19/07/2011 South Today

Hello, I'm Sally Taylor. Welcome to South Today.

In tonight's programme the letter that's caused anger and confusion.

Care costs will rise but where's the detail? You have got a whole

group of vulnerable adults, is everybody as confused as I am?

On standby - HMS Illustrious with Apaches on board prepares for

deployment to Libya. The heroes of the Arctic Convoy

still waiting to be recognised for their actions. There are only three

alive now in Portsmouth and all of them have been waiting for the

government to say, it right, there will be a medal. Join me in rural

Hampshire were seven wind turbines There's confusion and anger tonight

about the handling of the increase in the cost of day care services

for thousands of people in Hampshire. The council is

apologising after warning letters were sent out without the specific

information. Families could find themselves forking out thousands of

pounds more but at this stage they are not being informed just how

much extra money they need to pay. So what impact have the letters

had? Our reporter Laura Trant has been finding out.

Vivienne shares her home with the Roffey has dementia and Alzheimer's.

Ralph received a code is the letter from Hampshire County Council

saying -- warning about new charges. The lack of clarity for people who

need them to be made very clear to them, if I didn't have in English -

- the fire with an English degree did understand the letter, how on

earth do people living on their own and the letter has got to come

through by a carer, or a relative, he just is so massively unclear.

The council letter which was sent to 11,000 vulnerable people was

intended to warn them about rising costs but Vivienne says instead it

created instant fear. If letters have caused concern,

then that is a matter for me to apologise to people about. If she

has any difficulties with it at all, I am offering that she can ring me

direct, and I will ensure those difficulties are addressed.

�300 million is allocated for all care services in Hampshire. The

council receives contributions of �7.5 million. The new changes will

raise an estimated �5 million, bringing the total to �12.5 million

which will go back into Hampshire County Council's care budget.

Vivienne says what makes matters worse is the extra money he pays

will not go directly into the services he uses.

It would have been better if they had left it until they knew exactly

what the Mount was going to be an say this is the charge that will be

starting from. We can always learn, and he is the leader of the county

council St we would have to look very carefully at those that go out

-- saying. And look at them at the point of view of the most

vulnerable. Our political editor is with me.

Clearly many distressed family to have received this letter.

It will cost them a lot of money and that will be a struggle for

some people. You had the apology from Hampshire for the way some

people were told about this -- you heard. It is about making things

beret in the long run. Some people are already being towed -- Charge

for things like personal care -- charged a. As you saw in the report

in a budget for all adult services this contribution is less than 5%.

Other local authorities are looking at the same sort of thing.

In Dorset bill closing three day- care centres, charging for day care

centre used in Dorset from July, in West Sussex they are closing the

three day care centres for the elderly. They have had that big

campaign, the dead cut us campaign where they reassess 4,500 people

and aiming to reduce the amount they spend on elderly care by

getting maximum value of contracts. We are living longer so the

government has got to address the issue.

People talk about the burden of elderly care but we should be

celebrating people living longer. There is the maximum amount people

will be charged so although it their problems and a camp bed for

we know where we're going. -- so although there are problems we know.

A man's been arrested on suspicion of fraud in relation to the last-

minute cancellation of school skiing trips earlier this year.

There are claims that Skiing Europe, based in Devon, owes money to

several schools. Reading school in Berkshire paid �85,000 for a trip

that didn't happen. Ferndown and the Purbeck School in Dorset were

also affected. The crew of the Portsmouth

helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious has been told to prepare for

operations against Colonel Gaddafi's forces in Libya. The ship

could be sent to the Mediterranean to take-over from HMS Ocean. This

week it's been carrying out exercises off the south coast with

Army Apache helicopters which have been used to carry out attacks in

Libya. Illustrious is a 22-thousand tonne ship. It has around 650

sailors on board. Joining them, 90 Army Air Corps personnel. She only

returned from a �40 million re-fit 12 days ago and hadn't been

expected to become fully operational until next spring. Our

reporter Steve Humphrey has been on board.

In Nelson's day they fired cannon balls at enemies. Just over 200

years late -- later the weapons have become more potent and

sophisticated. With its missiles and rockets this has been in action

over Libya. Some of the army pilot had been getting used to operating

at sea on board the Portsmouth's based helicopter carrier, HMS

Illustrious. It is different. If you ask am I the they had been

quite surprised. For security reasons none of the pilots wanted

to be identified. It is a fantastic machine to fly. We are proving that

as on the pilots were very versatile and we can move to any

environment and normally make a good impression of ourselves.

As illustrious and helicopters went through their paces in the English

Channel it was revealed the ship herself could soon be deployed

across the Libyan coast as a floating base for the Apache

helicopters of the conflict continues. At the moment that job

is been done by HMS Ocean. As we are seeing in Libya what is working

well is a ward Mabel, -- is HMS Ocean. Flexibility, agility, the

name of the game for aircraft carriers.

The decision to scrap a Harrier jump-jet means the Apache is one of

the main offensive aircraft been carried on the country's warships.

I saw one for the first time the bid a close-up and never realised

how massive they were. For the ship's crew, having an Apache on

board means making closely with the army palate and technicians. -- are

working closely. -- pilots. They operate differently to ourselves.

It has been good having them on board. The sailors are now well

aware there is a possibility they could be sent to the Mediterranean,

but the deployment will depend on what is happening on the ground in

Libya. So a big surprise for HMS

Illustrious and her crew? Yes, I don't think anyone was expecting

things would move so fast. She came back to Portsmouth after her re-fit

on the 7th of July and the thinking was that she would be fully up and

running and ready for action next spring. Now it looks as though

that'll be brought forward by a couple of months.

Why the changie in timetable? Well the reason is HMS Ocean, the

helicopter carrier that went off on exercise last February and got sent

to Libya in April. And she's still there. If she has to be relieved

there's now only one ship that can really do it and that's Illustrious.

But no certainty about what'll happen?

None. If Colonel Gaddafi surrenders and the rebels roll into Tripoli in

the next few the RAF and the Navy will breathe a sigh of relief, and

so will the Prime Minister. I don't think anyone expected it to go on

so long. And if its still going on in a few months' time HMS

Illustrious may be heading to the Libyan coast.

And another swap already taking place in the Med?

Yes, the Portsmouth frigate Iron Duke is taking over as a short term

replacement for the destroyer HMS Liverpool. As we've heard in recent

weeks Liverpool and her crew have had quite an eventful time off

Libya on a couple of occasions they've fired their main gun at

Colonel Gaddafi's forces. Thank you very much.

A 25-year-old man's being questioned by police over the

suspected murder of a man from Bracknell. Human remains and a

vehicle were discovered on farmland near St Austell in Cornwall last

week by police investigating the disappearance of David Griffiths

and his friend Brett Flournoy. Another man from Cornwall has

already been charged with disposing of a body. Still to come...

We have the weather details and we are on the beach.

More money is ploughed into the People living and working in

Reading are being urged to enter a dialogue with the council about the

services they most value as local politicians grapple with finding

�18 million in savings. Councillors have been handing out consultation

leaflets seeking views from voters, to help shape what's provided in

future. They ran the gauntlet of German gun

boats to make sure supplies were delivered to the Soviet Union

during the Second World War. But the veterans of the Arctic Convoy

have never received a British medal for their heroic actions. David

Cameron first said seven years ago that something should be done to

recognise their efforts, now veterans are urging the Prime

Minister to make sure that happens. The largest convoy ever take into

Russia is going north of Scandinavia. Winston Churchill

described the convoys as the most dangerous of the war. 3,000 men

died transporting 4 million tons of supplies to Russia. This command

was on four of those convoys. He has been campaigning for a medal

and is aware time is running out -- this commander.

In Portsmouth we had 33 members. Thereat only three alive now. --

they're off. All of them had been waiting for the government to say

there is a medal. They died, one after another, I hope David Cameron

takes notice. When the Conservatives were in opposition

they backed the campaign. In January he still appeared to be

supportive. There is a case for saying they

have missed out. Many of them are coming to the end of their lives

and it would be good if we could do something more to recognise what

they have done. But the issue was referred back to

the MAT for review. Eddie feels there be let down by the promise of.

-- MoD. A promise is of promise and

reviewing that, that smacks of insincerity. However, he went ahead

and past the thing to the unity which is the worst possible thing

he could have done. These are not new arguments presented which they

have to process. They are aware of these issues. It is the most

positive step forward we have seen where David Cameron has said he

will review it, and they are now reviewing it and arisen been moving

forward and we will just hope that review ends with the right result.

In 2005 and optic bad was awarded to the veterans but they say it

does not go far enough -- and octet badge. The MoD doesn't think

another medal is necessary. Campaigners are hoping David

Work to repair the surf reef at Boscombe in Bournemouth will begin

next month. The reef was closed in March after it was damaged by a

boat propeller. At the same time the reef builders, ASR will also

carry out improvement works to the controversial project. It'll be

funded by �150,000 payment. Bournemouth Borough Council kept

the money back when the reef was originally completed. Roisin Gauson

has been following the story. For almost four months this has

been the extent of the surfing action, great for beginners but

offshore lies a �3 million artificial set free, a much-hyped

facility that has been closed since March. On a summer's day the whole

area is so busy which can only be good for this area, and I would

like to see more going on with the surf reef, the waves bigger.

husband is quite a keen surfer. We thought we would come and see what

is happening but I think he is a bit disappointed there is not

really any surface. Quite funny when the tide is low because the

Seagulls sit on it and look like they are having a nice answer at

least somebody is enjoying it. The firm that built it is coming

back to career repairs to a sandbag ripped open by a boat propeller and

improve the quality of surf. -- carry out repairs. We are using

money set aside to make improvements, we are using that to

repair the damage and if we can reach the agreement with the

insurance company we will do some extra work on refinement and added

improvement. There's not much of a wave here

today and if it wasn't for the marker buoys out at sea would have

been no it was there. The company who installed it say it is their

flagship project and they are They are currently working on other

brief project around the world so it would be in their interest to

make sure their flagship does not flop.

Proposals for a wind farm in North Hampshire have been scrutinised by

the local community tonight. TCI Renewables based in Oxford hasn't

yet submitted a planning application but it wants to build

seven turbines at Woodmancott south of Basingstoke. Tom Hepworth is

live tonight in the village of East Stratton near Winchester. Details

of the proposed wind farms have already gone on show here this

evening. Some people living nearby of not particularly happy, no great

change as many people have opposed wind farms here in the South before.

But the number of people opposing these schemes is increasing. Last

year alone planning committees rejected just under half of it.

They didn't make it off the drawing board. In the South seven

The planning inspector will decide whether one should be built on

Cheverton Down on the Isle of Wight in the next month. A fissiparous No

campaign has already started here in Hampshire -- a vociferous at No

campaign. The company wants to build seven at

400 ft high wind turbines here. It says it is an ideal site, it is

windy, sparsely populated, and it is not officially an area of

outstanding natural beauty or special scientific interest.

think it would be a good place but many people living nearby disagree.

Barrar areas, for example, out at sea, in Scotland where know that

local residents are affected -- there are areas, that would be more

appropriate. Four miles you will be able to see this leaning on the

horizon -- you will be able to see it for miles. -- looming. There are

concerns about whether there will be noise. Exhibitions like this are

part of the battle for hearts and minds but here in the south that

battle is a difficult one. Baroque comparatively few wind farms here.

Northern Ireland, Scotland, more attuned to it but here in England

people have a big difficulty. Unfortunately it does come down to

people and how much money they have in the back pocket. That might be

controversial but unfortunately we are seeing the south of England

particularly reticent. The company says electricity that

could be generated could be enough to power 7,000 homes but many of

those who have homes here are not so sure whether that is a price

worth paying. Whether the scheme he gets the go-

ahead will not, that will not make a great deal of difference to the

Government's target for 2015 of generating 15% of electricity from

renewable resources. One thing is for sure, both sides will be

looking very closely at Eric Pickles' localism built to see how

that affects this issue. Those plans have gone on at each

Stratton village if you want to see them. -- East.

Are you a row? A swimmer, but not a row were. --

rower. I preferred the machines. Swimming world championships in

China, the Olympics sailing test event in Weymouth. This is all as

we build up to next year, it really important time. The members of the

team he will fly the flag for Britain at next month's Rolling

world championships were unveiled today. -- run win world

championships. -- rowing. They were out as usual put in hours of

practice that has made them the team to beat. Many mornings I will

wake up and hear the rain and wind against the window, scrip the as

against the car, we can only go out if there is not too much ice. We do

it all through the seasons. That is almost way you win the medals, that

is where the hard working cent in the beautiful sunny days you race

in front of the world. That is the minority, but the good times.

Unveiled today, the team heading for those good times, the World

Championships starting at the end of August in Slovenia. The contest

furthest away in time as the one minds are focused on.

We are at a trajectory to produce TV ratings best ever result at the

London Games. -- Rd Britain ratings. The ultimate competition is just

down the Thames from here in 2012. In a way it feels like the starting

pistol to get qualified but actually it went off a long time

ago. I know as well as anybody you don't become an Olympic champion of

the night, it is a project which picks years and you would day after

day. Britain's rowers have been busy

putting him at work. As the Games approach ever faster they are

hoping to reap the rewards. Crawley Town have agreed a new

contract with their manager ahead of their first season in the

Football League. Steve Evans guided the club to the Blue Square Premier

title last season, and a tie at Manchester United in the FA Cup.

He's signed a three-year contract along with his assistant Paul

Raynor. A dress rehearsal for next month's

Twenty20 quarter-final at the Rose Bowl. The game was in the third

over when the players had to flee a heavy shower. The time lost reduced

the match to 35 overs a side. Must it did not want to go, the umpire

sent him on the way. -- mustard. Sat nav or Mark?

I have gone down the sat nav route and it is part of the Lady world we

are today -- lazy. I love maps. When you're walking

especially. And the achievement.

Let me tell you a treasure trove of maps forgotten for 60 years has

been discovered in a Sussex cottage. The work of the pictorial map

artist, Max deal. His map of the underground salt and

many others were equally popular of. His work is to go on show at

Brighton University. Every line, image, background, and

drawn and coloured. They are really works of art, designed by this man.

A master of his craft, decades before anybody had even dreamed of

digital announcements. His work is beautiful, unique. I

don't think anybody ever produced such wonderful mops, pictorial maps,

as he did. Even if you read about pictorial maps nowadays he is still

talked about in his field. All these posters and original of

works have been rescued from obscurity in the Sussex cottage he

shared with his second wife, Priscilla, in the last years of his

life. When we inherited his cottage we

started discovering all these things. And realised there was a

mountain of it and we had no idea what to do with it, felt they ought

to be some kind of exhibition, perhaps.

We didn't have a wall space to hang any of them so it was a case of

looking at them, thinking how lovely and putting them away again.

I think after this he will not be forgotten. This will firmly

established him back in the public eye. The research interest in him

and it will not go away. They are beautiful. You can go and

see it at Brighton University. We have got the weather. A bit

better today. Not a complete washout. Some of the

sunny conditions but some very heavy showers as you saw at the

There was some sunshine today, Ray Passmore from Swanage captured the

wild flowers in Durlston Country Park looking out to sea. John Cilia

took this photo of the hanging baskets in West Chiltington, West

Sussex before the showers arrived. And Susan and David Dorrell are

looking after these two peacocks that have turned up in their garden

in West Moors in Dorset. They are in fact looking for anyone locally

who has lost the or will re-home the birds. Do get in touch, the e-

mail address is on the screen. We had some very heavy showers as you

saw at the Rose Bowl. This week generally it will be a cold a week

and showers. They could be on her beside, maybe the odd rumble of

thunder. -- on the head the side. - - on the heavy side. This club will

gradually work its way towards the South West. We lose but showers

overnight. The skies were clear in places. Temperatures will be in

double figures. Tomorrow, initially, a dry start. We see the rain

arrived from the Atlantic. It could be heavy in places, mainly

affecting so than most area of our region. -- but so there must. --

the sudden most area of our region. -- Southern. For Thursday daytime

that mass of reign over us on Wednesday will clear off to the

near Continent. -- rain. Scout -- the showers will be fairly well

scattered. Some decent amount of sunshine. Similar conditions for

Saturday. This ridge of high pressure starts nudging its way in

from the Atlantic. Some lively showers about tomorrow and also on