14/05/2014 Spotlight

still trapped. Wd

Tonight, a special service is being held in

We'll be live in Exmouth whdre that service is taking place.

We'll also be back at the scene of the accident where local people had

A family desperately hoping that lessons will be learned.

An inquest hears about the mistakes leading up to the death

And anger over the closure of another community hospit`l,

A memorial service is being held in Exmouth tonight for the the dead

and injured following yesterday s coach crash in Cornwall.

Two people died and four are still being treated in hospital

after the coach carrying pensioners on a day trip crashed near Looe

The driver who was arrested on suspicion of causing death

by dangerous driving was today released on bail.

Our reporter Eleanor Parkinson joins us from outside All Saint's Church

in Exmouth where tonight's service is already underway.

This evening, a full servicd has been held here. This service

This evening, a full service has been held here. This servicd is

been held here. This service is being led by Father Trevor Smith who

says this is a small community which has been left shocked by

yesterday's events. This chtrch has been left shocked by

yesterday's events. This church is has been left shocked by

yesterday's events. This chtrch is a yesterday's events. This chtrch is a

five`minute walk from the day yesterday's events. This church is a

five`minute walk from the day centre which organised the strip for the

pensioners which ended so tragically. We've spent a d`y in

tragically. We've spent a day in Exmouth finding out how people in

the town are coming to terms with the tragedy. This morning in

Exmouth, the age concern office had a regular stream of visitors. They

wanted to offer help to all those involved in yesterday's coach crash.

Stray much appreciated, thank you. Last night, those well enough to

travel will brought home. It shook me up, really. My friend, she caught

her hip on the side. It was very traumatic. It was awful to see

people, sort of, in that state. But morning, I'm sorry to hear this

tragedy. I'm here on behalf of the town council to give you support.

The coach trip was organised by age concern and the town's now wanted to

offer his support. People know that huge work is done by age concern. I

feel this tragic event should not have diminished that. We spoke to

the trustees and we have agreed to keep the code running for some time.

This is tragic for everyone involved but you have to realise that people

who want to make friends, wd who want to make friends, wd

shouldn't curtail their ability to get to a coach trip. So we `re going

to keep them. This community get to a coach trip. So we are going

to keep them. This communitx has to keep them. This community has

been shot by what has had to churches have responded by holding a

special service to night. It is a close`knit community. We are the

largest town in the county. It is unexpected and it is harder to cope

with. So it will hit the community with. So it will hit the community

quite hard. The community will support each other. The emotion of

yesterday may have eased a little today but over the coming d`ys and

weeks those who want it will be offered counselling. Special humans

have been sunk and special prayers have been said, and each parishioner

has been given a candle to light. For more on this story, back to you

in the studio. Meanwhile, in Cornwall

investigations are continuing The coach driver has been released

on police bail and people in Looe have sent their condolences to

the bereaved families. David George reports from Morval

where the incident took place. This road reopened late last night.

Local people say there have been a number of accidents on this hill

over the years. They have c`mpaigned for a reduction in the speed at.

over the years. They have campaigned for a reduction in the speed at We

for a reduction in the speed at. We did this trip 40 miles an hour. The

road becomes narrower and steeper. On the left is the spot where the

coach crashed. Flowers now larks the spot. The badly damaged coach then

carried on down the road passing a small junction on the left before

coming to a stop adjacent to the cottages. Last night, investigators

marked and photographed the tyre marks left by the coach. Thdy have

now been taken to a police pound for further investigation. The driver,

who was arrested and questioned at length, was released from police

custody this morning. He has been bailed to appear again in Atgust.

Investigating officers saying it is not clear how many passengers were

wearing seat belts. Some of the more wire. `` some of them were wearing

seat belts. Until we speak to them initially, we have got an initial

count, but we will speak to everybody individually. Some

count, but we will speak to everybody individually. Somd were

everybody individually. Some were wearing them, yes. 34 were taken to

hospital and four are still there. There has been praised for local

people who provided help to dozens of shocked and injured passengers.

They were still in shock and lots of them were covered in blood and blood

them were covered in blood `nd blood spattered. So, yes, they weren't

sure what had gone on. They were glad to be offered coach and having

a cup of tea somewhere. I had glad to be offered coach and having

a cup of tea somewhere. I had been caught by flying shards of glass.

One gentleman was covered in blood when he had been helping out. All

the people we've spoken to send their condolences to the relatives

of those killed and two the injured. I understand that councillors here

are considering a more form`l I understand that councillors here

are considering a more formal form are considering a more form`l form

of condolence to be sent to the people of Exmouth.

A verdict of natural causes has been recorded

at the inquest into the death of a Plymouth man who was ghven

penicillin at Derriford hospital, despite being allergic to it.

The coroner said it was an error which should not h`ve been

John already had health problems when he was admitted to hospital. He

was given penicillin for a chest infection, despite the fact he was

wearing wristbands which showed he had an allergy and it was written on

his notes. The inquest heard the relevant part the notes was covered

up I opposed it snowed. The assistant coroner found the drug

should not have been given, but said it didn't cause or contribute to his

death. He accepted medical dvidence death. He accepted medical evidence

from several senior doctors and an anaesthesiologist that John was very

ill and in a terminal phase of his life. His son read out a st`tement.

life. His son read out a statement. My family is delighted that the

coroner recognise the families concerned that procedures at the

hospital has put the public at risk. We regret, however, that thd coroner

We regret, however, that the coroner at accepted the medical evidence

presented to him, and the family's presented to him, and the family's

evidence that John, who could flirt with nurses before his injection,

and he couldn't afterwards, is disappointing. A drug error was

made. The family say they are relheved

that two years and three months after his death, they finally have a

verdict. A community hospital in West

Cornwall is to close following a yearlong consultation. Poltair

Hospital in Penzance closed ten inpatient beds in 2012. Existing

outpatient services are to be moved to alternative locations. But

campaigners are concerned the decision has been made too puickly.

John Danks reports. The hospital sits in this

picturesque location just outside picturesque location just ottside

Penzance. For the last two years, Penzance. For the last two years,

it's only been open to outp`tients. it's only been open to outp`tients.

The babe `` the building is outdated and in need of repair. Now the

decision has been made to close the hospital and move its services

elsewhere. They are between a rock and a hard place and I've sympathy

that there is money in the system and they've got to make somd hard

decisions. I have some anxidties. It is not the building we are hung up

with, we're worried about the services. Nobody was available for

an interview, but they issudd services. Nobody was available for

an interview, but they issued a an interview, but they issudd a

statement where they say that an interview, but they issued a

statement where they say th`t the closure of Poltair has been agreed

but mems of the public have expressed concerns which were

acknowledged by the board. The managing director says, we worked

very hard to take all aspects into account. This points to a which will

provide the `` this points to a solution which will provide better

services. Poltair hospital will not close until alternative services are

put in place. A man who killed his crying baby

by throwing him so violently into his cot that he suffered

massive head injuries has bden jailed for more than six ye`rs

after admitting manslaughter. 24`year`old Matthew Wickens, from

Newton Abbot, tried to cover up five`week`old Riley Gardener's head

injury by putting a hat on him. Exeter Crown Court heard

the baby was found dead Riley's family said in a statement

that it was difficult to describe A man has been charged

in connection with the deaths of two cyclists killed in a crash

with a lorry during a charity ride Toby Wallace and Andrew McMenigall

had been cycling from Land's End to Robert Wayne Palmer,

who's 32 and from Bude, has been charged with two counts of

causing death by dangerous driving and is due to appear at Bodlin

Magistrates' Court on 3rd June. Cutting subsidies, is

the sun setting on big solar farms? On the crest of a wave,

the surfer who's become a world And the celebrity couple and

the latest addition to their brood. Plans have been unveiled to

slash the subsidies paid to Over recent years,

they've become commonplace in the south west and criticised

by some as a blot on the landscape. Energy companies currently qualify

for generous payouts but the government now says it wants

to support smaller schemes instead. Our Environment Correspondent Adrian

Campbell reports. Is this really the right way to

generate electricity? The south`west has been at the forefront of a rush

to install large solar arrays. has been at the forefront of a rush

to install large solar arrays. Some have argued it is better to grow

crops on our fields instead. Over recent months, there's been mounting

concern in the south`west about the use of greenfield locations for

large solar farms. The government is now catching up with public opinion

and suggests the best place for them is on the roots of business units.

This business is having sol`r panels installed on its roof. It says

This business is having solar panels installed on its roof. It s`ys it

installed on its roof. It says it makes good business sense. We're not

a particularly huge industrhal business here and were able to put

150 kilowatts of power on here. This 150 kilowatts of power on hdre. This

will give a significant control over our costs. It makes sense for more

units to be doing this. Does it surprise you we haven't dond

units to be doing this. Does it surprise you we haven't done it

earlier? In a way, yes. The government is consulting about

proposed changes which will come into effect next April. Solar

proposed changes which will come into effect next April. Sol`r farms

into effect next April. Solar farms which can power 2700 homes would

cease to qualify for subsidies from cease to qualify for subsidies from

the feed in tariff. At the south`west have changed in

appearance because of these farms and many existing farms could be

with us for the next 20 years or so. Now it seems, though, there is a new

type of solar boom just abott Now it seems, though, there is a new

type of solar boom just abott to take off. This time, it will be in

business parks around the region. business parks around the rdgion.

People are starting to cotton on there is a good return to be

People are starting to cotton on there is a good return to bd had, a

20% return on your investment, based on the income from the government

schemes. And your electric savings. It makes sense. In the coming

months,, `` in the coming months, solar panels on businesses could be

seen more readily. The latest unemployment figtres

continue to point towards economic recovery in the south west. The

number of people out of work and claiming benefit has again fallen

significantly across the region Joining me with the details is our

business correspondent Neil What is the full? It is abott 8 , it

is twice as much as the nathonal average. We should compare the

figure with 12 months previously. Over that year, it has dropped 29%.

Over that year, it has dropped 9%. It is actually steeper than the

national average. But our rate It is actually steeper than the

national average. But our r`te has national average. But our r`te has

been below the national rate for been below the national ratd for

most of this time. That's right. most of this time. That's rhght

First, let's give you a national First, let's give you a nathonal

figure just to put in the back of figure just to put in the b`ck of

your mind. The overall unemployment rate, going by the claimant count,

2.8%. This is the narrow measure of 2.8%. This is the narrow me`sure of

unemployment, just those people getting benefits. In Cornwall, that

was down to 1.9%, in Devon, it was down to 1.3%, in Dorset, one point

2% `` 1.2%, and in Somerset, it was 1.5%. Plymouth's rate is down 2.5%,

1.5%. Plymouth's rate is down 2 5%, Torbay is down to 3.2%, so Torbay is

the only large area here th`t Torbay is down to 3.2%, so Torbay is

the only large area here that has the only large area here that has

got unemployment above the national rate. Thank you.

Well, onto one man's story now of getting back into the workplace.

Tommy Gundry from Liskeard believes his initial difficulties in getting

a job were due to the fact that he relies on his wheelchair.

Tommy's on a mission to encourage more

employers not to dismiss potential workers because of disabilities.

Tommy was unemployed for 18 months, but despite having good

qualifications and communic`tion skills, only a handful of employers

I think people think it's going to cost a lot

Or that disabled people will have a lot of time off work,

And disabled people are mord likely to stay in jobs for longer

because they find it so hard to find an alternative job.

He works for the Real Ideas organisation

I think there's plenty of work out there in Cornwall, and around,

I think employers just need to be positive

With the help of a charity called Fixers, he has designed

a leaflet which highlights the benefits of hiring disabled people.

There's lots of information there to help support employers in t`king

So, really, it is about breaking down barriers

and saying, the information is out there, the help is out there.

If someone with a disability is the best for the job,

Tommy started his job a few weeks ago

and says he now has a more positive outlook on life and is pleased he

A Devon surfer has become the world waveski champion for the third time.

Kieron Davies from Braunton completed his hat trick competing

As Spotlight's Dave Gibbins reports, he achieved this against some

of the strongest surfers from around the world.

All Kieron Davies needs is a board and a paddle.

The 50`year`old has proved he's the best on the planet

for the third year running. And it's no fluke.

He devotes his time to his particular skill along the coasts

You'll find Kieron at Croyde Bay most of the time.

But on this occasion, he was at Sandymouth near Bude where the swell

It's just a joy to catch pretty much any wave you want.

We get a lot of wind with that, a lot of choppy waves.

But waveski allows you to make the most of the conditions we get

Waveskiing is different to Orthodox surfing.

It's a larger board, which weighs 6kgs, or 13lbs,

and it is for sitting on and catching a wave, instead of

How difficult was it for yot in Durban?

It wasn't too unlike Croyde Beach break.

It wasn't as big as we'd hoped it would be, but we had high

waves most days, and the water was thoroughly nice, 26 degrees.

So being able to surf in board shorts day and, day out,

it helps the performance, r`ther than being wrapped in rubber.

Now, you're a floor layer as a profession.

How much time can you devote to your sport?

I plan all my surfing trips and everything around my customers.

What comes first, waveski or your business?

Well, Kieron out there belids his 50 years of age.

He's king of waves, not only in Britain and Ireland,

Proving if you're fit enough, you're young enough.

Now, a celebrity couple in Somerset have just welcomed

The happy event was eagerly anticipated by thousands of people

We've been following Boris and Brenda on Spotlight over

They're a pair of barn owls and now the latest addition to the family is

Call it the Outlook live alone at of the Big Brother house. `` c`ll it

that each brother. Today I was taken to the secret location of the owl

box. It's part of a project in the summer `` Somerset wildlife trust to

boost declining population. This is as close as we get. We do want to

give away the location, and we don't want to disturb the balance house ``

the barn owls. With the wonders of technology, we can actually see

them. Yes, and what we have got here is the two adults. And therd you go,

is the two adults. And there you go, there is Burrowbridge, numbdr

seven! It has become an Intdrnet sensation globally, as these website

comments show. From GDP in Illinois... To two Reza, who, in the

early hours is... Just saying what she sees.

Schools like this one have `ll watched in class time. We try to

check in every day. Familiar with, if you've the version if yot

check in every day. Familiar with, if you've the version if you forget

if you've the version if yot forget it, and you don't go back for a few

days, you see such a differdnce in days, you see such a difference in

the owl at. Which is so exchting. the owl at. Which is so exchting.

The owl population of Britain has The owl population of Britain has

halved. The birds are struggling to find food in areas like the Somerset

Levels, underwater for so long. Putting up nesting boxes was a

campaign started two years ago Putting up nesting boxes was a

campaign started two years `go to campaign started two years ago to

try to reverse that decline. She's had a whopping seven aches. While

it's impossible to draw these conclusions, people behind this

project are encouraged. The big question that everybody is `sking

project are encouraged. The big question that everybody is asking is

question that everybody is `sking is will all seven survive? I don't know

the answer, but it is a bit like England winning the World Ctp. It's

England winning the World Cup. It's not impossible, they have a chance.

And they seem to have an awful lot of people around the world rooting

for them. Lovely story.

We saw some lovely sunshine earlier, let's see if it will continte. How

let's see if it will continue. How is it looking?

We have a few more days of sunshine to come. Good evening. Some very

warm temperatures in the region Tomorrow, we are going to see

warm temperatures in the region. Tomorrow, we are going to sde some

further spells of sunshine, a bit more cloud with a set times through

the day tomorrow. But, despite seeing more cloud, it is sthll going

seeing more cloud, it is still going to be another warm day. So, we've

got high pressure with this. There are some cloud to the north and

west. But the high pressure is settling in place in the southern

parts of the UK, keeping those were the fronts of a from us. We will see

fine unsettled weather tomorrow a bit more cloud developing tomorrow.

There will be mist and fog forming overnight. There is a similar

There will be mist and fog forming overnight. There is a simil`r story

first aim to Friday with early mist and fog with some sunshine, then

cloud building up. Possibly a bit more cloud through Sunday. So far

today, we have seen some decent spells of sunshine, a little

today, we have seen some decent spells of sunshine, a littld bit

today, we have seen some decent spells of sunshine, a little bit of

spells of sunshine, a littld bit of cold which has developed here, a

fine end to the day. With the light winds, we will see some mist and fog

patches forming. There is some risk of kill fog. In the north, ` bit

more cloud arriving here. Locally, inland, a chilly night with

temperatures down to five or six. First thing tomorrow, so early mist

or fog. A bit of cloud towards the north coast. That should retreat

into the afternoon. We could see a bit more cloud building up through

the afternoon. It will still be warm with sunshine around. It will be

another dry day tomorrow as well, and we will seek temperatures

and we will seek temperaturds reaching 19. Tomorrow, with the

sunshine, the UV is going to be height are moderate, and we have

moderate pollen levels, too. In the Isles of Scilly, mainly dry

conditions, and we have light winds with us through the day tomorrow.

Here are the times of high water for tomorrow at Plymouth.

For the surface tomorrow, it will be generally quite clean conditions.

For the North Coast, we're looking at 2`3 foot waves. Out at sda

at 2`3 foot waves. Out at sea tomorrow, fair conditions whth some

tomorrow, fair conditions with some fog patches and just light `nd

fog patches and just light and variable winds. And then thd fine

conditions continue through Friday into Saturday as well. We whll

conditions continue through Friday into Saturday as well. We will see

into Saturday as well. We whll see possibly an isolated shower by

Saturday afternoon. These locally could be heavy but, again, we're

looking at decent sunny spells. On Sunday, it bit of a question as to

what happens through the day, Sunday, it bit of a question as to

what happens through the day, but we will see increasing amounts of cloud

coming in through the West. It is coming in with the weather front,

bringing some rain later in the day. Before then, it will continue with

Before then, it will continte with decent spells of sunshine. With

fairly warm temperatures as well. Thank you, it is looking promising.

That is all from us. I will be back with the late news at 10:30pm. Join

us for that. And have a lovdly us for that. And have a lovdly

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