20/02/2012 BBC Channel Islands News

Welcome to BBC Channel Islands. Making the headlines here this

Monday evening: The beginning of the end? More

online shopping workers are told they will lose their jobs.

Elsewhere tonight, we're asking if community work for offenders really

And top of the table. With both our rugby teams leading national

leagues, we'll bring you the best Another company has announced

possible redundancies, because of the plans to change the rules on

selling goods VAT-free from the Channel Islands. Healthspan, which

is based in Guernsey, plans to close its distribution warehouse in

the Island at the end of April. Penny Elderfield has been following

this story. Penny, how unexpected is this? Well, it's not completely

out of the blue. The owner of the company has been open about the

fact a changes would be likely because of the UK government's plan

to scrap low-value consignment relief. In fact earlier this month

the issue of whether the distribution side of the business

would move came up at a business awards ceremony. I believe that

eventually it will happen because ultimately, as postage increases, I

believe the cards are stacked against us in the long term. In the

long term, it's likely that postage is removed. What we now know though

is the timing of that move and how many staff are potentially affected.

I should say though, this is all pending the outcome of the legal

challenge which is currently ongoing to try and overturn the

plans to scrap LVCR. So when is it likely to happen? It's the

warehouse on Pitronnerie Road that could be closing at the end of

April. It puts the jobs of 26 people at risk. 19 full time and

seven part time. There is the chance some may find work elsewhere

in the company. And talks are already under way to look at that.

No one was available for an interview but the CEO of the

company did say that it regrets the decision to make staff redundant

but that it had no choice but to look at alternative locations for

the warehousing and shipment of goods to remain competitive.

Penny, uncertainty for the staff, but also another big blow for the

fufillment industry in Guernsey? Yes, and the concern is whether

this is a sign of things to come. Last week another big player in the

industry in Jersey, Indigo Starfish, warned its staff they could be made

redundant if the legal challenge isn't successful. That's a

challenge that will be heard next month. But until the outcome of

that is known it will no doubt be an uncertain, and worrying time for

those in the industry. Penny, thank you. Moving on to some other news

now. Flights to and from Jersey are

being delayed or diverted this evening after problems with the

radar system at Jersey Airport. The disruption started late this

afternoon. Airport bosses say contingency plans are in place to

allow some flights to operate, but with a reduced schedule.

interruption to radar services which has been reported, has

resulted in delays to flights around Jersey and Guernsey air

space. We have set up a contingency facility on and off the island

which will allow some flights to operate. Some flights are

continuing to operate. Services are unlikely to operate normally until

late this evening. But in the meantime, our advice to passengers

is, anybody due to travel today should check-in as usual.

We'll bring you more on this throughout the evening.

Jersey offenders carried out 40,000 hours of community service in the

past two years. A record high. The number of orders given out last

year was 160. The probation service says the high figures don't

necessarily reflect an increase in crime but a different way of

sentencing. Community service in Jersey is used as is a direct

alternative to prison. Rachel Royce reports.

Planting trees is usually quite back breaking work. But today much

of the hard labour has been taken out of the job for Conrad Evans.

He's placing sapling in holes already dug by offenders. This is

all part of our Jersey hedgerow campaign. We are planting trees and

hedging plants to restore our existing hedgerows. And, in this

instance, the probation after-care service have kindly provided us

with community service work parties. They come in and dig and prepare

the holes. And then we plant the trees and hedging plants. How much

work does that say you? An awful lot of work. Of the 4,500 we were

going to plant in this area, they had done over 1,500 holes for us.

In Jersey, uniquely, it's a direct alternative to a prison sentence

but the hours has risen dramatically over the last few

years. In a 2007, there were 12,000 hours being served every year, but

now it is 20,000. The probation service has worked with the

Jersey's conservation charities for 10 years. Durrells is one of the

beneficiaries of the extra hours being worked. Recently, offenders

helped on a project for the zoo's gorillas and another for its bats.

By keeping offenders out of prison, we know they are less likely to

offend. We are also aware offenders had told us they have gone to parts

of the island they have not been to before and gained an appreciation

of the environment in which they live in, and they feel good about

giving something back, which is very worthwhile. It may be hard

work but few offenders turn down service or risk not followng the

order. They may lose free time but at least they are not losing their

freedom. The Guernsey Rugby Club are now top

of the London One South Division after winning their 12th match in a

row. The home side smashed opponents Portsmouth at Footes Lane

on Saturday 53-0. Mike Wilkins was there.

The visitors Portsmouth were the only team that Guernsey hadn't

beaten this season. But within minutes, it was the hosts who were

on the up with player coach Jordan Reynolds evading three tacklers to

Portsmouth didn't really have much to respond with and the crowd

didn't have to wait long to see the Green and Whites score again, This

time courtesy of Luke Sayer who It wasn't game over at half time.

But the second half signalled the beginning of the end for Portsmouth.

Guernsey dominated most of the play, frequently stealing the ball

enabling their backs to capitalise. Winger David Davison sprinted up

the left wing to touch down in his first ever match for the Green and

Whites. But the big lads weren't going to let the backs have all the

fun. The pack overpowered the visitors on many occasions. Nick

Barton crossing the line after this lengthy maul. Guernsey didn't let

up and held firm in defence despite some provocation from the

As the light faded, so did Portsmouth's hopes as they failed

to contain the Guernsey attacks and nimble handling in wet conditions.

Jordan Reynolds bagging his second Portsmouth had been talking about

this game for long time. We pushed as hard as they possibly could. The

weather did not help but we managed to do well. The biggest thing today

is we had done to zero. That is a massive feat, in any league. It's

great for us and something we can take away. Guernsey's nearest

rivals Chichester lost on Saturday, elevating Guernsey to top of the

table. With six games to go, the Green and Whites are looking on

target for promotion. And Jersey Rugby Club have moved 13

points clear at the top of their National League One table after a

narrow 13-11 win at Sedgley Park. Donovan Sanders scored Jersey's

only try of the afternoon as they fought back from behind at half-

time to claim a 17th win in a row. Football and Guernsey FC are

sitting at the top of Combined Counties league table 13 points

ahead of second placed Bedfont Sports after a 5-1 win at the

weekend. The Green Lions beat Farleigh Rovers. It was their last

away game of the season. Guernsey's cricketers lost their

second match in the ICC World Cricket League Five tournament in

Singapore this weekend. On Saturday, the team beat Bahrain by nine

wickets, but lost to the hosts by 78 runs on Sunday at the Indian

Association Ground. Coach Andy Cornford says there are positives

to take from the game. It was a tough game. With a them are being

hosts, we knew they would be tough to beat. I was pleased with the way

we played. I thought they would score a bigger score than they

would achieve it. David Hooper scored really well for us. Today we

haven't made a good account of ourselves and have not batted well

enough, which obviously is no good. That's why we fell short.

Hello, cloudy skies for much of this week. It will be increasingly

mild as the week progresses so after a cold night last night, we

won't see any more frost in the next week or so, but we have an

area of high pressure dominating the weather close by. Little

changed by lunchtime tomorrow. If we look at Wednesday, we are

starting to see some weather fronts edging towards us from the north.

Increasing cloud of. A risk of brain and squeezing isobars. A

strengthening breeze through the middle part of the week as well.

Tonight, generally rather cloudy. A predominantly dry for most of us,

but it will be a slightly milder night. Temperatures, 5-6 Celsius.

Tomorrow, a cloudy start to the day. I generally dry day with a chance

of a few brighter spells developing tomorrow afternoon. 10-11 Celsius.

A gentle to moderate south-westerly wind. Chair is the forecast for the

coastal waters tomorrow. -- here is Here is the outlook over the coming

days. Wednesday, the most unsettled. A lot of cloud. Outbreaks of rain

at times. 11 Celsius. A strengthening south-westerly wind.

Thursday, largely cloudy but generally drive. 11 Celsius, and a

gentle moderate westerly wind. Towards the end of the week,

largely cloudy but still mainly drive. Here is the summary. --

A quick look at what's happening on the radio in the morning. We will

find out why a more islanders are getting their hands dirty. And we