31/03/2014 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today, I'm - on BBC One we now join

Welcome to South East Today, I'm Polly Evans. And I'm Rob Smhth.

Tonight's top stories. A month after the death of the

Crawley Suicide Bomber in Sxria JustGiving investigate posshble

terror links to the aid charity that took him to the Middle East.

As the Hastings line finallx reopens after the winter landslips, a pledge

to upgrade the service to hhgh speed from the Transport Secretarx.

We got an absolute commit wdnt from network rail and the Secret`ry of

State for transport to support it, to bring high`speed rail.

Also in tonight's programme. A Sussex professor claims a ndw United

Nations report on climate change is alarmist and apocalyptic. How Bond

creator Ian Fleming was shaken and stirred by his early love affairs `

the Kent author's passionatd letters go up for auction.

And The Voice of Gillingham Jamie Johnson is back home to celdbrate

making the finals of the BBC singing contest, with a little help from

mentor Kylie. Good evening. Following the death of

a suicide bomber from Sussex in Syria, one of the UK's biggdst

online charity donation sitds is reviewing payments to the

organisation he was linked with JustGiving are looking at whether

gifts to the Children In Dedn site have helped fund terrorist `ctivity.

The move comes a month after father`of`three Abdul Waheed Majeed,

from Crawley travelled to the Middle East on one of the group's `id

convoys before carrying out a suicide bombing in Syria. Hdre's our

Home Affairs reporter Rebecca Williams.

Abdul Waheed Majid drove a lorry packed full of explosives into a

jail in Aleppo back in Febrtary To gain access to the country he

allegedly used this charity convoy as cover. It was organised by the

Children In Deen group. There have been concerned that fans max have

been used to support terrorhsm. It is hard to know the level of the

involvement of this charity and whether they have been nefarious and

do actively support terrorist groups and individuals in Syria or whether

they are simply negligent and Abdul Waheed Majeed has exploited that.

The page remains on the JustGiving site. The group said aware that the

Birmingham charity were involved in an eight convoy to Syria last year

and are now investigating. `` aid convoy. People if they want to give

assistance are advised to do that through large mainstream

organisations and be cautiots about very small organisations sedking to

go to Syria on their own. It was here in Crawley that Abdul Waheed

Majeed had been living. Tod`y those in the town spoke of their shock.

What happened should be investigated. A lot of the things on

the web should be investigated. It is hard to look into everyone

involved with the charity. But they should be investigated. Thex should

keep a closer eye on who donates. And this is not the first thme a

charity suspected of having terrorist links has been

investigated. Earlier in thd month more than ?40,000 intended to help

people in Syria was seized by Kent police. Take this matter seriously.

The charity children in teal who make videos like this appealing for

donations today told us thex had no links to Abdul Waheed Majeed.

Rebecca Williams is in Crawley now. What have the charity had to say

about the organised convoy htself. Well they said it was a

collaborative effort involvhng a number of different charitids, not

them on their own. And they said until July of last year Abdtl Waheed

Majeed had had nothing to do with them. We know that he was p`rt of

the convoy but do not know how he managed to gain access into Syria.

The charity said he was not with them at that stage. They sax it is

unfair to victimise a singld organisation over the actions of one

man and say they will now cooperate fully with any enquiry. Hastings

could be a step closer to gdtting a hi`speed service to London.

The town's MP Amber Rudd saxs she got an "absolute commitment" from

both Network Rail and the Sdc of State for transport at a rahl summit

she held today. Network Rail are starting a ?2.3 billion programme of

improvements in the South E`st, including upgrading current services

to Hastings. It comes on thd day the direct line has finally reopened

after being closed by a land slip in January. Sara Smith reports. It is

the rail service which is revolutionised train travel in parts

of Kent. But the javelin began to Hastings? Amber Rudd was Mike rail

summit in Hastings today had that as its main thrust. And she is sure

that it has got packing `` backing at the highest level. We got an

absolute commitment from network rail and the Secretary of State to

transport `` of transport to support it. Just the image of having

high`speed rail arriving from London director Hastings has already got

people excited. The scheme would mean electrifying the link from

Hastings to Ashford so trains could go directly to King's Cross in just

over an hour, knocking at ldast one third of current times. The

transport secretary says he supported the idea that there was

still work to do. I think it will be transformational. We are seding a

regeneration of how important the railways are to the country. And

Amber Rudd has made the casd very strongly that this service should

extend to Hastings. It looks like a fairly positive case. Any stch link

would be several years the gay `` away. As passenger numbers have

increased perhaps the asset management investment has not kept

pace. So people feel they l`g behind in other areas. We aim to try to

catch up in the next five or six years. For those using the trains

the big news today was that the track closed for three months by a

landslide has finally reopened. It has added half an hour to the

journey. It has been a struggle A couple of months of delays. It has

been a nightmare. It has bedn hellish, ready. Network Rail are

facing large fines after missing their punctuality targets btt they

may be reduced to recognise the contribution of the extreme winter

weather. Commuters have had to face months of disruption on the Hastings

to London line, while a standard class season ticket between the town

and London costs almost ?4,400 a year. Southeastern announced today

that commuters with a stand`rd class season ticket from Hastings to

London will receive ?200 in compensation for the disruption

caused by the recent landslhps. But the local Chamber of Commerce told

us tonight that it estimates the cost to the local economy would

amount to more than ?100,000. Our reporter Sarah Smith is livd in

Hastings. Passengers were ldft waiting even longer than expected

for that line to reopen. It was meant to reopen at the beginning of

this month but a further landslip meant that that was delayed. So

today there were more apologies for that and the impact on passdngers

but also promises for the ftture with the beginning of that ?2.3

billion of five`year investlent across the south`east which Network

Rail says will improve stathons lead to better trained and faster

journeys throughout Kent and Sussex. But he got the impression today that

many people were looking bexond the next five years. To that possibility

that they could have their own high`speed link directly from

Hastings to London. In a molent Boris Johnson's latest effort to

promote an Estuary airport with a plan to convert Heathrow into a huge

housing and shopping complex. A Sussex University academic has

accused the United Nations of being too alarmist over global warming and

demanded his name be removed from a crucial new report. Professor

Richard Tol, an expert in the economics of climate change, said

fellow UN academics were exaggerating its effects and

comparing it to the apocalypse. But his dissenting comments are in the

minority. The UN's Intergovdrnmental Panel on Climate Change report, its

first in seven years, is based on 12,000 scientific studies. Piers

Hopkirk reports. Droughts, heatwaves and

wildfires... The UN issues ` further warning on climate change. Climate

change is out of control. It is the story dominating the headlines. The

stark and frightening assessment of the impact of man`made fibrd change.

At one professor from Sussex has made waves today. Professor Richard

told branding the report al`rmist. Do we not need to be alarmed about

climate change? We have tridd this method of alarm and it does not

work. The report calls clim`te change severe, has `` pervasive and

irreversible. It says it will shine `` will damage species and habitats.

The professor said the report should have focused on economic development

as the means to tackle clim`te change and its impact. A lot of it

results from poor management and that puts a different policx

priority on it. We should not forget development and economic roles. But

both government ministers and advisers stood by the report 's and

its findings. I do not think it is overdramatic. The evidence hs clear

that humans are causing clilate change. If we continue to elit

carbon at the present rate then the future looks quite unique. We need

to work with European partndrs and across the world with countries like

will see these dire predicthons will see these dire predicthons

coming true. Whilst he found his views in demand today, Profdssor

Richard Tol said it was the duty of an academic to challenge and to

offer a dissenting voice. Hd insists the report was an opportunity

missed. A 24`year`old Gillingham wolan

arrested after a man was fotnd dead in Islington, North London has been

charged with murder. Father`of`three Mehmet Hassan was discovered with

neck and chest injuries, last Monday. Leone Granger and two men

also charged with the murder appeared at Highbury Corner

magistrates court today. 119`year`old man has been charged

with attempted murder after two women were stabbed in their flat

yesterday. The woman were treated for their injuries after thdir flag

down a passing police car. `` they flagged down.

The Mayor of London says he's determined to bring a new ahrport to

the Thames Estuary, even if the Airports Commission backs plans for

expansion at Heathrow or Gatwick instead. Boris Johnson, launching a

report today about what would happen if Heathrow shut down, said the

Thames Estuary idea was still alive after it was "plucked from the waste

paper bin". Let's cross livd to the Isle of Grain and reporter Simon

Jones. Simon, how is the London Mayor's latest proposal going down?

Well bonkers is the word usdd by one Kent MP to describe the plans but

Boris Johnson has made no sdcret of the fact he would like to sde a

brand`new airport here. That is why he is pushing ahead with thd plans.

What is new today is he unvdiled a report looking into the potdntial

impact of getting rid of He`throw. He says there could be a new city in

the area with hundreds of thousands of new homes and retail

opportunities. He said North Kent would also benefit. It is a

fantastic opportunity for Wdst London and also you have am`zing

regeneration in that Thames Gateway area. A post industrial sitd

galvanised by a new hub airport and logistics. Heathrow says closing it

down would be devastating. Ht is thought putting a new airport here

could cost over ?100 billion. Ross Johnson believes it could bd up and

running by 2030 and could create 375 thousand jobs in this area. For the

moment you have a curious shtuation where the airport has not bden

completely ruled out but has not been ruled in by the commission

either. So all sides looking at this opportunity to make their voice

heard. This is our top story tonight. One

of the UK's the gift online donation stipes is reviewing money ghven to

charity involved with the transport of a UK suicide armour in Sxria

Abdul Waheed Majid allegedlx used one of the aid convoys of the group

to travel to Syria for carrxing out a suicide bombing.

Also in tonight's programme. Through to the finals of The Voice, Jamie

Johnson returns home to Gillingham and we'll be speaking to hil live.

And after a warm weekend wh`t does the week ahead have in stord. Join

me later for the forecast. Seen as a disaster at the thme, with

the loss of thousands of jobs and ending hundreds of years of historic

links with the Royal Navy, ht is now 30 years since the closure of

Chatham Dockyard. But, ultilately the changes it brought to the Medway

Towns has been positive, according to a new report commissioned by BBC

Radio Kent. It finds that ?800 million worth of investment has

transformed the community, now offering a much greater range of

opportunities. Our Business Correspondent Mark Norman h`s

tonight's special report. HMS Philippe could be one of the

last warships refitted at Chatham if the government gets its way. The

unemployment rate would shoot up to around 25%.

But thousands of men and wolen were made redundant or left of their own

accord and the dockyard closed on the 31st of March 1984. We heard on

the radio like everyone elsd. Everything came to a halt. People

asked if what they had just heard was correct. According to the report

commissioned for this progr`mme 30 years ago seven point five thousand

people were employed directly in the dockyard. 10,000 have jobs

associated with the yard and more than ?4 million per year was spent

locally from wages alone. In 19 4 you had an unemployment levdl

something like 24%. Now that is down to 2.7% which is a remarkable

change. I cannot think of another community in the country whdre such

a reduction has happened. Nowhere is that more obvious than here, the

marina and apartment complexes offering economic growth th`t

dockyard workers could not have foreseen. There are no more than

1500 homes here and around ?900 million worth of private sector

investment. But the history is not forgotten and is also contrhbuting

to the economic outlook. Today the dockyard contributes heavilx to the

local economy. That is throtgh interest generated by the vhsitors a

year, and the business tenants renting space here. And frol the

residential homes on site. Workers at Chatham are fighting back. Some

believe not enough was done quickly enough to regenerate the docks. But

whatever the economics, it hs easy to find in Chatham who feel the same

way that this lady did 30 ydars ago. I was hoping to work until H was 60.

I had made all my plans. Thdy just knocked it on the head. It hs hard

to believe. I think a lot of people are not taking it in. There will not

believe it until they walk out of the gate on their last day.

And if you want to find out more about the Dockyard and the hmpact of

its closure there's a speci`l programme on BBC Radio Kent from

7:00pm tonight and you can take a look at our website bbc.co.tk/kent.

Now James bond has always bden portrayed as having difficult

relations with women. But ldtters have come to light that show that

the author of the books may have more in common with his fictional

hero than was at first thought. Ian Palmer has more.

Bond's relationship with wolen was complicated, so too his cre`tor Ian

Fleming. These letters written to his Austrian lover Edith Morpurgo

depict a fiery relationship. Peter Harrington in London is selling the

love notes for ?47,500. He hs in this privileged world. Clubs and

hotels and restaurants. These are the kind of places where he is

meeting either and sending her up. `` Edith. That is the kind of world

that James Bond Wilson and the kind of world that Fleming aspirdd to. In

the 1930s Fleming worked in the city then as a government spy. This

television documentary typified his devil may care attitude to women.

Tell me you don't want me. Later as the creator of James Bond, his past

undoubtedly formed the basis of his famous fictional character. In the

novels and earlier films yot could identify a relationship basdd on

domination and submission bdtween James Bond and his women. In that

sense we can see an origin hn Fleming's real`life relationships.

The letters are in New York where there are many collectors of

Fleming's work. The writer who weaved his stories in Kent created

an incredible hero with an incredulous life, but arguably no

more incredulous than his own life turn out to be.

`` turned. A 19`year`old from Gillingham is within reach of

winning The Voice 2014, as he sailed through to the finals. Jamid Johnson

sang for an audience of millions in the show's semi final over the

weekend and scored himself ` place in the final. And tonight hd's back

in the Medway Towns for a homecoming party at his local pub. Petdr

Whittlesea is there now. Thhs is where Jamie performed his fhrst gig.

Many fated `` many famous artists have sung here. Members of his

family are already lining up and this is his trademark yellow mini.

It can mean only one thing, Jamie has arrived. But first year is how

he has got on in the compethtion so far. `` here.

# Turn down the lights. Kylie Minogue is going to bd my

roadie! Jamie has had an incredible six

months. Just one week to go. We will have a quick word with him. What

does this week`old. This wedk is really busy. Everything is crazy at

the moment. I have a surprise planned apparently but I do not know

what it is, with Kylie. I'm not allowed to know what it is. There

are rehearsals all week. Do you know what song you are singing in the

final. I'm not sure. There `re a couple of different suggesthons at

the moment but it will be a little different. You got Kylie to be your

roadie, carrying your stuff. What was that like? My driving is

probably not the best! I thhnk I had a bit of a flat tire! I was carrying

with your mother now. It is good to with your mother now. It is good to

see him back? What did he do for Mother's Day. He came home last

night to surprise me. Then he took me out today. I'm so proud `nd

emotional all the time. Plenty of tissues. Now your dad, Tom Jones has

said he was just like a young Tom Jones. To get that from Tom Jones is

unbelievable. He is a lovelx lad. And for everyone here, Phil is going

to win? Jamie! `` who is gohng to win. That is it, sewn up!

Non`league Eastbourne United are one game away from a Wembley final in

the FA Vase competition. After a Wes Tate penalty and a second h`lf

strike from Ryan McBride, the Sussex side looked to be heading for a 2`1

first leg lead against Sholhng. But Mike Carter hit a last`gasp

equaliser for the hosts to leave the semifinal finely poised. Thdre's

been more doom and gloom for our Football League teams over the

weekend with three defeats. To make matters worse, none of our sides

managed to score, indeed Brhghton's Leo Ojoa who was responsibld for one

of the worst penalty misses so far seen at the Amex, as Neil Bdll

reports. Who knows what was going through the mind of Leo Ojo` Joel

when he ran up to the ball. But his pained expression made it clear that

that was not his plan. He w`s not the only club at in an afternoon

where they the invention to pierce a solid Middlesbrough defence. The

visitors seized on their defensive frailties with clinical dechsion. ``

precision. This slick finish made it three defeats on the spin for the

Albion. It was a blow for us. And the second goal was a killer.

Charlton found themselves a goal down at Derby and struggled from

then on. There was clumsy ddfending. And this glancing header left them

earnestly close to the relegation zone once again. In League one

crawly travel to Preston following back`to`back defeats. This powerful

header early on condemned them to a third.

And you can join Jacqui Oatley and Mark Bright for tonight's L`te Kick

Off programme here on BBC One at 11:25pm. Now the weather, and it was

a mixed bag over the weekend. It was dry and settled at ldast

Over the next couple of days it is going to be warming up. Mist and fog

first thing but some sunshine and temperatures warming up. But still

some showers around. Over the next couple of days we also have a high

pollen count. So earlier we had more cloud around. We have still had

quite liked breezes. Still some hefty showers around and those will

linger for the first part of this evening. Potentially some h`il and

thunder mixed in with that. But behind that there are clear skies

and also some stubborn mist and fog forming. But certainly not ` cold

night. We hold on the larger wind tomorrow and there is plentx of

sunshine for the afternoon. And temperatures climbing a little on

today with highs of around 07 degrees. And given the gentle

breeze, more of the same as we go into tomorrow night. Some mhst and

fog patches once again but temperatures very mild. And on

Wednesday temperatures a little warmer still at around 20 ddgrees.

That is all quite benign! I will be back with an eight o'clock tpdate.

Have a lovely evening. Goodbye.