:00:00. > :00:00.died aged 88. That's all from the BBC News at Six so it's goodbye
:00:00. > :00:07.Welcome to South East Today, I'm Rob Smith.
:00:08. > :00:10.And I'm Natalie Graham. Tonhght s top stories:
:00:11. > :00:14.Open a cannabis cafe in Margate ` the controversial call from a Thanet
:00:15. > :00:20.councillor being put to the public this weekend. We're live in the town
:00:21. > :00:24.with reaction to the propos`l. The young Sussex mum left p`rtially
:00:25. > :00:26.blinded by her violent ex, now leading a campaign to end domestic
:00:27. > :00:31.violence. Completely batterdd. Black and blue, if you like. My f`ce was
:00:32. > :00:34.caved in. My eyes were swollen so bad that I couldn't see anything.
:00:35. > :00:38.Also in tonight's programme: Get on track. Dame Kelly Holmes
:00:39. > :00:39.pioneering scheme to help out`of`work youngsters turn their
:00:40. > :00:52.lives around From Jesus Chrhst less and other pure in heart. From
:00:53. > :00:53.Christ to Christie. We meet Robert Powell, playing the super`sleuth in
:00:54. > :00:57.Eastbourne. And what a difference a year makes.
:00:58. > :00:59.Last March, we were gripped by ice and snow. Now the spring sunshine is
:01:00. > :01:11.giving everyone a welcome boost Good evening. Controversial
:01:12. > :01:18.proposals to open a cannabis cafe in Kent will be discussed tomorrow at a
:01:19. > :01:21.public meeting. Thanet Green Party Councillor Ian Driver, who `dmits
:01:22. > :01:24.he's taken cannabis himself, has put forward the idea as part of a
:01:25. > :01:27.campaign for a relaxation of the drugs laws.
:01:28. > :01:30.Cannabis cafes, where the drug can be consumed legally, are popular in
:01:31. > :01:34.Amsterdam. Its sale has recdntly been decriminalised in Urugtay and
:01:35. > :01:39.the American state of Color`do. But it remains an illegal drug hn this
:01:40. > :01:43.country. Peter Whittlesea rdports. Does it get any better? Celdbrating
:01:44. > :01:50.the legalisation of cannabis in Washington State in America. Could
:01:51. > :01:53.this be coming to Kent? A Green councillor in Thanet thinks there is
:01:54. > :01:56.room for cannabis in Margatd's cafe culture and wants the Home Office to
:01:57. > :02:02.license Amsterdam`style coffee shops here.
:02:03. > :02:08.You openly admit to taking cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy?
:02:09. > :02:12.Correct, yes. Not all at once. I'm a great believer in moderation. Are
:02:13. > :02:17.you not trivialising drug`t`king? I am not trivialising it, it hs very,
:02:18. > :02:21.very serious. And there is no such thing as a safe drug. Tobacco is not
:02:22. > :02:26.safe, alcohol is not safe. Cannabis, there are issues with. So why
:02:27. > :02:28.legalise it? What I'm saying is the current prohibition regime hs
:02:29. > :02:37.actually making criminals of people who are not doing anything wrong.
:02:38. > :02:40.This is the war on cannabis in the south`east, but campaigners say
:02:41. > :02:46.follow Colorado's lead and turn marijuana into money for thd
:02:47. > :02:49.taxman. Clearly at a time when countries are in desperate need of
:02:50. > :02:51.economic redevelopment, I c`n't understand why governments `ren t
:02:52. > :02:56.looking to cannabis as the number`one cash crop. But others say
:02:57. > :02:59.health concerns must come bdfore economics. It causes psychological
:03:00. > :03:03.problems for many people, particularly among vulnerable people
:03:04. > :03:07.and young people. The long`term evidence from a long`term study in
:03:08. > :03:11.Dunedin, New Zealand, is th`t it lowers intelligence. So it's
:03:12. > :03:15.actually quite a damaging stbstance. Making any decision in Marg`te
:03:16. > :03:18.controversial. They did it hn Amsterdam, it brings a lot of money
:03:19. > :03:23.there. It is a tourist attr`ction in a way, isn't it? Margate is trying
:03:24. > :03:26.to get itself back up and I think this would bring it back down again.
:03:27. > :03:30.It could be a useful economhc thing, but again, it has to be handled
:03:31. > :03:33.appropriately. It makes me nervous. Kent's Police and Crime Comlissioner
:03:34. > :03:39.says a cannabis cafe would require a change in the law that only
:03:40. > :03:46.Parliament can deliver. Peter joins us live from Margate.
:03:47. > :03:53.Peter, where does Councillor Ian Driver want this proposed c`nnabis
:03:54. > :03:57.cafe to be? Well, here, in the shadow of the Turner Gallerx. He
:03:58. > :04:00.says if one opened here, people would queue around the block to use
:04:01. > :04:04.it, but he said it should only be opened if it has Home Officd
:04:05. > :04:11.approval and takes part in to government research into drtg use.
:04:12. > :04:16.The local council says this is the view of one councillor and not the
:04:17. > :04:20.council as a home. A lot of people I spoke to express concerns about
:04:21. > :04:25.relaxation, saying they felt Margate was on the band a decision like this
:04:26. > :04:28.could damage the whole regeneration project `` on the up and a decision
:04:29. > :04:32.like this. You've been commenting on this story
:04:33. > :04:35.already. Astra Cole says it's a good idea concentrating it in ond place,
:04:36. > :04:40.putting a tax on it so the loney will go to a better cause lhke the
:04:41. > :04:42.NHS, not the drug trade and class A crime.
:04:43. > :04:45.But Terry Boarder says he is firmly against and legalising its tse gives
:04:46. > :04:49.out the wrong message to decent citizens. "We invariably have to pay
:04:50. > :04:53.the price, by way of paying benefits to those who can't or won't work due
:04:54. > :04:55.to drink or drugs use." So what do you think?
:04:56. > :04:57.Would you welcome a cannabis cafe where you live? Or are you opposed
:04:58. > :05:00.to any moves to legalise drtg use? you think?
:05:01. > :05:06.Would you welcome a Send us an email to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk, or join
:05:07. > :05:08.the debate on Facebook or Twitter. We'll hear your views later in the
:05:09. > :05:13.programme. A young woman from East Sussex,
:05:14. > :05:16.who's been left partially blind after her partner viciously attacked
:05:17. > :05:19.her, is spearheading a new campaign to end domestic violence. Aly
:05:20. > :05:22.Beardsley was three months pregnant when Devon Newell kicked her in the
:05:23. > :05:32.stomach and attacked her in Eastbourne two years ago.
:05:33. > :05:36.Figures released by the 2wolen many campaign show that two women are
:05:37. > :05:38.killed in the UK every week by a partner or ex`partner.
:05:39. > :05:42.Domestic abuse accounts for up to 25% of all violent crime.
:05:43. > :05:45.And in Sussex alone, there `re 0 reports of domestic violencd every
:05:46. > :05:48.day. Juliette Parkin reports. Her appearance now like it never
:05:49. > :05:52.happened, but the scars run deep. In October 2012, at the hands of this
:05:53. > :05:55.man, Devon Newell, her ex`p`rtner, Amy Beardsley was viciously
:05:56. > :05:59.attacked. My face was caved in, my eyes were swollen so badly that I
:06:00. > :06:02.couldn't see anything. I was attacked in the bathroom. I was then
:06:03. > :06:06.dragged from the bathroom into the bedroom, where I was completely you
:06:07. > :06:09.know, beaten and beaten and beaten and kicked in the belly when I was
:06:10. > :06:17.three months pregnant. Carrxing his child, the trainer print on her bump
:06:18. > :06:22.said it all. Sussex police said it was the worst domestic incident they
:06:23. > :06:28.had ever seen. I had stitchds in my eye, my left eye. I also had a
:06:29. > :06:34.broken eye socket that needdd surgery. I had small fractures in my
:06:35. > :06:37.jaw and my nose. Amy said she couldn't fault the response of
:06:38. > :06:40.Sussex police but other victims were let down. In 2008, Cassandr`
:06:41. > :06:44.Hasanovic was stabbed to de`th by her husband in front of thehr young
:06:45. > :06:47.children. An inquest critichsed Sussex police and the Crown
:06:48. > :06:54.Prosecution Service for failing to take steps to prevent it. Now a new
:06:55. > :06:57.campaign is calling for a ptblic enquiry into how the police and
:06:58. > :07:06.other domestic agencies deal with enquiries. `` domestic violdnce
:07:07. > :07:09.Agencies are not trained to understand the dangers to
:07:10. > :07:12.predominantly women and children but also men, of domestic violence, and
:07:13. > :07:16.to know how to respond. Cassandra's death, according to the Sussex
:07:17. > :07:19.force, prompted change. Victims who are identified as high risk are
:07:20. > :07:22.handed over to specialised officers, who look after them, they whll take
:07:23. > :07:25.them through the whole journey through the criminal justicd
:07:26. > :07:30.system. The 2women 2many calpaign also aims to raise awareness and Amy
:07:31. > :07:34.is urging others to speak ott. Even if you have to leave your house and
:07:35. > :07:38.leave everything, you don't have to leave it forever, so just do it Her
:07:39. > :07:41.attacker has been jailed for 11 years but Amy says she will live
:07:42. > :07:48.with the nightmare of what happened for the rest of her life.
:07:49. > :07:51.In a moment: How one of our best`loved
:07:52. > :07:53.illustrators, Sir Quentin Blake is the big draw for children and adults
:07:54. > :08:05.in Hastings this summer. Mental health provision in Kent is
:08:06. > :08:08.woefully inadequate, and putting lives at risk. That's the claim
:08:09. > :08:11.tonight from parents who sax their sons and daughters are being sent to
:08:12. > :08:14.hospitals far from their falilies and friends, because there's no bed
:08:15. > :08:17.available close to home. Experts say that can jeopardise
:08:18. > :08:20.their recovery and cost livds. But the Trust that runs mental health
:08:21. > :08:23.services in Kent and Medway says it is actually increasing the number of
:08:24. > :08:30.in`patient beds in the county. Rebecca Williams has the details.
:08:31. > :08:33.Rehabilitation is seeing yotr family and friends. His daughter stffers
:08:34. > :08:36.from schizophrenia and has been in hospital 13 times since May, but
:08:37. > :08:39.Brian Clark says she hasn't been able to access a continuous
:08:40. > :08:43.in`patient bed near to her home Somebody told her she would have to
:08:44. > :08:47.go to Ealing, and I know it is a 160`mile round trip, becausd I live
:08:48. > :08:53.in Sittingbourne, and she rdfused to go. And with that, a few daxs later,
:08:54. > :08:58.she actually broke out the ward poured petrol over her hand and set
:08:59. > :09:01.light to it. The Kent and Mddway Social Care Partnership Trust plan
:09:02. > :09:04.to have three centres of excellence for mental health patients hn
:09:05. > :09:10.Dartford, Canterbury and Mahdstone. They also want to increase bed
:09:11. > :09:13.capacity from 160 to 174. Wd do welcome the increase becausd
:09:14. > :09:17.everywhere else in the country, there is a decrease of beds, but it
:09:18. > :09:21.is not going to help when those beds are too far away. And what we are
:09:22. > :09:25.really campaigning for is the fact that there should be much more
:09:26. > :09:29.immediate, local help avail`ble Beautiful girl, but she wouldn't
:09:30. > :09:32.keep a photograph. That is ` view shared by Tony Antonio, whose
:09:33. > :09:36.daughter had mental health problems and killed herself four years ago.
:09:37. > :09:39.He wants a full investigation into the provision of mental health
:09:40. > :09:42.facilities in Kent and he bdlieves if his daughter had been
:09:43. > :09:47.hospitalised, she would nevdr have taken her own life. She was a danger
:09:48. > :09:51.to herself, she was on a clhfftop, the voices were telling her to harm
:09:52. > :09:55.people around her. So on evdry count, she should have been kept in
:09:56. > :09:58.hospital. And there were no beds and that's why they went through this
:09:59. > :10:03.sham assessment and she was released and she was found dead the following
:10:04. > :10:06.morning. The families contacted us after seeing our report on Londay
:10:07. > :10:09.into the case of Lisa Inkin. She killed herself whilst being treated
:10:10. > :10:15.for anorexia in London becatse there were no beds for her kind of illness
:10:16. > :10:18.in Kent and Medway. In a johnt statement today, those provhding
:10:19. > :10:33.mental health care facilitids in Kent and Medway said:
:10:34. > :10:38.they went on to insist they have the figures right but those affdcted say
:10:39. > :10:45.they will continue to fight the local beds.
:10:46. > :10:49.A man accused of the murder of a Kent teenager over 20 years ago is
:10:50. > :10:52.due to go on trial in November. Claire Tiltman was just 16 when she
:10:53. > :10:55.was stabbed to death in an `lleyway in Greenhithe in 1993. Colin
:10:56. > :11:01.Ash`Smith was charged with her murder last month. Sussex police
:11:02. > :11:05.have apologised to the Consdrvative MP for a shoring and were them after
:11:06. > :11:09.issuing him with a warning notice after a long running complahnt with
:11:10. > :11:12.the constituent. Last week, a committee found the force to be in
:11:13. > :11:23.contempt of Parliament. He says he is angry after taxpayer mondy was
:11:24. > :11:26.wasted on a shambolic investigation. In the last few minutes, anhmal
:11:27. > :11:29.rights campaigners have lowdred a full`size model of a killer whale
:11:30. > :11:33.into the sea off Hove, as p`rt of their Whalefest event in thd city.
:11:34. > :11:37.The model, which is the sizd and weight of a minibus, is deshgned to
:11:38. > :11:39.highlight the plight of whales in captivity around the world. These
:11:40. > :11:41.wet circuses, these entertahnment shows, the time has passed for them
:11:42. > :11:45.and these people know that `nd other people should too. Ian Palmdr joins
:11:46. > :11:51.us live from home. The organisers say they are expecting thousands of
:11:52. > :11:55.visitors. Around 10,000, to be precise, and judging by the number
:11:56. > :11:58.of people who came to superlodel Wales launched into the sea, they
:11:59. > :12:02.have good reason to be optilistic. The serious side is that thdre are
:12:03. > :12:07.54 of these creatures in captivity around the world and the hope is by
:12:08. > :12:13.raising awareness here, somdhow in the future they may be freed. ``
:12:14. > :12:20.came to see the model wail. The Sea life Centres say they are providing
:12:21. > :12:26.education and jobs. The Brighton Whalefest begins tomorrow morning at
:12:27. > :12:30.11am. Dame Kelly Holmes famously grew up
:12:31. > :12:34.on a council estate in Tonbridge, went on to enjoy a successftl career
:12:35. > :12:36.in the army and, of course, become a double Olympic champion. Since
:12:37. > :12:40.retiring from athletics, shd has set up a charity to help so`called
:12:41. > :12:43."neets" ` young people who `re not in education, employment or training
:12:44. > :12:47.` to turn their lives around. The Get On Track project is now starting
:12:48. > :12:50.to see results, with many pdople who've completed the first programme
:12:51. > :12:53.in Thanet now in work or resuming their studies.
:12:54. > :13:00.Georgina Burnett has the story. Come on, Kelly! Kelly Holmes, it is
:13:01. > :13:04.gold! The moment she inspirdd a nation. Now Dame Kelly Holmds is
:13:05. > :13:07.helping others to fulfil thdir dreams. Like Graham easily from
:13:08. > :13:12.Margate. Before he went on her programme, he had been unemployed
:13:13. > :13:18.for three and a half years. It gets you down. You apply for all of these
:13:19. > :13:23.different jobs and you get nowhere and your confidence just drops so
:13:24. > :13:28.much and self`esteem drops `nd you have got no get up and go. Retired
:13:29. > :13:32.at Leeds mental and coach the groups with exercises to raise thehr
:13:33. > :13:40.self`esteem `` retired athldtes mental. With Kent being my home I
:13:41. > :13:44.really passionate that I get some of our programmes down here. Wd have
:13:45. > :13:48.been working intensively in Thanet and Margate and the aim would be to
:13:49. > :13:55.spread our programmes throughout the region. Behind me are some of the
:13:56. > :14:04.graduates. Over 70% of on those the programme in Thanet are part of the
:14:05. > :14:08.`` are no longer part of thd neet statistic. I have a reason to get
:14:09. > :14:13.out of bed in the morning, to go and do things. It gives me that extra
:14:14. > :14:18.warmth. Olympic gold medallhst to champion of her trust, Dame Kelly
:14:19. > :14:25.Holmes is bringing success home to Kent once more.
:14:26. > :14:29.The top story tonight: Controversial proposals to open a
:14:30. > :14:33.cannabis cafe in Kent will be discussed tomorrow at a public
:14:34. > :14:37.meeting. Thanet Green Party Councillor Ian Driver, who `dmits he
:14:38. > :14:41.has taken cannabis himself, has put forward the idea for a cafe in
:14:42. > :14:46.Margate as part of the camp`ign for the relaxation of drugs laws.
:14:47. > :14:50.Also tonight, from skidding through the ice and snow to a picnic in the
:14:51. > :14:54.woods, what a difference a xear can make to our weather.
:14:55. > :15:09.And coming up, me, Robert Powell, talking about Hercule Poirot. Hmm?
:15:10. > :15:12.He's one of the country's bdst`known illustrators, loved by children and
:15:13. > :15:16.adults alike for bringing the novels of Roald Dahl to life. Now Sir
:15:17. > :15:20.Quentin Blake has agreed to lend his skills to a summer festival of
:15:21. > :15:23.drawing at the Jerwood Galldry in Hastings, where he has a hole. He's
:15:24. > :15:26.been speaking exclusively to our reporter John Young, who johns us
:15:27. > :15:34.live from Hastings. John, hd's hoping to encourage children in
:15:35. > :15:40.particular to take a drawing. He is, the gallery is coming up to its
:15:41. > :15:44.second anniversary, but there is an award, the Jerwood Drawing prize,
:15:45. > :15:48.which is having its 20th anniversary, it is a special
:15:49. > :15:55.exhibition and it needs a special artist to promote it.
:15:56. > :15:57.Shush, and master artist is at work. You may instantly recognise the
:15:58. > :16:02.style, but you know what Qudntin Blake actually looks like? Xou do
:16:03. > :16:06.now. On Hastings Beach this afternoon, looking for insphration
:16:07. > :16:12.as he gets stuck into a sumler project for the Jerwood gallery near
:16:13. > :16:15.his summer home. I am looking for more information about the fishing
:16:16. > :16:20.boats and what happens on the fishing beach. I have been watching
:16:21. > :16:26.these... Sorry, I just need to. . Don't let me stop you. The sketching
:16:27. > :16:29.comes before the chat but hd told me he is using the beach for ideas for
:16:30. > :16:34.an exhibition guide that might appeal to children in particular. He
:16:35. > :16:38.is good at getting into the mind of a child. You move around but the
:16:39. > :16:42.basic thing that is happening is she is talking to him and you h`d to get
:16:43. > :16:46.the right sort of relationship between them. The BFG was one of his
:16:47. > :16:50.best loved creations. Less well`known, a series of images
:16:51. > :16:54.created for a maternity unit in France. He gave me a quick
:16:55. > :16:58.masterclass. The way they are looking around, the way thex put
:16:59. > :17:02.their hands in the pocket. The younger mind, the greater the
:17:03. > :17:06.opportunity. Lots of young people draw very well indeed and in some
:17:07. > :17:09.respects, it doesn't even m`tter if you draw well, it is like shnging or
:17:10. > :17:16.playing tennis, you want to do it, and they should not be discouraged.
:17:17. > :17:22.So ten minutes later, in thd Jerwood gallery itself, working out where
:17:23. > :17:26.his sketch guide might go. @s he modestly puts it, and lightweight
:17:27. > :17:31.drawing, his, to draw attention to someone else's work about. He has
:17:32. > :17:34.defined childhood, so to have somebody so iconic showing their
:17:35. > :17:37.view, their interpretation of the collection and bringing it to
:17:38. > :17:43.people's lives, making it rdlevant and meaningful, that is so dxciting.
:17:44. > :17:47.So there it is. A sketch th`t are barely a minute from an arthst who
:17:48. > :17:51.may be in his early 80s, but has a colourful summer ahead.
:17:52. > :17:55.may be in his early 80s, but has The dates haven't been finalised, so
:17:56. > :18:00.Quentin Blake was there to organise that, but they are promising drawing
:18:01. > :18:04.events and activities and if you don't think it will cut it with your
:18:05. > :18:07.kids, tell them there will be a drawing cafe. Plenty of ice cream
:18:08. > :18:09.and cakes for them to keep them amused.
:18:10. > :18:16.I am sure they will be queuding around the block.
:18:17. > :18:21.You might know him best as the movie idol who played Jesus of Nazareth.
:18:22. > :18:25.Or perhaps as mixed`up medic Mark Williams in Holby City.
:18:26. > :18:27.But tonight, Robert Powell hs on stage in Eastbourne, playing Agatha
:18:28. > :18:32.Christie's super`sleuth Hercule Poirot in the murder mysterx Black
:18:33. > :18:42.Coffee. Jane Witherspoon has been to meet him.
:18:43. > :18:48.Blessed are the pure in heart. Rejoice. As far as roles go, they
:18:49. > :18:51.don't go any bigger. It is the performance that got everybody
:18:52. > :18:55.talking about Robert Powell, including the director, Franco
:18:56. > :18:59.Zeffirelli. Franco wrote a book just after we had finished making it and
:19:00. > :19:04.he said, Robert, darling, I have written a book about the making of
:19:05. > :19:08.cheese is another is. I havd devoted two chapters entirely clear `` of
:19:09. > :19:17.Jesus of Nazareth. None of ht is true, but the truth is so boring.
:19:18. > :19:20.From the son of God to super`sleuth. He is currently on stage pl`ying
:19:21. > :19:27.Pyro, the role made famous on TV by David Suchet `` playing Poirot.
:19:28. > :19:31.After the curtain drops, Robert is finding his free time in off`season
:19:32. > :19:39.is born quite interesting. Ht is lovely, but it is like a ghost
:19:40. > :19:45.town, it really is. But it hs a lovely place, lovely, and the people
:19:46. > :19:49.are very nice. Pubs shut, this is the problem. They close at 01
:19:50. > :19:56.o'clock and we are not used to this. You want a lock in. We are looking
:19:57. > :20:04.for one. Hang on, Laos, I've got a great
:20:05. > :20:12.idea. His latest role gives him more lines than one of his earlidr jobs.
:20:13. > :20:15.The Italian one. We probablx had as much fun Asian people do making a
:20:16. > :20:23.movie when you have not got very lines. `` as young. "I can't go in
:20:24. > :20:28.the back, I will get a migr`ine was my only line. You still remdmber it.
:20:29. > :20:38.I remember my whole experience. And with 50 years in showbiz, that is a
:20:39. > :20:41.lot of memories. On to football, and Gillingham
:20:42. > :20:44.travel to Bradford tomorrow hoping for their third successive victory.
:20:45. > :20:48.The Gills are now eight points clear of the League One relegation zone
:20:49. > :20:50.and benefitting from the good form of 19`year`old Jake Hessenthaler,
:20:51. > :20:54.son of the club's former manager Andy, and the scorer of a stunning
:20:55. > :20:57.midweek goal against Coventry. He's just like his dad, he's a young pro,
:20:58. > :21:01.a good young pro, who does everything he can to be a vdry, very
:21:02. > :21:04.good player. And when you'vd got someone like that on board, when
:21:05. > :21:07.things like that happen, yot just couldn't be happier for him.
:21:08. > :21:13.Elsewhere in League One, Cr`wley Town are at home to Colchester. In
:21:14. > :21:19.the championship, Brighton `re away to Bolton Wanderers and Charton s
:21:20. > :21:21.new manager Jose Riga needs victory at Millwall to boost the Addicks'
:21:22. > :21:26.relegation fight. A bit of sea mist around but for
:21:27. > :21:29.most of us, the son has been shining and the flip`flops, shorts `nd ice
:21:30. > :21:32.creams are out in an abundance. It is easy to forget that a cotple of
:21:33. > :21:37.weeks ago, we were drowning in the relentless rain and wettest winter
:21:38. > :21:40.on record. Or indeed that this time last year, we were gripped by ice
:21:41. > :21:49.and snow and just getting around had become a real battle. Roz is in
:21:50. > :21:53.Dover. This spring sunshine, it is giving traders are really wdlcome
:21:54. > :21:57.boost, isn't it? It is. Cafd and shop owners along the seafront are
:21:58. > :22:00.delighted because more people flocked to the seaside when the
:22:01. > :22:05.weather is good, as it has been today. In fact, one restaur`nt owner
:22:06. > :22:11.just up the coast told us that her custom has doubled in today's
:22:12. > :22:13.sunshine. Enjoying the warmth of the spring
:22:14. > :22:21.sun, it is just what seafront business is `` need. People can read
:22:22. > :22:25.more in the sunshine. Yesterday it was really cold, I didn't h`ve much
:22:26. > :22:30.custom. Today, the weather hs better and it is double the customdr. I
:22:31. > :22:36.think the town will benefit from the good weather, yes. This timd last
:22:37. > :22:39.March, we had snow. Motorists were stuck on impassable roads in Kent
:22:40. > :22:45.and Sussex and even the beaches were wide, though some people just know
:22:46. > :22:50.how to find fun. What a difference this year, no wonder everyone is
:22:51. > :22:56.smiling. Ice cream, blue skx, my son. It is beautiful. Is it going to
:22:57. > :22:59.stay? We have just taken thd sandbanks away from the back door,
:23:00. > :23:04.it is a good day, hence we `re celebrating. Sandbags, a colmon
:23:05. > :23:08.sight during the most widespread flooding in decades. Incess`nt rain,
:23:09. > :23:12.tidal surge is an homes and livelihoods ruined. In Decelber the
:23:13. > :23:16.secret gardens in Sandwich were submerged. The owner feared his
:23:17. > :23:20.plans would all die. He has been on tenterhooks waiting for sprhng. The
:23:21. > :23:24.worms have been reappearing in places we didn't think they would,
:23:25. > :23:28.the bulbs are popping up, the roses are starting to bite. It is a
:23:29. > :23:34.tremendous joy for us, having been so terrified for the last three
:23:35. > :23:36.months, since the floods, and we were convinced it would all just
:23:37. > :23:45.completely shrivel up and disintegrate. From the garddns of
:23:46. > :23:48.sandwich to the Ashdown Fordst. Indeed, anywhere the sunshine is,
:23:49. > :23:53.there is relief, smiles and spirits lifted.
:23:54. > :23:57.Everyone we have spoken to today has been followed the joys of spring and
:23:58. > :24:04.glad that that long wet winter is well and truly behind us. Spring is
:24:05. > :24:11.definitely in the air. Full of the joys of spring.
:24:12. > :24:14.They will soon get fed up of it And it gives us something to talk
:24:15. > :24:19.about, the weather. It will turn dull and wet and windy
:24:20. > :24:22.next week but we have a lovdly weekend first. As you have been
:24:23. > :24:26.hearing, we are expecting lots of sunshine over the weekend. We have
:24:27. > :24:30.an area of high pressure to the west of us and we will see those winds
:24:31. > :24:34.pick up and that means we whll not see as much mist and fog as we have
:24:35. > :24:38.been seen recently. We will be staying dry, plenty of warm sunshine
:24:39. > :24:42.around and we could see temperatures in the top teams. Earlier, some
:24:43. > :24:47.dense fog as we started the day but by the afternoon, a much brhghter
:24:48. > :24:51.picture and those winds are staying pretty light from a westerlx
:24:52. > :24:55.direction with temperatures reaching around 14 or 15 degrees, a really
:24:56. > :24:59.warm and pleasant afternoon. As we go into tonight, the wind starts to
:25:00. > :25:04.pick up so we don't see as luch mist and fog as last night, stayhng dry
:25:05. > :25:08.and actually still quite mild night, temperatures only dropping to around
:25:09. > :25:12.five or six degrees. Just a bit more cloud cover as we start tomorrow and
:25:13. > :25:16.any mist or fog is soon burning back and by the afternoon, high pressure
:25:17. > :25:21.building a little bit, lots of sunshine around, temperaturds
:25:22. > :25:28.possibly reaching 16 or 17 degrees, and the best of all bad sunshine,
:25:29. > :25:32.temperatures 15. The wind qtite breezy from a north`westerlx
:25:33. > :25:36.direction and staying with ts as we go into Sunday. So not parthcularly
:25:37. > :25:41.misty or foggy, temperatures pretty mild and only dropping to around
:25:42. > :25:44.seven or eight degrees. Verx mild as we start Sunday, if anything a
:25:45. > :25:49.little more sunshine around. High`pressure stays with us, those
:25:50. > :25:54.temperatures potentially cotld reach highs of 16 or 17 degrees. The wind,
:25:55. > :25:58.as we go over into Monday, pretty blustery, mostly staying drx but
:25:59. > :26:02.more cloud cover around. St`ying driver Tuesday but wet and windy as
:26:03. > :26:06.we head through the week. Btt before we get there, over the weekdnd,
:26:07. > :26:11.temperatures reaching back to delete really warm, make the most of it.
:26:12. > :26:14.Now back to tonight's top story really warm, make the most of it.
:26:15. > :26:18.Now back to Controversial proposals to open a cannabis cafe in Kent will
:26:19. > :26:21.be discussed tomorrow at a public meeting. Thanet Green Party
:26:22. > :26:24.Councillor Ian Driver `who `dmits he's taken cannabis himself `has put
:26:25. > :26:26.forward the idea as part of his campaign for a relaxation of the
:26:27. > :26:31.drugs laws. Earlier, we asked for your views and
:26:32. > :26:34.we have had lots of them, thanks to your comments. Most people `re
:26:35. > :26:37.against. Leo Rogers is in f`vour and says I don't know why peopld are so
:26:38. > :26:42.scared of cannabis being legalised. Most drugs are legal and easy to buy
:26:43. > :26:46.anywhere. No one talks about criminalising chocolate, alcohol or
:26:47. > :26:50.tobacco. I think he is in the minority. Cafe
:26:51. > :26:56.from Saint Leonard says she totally disagrees with people taking drugs
:26:57. > :26:58.and only drug users are in denial. I would be devastated if it w`s
:26:59. > :27:04.brought to my town, enough hdiots are walking around as it is.
:27:05. > :27:07.This one agrees, saying thex should not open a cafe, it is an illegal
:27:08. > :27:12.drug that can harm your health and kill you. And how much would it
:27:13. > :27:15.charge? This answers the councillor who has
:27:16. > :27:19.taken the substances should stand down and the position of
:27:20. > :27:23.responsibility such as this, it represents a lack of moral standards
:27:24. > :27:26.and is a bad example for yotngsters in the community.
:27:27. > :27:30.This one says we are trying to discourage normal smoking bdcause of
:27:31. > :27:35.health risks so why should we encourage the smoking of wh`t he
:27:36. > :27:39.calls wacky baccy? And you can always join in on a
:27:40. > :27:41.Facebook page. That is at the moment.
:27:42. > :27:42.Rebecca Williams will be here with the late news.
:27:43. > :27:44.Enjoy the weekend.