16/03/2012 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today. Tonight's top stories.

Jail for the drunk lorry driver who U-turned and drove the wrong way

down the M20. Virgin boss Richard Branson says

expand Heathrow and bin Boris Island to solve the UK's air

capacity crisis. I know by doing this interview, it's an unpopular

thing to say. But someone's got to say it.

Also in tonight's programme. We're live in Hastings ahead of the

opening of the brand new, �4 million Jerwood gallery. It's

divided opinion, has the Jerwood been built in the wrong place and

at the wrong time to regenerate Hastings or could it be a much

needed boost to the town's fortunes? As a town and community,

we should have asked them to go where we needed it, which I feel,

Good evening. A Polish lorry driver has been jailed for 18 months after

he did a U-turn on the M20 and drove the wrong way along it for

hundreds of metres. Ireneusz Popielarz was found to be more than

three times over the drink drive limit when he was arrested near

Ashford. Steve Gaisford reports. The moment Kent Police traffic

officers stopped a John Clery driver travelling the wrong way

down a busy motorway. The officers spotted the Polish driver as they

headed London-bound on the M20 near junction nine. The pictures

recorded from their patrol car camera showed the lorry forcing

coast bound traffic to avoid him. It is reported that Ireneusz

Popielarz had driven his glory for several hundred metres in the right

direction before performing a U- turn across all three lanes. As he

travelled back towards gentian nine, the police were waiting for him. He

was tested and his blood alcohol reading was over the legal limit.

As one of the main routes to the coast and on to Europe, the M20

motorway is heavily used by drivers both day and night. It is very

fortunate that no one was hurt. courts clearly have decided to

punish the man in the wake I feel he should have been. As a direct

result, this man has lost his licence. He has also lost his

livelihood and he has lost his liberty. In addition to receiving

an 18 month jail term, he has been disqualified from driving for three

years and will need to take an extended test 80 is ever to be

allowed back on British roads. Richard Branson, the billionaire

owner of Virgin Atlantic, says the government would be better off

building a third runway at Heathrow and not pursuing any of the Thames

estuary schemes that have been proposed. Talking exclusively to

BBC South East Today's political editor Louise Stewart, he told her

that while there is an urgent need for more air capacity, Boris Island

isn't the answer. The government aviation review is

due out later this month. Given they have already said they are

looking at all options apart from a third when I, what would you like

to see out of it? -- a third runway. I would like them to look at all

options, and not to preclude extra capacity at Heathrow. Because, I

mean, if they end up, say, building a new airport in the Astra, the

only way that is going to succeed is to close Heathrow down. -- a new

airport in the history. It will take many years before it happens.

I just think I have a quite a big question over the feasibility of it,

and whether it will ever take place. Even if it does take place, we are

talking 20 years away. In the meantime, Great Britain comes to a

stop. There does seem to have been a bit of a groundswell of opinion

in favour year -- favour of her hub airport, it initially it was seen

as pie-in-the-sky, Boris Island, but now business leaders and

architects have come out. Do you think a new airport in the south-

east would work? You would have a massive road right through London.

Transportation to and fro -- to and from there would be very tough.

There are a lot of questions that need answered before we would back

that airport. Whatever happens, Great Britain needs more capacity,

urgently. And so if that is the only option open, we will take

whatever we can get. You are clearly a man who understands

business, aviation, and who has some political influence. You were

at the dinner with President Obama and David Cameron the other night.

Why do you think politicians are so set against increasing capacity if

comic as you say, it is so crucial for economic growth? I think they

have made the mistake of saying, trying to get elected on the basis

they would not do it, thinking it was a popular thing to do. I know

by doing this interview, it is an unpopular thing to say, but

somebody has got to say it. Sometimes brave people change their

minds. I think, you know, pretty well anybody who is in business in

the UK knows that it is desperately-needed, we desperately

need the capacity. Sir Richard Branson, thank you very much.

Our reporter has been following this story and joins us from

outside City Hall in central London. Sir Richard Branson's views are

hugely respected within the business area, is his view going to

have any influence on the mare? That depends on who the mayor is.

We have got elections here in May, the current mayor, Boris Johnson,

does not think I heard -- a third runway at Heathrow is the answer.

He is in favour of the Thames estuary airport, Boris Island. The

other candidate, Brian Paddick, Jenny Jones and Kevin and -- Ken

Livingstone, are against that idea. It depends on who is elected. The

Department for Transport Today reiterated government's position,

and that is that a third runway at Heathrow has currently been ruled

out. And you can see the full interview

with Richard Branson on our websites, bbc.co.uk/kent and

/sussex. In a moment: The university of

Kent's Sport Science team put me through my paces ahead of my Sport

A man accused of killing a businessman from Sussex in a

bungled robbery has been giving evidence in his defence. Terrance

Bristow's DNA was found at the farm in Robertsbridge where Julian

Gardner was crushed to death nearly 18 months ago. He told Lewes Crown

Court that he had never been to the farm where Mr Gardner lived. Fiona

Irving was in court. Julian Gardner was killed in the

early hours of 11th October, 2010, crushed to death the common -- the

prosecution claimed between a Jeep Cherokee and his own Land Rover.

Six men are charged with manslaughter. Today, Terrance

Bristow from Ashford put to the stand to give evidence. Innocent, I

am innocent of being -- what I am being accused of. A few days before

the murder, his DNA was found on crowbars at the firm -- the farm.

Giving evidence today, the defence All six men deny the charges and

the trial is set to continue on Monday morning.

Southern Water has applied for more time to try to refill the South

East's largest reservoir due to continued dry weather. The

Environment Agency has already agreed to water being taken from

the River Medway to top up Bewl Water until the end of this month.

Southern Water wants the agreement to be extended until the end of

April. The controversial Jerwood Art

Gallery opens in Hastings tomorrow. The �4 million building has

bitterly divided opinion in the town, championed by those who

believe it will help regenerate the area but condemned by those who see

it as the wrong project in the wrong place. Polly is live at the

Gallery. The evening reception is just getting underway?

Guests are slowly starting to arrive here for a special reception

ahead of the opening tomorrow. The Jerwood is here, at Hastings old

town, in amongst the old fishermen's huts which a unique to

Hastings. You can see up there, a sign, a sign that says no Jerwood.

It is nestled next to the medieval walled town. It is the latest in

what has been described as a string of pearls, a network of art

galleries starting with Turner in Margate, the De La Warr in Bexhill

to the Towner in Eastbourne. It has stirred up a lot of strong opinion!

Our reporter Sara Smith has been taking the temperature in the town

ahead of the opening. If today is all about getting ready

for the opening party, tomorrow is when the real life of this gallery

will begin. Its collection of 20th and 21st century paintings will go

on public display for the first time. Among the artists featured is

Mick Rooney, who lived here and was inspired by this town's artistic

community. It is somehow, for me, having a painting here and coming

back to see it, it gives to me a sense of completion. From here in

the gallery, there is no forgetting way you are. Both the town and the

fishing boats are framed by these enormous windows. But if you feel

connected to the rest of Hastings from inside the gallery, how

connected does the rest of the town feel to this get -- place? Frame up

the all-day breakfasts in his cafe is Martin. Down the other end of

town from the gallery, he is less than impressed. As far as I am

concerned, Hastings is a kiss-me- quick, candyfloss and fish and

chips down. A seaside town. I think the Jerwood is a little bit too,

how should I say, upper-class. customers are split. A gallery in

the middle of the Hastings seems a bit weird to me, it does not fit in.

For art dealers who think it is a really good idea, -- I have worked

for them. I have worked for people who think it is a horrible place.

In a few years people will be used to it. First conceived in 2007,

work started on the Jerwood two years ago, and more than 100,000

visitors are expected every year. A nearby bed-and-breakfast is one

place which need -- seems likely to benefit. Prior to something like

the gallery coming, it people would have just come for a day-trip. But

now they might make a weekend of it or a two-night break during the

week and a visit other parts of East Sussex. The owner of this

vintage clothes shops says it is the mix in Hastings which it works

so well, and it is not just the extra visitors that have sold her

on the gallery. I do not think it should split the town, it should

bring people in and it is good for the town itself. It looks beautiful

and fits in, I think it is great. But the Jerwood still has many

hearts and minds to wins. We have come inside, this is called

the Foreshore Gallery, the largest exhibition space inside their

Jerwood. 180 square metres. This is the work of Cap Rose Wylie, a Kent

artists, she is here. How does it feel to have your first

retrospective? Lovely, wonderful, I N delighted. I love the building

and a love Hastings. What do you think seeing your work on the wall?

Terrific, it is very well hung, that is Liz! I could not have done

it better. Liz Gilmore is the director of Jerwood, what do you

feel like getting to this stage? is an amazing moment. We are so

excited, opening the doors tomorrow, so police to have Rose Wylie as our

inaugural show. -- so police. To welcome people into the galleries.

You have to win over Hearts and minds, people still think there is

not a good place for this place. There'll be people who have a

different view, but the overwhelming majority have been

supportive. We had a first launch last night with the local community

who were utterly delighted to see the Jerwood Gallery being here.

What about the issue of them having to pay for it? It might be easier

to accept if it was very. We have some free entry on a Tuesday, once

a month, but what we have done is a Robin Hood approach of being very

subsidised. �2 for local approach - - adults and �1 for children, we

hope the entrance fee will will not be seen as a barrier. This whole

idea of regenerating seaside pairings using art it is not new,

it started to the Tate in St Ives. The director of the Tate is Sir

Nicholas Serota. This idea that seaside towns that have fallen on

hard times can be regenerated through art is kind of gaining

momentum, certainly in the south- east. Do you think it is really

viable and the long-term? I think we have seen many examples, Tate St

Ives has been there for nearly 20 years, it has transformed the

economy of the town. If you go to Margate, the Turner Contemporary

has made a big difference. The Bexhill Gallery, that will happen

here as well. It is not the only thing in town. The fishermen

certainly know that. There is plenty of reason for other parts of

the economy to flourish in Hastings. They feel there should be further

up the seafront, in an area they need regeneration, closer to the

burned down peer or St Leonard's. We are not going to move in El!

Town will move towards it. You have a great space outside the Jerwood,

and I think it will be a space in the town. Any big city or town, the

centre of it moves over time. -- over time.

We will be coming back later to take a closer look at some of the

oddities in the gallery, and a look behind some of the arguments for

and against. A Polish lorry driver has been

jailed for 18 months after he did a U-turn on the M20 and drove the

wrong way along it for hundreds of metres. Ireneusz Popielarz was

found to be more than three times over the drink drive limit when he

was arrested near Ashford. Also tonight, after yesterday's

sunshine, today has been a more dull and call picture. We have rain

Now, Sport Relief 2012 is just a week away and tomorrow I'll be

doing my bit by embarking on a marathon journey from Brighton to

Margate. I'll be swimming around Brighton Pier, cycling the 100

miles from there to Ramsgate and then running the final stretch to

the finish line at the steps of the Turner Contemporary in Margate.

It's a big ask, have I done enough training? To find out I went to the

University of Kent's Sports Science department in Medway for the

During the running test on the treadmill, we will be recording

your heart rate so we can get information about how your heart

rate relates to how hard you are running so we can give you a target

speed so you don't go too quickly We have got the relationship

between how fast you are working and the concentration of lactate.

This tells us information about what is going on metabolic be

within your body. I would certainly recommend, for the average pace of

the run, to keep it slightly slower than that. OK. I think keeping its

low on the day will not be an issue! That is the science bit,

theoretically, I am fit enough to do this, but how my body is going

to react after doing a one kilometre sprint and then 100 mile

bike ride and then running 10 miles, I will find out when I do it for

real. Wish me luck! I am very nervous about it!

If you want to donate to Sport Relief this year which helps

charities in the UK, as well as some of the worlds poorest

countries, you can go to sportrelief.com/sponsor/robsmith1.

The south east's top teams will continue their push for promotion

tomorrow. In the Championship fifth place Brighton travel to Blackpool

hoping to extend their 12 match unbeaten run. League One leaders

Charlton got to Scunthorpe. In League Two Crawley will be hoping

to end their recent slump at home to Port Vale and Gillingham travel

to Cheltenham despite still missing a host of first choice players.

Now, as we've been hearing, the South East's latest high profile

art gallery opens in Hastings this weekend. The Jerwood divided the

town pretty much from the start. Many hope it will kick-start much

needed regeneration, but those against it believe it's been built

on the wrong site. Let's go back to Polly at the Gallery now. Polly, is

there any resolution in sight? Not at this stage, but this is one

of the things that is going to win people over. This is the more

traditional side of the collection here at the Jerwood, including

works by Sir Frank Brangwyn, he painted most of his work from a

studio in Sussex. So they have local artists. We have this famous

work over here, this is by Christopher Wood. They are hoping

that iconic paintings like this will draw people in. You just need

to look out of the window to see how close this is to Hastings a

posture the medieval altar town. This proximity to what many say it

was already a thriving area of the town is what winding some people up.

They think that the man wrecked -- the Jerwood is getting more from

the old town than the old town is They stayed there is a place for

everything. And the beach at Hastings old town has always been

the pace of fishing boats and fresh catch. Is it the right place for

the brand new Jerwood Gallery? Dean, whose family have been landing

fishable sentries, is very clear that the answer is no. Everything

about the old town is a successful stop anybody bringing -- wanting to

bring a to bring a business here is The challenge has been to create a

sympathetic building which takes its place among the nets and

buildings, a place for art. As an art gallery, it fits so well with

the net huts and the old town, and this is very historic. This is the

medieval town of Hastings. I believe that after a little bit of

time, people will like and maybe The Jerwood houses a collection of

20th and 21st century art, and there is local talent amongst it.

Like this painting, this is by D artist Frank Brangwyn, the view out

of his window at of the Sussex village of Ditchling. A this is the

South Downs in the background. It was this painting which started the

collection in the first place. Coming right up to date, this is

the work of the artist Rose Wylie, the first retrospective of her work

shown. She was born in Kent, she trained in the county, and she

still does her work from studios in a little Kent village. There is

undoubted appeal for art lovers, but many people who live here have

misgivings. I think it is very controversial. You can still see

the banners up with no Jerwood, it says it up. Wrong place, tongue --

wrong time. It takes time for people to accept, new buildings and

new places but it will hopefully bring in revenue. I am not

objecting to a gallery in Hastings, but there are better places. It has

been forced on the locals here who definitely do not want it. Some

would like to have seen it further along the seafront towards St

Leonard's. Nearer to the old Post Office cafe. But here there is hope

that they can cash in on new interest in the area generally.

cannot see how it cannot be positive, really. They would have

to get it terribly wrong. Local journalist Kathryn Flett does not

think it is out of place. It is a destination. Artist, the light is

fantastic, people have been drawn here for centuries. -- it is a

destination for artists. Art is what Hastings is and will continue

to be. It has been met with a sea of disapproval, but if Jerwood

proves itself popular, people may come to believe that everything

does have its place. Who knows? We have come outside,

this is the cafe and restaurant where people are able to look out

over the fishing boats over there. I am joined by two local business

people, Alastair Hendy, you run a Home Store, and Kathy Dyton, who is

one half of the jewellery shop -- jaw restore Pearl and Queenie. You

like this gallery? I think it is fantastic, I think the bars and

anticipation of it opening has been brilliant. I think it has going --

it is going to be brilliant for Hastings. Allistair, you are not so

convinced? Not totally convinced. I am all for re-Gallery, but not

quite where they put it. Hastings is known for its marine industry,

fish-and-chip shops, jellied eel bars, this of lip -- this launch

fleet, and they are being squeezed out. We have got these amazing

architectural gems, the net huts, they are Hastings. To put this

building right up against them and spoil the view, that is completely

inappropriate statement on the beach front. Quickly, it spoils the

view, Kathy? I disagree. They have been very sympathetic to the design,

it fits in perfectly. It has been brilliant. I cannot see what the

fuss is about. Frankie both very much. -- thank you both very much.

Is the sun going to sign -- Sharon on the new Jerwood when it opens

Today has been a dull and cooler picture, and in the weekend, cloud

cover is thickening. Rain on Saturday, sunshine has sunshine and

showers. -- Sunday has sunshine and showers. Low pressure moving in on

Saturday, but high pressure then builds from the south-west so

increasingly settled through Sunday. By the new week, it will be a

settled, warm and bright picture. Today, plenty of cloud cover around,

a break in the cloud over the coast in Pembroke. For the rest of us, a

dull story, it stays tonight. Staying dry overnight but first

thing tomorrow, a band of rain spread eastwards, heavy as times

particularly through the afternoon. Behind the reigned there is a clear

spell, so call might overnight into Sunday. -- a caller night. Shares

in the afternoon on Sunday. -- showers in the afternoon on Sunday.

Then a cold story into Monday. A risk of frost on Monday night. All

the glorious weather this week, it is a bit of a washout this week.

But it is welcome rain. As we enter the new week, once again it will be

settled. Temperatures about 10 degrees on Monday. Enjoy your