08/02/2012 Spotlight

The council freebie sending local people reeling. I think it is

diabolical that that is happening when businesses -- businesses need

their sip port. -- support. Good evening. Torbay Council has given

1,300 staff free permits costing more than �500 each. Not everyone's

happy. Also on Spotlight tonight: Part of River Cottage HQ razed to

the ground. An investigation begins after Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's

training kitchen is destroyed by fire. And leaping lizards! The

excess holiday baggage washed up in Somerset. Torbay Council has issued

1,300 free parking permits to its staff, whilst at the same time

increasing parking charges for the public and installing more parking

meters. In total, the permits are worth �600,000. One local resident

is so angry he's reported the council to the taxman, claiming

it's handing out an untaxed benefit in kind. Our South Devon reporter

John Ayres has more. Pull up in the town hall car park in Torquay and

you will find of these. The permits have beenishured to 90% of the

council staff. But p you or which wanted to buy one it could cost

over �500 a year. Ba Barry made a freedom of information request and

was so surprised he has made a complaint to the taxman. This was a

perk which if the council workers are getting, then why shouldn't the

other trades within Torbay get the, get a similar perk? Why should they

have to pay to park in roads, sometimes quite horrendous prices

and the prices are going up. some time small businesses in

Paignton have been complaining about parking meters and charging.

It is outrageous. It is a fantastic perk, I wish I could have a free

park zone and give my staff a free parking voucher for year. It is

typical. Councils are always saying how tight they are with money and

how they spend it should be possibly reevalued. The permits are

issued for business use only on work days and not to be used by

anyone else sm it will be withdrawn if abused. But how do you police

that? The council say it is talking with unions about introducing

charges for parking. The council says there are term and conditions

attached to the permits. Yes, office staff can apply for them.

But they can't park in any car park at any time. And they can't apply

for permits on behalf of friend and partners. Whether or not the per

mifts are a taxable -- permits are taxable is not clear cut. That

doesn't apiece local businesses who feel they're being penalised.

Tonight the celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall still

doesn't know part of his River Cottage headquarters has been

destroyed by fire. Staff have tried to get hold of him, but he's

filming in a such a remote part of the world he can't be contacted. An

investigation's been launched into what caused the fire last night.

Spotlight's Andrea Ormsby has the story. This is the full force of a

fire that destroyed the event's barn at River Cottage near axe

Minster. The footage was taken by a member of staff. The fire service

real sized the two appliances it had sent wouldn't be enough. We're

devastated. We saw it on fire, but looking at the state of it, it is

incredible. Ewith are all shocked sm people are saddened. It is a

beautiful building that has been lovingly restored and people

working in there, people were in there yesterday doing what we do

best and that is quite a sad morning. The nature of the billing

made it difficult for firefighters. This part of the billing was used

as a cookery school and there were 10 ovens, each with its own gas

cylinder and each could explode. And it would have sent debris over

a big area. Hugh Fearnley- Whittingstall is filming somewhere

in the southern ocean. As yet he does not know whether has happened.

We have sent him an e-mail. He is on a boat campaigning on the fish

rights and doing filming. But we're not, exactly sure where he is. It

may take system time for the message to get through. They don't

know the cause of fire and investigators say they may have

answers tomorrow. River Cottage hope to put up a temporary building

and have courses running again in a matter of days. The health

regulator has raised significant concerns about care for some of the

most vulnerable patients at two county hospitals in Devon. The Care

Quality Commission identified Owen House - which is part of Langdon

Hospital in Dawlish - and two wards at Whipton Hospital in Exeter as

needing to make improvements. Both care for people with learning

difficulties. Simon Hall joins us from the headquarters of the Devon

Partnership NHS Trust. What are the concerns with Owen House? Well this

is the major concern identified by the commission and it is about the

care and welfare of patients. The report says poor care planning

makes it impossible to ensure patient' -- patients' needs are

being met and there is a concern about safeguarding patients from

abuse and another about respecting their dignity. What about the units

at whipton. Well the two wards that deal with people with learning

difficulties, the commission identifies improvements needing to

be made to ensure safe and appropriate care. Care plans are

not adequately developed and more detailed assessments are required.

The commission said both hospitals have work to do. Care wasn't

person-centred, so it wasn't putting people at the heart of

their plans. Really understanding what their goals were, where they

wanted to go and how they were going to get there. And that is a

condition certain. Because these are assessment and treatment

facilities, where people hope the go on to more independent settings

hopefully. What have the Trust said about this? Well no one from the

Trust would be interviewed, but they have released a statement us

to. It says this: We have made strides to provide safe and high

quality care and in most cases we're confident we achieve that.

But the saiment says: It is clear some aspect of care are not good

enough and for that we apologise and making efforts to address any

short comings. Thank you. In a separate health story today, Torbay

Care Trust has been hailed as a good example of how to link up care

services for elderly people. The praise came from Parliament's

Health Select Committee. But the MPs said separate systems for

health and social care are leading to poorer outcomes elsewhere. Our

Political Editor Martyn Oates joins us now from Westminster. What is so

special about Torbay? Well it is one of only a handful of places

where the Primary Care Trusts that were set up to commission health

care also control social care. The committee said bringing the two

services make them more efficient and saifrs money. But it says the

Government's plans to reforce the NHS won't do anything to simplify

the way the services are delivered else where. One member is the St

iefrs MP. What is happening is that happened in spite of the current

structures. So we have worked well and the health reforms make the

creation of a single commissioning body between health and social care

more difficult, not more easy. The reforms not going to help the

process of achieving the efficiencies which the Government

want. One thing is clear, the kind of situation we have got at the

moment in Torbay where a Primary Care Trust commissions social care

won't be rolled out and won't eexist in Torbay, because the

Government will abolish primary care trus. That is not the only

change. As we speak Torbay council is debating how many millions to

cut from its adult social care budget. We're concerned on the cuts.

Of �11 that will happen, 4.1 will be affecting the most vulnerable

people. People who are old e people with learning disabilities and

mental health issues. The commit eee said funding issues were

reducing the kault of O'O'reducing the quality of care and there will

be more integration between health and social care. A Plymouth

hospital has apologised to the family of a baby boy who received

sub-standard care. Ethan Cross died in November 2009, two months after

being born with some of his organs growing outside his body. The

official cause of death was recorded as misadventure, but

during his inquest a coroner found evidence of sub-standard care.

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust says it's made robust changes to its

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Ethan's parents hope it will lead

to procedures being improved. have not been able to have closure

on this for the two years since Ethan passed away. In light of the

inquest they can at least have some closure. What they are pleased

about is that clearly lessons have been learned from these event and

steps put in place to the extent that hopefully it won't happen to

another family. A Plymouth soldier died after volunteering to lead a

team of bomb disposal experts to a haul of explosives in Afghanistan.

An inquest in Plymouth today heard that 32-year-old Corporal Mark

Palin was acting as point man for the group who were searching for a

cache of bomb parts in Helmand Province last July. Corporal Palin,

from 1st Battalion the Rifles, triggered the pressure plate of a

home made bomb. The father of two was killed instantly. Plymouth

Coroner Ian Arrow, recorded a verdict of unlawful killing while

on active service. 51 jobs are under threat in Plymouth with the

closure of the Everest call centre. The home improvement and windows

company blames a very competitive marketplace. It's consulting with

employees at the centre in St Andrews Street for the next 30 days

and says it'll look at the possibility of staff moving to

other locations. The Government has awarded a new contract to operate

search and rescue services from Portland in Dorset. CHC Scotia will

operate from Portland until 2017, under the management of the

Maritime and Coastguard Agency. It replaces the existing MCA

helicopter service which is expiring. Beyond 2017, search and

rescue services will be contracted nationally. A planning decision has

been formally granted for a controversial new incinerator in

Plymouth. It follows a period of consultation with local residents,

many of whom were fiercely opposed to the scheme at North Yard in

Devonport Dockyard. The city council says there have been

several conditions imposed, to help offset the impact of the

development. Coming up next: Cornwall's Wavehub is finally being

put to use. Plus: He was homeless and living rough, now John Paton is

getting his life back on track. Find out how later. And signing and

singing - the youngsters taking part in a world record attempt. The

Wavehub in Cornwall has finally secured its first customer almost

two years after it was placed on the seabed off Hayle. A wave energy

company in Southern Ireland has announced plans to plug into the

device in a deal which could be worth millions to the region's

economy. Our Environment Correspondent Adrian Campbell

reports. The Wave Hub was placed on the sea bed near Hayle in 2010. By

the autumn it is hoped Irish based Ocean Energy will be the first

company to tie up and connect their device into the hub. They have been

testing a three quarter scale model of what is called the OE buoy in

Ireland for three years and they have produced their own animation,

explaining how it works. As the water enters the chaim Berks it

forces the air -- chamber, it forces the air up and the turbine

generates electricity. Waver hub offered the company financial

support of around a million pounds to encourage them to tie up to the

hub. But the question is why. have been confident of deployment

activity on the site from 2013. But we needed to test our procedure and

to do that we had to accept we needed to offer some grant funding

and unfortunately there was funding that remained within the project

budget that we have been able to offer to the company. We have

chosen the test facility for a number of reasons. It has a good

connection available to connect our device and we have the option of

connecting an array of devices that no other test site can offer. And

so it has the option of developing it into a commercial farm. So this

unusual look device should be in Cornish waters by the autumn. The

announcement means two of wave hubs four berths have been reserved. US

and UK based Ocean Technologies are using them as well. There have been

calls for speed limits on Bodmin Moor to be lowered, after a rise in

the number of animals being hit by cars. Campaigners say speed

restrictions should be similar to that of Dartmoor, where around 50%

of the roads have a 40mph limit. Eleanor Parkinson reports. On

Bodmin Moor there is nothing to separate the animals from the cars.

These drivers have to be patient. Even when they have to get out of

the car to persuade this horse to move. Landowners say accidents are

on the rise, particularly horse and motorists are driving too fast and

the animals are being drawn on to the roads, because people are

bringing them food. We have had problems all righted almost daily

of people feeding animals at the side of the road. They shouldn't do

that. The animals are not starving. We have animal health and Trading

Standards doing spot checks and alerting us if there is an issue.

In the last tw years, ten horses have been kill and five injured.

Three - there were three accidents in one month. I'm convinced

somebody will be killed or severely injured before long. It's just...

The odds are stacked that way. road has the worst record. But

landowners call for a 40mph speed limit on all roads on the moor. A

man who told us how he was sleeping rough on the streets of Dorset says

he believes he's now on the road to a normal life. We first heard from

John Paton in September last year. He showed our reporter Simon

Clemison the tents and doorways in Bridport where he says he and

others had been staying. Since then John has been getting help from a

Christian charity which offers refuge to people in crisis. Simon

went to see him in rural Dorset as he looks again at homelessness in

the countryside. This is a few miles from the streets where John

says he scavenged for food and slept in a wheelie bin. Now, he has

somewhere he can call home. You're not on the sleep living in cold and

in a tent or wherever you decide to live in, and it is more secure.

It's a safe haven and I just feel much better. For more than 50 years,

this has been a place where people can rebuild their lives. Some

suffer from depression, others from addiction, divorce or bereavement.

John has battled with drink. Not the reason he ended up sleep rough,

but perhaps what kept him on the street. How have you been getting

on? Basically I have gone a long way from being an alcoholic and I'm

trying to sort my life out. And it has been difficult. But I sort of

get counselling. And for stress and for depression, which is helping.

What also helps is the part he plays here. In keeping food grown

in the gardens on the table. Everyone has a role. It creates a

family atmosphere, restoring what is in many cases a loss of

confidence. A lot of things that folks in general can take for

granted, be it a roof over your head, or a regular pattern of meals,

or friends or family around, aren't necessarily there for folks who are

struggling. Does it make it difficult to beat the problems if

you don't have those in place? John doesn't feel ready to return

to his family and friends yet. But after seeing him again, he has

taken a significant step forward. feel so much better here, with the

help and support I'm getting from the worker, that I think I'm on the

road to a normal life. In football, Exeter City's relegation worries

have increased after they were beaten 2-0 at Bournemouth in League

One last night. Two late goals sunk City, the first scored by

Bournemouth's record �800,000 signing from Crawley Town, Matt

Tubbs. The Cherries quickly doubled their lead to leave City only two

points above the danger zone. Plymouth Albion rugby coach Nat

Saumi, seen here behind one of his predecessors Graham Dawe, is

staying at the Brickfields for next season. The Fijian, a former player

with Albion, succeeded Peter Drewett, who left over the New Year

period. Saumi will become head coach and Director of Rugby. Now

earlier today children at a school in Paignton took part in a world

record attempt. The pupils at White Rock Primary were among thousands

across the country all singing and signing at the same time. The event

is designed to raise awareness of issues affecting people who are

deaf or have hearing problems. John Danks joined them for the big

performance. # It is win word in any language # We have got to sign

and sing at the same time. We are excited. I can't stop smiling.

have got to tell your friends and spread the word, make it seen as

well as hear. This afternoon more than 400 pupils crammed into this

hall to do just that. Across the country, thousands of children were

doing the same thing. All in a bid to enter the record books. It

involved those with and without a hearing impairment. It is to raise

awareness of what we're and how hard it is that we have to hear. We

can't usually speak normally. We have to use our hands, sign

language. The event is organised by the charity Sign Health. Last year

they set a new world record of 95,000 people singing and

signinging at the same time. White rock primary is one of 900 schools

taking part. It has gone really well. The children have performed

so well. And even down to the little ones who, I mean it is more

difficult for them. Because this there is so much going on. But they

have all tried hard and I'm proud of them as a school. So a thumbs up

for this performance. But they won't know if they're record

breakers for a few weeks yet. Brilliant stuff. Superb they can

sign at such a young age. Now then, how's this for an amazing story of

survival against the odds. A rare lizard is recovering in Somerset

after surviving a 3,000 mile flight from his native isles and on top of

that a washing machine cycle. Sue Banwell-Moore was certainly

surprised to find her stowaway when she went to hang up her washing

after her trip to Cape Verde Islands. Our Somerset reporter

Clinton Rogers takes up the story. She is looking in good condition,

considering what happened. He is doing well in his new home. A

wildlife park in Somerset. Seemingly no worse for his ordeal.

He may only be six inches long, but Larry is... Well almost

indestructible. He has done 3,000 miles in the hold of the aircraft.

You would expect him to freeze death there and a trip around in a

washing machine on a delicate wash. We're released it was Nat hot wash.

Otherwise he would have come out well dead. Nadge surprise of suer

after returning -- imagine the surprise of Sue after returning

home from holidays in the Cape Verde isles and did her washing.

But it wasn't just the smalls that got a short spin. At the end out

popped Larry. Clean but barely alive. Shock horror, let out a

little scream. Maybe quite oo big scream. And yes, frozen to the spot.

As doubtless was Larry. Now this particular lizard can only be found

on Cape Verde islands off the coast of Africa and Larry is thought to

be the first to visit England. It us unlikely he will make it back

now. But then west Somerset is a popular retirement spot! Good job

it was a delicate cycle. But he looks none the worse for it. He

seems perky after a spin around the world and a spin around the washing

machine. Now the weather forecast and maybe some snow? Not a great

deal but some in the east by the time we wake up on Friday morning.

We have had another fine day, another cold one. Not every where

has seen the sun. The further east we have been the more cloud. But

here are some pictures from Sutton here are some pictures from Sutton

harbour, where it was fine. If we could run those pictures now that

would be good! The blue sky shows how good it was in Plymouth and in

St Agnes. Some high level cloud there, but it has been a good day.

And also in Hayle, where we had fine weather. But despite the

sunshine, it has been really quite cold. There has been that gentle

but chilling easterly breeze. It is the cold wind from the east that

has made it feel bitter. Not every where had sunshine to the east, the

Koller it has felt, because there has been a - old colder it has felt,

because there has been a blanket of cloud. Now the winds will bring

more cloud and rain, sleet and snow. Not necessarily for tomorrow, but

Friday looks quite fraught. The boundary between where it will fall

and rain and as snow is probably just to the east of our region.

Most likely to affect parts of Somerset and Dorset for Cornwall

and Devon it will fall as rain. Not though tonight and tomorrow. A lot

of fine weather and a fair amount of clear sky. That will disappear

as the cloud rolls in, having said that, it won't top the staement

temperatures falling. BeLee he -- stop the temperatures falling. It

will be below freezing tonight. A lot of cloud for most of the day

tomorrow. But taefpltds again struggling. The highest figures

will be in the western parts of Cornwall. Here you may get up to

seven degrees. But further east you won't get much above one degree.

For the Isles of Scilly we sould see some bright weather. Seven

degrees the top temperature. Times For surfers, some good surf.

Tomorrow four or five feet and clean. Coastal waters forecast, the

winds light to start with, become southly and picking up to force

four. Mainly fair with moderate or good visibility. Tomorrow nights

and into Friday is when we see the weather front come in. Some rain

and patchy sleet and snow. To the east it will fall as sleet and snow.

If you're head out of region up along the M4 corridor there could

be some snow to contend with through the day on Friday. Looking

further ahead, well there should be some dry weather by Saturday and

Sunday. Some patchy rain around on Saturday. Clearing westwards and

then mainly bright and dry on Sunday. But there is a warning

about the snow on Friday. You can find out more on the BBC weather