22/08/2012 Reporting Scotland

Welcome to Reporting Scotland. Tonight, the people of Aberdeen

voted for it but tonight, councillors reject controversial

plans to transform the city centre. The city garden project might dead

and I would draw on a pledge of �50 million. Also, bigger loans for

Scottish students. More money is made available for students getting

degrees. The Paralympic torch at the some -- at the summit of Ben

Nevis. And he is the fastest in the Velodrome, but today, Sir Chris Hoy

took to the sky in an RAF jet fighter. It was incredible. It is

hard to put into words what it feels like when you are up there.

It is something I will never forget. Fear the plans that divided A City,

incurred the wrath of a pop star and involved a donation of �50

million from one of Scotland's richest men. But today, the

transformation of Union Terrace Gardens took another twist. Within

the last hour, councillors have voted against the project. It is

not often a building project becomes such high drama. No, there

was drama indeed in the Chamber of Aberdeen Town House behind me when

councillors eventually narrowly rejected the city garden project

scheme. The 140 million pound project that would have transformed

the Union Terrace Gardens in the heart of the city. The majority of

councillors decided the money was too risky. This overturns a

decision taken in a referendum in March when a majority of

Aberdonians voted in favour of a scheme. The oil and gas tycoon who

pledged money of his own has withdrawn his offer, saying he is

dismayed and disappointed and that the queues of Aberdonians have been

sidelined. Opposition councillors believe many Aberdonians would be

able to trust the authority ever again. We have made a difficult

decision. The gesture from Sir Ian Wood was buried generous but we

have to make difficult decisions for the city. We are sending out a

signal that we have no coverage, we have no vision, there is no

leadership in the council. -- no courage. We have spent years

developing this long-term plan but at the point of getting these

things off the ground, today's decision, in my mind, sets us back

10 or 15 years. Members of Aberdeen's business community are

not happy. Yes, Stewart one of the business who supported the project.

He said he believed the project would solve Aberdeen's image of

being on welcoming -- being unwelcoming and dark. Tonight, the

various groups against the city garden product are delighted at the

Other developments in Edinburgh, the city Council is setting up a

forum of local people and Business leaders to help make future

decisions on its transport policy. It follows the controversy over the

tram lines. It is expected to have a say over a range of transport

issues and members will be consulted about extending the

tramline. Students had to university and amounts to their

hopes and dreams, money is also likely to figure highly in their

thoughts. While you don't pay fees to attend university, there is a

huge cost to getting a degree. Rent, clothes, food, books, the list goes

on. At the moment, the parents' income decides how much students

can borrow but that is set to change. What are the main changes?

From this time next year, Scottish students will be able to get a

student loan of �4,500 a year. At the moment, students from better

off families get a maximum loan of �940. That is a significant

increase. What about students from lower income families? They are

less likely to go to university. They will be able to borrow a

little bit more. The student will be able to get a loan of �5,500.

And a bursary or grant of �1,750. That is actually �870 more than

they will have this year. But that is money they will have to pay back.

Their loan goes up, they grant goes down so bigger debts but more money

in their pockets. I am told that by giving away less money in grants,

the government has more money to lend out to students in loans and

as we see there, poorer students can borrow that bit more.

biggest barrier to higher education is the ability to afford it. If

there are financial barriers, financial -- students fall into

using credit cards etc, the drop- out rate rises. It is bad for the

country. This will lead to a better uptake, more consistency in that

uptake and a better result for individuals. When will it all have

to be paid back? The same rules apply. Once a student is at work

and earning �15,795, that is when they will start repaying. If you

have a teenager heading off to university this year and you have

had trouble getting through to the Student Awards Agency, they are

having problems but they had to have it fixed by tomorrow. Still to

come, how the wet summer is taking its toll on our honey bees and the

industries that depend on them. And in sport, Gleneagles, why does

everyone's mind seemed to be on another competition? Can -- and a

silver-medallist is back in his home town aiming to inspire another

generation of Olympians. We all remember the journey of the Olympic

torch not so long ago. Today, the Paralympic flame began its journey

from Scotland. The torchbearers didn't make it easy for themselves.

Craig Anderson is at the foot of Britain's highest mountain, Ben

Nevis. The Olympic flame itself is created from the rays of the Sun in

Greece at Mount Olympus. Little chance of that here today. As you

can see, there is credential -- torrential rain here. The Olympic

flame has travelled around the UK, there was huge enthusiasm for that.

The organisers of the Paralympics are keen to retain that sense of

occasion. There were four separate flames created in England, Northern

Ireland, Wales and Scotland. It meant an early start for all

involved. Six in the morning, and a group of scouts and mountaineers

set off to scale Ben Nevis. A climb of 4 1/2 1,000 feet. -- 4,500 feet.

The walk up wasn't too bad. There won't be any risky things. While it

may not be rock climbing, anyone who has tackled the UK's highest

mountain knows it is a long trudge to the top where conditions are

rarely ideal from -- for sparking up a fire from scratch. It was

pretty difficult. The wind was blowing. Luckily, there was no rain.

But there was fog so everything was damp and mice. But we eventually

got it going. As the group completed their trek several hours

later, they were weary but belated. It was so hard. I have never felt

so much pain in my life. It was amazing. So many people have given

us so much attention and have told us how privileged we are. We really

feel that. It was a challenge. The lantern was filling up with water

at one point. But we got back successfully down with the flame.

Edinburgh also put on a show today. The main celebrations there will

come at the weekend. But the flame for the London Paralympics is now

well and truly on its way. As I said, he claimed heads down to

Edinburgh. On Sunday, they will be a celebration. The torch will go to

Glasgow. And from there, it will go to Stoke Mandeville Hospital. It is

the home of the Paralympics. There, the four flames from around the UK

will be brought together before they head to the opening ceremony

of the Paralympics in London next week. The Perth-based energy firm

SSE is increasing its prices by an average of 9% in October. Poppy

which trades as Scottish Hydro blames the increases on rising

costs in energy wholesale markets. The increase means customers with

an average standard dual fuel bills will pay around �100 extra a year.

A court has heard that a 25-year- old man accused of murder had

previously offered to plead guilty to the culpable homicide of his 76-

year-old man. Christopher Grenfell's defence QC said he

wanted to accept responsibility for the death of James Simpson at an

earlier court hearing. A panel of experts set up by Labour, the

Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to come up with an

alternative independent referendum question has published its findings.

The panel says it's a version is unbiased and will lead to a

decisive result. Our political correspondent joins us. What is

this alternative question? It is not so much a question as a

statement. If this panel get their way, voters will go into the

polling booths in autumn of 2014 and on the ballot paper will be

these words. Scotland should become an independent state. Voters will

then be invited to tick a box to say I agree all tick a box which

says I do not agree. Compare that with the Scottish government's

preferred question which is, do you agree that Scotland should be an

independent country? The two sound quite similar but critics of the

SNP say their version tends towards a yes answer because Peter --

people instinctively want to agree with things whereas the panel of

experts would rather you consider the issues around dependence before

deciding whether to Becketts or not in the ballot paper. Has there been

any reaction from the government? The main opposition party leaders

have written to Alex Salmond with these findings. The Scottish

government say he will reply in due course. He made it clear at the

beginning of the year when he launched the consultation that he

believes his version of the question is fair, will lead to a

result and that will be the form of words which will end up on the

ballot paper. Separate to that, I think the SNP will be happy with

the findings because they did use words like separatism or breaking

up words. -- they do not use words like separatism or pricking up

words. George Galloway has been sacked by a political magazine

after making comments about rape. He spoke about the Julian Assange

who is battling extradition to Sweden on sexual assault charges.

Mr Galloway said the allegations and that took no more than bad

sexual etiquette. The editor said the remarks have let her gob

Let us get some of the other stories from across Scotland.

A family on Shetland had a lucky escape when flash floods sent

hundreds of tons of heat pouring down a hillside. There, and Land

Rover were swept away. It was just like a lava flow. It was coming

down the hill. It was like chocolate sauce, coming down, and

it hit the back door or and came in inside the house. When I came

downstairs, it was about six inches deep.

A task force set up to safeguard jobs at Hall's has been meeting to

discuss the company's future. Its owners were warned in July it could

be forced to close the site with the loss of 1,700 jobs.

Researchers at Strathclyde University say they up have

succeeded in treating two forms of skin cancer during Laboratory tests

using green tea. An extract from the police had no effective when

taken as a drink, but when applied directly to the tumours, it shrank

them. And almost blind photographer is

mounting a second solo exhibition of his work and once again every

picture features his garden shed. Norman Taylor has taken hundreds of

pictures of the shed in all weathers and in every conceivable

condition. I took around 2000 images of the shed. A lot of them

are offered the same part of the shed.

A hunt is on for a rare scarlet bird which has escaped from

Edinburgh Zoo. It made a bid for freedom after a squirrel not a hole

in its cage. Keepers fear it could be attacked by creditors.

There are more stories from your area and more news 24 hours a day

on our website. He is one of the fastest men on two

wheels, but today Olympic Champion Sir Chris Hoy took to the controls

of a jet which can travel at twice the speed of sound. The six-times

gold medallist flew from the RAF Leuchars airbase in five on board

at-it combat aircraft. He is fast and he is about to go much faster.

Sir Chris Hoy swapping a pair of wheels for a pair of wings. The RAF

were taking great care of our most successful Olympian. A quick check

that he was happy and it was time to roll. Minutes later, he was

hurtling down the runway and straight on up. That is Sir Chris

Hoy away now reaching for the sky. He will be flying at twice the

speed of sound and he is heading to the Orkney Islands. He could be

there within 15 minutes. Two weeks ago, he was winning his Sikh gold

medal at the Velodrome. In skies above London, RAF typhoons were

providing air cover. Here, he was safely back on the ground. He

looked like he had enjoyed himself. It was the most incredible

experience. It was very hard to put into words what it feels like when

you are up there. I went flat out and then went vertical and climbed.

It is a bit different to the flight I am used to. What did the pilot

make of his passenger? He was a bit of a natural. If he ever fancies

doing something different in the future, we might have a place for

him here. He has enjoyed some unforgettable moments in recent

weeks, but this he said it was another one of those.

Time for sport now. Good evening. For the next four days, Gleneagles

will be at the heart of world golf. The Johnnie Walker championship

starts tomorrow but that is not the only reason it is the focus of

attention. Our golf reporter is there now. What is so unusual about

this tournament? Normally on the eve of an event like this we would

be speaking about what may unfold over the next four days and who

might win here at the 18th. Instead, all the talk around Gleneagles is

about the Ryder Cup. The usual sights and sounds ahead of the Big

tee off. There fine-tuning their game, but events this week have

been somewhat overshadowed. This is a last chance for players to shine

ahead of the European Ryder Cup team announcement next week. At

chance for the course to show us what it can do, a newly redesigned

course after some heavy criticism from star players. They have

improved it an awful lot and spent a lot of money. They have made a

few changes. I think it is certainly going to be much more

exciting than it has been in the past. Of course in this man can

relax. He is already safely in the team. It's good to see a fellow

Scot doing well. He is confirmed now. It is great to see. I think he

will be a great asset for the team. It is almost easy to forget that

there is a tournament here to play for, but there is an this man is

hoping to defend the title. Like any other tournament, you go out

and try to win. It is nice to be back in a venue were you have good

memories. He is a vice captain for next month's Ryder Cup. Guess what

everyone wants to speak to him about? Of course, I am sure that

will change as soon as we get under way tomorrow morning at 7:30am. The

other thing to tell you about, the weather forecast. Tomorrow it is

meant to be dry, but I am afraid the rain will hit us a for the rest

of the time. If you are coming here, take the waterproofs and if you

have a spare set, take one for me as well.

Neil Lennon may have seen the last of Celtic milk -- midfielder Ki

Sung Yeung. He will travel to Wales to finalise his transfer to Swansea

City. His soon-to-be former team- mates are back home or farming the

Champions League qualifier win over Helsingborg in Sweden. But the

group stage beckoning, the Celtic manager Neil Lennon could yet add

to his squad. It is not a necessity. I am pretty happy with the squad.

If there is an opportunity to improve it, we will try to.

We have heard from one Scottish Olympic hero already in the

programme, so you if you have just tuned in you have missed Sir Chris

Hoy. Another Olympian was back in Scotland today. Michael Jamieson

who won silver in the 200m breaststroke was in his home town

of Glasgow with a whole host of chums to encourage more young

people to take up swimming. Well, it is the British swimming heroes

tour, so I guess we can play the been Shia. -- theme it June. Here

is the star attraction. Hang on, where is his mental? A you used to

carrying it around? A I have barely had it off for the last few weeks.

I am hoping to inspire some youngsters to swimmer. Hopefully,

we can continue this interest and enthusiasm up and tell the

Commonwealth Games and the Hon. medals today for Michael although

he did give the opposition a bit of a head start. OK, if you are hoping

to beat a silver medallist you are going to have to learn how to do

interviews afterwards. How does it feel to be someone - a good to meet

someone who has won an Olympic medal? And I am delighted. Michael

Jamieson was not the only one is sowing the seeds of inspiration

today. Any stars of the future? have been a few girls and boys who

had been very good. Hopefully, they will go back to their parks and try

it out. Now the synchronised swimming is not for everyone.

I would have been much better if I had had my bathing costume on.

Christopher will be here with the weather in the moment, but as it is

mainly cold and wet summer has not been enough to dampen our spirits

it has also led to a sharp drop in Scotland's bee population. It is

not only hitting honey production but also taking its toll on

Scotland's orchards and other industries. This wet weather is

getting us all down, no matter how busy we are. Ian Craig has been

keeping bees since he was a boy and his cool -- and this summer has

halved his crop this summer. The it is the pollination aspect. If the

bees are not there to pollinate the crops, there will be a percentage

drop. The crops will still yield, but with the bees, they will yield

more and that is the important thing. This is a relatively new

orchard in East Lothian and represent an investment of tens of

thousands of pounds. Despite all the money and the hard work, if you

do not get these here, you do not get apples, because you needed the

bees to come here and pollinate the blossom and it will turn into

apples. The lack of bees and apples is starting to affect business.

Like this cider maker in Dunbar, it is a new business and it is hard

enough to break through without the weather holding you back. 2012 got

off to a cracking start, very warm weather, but then after that, the

bottom got knocked off the trees with the high winds and a

unseasonably cold weather. That has not been very good for the

population and not good for the apple crop. If there are any apples

on the trees, they are not getting that late summer summit to ripen

them and let us to our staff. are now calls for growers to do

everything they can to protect their trees and future Scottish

apple crops. As for the Bees, experts are hoping they will work

that bit harder this autumn and be ready for the hopefully drier and

Hello there. Let us start with a story of showers and has some are

it - at some times you get a deluge. You may have seen the pictures last

night were we saw 64 mm of rain because a showers stayed overhead.

That is almost one a month's work. In the north, there was less than

one millimetre over the same period of time. Today has been a bad day

of sunshine and showers and away from the showers, it was quite

pleasant in the sunshine. There have been some hefty showers

particularly in the north-west. Over the next few hours, though

showers will start to fade away particularly across the mainland,

but in the North West, it they will stay and at times across Orkney and

Shetland. Tonight will have clear skies with some mist and fog.

Temperatures around to eight or nine degrees. Elsewhere it will

stick into double figures. In the Far North and West, showers and a

small bridge of high pressure which means things will be reasonably

settled and some dry and bright conditions around. Heading through

the day, that cloud will head inwards at turning the sunshine

hazy and the showers will get going. Fairly light and infrequent

compared with today. Temperatures around 17 degrees, but in the

sunshine in the north, temperatures around 19 or 20 degrees. The rest

of the afternoon into the evening we turn our attention away from

showers and towards rain and in the south it is gathering with cloud as

well. That is part of an area of low pressure which is sitting out

in the Atlantic at the moment and will work its way in as the head

overnight into Friday. It will cross the country bringing cloud

and outbreaks of rain. Rain will be off and on and it will be fairly

cloudy and damp. As we head towards the weekend, that area of low

pressure will stay with us and it will be rather cloudy and damp

across much of the country. As it moves away as we head towards

Sunday, it will become drier and brighter, but it will be cool.

Thank you. Let us get a summary of tonight's top stories. Tony

Nicklinson who last week lost his legal battle to allow a doctor to

end his life has died. He was paralysed from the neck down since

suffering a stroke. Councillors and Aberdeen have drawn

up plans to build a �140 million project at Union Terrace Gardens.

The decision means the decision to...