20/12/2011 BBC Channel Islands News

Good evening. The headlines tonight:

�200,000 down the plughole. The desalination plant is finally

switched off. Honouring forgotten heroes. The

most daring lifeboat rescue in Guernsey's history.

And we're talking turkey and all the trimmings. A Christmas dinner

�200,000 has been spent on turning sea water into drinking water for

Jersey over the past seven weeks. The desalination plant was switched

on after months of low rainfall left the reservoirs severely

depleted. But, thanks to heavy rain last week, it is being turned off

today. Is it the right move? Beckie Williams has been finding out.

This was Queens Valley Reservoir at the start of November. Seven weeks

later, it is a completely different picture here as the rain keeps on

coming. Reservoirs have now risen from 35 to 60% full. And throughout,

the desalination plant has been on, turning the sea into drinking water.

It has cost �4,000 a day in energy costs alone. When we got it

prepared to run in October, things were very different to how they are

now. We'd had no rainfall for two months. Risible as would and and

35%. It was a sensible decision to make and it is part of were

operating rules. -- our. It's the first time the desalination plant

has been switched on in five years. But back in November, Jersey Water

had no idea just how much rain was to come. So far this month, we have

already had nearly twice as much rainfall than would usually be

expected in December. Had he known him were train was to come, would

you still have done it on? These things are great with hindsight. I

do not have a crystal ball and they are not in control of the rainfall.

If I could have had a 100% guaranteed that he would have the

ring for that we have had, probably not. Whilst the rain keeps on

coming, Jersey Water say they still need more water. And depending on

the weather, they could even have to restart the desalination plant

in January. Police are renewing their appeal

for witnesses after a serious sexual assault on a young woman in

St Helier last weekend. At a press conference today, this CCTV footage

was shown of a man that they want to speak to in connection with the

incident. He was later seen at West Centre talking to the victim.

Channel Islands students will be charged the same fees as English

students to attend most English universities. From next year,

tuition fees will rise to up to �9,000 and there were concerns

Channel Island students would have to pay higher international rates.

But the Islands governments have reached an agreement with the

majority of universities to limit the impact on local students.

However, islanders will be charged more to attend 12 universities

including Cambridge, Southampton and Bristol.

Changes to Jersey's business tax system have been approved by the

European Union. The States changed some aspects of Zero Ten after the

EU said that the rules on taxing profits for shareholders of local

companies were unfair. It is thought the Treasury will lose

about �10 million in tax a year. Chelsea needed do something with

its tax regime to continue to make it attractive to the international

community. Being attracted to the International Committee bolsters

opponent services industry, while bolstering that industry means more

jobs for the A one. More job for they would and would tax for the

Government and a better economy. There may be some shocked him been

on the tax, but will do all the islands should be a winner. --

overall. It was one of the biggest, and most

dangerous, rescues ever undertaken by Guernsey lifeboat. 30 years ago

this month, a crew of volunteers set off in hurricane conditions to

help a stricken cargo ship. A special film has just been released

by the RNLI to commemorate their courage. Mike Wilkins reports.

Watching events from 30 years ago. Peter Boughourd was one of

Guernsey's lifeboat volunteers. Back then, he was looking forward

to his Sunday lunch. But this was to be one meal he was going to be

very late for. A cargo ship called the Bonita was caught in a

hurricane mid Channel and issued a Mayday distress call. Peter and his

crew members raced to the scene in their lifeboat. Battling gale force

winds and 45ft waves, it took them about four hours to reach the

Bonita. And even now, 30 years on, Peter says he can still remember it

vividly. One up a outstanding memories is the noise, the roar of

the wind, shrieking through the rigging. One of the most awe-

inspiring sight I had obscene, this great big ship painted white, lying

on restore bought sight -- lying on our store -- her side. When they

arrived, a rescue helicopter had already taken four people from the

boat. But the wind strengthened and it got rougher and the helicopter

was struggling, so it was down to Peter and his crew to do what they

could. Of the 31 people on the Bonita, including four children and

two women, 29 survived. Some tied themselves to ropes and jumped into

the sea so they could be plucked out by the lifeboat. You think when

it is passed, that was close! But you concentrate on doing your job.

When you have backed off and holders to buy it was me, then you

think, that was a close one. people like Peter, it was just

their job, but for those that survive, they are forever grateful.

They were fantastic. It was just unbelievable. They must have been

exhausted. I am also glad that so many of us survived, because it was

so dramatic. We all these men. Without them, we would be lost.

These men, they gave me at least 30 more years to live.

John Aicher, who was rescued from the Bonita 30 years ago. And you

can see more on that dramatic rescue on the BBC Guernsey website.

You're watching the BBC in the Channel Islands. Later in Spotlight,

with Justin and Victoria: Making a splash. Find out why this

Paralympic swimmer's getting a Thanks to supermarkets, most of us

have got used to having seasonal produce like asparagus and

strawberries all year round. But, chances are they have been flown or

shipped in. Well, Guernsey's smallholders association decided to

make the biggest meal of the year, Christmas dinner, using only local

produce. Penny Elderfield has this It was quite a few months before

Christmas, when Guernsey's small holders said, "Let us make a

completely local Christmas dinner, so we all shall be fed." So the

search was on for the veg and the meat. Figs for the figgy pudding

and spices for all to eat. At which point popped up Joyce, with her

herbs and her limes. And don't forget her Christmas chutneys

divine. We have quite a variety of stuff, actually. Because we did not

have enough redcurrants to make any sources from, we're using a plum

chutney and that is good to go with the chair -- the turkey. Then we

have crab apple and rum sauce, which is from her apples in the

orchard and mint sauce to go with the lamb. It is a home-grown, home-

produced, home-cooked dinner. what meal would complete with out a

turkey to eat? So the next challenge was to find the meat.

"Look no further," is what the Febraches said, and to their rather

large greenhouse, the group was led. Good turkeys and vegetables, so

what is the turkeys we provided. He Riyait them ourselves coming to

beat him in April or May and keep him going on until Christmas and

then it's time for them to go. We have about 68, I think, this year.

And what should they drink if their mouths become parched. Why hundreds

of apples, squeezed, pressed and pulped by the friends, producing a

rather delightful blend. The side of this year was made by a all of

the smallholders. We had a group of 15 that came along and we made the

cider and then we made it into a Sorby and we drank it. -- sorbet.

With some local students up for cooking the feast, the time had

come for the flavours to be unleashed. Really, really nice.

is a pleasure to have something really local. It just taste fresh,

you cannot take any chemicals. It tastes clean. Really nice,

unsatisfied. -- satisfied. So, full of food and festive cheer now they

can look forward to doing it all again next year.

The mild weather -- weather has now arrived. That will continue for the

rest of the week. Some patchy rain overnight tonight, already

beginning to move into the far south-west of England. It will

introduce some rain, which will come and bitter and this evening.

To donate, that green and will continue to move eastwards. For a

we'll, we'll see some patchy rain and wind from the north-west. This

is because the's chart. Little change in the up. -- this is

Thursday's church. Little change in that. Temperatures knoll or

overnight than nine Celsius. Quite a warm night. A mild start to the

data model, some mistiness. -- a mild start to Biddy to model. --

Patchy drizzle at first and in becoming fair, with the generally

good visibility at sea. Times of high water: on to Thursday, quite,

the breeze from the request again. A lot of cloud, 12 or 13 the top

temperature. Friday brings rain and it will be bright and dry for at

Christmas to you. -- Christmas Eve. The gorillas at Durrell had some

early treats today. Papier mache Christmas puddings with food

parcels inside were put in their enclosure. The older members of the

group have seen this in previous years, so dug straight in. But