15/09/2011 BBC Points West

Hello and welcome to the programme. Tonight: Shot dead on patrol.

Another soldier from Gloucestershire's 1st Battalion The

Rifles is killed in Afghanistan. Also: A toxic waste dump applies to

extend its licence but neighbours demanded to shut down.

We lift the lid on the newly refurbished eye hospital.

And why you Ian Holloway is back in Good evening. A soldier from the

Gloucestershire-based 1 Rifles has been killed in Afghanistan. The

Ministry of Defence says he was shot while on patrol in in the

Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province. His family have been told.

The announcement of his death comes on the day a new BBC series starts,

following a group of recruits into 1 Rifles. Here's our

Gloucestershire reporter, Steve Knibbs.

At Beachley Barracks tonight, the candle which will only be

extinguished when they all return, has taken on an added poignancy.

Five riflemen have now lost their lives on this tour. It particularly

affects people back here when they knew that person but there is still

a fair bit of the tour to go and everyone back here has a key job.

In many ways, it steals them and gives them extra determination to

support everyone out there in get them back as safely as possible.

Tonight's programme on BBC three it shows how they prepare their

recruits for the reality of war - turning them from civilians to

soldiers very quickly. There is the sudden change of lifestyle. The

Daily wake-up calls at 5am and the basics of how the army works. And

does the training desert, there is a reality check as many realise it

is not for them. The recruits are pushed like never before to focus

on the physical demands of their tours of duty. But, strikingly, the

programme also shows the struggles of their families. I will go to

Afghanistan at least twice in my four years. Nobody is pushing you.

You could come out now. I would lose my pride. The reality is that

these recruits were filmed over one year ago and today, the majority

are in Afghanistan, fighting and unrelenting enemy and having to

comes -- come to terms with the another death of a colleague. The

news that makes it even more difficult if you are waiting back

home. It upset you. You get down. I have a good family support network

and every wife and mother needs a support network. I have a good

family support network which Young Soldiers programme pulls no

punches. The Rifles wanted the public to see just what they ask of

their recruits from day one to deployment. And, as today has shown,

it's a deployment that carries with Hundreds of people are protesting

against a toxic waste dump in Gloucestershire, claiming the dust

is ruining their health. The site near Bishop's Cleeve takes in one

third of the UK's incinerated waste and once A light since to keep

using the site for another 20 years. -- it once a licence.

This is where 50,000 Tam -- tons of the UK's hazardous waste is dumped

every year. Wingmoor Farm near Bishop's Cleeve. It is a kind of -

that is mixed with water and M Teague into this hole and covered

with a lid of play. It worries protesters who made this video. It

shows the hazardous waste being unloaded. They say the cloud you

can see contains dangerous dust which blows the way it on to their

homes. On one occasion, two tons of the stuff was dropped out of the

Silo in 15 seconds and so it is just as well the wind wasn't

blowing. The next time, it might be blowing in my direction. Our houses

irritating cough when I come back from a holiday and going to

Bishop's Cleeve. You blame that on the dust coming from the side?

yes. The owners, Grundon Waste Management, say this is the closely

-- most closely monitored site in the UK. The protest do raise the

question about what we do with the incinerator waste. Burning

household rubbish leaves one third of the original weight as ash and

it has to go somewhere. Why as and why here, say campaigners. There

are alternatives. In Cheshire, the Ashes triple bagged and dumped in

old salt mines. The decision on the future of this site will be made

next week. The threat that beautiful rural

areas of the Westcountry could be bulldozed is once again causing

concern. Despite last year's change of government, campaigners say

pressure is once more being applied to build homes on green fields.

That'll be debated at a Bath and North East Somerset council meeting

tonight. Alex. Yes, the West's glorious

countryside is beloved and fiercely So, there was much relief last year

when the new coalition government scrapped a system of targets which

would have forced the south west to build hundreds of thousands of new

houses. But hopes these fields would be safe have been dealt a new

blow. First, came the government's snappily titled National Planning

Policy Framework. And this is line which has caused alarm, that there

should be "a presumption in favour of sustainable development". And,

on top of that, Planning Inspectors say not enough's being done by

councils like Bath and North East Somerset. Last year, Banes lifted

the threat hanging over these fields. But after pressure from an

Inspector, they're now debating whether other land between Bristol

and Bath might in fact be built on. The issue that we have is that the

value of land is so high that property prices are high. It is

difficult to get onto the property ladder and for people with low

incomes to find affordable rental property and for our social

landlords to find land to build housing that they can make viable

with the social event. To build or not to build? That's not the

question. It's where to build Earlier, I spoke to Dr Burgess and

I asked him whether building on greenfield sites was inevitable?

don't think it is inevitable that we will build on greenfield sites

but my plea is that every community needs affordable homes. If you take

Somerset and Devon for example, house prices have gone up

dramatically and there are many second-home owners and many elderly

people live in rural communities. For the sake of young people, they

need affordable homes in rural communities. But do we have a

choice but to build on greenfield sites given that, in the

Westcountry, we have run out of brownfield sites? It is important

to use brownfield sites if at all possible, but from time to time,

small areas - and I insist on small areas - being used for affordable

homes will prove to be invaluable for the vibrancy of future rural

communities. Will the Government actually say to go ahead end use

greenfield sites after all? Government has come out with a

planning and localism bill which will go together. It is important

to realise that the government says that they are in favour of

sustainable development and that the default position is, yes. What

the Government needs to do is to describe what they mean by a

"sustainable development" and whether it means on green field

sites. In my guess, in some small areas, it may. Thank you very much.

Welcome to Thursdays Points West with Chris and Alex.

Coming up: The pace yourselves - why plans to bring back Bristol's

marathon are already feeling the strain.

And the world according to Ollie - we catch up with the most quotable

man in football. I have only cared about what I'd do

and I hope other people appreciate A 50-year-old man from Melksham has

been charged with manslaughter and perverting the course of justice in

relation to the death of Adrian Cooksey in 2009. Mr Cooksey, from

Trowbridge, was attacked in the town after a night out, and was

found with serious head injuries. He died later in hospital. Richard

Elmes has been released on bail and will appear before North Wiltshire

magistrates later this month. Another man was cleared of Mr

Cooksey's manslaughter after a trial at Bristol Crown Court nearly

two years ago. A huge new wetland reserve for

birds is being developed on the Somerset coast and today residents

had a chance to see the plans close up. The aim is to provide a

sanctuary for migrating birds on Bridgwater Bay but, unusually, the

work is being paid for by the Bristol Port Company. Why? Our

business correspondent Dave Harvey We want to create a habitat for

birds and protect the area where people live.

This is the plan - 135 hectares of saltmarsh and mudflats, flooded and

drained every day as the tide ebbs and flows - a playground for wading

birds and wetland wildlife. All this work is to compensate for what

they are doing 30 miles up the coast. At Avonmouth the Port

Company has permission to build a huge new deep water terminal,

costing �600 million. The new container terminal will go 100

metres beyond that might house and then right at the estuary. All this

will be contain years and concrete and no place for a bird. --

containers. We have to create an area somewhere on the Severn

estuary. It is an opportunity to create a habitat for birds and do

something useful for the local community. And so, in the village

sports club, they've been listening. And perhaps surprisingly, the

reception has been rather good. They are always concerned,

especially when you get a major scheme. There will be concerns but

I think the Bristol port company has done a pretty good job.

everyone's happy. These fields are a popular shooting spot with local

wildfowlers. Unsurprisingly, that won't be allowed when it's a bird

reserve. And they question if this coastline really needs any more

wetland. The habitat is desperately-needed at there. We do

not really need any more mud flats. At a the 9th tonight, the

bulldozers art on hold as nothing will happen here and to the global

economy picks up. When it does, the De Pass car has been for a look

around. People mainly think of eye problems

as being down to old age but more than 200 children come to this

hospital every week, and demand is growing. 10 month old Noah needed

help from day one. When he was 12 hours old they discovered he had no

light reflects in his left eye and it probably had a cataract. It was

later confirmed by a doctor here. He had surgery at six weeks to

remove the cataract. Cover a vast array of conditions. We have

children with diabetes which is now increasing with obesity, and a lot

of children with just eye movement disorders where am I could be

turning in or turning out. The children's eyes service deals with

will same problems the adult service deals with. And with

numbers growing, this should new unit has enabled staff to offer a

child friendly service. It is absolutely invaluable to us. We

come here most weeks, sometimes a couple of times a week, sometimes

every couple of weeks, but we are familiar faces down here. It is not

just about better service, though. A new research unit also means

better care. The importance is that it allows us to deliver to our

region and our patients the best care possible in the world, so that

the patient can now come and have full choice of either having

treatment or having new research drugs delivered to them in a

research trial. It has not been cheap, costing �1.9 million, so on

Saturday's open day, the public will get to experience the cutting

edge technology for themselves. the Wiltshire company Dyson has

launched a new fan heater, which it says will revolutionise the market.

The Dyson Hot is the latest invention to come out of their

Malmesbury factory. The company is hoping it will add to it's record

profits, made last year, and keep them on track to employ hundreds of

new engineers from the West Country. Here in James Dyson's office, you

can really see the evolution of his company. There is everything here

from the vacuum cleaner that started it all, to its eventual

successors. Now there is something you to come out of this Wiltshire-

based. This: The Dyson Hot. -- this Wiltshire based. Like most of the

company's other products, this has been a closely guarded secret at

Dyson's headquarters and to live was launched this week. The company

thinks it will revolutionise the way fan heaters work. We recognise

there are many fan heaters there, but also lots of problems with them,

so often when the heat comes out it goes straight to the ceiling and

you don't feel it, or it goes to the us -- other side of the room.

They have limited control and the metal grilles can get hot. They

also burnt dust which gives off a pungent odour, so we recognise

there is a lot of opportunity to do much better. In recent years, Dyson

shut its UK factory and moved production to the Far East amid

strong criticism. But it says will show remains its engineering hub,

with plans to bring in hundreds of new people. We have really exciting

plans to expand further. It is all very local, as well, so the

majority of my colleagues, we live in Wiltshire, I live in Bristol,

Bath, Chippenham, it is all very local and we are growing quickly,

so it is very exciting for the south-west. Sir James Dyson is now

in the US promoting this new fan heater, which he says is built to

last. But at �269 each, it may not be burning a hole in everyone's

A new cycle hire scheme has started in Bath, a version of London's

Boris Bikes. The cycles can be accessed using an electronic card

available from the "Bike in Bath" website. There are four docking

stations in the city centre including Orange Grove and outside

the Holburne Museum. There will be 58 bikes, and cyclists will be able

to return them to any of the stations.

One of Bristol's most famous sons returned to the West today. Ian

Holloway, the former Bristol Rovers player and manager, currently in

charge at Blackpool, was at Sir Bernard Lovell School in South

Gloucestershire to formally open and you four and three quarter

million pound sports facility. Geoff Twentyman went along to see

his former team mate. Firstly, I have been working out

where to stand without this creaking! This is where it all

began for Ian Holloway. -- he left 32 years ago and the school shaped

him, but it is also where he found his childhood sweet heart, Kim.

They have been together ever since. This used to be grass, the school

field. The girls used that and that was where I met him having a game

of rounders. -- Kim. It is an outstanding facility, floodlit

football and cricket pitches, six tennis courts, a fully equipped gym,

multi-purpose sports hall, dance and fitness studios and a

conference suite. Will you manage in Bristol one day again, do you

think? I honestly don't think so. I think we are trying to get a base

where my wife and I can live and hopefully that will be in and

around the Bath area. I don't want to work where I live. I treated

last night under Bristol Rovers treated -- Bristol Rovers fan

treated me saying he is a top man and I named my son after him. Are

you aware how you affect people? that is really nice. I feel sorry

for the lad, is he Oliver or just Ollie? We are good mates and I have

only ever just tried hard and only cared about what I do and hopefully

other people can associate with that. Things like that are nice,

but I do feel sorry for that young chap! I think that sums up Ian

That was nice, very self- deprecating!

If you have just congratulated yourself on having completed last

weekend's Bristol Half Marathon, it is about to get longer. Next year,

as well as the Bristol half, there will be a full marathon.

The city used to have a 26 mile race back in the 1980s, which was

cancelled on cost grounds, but now campaigners are determined to stage

a revival, as Alice Bouverie reports.

The this was the first Bristol Marathon in 1982. The public turned

out in big numbers to watch hundreds of runners taking part,

mostly elite athletes, with the odd exception. The era of the fun

runner had not yet arrived. One of the hazards of the race was dodging

the traffic. You had to take your chances dodging in and out of

traffic. I can certainly remember trying to get across the junction

as the traffic lights change. It was a bit dangerous. -- changed.

is more controlled now. During the Bristol Half Marathon last weekend

all the roads were closed and it cost around �400,000 to put on. It

was mainly down to money why the full marathon was cancelled in

1987: It just wasn't paying its way. But now, enthusiasm will bring it

back. A group of runners was going to put on a small, unofficial

marathon this November, but when news went up on the website, 600

people registered their interest in just four days, so now they are

putting it off until next year, when it will be bigger and better.

But can a full marathon ever become as popular as the Bristol 10 K or

half marathon?? I don't know. I really, really wish them luck, but

its appeal is limited, especially in Bristol. Bristol is known for

its heels. If they expect 100 or 200, great, but that is as far as

it can go, I think. No date has been set for the race as yet, but

organisers say they are already attracting sponsorship and dozens

of offers of help. When there is a date, we will let

you know! Start training now!

Limbering up! Here in the West, we have a proud

carnival tradition, whether it is summertime in St Paul's or a Winter

Wonderland in Weston. In Wiltshire, they do things a little differently.

On Saturday, the small village of Pewsey will host the county's

largest and oldest illuminated carnival, and tonight, they kick-

off with a wheelbarrow race. Lizzie Way is there for us with a

few friends, aren't you, Lucy? a few! It might not be on the

London 2012 agenda but it is on Pewsey's agenda. This carnival will

be kick-starting with a wheelbarrow race. Sally strong is from the

carnival. This is an unusual start. It is lovely. Thanks for coming

down, BBC Points West, anyway. A lovely wheelbarrow race, a great

laugh, everyone goes around, has a drink, dresses up. What happens?

They go to every pub August will be in the village and have a drink,

and they are all in fancy dress and it is raising money for Pewsey

carnival, which goes to all our charities including the air

ambulance. It is over a hundred years old so there is a lot of

tradition but it is still just as popular. Exactly, we get crowds of

two or 3000, but we do it because we all love it, don't we? This

evening will obviously be a lot of fun, but what about the rest of the

weekend? Today we have the wheelbarrow race and people can

still come down, we have limited car parking, but anyway, tomorrow,

we have a Saturday -- a carnival, Saturday it culminates in a

competition. It is all eliminated, it costs nothing, please come down,

it will be a great day -- all illuminated. Who will be the top

A I will hand back to before they put me in a wheelbarrow! I am sure

you will grace it beautifully. They are warming up in their own

special and unique way. They may be drunk in charge of a

wheelbarrow! Let's see if they have the weather

Tonight is not too bad. The bulk will remain dry-eyed but a

brilliant story -- different story by the weekend. Tomorrow, I hope

the majority of our districts will stay dry, or thereabouts, would

once again comparatively warm temperatures and at times a fair

amount of sunshine around. We have had high pressure through the

course of today and we will import showers from northern France later.

This low pressure will take shape slowly through tomorrow, but

certainly much more as we get towards Saturday and the bulk of

Sunday for that matter as well. Running them through the rest of

the evening, pretty much the same as this afternoon, Variable cloud

and late sunshine, and then dry conditions for good part of tonight

but unfortunately showers start to appear from the south coast. Medium

level cloud, not particularly heavy, a fair number moving northwards and

clearing out of Gloucestershire around dawn tomorrow morning. Not

nearly as Chile and night, down to two or three Celsius at some spots

this morning, more like nine-10-11 Celsius by tomorrow morning. By a

few of those last showers clearing out of Gloucestershire tomorrow

morning it should be a largely dry start with sunny spells developing,

but through the afternoon, the showers will develop through Wales

and the Bristol Channel and boasted be focused in parts of

Gloucestershire, and then they should be gone -- most should be

focused. It should be a decent ended the day turning moderately

breezy by that stage. Temperatures if anything a degree or so up on

Today, 19-20 Celsius for many. The weekend are promised will be

unsettled but it won't spoil things if you walk are off to Chippenham.

On Saturday they have a beer and sausage Festival with local produce,

I hasten to add, and expect around 15 degrees there with a breezy day

and showers pushing through, some quite heavy, but all their proceeds

go to charity, so do turn up if you can. The same picture for all of us

through the course of Saturday. That includes the a display in the

Cotswolds with the Battle of Britain a display on Saturday and

Sunday afternoon, and there will be drier, bright interludes but always

the chance of fairly heavy blustery showers, which could be thundery at

times. Remember a pack a Mac. Sunday similar, broadly, for part

of it, but high pressure starts to grow by the end of summer -- Sunday

with the weather comment, so by the evening on Sunday it looks like a

dryer prospects -- whether calming. Temperatures in the weekend have

broadly held in the mid-teens. Monday we return to a breezy and

wet set-up, likely to continue into Tuesday. Thereafter, the rest... We

are in the squeeze between the two but I hope it will tend to calm

down as the week goes on rather Thank you. A quick reminder if you

want to watch the programme we were telling you about earlier, Young,

Soldiers, it is on at 9pm on BBC three.