06/08/2013 Spotlight

after days of discoloured tap water. Hello, welcome to Spotlight. South

West Water says the supply is safe, but many people say they're still

concerned about the quality. I don't particularly want to drink

it and if you think about the amount of money we pay for our money, why

are we paying for dirty water to come through our taps? The row over

the rest cancer drug trials in Cornwall.

Patients have been denied it, despite claims of exceptional

results. Richard Branson is reunited with his

record-breaking boat. It is magnificent. I feel like we have

just crossed the Atlantic. It is delightful, and what a beautiful day

for it. Angry customers in parts of North

Devon and Cornwall say they still have concerns about the quality of

their tap water despite reassurances from South West Water. Supplies

around Bude and Clovelley have turned yellow or brown over the last

few days. South West Water has apologised and says it's working to

fix the problem and that the water is safe. Simon Clemison reports.

Relied upon, rarely thought about, until the water comes out this

colour... The company piping to people's comes says it is not

harmful. Would you want to drink it, let alone be thin at's it looks like

some of the already has! Element I don't particularly want to drink it.

Think about the amount of money we pay for water in the south-west, why

am I paying for dirty water? It may look dirty, but South West Water

says the element causing the problem is always in the supply and other

levels are not hazardous. This is like a giant tap and they are

running the water to try and clear the XS manganese. You cannot see

it, but if I use this white bucket, you can see it is still pretty

discovered. Dozens of you have contacted us about the issue. These

are some of the pictures we have received. The type of rainfall we

have had recently is said to be to correct the imbalance. You are still

dragging bottled water, why is that? I am worried, because it still looks

very yellow. They tell me that nobody should be drinking it in

great quantities. What do you think about that? The fact that they are

saying that at all seems to be slightly worrying. Did they cause

alarm? They definitely have caused alarm by the way they handled it.

The handling of the situation has been appalling. I am sorry if

customers are getting mixed messages. During the last few days,

we identified the cause. It is very difficult to be definitive about

what the problem is until we have investigated fully. This may be a

problem of managing perception rather than reality, but is perhaps

worse than reality. Bude is just a short distance from Camelford, where

there was a serious incident 25 years ago.

Meanwhile the quality of bathing water is coming under closer

scrutiny. 11 popular South West beaches are taking part in a pilot

scheme to inform bathers when it's safe to swim in the sea. Seven

beaches in Devon and four in Cornwall have joined the initiative,

which is run by local people. It gives early warning of what's called

"short term pollution," when run-off from farm land or sewage flow into

the sea, affecting bathing water quality for less than 72 hours.

Leigh Rundle went to Hele Bay in Ilfracombe to find out more

Following heavy rain, breaking waves are brown with agricultural run-off

from the fields, but locals are wading in.

They will update this sign every day. It displays a smiley face when

it is safe to swim, and a don't swim symbol if the water quality is

likely to be poor. I think everybody likes to know that they can swim on

a safe beach, water quality wise it is quite important for parents with

young children. Hele Bay in Ilfracombe is one of 30 locations

nationally taking part. Holiday-makers are impressed.

sea is so manky, you don't know what's in there. If it has been

tested and you know it is clean for them to swim in, that is great

stuff. You can see when you are driving along how muddy it is, and

it is much cleaner further out. Definitely, it is every good idea.

Water quality is mostly good, but a daily check with the Environment

Agency makes sure. This was voted on by the community group to take part

in this. We hope it will help improve water quality and that we

will be at the forefront of when decisions are made to improve water

quality. It affects our environment, our locals, our tourist industry.

is being driven by new tougher EU regulations and for Hele Bay, it is

sink or swim. If we don't meet the EU standards, a sign will go up on

the front of the beach to advise people not to come swimming on the

beach. Or we could have the beach designated as a non-swimming beach,

which would have a major effect. nature of the landscape in North

Devon, with its steep cliffs and valleys means that you are never

going to eradicate agricultural run-off altogether. This represents

a local community coming together to find a solution to the problem.

Two women who occupied a care home in protest against unpaid wages have

been ordered to leave by a judge, but say they will continue their

battle against its owner. Rosemary Parker and Launa Llewellyn-Jones

exposed poor standards at the Park View home in Plymouth, and were then

sacked. Our home affairs correspondent Simon Hall reports

from Plymouth County Court. The women's cause has won

considerable sympathy and today, friends and well-wishers gathered at

court for the eviction hearing. Thank you for your support. Hello.

They have been occupying a care home in protest at unpaid wages, but that

is a principle, not the law. They lost and were ordered to leave.

feel upset, with the judge saying we have to leave at three o'clock

today. We are just going to carry on and be strong and get as much about

as we can, myself and Launa. women spent a week occupying Park

View in Plymouth. They lost their jobs after reporting concerns about

the way residents were being treated. They won an employment

tribunal against the company and the owner, Nick Chapman, sharing

�40,000, but haven't been paid. Obeying the eviction order, they

remain defiant. We got our voices out there to let people know what

Nick Chapman is like, so we did win in a subtle way. Today will not be

the end of all that. Did you really achieve anything? Yes, we did, we

did achieve something. We had a week to do it, didn't we? We have the

papers to stop Nick Chapman ever opening a care home again.The

occupation protest will leave them further out of pocket. Costs of �800

were awarded against them. Mr Chapman was not in court and has not

responded to our request for an interview, but his barrister told

the hearing the women had no legal right to be in the home and no

defence for being here. The judge agreed, but he did say he could see

how some people might have to sympathy with the pair.

A cancer drug being trialled in Cornwall won't be made available on

the NHS, despite having what one clinical oncologist has described as

exceptional results. The clinical body NICE, which is advising the NHS

on drugs, says the effectiveness of the medicine is unclear, and it's

expensive. Spotlight's John Ayres has more.

Susan developed breast cancer, which spread to other parts of her body.

She was offered the chance to take part in a trial of the drug agenda,

and she has been taking part in six months and her lungs have cleared

and her tumours have reduced. been fantastic, it is a fantastic

quality of life. The pain has gone, I have much more energy. Life is

very good, very good. I realise I am very, very lucky to have been

offered it. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

advises the NHS on drugs. Today, it issued draft guidance blocking

access to the drug, coming as a disappointment to a doctor heavily

involved in making the drug trial available for Cornish patients.

magnitude of benefit is unprecedented. There is six months

longer it keeps cards acquired for, we do not know how much longer it

keeps people alive because patients are doing so well that we have not

got on average. In a statement, the chief executive of National

Institute for Health and Care Between 20 and 30 people like Susan

have been taking the drug in Cornwall.

The youngsters aiming high after receiving some expert tuition coming

After the rainfall of the last couple of days, today has been

mainly dry. Tomorrow will be similar with light winds and the risk of

Devon and Somerset's fire chief has robustly defended his decision to

take on an extra job for the Welsh government. Lee Howell has been

criticised for taking on the advisory role at a time when five

million pounds of cuts to the fire service here are being implemented.

The Welsh Government is paying the Devon and Somerset Fire Service for

Mr Howell's time and earlier he told me his new job is good news for our

region. This is a really prestigious

appointment and I am delighted to have been appointed to this rule. It

is great for Devon and summer at and it is good for us to learn from the

Welsh government and the Fire Services as of -- of Wales. I am

taking on additional work for no personal gain. It is in addition to

the work I am doing. Many other Chief Fire Officer do a similar job

in other areas. I do not see what the fuss is about. You will not be

available for two days a week, presumably. It will be in charge?

The arrangement with the Welsh Government would ensure that if my

priority is in Devon and Somerset I will continue to be there. It is an

advisory role, not a delivery role. I can be available at the end of a

phone, or can be contacted by e-mail or video conferencing. The issue is

not the physical location, it is the fact that there are many issues I am

dealing with in Devon and Somerset and in that context they will be of

benefit to the Welsh Government. say you do not know what the fuss is

about, but do you not accept concentration will not be on Devon

and Somerset at a time when cops are being implemented, you are not

giving your all to the job? -- when cops are being implemented.

priorities for Devon and Somerset are quite clear, it is about

firefighter safety and then implementing significant changes

that we have had discussion on recently. The fire authority made

the decision and we are in the process of implementing those. It

remains a priority for me and the service. In addition to that, we

have the ability to draw in additional income that if I had not

taken this rule would not have been available to us. -- if I had not

taken this rule. It's nearly six months since 300

jobs were lost at Axminster Carpets. Today, the company's back on its

feet and taking on new staff again. But many of those who lost their

jobs are still out of work. As part of a special series, Spotlight's

Andrea Ormsby's been back to Axminster to follow some of those

made redundant and to find out how they're getting on with finding a

new job. Friday, 14th June. Julie is on her

way to All Saints Primary School in Axminster. She works to Mike is a

week as a teaching assistant after losing her job at Axminster Carpets.

I love being here. Losing my job was horrible, but it is brilliant being

black in the classroom. -- back in the classroom. It is only two days,

and I wish it could be more, but is good fun. Two weeks ago she was at a

jobs fair to try and find another part-time job to boost your income.

She applied to the Donkey Sanctuary and was feeling optimistic, but she

did not get it and there was more bad news to come. Plenty of people

who had made redundant from Axminster Carpets were there.

been looking online for prospective employment. I have applied for 50

jobs. I have had three or four and Zeus saying I was unsuccessful. --

three or four answers. You build yourself up and think it could be

the one, and then the letter comes back, but you have just got to get

on and try for the next one. A month and a half later and Julie is not so

positive. I feel more and more that I am less confident in my abilities.

I think, can I do these jobs? Can I go for that one? Always in the back

of my mind, I would love to think that at some time in the future I

could go back. I loved my job, I loved the people I worked with. It

was a dreadful day when we heard the news and I can only hope that they

will come back again, people. Buying Axminster Carpets and there will be

another job for me. -- people start buying. Julie is back on the hunt

for more work, but now it is not just part-time. I am off to a job

interview for a medical receptionist. I have got to do

because I have lost the job at school. The boy is moving about has

finished, so I will not go back in September, so I need to find

something else to fill the week. are you feeling? Devastating. I was

so upset on the last day. I really love that job. The interview done,

and Julie is not feeling positive. do not know that that went very

well. I should find out early next week, but I am not sure. I was so

nervous. Fingers crossed. I just don't know. After so much bad news

it is hard to be helpful. -- hopeful.

And we just heard Julie didn't get the job. We'll be back in Axminster

tomorrow for the third of our special reports, seeing how some

traders in the town say things are on the up.

Good luck for the future, Julie. Two South West football clubs have

the chance tonight to make the headlines in the first round of the

Football League Cup. Exeter City attempt to oust Harry Redknapp's

Queen's Park Rangers from the competition, while Plymouth Argyle

go for glory at Birmingham City, winners of the trophy only two years

ago. John Ayres, who'll be covering Exeter's tie for BBC Radio Devon, is

at St James' Park. Exeter City got off to a fine start

at the weekend with a win over their West Country rivals, restore Rovers.

Tonight they have a cracker. They are playing Queens Park Rangers,

newly relegated from the league. You would think that they should win

this march confidently, but the league cup is one of those that can

produce upsets. Sometimes they do not give this the respect they ought

to and people can come a cropper against smaller teams, especially at

penalty. If they can get through to the next round, you can get sides

like Liverpool and Manchester United. Exeter City have got it all

to play for. All of the matches are all on your local radio station

tonight. Youngsters in Cornwall have had the

chance of a lifetime, after getting a training session with Olympic and

Paralympic medallists. The Olympians have been coaching in Newquay to

celebrate the 25th anniversary local club. -- of their local club. Their

aim is inspire youngsters to aim high. Jane Chandler reports.

Going for gold. Well, maybe in seven years' time. Double Olympic silver

medallist, Neil Adams, and Paralympian, Ben Quilter, who took

bronze in London, have really inspire these youngsters. It has

been quite cool. Obviously, growing up knowing that they are Olympians

and meeting them is quite cool. find it really awesome that we had

them in our Olympics. We have two wicked teachers. The training

session at the judo kwai were held over two days by Neil Adams. He won

his medals in 1980 and 1984 and now he is a coach. He provided

commentary for his sport at the London Olympics. Since the Games we

have so much interest, not just for judo but sport in general. It is to

push our own sport in the south west, where there are not as many

judo clubs as we would like, and to increase interest is the main aim.

Ben Quilter took bronze in 2013 despite an injury. I have not been

back training full-time. It is a long process. It has been great and

I went to the Anniversary Games at the Olympic Stadium. It was great to

be back at Olympic Park and see it in all its glory. By the looks of

it, we may be seeing more than one Olympic medallist coming out of

Cornwall in the next eight years! really want to go to the Olympics.

It made me want to do it even more. An unusual reunion has taken place

in Cornwall today. The crew of Virgin Atlantic Challenger II had a

get together, 27 years after breaking the speed record for

crossing the Atlantic. Sir Richard Branson was onboard for the trip

from Plymouth to Fowey. Spotlights David George was on the water to

meet them. Powering into Foley at 37 knots...

The original the 12 engines burning five gallons a mind. After years

virtually abandoned in a boat yard in Majorca, Virgin Atlantic

Challenger II has been restored and is looking as good as ever. In the

port, there was a big welcome from the shore. And in the air...

Fantastic, look at this. It was in 1986 they crossed the Atlantic in

three days, ten hours and 40 minutes, breaking the record of the

Isles of Scilly and taking the blue ribbon. This is the first time the

crew have seen each other since then. It was great to see the crew.

We had a little difficulty recognising each other, but we had

some incredible experiences. The first year we went for the record,

we sank just off the eyes of silly -- the Isles of Scilly. Then we

built a new boat and broke the record. The blue ribbon had been

helped by the Americans for a long time. The last time I was on this

boat was 27 years ago, when they did a victory cruise around the coast of

Cornwall. The navigator let me drive this boat from Newquay to Padstow.

It is great to be back. It was incredible pain, every ten seconds

you were crashing into something. They said, why didn't you stop?

Everyone said, I did not want to be the first to suggest that, so we

kept going. The new owner says he is not yet sure how she will be used,

but she will be moored in Plymouth and at least this iconic vote has

been saved. -- this iconic boat. I cannot believe it was 27 years

crossing. They were very lucky. There have

been some showers, but for most of us the sunshine has been back,

particularly for those on the beach, where the sun has been shiny

pretty much throughout the day. Tomorrow is very similar. There may

be just a small chance of some slow-moving showers developing.

Light winds and again, it will feel warm in the sunshine. Proper summer

weather, really. There is quite a lot of weather around the UK at the

moment. There is cloud up through the western side of Ireland giving

heavy rain. That will go down into the Bay of Biscay. Another area of

low pressure is over the northern part of the Pyrenees and will come

north, these two areas of low pressure pivoting around each other.

We may see showers through the endless channel overnight tonight

and across the channel islands. -- the English Channel tonight. For

Thursday, a weak ridge of high pressure. This weather system is the

one that will produce patchy light rain, but it will be weak as it

crosses on Friday. It is replaced by sunny spells and the child of

showers. You can see from the latest satellite picture, there are showers

across Devon and Somerset. For the rest of us, a lovely end to the day.

Overnight the cloud will meant the way -- melt away. Tomorrow morning,

more clout comic through the English Channel. It will produce a shower in

the far south of Devon. For most of us, a fine and dry night, just a bit

misty. Overnight temperatures similar to last night. Tomorrow,

some sunshine. Patchy cloud briefly along the eastern channel with some

showers. Decent spells of sunshine, particularly along the coastline,

and temperatures getting up to around 21 degrees. The wind

direction is merely northerly, but we will see an onshore sea breeze

Not a great deal for the surfers. The outlook... We will see showers

around on Friday briefly in the morning, before it improves to sunny

spells in the afternoon. A bit more of a breeze developing on Friday.

The weekend forecast looks reasonably quiet. There might be

showers around on Saturday but on the whole it is strike and typical

temperatures for the next few days, 20 or 21 degrees.

Now just before we go tonight, we'd like to tell you about our new

summer series which starts tomorrow.Justin and I, together with

some of our colleagues from BBC Radio Devon and BBC Radio Cornwall,

have been to explore places in the South West we've never been to

before. Here's a little taste of I can't believe I have never been to

Lundy Island. Hello, my lovely. How are you? I am all right. Trig often

is well-known for its foliage. Welcome to the castle. I use this

regularly, I am 125. Really? This is the first time I have ever set foot

on Samson. That is the Isles of Scilly, not the