25/01/2016 Reporting Scotland

again. So, a lot going on. That is all from us. Now for the news where

Safety on the West Coast railway line.

A high-speed train was allowed to cross this viaduct,

Rail accident investigators are scrutinising what they call

As the Scottish Parliament prepares to take on new powers to set taxes,

the Conservatives call for a new middle-income tax band.

We hear from the driver of this car, hit by a landslip at The Rest.

And Be Thankful as the government promises extra cash for the Argyll

It was only when ever I was outside the car, I realised I was facing the

cliff and was able to look back and see that my car was badly damaged.

We'll be examining what can be done to fix the A83.

Andy Murray wraps it up in straight sets.

Andy Murray overcomes problems off the court to get through to the last

And I am out and about as the winter watch gets under way in the

It's been revealed that a train was allowed to cross

the Lamington Viaduct in South Lanarkshire at high-speed

after the bridge had suffered serious storm damage

Rail accident investigators are now scrutinising what they call

Our transport correspondent, David Miller, has more.

This is as close as we can take you to the viaduct today but work goes

on to repair the badly damaged structure. Just how serious an

incident was this? We will have to wait for the investigators report

before we can answer that with any degree of certainty but we do

already have a much more detailed understanding of what happened here

on the morning of the 31st of December. At 7:35am a train driver

reported a dip in the track. A speed restriction was introduced

until maintenance staff At 840 engineers observed unusual

track movement and reconstruction was imposed again. The visitor, the

line was closed to all trains after the engineers spotted a large crack

in one of the piers supporting the bridge. Days of heavy rainfall

leading up to Hogmanay had resulted in record water levels on this

stretch of the River Clyde. The force of the water caused what is

known as scour damage. The bridge and the piers are subject to an

annual inspection regime that involves the use of divers and the

last time they went down last year, there was no suggestion of any scour

damage. The investigators will want to know why a train travelling at

high speed was among those allowed to cross after the alarm was first

raised. That is when the already damaged bridge would have been under

the greatest stress. The speed limit on the section of the line is 120

macro. -- 120 mph. Scotland should create a new middle

band for income tax, according to a report

from a commission set up The Scottish Parliament will have

new powers to set income tax The report also outlines other

policies for business Our political editor,

Brian Taylor, can explain more. The Scottish Parliament is well used

to talking about spending. But from next year, MSPs

will control all income tax rates That forward thinking will play

a huge part in this year's Holyrood Today's report goes

beyond income tax. The commission set up by the Tories

wants a reformed council tax, a freeze on business rates

and the eventual scrapping of the Land and Buildings

Transaction Tax for residential The commission wants a new midway

30p rate so that aspirational families don't jump too abruptly

into upper rates. There should be no increase

in the top rate. In general, Scottish taxes shouldn't

be higher than elsewhere in the UK. What the evidence tells us is if

taxes are too high, but will hold back the growth of the Scottish

economy so we need to design a tax regime that will be fair to

everybody but will actually produce the tax revenues in the future. I

think we have done that but it is over to the politicians to decide

how exactly will implement that kind of philosophy. The commission says

the economy is already fundable through remoteness from markets and

does not need higher taxes. The Conservative leader agrees. The

commission is clear, they want Scotland to be competitive and to

grow the Scottish economy and in order to do that we should not have

taxes higher than the rest of the UK and if and when affordable, we

should endeavour to try to lower the tax burden on people. I would agree

with that and Honda %. The other parties, only the Labour leader has

set out early thinking on tax. Plans include restoring the 50p tax rate

for those earning more than ?150,000 per year.

The SNP are looking at that but already I hear

Would a 50p rate raise be enough to make it worthwhile?

Might top earners simply register for tax elsewhere in the UK?

What would it signal about Scotland being open for business?

We don't have long to wait for the answers.

All the parties will set out their plans in detail before

Police are continuing their search for a gunman who shot a Glasgow

shopkeeper in the leg yesterday morning.

The 23-year-old victim is said to be in a stable condition

after he was shot at a convenience store in Yoker.

His masked attacker, who had been armed with a handgun,

demanded cash and cigarettes before firing the weapon and making off

You're watching Reporting Scotland from the BBC.

Still to come on tonight's programme...

The Roma community celebrate a Burns Night with a difference.

In sport, Andy Murray moves on to the quarterfinals

of the Australian Open, but says it has been a stressful

And celebrations after winning their spot against Celtic -

but now where will East Kilbride play out their cup tie dreams?

Today, Hamilton tell the SFA, "Not on our turf."

A further ?6.5 million is to be spent improving the A83 in Argyll.

The road is frequently closed by landslips at the Rest and Be

The Old Military Road, which provides an alternative route

But local people say a long-term solution is required.

Jean depends on the A83 for work. On the 30th of December, while striving

to Glasgow, her car was knocked sideways by rocks falling down the

hillside. The road was clear one minute and all of a sudden there was

this huge concrete plinth that came out of the left side towards the

car. And instinctive reaction is to slam on the brakes and turn the

stewarding will to miss it. And it was not until people helped me out

but I realised I was facing the cliff that had been left hand side

and I was able to look back and see the car was badly damaged. It is

winter weather like this with lots of heavy rain and wind that can

trigger a landslide and has been many. At one point, locals say there

was one every year but the netting on the hillside has really helped

and today, the Scottish government announced funding for more. Some of

the measures include more netting because that has been effective in

catching some of the mature real comment on the hillside,

strengthening the old military road, which is a diversionary route and

other works to mitigate against inevitable landslides as a

consequence of the weather. For many it is a road with views of stunning

beauty but for the people that live here it is the main arterial route

through Argyll. Local businesses need passing trade from cars and

lorries to survive. When the A83 is shut, the signs about telling you

that the road ahead is shot and nobody wants to enter this far but

when the A83 is running, we get lots of passing trade, the lorries and

all of that kind of thing. We're busy from first thing until night.

At the meeting today of government and business, the cash injection was

welcomed at is this enough? The more defences we put up, the worst the

climate gets and we're keeping the status quo and that is not good

enough because we really need the government to give this money to us

and give us support but also look at government to give this money to us

the alternative. Businesses and residents want a long-term solution

for the safety and ease of people living here.

Conditions in the Calais migrant camp known as The Jungle have been

described as dreadful, even inhumane.

But a builder from Edinburgh has chosen to stay there.

Ryan Ferrier went to Calais three months ago to put his skills to use

helping people out and says he has no plans to leave.

The skills of Ryan Ferrier undermanned, a builder by trade, he

is today doing some joinery. Some man has asked me to attach the

thought with the rest of his house. A friend asked him to come to the

migrant camp, he plan to stay for a fortnight but find he could not

leave. He has been living here for three months. I came here alone so I

just walk around every day and see if I can find people to help, mostly

it is building work and moving houses. At first, he stayed with a

group of Sudanese migrants and he says despite the conditions there is

a great camaraderie in the camp. Don't get me wrong, it is a terrible

situation but the people around you are very friendly. It is quite nice

to meet so many different cultures in one area and see them integrating

successfully. How to deal with the migrants here is a controversial

issue, French authorities have ordered many to leave the makeshift

camp in what they say our efforts to improve conditions. Instead, they

have converted shipping containers as temporary accommodation and aid

workers say this but subcommunities. The Edinburgh builders says he will

stay as long as he can help. My mother is worried out of what's most

of the time but everybody else has been incredibly supportive. I have

had support of all kinds from all of my friends. Ryan Ferrier is not

asking more people to support those living here. -- is nine.

A look at other stories from across the country...

Police Scotland has announced a revised timetable for changes to the

control rooms and the weak emergency and nonemergency calls are handled.

It follows criticism of the force in the wake of the tragedy near

Stirling and police failed for three days to attend to a car crash which

left two people dead. The adventurer Mark Beaumont has been named the new

rector of Dundee University. Mr Beaumont, who has completed

insurance events including cycling around the world, succeeds the actor

Brian Cox, he will be installed at a seminary later this year. Brian Cox

did a phenomenal job over six years, he is well loved here and made a

real impact in the media and with the court so my job is to get up to

speed as quickly as possible with important issues and to represent

the student body. As to what those important issues are, I have got a

lot to learn. People who misused is able to parking permits cannot be

instantly identified by police. It follows an agreement with local

authorities which allows officers to access information using the blue

badge database. It is the Spring clean to end all of them. 14 large

plastic chandeliers are being inspected, dusted and painted. It is

the first time they have been cleaned since the hall opened in

1923. The face-lift will take several weeks. It will take

approximately four weeks to complete the full work, which is not too bad

but we have managed to work around the current programme which has

already booked in. All events are taking place around this chandelier

work. Anyone with gold or unwonted bagpipes are being asked to donate

them to budding musicians. The Scottish pipes and drums trust is

organising a collection which was launched at Govan Fire station in

Glasgow. The project is supported by Scottish Fire and Rescue and

contributions can be handed in to local fire stations.

Burns Night traditionally celebrates Scottish music and culture.

But an alternative Burns Night in Glasgow offers a platform for one

of the country newest and most eclectic bands.

Ee Kareeka Jaal was set up more than a year ago in the Govanhill

area to celebrate the city's Roma community.

They speak and sing in five languages.

Our arts correspondent Pauline McLean went to meet them.

The Govan Hill area of Glasgow is on to the biggest Roma community in the

country and this and is similarly eclectic. The musicians played jazz,

folk and traditional music, they speak and sing in five languages and

draw from cultures around the world. In the band it is a fertile ground

for exploring these kind of connections. And I think it is

something that always happens in music. People get along through

music and does not matter the background, you find a way. It is

all folk music, whether it is Scottish or whatever, lots of the

romance songs or older, they have more of folk roots. The culture is

famous for music but it is normally done privately. Christmas and New

Year and birthday parties, any party, we need to find a reason to

make parties and have some music and to be happy. Gradually, Govanhill is

becoming known for its music, like the newly formed big noise

orchestra. And for Ee Kareeka Jaal, that has been an important

breakthrough. I do not think the exposure at Govanhill is well

balanced. We are one of these projects but there are different

projects, there are cooking workshops, dancing groups and music

groups. Things are happening. That is what I like about Govanhill, you

would never come across such a diverse cultural or artistic

environment in Scotland. Tonight, they will play their biggest gig at

Celtic connections and they hope to keep on sharing Roma music with

Scottish audiences for years to come.

Now, here's Rhona, with all today's sport, and another fine performance

from Andy Murray in Melbourne this morning.

Andy Murray has reached the quarterfinals of

the Australian Open for the seventh consecutive year.

His straight sets win over Bernard Tomic comes

after what he has called a "stressful couple of days".

But as Kheredine Idessane reports from Melbourne,

today it has been back to business as usual.

Mixed messages from some before the match. Go, Andy! Go, Aussie! Others,

not so conflicted. Murray in three. I am going to same as in four. Such

confidence was well placed, as Andy Murray took the first two games to

quieten the Rod Laver crowd, who had come to cheer on the last Aussie

standing. There was not a great deal to get them excited. Bernard Tomic

was unable to stop the Scot taking the first set. It was the same story

and the same scoreline, 6-4, in the second. In the third, but players

raised their game is a little. The match was decided by a third set

tie-break. It was the Scot whose nerve held firm. He had had a

difficult few days in which he had considered pulling out of the

tournament after his father-in-law collapsed at a match over the

weekend. The way it up and, on the court and stuff, it was tough to

find out as soon is you come off the court. Because you go off the court

and, great, I have just won a tennis match. And then you hear that and it

puts everything in perspective. But great that just doing better, and on

his way home to be with his family. If it has been tough for tennis to

take priority, Andy Murray will nonetheless wake up tomorrow morning

in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. Up next on

Wednesday, the eighth seed from Spain, David Ferrer.

There is complete confusion tonight over the venue

for East Kilbride's Scottish Cup last 16 tie against Celtic.

It was announced last week that Hamilton Accies' New Douglas Park

But today, Accies have told the SFA that their stadium is unavailable.

Now the Lowland League club will have to find somewhere else.

Alasdair Lamont is at Hampden for us.

Al, it seems like a shambles - who is to blame?

Well, I think one thing you can be sure of, there will be plenty of

finger pointing, whoever is ultimately responsible. It does not

look good for the organisers of the Scottish Cup, the Scottish Football

Association, whose base is at hand and behind me. My information is

that the SFA have contacted East Kilbride today in writing, and there

will be a meeting tomorrow to try to establish what exactly is going on.

It all began I suppose, this issue, when Hamilton Accies issued a

statement today, essentially saying...

Again, my understanding is that Hamilton Accies were sounded out

prior to any East Kilbride progress into this round, but it was never

confirm. And then New Douglas Park was announced as the venue as a fait

accompli. Have we heard from all the parties involved? There is nothing

official as yet from the SFA. Celtic have told us this evening they just

want the matter resolved as quickly as possible by the SFA. They say

their supporters need to know where the cup tie will take place. East

Kilbride for their part say this has come out of the blue. They are

gobsmacked by the situation. Even the joyous scenes which followed

their amazing win to set up this amazing cup tie for them last week,

it has all turned a bit sour for them. But one thing which might come

out of it, they always wanted a bigger venue than New Douglas Park.

It might just be, handed was one of the ones they wanted. I still think

that is a remote possibility, but it could turn out to be somewhere

bigger than New Douglas Park, perhaps not quite as big as Hamed in

here behind me. The St Johnstone manager

Tommy Wright has refused to answer questions about the possible

transfer of Michael O'Halloran to The Championship leaders have had

two bids for the player turned down in the past few weeks,

amidst intense speculation he may end up at Ibrox before

the end of the month. Wright insists O'Halloran

will play this weekend, in St Johnstone's League Cup

semifinal against Hibs. Michael's situation has not changed.

I have made myself clear. I am not answering any questions on Michael.

Michael is in the team. And Rangers are in action

tonight at Cappielow, where home side Morton are chasing

a promotion play-off spot. You can keep up with all the action

on Radio Scotland medium wave And there was triple joy

for Scotland's Elise Christie in the world of short

track speed skating. She won the overall

European Championships title after victory in the 500m,

the 1,000m and the 1,500m races in Sochi - scene of so much

disappointment at the 2014 Winter As many people know all too well,

the extreme weather which has hit Scotland recently has had

a devastating impact on communities. But what about the effect

on wildlife? Well, this year's BBC Winterwatch

team are investigating just that from their base in the heart

of the Cairngorms. This otter cubs is one of the lucky

ones. He was rescued when his community was washed away. I went to

the Scottish rescue centre, where they have got 21 otters in at the

moment. And most of those have been brought in as a result of the

flooding. Well, if you think about that torrent of water which is

building up, and these young cubs get separated from their mothers,

and then they become very vulnerable. These are very different

conditions from this time last year, when Winterwatch were filming here

with deep snow and record freezing temperatures. This year,

unprecedented flooding and some of the mildest temperatures in living

memory. And the impact on the wildlife could be long-lasting. The

ecology of the river system here is ready badly damaged at the moment.

All that water has been turning the rocks over, so all the fish eggs

which were there at this time of the year, and the very young fish, they

are gone. And so this one catastrophic event in this

particular part of Scotland will have a long-term effect. And that

effect is not just on the river dwellers. From this time last week,

there has been a 26 degrees change in temperature at this site. 26

degrees. Phenomenal. The impact on wildlife is profound. We had a bat

flying around here at 11 o'clock yesterday morning, in the beginning

of January, at Mar Lodge, the coldest place in the UK. These

changes in the weather will have far-reaching repercussions for

wildlife. There are more than ten remote cameras here. They are

studying amongst others the endangered Scottish wildcat. But

there is even more drama to unfold. We have got an A-lister this year.

We are very, very excited about golden eagles. We will not say too

much because we do not want to give it away. We are going to build it up

over the week. But it is quite starring role from James Bond, isn't

it? Let's make it a bit cryptic, shall we?! It is all to do with the

Golden Eagles and a carcass. And we have got a tremendous adversaries

who they are in conflict with. And you can see how the otters,

bats and eagles get on, on Winterwatch, which gets underway

tomorrow night at eight Now here's Andrew Kerr

with details of Scotland 2016. Was Robert Burns a feminist? We will

be asking that question tonight here at Glasgow's Mitchell Library. And

with 100 days to go until the Holyrood election, is each party

trying to manage expectations? That tonight at 10.30 on BBC Two.

Really mild, Gillian, but you're going to tell us that

we're in for another spell of very wet weather, aren't you?

That's right. It was an exceptionally mild weekend. The

weekend was very unsettled. And there was rain for many of us today.

There was a wee bit of brightness for some parts of the country.

Behind this rain, we are into clearer, colder conditions. It is

still blustery. Showers coming to the northern and Western Isles, the

north-west Highlands, and Argyll. Pretty clear conditions for southern

and eastern Scotland for the first part of the night. In the early

hours, this next batch of rain and strong wind arrives. This is what

started out as the snowstorm in the US. There will be a weather warning

from the Met Office covering southern, central and west in

Scotland. Really poor conditions to start the day tomorrow. Surface

water, spray on the roads, attention the localised flooding. Severe gales

around south-western coasts. Gusts up to 70mph. Perhaps some coastal

overtopping. The main rain band will move through during the afternoon.

Some brighter spells poking through. Some decent sunny spells for the

Murray Coast, northern Aberdeenshire and Inverness. Temperature-wise, it

will be mild but it will not feel that way underneath the cloud and

rain. Tomorrow evening it will clear. A lot of dry weather for the

first part of the night. And then the next weather system, already

knocking on the door as we head into Wednesday. The next system brings

more of the same wet and windy weather. Falling as snow over the

high ground of central and northern Scotland of potentially severe gales

in places. Come the afternoon on Wednesday, turning more showery.

Thursday, staying unsettled. Still windy, with more rain on the way.

And that's all from Reporting Scotland for now.

I will be back with the headlines at eight, and the late bulletin just

From everyone on the team, right across the country,