28/03/2014 South Today

Hello, I'm Sally Taylor. Welcome to News at Six so it's

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

In tonight's programme. Don't go to court ` take a course.

Newbury is at the centre of a public health investigation after two

people develop TB following contact with cats.

It is not just an usual, it is unique.

Beating the drop ` Pompey's latest manager steps up to the plate with

this message. If there is a better person out there than me that can do

it, go and get him. And a Billy Elliot moment for one

teenager as steps on stage with other youngsters and the cast of

Swan Lake. I am quite nervous, but quite excited because I am going to

prove myself. It will be fantastic. Punishment or education, which is

the best way to stop people committing crime? Hampshire has just

become the first place in the country to offer some offenders the

option of going on a new course to change their behaviour, instead of

going to court. It's been developed by Hampshire's Police and Crime

Commissioner and Victim Support. Our Home Affairs Correspondent Emma

Vardy has this exclusive report. I heard a bang on my back fence,

then another one. One night stranger who had been drinking broke into

Karen's back garden, tearing down her fence. I was a bit scared, I

didn't know if he had a weapon. The verbal abuse we were getting was

disgusting. Police arrested the man who could have been sent to appear

in a magistrates court all been punished with a fine. But officers

told Karen, his identity we have changed, he could instead be sent on

the new victims awareness course. If you were robbed in a street in my be

that you avoid going in that area again. Offenders are taken through

scenarios involving crimes like criminal damage, theft or

anti`social behaviour, and asked to discuss the fact they have on

identified but spoke to me we filmed didn't want

identified but spoke to me afterwards. It was eye opening. He

found out different things about how it affects others and people with

you. At the moment Hampshire is the only place in the country to be

putting offenders through these courses, but over the coming months

they will be rolled out across other counties in the South as well.

But there are warnings this new approach mustn't become Miss used.

It is so important to look at who this is aimed at, for what type of

offences, what is appropriate so identifying very clearly the

criteria as to who should be offered this programme, what the

circumstances should be, and to keep to that, not for it to slip. That is

where continuous monitoring and evaluation is important to ensure it

doesn't just become an easy option. Using education over punishment for

those we spoke to has considerable public support. Forward`looking,

moves away from the kind of state we were moving back towards in this

country. I like it. Give them a bit of direction, instead of going to

the magistrates. If you just downright perished somebody, I guess

they are not learning anything `` punish somebody. You are not get to

the root of the problem worries if you educate them you are likely to

solve the problem. When you come home and you have got a massive

black eye and facial injuries, how will your children react?

Authorities will be watching to see how successful the approach of

educating offenders about their effect on victims proves to be.

Britain's only Green MP Caroline Lucas was in court this afternoon to

defend her decision to take part in anti`fracking protests in the West

Sussex village of Balcombe. The Brighton Pavilion MP was arrested

outside the energy firm Cuadrilla's drilling site in August. But she

denies two public order offences, maintaining her actions were

"legitimate and appropriate", as Piers Hopkirk reports.

From the Commons to the courthouse, Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas

arriving to give evidence to date in her trial before Brighton

magistrates. This was the moment she was arrested

last August. She was charged with breach of the Public Order Act and

wilful obstruction of the highway. Charges the UK's only Green MP has

denied throughout her trial. Earlier that day she explained why she had

chosen to join the five`hour sitting at the gates of the quarterly

testing site. There comes a point where you feel as if the democratic

channels are not working and it is legitimate to take non`violent,

peaceful direct action which is what people are doing here today because

the stakes are so high, nobody is doing this likely.

David evidence she said I was exercising my right to peaceful

protest. Caroline Lucas is on trial with four

other defendants. Speaking on the court's steps this afternoon she

thanked her supporters. The support has been amazing for all of us,

absolutely fantastic, constituents writing to me, I know they wanted me

to be here to make the case and I'm glad to be able to do that. All five

defendants deny the charges against them, the case continues.

Gay and lesbian couples in the South will be able to legally marry from

tomorrow. But as last minute preparations are

being made for the first ceremonies, the decision to legalise same sex

marriage is still attracting some criticism. The change in the law has

been fought by churches and other religious groups who say it will

weaken the family as a building block of society. Rob Powell

reports. Being able to call it a marriage

rather than a civil partnership will stop. A very public run up to what

this Dorset couple had once thought would be a quiet wedding. Kersten

and Sue met last year. Next week they will become one of the first

same sex couples in the South to legally marry. It is acceptance to

finally be able to do what every body else can do. The change is

especially important for Kersten, she is ordained as a priest in an

independent fellowship. The whole gospel message was about acceptance

and love. The Christians of this country could do with accepting

those people. But many churches and religious groups fought the change.

The concept of marriage as a place for procreation is lost. The family

in its normally sends predating the state and as our base community of

society is weakened. The Church of England now says it

will mount no further resistance to same sex marriage. But gay couples

will still find it difficult to marry in a church. Which is why

registrars, like this one in Winchester, are getting busy. They

will be using the same wording as a traditional marriage ceremony, we

are talking civil marriage, not religious, so the same ceremony for

all couples. Same sex couples already in a civil partnership will

not yet be able to convert straight to a marriage. But legally, little

is different between the two. The purpose of introducing the civil

partnership in 2005 was to provide same`sex couples with those same

legal rights. The difference that is being introduced now is more of a

public perception, so that same`sex couples can say we are married,

rather than we are civil partners. The South's first same sex marriage

will take place in Bournemouth, tomorrow morning when a couple will

be pronounced husband, and husband. One of the South's MPs is calling on

the government to provide better compensation to fishermen badly

affected by the winter storms. Funding has been made available to

them for loss of earnings as well as money to replace any equipment that

might have been damaged. The government backed bursaries will

cover costs of up to five thousand pounds. But the Dorset MP Richard

Drax says too much bureaucracy is making it difficult for fishermen to

claim the compensation. The problem is they are having huge

difficulty wading through all the bureaucracy to get the money for

their lost kit in a recent storms. The MMO are getting work from the EU

fisheries fund, but the paperwork and the time it takes, they will not

necessarily get all the money they need anyway is putting the fishermen

at a huge disadvantage. They feel they are up against this wall of

bureaucracy. Dorset's Police and Crime

Commissioner Martyn Underhill says more urgent action needs to be taken

on where to place temporary traveller sites. It's costing more

than a quarter of a million pounds but so far after three years of

Dorset County Councils Gypsy and Traveller Strategy, only one

temporary stopping site has been adopted, from a list of 300

potential locations. And there'll be more on travellers in our current

affairs show the Sunday Politics at 11.15 this Sunday morning here on

BBC One. Still to come, modern royal visitors

drop into the ultimate Victorian Royal Playhouse.

Newbury is at the centre of a public health investigation after two

people caught tuberculosis from their pet cats. They're the first

ever recorded cases of cat`to`human transmission. The outbreak, which

happened last year, saw 24 people screened who were linked to the same

veterinary practice. Public Health England says the risk of

transmission remains "very low". Nikki Mitchell reports. The alarm

was first raised at this veterinary practice. This is fit and healthy

but just over a year ago some people collect at with an abscess that

would not heal. The vets took swabs and for the next few weeks nine cats

in total tested positive, even the vet's and. Unfortunately my was on

my lap and I felt a lump on his leg, was suspicious because we were in

the middle of a blunt chair of cases, but it and he turned out to

have TB as well for the tab and? We treated him and he was responding

very well, x`rayed his chest again and all the lesions had cleared up.

The lump had been removed. While he was still on treatment he

unfortunately went missing. As this is the first documented case of

people catching bovine TB from cats the testing has been progress. The

results and conclusions had to be checked, double`checked and checked

again by scientists for various different organisations, and that is

while we are only hearing about this now. More than a year after the

first infected cat was brought in here. The strain of the disease

found in caps and people here was the same as the one found in our

rates `` in cattle on Greenham Common. Cattle in the area have been

tested and TB reactors were found amongst cattle on the common land

and certainly at least one of them had the disease. Some of this man's

cattle were among those slaughtered. Public health officials

and he believe wildlife have been to blame. Neither badger nor do have

got a top predators are the numbers are increasing and it is spreading

across the country. We don't want to panic people but we would like

people to be aware that if they have a cat with a lesion, is chronically

ill, they really should seek some help. People shouldn't be worried.

TB is curable, best to get it early, so the onus doesn't get too bad. It

also stops letting it on to other people for top the symptoms people

see can be a cough which lasts for several weeks, night sweats, loss of

appetite. Officials are keen to stress there have been no new cases

of bovine TB in pets or people here for one year . It was the ultimate

Victorian playhouse, a Swiss chalet in the grounds of Queen Victoria's

Isle of Wight home, Osborne House. The Swiss Cottage was built by

Victoria and her husband Prince Albert for their children to play in

and learn about ordinary life. It's just been renovated by English

Heritage. Today, another Royal couple, Prince Edward and the

Countess of Wessex, paid a visit to see the work. We sent James Ingham

along too. A royal visit to a royal

playground, in a royal house. The Earl and Countess of Wessex were

guests of honour as English Heritage unveiled a major piece of

conservation. The Swiss Cottage at Osborne house played a big part in

the childhoods of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's children. Today

restored and exhibited for a new generation. On their visit to the

main house they paid particular attention to photograph albums of

the royal ancestors here at the Swiss Cottage Prince Edward will be

able to see where his great, great grandfather once played with his

brothers and sisters. Victoria and Albert wanted to create a miniature

world for their children where they could have a haven to themselves.

And space to express themselves be children. We have some fantastic

anecdotes about what the children were doing, often from their own

letters. Dear Prince Albert, Osborne, June three, 1858. Alice

made a pancake yesterday as Swiss Cottage, I have none of it. I was

out driving with mother. I called a butterfly at the Swiss Cottage. I

got very wet. My next letter will be in French. Offer. Letters as well as

diaries and paintings have revealed intimate stories which historians

have tried to bring to life. It was all done for a purpose, there was

always this educational element, all the activities, cooking, gardening,

with the gardening the children all grew the same produce, the same

vegetables and fruit in their garden plot, Albert wanted to make it into

a competition, he bought the produce and market price said they are

learning things as they are getting involved in activities. So a view

into a prince's pass, one visitors will see as well now this pain

staking project is complete. It looks stunning. Onto sport.

Pompey sat their manager. It is only four years since

Portsmouth were a Premier league side, playing in the FA Cup final,

look about it is now. Here's the table. Portsmouth hover just above

the bottom two as they start life after Richie Barker, who was fired

yesterday. Tomorrow they're at Newport in another critical League

Two fixture. I've been to chat to Caretaker boss Andy Awford who's

issued a passionate rallying cry to the Pompey faithful.

He is Portsmouth ruler through with more than 300 appearances for the

club, he knows what this season boils down to. We have to stay in

the football league, it is as simple as that and we will be going all out

to try and do that and unite everybody together to give us the

best possible chance. He was on the training ground with Paul Hardiman

and Alan McLaughlin this morning. How big a challenge is this? The

biggest. Simple. The hardest and biggest challenge, if we do achieve

it as a group. It will not be a parade around the time because we

shouldn't be here anyway. We should be a lot higher up the league than

we are. He can draw on experience. He was a member of Alan Ball's side

which afforded almost certain relegation in 1998. 16 years ago he

was speaking about the late Pompey's favourite's impact. We have

produced goods. The main thing is the fans have been fantastic. I said

to the board, I haven't told anybody this, I said if there is a better

person out there than me that can do it, go and get him, because it is

not about me, it is about this football club surviving for top I'd

used Allen as an example, I said if he were still alive I would be

getting him in here myself because he is the type we need. He takes the

team to Newport which has stood at a crucial time. They have lost three

in a row and scored one goal in 540 minutes. They need to be allowed to

express themselves a bit more, especially in the final third, be

allowed to take a few more risks on the pitch. Danny Hollins has arrived

on loan from Charlton while Ryan Bird has returned from a stint at

Cambridge. It is all hands on deck now to prevent Portsmouth sinking to

a all`time low. The full interview is on the BBC website and actually

it is getting a lot of attention and social media.

Meanwhile Southampton host Newcastle tomorrow in the Premier League.

Former boss Alan Pardew returns to St Mary's but must stay in the

stands due to a touchline ban. In the Championship Bournemouth's

unlikely play off push takes them to Birmingham. Eddie Howe's side have

lost only one in seven. Reading must hope their dreadful home form

improves when they host Huddersfield. Brighton host

Middlesbrough. In League One leaders Wolves are at MK Dons. Swindon host

cup semi`finalists Sheffield United. Gary Waddock is looking for his

first win as Oxford head coach on the road at Dagenham and Redbridge.

BBC Local radio has commentary of all those games.

On this week's Late Kick Off former Bournemouth midfielder Wade Elliott

is our special guest alongside Reading legend Ady Williams. We'll

have the latest twists and turns of the Football League campaign and a

focus on grassroots football after this week's announcement of a cut in

funding for the game from Sport England. Late Kick off this Monday

at 11.20 here on BBC One. Last week we had the story of

Gosport Borough playing at Wembley in the FA Trophy final. Tomorrow

Sholing will hope to emulate them in the FA Vase. They play the first leg

of their semi final against Eastbourne tomorrow. Kick off is

three o'clock, BBC Radio Solent has reports.

Reading Rockets will hope to seal the English Basketball League title

tomorrow when they travel to Worthing Thunder.

Do you remember what you wanted to be when you were ten years old?

Maybe a fireman, a doctor? A pop star or even a TV presenter? Maybe a

sports presenter? But what a life as an international

snowboarder? Because that's exactly what Ethan Smith wants. And he's

already well on the way to fulfilling his dreams. Ed Sherry

went to meet him. Ten years old, and pulling off

tricks like this. Ethan's been riding since he was seven,

converting from skiing while on holiday with his parents. And he's

never looked back. It's fun, I like being in the air. I can spin up to a

540. I can backflip and front flip. I can nearly rodeo. He trains at

least four times a week, here on the slope at Matchams in Dorset and at

other venues around the country to gain more experience.

And it's hard work that's paying off. Last week he won the Scottish

National under 12 freestyle championships, and regularly

competes in under`16 competition. He's very young at the minute so

another couple of years, let his tricks developed, gain some core

strength, there is a good chance he can make it.

His hero, Southampton's Billy Morgan. He also honed his skills in

on the South's dry slopes, and now competes on the international

circuit earlier this year reaching the Olympic final in Sochi.

He is a really good snowboarder, and I have met him. He was the first to

triple rodeo. That is a long way off for Ethan and his family are making

sure despite his love of big air he is keeping his feet firmly on the

ground. There is always the potential for

injury so he knows he has to do well in school because this may not be

his career path should anything happen. Let's go and have a look. We

have never asked or applied for any financial funding, it's all been

backed by ourselves. Keeping it that way, there is no pressure on him to

perform to a high`level, or try something more advanced than he is

ready for. But it doesn't hurt to dream. My goals are to either get to

the Olympics or X Games or get filmed for snowboarding movies.

We are looking at at least eight years in the future. If he

progresses the way he is going there is no reason he can't and we will

support him all What looks like a perfect early

spring day at Blandford Forum here captured by Mark Steele. Thanks,

Mark! Plenty of water around there, and

here in Petworth for the ducks. Thanks to Dan Smith for that. It is

looking like a gorgeous weekend. After all the cold weather and heavy

showers of the last couple of days there is some good news this

weekend. The Centre will come out and it will feel like spring. We

should see temperatures 16, 17. `` the sunshine will come out. A lot of

dry weather to look forward to. At the moment it may not feel like

that, there are plenty of showers around, pretty cold. Showers we have

had in the last couple of hours have been pretty heavy, still some lively

showers overnight, they will gradually move their weight

westwards through the night, just a few left behind. Most of those dying

away by dawn tomorrow morning. We should have a lovely start to the

day, some patchy high`level cloud. For most of the day it is lovely,

spring, temperatures getting up to 16, 17. The cold breeze. It is a

southeasterly breeze, and here are the times of high water. The weather

front's stay to the west of us, this is Saturday, a similar picture on

Sunday. Mum are coming up from the south. On Sunday we made the warm

weather map. A little more in a way of cloud around making the sunshine

hazy. Then it changes as we move into Monday and choose a. A little

bit colder, and the risk of some showers. The weekend ahead is fine

and dry. Overnight Saturday night into Sunday, the clocks go forward

one hour. I don't know whether that means we get more sleep policy.

`` more sleep or less sleep. Now, how often do a group of

aspiring young dancers get the chance to share the same stage as a

critically`acclaimed professional company? My guess is that it's

pretty rare. But a group of very lucky teenagers from Southampton

will do just that tonight. For the last four days, they've been hard at

work training with one of the country's top companies.

And tonight they're performing the curtain raiser to a performance of

Swan Lake at Southampton's Mayflower Theatre.

Ena Miller went to see them in rehearsal.

Joe's parents have never seen him dance like this before. I'm quite

nervous but excited because they have only really see me perform in

street dance competitions. I'm going to prove myself to my parents,

angering to be fantastic. Remember what we spoke about, I is up, clear

arms. During students `` students have been revelling in what it is

like to be part of the dance company. Being with members of this

group has developed my dance technique in the way it is not as

me, it is everybody else. We are all I could do so puzzle. `` we are all

like a jigsaw puzzle. People have misconceptions about dance,

especially for boys, so it is about breaking barriers, reaching out to a

new generation of people, inspiring them. Everything they have learned

will be performed at the Mayflower in Southampton tonight. There will

be the so`called curtain raising act before Matthew Bourne's production

of Swan Lake begins where some of the female cast has been replaced by

powerful man. The production has been widely acclaimed since it

opened in 1995 and it was a charity from the south that made it all

happen. We are very proud to bring this opportunity to local students

in the area. I saw a curtain raiser just every year ago, and in my

position supporting teachers to actually bring the best into the

classroom and out of the classroom for the more able, gifted and

talented students, we had to get involved. Thousands will be waiting

in anticipation to see this version of the classic ballet, and among

them to very proud parents watching every move their son makes. I have

got butterflies but it is not scary, I'm nervous but excited.

That is an amazing production. They will be waiting in the wings, if not

on stage now, so good luck. Have a great weekend.