24/10/2011 Spotlight

Clearing up tonight after a day of torrential rain causes flash

flooding. In 10 minutes we were under 10 inches of water.

Good evening. We'll be live in Mevagissey where once again homes

and businesses have been hit. AB is destroy his local school. I can't

believe it has happened. And spanning 50 years - memories of

the day the Tamar bridge opened to traffic.

The region is clearing up tonight after a combination of heavy rain

and gale force winds caused flash flooding. Seafronts were closed,

flights and ferries were disrupted and trees were brought down. At one

point four miles of queuing traffic was held up by flooding on the A30

near Exeter. In Cornwall 100 highways staff were called out to

deal with more than 300 incidents. Homes have also been flooded in

Mevagissey. Amy Cole is there tonight.

It is fine light -- it has finally stopped raining but not before the

weather week have it in this village. I have been talking to

residents who are already starting to count the cost of the damage.

Jail has only own this cottage with three weeks. It is her holiday home

and she arrived from Swindon to find this... I opened the door and

it was full of water, about two to three inches. We started bailing

out as much as we could but it was coming in as fast as we were

bailing out. This cottage has already had a major refurbishment

following last year's torrential rain. Mopping up are the owners of

this pub. They were forced to close this lunchtime. Within 10 minutes

it was just full of water, 10 inches. We had customers in at the

time and everyone had to leave. This last hour, we have just been

able to get it cleared a little bit. It is not as bad as last time. We

lost stark and furniture last time, was horrendous. The biggest thing

is the trait. We have had to shut on lunchtime. This couple are still

putting their house back together after last year's flood. Every time

you seem to get heavy water down here, we seem to have problems in

the village. Something has got to be done about it properly. Indeed

this afternoon, a number of sandbags have been put out to help

prevent further damage. The Environment Agency and Cornwall

Council said they are working with local residents to sort out any

problems. The pub you saw has managed to open this evening and

the owner is very happy. It depends what the weather is going to do

over the next few hours. We will hear more about that later.

One of the men accused of planning to attack the Devon soul singer,

Joss Stone, has now also been accused of conspiracy to murder her.

The new charge was added as the two men accused of plotting to rob her

and commit grievous bodily harm appeared at Exeter Crown Court

today. Spotlight's home affairs correspondent Simon Hall was at the

hearing. Such is the fame and popularity of

just stone, this case has gone international attention. She has

had a series of hits and is said to be worth around �9 million. An

extensive police operation began when two men were arrested near her

home in a quiet Devon countryside. Weapons including a samurai sword,

a body bag and ropes were found in the car they were driving. Kevin

Liverpool who is 33, and junior Bradshaw, 30, were charged with

conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm. Today a new allegation

was added. Mr Liverpool was charged with conspiracy to murder. The men

listened to the details in the dark. They spoke only to confirm their

identities and when Mr Liverpool replied not guilty in response to

charges against him. Mr Bradshaw did not enter a plea. The case was

adjourned and they won't reappear on 20th January. The court heard

the case is continuing in the Manchester area. Reports are

awaited before proceedings continue. Both men were remanded in custody.

Jos stone's mother was in court today. She said the singer was well

and getting on better life but she said she was being kept updated on

how the case was progressing. -- getting on with her life.

The European Court of Human Rights has rejected claims that one of two

brothers serving a life sentence for the murder of a Cornish couple

didn't get a fair trial. Robert and Lee Firkins were jailed for life at

Exeter Crown Court after a jury convicted them of murdering Carol

and Graham Fisher near Wadebridge in 2003. The court in Strasbourg

ruled Lee Firkin's complaints were manifestly ill-founded.

A teenage body-boarder has had to be rescued after getting into

trouble off the Cornish coast. The 16-year-old was thrown on to rocks

at Portscatho, near Falmouth. Two lifeboats were called out but

couldn't get near to him. In the end he was helped to safety by a

cliff rescue team. A survey by the BBC suggests that

one in ten A-level students have been put off university because of

the increase in tuition fees. And those that do go may need to choose

wisely. Out of the four south west universities, the only degree

choices with zero unemployment prospects were medicine and

dentistry. And you can see more on what course to take - and possibly

avoid - on Inside Out on BBC One at 7.30 tonight.

There's new evidence tonight that Exeter is tightening its grip as

the region's capital of upmarket shopping. Spotlight has found that

the city is continuing to develop even in tough times, while it's a

different story in Plymouth and Truro. All this week in a series of

special reports we're looking at different aspects of life in these

three South West cities and asking who's going up in the world and

who's going down. Tonight's Tale of Three Cities, about shopping, is by

Neil Gallacher. The latest big news shopping

development in Exeter, Wii prose has been brought here by this man.

But he is going to do a great deal more of with his next store. He is

also development director for John Lewis. They are sold on Exeter.

Exeter is a place we have been trying to get into for considerable

years and we are delighted Waitrose have opened their first store here.

It is a vibrant city and seems to be surviving the downturn better

than anywhere else and I am sure it has a fantastic future. One reason

for Exeter's retail success is geography. According to one method

of red -- measuring population,, different cities have different

retail catchments. You might point out that Exeter, with its new rate

rose, is just getting what Plymouth has enjoyed for years at Saltash.

Plymouth has developed some of these retail problems. Five years

ago all was rosy when the City got new shops but now, Plymouth seems

to have too many shops. It has been exacerbated here but by the

improbable coincidence of TJ Hughes and Woolworths, the three anchor

stores, all falling vacant at the same time. And that is not because

Plymouth is no hope, just bad luck? It is just bad luck. It is an

unfortunate coincidence. Plymouth is well placed to draw in shoppers

from Exeter or Truro as long as they don't want mainly upmarket

shopping. The shops here reflect the nature of the place. A way to

look at spending power is to look at the percentage of workers in

managerial jobs. Plymouth's figure Plymouth is about to go upmarket

for food with restaurants coming soon from cue from the wedding

store and Gary Rhodes. Shopping developments are thin on the ground.

For Rowe enjoys a number of well- known names you do not find in

Plymouth. It does not expect to poach shoppers but this is the big

fish in Cornwall's ritual pond. Somewhere else used to be, and not

that long ago. That is where the Cornish shark -- went to, red brick.

For a row was the place to avoid. There were some beautiful regional

shops in Redruth and that was the place to go. Truro's dominance was

helped by the decline of 10. -- 10. Three cities that have carved out

their own niche. Day-to-day the sense of competition is not huge

but the fact remains that at the moment it is the changing face of

shopping in Exeter that is most striking.

Nearly the half the region's MPs have told the BBC they will defy a

three-line whip from their party leaders this evening and vote for a

referendum on whether Britain should leave the European Union.

Our Political Editor Martyn Oates joins me now. This is a significant

number of MPs? Yes, because it is an issue that has torn the

Conservative Party apart. In the past, David Cameron's leadership

seems to have stopped the infighting but it seems to be back

with a vengeance. We have heard white one of our MPs is voting for

a referendum. In his time to give people their say. The trade

agreement we signed up to has changed dramatically and we have

lost more and more powers. We are no longer really a sovereign state

in my view and in the view of many colleagues. It is time to get that

back. A on the other hand, he is another Conservative MP voting

against the referendum. Now it is not the right time to do this. We

need to eat have a specific issue which cannot just be on the general

feeling of we need to pull out now or we need to stay. The prominence

of new MPs is quite striking here. That this is a decade old issue.

The majority of these rebels looked like they are from the new intake

and it suggests that this issue has been given a powerful lease of life.

That is potentially the big problem for a David Cameron.

A primary school in Dorset has been severely damaged in a fire. The

blaze at Powerstock Primary near Bridport gutted the oldest part of

the building and has left staff and the community devastated. An

electrical fault has been blamed. Our Dorset reporter Simon Clemison

has the story. They conferred each other because

it is a time of great loss. -- comfort. Parents and grandparents

of children at this group were also taught in this classroom. There is

little of it left. Gutted, absolutely gutted. I cannot believe

it has happened. The fire crews salvage what they can. They have

had to pump water from a stream as there is no mains supply. We have

protected both sides of the property. There has been minimal

damage. The crew has got to be complimented for that. This is a

small school but a big part of life here. It serves as surrounding

villages as well. There was no one in the building. Everybody was safe.

Because it is half-term? That is the biggest relief, everybody is

safer. Built by the Victorians are from the leftovers of a nearby

church and once saved from closure, this school has a history of

reinventing itself and everyone is confident it can do the same again.

The Tamar Bridge is 50 years old today. It was six o'clock in the

morning on the 24th of October 1961 when the new bridge was opened to

traffic and pedestrians for the first time. No government money was

available to build the bridge so the project was jointly funded by

Cornwall County Council and Plymouth City Council. David George

has been looking into the archives, meeting some of the people who were

there, and seeing how the 50-year- old bridge is looked after.

From Plymouth, a carriage way to Cornwall as an extension of the A38.

It all looks so clean and shiny. A lot of memories for a lot of people,

including Bob Reid, who was on the last ferry crossing from Saltash. -

- Ottery. It was like New Year's Eve. There were people playing

accordions. There were handbell ringers, fireworks, and we went

across the river. The next morning at 6 o'clock, in the pouring rain,

we walked over the Tamar Bridge. There were crowds of people there

all wanting to be the first to cross. I can't say I was first, but

one of the first. The Tamar Bridge took shape. A feat of engineering

of which to be proud. The bid had taken two years to build and cost

�1.8 million and the lives of seven work men. Five drowned when their

boat sank. The 1,100 ft span was the longest in Britain. 50 years

later, every inch is inspected every three months. You can feel

every vehicle passing above. We are on the inspection walkway. This is

100 ft above the river. It makes you want to hang on. And there are

130 ft to climb to get to the very top. This is it, seven ladders, 142

steps. It is only when you get here... Neck at that! That you get

the view. Driving across the Tamar Bridge every day, you can easily

take it for granted. It is only from appear that you realise what

an amazing amount of skill went into building it. You get a feel

for the Engineering involved, will be cables do. The biggest load went

over last year, a 300 town transformed her. -- 300 it can

transform. The structure behaved as it should. This is definitely not a

job for me! You have obviously got a good job for heights -- good head

for heights. The you ever get bored? No, this is not something

people get to see very often and I am lucky. When it opened, 4,000

cars a day made the crossing. Today, the widened and strengthened bridge

carries 50,000 cars a day. Those signs were put up to mark the 25th

anniversary. One day, my wife was waiting for me and when I returned,

she said why hasn't the day it signed been put on the Tamar Bridge.

I said, I am sure Brunel didn't put the sign on himself, and it was put

on afterwards. But she made the point and it was a good one. What

made you proud to think that was your wife's idea? I am sure someone

else would have been bound to thought of it. It could not have

gone without it now that you see it. These days 35 staff operate the

bridge and the Toba. -- Tolbooth. They say around 60% of drivers

choose to pay using the eighth -- electronic tagging system. It was

four and sixpence when the bridge opened 50 years ago. Happy 50th

birthday, Tamar Bridge. It is a tribute to Britain's engineers...

It's time for the Monday sport and reflecting on a busy weekend,

here's Dave. The weekends rugby saw Exeter

Chiefs taste defeat for the first time in the Anglo-Welsh Cup, when

they took a 43-20 defeat on the chin at Premiership champions

Saracens. The Cornish Pirates have moved up to second in the

Championship after coming back to beat bottom side Esher in Penzance.

From 18-17 behind at the interval, the Pirates moved into top gear,

scoring another 17 points without reply, including two for wing David

Doherty. Plymouth Albion matched Leeds for

the number of tries scored at Headingley on Sunday, going over

three times. But they still lost 28-23, though they did pick up a

losing bonus point. As a consequence, Albion slip into the

bottom four. It's a familiar story for South

West football this weekend. Only Exeter City had something to shout

about as Yeovil Town, Torquay United and Plymouth Argyle all sank

further into relegation trouble. Before Exeter City beat Rochdale

they had found the net on only six occasions, all at St James's Park.

From a goal down, the manager rigid a successful recovery path which

led to Danny Nardiello profiting twice, his second a penalty. The

scoring takes city of the bottom of League One. They are replaced by

Yeovil Town who have their goalkeeper to fight for a point at

Stevenage. -- goalkeeper to thank. But he could not prevent Yeovil

Town from propping up the rest of their rivals. Torquay United are

thinking faster than the Titanic in leaked whom -- the two. Eight lost

4-1 at Southend. They are now 7th from the bottom without a win in

eight games. The first six games we were lying in 4th place and you

think things are smooth but now we are in a rut and decisions are not

going for us. You can feel the lack of confidence amongst the players

at the moment. You just have to get on with it. Five points separate

Plymouth Argyle from Safe Waters. Swindon Town ended their revival

when they scored the only goal in eight minutes from time.

The Plymouth Raiders mascot Foxy could be in trouble after

allegations that he pulled down the shorts of an opposing player. The

British Basketball League and the Raiders are looking into the claims

that he pulled down a Guildford Heat player's shorts during their

87-83 Trophy win at the Pavilions on Saturday night. The win saw them

progress to the Trophy semi-finals. You can see more of that story on

the BBC Devon sport website. Finally, top tennis players Heather

Watson, former Wimbledon girls' champion Laura Robson and Anne

Keovathong are on court at the Barnstaple Open this week. The main

draw gets underway tomorrow at the Tarka Tennis Centre. He is such a

sly old fox! The governing body are saying on

the website but they are looking into an "incident".

There were "Happy Days" in Exeter at the weekend as one of the 70s'

TV icons was in town promoting books in his new role as a

children's author. Henry Winkler, known to his fans as "The Fonz" was

at a book signing and as John Ayres reports the crowds turned out in

their hundreds. There are books signings and then

there are put signings. Happy Days was on the TV 30 years ago but fans

of Fonzie have not forgotten him. These days Henry Winkler is a

children's offer and has earned an honorary OBE. I have to tell you, I

did not know that I was doing work. I fob that I was telling children

what I had learned in my life that I wish someone had said to me. That

is all I was doing. And then it turned into one of the greatest

honours in my entire life outside of the birth of my kids. Youngsters

know him for his books, their parents remember Fonzie. Some were

keen to meet their childhood idol. I have had a Fonzie mayor for a 37

years. I got him to sign it. Having spent years holding up his thumbs,

has Henry had enough? I never get tired of the Fonz. I would not be

talking to you without the Fonz. I do not know if I would be able to

write these books without the funds. He was the foundation of the rest

of my life. The this was the only public signing Henry was doing. He

was keen to come here because he did not get to come here during his

original tour and it also appears He has barely changed! Let's take a

look at the weather. The rain is clearing away but there

are heavy showers tonight. It has been quite a wet day for parts of

the south-west. It did not stop some people going into the sea. The

rain is clearing away. There are showers forecast overnight and for

the next couple of days but also dry weather and sunshine to come.

After the heavy rain today there are flood alerts for some rivers in

the south-west. Live on the environment agency's website or

call their flood alert number. Not everywhere in the south-west

thought torrential rain today. These are from the Met Office. It

is the totals from midnight until 5pm today. Plymouth had one third

of the total average rainfall for the month. Further west, definitely

they saw the most rain today. The rain is clearing away. It is making

its way north and eastwards. There is still low pressure in charge.

Tomorrow, at low pressure sending showers across us with a south-

westerly breeze. Wednesday has a similar picture with sunshine and

showers. We need to watch the low pressure to the south which looks

like it could bring us heavy rain on Thursday. You can see the bright

flashes of heavy rain earlier on. It has cleared from Cornwall and

Devon. There is heavy rain further east. It is clearing quickly but

watch out for the showers, Beye could merge into a longer spell of

rain. There could be another 20 mm. The wind eases off and the

temperatures are not too bad for the time of year. First thing

tomorrow morning, a match drier start for many. We should seek

sunshine and some showers. There could be sharper downpours but they

will be well scattered. A bed of a respite tomorrow after the

torrential rain for many today. -- a bit. Still a brisk breeze

tomorrow at times. Temperatures Heavy rain to come on Thursday. It