05/10/2011 South East Today

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

And I'm Lynda Hardy. Tonight's top stories:

Two care home workers are arrested, accused of ill-treatment and

neglect. We're live at the home in Copthorne.

Concerns about Sussex's listed lido. Campaigners say it's deliberately

being left to fail. The people of Saltdean are sending a very clear

message today to Brighton and Hove Council and the leaseholder. We

will not let flats be developed on this site.

Also in tonight's programme: The battered stately home in need

of �15 million of renovation works to prevent it crumbling to pieces.

Bringing the blues back to Chatham - why it's taken internationally

acclaimed singer songwriter Pete Molinari so long to play a hometown

gig. And robes fit for a Prince and his

future wife - the Archbishop of Canterbury's Royal Wedding garments

Good evening. Campaigners concerned about the

future of an historic The Kiss in Sussex have staged a demonstration

this evening urging their local council to take it over -- lido.

They believe Saltdean Lido's current owner is letting it fail so

it can be taken over for development.

The owner says that is not the case and he is doing everything to

ensure the art-deco attraction has a viable future.

It was hailed as the most innovative design of its kind in

Britain. One architectural treasure that should be treasured. But 60

years on, campaigners insist Saltdean Lido is being purposely

rundowns other side can be redeveloped. He definitely feel

that Saltdean has been forgotten and this building has been

forgotten. We want the council to start legal proceedings to get the

lease back from the leaseholder and our aspiration as a community is

the takeover site and operated as a community interest Cumbria. The man

he took over the least 10 years ago says campaigners have no need to

worry -- the man Who. It is my intention is to restore the

building and maintain it permanently. To do that, we have to

have some form of development but it will be a lot less a scale and

it would be in front of the building that you say now. -- it

wouldn't be. In 2010, plans were created to build 40 flats on the

side. But campaigners formed a group to fight the plans. In March,

it was given a grade two listed status, stopping develops --

developers from going ahead. Rumours that we are going to knock

the placed there Northill the pool in or build a block of flats...

That is definitely not happening? That is not. If anyone knows

anything about planning regulations, they would know you cannot knock

down a grade two listed building. The people of Saltdean are sending

a clear message to Brighton & Hove Council and the leaseholder. We

will not let flats be developed here. Brighton & Hove City council

said they will do whatever is necessary to ensure the future of

this building is 100% safe and that it remains a community facility.

Two workers at a Sussex care home have been arrested on suspicion of

the ill-treatment and neglect of vulnerable patients.

The pair worked at the Orchid View home in Copthorne, near Crawley,

which specialises in caring for people with dementia. Peter

Whittlesea reports. It claims to have a homely and

welcoming atmosphere. But today, Orchid View was under investigation.

Police confirmed two members of staff had been arrested on

suspicion of ill-treatment and neglect of residents. The Home

specialises in caring for people with dementia. The police

investigation has alarmed the mental health charities. Criminal

investigations as we are seeing at the moment as being reported are

fortunately very rare. Problems around concerns regarding carers

are on the other hand quite common, regarding it care facilities and

how other people are being looked after in those care facilities.

Care Quality Commission, which regulates residential homes, said

in July that there were gaps in records relating to medicines at

Orchid View. The report found that on two occasions, people were left

without medicines for up to five days. Staff had not ordered

suppliers in time. It also highlighted concerns about the way

staff were trained. It said that training does not ensure that the

staff are being unable to administer these medicines safely.

Following a complaint about staff The care of of vulnerable adults

has been in the spotlight in recent months. After Panorama made

allegations of abuse at the Winterbourne View home in Bristol,

which is still being investigated by the police. And then the UK's

largest care home operator, Southern Cross, said it would cease

trading in July because it couldn't pay rent owed to its landlords.

Today's a criminal investigation at Orchid View will raise more

concerned about the future of caring for the elderly. -- concerns.

Peter Whittlesea reporting, and he joins us live from Copthorne. What

have people visiting the home been telling you, Peter?

Relatives have told me that they believe the allegations relate to

the in appropriate distribution of drugs. They say they first heard

about the criminal investigation last week and they were given the

option to move their relatives to other care homes, and in some cases

that has happened in recent days. They are also saying there is a

meeting here tonight to discuss the ongoing situation. Southern Cross

still operates this care home until the end of the month. They have

said they are co-operating fully with the investigations and their

priority remains delivering a quality care for all of their

residents. Coming up: creating a land of the

midnight sun in Kent. The artwork that will create at be on display

for miles around. The Prime Minister has pledged to

create the most family-friendly government ever. But has his

keynote speech at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester

convinced voters here to continue to back him? This was the political

map of the south-east before last year's General Election, when a

string of Conservative victories turned most of Kent and Sussex blue.

Their one defeat, though, was in Eastbourne - which they lost to the

Lib Dems. Katherine Downes has spent the afternoon with voters

there to gauge their reaction to David Cameron's speech.

A gloomy day in Eastbourne, one of only a few constituencies to defy

Cameron the conqueror of the south- east. As he took to the platform in

Manchester, it was people here he had to impress. When it came to

business, it was a good start. Slowly but surely, we are laying

solid foundations for a stronger future. There are some positive

news coming out and hopefully some positive actions, certainly with

regard the two banks' lending more and funding more at reasonable

rates, showing local businesses for tax breaks. They need to continue

that. But for others with other priorities, Cameron was making

promises they thought he couldn't keep. We have cut petrol duty. We

have kept the winter fuel allowance and payments. We have frozen

council tax and as George Osborne said on Monday, we will freeze it

again next year too. I haven't heard a single thing that would

help out any old age pensioners at all. All that is going to do is

make it worse. The previous news today about the cost of living

going up, but cost of food, it is all going to hit the pensioners.

The his government is providing funding for an extra 250,000

apprenticeships across this Parliament. Services that enable

young people to actually connect to advise have actually disappeared in

this area. I know and a lot of areas in the country are the same.

How why young people meant to get directed into the right

opportunities, interviews, CV writing, all of these key services

are disappearing -- how like young people. Naturally, a standing

ovation and claps on the back from his own party up 0 but there is

more work to do if he wants to win back this corner of the south coast

-- up north. Let's cross live to our Political

Editor Louise Stewart in Manchester, where David Cameron made his

keynote speech this afternoon. What mood do you think the south-east's

Tory MPs are in as they return to their constituencies, Louise?

Forget the noise if you can hear it behind me, but the ones I spoke to

welcomed the speech, but I think it was a bit more lacklustre than some

of David Cameron's performances in the past and that has to be down to

the wider economic gloom that was overshadowing his speech here. On

the planning issues are so prominent in the south-east, I

spoke to him earlier in the week, and he mentioned that, he had

really strong words and to those that they oppose the planning

reforms, take your arguments down to the JobCentre. For a clear sign

that he thinks they are the key to economic growth.

Conference season is now over. What you think the challenges for all of

the parties are here in the south- east?

For the Conservatives, it is not to risk their core voters over the row

to do with planning. The Labour Democrats have to maintain the two

MPs they have around the boundary changes -- Lib Dem. Labour have no

MPs at all and they have to rectify that if they are to ever challenged

the Tories and regain power. The father of Josie Russell, who

survived a frenzied hammer attack which left her sister and mother

dead, has revealed he is suing the News International over alleged

phone hacking. Shaun Russell is one of a number of possible victims

that have issued legal writs against the newspaper group --

group. The Russell victims were found -- dead for nearly 15 years

ago. Managers at Kent County Council say

they're confident they won't lose �10 million deposited with the

troubled Belgian bank Dexia. There are concerns the bank may be broken

up as it struggles to cope with its exposure to the Greek debt crisis.

But Kent County Council changed the terms of its investment in 2009,

which means the money is guaranteed by the governments of France,

Belgium and Luxembourg. It's one of Britain's most

important stately homes, but the future of Knole in Sevenoaks is

threatened by crumbling stonework, falling ceilings and chronic damp.

Now the National Trust has launched a public consultation ahead of a

huge fundraising campaign. It says work to save the historic

building could cost more than �15 million. Yvette Austin has been

given an exclusive insight into the extent of the work that's needed.

Medieval splendour. Billed as a showcase of wealth and power. --

built up. But the grandeur of Knole has faded. Its future is uncertain.

Time has taken its toll. Outside and in. We are at the spangled bed

of. It has been here since 1765 in this position in the room. It would

originally have been a stunning, spun with gold thread, covered in

gold and silver spangles. It is now in desperate need of conservation

work. We are very worried about the seeding. The bed has been here for

hundreds of years and we are not sure what has happened to the sea

Inga, whether it is resting on the bed. You can see the cracks are

starting to appear -- the roof. one room, trials are going on to

try and take control of the decade. Light is one of the big issue is we

haven't we have two very carefully monitor the levels and control the

levels of light coming into the showrooms. Bala other big problem

here is damp. We are having an experiment in this room where we

are trying to control the damp levels within the room, so we have

added partition walls which will mimic the effects of installation

and then hidden under the carpet, a new technique. -- insulation. We

are using under carpet heating, of which lets out a low level of heat.

The National Trust has a vision. It's not only wants to repair and

preserve the ball back Knole for future generations, but also double

the amount of rooms -- preserve Knole. These are Wrens the public

house and been given access to. We have large parts that have

incredibly camera spaces that no one has seen before and we are

hoping that we can open these doors and ask people what they see and

what they think of it. But the heart of Knole's future rests with

its visitors and the trust needs them to come back. So before any

work is done, it is asking them what will make them do so.

Our top story tonight: Two workers at a Sussex care home

have been arrested on suspicion of the ill-treatment and neglect of

vulnerable patients. The pair worked at the Orchid View home in

Copthorne, near Crawley, which specialises in caring for people

with dementia. Also in tonight's programme:

He's got the homecoming blues - Medway singer songwriter Pete

Molinari on the long road back to Chatham.

And a dazzling display of historical vestments - Canterbury

Cathedral shows off some of its A pair of Sussex artists who've

designed Kent's newest public artwork are hoping for lift-off

this evening. It's called A Night Sun, and it's a 60-foot wide

balloon filled with helium that will be launched to a height of 400

feet - that's around 85 feet higher than Big Ben. Take-off has been

delayed because of high winds, but if it goes up over Sittingbourne

tonight, it will be visible up to Now imagine this ball of light

floating in the skies above a north Kent Creek. It will, every evening

for a month, as dusk falls. The night sun will shine. The artists

were very interested in finding a way of drawing people down to the

landscape. They also very aware of Kent's famous Skype. It will be

spectacular. It is full of fortified kilowatts of light and I

think it is a very special work for Sittingbourne in Kent.

# Hold Back the Night... This structure attached to a

floating platform will be towed along the water. We wanted to

create a very beautiful form that is visible from a very long way

away. When it starts to get dark here, this light is powerful enough

to light the landscape around it as well as to be seen from a long way

away. We want to keep it simple, just very simple, a bubble of light

floating. And something that doesn't make too much sense. It

doesn't need to. The aim of this huge beacon of light is to spark

interest in the newly-opened Milton Creek Country Park, that was once

an industrial landscape. But once it is bathed in light from this

vast sculpture from dusk until dawn, it will be lit up as a place of

He sounds like a Delta bluesman from the American deep south, but

singer-songwriter Pete Molinari is actually from Chatham.

He recorded his first album in the kitchen of the Kent artist Billy

Childish. He was subsequently nominated Best Newcomer by the UK

music magazine Mojo. And he's won public praise from the rock legend

Bruce Springsteen - who said his music was great.

After spending the last few years travelling between the UK and the

US, he's preparing for a long- awaited gig in his home-town, where

Claudia Sermbezis met up with him today.

# How many times. # Have you heard someone say...

This is how Pete Molinari will begin his concert, singing a loan

on a stage in his hometown. # Then I would do things my way...

I guess I will be walking out on stage on my own. That will

definitely be nerve-racking. But it is good to keep on the edge, I

guess. # You can't start a fire... Pete

Molinari has some impressive fans, including superstar Bruce

Springsteen. He obviously comes from a different generation. He had

records out from before I was born. In an interview with Ed Norton, he

was asked who he presently inspired -- is inspired by, or who he likes,

and he mentioned me, which is a nice thing to happen. When artist

Billy childish suggested court -- recording an album, they made it in

a day in his kitchen. I had been off around the world and come

across many musicians and big stars, like Bruce Springsteen and his

people, but Billy is still from Chatham, still is the most

important and amazing artist I will ever meet.

# I'm going home... After years of touring the States,

Pete returned home to work with Jools Holland. He lives in Kent

himself, so after doing the TV show, and his radio show, he invited me

to his place, because he realised after I had been talking about

Charles Dickens and his love for Rochester or. He is a really good

chap. Pete Molinari will be appearing at

the Central Theatre on 15th October. Sticking with music, good luck to

Brighton duo Rizzle Kicks, who are nominated for a prestigious award

tonight. They're contenders for Best Newcomer at the 2011 Mobo

Awards, which will be given out in Glasgow.

Good luck to them. The magnificent robes worn by

Archbishop Rowan Williams at this year's royal wedding will be on

show in Canterbury Cathedral tonight.

They are the centrepiece of a dazzling display of historic

vestments - which is to say, clothes - as the cathedral opens

its doors for free to show off many It was a day when outfit became

headlines. The Archbishop of's may be less so, but splendid

nonetheless. It is only when you get closer that you discover that

although it was only specially commissioned for the day, it

features embroidery from although garments. This is a 19th century

embroidered Hood, where the embroidery has been saved from a

much earlier garment. The rest of the garment might have become too

fragile to wear, because the working it's quite exquisite. This

is of nineteenth-century origin, we are not sure where. It is a bit

like bringing out the family silver, each one of these vestments has at

history. This is the code worn for the Queen's coronation in 1953. --

coat. Upon the Queen's wrist are placed at the bracelets which

symbolise the bond which unites her with her people.

This one from the Coronation in 1911 of George V and Queen Mary.

The main display a in the vestments for you will see from the 19th

century to the current day. When these roads are in use, they are

always in the distance, so you only have a perception of what they are

really like -- when these vestments. So this is the only chance you get

to study the intricate embroidery. It's not every day we can get the

whole set out and we are lucky that we have managed to borrow asset of

vestments from Lambeth Palace as well, that the Archbishop used his

current fit. There is a great pleasure to get out all of the

stuff to show the general public. - - currently four stopped it is a

real treasure to stand near the East peace is on our heritage.

see the passion and craftsmanship that went into them -- it is a real

treasure to stand near these pieces of our heritage.

It was a bad night for Gillingham Football Club at the Priestfield

Stadium last night - they were knocked out of the Johnstone's

Paint Trophy by Barnet. Our sports reporter Neil Bell joins

us live from Chatham. Neil, it was a sorry tale of missed

opportunities for the Gills. It's bad enough losing at home to a

team you expect to beat, but it's especially frustrating when you

grab an early lead and then squander enough chances to put the

game out of sight. To make matters worse, the Gills lost a couple more

players to injury and picked up last night, including a first start

for an Argentinian keeper who had an eventful debut. The game began

well enough when Gary Richards somehow bundled the ball home from

close range. Minutes later, Andy Frampton was penalised for shirt-

pulling. And the resulting penalty was thumped home. Gillingham

refused to be downhearted and created a series of decent trenches

during a lively first half, but faded after the interval. Barnet

went ahead after 72 minutes Thaxted Marshall's well-placed shot. --

thanks to. The keeper was then rather harshly judged to have

brought the striker down in the box, but escape. The striker then made

amends to complete a frustrating amends to complete a frustrating

night for the Gills. It is disappointing. We can't do that.

And at the moment, we are playing well until 45 minutes, but we can't

play well for 90 minutes for some reason. On the plus side, if the

strikers can start to convert some of the many chances they created,

results can only improve. League One leaders Charlton are

also in Johnstone Paint action tonight, with Brentford the

visitors. The Addicks will be out for revenge at The Valley. Last

time the two sides met in the league last season, Brentford won

thanks to a last-minute header. And some sad and unexpected news

today. Former Kent and England quick bowler Graham Dilley has died

following a short illness. "Picca", as he was known to his mates, was

only 52. Born in Dartford, he was the youngest England player for 30

years when he played the first of 41 Test matches against Australia

in 1977. -- 1979. But he will always be

remembered for his match-changing - almost life-changing partnership -

with Ian Botham at Headingly in 1981 when England defied odds of

500 to 1 to beat the Aussies And go on and win the Ashes. And Ian

Botham's instructions to him, let's give it some... For the rest is all

legend. Let's see what happened with the

wet but -- let's see what is happening with the weather.

It certainly has felt like autumn today. Plenty of cloud and some

breezy south-westerly winds. Back cloud will thicken ahead of some

wind. Diddly squat a bright start to the day tomorrow, but the cloud

will be back in the afternoon -- it will be back in the afternoon -- it

leaves a bright start. Over the next couple of days, it will feel

cooler once again, temperatures returning to the low teens. A 14

degrees down on the temperatures we were seeing at the weekend. Today,

low-pressure very much in control of the weather. You can see this

tight isobars indicating the breezy South westerly we saw today. The

cloud cover we are seeing, that is thickening ahead of a band of rain

we will see tonight. Throughout the day, mostly dry, some light drizzle

along the coast and the best of any brighter spells, up to 20 degrees,

68 Fahrenheit. Try for a time they initially tonight but as you can

see, this rain is going to be spreading eastwards -- dry for a

time tonight. The wind will get up to around 30 mph. Temperatures

fairly mild, staying in double figures, between 11-13 degrees.

Tomorrow, the rain will clear through the air early hours, but as

we can see, plenty of shares drifting eastwards into the

afternoon. -- showers. That cloud will clear in the afternoon, plenty

of sunshine and the south-westerly wind will stay with us so it will

feel breezy. Share was again in the afternoon and temperatures were

filled notably cooler -- showers. 15 degrees, 59 in Fahrenheit.

Friday stays dry but still cool, Friday stays dry but still cool,