15/05/2014 South East Today

missing. That's all from the BBC News at Six - so it's goodbye from

doors for the last time. Once you have worked here, you do

not want to work anywhere else. It has been a dramatic day, with an

emergency landing, and of bid and many people hoping that somehow it

can be saved. Also, the biopic of Turner, set in

Margate, filmed in Chatham, making waves in France, we speak to the

star. If you are the only person that ever

unstuck the dishwasher... Having a moan in Tunbridge Wells,

the grumpy old women are on tour. Good evening, it is now shot, at

5pm, these doors opened for the last time to allow staff to come out, to

an extraordinary greeting among 150 people, who came to this airport on

the east coast of Kent to say goodbye to a place that has had a

strong impact on the area for the last century. Purchased by Ann Gloag

last year for ?1, it has struggled to make ends meet. It was announced

a few weeks ago that a consultation into the closure had been started,

today that process came to a close, as people were asked to clear their

desks and leave. It has been an extraordinary situation, there are

rumours flying around as to what is going on. What cannot be denied, the

airport is shot. Dash`mac closed. The end of the airport was a hugely

emotional moment, the staff left the terminal building, together for the

last time. It is really emotional, the support is incredible. You do

not want to work anywhere else. Once you have worked here, you do not

want to work anywhere else. It is so sad, it does not need to happen.

They go on about airport expansion, you have got a perfectly good

airfield, it is crazy. There had been time for one last emergency

landing. This pilot had to divert here with engine trouble, the

passenger a former Easterners actor. We have just had an emergency

landing, I do not know where we are. Where are we? Apparently, it is

closing. We would have ended up in the drink. Thank you for being

open. For those who do not know, the Civil Aviation Authority licence was

handed back today. Munster will not be able to handle emergency landings

animal. Until the last minute, the unions had wanted that licence

extended. We believe that there are firm bidders in the wings. One

company has but two in, there is another potential bidder there, but

they do not want to do anything if they believe the licence will be

switched off and there will be no further work here. It does not

closing their operation, if the closing their operation, if the

airfield is licensed for operation, the gauche nations continue for

bidders. As staff face an uncertain future, many are angry at the way

that they have another job. Less that they have another job. Less

than 15% of staff have got a job to go to. Only 3% would not want to

come back if they had the chance. The only commercial planes left

flying here are ones at 30,000 feet. Its future as a commercial airport

apparently over. Everybody else has already

disappeared off, because it has been such an emotional day. Absolutely.

We have got a family of staff that have lost their jobs, some of them

might be saying goodbye to each other for the foreseeable future.

Highly emotional. What happens now with the airport? It is shot, you

are campaigning to keep it open, but the door is not open. We are going

to keep on fighting, as long as we think there is a chance to get it

back open. The Americans have put another bid in, we need to find out

why Ann Gloag has rejected it. Why is she rejecting it? What is her

motive? Can Munster make a profit? Absolutely. I would bet my mortgage

on it, 100%. I can prove it. As he was saying, this has been a day of

high emotion, but a lot of people who have been associated with the

airport for decades have had an emotional impact.

It is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I cannot believe

somebody would be so heartless as to close us down. Those words sum up

the feelings of everyone who lost their job today. Her husband set up

the flying club for nothing. It is devastating. I cannot describe how I

feel. I cannot eat or sleep. Without a licensed runway, the company had

to move their planes before 5pm today. We have got 50 years left on

our lease, but we cannot use the runway. It is over. Also over for

the staff at the airport, some had spent their whole careers here. I am

going through chemotherapy, I am not going to get another job at the

moment. That gets me through it, going to work. I do not know. It is

watering hole of Battle of Britain watering hole of Battle of Britain

pilots, staff will come here to mark the end of an historic link with

aviation. It has hit home, the jobs are going to be lost, the people we

have had in today, lots of people from the airport having food, it is

devastating for the area. Today, people tried to put on a brave

face, but the tears told the real story.

We have repeatedly asked if we could speak to Ann Gloag, the owner, or to

representatives of the airport. They have consistently said they would

not make any comment on this issue. If you would look at more reaction

and analysis, you can go to the website. There will be more reaction

on BBC Radio Kent tomorrow morning. I will be back later in the

programme to take more of a look at the history of what this place

means. A teenage robber who viciously

attacked pensioners in their own homes in a string of attacks across

Kent has been jailed for ten and a half years. The attacked three

elderly victims, including an 89`year`old. She has been speaking

to our reporter, you may find some to our reporter, you may find some

of the images in the report disturbing.

All I remember is lying on my back, unconscious, and my neighbour tells

me I was without teeth and glasses, there was blood coming from

everywhere. She was left with a fractured nose and eye socket and

injuries consistent with being repeatedly kicked after the violent

beating on her and her husband in their own home. The 18`year`old who

attacked him, taking ?60, as well as assaulting another pensioner, is now

facing over ten years behind bars. He has gone into these addresses, he

has finally attacked all three victims, they have all had

life`threatening injuries, and he has left them for dead. I am

frightened to open the front door. She says the attack has worsened her

husband's failing health map and affected her deeply.

Two men from Kent have pleaded guilty to stealing hundreds of

thousands of pounds worth of rare artefacts from wrecks of the Dover

illegally kept bronze cannons from illegally kept bronze cannons from

the wreck of a 19th`century British the wreck of a 19th`century British

merchant ship. It is the first time the Maritime Coastguard Agency has

brought a positive vision like this.

Raiders of the lost wrecks, the men pleaded guilty to 19 offences of

taking historic artefacts from sunken ships. This was one man

posing with one of his trophies, a 200`year`old can and he found off

Dover. In all, six cannons were taken from a ship heading to India

in 1809. The pair also bought up crockery, dozens of pristine bottles

more than a quarter of ?1 million. more than a quarter of ?1 million.

This is above and beyond your average diver, this is a Coast of

systematic and long`term recovery of large scale material, using

underwater cutting equipment and explosives. The men left court

claiming the law will smack smack the law was unclear. Should have

been done two years ago? The waters off the coast are littered with

wrecks, but anything taken must be declared to the authorities within

28 days, something the men in this case failed to do. They will be

sentenced in July. This case a warning to any diver that Britain's

laws extend to the sea floor. It is exactly a week until polls

open for the European elections, across the Southeast political

Today, we hear from the Independence Today, we hear from the Independence

from Europe party about why they think they deserve your support.

Instead of creating peace, there is turmoil, we have recession, and

bureaucracy. The EU imposes rules and regulations on the British

people that compromise 28 nations, so it is clear, one size fits none.

But for us, we are at the top of your ballot paper.

There is in`depth coverage of the European elections and information

about the other parties on the website.

The health watchdog nice has called for an end to the postcode lottery

of fertility treatment. It follows the case of a woman who was refused

funding for her eggs to be frozen before she undergoes chemotherapy

that could leave her infertile. NHS bosses refused to pay, even though

people in other parts of the country get funding. She says she now hopes

that others will not be put through the same ordeal that she has faced.

Suffering from the bowel condition Crohn's disease come next week

Lizzie will become one of the first in the country to be treated for it

with a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy. Health bosses in

Thanet refused the ?4000 to freeze Thanet refused the ?4000 to freeze

her eggs. Now, the health watchdog says the postcode lottery must end.

I am pleased they have issued this statement saying that people should

be offered this treatment. It is really stressful to take the NHS to

court, it is the last thing you want to do when you are sick. I hope that

women will not have to go through this. She did this month get her

eggs frozen, but only after a private clinic did it for free. We

are lagging behind the rest of Europe in what is funded by

government, it has been a long time coming, and I hope this is the final

step towards getting it implemented. Thanet commissioning group's new

policy of continuing to refuse funding was declared unlawful by the

High Court last month. It is still considering the implications. NICE

is determined that the treatment is available for those who need it.

One of our most high`profile landowners is calling on the

government to do more to help manage the spread of the disease dashed my

back. He says must `` more money must be put into replanting existing

woodlands. The disease first emerged in 2012, research found that Kent if

the worst hit county in the UK, with East Sussex second. The latest

statistics revealed three quarters of all ashtrays in the south`east

could be affected in the next four years. The forestry commission has

issued guidance on how to deal with the problem.

Managing our woodland in the wake of ash dieback, the disease has arrived

this year here, and a new approach must be taken to preserve the other

tree species and what lies beneath them. We are on a side that was

coppice to 15 months ago, a mixed plantation, and we can see the

effects of the disease on this stock. The machine is removing not

the diseased trees, they will remain for monitoring purposes, but

Sycamore, an invasive species are not originally from Britain. It

casts a dense shade, it is a heavily seeding species, so what we are

worried about is it is shading out ancient woodland flora. The advice

is to replant areas with native species, but estate owner says

government funding to do this has been cut. Without that, we are going

to see perhaps in ten years the woodland will virtually be devoid of

light, and without light, there is no biodiversity. The government says

it is working to protect our woodlands, it is funding trials to

test for disease resistance. These trees were planted just over a year

ago, very lush, the infection is half a mile to our left, it is a

matter of time before the spores get blown here. Ultimately, the aim is

to find a tree that can survive the disease.

This is the top story. A last`ditch offer to buy Manston

Airport has been rejected as the airport closed its doors for good

this evening. There were tears as workers expressed their dismay. 144

staff finished for the last time today.

Also, Mr Turner, the biopic of the painter who loved Kent, debuts, we

will stick to the director and the star.

After another sunny day, will it stay this way for the weekend?

The closure of Manston Airport marks the end of almost a century of

aviation there. In 1916, it opened as a Royal Navy station, with early

by planes flying from the airstrip. During World War II, played a key

role in the defence of Britain, with Spitfires and Hurricanes based

there. It closed as an RAF base and opened as a civil aviation airport.

We can go back, this really is the end of an era? It would appear to be

so. When you joined me earlier, I was outside the terminal building,

which was opened 20 years ago, behind us here, part of the

airfield's history, they got from the Second World War. How

significant in British aviation history is this place? You have got

100 years of aviation history swept away. It was a Royal Navy will air

Station in the great War, and when the Royal flying Corps and the Royal

Navy joined together, and became an RAF base. Between the wars, it was

expanded, and it played a great part during the Battle of Britain, as did

the other Kent airport. And in the Cold War, as well close to the

potential theatre? Yes, that was during the jet even, but its main

purpose was to defend England. It is a sad day for you. Absolutely. Our

business correspondent, you have been following this all the way

through, all of the twists and turns, can we say why this deal

cannot go through, why Ann Gloag will not accept a bid? I have heard

this question so often, it is annoying and frustrating for the

protesters, they wanted to put Ann Gloag and Riveroak in a room. If

they could have done that, they might have got a deal. She was not

willing to negotiate, so we do not have a deal. It is fair to say that

this is not the end of the story, although today the airport has

closed, I have a feeling we will be back for more.

As the artist who described Thanet is having the loveliest skies in all

of Europe, the coastline inspired many of Turner's works and cemented

him as one of our greatest artists. A new film about him is premiering

in France this evening, and we have the report.

Sir John Sergeant! Turner! It is Mike Leigh's most expensive and

visually stunning film to date, we would expect no less for this, the

bio pic of Turner. It focuses on the last 25 years of his life, his time

in Margate and the relationship with his landlady. He is obviously a

great artist, you can research for a million years, but it does not make

him happen in front of the camera, you still have to create a

characterisation. You have to breathe flesh and blood into web.

More than 100 of his works were inspired by the East Kent coast. His

legacy lives on at the gallery in Margate. He said, the light above

Barnett, where market is, is amongst the most beautiful in Europe. He had

never been to the rest of the world, so he meant the world. There is

quite a buzz about the film here, it is the fifth time in competition for

Mike Leigh, he previously won in 1996. A win for Turner would be

another reason to celebrate Margate, and one of its cultural great. With

Mr Turner, Mike Leigh has every chance of repeating the success he

had with `` in 1996. People came here for the painters, for the

light, they put the festival here for that, and Margate is as ready

and in its light is here, so it is not that far. Good morning. Good

morning. We placed it in the anteroom. The film has been

described as a passion project for Mike Leigh, it seems appropriate

that our most submitted artist should be brought to life by one of

the greatest storytellers of our generation.

Those tough critics giving it the thumbs up. Yes, they are difficult

critics. You look at the opening film, Grace of Monaco, it was panned

by the critics, but this one has got the thumbs up. We could not be more

proud. If Turner was here today, this view is not quite Margate, but

it might inspire one of his paintings.

They have been moaning for nearly ten years, now the EU are back on a

new tour. Jenny eclair is back in the line`up, she will talk about

greying hair and sagging rias. They are on tonight in Tunbridge Wells.

What can we expect from the show? It is all about the unspoken joy of big

pants and things like that, a lack of good manners, and Olympic

masterclass in whingeing about the set of the world, and it began ten

years ago, it started off as a Christmas TV special, but it was so

popular, they turned it into a series, then it became a live show.

If you are the only person in your house that ever on stacks the

dishwasher... You are a grumpy old woman! The Perrier award winner,

jenny eclair! I feel like the first blonde in space! You may also like

to know that Patricia Mills is a hopeless alcoholic with a string of

Ripley relationships. How do you clean dead flies off your flapper?

What? I would try bleach, I would debate in bleach. I must the off!

You are one of the writers of the show, what makes you a grumpy old

woman? I was quite young, it started ten years ago, I got asked to do the

TV version, and I thought, how grumpy and my? This is a natural fit

would have gone live and global, and would have gone live and global, and

tonight in Tunbridge Wells, so that his exciting, and we are on our

third tour. Susie is a veteran, I have done all of the tours. Ahmed

Wellcome? Very welcome, we love men in the audience. They start off with

their arms folded and they end up rocking in the aisles. What is the

joy of great big pants? You have to come and see the show, because they

are demonstrated, and all three of us can fit into them, and we still

look sexy, so that is a triumph. We have to be careful about what we say

on live TV, because people are eating their tea. There is a reason

why big pants can save your life. Putting the picture of what we say

to people's minds is not what they want to hear! The show starts at

8pm. Allegedly, we are heading for a

heatwave! We have some fair weather cloud

earlier, but it has been staying dry, and bright. For tomorrow, the

temperatures will be climbing. Earlier, some fair weather cloud,

but for the most part, it was dry and bright. A fairly light breeze,

so it felt quite warm for the time of year. Tonight, any cloud will be

melting away but stopped with clearer skies and lighter winds, we

will see some mist and fog forming. A call start, and any mist and fog

will burn back quickly. For tomorrow, more of the same, clear

blue skies, and by the afternoon, the temperatures might tip over into

20 or 21. As we head towards the weekend, it will stay settled.

Through tomorrow night, more of the same. For Saturday and Sunday,

temperatures of 20 or 21, lots of sunshine.

That is it, we are back at 8pm and 10:25pm. Enjoy the sunny evening,

goodbye. at the European elections

on May the 22nd. even though that would wreck

the recovery and destroy jobs. The Conservatives

are now openly flirting with exit.