10/04/2014 BBC Channel Islands News

Commons has been cleared of rape and other sex charges. Goodbye.

Megawatts and mega`bucks! A major renewable energy project could bring

in millions for Alderney. Plus, are Guernsey hotels turning

away business by not improving disability access?

The important message from Canada is you save a lot of money if people

are in the workforce and participating in society and not

being institutionalised unnecessarily.

50 years on ` the founder of a school's round island charity walk

joins this year's trekkers. Good evening.

A large renewable energy tidal farm could be built off the coast of

Alderney by 2020. In a major announcement in France this morning,

French firm OpenHydro and Alderney Renewable Energy launched a joint

venture to develop a 300 megawatt farm, made up of 150 turbines like

this one. It would produce enough power for more than 150,000 homes

and generate around ?10 million a year for Alderney's economy. The

joint venture was formalised in Cherbourg today, from where David

Earl reports. Alderney Renewable Energy and

OpenHydro chose a major international convention in

Cherbourg to make their announcement of a prestigious event for this

important agreement. I am very pleased to be here this morning. We

are here at two and it this joint venture between Alderney Renewable

Energy and OpenHydro. The ambitious plan involves deploying 150 marine

turbines in the Alderney Race and connecting them by an underwater

cable, linking France, Alderney and the UK. Alderney Renewable Energy

has a 65 year licence to develop the tides around Alderney. We believe

there are 3,000 megawatts of power there and we have signed a joint

venture to start on the first 300 megawatts. This will start in 2020,

which will coincide with the interconnector from France, through

Alderney to Britain. The open Hydro turbines, each weighing around 900

tonnes, will have to withstand the ravages of some of the strongest

tides in the world. Crucially, they have not yet untested. We have to

look at the heritage of testing work that we have done over the last ten

years as soon. The tides up in Orkney in Scotland are every bit as

strong and aggressive as those in Alderney. We have been testing up

there since 2006. We have had great success. In addition, no`one really

knows what kind of environmental impact these devices will have. We

don't know. We are looking at a very large scale development, but it is

small compared to the marine environment as a whole. What is

important as we hide reared preinstallation monitoring so we

know the environment is doing before we start interfering with that. On

the whole, we would hope there will be a net improvement.

Whilst it will take three years to obtain the necessary consents,

Alderney Renewable Energy are confident that they will be

generating marine renewable energy by 2020 at the latest. A man has

appeared in court in Jersey following the death of Vitor

Fernandes in a car crash on Victoria Avenue last December.

21`year`old Jose Silva has been charged with causing death by

dangerous driving. Emma Chambers was in court.

Vitor Fernandes was just 22 when he was killed in this car crash on

Victoria Avenue. It happened just after 10.00pm on 30th December last

year. Vitor was treated by paramedics at the scene of the

crash, but was later pronounced dead at hospital. Today, the man charged

with causing his death appeared in court. Jose Silva appeared before

the Magistrates' Court this morning charged with causing death by

dangerous driving. He wore a dark grey hooded jumper and looked

impassive as ten charges were read out against him, a string of them

relating to the condition of the car he was driving on the night of the

collision. But the main charge, of causing death by dangerous driving,

was deemed by the Magistrate, Mr Peter Harris, as "too serious for

this court". Jose Silva has been released on bail, but is due to

re`appear at the Magistrates' Court in two weeks' time for his committal

to Jersey's Royal Court on Thursday, 22nd May.

Disability rights campaigners in Guernsey are being offered a helping

hand this week, all the way from Canada. The island's government has

recently agreed to a disability strategy, but it still needs help

before any laws are drafted and is looking far beyond its shores for

advice. Mike Wilkins reports. Remember this? Public pressure

helping to push through the island's disability strategy in the States.

That was months ago. So, what's changed? Well, not much yet, but

that is not to say nothing's happening. You will not see loads of

stuff change overnight. Most of the change will happen when we managed

to influence attitudes. That is part of the process. The strategy says

the main objective is changing attitudes. When we start managing

that, and then we have some legislation that provides an

impetus, then we will see change. Research is taking place before

proposals go back to the States for a law to prevent discrimination

against disabled people. Guernsey is turning its back on the UK approach

to disability legislation, and is keener to emulate other countries.

One of the consequences of the UK model, is there is likely to be far

more litigation. A lot of that revolves around the definition of

someone he is disabled. This will help avoid that. At a conference in

St Peter Port, help is on hand from Canada, a country viewed at the

forefront of disability rights. The important message from Canada is you

save a lot of money if people are in the workforce and people are

participating in society and not being institutionalised

unnecessarily. So, while the wait goes on, with a little help from

Canada, the legal wheels could soon be in motion.

The Royal Bank of Canada has pulled out of its planned offices on

Jersey's Waterfront. The bank will take its business to

another new office. Those behind the scheme on the esplanade say they

will now have to re`think plans for the site.

500 students from De La Salle College in Jersey have been walking

36 miles around the island today, all in the name of charity. The

annual coastal walk first began in 1960, as these pictures show. This

remarkable footage from the very first one was discovered in the loft

of the walks founder, Jack Renault. Fast forward to today and Jack was

there to see the first boy to finish, Jen Smith reports.

The start of a very long day. These boys are taking on 36 miles,

covering the coast of Jersey. Every age group from year seven upwards of

lined up. Excited, and a bit worried. Most worried about not

completing its, and if there is any pain. In 2013 the walkways raised

?15,000 for charity. This year, this group and `` in Africa is set to

benefit. It is to help them have better lives. The walk was first

started in 1968 teacher Jack Renault. Jack worked at the school

from within three decades and saw it grow into the success it is today. I

did enjoy it. I got a lot of help from the staff. It has become a

tradition. It is wonderful. Obviously, it will go on. This year

's winner was a 17`year`old, who made it in under six hours. I came

fifth last year. I didn't think I was going to win it today.

I did it a few years ago, and made toenails have just grown back

ex`commissioner Mark was that too much information?

Now, the weather. Some people across the island are running in the

marathon this weekend. It looks like the weather will be kind. Not overly

hot and a gentle breeze for those heading towards London. At the

moment we have some clear sky, but the cloud will come in later

tonight. It will be stubborn in moving out of the way tomorrow

morning. We will get some lengthy spells of sunshine in the

afternoon. Quite a cold night overnight tomorrow night and into

early Saturday morning. The reason for that is this weather from

bringing in colder air. It will be more noticeable during the night and

during the day. It is a very weak feature but the time this weather

from crossers us early tomorrow morning. This area of high pressure

will dominate yet again. Another cold frog approaches from the

north`west lid on on Sunday. There has hardly been applied in the sky

for us today, a lovely day. Overnight tonight, the cloud will

see him from the north. There will be much on back to life in terms of

rain or drizzle, but it does introduce cloudier skies first thing

tomorrow morning. Tomorrow, we wake up to some cloud, but very pretty

The Sun will break through that and by late morning the sunshine is back

in it will be a lovely afternoon. Light winds from the north and

north`east and up to 14 degrees as possible.

The weekend forecast is very promising. All the way through it'll

be fine and dry, temperatures peaking at on Saturday. It will be

dry for the next four days with light winds. Enjoy.

Thanks, David. In a moment we'll join Spotlight, but we thought we

would leave you with the wonderful sound of the Viennese Piano Trio,

who are performing at Jersey's Arts Centre this week. Good night.

whether it will choose to ignore it. His Royal Highness The Duke of York

has officially opened a new multi million pound recovery centre for

injured service personnel at Devonport Naval Base. The centre

will be home to Hasler Company, which was formed five years ago, and

will help support naval personnel and their families. Spotlight's Andy

Breare reports. Today was the official opening of

the Naval Service Recovery Centre, which is already being used by

injured military personnel. Earlier, the Duke of York had a tour around

the accommodation block, which is home to 55 injured service men. It

is now part of Hasler company. It started about two years ago. They

had an issue while I was out on deployment in the Caribbean. I got

back to the UK, got it investigated, and then found out I had to go to

surgery. I joined Hasler Company. Nothing seems to be too much trouble

for them ` for anybody, no matter what rank you're talking to, they

are here to help, and if they can't do it they find out how you can do

it. Meanwhile, Marine Kevin Bradnick is

using his time at the centre to prepare for life outside the

services. Unfortunately, I am going to be

getting a discharge from the Royal Marines this year. Being at Hasler

has given me more opportunities than what my parent unit would have

offered me, with regard to working outside and furthering my education.

Whether it's Whether it's preparing injured Royal

Marines to go to university, or helping personnel come to terms with

their injuries or illnesses, the new centre incorporates a gym,

hydrotherapy pool and swimming pool. It has cost ?23 million, and is the

first in the region funded by the Help For Heroes charity, and run

jointly with the MoD. What happened back in 2007 is we

decided we would raise money for the wounded. The British public got

behind it, and we have been able to do a series of projects ` both

buildings like this and a lot of support to the individuals. People

like me who are civilians admire people like them who are wearing

uniform. When they are hurt, I want to do my bit to help them. That's

what this is about. Whilst some of those personnel may

have had their military careers cut short by injury, others are hoping

it will help them to get back to active service.

I've still got ongoing surgery. I will hopefully have completed that

by the end of the year. I don't know if that's being realistic or

optimistic, however, hopefully that will be the case. Then I shall be

training back`up and hopefully returning to service.

It is hoped this will be a centre of excellence for recovery and

rehabilitation. Today, it received the Royal seal of approval.

A theatre group whose members are threatened with arrest for speaking

out against their country's political leaders, have been given a

refuge in Cornwall. The Belarus Free Theatre is now working with students

at Falmouth University. The company has been banned from performing in

its own country and its fears the situation in Ukraine could make

things worse. Eleanor Parkinson reports.

The Belarus Free Theatre is busy rehearsing its new play. It's about

a young mother's nomadic journey after she loses her home because of

an environmental disaster. For these young actors, being forced to flee

their home is a subject close to their hearts. If they return to

Belarus, a country which has close ties with Russia, they fear they

will be arrested for speaking out against the political system.

I have three cases on me and two on my wife. Five criminal cases for one

family is a lot. What would happen to you if you went

back to Belarus? We would be arrested, and then trial

and then prison. Although this theatre group have

been given refuge in this country, they still have members in Belarus.

They often perform in secret locations, and for every performance

they risk arrest. They rehearse, train and are

educated in little spaces ` people's front rooms, basement flats and so

on. Underneath the governmental radar. But despite this, and this is

what is so important, artists from across Europe, particularly from the

UK, go to Belarus to teach the young people, to train and make theatre,

and they show their performances come what may.

The company now has support from many well`known actors ` Jude Law

made this film with Nikolai after a chance meeting at an airport.

Flying? I hate flying, to be honest. I spend half my life in airports.

Solidarity of artistic people. In principle, you are not forgotten,

nobody has left you there alone. You can continue doing your profession.

They call it black gold...and now, for the first time, it's coming from

a new source. Caviar ` still the preserve of the rich and famous ` is

now being produced in a secret location in the UK.

Yes, and it's in Devon! The producers are just coming to the end

of their first season and already Exmoor Caviar is being backed by

some very famous chefs. Spotlight's North Devon reporter Andrea Ormsby

has been to investigate. Ken Benning has been in the

multi`million pound caviar importing business for years. Now he is making

his own, and this Exmoor water is the key.

Have you tried it? Come on then. You do it without

slurping! I need to learn to do that, don't I? But it's really

lovely to taste, isn't it? And this is the magic ingredient for your

caviar. This is the ingredient to the

caviar. I think this is what gives us a very different taste.

Come and show me how you do it then! Let's go.

You've got loads of different tanks around the place, some with tiny

little fish. Stand back. This will be a fighter.

So, this is a sturgeon? This is a Siberian sturgeon. She's

about eight to ten years of age. She is fully pregnant, and she is a bit

of a rowdy girl. Gently! She is basically full of

caviar. Caviar itself is incredibly

contentious in some ways. Where there is caviar there is generally

corruption, particularly in the Caspian Sea and the old Caspian

states. But we have moved away from that ` we are hear in Devon, we have

Siberian sturgeon, we are farming them, we are using natural local

Cornish sea salt. We are producing a very different product to what one

would know what as caviar from the olden days, or the old school of

caviar. Turn the sturgeon over like this.

Take a knife. And here is all the caviar.

The process of cleaning the caviar and adding the Cornish sea salt has

to be done quickly before it warms up too much.

That really is good. I'm not even trying to be nice ` that really is

scrumptious! I feel like I should give you a tenner for that.

?10?! Okay, more!

No problem at all. The age of steam returned to the

famous coastal rail line at Dawlish today. Less than a week after the

route reopened following the damage caused by February's storms, rail

enthusiasts were out in force again to welcome one of the best known

steam locomotives. The Sir Nigel Gresley travelled along the newly

repaired track taking passengers down to Kingswear. Spotlight's Leigh

Rundle was onboard for part of the journey.

Just before 2pm this afternoon, the Sir Nigel Gresley road through

Dawlish. For the 473 passengers, it was a memorable trip.

The atmosphere is wonderful. Having a meal, as well, which we have been

lucky to have. It has been a whole day out.

It is clearly fantastic. It is open for business.

I think the scenery is a beautiful part of the country to come and see.

Would you call yourself a train spotter?

Know. I'm not a train spotter. I like trains. I appreciate them. But

I'm not a train spotter. Despite Network Rail's promises

following the storm damage, this was an excursion that many believed

would never happen. I thought we had no hope. Network

Rail have been fantastic, and that has been a tribute.

Built in the 1930s, is mighty engine weighs in at 168 tonnes. She is kept

on the rails by a team of dedicated enthusiasts.

Several other people with me today were looking after it. We keep it

going and keep it going. We have just taken on our first ever

full`time professional. He is only 27!

76 years ago, and engine identical to this one beat the land speed

record. That record is still held by that engine.

However, a more measured speed is generally adopted on day trips.

Lovely sites, lovely sounds! Fantastic weather as well!

Before I give you the forecast, I thought I would look back at the

month of March. Spring has certainly arrived. March was one of those

months where, finally, with a sigh of relief, we are able to say

goodbye to one of the wettest winters on record. Rainfall to start

with. The average is 64. We have been below that of four March 2014.

That is the first time for several months that we have had

below`average rainfall. Sunshine was up as well. The temperatures were up

to. `` the temperatures were up, too. We have probably seen above

average daytime temperatures and night`time temperatures for most of

the month. Reservoir levels haven't changed much from this time last

year. Not surprisingly, they are pretty close to 100% full. Let's

have a look and see if there is any rainfall in the forecast. It looks

like we are going to see a lot of dry weather. A bit more cloud coming

in later on tonight, but like we've seen today, one day it's a glorious

day and next there is a stubborn veil of cloud. This line is creeping

through parts of the Irish Sea, nudging into the coast of Wales. For

us, just a line of cloud. It introduces slightly colder air as it

moves through the English Channel and away from us. That finger of

high pressure will be with us into the weekend. Another cold front is

approaching, but for us it is just a line of cloud. Probably quite a

cloudy day on Sunday. This is a satellite picture from this

afternoon. There has been a line of cloud, which has been a bit

stubborn. Not this morning, though. It was a glorious view of the

low`level mist and fog. Our cameraman was up early to catch

these shots on a very quiet stop remember the sea conditions we have

seen only a few weeks ago. Look how quiet that scenes. `` how quiet that

scene is. We've got the cloud and Apache mist that may well form later

tonight. At four while we will have lengthy clear spells. `` a Apache

mist. Temperatures coming back six or

seven. Tomorrow, cloudy at first and then we will see some sunny spells.

Some lengthy spells of sunshine come the end of the afternoon.

Temperatures of 13 or 14, even 15. Generally light winds. Some of the

best of the sunshine will be along the coast, and especially for the

Isles of Scilly. High water: At Plymouth, it's at 3:47pm and 4:19pm.

There isn't a great deal of surf this weekend. Up to about two feet

and feeling flat along the south coast. Winds are variable. From the

North West initially, but generally good visibility. It stays dry into

the weekend and at times rather cloudy.

The trains are running back at the tracks on Dawlish and the boats are

back on the water at Porthleven. We will leave you with a view of

Porthleven. Good night.