25/02/2014 BBC Channel Islands News

sunshine and showers continuing. And that is all from the BBC News at

six. It And that is all from the BBC News at

Good evening, welcome to BBC Channel Islands and to Tuesday's programme.

Our top story. Guernsey's Chief Minister resigns,

after national headlines questioning his financial dealings. We speak to

politicians who are backing Deputy Hardwood. Here we have a Chief

Minister who has put Guernsey first. Whilst there is an ongoing

investigation, no one is in a position to double guess that.

And a former leader willing to step into his shoes. If enough members

came to me and said, look, we'd like you to consider being the custody

and until the end of this term, it is a discussion I would have.

Also tonight. A place to call home, we look round new facilities to help

Jersey's homeless. And a window on the past, why one

islander took hundreds of photos chronicling the build up to the

First World War. Guernsey's Chief Minister has

resigned. Peter Harwood announced his decision to stand down today,

although he will remain a Deputy. It follows national media reports

questioning his former role as both director of the Channel Islands

Stock Exchange, and chairman of the Guernsey Financial Services

Commission which regulates it. Penny Elderfield reports.

Back in 2012, and day one of his new job. Deputy Harwood probably didn't

expect his time as Chief Minister to end like this. But today he

resigned. With regret. But recognising Guernsey's reputation

was at risk. It followed this article in Private Eye, questioning

Deputy Harwood's previous role as both director of the Channel Islands

Stock Exchange and chairman of the regulator that oversees it. Not the

sort of national publicity that Guernsey wants. He clearly

recognised that a story with his name attached as Chief Minister in

the national media was a risk to the reputation of the Channel Islands,

and it is not about the rights and wrongs at all. It was at a meeting

here that States members heard the news this morning. I would assume

there was a full and frank discussion from yesterday, and one

has to respect to won's decision to step down. `` Deputy Harwood's

decision. The Chief Minister going will have a lot of negative

political consequences for Jones A. `` the Jersey. But now the talk will

turn to who will stand to be the next Chief Minister. So, is this

former one ready to give it another go? If an obvious majority said to

me, look, under the circumstances, with your experience, and all the

rest of it, we'd like you to consider being the custodian, that

is a discussion I would have with close members of my family, in

particular. Let's be very clear about it, as things stand, I don't

want the job. It'll no doubt become clearer in the next couple of days

who the likely candidates are. With the election expected to take place

next month. Well, earlier I asked Guernsey's

deputy Chief Minister, Jonathan Le Tocq, whether Peter Harwood really

needed to go. No, I don't believe so. But these are not black and

White matters. He did what he felt was correct. And at his disposal to

resign, bearing in mind he is the sort of man that has modelled the

sort of leadership but put Guernsey first. That is what he is doing

here. Surely, resigning suggest some sort of wrong doing, does he have

your confidence? I don't think it suggests that at all. I think what

it shows is that here we have a Chief Minister who has put Guernsey

first, and whilst there is an ongoing investigation, no one is in

the position two double guess that. The trouble is that we live in a

world with lots of speculation, which diverts attention, and

therefore, our energies elsewhere. And we can't control that, of

course. But we can seek to minimise it. That is what he is trying to do.

Finally, if it turns out that Deputy Harwood cannot return to Chief

Minister, will you stand for it That is something I need to consider

along with Michael X. To be honest, I had happy where I am at the

moment. I felt that Deputy Harwood and myself, we made a good team And

the policy Council will continue to do what it is intending to do. It is

business as usual, we need to maintain momentum, and I feel the

most important thing is that. The Chief Minister is not some

achievement is to, the policy Council is Chief Minister and

provide leadership for the States and provides leadership for the

islands as a whole, which is a side issue to the work that is before us

at the moment. That'll have to be taken into consideration. It is too

early to make those sorts of judgements. That was Deputy Harwood

speaking earlier. `` Jonathan Le Tocq.

"A critical gap" has been filled in providing shelter for homeless

people in Jersey, according to the head of the island's Shelter Trust.

John Hodge says the opening of Evans House is vital after a similar

centre closed two years ago. The ribbon was officially cut on the

quarter of a million pounds refuge today by Jersey's Lieutenant

Governor Sir John McColl. Jen Smith was there.

This has been Chris's home since New Year's Eve. He's been in shelters

for the past few years after family problems. My main fear was to be on

the street. And probably, more likely, at the other end of a

bottle. I consider myself lucky to be able to live in this kind of

facility, which has helped me out a lot since I left my family home

Today, Evans House officially opened more than two years after a similar

centre closed because it was short of cash. Health and Social Services

bought that and it's since been refurbished and renamed. There's now

room for up to 22 men and women from the age of 25 onwards. I think

it has filled a critical gap with emergency accommodation. Here and at

Millfield Road, and the dedicated service further on. We feel we are

covering the basis of the sorts of needs that people have of us and the

services we offer. The Shelter Trust helps around 400 islanders a year in

Jersey. And there's already a waiting list for people wanting to

move in here. So there's a home for those who need it.

The total number of people out of work in Jersey is continuing to

fall. The number of islanders registered as actively seeking work

last month was 1,860. That's down 160 on the same time last year. A

sixth of the total, about 310 people, are long term unemployed.

Jersey's prison governor says previous conditions at La Moye made

the supervision of prisoners difficult. Questions will be asked

in the States next week about allegations of sexual misconduct and

drug dealing among staff and offenders. The governor Bill Millar

says people shouldn't be worried about security at La Moye because a

report by the Chief Inspector last year gave it a clean bill of health.

Visitors are being advised to stay away from Guernsey's Princess

Elizabeth Hospital while an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea is brought

under control. Samples have been sent to the UK for testing, and it's

thought they'll reveal the five patients and one staff member in

Victoria Wing have the norovirus. You're watching the BBC in the

Channel Islands. Later in Spotlight with Justin and Natalie, we meet the

schoolboy whose new invention has won a national cycling safety

competition. Now, all this week on the BBC, we're

running our World War One At Home series, telling the stories about

people and places across the Channel Islands that were affected by the

First World War. Tonight, Edward Sault reports on an album of

exquisite photos, donated to the Societe Jersiaise, which were taken

by a Jerseyman in the run up to war and during it.

As you can see, the early pages show the gathering of the troops, the

mobilisation of the Jersey militia contingent. For Gareth Syvret from

the Societe Jersiaise, this album of World War One photos is a delicate

piece of our history. The 232 pictures were donated to the Societe

this January by the family of the man that took them. It was compiled

by John Edward Coombs, who is the young man shown in his Jersey

militia photo on page one. But he never went to war. The reason for

that was due to his hide. He is standing there next to a rifle,

which is three for date. `` three foot and eight inches. It reaches

his shoulder. The photos tell the chronology of the conflict from the

moment of conscription to the dark days of war. As you can see down hit

in this lower image, quite, quite different, and really marking the

dreadful experience of being at the front. You can see very graphically

here, this soldier wearing his injuries. In over ten years of

working in the photo archive, I can save is definitely top five objects

to arrive. Towards the latter stages of the album, the scenes of

celebration, the end of the war with Armistice. As the nation marks

the start of the First World War, it's hoped these pictures will

become a vital resource when telling the story of world war one and its

impact on Jersey. Some fascinating stories coming out this week. We

will have more tomorrow, and there is more on BBC Spotlight, but first,

we have the weather. Something to cheer us up because

despite the showers in the morning, the rest of the day is mainly fine

and dry. It is a bit breezy, but apart from that, you should get a

good day out of it. At the moment, some showers, there might be some

trouble overnight and tomorrow morning, but it is much drier, but

there is rain later in the day. This ridge of high pressure here, which

seems like quite a way off this evening, will slowly creep across

us. Not quite as prominent by the middle of the day tomorrow, but it

is there nonetheless. This band of rain arrives Thursday morning. And

then expect plenty of showers. The shower activity tonight is fairly

widespread and quite heavy. Recently, we had big shower across

Jersey, there are more to come. Overnight ten butchers down to five,

so it is a cold start tomorrow. `` overnight, temperatures down to

five. Tomorrow afternoon, largely fine dry some sunshine. Ten will be

the maximum temperature. For the coastal waters forecast, the winds

are west or south`westerly, a few showers around, otherwise fair.

Times of high water. It stays and settled for the rest of

this week, including into the weekend. On Thursday, we have rain

early in the day before it gets out of the way, replaced by some

blustery showers. And the potential for some more persistent rain on

Friday, but clearing to showers in the afternoon. It is a little bit

quieter on Saturday. Have a good evening.

And a reminder of our top story tonight.

Guernsey's Chief Minister, Deputy Peter Harwood, has resigned. It

follows national media reports about his previous position as a director

of the Channel Islands Stock Exchange. He says he is standing

down due to the "risk to the reputation" of the office. That is

it from us. accidental death was recorded. Eact,

one of the largest chains of academies in England, is being

stripped of the control of the Dartmouth Academy and nine other

schools. The academy was rated as 'needing improvement' by Ofsted in

October. Proposals for 13 new marine conservation zones for the South

West have been announced today. But fishermen in North Devon say they

are being forced out of long`established fishing grounds by

conservationists. Our environment correspondent Adrian Campbell

reports. Off the coast of Devon, local fishermen say they have worked

hard to voluntarily protect species. The announcement today of

13 more proposed conservation zones around the South West, seen here in

red, or mainly on the north coast of Devon and this has worried

fishermen. The coastline here, there has been so much discussion, the

government have decided that that area will have no more talk of wind

farms. One of the zones proposed sits in an area of the same size as

the At Atlantic Array. They are unhappy about the proposals. It

would make it more dangerous. There is not a lot of fishermen here, we

will all start taking risks. This is notorious here. They say this is to

conserve the stocks. The fish do not know any boundaries. Campaigners

hope that after a consultation process, these zones will be in

place by next year. This is a significant step forward for our

marine wildlife. We are looking at potentially 13 new zones. It leaves

the majority of those original sites proposed unprotected and it is

crucial we make sure that they are designated later next year. The

fishermen we spoke to say they are still unclear about exactly what

kind of restrictions they will face if these new conservation zones are

eventually approved. There's a busy night ahead for South West League

Two football. Plymouth Argyle, currently seven points behind the

play`off sides, could move closer if they do well at Fleetwood Town, who

are in fifth place. Exeter City look to claim their first win at home

since October the fifth when Wycombe Wanderers visit East Devon and at

Plainmoor, Torquay United try to avoid a fourth straight defeat

against promotion contenders Burton Albion. There's full coverage on BBC

Radio Devon. This year the BBC in partnership with Imperial War

Museums, is marking the centenary of the start of the First World War. In

the second part of our series, World War One at Home, I've been to the

Heathcoats factory in Tiverton in Mid Devon. Today it produces hi`tech

fabrics for countries all over the world. In 1914, its preparations for

war were being meticulously recorded by the company cashier, WH Huxtable.

There has been a factory here for almost 200 years, but like so many

businesses, 100 years ago, it found itself on a war footing. 1914, July

28, Austria declares war against Serbia, August the 1st, Germany

declares war against Russia. August the 4th, England declares war on

Germany. With the outbreak of war, there was concern that orders for

the firm would try up, but WH Huxtable records that America came

splendidly to our help by sending us large orders chiefly for cause nets

and enabled us to keep our machines going. But as the shadow of war fell

over at the factory, some of products produced for the Americans

gave way to munitions. August 14, the real business of shell making

began this morning when the writer of this note saw a machine operated

hacksaw... This man's father joined the company in 1913. Years later,

his son followed him. This was the war to end all wars, no one realise

the extent and therefore it was necessary to get the ammunition is

out quickly, to hopefully, get an end to the conflict. Your father

worked for the company for all of his working life, what would work in

conditions have been like? The timekeeping was done by the man on

the gate. At 6am, the gate was closed, so if you arrived one minute

late, you were shut out. You lost your wages. It was strict. It was.

One man was keen on this and if he saw you walking up and it was 6am,

he would still close the gate. It was a business run on traditional

lines and that was about to change. How did the predominantly male

workforce feel about women coming in? Initially, I suspect they were

not keen. He was right. In 1916, the logbook states that the men did not

few women working with favour. They said that women were physically

incapable of doing much and that there were times where they were

feeble. Despite their protestations, women took to the machines. Among

the first was this woman's grandmother. Men were being men.

They did not when `` want women stepping on their toes. They did not

like it. They had to change the age of girls going in to 12 so the boys

could go off to war. While the workers in the factory helped the

war effort, up on the hill overlooking Tiverton, this place

played its part. It was thought that a recuperative hospital might be a

good thing for it to turn into. Did your grandparents play any role in

caring for the soldiers? They were not qualified nurses. I believe I

grandmother was given an honorary title of matron. That was about the

extent of the help that we gave them. In both world wars, this place

helped nurse the wounded back to health and the carer was never

forgotten. My greatest thanks to this nurse while staying there. As

friends we met, as friends we part. At the factory, they kept very

careful notes and this one has a page on its own. A red letter day.

November the 11th 1918, armistice signed. A day of joyous

congratulations to our boys who have fought and endured all manner of

hardship all through this long and unforgettable war, but who will now

soon be able to return in peace to their homes again. Tomorrow the

series continues when we discover what life was like inside a huge

prisoner of war camp in Dorchester. If you want to know more about World

War I At Home, go to bbc.co.uk/ww1, and you can hear more on your local

BBC radio station tomorrow morning at 8:15am. An eight`year`old from

Taunton won his school a very impressive prize today. Ben Capon

came first in a national cycling safety competition with his design

of a bicycle helmet. His reward was shared by all 400 students at

Parkfield primary school in Taunton, and Spotlight's Andrea Ormsby was

there to enjoy it as well. Are you ready? Not a bad day at school, all

400 pupils at Parkfield primary school in Taunton were outside for a

cool stunt show. It is all because of this boy, Ben Capon. He took part

in a competition to design a bicycle helmet and out of 2000 children

across the country, it he won. I wanted something different. I

started with the eyes and the teeth and the scales. I thought about the

shape of the helmet and then I put the design on it. I thought it was a

good fit. When you saw it, what did you think? Even better than the

picture. It is a serious message to get more people wearing helmets. 70%

of psychologists are male. It depicts exactly what a young person

would like. It is very novel `` psychologists. It is so fantastic.

These guys make it cool to be safe. The show should be aspirational. It

will inspire them to go out and try tricks. We are also about safety,

the guys would not ride without a helmet. The design may have

impressed the judges, but these people are impressing the crowd.

C what the weather has in store. `` let us see. Good evening. The rain

is poised to move in. We might see a few showers in the morning and then

it is mainly drive. Rain later in the day. Any dry weather is a

bonus. `` drive. We have plenty of showers this evening, but between

these lumps of cloud is actually a ridge of high pressure `` dry.

Eventually this line of rain will move in. That will be mainly

overnight. It will be wet tomorrow night. Thursday is quite showery.

Some of the showers will be heavy. This area of cloud and rain will

give us more wet weather overnight on Thursday into Friday. We have not

seen the last of the rain but there are spells of dry whether as well.

Sharp showers recently, they have died away. But this was earlier

today. Our cameraman was flying earlier to catch some blue sky and

rough seas. In other parts of the South West, we have had some blue

sky, but you will have noticed the big clouds and some of those clouds

have given torrential of rain. Let us look at the detail tonight, at

the moment, there are not that many showers, a few more elated, in the

small hours of the morning, still the risk of a shower `` a few more

to come. There is the possibility of a touch of frost. It will not stay

too long, there is still a breeze and plenty of cloud. The few showers

we see will become isolated after lunch and for much of the rest of

the day, it is fine and dry. Cloudy conditions moving in. In the West,

in two parts of the far West, rain will move in for the evening.

Temperatures tomorrow or not overly high, nine or 10 degrees. Times of

high water... For the Isles of Scilly, a scattering of showers

overnight, but it does become mainly dry until the end of the day when

some of that patchy rain will arrive. Rough for our surfers. For

most `` the coastal waters forecast... That is the outlook all

the way through including the start of the weekend. On Thursday, plenty

of showers. Once that is out of the way, sunshine and showers on Friday,

but on Saturday, there is the chance of more persistent rain. Nothing

really settling down. Hopefully some temple one macro `` hopefully some

dry whether in between. That is it from us `` weather. We will be back

at 10:25pm. Goodbye.