:00:00. > :00:11.District Welcome to South E`st Today, I'm Rob Smith.
:00:12. > :00:15.And I'm Natalie Graham. Tonhght s top stories:
:00:16. > :00:17.Would you vote for a tax increase? People in Brighton are to be the
:00:18. > :00:20.People in Brighton are to bd the first to have a referendum on
:00:21. > :00:24.council tax, as the Greens look to raise it by almost 5%. We'll have
:00:25. > :00:25.the details live from the chty. "Cart blanche for state torture"
:00:26. > :00:26.the details live from the city. "Cart blanche for state torture ` a
:00:27. > :00:29.Sussex man beaten in Saudi Arabia Sussex man beaten in Saudi @rabia
:00:30. > :00:31.tells of his anger as courts block his appeal.
:00:32. > :00:35.Also in tonight's programme: Here's the catch ` why the recent
:00:36. > :00:42.rough weather has led to a shortage of local fish.
:00:43. > :00:45.Never approach a man and his wife or girlfriend. You will only get
:00:46. > :00:46.Never approach a man and his wife or girlfriend. You will only gdt a
:00:47. > :00:50.dirty look from the woman and the man will be led off.
:00:51. > :00:51.Welcome to Brighton. How thd Promettes, the 1950s seafront
:00:52. > :00:52.meeters and greeters, are making Promettes, the 1950s seafront
:00:53. > :00:55.meeters and greeters, are m`king a meeters and greeters, are making a
:00:56. > :00:59.comeback. And in the running ` the films which
:01:00. > :01:11.could bring oscar glory to the south`east. `` Oscar.
:01:12. > :01:16.Good evening. Brighton and Hove is set to become the first council in
:01:17. > :01:19.the country to hold a referdndum on the country to hold a referendum on
:01:20. > :01:24.whether they can put up council tax by nearly 5%. The Green`led
:01:25. > :01:27.authority says the rise is the only way they can maintain their current
:01:28. > :01:29.level of services for vulnerable people.
:01:30. > :01:35.Critics have branded the tax`rise proposals "outrageous". The council
:01:36. > :01:37.have defended the move, sayhng local councils are faced with "huge and
:01:38. > :01:39.relentless" cuts while demand for their services continued to grow.
:01:40. > :01:44.Our Home Affairs reporter Rdbecca Our Home Affairs reporter Rebecca
:01:45. > :01:48.Williams reports. Brighton and Hove residents saw
:01:49. > :01:51.their council tax code by almost 2% less year. And this year ag`in, they
:01:52. > :01:55.less year. And this year again, they could see another hike of ndarly 5%
:01:56. > :02:00.if the council leader gets his way. He insists the extra money would
:02:01. > :02:02.support social services and local charities. We think it is right
:02:03. > :02:02.support social services and local charities. We think it is rhght that
:02:03. > :02:05.charities. We think it is right that elderly people get care and they
:02:06. > :02:08.deserve that, so the choice before us is to protect that care `s best
:02:09. > :02:12.as we can, or to reduce it, because the Government isn't giving us
:02:13. > :02:16.enough money to do the job. Under the proposed four points 5%
:02:17. > :02:24.increase, if you live in a band C property, you will pay an extra ?5
:02:25. > :02:33.30 per month. Band he is ?5 97. Those in band H will pay ?11.93.
:02:34. > :02:34.Those in band H will pay ?10.93 They cannot keep squeezing money
:02:35. > :02:37.Those in band H will pay ?11.93. They cannot keep squeezing loney out
:02:38. > :02:42.of people all of the time. We all pay taxes, NHS, everything dlse If
:02:43. > :02:46.I know it is going to somewhere socially, or to people who require
:02:47. > :02:52.looking after, the elderly and people like that, then I don't mind.
:02:53. > :02:59.It is ridiculous. ?183 is what we pay and it is more than we paid in
:03:00. > :03:01.London. Since the Green party took over, they have faced fury from
:03:02. > :03:06.residents over a number of hssues. A recent ComRes poll suggested their
:03:07. > :03:08.popularity has dwindled to third behind Labour and the Liber`l
:03:09. > :03:14.behind Labour and the Liberal Democrats. There was controversy
:03:15. > :03:17.over 20 mph zones in the city centre. A backlog of rubbish built
:03:18. > :03:19.up over the summer as refusd collectors went on strike. And
:03:20. > :03:19.up over the summer as refuse collectors went on strike. @nd in
:03:20. > :03:22.collectors went on strike. And in August, it was revealed Brighton and
:03:23. > :03:24.Hove was among the top five local authorities in England to profit
:03:25. > :03:27.from off`street parking charges As from off`street parking charges As
:03:28. > :03:30.proposals to increase council from off`street parking charges. As
:03:31. > :03:33.proposals to increase counchl tax were being discussed today, the
:03:34. > :03:37.opposition made their feelings clear. I think it is bonkers, the
:03:38. > :03:38.council should be saving money. People are struggling to pay
:03:39. > :03:39.council should be saving money. People are struggling to pax the
:03:40. > :03:42.People are struggling to pay the council tax in these diffictlt times
:03:43. > :03:44.and the council should not be wasting money on high salarhes
:03:45. > :03:44.and the council should not be wasting money on high salaries for
:03:45. > :03:47.wasting money on high salarhes for its senior management. It should be
:03:48. > :03:51.looking up to the people who live in Brighton and Hove in these difficult
:03:52. > :03:52.times. If successful, Brighton and Hove Council would be the fhrst
:03:53. > :03:52.times. If successful, Brighton and Hove Council would be the first in
:03:53. > :03:57.the country to hold a referdndum on the country to hold a referendum on
:03:58. > :04:00.an increase in council tax. They say the extra money would help social
:04:01. > :04:01.services and local charities but it seems residents may need sole
:04:02. > :04:03.seems residents may need some convincing.
:04:04. > :04:05.So how does the referendum work Well, it's triggered if a council
:04:06. > :04:07.plans to increase its council Well, it's triggered if a council
:04:08. > :04:16.plans to increase its counchl tax above 2%. It will cost the Brighton
:04:17. > :04:20.and Hove City council ?230,000 to hold. They say they will save money
:04:21. > :04:23.because it will be held on the same day as the European Elections on the
:04:24. > :04:30.22nd of May. Let's go to Rebecca Williams, who is outside Hove Town
:04:31. > :04:37.Hall. If the Greens get their way and there is a referendum, what if
:04:38. > :04:41.people say no? It is likely it will only go by the recommended 2%. The
:04:42. > :04:46.main government is wanting to keep costs down. The lights have only
:04:47. > :04:47.gone out just now at Hove town hall and councillors have been discussing
:04:48. > :04:49.and councillors have been dhscussing these proposals for several hours.
:04:50. > :04:53.To get the go`ahead, they need the To get the go`ahead, they need the
:04:54. > :04:56.backing of other parties and today, the Labour and cooperative leader
:04:57. > :04:59.took to Twitter saying a referendum would be lost and would cost the
:05:00. > :05:04.Government a lot of money which could be spent on other services. He
:05:05. > :05:09.went on to say that the Greens need a realistic budget proposal or they
:05:10. > :05:13.should quit. There will be `nother meeting at the end of February, only
:05:14. > :05:18.then will we get an idea if there is significant backing these proposals.
:05:19. > :05:21.`` for these proposals. A Sussex man who claims he was
:05:22. > :05:23.tortured by police in Saudi Arabia says he is angry after the European
:05:24. > :05:26.says he is angry after the Duropean Court blocked his claim for damages.
:05:27. > :05:30.Ron Jones, who lives in Crawley, says the decision gives "carte
:05:31. > :05:32.blanche" for state torture. Mr Jones says he was subjected to be`tings,
:05:33. > :05:35.sleep deprivation and death threats following his wrongful arrest in
:05:36. > :05:38.2001. The ruling by the European Court of Human Rights means
:05:39. > :05:42.officials from other countrhes are entitled to state immunity. Mark
:05:43. > :05:44.Sanders has more. Ron Jones's case has now bedn
:05:45. > :05:46.Ron Jones's case has now been blocked after he has tried for more
:05:47. > :05:48.than a decade to sue Saudi @rabia, than a decade to sue Saudi @rabia,
:05:49. > :05:49.claiming he was tortured. Medical claiming he was tortured. Mddical
:05:50. > :05:52.evidence was gathered for his case evidence was gathered for his case
:05:53. > :05:59.and he even helped create this artist's impression of the lan he
:06:00. > :06:03.says led the torture. Beating of the hands, the feet, buttocks. Hanging
:06:04. > :06:07.me for hours on end, depriving me of sleep, giving me drugs. And then
:06:08. > :06:11.there was the psychological abuse, they would tell me they knew where
:06:12. > :06:14.my wife lived, where my son went to school, and if I didn't comply with
:06:15. > :06:22.what they were doing, then they would attack them, not just me. Ron
:06:23. > :06:25.Jones had been working in Saudi Arabia when he was detained after an
:06:26. > :06:29.explosion. He, along with three other Westerners, were accused of
:06:30. > :06:32.orchestrating a series of attacks. Ron Jones claims he was tortured in
:06:33. > :06:42.Riyadh in 2001, something independently verified by experts
:06:43. > :06:46.when he got back to the UK. He started legal proceedings in the
:06:47. > :06:49.High Court here in May 2002, but the case was halted a year later on the
:06:50. > :06:52.grounds that Saudi Arabia and its officials were entitled to state
:06:53. > :06:55.immunity. Mr Jones's lawyers referred the case to the European
:06:56. > :06:58.Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in July 2006, but this week,
:06:59. > :07:05.Strasbourg backed the UK court's decision and Mr Jones cannot sue
:07:06. > :07:07.Saudi Arabia for alleged torture. That makes me feel very angry. What
:07:08. > :07:09.is the point of the Human Rights That makes me feel very angry. What
:07:10. > :07:12.is the point of the Human Rights Act or the Convention Against Torture
:07:13. > :07:14.when the courts give out a signal that victims of torture have
:07:15. > :07:14.when the courts give out a signal that victims of torture havd got
:07:15. > :07:14.when the courts give out a signal that victims of torture have got no
:07:15. > :07:23.that victims of torture havd got no redress in the domestic courts? It
:07:24. > :07:30.could be interpreted as a signal by torturers throughout the world that
:07:31. > :07:34.they have impunity if and when they torture UK nationals. It me`ns
:07:35. > :07:34.they have impunity if and when they torture UK nationals. It means that
:07:35. > :07:37.torture UK nationals. It me`ns that when men like this come back to the
:07:38. > :07:41.UK and want some sort of justice, they are not going to be able to get
:07:42. > :07:45.it through the British courts. Ron Jones has been rebuilding his life
:07:46. > :07:47.in Crawley and he says it is difficult now to see how his case
:07:48. > :07:50.can go any further. We attempted to can go any further. We attempted to
:07:51. > :07:53.contact the Saudi embassy hdre for contact the Saudi embassy hdre for
:07:54. > :07:58.comment, but so far, there has been no contact.
:07:59. > :08:02.In a moment: Business is on the slide. How a
:08:03. > :08:09.Folkestone office is looking to put some fun into the daily grind.
:08:10. > :08:14.An inquest has heard how it took more than four hours to transfer a
:08:15. > :08:18.seriously ill baby from the Darenth Valley hospital in Dartford to a
:08:19. > :08:22.specialist unit in London bdcause an ambulance was not available.
:08:23. > :08:24.Vincent Rewers died three d`ys later. Today, a coroner recorded a
:08:25. > :08:29.verdict of misadventure. Simon Jones verdict of misadventure. Silon Jones
:08:30. > :08:39.is outside the hospital now. Simon, why did it take so long to find an
:08:40. > :08:45.ambulance? Well, baby Vincent had a difficult start to life. He was born
:08:46. > :08:46.using a vacuum type device. The next day, his condition deterior`ted
:08:47. > :08:50.using a vacuum type device. The next day, his condition deteriorated and
:08:51. > :08:52.a scan revealed he had a massive lead to his brain. It was decided
:08:53. > :08:55.a scan revealed he had a massive lead to his brain. It was ddcided he
:08:56. > :08:56.needed immediate transfer to Kings College Hospital in London hn case
:08:57. > :09:00.College Hospital in London in case he needed surgery. The family in
:09:01. > :09:07.court heard today that the hospital here requested a specialist
:09:08. > :09:12.ambulance at 6:23pm but there wasn't one available, they were all busy
:09:13. > :09:16.and it wasn't until 8:15pm that evening until a new ambulance crew
:09:17. > :09:18.came on. It took them time to get to London, he finally arrived at
:09:19. > :09:21.London, he finally arrived `t 10:40pm and he died, aged just
:09:22. > :09:21.London, he finally arrived at 10:40pm and he died, aged jtst four
:09:22. > :09:27.10:40pm and he died, aged just four days old. What did the coroner have
:09:28. > :09:32.to say about the case? Speaking at the coroner accepted the hospital
:09:33. > :09:36.had done all it could do to try and find an ambulance quicker. But he
:09:37. > :09:37.accepted that the baby's condition was so bad that ultimately, the
:09:38. > :09:41.delay wouldn't have made any delay wouldn't have made any
:09:42. > :09:46.difference. The hospital here sent its condolences to the family but
:09:47. > :09:48.pointed out that the inquests found that the care offered here was
:09:49. > :09:50.appropriate. A document leaked to BBC Sotth East
:09:51. > :09:53.A document leaked to BBC South East Today shows that Thanet District
:09:54. > :09:54.Council has been told it has "no realistic prospect" of recovering
:09:55. > :10:03.any of the 3?.4 `` of the three million owed from
:10:04. > :10:07.the collapse of trans`Europ` ferries. The company, which ran
:10:08. > :10:11.three ships out of Ramsgate, went bust in April last year. It has
:10:12. > :10:13.since emerged the ships are registered with different owners,
:10:14. > :10:17.and the parent company has overall debts of more than 12 million euros.
:10:18. > :10:19.The council has already written off the debt.
:10:20. > :10:22.The Princess Royal visited Sussex this morning. Princess Anne began
:10:23. > :10:25.with a tour of the offices of Kineo in Brighton, an organisation which
:10:26. > :10:28.helps businesses with skills and training. She then went on to The
:10:29. > :10:32.Carers Centre in Hove. People living on the Isle of Grain
:10:33. > :10:36.will find out this autumn if plans for a new international hub airport
:10:37. > :10:39.in north Kent have made it onto the Government's short list of options
:10:40. > :10:40.for new runway capacity in the south`east. Sir Howard Davies, who
:10:41. > :10:41.south`east. Sir Howard Davids, who chairs the commission looking into
:10:42. > :10:45.airport capacity, told a meeting airport capacity, told a meeting
:10:46. > :10:49.today that a new runway is needed in the south`east.
:10:50. > :10:50.While the floodwaters have gone down inland, businesses and fishermen
:10:51. > :10:52.While the floodwaters have gone down inland, businesses and fishdrmen in
:10:53. > :10:54.Hastings say they're still feeling the brunt of the winter storms, with
:10:55. > :10:57.the strong winds making it `lmost the strong winds making it `lmost
:10:58. > :11:04.impossible for the Sussex fleet to put to sea.
:11:05. > :11:08.But no catch means no fish, a financial blow to the fishermen and
:11:09. > :11:10.to local restaurants ` some of which have had to reduce their menu, or
:11:11. > :11:12.source fish from as far away have had to reduce their menu, or
:11:13. > :11:16.source fish from as far away as Scotland. Chrissie Reidy reports.
:11:17. > :11:19.They pride themselves on serving locally sourced fish, but the storms
:11:20. > :11:22.have left fishermen unable to launch their boats, so restaurants like
:11:23. > :11:24.this one are left with no choice but to reduce their menu. If thd
:11:25. > :11:28.to reduce their menu. If the fishermen are not catching fish on a
:11:29. > :11:35.day`to`day basis, then we cannot have that locally sourced produce on
:11:36. > :11:38.our menu to serve to our customers. Therefore, we either have to reduce
:11:39. > :11:42.our menu in size and have a limited choice or we have to go further
:11:43. > :11:45.afield to source the products. And less fish means less choice for
:11:46. > :11:50.customers. Well, I think it is a great shame that we can't actually
:11:51. > :11:54.fish locally. You know, the fish was good today, but I would much prefer
:11:55. > :11:59.it if we thought we were getting something that was locally sourced,
:12:00. > :12:03.you know? It makes such a difference. I think it is the
:12:04. > :12:07.question of being creative with the menu. When I have a fish, I am not
:12:08. > :12:10.with interested in having salmon, with interested in having salmon,
:12:11. > :12:14.mussels, prawns, whatever, that you can buy off`the`shelf and hasn't
:12:15. > :12:21.come from the water out there. Shops too have taken a direct hit. To keep
:12:22. > :12:25.business afloat has meant sourcing produce from as far away as
:12:26. > :12:29.Scotland. No business can afford to close nowadays, so we have to take a
:12:30. > :12:36.bit of a whack with the profit but it is the way it has to be to keep
:12:37. > :12:39.fish on the plate. Ferocious storms battered the Sussex coast over
:12:40. > :12:41.Christmas. Part of this cliff in Hastings buckled under the pressure.
:12:42. > :12:43.Weather permitting, fishermen here would catch daily, but conthnuous
:12:44. > :12:46.would catch daily, but continuous strong gusts means trying to launch
:12:47. > :12:54.a boat is risky, as this fisherman found out. As we have come out on
:12:55. > :13:01.the low shore side, it bent the tips of the bow, as you can see, took
:13:02. > :13:04.chunks out. `` of the propeller. And with little or no income for weeks,
:13:05. > :13:07.desperate times mean desper`te measures. If you can't go to sea,
:13:08. > :13:09.you don't earn any money, it's as simple as that. So if you haven't
:13:10. > :13:11.simple as that. So if you h`ven t got the ability to go to sea
:13:12. > :13:11.simple as that. So if you haven't got the ability to go to se` through
:13:12. > :13:15.got the ability to go to sea through bad weather, then you draw on the
:13:16. > :13:20.savings you've made, if you've made any savings. With no signs of the
:13:21. > :13:29.strong winds dying down, these boats could be sitting idle for some time.
:13:30. > :13:33.That report by Chrissie Reidy and she joins us live now from Hastings.
:13:34. > :13:36.Clearly it is still bad weather very windy, and a lot of people are
:13:37. > :13:38.suffering this winter. It is a dire situation for fisherman
:13:39. > :13:40.in Hastings. One told me th`t It is a dire situation for fisherman
:13:41. > :13:42.in Hastings. One told me that since in Hastings. One told me th`t since
:13:43. > :13:45.the 12th of December, he has only been at four times on the w`ter and
:13:46. > :13:48.been at four times on the water, and he had his first pay packet today
:13:49. > :13:53.since the 12th of December. He said there wasn't much in it and he has a
:13:54. > :13:59.family of five defeat. As you can see, it is still very windy. The
:14:00. > :14:01.winds have dislodged a lot of the rocks off the shore, making it
:14:02. > :14:05.impossible for fishermen to launch their boats. The knock`on effect of
:14:06. > :14:07.that is no local catch, no fish with the local restaurants, so they are
:14:08. > :14:11.having to reduce their menus and in turn, that has an impact on the
:14:12. > :14:16.visitors coming here to expdrience and taste that local fish.
:14:17. > :14:21.Thank you very much. The top story tonight: Brighton and
:14:22. > :14:25.Hove is set to become the fhrst Hove is set to become the fhrst
:14:26. > :14:28.council in the country to hold a referendum on whether they can put
:14:29. > :14:31.up council tax by nearly5%. The Green`led authority says it is
:14:32. > :14:34.the only way they can maintain services for vulnerable people.
:14:35. > :14:41.Opposition party critics have dubbed the plans "outrageous".
:14:42. > :14:43.Also in tonight's programme: It is an ideal for which I am prepared to
:14:44. > :14:47.die. Going for gold ` the films which
:14:48. > :14:53.could bring back an Oscar to Kent, Sussex and Surrey.
:14:54. > :14:58.And after a blustery day showers, we have got much more to a tomorrow.
:14:59. > :15:02.Join me later that the full forecast.
:15:03. > :15:05.In the 1950s, visitors to Brighton and Hove were greeted by thd
:15:06. > :15:08.and Hove were greeted by the Promettes, young women in sharply
:15:09. > :15:12.cut uniforms with white gloves and catwalk model poise. They wdre
:15:13. > :15:14.cut uniforms with white gloves and catwalk model poise. They were there
:15:15. > :15:21.to give directions, offer medical advice and to smile. Now thdre
:15:22. > :15:22.to give directions, offer mddical advice and to smile. Now there are
:15:23. > :15:25.advice and to smile. Now thdre are plans afoot to bring the promettes
:15:26. > :15:29.back `but with a much more 21st century feel. Claudia Sermbezis has
:15:30. > :15:33.tonight's special report. For those men among you who like
:15:34. > :15:36.girls with brains, there is no place like Brighton from holiday. Apart
:15:37. > :15:40.from the sweet young things on holiday, you can meet six who are
:15:41. > :15:44.literally walking minds of information. They were employed to
:15:45. > :15:46.help lost day`trippers. Thex were told to smile, be pleasant and
:15:47. > :15:50.told to smile, be pleasant `nd accurate and they were told to look
:15:51. > :15:55.their best, but not so dazzling that they scared people. This is me on
:15:56. > :16:05.the end, this is Audrey. Veronica. Hazel was a Promette in 1956. She
:16:06. > :16:08.was asked to join after doing a modelling course. It was good fun
:16:09. > :16:11.and interesting, because so many different things happened and I met
:16:12. > :16:12.so many different people. It was fabulous, really, because we
:16:13. > :16:14.so many different people. It was fabulous, really, because wd had so
:16:15. > :16:15.fabulous, really, because we had so many different things, apart from
:16:16. > :16:20.walking along the seafront dvery walking along the seafront dvery
:16:21. > :16:22.weekend. Now the city wants them back, well, a version of them. The
:16:23. > :16:24.1950s was a time well beford back, well, a version of thdm. The
:16:25. > :16:25.1950s was a time well before the 1950s was a time well beford the
:16:26. > :16:27.sexual revolution, when sexism 1950s was a time well before the
:16:28. > :16:31.sexual revolution, when sexism was not only tolerated, it was `lmost
:16:32. > :16:35.expected. Never approach a lan and his wife or girlfriend. You will
:16:36. > :16:40.only get a dirty look from the woman and the man will be led off.
:16:41. > :16:46.Inspired by the volunteers that help so successfully at the Olympics in
:16:47. > :16:50.2012, the new version will be very different. They will be dressed in
:16:51. > :16:53.branded polo shirts and the ghouls. They were great for their thme and
:16:54. > :16:54.They were great for their time and we are always reinventing otrselves
:16:55. > :16:56.we are always reinventing ourselves in Brighton and Hove and thhs is a
:16:57. > :17:00.in Brighton and Hove and this is a modern version of the Promettes so
:17:01. > :17:04.we are looking for volunteers, they will get training, they will have
:17:05. > :17:07.to commit for up to four hotrs a to commit for up to four hours a
:17:08. > :17:08.to commit for up to four hotrs a week. It is a brilliant idea
:17:09. > :17:10.to commit for up to four hours a week. It is a brilliant ide` to
:17:11. > :17:14.bring Promettes back, but I don t like the idea of them wearing
:17:15. > :17:18.T`shirts. I think if they could only have a set of people in a uniform,
:17:19. > :17:26.visitors know where to go to and where to look. At the city hs hoping
:17:27. > :17:27.50 men and women of all ages will volunteer and whilst expected to
:17:28. > :17:29.50 men and women of all ages will volunteer and whilst expectdd to be
:17:30. > :17:38.friendly and helpful, they probably won't post your postcards.
:17:39. > :17:42.Claudia Sermbezis reporting and she is in Brighton and she joins us
:17:43. > :17:46.now. Apart from the bracing sea air, what is in it for the volunteers?
:17:47. > :17:49.They will get some training, a certificate and a free pass to some
:17:50. > :17:54.of the tourist attractions hn the city. This is all part of the revamp
:17:55. > :17:58.of the tourist information service here. They closed their centre back
:17:59. > :18:00.in September and this summer, they hope the city is going to be full
:18:01. > :18:00.in September and this summer, they hope the city is going to bd full of
:18:01. > :18:05.hope the city is going to be full of the city champions and ten pop`up
:18:06. > :18:07.tourist information shops, which the city champions, will lead people
:18:08. > :18:07.tourist information shops, which the city champions, will lead pdople to.
:18:08. > :18:12.city champions, will lead people to. If you fancy becoming a chalpion and
:18:13. > :18:14.volunteering, you will have to visit the website and download a form.
:18:15. > :18:25.Claudia, well done, thank you. The traditional way to move between
:18:26. > :18:29.the fifth floor and the fourth floor of an office building is to use the
:18:30. > :18:33.stairs. Or perhaps the lift. But there is an office in Folkestone
:18:34. > :18:35.where they don't want to do things the traditional way. They use a
:18:36. > :18:39.slide. It's the kind of thing you might
:18:40. > :18:40.find in the LA offices of Google or Pixar, but bosses at the Workshop
:18:41. > :18:43.building in the Creative Quarter building in the Creative Quarter
:18:44. > :18:45.don't see why the Americans should have all the fun and they bdlieve
:18:46. > :18:48.have all the fun and they believe the slide is actually helping grow
:18:49. > :18:52.their business. Victoria Holland reports.
:18:53. > :18:53.Mixing work with play. For these employees in Folkestone, thd office
:18:54. > :18:56.employees in Folkestone, the office life has its ups as well as its
:18:57. > :19:09.downs. It is good to go homd and downs. It is good to go homd and
:19:10. > :19:12.say, "I work in an office with a say, "I work in an office with a
:19:13. > :19:14.slide". Lots of smiling people all day. What is quite interesting now,
:19:15. > :19:18.day. What is quite interesthng now, though, when we first moved in,
:19:19. > :19:19.people used to look up from their desks, when people down the slide, a
:19:20. > :19:22.bit of a cheer, but now it is desks, when people down the slide, a
:19:23. > :19:25.bit of a cheer, but now it is the norm. It was a complete novdlty when
:19:26. > :19:29.we first came in and everyone obviously laughed and chattdd quite
:19:30. > :19:33.a lot when you came through at the bottom. People didn't realise how
:19:34. > :19:36.quick it was going to be, so there were quite a lot of people flying
:19:37. > :19:40.across the floor. The slide is around 20 feet long and bec`use it
:19:41. > :19:44.is made of stainless steel, it is a pretty speedy way to travel between
:19:45. > :19:47.floors. It is not the first office in the UK using original designs to
:19:48. > :19:49.try and win over their employees. In Google's office in Zurich, xou will
:19:50. > :19:52.Google's office in Zurich, you will find firemen's poles, table`tennis
:19:53. > :19:55.and even an aquarium. Pixar's US headquarters have a seesaw `nd
:19:56. > :19:57.Innocent Smoothies in London have artificial grass and picnic benches
:19:58. > :20:00.inside the office. Things lhke a creative culture, things like a fun
:20:01. > :20:04.environment, can contribute to employee engagement, so doesn't mean
:20:05. > :20:05.that people come to work just for the slide, but it means that people
:20:06. > :20:10.will see the slide as an example of will see the slide as an example of
:20:11. > :20:11.how the company is trying to engage with the people. The slide has only
:20:12. > :20:13.been in place less than a wdek, with the people. The slide has only
:20:14. > :20:15.been in place less than a week, but been in place less than a week, but
:20:16. > :20:25.so far, it seems employees `re jumping in feet first.
:20:26. > :20:29.We have at it, but they said no. `` We have at it, but they said no ``
:20:30. > :20:30.we have asked. The Winter Olympics and Par`lympics
:20:31. > :20:34.The Winter Olympics and Paralympics are just a few weeks away and this
:20:35. > :20:37.morning, Sport UK predicted Team GB should at least equal their
:20:38. > :20:40.best`ever haul of five medals. Two of the most likely medal
:20:41. > :20:43.contenders, Lizzy Yarnold and Charlotte Moore, come from the
:20:44. > :20:45.south`east and, as Neil Bell report, their preparations for Sochi could
:20:46. > :20:47.hardly be going better. No`one is quite sure why, btt
:20:48. > :20:50.No`one is quite sure why, but British competitors have a proud and
:20:51. > :21:02.successful Olympic record in the skeleton and many believe they are
:21:03. > :21:05.set to continue in Sochi. Lizzie Yarnold from West Kingsdown is the
:21:06. > :21:09.current world number one and appears certain to be selected for the Games
:21:10. > :21:12.next week. If I could qualify for the Olympics and be there and
:21:13. > :21:16.represent Great Britain, it would mean everything to me. I would be so
:21:17. > :21:20.proud to fly the flag, go to the Opening Ceremony and be part of the
:21:21. > :21:23.event. It is only my first Olympics, so I am just taking it one step at a
:21:24. > :21:25.time and I hope to perform at so I am just taking it one step at a
:21:26. > :21:26.time and I hope to perform `t my time and I hope to perform at my
:21:27. > :21:28.best and I am unbelievably motivated. So fingers crossdd I can
:21:29. > :21:32.motivated. So fingers crossed I can get there. Team GB could be in line
:21:33. > :21:33.for more than just one medal. Lizzie's team`mate and formdr
:21:34. > :21:34.for more than just one medal. Lizzie's team`mate and former mentor
:21:35. > :21:38.Shelley Rudman could match the silver she won in Turin eight years
:21:39. > :21:40.ago. We have got these new girls coming in, we have got Lizzhe
:21:41. > :21:40.ago. We have got these new girls coming in, we have got Lizzie Rose,
:21:41. > :21:42.that are really strong and ht coming in, we have got Lizzhe Rose,
:21:43. > :21:44.that are really strong and it is going to develop the sport `
:21:45. > :21:46.that are really strong and ht is going to develop the sport a lot
:21:47. > :21:49.more. I feel very proud, I launched the Girls 4 Gold programme that got
:21:50. > :21:52.all of these girls involved, which is really nice. The target `t the
:21:53. > :21:56.Paralympics is two medals and Charlotte Evans from Chatham will be
:21:57. > :21:59.hoping to guide partially sighted Kelly Gallagher to at least one of
:22:00. > :22:06.those, after the pair won no fewer than three medals at last wdek's
:22:07. > :22:10.World Cup meeting in Canada. Football, and Bournemouth striker
:22:11. > :22:17.Lewis Grabban could soon be joining the Albion, while defender Adam El
:22:18. > :22:18.Abd is a target for Bristol City. The 28`year`old recently pl`yed
:22:19. > :22:23.Abd is a target for Bristol City. The 28`year`old recently played his
:22:24. > :22:27.300th game for the club. The Oscars are the most prestigious
:22:28. > :22:30.awards in the world and as many as three of the little golden
:22:31. > :22:33.statuettes could soon be making their way to the south`east.
:22:34. > :22:35.Philomena and Captain Philips are going head to head in the Bdst Film
:22:36. > :22:38.going head to head in the Best Film category and the key acting
:22:39. > :22:40.directing and screenwriting talent involved are based here.
:22:41. > :22:45.Someone who is based in Los Angeles these days is Caroline Feraday.
:22:46. > :22:47.Let's go there now. I can't recall such a strong year the contenders
:22:48. > :22:49.such a strong year the contdnders from the south`east. There are
:22:50. > :22:51.such a strong year the contenders from the south`east. There `re four
:22:52. > :22:57.nominations in total for Philomena, which is an underdog in the best
:22:58. > :23:02.picture category up against Gravity and Captain Phillips. It is just a
:23:03. > :23:08.charming story that has won over audiences and the Academy alike
:23:09. > :23:10.I know this woman, she had a baby when she was a teenager. Shd has
:23:11. > :23:15.when she was a teenager. She has kept it secret for 50 years. For
:23:16. > :23:21.Brighton's Steve Coogan, there was trouble joy today. His prescription
:23:22. > :23:24.for Philomena, the true story of Philomena Lee's 50 year search for
:23:25. > :23:31.her son, one nominations for best adapted screenplay and film. I am
:23:32. > :23:39.absolutely dumbfounded, really. I found out by a phone call and we are
:23:40. > :23:43.hopeful it happens. We have four nominations and it is extraordinary,
:23:44. > :23:47.an article I read in the newspaper four is ago that I found moving and
:23:48. > :23:55.I wanted to turn into a fill. `` four ago. Whether it could be made
:23:56. > :23:57.into a film was answered with an emphatic yes from the o pandls. Not
:23:58. > :24:02.emphatic yes from the o panels. Not bad for a man who failed his English
:24:03. > :24:09.A`level twice. I had a hip replacement last year, Marthn. I
:24:10. > :24:13.replacement last year, Martin. I will have two oil you like the tin
:24:14. > :24:20.man. Judi Dench also picked up a nomination for best actress, saying
:24:21. > :24:25.it is the loveliest news. It is an extraordinary story and a true
:24:26. > :24:31.story, and somehow all the lore poignant that she is alive and I was
:24:32. > :24:36.able to meet her. We have been boarded by armed pirates, stay
:24:37. > :24:40.hidden at all costs. Gravesdnd's Paul Green grass was also nominated
:24:41. > :24:53.for Captain Phillips. The hostage drama up for best picture. Where is
:24:54. > :24:57.the crew? I don't know. I will shoot him. Shoot me. Look at me, H am
:24:58. > :24:57.the crew? I don't know. I whll shoot him. Shoot me. Look at me, I am the
:24:58. > :25:04.him. Shoot me. Look at me, H am the captain now. When the pirates
:25:05. > :25:07.attacked the container ship, those characters are brought together and
:25:08. > :25:11.the battle of wills is what the film is about. The Oscar ceremonx takes
:25:12. > :25:16.place on the 2nd of March. Ht could be a golden eyed for Hollywood in
:25:17. > :25:20.the south`east. With six weeks to go, the
:25:21. > :25:24.campaigning begins in earnest in Hollywood and if you drive around
:25:25. > :25:26.Hollywood at all, you will see these big posters at the roadside, and
:25:27. > :25:29.they are not aimed at audiences, they are not aimed at audiences
:25:30. > :25:34.they are aimed specifically at Academy members and they have
:25:35. > :25:37.pictures of the film but silply say" for your consideration". All of
:25:38. > :25:39.the stars are on TV, promoting say" for your consideration". All of
:25:40. > :25:40.the stars are on TV, promothng their the stars are on TV, promoting their
:25:41. > :25:42.movies. Philomena is an unddrdog the stars are on TV, promothng their
:25:43. > :25:42.movies. Philomena is an underdog in movies. Philomena is an underdog in
:25:43. > :25:45.its category, which probablx movies. Philomena is an unddrdog in
:25:46. > :25:50.its category, which probably belongs to 12 Years A Slave but could go to
:25:51. > :25:54.Gravity, depending on how the Academy see it. It's best option is
:25:55. > :25:59.probably in best adapted screenplay, but we will have to wait and see.
:26:00. > :26:04.We will, you enjoy the build`up. Doesn't it look good over there?
:26:05. > :26:08.Yes, as we saw with Claudia, it is quite windy here.
:26:09. > :26:12.There is a lot of wind about. Yes, gusts of 40 mph. Not all of us
:26:13. > :26:15.seeing them but it has been blustery today and we still hang on to those
:26:16. > :26:16.showers, just a little more brightness around and temperatures
:26:17. > :26:21.again pretty mild for the time of again pretty mild for the time of
:26:22. > :26:26.year. Highs of nine or 10 ddgrees, averaging around 25 and 25 mph in
:26:27. > :26:30.the wind. Tonight, more of the same, further showers and again,
:26:31. > :26:37.pretty heavy, the area of low pressure staying with us and heavier
:26:38. > :26:43.showers, also perhaps a rumble of thunder and some hail mixed in, but
:26:44. > :26:47.temperatures only dropping to five or six. Temperature is pretty mild
:26:48. > :26:48.for the time of year but it will be unsettled, showers turning hnto
:26:49. > :26:50.for the time of year but it will be unsettled, showers turning into a
:26:51. > :26:53.longer spell of rain by the end of the day. As you can tell from the
:26:54. > :26:56.isobars, the wind is staying with us, picking up again about 15`20
:26:57. > :26:57.isobars, the wind is staying with us, picking up again about 05`2 mph
:26:58. > :27:00.us, picking up again about 15`20 mph but gradually easing up as we head
:27:01. > :27:03.with a day. Showers through the morning, perhaps easing through the
:27:04. > :27:05.first part of the afternoon and then we have rain that will be ptshing
:27:06. > :27:13.we have rain that will be pushing up, particularly for the eastern
:27:14. > :27:15.parts of Kent, a wet end to the afternoon. Temperatures perhaps a
:27:16. > :27:18.little bit cooler than they have been of late, highs of around eight
:27:19. > :27:20.or nine degrees. Again, showers as we go through tomorrow night, plenty
:27:21. > :27:23.of cloud cover around and temperatures staying relatively
:27:24. > :27:26.mild, only dropping to five or six degrees and certainly saying frost
:27:27. > :27:28.free as we start the weekend. There has been a level of uncertainty
:27:29. > :27:30.free as we start the weekend. There has been a level of uncertahnty over
:27:31. > :27:34.when we will see the rain at the weekend but the risk of rain stays
:27:35. > :27:36.with us through Saturday and Sunday. This band of heavy rain acttally
:27:37. > :27:38.This band of heavy rain actually should be staying to the west of us
:27:39. > :27:39.now for Saturday, so there hs should be staying to the west of us
:27:40. > :27:43.now for Saturday, so there is the chance we could stay dry. It is
:27:44. > :27:46.still going to be breezy and the risk of rain is throughout the day,
:27:47. > :27:51.temperatures nine at 10 degrees not feeling particularly pleasant.
:27:52. > :27:55.Initially, we were hoping it would be dry on Sunday but it is not so,
:27:56. > :27:57.in the afternoon particularly the risk of rain, temperatures nine or
:27:58. > :28:00.ten as we go into the new wdek. ten as we go into the new wdek.
:28:01. > :28:02.Staying unsettled but perhaps we will pick up an easterly breeze,
:28:03. > :28:03.will pick up an easterly brdeze which means things getting a lot
:28:04. > :28:07.which means things getting ` lot colder.
:28:08. > :28:10.Well, that is something to look forward to! Is that good news
:28:11. > :28:12.question mark I am not sure. Thank you. That is it from us.
:28:13. > :28:14.question mark I am not sure. Thank you. That is it from ts. Ian
:28:15. > :28:16.will be here with the late news tonight.
:28:17. > :28:19.See you tomorrow, goodbye.