25/11/2013 BBC Points West

Hello and welcome to BBC Points West. Our headlines this evening.

Seventeen years after her disappearance and murder,

developments in the case of Melanie Hall. A 44`year`old man is arrested

and questioned by police. Swindon football club promise to

review safety after a fan runs on to the pitch and allegedly punches the

opposition goalkeeper. This individual is not a supporter of the

club as far as I'm concerned and I'm sure our fans are very disappointed

about that. I will be reporting from

Malmesbury, the year after the worst floods in living memory.

And the Gloucestershire project aiming to improve the countryside,

gets the royal seal of approval Good evening.

First tonight ` It's emerged that police have arrested a 44``year`old

man on suspicion of the murder of a university graduate whose body was

found on the edge of the M5 four years ago. Detectives spent two days

questioning the man as part of the investigation into the murder of

Melanie Hall. The 25`year`old vanished after a night out in Bath

seventeen years ago. It's the first development in the case since the

police revealed new leads last month. Here's Liz Beacon.

Melanie Hall's death has been an unsolved mystery for the past 17

years. The hospital worker who went missing after a night out in Bath

and was never seen again. But the past few months have brought a surge

of new information fresh leads for the police and renewed hope for

Melanie's family, including her sister who has three daughters. I

often look at them and think their lives would have been a lot richer

having her in their lives. I feel very sorry they did not get to grow

up with her as part of their lives. That is a genuine heart`wrenching

soil. I really do feel that. `` sorrow. In October detectives said a

soft top A Reg white Golf like this was crucial to their investigation.

They also revealed they had fresh evidence about the origins of a blue

rope found with Melanie's remains along the M5 four years ago. And

these two new pieces of information led them to arrest a 44`year`old man

from Bath ` he would have been 27 when Melanie went missing.

Detectives spent two days questioning him and searched a

property in Whiteway, where it's thought he used to live. He's been

bailed until next month. In the meantime police are carrying out

further inquiries, working to solve this 17 year`long investigation and

bring Melanie's killer to justice. Our Home Affairs Correspondent,

Steve Brodie, has covered the case of Melanie Hall for the past

seventeen years and he joins us now. How significant is today's news `

are the police getting closer to solving this case after all this

time? That is certainly the question. We have been here before.

There have been rumours and speculation of all kinds. Farms have

been dug up. Serial killers serving life sentences have been questioned

in prison. The infamous Bath rapist ` who himself has never been caught

` have all been linked to Melanie's disappearance and then dropped and

always because of the lack of any evidence of any kind. What about the

discovery of Melanie Hall's body by the M5 in 2009? That's another

classic example. I think a lot of people thought that's it `with the

modern developments in DNA people think almost any crime can be

solved. I have to say, the detective leading the enquiry says they are

missing a vital piece of information. So far there's not been

what a leading detective on the case calls the golden nugget ` that vital

piece of evidence which points to one suspect. We have just heard

about the new development of the white card. That is certainly

significant. What I can tell you is that this man arrested in Bath has

never been arrested before in connection with the case ` and that

in itself is interesting and has given both the detectives and

Melanie's family fresh cause for hope. It's easy to get drawn into

these things but I get the feeling this is the closest the police have

come to getting their man. Thank you very much.

The trial of the man accused of causing one of Britain's worst ever

motorway crashes has entered its second week. Geoffrey Counsell, who

organised a fireworks display close to where the crash happened on the

M5 in Somerset, denies failing to ensure public safety. Seven people

died in the crash which happened two years ago. This afternoon more

witnesses have spoken of how smoke from the fireworks seriously reduced

visibility on the night. Our correspondent Clinton Rogers was in

court today and joins us live from Taunton Rugby club where the display

was held. What more was said in court today? Well. We are still in

the middle of the prosecution case. This afternoon we've heard from

three people who were in the crowd here on the night of November four,

2011. The M5 runs behind the rugby club, behind me. All spoke of the

high level of smoke generated by the fireworks on the night. Timothy

Jenkins, who went to the display with his wife and daughter, said the

fireworks generated a lot of smoke. "It seemed to be dense around us,"

he told the jury at Bristol Crown Court. "It seemed to drift away from

us and towards the motorway. He told the court that after the display

ended he and his family went to sit in the stand at Taunton Rugby Club

where the display was held. Within minutes he saw an orange glow in the

direction of the motorway, then heard an explosion. He realised

later that was the flames from the fires which were caused by those of

equals collided on the night. What is happening tomorrow? Tomorrow we

will hear from drivers who were on the motorway the night of this

crash. They will be drivers who passed the area shortly before the

crash but we will also be hearing from those who were actually

involved in the crash. Seven people died on the night, 51 others were

injured, some seriously. The defence says Geoffrey Counsell was not

responsible for that, they will say it was for which reduce the

visibility. . And that even if smoke did mix with fog to exacerbate the

problem that is something Mr Counsell could not possibly have

predicted.. It is unprecedented. In the 400 years of the history of

fireworks Nothing like it has ever happened before. , how can he be

held responsible for what happens on the night. The trial continues.

Thank you very much. Swindon town football club have ROMs

to review safety measures after a fan ran onto the pitch and allegedly

punched the opposition goalkeeper. The man was arrested and has been

released on bail. It was near the end of the game when a 26`year`old

man confronted the goalkeeper, Jamie Jones. Thankfully he was unhurt. The

ugly scenes were brought to an end by stewards. Police confirmed a man

was arrested and later bailed. I have not seen a scene like that

whilst I have been a manager for a long long time. The football `` he

should be banned for life. This is where the individual concerned was

watching the game. Supporters are separated from the action by a

narrow gangway and this three foot high barrier which he climbed over

to get onto the pitch. Swindon town have apologised to the player and

today insisted they are happy with how they reacted. You can see the

footage on CCTV. We looked at it quickly afterwards. We saw the

individual come onto the field of Lee and stewards reacted very

quickly. The police can verify that as can the referee and his

assistants. A verify that in their reports and were happy with the

action taken. 31 people were charged earlier in the season following the

Bristol derby, but Home Office figures suggest football league is

not on the rise stop Swindon say the incident on Saturday was an isolated

incident. This club does not condone that. We would do everything we can

to ensure the individual is dealt with appropriately. The club will

take on any improvement it can do to insure it never happens again. The

Football Association say they are speaking to both clubs before they

take any further action. Swindon have confirmed they have

indefinitely suspended the individual from attending matches

here until the legal process is complete.

You are watching your regional news programme. This is the start of the

last week in November. Much more still to come tonight, including

steaming ahead onto the market. The house up for auction, complete with

the train. Find out all about it shortly.

The police say organised gangs of poachers are increasingly targeting

the red deer on Exmoor, tempted by the high value of their meat ` and

the black`market trade in antlers. The National Wildlife Crime Unit

told us tonight that a single carcass is worth about 200 to a

poacher ` and their antlers can be worth thousands. Andrew Plant

reports. A public meeting on the edge of Exmoor with advice from

police for the farmers here on ways to beat the problem of poaching.

Exmoor is home to the largest number of red deer. These kings of the

forest ` weigh up to 300 pounds. And in rutting season ` have the

majestic head gear to match. At the end of September Police were called

here. A quiet lay`by. Right next door to the national park. The

police found 11 stag heads which had been cut from the bodies and placed

in plastic bags in the ditch year. They all had their antlers cut`off.

It is the antlers which can fetch the most money on the black market.

Red deer poaching is nothing new This footage was filmed on the

mendips in 1995. But now police say the high prices Have attracted

highly organised Hi Tech thieves. They have 4x4 vehicles, using lamb

and using firearms. They are here to make money. While Scotland also has

large populations of red deer. They are far smaller than Exmoor's big

beasts. The UK's National Wildlife Crime Unit says poaching is now One

of their highest priorities. And famers are planning ways to protect

their animals ` and each other. They would have some sort of early

warning system and they would know who was on their land. If they hear

shots, they can give a quick call because they will know exactly what

is going on. Hunting is legal ` during the daytime and with a

license ` and landowners permission. Poaching means a large fine or three

months in prison for anyone convicted. But the high value of

these animals means many more are now willing to take the risk.

A man from Cheltenham died when a car crashed into a pub in Suffolk

this weekend. There were six men in the Citroen which careered off the

road in Blythburgh on Saturday. 19`year`old Christopher Doran from

Cheltenham and 18`year`old Jonny Cash from Kent died at the scene.

The other men are all said to be in a stable condition in hospital.

More people will be able to find out from the police if their partner has

a history of domestic violence, following a pilot scheme in

Wiltshire. The county is one of four areas where Clare's Law has been

trialled. Today the Home Secretary, Theresa May, announced it will be

rolled out across England and Wales from next March.

It is off to a slow start, numbers have been low, which is right in a

pilot. Now we have national coverage we will get more people knowing

about the scheme and that will protect more people.

A year ago today, the Wiltshire town of Malmesbury woke up to the worst

flooding it had seen in living memory. People had to be rescued, 34

houses were flooded. The Environment Agency described it as a freakish

event, and it's encouraged the town and the residents to do everything

they can to protect themselves. Which is exactly what they're doing,

as Alice Bouverie's been finding out.

The pictures which record a traumatic day in Malmesbury's recent

history. The ground was saturated. The rain kept coming. And the river

levels kept rising. Dozens of communities across the West suffered

last November ` Malmesbury the worst. The Rose and Crown pub became

a refuge for many of the families living round here. On the night of

25th November 2012, they woke to find the floodgates had literally

opened. I had a phone call at how past two to move my car because of

flood waters. I did not imagine it would be as high as that was all

ready. I had to wake my sign up who came down and put his wellingtons on

to walk into the lounge because it was already really wait in here. It

was just an absolutely upside`down moments. We were in turmoil. I was

seven months back living with my appearance. Over the last year, the

town's been working tirelessly to make sure it never happens again.

The sluice gates, downstream of the town, were rediscovered. They'd been

shut for three or four years. New keys have been cut. And with the

blessing of the Environment Agency, the former mayor and two fellow

volunteers started their own Riverwatch six weeks ago. We check

it twice a day this time of year. It has made a difference, especially in

miles beneath. Obviously water levels last year were incredible and

it has dropped this year. The water now has two paths to travel down.

And the riverbed at the town bridge is also being dug out to make the

channels deeper. It's hoped this will all make a difference, but not

everyone is convinced. The football club was flooded three times last

winter, costing it thousands of pounds. I still think a bit more

could have been done. There is the next part of the river from Myers

which has a dam with broken trees, which has not been dealt with and

we're happy with. Malmesbury is not seen as a priority because it is not

a flooding hotspot. Fingers crossed the weather will be kinder to as

this year and we won't have to deal with it again. Everyone hopes Karen

is right. It does seem more positive this

year. The Prince of Wales has been out and

about in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire today. Prince

Charles started his morning with an enthusiastic welcome from Sherston.

Here he visited an old school that's been renovated into business units

with money from his Countryside Fund. He was introduced to

hairdressers who've set up a salon there before visiting the local post

office. The Prince also went to the Royal Agricultural College in

Cirencester ` where Ali Vowles caught up with him. Prince Charles

is no stranger to visiting the Royal agricultural University, but this

was the first time he had seen the new innovation centre. Seven months

ago this building was still an old farm shed. Today the brand`new

building has been reborn. Finding a way of getting people to talk to

each other, the problems of farming and potential solutions, the sharing

of best practice, that is crucially important to get best production and

the best for the countryside. The pH values of silage were analysed

before the Royal. Students come from all over the country to learn here.

It is one of only three such universities in the UK. The prince

was also keen to see where their ?150,000 grant from his countryside

find was spent. Giving young people the chance to learn agricultural

skills which might lead to employment. I am very lucky. To have

anyone support you is good, let alone someone who can give you all

sorts of support. Where you nervous speaking to the Prince? Yes, I was.

I'm a bit nervous now. Even teachers could be nervous. What did the

princely? It was a polite now. If you do not ask, you do not get, but

no. He found the dry stonewalling amusing. He thought it was very

funny, trying to fit all the stones in places, it was a bit hard for

him. He was really interested. This is one of the favourite parts of his

trip, he loves agriculture and encouraging young people to get

involved. That is why he has donated ?50,000 from this trust to make sure

those real skills level one. `` those country skills live on.

After 131 years, the RNLI has announced its to move Weston super

Mare lifeboat station away from Birnbeck island It says it's taken

the decision due to the deteriorating condition of the

quarter of a mile long pier which the crew have to cross to reach the

lifeboat. In the meantime it plans to establish temporary facilities in

Weston. 75 years ago, a rescue mission saved

thousands of European children flee the Nazis. In the nine months before

the outbreak of the second World War, the Kindertransport took mainly

Jewish boys and girls from Germany and Austria and ferried them to

safety in England. Today ` to mark the anniversary of the evacuations `

a special performance took place at Temple Meads Station in Bristol. Zoe

Gough reports. 200 boys and girls waves to England, land of the free.

The Kindertransport saw 9,500 children saved from the Nazis.

Predominantly Jewish, they travelled by train and boat to British cities.

Sisters Roz and Jane Merkin's mother Johanna was among them ` sent from

Vienna without her parents. But they realised few people knew the

remarkable story so decided to put on a show to tell it. Mother did not

talk about it very much. When you grow up with a mother who came from

the Kindertransport, you are slightly different, you feel a bit

odd. We are meeting lots of people who are children of Kindertransport

children. The other common history which is nice. The children were

sent away as attacks against the Jews intensified in the lead up to

war. They found safety but also uncertainty in their new country.

Few ever returned home ` as the holocaust claimed most of their

parents' lives. They are now mostly in their 80s and 90s. It is

important for them to share their story and talking to their families

for this `` the first time and also to other people. This show may be

rooted in the past, but it reminds us that even now 1100 and accompany

children arrive in Britain every year still. You try to give them an

idea of what might have felt like to arrive this country not knowing

where you're going and not understanding where you are going or

what is happening and not being able to speak the language.

Kindertansport began in 1938, 75 years ago next week. Roz and Jane

hope there maybe more people out there who share a link with their

past. Zoe Gough BBC Points West, Bristol.

Fascinating. I had not heard of that before.

Now if you're considering moving house ` and fancy something a bit

different ` then there's a property in South Gloucestershire you might

be interested in. It's an old station being auctioned off that

comes complete with its own steam locomotive. Tracey Miller has been

to have a look. If you like trains then this full`size steam train with

us on track and some platform, is for sale. Included is its own

four`bedroom house. The old train station built in the 1800s has bags

of character. But is it tricky to sell a house with a train. It is

very strange to have a train with a property like this. It is the old

Station cottage so it is perfectly matched. If any property should have

a train, it is this one. So who lives in a station like this? Its

present owners, Mark and Molly Astbury first saw the old train

station's when it was derelict and boarded up. Renovating the grade two

station was the perfect project. We decided to have a dig and unearth

the entire platform, so that was Christmas holiday digging out the

platform. Then he decided he needed the train to go with it. Full`size

of course! We thought it would look the part. I did not realise you can

buy steam engines. We found one. Alexandra the steam train was

delivered and became the life and soul. It lends itself to parties and

barbecues and little functions. Everybody loves to come and take

photos of it and stand on it. It is definitely a talking point. Now the

only thing leaving this station is the Astbury family who are moving

onto a new project. The train and the station are up for auction. I

wonder how you value that as an estate agent? If it had a Formula

one car I know someone who would be interested. You would be up there,

wouldn't you? Well the weather conditions as we

run to the week ahead, it will remain static. We will continue with

the high`pressure which means that tomorrow continues the theme of dry

weather but it will be chilly. Sunshine around with variable

amounts of cloud. For many of you this was the frosty start. Others

will see the opposite in terms of fog. Through this evening, you would

see this clear slot easing its sweet eastwards and we have called

conditions underneath it. High`pressure eight towards the

South West and Ireland. Through tomorrow, there will be sunshine at

times and cloudy at others. More cloud towards the later part of the

day. Dry nonetheless. The creators stuff edging its way eastwards. ``

the clear stuff. All in all it will be a question of seeing how the fall

develops from the morning rush hour period. There will be areas in the

Cotswolds and the Midlands, down through the water the corridor and

towards Yeovil, you will have lots of fog around but you will not have

any on the Western coastal strip of Somerset. These are the country

values for temperatures tonight. We get down to minus three. I would not

rule out minus temperatures in urban areas as well. You will have to

scrape off your car tomorrow. Through tomorrow, inside of the fog

there will be quite a lot of sunshine. You get the general idea,

cloud and sunshine. Pleasant conditions if you out and about.

Winds remain light. No wind`chill factor which is just as well because

we will only have six Celsius. It is chillier in the East compared to

today. Watch cloudier on Wednesday. Thank you very much. Nice to see you

back. Now, before we go this evening, just

time to tell you about tomorrow's Points West when we'll be looking

back on Concorde's last flight into Filton. And as the Bristol Concorde

remains on the runway ten years on, we'll be finding out how Brooklands

Museum in Surrey has made its historic aircraft the main

attraction and if there are any lessons Bristol can learn from their

experience. Plus if we're ever likely to see a supersonic plane in

the skies again. So if you're a fan of Concorde ` don't miss tomorrow's

programme. That's all for now. Good night. Goodbye.