06/11/2013 BBC Points West

from the west That is

Good evening and welcome to BBC Points West. The headlines: Cuts in

youth services. Britain's top judges rule that one

council acted unlawfully ` but it's too late for the children because

the services have already been scrapped. We didn't get what we

wanted but maybe now the council will realise what they've done.

Inside a courtroom in Indonesia ` the former police worker from

Gloucestershire fighting for her life.

What a "boar"! The local football pitch ruined by wild pigs.

And the galaxy at your feet ` auditions in Bristol this weekend

for the next Star Wars blockbuster. Good evening. A court has ruled that

North Somerset Council acted illegally when it cut youth

services. Judges at the Court of Appeal say the council failed to

adequately consult young people when they voted through the cuts last

year. However, North Somerset will not have to reverse the changes `

though it could face an expensive legal bill. Our political editor

Paul Barltrop reports. Two years since the grim news about

youth services, some good news for Aaron Hunt and his mother Alison.

I'm so proud of you. You've won the case. Aaron is 22 and has learning

difficulties. The court challenge was brought in his name, funded by

legal aid. Today they learnt that they'd won ` in principle. The

positive thing, I hope, that comes out of this is that the council will

realise what they've done wrong and that when something happens like

this again, they will sit down and talk to people and not go in head

first. But the decision won't be reversed because too much time has

passed. There were passionate protests early last year when North

Somerset councillors voted through 70% cuts. It was the end of a

dedicated youth service. Most centres, like this in Portishead,

are still running. Others, including many volunteers, stepped in to help.

The council reckon some are more popular now. North Somerset are

relieved the cuts stand ` especially as they prepare to make other

spending cuts. We are disappointed with this result but having said

that, in the meantime, this process has taken so long that the courts

recognise we can't go back and review that budget from nearly two

Is a go and in the meantime, actually, more young people are

using the sort of activities that were provided by the youth service

before we made the changes. Aaron now attends a different youth club `

though he says it's not the same. You miss all your friends, don't

you? Yeah, we don't go out on trips. For him the case was just about

being treated fairly. For councils making cuts, it goes much further.

Paul is joining us now to discuss this. It's a victory for those who

brought this action at the cuts can't be reversed so does that mean

it was a waste of money? It isn t going to make any difference

whatsoever on the ground but lawyers I spoke to say it is important in

terms of good governance. The council learned they have to consult

properly in future and they have to be looking into equalities

legislation. The council are going to be looking at a big bill. This

was a judicial review and we're seeing more of those, aren't we

This was raised as being a concern by an MP today. They are widely used

to chant a political decisions of the modern era. Think back to

Gloucestershire and Somerset trying to cut libraries being funded. That

was stopped in the courts. And Bristol Rovers want to move out of

their stadium and set up a new one to sell up the old site to a

supermarket. That is being challenged by local residents who

want to go to court. It was raised today by Charlotte Leslie, the

Bristol North MP, at Prime Minister's Questions. She said these

legal processes are being overused. In Bristol a small, unrepresentative

group I using judicial review, costing the taxpayer thousands,

preventing building a badly needed stadium for Bristol Rovers football

club, which Bristolians badly want and which will bring game changing

benefits to our city. I know my honourable friend has been

campaigning very hard and relentlessly to provide Bristol

Rovers with the ground they need and I commend her for that. There has

been an issue with judicial reviews and these play a role in holding

government to account but I share her frustration that judicial review

has become something of an industry and we need to fix that. We've taken

a series of steps to try to do that. Is clear there is anger and

frustration because they are democratically arrested

representatives `` elected. But it's not just the cost to the councils

but to taxpayers who foot the bill for the courts and for legal aid. A

lot of challenges are brought using that mechanism. The politicians have

to abide by the laws of the land. These are the checks and balances we

have and they are the ones who write the laws of the land. Thank you very

much. Jobs are to be lost at the BAE site

in Filton, as part of restructuring within the firm across the UK. The

redundancies at the plant in South Gloucestershire are among 835 that

will go in Glasgow and Rosyth. The trial of a Gloucestershire woman

accused of smuggling drugs into Indonesia has continued this

morning. Andrea Waldeck, who worked as a police community support

officer in the Up Hatherley area until last year, is accused of

bringing thousands of pounds' worth of crystal meth into the country.

Andrew Plant reports. These pictures were taken in October

and show Andrea Waldeck during one of several appearances inside an

Indonesian court. Her full trial is likely to start next month. She

could face death by firing squad. She's currently in custody here `

Surabaya, Indonesia's second largest city after the capital Jakarta.

Andrea Waldeck is well known in the Up Hatherley area of

Gloucestershire. These pictures show her in her job as a PCSO. Here,

people told me she was a lively member of the local community,

working hard to help this youth centre to open in the area. But she

left her job with Gloucestershire Police last year. It's thought she

travelled to Asia. And then ` earlier this year ` a sudden shock

for all who knew her. In the headlines, under arrest ` and

accused of smuggling drugs in a country known to give the death

penalty to convicted offenders. Prosecutors say she was arrested in

a local hotel, found with 1.4 kilograms of crystal meth ` a highly

addictive class A drug ` allegedly in her underwear and strapped to her

body. Next week she will get a chance to answer questions from the

judges. She is expected to admit that she smuggled the drugs into the

country but she will try to argue that she was forced to do it, that

it was not for money and not by her own intention. Earlier this year,

another Gloucestershire woman, Lindsay Sandiford, was given the

death penalty for drug smuggling ` a harsher sentence than even the

prosecutors had asked for. An example of how the Indonesian court

system can use those on trial to send a warning to smugglers and

traffickers alike. What happened to Andrea Waldeck in the 15 or so

months between working for the police and being accused of

smuggling drugs Is still unclear. She's due back in court next

Wednesday. You're watching your regional news

programme, BBC Points West. Stay with us as there is much more to

bring you, including: A commuter challenge ` find out which of these

three won the fight to get into Bristol first.

And find out why a West Country man's love of me all is started an

international debate about words in America. `` love of meatballs.

That's all to come and Alex and I are getting into Star Wars mode very

shortly, to! The BBC has learned that some

ambulances are to restart taking patients to Cheltenham General

Hospital overnight. The casualty unit was downgraded in July because

of a shortage of doctors, with evening emergencies diverted to the

Gloucester Royal Hospital. Campaigners hope this will now lead

to a full service coming back to the town.

Because of a national shortage of A doctors, Cheltenham decided to

move all accident admissions over to Gloucester overnight. Bosses said

there was no option but from Monday, there will be a change. What we are

going to do is introduce a new protocol, whereby some ambulances

picking up patients in the Cheltenham area can come directly

into our acute admissions unit. The reason we're doing it is simply that

we have facilities in our acute apparitions unit that we can use for

these patients. It's the stable patients we are really looking at

here, so therefore, following the principle that we like to treat

people locally wherever possible, we can do it so that's why rigid using

it. `` that's why we're introducing it. Some see today's news as hope

for the future. I'm delighted to hear it, if this is the first step

on the road to common sense prevailing. I'm very pleased

because, in fact, it does affect some 200,000 resident. But with

recruitment still a problem, is there real cause for optimism? It's

very clear that the trust was much weaker at recruiting emergency

doctors than neighbouring trust and that was the excuse for downgrading

services in the first place. Now they've had to make a partial

U`turn, they ought to reconsider the whole plan and look again at their

recruitment in particular, and see if we can't restore the full service

at Cheltenham. The NHS says this new service will increase pressure in

Gloucester but it was always planned, and that the changes to

override admissions since the summer have made a positive difference to

patient care. An inquest in Somerset has heard how

a woman died two weeks after an operation to replace her elbow.

Valerie Roy, who was 69, developed severe breathing difficulties after

the operation at Yeovil Hospital, She then picked up an infection and

pneumonia and died of multiple organ failure. Two consultants told the

inquest Mrs Roy had been warned she was at high risk because she had a

heart condition. Three high`profile men turned their

daily commute into an experiment this morning ` to work out whether a

car, a bus or a bike could offer the quickest journey into Bristol city

centre. Each set off at 7.30am from Yate, and ` in case you're wondering

` it was the bus which came in last, taking an hour and a half. Sally

Challoner reports. Three men, three modes of transport.

Ian Boulton, chair of South Gloucestershire Council, on a bike

and train. John Darvall from BBC Radio Bristol in a car. And Bristol

mayor George Ferguson on the bus. Identix bet to win but I do expect

to be more relaxed than the others when I arrive. `` I don't expect to

win. While it was fun, the challenge also

had a serious side. According to the City Council, traffic congestion

costs the greater Bristol economy ?350 million a year, and pollution

levels currently exceed European limits.

So how did our commuters do, on a rainy November morning? Ian Boulton

` journey time 50 minutes, cost ?2.70. John Darvall ` one hour 0

minutes, average cost ?10. George Ferguson ` one and a half hours

cost ?6 one way. I genuinely enjoy the journey coming in, even though

the weather wasn't ideal. It was absolutely fine and having the

benefit this time of the electronic bike made sure there was very little

effort involved. I got here Bang on 9am, which was the target. I was

expecting to come last in terms of time but I was expecting to come

first in terms of mood. I think we are certainly both a lot less

stressed than John was. It's been stressful, it's been eight miles of

horrid, solid traffic in a car. And we've been overtaken by cyclists,

including cyclists not wearing light. I'm now going into the studio

to prepare for my show. See you later. All the Greater Bristol

authorities are working together on transport ` and millions of pounds

have already been spent. But with a 90`minute commute for some, the

light at the end of the tunnel seems as far away as ever.

And if you're wondering about Pudsey in a buggy, it was part of the Radio

Bristol challenge. Well, the contest was a bit of fun but it demonstrated

the seriousness of Bristol's transport problems. So how's he

going to crack them? Joining us now from Bristol city centre is Mayor

Ferguson. This city is covered in bus lanes,

yet it still took you one and a half hours to get from Yate. Yes and it

will always do so until we sort out the traffic problem. We are very

congested city. We are prosperous city and with that come some

disadvantages. That is why I'm prepared to take some tough

measures. They may be unpopular but they are necessary. Like restricting

the amount of commuter car parking that can take place in the central

residential areas. I've been criticised for that but if the whole

of the centre of Bristol is regarded as a commuter car part, we will

continue to get the levels of traffic that prevent the buses

moving as fast as they should because there isn't room for there

to be bus lanes everywhere. So I'm paid to do that. But what you're

doing, Mr Mayor... You spent an hour and a half on the bus ` that's 5

hours a week and ?60 in fares. People just can't afford that. 6

for a fare that took me on the bus the whole of the day. That wasn t

too bad from Yate and I had the advantage of telling some

16`year`olds on the bus that they would save a fiver for the three

days they travel to college. They didn't realise that. So there are

some real advantages. The deal I've done with the bus company is that

you bring the fares down, I will get more people onto your bosses and I

think that is the direction of travel we've got go in and I'm

encouraging people to share journeys. That will make a huge

difference. To think of one day a week to come in by different means,

try the buses, try the bikes, try the trains. I was not surprised that

I came last but at least I got a lot of work done in the process, even

though I was having some delightful conversations on the way and being

interviewed at the same time. You don't have to do it five days a

week. Well, I wouldn't choose to live that far out of Bristol and

work. I know some people have to but I think what you've got to do is

make sure that you get the right islands in terms of length of time

and lifestyle. I think that not being behind a wheel in a car is a

lot less stressful. We have to leave it there. Great hat, by the way

It's keeping the rain off! Thank you.

A man from Taunton has had his Facebook account suspended because

he said how much he liked the West Country delicacy faggots. The word

put Facebook's American owners on alert because it's regarded as an

offensive term for gay people in the United States. Now the

misunderstanding has been cleared up, the account has been

re`instated. Zoe Gough reports on two nations divided by the same

language. It's a dish that evokes delight or

disgust, but is still eaten in huge quantities in the West. We've got

pork, liver and pigs heart. I'm going to put this all through the

mincer first of all. Start with the pork. This butcher sells up to 00 a

week from his shop in Staple Hill. They're great with gravy, mash and

peas. That's the traditional way. Great at this time of year, now the

weather is getting a bit colder I find them delicious. But this humble

meatball has sparked a row after a Taunton man, Robert Wilkes, was

banned from Facebook after he commented on a picture of his

favourite dish. Today he told me he couldn't believe the reaction. The

Mr Brains brand of faggots are perhaps the most famous and were

once produced in Kingswood. But over in America, where Facebook is based,

the word is an offensive term for a gay man. Back in the UK, what do

people think? What do you take to be the meaning of the word fag gets.

Can I... ? That's a bit interesting. I would say it was De

Robert Lee. `` derogatory. Because I've got lots of gay friends, I know

it can be used as a joke or is offensive. That's a bit odd as

Facebook allowed a video of someone being beheaded. It all seems to

depend on whether you were brought up eating this West Country

delicacy. I haven't tried them for many years but I'm going to give

them a go. But should I have them with tomato sauce or even some jelly

for dessert? Bristol City have climbed out of the

relegation zone after winning their first home league game in eight

months. A defensive error by Crawley allowed top goal scorer Jay`Emmanuel

Thomas to give City the lead with just ten minutes left in the match.

He then laid on the pass for Joe Bryan, who finally give the Ashton

Gate crowd something to cheer about. The home games of a football club in

the Forest of Dean are in doubt tonight, after their pitch was torn

up by wild boars. Soudley Football Club say they can't use the ground

until the damage is fixed ` which could take some time. Tracey Miller

reports. A pitch invasion that has caused

hundreds of pounds of damage. And this is the result. When you walk

through, you're faced with that I thought, blimey! Where do we go from

here? The culprits are the wild boar that live in and roam the Forest of

Dean. They've managed to break though the fences surrounding the

ground. This week the Saturday game will be off. We have spoken to the

groundsman, who said possibly a month, but it could be up until

Christmas. As they try to repair the damage, how difficult is it to keep

these pigs out? She can lift me off my feet with her snout. Very

powerful. Despite their size, the owner of the animals and say there

is a simple solution. Lots of the problems that we have in the forest

could be sold by using a very simple electric fence, costing probably

less than 100 quid. It's not the first time the boars have caused

damage. The Forestry Commission are responsible for the animals in the

Forest of Dean. They're trying to reduce their numbers with a cull,

but that will leave at least 40 to roam. The only real option for the

club is to improve its fences. When you look closely, you can see prints

all over the soil here and what they've done is lifted all this turn

of using their snouts, looking for worms. All this damage could have

been caused by just a you bore `` just a few pigs and there is every

chance they could be coming back again tonight.

How do you like our new look? A new Star Wars film is to be made `

and one of the stars could be found in Bristol. Of course, Bristolian

Dave Prowse was the original Darth Vader. Yes, today it was announced

that the city will be first place in the country to hold open auditions

for two of the film's leading actors. Do you think I've got a

chance? The Star Wars movies started in 1977

` and since then devoted fans have celebrated every word, action and

movement. Unbelievably, the first Star Wars film came out 36 years ago

and the merchandise is still popular. Disney hope that the new

film will appeal to a whole new generation of fans and the new stars

could it down right here in Bristol. Of course Bristol has already

provided one star ` Dave Prowse from Southmead, who played Darth Vader.

And every year the city attracts die`hard fans of the film to its

sci`fi and fantasy convention. So what do they think of the auditions

being held in Bristol? I would be the third monkey standing at the act

in a mask if I knew I was in it The auditions are being held not in a

galaxy far, far away but at a harbour`side very near. They're

looking for a beautiful young woman, minimum age 16 ` that's me out ` and

for a handsome young man who has to be at least 18. Sorry, Andrew the

cameraman, you're out to. The queues will be huge! But what lines can the

potential talent say at their audition? There are certainly plenty

of favourites to choose from. Luke skywalker says he'll give something

a try and Yoda says, do or do not. There is no try. The bit where Hans

Solo is going into the car and Princess Leia says she loves them

and he says, I know. My favourite lines are the ones you hear as R2`D2

is fried. I'm 27. Aren't you a bit big for this? Never!

We are like the kings of quick`change! How did we do that?

Our thanks to Phil and Colin, who just sat in for us and very well.

Well we all know that Ian knows everything about the weather, but

what many of you may not know is that Ian is also a shark expert

He's been on an offshore shark`tagging expedition with

Miranda from The One Show. The team travelled to an area 30 miles from

shore and to water over 100 metres deep in search of blue sharks. You

can see how they got on straight after Points West on BBC One. We're

really looking forward to it. But before that he is Ian with his day

job, and the weather. Many of you are seeing a wet spell

developing but some have fared quite well with temperatures not far off

17. But rain will spill down towards the south. Tomorrow it will fairly

quickly clear away and then it will be a much improved day. A good deal

of sunshine around but there will be some showers in the West,

particularly around the Bristol Channel. The rainfall radar has been

showing how this front has been taking the heat of that up into

parts of the Midlands. The back edge is starting to swing back south

eastwards into the middle of the night. We will start to get these

outbreaks of rain progressively further down towards the south, some

moderately heavy. You can see the peak of the wave their on its way

down south eastwards. It will be quickly out of the way tomorrow

morning, as will much of the cloud. A much brighter day. For the rest of

this evening, if you haven't seen rain already to any great degree you

eventually will do, albeit some of it will be intermittent and light.

Give it until about seven o'clock and it is out of the way. Just a

hang back of cloud following behind but already starting to develop into

a much brighter morning across the Forest of Dean. Temperatures tonight

will be at their chilly is the further north you are. `` chilly

yesterday. A good deal of sunshine for many. The cloud will tend to

increase in terms of showers through the Bristol Channel. Many of you

will have more than a fighting chance of seeing a dry day right the

way through. It won't be as windy to as today so we will have gusts of

wind of around 20 mph. Pleasant enough in the sunshine. Looking

beyond that, after a showery day on Friday, a similar picture for

Saturday. Barely blustery on Sunday. `` fairly mastery.

Before we go, just to let you know about something coming up in

tomorrow's programme. We'll be at Bath Abbey to see Prince Edward

being installed as the new Chancellor of the University of

Bath. His Royal Highness is not the first famous person to have been a

Chancellor here in the West. Take a look at this! This amazing footage

is of Winston Churchill arriving at Temple Meads in 1929, about to be

installed as Chancellor of Bristol University. And this is the

wonderful moment when he's carried shoulder high from the ceremony by

the students. Not sure that will happen tomorrow ` but you never

know! And if you want to watch this again, there's a link on our

Facebook page. I'll be back with a quick update at

8pm and Ian is on after this! See you tomorrow.