15/07/2014 South Today

Hello, I'm Tony Husband. Welcome to South Today.

Revealed ` how the Olympic Games almost got

The event was off for a little while, thinking it would be an

element of brinkmanship and the security would turn up. But they

never did and never looked like they were going to.

En route to an incinerator ` 150 tonnes of industrial chdmicals

Fighting stigma ` how Asian families are finding it difficult to access

They always keep a step back and ask if he is violent or could attack

And the rally on the road to nowhere?

Fears over the future of ond of the south's biggest motorsport dvents.

It was dubbed the happy and glorious Games, but the London 2012 Olympics

were just hours away from starting with national embarrassment.

The cycling road race, which took in the famous zigzags

of Box Hill in Surrey, nearly didn't happen due to a lack of sectrity.

It's emerged that the RAF h`d to be drafted in to man security fences

on the hill after a lack of cover from the security firm G4S.

Joe Campbell joins us live from Box Hill this evening.

Joe, just how close were we to having the first medal event

It was a very close`run thing, as has emerged in the last 24 hours.

Box Hill was one of those iconic settings that the organising

committee had chosen, to send images of the games around the world. This

setting here in the beautiftl Surrey Hills. They wanted that to be quite

a curtain raiser for the Olxmpics but on the night of the opening

ceremony, the people in the control room were sitting here and `s they

watched the rings being lowdred into the stadium, they got a phone call

from G4S. They had been contracted to make sure there were a lhmited

number of people on site. They said the would not be able to send the

number of people needed. At that stage, the event was called off

That was the really scary moment when all these apocalyptic

Yes, two years after the evdnt, the committee does not exist. There was

a report but it does not Other materials will be destroyed

at incineration plants Portsmouth warship HMS Diamond

recently returned home after escorting merchant ships th`t were

transporting chemicals out of Syria. The consignment that's arrived

at Marchwood will be taken to this incinerator at Ellesmere Port

in Cheshire, run A convoy of up to 15 lorries is

expected to transport This afternoon a Ministry of Defence

source said the type of chemicals involved are rdgularly

transported by road in the TK. It's dubbed the Silicon Valley

of the south, but is the draw to London proving

too great for new technologx firms? Early stage companies looking

for money and support have told us the Thames Valley simply isn't

geared up to help them grow. That means the region is losing

entrepreneurs in increasing numbers. The technology sector is now

fighting to promote Berkshire and Oxfordshire

in a bid to keep the talent who will Our business correspondent

Alastair Fee has the story. On the River Thames, rowers are

testing the technology of one This clothing has been designed to

help the wearer perform better, and orders are coming in

from all over the world. At the moment, this new bushness is

based at Reading University For me, it's about having a network,

science and tech based, having resources that we can access,

such as lab space, And I think there are plentx of them

around in the Thames Valley but perhaps not as well`publicised and

it's just not being fully accessed, For an increasing number,

this is where it's at. Tech City ` an area in East London

that's become the place to be. This man started out in the

Thames Valley but has come here He launched a new digital CV and so

far has attracted a year's funding Thames Valley is more

for the large companies like Microsoft and Oracle, where

those are based and headquartered. For start`ups like myself, ht's very

hard because we couldn't find much accelerators and incubators

down there and even if they do exist In a bid to step up, events are now

being held around the Thames Valley. From the autumn,

they'll take place weekly. We're also working with a ntmber

of people in the region who are looking `t tech

hub initiatives to actually try and People don't find

the funding readily available Even though there is lots

of funding available, they `re not finding it easy to navigate

their way around the region. For the lucky few, Reading

University is providing the right That has helped keep

this business afloat. It's one of hundreds

of ideas born in the Thames Valley. They each bring in new jobs

and money to the local economy, something the region cannot afford

to let slip away. What was meant to be a weekdnd

at a music festival with frhends left Georgina Chalmers with burns to

more than a quarter of her body A gas canister exploded as she was

cooking her lunch at Camp Bdstival Now the 27`year`old is prep`ring to

return to the event and is warning other festiv`l`goers

of the potential dangers. A new tent to replace the one

destroyed in an accident whhch could have killed her.

For Georgina Chalmers and hdr friends it's a simple task that

brings back terrible memorids. I will always have scars. Mx leg was

most burnt. But I didn't have to have any skin grafts so I w`s very

lucky and it could have had a really different outcome if I had hnhaled

the gas. This was the 27`year`old from Milton

Keynes 12 months ago. body after a gas canister exploded

at Camp Bestival in Dorset. She'd been cooking lunch and pierced

the cylinder but couldn't sdcure the attachment to stop the gas

escaping. It was like something out of a film.

It slipped and moved towards me and then went up in a huge plumd.

killed in different types of gas explosions since 1995, incltding 13

last year. Georgina will return to Bestival at

the end of the month to thank those who helped her.

She's also joining others in campaigning for people to bdcome

more aware of the dangers of such equipment.

What we have been lobbying for since 1995 is prime time television

warnings. They would have to feature all the fuels, carbon `based fuels,

all the appliances and all the things that can go wrong and also

all the accommodation will stop everything from houses to tdnts to

I assumed if you could buy something it must be safe but it's not the

case. If you have a gas canhster without a safety valve, don't use

it. It is not worth the risk or pain.

So a harsh lesson learnt but she's planning to spend more time dancing

16 people have been arrested for drugs offences in Bourndmouth in

Police targeted 13 propertids where they suspected drugs were

Today's operation was aimed at tackling street drug dealing and

In very simple terms, crime and disorder is at

But actually our communities tell us they have real concern in rdlation

They tell us, we do, and here's a really good ex`mple of

the kind of action that forls just a part of how we police the area.

Up to 200 jobs could go at Southampton City Council

as the authority consider a further wave of cuts.

The council are currently mdeting to discuss a consultation

Following the budget which was voted on in March,

the council has had to make further savings to address a ?30 million

Adult social care and library budgets look set to be

The city's. Candles could f`ce that is.

Still to come in this evening's South Tod`y:

After cancellation this year, will Rally Dorset ever return?

From the hovercraft to the Spitfire, the South certainly has somd strong

But is it a man's job to create boys' toys?

And when it comes to giving birth, perhaps you'd expect

Today we're looking at our second feature on wh`t it's

like to work in a profession dominated by the opposite sdx.

Seeing a new life being born is a time when my heart flutters

Engineering is a fantastic opportunity to look at and provide

Chris is training to become a midwife.

He's in his second year at Bournemouth University.

She has worked in the construction industry for almost a decadd.

Each of them working in rolds which challenge convention.

I mean, there are definitelx cultural stereotypes and those are

more obvious, actually, out in the construction indtstry.

Barriers do get broken down and you do see more women working

in engineering now than you used to, I think.

There are some cultures and religions that don't allow for

men to see the female body `nd if there is any way that I can overcome

that by providing a female lidwife then that is something I wotld do.

There are 465,000 male engineers in the country.

Just 35,000 female engineers. That is 7%.

But those statistics seem f`vourable compared to the number

There are 105 male midwives in the UK.

That is out of the total of 35, 00. Just 0.3%.

So what difficulties does Fleur face as a woman

I'd say you probably have to have a sense of humour working

on construction sites but generally I've not had `ny

But Chris has encountered discrimination because of hhs sex,

when he was turned away from a female`only breast`fdeding

I was very disheartened bec`use I didn't see myself

as being a male midwife, I saw myself as being a midwife

But, on the whole, health care professionals are very

As a nurse, you can't empathise with everyone who's had maybe cancer

you can't empathise with soleone who's broken a leg. We don't

want to all do those things just so that we can show empathy.

Even though Fleur found her forte as an engineer, she feels it's

important that the next gendration of female scientists is nurtured.

I've been involved going into schools with women into enghneering

programmes and setting challenges to think about how they would plan

I don't think anybody ever really told me to think about

So, what inspires people to break the gender mould?

We've had a lot of infrastrtcture failures due to the extreme rainfall

and flooding, the railway track at Dawlish being washed awax.

Those are exactly the sort of problems and issues I potentially

can work on as a ground enghneer in civil engineering. It re`lly

gives you those opportunitids to make a difference to the world.

I love to see new life coming into the world.

And I love to see the joyous expressions of

a mother and father when thdy meet their baby for the first tile and

People don't question having a male doctor or nurse but do male

We'd love to hear your thoughts Get in touch via our Facebook page.

Some of the South's best known politicians made way for a new

Havant MP David Willitts has resigned as the

He'll also step down at the next election.

There was good news for Portsmouth North MP Penny Mourdant.

She secures her first ministerial role.

A series of other appointments could benefit the city.

Earlier I spoke to our political editor Peter Henley and started

by asking him why the reshuffle was so significant here in the south.

Because so many Conservativd MPs come from the south of Engl`nd. What

might sound like a game of snakes and hot ladders `` snakes and

ladders could make a real ilpact to the lives of their constitudnts

Portsmouth is the most clear example, where the loss of warship

building could make a real difference. They get a triple boost.

Michael Fallon, who was the Minister for Portsmouth, now is Secrdtary of

State for defence. His repl`cement, Mark Hancock, is an ally of George

Osborne, which might unlock some money. And Penny Mourdant h`s been

giving `` given at a ministdrial job at the department that gives money

to councils. Nick Gibb is ghven a second chance. For those behng

sacked today, maybe that is a message. If you stay loyal, you

might be able to come back. For David Willitts... I don't think the

problem has been men losing out to women. I think it is import`nt we

get fairer representation does not when they have the talent and

abilities. David Willitts bowing out. Where is the new blood coming

from? Claire Perry is transport m`ny ``

minister. Will she do something about the A303? A new Attorney

General. Perhaps the Conservatives are trying to help themselvds. Other

new faces were promoted. Ed Vasey, Desmond Swain. Labour is a ` lot of

this is just window dressing. Overall, the picture is rel`tively

small number of women promoted and some rather cosmetic changes. For

example, the Cabinet has ten people who attend the Cabinet, including

the number of women who havd been promoted but I'm actually in the

Cabinet, it is more cosmetic. More names you may not have heard of

unless you live in their constituency but with the election

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has begun an inquiry

into an incident in which a ferry from Portsmouth to the Channel

The owners of the Commodore Clipper have just told us that the damage is

so bad that the ferry needs to go to a dry dock for repairs.

Our transport correspondent Paul Clifton is in Portsmouth.

It is certainly more serious than it was first thought.

The Commodore Clipper appardntly scraped the sea floor

But this evening we've been told the ferry will have to go into dry

The biggest ferry serving the Channel Islands is going to be

out of action for a couple of weeks, and quite possibly longer.

Right at the height of the summer tourist season.

This has been a dramatic dax for Condor,

Yes, Condor has done a deal with the government in Jersey and Gudrnsey

That in turn clears the way for Condor to buy a new, larger

It will replace two smaller fast ferries, which are getting old.

With one ferry instead of two, Condor will no longer need to sail

The new ferry won't fit the berth in Weymouth.

Creating another one would cost ?10 million.

The council which owns the port says it cannot afford that.

However, Condor would face a much higher fuel

68% of our passengers choosd pool but we are looking at both ports. If

it was Weymouth we have madd it clear they would have to make some

changes to the birth to accommodate the new vessel. It is unlikdly we

would work with both ports though we need between now and Easter to

So it's now a beauty contest between Weymouth and Poole.

One port or the other will soon be losing its ferry service to

For many parents, having a child with autism is diffhcult.

But for parents from black, Asian and ethnic backgrounds trying to

access services because of language barriers has proved a big issue

Today a new report has shown many families have been left feeling

isolated from their communities and in need of more support.

Sophia Seth has been to meet a family from Portsmouth who have

It is often described as a hidden disability but the impact on this

man and his family is not hhdden. When he was diagnosed as a baby his

mother says the family found it hard to accept. The wouldn't belheve it

was real and they thought hd would come out of it. She was not accepted

by her local Sri Lankan comlunity which is why she moved to H`mpshire.

It is difficult because thex love gossiping and they always think I

have done something in my p`st and that is the reason we have ` child

like that. Her experience is not unique. In this report, the National

Autistic Society spoke to mdmbers of black, ethnic and Asian comlunities

in share similar views. It highlights language barriers, low

knowledge of autism and famhlies feeling isolated as key problems.

Families and communities have a whole number of different

assumptions or belief systels around what is autism because the behaviour

is manifested in such different ways. The Department for He`lth say

they are aware that people with Susan `` autism from ethnic

backgrounds face more difficulties. Although he can't speak, he has a

good relationship with his family, Hundreds of people gathered

for a ceremony at the memorhal to It's taken three years of planning

and the ?25,000 cost was pahd by Its unveiling was timed to coincide

with the World War I commemorations. The fact that the community

in Woodley have come togethdr to build and commemorate those that

have fallen and those who h`ve gone It's not just petrol`heads who are

disappointed to hear the news. The event meant good money

for business here. Last year, research by Bournemouth

University showed that ?1.2 million There's all the beds

and hotel rooms and restaur`nts We will lose out,

which is a great shame. The Motorsport Association, which

runs the British Rally Championship, says it is addressing the issue

directly with the clubs concerned. Here, organisers are hopeful that

the event can return to They are part of our sporting

calendar is so we'll wait and see what happens with that. So, the

weather. It is getting warmdr by the day.

Yes, and maybe thunderstorms. The sun was streaming in to

Netley Abbey in Hampshire today Mark Steele photographed

the blue skies over the Olylpic And Shaun Roster took this picture

of Selsey Bill with an incrddibly Lots of sunshine today. Tod`y's

temperatures reached 26 Celsius And 24 at many locations across the

South. Tomorrow could be evdn warmer. We will see clear skies

overnight with the possibilhty of some mist patches but it will stay

warm. It is still going to be fairly humid. 13`14 degrees tonight. Clouds

start to move on from the North and West tomorrow. It is an East West

divide with cloud building hn western areas, becoming dense along

the south coast. There is the risk of the odd shower in Dorset and even

the odd thunderstorm for western areas. Most places having a dry day

and the southeastern corner seemed the best of the sunshine. Bdrkshire

or Oxfordshire might see a high of 27 Celsius. Warmer than tod`y and

humidity rises through the week The main issue for Wednesday night is

coastal fog. Temperatures that night quite warm and humid starts to

Thursday. An area of low prdssure will push up from the south`west.

Thursday night into Friday lorning, the potential of thunderstorms

affecting western areas, Dorset and Wiltshire. They moved north and east

through the course of the d`y on Friday but we look ahead to

Saturday. The Met office has issued a yellow weather warming ``

warning. Tomorrow night we have a

Commonwealth Games profile. We meet the clay pigeon shoots headhng to

Glasgow and hoping to get a medal. We'll see you tomorrow.