03/12/2013 BBC Points West

BBC weather website. That is it all from the BBC's News at Six.

Good evening and welcome to BBC Points West. Our headlines

tonight... Chaos on campus. Hundreds of

university workers walk out on strike over pay but the boss at UWE

gets a bonus. The fastest way to the cemetery ` a

warning as fatalities increase among middle`aged bikers. I treat

everybody who drives a car is an idiot. I will try to anticipate what

they do before I get to them but you cannot always do that.

The new man in charge at crisis`hit Bristol City ` how will he cope with

the pressure? And it wasn't always glamorous ` the

remarkable story of a model who turned her life around after being

bullied. Hundreds of staff employed by

universities and colleges across the West were on strike today. It was

part of a national protest over pay rates for staff like cleaners and

porters. Pickets were out early in Bristol, Bath and Cheltenham. But

there was particular anger amongst workers at the University of the

West of England. Whilst they've been given a one percent pay rise, their

boss has just had a ?24,000 bonus. Here's our political editor, Paul

Barltrop. The pickets were out before

daybreak. In Bath, Bristol and at the University of the West of

England, they talked to arriving staff and students. The three unions

involved represent the lowest`paid workers like cleaners and porters.

And what's happened at UWE has especially angered them. Our Vice

Chancellor has had substantial pay increases and we are disappointed

that they are awarding themselves high pay increases at a time when

their staff... We have members of staff you are having to go to food

banks and be demanding that is right. `` and we do not think that

is right. Steve West, UWE's vice chancellor, recently got a ?24, 00

is right. Steve West, UWE's vice chancellor, recently got a ?24,000

performance`related bonus, bringing his total package to ?314,000. It

was awarded by an independent panel. I don't feel uncomfortable about

defending it. We're in a market economy, people negotiate contracts

and the Vice Chancellor has not had an increment for over six years He

and the Vice Chancellor has not had an increment for over six years. He

an increment for over six years He has at exceptional performance was

that is the nature the contract he has. But it got them riled at a

rally in Bristol this lunchtime Staff are being offered a one

percent rise, once more lagging behind the rising cost of living. 1%

goes nowhere. Our members have lost 13% in real terms over four years.

1% is a derisory offer. The West's universities say today's action

caused little disruption for students. They're part of a national

consortium which negotiates pay. students. They're part of a national

consortium which negotiates pay. 1% is not the full picture and as

unions no, staff have packages that include incremental progression and

the pay package is likely to be closer to 3% in most institutions.

There's no sign of compromise. A defiant mood here today. This is

second time the unions have been on strike. They say they will take

further action if necessary. The banners have gone, staff are heading

back to work, at least for now. The trial of the man accused of

causing the M5 crash which killed seven people has entered it's third

week, with experts giving evidence on weather conditions on the night

of the tragedy. Geoffrey Counsell, who was running a fireworks display

at Taunton Rugby Club close to the motorway, is accused of failing to

ensure public safety. He denies the charge. The prosecution at Bristol

Crown Court say smoke from the display caused the crash. But, in

court today, a Met Office scientist said people at the event couldn't

said people at the event couldn t agree whether smoke was blowing

towards the motorway or away from it.

The Prime Minister has been singing the praises of a West Country firm,

saying it's a good example of how to do business with the Chinese. David

Cameron is in Shanghai, on the second day of his visit to China.

Earlier this year on Points West, we visited Moulton Bicycles in

Wiltshire to see how the West is trading with the East. Well, today,

as well as a thumbs`up from the PM, they've also got another huge order.

Our business correspondent, Dave Harvey, went along to the factory

this afternoon. We are in Bradford`on`Avon and this

place is rapidly becoming the workshop of the Beijing bicycle

club, that is what it feels like! It is a family run business with only

one international salesman, or make it to! `` or make it to macro! ``

make it to . This is the bike the primer Mr has

been selling in Beijing, alongside other British icons. How is your new

salesman getting on? Fantastic exposure for us. The biggest market

in the world, fantastic exposure. Things have moved on. Yes, we are

making a special model for the Chinese market. We received an order

for 50, which is around ?500,00 . We for 50, which is around ?500,000. We

are used to buying stuff that is cheap from China but they are not

buying cheap stuff from us, are they? They are the most discerning

market. They want our product. It must be great to get an order of

that size was not is its new jobs or does it just give those guys busy?

80% of dramatic ghost of odd remake goes to the far east already, 25

goes to the far east already, 2 major countries. We are looking to

double again in the next couple of years. This corner of Wiltshire is

doing very nicely but what about the rest of the country? In a couple of

days, George Osborne will give the Autumn statement on the state of the

British economy. What is it like where you are? I would like to hear

from you. And, as the Chancellor prepares to

deliver his Autumn Statement, the Government has said the first

speculative office development in Bristol for four years is a "very

good sign" that the city's economy has turned a corner. Building work

on the ?35 million scheme is underway without any tenants having

signed up first. The investment near Temple Meads was welcomed by the

Planning Minister. There is still a long way to go and we are definitely

not out of the woods but here in the heart of Bristol, there is a lot of

activity in an enterprise zone will stop an investment like this going

on. That is a great idea, it will create jobs and further activity and

will see a crucial part of this city revived for the future.

There's been a sharp rise in the number of deaths of motorcyclists on

the roads in the Avon and Somerset Police force area this year. The

fatalities have more than doubled. Scott Ellis has been finding out

who's most at risk, and why. The worst part of his job is telling

families of the death of a loved one. Behind each tragedy, the raw

data. The at risk group of people who are over 25, people who are

riding motorcycles in excess of 500 cc and people who are riding on

rural roads and two are turning to biking after some years away. Today

in Weston`Super`Mare, police were pulling over riders to get the

safety message accrss. When did you pass your test? 77. This rider from

Nailsea says he was knocked off last December when a car pulled out. He's

also a professional lorry driver. I treat everyone who drives a car as

an idiot. I will try to anticipate what they do before I get to them

but you cannot always do that. You just take your life and you risk,

like you would when you try anything. It's a harsh but often

heard view of two`wheelers. The data shows us that a third of this year's

motorcycle deaths were caused by other vehicles crossing into the

path of a bike. But the majority, two thirds, were down to rider error

and happened on a weekend or bank holiday Monday. The police say that

suggests inexperienced riders making mistakes. And there's evidence that

may be the case on the shop floor. The average mileages around 3000

miles a year. You are not building up that innate or intimate knowledge

of your motorcycle so when you go about and use the full performance,

you can get into trouble quickly. The Chief Constable of Avon and

Somerset says he's alarmed by the 18 motorcycle deaths. And wants

fixed`speed cameras switched back on to improve road safety.

Good evening. This is David and Ali with all your

local news and sport. Ian will be along shortly with the weather

forecast. But, before that, do you remember this? It is all right for

some of you. Half of you won't be here in 30 or 40 years! A teenage

William Hague making his political debut. We're about to meet a young

man from Bath who's been picked to stand for Labour without having ever

voted in a General Election himself! And give us our coins back! A

campaign to bring a Roman hoard back to Bath. That is coming up.

Bristol City have appointed Steve Cotterill as their new manager on a

three`and`a`half year contract. He replaces Sean O'Driscoll, who left

the club last Thursday. The former Cheltenham Town boss was presented

to the media this morning. Alistair Durden reports.

He is their six manager in under four years. Steve Cotterill has been

considered for the job before but this time at his job. The mission is

clear. We don't want a bit too much pressure on ourselves but certainly

get out of the position we are in at the moment and tried to take the

club forward. So much potential here? Without a shadow of a doubt. I

have known the club for many years so I know what a big club it is and

we would like to get the supporters excited again and that will be

something we will aim to do very early on. He led Johnson into the

Football League and then saw them promoted again, winning nearly half

of his games in charge. He had more success at Notts County before

taking on more challenging positions. He has a good background

and will bring in new people and I should think it will only be good

for the people. He has success at lower levels, so give him a chance.

We are now desperate. His appointment as manager rather than

head coach is significant, giving him control over recruitment and

coaching. It is a 3.5 year deal but the immediate aim is clear, avoid

relegation. We need to go in and coach them as best we can and try to

get some results on board first. If get some results on board first If

the team came out and we got four results on the belt, if we did

that, that would give me confidence, which is vital. After so much change

recently, this man believes it is important he is given time to

succeed. If you have a long`term plan, you need to put the person you

think will stick to that and stick with them. The supporters are

interested in staying in league one. Steve Cotterill will bring the

plenty of enthusiasm and passion to Bristol City. He has a reputation of

getting the best from his players. He needs some results in the

short`term. They have two wins this season.

Swindon Town chairman Jed McCrory has stepped down from the board and

left the club. His departure follows a statement released this morning

confirming a company owned by director Lee Power, here in the grey

jumper, had taken control of the club from McCrory and his

consortium. They only took over Swindon themselves back in February

shortly after the exit of former manager Paolo Di Canio.

Yeovil Town take on promotion`chasing Blackpool tonight

at Huish Park. The Glovers recorded one of the best results in the

club's history at the weekend beating Watford away 3`0. They

remain in the Championship relegation zone, with just three

wins from 17 matches. Somerset bowler Anya Shrubsole has

been nominated as Woman Cricketer of the Year. Anya, who's from Bath,

been nominated as Woman Cricketer of the Year. Anya, who's from Bath is

one of just six women chosen by the International Cricket Council. She

was part of the Ashes winning side this summer and starred for England

in the World Cup in India where she was amongst the leading wicket

takers. Two years ago, Sophie Organ, a Gloucestershire schoolgirl, was so

badly bullied she dreaded leaving her home. She self`harmed and

suffered with eating disorders. Tonight, though, she'll have her

head held high as she struts her stuff down the catwalk for

Cheltenham Fashion Week. Fiona Lamdin has been to meet her during

her rehearsals. Life's certainly been black and gold

for Sophie Organ. Darker days two years ago, when she was badly

bullied at school. And the taunting didn't stop when she left the

classroom, it followed her home. didn't stop when she left the

classroom, it followed her home When people write stuff about you,

and you know it is there, it makes you want to read it because you

wonder what they are saying about you. Then you go back to how you

were at school and you are so depressed but now you are alone,

were at school and you are so depressed but now you are alone you

depressed but now you are alone, you have no friends around you and you

don't want to go to your parents about it. A couple of incidents

happened and by this time we realised she was self harming. We

did not understand it it was alien to us and it makes you feel like you

have failed them. This confident young girl, she had suddenly become

a depressed young teenager. But now a touch of golden glamour, a change

of school and the chance to model here last year has been a

life`changer. I had a view fashion shows in that week and that was so

much fun, I met people who had been through the same thing as me who

have got either eating disorders or they have had it and I could share

everything with them. You got to try on lots of amazing clothes and

feel`good about yourself for that week. And, tonight on the catwalk,

she's sporting this creation by a 13`year`old schoolgirl from Stroud

High. So, with her modelling career well

and truly on the right track, Sophie can dream of making it to the cover

of a fashion magazine. OK, another one. And one more. And one more

after that. A brilliant success story. A name to

watch. We will keep our eyes open for her continuing success.

Staff at the Roman Baths say they're closing in on their target of

?60,000 towards buying a rare archaeological find. One of the

largest ever hoards of silver roman coins was found in the city in 2007

and the team at the Baths want to acquire them as the centrepiece of a

new historical exhibition. Here s acquire them as the centrepiece of a

new historical exhibition. Here's new historical exhibition. Here's

Jules Hyam. There's no shortage of history here

but there's one piece of the past that's got archaeologists rather

excited. It was found here, when archaeologists were doing work as a

new hotel was being built. 2007, archaeologists were doing work as a

new hotel was being built. 2007, a big board of coins, known as the

collection. What surprised us was, when two years later, we had an

excited curator and setting us to tell us that the horde they now

thought was one of the very largest ever found in Roman Britain. That

curator was at the British Museum. They've been studying the coins

there for a while now, separating them out, identifying them and even

X`raying them. What they found was that the money had been buried in

bags. This is a replica of one of those bags. There were eight

altogether and that makes this extremely rare. We now know that

there are just over 17,500 coins. It is probably about the largest ever

to come out of a Roman town. Stephen and his team are hoping to acquire

the coins and create a new exhibition around them. They've

already raised more than ?50,00 . exhibition around them. They've

already raised more than ?50,000. already raised more than ?50,000.

They need 10,000 more and they've got three months left to find it.

Dig deep, David! The Labour Party in Bath has chosen

a teenager as their next parliamentary candidate. Ollie

Middleton has yet to vote in a General Election himself and wasn't

even born when the current MP, Don Foster, won the seat for the Liberal

Democrats in 1992. And Ollie joins us now from our Westminster studio.

I'm guessing you're hoping this will be first of many interviews from

there! I'm hoping so, yes. We will have to

wait and see what will happen. It would be good if we could get a view

more in. How many people did you beat to get that particular

calling? What platform did you stand on? It came, in the end, there was

obviously a selection process and then it goes down to short listing,

as would happen anywhere else in the country and come in the end, it was

down to two of us and on the day, I ended up winning the vote, which I'm

very pleased about. How do you think it will go down with the

constituents in Bath? Will your age go for you or against you? A lot of

people have obviously talked about my age because it is a big factor

but I have always found that people are very responsive to having a

younger person. I have always found that on the doorsteps, meeting

people, they really resonate with it and it is something new and

different. I actually think it is an asset. What experienced do you think

you will bring? What insights? I can bring a young person 's perspective

and that is one of my key assets. I think, when it comes to issues

surrounding young people, a lot of them have not been top of the little

agenda recently, we have seen rising tuition fees and the prospect of

people paying ?9,000 a year for a university course, with the

employment and jobs market, we have too many people unemployed. Young

people , like everyone across the spectrum, a feeling a lot of effects

with the cost of living and various other issues as well. Hopefully, I

can bring a young person's viewpoint to those issues. Bath has no history

of voting for Labour. You being up for a fall? I would not say that. In

recent years, yes, Labour would not have made the impact they would have

liked in Bath. There is potential there. They are looking for an

alternative and all I can do is do everything in my power to promote

the Labour manifesto and we need to ensure we engage with people. Some

real politician answers here! Who is your hero? Tony Blair or Tony Benn?

Have I got to pick one of those two? They are both fantastic politicians.

You are going to be on the politics show for years to come! Thank you

very much for coming on. Nice to meet you.

Rare photographs of the Queen and her sister, Princess Margaret, on

stage in pantomime are being put up for auction in Gloucestershire. The

images, taken between 1940 and 1944, images, taken between 1940 and 1944,

feature in two scrapbooks which are expected to sell for thousands of

pounds next week. They show the young princesses in Windsor in shows

including Cinderella and Aladdin. The photographs are part of a

collection jointly owned by a former headmaster in the town and actor

Cyril Woods, a lifelong friend of the Queen. That is some family

album! The Team GB kit worn by Peter Wilson

has raised `` raised ?300 at auction. He donated them to a local

charity shop and bidding has taken place over the last five weeks.

I don't think my old socks would get that much!

A group of Gloucester Rugby players earned themselves a special

pampering session earlier after doing their bit for charity. Scrum

half Dan Robson was among several of the squad who grew moustaches

throughout November, or rather MO`vember, to raise money for

prostate cancer. Today, along with winger Shane Monahan, they were

given an expert shave and massage as their facial furniture was removed.

Ever fancied growing a moustache? I don't think I had enough. I would

need a false one! Imagine him turning up like Tom Selleck!

You saw some politicians answers earlier. We're in a similar

situation as we head towards mid`December towards Christmas.

Everyone is asking how cold it will get and weather it will be a white

Christmas, etc etc. There is a 50`50 split in the forecasts that that

go`ahead. Some look very mild. We are favouring an opinion that it

will get colder. For the time being, we are looking at an oscillation of

temperatures over the next few days. Tomorrow start a trend where we will

start on familiar territory, there will be some showery round around. A

weak frontal come southwards. In the second half of the day, in contrast

to recent weather, there will be a lot of sunshine around. It will be a

marked change was not a cloudy picture for now with high pressure

dominating. This frontal come through tomorrow morning, which

brings in that first of the as we get towards the afternoon and it who

was the cloud away. A chilly night into Thursday. This area of low

pressure will be a very big feature. It will run down into the North Sea

into Thursday, giving some severe weather across north`east England

and Scotland, with a chance of 70 and Scotland, with a chance of 0

mph winds. We will see a change into Friday. For the time being, a lot of

cloud around. No fog problems tonight. It should stay dry. As we

head towards daybreak, this cold front is easing down into parts of

Gloucestershire for rush`hour. The rain will be intermittent. There may

be the odd heavy burst around but it should be light and inconsequential

for the most part. Temperatures are between one and four Celsius. Some

damp weather for the first age of the morning. That eases south. It

sucks the cloud away with it to the south. This bright weather feeds in

from the North from lunchtime onwards. The afternoon will be under

largely clear skies. We continue that way as we head towards

nightfall. There will be the blue turning up on the map. It will be a

chilly night by then. Temperatures tomorrow about 6`8 Celsius. As we

look further afield, into the mid`range prospects, that change

that is taking place with low pressure close at hand will meet a

much windy day on Thursday. A cold day on Friday, despite the lighter

winds and then the temperatures start to climb again over the

weekend. It looks a lot milder. But for how long?

Now it's time to continue our countdown to Christmas here on

Points West, as we turn to our advent calendar. Every weekday

night, we're choosing a festive picture sent in by one of you and

opening a virtual window on a Christmassy West Country scene. And

today we turn to Bridgwater and this picture from Malcolm Lewis. We've

already had a fantastic response with some great images, if you've

got one you'd like to be considered, the email address is on the screen.

The pictures have been lovely. They have. Thank you. That is it for now.