02/01/2014 Spotlight

three times faster than wages. That is all from BBC News at

13 severe flood warnings are issued by the Environment Agency as more

rough weather approaches the South West tonight. Good evening. Welcome

to Spotlight. This afternoon, communities around the coast were

put on the highest state of alert, meaning there could be a danger to

life. People have been shoring up their homes and businesses. We'll

have all the details of who is at risk live from the Environment

Agency in just a moment. Also tonight: Rail fares go up by an

average of 3% here in the South West. Although it's the lowest price

rise in four years, it's still causing hardship for some

passengers. I can't afford to do it. I travel from Bridgwater to Exeter

Monday to Friday, and I will have to look for another job.

And struggling Torquay United sack their manager Alan Knill after a

disappointing festive period. The public has been warned to stay

away from the coastline from tonight and throughout tomorrow because a

new deadly tidal surge is expected to hit Britain and could sweep

people out to sea. The Environment Agency is warning another violent

Atlantic storm is set to sweep across the UK during Friday and

Saturday, and its gale`force winds will also force the tides upwards

and send it over sea defences. The Met Office expects the rough weather

to hit at midnight. It comes on top of a few weeks of poor conditions.

John Henderson is live at the Environment Agency for us now. John,

how bad is the situation? This is the map that they are paying close

attention to her in Exeter. This shows the tidal risk over the next

12 to 24 hours. It will turn red in a moment and that is the situation

they expect over the next 12 hours. All along the north coast, so here,

if it goes ripped red it means a risk of tidal flooding. A lot of

people have been battening down the hatches. Emma Thompson spent the day

in lieu to see how they are preparing for the storm there.

People here preparing for the worst. Businesses were flooded out a year

ago. The main street through the town under water. This was the

restaurant on the fish quay. It is pretty much like the surge has found

a hole somewhere, so even though we have been stealing things in, it

still found a way. Today they are ready for the same to happen again.

With things coming up the river, we think we should get the wellies in

and the bags and tried to protect the place, but it is worrying from a

business point of view. If you get flooded, you can't work and staff

can't come to work, customers can't get to you, so it is quite worrying

for the whole town. And people in the town aren't taking any chances.

It will probably come at this very high tide, low barometer, it happens

quite frequently. It is a one every other year event, so you should be

prepared for it. Further up the coast in South Devon, the flood

defence Gates in ten must have been shot to protect Sean Lynam

properties. You can insure against flooding, only theft and fire, so

the flooding is something you have to put up with. The whole of the

south`west coast line is at risk of flooding because of tidal surges

expected. Yesterday a holiday maker was washed out to sea in Cornwall.

The search was called off today after the body of a man was found on

a beach at Porthleven. As coastguards when we do get these

large seas with spectacular breaking wins people are tempted to go and

watch and that is our biggest concern. While it is spectacular,

people underestimate the power of the sea, and those waves could

contain rocks and debris which can injure you seriously. It is now a

waiting game to see where are the worst of the weather will hit.

Let's get the very latest. I am joined by Alan borrows from the

Environment Agency stop what is the situation? This chart shows we are

coming into severe flood warnings. We have 12 across Devon and Cornwall

and so the whole Devon and Cornwall coast is on a severe warning. How

many people do you have out and about and what will they be doing?

We have people here doing the forecasting, people in incident room

is managing people on the ground and floodgates but we also have

communities looking at their own defences and making sure they are

operating properly. What can people at home do other than sit and wait

it out? They can keep an eye on the television and radio broadcasts

because things will change. They can keep an eye on the flood line

number, and they can prepare. They need to look at their personal

belongings, what is important, and move them to safety. We are talking

mainly about coastal areas, is that right? Yes, coastal flooding. We had

fluvial flooding last week but this is coastal wedding and the tide and

wins, you can see on this screen as it is read and that means a beer. So

it is not inland you are worried about even though rivers are

raging? We had a dry period for the last couple of days so the coastal

environment is most important. How unusual to have 13 severe flood

warnings? 2008 was the last time we had this but we did not have a

coincidence of wind and wave and high tides and are forecast now

suggests that we are now looking at severe storms for all Devon and

Cornwall. When will it start? We are looking at about 5am tomorrow, I

won't too ours either side of 7am, so we need to give people enough

time to take action `` around either side. And you can get the latest

with local radio and spotlight throughout the day tomorrow.

Devon and Cornwall Police have declared a major incident plan in

place for the predicted floods. With the latest I'm joined by

Superintendent Chris Singer. What sort of scenario you working on? We

are working with the Environment Agency and met office, looking at

predictions. The area is were largely be coastal. It is the

low`lying areas, so all those areas where we know high waves will cause

damage, so it is those areas we anticipate will be worst affected.

Looking at the list, it is a huge operation. It is but we are well

versed at practising these things and putting them into place, so just

in October for the last severe weather warning we had a similar

plan, and we work closely with our colleagues, the environmental agency

is the lead agency and provide us with the majority of information to

help us with our plan. It is very unusual to have a major incident.

Yes, it signifies an incident where RE sources or those of an agency

could become overwhelmed so we need to work together to make sure we

keep people safe. What is your message to them tonight? It is

pleased they await from areas where there may be risk. The tragedy in

the last few days are fresh in our minds and our thoughts go to those

at fact that, but please don't place yourselves at risk, watching waves

and storms, from a safe distance okayed that do not be tempted onto

beaches and run the risk of being swept off her feet. `` off your

feet. Thank you. Rail fares for South West train

passengers went up today. They've increased on average by 3.1%. The

Government says the below`inflation rise is the lowest for four years,

but passenger groups point out prices are still rising faster than

wages. Not everybody's returns to work yet so this morning's commute

was quiet, where members of the Green party highlighted `` pointed

out leaflets to passengers highlighting their campaign to bring

the franchise back into public ownership. We believe it will mean

lower fares and save money for the taxpayer because the privatised rail

industry is a failure for the taxpayer. We have thrown money at

industries rather than invested it in their railways and cut fares. But

from today ticket prices go up an average of 2.8%. The price of an

off`peak return from Penzance to London will increase by ?4. The cost

of travelling from Paddington to Exeter and back at peak times will

rise by ?7, while it will cost you an extra ?3 50 for an early`morning

single from Birmingham to Plymouth. Locally the cost of an off`peak day

return from Plymouth to Gunnislake rises by 20p. I travel from

Bridgwater to Exeter Monday to Friday, and I have to look for

another job because I can't afford to do it. Is it that serious? Yes.

It is. I regard it as inevitable. I can't think of a year when fares

have not gone up. If it is about 3% that seems to me to be kind of what

you expect. I have no problems with the train I catch on a regular

basis, so the prices are just part of the game, really. The government

says the increase is in line with its pledge to peg any rise below

inflation and that pay commuters' pay will continue to drive the

programme of real modernisation `` what they pay. We recognise the

attack on family budgets and have been investing to make sure the rail

fares are kept under control. We are trying to ensure they don't see the

sort of increases you have seen for the last decade. While this is the

first below inflation increase in ticket prices for ten years, those

prices are rising three times faster than wages, so many commuters will

be starting the New Year with some difficult decisions to make.

It's been confirmed the Indian government has terminated its

contract with the Yeovil based helicopter manufacturer GKN

AgustaWestland. The deal was for 12 British`made helicopters to form an

elite squadron to transport the President, the Prime Minister and

other VIPs. Indian defence officials said they scrapped the deal after

allegations of corruption ` something the company has always

denied. Barred owls are facing a serious threat to their future.

Success of bad weather has wiped out their main food source, bowls.

Conservationists say the last few years have been an unseeded disaster

cash back bowls. `` bowls. The NHS in Somerset is launching a

scheme to help pregnant women stop smoking. It's one of the first

regions in the country to develop a specialist midwife role to work with

mums`to`be to kick the habit. So how are things going? Phillipa is still

of tobacco six months after giving birth to her second child. She

managed to quit the habit after her first baby but relapsed because of

postnatal depression. With the help of this specialist midwife in Yeovil

she has managed to stay clear of smoking. By the time we decided to

try former next baby, I was back on to ten, 15 a day, and I felt very

quickly and I wasn't in the mindset to give up smoking, and so then I

found it at that the service and I gave them a call and came in, and

now here I am, still a nonsmoker. As well as being one of the first bases

in the country to appoint an anti`smoking specialist, Somerset

has been given new powers to dispense nicotine patches in

maternity wards. At the moment they need to write a prescription and it

needs to be signed by a doctor and go to the pharmacy, so it is a

complex procedure that we are working to change some of those

systems. From the evidence you can see her, smoking is clearly still a

problem outside our maternity units. The government has set a target for

2015. They want no more than 11% of women to be smoking at time of

delivery. Smoking in pregnancy is especially dangerous for an born

children, increasing the risk of miscarriage is by nearly a third.

The baby is more likely to develop reading problems, so it is essential

more pregnant women are given every chance to quit smoking.

Thanks for joining us this evening. Still ahead in the programme: A big

industry with big hope for the New Year ` the South West's massive

contribution to the marine industry. And the latest on flood warnings

across the South West. The recession has seen an increase

in people in the South West wanting to retrain as counsellors. According

to the profession's governing body, the British Association for

Counselling and Psychotherapy, numbers have more than doubled in

recent years. Three years ago Karen Green was made redundant. Although

it didn't feel like it at the time, for her eight`year`old daughter and

for Karen, it was the best thing that could have happened. Having

lost her job, she retrained as a councillor and now works from home.

It was a chance for a big life change for me. It had been a dream

of mine for a long time but like many people who have done their job

for 20 years, inertia sets in and I didn't quite have whatever I needed

to make the jump. So when everything changed in the public sector, things

shrunk, it was the obvious thing. According to the profession's

governing body, nearly 85% of student counsellors are aged between

30 and 50, indicating many have previously pursued a different

career. For many years I worked with drug and alcohol addiction, and I

find there is a huge need around that area for help, and I've always

wanted to do something like that. Exeter's College has seen a huge

increase in numbers entering the profession. Counselling is a popular

sector to come and retrain, especially if people leave one job

or are maybe redundant and have a sum of money, it is a way of

thinking how to use that effectively and people often have held a real

desire to train as a councillor and it is a times to do that, so we have

seen that number is broadly have continued to be very broad `` very

buoyant. As this therapy becomes less stigmatised, numbers referred

for counselling have increased too. One area you might be able to find a

job in the South West is in the marine industry. Do a quick search

and you'll find plenty of vacancies. That's because we play such a big

part in the sector. With almost ?900 million a year in turnover, we take

the biggest share of the pie across the UK. Boat`building alone brings

in more than ?500 million. And there are high hopes of further growth in

this New Year. Louise Walter has been to one company in Cornwall

that's looking to increase its workforce by a third. They've just

loves boats. Designing them, building them, driving them, he

loves them. Most people who want to be a boat builder do it for the love

and creation of the objects we build. We feel privileged to be able

to build such default and exciting things. And as is that passion that

has seen his boat builder grow from one man and a bag of tools to a

company employing 30 people. This year they sold their first foreign

experts, including this tender for a superyacht. To get into the market

Dave took a gamble. He reached in his own pocket to finance building

this boat is a demonstrator, which he took to the Monaco yacht show.

Tried to get a small company's name out there is quite difficult, and

there are numerous clients we have been talking to about projects which

haven't actually seen our work in the flesh, and it was an ideal

chance to get them out on this boat. It is a decision he has not

regretted, but it is not the only thing taking off. This company has

gone from building a couple of votes a year to having four in production.

To keep up with demand, the company will increase its workforce by a

third in the next year. Mainly skilled tradesman but we need

management skills as well, so we definitely need more project

managers and as the business grows, we will need some backroom support

staff. Cock wealth has seen year`on`year growth, but not all

companies have phoned the recession plain sailing. Plymouth yachts had

to reduce staff working hours and faced redundancy years ago, but the

industry seems to have come out stronger. It shows how you can save

money and make money, so the marine industry has been good at revaluing

think what it does, slimming back to keep the top economic times. Will

believes it is the variety of the marine industry that helped survive.

You have entry`level building of canoes, kayaks, up to the large

super yachts, so we have quality running through at a scale from the

smallest projects up to the very top. He is confident further growth

is possible for his members in 2014. Today's big sports story surrounds

Torquay United, who've sacked their manager Alan Knill after only 11

months in charge. The 49`year`old saved the Gulls from relegation last

May, but they find themselves in serious trouble once again going

into the New Year. With me is Dave Gibbins to discuss the events at

Plainmoor. Why part company with him now? We have just started 2014 and

that means the January transfer window opened yesterday, and that is

when permanent signings take place. With Torquay United boss or next to

bottom of the league, the board think a new manager could come in

with his knowledge and start ringing new players and sell the assets they

have. Look at Alan Knill's record since he took over as caretaker

manager in cabaret and was appointed boss in May. Saving Torquay unit

from the drop, he played 41, 19, and lost 20. Who will be in charge for

Saturday's game? A likeable fellow but totally into ROM. They haven't

advertised for the position of manager but they have names in mind.

When will we know more? Is someone we know in the frame? They lost to

Plymouth yesterday to nil and that sent them down to the bottom of the

table. Chris Hargreaves, who has had links with Plymouth, used to play

for them and was captain of Torquay United when they won the

conference, beating Cambridge in 2009. He is first`team coach at

Bournemouth so a good team manager with ten feet to offer. Also the

ex`Carlisle boss could be in the frame. `` X Argyle boss. Let's go

back to our top story tonight. A major incident has been declared by

Devon and Cornwall Police as the Environment Agency warns another

violent Atlantic storm is set to sweep across the South West during

tomorrow and Saturday. It's feared gale`force winds will force high

tides upwards, sending them over sea defences. The Met Office expects the

rough weather to hit at midnight. Let's get a last look at what is

happening outside. John Kay joins us now from Newquay. John it looks

dramatic, if you can even hear me. I can just about hear you but it is

howling around and competing with the wind and tide. In the last

half`hour since we did the 6pm news it has picked up and the rain has

come in. It is a dramatic title here in North Cornwall but it is not this

tide they are worried about, it is tomorrow morning and subsequent high

tides in the next few days, so if you are sitting at home tonight I

suggest you stay there for as long as you can because it is very

unpleasant. It feels like Groundhog Day. We had such a battering in the

last few weeks and months since the Saint Jude's storm here at the end

of October, but it sounds like this time it is here in the south west we

will bear the brunt of it. Because of what happened over Christmas in

the East of England and in Kent and Surrey, people were cut off and have

no power, the government in London and local authorities here in the

South West arts stressing tonight they are ready and doing everything

they can, they don't want what happened in the East of England at

Christmas to happen here tonight and in the next few days, so Cornwall

Council says that it is having emergency incident rooms aren't

stand`bys tonight, company say they are ready, Devon and Cornwall police

say the to respond. Figures are not as bad as it might be, and hopefully

everybody is ready and protected. John, thank you for facing the

elements tonight. Holly is here now with the latest for us. How is it

looking? As we saw, it looks severe for

tomorrow. We are expecting severe gales around the coast, combined

with high tides to give us coastal flooding and the dish and we have

some heavy showers. This is the area of low pressure we are watching

developing in the Atlantic, ringing us a spell of rain in the evening

but as it clears tonight into tomorrow we see isobars high and the

winds ripped up, and that will send some heavy showers tomorrow. On

Saturday those winds ease down, we will see further showers, and for

tomorrow we have a Met Office yellow warning in force for wind. We could

see cuts as much as 60 or 70 mph around the coast and well spread

gales. We have those 13 severe flood warnings in force, that flood line

number there. So today it has been the calm before the storm. We saw a

few showers, now cloud is becoming up and that will bring a spell of

rain this evening. Not huge amounts but falling unsaturated services,

that rain is clearing to more of a scattering of showers overnight,

some quite organised in the early hours, while these winds are

whipping up. Lows tonight of six to eight degrees. Tomorrow we have

strong winds in place with a risk of coastal flooding, especially around

high tide. They are also whipping through these heavy showers,

bringing a risk of hail and plunder with a few bright spells. Top

temperatures tomorrow up to around eight or nine degrees. For the Isles

of Scilly, again some strong winds here, gales expected, heavy showers

through the day and that flooding risk as well. These are times of

high water. These are when we are especially concerned about the risk

of coastal flooding. And some very big waves obviously out at sea

tomorrow and some very messy conditions. Our coastal waters

forecast, the wind south`westerly aid to storm force ten, decreasing

to six or seven later, those squally showers pushing through reducing

visibility at times. The sea state to date will be high or very high at

times in the West. Tomorrow we have those heavy showers and very strong

winds developing, combining with high tides and that is bringing a

risk of coastal flooding. Thereafter we head into Saturday and we will

see a spell of heavy rain at first but it should ease off through the

morning, more of a scattering of showers but those winds are looking

letter for Saturday. That is the good news but we look ahead to

Sunday and we have another storm, very wet and windy conditions

expected, and we already have an early Met Office yellow warning for

rain in force, and it is then quite unsettled as we head into the

beginning of next week. We will bring you the latest on this

pretty awful combination of different conditions across the BBC.

Do take care. Good night.