30/06/2011 BBC Points West

Hello and welcome to BBC Points West.

In tonight's headlines: The 13- year-old killed in a hit and run.

As the driver admits his guilt Amy Hofmeister's mother speaks of her

tragic loss. How the West joined the national protest, we'll have

details and full analysis. Also tonight, what NASA astronauts

brought back from space for some Somerset pupils.

And a star is born? We talk to the 10-year-old who

The mother of a 13-year-old girl who was knocked off her bike and

killed in Taunton has been speaking of her grief. Amy Hofmeister died

as she rode back from school earlier this month. She would have

been 14 on Saturday. Her mother Jane, who's spoken for the first

time since her daughter died, says the support of the community has

kept her going. Emma Campbell reports.

Photographs are doubly precious to her family now. Looking through

them gives you the sense of a bubbly, happy girl with a big

capacity for fun. She would have been 14 on Saturday. Wonderful.

Sparkly, bubbly, fun-loving. Full of life, enthusiastic. Bowmore and

put me extremely warm. Extremely kind and passionate. -- but more

importantly. The friendliest little girl you could wish to make. Since

her death cards have poured in in their hundreds. The bereavement

process, it is the grief of the region, my grief and Benjamin's

grief and my family's grief. But everybody is there with me. And

supporting the and lovingly. I can ask for more. -- supporting me and

loving me. I gave consent for them to retain some of her heart tissue

for heart related research in the future and her heart valves. She

had the biggest heart and she gave her heart. I got a letter this

morning to say that two people have been saved. That is wonderful, she

would be thrilled. In her memory her mother is campaigning to

improve road safety. It was the biggest co-ordinated strike in

decades. Across the West hundreds of

thousands of people were affected as schools shut and civil servants

stayed away from work. By far the biggest protest was in the centre

of Bristol, where thousands marched to a rally in Castle Park. A bit

more sedate was this picket line in Temple Quay, dubbed Bristol's mini-

Whitehall, it's where many government offices are based. Staff

arriving at some universities were also greeted by placards. Our

political editor Paul Barltrop reports now on a day of protest

across the West. They came in their thousands to the

West's biggest protest rally in Bristol. There were members of many

unions but most of all teachers. Before it began I met two who're

new to it. Claire Neaves has taught in a primary school for three years

and is dismayed she may have to pay more for a smaller pension.

I think if we don't strike, if we don't go out and show the

government there is that strength of feeling, nothing will change.

Rosie Walton's just finished her training, but having second

thoughts. I would really love to work as a teacher. However, I am

currently considering other options, and obviously the pensions is one

of those things that will affect my decision.

In the city centre they joined a large, good-humoured march. As well

as teachers, there were civil servants from the PCS union. They'd

co-ordinated this day of action to make the maximum impact. But many

Lot of passion here today. Some of these people are used to protesting

but it is striking just how many say they have never before been on

strike. It is about the privatisation of the services.

are striking not just to cause a big inconvenience to Paris ended

children, but to protect our profession. -- to parents and

children. The rally was preaching to the converted but these teachers

believe they got their message across. The amount of people out

today marching for the same cause and the amount of public support

was amazing. This isn't just about teachers' pensions, it is about how

we want our society to be going forward and education is something

everybody cares about. And all agreed one thing, if the Government

doesn't soften its line, this strike won't be the last.

So how did parents cope with today's disruption? We caught up

with a few in Bath. Today we are quite lucky. It is a

treat to be forced to spend the day with my children instead of being

at work. The schools of today. If we take children of school we get

fined for it. I don't agree with it at all. The changes that they are

making, too quick, too fast. I am all in favour of them going out in

strike -- on strike. Let's talk now to our Business

Correspondent Dave Harvey, who's spent much of the day at a school

in Filton, near Bristol. Welcome to Abbeywood Community School, a brand

new school built on Bristol's northern fringe. No pupils in today

though, as the majority of teachers here in NUT. I was here early this

morning when they set up a picket line, colourful flags, plenty of

kids, very much a family affair, not an angry protest. They had a

VIP guest too, Brendan Barber, the top man in the union movement,

General Secretary of the TUC, came West today to meet union members

and spread the word. But what of the public? This is often presented

as a clash between the unions and the Government but actually there

is a third party in this. People who pay taxes, but work in the

private sector, and get very different pensions. So for a moment

or two, I want to take you away from all this hurly burly to a

quieter place, but still part of the argument. Spend a few moments

with me in Clevedon. They are playing a team from Nottingham.

What do you see? A lot of retired people, but also in the 70s and 80s,

a lot of remarkably fit, retired people. That is the pensions

problem in a nutshell. We're all living longer. Our pensions must

stretch further. Many who feel teachers' pensions are a fair bit

better than theirs. A fair bit better is probably an

understatement. A damn sight better. The government are right that in

some way or another we have got to get some rationale as far as

pensions are concerned. contribution we get paid in. We pay

the rest ourselves. From the bowling green to the Investment

Brokers. Welcome to Bristol's top financial company. The difference

is immense. If more people knew in the private sector what was

happening it would be the private sector going on strike. 700 people

work here. On decent salaries yes, of course, but like thousands of

others to work for private companies the pension they can

build a peer doesn't begin to compare with that of a teacher,

doctor, or civil servant -- build up here. Someone on a salary of

�20,000 repairing on �40,000, gets a pension of �27,000. In the

private sector you would need a sum of �900,000 to do that and he is

the big killer, a contribution level of 40% from the employer and

employee. There is no way you would get anything like the same in the

private sector. What teachers will say is that was the deal when they

signed up and there are lots of other problems, they don't get as

good pay, and the pension was one of the reasons they went into it.

The play has improved immensely. The private sector has gone right

down. That is not really a good story any more, it doesn't hold

water. Yes, they have to work hard but do we have to work hard in the

private sector? Mark Dampier, from Hargreaves Lansdown. 40%

contributions. I mentioned that the country's top union man has spent

most of the day here, Brendan Barber, who runs the TUC started

the day here, then went to Taunton and Bristol as well. Shortly before

we came on the air, I asked him if he thought all the disruption had

been worth it. I regret the disruption. I don't

want to see ordinary people, families inconvenience in the way

they have been today. I went to see these resolved through sensible

negotiation that any government to work with us to make that a

possibility. There have been people watching this who have taken a

day's leave, spend extra money on child care whose children have

missed out on vital revision for important exams. They are paying

taxes for your members to get better pensions than them. People

realise quite how serious the attack on pensions is the

government are proposing. I don't think people see public service

workers in the way some commentators increasingly are

describing them as if these are almost parasite on society. With

the rest of us having to support them in an unfair and unreasonable

way. A lot of people feel you get a better deal and the public --

public sector and private sectors are you should stop whingeing.

There is no doubt in the private sector pensions provision has got

worse but are we going to make it any better if we drank down the

standards in the public sector, not in any single way are we going to

make it better. -- dragged down. Their pupils in a school behind you

who have never known a winter of discontent a, is that what we have

got ahead of us? I don't want to see a summer autumn of discontent.

I want to see a solution achieved presentable negotiation. I do need

the government to come to the table in a rather different way than they

have done so far. They say they are not negotiating and you are

striking. They say that by unilaterally they announced a 3%

increase in people's contributions and a pay freeze. They are making

these unilateral announcements rather than sitting down and

allowing sensible, fare negotiation and that is what we need.

Brendan Barber standing resolute there. Today had the feel of a

family fun day. There was a sunny day after all. But when this

argument unions may have to be many more days of action on cold, rainy

autumn date -- but to win this argument. The battle lines are

strongly drawn. Both sides feel they have a strong argument,

neither wants to give way, and interestingly both sides have a lot

of public support. We will see Thanks Dave. Well what do you think

about today's strike? They are lucky to get what they get, they

get it on top of the state pension. We think our teachers are wonderful

and we want them to get a fair deal. And we'll have more of your views

before the end of the programme. Wiltshire Police has been given new

powers to tackle domestic violence. Anyone suspected of abusing their

partner can be banned from their home for up to a month before any

charges are brought against them. Scott Ellis reports.

Wiltshire police launching its new powers to tackle domestic abuse.

It's a crime they deal with every day. From now, if officers are

called to a home, but there's not enough evidence to charge an abuser

they can issue a new Domestic Violence Protection Notice. It bans

the suspect from the home for 48 hours. It can be backed up with a

Domestic Violence Protection Order. That bans them for up to 28 days.

There is massive amounts of repeat victimisation. For every day that

suspect is not with that a victim of we are preventing crime.

assaulted by punching and pushing her. -- I assaulted. This man was

arrested for beating his partner but was allowed back home. Under

new laws that shouldn't happen. is good for giving her breathing

space. It has got to be good for that to protect the victim. This

woman suffered emotional abuse. She became so frightened she sought

help. Under new laws she'd have acted more quickly. I would have

been able to access certain help but I had to wait to access it. It

would have given me time to consider what life would be like on

my own. And to consider whether that was what I wanted. The new

powers are backed up by support for victim. But also advice for abusers.

Wiltshire Police have a year to test out these new powers. If they

are successful other forces will adopt them. They hope they will

work because at the moment domestic violence accounts for a quarter of

all violent crime in the county. One of the nuclear reactors at

Oldbury Power Station in South Gloucestershire is being shutdown

this evening. Reactor 2 was built in 1965 and has now reached the end

of its operational life. The other reactor is due to be closed down

next year. Last month the government confirmed Oldbury is one

of the sites it considers suitable for a new nuclear power station to

be built. In sport Bristol is hoping to host

matches at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. The Inspection Committee

visited Ashton Gate, the Memorial Stadium and Filton Academy today.

Over 30 towns and cities hope be part of a tournament that will be

watched by more than 300,000 people across England and Wales. Bristol's

bid has to be submitted by mid July and the venues will be announced in

November. Now to a story that we couldn't bring you yesterday

because of the tennis. On Tuesday night, here at Points

West we took a phone call from a very excited Mum. She said that her

daughter had been on stage at the Glastonbury Festival and was there

any chance that our cameras had managed to catch the moment. Well

it turns out that not only had 10- year-old Shae been on stage, she'd

actually got to sing along with her favourite pop star. Alice Bouverie

takes up the story. When Jesse J asked for a volunteer from the

audience to join her on stage at Glastonbury, she may not quite have

been expecting what she got. 10- year-old Shae not only knew all the

words to the song, but wasn't afraid to belt them out to an

audience of thousands. For some music pundits, it was a significant

moment of the festival. She was good, that little girl. We thought

she was suspiciously good at first. She wasn't a planned, she was

genuine. The whole mood of the Festival changed. There is a was a

time when things turn around, a pivotal performance, when things be

different. According to her family, at home Shae is quite shy. And her

starring role came as such a surprise, her mum and twin sister

actually missed it. Luckily, the rest of Glastonbury didn't. Shae

joins us now in the studio, along We have been talking about you for

two days. You are such a star. How have you friends reacted? They have

been, oh my God, you're on stage with Jessie J. I was like, I know!

How did you come to be on stage? Some people say it was a fix.

wasn't. What happened is that she asked for another microphone and

for one of the people form -- from the audience to come out and my

sister started pointing at me and chatting my name. So then they came

to me and grabbed me and took the onstage. You're just landing on

stage. What was remarkable is that you just went for it. Been there

she say, just joining way you can. And they need to go over. Did you

not feel nervous? No, not really. How many people watching? 180,000.

What will you do next year, Wembley? Maybe. You actually missed

this, didn't you? I did. I was in the tent with her sister and her

boyfriend. You didn't realise she was on stage. I was getting text

messages but I was a long way away. You couldn't have believed it. What

did you think when you finally saw it? I couldn't believe it.

Afterwards we went for a walk and hundreds of people were asking to

have their photographs taken with her. Did is to praise the when you

realise what had happened? -- did it surprise you. The mat of

confidence did surprise me. She is not normally as confident -- the

amount. Is this something you want to do? I do sing, but I dance.

just do everything, an all-rounder. I pick Jessie J normally does but

she had broken her leg. I think she does both. So you have collaborated

with Jessie J, who would you like to collaborate with next? Rhianna.

If you get a camera you can ask her. Can I join you on stage? You never

know where these things might take you. We will let you know if they

get in touch. Briefly, had it been difficult coming down? Shae hasn't

been too bad. It is made. She is just a natural. Thank you for

coming in. I have a feeling we are A tie from Millfield school in

Taunton has returned safely back from space! What a great start to a

story. Yes, the last NASA team to fly the

space shuttle Discovery visited Millfield today, and they brought

back with them a treasured old school tie. Steve Powell reports.

The last time these astronauts from Somerset -- saw Somerset they were

travelling at five miles per second on the last flight of the space

shuttle Discovery. Today they were on another special mission to speak

to student at Millfield School in St. And the commander of the

mission, we were at the final flight of the space shuttle

Discovery. How many of you know what a special place? You are about

to learn a little bit more. After watching a film about the last

flight the children were bursting with questions for the real life

spacemen. He was the first person in space? A Russian was the first

person in space. What does it mean to have these special guest? It is

an amazing opportunity for us to expose our young people to science

in action. This astronaut his has been due to be assumed at the

school took an old school tie and typing for the ride. Today she

returned it back to earth. This is pretty special. One of the things

about it is my husband went to school here. We had the opportunity

to get back in touch with the school and fly several items for

the school, a tie and pin, to take with us. To share that with my

screw is really great. Science lessons were never like this when I

was a kid. Let's return now to today's

industrial action by public sector workers. Many of you have been in

touch, telling us what you think about the strike. Madeleine Ware

has been collecting your views. People are really fired up about

this, aren't they? Yes, from early this morning this has had people

talking and arguing. On BBC radio phone-ins people were calling in

their dozens to voice their opinion. Glyn Johnson from BBC Radio Bristol

gave us a taste of what his listeners were saying. Many people

are angry but the majority do have sympathy with the workers on strike.

Be it in the teaching profession or further afield. Well this morning

thousands of public sector workers marched through Bristol, many

people stood to watch, some with children clearly off school for the

day. And I asked some of the bystanders what they thought about

the strike. We are in support of the teachers.

We think they are wonderful and should get a fair deal. We can't

keep carry -- carrying on bailing out banks and not doing anything

for the economy. If they paid their share of taxes and the corporations

pay their taxes, we could afford these public sector pensions and we

could afford them for everybody. You think they're done the right

thing? I do. Definitely opposed to do what they are doing. The

negotiations haven't finished. At the end of the day the money is not

there. They are getting a very good deal regardless. They just need to

realise what the private sector realised years ago, if they don't

like it, find another profession to work in. They are lucky to get what

they get. They are getting it on top of the state pension. They have

got to be real, the country is in crisis, people are going without

care and treatment. It was wrong to strike when people are still

talking to each other. It will harm their cause. On all sides. Because

if they don't negotiate they will have to negotiate in the end. So

why not -- why do this? Interesting to hear such strong views. We have

Jill Milkins agrees. She says the government claims it can't afford

it, yet we seem to have... But Tim Rees reckons the public sector

workers need to get some reality. He thinks the protesters should get

back to work and strike in the holidays next time instead of

annoying hard working parents. And Michael Dearden says he's

absolutely disgusted by the strikes. He believes public sector workers

have had it too good for too long. Strong views there and they're just

a few of the emails we've had - so a big thank you to everyone who got

in touch. Thanks indeed. They have been mixed.

It is time to go to the weather. A fine evening developing in

Bristol. Earlier this week our editor scoffed at minus and that

not all rain was reaching the ground. -- at my notion. Look at

this picture. That is rain not reaching the ground, evaporating

before it touches it. Tomorrow we will see a good deal of other types

of cloud around. Generally cloudy by the afternoon. A dry day

essentially for all of us. The pressure pattern shows how pressure

from the south-west. The broad scale set-up is a settled, find one.

-- fine of one. If we take a look at the detail in the West Country

for the rest of the evening we have been shifting the cloud steadily

out the way. Clearing skies overnight. Pretty much like last

night a cold, chilly night. Urban areas are generally a bit warmer

than rural areas. We will start once again with a good deal of blue

sky. Steadily as the day wears on the cloud starts to grow. The best

of the sunshine probably the west coast of Somerset. Temperatures

from it on a par with today. Looking beyond that the weekend, I

will not promise you by any means the sunshine we saw last Sunday. A

lot of cloud around. Some brighter or sunny interludes. Saturday

better than Sunday. Temperatures up to 22 degrees, good for the St

Paul's carnival. He cannot complain, average British summer we can. --