06/02/2013 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. Tonight's headlines: Slowing down motorists

to save lives. A call for more 20 mile-per-hour zones. I think it is

a good idea. Children safety is a Also tonight: The Welsh language

festival that's attracted some of our biggest rugby stars. The Welsh

Government is criticised for giving �20,000 to help a Labour-run

council secure it. Would the same kind of response to be given to a

Conservative or Liberal Democrat council? Not many of us think that

would be the case. In the driving seat - David

Phillips is one of a growing number of people here who are now working

for themselves. 40 metres under the ground in east London, the sight of

Europe's biggest construction project and I have come to meet the

man in charge, before much apprentice from Cwmbran. -- A

former apprentice. And Wales have been hit by a late

injury for tonight's game with Austria. Aaron Ramsey has been

ruled out. Good evening. More 20 mile-per-hour

zones could save lives on our roads. That's the message from a group of

Assembly Members tonight. They say lowering the speed limit will

protect pedestrians, particularly children, in towns and villages.

The latest figures show that 82 children were killed or seriously

injured on Welsh roads in 2011. That's 15% more than the year

before. Brian Meechan reports. This area of Port Talbot already

has a 20 mile an hour speed restriction across the whole estate.

There has been a reduction of almost 50% of road traffic

accidents in the last three years. As the head teacher of this school

says, it can save lives. Pupils, we try to educate them about road

safety, but without thinking they do sometimes run out behind a car.

If you were doing a significant speed, you will not stop in time.

The statistics say a difference between the accident at 30 miles an

hour and 20 miles an hour can be significant. Parents also support

it. They come out and ran across the road. I think it is a good idea.

Children's safety is a priority. I agree. A child has a 90% chance of

surviving being hit by a car at 20 miles an hour but only 40% at 30

miles an hour. This is a 20 mile and our CERN we are driving in.

That is why the Assembly Member wants to see more sense restricting

speeds to 20 miles an hour especially outside of schools.

Wrexham have a clear programme in place. All of the areas outside of

their schools will be 20 MAR an hour Sones. Contrast that for

example with Caribbean -- 20 miles an hour areas. -- contrast that

with other areas... Some areas have gone further. There are warnings

that we should not take the speed limits too far. It may take too

many resources to police it. Speed cameras and the police at the

moment are struggling to enforce the 30 Mar Lour areas so trying to

when forced a new 20 miles an hour area might prove difficult.

Association of Chief Police officers is also against

introducing a blanket 20 miles an hour limit because it would be

difficult to enforce. Politicians and parents will continue to ask

for a change if it could save children's lives.

Swansea Council has been accused of acting unlawfully by the Wales

Audit Office after it transferred �20 million from a pension fund to

a bank account. The authority moved the money when it changed bank

accounts last March. It was done without the knowledge of the

pension trustees or the council's chief financial officer. The

council says it wasn't illegal and it acted in good faith.

Up to 80 jobs are under threat at a car parts factory in Colwyn Bay.

It's been confirmed tonight that the parent company of Quinton

Hazell at Mochdre has gone into administration. Union officials say

they'll be meeting the administrators in the hope of

keeping the business as a going concern.

Last week it was in danger of losing its grant. Now the Welsh

Government has stepped in to save the Welsh language Tafwyl Festival.

Cardiff Council had said it couldn't afford to give 20,000 to

the festival as it faced major budget cuts. But opposition parties

say the move creates a dangerous precedent.

8000 people visited the Tafwyl Festival last year. A week-long

event to celebrate the Welsh language. On Sunday, a public

meeting was held after its future was put in doubt. When Cardiff

council proposed cutting a grant by �20,000. The Welsh Government will

now make up the shortfall leading to accusations that a Welsh Labour

government is saving the skin of a Labour council. Would the same kind

of response be given to pro- Conservative, Plaid Cymru or

Liberal Democrat council? Not many of us think that would be the case.

What the government have done is undermined the city council in

making sure they should be looking after the Welsh language agenda and

not taking a rash decision to take away fund and 100%. This is another

organisation facing 100% reduction in funding from Cardiff council.

They provide creative programmes for people with learning

disabilities. We are desperate for the money. Without it, we could

fail. We could fail because we are an organisation which can snow went

away. We work with the most vulnerable citizens -- we turn that

no one away. Protests have already taken place to try to save a riding

school that was facing closure. What hope of the Welsh Government

stepping in to support other threatened organisation and events?

Not at all. I want all councils to understand responsibility in

respect to the Welsh language. We were already investing in this

event which has a national focus. The questions being asked by

opposition parties tonight is why Tafwyl Festival has been given

preferential treatment. Is it because they last Labour government

wants to give a helping hand to a Labour council? -- because a Welsh

Labour government. Live now to our political editor

Betsan Powys. How has the Government responded to the

criticism about this decision today? I think it is fair to say

the minister and the government are taken aback at the farce that has

been created by this particular decision. What they have done it is

not just spend a bit of money and the minister was saying, I Wish You

made fast as when I spent �5 million on something. It is not the

amount but the principle. The other parties have been saying that it is

a Labour-run council in Cardiff, even before it has finally voted on

some tough spending decisions, the Labour Government's steps in to

plug the gap. They have invited the other parties to chomp at the bit

and list festivals and libraries and swimming pools in their own

patch that would be sorely missed by the community and they would

argue is unique. The minister says he has weighed up the evidence here

and the value of this festival to the Welsh language, he is the

minister responsible for the language, and he has come to the

conclusion he should spend the money. No precedent created. This

minister has certainly created waves once again.

There's been an increase in the number of people working for

themselves in Wales. In the year to last summer, 4,000 more people here

became self-employed and make up 13% of the workforce. Anglesey has

seen the largest increase, in fact, the fourth largest in the UK.

Here's our economic correspondent Sarah Dickins.

Self-employed people are most likely to be taxi drivers, followed

by builders trades and carpenters. The new self-employed are also most

likely to be men and over 50. David Phillips of Nantygo is typical of

that picture. I'd taken profits of around �150 a week. The turnover is

about 250 something like that. It varies from week to week. I do most

of my work in the evenings. Dave is one of 177,000 self employed people

in Wales, up 4,000 compared with at the start of the economic crisis.

Angelsey is a particular hotspot where there's been a 41% increase

to more than 13,500 people. Unemployment here is around 16%,

twice the Welsh approach. Many are surprised it is not higher after

five years of economic crisis. One reason it seems is the substantial

increase in the number of people working for themselves. Maybe some

people are struggling to find work and are setting up themselves. The

older age groups, 50 plus, self- employment is increasing for them.

And more than half the increase in self-employment was people working

more than 30 hours a week. I am doing about 65 hours a week to make

a living. Do you want to work that many hours? No. I would like to do

40 hours a week. But I have no choice. In Nantyglo, Dave, like one

in ten of the self-employed workforce ,would like to have more

work. He has to wait for the wider economy to pick up before that

becomes a reality. Still to come tonight: Wrexham's

markets were once busy and bustling. But now stallholders are warning

they could become a thing of the past.

And it could be quite a night for fans at the Liberty Stadium with

the prospect of two of Wales star players, Craig Bellamy and

Christian Bale, on the pitch The Health Minister Lesley

Griffiths says she'll study a report into failings at a hospital

in Staffordshire to see if it has any lessons for Welsh hospitals. A

public inquiry found years of abuse and neglect at Stafford Hospital

led to the deaths of hundreds of patients. In the wake of the

findings, the Cynon Valley MP Ann Clwyd has been appointed to review

NHS complaints procedures. Last December she announced she was

starting a campaign for more compassion in nursing after saying

her husband had died like a battery hen in hospital. I spoke to Ann

Clywd earlier and began by asking her whether the same problems exist

here as those in England. The Prime Minister has asked me to help

review the complaints system as far as NHS patients are concerned.

will not have particular responsibilities over Wales, but do

you believe Wales has similar problems to those highlighted in

the inquiry? I am a constituency MP and I know what people have been

saying. They complain about Accident and Emergency and long

waits and sometimes being sent home. They also right about the quality

of care and patients who are not able to reach out to get food and

drink. I have had about 1400 letters from all over England and

Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland. People have had the

experiences of the NHS. You claim to have had first-hand experience

of an uncaring NHS. Do you believe people have lost faith? That was my

experience, trying to make somebody listen to me at a time when it was

essential they did. And also seeing very few nurses around, stopping a

nurse and asking a question right, why it isn't my husband in

intensive care and being brushed aside and told there were lots of

people worse off than he was. The next day, he died. Other people

with similar experiences. We need to look at the system of complaints.

Who is accountable, what the procedures are, and if there are

whistleblowers, the whistleblowers are protected.

Wrexham is a historic market town. But without urgent improvements to

its three indoor markets, they could become a thing of the past.

The warning from some stallholders comes as councillors consider a

range of options to entice vendors and visitors to return.

From clothing to jewellery, books, music, furniture and food,

Wrexham's long had it covered. Since 1848 when the butchers'

market began, the general and people's market have also opened.

But in the past six years, the number of stalls has dropped from

almost 100 to 78. The council are coming the council are trying to

stop businesses stalling. A council report considered closing, merging

and moving the markets but the reccommendation is to improve the

look and layout and increase awareness. But in these days of

internet shopping and out-of-town superstores, is there still a

market for markets? One experienced trader says there is. Markets can

offer specialisation. There is a fabulous book shop in the other

market and that sort of thing, at the big multiples do not carry the

range. We can do what they do not do and give it to the public at the

price they want in the place they want. I thought I'd set out my

stall in the town centre to see if shoppers agree. I walk stroll

through now and again but there is not anything that appeals. They

used to be a first class market town. Those years have gone. Shabab

Anwar's family have run stalls at the general market since 1969. He

thinks traders need to up their game too. Traders need to look at

themselves first before they complain to anyone else. You need

to think on your feet and do some research, what can you do to

improve your and service? Before you start saying things are bad and

blaming the council. The decline in business is affecting most towns.

But Wrexham Council hopes its intervention will stop retailers

shutting up shop for good. He started out as an apprentice at

a car-parts factory in Cwmbran. Now he's in charge of Europe's biggest

civil-engineering project. Terry Morgan is the chairman of Crossrail

which is London's new east-west rail link. His budget is �15

billion. That's about the same as the Welsh Government spends every

year. Our business correspondent Nick Servini has been to meet him.

I am at the top of what has been described lost one of the biggest

hauls in London, this is one of the sites in east London forming part

of the CrossRail project. I am just about to go down to meet the man in

charge. 45 metres below the surface, from here, you get a sense of the

scale of the project. This is one of 40 sites in London. CrossRail is

an East-West connection due to open in five years. Two tunnels will

take passengers below central London. Passengers from South Wales

arriving at Paddington will see journey times transformed. From

there, it will take nine minutes to get to the financial area of the

City or 16 minutes to get to Canary Wharf. In all, 13 miles of tunnels

are being built. This is the main shaft of the site I visited. Full

bigging is yet to begin. The Earth is taken from here and by barge to

the Thames estuary to build a nature reserve. 64-year-old Terry

Morgan has spent a lifetime in engineering but jobs don't come

much bigger than running CrossRail. How does an apprentice from a

factory in Cwmbran end up running Europe's biggest engineering

project? Lucky. I think... I enjoy engineering. I come here and I can

learn things. I will never be an expert on how to construct a

project like this in terms of the technical detail. I can understand

it but I think the whole question about enjoying different

experiences, I have done most forms of transport now. I think this is

phenomenal. This is the business end of the operation, inside one of

the tunnel boring machines. For the next three months, this will travel

at 100 metres a week in the westerly direction of Canary Wharf.

I am 100 metres in one of the tunnels now and it is quite warm.

Directly above me is a river which is an offshoot of the Thames river.

I and 10 metres from the cutting face. I can see the electric motors

powering the machinery. It is a vast infrastructure project but

will any of the benefits be felt in Wales? This is yet more investment

for London. Looking at what has been happening over the past few

years, the Olympics and now CrossRail and commitments for big

capital programmes, electrification on the Great Western, they are all

examples of investment in infrastructure. By doing that, we

create a growth agenda and jobs. Even though a lot of it is in the

south-east, what are you saying, it is spread? Without doubt. That

sales pitch to the rest of the UK is a big part of his job. 500 tons

of the steel used in the shaft came from a company in Neath. Terry

Morgan insists there are more contracts like that up for grabs

for Welsh firms. Wales manager Chris Coleman says he

has his strongest squad ever to play against Austria in their

friendly tonight. Coleman has the option to have Gareth Bale and

Craig Bellamy starting a game together for the first time since

he took charge. Claire Summers reports.

Never has so friendly had such rich pickings and for the first time

during his reign Chris Coleman has a squad just missing a few long-

term injuries. The prospect of that and play in Bale and Bellamy

together for the first time since he took over his one he is

relishing. Bale and Bellamy in the same team, you always have a chance

to create problems. Such an offensive threat. Wales rely

heavily on Gareth Bale, but Tottenham Hotspur do as well now.

In terms of the quality we have got, looking at those available for this

game, it is the strongest squad we have had. The Gareth Bale factor is

one the opposition is fully aware of. He is in sensational form and

the Austrian manager says he is well aware of the threat he poses.

TRANSLATION: It is probably the key kapok of Wales especially in the

offence. -- the key player of Wales. We have to work together and try to

stop him. For the man who knows what it is like to win at the

Liberty stadium, tonight will be a special moment as he captains his

country on home turf. With the club game so strong, he believes the

national side can only benefit. Cardiff are top of the league and

Swansea are having a really good year and in the Cup final. All

things going forward and looking well, hopefully the national team

can mirror fit and we have got to do well. We have got to defeat fans

something to cheer. Both teams are flying the flag, Cardiff and

Swansea, and as Wales we need to do that too. It has been a rocky 12

months for Chris Coleman with just one victory in six. He is hoping he

will get the ball rolling tonight as they prepare for Scotland and

Croatia next month. Live to the Liberty Stadium now.

Rob Phillips is commentating for BBC Radio Wales tonight and we can

speak to him now. Aaron Ramsey has been ruled out. It seems it never

quite works that far and the Wales manager. I understand Aaron Ramsey

went for a scan yesterday and it is not too serious. Had it been a

qualifier, Aaron Ramsey may well have been playing tonight. But I

know he has gone back to his club Arsenal. Just a slight calf tissue

injury but they do not want him going back to Arsenal with any

serious problems. But a very exciting prospect for welsh fans to

see Bale and Bellamy played together. Absolutely. Gareth Bale

is the hottest young property in British football. He is being

ranked up with the best because of his form with Tottenham. He scored

every goal that Wales scored in 2012. He is very important. Craig

Bellamy looks refreshed and he is back on the international scene and

any Cardiff City fan will tell you he is playing really well in the

championship. If he can transfers that prompted the international

scene, Chris Coleman will be happy. He seems delighted with the squad.

He is. He is very excited. It is rare he gets the likes of Bale and

Bellamy together. The first time they will have played together

since Gary Speed's last game against Norway. That was a 4-1 win.

Chris Coleman will hope for something similar tonight but it

will be very tough. Austria are a tough nut to crack but the Welsh

fans will turn up tonight full of expectancy. Fingers crossed. Enjoy

the match. The game is live on Radio Wales

from 7pm. And you can watch the highlights over on BBC Two Wales at

11.20pm. It looks like another cold night in Swansea. Lovely sunshine

It has been a long winter and it is not over yet. It felt cold in the

winds today. Gusts of up to 63 now sought an hour at Aberporth in

Ceredigion. It has not been dry everywhere today. There have been

showers. The winds will ease tonight with icy patches. Showers

are extending today from Aberdaron into South Ceredigion,

Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Cornwall. This is known as the

Pembrokeshire Dangler in the weather world. It is quite common

and forms when the winds are from the north. This evening, further

showers for the south-west. Elsewhere, dry and clear. Overnight,

a few showers turning up. Temperatures inland falling below

freezing. There is a warning of icy patches. Tomorrow's chart shows a

front over Ireland moving slowly towards us. Tomorrow morning, a

cold start and it could be icy in places. A few showers likely in

parts of the North. Otherwise, most of the country dry and bright for a

time with weak and hazy sunshine. During the day, cloud will increase

and thicken and that will eventually bring rain and sleet and

snow in the afternoon. We could see a few centimetres on some of the

hills and mountains. Temperatures, up to six degrees. Winds much

lighter than today. Outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow tomorrow

evening. Turning lighter overnight. Friday, showers will gradually die

away. Quite windy again on the west coast. Saturday, mostly dry and

settled. Sunday into Monday, not so clear cut. There is a risk of heavy

rain and more snow. Not 100% sure how much snow at the moment. Stay

tuned for up its. Our picture tonight is cheap braving the cold.

Thank you for all of your photographs. Stay warm and keep the

woolly coats handy. Louise. Not Louise! You can call me what every

you like! Hundreds of patients suffered and

many may have died as a result of years of neglect at Stafford

Hospital. An inquiry into what went wrong there says there has to be

fundamental change from top to bottom in the NHS.

In the wake of the findings, and Ackroyd has been appointed to