18/11/2013 South East Today

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

Tonight's top stories: Distraught and angry ` family of a man killed

by a French driver on the wrong side of the road who's sentence has been

halved on appeal. To be told that he will be set free

is unfair. An extra tax on pubs and clubs to pay for the carnage of

binge drinking Britain ` a Kent city's proposal to help ease the

burden on taxpayers. We are in Canterbury where pubs and

off`licences could be charged a levy of up to ?4000. Also in tonight's

programme: Taken too young ` the puppies and kittens removed from

their mothers and sold on with fatal health problems.

Restoration Queen ` we have an exclusive tour of the paddle steamer

known as the heroine of Dunkirk as she prepares to return to the

Medway. I don't think much to this earth. Why can't we do something

constructive? And from walking the dog on Brighton Beach to an alien

attack on Hawkhurst Church ` how Doctor Who has caused terror all

over the South East Welcome to South East Today, I'm Natalie Graham.

Good evening. The family of a man killed by a French driver in Kent

who was on the wrong side of the road have reacted with distress and

anger to his sentence being halved, because he is French.

An appeal court judge ruled that 25`year`old Sebastien Fleury had a

lower culpability for David Crane's death, because he was used to

driving on the right. They have been inundated with

messages after the death of their father. To have the sentence reduced

and to be told he is going to be set free earlier than what we wear

expecting is unfair and not fair for any family to go through the trauma

of going through it again. People that get arrested for drug dealing,

they get more time in prison and someone who is killed in a car

accident. It was in August last year when he was driving to see his

English your friend. He got lost and did a U`turn and drove on the

oncoming traffic. Alexis Fleury was pleaded `` was found guilty but the

sentence was cut by half last month. It is quite reasonable to take the

view that if you are driving to friends and get something wrong

because you are not familiar with French traffic law, we would expect

some bearing of that to be taken into account. That isn't the view

shared by Verity and she plans to set up an online petition calling

for a change in the law. Pubs and clubs in Canterbury could be forced

to pay an extra local tax of up to ?4,000 a year to help cover the

costs of dealing with unruly and sometimes violent people who've had

too much to drink. The south east's booze culture also

comes under the spotlight in Brighton tonight where an annual

student pub crawl called Carnage is due to take place and critics are

warning of the impact binge drinking is having in the city. Charlie Rose

in Brighton and Ellie Price in Canterbury ` thank you both Well we

want to know what you think. This hasn't gone down well with

businesses. This was an idea by central government to give the power

to local councils to raise this levy. One council up North has tried

it but it started in November. Critics say it is far too early how

this will work in practice. The results of a heavy night out in

Canterbury. For some these scenes are all too familiar and now the

City Council is considering forcing any business selling late`night

booze to pay for the consequences. They are making up profit from being

open after midnight. Some are open until 4am. If they wish to stay

open, this levy will go towards the cost of that late night economy. It

can apply between midnight and 6am and then you selling alcohol will be

charged between ?304,000 each year depending on the business rate band.

At least 70% of the money raised has to go towards policing while the

council gets the rest to pave anything from street cleaning to

taxi marshals. Businessman like Gareth said he pays ?80,000 a year

in business rates for his pub and says the pan `` plan as a cash cow

for the council. We provide security on all doors and throughout our

building. We do clean`up after our guests and clients have left and we

make sure people are able to drink and socialise in a safe manner. I

would say that we are already looking after people in that way and

I don't see if there is a cost for that, that we need to have an extra

added cost. The proposals drew mixed views from people in Canterbury. It

seems fair enough. It is needed. I work in retail and our rates are

phenomenal. They are not going to survive. The punters will have to

pay for it eventually. It will hit their pocket. Criticised the selling

cheap alcohol, supermarkets will be part of those schemes but only those

open after midnight. These plans are being discussed tonight but no final

decision is expected. Charlie Rose is in Brighton. What is

expected to happen that night? Brighton has always been a popular

place to let your head down that night there would be a big event.

You can argue that the name, Carnage, looks into excessive

drinking. Students pay to be taken on a pub crawl around the bars and

pubs in Brighton and take part in socialising and drinking. Like many

events of this kind, it has attracted criticism. There is not a

need for organised pub crawls. The city should do as it does normally

and be open to students seven nights a week and allow them to come when

it suits them rather than someone with a profit motive adding to the

organisation that seems unnecessary. We have received a statement in the

last few minutes from the organisers and they say it is a carefully

organised and planned event and they say it allows students to enjoy

themselves. They claim the event is not centred around drinking and it

says it offers a boost to the local economy.

We want to know what you think. Is it fair to charge late`night pubs,

clubs and off`licences an additional levy to help pay for the policing

costs associated with alcohol consumption?

In a moment: how a bit of Sussex sparkle has made Craig Revel

Horwood's crutch an unexpected star of Strictly.

A Sussex vet's petition to stop puppies and kittens being taken away

too early from their mothers, then sold on by unscrupulous dealers, has

gained more than 90,000 signatures, putting it top of the Government's

e`petition website. Marc Abraham says far too many

animals are being sold to pet shops in the South East that go on to

develop serious health issues. Helen is one of hundreds of people

in the south`east who have bought puppies with severe health problems

that had to be put down. Underweight and poorly treated, they are being

bought into Kent and Sussex from dog farms in Wales where they are being

bred for profit. These puppies end up in bin bags and dustbins on

landfill sites. They are breeding these puppies, throwing them away.

It is not fair. We bought the dog and he was very skinny. The vet

thought it was the worst case he had seen. All the organs were breaking

down completely. The dog had been living in filth and squalor and was

raised on a puppy from similar to this one in Wales. Bad breeding

practices caused health problems and left them with a ?2000 bill. Mark

Abraham has left a petition `` started addition to them them if

they are not seen with their mother and father. They are transported

across the country and sold from houses, puppy supermarkets and pet

shops. It is a huge problem. They are born with horrific diseases

requiring treatment. Please seek a puppy responsibly. Go to a rescue

was the aim mum interacting with a pup. The project is now the biggest

new petition of all time and has had backing from celebrities on

Twitter. When people buy a puppy, they think they are doing a good

thing. They have no idea that the plays that that puppy or kitten may

have come from is a puppy farm where those animals are kept in harsh

conditions. 10,000 more signatures and the petition may be debated in

Parliament. A man charged with the murder of his

baby daughter has appeared at the Old Bailey today. 27`year`old Mark

Sandland, from Hastings, is accused of killing baby Aimee`Rose who was

just six weeks old when she died. He is due to appear next at Lewes Crown

Court in April. Gay rights protesters have

highlighted the plight of a man in Uganda after pictures of him are

shown in a homosexual relationship. He was arrested after a newspaper

published pictures stored on his computer. I don't know if the trial

is going ahead. I am worried. It is the first time I have been in a

court apart from when I have faced charges. She became known as the

heroine of Dunkirk ` the Medway Queen was the paddle steamer that

rescued some seven thousand troops from the beaches of northern France

in 1940. But she fell into a state of

disrepair, and was in danger of being lost completely.

Now, thanks to an amazingly dedicated bunch and ?1.8 million of

lottery money she is now back afloat. Chrissie Reidy has been

aboard for an exclusive look ahead of her return to the River Medway

tomorrow. We tracked down the Medway Queen. The paddle steamer left

Bristol last Friday. She may be back on home waters but her journey

hasn't all been plain sailing. The main delay in getting her back to

Kent has been the weather. Originally, the tug went down to

collect her back in mid`October but the forecast has been so poor since

then, they have only now been able to bring her home. These days, the

Medway Queen lives a peaceful existence but in years gone by, she

has had her work cut out. She was one of the famed Little ships that

rescued stranded tubes in 1940 from the beaches in Dunkirk. She made a

record seven trips rescuing 7000 men. Eric was her signalman. We

could see Dunkirk burning and we headed for it. We were terrified and

were being bombed all the time. She was a passenger steam in the years

after the war but fell into disrepair. Now, 30 years on, she's

on the River Medway. 60% of the chip is the original vessel. Angels ``

engines, portals, every bit has been used. The whole of the ship is new.

There was nothing that could be salvaged from the old hole. Every

component that we could salvage has gone onto the new ship. She is still

a work in progress and it is unlikely she will return to a

passenger steam roll. Passengers today were delighted to get her

back. They should all be proud of the ship. She has had a rough time

since then so it is lovely to see her back. She will come into her

birth in Chillingham tomorrow. The family of a man killed by a

French driver Kent who was on the wrong side of the road has reacted

with distress and anger to his sentence being halved because he is

French. An appeal court judge ruled Sebastien Fleury had a lower

culpability for David Crane's death because he was used to driving on

the right. Also in tonight's programme: The

Seagulls' Knight in shining armour ` Dick tells us how he saved Brighton

and Hove. And after a cold start to the week,

things will be turning colder as we go through tonight. Join me later in

the programme for the forecast. This week we are celebrating the

50th anniversary of the longest`running TV series, Dr Who.

The south`east has an amazing number of links to the programme having

featured for a location for dozens of episodes. We have been

investigating some of those links, meeting people who have battled the

Daleks, who created the Daleks and who even know what it is like to be

a Dalek. Exterminate estimation mark `` exterminate! .

It is official. Anyone watching Doctor Who over the last

half`century has probably seen more of Kent and Sussex and the Doctor's

home planet. You have come to the right place. Here is Leeds Castle in

Kent. What about Saint Laurence Church in Hawkhurst? An unlikely

Bastian against invading monsters. I had to fling my leg over the side

and make`up like I was coming down his rope ladder on the church. I am

intimately acquainted with Hawkhurst. You have never been

outside the Citadel before? There was a railway line, a road near

there was a school coming out. We were stopping every five minutes. No

fewer than 25 stories is were filmed across Kent and Sussex in the 60s,

70s and 80s. From a Dalek spaceship in Dartford quarry to a zombie

attack in Hawkhurst and how about an alien invasion over there at Gatwick

invasion. He said what? A likely story. Daleks were created. What is

it about them? They rattled and they banged a bit but inside was a very

human being. I was about the right size so I could reach the floor

comfortably. My way was to have as much foam rubber around me so I was

packed in, so I felt at one with my Dalek. Of the doctors themselves,

William Hartnell lived in Sussex and the docked with the ultimate voice

is also local. I take pleasure in meeting Donald Sinden in the

supermarket. We talked very loudly about fish pie or whatever it is.

And on Friday evening we've got a special programme live from Herne

Bay, celebrating 50 years of Dr Who. Tickets for the event itself have

all been allocated, but do join us here on It's already the most

glamorous show on TV but a bit of bling from the south east has been

adding a little extra sparkle to BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing.

It's Craig Revel Horwood's diamante encrusted crutch.

He's been using it ever since returning to the show having had a

hip operation ` all thanks to a Brighton based company. Everything

must shiver on this programme. Thank you for coming up here. We had to do

it without Craig last week. I have my crutch now darling. When a

company heard about his hip operation, they decided to send him

the glitzy crutch to matches showbiz slide style and couldn't believe it

when it stole the show. It is a very glamorous show and it is all about

glitter and so it does hopefully change the perspective of mobility

products and little bit because they can be a bit dull. The company has

been supplying mobility aids but has started adding sparkle over the

summer. And millions spotted the encrusted crutch on strictly come

orders have come flooding in. Lots of people have different styles and

like to express themselves. He should be able to have an option and

a choice. Craig plans to use the crutch when he appears in panto this

December. They are working on other designs and rumour has it that has

been another celebrity order for a touch of sparkle.

Neither Brighton nor Charlton were in action over the weekend because

of the international break but there were encouraging results for both

Gillingham and Crawley. And the Gills are in action again

this evening when they travel to Brackley Town for their FA Cup first

round replay. The club always says the league is

important. A couple of hundred were here hoping for that. They will be

full of optimism following Sturday's victory at Sheffield United ` Danny

Kedwell never say die spirit put them in front. The home side

levelled things up thanks to Chris Porters header but the Gills went

back in front early in the second half thanks to some smart work from

Sub Cody Macdonald who looks set to start tonight's game.

Crawley's four match losing streak in the league came to an end at

Carlisle despite going behind to a penalty early in the second half.

The Reds left it late but sub Billy Clark whose been badly missed

recently powered home a 25 yard shot a couple of minutes of time to level

things up. Football Chairman come in all shapes

and sizes but few can have had a more direct impact on their club

than former Brighton Chairman, Dick Knight. He took over with the club

in near terminal decline, lead the Albion to four promotions and a move

to a state of the Art stadium. Now a life President he has just published

his autobiography Mad Man. It was a scene many Brighton fans

never thought they would live to see again. A new state of the art home

made possible by the tenacity and tireless work of lifelong supporter

Dick Knight. Things were very different when he began his stint as

Chairman when the club was broke and homeless. When I took over the club,

there was despair everywhere. What I did was to get the local sponsor.

Norman Cook, Fat boy Slim come he was their top artist. We were

exactly what it said on our shirt. Skint. Having returned the Albion to

the city following two years exile in Gillingham Dick Knight embarked

on his boldest project building the Seagulls a new stadium. It is here

for the next 100 years. Little did I realise it would take 14 years to

get to the stadium. My God, was it worth it. We're the stadium here

which the community can be proud of. They played a huge Although

delighted by Brighton's recent progress under new Chairman Tony

Bloom, Dick Knight is keen to pass on his remaining shares in the club

to Albion supporters to ensure its future. Part in getting it.

My gesture about my shares is to ensure that our fans always have a

voice at any meetings. If they have any concerns, they can express them

to the board. It is very important that we don't forget our roots

because it is a magical story of how the fans' voice was heard. We have

to ensure that it continues long into the future.

He's justifiably proud of his achievements and his book is a true

rags to riches story, which all Brighton fans played a part in.

Don't forget full commentary on the FA Cup clash between Brackley Town

and Chillingham. There is talk of major shifts in the weather.

There is snow for Northern England but some hard frost is around for

us. We have a cooler air front troubling is way south`east. From

1am, we will have cold air on the way. Through this week we will be

starting with some hard frost and the risk of some ice. There is the

risk of a wintry mix as we enter the week. Earlier, we had a misty day.

This weather front will reach us during the first part of this

evening and temperatures will be at around eight Celsius. It has been

cold and murky. Through tonight, we have rain clearing out of the way by

3am and behind it, clearer skies and those temperatures tumbling. We have

an icy start. Through tonight, more cloud around and patchy rain. Behind

it, we have clearer skies and temperatures dropping to three

Celsius. It is likely to drop to around freezing. As we start the

day, allow extra time for your first journey. There is a sprinkling of

snow further north. For us, it is a quieter picture. The wind will pick

up from a north`westerly direction. It will feel very chilly.

Temperatures reaching seven Celsius. Because we hold onto those clearer

skies through tomorrow night, we have a hard frost and trumpeters

dropping. `` temperatures dropping. It will be wet and windy for

Thursday. Early on we asked if we thought it

was glad to charge pubs and clubs and additional levy.

Lots of you have been e`mailing and getting in touch. We have had a

mixed response. Chris says he is an ex`council licensing officer and

says many of these purposes may fast money from late drinking. Margaret

says they should be charging be drunks.

They should be charged by the hour for their treatment. There is no

incentive to stay sober in the future.

The irresponsible idiots cannot have a good night out without causing

damage and should bear the cost of their behaviour.

Bob says the root problem is the 24`hour drinking culture. It is time

to go back to the old days. We never had such problems years ago. Thank

you for your e`mails. We will be here later with the late news.

Goodbye. 'We wanna do

a science fiction series.' CS Lewis meets HG Wells meets

Father Christmas, that's the Doctor. Can't we have Doctor Who

without Doctor Who? Travel back to the birth

of a phenomenon.