11/08/2011 Reporting Scotland

Welcome to Reporting Scotland. Tonight on your national news:

Travel disruption and homes and businesses threatened with flooding

as Scotland suffers two days of torrential downpours. We will be

live in the Borders where a flood warning is still in place.

Also coming up tonight: Campaigners lose their legal battle to halt the

controversial Aberdeen bypass. We meet the playful pup swelling the

ranks of a very rare Scottish breed. And our very own Cat Cubie leaves

her weather map for the day to run off and join the circus. Being

invited to train with the Moscow State Circus is like one on one

foot of coaching with David Beckham - incredible, tough and just a bit

frightening. Much of Scotland has spent the day

mopping up and drying-out after torrential downpours hit most parts

of the country. Nearly two-thirds of the rainfall we would expect for

the whole of August has fallen in just the last two days. At the

height of the deluge, 29 flood warnings were issued across the

country, from Caithness to the Borders. Rail and road traffic were

disrupted, for a time this morning there were no trains in and out of

Glasgow's Queen Street station. And the West experienced the second

biggest rain fall since records began. In Millport three inches of

rain fell in just 24 hours. We have this round-up from across the

country. What is normally a quiet street - transformed by relentless

rain. Through the night fire crews battled against the flat, put in

place makeshift defences. Using hoses to pump water back into the

stream, raging nearby. As they worked, local residents looked on

anxiously. The property has been flooded but we have managed not to

get it in a house. But all the streets are flooded. It is very

worrying. We on the Met den a year ago. This is her third flat.

Summertime in Glasgow! -- we all the moves in. While the scenes in

Rosyth were dramatic, the more general picture was one of Sorbie

disruption. The East Coast flood defences were tested as a month's

worth of rain fell in one day. Glasgow experienced one of its

wettest 24 hours since records began. There ever does flood

normally at the end of the year in December through in till February.

This is exceptional. This caused difficult driving conditions. There

were delays and cancellations on the railways as engineers worked on

flooded tracks. We have had an entire month's rainfall in two days

so that causes problems for the network. It is unusual to have that

level of rainfall and it has caused problems. With hard is approaching,

rain stopped feels a also a problem for farmers, especially in the

north-east. For all those used to the outdoor life, and improving

forecast is one crumb of comfort. Our reporter is in people's right

now. How does it look? It has stopped raining but this is

a region which has been causing concern throughout the day. Flood

warnings have been in place. It is an example of localised flooding.

This water is flowing very quickly under this bridge towards the River

Tweed. As the water level has risen, you can see it has burst its banks.

In the afternoon there were cars parked along the side here but the

Fire and Rescue Service had to come and live the cars and take them

away. That was a high risk power of the day. It has since subsided but

there is still a risk of flat. There is a caravan park just up

there and the council say people should take precautions and

sandbags are available at a council depot. Is it an improving picture

tonight? Yes, it is improving here and this is reflected across the

country. There were 29 flood warnings in place, that is down out

to 13. Regions like Tayside and Murray, the situations have

improved. They are still flood alerts through the country. While

the worst is over here, the rain has stopped but people are still

being urged to be vigilant and keep their eye out for rising waters.

Get off that bitch, you do not looks safe!

The Met Office has release data. -- get off that the edge.

How bad is it? You are right to say it has been Garenne. The statistics

are surprising. If we consider them weather systems. Two thirds of the

weather stations have recorded what they would expect to record for the

entire month. One of those places is in Dyce in Aberdeen - up one. 5%.

Also in Edinburgh they have recorded in 10 days what they would

usually record for the whole month. One place which stands out is

Leuchars. The three times what they would expect for the whole month.

It has been very wet and it has also been called. Yesterday in

Aberdeen, 11 Celsius. We would expect that in October. There is no

sign of any long, dry spells soon. But there is a hint that the end of

August could be it. I have my fingers crossed. Thank you.

Campaigners fighting plans to build a controversial bypass around

Aberdeen have lost a legal battle to halt the project. The judges

rejected their arguments that a public inquiry into the 400 million

pound Western Peripheral Route, which is aimed at creating a fast

link to the north, west and south of the city, had been flawed. But

the opponents say their fight is not over, and are considering

further legal action. Our reporter is in Aberdeen for us

now. A hugely controversial project. Yes, indeed, it has been hugely

controversial. Back in 2003 plans were first announced. Campaigners

have fought it all the way. You can see the bench behind me. It is 500

years old and many people see it as a symbol of an outdated road

network. Air their this evening, even though it is school holidays,

traffic was brought to a standstill. Earlier this evening. This bypass

is all about even -- easing congestion. Politicians say it is

vital to improve links across the region and boosting the economy. It

will slice through Aberdeenshire countryside. Not everyone thinks it

will benefit the north-east. The local campaigners took their fight

to the Court of Session where the argued the public inquiry of 2008

was unfair and that they had not been given the opportunity to

properly challenged the project. The judge disagreed. Earlier this

evening, I went to close to where the road should be built and it is

still dividing opinion. It is about time. People are still try to come

through here with the road works so the quicker the bypass is done the

better. People will be able to sleep at night with no big lorries

hammering along the roads. I am not at all keen on it. I think it will

destroy their beautiful part of Aberdeen. It is about 30 years too

late. His construction likely to get underway since? In eight years

not one stretch of tarmac has been laid. I review of cost will be

carried out. Campaigners put the final bell in the region of a

billion pounds so they are now speaking to their lawyers to see if

there is any legal avenues still open to them. Any further legal

challenge would lead to further delay. Thank you for bringing us up

to date on that situation. You're watching Reporting Scotland

from the BBC. Still to come - at turnaround - the lottery cash which

is changing the fortunes of a Fife village.

In sport - our national team is getting better but our chances of

qualifying for Euro 2012? Is his footballer on the verge of

returning to Scottish football? Details later.

More than one in 10 people detained in metal health wards are being

given medication or illegally. Patients who had been in mental

health wards firm more than two months can on the be treated if

they can sense horrified doctor gets a second opinion.

This is Ailsa hospital in the air, it is rare for tea because

hospitals to be allowed inside site your trick hospitals because inside

are some of the Most Honourable people. -- rare for TV cameras to

be allowed inside. This is why staff here check prescriptions very

carefully. We do a variety of things on the ward. We check that

patients have safe drugs. Especially when patients under the

Mental Health Act, we would check legal forms that the doctors fell

out and make sure what is prescribed complies with the form.

This should protect the patient. The last states that people were

being given compulsory treatment for more than two months have to

give consent for further treatment. Otherwise, a second opinion must be

found before treating them against their will. The chief-executive of

Scotland's mental health watchdog told me this is not happening in

one am -- one in 10 cases. We fall -- we found that 12 % of the people

we saw subject to a Mental Health Act were getting treatment not

authorised by the Act. Procedures have to be in place for it to

continue be on two months. -- beyond two months. People with

severe mental illness can be even challenging ways but the commission

says that here, treatment can always be given within the law.

Three more teenagers are to appear in court accused of attempting to

incite people to riot in a Scottish city. 16-year-old Shawn Divin, 18-

year-old Jordan McGinlay and a 14- year-old boy are alleged to have

set up a Facebook Page encouraging others to go on the rampage in

Dundee. The older pair were refused bail and kept in custody.

A picturesque Fife village which feared it was facing extinction is

now looking to the future with confidence. The people believe they

may have found a blueprint which would benefit similar communities

across Scotland. Our reporter has been to see their efforts to turn

around the village's fortunes. This is typical of the villages

along the stretch of the Fife coast. Quiet and picturesque but this is a

community which has been to the edge.

Its problems began in the 1980s. First a lost his cool, then its

mining communities. The village and then lost its hotel and pub. --

first it lost its school. It looked as though this historic village

would be consigned to history. This was once the village pub - now

it is the village harbour. They are getting ready for the official

opening tonight. It is hoped the hub will bring the community

together. A bunkhouse should bring visitors and their cash back to the

village. Artists will have space to show and sell their work. People

are beginning to see that things can happen. We do not have to talk

about just the past. We have got a future and we're beginning to make

things happen. The project has been helped with money from the lottery

funds. This is just the start. Their plans for renewable energy

schemes and perhaps a farm. Certainly an allotment where they

I would like to think other communities would look at us and

sit ask, how did you get that community working? And I hope they

get that community spirit. I think it would be a bonus for us to be a

role model. Even another horrible day like this, they believe the

future is brighter for their community than it has been for

years. And if you are interested in getting more involved with your

community, check out the website at bbc.co.uk/villagesos for

information and tips about how to get started.

Some of the other stories across Scotland this Thursday evening...

A councillor in the Highlands has been jailed for a year after being

found guilty of falsely claiming 43,000 thousand pounds in social

security benefits. John Holden, who is 63, had savings of �250,000. A

sheriff told him he was a liar and a cheat.

A man described as a "serial domestic abuser" has been given a

15-year extended jail sentence. Joseph Loughran admitted a string

of brutal attacks on five women at addresses in Glasgow over a 29-year

period. He was accused of attempted murder, but instead pleaded guilty

to the reduced charge of assaulting them to the danger of life.

A West Lothian couple accused of exporting chemicals to illegal

drugs labs in America have been allowed to take their challenge

against extradition to Britain's Supreme Court. Last month, Kerry

Anne Howes and her husband Brian were told they would have to face

trial in Arizona, after they lost an appeal.

Now take a look at these wee chaps. Chances are you never seen this

breed of dog before and it is feared you might not see any in the

future. They are an old Scots terrier breed known as Dandy

Dinmonts. But they are now so rare that the Kennel Club has put them

on its list of vulnerable breeds. Meet the latest Pops to join the

latest pedigree pups unchanged for virtually 200 years. They were

originally known as mustard and paper dogs because of their colour.

Queen Victoria was a big fan of them. They are very warm, friendly,

and have a very good for vermin control. The date that to the 18th

century. They were used by the tinkers for hunting and poaching.

By the are notoriously hard to breed. Less than 50 have done so

this year and the are facing extinction and dog owners tend to

call for more exotic breeds from abroad. The is the fear that some

native breeds could be consigned to the history books. It is a part of

our history and I hope people will become more aware of the breed when

the see this. This little fellow is undid all unpaid that denial Blakey

it. His existence is helping to keep alive part of Scotland's

history and heritage. And it is over to our very own

dandy for the sports news. Vulnerable.

The Scotland manager Craig Levein says he is encouraged by the

national team's win over Denmark at Hampden last night, but he is not

getting carried away. It was their last warm-up match before four

European Championship qualifiers in the autumn. Scotland have to win

three of them to have any chance of reaching the finals, but the

players think they can do it. A friendly match, a stadium two-

thirds empty and a filthy night - all the elements in place for a

damp squib of a match. Instead, at times, like the pre-

Adam's free kick was shanked into the net for an own goal by Kvist.

Scotland goalkeeper Allan McGregor blundered for Denmark's equaliser,

grasping thin air from Erikson's free kick.

But a first goal in the dark blue for Robert Snodgrass turned out to

be a match winner against the team ranked 21st in the world.

A morale boosting win then ahead of And Lithuania, then two in October

I could see a lot which gives us confidence. It gives us some

confidence going into the four European qualifiers. The target

that has been set his three wins I am afraid UEFA's own website does

not give the Scots much chance, rating their chances of finishing

second at just 13.6% and their chances of making to the finals at

just 4.8%. So the computer says no - or rather, unlikely. Now it is

over to Craig Levein and his players to prove that it is time

for UEFA to upgrade its predictive software.

So the serious action begins for Scotland next month, but a couple

of SPL players had starring roles in last night's qualifiers. And I

am going to show you their goals, just because they are belters!

Steven Davis of Rangers tucked away Northern Ireland's second goal

against the Faroe Islands. Celtic's Paddy McCourt added a third, before

rounding the scoring off with this terrific individual effort.

Hearts are considering making an offer to re-sign their former

captain Michael Stewart. The midfielder left the club last year

and moved to Turkey. But BBC Scotland has learned that the club

are holding talks with Stewart's representatives. He scores!. This

is Michael Stewart scoring four harps in a Uefa Cup tie two years

ago. It appears he could be likely to come back to the club. Their new

manager says that he can add a few players, they can sustain a

challenge at the top end of the table. I think when all the people

come with me to the pitch and done OK with medical staff, and if we

can make a few adjustments, I think we will have a strong team.

course you could be set to become the new managers first signing.

And finally, in golf, the two Scots in the field have endured a

difficult opening round at the USPGA in Atlanta, Georgia. Stephen

Gallacher carded a four over par 74. Martin Lee it was just one shot

better. The leader is seven under par after 16 holes.

A quick reminder that our money man Fergus Muirhead will be back on

lunchtime Reporting Scotland a week on Wednesday. He will be answering

any queries you have about inheritance tax. So any questions

please to the usual address - fergus at bbc.co. Uk.

Well, maybe Cat Cubie just got fed up telling us about this awful

weather. But whatever the reason, she has done a runner and joined

the circus - the Moscow State Circus, in fact. Not only did she

discover a hidden talent, she also found out that circus tricks are

I managed to make it through the performance, but it took a lot of

Been invited to train with the Moscow State Circus is slightly

like getting football coaching from David Beckham. It is incredibly

tough and just a wee bit ski area. As I have been finding out, it is

seriously hard exercise. You have to try and lift your legs up to

your forehead and put them through the hoops, it will take a lot of

strength to do that. I've am not the only one who likes to hang

upside down for a workout. There are dozens of classes like this in

Glasgow. What is a you like about it? I have good balance that I

never heard and flexibility that I never thought I would have. It has

made me feel like a child again. Circus schools are becoming

increasingly popular. Certainly, there has a higher level of

adrenalin and excitement than you might find in the gym. It is

ridiculously good fun for the day, so I think I will stick to whether

presenting - well, for the moment. $NEWLINE Chris you'll be performing

with a world famous dance troupe Way and a talented bunch, are as

whether fork. How's the weather Yes, we have had a terrible time of

it over the last couple of days, but the good news is that it could

be said to clear this evening. Temperatures here overnight in

rural parts down to six or seven degrees, but in the cities, nor

than eleven or 12 degrees Celsius. Tomorrow, a bit of a drab start,

but there could be braced spells in Aberdeenshire. There will be late

bits of rain. However, another weighed nasty weather front

putsches and from the West by mid- afternoon tomorrow. In the West

tomorrow afternoon, it will be rain for most of us, the further east

Europe the better. Across the north-east, you may even see some

sunshine and high temperatures of 18 degrees. Both Orkney and

Shetland may avoid the rain it totally. By the end of Friday, the

rain will have pushed across virtually all of the country. If we

look at the pressure Show, we can see that rain will stay with us

into Saturday. It is all associated with this area of low pressure. He

is there detail for Saturday. Pretty wit across Shetland, but

much of the mainland will be hit with showers and again, the East

Coast is probably the best place to be. A similar story on Sunday, but

the worst of the reign is over, although there is a little more to

come tomorrow. Now just before seven o'clock, a

summary of tonight's top stories... Scotland has spent the day mopping

up after torrential downpours hit much of the country. Nearly two-

thirds of the rainfall we would expect for the whole of August has

fallen in the last two days. In an emergency session of

parliament, the Prime Minister has called this week's riots

criminality "not seen for decades". David Cameron is pledging to do

whatever it takes to restore law and order. More than 1,500 arrests

have been made since Saturday. Shares in the US and across Europe

have both risen, but trading remains volatile, as concerns

continue over eurozone debt. Here, the FTSE 100 ended up 3.1%.

Campaigners have lost their legal battle to stop Aberdeen's planned

new bypass. A judge rejected their arguments against the �400m Western