18/07/2011 Reporting Scotland

A major shake-up of the armed forces. Lossiemouth will become

Scotland's only RAF base as it is confirmed that Leuchars will become

an army barracks. We get the reaction. I am shocked and stunned

and very sad. The army are coming in, but it is the whole character

of the place. There will also be big changes to

the army. Redford, Dreghorn and Craigiehall barracks will be sold

and replaced with a new facility in the south of Edinburgh.

Also tonight, police wait to question a car-crash victim in

Dundee about the death of his wife. Drama as polar bears -- has

protesters dressed as polar bears are removed from office.

And, a ten-team SPL seems unlikely after discussions today.

Scotland is at the heart of a mass reorganisation of British armed

forces. The Defence Secretary Liam Fox unveiled his review this

afternoon. RAF Leuchars will close. Lossiemouth will remain as

Scotland's only RAF air base. The Ministry of Defence are already

announced the closure of RAF Kinloss. In Leuchars, the army will

move in eventually. This will also happen income loss. -- happen in

Kinloss. Redford, Dreghorn and Kinloss. Redford, Dreghorn and

Craigiehall barracks will be sold. In a moment, we will get reaction

to the news from RAF Lossiemouth. We will be speaking to our

correspondent in Westminster. Our first Report comes from RAF

The Crest says it all. This base was built to defend the north of

the UK, but today, 100 years of The defence secretary was keen to

point out that Scotland would still be a home to armed forces. This is

in line with the Scottish tradition of supporting our armed forces.

Typhoon jets will leave in 2013. The army will move then I year or

two later. This is a gap without military personnel that this area

can ill-afford. We do not know how many men are coming, how many

families. We would hope to welcome them, but how people accept them,

we do not have much choice. Businesses like this guesthouse

relied on the boys in blue. It will affect our business. It generates a

few thousand pounds per year for us, between the air show and new

recruits coming up for interviews. We get quite a bit of business from

the air base. This village is defined by its near by air base. It

is thought to be worth nearly �60 million to the local economy.

shocked and stunned and very sad. I mean, all right, the army are

coming in, but it is the whole character of the place. Some people

-- so many people I know are involved in the camp. It is very

sad for Lucas. -- for Leuchars. spent a lot of time there in the

army and as a technician. The people of Leuchars warmed to the

RAF and I believe they will do to the army. It is a new beginning for

Leuchars, but it is a new beginning that people here have fought

against. Many people feel that the Is there any sense that the army

moving in to Leuchars will make up for it? The few the end fight

continues tonight. People here were shocked, despite all the rumours,

to hear that RAF Leuchars would be closed. People here were gathered

round a phone to hear the statement by Liam Fox. One of the things they

are worried about is this gap. When the Typhoon jets leave, how long

will it be before the army units move in? An MP from Aldershot

talked-about reconfiguration, jargon that people here do not want

to hear. They admitted tonight that it could be 2017 before the army

come here. It could cost the local area millions of pounds. The

Typhoon jet fighters will be moved to Lossiemouth by 2013. We can go

there now. The other side of the story here on the Moray Firth.

Lossiemouth will become the only operational RAF base in Scotland.

That has given some sort of long- term security. Good news for RAF

Kinloss, the army will move in there by 2015. The locals here

fought a vociferous campaign to save Lossiemouth. They area relies

heavily on the air bases. They say there has been a lot of damage done,

it is time to rebuild confidence in the area. Early afternoon, and

service personnel at RAF Lossiemouth gather in one of the

huge hangars. This is week two of the task force. It was good news.

We said right from the onset that we would fight this campaign and

not allow decisions to be made about us without being heard in

Westminster. We have used every possible method to fight this.

has been nine months of pain and agony, it has just ended today. It

is a big decision for us. We need to see some securities that this is

a long-term strategic view for RAF Lossiemouth. Lossiemouth is already

home to some of the fighters that had been used in Libya. Soon, it

will be home to the Typhoon jet. Good news for RAF Kinloss. It is no

longer going to be an RAF air base, but it will be taken over as an

army base by 2015. A short time ago, the First

Minister Alex Salmond had this to say about the decrease in RAF

personnel. For the first time in many years, we have a share of

personnel in Scotland which will reflect our size of population. It

represents natural justice for Scotland. We have to make sure that

the rough justice for Leuchars and can loss does not have adverse

economic effect in these areas. Much of what was announced today,

especially about the RAF, had been widely predicted. Let us go to

Westminster. What about the changes to the army, how significant is the

announcement? These are very big changes as far as the army is

concerned. They should not be underestimated in any way. About

5,000 extra army personnel will be coming into Scotland as part of

something known as the multi- Role brigade. Thousands of troops are

coming from Germany. When that process is complete, the army head

count in Scotland will have gone up to 8,500. The army will be going

into new places, Kinloss and Leuchars. The historic barracks in

Edinburgh will be sold and a new centre will be built to the south-

west of Edinburgh. There will be new training grounds to. Experts

say that it means that the army is very important to Scotland and, in

future, Scotland will become very important to the British Army.

think we will see up to 25% of the army's presence based in Scotland.

The size of the regular army will reduce in future. If we are pulling

out 20,000 troops from Germany, if the majority are coming to Scotland,

we will have a visible presence. is not all good news for the army.

Some senior commanders will not be based in Scotland, they will be

down south. There are concerns about this transition period. There

are concerns about how long it will take the army to get there and what

local effect -- what effect will be apparent on the local economy.

Still to come, All At Sea, three men said sailed on a daring voyage

from Shetland to Norway in kayaks. -- three men said Sale. And find

out what happened when this man decided to go for a cycle in the

Highlands. And in sport, we have the very

latest on SPL reconstruction and Ricky Burns takes less than around

to defend his WBO super heavyweight crown -- super-featherweight crown.

Police are still waiting to question the victim of a car crash

on the outskirts of Dundee in connection with the death of his

wife. Jacqui Thompson was found -- Jane Cumming was found at her home

by police who had come to break the news of her husband's accident.

Her body was found here by police who had come to tell the mother of

two that her husband had been seriously hurt in a car crash. Far

from breaking the news of that tragedy, they found one much worse.

Jane Cumming lay dead inside. Neighbours said that they seemed

like that happy family. It is very sad, we saw her a lot of times

doing the gardening. We smiled and topped. The kids always played

outside. They seemed to be a happy family. An ordinary, happy family.

The 45-year-old father had to be cut free from the wreckage of his

vehicle after the accident on the road coming into Dundee. We

understand he had been sitting in his car and the lay-by for some

time before the accident happened. He then accelerated out onto the

main carriageway and enter the back of a lorry. The driver of that

second vehicle was unhurt. Detectives are trying to trace the

movements of both husband and wife on Friday morning and have issued

an appeal. We are very interested to speak with the people that were

then a four by four motor vehicle. That was probably darken colour, we

believe there was a child in that car. It could be that we have

already spoken to them, but if they could come forward again, it would

be a great help. Today, post-mortem has been taking place to establish

how Jane Cumming died here. It is understood that Mr coming is

showing signs of recovery but he Police have removed dozens of

Greenpeace protestors from the Edinburgh headquarters of the oil

company, Cairn Energy. The company has been repeatedly targeted by

Greenpeace since it began drilling for oil in the Arctic. Here's our

environment correspondent. The protesters, many dressed as

polar bears, marched into the headquarters of Cairn Energy

shortly after 8am this morning. They arrived to highlight the

unacceptable risk posed by the company's operations in the Arctic.

Greenpeace says unwell spill in the Arctic would be an environmental

catastrophe. Kicks growth and it is continuing its protests until a

publication comes out showing the consequences of a spill. Protests

will continue until driving stops. Right now, the oil rigs are up in

the Arctic SVRs drilling for oil. But they have absolutely no idea

how they would deal with an oil spill. But to be devastating for

the wildlife and their communities. The company told us, or Everett is

active, it of Brits in a safe and prudent manner. -- wherever it

operates. It has stringent regulations, which mirror those

applied in the Norwegian North Sea. For protesters chained themselves

together inside the offices were other search for documents showing

how they would deal with an oil spill. Police began removing them

late this afternoon. Lothian and Borders Police say and number of

people have been arrested and will appear at Edinburgh sheriff court

tomorrow. Some of the other stories across

Scotland this Monday... The market for jobs continued to

improve last month, but at a slower pace than before, according to a

report from the Bank of Scotland. The biggest rise in workers

securing a job was in Dundee. Edinburgh recorded the sharpest

hikes in wages. However, across the country, the rate of growth in

vacancies was the slowest for many months.

Cancer rates among middle-aged women in Scotland are higher than

the UK average, with around ten new cases diagnosed every day. Cancer

Research UK said their latest figures from 2008 showed more than

3,500 woman in Scotland aged between 40 and 59 were diagnosed

with the disease. The Scottish Government is

launching two new programmes to help charities and community

enterprises boost their role in developing the economy. It includes

a fund of �4 million to help tackle social problems. Groups can apply

for grants of up to �200,000 if they can show it would help them do

more work with disadvantaged people. Three adventurers have set off in

kayaks from Shetland to Norway. They're recreating the daring

voyages, made 70 years ago, by resistance fighters who crossed the

North Sea in small fishing boats during the Second World War.

Paddling in the footsteps of the brave men in the Second World War.

Adventure sports men Patrick Winterton and his two colleagues

are making the 240 mile journey across the North Sea without a

safety boat. The biggest challenge we will come across is dealing with

the fatigue and the discomfort. Survival heat packs will keep the

paddlers and warmth. We have put a little seal on the front of the

boat just in case we have serious injury problems. That should get us

home. That is a safety item. We have a pond. It will be rough and

we will be filling up with water. We will have to pump it out on a

regular basis. The only other problem you have over three days is

that you need a lot of water. We have had to spread the weight out.

There's a water tank and the front, or one in the back and a grubby

piped to connect them. In the early years of the war, small Norwegian

fishing boats were used for the high risk crossings. They carried

weapons and supplies. For many, it was a close call. Hundreds lost

their lives. When we're out in the middle of the North Sea and it is

getting nasty and we are starting to question why we're doing it,

those are the guys... It is the story of them that will inspire us

to keep going. The journey is expected to take them four days and

three nights. Good luck to them!

And now the sport. Plans to overhaul the top tier of

Scottish football won't be implemented until season 2012-13 at

the earliest. Opposition to a top ten remains firm after today's

annual general meeting of the Scottish Premier League. And even

the prospect of play-offs is at least a season away.

As representatives of the top 12 clubs, at the word was that apish

for the top 10 was at a mend. So did today's meeting sound the

death-knell for a move to a smaller league? I do not think it is fair

to say that. You have to comment individually about it. Everybody

understands the need for change. I think that will happen. But how

will be get there? I was always confident that there was

insufficient support for that to go forward, and that remains my

position. Is very timescale on this? You cannot take forever.

you want to bet?! Talks over SPL reconstruction have been dragging

on for months and at today's meeting, it was only discussed

briefly. That will suggest that we will have the status quo for the

season ahead and any talk of a radical overhaul seems as remote as

ever. We need imaginative thought. We need someone to say look, here

is what we should do. Something we have not thought of yet. That is

what they're there for. To come up with nothing at this stage is

almost criminal. One change that has been implemented is an earlier

start to the season, which is why the SPL action gets under way on

Saturday lunchtime as the champions, Rangers, host hearts.

Aberdeen have completed the signing of Icelandic international

defensive midfielder Kari Arnasan. Meanwhile, the Rangers defender

Kirk Broadfoot says he might have to leave Ibrox if he struggles for

first team action this season. With manager Ally McCoist keen to bring

in new faces, Broadfoot admits he might have to think at the very

least about a loan move if he finds his opportunities at Rangers

limited. I came here as a young boy who and was able to play every game

in Europe all the way through to the cub finals. If there is a

challenge, I am not for it. But at the end of the day, if I am not

given that chance to prove that I'm good enough, then I will have to

look elsewhere. Ricky Burns has apologised to his

fans after his third successful world title defence in Liverpool

lasted less than a round. Burns sent Nicky Cooke to the canvas

straight away. Three times the challenger hit the canvas. After

leaving the ring on a stretcher, Cooke was later diagnosed with a

slipped disc. Not the most satisfying victory of Burns' career,

but a win's a win. The very first punch I threw was an absolute peach.

I felt that go right up my arm. Maybe his back did go. But again, I

am just really disappointed for all the fans that came down here. They

came down wanted to see a good fight. I trained and wanted a good

fight. But I got the win and that is the main thing.

And finally, some good news for Scottish tennis fans following Andy

Murray's tears last week. The Lawn Tennis Association has decided the

Braehead Arena will indeed once again be the venue for Great

Britain when they play their Davis Cup play-off match against Hungary

in September. We must stop reclaim that! That is

a shame! How did you spend your Sunday

evening? Spot of ironing, or feet up in front of the telly maybe? Or

were you one of the hundreds who turned out for a 30 mile bike ride

in the highlands with seven times Tour de France winner Lance

Armstrong? Well, it was a summer night in Dornoch many will remember

for a very long time. They descended on Dornoch from all

directions. White-clad, helmeted and preparing to pedal. This was to

be a very special bike ride. I just came from the west coast. Seven

times Tour de France champion, you cannot miss that! I have to be part

of it. I came up from five this morning. It will just be great to

meet him and say hello and see how he is doing. They came not to see a

cycling champion, but a man who has bought an inspirational battle

against cancer and still campaigns, encouraging others. He is a bit of

an idol. It is a bit of a pilgrimage, really. Lance Armstrong

treated their Twitter ride invite just days before and at 5pm last

night, he paddled into the middle of the throng to lead them off,

hotly pursued by the BBC! We do it around the world. We did the first

one in Scotland, so this is our anniversary. We're just here for a

few days with the family. It was a beautiful day yesterday. Have you

done Highlands before? Never. This is the first. Are you going to be

kind to them? We will take it easy! We are going to go. And go they did.

A 30 mile did. Lance Armstrong later thanked their 1000 people who

turned out and the police for helping on Twitter. He wrote, you

rock - keep writing! They were busy at the weekend in

Oban, too, which has clinched a Scottish Country Dancing world

record by staging the biggest Strip The Willow. The town's streets were

thronged on Saturday evening as almost 2,000 people turned out for

the record attempt. It's now been verified, beating the existing

Guiness Book of Records figure by Never mind dancing, you needed to

be able to swim at the weekend. Let's get the weather from Cat.

Some very on seasonable weather for July are over last weekend. This

evening will be largely cloudy with some rain in the North. Many of the

showers we had in the south gradually die out. We will see a

dry night with some clear spells developing. In the North,

especially the North East and west, will be will see some showers

pushing and these will turn to longer spells of rain by the

morning. It will be a mild night, with lows of 11 Celsius. A little

bit cooler in the far west. Tomorrow, we keep that North - side

spite. Cloudy in the North with further outbreaks of rain. -- North

- South split. Wimpish as in the North and it will feel a little

better in the cool side as we have a strengthening northerly breeze.

Highs reaching 15 or 16 degrees. Further south, around Glasgow and

the south-west is where we will see the best of any sunny spells and

the best temperatures. In the south, we will largely sea temperatures

rising to the high teens. We will also see some rain breaking out in

the eastern parts of the Borders. Tomorrow evening, the will keep the

brain in the East and in the North of the country. We have this on

seasonable weather with us over the weekend. The reason for it, if we

take a look at the pressure charge, is that we have had low-pressure

over Ross or close by all the last we while and it will stay that way

for much of this week, bringing further unsettled conditions. A

mixture of sunshine and rain. Wednesday will be largely bright,

but we will see some rain developing and also some sunny

spells. It will feel cooler. Especially in the North. Towards

the end of the week, BA will hopefully see more sunny spells and

the brain will be a little bit Now, just before 7 o'clock, a

summary of tonight's top stories... In major shake-up of the armed

forces has been announced. RAF lookers will close and Lossiemouth

will remain as Scotland's only RAF air base. The MoD have already

announced one closer. The army will know then, and Withe debases

becoming army bases. Redford, and greedy horn Barracks

in Edinburgh will be sold and replaced with a purpose-built

facility south of the city. $$NELWINE The hacking scandal has

led to a further resignation at the Metropolitan police. Assistant

Commissioner John Yates, the man charged with keeping England and

Wales safe from terror attacks, resigned today. It came just hours