25/02/2014 BBC Points West

Good evening. ?10 million is to be the papers on the news channel. Now

Good evening. ?10 million is to be given to farmers to help thdm

recover from flooding. In Somerset there are still thousands of acres

underwater, two severe flood warnings and insurance clails of

more than ?6 million. But today at the NFU conference, the Farling

Minister announced a scheme to help farmers get back on their fdet.

Fiona Lamdin reports. Hundreds of farms on the Levels are

still under water. Today, some of those farmers travelled 150 miles to

hear what help is at hand. For those farms that have been flooded, there

will be an immediate response fund with grants up to ?5,000. A

commitment to dredge, more loney for flood defences, and grants for

water`logged farms. And it was our farmers who were first on their feet

to question him. When can wd see an end to this, and a more cooperative

approach to all flood prevention on the Somerset Levels? We havd

listened now. We have made ht clear that we are now going to drddge the

rivers on the Somerset Levels. Following the news that the Prime

Minster is giving a fresh ?00 million to help flooded farls, today

we got some details into how that is being spent. ?5,000 will be given to

farmers who have been flooddd to help them seed their land, build

roads, and for drainage. Thhs money is a hand`out, it is money they will

not have to pay back. Last xear we had the same problem. The ground was

flooded and we all had to go and get money from wherever we could. This

year, the government has acknowledged the fact that there is

a problem, and that they ard prepared to help us stop it is very

welcome news. The money will fix a quarter of John's fields ` the rest

he will have to pay for, but is this fair? A question I put to the

farming minister. At the molent it is prudent to start off with that

?5,000 cap to make sure we don't exhaust the fund to quickly, meaning

that some of those worst affected won't get any help. Today's money

will help towards the regendration, but until this water starts to shift

the seeds of hope, little c`n be done or grown here.

One farmer who's lost money because of the weather is Heather Vdnn, a

beef farmer from Stoke St Gregory. Tonight she gave her reaction to

today's news. It is better than nothing, which is

what we had in the last event. I'm very pleased that this has started

to happen, but I do hope it is accessible for people, and that

people are going to be able to get hold of the money without h`ving to

jump through too many hoops. I think the farming community are vdry

relieved that we are being seen to be needing some support at this

stage, and the whole prospect of trying to recover from this, having

obviously having to recover from the last event, and this water has been

there a long time, so it is a relief that the government is now

acknowledging that we have ` problem here. What I would like to see more

than just the money coming to farmers is a commitment to laintain

these waters so we don't get into this position again.

Protests by young people in Wiltshire have helped save some of

the county's youth services. The group of teenagers were detdrmined

to stop cuts of over half a million pounds and campaigned for wdeks

Here's our political editor Paul Barltrop.

It's just one of 24 places where the council run youth services hn

Wiltshire. But, those who use Grosvenor House in Salisburx were

determined not to lose it. Today they took their campaign direct to

councillors. At stake ` proposed cuts of half a million pounds. Their

efforts had caught the eye of politicians. Behind the scenes there

had been talks. In the meethng, the opposition leader put forward a way

to reinstate ?250,000, and ht was accepted by the ruling

Conservatives. So, for thesd novices, a successful foray into

politics. It is excellent wd are making progress, and it is great

they are keeping it open. It is a fantastic step forwards. It is a big

improvement, it is not what we wanted, but it is a compromhse. I

think it is workable. Youth services still face cuts and big changes `

the council leader wants thdm better used. I don't regret it. Wh`t it has

done is meant have had really good conversations and we continte to do

that, especially with young people of the county to see how, instead of

8% of our young people actu`lly going into youth centres, wd can

look at how we can engage whth young people in the county. Wiltshire s

?333 million budget was votdd through. Councillors were told

they're making ?25 million of savings, with more to come.

The root cause of the cut is the ongoing funding that will trigger is

from central government. But there is one thing the council is

determined to get more monex from Whitehall for, the damage c`used by

the flooding. Potholed roads are already the biggest issue for many

voters. As the falling waters reveal their worst, a big repair bhll is

being prepared for the Government. Football now, and Swindon Town were

held to a draw tonight in the League One play`offs. They achieved 1` at

home to Crawley. There was disappointment for Cheltenh`m in

League Two. They suffered a 4`1 defeat at home to Chesterfidld,

while a late goal for Bristol Rovers meant they managed a 1`1 dr`w away

at Scunthorpe. Before I go, just time to tdll you

that our series on the First World War continues tomorrow. I'vd been to

Somerset to follow the storx of the mules who were brought to the west

before joining the Army. Thdy came by rail from Avonmouth and were

trained and shod near Minehdad. The story is on BBC Somerset at 8:1 am

tomorrow, and on Points West tomorrow night.

Now, time for the weather whth Ian. Now, time for the weather whth

Tomorrow will bring a simil`r dated today, so broadly speaking, sunny

spells and showers, but gendrally fewer showers than many of xou have

seen through the course of today. Tonight, many of those showdrs will

disappear as well, with temperatures topping two two Celsius in parts of

the countryside. Further showers tomorrow morning, particularly in

some western areas. You will notice the distribution of these is not

particularly widespread. As the day goes on, they will lessen through

the. A good deal of dry and sunny weather, with cloud increashng

through the course of the afternoon. The sunshine will turn hazy. Not as

easy tomorrow as today. Tendt is fulfilled decent up to 10 Cdlsius in

the sunshine. `` temperaturds. I'm settled into the weekend.

be rain, clearing into sunshine and showers, Buster once. Then it is

more difficult. Susan Powell is here to explain more international focus.

Take a glimpse out of the window and the chances they will be starry

skies where you are. The showers we have today are dying back to the

coast. The breeze is also easing and reclaiming skies and light winds, it

will be chilly overnight tonight. The wind will remain keen enough to

hold the frost that bay and in the far north-west, bringing in some

showers, if going down to the far southern coast. In rural areas,

don't be surprised if there