29/03/2012 Spotlight

Precautionary measures or panic buying? Drivers add fuel to the

fire as queues keep on forming and forecourts run dry. Just saw the

queue and bought it would be a good idea to join it. Whoever said go

and fill up the cans, they are to blame. That has forced the panic

buying. Good evening. Police have closed

some petrol stations to avoid traffic chaos. But what really is

the situation here? We'll be reporting from across the region.

Also on Spotlight tonight: Grave concerns - the council apology to a

grieving husband over health and safety issues.

The golfers proving their disability isn't their handicap.

And we meet the local surfers who rode one of the biggest waves ever

Petrol stations in the south west have been closed by the police

after queues for fuel stretched back dangerously onto main roads,

some garages have run out of supplies, and others are imposing

rationing after widespread panic buying. The police in Dorset said

they had no choice but to close some stations.

Our biggest concern is the irresponsible actions of a few

motorists, who, in an attempt to get on to Four Courts, are queuing

on the highway, causing a danger to other road users.

This level of demand is putting pressure on supplies. The leader of

the tanker drivers' union in the region told Spotlight he thought

pumps would run dry in a matter of "hours" if a strike was called.

Tonight, there are appeals for calm but little sign of motorists taking

heed. We have two reports on the picture across the region. First,

our correspondent, Simon Hall, has been analysing the impact in the

east. Today, we have driven out of Exeter

and into Dorset. We passed petrol station after petrol station and

that each, they have been minds of motorists waiting to fill up their

cars. The routine chore has become a

significant challenge. In Exeter, there were queues across the city,

and the leader of the tanker drivers' union in the South West

predicted pumps could run dry here within hours if a strike was called.

This is not something we do at the drop of a hat. We have been trying

for 18 months to speak to the employers, the suppliers and the

supermarkets, to resolve the major problems that are there. They have

been ignoring us. It is the last straw. We have to do something to

get these genuine concerns about the safety of our drive the is --

drivers to the people. On the Devon, Dorset border, one

garage rationed customers to �35 worth of fuel. It is fair. What is

right and wrong depends on what end of the county you're on. People are

saying, I don't care I need to get to work, and if it is a fair

request, we will let them have more appeal. But people are buying fuel

unnecessarily. One motorist, who did not want to

give his name, was stocking up on supply so. I have lots of miles to

do next week. Is it right to be doing that? That is none of my

business. In Torquay, and overnight rushed left a petrol station

without any fuel. In Taunton, the price of diesel at one garage rose

by two pence, pushing it through the one pound 50 a litre barrier. -

- �1.50. Everybody is fuelling up. There is a local one that is

already closed so you cannot get any petrol. It is absolutely crazy.

I just need to pick my children up from school later, that's all. I

have never seen anything like it. Here, suppliers were running low.

It limit was placed on the amount of diesel lorries could buy.

Police have asked some stations in Dorset to close temporarily because

the queues were tailing back on to main roads, causing disruption. All

this before even a strike is called. And now with the picture across the

rest of the region, here is my colleague.

Drivers queued at this garage in Plymouth which had already run out

of diesel and standard unleaded. Some gave up, opting to try

elsewhere. Shortly afterwards, the station ran out if you're

completely. Another tanker deliveries expected later in the

day. -- ran out of fuel. There were shortages elsewhere in the city.

The staff of this station were uncertain when the next delivery

was a dear. Petrol stations in Cornwall also witnessed increased

demand. Drivers queued for half an hour at his garage. I think they

are panicking, there is no need for it. But then they should not have

said go and fill up your cans. on the red, no panic! I'm not

panicking. I just want to know I have enough these are to keep going.

These things normally pass by the next day or two. I'm sure it will

be fine. Similar advice is being given by a motorist associations,

urging drivers not to panic. Trying to get that message across is going

to be hard when all around, people are desperately trying to fill up.

Thanks to everyone who got in touch via our Facebook page. Lee in North

Devon said he saw around 30 cars waiting for fuel at one filling

station, and Jo in West Cornwall said most petrol stations there had

long queues and some had started to run out. Facebook.com/bbcspotlight

Jersey will pay up to �60,000 to victims of historical abuse. It is

now four years since the police investigation focusing on the

former children abuse dominated the headlines.

It was the largest police investigation in Jersey's history.

An investigation that sent it here. The former children home, and what

happened within its walls. Despite extensive excavations searching for

human remains, the police concluded that no children had been killed

here. But they have been physically and sexually abused. To date,

Jersey's government said sorry. December 2010 at the then Chief

Minister offered an unreserved apology on behalf of government to

those who had suffered abuse whilst in the care of the States of Jersey.

And I reiterate that apology this afternoon.

The victims say it has never been about money, but those who were

abused while in care between 1945 and 1940 -- 94 -- 1994 are eligible

up to �16,000. Putting a price on abuse is an uncomfortable notion,

and it is difficult for this woman who grew up there. Once you have

had your child to have taken for whatever region -- reason, you

cannot get it back. For me, the money will bring closer, but what

other people who have potentially been damaged by what they

experienced, I don't know. Format Jersey police chief officer was

suspended after a new team of detectives said know children had

been killed. He believes that today's compensation does not

explain why victims of abuse were not listened to earlier. Why was it

that it was also successfully and - - swept under the carpet until the

investigation was launched in 2008? Questions do undoubtedly remain,

but today is an opportunity for the victims to lead Jersey and the

wider world know what they endured The plan for an incinerator at St

Dennis will go ahead after the Government won a Court of Appeal

Challenge today. Environmental campaigners opposing the

incinerator at St Dennis in mid Cornwall say they'll fight on. The

local MP Stephen Gilbert says it's a real blow for Cornwall. Our

Environment Correspondent Adrian Campbell reports.

There was a subdued sense of expectation when news came in to

this man's front room in St Dennis. A court of Appeal judgment was

announced that 9:50am and today. Sadly it upheld the Secretary of

State's decision. His fellow campaigners were bitterly

disappointed but determined to fight on. We will continue to raise

however much money we have to the rout the community to carry on the

fight. Whatever the cost? Whatever the cost. We will not give up until

we have no further choice. Now, the campaigners are hoping

that is extremely rare plant found in parts of Portugal and Cornwall

could help their campaign. It enjoys some of the strongest

protection under European law. It has been found close to the site of

the proposed incinerator. Campaigners hope to use the plant

in their legal battle in the Supreme Court or the European Court.

The plant is very difficult to track down, but we have managed to

find an example here in mid- Cornwall in this china clay pit. If

he is a magnifying glass like this, you can just make out this rather

unusual looking planned. It is listed in the bed Data Book

for Cornwall, which notes important species. We showed our pictures of

the plant to Ken. It is a very important issue. If the evidence

which is there is disregarded, then democracy will not be bedded two.

Everyone needs to do their homework properly and if democracy prevails,

that plant will be a significant effort in our campaign. The local

MP agrees. There is no doubt that the impact that we want is a major

factor that needs to be considered. -- the environmental impact. But

there are also other issues, the fact it will generate hundreds of

additional lorry movements per week. The Department for communities and

government welcomed the ruling, and so did CT UK. The council will work

A Plymouth man says he was horrified when he got a letter from

the council telling him to dig up part of his wife's grave because it

didn't conform to health and safety rules. The authority told him he

had 21 days to remove kerb stones and gravel from the plot at Weston

Mill cemetery, or pay a stonemason more than �2,000 to put it right.

Emma Thomasson has the story. This man tens of his wife's grave

every week. She died suddenly one year ago of a heart condition. He

could not afford a memorial so he got permission from staff at the

cemetery to put up his own. But he got a letter saying that the great

did not conform to health and safety regulations and he had to

remove it within 21 days. Devastated. We thought we had

approval, it was something that we wanted to do and then to find that

they were going to take it away with in 21 days if we did not, we

were devastated. Total loss as to why it. The council has now

apologised and is offering to meet Christopher to discuss making the

grade comply with cemetery roles. The authority will pay for the work.

There was no intention on behalf of the council to cause distress. The

standard letter that went out to him was inappropriate, we recognise

that. The policy will have to be changed in circumstances like this.

In the future, we will make sure that discussions take place.

What They Think your wife would have thought of this? She would

have gone out and fought. If there was something she believed in, she

would go for it. I think she would be quite happy that something has

rubbed off on me. It is a relief now that it will stay there. The

hassle is over. Now I will be left in peace to come here every week

and tidy it up, put the flowers there, have a chat and get on with

whatever I can do for the rest of my life.

Christopher Clemens ending that report by Emma Thomasson.

You're watching Spotlight from the BBC. Thanks for joining us. Still

ahead in the programme: Mixing it up - the Masterchefs of

the future cutting it in the kitchen.

And surfs up - the locals who got We had a huge response from you

last night to the idea of VAT being added to all hot takeaway food -

the so-called pasty tax. Firstly Rachael who works for a well-known

pasty company in Cornwall says, "Most of our customers have said

they will stop buying our freshly cooked hot pasties, sausage rolls

etc. However Patrick says, "Yes, charge VAT on hot pasties, as it

applies to fish n chips which are hot!" Shaun emailed, "Lets pop up

to London and put all the politicians into a giant pasty and

cook them up! End of political and tax problem." Thank you for all of

your comments. The Theatre Royal in Plymouth could

be in line for �5 million to make improvements to the building. The

Arts Council has today announced it has cleared the first round of

funding applications for repairing and upgrading facilities. Staff

will now have to present more detailed plans to get through to

the next stage. There's been ABBA-mania in Cornwall

today as hundreds of people turned up for special charity screenings

of the film Mamma Mia. Fancy dress was the order of the day as four

cinemas across Cornwall threw open their doors for the Phoenix Stroke

Appeal, supported by BBC Radio Cornwall.

We announced that we were supporting the appeal last June and

since then, �227,000 had been raised for the appeal for gold

standard care for stroke survivors in Cornwall.

Now, would you like to know how to save money on your energy bills and

help the environment? School children in Ashburton have been

helping to carry out environmental audits of homes and businesses in

the town. It's part of a government-funded scheme to make

local homes as energy efficient as possible.

When it comes to energy efficiency here, it seems it is the school

children who were the experts. is really cold. If you can see, the

line along here is a purple. That means it is cold. Those cracks

there are letting heat out. Here, at beasts -- at his primary school,

his children are helping carry out an energy audit in the town.

keep heat in, you can paint it black along some of the walls.

Sometimes even having a mirror near a radiator can help keep the heat

in the house. The audit is part of a project being run by the

Ashburton futures charity. They are using a �24,000 government grant to

measure the energy efficiency of 12 local homes. Sustainability in the

larger sense is fundamental to our work, helping people to make the

changes to have a long term positive environmental impact. It

also impacts how they live their lives in their homes and increases

comfort. Be audit is being carried out using devices like lasers,

giant fans, to show where energy is being worst -- wasted and can be

saved. It is hoped the information can be used to help other local

homeowners to reduce the Co-op and footprint of the whole town.

-- the carbon a footprint. This week, a group of amputee

golfers have been in the South West brushing up on their skills. The

players are part of a charity called the On Course Foundation,

which helps people, who've lost limbs, rehabilitate through the

sport. Spotlight's Brent Pilnick reports.

The Ryder Cup is one of the biggest prizes in golf and these players

are hoping to be selected for a British amputee version of the team

to face their American rivals. But playing without a leg is not easy.

One of the things you have to allow for is on your follow-through,

you're left hip comes through. Because my prosthetic limb can stop

me from actually following through sometimes, I will tend, if I do not

allow for that turn, it causes me to go around and send the ball off.

Players of all abilities are being coached at the club, including Ian

Bishop. He was serving as a marine in Afghanistan when he had both

legs blown off by a roadside bomb. Golf has been invaluable. It is a

sport that, once you learn to play it, you can compete with able-

bodied people. It is learning to balance and hit the golf ball. When

you have no legs, you need to have the balance when you are just using

prepared -- prosthetics. When you have an injury, you think it is the

end of the world when you are young. But on course, people have stepped

in and giving you another and the con life. Be players are hoping to

be selected for their big match with the Americans in December when

they will be playing in Florida. If they can keep improving, they are

confident they can come back a cross the Atlantic with the trophy.

Now here's a question for you - what could you cook when you were

at school? Spaghetti Bolognese, pasta and pesto, a mean cheese

These days young people really can cut it in the kitchen as John

Henderson discovered during a competition in Plymouth.

The kitchens at this college in Plymouth, teams from 12 schools are

taking part in the young chef team challenge. There is no shortage of

talent or ambition. This team is from Stoke. Pancakes with ice-cream

in the middle and a baked Alaska. Cooking 3 courses in three hours is

stressful. Stuff has to be measured and cut up, ingredients used in the

right dish. I don't know where it is, you have it. I wasn't using

that board. Culinary skills are tested, as our maths and English,

and the judges pounds on any slip ups. It said it in mouse instead of

taking this! Be spelling has to be right. Ticking now so would have

been interesting. -- chicken mouse. The standard has been outstanding.

They seem to raise the bar a higher and higher each year. This he has

been no exception. Baked Alaska or suitably placed and the chicken

news Reddy, the dishes are judged. Plymouth High School for girls won

the overall trophy with this gastronomic tour de force. It is

just the start. We are all taking catering for GCSE. Home economics

might be a thing of the past, but in these young hands, the future

for food looks good. That looks amazing. I don't really

like the sound of chicken mouse! Two Southwest surfers have managed

to ride one of the biggest waves ever seen in Europe.

The gigantic seas, with waves up to 50 feet high, occurred in Ireland a

couple of weeks ago. David George is at the seaside in Cornwall to

meet the surfers and find out how such big waves build up. David.

We do like to be beside the seaside, and the seaside in this case is

Constantine Bay on the north coast of Cornwall. Absolutely beautiful.

There are surfers out there and some ways for them, but nothing

like they were a couple of weeks ago on the north-west coast of

Ireland. Have a look at this. Let's run the film and see what you make

of this. Look at the enormous size of that wave! That is absolutely

incredible. Look at the surface going down the face of the wave.

Amazing. The guys that art in that film of right here with me now.

This is Andrew from up the coast. That is you in that film. What was

it like inside-out way? It was a pretty good view! It is quite

intense. It is hard to explain, it is not something you can describe

because it is intense, everything slows down. But a huge weight of

water on top of the waiting to crash down?! I did not plan to fall

off, but then I did fall at the end. But I was OK. Here is Tom Butler

from new people stop you were serving as well. How were you in

the right place at the right time? I based myself in Ireland for

almost two months and the biggest waves in Europe will happen in

winter so you if you while there through the months of January,

February and March, you will get some absolutely huge waves. If you

are there, it will happen and when it does, you have to be ready. On

8th March, it was huge and we were prepared. We made the most are

there and got best -- the best way so that our lives. Well done for

that. You have filmed that and entered the film in a worldwide

surfing competition and the results are out soon. That's right. It is a

big wave global award and the top five waves will be nominated

tonight. They will be upon the website. Best of luck with that.

Thank you for joining us today. How do you get such waves like that?

The weatherman gave it is here. is a rare event. We had a big wave

last December that was about 67 ft high. But the wave that they served

is very rare. There is a nickname for the process that develops the

waves, called the biking storms because it comes from Finland. The

strength of wind last ball a couple of days and that is essential. It

builds the waves up. It happens once every 10 years or so. All we

need to know it is it is lovely year tonight, but what is the

It is lovely here, we have had some lovely temperatures, but it will be

cooling down over the next few days. Here is a summary. We will see some

sunshine, but also lower temperatures as we see more cloud

coming our way. There is the big satellite picture. Already more

cloud across the north of the country slowly heading towards us.

The chart for this evening still has high pressure, but it is

weakening and moving west, away from us. By lunchtime, it will be

further west. By lunchtime on Saturday, it brings a cold front

down from the north so more cloud into Sunday. You can see how they

has hardly been a tad in the sky today. That will continue tonight,

but the difference is that we will probably see more low cloud coming

down through the Irish Sea heading down towards North Devon and Los

Cornwall coasts. The temperatures will be similar to what we have

seen recently. Chilly first thing tomorrow morning. A cold start

tomorrow, but a fine one. The difference is there will be low

cloud and mist coming into North Devon and North Cornwall coasts. In

the afternoon, we will see low temperatures of around 12 or 13

degrees. The best temperatures will be in the southern parts of Devon,

where we will see 20 degrees. From the Isles of Scilly, it will be

quite misty with low cloud. It may not stick around, but it will be

around tomorrow so a cooler, fresher feel. He are the times of

high water. He are the serve times as well. It has been brilliant over

the past couple of days. Tomorrow it will be choppy with an onshore

breeze. But to three feet here. Here is the coastal waters of

forecast. The haze has been with us over the past few days. Mist or

poor visibility possible down towards the Isles of Scilly. Here

is the outlook. More cloud and eventually low temperatures. That

is the change as we move towards the weekend. On Saturday, we are

down to 16 degrees. By Sunday, we will drop down to 13 or 14 degrees

as we see more cloud coming in. That cloud gradually seeps in and

we will see a change next week. Still dry for the next gilt -- four

days, but the temperatures go down so make the most of the sunshine.