22/03/2012 BBC Points West

Good evening and welcome to BBC Points West. Our headlines tonight

- back treading the boards - a return to work for a young dancer

who was beaten so badly they thought he wouldn't walk again. No

big jumps at the moment, but it's getting there. Smokers cough up an

extra 37 pence a pack, but will they turn to cheaper, illegal

brands? A bump in the road, there's an app for that. How your mobile

could help repair the potholes. And, getting ready for Wembley - Swindon

is hoping to decorate the Trophy Room with the Johnstone's Paint Cup.

I'm really excited. Can't wait. First time going to Wembley. Cannot

wait. Good evening. First tonight, the remarkable recovery of a young

dancer who was savagely attacked on a night out last year. It was

feared Jack Widdowson, from Bath, may never walk again, as his spine

was badly damaged. But doctors say he's making great progress, not

only walking but starting ballet moves again. Our reporter, Lizzie

Way, was with him, as he returned to his old dance school. Last year

this scene was unimagine yablg. Unable to move from the neck down -

- unimaginable. Unable to move from the neck down, the chances of

walking again, not even dancing, but he began to sit up and walk and

slowly but surely to dance. He's teaching a routine that he's

written but cannot yet perform, but that day is not far away. He's

working towards dancing again and making progress. I did a full

ballet class yesterday, but it went pear shaped to the end. Then when

we got to turns, they were all right, but I'm only doing singles.

I can do a double, but I don't know, I think I will get into bad habits.

Obviously, big jumps at the moment aren't too great, but it's getting

there. For Jack his life has always been about dance and with the help

of his old school, it will be once again. It's a miracle to see him

looking so fit and well and I think he is an inspiration, but he always

was. His work ethic and professionalism and creativity as a

choreographer, they are used to working with him and to see him

come back and pick it up has been really special. What makes such a

difference to Jack's recovery where his family were able to get

involved in the flexibility and movement progress. So much so

they've launched their own charity, which will work with medical

authorities to help ensure there is early intervention in dancers'

recovery. Jack's aim is to return to his dance company in Switzerland

by the end of the summer. For now, one student today summed it up.

Have you heard, Jack's back. Good for you. So thrilled you are

recovering well. Officers were called to this house in Bath in

Meadgate. Teams carried out an investigation and several items

were removed. Officers are describing the death of the mother

of two as unexplained. Smokers across the west have been stumping

up an extra 37 pence for a packet of cigarettes today following the

Budget. The rise has been less than popular with some in Bristol, a

city which was partially built on tobacco and still has more than its

fair share of smokers. But some people are worried the rise will

encourage people to smoke cheap illegal brands, which are even more

dangerous. Sarah Jane Bungay reports. Stephen buys cheap tobacco.

It would be a big struggle, because the prices are ridiculous.

Bristol's history is entwined with the industry. It was one of the

major employers here at the turn of the 20th century. Until the 1980's

Imperial Tobacco offered free cigarettes to employees. The

previous ledge of smokers here has been linked to that legacy. One in

four people living in Bristol enjoy a smoke. That's a significantly

higher percentage than across the south-west as a whole. One in five

smokers are thought to have used illegal tobacco or cigarettes.

worry is that people will end up buying cheap counterfeit cigarettes

and people have no idea what's in them. These are coming into the

country by their millions and many end up in the hands of children,

because criminal gangs don't care who they sell to. They are quite

happy to sell to teenagers. those trying to win the anti-

smoking battle, that argument is a distraction. Big tobacco say that

the evidence is poor, so in countries like Spain and Italy,

where they have the lowest taxation, they've had some of the biggest

smuggling problems, so I wouldn't be worried about that. The

Chancellor could always rebalance it. I think it is shroud waving and

not really a true risk. There's a gaggle of smokers outside this pub.

Mr Osborne's financial penalty was convincing some to think about

trying to quit. I've always wanted to over an amount of years.

Particularly now it's gone up so much. Not very happy. I may have to

give it up. Because of the cost? Yeah. Basically, that's what it is,

cost. The rise in the cost of tobacco has been labelled as sin

tax by some, but of course not everyone wants to be saved. There

are questions about the new hospital in the area, and we have

this report. The brand new �45 million hospital for south Bristol.

It took decades of campaigning to get it built, now -- but now before

it has treated the first patient this academic and GP is raising

questions about whether it will be fully used. It provides a range of

services, but some will be hiefd off by competition and that will --

hiveed off by competition and that will affect rural areas. Patients

will have more choice about where they're treated and that could mean

the private sector. NHS hospitals like this new community one in

south Bristol will be competing for �60 billion worth of funding, held

by the new GP commissioning groups. For someone with heart disease,

really there will be a growing need for general practice and hospitals

to work together, but the bill by introducing competition will bring

in many providers actually reverses that. I think potentially it takes

back the progress that the NHS has made over decades. He's ot the only

one concerned. -- not the only one concerned. They are not listening

to the people who voted them and it makes us angry. This woman voted in

favour of most reforms, even though campaigners warned it would lose

her support. They've made sure that people who are private providers if

they want to do NHS patients, they will get the NHS rate. That's quite

right. They shouldn't be able to make a profit. They won't get more

money than the NHS gets. All they do is offer more opportunity for

treatment and more choice for people to have treatment and faster.

The hospital opens its doors for business next month. How much

business there will be though depends on the choices patients and

GPs now make. Well, a short while ago I spoke to the Health Minister,

Simon Burns, and asked him if the new hospital was being undermined

by the NHS reforms. No, not at all, because doctors, with consultations

with their patients, will determine, as they do now, which provider is

going to provide the care. If the hospital that you are taking about,

I'm sure it's a first-class NHS hospital, and patients will want to

go there, then they'll choose it with their GP. If the GPs don't

refer there, then what happens to it? Well, it will be up to the

patient to exercise their choice as to where they want to go for their

treatment. Obviously in consultation with their GPs. If the

hospital, which I'm sure it will be, is providing first-class care for

patients, then they will want to go to their local community hospital,

where they leave. -- live. There is nothing to stop an NHS hospital

going bust if it doesn't get enough patients? The fact is, though, that

that situation will not arise, because you'll not see almost

certainly full-blown district general hospitals in the private

sector providing the whole range of care and treatment that NHS

hospitals do and the private sector is not allowed, under the

legislation to cherry-pick services, to precisely stop them from taking

work from the NHS that is the work that generates income rather than

the more difficult and expensive treatments. Thank you very much.

We'll talk about health much more on the Sunday Politics this weekend.

You're watching Thursday's Points West with David and Alex. Coming Up

- did the Budget hit the right note?

# Let me take you down, because I'm going to It's got this accountant

excited, but will the Chancellor's changes be music to your ears?... #

Councillors in South Gloucestershire have notched up a

first in the west, by voting to throw out the ruling Cabinet. There

was a fiery debate last night, as the council decided to go back to a

system of committees. Labour and the Liberal Democrats argued that

sharing power among all 70 councillors is fairer and more

democratic than being ruled by a small group of Conservatives. The

new committees take charge in May. We weren't able to bring you the

clip. As the dust settles on the Budget, ministers are claiming

they've won the backing of big business. But here in the West

Country, some smaller firms are telling a different story. Many of

them are gathering tonight just outside Bristol to chew over the

Chancellor's measures, and our business correspondent Dave Harvey

is there for us. Dave, what are they complaining about? It's

interesting, because although big business are interested in the

double tax break on salaries and company profits, you come here and

you get a different story. We have taxi drivers from Taunton and

family builders. This is the HQ of the Chamber of Commerce and Phil

Smith, you ran that. What is your problem with this so-called

business friendly Budget? Overall we thought it was a neutral Budget.

We are pleased he stuck to plan A, with the deficit and for big

members, we are delighted they had a corporation tax cut, 30% over two

years, it's a huge cut, but most of the members here aren't large

companies. They don't pay corporation tax. They pay small

companies tax. They haven't had any cut at all. Worse than that, they

have 6% in uniform business rates starting next month, so overall not

so good. We'll get an expert view from a tax accountant. Steve, the

Government says it will cut loads out of tax loopholes. What do you

reckon to that bringing in the money? They'll introduce a general

anti-avoidance rule. They've done that in Canada, US and Australia

and it hasn't worked there. I don't think it will work. They should

concentrate on simplifying the rules so we all have a level

playing field. Keep an eye on this man. He has a little trick up his

sleeve. Whilst everyone talks, here entrepreneurs have been getting on

with it. This place has been transformed this week as they

search for a global export idea They come from all corners of the

West Country. Their eyes set on new markets abroad. Everything from

Entrepreneurs are people who run at brick walls and a lot of the time

they go through them. They don't recognise the danger. They know

that they have to be fully committed if they're going through

the bricks. They often do that. are planning to launch in Japan

while running an international underground launch. MUSIC Look out

Japan, a brand new electronic musical instrument is coming your

way. Watching and voting an audience of lawyers, investors,

other exporters. And they know that when times are tough at home,

export is the only way to grow. There are loads of parts of the

world that are growing at the moment. China, India, Brazil,

turkey, Russia and products like this are really if demand in those

markets. A very difficult decision to make but I'm delighted to

announce this third place My Carry Potty. And the winner, by a country

mile, a young Bristolian planning a revolution in electronic music sof

don't be fooled. You are probably better than me really. I just

winged it. This is a young entrepreneur to watch, with a

deceptively simple message. Business is about products that

people want to buy. If you saw it in Ibiza, you saw him first here.

Well, they say business is the new rock and roll and as if to prove it,

we have a singing accountant! Steve Theaker, tax expert, has been

entertaining the crowd here with a little ditty he wrote yesterday,

inspired by the Chancellor, with apologies to John, Paul, George and

Ringo. Take it away Steve. # Let me take you down because I'm

going to HMRC # Nothing's tax free

# And lots to get hung up about # Paying too much tax isn't

clever... # Very good. This is the accountant who really knows his

numbers. He's the tax man with the tracks, man! Shall I stop now?!

What do you think? Yes! Dave, what would be very nice is a quick duet?

We can do that. How long have you got? Hold it. That's all we've got

time for. Back to us! Nice thought. Weigh saved you all. We move on to

other news now. Bath Abbey is submitting plans for an �18 million

development project. It wants to create a new choir school, meeting

rooms and a more welcoming entrance. Most of the building work will be

underground at the level of the vaults. Last year there was a

series of archaeological digs at the Abbey in preparation for the

work. A trial's starting in Bristol to try to end the problem of the

pothole. We all know bumps in the road have damaged cars and bank

balances for decades. But now 21st century technology's being used to

try to tackle them, as Tracey Miller found out. Potholes,

damaging your car, uncomfortable and dangerous. The latest weapon in

the fight against potholes, your mobile phone. This is how it works

- the application uses the most sensors of your mobile phone to

measures bumps. While the GPS pinpoints where you are. The idea

is that the data can be processed and give the council a pix tour of

the state of the roads. -- picture of the state of the roads. This was

developed in America by the Mayor of Boston's Office to monitor the

streets of the city. I asked the developers what advantage this has

over a simple phone call for complaint. This is giving our

residents one more way in which to make neighbourhoods better. We

think that for some using this app will be one way they can make their

drive and the drives of their neighbours a little better each day.

It would be trialed by Bristol council, before the public are

invited to help with this. We have engaged with the city of Boston

while setting ourselves up with the necessary software, so hopefully we

should be up and ready to start the testing. Whichever way the potholes

are found, it will still rely on the skills of Andy and Roy to fix

them. Well, if you think you've had a busy day imagine how this BBC

Radio Bristol presenter's feeling. Ben Prater's been challenged to

take part in 24 sports in 24 hours to help raise money for Sport

Relief. So far he's had a go at American Football, ten-pin bowling,

boxing and a rugby kicking competition. And he hasn't stopped

there. This is the scene in the Radio Bristol studios right now

where Ben is live on air, trying his hand at a spot of golf. If you

want to support him you can, by texting the word BEN to 70011.

Texts cost �1 plus your standard message rate. For all the terms and

conditions just go to the BBC's Sport relief website. And of course

it's all for good causes. One of the charities that's helped by

Sport Relief is the Rework project in south Bristol. It helps

unemployed people and youngsters with few qualifications by giving

them work placements. Matthew Pick 17-year-old Jordan may not end up

being a gardener, although he may end up growing his own food. Once a

week he joins a small group to dig over and plant in back gardens in

Knowle West. It's part of a bigger picture. To give youngsters some

basic life skills and some valuable work experience being part of a

team. I thought I was good at that. I thought it will be nice then, but

there's a lot to it when you do realise it. These vegetables will

then be distributed around the local community as part of the

edible landscapes movement. Jordan is currently studying at a local

college and readily admits that he needs to do all he can to put

himself in the best possible position to find a job when he

finishes his course. Yeah. I'm doing this to obviously help me. To

help me get out there and get a job. And the money you have raised from

Sport Relief helps to pay for an experienced gardener to come along

and pass on some tips. A lot of the guys have been applying for lots of

jobs. We can add just on their CVs as much as we can to try to give

them that extra edge. It's not going to be easy for any of them,

especially now, but we are hopefully trying to give them that

little bit of a start. If I get something out of this I might do

well. I think it would be harder in life if I get this done, because

now it will push me back out there. The south-west's unemployment rate

compares favourably with many other areas of the country there are

communities, and Knowle West is one of them, where youngsters with few

qualifications face a real struggle to find work. John bishop's Sport

Relief Hell is on tonight. It looks great in the trailers. Around

30,000 Swindon Town fans are getting ready to go to Wembley, for

the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and excitement's already

building in the Town. This afternoon, players and supporters

got to see the prize they're so desperately hoping to win on Sunday

against Chesterfield. David Passmore was there. They queued out

the shop and around the block, they were so excited about Sunday's game.

I've been counting down for a month now. I'm really excited. I think

Saturday will drag, but I'm looking forward to it. It's really special

for Swindon to win a trophy and my first time going there. I can't

wait. The fans were keen to get their hands on the trophy, but the

players are always a bit suspicious of touching one. I have looked but

haven't touched it. It might be bad luck. There has been a lot of

activity into the town. This restaurant has come up with a Paolo

pizza. We support the same team and from the same part and I named the

pizza after him to give him a reward to do so great and to

represent Italy and England. beer's been brewed especially for

the occasion. We wanted a promotion lager and now we'll brew the Red

app army to celebrate the match on Sunday. We have put a few different

ingredients. We have rye crystals in there. The manager's tried not

to get too distracted by this appearance. I have to read what is

going on. I tried to work and to help them as much as I can to

arrive at this appointment with full of energy in the side and

physically, but in here it's not easy, because it's an important

event for everybody. Well, whichever way it goes, they'll have

to leave this all this behind and - - leave all this behind and

concentrate on the league. It's been a glorious day across the west,

making it the warmest day of the making it the warmest day of the

year so far. As sun lovers enjoyed the weather on the beach, it seems

hard to believe we are still only in March. Temperatures reached 18

degrees in some parts of the west this afternoon. The same in Bristol,

as they made most of the sunshine. Is it set to continue? Gemma is

here. Yes, it is. It's official. We saw some cloud this morning. It

was chilly for a time, but the sun made its presence felt. Clear skies.

It will cloud over now as we start to see a change through this

evening, bringing damp weather. It won't amount to much. The real rain

is out in the Atlantic. For the rest of this evening and tonight,

cloud beginning to build and we have some rain. It's not

significant. It's light and patchy and it's isolated. Won't amount to

much. It won't make inroads on to the dry ground. We retain some of

the mild area because of the cloud. Tomorrow starts great for a time.

Then again the sunshine takes hold and we see the highs jumping and I

think it's a repeat performance by the afternoon. Maybe nudging to 18.

Those clearer skies mean that tomorrow night is a little chillier.

Temperatures overnight tomorrow heading into the weekend will drop

off swiftly. The weekend itself, with the high pressure, it means a

static picture. Good spells of sun through the weekend and into the

beginning of next week, but we tpwheed that rain. -- need that