02/11/2011 South East Today

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

And I'm Rob Smith. Tonight's top stories.

Pie in the sky or a glimpse of the future? Plans for a �50 billion

airport on the Isle of Grain are unveiled by renowned architect Lord

Foster. Doing nothing threatens quality of life, threatens

competitiveness, and the global economy. Cuts of vital trade links.

But campaigners fought off proposals to build a Thames Estuary

airport nine years ago - they vow they'll fight again. I don't think

it'll be a case of opening jobs up for us in the village, because it

is too close, and basically, there will not be a village.

We'll be reporting live on the story from Westminster and the Isle

of Grain. Also in tonight's programme:

The next 24 hours are crucial - as a Sussex teenager lies critically

ill in hospital, his parents make an emotional appeal.

Risking his life to record events - a new exhibition of work by the

photographer who lost his limbs in Afghanistan.

And it's moving day at the sealife centre as hundreds of underwater

creatures leave home to allow for a Good evening. Ambitious plans for a

�50 billion airport and rail hub that would transform the Kent

landscape dramatically have been unveiled today. They've been drawn

up by the world-renowned architect Norman Foster, who wants to create

a huge new four-runway airport on the Isle of Grain.

It would have double the capacity of Heathrow, and would be linked

via high-speed rail lines to the rest of the UK and the Continent.

But it's been dismissed as "pie in the sky" by local campaigners,

who've vowed to fight the plans. The Isle of Grain, a mixture of

Industry, grazing marsh, and at village. As single road gets you

there, and all that would change if Lord Foster's master plan

materialises. Of vision to take British transport through the rest

of this century, and beyond. The proposals would see the creation of

a Thames Harbour on the island at a cost of at least �50 billion. The

centrepiece would be a new airport with four runways, that would be

capable of handling 150 million passengers a year. The plans also

include huge investment in rail infrastructure to accommodate

300,000 arrivals and departures every day. The airport is so huge,

it wouldn't all fit on to the Isle of Grain, so around half of it

would be here, on this land, much of it is marsh land. The rest would

be out and its -- out at sea on reclaimed land. There is a question

mark as to whether the liquid gas terminal could remain. With no end

in sight to the current economic crisis, will anyone invest? There

is always, globally, quite a lot of money flowing around. There are not

many good ideas that are worth investing in. This, as a proposal,

can be subjected to minute scrutiny. It has been exceedingly well

researched. If anybody wanted a good investment, this would be a

fantastic investment. So they run out two airport plans for the

south-east. In 2009, Boris Johnson unveiled his scheme for an airport

in the Thames Estuary. Critics of that plan say it is too ambitious,

so what do they think of Lord Foster's idea? Today, we see these

architects, or rehashing the same proposal they pushed before, which

was largely dismissed in 2003. There is no proposal for how on

earth they're going to pay for it. The new plan is for how much more -

- are much more than an airport. They also envisage a new Thames

barrier, over North West to Essex. It would only be used for emergency

blood situations, it would also be the tool of tidal power. It is

difficult to envisage a transformation into a transport hub,

but Lord Foster argues it is what is needed for Britain to remain

competitive in the world economy. So who is Lord Foster - and how

serious are his plans? He's the architect behind a string of

international landmarks - such as the new London skyscraper known as

the Gherkin. But he has a significant track record in

aviation, having created Stansted Airport and the Chek Lap Kok

airport in Hong Kong, which was built on an artificial island

reclaimed from the sea. It is a massive idea. Lord Foster thinks

big, and this one of his biggest ever pieces of planning, really. It

undoubtedly goes some way to answering the question, how is

London going to compete with other cities in Europe who are able to

expand their airports, where London frankly isn't any longer?

As we've heard, this project would cost �50 billion, but where would

that money come from, given the economic crisis? Well, supporters

say most of it would come from private investors, rather than the

taxpayer. They claim the cost to the UK economy of doing nothing

could be as high as �14 billion in lost business opportunities over

the next 10 years, but they believe the investment would make the UK

more competitive internationally, and deliver �150 billion worth of

benefits. Our Political Editor Louise Stewart joins us live from

Westminster. These art usually ambitious plans. Absolutely. They

say this new airport could handle 150 million passengers a year, that

is more than Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted put together, making it

the biggest airport in the world. The new transport secretary

declined to be interviewed by us today, but speaking last week to a

conference of the airport leaders, she didn't rule out the idea of a

new Thames estuary airport. She said that all options were being

looked at two increase airline capacity. This is an issue that has

been raised several times, David Cameron has said he was happy to

look at the plant commissioned by the London Mayor Boris Johnson. He

has kept saying they arrive no plans, hasn't quite ruled it out

altogether. There will be a government proposal, outlined in

the springtime, into aviation. They say they will look at the Thames

estuary airport as well as all other potions. -- proposals.

The Government's been inviting people to put forward their views

on the future of aviation policy, and the next step is publication of

draft proposals that will go out for consultation in spring next

year. Lord Foster's plan would bring

much-needed jobs and investment to the Medway Towns, but it would also

see the destruction of historic villages and wildlife habitats in

one of the South East's least populated areas. Katherine Downes

is live on the Isle of Grain. How are people there reacting to this?

One word that has come up again and again today has been exasperation.

People here feel the threat of an airport in this area just will not

go away, and the Thames estuary is being used as a dumping ground by

people in London, coming up with hare-brained plants, plans they

said they are determined to fight. This is a landscape dominated by

power stations and gas plants. People here right used to

controversial developments, but they say this is a step too far.

might give loads of people jobs, but not people like us, it is just

going to me but out of alive, and it isn't fair. Basically there is

not going to be a village, they cannot keep a village so close to

the airport. People are not going to want to live here. Campaigners

have already seen off the threat of one airport here. In 2002 they were

told plans for an airport had been dropped. The local people, the

promise of new jobs, new investment, was not tempted enough, and the

promise of even more jobs and investment isn't working this time,

either. At the end of the day, it is sustainable employment that we

are bringing to the area now, without some pie-in-the-sky scheme

that is going to suggest it will come in for 50 years' time to stop

conservationists are preparing to fight as well. The Thames estuary

is one of the Big five, so it is hugely important as the wintering

destination for hundreds and thousands of waders, ducks and

geese. It is just the wrong place to but an airport. But just half an

hour wait in Chatham, views on the proposed airport are more positive.

It would create a lot more jobs, bring more tourists in, that could

help boost the economy. Depending on the noise, they will be flying

in over the estuary, it will create jobs. I think it will bring a lot

into the area. For those whose homes will be bulldozed, this is a

potential nightmare. For others, it is a lifeline, hope for Medway.

That is another reaction I've been seeing a lot off. Some people do

not believe this scheme will even make it off the drawing board, but

even from the drawing board, this plan is enough to make some people

around here very worried indeed. You can find out more about the

plans by watching an extended interview with Lord Foster on our

We'll hear your views later in the programme.

In a moment, the foreign language schools saying the Government has

tarnished their reputation by naming them in a crackdown on

The family of a Sussex teenager who's critically ill in hospital

after being attacked as he walked home from a party, say the next 24

hours will be crucial to his chances of recovery. Mohammed

Bourner, who's known to his friends as "Mo", suffered a serious head

injury in Bexhill in the early hours of Saturday morning. Jon Hunt

has been speaking to his parents. This is Mo, doing what he loved

most. Riding is BMX with friends. But now he is critically ill, on a

life-support machine. His parents are by his bedside. We have been

here since we had the dreaded knock on the door from the police at 2pm

on Saturday morning, which no parent wants to have. We are

begging anybody with a heart, with a conscience, to stop this sort of

thing happening again, and for it to happen in Bexhill is just

absolutely outrageous, that nobody has been caught. We deserve justice

for our son. Mo was leaving a beach party at the weekend in Bexhill,

according to the police, when Amman shattered from across the road. He

went over, but was punched to the ground. He is being treated in

hospital. The next 24 hours are going to be quite decisive, I think.

We have got for confident that he can pull through this, but at the

moment, it is a very desperate situation. Police hope that those

who attended the beach party with Mo can help it and by the attacker.

We are really hoping that any one on the promenade in the early hours

of Saturday morning, perhaps someone taking their dog out late

at night, you might have seen it three teenagers, and thought

nothing of it. But within a short space of time, one of them was

subject to a brutal attack. At 20- year-old man arrested earlier this

week on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, has been released.

Three men from Kent have been jailed for raping a teenage girl.

20-year-old Ryan King, from Dartford, Benjamin Millen, who's 23

and from Upchurch, and 27-year-old Max Parker from Dartford, were each

sentenced to eight years in prison. They attacked a 17-year-old in

Dartford in September last year. Highways Agency managers say they

did everything they could to alert motorists to yesterday's problems

on the M25, which caused a 19-mile tailback from Surrey into Kent. A

200-metre stretch of the motorway had to be resurfaced after a tanker

spilled diesel near Reigate. Drivers were stuck for several

hours - some complained there were no signs warning them of problems

Fishermen in Kent and Sussex are being urged to join forces and take

greater control of their quotas. The Fisheries Ministe,r Richard

Benyon, is launching a pilot scheme for small fleets that would allow

groups to manage a quota based on the amount they've landed

collectively. Language schools in Sussex say

their reputations have been tarnished by the latest Government

crackdown on illegal immigration. Several have been named today on a

Home Office list of colleges banned from issuing visas to foreign

students. But some institutions say they've chosen to opt out of a

prohibitively expensive inspection programme and that new rules are

driving legitimate students away. At the Brighton language college

they teach English to around 3,000 students a year. They are

accredited by the British Council. Because they won't pay �10,000 for

the Government's new inspection scheme, they can no longer offer

long-term student visas. Instead, students who come here count

advises us and can only stay for a few months rather than go on to

university. I went to Korea and people told me they no longer deal

with the UK for students. The students, with the internet are

aware of what is going on through the education community. They put

off coming here because they know within three to six months things

will keep changing. The Government says student visas have provided

the biggest single loophole in the immigration system. It was clear

there were both bogus colleges, colleges who are not giving any

educational value and also bogus students. People who knew they were

not coming here to study, they were coming to work. One such bogus

college was run by this man, and revealed in a BBC investigation to

be using the front of a language school to charge for visas. The

genuine language schools say they are suffering and the student's

friend has been caught by another new rule imposed on those wanting

to study here. It you came here to learn English and have more

opportunities. But he needs to learn perfect English to extend his

visit. It is to double to get a visa. They put more conditions

every year. Bettis a problem now for students. The Government says

it must tackle illegal immigration. Language schools say all they are

doing is driving business away. Sara Smith reporting, and she's

live at the Brighton Language College. Sara, students can still

come and study there can't they? They can, but only on a visitor

visa, and that it lasts for less than the year. But they want to go

on to university they have to go home and reapplied. The college

says because of that hassle and expense students will go to Canada,

America or Australia. They are furious at being on this band

Alastair. They said they made a choice of opting out of this

expensive system. Bass said being on a blacklist is bad for business.

A �50 billion plan to build a for runway airport in Kent has been

unveiled by Lord Foster his scheme would see a large chunk of land

just into the estuary with high- speed rail links around the country.

Opponents have condemned the idea as pie-in-the-sky.

It came close to collapse - celebrating the angels who have

restored Western anger Castle. How do you go about moving hundreds

of underwater creatures out of their home? Brighton's Sea Life

Centre go undergoes a renovations. Nine months ago the Sussex-born

photographer, Giles Duley, lost his left arm and both legs in

Afghanistan. He was lucky to survive, but today his remarkable

road to recovery was marked by the opening of an exhibition of

pictures he shot for international charities before the explosion.

Giles worked as a barman in Hastings before he decided to set

off as an independent photographer of conflicts and disasters. He was

attached to the 75th US Cavalry Regiment, but in February he

stepped onto an improvised explosive device. Robin Gibson has

been to meet him for tonight's Special Report.

He specialised in portraying the human face of conflict and disaster.

Giles Dooley had pictured to its victims all over the world. But in

February, he became a victim. Another statistic of war. I knew

immediately it was a mine I have stepped on. From the angle I landed

I could see my left arm and I could see the skin had ripped-off. I knew

my legs were gone straight away. Amazingly you can remember just

about every second of what happened. Can you tell me? The day was a

beautiful day. The sky was gorgeous. It seemed like quite a calm moment.

I'd just turned to talk to one of the Americans and stepped on the

mind. I felt a click with my right foot and the next thing I knew I

was flying through the air. He was conscious while he was treated at

the scene by the soldiers. But at several moments during his recovery,

his family were warned to prepare for the worst. Through it all, he

has been determined to work again. This exhibition at London's KK

gallery was an important moment. What you see is what you get. He is

The show is a reminder of his work in trouble spots like Afghanistan,

Angola, Bangladesh travelling under his own steam, finding untold

stories. There is always a sense of guilt. You go somewhere and someone

told you the story, let to photograph their soul, you have to

pass that on. To have these pictures just stuck away in drawers

means of a have failed on my job. It is a feeling that drives him to

want to go back, no matter the cost. Once upon a time it was owned by

Henry VIII, and it played host to the high society of 16th Century

England. Westenhanger Castle near Folkestone was a Royal country

house with an extraordinary barn featuring a hammerbeam roof, only

usually found in palaces. After damage in the 1987 hurricane, the

Grade I listed building came close to collapse. But years of

painstaking work has restored it to its former glory and now the owners

have been rewarded with an English It has a roof that would grace a

baronial hall. The construction is the only one to be found in a bomb

anywhere in the country, possibly the world. The craftsmen who

restored it spent three years of is like putting it together. His work

has been recognised with an English Heritage craftsman award. The one

thing that is important to me is the recognition of craftsmanship in

the conservation of historic buildings. It is something we don't

get a lot of recognition for. The architects tend to take the cream

of the recognition. The bomb was built by Thomas Smythe in the 15

80s, a customs collector for Elizabeth The Thirst, he used it

like a warehouse. Given its construction, he must have been

rich. -- Elizabeth the first. The standards of Crossman ship was so

high that if they weren't good enough, they would simply be thrown

away and they would start again. Terry Wheatley's ancestors owned

the bomb before Henry VIII bought it. They say the �1.5 million bill

to restore it is worth it. This type of construction is now only

usually acting to Westminster Palace and places like this.

next challenge is to restore another adjoining building. That

one is older. This type of restoration is expensive, it is a

labour of the heart. If you thought too long about the cost, you would

never do it. Very impressive.

Onto football, and Brighton and Hove Albion have now gone nine

league games without a win. The Seagulls lost 1-0 at Watford last

night in the Championship, substitute Troy Deeney scoring the

winner in the 77th minute. When managers at Brighton's Sealife

Centre decided they needed to get the decorators in, it wasn't just a

question of putting a few dust sheets up for a couple of days. The

hot salty atmosphere is rotting the stonework. So while the masons are

putting things right, lobsters, crabs and even a 12 stone eel are

going into temporary accommodation. It's not a removal job for the

faint hearted. A reluctant a victory. This spider

crab is one of hundreds of underwater creatures moving home.

All inhabitants must they Kate to allow for restoration. It is a very

humid atmosphere and the salt water is corrosive to the stonework. We

have a very talented team of stonemasons who are used to working

on Victorian buildings coming in. They will be repairing the

stonework, stripping back the pains and returning the building to its

former glory as it was when it was first built. Some creatures are

staying put, others are moving to temporary housing. Those moving

will be packed on to special fish lorries. Sometimes we use bigger

pockets. We have specialised transport trucks. Some of them are

sealed with a hole on the top of a flatbed lorry. Others are big fish

tanks on articulated lorries. of the last time to the M Teague

will be this one bats homes the Moray eels. One of them is Big

Daddy and his head is the size of a dinner plate. When the staff

entered this, they will have to work chain-mail gloves. Once the

tanks had been empty, the work will begin but it will be five months

before the public and the spider crabs will see the new look

aquarium. I am not sure I would want to pick

any of those things up by hand. I have to say, to put it bluntly I

hope you like rain because there is plenty to come. It is about to get

wet away you are. Overnight we will be seeing a wet picture. Very mild.

We did see some areas of Clear Sky but this cloud his meaning business

and it is creeping towards us and once the wet weather starts it will

be here to stay. Overnight we will seek a lot of rain although the

second half of the night and there will be more in the wake of calm

weather. Temperatures down to about 13 degrees. Very mild for this time

of year but throughout tomorrow the wet weather will be back. Just a

few showers around throughout the morning, but by the after Mark --

afternoon more substantial rain. At the same time we are seeing

temperatures getting up to 17 degrees. These temperatures are

impressive for November but the wetter weather will carry on. More

wet weather to come and the next few days are not looking too

promising. Even by Friday there is a lot of wet weather sitting to the

south of the UK. By the evening, some of it should have eased, so if

you have plans for a bonfire, Friday will be the night rather

than Saturday because as you can see on the outlook, the next few

days bringing us a lot more wet weather. Tomorrow those

temperatures are still holding up but by Friday will see the figures

drop and the wet weather will drop and the wet weather will

continue throughout the weekend. I hope you are wrong for Saturday.

Let's recap tonight's top stories: Ambitious plans for an airport that

would transform the Kenzo landscape. Earlier we asked what you thought

of the plans and lots of you have been ringing in.

There has been a long debate raging on our Facebook site. Sandra Howard

says "it is rubbish, why should such a tiny country need the

biggest airport? Perhaps the Government should pay back their

debts first". I must say she lives on the Peninsular and they've

bought this a few years ago. It is polarising opinion. Chris

Smith says "stop moaning about the airport and build it. It will

create thousands of jobs, bring money into the UK economy and

create the infrastructure needed". Someone else says up the world's

population of 7 billion means this country relies on tourism. I am

sure everyone wouldn't once an airport on their doorstep but it