17/03/2014 BBC Channel Islands News

well. More details if you want to go on the website. That's

A lovely person, born to be in the water. Just some of the tributes

paid today to Jillian Smith, who died at the weekend while diving at

Jersey's St Catherine's Bay. 41`year`old Jillian, who was a wife

and mother as well as an experienced diver, was part of a group exploring

shallow water on Saturday. Jersey's diving community says it's in shock

and "clueless" as to what happened. Jen Smith reports.

Friends describe Jillian Smith as born to be in the water. She'd been

part of the island's diving community for years and was well

respected for her experience and enthusiasm. Many people told the BBC

today of her passion for the sport but not only did she love the water,

she also cared for the environment. Kevin worked with her at Jersey Sea

Search, a voluntary marine conservation group. I remember her

as a person who loved to dive, also in few `` was so enthusiastic about

getting in the water. She loved it and I can understand why. The

41`year`old mother of one was diving here on Saturday afternoon with two

others when she became separated from the group. She was quickly

found in shallow water and brought to the surface, where fellow divers

tried to revive her but despite best efforts, Jillian was pronounced dead

at the scene by a passing doctor. Jersey Police isn't treating her

death as suspicious but has a duty to investigate what happened. We

need to look at the circumstances leading up to the dive, the dive

itself and the equipment used and the medical aspects of the

investigation. We are in the early stages of the investigation.

Tonight, members of the diving community here in the island say

they are in shock and are "clueless" as to how this could have happened

to such an experienced diver. They say Jillian will be greatly missed,

the lovely person who always smiled. In the last hour, Jersey's Planning

Minister has agreed the airport's arrivals and baggage hall can be

demolished. Known as the "1937 building", it's on the list of Sites

of Special Interest but Jersey Airport's management argued it

affected both its safety and operational capability. Heritage

campaigners had wanted to preserve the building. Jersey Airport says it

welcomes the news. And there will be more on this story

on BBC Radio Jersey from six with Matthew Price.

Controlled explosions have been carried out on mines found at Long

Beach in Grouville Bay. The nine teller mines were found by an

islander out metal`detecting with his friends this afternoon. The

World War Two bombs were used as anti`tank mines. Tony Collins, who

found the mines, said he knew he had to call the bomb disposal unit

straightaway. Normally, you find one or two, but nine in one whole, in

his career, he has never seen so many. It looks like they were

ditched. Someone put them there. Maybe they forgot to pick them up

but they have been sitting there for the last 70 odd years.

The final bill for repairing the sea walls from the winter storms could

reach ?800,000. That's on top of the ?1 million spent every year on

routine maintenance of Jersey's sea defences. Meanwhile, officials from

Transport and Technical Services say rising sea levels and more frequent

storms may force them to raise the height of the sea walls. A scrutiny

panel today heard the current walls are working well but they're

studying data to see if they need to be higher in the coming decades.

A woman appeared in Guernsey's Magistrates Court today, accused of

stabbing her former partner with a knife. The incident happened at a

property in Mill Street on Saturday Night. Sheena`Anne Rive faces

charges of unlawfully wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily

harm. The 32`year`old was remanded in custody for seven days.

Guernsey's failing to provide enough appropriate housing for islanders.

That's according to the Chief Officer of Housing. It follows the

release of new figures showing that the number of new homes built last

year falls well below government targets. Mike Wilkins reports.

Building new homes for the future but the latest government figures

show that not enough are being constructed. 171 new homes were

built last year when the target the States set is to create 300 a year.

More than half of those new builds, 60%, are classed as "affordable

housing". Most of the new builds were in St Peter Port and the north

of the island, so where should future homes be built? Well, there

are brown field sites that some feel should be turned over to housing,

whilst others feel the rural parishes may have to shoulder more

of the burden. We are all waiting for the plan, which will come out in

the next 12`15 months. Hopefully, the planners will address that. Some

parishes need to take some of the burden of new housing and I am

hopeful that they will call local centres. Space is a premium in

Guernsey and not all sites can easily be developed. We are waiting

on the new development plan to allocate more land for development.

At the moment, it's restricted. We are looking for flexibility there so

that houses can be provided. It's a fine line to tread. Build too few

houses and people continue to struggle to buy a home but build too

many too quickly and the market could become flooded.

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

Why these heavy horses are digging into the past to commemorate the

centenary of the Great War. Jersey Rugby Club have given their

chances of remaining in the second tier of English rugby a boost. They

took a 30`23 victory over Plymouth Albion, playing away at the

Brickfields Stadium. Well, the team at the bottom of the

table, Ealing, LOST at home to Bedford, so Jersey can all but

secure their place in the Championship next season IF they can

beat Ealing away this Friday. BBC Radio Jersey will bring you the

latest action in a Sportscene special with Tim Pryor and Richard

Collinson. That's on Friday from 7pm.

Guernsey managed to knock out Alderney in the semi`finals of the

Muratti over the weekend. Alderney put up a brave fight but eventually

succumbed to a 4`0 defeat. The island hasn't reached a Muratti

final since 1938 and has only ever won one match, the 1920 final.

Guernsey will now play Jersey in the final in May.

Next, the first outdoor Jersey royals were dug today and these are

just some of them. They'll go to local suppliers ahead of more being

picked later in the spring. Potato growers are confident of a good

season despite bad weather earlier this year. Edward Sault joined the

pickers this afternoon. A Monday afternoon in March and the

first outdoor royals are dug here in St Martin. It's not the earliest

they've ever been lifted but today has given the industry a boost after

a start to the year that saw some fields far too wet for the sowing of

seed potatoes. Some Jersey Royals were delayed from being planted

earlier this year. These were planted in December. Those that

export Jersey Royals abroad are confident of a bumper season. The

beginning of February was particularly wet and that has

impacted on the planting programme. But this time last year, we were

still in the depths of winter. Everything in the ground is growing

well, so I am feeling positive and upbeat. In 2013, the harvest was

delayed until May due to cold weather and heavy snowfall. The crop

was worth nearly ?30 million to the island in exports last year and

depends on an early harvest to maintain its value. These will be

going to local supermarkets and today, those selling them came to

see their supply being dug. If we run out, not too good, but we expect

to sell at least a trace of the first day. Royals planted earlier

this year will be lifted further on in the spring. They will form part

of the crop exported to the lucrative UK market and it seems

that despite an awful start to the year, growers are confident of a

right royal season for Jersey's most famous export.

Let's look at the weather because as you pointed out, the weather hasn't

been too good for all of the growers. We have had a fine

weekend. It is a little bit more unsettled this week. Tomorrow, there

could even be enough cloud to generate a few showers. A gradual

change as we move towards the end of the week to colder conditions and

more unsettled conditions. Most of the areas of low pressure is in

Scotland. This area of high pressure moves a long way away from us.

Wednesday promises a reasonable day with sunny spells. Then I will

change again is that weather front comes in and that produces a thicker

cloud without bricks of rain. The cloud is just enough thick enough to

generate a few showers. Breezy, too, with the westerly wind. For

tomorrow, we have all of that cloud in the morning generating a few

showers, particularly around the middle of the day, and as that

Pandev showers clears out of the way, the second half of the day

promises sunny spells, a brisk westerly breeze and temperatures of

11 or 12. The winds are predominantly westerly tomorrow.

Showers there with mainly good visibility. We continue with the

waves increasing this week, so after disappointing surfing conditions,

waves begin to get bigger. The forecast, as we head towards the end

of the week, more unsettled. A bright day on Wednesday. Cloudy on

Thursday but dry and breezily. Friday, we start the day on 1112

degrees but the temperatures come down as we head into the weekend.

glass bottle and then we have a chance to fight the fire. Expect

this to be affiliate site over the next few weeks as it continues till

the end of the month. `` a Familia sight. `` Familia.

It's time for the big sports news of the weekend now, and Natalie's at

Sandy Park with some of the victorious Exeter Chiefs.

It's the calm after the storm here today, and what a storm it was.

Exeter beat Northampton 15`8 in the final of the LV Cup to lift the

first major trophy of their 143` year history. Former Chiefs player

Andy Birkett was here to watch the victory and has this report and what

was a great day all round. It is going to be a Northampton win.

I think Exeter might just about do it. The boys will come home with the

cup, absolutely ! This was a Cup Final and Exeter got off to the best

possible start, with Chris Whitehead giving the fans something to cheer

about after just five minutes. The skipper stretched the lead to ten.

When this crossed it made for a nervy last ten minutes. The boys got

their bodies on the line in the last ten minutes especially. I saw the

reaction on the big screen and Rob was as pleased as all of us. The

team have let some close games slip this season but they were not going

to be denied. And history was made. Today was pretty special and

hopefully it especial for them as well. We have something tangible, a

cup, and we will enjoy it. A great honour. It has been fantastic but we

always knew in the run`up to the game that the only way the

atmosphere would take off is if we gave our supporters something to get

behind and to credit `` give credit to the players, that is what they

did from the start. The atmosphere was brilliant. Thousands of Chiefs

fans waving flags. Excellent! Brilliant day! Fantastic for the

club. Fantastic. When they started singing it was like, wow! Just

amazing! It is unfortunate my best friend is a Saints fan. He will get

over it. By already have! `` I already. It is just something. We

have been Northampton! And I would say they are the best side in the

Premiership. Awesome atmosphere today! Brilliant. Totally brilliant.

It certainly was. And just look. Tony is with us now and he is still

holding the trophy. Have you put it down? No! I am also joined by the

team captain and the try scorer. Has it sunk in what you did yesterday? A

bit. It takes a while. It didn't take long to realise what we had

done and how special it was for the public and supporters. The noise and

atmosphere was really something special. How lucky few getting a

home final? I know! I was trying to make that point to some of the guys

in the team that these things just don't happen. You can go through a

whole career and never play finals so it is very rare. And a treasured

memory from now on. And your try in the second`half just when it was the

good? Yes lucky, I suppose. An excellent leader. `` lead up.

Basically it was just cleaning up what everyone else had done. And

yours was quite lucky as well, Chris! By all accounts! An excellent

line`out throwing to a great try. Those are the pressure games and the

ones you have to get to win the final and it was a fantastic day all

round. Northampton is top of the league. Did you think you could be

them? Exactly. For us to be able to turn up to these games and show we

are good enough to win these games, you know, I think we did that from

the first and it yesterday and it proved to be a real positive for us

and we came away with a great victory. What does it mean for the

rest of the season? Rob and the coaches are pretty level`headed

guys. They said, enjoy this, enjoy the night. You don't get many

opportunities to be finals, let alone win them, but certainly want

to come back to training tomorrow morning and it will be all about

Leicester away and that top six finish is massive for us. Tony, I

heard you say last night you were going to sleep with that trophy. Can

you confirm or deny that? I stick to my word! A fantastic day for you and

you must have been over the moon? Absolutely brilliant. The guys did a

magnificent job and it is the best I have ever seen them play. Was it

emotional? Gas, a bit at the end. You are a softy! `` yes, at the end.

We're going to take it around Exeter, the trophy. On the 5th of

May. Sorry, 5th of April. An open top bus through the Exeter football

ground. So we will have it with us then. Fabulous. Thank you and

congratulations again. While the Chiefs were getting ready

for the final yesterday, one of their team`mates was travelling back

from Rome to be here to cheer them on. I should mention the small

matter that he'd just scored his first try for England. I am of

course talking about Jack Nowell. We'll be hearing from him in a

moment, but first this report from John Danks on Jack's momentous

weekend. He gets over the line for his first

England try! It was the crowning glory in what

has been a great six Nations campaign for Jack Nowell. Less than

three months ago he was given the news he would be playing for his

country. To be given this opportunity, this AI was very

grateful for that and was really looking forward to it. `` obviously

I was very grateful. Still in possession! Still on his feet!

The Exeter Chiefs winner showed Scotland just how good a playmaker

he was. He played in all of the fixtures.

Saturday's win against Italy was not enough to secure England

championship but it proved Jack Nowell is one to watch for the

future. `` secure England the championship.

And Jack is here with me now. You are back in Exeter but your feet

firmly back on the ground? Definitely. I'm obviously very happy

to come back and see the boys yesterday. And that try yesterday,

it was just the icing on the cake. Yes, it was. For me, the most

important thing was the team were winning and for me to get the try in

the last game was the icing on the cake. Did you know you would score

against Italy? No! I just thought I'd knew why would get my hands on

the ball. If you look back over the last couple of months, is like a

dream or is this it now and you know what you are going to do with your

future? It was a bit of a dream going in and just me and all the

boys and stuff. But as soon as I was given a chance I had to take it and

I thought, this is exactly what I want to be doing. But a bit nerve

wracking? Just a bit. But I got back into the game and I loved it, to be

honest. Your team`mates looked really chuffed for you on Saturday

when they scored. Are they really nice? Do you get on? Yes. They said

they wanted me to score a try so they said they were all very happy

for me. On going to ask you a difficult question but possibly a

silly question. Scoring a try for England or winning the LV Cup? That

is a really difficult one. The situation on Sunday here was amazing

and for me to come back and catch the end of it and see all the boys

afterwards was amazing, so it was amazing. Thank you for all the

pleasure you have given us over the last couple of months. You have done

Cornwall and the Exeter Chiefs proud. But is it. I'll hand you back

from `` to the studio. Thank you.

A Cornish estate which lost part of its workforce during the Great War

is stepping back in time. It's transforming its fields and gardens

to show how they would have looked in 1914. A cornfield at Heligan is

being sown with poppies and it's hoped they'll flower in August, 100

years after the start of the war. Hannah Stacey has been finding out

more. This is how fields were ploughed 100

years ago. But the men here at Heligan down their tools and went

off to war. Link goes back to 1914, when the garden is left to war. And

they wrote their names on what we call these thunder box, but it was

the toilet up in the gardens! So that was the start of the decline of

the gardens. As the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War

approaches, Heligan wants to mark what became a significant moment in

its history. It is amazing. It is like going back 100 years and

seeing... Well, especially with a team of three and a plough, it is a

sight to see. They are planting poppies and barley. Probably most

farmers at the time, for them horses were a valuable item and most of

those were going off to war, and the farmers, if they had two horses left

they had a luxury. I have to watch out that people will get carried

away taking pictures and they stand in front of the horses. You have to

watch out for that. And if the seed takes, it is hoped these fields will

provide a fitting backdrop for a poignant performance at the

beginning of August. If you come here now you will see an artist's

impression of what we hope it will look like and if it is anything like

that, it will be fantastic. A lovely gentle, rural scene. Now

the weather. After a lovely weekend for many of

us, the son has been out and it has been very pleasant for this time of

year. `` the sun. We will have a change this week with more cloud

around and a breeze getting up and now some rain in the forecast,

particularly in the second half of the week. Still some high`pressure

holding in there but a fairly weak affair. It has retreated out into

the Atlantic so a lot more cloud around and thick enough later to

produce a few light showers, too. The high`pressure does come back a

bit by the middle of the week but it is very short lived. A long way away

now and it gets closer by the middle of the day on Wednesday. But this

area of low pressure and this weather system will make progress

towards us through Thursday, particularly Thursday night and into

Friday, with cold air following in as well. The cloud structure we have

tonight is thick enough to give a few light showers with some clear

skies but only briefly. Mainly a cloudy night to come. The breeze

picks up on the second half of the night and overnight temperatures

dipping no lower than seven or eight agrees for most of us. Tomorrow

morning, we start the day rather grey and, in places, damp with

showery outbreaks of rain. By the end of the morning into the

afternoon the rain band will clear away with sunshine breaking through

the cloud. It is predominantly cloudy and breezy with the winds

from the west or north west, and though temperatures might get up to

11 or 12, if we throw in the wind chill, it might not feel as warm as

those temperatures suggest. That is the forecast for the Isles of

Scilly. Expect to have a cloudy day with outbreaks of light rain early

in the afternoon and quite breezy with those westerly winds. These are

the high water times. For our surface, it picks up this

week. It has been disappointing for the last five or six days but it

will get together this week. `` it will get bigger. Those waves pick up

as we head into Wednesday and Thursday. The forecast for the

coastal waters. As for the outlook, expect to have a

reasonable day again on Wednesday but that is the last proper decent

day because it starts to go downhill. We are concerned about

Thursday because not only will we see outbreaks of rain but through

the afternoon into the early evening, some of it could be quite

heavy and also accompanied by winds that could be gusting at galeforce,

so a complete change to what we have been used to over the last week or

so. Then on Friday, the winds bring cold air, so after a damp start on

Friday morning, the Caldaire follows behind, so after 17 or 18 degrees

through the weekend, back down to nine degrees by Friday. Have a good

evening. That is it from us for now. Our next

update is at 10:25pm. From all of us here and the team at Sandy Park,

where celebrations continue, good night.