10/07/2014 Spotlight

weather. Not a wash-oup but stay tuned for the datails.

Devon County Council says it has to save money, but Anita Sotthey

says people who most need hdlp will be the hardest hit.

It is already `` always the vulnerable who have to suffdr.

Anger on the streets as thousands walk out over spending

Many schools are forced to close and there's disruption

Lottie show us the magic of organ donation.

We were living it day by dax and now she fills our whole family with joy.

And a new start for the rescue dogs, saved from the horror of a war zone.

A 65`year`old widow who is raising her autistic downs syndrome son

alone is preparing to stage her personal protest against big cuts

Anita Southey, who lives in Milton Damerel, near Holsworthy saxs she

isn't a protester by nature, but says she's been driven to stand up

She'll join families tomorrow affected by closures to reshdential

care homes, day centres and respite card.

Devon County Council is makhng the changes to save ?10 million

Spotlight's John Henderson has been to meet her.

It is just after eight, but her mother has been up `` his mother has

been up for two hours to help them. His age is 44 but his mental ability

is 18 months up to three, lhke a big toddler. He has limited mobhlity and

snow speech. `` no speech. He was adopted 33 years ago. For the past

16 years, Anita has looked `fter him, after her husband died. Twice a

week she takes him to a day centre, 22 miles away. He has stayed there

three nights every month so she can get some rest. But it is ond of 40

care homes and centres now facing closure as the County Counchl tries

to save money. I'd do not h`ve any fears of anything when I'd leave him

for day care because I'd know that they will care for him and love him

as if he was their own. I fdel very cross with the Council becatse it is

always the vulnerable that have to suffer. They just don't seel to look

at the people, they look at the building in the money.

You must look forward to a day like today, because you are getthng a

break. Although I'd love hil to bits, it is nice to have sole free

time, because I can treat md. Being here, I suppose I am not at home

doing housework. This is ond of the four day centres that the council

wants to combine, and modernizing the site is one option. It says

users will be consulted on `ny possible changes, but changd is what

Lottie fears most for her son. It will just be devastating `` Anita

fears the most for her son. It'll just be devastating. I'm nedded for

my son. The young ones needdd because they need to contintity I

have never joined a protest march before but I shall go along with

Alastair in his wheelchair `nd have fully do my part.

Thousands of public sector workers also took their collective `nger

against spending cuts to thd streets across the South West today.

In a national day of action, teachers, fire fighters,

health workers and other st`ff walked out in disputes over cuts to

Many schools closed completdly or partially, and other public

There were mass rallies in Dxeter, Truro, Plymouth and Torquay.

In a moment we'll have the political reaction.

First, Spotlight's Hamish M`rshall reports.

Tied up and going nowhere. One of the most obvious signs of today s

action was here for. For thousands, it meant a round`trip detour of more

than 20 miles to use a bridge. We are marching for civil rights all

stop `` civil rights. We cannot go on like this, making cuts. We think

that by combining our efforts, it will have more of an impact. This

was one of around 100 schools which were either fully or partially

closed. Teachers are in dispute over workload. It seems we are constantly

being battered by the government, and all of the policies thex are

introducing. My work recently has been work, work, work. My wdekends,

I am working. I'd need to h`ve a life as well as working. Wh`t no

school means competition and inconvenience for thousands of

parents, like this mother. H can understand why they have gone on

strike the button with my lhttle one `` on strike, but with my lhttle

one, he needs his education. Back at the rally, and passionate arguments

are being made for a line to be drawn in the sand. I have bden a

social worker for over 35 ydars and conditions have changed tot`lly We

are supposed to be dealing with the Mr vulnerable people in sochety ``

the most vulnerable people hn society. Industrial action hs always

a last resort for people, that there comes a time where, if people don't

listen to what you have got to say, the one sanction that working people

have is to with draw their Labour. Nobody wants to do that, but

sometimes you have to. Unions claim today was a success. They m`naged to

seriously affect one in fivd schools in Cornwall. But Devon County

Council says excluding school staff, just 112 of its workers walked out.

Our Political Editor Martyn Oates has been following

the political fallout of today's strikes and he joins me now.

What's been the government's reaction?

consisting about pay restrictions consisting about pay restrictions

are a necessary part of austerity to turn the economy around. Thd Tories

are talking about changing the law relating to the ballots on which

these strikes are racist, and ministers are being a critical that,

in some cases, a very... Only 2 % of the membership of one Union voted.

The ballots took place two xears ago in 2012. The Tories are verx

seriously considering making sure that if they are elected next to me

this kind of thing will not happen in future.

When you look at some of thd unions and the mandate that they h`ve got

for strike action, it is based on having less than half of thdir

members voting for strike action, let alone today, when we look at the

turnout for the strike in the civil service, it is around 18% ttrnout.

The majority of members do not want to strike. The government ndeds to

look at the right time framd. What have labour been saying? Thd Tories

like to make as much hay as possible with the fax `` as possible. The

leadership is not condemning them or supporting them but saying that the

fact the strikes are happenhng represents failure on both sides. We

spoke to a Labour MP in the region and he said he could not colment.

And here at Spotlight, we'd like to hear what you think about

If you took part in today's action or if you were affected by the

disruption to local services today, please do get in touch with us.

We're also on Twitter or yot can post a comment at Facebook.

A little girl from Torquay who wasn't expected to live mord than

two weeks has been celebrathng her birthday with a life saving message.

Lottie Bryon Edmund became the youngest person to ever survive a

I first met her parents when they were desperately `ppealing

for a donor organ, and time was running out.

As it turned out, they were one of the lucky families,

She and her parents have bedn taking to the streets of Torbay to help

persuade more people to sign up for the donor register.

Three years ago, and it was a desperate time for this famhly.

Their baby girl was born with a rare liver disease and put at thd top of

the national transplant list. Lottie was given two weeks to live. On the

15th day, a donor organ bec`me available and saved her lifd.

Today, and it is a very different picture. This lively girl is just

like any other three`year`old, in a usual frenzy of birthday prdsents.

She is a very boisterous little girl. She is extremely loving. You

would never know in a month of Wednesdays that she has ever had a

problem in her life. If you look at how incredibly sick she was, and

look at her now, it is incrddible on it is an absolute miracle, `nd I

think that shows people what can actually be achieved by transplant.

For the whole family, the experience started a commitment to sprdad the

word about what a differencd organisation can make. Thred years,

but also five minutes for us. We are constantly reminded that thdre is

another child now waiting potentially for life saving

operations like Lottie. It never leaves you. It is very vital. We set

two and a half years ago, wd are never going to stop. And so, what

better way to celebrate your third birthday than a `` third birthday?

There was one person missing the celebrations, the surgeon who saved

Lottie's life three years ago. He had been due to visit was c`lled in

an emergency operation for `nother child. Her parents would not have it

any other way. He is forgivdn because he has performed a

life`saving surgery for somdone else. It is easy to sign up. You can

ring or text. With or withott a surgeon, Lottie is inspiring or

people to sign up to the donor register, and that can only help to

save more lives. Great to see Lottie doing so well,

and of course, we'll keep you A man accused of murdering `

17`year`old has appeared in Crown Court. The 42`year`old man was

further remanded in custody. A former Plymouth Argyle youth player

died on Sunday after an alldged row. A vigil in his memory was held

in Plymouth last night. The family of a Devon man who died

after he collapsed in a polhce cell are in London to protest about

the time it's taking for prosecutors to decide whether to bring charges

against police officers and staff. Thomas Orchard, from Exeter,

died in hospital after his `rrest His family's meeting the he`d of the

Crown Prosecution Service, calling The CPS is considering charges

against four police officers, two A Devon and Cornwall police officer

has appeared in court accusdd of wilfully neglecting her duty

and committing acts with intent to PC Sarah Cohen

from Lifton denied the charges relating to incidents allegdd to

have happened three years ago. She was bailed

and the case adjourned. A young mum who says that she

suffered for a young mum who says that she is expunging of thd state

is hoping to challenge misconceptions by taking her message

into schools and youth centres. What do you think when you see a young

mother in the street? Do yot make assumptions or even judge? Lauren is

21. She first became a mothdr at 17 and has two children. She lhves with

her partner, who works to stpport the family, but gets regular abuse

when she is out and about. H'd get people staring a lot, and you can

talking as they walk past you, babies having babies. They `ssume

you are on benefits and you are getting all these trees `` free

things of the government and you are having children so you do not have

to get a job. This is not an isolated case, but a charitx says

they see many young mothers in a similar situation. Young parents are

just as capable of being parents as someone in their late 30s or 40s,

and the work that Lauren is doing, I am hoping it will push that more out

into the public eye, gets pdople realising that actually, thhs

misconception that is going and needs to stop. Learn as now working

with a charity to change attitudes. I am going into school speaking to

children from 14 up to six foreign age about the realities of teen

parenting and what happens when you take all the precautions but they go

wrong. She is clear she would not advocate girls getting pregnant at a

young age. It is about making young people aware of the realitids of

parenting. We took the issue to the street and

asked people implement what they felt was the right age to h`ve

children. Best age, 32. That is when my daughter had her child. Hn your

20s. 21 upwards. Maybe even 20 if you have done a bit with yotr life.

So much talk over the years about having children young, whitd? Women

are entitled to have a caredr like men are. They do not need to have

them young anymore. I think too young stops you having

opportunities, like Univershty and things, but to old, you are too old

for the kid, so I'd think 20s, that is what I want to have a kid anyway.

Work is underway to protect an airport from the ravages of winter.

It has had to close for two months because extreme rain left its

runways waterlogged. Millions of pounds are now being spent to ensure

the airport can be used safdly all year round.

No planes at lands end airport today, but plenty of machindry. They

are digging up two of the grass runways so they can be harddned and

made safer. All four runways are grass, and when it rains he`vily,

they get so waterlogged that the airfield has had to close, sometimes

for months on end. Since Brhtish international told it's helhcopter

flight out of Pandev, the ahrports `` out of pens and, the air ports...

We have tarmac runways and two of them and we are putting in

substantial drainage works, navigational aids and lighthng, and

this is all designed to improve the resilience of the airports, to

improve the capabilities of flying to the Isles of Scilly. The main

runway, we are stabilising ht, which is a process that is new to people

here. We are planning to put a new surface in. More than ?2.5 lillion

is being spent here, have the money coming from Europe. Millions of

pounds are being spent on a grading the runways. The airport is closed

once again, up but it will not take more than two and a half wedks, and

it is hoped that planes will be playing again `` flying agahn for

the school holidays. Over 700 servicemen and womdn have

been reunited with animals they befriended while serving in

Afghanistan, thinks to a ch`rity that started here in the Sotth West.

A Royal Marine befriended an ill dog while on service and brought the dog

back to the UK afterwards. It all started with this dog here am

a named after a district in Afghanistan. This man was sdrving as

a Royal Marine in 2006 when he came across a dogfight while on duty

I've brought `` took up the dogfight... It changed my whole

outlook on Afghanistan and what I've thought about the place. Thdy came

really close to him. They ended up rescuing him and bringing hhm back

to the UK. That is how it started. He and his partner are involved in

HRD that now `` a charity. H'd thought I liked dogs in the Afghan

people, and rabies was a colmon denominator. We could help the

Afghan people. This is how the charity started. I'd did not realise

that soldiers in the same position as me could actually get in touch

with us about her dogs. It hs so common, the charity has united more

than 700 servicemen and womdn with the animals they befriended. We had

a phone call from a gentlem`n named Tony Lewis, and his son was killed

two weeks before in Helmand province. He was looking after a dog

and he knew that Tony would have wanted this dog to come homd and

have a fantastic life. After a lot of hard work and effort, we managed

to get the dog to the UK. It is fantastic for them to have ` bit of

Conrad with them. They are `lso having abandoned animals with local

Afghan people. It is a judicial and has bedn

carried down through the generations. The craft of

film`making is still very mtch alive and thriving `` film`making. Quilts

are being displayed in a rather unusual setting. The church has long

been renowned for its colourful robes and vestments. But today, this

cathedral itself is adorned with an array of stunning needle cr`ft,

created in the very heart of Cornwall's communities. But this is

not a solitary pursuit. These were hand`stitched by small groups acting

all over the duchy. We are puilting. It is a sociable business. Oh, yes.

It puts the world to rights. Most groups meet once a week or

fortnight, and we all take our quilts that we are doing. Sometimes

we are stuck. It is more to do with fellowship and sharing ideas.

Socialising, doing lots of talking. And a little bit of quilting. Yes.

The theme is Saint of Cornw`ll, and has taken two years to put

together. The quilting groups were just given the size and left to

their inspiration and imagination. What is the thrill for you of seeing

the exhibition finally up? Delighted. Absolutely delighted I

think you will find there is not one quilt that is similar. They are also

similar `` different and inspiring. This is a really celebration of

Cornish quilting. Absolutelx. The feedback we have had has bedn

brilliant. If you want to CD quilts, it is a case of a stitch in time.

They are only on display until tomorrow and then they are off on

tour. Audiences in Harrogatd and Edinburgh will be able to enjoy the

craft and beauty of the Saints of Cornwall.

What an amazing amount of work that has gone into that. Really

intricate. You will only nedd a light quit `` felt at the moment.

You are not going to need to many blankets overnight, but overnight

temperatures are quite tight tonight. Tomorrow, there will be

some sunshine and a very slhght chance of a few showers dotted

around, but our dry story continues until we get into the weekend. For

the next 24 hours or so, it is fine and try. The cloud will comd and go.

There might be a strand of cloud that comes down through the Irish

Sea, that could give us a fdw light showers across Cornwall latdr

tonight, but apart from Schreiber apart from that, not much change. ``

apart from that, not much change. Top temperature today, 23 ddgrees. A

degree or so warmer tomorrow. Heading into the weekend, this

weather system gets closer. By the middle of the day on Saturd`y, it is

starting to arrive, bringing the car cloud and potentially some outbreaks

of rain all stop `` Raina. That is the picture from earlier today. The

skies have been off and on clear with the sunshine will stop this is

earlier today in the Victorha Gardens where our cameraman got some

great shots. Just look at the flowers. They are looking f`ntastic.

The sunshine has brought out the flowers in many of our garddns right

across the South West of England. We have had a couple of e`mails about

when it will rain because there is some concern that some of the

gardens and fields and farms could use a bit of water over the next

week or so. The only chance is overnight Saturday going into

Sunday. Clear skies overnight tonight will be replaced by bigger

clouds drifting down from the north. Just a few showers in parts of West

Cornwall by tomorrow morning. Quite a Monday night, temperatures no

lower than 14 or 15 degrees. Tomorrow, the showers and Wdst

Cornwall have disappeared and it will be another nice day with just a

developing and a sticky humhd developing and a sticky humhd

feeling. Top temperature around 23 or 24 degrees. That is the forecast

for the Isles of Scilly. At times, quite cloudy.

Surfing emissions have not been good today. `` conditions. Slightly

bigger waves along the north coast. It is quite choppy. Northwesterly,

mainly fair, with good visibility. The wind direction is prettx much

the same as we head into thd weekend. It changes a littld bit on

Saturday he cause the weathdr front comes in. That will produce

outbreaks of rain, not everxwhere, but will gradually spread through

the rest of the counties through the day. Sunday, bright and dry but

rather cloudy. Somewhat fresher and cooler in the second half of the

weekend. Have a nice weekend. cooler in the second half of the

weekend. Have a nice We havd lots of comments coming in on our top story

on the strike action, thank you very much for that. Keep them coling in.

From all of us, have a good night. Goodbye.

with some new adventures to share with YOUR little ones.

Please, double please. We're going to Dad's office today.

These look really yummy. I'm so excited about going to school.