:00:00. > :00:08.Today's main headlines in the south-east:
:00:09. > :00:10.Driver-only operated trains are safe says a new report,
:00:11. > :00:13.as direct talks are agreed between the Government and the RMT Union.
:00:14. > :00:16.Controversy as Dreamland Amusement park is to borrow up to ?10 million
:00:17. > :00:41.After a sunny winter's day it is a frosty nights to come.
:00:42. > :00:45.It's been a day of rapid developments in the bitter dispute
:00:46. > :00:48.between Southern rail and the unions with just days to go before
:00:49. > :00:53.At 11 o'clock the Office of Road and Rail issued
:00:54. > :00:55.a report confirming - for a second time -
:00:56. > :00:57.that Southern's driver-only operated trains do meet legal requirements
:00:58. > :01:01.At midday Sussex MP Huw Merriman called for new laws to be
:01:02. > :01:03.introduced, to prevent the RMT and Aslef from calling
:01:04. > :01:11.And at just before 2pm this afternoon, the RMT
:01:12. > :01:14.agreed to direct talks with
:01:15. > :01:16.the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.
:01:17. > :01:21.Could rail strikes like this soon be banned?
:01:22. > :01:24.One Sussex MP is threatening action against the unions if they do not
:01:25. > :01:26.accept today's report that, in principle, driver-only
:01:27. > :01:34.If the unions do not come to their senses on the back of this
:01:35. > :01:37.very detailed report which shows the driver-only operated technology
:01:38. > :01:40.is safe on Southern, that is what the unions asked for,
:01:41. > :01:43.if they are not willing to accept that is the end of the matter
:01:44. > :01:46.and the only conclusion that counts, then I think we will need
:01:47. > :01:52.Southern wants more of its drivers to operate the train doors,
:01:53. > :01:57.The unions argue the quality of the images is poor,
:01:58. > :02:02.but today's report states CCTV quality was varied but adequate.
:02:03. > :02:05.Inspectors did identify stations when lighting,
:02:06. > :02:08.foliage or overcrowding could obstruct the driver's view,
:02:09. > :02:10.but the report concludes there were some clear safety
:02:11. > :02:16.benefits compared to the traditional approach using a guard or conductor.
:02:17. > :02:23.If you have the right equipment, competent staff and the right
:02:24. > :02:27.processes and procedures, driver-only operation
:02:28. > :02:33.The unions say the report is a whitewash.
:02:34. > :02:36.It calls into question the integrity of the regulator and it leads us
:02:37. > :02:39.to believe that there is no safety body left in this country
:02:40. > :02:41.that is not under the influence of the train companies
:02:42. > :02:47.There is a difference between a three-car train in 1986
:02:48. > :02:50.or 1990 with the volume of passengers that we then
:02:51. > :02:52.were running, and running 12-car trains with 1100 people on them,
:02:53. > :02:55.with 30-people-deep on the platform where you can't really
:02:56. > :03:00.But the passengers are the ones suffering.
:03:01. > :03:07.If you work for the public sector you already by definition usually
:03:08. > :03:10.If they are not good enough for you just change
:03:11. > :03:13.I think the concerns are legitimate of the unions.
:03:14. > :03:16.Trains are already running driver-only and there seems to be
:03:17. > :03:18.no problems with it, so it seems to me it's
:03:19. > :03:20.more of a political issue than a safety one.
:03:21. > :03:22.It may have been a day of significant developments,
:03:23. > :03:26.but next week's three-day driver strike is still on.
:03:27. > :03:33.Jon, there have been more political developments tonight.
:03:34. > :03:40.Pressure is mounting on Chris Grayling, the Transport Secretary,
:03:41. > :03:43.pressure from the public, pressure from his own MPs and from the
:03:44. > :03:53.opposition, some even suggest his position could be in jeopardy. One
:03:54. > :03:57.Labour MP Paul me tonight -- told me tonight passengers are nearing
:03:58. > :04:03.breaking point and the risk to Chris Grayling is not necessarily from
:04:04. > :04:05.within his own party but a public story, tragedy, even that could go
:04:06. > :04:09.straight to Chris Grayling's door. straight to Chris Grayling's door.
:04:10. > :04:14.But conservative Huw Merriman says he has the full support of his MPs
:04:15. > :04:15.and his position is not at risk than he is doing a good job, he says.
:04:16. > :04:19.Thank you. And we're broadcasting
:04:20. > :04:23.a special debate about You'll be able to watch that
:04:24. > :04:27.on Monday the 9th of January The troubled Thanet amusement park,
:04:28. > :04:31.Dreamland, has been given the go ahead to borrow up to ?10 million
:04:32. > :04:33.from a hedge-fund based The investment's being made
:04:34. > :04:39.as an attempt to keep Dreamland opened 18 months ago
:04:40. > :04:43.after a major restoration project and has struggled to generate cash
:04:44. > :04:45.from paying visitors. A financial expert has called
:04:46. > :04:48.the new loan "very concerning" for a business "that has always
:04:49. > :04:50.looked very weak". Dreamland opened with a lot
:04:51. > :04:58.of public money invested - ?18 million by Thanet council,
:04:59. > :05:00.including ?6 million from the
:05:01. > :05:04.Heritage Lottery Fund. But the private operators could not
:05:05. > :05:06.attract enough visitors and went into administration and are
:05:07. > :05:10.now relying on a big loan for It is a long way from
:05:11. > :05:15.the original vison of the park being run by a not-for-profit
:05:16. > :05:18.organisation. Now that we have got Arrowgrass
:05:19. > :05:21.investing ?10 million, that means it is likely that those
:05:22. > :05:25.profits will not find their way back Dreamland opened in June 2015
:05:26. > :05:32.after an ?18 million But by last August
:05:33. > :05:38.the operator's owed creditors ?8 million and now
:05:39. > :05:41.the administrators say a loan of up to 9.9 million will be used
:05:42. > :05:43.to invest in the site to get
:05:44. > :05:48.it ready for sale. Looking at the size and value
:05:49. > :05:51.of the business and the size of the loan,
:05:52. > :05:54.it does seem out of proportion, will have to be asked
:05:55. > :06:01.as to what the overall thrust and idea of this business
:06:02. > :06:03.proposition will be. Arrowgrass refused to comment,
:06:04. > :06:05.but supporters of Dreamland It is a significant milestone
:06:06. > :06:09.in the life of Dreamland. We know that Dreamland needs a lot
:06:10. > :06:12.more investment, it would always be We know the lease
:06:13. > :06:15.protects its life as a Heritage amusement park
:06:16. > :06:18.so we think it is a good thing. Mixed views in Margate
:06:19. > :06:19.on whether more It has had its day and
:06:20. > :06:28.it is time to move on. This is the tiny little lifeline
:06:29. > :06:32.we have, so let's give it our all, Thanet Council said it was aware
:06:33. > :06:35.administrators were working with investors to secure
:06:36. > :06:42.the future of the park. Our reporter Piers
:06:43. > :06:44.Hopkirk is in Margate. It's long been a part
:06:45. > :07:02.of regeneration plans there Piers, I think this investment from some
:07:03. > :07:09.questions over the future of Dreamland. Does this company want to
:07:10. > :07:14.make an investment or half an eye to taking over the running of the park,
:07:15. > :07:19.Arrowgrass? They would not answer any of our questions tonight. As to
:07:20. > :07:23.the long-term economic viability of the park, they tell us since they
:07:24. > :07:28.change the developing strategy visitor numbers are up but if it
:07:29. > :07:33.ceased to be keirin -- ceased to become economic revival would be
:07:34. > :07:35.land be handed over to house in? Thanet District Council tells us
:07:36. > :07:37.that simply will not happen. And it's emerged that up to 34
:07:38. > :07:40.new wind turbines could be built off Margate as part of plans to extend
:07:41. > :07:43.the Thanet offshore windfarm. Owners Vattenfall say
:07:44. > :07:45.the new turbines would be taller than the 100 that already exist,
:07:46. > :07:48.potentially almost After two homeless people
:07:49. > :07:52.were found dead on the streets of Chatham over Christmas,
:07:53. > :07:56.charities are warning there could be further deaths in Kent this winter
:07:57. > :08:01.unless more help is provided Medway Council currently provides
:08:02. > :08:05.shelters when temperatures drop below zero for three consecutive
:08:06. > :08:06.nights. Tributes line the doorway
:08:07. > :08:17.where the homeless man, Michael McCluskey, was found
:08:18. > :08:20.on Christmas eve morning. His daughter, who did not
:08:21. > :08:23.want to appear on camera, says more emergency shelter should
:08:24. > :08:25.have been made available. I hope the council pull their finger
:08:26. > :08:28.out and do something about it because I do not want it be someone
:08:29. > :08:31.else's dad or grandad Because it is not nice
:08:32. > :08:35.to think your dad was lying there while people were walking
:08:36. > :08:37.past him in the street. Medway Council only open shelters
:08:38. > :08:39.when temperatures have fallen to zero for three consecutive
:08:40. > :08:42.nights, but people I have spoken to say communication has been
:08:43. > :08:45.so poor there is no way of knowing when they are open or
:08:46. > :08:47.even getting to them. I tweeted the council
:08:48. > :08:50.in November and said to them, And they said, "We take our guidance
:08:51. > :08:58.from the "Met Office," instead of just sticking their head outside
:08:59. > :09:03.and going, "Oh, my God, Just days after Michael McCluskey
:09:04. > :09:07.was discovered police were called to the death of another homeless man
:09:08. > :09:10.in the next street. They've got to wait three
:09:11. > :09:12.consecutive nights for it to fall below zero before
:09:13. > :09:15.they will put them somewhere. Charities say the system is failing
:09:16. > :09:25.those in desperate need. So that whenever somebody goes
:09:26. > :09:28.for help they get help. They get help to prevent
:09:29. > :09:31.homelessness or if they become homeless they get emergency
:09:32. > :09:33.assistance into accommodation or They need to come down and speak
:09:34. > :09:38.to people and see how bad it is. Currently we have got to prove
:09:39. > :09:41.to them we're homeless. With numbers of rough
:09:42. > :09:46.sleepers up 30% in the year, many say emergency provision is now
:09:47. > :09:54.needed more than ever. We'll have the national
:09:55. > :09:59.weather in a moment, first here's the forecast
:10:00. > :10:09.for the south-east with Rachel. Good evening. It has been a crisp
:10:10. > :10:13.winter's day with temperatures struggling to get above three
:10:14. > :10:19.Celsius and through tonight we hold onto those clear skies and
:10:20. > :10:24.temperatures once again plummet. Slightly milder on the coast. The
:10:25. > :10:29.main change tomorrow is we start the day with some stubborn mist and fog.
:10:30. > :10:34.Eventually through tomorrow evening we will see rain but for others in
:10:35. > :10:39.the south-east corner we should be mostly dry. Misty and 40 frosty
:10:40. > :10:44.first thing but some sunshine in the middle part of the day. More cloud
:10:45. > :10:51.in the afternoon and added as temperatures slightly milder than
:10:52. > :10:55.today. Those winds back to the south-westerly direction, picking up
:10:56. > :10:57.through tomorrow night. Much milder toward the weekend. Outbreaks of
:10:58. > :11:03.rain for Friday into Saturday. creeping up by a notch or two, 10,
:11:04. > :11:11.maybe nine Celsius. Here is Louise with the national picture.
:11:12. > :11:18.Won't it cold and frosty this morning? The coldest night of the
:11:19. > :11:23.winter so far in England. Down to minus 8 Celsius. But widely, the
:11:24. > :11:27.temperatures below freezing. Through the night, cloud and rain, so
:11:28. > :11:28.temperatures for many holding up above