24/04/2012 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. Our top story:

The childhood sweetheart of MI6 officer Gareth Williams from

Anglesey tells his inquest he never felt threatened or that he was

being followed, as police release this reconstruction of the bathroom

where his body was found padlocked Our other headlines tonight:

Big changes for our schools. New powers for ministers and parents to

intervene, if they want to. I think teachers are a professional groups

and they should be able to cope with things within their own

profession. Off fishing, but there's a storm

brewing over closing off some areas for conservation.

What can your local council do to breathe new life into declining

town centres? And Aberystwyth uncovers the hidden

history behind WWI at the click of Good evening.

It's been a dramatic day in the inquest into the death of MI6

officer Gareth Williams from Anglesey. The coroner heard

evidence that there was unknown DNA on the outside of the bag into

which his body had been locked in his London flat. That supports the

police belief that someone else may have been there at the time of his

death. The court also heard evidence of expensive women's

clothing, shoes and even wigs stored in his home. Over now to

Iolo ap Dafydd at Westminster Coroner's Court. Inside is caught

behind me, quite a dramatic day. We heard from another senior police

officer and from one of Gareth Williams's closest friends. Sian

Jones was his childhood sweetheart and they remained very close

friends. You referred to the women's close and shows. Sian Jones

denied those close would have been warned by Gareth Williams. There

would have been too small for him. Day two of the inquest and Gareth

Williams's parents arrived with their daughter and her husband. All

morning, the police officer leading the investigation, Detective Chief

Inspector Jackie Sebire, was questioned by the coroner and Barry

-- new CCTV footage showing him shopping was shown in court. He was

captured on video near several central London stores. The family

sat together, watching these images. But then, before a revealing police

failed, a video was shown, his mother stood up and quickly walked

out of the room. She did not want to see what this film would reveal,

Hassan's bathroom, on the top floor of his flat. A police video was

filmed on the same evening that his body was found. The Metropolitan

Police have released these pictures, despite the family barrister

requesting or on behalf of the family that the footage should not

be broadcast. And Other Place computer-generated graphics were

also shown in court. They lead into the House, leading up the stairs to

a Gareth Williams's bedroom and his living area and also into the

bathroom where the large hold-all containing his body was found. Much

of the evidence also focused on the padlock which could have been

snapped shut without a key and according to Detective Chief

Inspector Jackie Sebire, her initial assessment was that a third

party may have been present when Gareth Williams was inside the bag.

But the most significant evidence given today focused on the padlock

keys which were beneath his body, inside the hold-all and DNA

evidence that is not related to Gareth Williams has been found on

the a zip and the fabric Fastnet near the padlock on the outside of

the back. Also appearing in are the court today, Sian Jones, a close

friend from Anglesey and a charge at sweetheart. She said there

remained close and when asked by the coroner, she said she did not

believe the women's close found in the flat and the shoes were bought

for what Gareth Williams himself to wear. She said she thought they

believed they could be gifts for her and his sister. What more can

you tell us about the DNA evidence on the hold-all? This is quite

important and quite significant. What Detective Chief Inspector

Jackie Sebire said this morning was that there were two other DNA not

relating to Gareth Williams on the outside of the bag. And crucially,

that DNA was found on the fasteners, the fabric fastener on where the

padlock would be interlocking over a two I let's honour the Fastnet.

That is quite important. There was also another small, diluted staying

outside the back which did not relate to Gareth Williams's DNA.

His DNA was on the outside of the bag, but it is important that this

was sheer and according to Detective Chief Inspector Jackie

Sebire, that means that someone else may have been there at the

time. The police video footage shows the extent of women's

clothing inside Gareth Williams's flat. What was said about that

today? There were a four vigil exhibits shown in court. The first

one was what they call the seen the video filmed by a police officer at

11 o'clock at night on the night they found the body. It is

revealing because it does show the inside of the Vichy -- living room,

it leads upstairs to the two bedrooms. The other bedroom, but

there were lots of close, women's close. There were two other large

bags there and lots of pairs of shoes. One pair of shoes are

apparently cost �1,000. And then the video leads into the main

bedroom and the bathroom where the hold-all was found. Before that

were shown, Gareth Williams's mother walked out of court. She did

not want to watch that. Another difficult day for Gareth Williams's

family. It was. Especially when it there were computer generated

pictures by the Metropolitan Police and a 3D imaging of fat back

showing what a curled up body inside that have looked like. Again,

Gareth Williams's mother stayed out of court, but, his sister and his

father did watch that and they showed how a body would have been

inside that bag and the keys for the padlock would have been a

belief that the body. That was shown clearly and it showed how

tightly packed that body would have been insider that bag.

A new law to improve standards and cut bureaucracy. That's how

Education Minister Leighton Andrews is describing his new school

standards bill. It was presented to the Assembly this afternoon and

should make it easier for local councils or ministers to intervene

in the running of failing schools. At 112 pages long, there's plenty

of detail to chew over. Sian Lloyd has more.

Back in the classroom after the Easter break, these pupils are

taught through a Welsh. Plans to enhance Welsh medium provision in

education are contained in the proposed School Standards Bill.

Councils are minister its would find it easier to intervene in

failing schools. Governors, the individuals who have a role in the

running of the school could be petition by parents. The obligation

of a given as animal general meeting would be dispensed with and

the law would simplify the process of closing schools with fewer than

10 pupils. We are investing in or the Masters for a training of

teachers in the future, that is why we have introduced the school band

in system. This legislation will make it clear there as to when

local authorities should intervene. There is also a plan to give

councils some leeway over the price of school meals. Allowing them to

cut the cost for children for -- from bigger families. The broad aim

of improving standards has welcomed by parents and teachers, but there

are concerns about some of the proposals. As long as those

interventions are based on educated, solid, grounded facts and

information, whereas I would be concerned if somebody would, on a

whim, decide to do something. lessons will continue tomorrow, the

law being proposed could have a major impact, not only on the way

their schools are organised in the future, but even the way they are

taught. North Wales Police has confirmed

that arrests will be made as part of its investigation into comments

made on Twitter identifying the woman raped by Wales footballer

Ched Evans. Evans was jailed for five years on Friday for raping the

19-year-old at a hotel in Rhyl. A lawyer for the Shadow Welsh

Secretary and former Northern Ireland Secretary, Peter Hain, is

questioning the legality of legal action against him about his

autobiography. Contempt of court proceedings are being taken against

Mr Hain after he was critical of a Belfast judge in his book.

The number of people convicted of animal cruelty and neglect rose by

a third last year, according to RSPCA Cymru. The charity is warning

that the increasing number of cases are stretching its resources to

breaking point. Last year, its investigations led to 239 people

being convicted in Wales. The fishing industry around the

Llyn Peninsula would suffer catastrophic damage if the Welsh

Government designates Marine Conservation Zones in the area,

according to local fishermen. The Countryside Council for Wales has

published a map showing 10 potential areas around the Welsh

coastline which could be affected, meaning that no fishing could take

place for either business or pleasure. Our reporter Cemlyn

Davies is at Llanbedrog in the Llyn Peninsula for us this evening.

You join me on a glorious spring evening here on the Llanbedrog

beach. Look at that fear. It is easy to see why people would want

to protect areas such as theirs. Llanbedrog has been put forward as

a possible Marine Conservation Zones. But, what that could mean

for some people who depend on makers for their livelihoods, is

causing concern. Llyn Peninsula in all its glory. It is little wonder

thousands of tourists flock here every year to enjoy the beaches and

the sea. But some parts may soon be out of bounds and not just for

holidaymakers. That is because they have been identified as potential

sites for a marine conservation zone, where fishing for pleasure or

business would be banned. This man has been fishing off at Llyn

Peninsula since he was a schoolboy. He is worried about the impact a

conservation zone would have on small businesses like his and he is

not the only one. The effect will be a devastating on the area. On

the social economic a basis. And a lot of people would lose their

livelihood. The time and survives in the 21st century, one of the

only Ireland's which has a living community on it, survives partly

because it has a fishing industry to Parker sustain it. Countryside

Council for Wales has identified 10 sites as possible marine

conservation zones. The barge Government intends to to three or

four of them. They say the zones would protect the richness of

habitats like the sun would improve our understanding of the marine

environment. A Welsh Government spokesperson said the current,

sanitation is just the first step of a prices and the Government is

keen to hear the views of fisherman, environmentalists and talk --

tourism operators. Staff at this universities say these zones could

be a step in the right direction. In principle, they are a good idea.

They are there to protect certain habitat types from human

disturbance. They are, in principle, a good idea, but they need to be

basically placed in the right places and they have to have the

right management regime in place so that they also do not come into

conflict with local economic interest. The Government aims to

create the Marine Conservation and Sons by 2014. For some of those who

were any living in areas such as this, it is a worrying time. As a

further indication of how worried some people are in this area, the

local community cancelled due to meet this evening. That was always

going to happen, but in a subject has been added to the agenda. They

will be discussing the potential implications of creating a marine

conservation zone here, and in particular, the effect that could

Much more to come before 7:00pm. Wales are the winners in the

Olympic football draw - team GB will play in Cardiff three times

out of six. And there's a spring storm heading

our way - Wales is under this splodge of blue tomorrow - that's

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood says her party would look to work with

Labour in future. Seat -- she suggested both parties could form a

united alternative to the Conservatives. She also revealed

why as a Republican she turned down an invitation to a diamond jubilee

service with the Queen in Cardiff on Thursday. Let's speak to our

political editor, Betsan Powys. Next week's council elections will

be the first real test for her as party leader.

Certainly. What Pyecombe we don't like is when people talk about the

local elections as a referendum so soon on Leanne Wood's leadership. I

asked her, do you accept that the first will be a signal -- the vote

will be a signal of whether you are on the right lines as a leader?

It's going to be a difficult election for Plaid Cymru. The

British parties are very much trying to turn it into a British

election. They always do?

They always do that and we've heard the call to send a message to David

Cameron with this election. We were told to send a message in the last

election and unfortunately, someone forget -- someone forgot to press

the send button. To many, you are one of the

leadership because you were seen as the leader who could take Labour on

in the valleys. Are you now saying, not yet?

It going to take some time to build plight can be into the machine that

we need to be able to -- applied can read into the machine that will

need to. She said she would work with Labour

but there are conditions attached? Interesting language and

interesting timing at a time candidates are taking each other on

on the doorstep. Here is the leader making this obits -- making this

overture it to Labour. She made it clear that she wouldn't work with

the Conservatives but there are conditions as to the way she would

wish to work with Labour in future. What about Labour? There are those

who voted for you because they thought you were the one to take on

Labour, you would be more aggressive in your attack on

Labour? As I have said, I'm interested in

trying to find solutions to the problems we have. Where Labour let

people down and I think they have on many different levels, where

Labour would be prepared to co- operate with us, where they are

prepared to put forward progressive policies and ditch tribalism and

parochialism, we would look to work with Labour under those

circumstances. It doesn't come as a great surprise

that she won't be going to see the Queen when she visits this week?

No. If people know one thing about her, they know she is a Republican.

She said that if she won leadership she would go to official ceremonies

and what she said was she meant reopening of the Assembly where the

leader would be required to attend but this is a celebration of the

monarchy and as a Republican, honesty and dignity and sincerity

say to me I cannot go. Reversing the decline of town and city

centres is one of the big concerns on the doorstep during any local

election campaign. Rightly or wrongly, councils are often blamed

for empty shops. Our business correspondent Nick Servini reports

on the role of councils in trying to keep town centres alive.

It is a scene familiar to many as retailers feel the impact of out of

town shopping and the internet. This is Llanelli. A town that

suffered as much as any. The council believes it had an answer

and this is it. Eastgate is an edge of town development with an hotel,

cinema and even a new cafe and run by the rugby club.

It is important we are prepared to take difficult decisions, maybe

acquiring different properties which we have done in the past to

make sure the land is assembled and people can get on with doing the

development in a timely fashion. Stories like this are repeated all

over the UK and the irony is lost on no one. Here a council is trying

to revamp a high-street damaged by an out of town shopping centre

which was given planning permission by the local authority. Planning is

a major tool but its power can be limited. Around one in three

appeals by developments -- developers are likely to be

successful. For places like Llanelli, the out of town

development is already there so the challenge is to bring people back.

Councils are doing a number of things to try to improve the town

centres. In many places, car- parking charges are being reduced,

which is probably one of the most hotly-contested town-centre issues

across the country. Millions are being spent trying to improve the

look of the High Street. Towns and cities are ultimately judged on how

many empty units there are, like these in Swansea. Much of that is

down to private landlords. Having town centres which are all

fully occupied is a positive for the local authority. What can they

do about it? They can occupy it themselves for a temporary period,

there are things like pop up shops. It comes down to the landlords.

They need to have flexible rents, periods of tenancy, as well.

Local high streets influence how many people feel about their

communities. That is why the state they are in can influence how

people vote in local elections. Wales has been a big winner after

today's Olympic football draw. The Millennium Stadium will host two of

Great Britain's matches in the women's tournament, including the

first game against New Zealand. The British Men's team will also play

in Cardiff on the 1st August against Uruguay. With more details,

here's our sports reporter Ashleigh Crowter.

We already knew the first Olympic action would be in Wales two days

before the opening ceremony but today's Olympic football draw

confirmed British teams will play three times in Cardiff in the group

stages. The first match of the Olympics will be at the Millennium

Stadium between Great Britain and New Zealand in the women's

competition. Three days later, Team GB will be back in Cardiff to face

Cameroon before their final game against Brazil at Wembley. It's a

mouth-watering prospect for Wales midfielder just Fishlock. She is

hoping to be picked and to compete in the Olympics in her home city

would be a high point of her career. To play at the Millennium Stadium,

Wembley, it is something you actually dream about doing and you

never know. I never knew there would be a chance in 2012 that Team

GB would be there. It just happened to come along in my lifetime and I

want to be part of it. There was a Welsh influence in the

men's draw. Robbie Savage picked out the balls that called Great

Britain with Senegal, the United Durham next -- air Moritz and

Uruguay. But could see the likes of Gareth Bale and Craig Bellamy

lining up against Louise Varese. The manager says Wales players will

only be picked on form, not nationality.

I am picking it on form and merit alone, nothing else. It is the

fairest way I can do it. If I can pick a squad that turns round and

doesn't reflect every home nation or every celebrity or everything of

that ilk but the best 18 players that are the best.

The Millennium Stadium will host 11 matches including the match against

Brazil. The eyes of the world will be on Wales.

A �1 million project is under way in Aberystwyth to make war history

available at eight click of a mouse. The National Museum of Wales is

digitising collections. It is no easy task. Over the next two years,

thousands of records will be digitised and uploaded onto a

website, giving a unique Welsh view on the wall.

We are looking on at the impact of the war on Welsh Society and trying

to uncover the role of the war in the development of the Welsh

language, nationalism and the emergence of various types of

politics. Some archives will be familiar.

There's a handwritten draft by the tragic poet Hedd Wyn. He was killed

in 1917 at the battle of Passchendaele, and never knew that

his poem yr Arwr went on to win him the chair at the National

Eisteddfod that year. Another, a letter from a soldier to

his mother, also stands out. He says, I am very sorry I can't

write to you in Welsh because the people in authority are not willing

because they can read all the letters. There was a censorship and

propaganda in Welsh, encouraging Welsh people to end list. There was

suppression of the language as well so there is very interesting

materials here that haven't been seen before if they have, just by

academics. The project is about the social,

not military history of the First World War. Scanners from the

National Library work round-the- clock to make sure thousands of

local papers will be available to search online.

We are scanning these newspapers at a rate of 1,000 pages a day. That

is on every machine so 3,000 pages every day. We have to do it at that

rate in order to get this done in time.

By 20th July 14, 100 years after the start of the conflict, anyone,

anywhere will be able to trawl through a remarkable slice of Welsh

life. There is a storm heading our way

Trouble is brewing out over the Atlantic. This mass of cloud is

moving towards Britain. It's going to bring a spell of wet and windy

weather tomorrow. 50 mm of rain expected. That is to inches. The

Environment Agency are warning of localised flooding. Strong to gale

force winds could bring down trees. Sony for some of us this evening.

The showers we have seen will fade away. The North will dry overnight.

The wind picking up from the east, becoming fresh to strong with gales

in the Bristol Channel by the end of the night. Here is tomorrow's

chart. A deep area of low pressure on our doorstep. This is more like

autumn than spring. By 8 am, Llandudno may be dry but not for

long. The rest of Wales is wet and windy with heavy rain, a company to

buy fresh winds. Gales on high ground and on exposed coasts. Lots

of spray on the roads. Poor travelling conditions. The rain

will move northwards. It should brighten up for a time in the

afternoon but more rain and thundery downpours will follow,

along with gusty winds. Feeling cold in the wind and rain with top

temperatures in Denby over her -- only nine Celsius. It is a similar

story on Thursday. Some places will fare better than others. Beyond

that, still a few showers on Friday but hopefully more in the way of

dry weather in between. A little sunshine. The weekend should become

a little warmer but there is more heavy rain on the way. Our picture

tonight was taken in Swansea. Thank you, Robert. The flowers are in for

a watering tomorrow. Heavy rain and St winds. Take extra care if you

are travelling. We'll have an update for you here