21/04/2016 BBC Wales Today

stake in any Tata Steel rescue package, Welsh billionaire

Terry Matthews pulls together a consortium to buy

The fact is you first put a really good team together, then

you fight in an area which has upside, so I am feeling pretty good

Former Wales international footballer Ched Evans

wins an appeal against his rape conviction.

against teacher workload and plans to reorganise

We are in Beaumaris on Anglesey overlooking the Menai Strait. North

Wales has always played a big part in generating electricity for our

homes but will it continue to do so in the future?

And we'll be hearing from the 'ladies in pinc' helping

the Queen celebrate her 90th birthday at Windsor Castle.

And from 90-year-old William Griffiths who remembers

meeting Her Majesty on previous birthdays.

I said I don't mean to be impertinent or rude or

anything towards you, but I am not sure if there is ten

minutes between this, if you are ten minutes older

than me or if I am ten minutes older than you.

A Welsh consortium, involving billionaire Sir Terry Matthews,

that's hoping to take over Tata UK, has welcomed news that the UK

government is prepared to consider taking a 25% stake in the business.

The group, which brings together people in the public

and private sector in Wales, along with Steel managers and unions

is adamant it can keep the blast furnaces making steel.

Here's our Economics Correspondent, Sarah Dickins.

While steel dominates the landscape around Port Talbot, its role in the

economy has lessened and appears to be seriously under threat. But now

in a move not seen for decades, the UK Government says it would consider

taking a 25% stake in it and is offering millions of pounds as loans

on a commercial basis. It came just hours after billionaire Sir Terry

Matthews entered the frame, part of a Welsh team working to take over.

Are you the bankroll? It has not come to that yet. But it might. If

it makes sensible business and the future looks good, frankly, there

will be investors and we already know it. So if the board in Mumbai

rejected the turnaround plan, why does this Welsh consortium think

there is a future? It is led by Roger Max, with years of experience

in steel and venture capital. He has read the plan and is bringing

together experts with one objective. Tell us how we can make the

greenest, cheapest stealing the world. That is a plan. That is a

vision and that is something people will invest in. We do not have it

today but what the bridge does for me is by sis the time to come up

with that vision, it should not buy is the time to go back to being the

old Port Talbot. Today the government offered hundreds of

millions of pounds to make the takeover more attractive to

investors. They will now be able to see the numbers the government has

made available. It is following a process. The fact the UK Government

disease and considering as an option taking a 25% stake in Tatas UK

operations is success -- significant. Workers would not have

dreamt that a few months ago. It is clear there are hundreds of millions

of pounds available on the table a commercial rate. And also as well is

that, the Welsh Government would be able to top up, perhaps helping with

something like research and development or development of a new

power plant. This story is moving very fast and there are interesting

talks taking place here at the Celtic Manor. So what is the Welsh

consortium think of the latest move from the UK Government? A couple of

hours ago, I was trying not to use the word confidence. It is

determination. Just as determined, much more confident. And tonight

unions are updating workers at Port Talbot about the latest developers.

-- developments. So, how much closer

are we realistically There is a long way to go, a lot of

detail, more people to be brought on board in terms of that consortium.

They hope to have people advising them on the search -- research and

development and economic sand or things like that. I would say we are

much closer than we were a week at -- a week ago. And that vision looks

much more likely than it did a week ago. That money from the UK

Government, hundreds of millions of pounds promised on a commercial loan

basis or a 25% stake, that really makes a difference, not only because

of the mini itself but also that gives a level of confidence that

will make it easier for this consortium to go to other people for

instant in the private sector and say the government back says, will

you back is too? And that is really important. Also Roger Maggs has

looked through the plan that went on by and he doesn't think at the

finances are as bad at Port Talbot as many of us have thought for some

time. Former Wales international

footballer Ched Evans has had his conviction for rape quashed

by the Court of Appeal. He's always maintained his

innocence, but will have He was released from jail in 2014

after serving half his sentence for the rape of a 19-year-old woman

at a hotel near Rhyl. Paul Heaney reports

from the Royal Courts Leaving court no longer a convicted

rapist, Ched Evans always maintained his innocence

but he will have On the basis that relevant

and admissible evidence has come to light that was not available

at the trial and that undermines the safety of his conviction,

we have concluded that we must allow the appeal and that it is in

the interests of justice A short statement read on his behalf

thanked his supporters Ched Evans is extremely grateful

for the Court of Appeal has ruled that his conviction for rape

was unsafe and should be quashed. He was a promising striker,

a record ?3 million signing for Sheffield United, called up

to the Wales squad in 2008. A night out in Rhyl in 2011

would change everything. Fellow footballer Clayton McDonald

went back to a hotel to have sex Evans diverted his cab home to join

them and also had sex with her. In April 2012, a jury cleared

McDonald of rape but Ched Evans The jury decided while she was able

to consent to having sex with his friend, she was later

too drunk to be able There was outrage from

Ched Evans' supporters. Nine people were fined for breaking

the law by naming the woman online. He had served half of

a five-year prison sentence. Athletics star Jessica Ennis-Hill

threatened to pull her support from Sheffield United

if they allowed him to play again. Pressure from club sponsors stopped

Oldham Athletic from signing him. But after a ten month investigation

in to new evidence, he was allowed to appeal the conviction he had

always maintained was wrong. New information had come to light

since his conviction. It has been four years

since Ched Evans was convicted and sent to jail but today,

he left this court an innocent So what was it about this

new information, this new evidence which allowed his appeal to be

upheld here today? Well, none of the detail of that

new evidence can be broadcast at the moment because it could

affect the retrial of Ched Evans, which was also ordered

in court today. We are expected to find out

when that court case might take race A man from Aberdeen,

who was allegedly bought by a man from Cardiff and forced to do hard

labour for nearly 30 years, has said he was forced

to live in a wooden shed. Four men from Cardiff are accused

of forcing two men to live in appalling conditions and to work

for as little as ?5 a day. ?30 million worth of bankers

drafts have been found, in the 'biggest ever' seizure

from an organised crime network. A 58-year-old man was arrested

in a raid in Bridgend on suspicion of money laundering after the City

of London Police launched It is believed the cash was made

from a global organised She's our longest reigning monarch

and today, events have been taking place across Wales

to celebrate Her Majesty She first visited here as sovereign

in 1953, just weeks after her coronation,

and today people of all ages, all over Wales, have been

celebrating the Royal birthday, The Queen's birthday celebrations

began bright and early at this By nine o'clock, 200 pupils had

gathered for a morning In the assembly hall,

each child was presented with a commemorative coin,

then it was back out Here in Abergavenny,

primary schoolchildren are proudly It is their way of saying happy

birthday to the Queen. It is just amazing that she can

handle all the responsibilities If she has made it to the age of 90,

why can't she make it July the 9th 1953, the Queens first

official visit to Wales In Cardiff, there was pomp

and pageantry and so it was today A 21 gun salute at noon

marking Her Majesty's 90th birthday. It is a commemoration that also

looms large quite Businessmen David Pickering

is using the grounds of his home to display 40 sculptures

of the Queen alongside some Loading these figures proved

a colossal challenge. The thing about giants,

by definition, is that they are big. And the big problem

is because they are big, they cost a lot of money

and they need a lot In Windsor, it was giant balloons

that greeted the Queen Judy and Anne from Cardiff

hoped Her Majesty would take one In fact, a little earlier,

the sisters had lost one of those balloons and had to find

a last-minute replacement. I ran after it and fortunately

all the children enjoyed it. It might even be on Her

Majesty's doorstep. In Merthyr Tydfil,

William Griffiths is having It is his 90th birthday today

and he is spending it Sharing his birthday

with the Queen has its perks. He receives letters from Her Majesty

and invites to Buckingham Palace. The last time he was there,

he challenged the Queen I said, I do not wish

to be impertinent or rude towards you in any way, I said,

I am not certain, I says, are you ten minutes older than me

or are my ten minutes And she said, I will have

to check the books. As Britain's longest raining

monarch, the Queen has been present at many of the milestones

in Wales' post-war history. Wales in turn will be celebrating

well into the night when beacons will be lit across the country

to mark this special day. We are in Beaumaris on Anglesey on

the Menai Straits. Tonight we are looking at the role North Wales

Police in generating electricity for our homes.

And she's dreamt of this moment her whole life.

Teenager Chloe Tutton, one of four Welsh swimmers

Around 150 teachers, parents and pupils marched

from Llandrindod High School to Powys Council's

The demonstration was organised by the teaching union,

NUT Cymru as a protest, over what union members say

is an excessive workload for teachers.

Many people are also angry about a proposed shake-up of

On the march with a clear list of demands. Today the branch along with

pupils and parents gathered in Llandrindod Wells to protest over

teacher workloads and proposed changes to in broth schools in the

county, including closures and outsourcing of sixth form education.

I have never known as take a strike and so many parents be behind us.

Some of the children in my class wanted to come along bit it was not

feasible. I have never known such support from the community and

actually from the headteachers who find it may -- difficult to make a

decision on closing schools. Nobody from the council was available for

an interview today but it said it was disappointing that the LUT chose

to take action so close to the end of year exam period. In part of this

county, there is concern for the future of secondary education. The

council says because of the hyena Brough surplus school places, it is

proposing to close for comprehensives and to open a new

school in mid Powys and another in the south. Many committees have

forged strong opposition to these plans. But opposition is no more

evident than in communities that -- around this high school near Hay on

Wye. Last night around 800 people turned out that a heated public

meeting to voice their opinions on plans to close the school next year

and move children to a news: Brecon. The school should stay open. I think

it would separate a lot of our French groups. A lot of people from

different areas, they would go to Hereford. It is nice keeping

everyone together. The council says it has to create larger schools so

it can secure more funding to offer a greater subject choice and to

drive up standards. But it is clear implement in such major changes may

take a lot more convincing. Young musicians and their parents

staged a silent protest this afternoon in Swansea as the council

's cabinet agreed to end its use it service partnership with Neath Port

Talbot. The council says all learners will continue to have

access to high-quality music support but concerns remain among

campaigners against the move. The Council are not offering a cheaper

offer. They have just up the cost to schools directly. The only

alternative that would make it cheaper would-be private companies

who could not offer the same kind of quality that is being delivered by

the current staff. We know that the music service as currently provided

is becoming more expensive for schools, so what we want to do is to

make sure that any money we put in as an authority and any money that

comes in, that money is understood and is used to make sure that the

services delivered in the best possible way.

We're travelling all over Wales in the run-up

to the Assembly Election, which takes place two weeks today,

finding out about the issues that matter to you before we go

Good evening and welcome to Beaumaris on the Menai Strait. The

fourth stop on our tour. We are in Plaid Cymru territory here. Further

along the coast, last time, voters returned a conservative semi-member

and MP with a slim majority. There is everything to play for come this

election. And right across this region. I have spent the day here

and I have been talking to people about the issues that matter to

them. They talk about health, transport, schools and energy

projects. Anglesey of course often described as energy Ireland. North

Wales has always played a huge part in generating electricity for our

homes. Experts say energy will be one

of the biggest issues facing the next Welsh Government,

whoever you elect. Our Environment Correspondent

Steffan Messenger has more. The potential for generating

electricity here is huge. Inland, hills and mountains offer

height to help harness the power This new hydro scheme

near Abergwyngregyn in Gwynedd You have got a pipe that

comes down the mountain, the water in that pipe goes

to a generator which It is enough electricity

to supply 250 houses. Whoever is in power after May 's

election will have more they say than ever before when comes

to deciding what sorts of energy schemes we should be

focusing on in Wales. The UK Government is set to hand

down powers of consent for major That will include large onshore wind

farms and tidal lagoons. But control over the national grid

infrastructure that delivers power to our homes

as well as the subsidies paid out to help get new energy schemes off

the ground remains with Westminster. It means that forming energy

policies specifically for Wales is a big challenge

for the politicians fighting for your vote at this

assembly election. We would like to see targets

for renewable energy in Wales, not for the sake of targets

themselves but because renewable energy is a very good way to get

bills down in the long-term, a good way to create

employment across Wales. Scotland with the right levels

of political support has gone very, very far in the direction

and almost certainly by 2020, they will be generating

the equivalent of all of their electricity

from renewable sources. Wales produced around

a fifth of its energy needs If it were to hit statutory targets

to reduce carbon emissions, 40% by 2020, some argue that figure

needs to rise dramatically. The parties are saying

very different things But what of the impact

on local communities? On Anglesey, large wind farm

developments and plans to create the UK's largest solar park

have sparked debate. Obviously, large turbines

have an impact on the landscape and the landscape is very important

to Anglesey because we have a very My heart would say it would be

lovely to be able to have all our electricity

produced by renewables. I think that is a little

too optimistic. The other question of course

especially here on Anglesey is to what extent nuclear power

should form part of the mix of electricity generated in Wales

in future, but that is a matter for the Westminster

government for now. Steffan, so what are the parties

saying about energy? What we are seeing is a bit of an

arms race developing when it comes to renewable energy and this is the

space where the next Welsh Government could have influenced

because if we think about control over those major energy projects

being handed down to Cardiff Bay, what we are talking about there for

the time being at least is major renewable projects, big wind farms,

solar parks and so forth. The Lib Dems say they want to see all of

Wales' electricity needs being met by 2025, the Green party by 2030 and

Plaid Cymru by 2035. The Labour Party say they want to see much more

renewable energy generation in Wales. With support for tidal

lagoons. There is one of those in prospect attention for the North

Wales coast, Cardiff, Newport and Swansea Bay. The Conservatives say

they want to see a greater variety of renewable projects on the table

in Wales. They would address planning laws. Ukip taking a

different approach. They oppose what they call and wind farms and say

they do not think we should the investing in green technologies.

They want to spend that money on other priorities. They say they do

support renewable energy schemes if they can prove they are cost

competitive. On a visit to Mid Wales today,

Ukip leader Nigel Farage admitted the party's candidate selection

process for the Assembly election Many Welsh party members

were unhappy high profile figures based in England were able

to put their name forward. And Ukip's leader in Wales,

Nathan Gill, has faced calls But speaking in Welshpool,

Nigel Farage said Mr Gill has Well, that's just

about it from Beaumaris. Lucy's been there to meet one

man, who has a message I have been talking to Ken, who got

in touch as part of My Manifesto. His mother-in-law went into a care

home and he has two sons Ken wants a new law that

would give him peace of mind. If I were the First Minister,

I would enact a holistic Bill of Rights that would protect

elderly, disabled and vulnerable people in their own homes,

in hospitals and in care homes. Tonight, a beacon is being lit

on Snowdon and on Beaumaris Castle We're heading to Wrexham

for our final stop We're talking about

the health service. Four Welsh swimmers have been

included in the team for this 19-year-old Chloe Tutton says

she's dreamt of this She'll be joined by Jazz Carlin,

Georgia Davies and Ieuan Lloyd Pontypridd's Chloe Tutton,

here in the middle, didn't think The teenager produced a personal

best to secure a 200 metre breaststroke gold in the trials,

to edge out more senior rivals I am so proud of myself to have

achieved something like this Jazz Carlin will also be

making her Olympic debut in Brazil, four years after glandular fever

denied her the chance She contemplated walking away

from the sport but she told me the hard work

since then has paid off. It is ten pool sessions a week

and on that you have five So it really is a full-time job

and most weeks I am tired and grumpy and I just want to sit on the sofa

and go to sleep. It is not the most social sport

but I can only do it once and I am Commonwealth champion

Georgia Davies, who trains So too Ieuan Lloyd, who competed

at the last Olympics. They take the number

of Welsh athletes competing Triathlete Non Stanford has

already booked her place. Boxer Joe Cordina was the first

Welshman to make it into Team GB. Shooter Elena Allen will compete

at her second games. The defending taekwondo Olympic

champion Jade Jones has virtually The same goes for

triathlete Helen Jenkins. It was sunny in

Beaumaris this evening. How's it looking for the rest of us,

Sue? Beautiful in Beaumaris today. Mixed

fortunes. The warmest day of the year so far for parts of Wales. But

cooler where we have had more cloud. And after a couple of days of

sunshine and warmth, turning cooler and more unsettled over the next few

days. This evening, it might stay fine and dry but cloud will thicken.

Some rain may pushing further south and with more cloud, less cold and

recent nights at five Celsius. We start to see changes overnight into

tomorrow. A weather front trying to push on from the south-west. Some

uncertainty how far north as will come. It should start drying the

North. But thicker cloud in the South and that could bring outbreaks

of rain across parts of South and mid Wales. Feeling colder wrap nine

Celsius. It looks like that front stalls and then retreats back

southwards tomorrow night. These isobars straightened out,

introducing more northerly winds and bad signals the change to much

colder weather into the weekend, as we introduce this Arctic air mass

from the north. The cloud and rain clears southwards. Clearer skies

developed from the North. Introducing that colder air. Some

frosted developing across mid and North Wales. A cold start on

Saturday. Some frost patches. A mix of sunny spells and sunshine.

Showers more likely further west. Some could be wintry on high ground.

Top temperature in 11 Celsius. Noticeably colder and breezy as we

head into the weekend. Sunday is looking bright and blustery. Some

showers. And staying chilly for the start of next week. Today was

possibly the last of the mild spell. It is looking colder for the end of

April. If you have any photos to help us tell the weather stories,

send them in. I'll be back with a quick

update at 8pm and more But before we go, we'll leave

you with some images of how the Welsh celebrated the Queen's

90th birthday today.