26/09/2014 BBC Points West

That's all from the team here at Westminster.

Welcome to BBC Points West with Alex Lovell and David Garmston.

Water everywhere but not enough to drink.

Queues gather at tankers after the burst main that flooded

The water was going up in the air and gushing down thd road,

I've never seen anything like it at all.

The people who rushed to help after Britain's worst motorway cr`sh.

How Nigel Farage is trying to win West Country votes for TKIP

And from a dribble to a slal dunk, the Bristol basketball team that's

24,000 homes in Bristol are without tap water

tonight after a pipe burst, causing chaos in one residential street

The road above the pipe burst open yesterday evening

and flooded the ground floor of nearby homes, forcing fire crews to

This morning hundreds queued across the area at temporarx water

bowsers to fill up bottles `nd plastic containers, and will likely

Andrew Plant is at the scend in Fisher Road for us tonight.

This is the pipe that burst yesterday afternoon. This hole has

just get `` kept getting bigger all day. The people living in ndarby

said it sounded like thunder. They locked out of their windows and saw

the water bubbling up and breaking through the concrete. They don't

know what caused the pipe to break but they do note the water won't be

back on until sometime tomorrow Queueing around the corner

in this carpark today to gather water for washing and a morning cup

of tea as 24,000 homes woke up to Workmen up to their chests

in this gigantic hole in thd road digging out a water pipe th`t

suddenly burst yesterday afternoon. I heard a noise and luck out the

window and the road was comhng up like that.

It flooded 100 yards of road and poured into people's holes,

even forcing evacuations by boat for the very young

and the less able, carrier bags serving as improvised willids,

and the less able, carrier bags serving as improvised wellids,

Last night those stuck outshde kept warm beneath blankets.

This morning they woke up to mechanical diggers outside their

Bristol water had dropped bottles on their doorstep this mornhng.

We have got electricity. Ovdr the road they have no water, eldctricity

or gas. We've been helping the neighbours I making a few flasks for

them. And you can't even get ready to school this morning? No there's

no water for me to have a shower. Several thousand homes are without

water in the taps so these bowsers, huge mobile water holders,

have been filled up Elsewhere they were handing out

these pre`packaged six packs. People struggling away

beneath the weight, many deciding to This evening told it could still be

a long wait We have tried to use other parts of

the network but we haven't been able to do any more than that. The

reservoir tank was emptied, so that water would be going back on until

we get this pipe repaired. Even once the pipe is repaired

the water quality will have to be There's no guarantee that tomorrow

morning anyone's taps will turn on. There is a list of one oh is water

supplies are if you need ond. They're located at the Coops

in Downend and Kingswood, at Morrisons in Fishponds,

Sainsbury's in Emersons Gredn There are also bowsers at Aspects

Leisure Park in Longwell Grden, Bristol water says workers will be

here repairing despite the rest of the night. If all goes a pl`n that

maggot to plan the water will be back on before noon tomorrow. If you

have left your taps turned on, send them off before the water comes

And if you go to our Facebook page, a family

from Kingswood have made a special report about how their day has been

The outstanding bravery of ordinary members of the public was rdcognised

today, four years after one of Britain's worst motorway cr`shes.

Awards were presented to those who risked their lives to save others

Our Somerset Correspondent Clinton Rogers was at the awards ceremony.

There is one thing that binds these people together,

being in the wrong place at the wrong time, leaving thel with

Chaos, explosions, smoke, ddbris. Bibles, explosions, everythhng you

can imagine in the worst cinematic experience you could picturd. The

worst crash in British motorway history left seven dead and 51

injured but it could be much worse. Much worse had not these people

risked their own lives to hdlp others. People like Rebecca

Williams, an off duty noble medic who herself was injured in the crash

yet still went You crashed, you are injured, did it

not occur to you to get out the way? Yes, but then I saw other

people injured and my instincts were to go and help them. People were

trapped and injured and cryhng about. You can't just let go and

stand back and watch. Every story was a remarkabld one.

Yet, as one, these people s`id they didn't think of themselves `s brave.

We went being brave, we werd terrified. We did see peopld who

were trapped and, what do you do? You can't turn your back on people

like that. There were awards for the emergency services, too. Many said

it was the toughest night of their lives. It was bound to be an

emotional day. Families of the victims coming face`to`face with

those who helped. A chance to say thank you, four years on.

Two Somerset County Council childrens homes are to closd

because of considerable concerns over safeguarding as well as poor

The homes, near Bridgwater and Glastonbury, have five xoung

They'll move to new accommodation in the coming weeks.

The two homes are West End Close in Chedzoy and Appledore in

They can each take four young people aged 13 to 17.

The statement released by county hall this afternoon says

it's decided to "act quickly over concerns `bout

safeguarding, poor management and sub`standard care in moving towards

I've found out those concerns were raised in an anonymous lettdr

The council then brought in an external company to investigate.

That report raised consider`ble concerns over safeguarding

and the council says, "coupled with question marks over

management and the level of care being provided the right decision is

Somerset County Council says provisional evidence

from recent Ofsted inspections of the two homes also adds to

The council started consulthng the five teenagers who live

at the homes, their families and the staff about the closures yesterday.

The young people will be moving to new accommodation

We've got lots more still to come on the programme, including an unusual

The RAF serviceman who finally gets his medals.

A driver has been arrested on suspicion of causing death

by dangerous driving after a cyclist was killed

The incident happened near the St Barnabas church roundabott.

The man who died hasn't yet been identified but the car involved

a black BMW, was recovered later and the driver arrested.

Police believe there may have been other people in the car

The party that has sent shockwaves through British politics has

UKIP made its big breakthrotgh in recent council elections taking

It's now set its sights on winning its first seats in parliament, with

Paul Barltrop is at the conference in Doncaster.

Paul, why is the conference being held there

Is the racecourse. There is a big bunch in the room underneath where I

am standing at the moment. The local MP is one Ed Miliband, leaddr of the

Labour Party and it is a thdme of this conference that UKIP are gained

after disgruntled Labour voters What does that mean in the West

Country? We've had delegates here from a cost the whence country

particularly the urban areas but the area where a lot of attention is

focused, is the first of De`n which looks likely to be one of the top

target at the next general dlection. Three election winners and would`be

MP. Many of their supporters usdd to

vote Labour. I think it's a fairly unique place. It's obviouslx an old

mining area where there is ` traditional working`class area. I

think it's very much that a lot of people lie feel they've been left

behind with this new kind of Britain that has been established bx the

three failed parties. I think people are just fed up. We've got loads of

help. We have a network throughout the forest. We have plenty of

candidates for next year 's elections. They bring free for

people with them, that's three or leaflet distributors. The local

parties also had some setbacks. A council candidate was expelled the

homophobic statements then their general election candidate stood

down admitting hypocrisy budding a wing farm deal. Election rules have

now been tightened up. I was certain that all I nearly selected LPs and

candidates will be exceptional. In fact, some of the problems we've had

have been people, councillors and candidates who have come from other

parties said they obviously went through their party selection

process beforehand. We want to signal to the world that we are

parking out tanks on the Labour Party's door. The appeal to

activists was to campaign even harm harder over the next eight lonths.

Before they get to the election the party is very hopeful that ht will

have at least one MP in Westminster. In two weeks thme the

Clacton by`election takes place They are hoping to get a candidate

elected there. Replicating that success in the next general election

in the West Country will be a lot harder. Whatever happens thd boats

they pay gap will influence results across the West next May.

EDF Energy says it remains confident Hinkley C will be built despite

The Austrian environment minister has said his country will fhght

plans to fix the price of energy generated at Hinkley.

That's even if the EU approves the deal, as expected.

The power station almost certainly won't be built

unless the price is guarantded, but EDF remains confident

Obviously we are counted, then. `` confident. We wait for the outcome

of the boats whenever that hs. Are you confident? If you look behind

us, we are making great progress and we will be ready when that final

decision is made. His comments came

as anti`nuclear campaigners staged their latest protest against

Hinkley C this afternoon, in support of the Austrian plans to fight

the deal in the European Cotrts There are not one

but two top`of`the`table matches being played at Ashton Gate

in the next 24 hours. Tonight, Bristol Rugby put

their unbeaten record on It's first against second tonight,

both these teams having won all And Bristol have recalled some of

their international stars lhke David Tomorrow

the rugby posts will be replaced by football ones, and this pitch will

stage top of the table Bristol City It's been nearly all good ndws

for City since Steve Cotterhll took He's been talking to Geoff Twentyman

about his management style A great start to the season are you

surprised how well they havd started? I think please rather than

surprised. It's what we aim for We aim that since. When you watch them

play, can you enjoy it? Yes I do enjoy it. I enjoy their company

Last week had only been awax for a couple of days and I miss them. They

are a fantastic bunch of lads. They enjoy their company. I don't spend

too much time with them but I enjoy them. They are young and vibrant.

They bring the best out of le. How far can you take this club? There's

no reason why we can't get to the Premier League. When you look at the

club is just across the bridge have done it, Swansea and Cardiff, if we

can find an in between and have a little bit of style of play that

Swansea have got and a little bit of finance to fast`track this, then who

knows? How do you manage footballers? I think they whll say

there is a bit of everything in there. I do have banter with them.

It never get over the top. They are very respectful but I also think

they know when I'm annoyed `bout something and I don't like le then,

let alone them liking me. How often do that happen here? Not very often

thankfully. Their spirit is fantastic, so I don't want to break

that. I like it sometimes when they stand up to me especially some of

the younger ones. They feel as though they should have dond

something else on the pitch, if I suggest that and then we look at

it... You'll accept that? Wdll we look at it and decide who is right.

Rory McIlroy said .biz 's girlfriend. What is for bod year. My

life. I think if you do this job properly, it's very hard during the

season to step out the game mode. Thankfully, God has given md a

second chance and next year, apart from a couple of breaks, I will have

been doing at the 20 years. I must be doing something right. It's a

great start, you are making many people happy. Hopefully we can keep

going. It makes an easy lifd everybody.

And tomorrow's game here is close to being a sell`out.

Elsewhere Swindon could givd a debut to defender Amari Bell who's joined

Bristol Rovers will be trying to make it five wins in a row

when they play Southport, while Forest Green Rovers t`ckle

Less than a decade since they were formed,

the Bristol Flyers basketball team will play their first game

Thanks to funding from Stephen Lansdown,

the man behind Bristol City and Bristol Rugby, they will compete

It's a proud moment for those who have been there from the st`rt.

Since their 2006 launch thex've been English league champions

Crowds have grown steadily `t their home at SGS College in Filton.

Going professional has alwaxs been an ambition, and now financhal

Some players like Bristolian Greg Streete havd been

I think it's a real sense of achievement.

We've worked so hard over the years to ptt

For us to be moving up to the BBL is just

a real recognition of our t`lent and our hard work over the whold year.

It will be a step up qualitx and the Flyers have recruitdd

players like American, Alif Bland, who at six`foot`nine adds hdight

It's gotten better since I've been out of the BBL but

It's very athletic and they're all getting stronger.

We're playing against teams that are very experienced.

They have good players who `re very organised on and off the cotrt.

I think the expectation for us is to go there and make an imp`ct.

We are looking to do that from the first year.

Flyers fans include Bristol City footballer Jay Emmanuel`Tholas.

And the team can now look forward to playing in front of sell`out

They've come a long way in a not very long time.

Better competition, so better games to watch.

I think it's just been waiting to happen.

It's really exciting to see them stepping up their game.

In the UK participation in basketball is growing fast.

And now Bristol has a professional club,

the Flyers hope to attract ` new legion of players ans supporters.

The Flyers backed by Bristol sport whose portfolio also includds the

rugby club. It's an important weekend do you guys. Is a bhg

financial commitment? Yes, ht's the first step into professional

basketball. We are hugely excited. It's nearly sold out. We ard hoping

Bristol community get behind them for the rest of the season. You re

putting a lot of money into Bristol sport. What will be a tangible

successful Bristol sport to see The crowd is getting bigger. Were

building a new stadium. Just over the weekend we are going to welcome

20,000 fans. We're looking `t the success and promotion. Were looking

for more supporters to follow us on the journey.

There's also Premiership rugby tonight.

Gloucester are away to bottom club London Welsh,

who have shipped over 150 points in their three games so far.

And tomorrow, top of the table Bath are away

I just finished by telling xou to cricket results. Gloucestershire

beat Kent, Somerset and Yorkshire finished as a draw.

It's taken nearly 70 years but a former RAF serviceman has

finally received his medals from World War Two.

Bert Bullock from Newent, who has just turned 102, never did think

he was entitled to an award because he didn't see front line service.

But local people thought differently.

Our Gloucestershire reporter, Steve Knibbs, has been to mdet him.

It seems that Newent is pretty proud of its oldest resident.

And when you meet Bert Bullock its easy to see why.

Bert failed the medical for front line duty in the RAF so enddd up

The part I played was back `t the hotel where we were doing the

cooking. Of course we had a day timetable. I could track a dim bacon

and all that sort of thing. Not seeing the front line,

Bert came home unscathed, Went to the sawmills. This happened

the first morning. I got a pension from that. ?1 a week. What

happened? I got caught up in the machine.

Bert felt he didn't deserve war medals and never chased it tp,

but the local community thotght different and tomorrow he'll be

finally be presented with his war and defence medals.

I was very surprised. When they told me I was going to get medals. He

never thought he had done anything raided. So perhaps he didn't think

were medals were something he should have. It's fair that he shotld have

his medals which is why we have done this thing.

And as for Bert's long and happy life, there's a simple answdr.

That most mornings I would have a bit of cake. And a tot of whiskey. A

lady doctor told me I shouldn't drink whiskey. She said there is no

good for you. Well I drink lots of whiskey.

A lesson to us all and cheers to Bert.

We could well see some problems with morning fog patches. They whll start

to develop as we had through this evening and overnight. Clear spells

at first, filling in with cloud and perhaps mist and fog. To about 3

Celsius are typical. Some of the lower spot could get down to single

figures. A murky start to S`turday. And fog could be slow to cldar but

wanted those mid`to`late morning, a decent day on the cards. Thdre will

be sunshine breaking through the cloud. The cloud may be thick enough

in the afternoon to bring a spot of rain. It's still warm, parthcularly

the September. For the weekdnd the high pressure