23/07/2012 Reporting Scotland

Welcome to Reporting Scotland. Tonight: As the excitement builds

for the London Olympics, Andy Murray gets to carry the Torch on a

day of double distinction for Scotland.

Sir Chris Hoy will carry the flag for Team GB.

To be able to lead your team out is a huge day. I have never been to an

Opening Ceremony before. Later in the programme: Back behind bars -

the naked rambler appears in court. Our rotten weather means rotten

strawberries. I will be reporting from the

Chinese city where one of Scotland's greatest Olympians was

born. Sir Chris Hoy has been named as

Team GB's flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics.

Four years ago, he carried the Union Jack at the Closing Ceremony.

Our reporter is at the Olympic Stadium for us tonight. How was he

chosen? Well, welcome to London 2012. This is the first time you

will be seeing us. Sir Chris Hoy was joined by his peers. All 542

team members of Team GB chose him. Scotland's greatest Olympian flying

the flag for sporting excellence. Four years ago it was the Beijing

Closing Ceremony. On Friday he has been chosen to lead the British

team into London's Olympic Stadium. It's a huge honour. I was delighted

when I heard yesterday and got the news. To billion able to lead your

team at any -- to be able to lead your team at any Olympics is a huge

deal. I have never been to an Olympic Opening Ceremony before.

This is quite a way to do it. Hoy is the Olympic gold medallist!

He's won three here and in three different races. Becoming the

Olympic flag bearer is extra special as he was voted for by

fellow athletes. The carry the flag is very emotional. It epitomises

what it is to be British. His is an extraordinary career. Chris Hoy has

competed in three Olympics from which he has brought home four

golds and Britain's new flag bearer has won 11 world titles.

fantastic choice. He helped us design the velodrome and hopefully

disappearing with a sack of medals from here! His honours aren't

confined to the cycling track. Knighted three years ago, it will

be Sir Chris Hoy at the head of the British team hoping to inspire and

lead by example. It wasn't just Chris Hoy who was

making the news today. Also Andy Murray and he is looking forward to

his second Olympic Games. Andy Murray was carrying the Olympic

Torch around Centre Court at Wimbledon with Venus Williams.

Murray is very much focused on taking part in his second Olympic

Games. This is not his first return to Centre Court since being beaten

in the Wimbledon final by Roger Federer. I went on a few days after

the final, I sat on the court for a little bit. It was nice coming back.

There was a good crowd there. very exciting. BBC Reporting

Scotland will be there with you every step of the way. The whole

team is coming down this week. We are looking forward to seeing Sir

Chris Hoy on Friday night in front of 80,000 people carrying the flag

for Team GB and we will be reporting all of the build-up until

then. The man known as the naked rambler has appeared in court again.

Stephen Gough was arrested on Friday by Fife Police and appeared

in the dock today - naked - and pleaded not guilty to a breach of

the peace. He is known for baring all but there was barely a glimpse

of the naked rambler as he arrived at court draped in a blanket and

waving to the media. He is accused of breach of the peace in

Dunfermline on Friday. It's claimed police received three public

complaints. When they approached Mr Gough he refused to cover himself

or to move on. He walked into Court 1 naked today. He appeared before

the Acting Sheriff. Mr Gough represented himself and he made no

plea for bail. Mr Gough was freed from Perth prison last week. Police

opted not to re-arrest him. The authorities must now find a new

approach. You are watching Reporting Scotland.

Still to come: The smouldering recycling dump that's been burning

for weeks. Why our strawberry farmers say the

bad weather has cost them over �10 million.

It is another day at Ibrox. We hear from one of Scotland's

Olympic gold medal hopes. A political row has broken out over

how much renewable energy will end up costing consumers. UK Government

plans to promote renewables have been criticised by a committee of

MPs. They warn that long-term contracts aimed at reducing the

risk for investors in wind, wave and tidal power will mean costs may

be passed on to householders. This village was one of the first

in the UK to run its own wind turbine to cut energy bills.

have put in a biomass heating system in the sports club. We have

provided free insulation for householders in the village. A

whole variety of different things to do with energy. On a day like

today, I don't need to remind you that Scotland has an abundance of

renewables. For renewables to realise potential on a large scale

is going to require massive investment and persuading energy

companies to do this hasn't proven easy. The UK's Business Secretary

was on a tour of a renewable plant this morning. He is proposing a

system of subsidies to reduce risk for investors. There are more

turbines in the North Sea than in any other parts of the world

developing wind technology. This can happen on a big scale. With it,

thousands of highly-skilled jobs in Scotland and the rest of the UK.

But the House of Commons Energy Committee says proposals for a new

Energy Bill are in danger of botching these plans because,

without Treasury backing, companies are unlikely to commit to the

levels of investment needed. Consumers are the ones who will be

suffering the most because what we don't know is there is a partner in

this somewhere. We don't know who this partner is. It should be the

Government. The Treasury have been particularly backwards in telling

us what they are doing. Most consumers face spiralling energy

bills. The annual bill is around �1,310 compared to �1,105 in 2010.

This is an increase of �205 or 18.6% over the last two years. The

Energy Committee says the Energy Bill needs a major rethink. The

Scottish Government says its priority is to work with the UK

Government to ensure energy reforms continue to support Scotland's

climate change targets. Tributes have been paid to a

grandmother killed in a crash in Aberdeenshire. Muriel Duffy, 73,

died after the collision on the A90 near Blackdog yesterday. One man

has been treated for life- threatening injuries.

Now, nothing says summer quite like strawberries and cream. Hand in

hand with our rotten summer is rotten fruit! The bad weather has

cost farmers up to �10 million. Our reporter is in Perthshire for us.

Not quite the bumper crop the fruit growers would have been hoping for?

No, that's right. It's been another miserable day here. For the fruit

growers, the bad weather has serious consequences. You would

expect people to be out there picking strawberries. Instead, the

only work that's been going on here has been the dismantling of the

poly-tunnels. The farmer has chosen to cut his losses for this field.

They are the taste of summer. Unfortunately, summer hasn't

arrived. Peter Thomson would expect these poly-tunnels to be full of

strawberry pickers. It is very depressing. We have put all the

work in over three years to get to this stage and we are not able to

pick it now we have done the work. There will be some people deciding

it is not worth carrying on growing strawberries. It is estimated that

the bad weather has cost the industry in Scotland �10 million

and there's a straightforward explanation. On a day like this,

when it is pouring with rain, it is difficult to sell soft fruit. When

the sun is shining, it is easy. People want strawberries. They sell

themselves. It has been hard going this summer. On a day when the

dispute over milk prices was near the top of the political agenda,

there was sympathy from soft fruit growers but also some exasperation.

At the moment, we are getting 30% less for our strawberries than we

were a year ago. I think that that figure has been in decline.

they can do is cut their costs for the lean times ahead and hope for

better weather. What can be done to improve the situation? People could

buy more strawberries. Perhaps understandably, the farmer I spoke

to today said that given the low price of strawberries they are

getting a particularly good deal. There is no doubt that the weather

plays a crucial part. This is the third or fourth bad summer the

fruit growers have had to face. Hopefully, there will be better

news for them when we get the forecast later.

The The eight regional forces have being merged to cut costs. The new

Chief Constable will take charge of what will be the second largest

force in the UK with more than 17,000 officers when it gets up and

running next April. ScotRail will launch a half-hourly

Sunday service on the Edinburgh- Glasgow route from September.

A distillery has been bought by a French drinks giant. It was re-

opened 12 years ago by a group of private investors.

The transport group Stagecoach has completed the purchase of parts of

the bus firm Coach America. A famous carved stone has been

returned to its traditional home in a graveyard on Mull. Historic

Scotland had removed the 500-year- old from the parish church due to

erosion. A new genetic test is being

developed which could help save the Scottish wildcat from extinction.

The blood test will allow the number of pure-bred wildcats to be

counted and inthro deuced into the breeding programme -- introduced

into the breeding programme. The opening day for Scotland's

newest entertainment venue has been announced. The Hydro will open for

business on September 2nd next year. It will be used for concerts and

other live shows and will seat 12,000 people.

There are more stories from your area on BBC Scotland's website.

Police investigating the theft of up to 50 laptop computers from

Glasgow City Council, some of which were used by elected members. Of

the 50 machines taken, 26 were used by councillors with all but three

encrypted. A fire at an Aberdeenshire

recycling plant is causing a headache for locals. It is still

smouldering more than four weeks on. Some locals say they are worried

about their health and one family is wearing protective face masks

when the smoke blows in their direction.

Hardly an inferno, but this fire involving around 500 tonnes of

woodchipings at a recycling plant has been burning for 29 days now.

The smell of smoke in the air is pun gent all around, but tests say

it is not dangerous. This man lives nearby. The smoke has been so bad

at times that he and his wife and daughter have donned face masks.

When it is blowing over here and we are surrounded by smoke, when it

turns wet, it turns into a thick smog. I felt it would be better to

make myself and my family put these masks on. These pictures were taken

several weeks ago. The owner of the plant tried to tackle the fire but

it was estimated one million gallons of water would be needed.

We regret any inconvenience to the neighbours. We are sorry there is a

smell of burning of woody material. It is under control. I think to let

it burn out has been a sound decision. The Environment Agency is

happy to let this smouldering pile of woodchips burn itself out. The

only problem is no-one knows how long that will take.

The Scottish Olympic hero Eric Liddell, who inspired Chariots of

Fire, is to be honoured in China. The city of Weifang is planning a

new museum featuring his story. Liddell, who won gold at the Paris

Games, spent most of his life in China.

In the city where Eric Liddell was born, his influence can still be

traced. This former pupil, now 86, has paid tribute by writing the

first biography of Liddell in Chinese. He was a nice teacher. He

was very kind to the people. He was very, very good teacher for me. He

was very, very - nobody can compare my former teacher. Liddell found

time for the sport that made him famous. Eric Liddell helped design

this athletics stadium and won one of his last gold medals on this

track. They are taking this place apart piece by piece to make way

for a commercial development in fast-changing China. When the

stadium's gone, Liddell will not be forgotten. The children of another

city, Weifang, are taught about Liddell in the school built on the

site of the camp where he was held prisoner in World War Two. He was a

good guy? He was a good guy. He is remembered for making internment

bearable for many. Liddell taught the children to live with spirit,

live with passion. There is an exhibition telling Liddell's story

and the building where he died is to become a larger museum including

a reconstruction of his prison room. It's Weifang's way of honouring the

Scottish Olympian who dedicated his life to helping others in China.

You can see more in Eric Liddell: A Champion's Life on BBC Two Scotland

at 10.00pm tonight. Alasdair has the latest sport now.

Brian Kennedy released a statement this morning. In that statement he

said he has made a bid of �5.6 million for a controlling stake at

Rangers, a bid that he said was rejected back in June and he said

he has been in negotiations with people at Ibrox. Charles Green

released a statement a few hours ago saying he has never received

any offer from Brian Kennedy and he's not interested in selling a

controlling stake. Kennedy was last seen when his bid was rejected back

when Charles Green's bid was favoured by the administrators Duff

& Phelps. Rangers were still in negotiations with the SFA for

membership and the Stan-off between them and the SPL continues. SPL are

looking for Rangers' media rights and Rangers are looking for the SPL

to drop their investigation into dual contracts.

The only Scottish boxer heading to London 2012 says gold would make up

for the disappointment of winning silver at the Commonwealth Games.

Josh Taylor was reduced to tears after missing out on the top prize

in deli two years ago. Last time it was silver, it wasn't

good enough. This time it has to be gold. Josh Taylor is on a mission.

I want to win. He is one of British boxing's brightest prospects and he

hates losing. If I got beat as a kid, I would throw the board.

Taylor won silver in deli two years ago. -- Delhi two years ago.

don't want to feel that disappointment again. I don't want

to feel like a loser again. I want to be a winner. It is more than 50

years since a Scottish boxer medalled at the Olympics. Josh

Taylor is pulling out all the stops to change that. I have a taste for

it. Josh Taylor, World Champion, Josh Taylor, European Champion, on

a bit of paper. Josh Taylor Olympic Champion... We will find out soon

enough whether Josh's notes are accurate.

The London Olympics dominate the sporting horizon. But it is two

years until Glasgow hosts the 2014 Commonwealth Games. To mark the

occasion, competitors past and present got a first glimpse of the

developing athletes' village in the city's East End and a former

Olympic hockey star is certain Glasgow will host a Games to

remember. As soon as the Closing Ceremony finishes, the athletes'

attention will turn towards Glasgow. It is a massive event for the

athletes. To have it on the home turf will be a big experience.

is all the sport tonight. Here, it couldn't get any worse,

could it? Today has probably been could it? Today has probably been

the wettest day of the week! Good evening. That July sunshine was

pretty hard to come by north of the border today. We have had a band of

rain draped across the country. The picture for this evening is that

rain will sink southwards. That does mean a decent end to the day.

For central and southern Scotland, it stays cloudy and damp.

Temperature-wise, we stay on the mild side. Winds will ease down,

too. Tomorrow, it is a decent start to the day for the northern half of

the country. From the central belt southwards, it is a different story

- cloudy with outbreaks of rain once again.

Once again, the best of the drier and brighter conditions will be

over the Northern And west rn Isles. Light -- and Western Isles. Light

winds tomorrow. Through the rest of the afternoon, that rain sinks

southwards once again. So that rain retreats and on Wednesday high

pressure builds in across the country. It is looking like the

Pick of the Week in terms of drier and brighter weather. On the whole,

it is looking fine and dry. For Thursday, rain returns to

southern Scotland. For the bulk of southern Scotland. For the bulk of

the country, it is looking decent. Thank you. Now, a summary of the

top stories: Jacques Rogge, the President of the International

Olympic Committee, said he had a simple message - he is confident