26/03/2012 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today. Tonight's top stories: An exclusive

- after two years' delay, the terminal cancer patient who fears

she will die before the complaint against a doctor will even be heard.

It has already been postponed once, and the danger is I will not be you.

The first new grammar school in more than 50 years. People in

Sevenoaks have signed a petition for a new school there. Also in

tonight's programme: Grape expectations - we visit the Sussex

vineyard which will be the largest in the UK.

The sunshine coast - how the South East has been sizzling in the

Spring heat. We will be soaking up the rays live in Brighton.

There's a buzz around the 15-year- old beekeeper from Kent, inspired

to do it by an ad he saw on the Good evening.

A Kent woman with terminal cancer fears she may die before her

complaint against the doctor who treated her is ever heard. Debbie

Westwick, from Canterbury, believes Dr Howard Smedley gave her the

wrong treatment. Despite lodging a complaint with the General Medical

Council in 2009. It still has not been heard. Dr Smedley rejects the

allegations. Simon Jones reports. She knows time is running out.

dying. The more delays there are in the hearing, there is a possibility,

although it is listed to be held in June, there is no guarantee that it

will be. It has already been postponed once. The danger is a

will not be here. Debbie Westwick was diagnosed with cancer in 2006.

She says her oncologist did not followed the right management

protocol. Dr Howard Smedley had restrictions placed on his work by

the GMC, meaning it should have been supervised by another

consultant. I think the GMC had handled this appallingly and have

that tweeted debut with distain. It is so hard for patients to are

fighting doctors and fighting cancer to be fighting to GMC as

well. Debbie received her treatment in Canterbury. The trust that

employed Dr Howard Smedley said that they had carried out a full

investigation and concluded that there was no reason to take any

action against Dr Howard Smedley, who retired last year. He recently

applied to have his name removed from the GMC register on grounds of

ill health, meaning I hearing would be unnecessary. The GMC rejected

She now fears leaving her son behind. It is hard to think that I

probably will not live long enough to see him qualified and it is hard

to think I won't see his children. But what can I do? In a statement,

The GMC has made it clear that he rejects the allegations. Simon,

what more have the General Medical Council had to say tonight? We have

had several complaints that the GMC are taking too long to examine

cases. It will this tonight that they understand the frustration

among the patients, but in this case they have actively been

looking for a new gate and that has been set for June. Debbie Westwick

did it reach an out-of-court settlement for �155,000 over her

care but the trust did not admit any liability. She says this game

is not about money, but holding people to account. She is keen to

point out that the care she is now getting in Canterbury is excellent.

A controversial new grammar school for West Kent looks likely to get

the go-ahead this week, the first new grammar for 50 years. Pressure

has been building from people in Sevenoaks, who currently have no

grammar school in the area. There are currently 32 grammar schools in

Kent. They provide almost 4,500 places each year. But every day

1,150 Sevenoaks children travel at least nine miles to grammar schools

in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells. A petition signed by 2,500 people has

now triggered a debate at a full council meeting. Sara Smith reports.

These are just three of the six grammar-school as a cross Don

Bridge and Tunbridge Wells. This former boys' school building his

work campaigners hope Sevenoaks might get its first. A new school

he would cut out the long bus ride for children who currently pass

their 11 plus. This one and led the campaign. Ideally, I knew grammar-

school would be great because that is the easiest solution, but

because legally we can't have one I think what they will probably do is

say that we can have an Amex which will be a satellite of existing

grammar schools. The coalition government has not reversed

legislation on a new grammar schools opening. Cut 2600

signatures on this petition means the full council must there be at

the call for a satellite grammar in Sevenoaks. The council leader says

it will get his party's support. the moment There are a number of

parents of young people who have passed the 11 plus with no current

places in grammar schools in West Kent because of that under

provision. This is the opportunity to deal with the under provision

side of grammar school places and builds a school in Sevenoaks.

all agree there is a lack of capacity in Sevenoaks, not everyone

assumes that a new grammar school is the am - is the answer. Kent has

a vision for Kent which has three ambitions, one is putting citizens

in control. We want to harness that and to a proper survey of all the

families in the area to say what provision do you actually want? How

can we make sure that the spaces that are created are relevant to

you? It seems that on Thursday new grammar-school provision in

Sevenoaks will get the go-ahead. Would the money will come from has

yet to be decided. A parliamentary inquiry into the

UK's aviation strategy begins today. The group of MPs says they will

explore new ideas that ensure the country can keep pace with

countries like Brazil and China. The inquiry has been brought

forward after the Government announced that their own

consultation on the future of aviation has been delayed until the

summer. A central question is that of airport capacity in the South

East, a point the Chancellor made in his budget speech last Wednesday.

Mean cannot cut ourselves off from the fastest growing cities in the

worlds and the transport secretary will set out government thinking

later this summer. So, when it comes to increasing airport

capacity in the South East, what options will the MPs be looking at?

There are expansion plans at Gatwick to cater for an extra seven

million passengers a year, but legal restrictions currently

prevent a second runway. Airline bosses, including Richard Branson

on this programme last week, are calling for the construction of a

third runway at Heathrow. But the coalition government ruled that out

as soon as they came to power, which has meant plans for a brand

new airport in the Thames Estuary have been gaining ground. I am

joined now by a Labour MP who is chairing the All Party Group on

aviation. This is a hugely controversial issue in the south-

east, especially the idea of creating a new airport in the

Thames estuary. I don't think that is an option, to be honest. It is

more to look at what we have and what we can do in the immediate

future deceive the British aviation industry. That is what I am intent

in trying to achieve. If they have Boris Ireland idea, that is a non

starter? We will examine that along with everything else, we will

examine what possibilities there are four that in terms of the

environmental impact it would have on the south-east of England.

coalition government has said that they have ruled out a third runway

at Heathrow, but obviously people like Richard Branson had been

saying that that is the most sensible option. Do you have a view

as a committee yet? We are certainly pointing in that

direction. Unless we examine that, we will have at drain on the number

of services that can come into Heathrow. Amsterdam has more

regional services from the United Kingdom going to its airport, it

seems it is well overdue that there be some short-term answer to this

problem. Every time this issue is raised here we get lots of e-mails

and phone calls with people saying what about some of the other

regional airports? You have to look at what you have got. The best way

to have an airport run and have the hub IT is at Heathrow. If it is

possible, we would be able to Interlink at other airports in the

south-east. Stakeholders in the aviation industry have been invited

to present the inquiry with written evidence and they have got until

16th May to do so. Hull Crown Court has heard that a

restaurant manager at Gatwick airport subjected to teenage girls

to sexual harassment. He is accused of brushing himself girls -

brushing himself against girls or touching them. He denies the

allegations. A crackdown and drug dealing in

Brighton has led to more than 250 charges. Sussex police say they

have brought 37 charges against one suspect alone and that they have

seized their to �6,000 worth of heroin in a single raid.

Planting of grapevines has begun today in Sussex at what will become

one of the biggest vineyards in Europe. The owners in Alfriston

hope it will eventually produce more than a million bottles of

sparkling wine a year. Steve Gaisford reports. Mark Driver had

always dreamt of owning have been yard and after 18 months of

planning that has finally happening. Work started early this morning and

at the end of this week 50,000 fines will have been planted in

this field near Alfriston, signalling the birth of Britain's

largest have been yard. It is the same type of Jock, the same soul

and the same climate. We are getting the same whether they have

had in champion for dozens of years. So when the first planting face has

been completed, it will be a 50 acre vineyard. The plan is to

extend it out to 350 acres making it one of Europe's largest single-

site vineyards. The weather could not be better for the planting

process. We have got nice blue skies and a sunny day, so it should

be good. A do weather is not always like this, are you concerned?

need a bit of rain for the fines to grow, so we're hoping for a bit of

rain in the next week or so. question on everyone's lips, when

can we tasted? The first bottles won't be on the shells and

available to taste until 2016, so we have a few years. The estate

along with more established vineyards in the area will soon

become a collective force in sparkling wine. One that will no

doubt challenge their Champagne region. The estate expect their

price of sparkling wine to commit just beneath that of champagne, but

that is not to say it would be as good. They are expecting the 1

million bottles produced East - each year to be the first flying

off the shells. Our top story tonight: A Kent woman

with terminal cancer believes she might die before the complaint she

has made against the doctor that treated her is ever heard.

The 15-year-old beekeeper who is causing a bit of a buzz in

Maidstone. It has been another warm dry and

bright day to day and this weather is set to continue. Join me later

in the programme for all the It won't have escaped your notice

that the weather we are having is more like June than March! And it

is set to continue. Temperatures reached 21 degrees at the weekend

and conditions are forecast to continue in the same vein until at

least the end of the week. While for many the sunshine is welcome,

there are downsides. Tonight, we have three linked reports. Bryony

Mackenzie has been to West Sussex, looking at how we can all plant for

a drought-resistant garden. Rachel Mackley has been investigating

early forest fires, but, first, Alex Beard reports from Brighton on

how the warm weather is bringing a boost to many traders.

The adverse, buskers and beach lovers were out enjoying the sun in

Brighton. For businesses feeling the benefit? Ron Smith has run a

shop for six years and he knows the impact sunny weather can have.

is all-important. The weather is the business, for everybody on the

seafront. We are all eternal optimists here, are we? A weekend

of sunshine and a welcome boost in his trade as visitors flock to the

seaside. We have come down from the Midlands this morning. It is hot

now, so we are happy. It is such a nice day. We have seen so many

people in Brighton today, but it could not really be better. It has

been really good. Both businesses and visitors are making the most of

the warm snap because there is no guarantee it will continue.

Today 32 acres of Ashdown Forest in Kent are blackened and burnt. While

further yesterday was battled by over 100 firefighters and has not

be cared out until this morning. This winter in the south-east you

have seen three-quarters of the usual amount of rainfall and have

very little significant rain this month, the undergrowth here is

tinder-dry. You have got this letter layer, the residue from the

winter, and even after a week of rain, within a matter of hours with

weather like this it will be dry and up again for fires. Just last

Wednesday a large area of Scotland in Hastings cult-like and with the

heatwave set to continue this week via Cruise caressing for people to

enjoy the countryside, but take care.

Primulas love it, magnolias thrive on it, even Dafydd also partial to

it, but if you can't water your favourite plants and flowers, how

does your garden grow? We are at the Mediterranean border. Basically,

they are drought tolerant. There are lots of heat loving companions

to fill our beds with, some prettier than others. Vanessa has

more tips. We use water restoring granules here. We would encourage

people to plant small plants so that they're able to adapt to their

conditions. Signs of summer are all around, but they may need a bit

more care. Alex, the Sun has been proving very

popular there today. It has. The seafront is still quite busy with

people. Use of the pictures of the weekend when the beach was actually

quite busy. The traitors and was speaking to said that provided a

much-needed boost in business. It is not good news for everybody and

on 5th April the hosepipe ban comes in, and that is an unwelcome side-

A teenager from Kent has become one of the youngest in the South East

to qualify in beekeeping. Unusually, for a young apiarist, he hasn't

learnt his skills from anyone in his family. Jordan Whitcombe, who

is 15 and lives in Maidstone, was inspired by a TV advert for cereal

he watched a few years ago. Charlie Rose reports.

This is one of the most important things. It keeps bees off your face

and head. Other teenagers are following the latest fashion trends,

that this is the only outfit Jordan Whitcombe is in two. It is a

compelling hobby. Each time you look at the Hyde you learn

something new. They are also quite friendly creatures. So, did these

understand him and his school friends do, too. And when to prime

the school with him and he was obsessed then. He even made so a

little peaky is were you could see how they make their nest. You can

really see the dedication, what he enjoys doing and what is

interesting is. A Jordan will make an excellent beekeeper. It is

nearly a year since we passed him for his exam and there was no

question that he passed well indeed. Mum is proud. She is quite keen on

the product, too. But those bees may just guessed - may just get

everywhere. He is taking babies to school? On purpose? No, they just

crawled in! Turning professional is a serious business. Well, in his

five hives he has 40,000 bees and to turn professional he would meet

- would need a much bigger garden to fit 1.5 million bees. It is

almost like he wants to know each and every one of them. They can

read my emotions. Most of the time Gillingham Football Club chairman

Paul Scally has warned supporters that the club may be forced to

leave the Medway Towns. He says that if a proposed Chatham Docks

redevelopment proposal gets the go- ahead the club would have no option

but to move. Our sports reporter Neil Bell joins us from Chatham.

How serious is this? It is never easy to tell what Gillingham. The

problems surrounding Asda superstore which is part of the

redevelopment plans. The chairman has written to the councillors to

oppose it because he says if it gets the go-ahead that would like

his stadium plans. It was a disappointing weekend for

Gillingham on the picture as well. Brighton remain in 4th place in the

championship but know they could have done better after they went in

front at Nottingham Forest. They held out until four minutes into

stoppage time before there was a late equaliser. I am not pleased at

all. In the last few weeks we had the excuse of the pitch, so there

is no excuse. We need to sort out to keep things away from home.

is now just one win in five games for Charlton. An early penalty was

dispatched by Jordan Rhodes for his 35th goal of the season. Russell,

who conceded the penalty, was later sent off. They are still eight

points clear at the top of the table. Crawley moved up to 4th in

We have to rattle one or two cages today, but they got flying in the

second half. Gillingham remain four points off the play-offs despite a

dream start. Bradford pulled a goal back hands with six minutes left,

they grab the controversial equaliser which was called off side,

but was allowed to stand by the referee. You do wonder how some

managers have any hair left. Herne Bay still have a great chance of

going to Wembley. Their FA Vase semi-final was the Kent team's

biggest game for years and they came back from two goals down to

grab a draw with West Auckland. The teams meet again in the second leg

next Saturday. Sussex wicketkeeper Matt Prior helped England make a

great start against Sri Lanka in the First Test. Prior caught

Sangakarra early on as England reduced the home side to 15 for

3.But they rallied to reach 289 for 8 by the close. Many

congratulations to the thousands of people who came out for Comic

Relief yesterday I was down at Brighton where, as usual, there

were some extraordinary outfits and a great party atmosphere.

Organisers believed it was the best turnout ever. Just think what it

would have been like if you had enjoyed that sort of weather for

you triathlon a week ago? At big thank-you to everybody who

sponsored me. That figure was about �3,000. Well done to everyone who

took part. Small and unique, delicate and expensive - a rare

Turner painting of Sussex has arrived in Brighton. The

watercolour, which showcases the Brighton Pavilion, has recently

been brought in New York for �225,000. It will go on show at

Brighton Museum at the end of month and it is the first time in 100

years that it has gone on public display. We watch the auction

online live. The price went up and up. When the hammer fell and it

went below the estimate, there was a roar of laughter and cheers from

the Office when we realised we had secured this wonderful picture.

A company in Dover is trying to raise �14 million to recover and

restore a former cross-Channel steamship. The Dover carried around

1,000 cars to and from the Continent during the 1960s. 30

years ago she was sold and ended up as a nightclub venue in Tyneside.

We are looking to preserve her. She is owned by nobody at the moment

and we are hoping that the permission of the various

stakeholders and balls in the north-east and here in Dover that

we can make acquisition of the vessel very soon. It was a

legendary nightclub in Newcastle. Let's get a check-up on the weather

Today again was warm, settled and drive. It will stay clear of three

tonight. Plenty of sunshine on offer and it will feel warm tonight.

The reason for that is this high pressure dominating. We have gentle

north-easterly breeze. Highs in Dover of around 12 degrees and in

Brighton we have seen highs today of the 18 degrees. Through tonight

we will hold on to the Clear skies with temperatures falling pretty

quickly. It will be cool overnight. High pressure is in control again

tomorrow. It will be another warm and settle day. Blue skies through

the afternoon with the gentle north-easterly winds. The further

west you go the higher the temperature in a region. If so,

Clear skies again overnight into Wednesday. Temperatures by Don down

to four or five degrees. Wednesday list that will be the warmest day

of the week with temperatures in London as high as 23 degrees. Just

to put that in context, the average for the time of year is 11 degrees.

High pressure will be moving westwards, so that the time we get

to Friday we have more cloud cover around. By Saturday the chance of

some much-needed rain. So, here is the outlook. Wednesday will be the