why

would the Government think about reversing the decision? -- standing

room only. Let's take a look at some of the e-

mails. We have had lots. Market believes

that of the rail company is are only interested been agreed.

It is a cheat when trains are always packed and don't run on time.

It would be fine of higher fares improved rail travel, but in big

business, it is the shareholder that comes first.

Liam says that he has to go and get the train to look for work but he

can't afford the train prices, which is making looking for work

harder. Cynthia Davies says she does not

use the train but she would not pay the price that the train companies

are asking, and she feels sorry for season-ticket holders. Why keep

putting prices up when wages do not go up?

Another thing reflected in the e- mails we have been sent is that it

will push people back into their cars and onto the road. One, it

says that it due to the cost, by daughter does not use the train to

get university, she uses the bus, it is much more reliable and

cheaper. Do keep your e-mails coming in, we have that Facebook

page and we are also on Twitter and we would love to hear from you.