20/04/2012 Spotlight

An apology to the thousands of people in Cornwall who have not

have their rubbish collected. sincerely apologise.

Good evening and welcome to Spotlight.

Cornwall Council and Cory Environmental say they are trying

to sort out the situation. And as Torbay pulls out of major Vidal

merlot -- redevelopment plans, under the scheme goes ahead.

The people responsible for rubbish collection in Cornwall have said

sorry to the thousands of residents who have not had their waste

collected. Cornwall Council and Cory Environmental said they were

working hard to rectify the situation, but admitted they had

been expecting teething problems. Since a new system was introduced

on April 1st there have been thousands of missed collections.

38,000 people have called a helpline. The council says these

include a variety of queries, not just missed collections. Spotlight

has been contacted by dozens of angry householders, some who had

not had their rubbish picked up since the end of March. Today they

were offered this apology. Apologies to any people who have

had frustration getting through to the call-centre or have had missed

collections. We are working extremely hard to rectify the

problems. One it do you say to the people you have let down? -- What

do you say to the people you have let down? I sincerely apologise.

What is being done now to rectify it? We are putting additional

resources in where these problems have been experienced, both in

terms of vehicles and operatives. As soon as we are made aware of

issues we are acting on them. Previously there was a system in

place where everyone's rubbish was picked up every week. Where did it

go wrong? It was a problem with a mix of contracts. We wanted to

provide the same service for residents across Cornwall. We have

looked at how we have performed for recycling and we have chosen a

system that we believe will give us the best recycling performance. We

felt it was important to have a consistent service and one that

would take us forward environmentally. But it is not

delivering. People are becoming more and more frustrated so you are

not improving recycling rates. are working through these problems.

We expect the service to improve and for the satisfaction of the

service to be very high in future. Please bear with us while we get

through these problems. As a council you have had to put on

extra staff in your call centres. Will you be getting back any money

from Cory Environmental for their failure to deliver on the contract?

Are we will not be pursuing Cory Environmental at the time. -- we

will not be pursuing Cory Environmental at this time. People

are getting e-mails saying that there was Amis Collection and then

they hear a report saying it will be collected in two days. -- there

was a missed collection. Why is this the case? We are working very

hard to react to these must collections. -- to be some missed

collections. We are endeavouring to react as quickly as we can. Of the

volume of the calls coming into the call centre initially were making

it very hard -- was making it hard for us to react in a timely manner.

Have you apologised to your staff, he wore I understand have a face to

verbal abuse from frustrated members of the public? What will

you say to them? You have led them down as well, haven't you?

apologise to any members of our staff who have faced abuse. When

you are transferring over 500 staff it is very difficult to be in any

one place at one time. It is unacceptable behaviour and we will

react to that accordingly. Thank you for joining us.

You can see a longer interview with Councillor Julian German and Nigel

Carr from Cory Environmental on our Facebook page. You don't need to

have a Facebook account to view it, just go to

facebook.com/bbcspotlight. Thanks for all your emails and tweets on

the subject. A burglary task force is being set

up by Devon and Cornwall Police after latest figures showed the

region has the second highest rise in crime in the country. The police

say the region remains a low crime area, and public confidence in the

force is one of the highest in the country. But over the past

financial year, the number of domestic burglaries and robberies

both went up by 20 %. The Police Federation says with up to 700

police officers leaving the force, it's inevitable that services will

be affected. They broke in on this door here.

They cut off the loch and the brackets and that gain them entry

to the building. Last November, this mechanic lost �13,000 worth of

equipment. The insurance company did not pay out. It is

heartbreaking, really. He worked all these years to accumulate your

equipment that you do with your job and then in one evening it is all

gone. 10 years of work gone in an instant, really. The latest figures

from Devon and Cornwall Police for the past 12 months show that

overall crime is up 6.4 %. Domestic burglary is up 20 % and robberies

are also up by 20 %. Some people believe it is the perception that

is forcing up crime. Crime goes in cycles along with the economic

climate. But it cannot be disregarded. Up to 700 police

officers have will be going into Cornwall and it will have an impact.

The police say the increase brings us back to the crime levels of 2010.

We believe it may well be due to the economic downturn and people

struggling to find jobs, however we are taking a larger number of

measures to make sure that we can prevent crime from happening in the

first place. Devon and Cornwall is such a safer place to live in the

country that people are not good at securing their properties before

they go to work. The mechanic says he will wait to see the response.

It seems that they are more interested in traffic things than

catching criminals. He said that the police closed his case after

just one month. Our Political Editor Martyn Oates

is here. There is a suggestion from the Police Federation that the cuts

could have something to do with this. It would be difficult to say

that either way. Let's face it, we have had a lot of money in the

kitty and the good times with ministers promising us more bobbies

on the beat because it would make us safer. Now, to be taking away

hundreds of officers, bat -- that does not bode very well. Many

officers have jobs at risk at the moment. There is an element of told

you so. I tried to get a hold of the police federation today to ask

him about these figures and if that the cuts had anything to do with it.

I could not get a hold of him. The Police Federation want and Eva --

even bigger increase in council tax. By the time next year's council tax

is that there will be a huge difference in how the force is run.

A huge difference. New police but it will be set and new police

priorities will be said. Also, according to the Policing Minister,

there will be an initiative to drive down crime. I know that

you'll be discussing this on Sunday. A Yes, this time next week -- yes,

on Sunday at the slightly later time off to a court pm. -- time of

2:00pm on BBC One. Torbay Council is pulling out of

plans which would see it team up with a private developer to carry

out major regeneration projects potentially creating thousands of

jobs. The council is blaming current economic conditions and a

change in the character of the bid. Our South Devon reporter has been

following developments. Traders believe it that the day needs a

left, but plans were axed. It will bring a lot more attraction to the

area for the people of Torbay and Paignton. It is a bit of a

disappointment. In 2008, the then mayor had controversial plans, and

was working with councillors. Gordon Oliver took over last year

and was trying to press ahead with the revised plans. In October just

gone, the councils tried to keep it going with a secondary bidding, but

the economic climate has changed. It was a tragedy to lose, it was up

there with losing the American colonies. I think what they will

regret the chance they are missing out now, the �400 million of

investment. Now the council is hoping it can keep some of the

projects going with individual developers. The reason it can be

good for individual developers to work with a council is because the

developer can say that they will have one piece of land that will

make money as long as there is one area that is developed that is not

so lucrative. It means that the council debts but developments and

the developer makes their money on the lucrative land. The problem

with working with lots of individual developers is that it

means that the developer -- developers all want this one and

then perhaps this one does not get built. The council says they have

new opportunities for at the South Devon road being built. The mayor

did not wish to be interviewed. In Dorset the next phase of a �100

million redevelopment for Dorchester has been given the green

light. Brewery Square is a huge urban regeneration project which

its developers say will create hundreds of jobs and a cultural

quarter for Dorset's County Town. John Henderson has been to check

its progress. In the heart a protester, one of

the region's biggest regeneration projects. -- in the heart of the

Dorchester. 300 workers are building a cultural centre with

restaurants and a cinema, not to mention homes and hotels. Even the

country's first solar-powered a railway station. This model is

designed so that people can get a much easier street-level view of

the completed project. You can get a very good street-level view from

here, looking towards the hotel and the fountains, and what will be the

main square of the town, Brewery Square itself. It is all going up

around the old broadcaster Barry side. There will be a fountain here

in the middle. -- Dorchester a Barry. This will be a clock. The

project has been kept on track despite the recent credit crunch

and recession, and it should bring jobs. When the project is finished

that we are building, it will actually employ about 675 new

people. It is a much more intense and its employment than it was when

it was being used industrially. is hoped that this will be the new

heart and soul of the Dorchester. The -- new heart and soul of the

Dorchester. It is a crucial weekend for two of

our sports teams for very different reasons. Exeter City are battling

relegation. But Exeter Chiefs are pushing for a Premiership play off

place. All the sport coming up. And find out how this boat is playing

its part in Cornwall's cultural celebration of the Olympics.

A group of volunteers who grow organic vegetables to supply a

Cornish village are fighting to keep their community farm. Bosavern

Community Farm at St Just is run on farm land owned by Cornwall Council,

who want to sell it. The charity running it are now trying to raise

the money to buy it. Three times a day, volunteers from

this community farm collect eggs from a flock of 200 chickens. In

the next field, others prepare new beds for planting runner beans.

Cull of the organic produce is sold locally. -- all of the organic

produce. Not only do you get great and wonderful home-grown organic

food, you also get a strong sense of community here. The Community

farm is leased from Cornwall council. The council has more than

100 farms across the county. They have owned them since World War One,

when debris used for training in areas for soldiers -- when they

were used for training areas for soldiers. The FA has -- charity has

been praised for how it has helped to keep the charm of -- Farm

running. But now there are fears that it could be sold off

altogether. The council says that money from selling the small farms

will be spent modernising the remaining farms. We are not asset

stripping in any way shape or form. We are looking out for the benefit

of the wider Cornish economy. charity which runs the farm are

trying to find the money to buy the farm their selves. -- themselves.

They have applied for lottery funding. It is such a big community.

People enjoy themselves and produce food for the local people. Everyone

comes and helps. It is feared that is produced within a mile off St

Just. Meanwhile, these volunteers are hoping they will still be here

in the summer to harvest the fruits of their labour.

Time for the sport, and Exeter Chiefs just can't keep out of the

headlines, can they? No, just like you two!

It is a big weekend for Exeter Chiefs. They could follow up their

presence in next season's European Cup by storming into the

Premiership play offs. And it is a special occasion for three of their

players who, between them, will clock up more than 550 appearances

in Chiefs' colours. It is not very often a professional club can boast

this kind of service. The cheats can shout their personal records

from the rooftops, and it goes hand-in-hand with what they have

achieved in the past. Ricky Baxter has used up his head brother, the

head coach. To reach 350, it is a proud moment for me. What did your

brother say? Well done. Congratulations. He decided to make

something of it and the players got their league appearance and

deserved to be honoured in some way for playing a significant part in

the club's history. That was four years ago and I am delighted to

finally get my name up on that board. It is a real good

achievement. Hopefully I can catch Richie up now. Who knows? It is a

sold-out crowd -- it was a sold-out crowd on Wednesday. The runners up

were Northampton. The winners will be set up for a place in the play-

offs. The Cornish pirates will lead to a place in the semi- finals

after their final tomorrow. They will probably meet Bristol.

Plymouth Albion wind up their season with a complete peace of

mind against Moseley, where neither side can be relegated.

Anything less than a win against their relegation rivals Walsall at

St James' Park will see Exeter City condemned to League Two football

next season. City are eight points adrift of the safety line, but with

only three games to play. The teams they are trying to catch are

Walsall and Leyton Orient, who face Yeovil Town in London. The Glovers

could do Exeter a favour, but it's likely that Paul Tisdale's team

will go down. Whether it is this year or next year, add some point,

I suppose we have to get back to a level and to a leak that we are

economically sound. That will be lead to. -- that will be League Two.

Torquay United have been ousted from the League Two promotion

positions by Crawley Town and have to produce the goods at AFC

Wimbledon tomorrow. United are now fourth and have to keep on the

coattails of the teams above them. Plymouth Argyle look safe enough,

but can't let the sides below them close in as the Pilgrims try to

beat Oxford at Home Park. A South West yachtsman is gearing

up for a transatlantic challenge. 22-year-old Sam Goodchild is

preparing to compete in the Transat AG2R race from France to the

Caribbean. It is a gruelling double-handed,

4000 mile race. Sam, who's based in Cornwall, and his co-skipper Nick

Cherry will be the youngest sailors in the world class fleet and the

only British competitors. The race starts in Concarneau in Brittany

It is the first time we have done this race and I am one of the few

English guys to do it. It is quite exciting and I am excited to get

out there and be competitive against some of the top guys in the

sport. In speedway, Plymouth Devils go for

their first win of the season against Leicester in the Premier

League Cup at the St Boniface Arena tonight. 7:30 the start and the

South West schoolboy motocross club race this Sunday at the Phoenix

Moto Park, formerly Whiteway Barton, in Kingsteignton. Have a good time.

Enjoy your sport. That is it for me. The countdown continues.

In four weeks time the Olympic flame will arrive in the South West,

signalling the start of the official build up to the London

2012 Olympics. The Games are not just a sporting showcase. A whole

artistic extravaganza is planned as well, known as the Cultural

Olympiad. Spotlight's Matt Pengelly has been to see Cornwall's dramatic

contribution. Is it a boat or is it a stage? This

100 year old sailing barge, mounted on an old world were to torpedo a

trailer, is going to be Cornwall's sunny there is a little -- of

Cornwall's... There is a little event going on in London. We are

not going to London. We are going as far as Weymouth. There is

sailing and windsurfing taking place and we are trawling through

the entirety of the annals of Cornish history to find important

figures fit to represent the proud Cornish people up there at the

Olympics. When the performers emerge on to the space, during the

show, all of the rigging will go up and all of these things will happen.

Trap doors will open. There will be lots of giggles. It is a blank

space in order to build the imagery of the Cornish sport. This is a lot

more of -- than a play that uses an old boat as a stage. Work on it

began back in November and the aim is to put sporting treasures from

Cornwall on a world stage. The word legacy comes in again. Cultural as

Thank you to everyone who has e- mailed us. Patricia says, we now

live in an apologist society and everyone thinks it is MK just to

say sorry. Nobody cares and nobody has pride in what they do. This is

in reference to the rubbish collections. Another of the work

says, I just got my rubbish collected for the first time in

three weeks. Another reviewer says, thank you to the rubbish collectors

thank you to the rubbish collectors for their hard work. It is not

their fault that there bosses have been irresponsible and I think they

should be congratulated. I just feel very sorry that they have to

work under the circumstances. Thank you again for all of your

comments and please keep your pictures and comments coming

through to our Facebook Page. If you need to plan your weekend

If you need to plan your weekend over the next few days, let's see

what the weather has in store. If you are planning anything for the

next two days, expect more in the way of sunshine in the afternoon.

Showers will be quite frequent at times, especially tomorrow morning,

before they fade away into the afternoon. It is a case of showers

and sunshine on both days. The satellite pictures show you that

there is still some low-pressure bumping around. It has not moved

very far. A new area of low pressure arrives Sunday-night going

into Monday. Showers will be rotating around in this area of low

pressure. More to come later on tonight. A more straightforward day

of sunshine and showers tomorrow and the shares continue as we move

into Sunday. Perhaps on Sunday evening... Showers continue as we

move into Sunday. There is the picture in more detail. Showers

There has been some clear skies. This was earlier today. Our

cameraman was out just catching one or two of the share was as they

went by. At the same time we had some blue-sky. -- of the showers.

Very good visibility and you could see from miles -- for miles. The

broken cloud is what we could see over the next couple of days, but

every now and then, a sharp shower could turn up. Some of them could

be thundery with pale. We could see some clear sky tonight -- with pale.

We could see some clear sky tonight. For the East, enough clear sky to

turn it quite cold. It could be called for a touch of frost and the

wind blow will be swinging around and becoming north-westerly. -- de

1 R two showers could be quite heavy but the focus of the -- wine

were two showers could be quite heavy. A good deal Of fine weather

to end the day. On Sunday we should see some shun shine through the

afternoon. -- sunshine. A breeze will be coming in from the North

West that will make it feel quite chilly so you will need to wrap up

warm. Here are the times of high water water expect some -- here are

For the coastal waters forecast, the winds will be moving westerly.

Monday is the day we are watching quite carefully. Expect some more

persistent rain. We are back to square one with showers on Tuesday.

square one with showers on Tuesday. Have a nice weekend. That is it for