12/05/2014 BBC Wales Today

been told that Rolf Harris indecently assaulted one of his

daughter's friends It's an industry worth half

a billion pounds, but tourism businesses say we need

to up our game when it comes to We were aware of outdoor places, but

I would not necessarily have thought this is particularly well advertised

to people further afield. Outdoor activity centres

like this are booming, but what more Over 200 new jobs for Merthyr

manufacturing car exhausts. His tormentors killed his cat,

he had to move home in Swansea. The thousands of hate crimes

committed every year. I was receiving hate mail, notes

pushed underneath my door, basically telling me that people were worried

about the safety of their children because I was gay.

And after a season of turmoil and relegation, Cardiff fans get

More should be done to promote the great Welsh outdoors to

That's the view of businesses operating in the sector.

A new report suggests outdoor activity tourism like white water

rafting and mountain biking already puts almost half a billion pounds

into the Welsh economy and supports thousands of jobs.

Live to the Conwy Valley and our reporter Roger Pinney.

And there's concern far too few of those jobs go to local people.

I'm at Treetops Adventure, one of the outdoor activity

businesses which are now a growing part of the Welsh Tourist Economy.

And crucially for Wales its sector which visitors can enjoy

Yes, you can get wet when you holiday in Wales but this is the

kind of wet that people are prepared to pay for, the National Whitewater

Centre. They boast about it being the best of its kind, not just in

Wales but the UK. This group are a stag party from the south and East

of England. They learnt about the activities through word of mouth.

They are not aware of much targeted advertising where they live. I think

people generally know that Wales is about outdoor pursuits. I am not

sure what they do do already. I do not see adverts in Sussex about

Wales. We were aware of it but I would not necessarily have thought

that this is particularly well advertised to say to people further

afield. The Tories arm of the Wales government does advertise but it is

of -- often broadbrush. But should there be a more focused push on the

outdoor sector? Would this -- this leading travel writer thinks so. I

think there has to be more of a push to remind people that a couple of

hours away from London, they could be in the Brecon Beacons. Three

hours on the train puts them nicely in position to explore Snowdonia. It

is a great opportunity for Wales. But of course, people in the

south-east have so much choice. Visitors mean many and money

translates into jobs. It is one thing to attract visitors to Wales.

What is important that they spend. But that is a different challenge.

Today's report suggests the outdoor sector puts more than ?480 million

into the Welsh economy every year. In excess of 8000 jobs are

supported. But not many of those jobs have gone to Welsh school

leavers. Campaigners say more needs to be done. Historically, local

people have not seen the outdoors as a means of employment. I grew up in

the area, never once was given the opportunity to go hill walking or

kayaking. I think things are changing. The work done over the

last years winner good ten years has engaged with people and that has

transferred into some people gaining sustained employment within the

sector. There is no doubt that the outdoors has lots to offer the throw

seekers, challenges galore, but edge of challenges to for policymakers.

One of those -- we asked visit to Wales to appear on the programme but

no one was able to appear on the programme. This is your place and

you run it and other attractions in North West Wales. The Welsh

Government spends around ?4 million per year on advertising. Is that

enough? Are they doing it in the wrong places? It is enough that we

could have improved brand awareness. We have some of the finest products

in the UK. We need to let the general public know that we are here

and we are open all year round. And in all weather as well. We have

heard about the importance of this sector tonight. London and the

south-east needs to be the key market because that is the highest

spending market in the UK. How do you get your business recognised

down there? It is down to the brand perception but also it is up to the

business to get to London. It is difficult. Visit Wales could be more

strategic. We could have our own managers knowing what is happening

on the coal face and getting that message to London. It is only three

hours on the train. Are they talking about the wrong things? We do tend

to go on about castles, which is important for the tourism in

north-west Wales, however we have so much more to offer, rather than

traditional seaside, we are very compact, the seaside is 15 miles

from here, Snowdon and other 15 miles south. Do you have the

barriers quitting Mark we have problems. We are in the national

park. However, planning policies are quite strict and we need to keep our

local people in jobs. We need to be able to encourage growth in this

market. A growing area and in terms of foreign visitors, the latest

survey shows that Wales has been growing that market. Although not as

More that 200 jobs are to be created in Merthyr Tydfil,

at a company that manufactures exhaust systems for cars.

Tenneco-Walker already employs around 190 people on its site

Today it announced it's opening a second site at Dowlais Top.

Here's our Business Correspondent, Brian Meechan.

The car industry is prospering on the effects are being felt in Wales.

Exhaust is made here are put on different cars and shipped around

the world. The company has been operating here for over 30 years and

will now more than double its Welsh workforce with the creation of an

extra 224 jobs, as it expands into a new site in Merthyr. Increasing

demand for cars is a sign of growing confidence in the economy. It is

growing. Customers are doing fantastically well and we are glad

to be part of that success and expansion. Tenneco-Walker operates

in 24 countries and could have chosen other sites for the Welsh

plan. The Welsh Government has also invested. But the company says it

was the skills of local people that help them decide. I think we are

pleased with the improvements happening in the economy. We are

delighted with the improvements in manufacturing but you have to be

realistic. You have good figures but you have to look beyond those

figures at who is self-employed, what is self-employment been, how

many are part-time. But these are important jobs because they are

important to the Welsh economy. Unemployment has been falling in

Merthyr and it is lower than it is in other parts of the country. But

it is higher year than the UK or Welsh average. Over the last few

months, manufacturing has been on the increase and that has been

helping to drive economic growth and what this announcement today shows

is that impact on areas like this one. The news of highly skilled

well-paid jobs is welcomed in a town that has been badly hit by the

economic crisis. It has been very gloomy because obviously, money is

tight but it is good to know for business and obviously, more money

is being spent in the town. It will create new jobs, brilliant. It is

tough. Any jobs coming to Merthyr will be good news at the moment. It

is troubled times. But certainly in that industry as well. So

manufacturing is certainly on the up and that is good news for jobs in

Brian Meechan reporting from Merthyr.

Some good jobs news for Flintshire too.

A glass processing firm is to create 80 jobs at a new production site

The Irish company Carey Glass, which already employs over 500

people, will base its new centre at Hawarden Business Park.

The mines inspector who led the investigation after four men drowned

in a Swansea Valley pit has told a jury how he was left "chilled"

Sketches on the map suggested the colliers had been working

Tony Forster also described the sight in the Gleision mine following

Malcolm Fyfield, who was the pit manager,

denies four counts of manslaughter through gross negligence

and the mine operators deny four counts of corporate manslaughter.

A 28-year-old woman has appeared in court, charged with manslaughter

and arson, following a flat fire in Ynysybwl, near Pontypridd.

Rebecca Jenkins, who's from Swansea, has been remanded in custody until

A 46-year-old man died at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant

One of the most senior opposition Assembly Members is refusing to do

one part of his job because of the way the party has handled

The Conservative AM Byron Davies has failed to turn up to the Enterprise

and Business Committee eight times, and says he won't attend in future

unless the current chairman, who is also a Conservative, is sacked.

Our Political Editor Nick Servini is here.

Why is he doing this? This all goes back to February when Andrew Davies,

the leader in the assembly, sacked four of his Assembly Members from

being frank -- on the front bash -- bench. One of those was Nick Ramsay,

the chair of the enterprise and business committee. He was replaced

by another conservative Assembly Member, William Graham. Byron Davies

objects that this on a Nimrod levels. He says he believes the

decision to sack the Assembly Members was ludicrous and secondly,

he believes that William Graham has been parachuted in because he was

not an existing member of the committee. We are left with this

extraordinary situation where we have a senior Conservative Assembly

Member effectively going on strike for part of his job by failing to

turn up for this business committee and will continue to do so until or

unless the existing chair, a fellow conservative, is sacked from the

position. How serious is this? The Conservatives are the main

opposition group but the assembly but we are not talking about

Westminster. They only have 40 members. Four have been sacked,

another is clearly unhappy. Five out of the 14 are displeased. No word

yet as to Andrew Davies. We will hear more tomorrow when he gives his

Hate crime will only be tackled when our attitudes change and we

That's the message from the Welsh Government.

Today they've set up a new system for reporting

Last year nearly 2,000 crimes were recorded here.

Andrew Davies from Swansea says hate crime changed his life. He was the

victim of homophobic abuse for more than a year. I was receiving hate

mail, notes pushed under my door, basically telling me that people

were worried about the safety of their children in the area because I

was gay and so on. It got to a point where they actually killed my cap

and sent me a sympathy card for the cat. Almost 2000 hate crimes were

recorded in Wales. Today the minister in charge told me most go

under the radar. There is a problem in Wales. It is true it is not as

bad as in some parts of England. Perhaps generally we are a more

tolerant society but nevertheless, what the consultation told us very

clearly is that it is a significant problem for a significant number of

people in Wales and therefore we need this hate crime framework.

These actors tour Wales, educating children by challenging attitudes.

But that the launch of the new reporting Centre today, the audience

was told most victims simply do not know their rights or can help. Now

by making a phone call to one central helpline, people will be

able to report crime motivated by race, religion, disability, sexual

orientation, gender identity or age. What we have not got is a true

picture of the extent and the nature of this. Through working together

and collating information in one centre, that will enable us to see

what that picture is, hopefully giving people the confidence to

report because they know alongside reporting, they can access the

support that they need. Andrew says what happened to him has had a

lasting effect but he is now using his experience to help support

others. The work starts now for Swans boss

Garry Monk, as he looks to build a stronger squad to tackle

the Premier League next season. And it felt more

like winter over the weekend, but A full forecast

for you a little later. Next Thursday, we go to the polls

in the European election. The health board has confirmed that

seven more nurses have been suspended on suspicion of falsifying

records. This comes after an enquiry was launched last year picking up

alleged anomalies regarding the record-keeping of a small number of

nurses. Our health correspondent joins us now. What is the latest?

Standards of care at the health board have been under the spotlight

for quite some time. Numerous allegations have emerged over the

past couple of years, centred around allegations of poor care, mainly, I

have to say at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend. Well, what we

knew before today was that three nurses had been arrested and bailed

on suspicion of falsifying records. What has emerged tonight and has

been confirmed by the health board is that a further seven have been

suspended from their duties on suspicion of falsifying records.

Crucially, the health board says these were picked up as a result of

internal systems within the health board and they say is the

investigation is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to make any further

comment. Can we expect more on this soon? Yes, the Welsh Government, as

a result of many of these concerns, announced that there would be an

independent external review of nursing standards at two hospitals

in the area. Now, that review has been led by an external expert,

Professor June Andrews of the University of Stirling in Scotland.

I expect that review, the conclusions of that review, to be

announced imminently. BBC Wales received 98 complaints

after it was aired on Friday. In a statement it said the party

meets BBC Trust criteria qualifying It added that those broadcasts are

produced independently by the political parties, but that the

BBC has no say over their content. The curtain came down on a hugely

eventful season for Swansea City and Cardiff City with both clubs

facing very different futures. The Swans can look forward to

another season among the Premier League elite, while its life

in the Championship for Cardiff. But for Bluebirds' fans, the weekend

saw a potential olive branch offered The actions of some Cardiff city

fans after the final whistle against Chelsea probably gives a hint of the

issue likely to dominate the clubs close season. The protests against

the red rebrand have become more vocal but the man who brought it

about seems to have softened his stance. Vincent Tan says he will

consider reverting back to blue with the club gain promotion back to the

Premier league next season. We will take it on board as much as we can.

But the fans must have faith and confidence in us that we are running

a business and we will try to make it work financially. I have put a

lot of money on this. A Molloy raft of proposals Vincent Tan says he is

considering, is offering supporters representation on the board. We have

got to be blue. Get everyone on side. That is all he has to do. They

need to build the trust between the owners and the fans aren't talking

about foot rather than politics. Despite parting company with a

popular manager and flirting with the relegation battle, Swansea City

supporters can look forward to next season with some optimism. Garry

Monk marked his first match as manager with a victory. The most

important part for me is people we bring in have to be as good as or

better than what we have got. That is key for the club going forward.

We will have our targets. And Garry Monk also insists that the club will

keep hold of striker Wilfried Bony. After 25 goals and the World Cup

with the Ivory Coast to come, there are likely to be no shortage of

offers for the record signing this summer.

Former Scarlets Coach Nigel Davies has left Gloucester

after they slipped to 9th in the English Premiership

The former Wales international, was appointed in June 2012 after four

Cricket and it's been confirmed that Cardiff will host the first

The match will start on July 8th, and there'll also be a T20

international between England and Australia at the Swalec Stadium

The First Minister says it proves Wales can host high-profile

sports events, while the club says fans will be delighted.

I think England playing against Australia, it has been going on a

very long time. Huge rivalry. And having lost to Australia in the

Ashes last winter, I think that rivalry will be as keen as ever. But

not such positive for Glamorgan on the field.

You'll be pleased to hear after the weekend we've just had,

better weather heading our way, Derek's got the forecast.

Good cricket weather on the way later this week but over the weekend

I cannot see any sign of a heatwave but there is high pressure on the

At Capel Curig in Snowdonia over 130mm, five inches of rain has

fallen so far this month, but about 90mm of this fell over the weekend.

While in Swansea the wind was strong enough to bring

The wind has been lighter today with a mixture of sunshine and showers.

Similar tomorrow but like today some places will fair better than others.

This evening scattered showers will die away.

Most of the country dry overnight with just the odd shower in places.

One or two mist patches forming and turning chilly.

Temperatures inland falling as low as 5 Celsius.

Here's the picture for eight in the morning.

Bright in places but some cloud and one or two showers as well.

The wind light but moderate in Pembrokeshire.

Later in the morning more showers will break out.

Hit and miss but if you catch one it could be heavy with thunder.

However, the north and west should become sunny during the afternoon.

Most of the showers in eastern Powys and the South East by teatime.

Tomorrow evening any showers will die away to leave a dry night.

One or two mist and fog patches forming as well.

Wednesday generally dry with sunny spells.

Although one or showers may break out in the north.

And it will turn out pleasantly warm.

By Thursday high pressure will be in charge and that means dry

So some nice weather for the second half of this week.

The dry weather should last into weekend as well.

And finally, these diversion signs in Pontypridd have raised eyebrows,

More should be done to promote the great Welsh outdoors to

That's the view of businesses operating in the sector.

A new report suggests outdoor activity tourism - like white water

rafting and mountain biking - already puts almost half a billion

pounds into the Welsh economy and supports thousands of jobs.

We'll have an update for you here at 8pm and again after the BBC News

From all of us on the programme, good evening.

We were aware of outdoorsy type places but I would not necessarily

have thought this is particularly well advertised per se for people

further afield. And finally don't trust the road signs. These

diversion signs have raised eyebrows after they were putting upside down.

The council has blamed contractors for the mistake which they say has

now been put right. We will have an update at 8pm. And again after the

BBC News at ten. From all of us, good night.