27/07/2011 Spotlight

Ship to shore. A close shave for a 9,000 tonne container ship only

just off Cornwall. Good evening. An investigation is under way tonight

after the ship ran aground, we'll have the exact route it took in a

moment. Also on Spotlight tonight, a story with a sting in its tale.

Swarms of wasps on the attack on a woodland walk. You could not see

her, because of the Wasps, she was called up and the little ball, and

then she ran into a stream. -- curled up into a ball. And expect

the unexpected at the North Devon Show. We'll bring you all the

highlights. An investigation is under way tonight into why a 9,000

tonne container ship ran aground near Land's End. Miraculously none

of the 13 crew was injured. And the cargo, including chemicals,

remained intact. Falmouth coastguards had tried in vain to

alert the Karin Schephers after they saw she was off course and

heading for rocks. Fortunately she ran ashore in a sandy cove. It's

the second time in less than three years that the vessel has run

aground. Chris Lyddon reports. These dramatic pictures film from a

search-and-rescue helicopter at around 4 o'clock this morning show

how close this container ship came to disaster. The 9,000 ton Shep was

well of course and dangerously close to shore. The after 18 crew

on board, but they failed to respond to repeated emergency

messages from coastguards, that the ship was heading into danger.

vessel was doing 17, 18 knots, so the next thing you knew, it had run

aground. This was the remarkable view that greeted the crew of the

lifeboat, the City of London three, one of two launch, the other being

dispatched from cent eyes. The naval helicopter pilot decided to

lower his winchman. Using the radio, there was no response bus-stop

where the ship was lying, was sent a winchman down on to the stern of

the ship to try and find the crew and find out what was going on. We

were looking to see if there had been any injuries or whether the

ship was damaged. But the crew seemed to be happy that the ship

was not damaged and in the five or 10 minutes we were on the ship we

could see that it was already floating away from the beach and a

few more minutes after that it was making its way, down towards Land's

End, apparently undamaged. Most of the coastline is rocky but sea

conditions were Khan, and the idea where the vessel ran aground is a

sandy course known locally as the vineyards, but there are rocks to

the west and east. They are extremely lucky with the conditions.

A German owners of bishop claimed that the vessel did not run aground

and was only close to shore. Surveyors will examine the whole of

the ship in Rotterdam. It ran aground in of Denmark two years ago

and an investigation found that the chief officer was drunk and had

fallen asleep on watch, and that the navigational alarm system was

offered. But there is no suggestion that the sport any relation to the

grounding this morning, or that it was the same crew. David has been

studying what happened. There is a traffic separation zone between

Scilly and Lands End, such that North or South travelling ships can

safely pass. This zone is marked clearly on charts and computer

navigation systems. The Karin Schepers was heading south east

towards the separation zone but instead of joining it and turning

right with the rest of the southbound traffic, it continued to

cross the zone without changing course or speed. It then left the

zone at 04:09 still doing 17 knots and the same course. How do we know

all that? Any share above the 100 tons in weight has this automated

information system which tracks where it has headed. There are

several public websites that you and I could go on to and have a

look at this. At 04:30 the ship was doing 18 knots on the same course

and is believed shortly after to have run aground. The next report

we have on the ship was at 05:38 when it was headed north at 13

knots. For over an hour the ship was stationary and according to the

MCA and the RNLI was aground. weather conditions been a factor?

The weather was pretty good, good visibility and calm conditions, and

I think we narrowly avoided a major incidents on our coastline.

Armed Forces minister today moved to end speculation about the future

of the Navy's two training establishments in the south west.

Nick Harvey said there were no plans to close Britannia Royal

Naval College or HMS Raleigh, but could not rule out a possible

merger. It comes on the day a strongly-worded report from the

Commons' Defence Committee criticised cuts made under the

Strategic Defence & Security Review. Here's Spotlight's defence reporter

Scott Bingham. Here in the South West, we have seen first-hand cuts

to the Royal Navy as a result of last October's at strategic defence

and security review. Devon port has lost four pay 22 frigates. All of

them have been decommissioned. tis a huge blow to this area. Each

ship was the equivalent of an regiment or battalion, so more than

1,000 experienced sailors associated with those ships. Not

all of them will lose their jobs but the work to the dockyards has

gone, some of those sailors have been made redundant and the money

comes out of the community. first tranche of 1600 Royal Navy

personnel are due to be informed of their redundancy next month. Just

last week he revealed documents considering the possible closure of

by the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, or HMS rally,

in poor point. Either of those would have a huge impact here.

Meanwhile, the Commons Select Defence Committee published a

report criticising the Government over last October's strategic

defence and security review. They said it was not convinced that UK

royal forces will be able to do what is asked of them after 2015

and said that if a long, -- long- term real terms increase in funding

does not come about, we will have failed our armed forces. Earlier I

spoke to the North Devon MP and Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey.

I asked him what assurances he could give about the military's

capabilities after 2015 in light of the Committee's report. I am rather

puzzled by the committee saying that they thing problems will come

about after 2015. We are due to come out of Afghanistan by then and

I would have thought that our ability to meet challenges coming

our way would be greater after having that major responsibility

taking off or shoulders. Either way, I believe we have the range of

flexible and adaptable forces capable of meeting whatever is at

thrown at them. We have to ask about speculation over the future

of Dartmouth Royal Naval College and HMS rally. What does the future

hold for those establishments? There is no firm ground to change

anything at either of those establishments. In the long term

the Royal Navy might decide that it wants to perform both functions in

one place, but as you say, this is speculation and some time off into

the future. This would need working out as a detailed plan and money

would need to be found for it, so it is a good way off, if it were to

happen at all. Let me be absolutely clear. There was a worry before the

strategic defence review that this was going to happen, then it went

away, now it seems to have come back because of leaked documents.

You are saying that there is no concrete government policy to close

either of these pieces at the moment? I am saying exactly that.

The other point I would like you to reflect upon is that when we

announced the defence reform package, we said that these

decisions would be divorced from the Ministry of Defence down to the

individual services, and it does, I think, cut into another issue you

may have seen in the Secretary of Defence's statement a couple of

weeks ago that we would like to bring 45 Commando, down to the

South West, and the issue of where they might be based and the future

of naval training are intertwined, and these are complex issues that

will not be resolved overnight, but will fall squarely to the Royal

Navy to determine what they might want to do about it, and not

something that will be foisted upon the Royal Navy by ministers.

Political Editor Martyn Oates is with us now. There is a possible

relocation of 45 Commando, to the South West? We knew that it was

leaving his present base in Scotland. And the Government has a

long-term ambition to bring the Royal Marines to the South West. A

couple of nights ago, there was speculation that if HMS Dartmouth

or Heacham is Braley was to close, one of those might provide a new

home for 45 Commando. The Armed forces Minister has confirmed that

speculation along those lines is possibly not to wake of the mark. -

- too wide of the mark. We are used to the government making these

decisions for the armed forces. That is an important change. Of

great importance for Devonport is where the new generation of Type 26

frigates will be based, at their import, or Portsmouth, or possibly

divided between the two. That decision will now be in the hands

of the head of the Navy, rather than of ministers. Later in the

programme, find out why children have been encouraged to get out and

play today. Plus, the traders who fear this vintage market is at risk

from redevelopment. And the Olympic hopeful who only took up rowing

three years ago. The number of motorists caught drunk behind the

wheel after a crash has more than doubled in Devon and Cornwall. The

figures were released by the police following a month-long campaign

targeting drunk drivers in June. While the number of positive tests

fell overall from 209 in June last year, to 141 this year, the

positive tests following a collision rose from 20 to 49. Devon

has been chosen to pilot a new payment by results scheme for

children's centres. The county is one of just nine to trial the new

system. The Government will reward authorities for reaching the most

vulnerable families and for improving family health and

wellbeing. It then intends to roll out the scheme nationally within

the next couple of years. A challenge "of Everest proportions"

- that's how the Royal Cornwall Hospital's Trust is viewing its bid

for Foundation status. In a leaked document to BBC Radio Cornwall, the

manager responsible for its bid says a "step change" is needed if

it's to meet several crucial deadlines. The move to foundation

status would give local NHS managers more freedom to manage

their budgets, but the Trust fears it needs to clear its �25 million

debt before it will be considered. Walkers say a swarm of angry wasps

have attacked them and their dogs near a popular walking spot close

to St Austell. One family of six people notched up 45 stings and

another woman says she had to run for her life after the wasps

attacked her dogs. John Henderson reports. Five months Old Bailey

cowers in the book will become, hardly surprising after being

attacked by Wasps on Saturday. dogs were screening, as if you had

trodden on her tail. The children started screaming, I started

screaming, and he ran off. The dogs were been taken for a walk near St

hostel. The Wasps got into their ears, but amazingly their owner was

not stung. It could have been a lot worse. He would have frozen and not

move. The attack is one of several reported in the last few days in

the same area. We had 51 Saturday morning and another of three

yesterday. I am aware that other practices have had a few as well,

in Saint hostel, and one of the dogs is seriously ill with it -- in

St Austell. I am told that these wasps might be up here somewhere,

so I am off to have a look. Much of the land here is owned by the

Woodland Trust. That could have been someone else walking before

and which disturb the Wasps and make them particularly angry. We

don't know. A trust says that if the wasps are on their property, it

will help to deal with the problem. There are fears one of Dorset's

most popular vintage markets could be lost if redevelopment plans are

given the green light. Bridport's Vintage Quarter has won national

acclaim since it was set up last year, as Leigh Rundle reports. The

attraction of Bridport's vibrant Latin Quarter is that nothing is

mass produced. If you can find a hat that fits, then wear it. This

is St Michael's estate, home to a thriving vintage market. But the

development plans are making traders now this. If we redevelop

it, all of that will go, all the money coming into this area stays

in the town. With the people living in the town. It is really vibrant.

You can sense the atmosphere. artist Dick glazier has occupied a

studio here for the past 10 years. He says it is not the first time

redevelopment has been proposed. Development was proposed a couple

of years ago and the town came out in forced to express his opinions

about the it and we managed to get it stopped, and we just want it to

be open to the community, because what is great about this area is

the community, it is amazing. new plans, if approved, are likely

to involve the demolition of half of St Michael's estate for new

homes and possibly for retail development. Children across the

region have been encouraged to play today as part of a national

campaign to improve their health and well-being. Many children these

days no long take part in activities which were an ordinary

part of growing up for their parents. Our South Devon reporter

John Ayres has been along to see some of the activities taking place

today in Paignton. Suggesting that children do not play enough might

seem strange, but the reality is that many turn to the deal games

and other forms of virtual entertainment at, and then there is

the dreaded health and safety, meaning children do not have the

freedom they used to have. risks taken, the emotional well-

being of the child, to become a more rounded person, through the

experience of play. That is intended to make children get XB so

playing outside, and to push themselves. Many children today

have never played hopscotch, or climb the tree. The scheme was

going down a treat. It is not very often you get to go on things like

this, these activities. The first one was like a race that you had to

jump over things, and the other one was, like, jumping around. Going on

bouncy castles, face-painting, things like that. And a chance to

meet new friends? Yes. I went on a big bouncy castle. It is very good

for children that have not yet experienced making friends in

different surroundings. Research claims that although most parents

want their children to spend more time playing outside, one in seven

could not tell you where to find the nearest park or playground.

Weymouth based windsurfer Nick Dempsey is continuing his Olympic

preparations at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing academy this week

as he takes part in the official Olympic test event. With less than

a year to go, the World Champion hopes to get a feel for the

facilities, as he targets the Gold medal in 2012. Everything is very

similar, but there is nothing that gets close to the pressure that you

feel at the Olympic Games. It is a case of trying to get used to the

venue and the surrounding so that when we come here, you are in the,

God's own, as it were. Now in the three years since she started

rowing, Cornwall's Helen Glover has undergone a remarkable rise to

become one of the stars of Great Britain's elite squad. She's now

tipped for a place on the podium at next summer's Olympic Games. As

part of our Olympic dreams series, Spotlight's Phil Tuckett, has been

to meet Helen and her family. Training starts early for Britain's

top drawers. Up by 7:30am they are out on the water at their base near

Caversham. At the last Olympics in Beijing, but in top the field with

six rowing medals. For Helen Glover, from Cornwall, the world than 2,000

and it was a different place. I left university I saw that they

were looking for tall people in the newspaper to go into spores, for

example, rowing, where you need to be tall, and they were looking to

get people onto the podium for the Olympics, and I thought, what a

great opportunity, I am going to try this, and I started rowing in

2,000 indeed, having never done it before. -- 2008. Helen's parents

run a small business at the harbour in. -- Newlyn. She has great will

power, great strength, she has always been a very fine athlete.

Helen's sporting prowess was evident from an early age.

would play at school, in every team they put out, she played netball,

she did swimming, everything she could possibly do. Having won a

World Championship in the Zealand last year, the Great Britain

women's pair will go for the gold medal in the same event and -- in

Slovenia this year, before all eyes turned to the big event next year.

And we'll be following more of the South West's prospective Olympians

during the coming months here on Spotlight, your BBC local radio

station and online. A mixture of excellent weather and big crowds

have made today's North Devon Show one of the most successful for many

years. Thousands of people have been enjoying a variety of

livestock classes, food stalls and displays of giant vehicles. Hamish

Marshall was among them. These monster trucks and a bigger

attraction. They took centre stage, sharing the limelight with Country

Life. We must never lose sight of the fact that we're an agricultural

show, and we do not want to lose that, but at the same time you have

got to make sure that we have plenty of things that are going to

all the interest. Overflow car- parks were in use by midday, which

was a sign of a big crowd. The weather was dry but not quite warm

enough for the beach. But what about these prizewinners whose will

is used for world-famous Axminster carpets? This is actually doing

some good. Yes, their skin will be quite cool, underneath the well, so

it is like an insulation for them, it keeps them : the summer and warm

in the winter. There is a class for the Ushers, the county of my birth,

but then I realised, for some reason, I was ineligible! -- at

last for their shires. It is the first time I have been here. Having

a good time? Yes, it is excellent. There are still a lot of

holidaymakers here who are just enjoying everything. Daisy and

Sabbath a were young winners, and it was the old show that was the

really big winner. -- Tabitha. Hamish had a great time. The

Honiton Show is in East Devon tomorrow. It is not going to be

like today, is it? Yes, we have a bit of wet weather coming our way.

The wet weather has already started to arrive. And it should be quite

misty losing some of the heat overnight. We had 25 Celsius today,

in Exeter. Not as warm tomorrow, and overnight tonight, we have some

warm air coming from a long way south. This area of cloud, the

source of the air is the warm water not far from the equator. Tropical

air, it is very moist, so it will be misty and muggy overnight. There

is a better story for the afternoon tomorrow. It will unproved. And as

we move into Friday, we have a weak ridge of high pressure so Friday

does not look too bad. Although there will be the best of one or

two showers. Much of this cloud has been high-level cloud, but now it

is getting more. No sign of any mist or cloud over the tops of the

moors, and quite pleasant in the sunshine. Temperatures getting up

to 20, 21 Celsius. Now, the cloud has become quite expensive. But the

rain will be very welcome for some of our reservoirs, because it is

quite likely to be heavy overnight tonight. Later tonight, then

becoming more persistent and widespread and generally quite

heavy, and by tomorrow morning everywhere is damp. Misty, and wet,

to start the day. Still very warm, but temperatures overnight between

15-17 Celsius. That rain band will move out of the way, and by the

time we get to the afternoon, the sun will be out and it will feel

quite comfortable. We should see temperatures reaching as high as 22

Hopefully, the rain will clear for the East Devon Show, at Honiton. On

the ells of Scilly, mainly dry. And For Friday, Saturday and Sunday, a

chance of showers on Friday, Saturday not too bad, a little bit

cooler, but we should see some sunshine in between the showers,

and on Sunday showers will be widespread and frequent, with gusty,