09/01/2014 BBC Channel Islands News

George. Thank you. That's all so it's goodbye from me and on BBC One

we confirmed it is in takeover talks

with UK firm Produce Investments. The Jersey Royal Company has been in

talks with Produce Investments for the last eight years.

The Jersey Royal Potato Company employs 500 people in the island at

peak season, growing, grading, washing and packing the iconic

vegetable for the UK market. It s the biggest exporter of the Jersey

Royal and today a Scottish firm Produce Investments, confirmed it's

in talks to buy the company. The news comes at the start of

planting season. Charles Gallashan exports Jersey Royals himself, as

well growing for the larger supppliers. He says he would worry

that the involvement of larger companies could lead to falling

prices. There is an obvious concern that in the future, the two

companies try and sort of dominate one another, and that could lead to

some price wars, and of course, the loser out of all of that could be

the grower. But he hopes that if the deal does

go ahead, the two big firms would look after its growers. Both of them

want to do a good job, they want to sell the Jersey Royals for a good

return and they want to look after their supply base as well.

But just how important is it to Jersey's consumers that one of its

most famous exports are owned by islanders? We are losing so much on

the island, aren't we? With cattle, the changes there, and I think it

would be sad. I think it is important that we get help from the

mainland, although I would like Jersey companies to stay Jersey

companies. But in this economy, we need their help I suppose. This is

one of their flagship products, and everybody knows the Jersey Royal and

it would cease to be the Jersey Royal, in my opinion. As long as it

pumps the money into the economy and keeps the economy money and brings

jobs, good for them. Jersey Royal Company were not

available for interview, but told the BBC it would strengthen

business, and they were not expecting job losses.

Earlier, I spoke to Richard Ford, Deputy Fresh Foods Editor of The

Grocer Magazine. I asked him what this move meant for the industry. If

it goes ahead, it will with a coming together of two strong companies in

the potato industry, meaning that together they will have eight ``a

greater clout and be able to do business together. Are you surprised

by the move? I was a bit surprised and sometimes, these things tend to

come out in the Wash and we certainly didn't have any wind of it

prior to the announcement yesterday. Now, if this sale does go

through, does it matter that Jersey Royals will not be owned by a Jersey

`based company? Not at all, no. Jersey Royals, as listeners will

know, they carry a certain EU mark which is a protected designation of

origin mark, and that protects the technique of growing, so whoever

owns it, as long as the Jersey Royal potatoes carried out Mark, nothing

will change. Richard Ford speaking to me earlier.

Guernsey's Public Services Department may pay for the weather

forecasts for the Bailiwick from next year. The Environment

Department currently pays for the service from Jersey Met and recently

asked all States departments how useful they found it. But while the

politicians slog it out, one man is providing his own take on the

weather, as Mike Wilkins reports. Guernsey's never had any foxes.

Until now. This man goes by the name of the Guernsey Weather Fox. He was

a forecaster for the UK Met Office and moved to the island a year ago

when his wife took a teaching job. He's making ends meet as a gardener,

but his real passion is what's all around us, the weather. He uses

what's freely available to provide detailed forecasts for Guernsey on a

social media website. But he's the first to admit he's no threat to the

Jersey Met Office who provide Guernsey's weather forecasts. I

leave the more detailed stuff about aviation, etc, to the people in

Jersey who have access to much more sophisticated data than I have. For

more detailed forecasts, this is where it all happens, the Jersey Met

Office. Guernsey pays it for a forecasting service, but that fee

hasn't increased in a decade and could soon rise. The Jersey Met

department was set up in the 19 0s as the forecast is for the Channel

Islands and we have always born that in mind, that we are the forecast is

for the Channel Islands, and as such, I feel it is incumbent upon

the Channel Islands to be contributing towards the provision

of the service. Guernsey's government departments are under

pressure to make cuts as the island tries to reduce its deficit. The

Environment Department pays for weather forecasting, but says

another department should have responsibility. The figures for

Guernsey met services are about 115,000 a year. For Jersey, it is

about 215,000 a year. But if the policy Council agree, the full

budget will pass across to whichever department takes responsibility We

do need to see much of the service, all of the service, that is

currently provided, we need that operationally. So we will have a

look at things once the policy Council has made a decision about

its reaction to the deputy's proposals. The weather's very

important to many people living and working in Guernsey, but whether the

island will continue to cough up isn't so easy to forecast.

The Chief Ministers of Guernsey and Jersey have been meeting Members of

the European Parliament in a landmark occasion. It's the first

time the heads of both islands have visited the European Parliament in

Brussels. Guernsey's Chief Minister, Deputy Peter Harwood, told the BBC

that while the Bailiwicks are technically outside of the EU, it's

crucial to be engaged with the Parliament's decisions, and to

maintain a full working relationship with Brussels. Clearly, European

directives are important to us, insofar as they run the financial

services, but it is not limited to that. Data protection is an

important issue, aviation is a critical issue, because we are

almost in the European aviation space, so there are a number of

issues that we need to progress and we need to show we are islands of

substance and differentiate ourselves between other, more remote

offshore jurisdictions. Jersey's Chief Minister, Senator Ian

Gorst, told us that whatever the differences between the two islands

at home, it was crucial to show a united front on the international

stage. We are viewed as the Channel Islands, and not as individual

islands. We have worked very well together and it is far easier, I

suppose, as well, for securing meetings if we are working together,

and that his wife the setting up of the office `` that is why the

setting up of the office and the work we have done in the past and

this first joint ministerial visit to Brussels, I think, has been so

successful. A mother in Guernsey has started a

campaign to reinstate free dental treatment for the island's children.

The service was scaled back in 006, leading to concerns that lower

income families would struggle to pay to see a dentist. Penny

Elderfield reports. With four children ` three needing

orthodontic treatment ` Kristy knows only too well that the cost of

dental treatment can soon rack up. And she thinks the States need to do

more to help families afford it Things need to be done to the

families that can't afford it, the children who require treatment. It

not only impacts on them there, but also in the future. That's why she's

started this online campaign, calling on the States to reintroduce

free dental care. Something that was offered to all children at the PEH,

via the schools dental service, until 2006, when the service was

scaled back. Now only families that meet certain criteria are eligible

to come here for treatment, such as those on supplementary benefit. And

other low income families can apply to be means`tested if they need

support. But Social Security says there has been little demand for it,

, with just ten families asking for help last year. But Kristy still

feels there's more out there that need it, and that the current system

for getting it is too restrictive. I know of other people, other

families, who have been turned away and what are their children doing

now? How many children are out there not getting the treatment they

require? The Health Department says the current service is constantly

under review, with the focus on providing care to those who need it

most. But just as families know dental care isn't cheap, the

Government also knows that, with finances tight, there's a limit to

what it can offer. Two men have appeared in the City of

London Magistrates Court in connection with a ?2.6 million fraud

against the States of Guernsey in July 2012. 56`year`old John Anthony

Woodhatch, from Essex, and 44`year`old Adrian Taylor, from

Knightsbridge in London, face charges of conspiracy to defraud and

money laundering. They have been committed to Southwark Crown Court

and will appear there later this month.

Now, here's a chance to see inside Jersey's Masonic temple. The Jersey

branch of the Freemasons is hoping to make itself more accessible to

wheelchair users, and make it more welcoming for women when its planned

works finish next summer. Torri Orchard took a look around the

iconic building in St Helier. It's a well`known Masonic temple in

Britain, with its classical look and towering pillars and it's where

members of the Freemasons have gathered for hundreds of years. But

now the temple here in St Helier is going to have work done to bring the

Jersey branch into the 21st century. The plans will see better access for

wheelchair users, and, for the increasing numbers of female guests,

improved toilet facilities. The work we are going to do will not affect

the two facades that are listed on the outside of the building, and we

hope to create facilities at Masons of 2,000 expect. Whereas, the

building was designed originally for the expectations of the Masons in

the 1860s, so you can imagine it has changed a bit since then.

The group are paying for the work, which is likely to cost almost

?200,000 and it expects it be finished by next summer. `` it will

be finished. Then this ancient organisation will be taking a leap

into the modern world. In my opinion today, and we had a

bit of a damp or here in the last hour `` it is feeling a lot colder

in my opinion. Dan has the forecast.

Thankfully, no significant rainfall in our forecast for the time being,

which is good news, I'm sure you will agree, particularly for

Guernsey's reservoirs, which are at capacity already. Tomorrow is

generally a dry story of the most of the day, bright with some sunshine

although tending to cloud over. Here is the synoptic situation. A reach

here with some high pressure keeping things generally settled. This

weather front is coming tomorrow night, it has come all the way from

America, and it is what has caused the bad weather, but as it has come

over the Atlantic, it has gotten weaker and we have seen it warm up

somewhat. Saturday, it is looking pretty cold, brightness through the

day and generally dry. Tonight, if few more showers around the time

being, and as we have seen through this afternoon. They will tend to

clear to go into the second part of the night, with the wind is falling

fairly light overnight and temperatures down to seven or eight

degrees. Tomorrow, generally dry start, one or two showers skirting

over to the north of the islands but the most of us, it should stay dry

through much the day. Fairly bright and some sunshine around before it

starts to cloud over into the evening with temperatures just

nudging into double figures, I think. Taking a look at the coastal

waters forecast. Taking a look at the Surf

conditions, generally 2`4 feet, it should be clean on the north facing

coast with the winds coming from the south of the south`west and then the

outlook, well, some rain tomorrow night, perhaps, as it starts to

clear out but we should see it away for Saturday, generally a bright

day. It is turning colder, definitely a difference on Saturday

as it turns cooler with the winds from the nerve. Sunday, tried to

start with, but maybe some rain later.

Not too bad the tomorrow or Saturday by the looks of things. That is it

from us for tonight. Justin and Natalie will be with you next with

the World War One widow paying tribute on a special banner to mark

100 years since the start of the conflict.

nothing else to say. He was left in no doubt if he starts up his

business within two years he will go to jail.

Casualty departments in the South West were put under extra strain

this Christmas by patients turning up with minor ailments such as

coughs and colds. Doctors fear it diverts attention away from patients

who really need help. The problem was particularly bad in Torbay,

although the hospital says it still managed to maintain its targets for

seeing patients within four hours, despite the extra pressure. Our

South Devon reporter John Ayres is there now.

We all get coughs and colds at this time of year, but accident and

emergency is not the place to come. You should see your GP or

pharmacist. Many are coming to accident and emergency which puts

pressures on the doctors and people who need their care.

Accident and emergency is a busy place at the best of times. Over

Christmas it was especially so, made worse by patients turning up with

minor ailments which would be normally dealt with by a pharmacist

or GP. I am a highly skilled doctor but my resources are to deal with

the emergency patients who have critical illnesses, an accident with

life`threatening injuries. That is what we are here to deal with. GPs

and minor injuries units are for other things.

Units have been busy over Christmas. Tor basal 1400 patients,

well above the regional average. A similar story in Devon and Exeter.

And Plymouth. To give an idea how much accident and emergency was

slowed up, 65 patients in Torbay waited more than four hours to be

admitted. 49 ab... Had to queue up to bring patients in. There is a

campaign encouraging patients to take their elements to GPs but is

the message getting across? We have a very good system of care out of

hours. Maybe people aren't as aware. One thing they can do is, if they

are not sure, they can phone NHS Direct. They can either take advice

or be advised to contact the GP. They confirmed their GP surgery.

They will be redirected to the out of hours service. The fear is

patients go to accident and emergency because they will struggle

to access out of hours services, something doctors say should not be

a problem. The message from the NHS is, first, ring your GP.

If it is out of hours, there should be a telephone number ten a new how

to contact an out of hours GP. There is a perception there is a problem

contacting GPs out of hours. Judith has e`mailed saying she had

difficulties at weekends and her message was not to get ill on a

Saturday or Sunday. The company behind plans for a

luxury hotel on Drake's Island in Plymouth Sound is trying for the

third time to get permission to re`develop the site. Planners turned

down the original scheme, saying they hadn't been given enough

information about how wildlife might be affected. The company now says

it's consulted environmental experts as part of its new application.

A widow from Devon, whose husband served in the First World War, has

become the first person to pay tribute to a loved one on a special

memorial. The banner to help people remember relatives who took part in

the conflict is to tour Devon, to mark the centenary of the outbreak

of fighting. Poppies will be sewn around the six`foot`tall banner,

each one in honour of someone who died. Emma Thomasson reports.

A widow's special tribute, 93`year`old Dorothy Ellis is the

phone last collection at the last surviving widow of a First World War

veteran. Her husband had been shot, gassed and left for dead. The world

would be a far better place if people remembered the awful things

that happened. Maybe there wouldn't be so much trouble in the world.

Dorothy's puppy will be added to a special tribute to those involved in

what was supposed to be the war to end all wars. Part of a special

banner which will tour Devon this year. Anyone who comes to see it can

mark up a puppy with a message. They gave their life for their country

and they ought to be remembered for that.

They are not having a party. They are away fighting a terrible

condition. As the troops are today. Work on the banner which includes

intricate design work has taken six months. The painting took six

weeks. The horse is called Polly who went to war with her master. He came

back but she did not. This will help form a unique record of how the war

affected Devon. They can remember by writing on the poppy, but they can

also write in the book by the side. They can have their memories of

their grandparents. Things which will stay there forever. That book

will be given to us to look after. Talks are underway to find a final

resting place for the banner once it is taught is complete.

Some good news. Two Exeter Chiefs rugby players have

been included in the England senior squad for the forthcoming Six

Nations' campaign. For the first time, 20`year`old Jack Nowell is

amongst the 35`strong party for the tournament which starts on the 1st

of February. The winger and BBC South West Sportsman Of The Year

made his breakthrough into the Chiefs' first`team last season.

Nowell's club`mate Tom Johnson is also in the England camp, hoping to

add to his five international caps. Devon's Olympic silver medallist

Heather Fell has announced her retirement. To mark the end of her

modern pentathlon career, she's been speaking to other sports stars about

the challenges they faced packing away their trainers and giving up

the day job. Competitive sport has always been

part of my life. It really is all I have ever known. Pony club when I

was tiny lead to modern pentathlon and full`time training at the

University of Bath. Giving that up and looking for a real job is

daunting. As UK sport athlete, my funding ended exactly three months

after my retirement. From that date, access to the doctors, physios and

the gym here also ended. To cope with such a change, I have been

trying new things. Working with schools and charities, getting

experience in the media. I have found it harder than expected to

adjust, and wanted to find out how others have faced this leap into the

unknown. Injuries have forced Lewis Moody to hang up his boots in 2012.

He reached the pinnacle of his sport, but retirement has taken time

to sink in. You don't realise to what extent you had condition in

your life until it is gone. I was getting more frustrated but

pretending I don't miss rugby. Your wife has to tell you to disappear to

the gym and release some testosterone. It is a realisation

that part of my life is still having to find that competition, fine

things that test me and push me outside of rugby now. Stephen won

Olympic bronze in 2008. He now is working for an IT company after work

experience. You take the last stroke of the Olympic Games, and someone

ask what you are going to do now. It is all you have known. You walk into

a room and you are still an Olympic medallist. But now, they don't

really care who you are. Playing before the professional era, Brian

Moore had a legal career to fall back on. I moved to Soho and went

wild for six years. I had to go into a treatment programme because I

overdid it. It is better if you deal with these issues which are quite

terrifying when you look at them. They are unknown. When you have that

comfort and sports structure around you... All my experience is people

who cope best with retirement are those who plan before it happens.

Helping athletes find jobs is now the focus for both `` for sporting

bodies. I attended the first of this kind of

careers fair. UK sport says support like this will continue.

Time now for the weather. There seems to have been a brief

respite from the wind and rain, how long will it last? For the first

time, no yellow warning for rain from the Met Office.

But there is a yellow warning for ice instead. Good evening. A nice

day today. The star of tomorrow is not looking too bad. Mostly dry

initially. The next by the front pushes in during the day, with cloud

and rain pushing in from the West. This is the big satellite picture.

You can see the cloud to the east and west. Mostly dry weather. Not

too bad for a winter's day. But you can see the next by the front coming

across from America, crossing the Atlantic, warming up and becoming a

weaker affair, hitting a ridge of high pressure. Saturday, generally

another calm day, some sunshine before the next low`pressure system

comes in on Sunday bringing some rain. Here is more detail. You can

see the cloud ringing in a few showers. Some nice sunshine. We have

been down to Seaton in South East Cornwall. Much calmer than a couple

of days ago. We saw some coastal flooding in Seaton. Much less swell

on the sea. The waves not too big today. Things are looking calm

today, sunshine to end the day. Tonight, one or two showers around

particularly along the North Shore and West Cornwall. Those showers

will clear. East of and, Dorset, the highest chance of seeing some ice

where we see the Met Office yellow warning. Milder further to the

west. A fairly chilly start to the date tomorrow for most of us. Dry

initially, some sunshine. The weather front comes in, some

showers, turning heavier in the afternoon. But not the amount of

rain we have seen over recent days. Becoming breezy. Temperatures, into

double figures. The winds will pick up. Some rain around for the Isles

of Scilly. Some brighter spells in between. Increasingly breezy. These

are the times of high water. We are seeing winds from the

south`west. Generally good or poor visibility in the rain or showers.

If you fancy some surfing: The outlook, tomorrow, generally a

bright start, rain pushing in later. The rain clears through, generally

drier and brighter for Saturday. But we will see a fairly cold night into

Sunday. The chance of frost. Sunday starts bright initially. The next

weather front pushes through, turning wetter. Monday, sunshine and

showers. Thanks to everyone who has got in

touch with us today on Facebook and Twitter. That's all for now. We're

back after the ten o'clock news. Goodbye.

TOM: # And if there's anybody left in here

# That doesn't want to be out there... #

quicksteps... They become desperate to maintain that mahogany glow. .

And they start thinking it's