05/12/2013 Reporting Scotland

6pm. It's goodbye from me and on BBC One, we join our teams where you

are. lorry driver has died and thousands

of homes are without power tonight after gusts of 90 mph swept

Scotland. It has been a day of travel chaos.

I am live in Glasgow's Central Station with the very latest on the

travel situation across the country. Energy companies battled to restore

supplies. Also tonight, Scotland's, budget gets a ?300 million boost

from the Chancellor's Autumn Statement, but a row has broken out

between the Scottish and UK governments about the future of oil

revenues. Back on track, the first time to

travel along Princes Street since 1956 complete a successful test run.

And Scotland's referees stop short of a strike but say they need better

guarantees of protection. Good evening. Winter storms have

battered Scotland over the past 24 hours, as rain, snow and hail

brought the road and rail network to a standstill. In West Lothian, a

lorry driver was killed when his truck was blown over. Electricity

lines were brought down and is 1.100 and 30,000 homes were without power.

Police warned people against taking to the rounds. Reporters have been

out and about throughout the day. Let's join Catriona Renton at

Glasgow Central Station. The whole rail network was shut down and the

station evacuated this morning. What is the picture there now?

This sign says it all and you will see the departure boards are pretty

empty but things are starting gradually here to get back to normal

this evening. This place was deserted this

morning, as high wind brought the rail network to a standstill.

Robbins on the road as well. Police advised motorists not to drive in

the South, the West and the central belt. There have been multiple road

traffic accidents and one lorry driver in West Lothian was killed.

My colleagues from around the country will bring you the very

latest this evening. First a report from the scene of that fatal crash

just outside of age. It was just after 8am this morning that a gust

of wind appears to have blown this lorry across the carriageway into

the trees and of the road. -- Bathgate. The driver died but

remarkably only four other people sustained minor injuries. When you

see the impact of the trailer has had on the vehicles underneath its

weight, it is remarkable their injuries were not more serious. In

the West of Edinburgh, this car was crushed under a falling tree.

The driver was freed and is in a stable condition in hospital. The

wind tore through the city as people made their way to work and school.

The Forth Road Bridge was vulnerable to the gusts. Be highest recorded

wind speed was 191 mph this morning. IMac in the Borders, the A68 was

closed for a time. Here even Christmas was on the ropes. We have

lost our nativity scene. As the wind fell, the tide rose. The East Coast

serge peaked at 4pm this afternoon. We have not had anything as bad here

since 1953. The worst of the weather has passed that a flood warning

remains in place for the early hours of tomorrow morning. No time to

reflect on the wind damage as the Arctic last did all it could to

hinder repair work. Is is still coming through. This family had a

lucky escape when a tree crashed through their roof feet of from

where they were sleeping. I heard this almighty bang so I went rushing

through to my son's room to make sure he was OK. When I came onto the

landing I looked up to see a tree through my bathroom roof. There were

long tailbacks on the M90 after this lorry flipped over on the Friarton

Bridge. This car in Info Rory was one of many which had to be dragged

from floodwaters. The storms moved in from the North, heating Shetland

first, where ferries were cancelled and fishing boats were pulled free.

We were able to dispatch a tug boat and we now have the boats safely

moored. The roof of this building in Lewis was blown off. It stopped

short of crashing into nearby houses. It has not in the rear

windscreen and caused heavy denting to one car and the other has damage

to the roof. If the wind and rain had not made it clear enough, this

snowy scene which followed reaffirmed the message that winter

has arrived. All that is left of a taxi, hit by a

tree in Hamilton. Its occupants were taken to hospital. Their condition

is not known. In Glasgow's West end, the people in this car had a lucky

escape. High sided lorries were particularly at risk. The A76 was

blocked for a time near Dumfries. Police Scotland described road

conditions as extremely dangerous. The whole of Scotland has been

affected. Trees have fallen down. You can hear in the background the

sound of trees being cleared. That is a familiar picture right across

Scotland. We are recovering heavy goods be a cause which have crashed

and unfortunately there has been a number of road crashes as well. Rail

passengers fared no better. They had expected delays but eventually the

entire rail network had to be shut down. O was evacuated when debris

hit the roof. -- Glasgow Central Station was evacuated. The stigma it

is just the weather in Scotland. I suppose I cannot blame them. Many

homes are still without electricity. Extra engineers are

still working to reconnect customers but despite their efforts, many will

be without power overnight. Ferries and flights also remain disrupted.

The advice is to check with your operator before setting out.

That is the picture across the country from today. Let's get the

latest on the travel situation on the trains. I'm joined by the

managing director of ScotRail will stop it has been a difficult day for

you and your passengers. What is happening now? Network rail have

managed to improve the lot of roots and we can now introduce services so

hopefully we will see services go back to some normality tonight.

Let's look ahead to the morning. What is the situation there? We

expect to run a near normal service tomorrow morning. We would just ask

able to check the websites and we will put out as much information as

we can tonight as we are advised how the roots of. Thank you. The

passengers here had been extremely tolerant all day. Now there are

still problems on the roads. Many remain locked because of fallen

trees, debris, flooding and in the North even some snow. The advice is

whatever mode of transport you are planning on taking, please check

before you set out. Thank you. That is the picture for travellers

on the road and rail networks but as we have been hearing, many people

are still without electricity as engineers from Scottish Hydro and

ScottishPower battle to restore supplies.

Our reporter joins us from North Kessock.

Yes, tens of thousands of people woke up this morning to darkness of

outside and inside their homes. The lights of Inverness you can see over

there but here in North Kessock, the only lights are our own. I invite

was one of those people who woke up this morning without electricity. It

shows you the dangers of having an electric alarm clock. Engineers were

placed around the country in anticipation of problems this

morning and they were mobilised as false were reported. Throughout the

morning, more and more customers were phoning in to report no power.

At one point, 130,000 people were without electricity, although

throughout the day that has been much reduced. At this point, our aim

is to have as many customers back on supply with him today as we possibly

can manage, but as you say, it is an early stage, as we move through the

highest rarities, additional work will come to light and we will be

getting engineers out to those. And tonight engineers are still battling

to restore supplies. The wind has abated but there are still some snow

showers coming through and just a short time ago, something like

40,000 homes were still without power. Most of those should be

reconnected during the evening, but not all of them. What the power

companies say is that people should be careful if they are using the

likes of candles or paraffin heaters in their homes, and if they have

been without power all day and they have neighbours who are perhaps

elderly or vulnerable, it might be an idea to check how they are. A

pretty rough day across the whole country.

Our weather presenter is here now. How did all this happened? What

causes this extreme weather? It is down to a deepening the Atlantic low

tracking to the North of us. Look at the tightly packed isobars. They

gave us the storm force wind. For a winter storm, it is not that

unusual. The storm of January 2012 gave us a gust of 102 mph. But what

is unusual this time is the potential for storm surges and for

that to happen, several key elements in the two fall into place. You need

the pressure, the high tide and the strong wind. In this instance,

low-pressure sitting out in the North Sea and low-pressure when it

is over open water leads to a rise in sea level and as the wind

strengthens, that gets pushed towards the coast and that is when

we can see some issues with coastal flooding, as we have seen to some

extent in the East of Scotland, but it is more of a concern South of the

border. And you will be back with a full forecast at the end of the

programme. Still to come: Back on track.

The first try to travel along Princes Street since 1956 completes

a successful test run. -- the first tram.

INAUDIBLE . In sport, Scottish referees will not

strike that say more work is needed to give them more protection. More

in the sports section. The Scottish Government's budget is

set to increase by more than ?300 million pounds over the next two

years, the Chancellor has announced. George Osborne says the extra cash,

part of his Autumn Statement, means spending by the Scottish Government

would be cut by less than 0.2%. But Finance Secretary John Swinney says

the increase fails to make up for earlier cuts. In a moment, we'll get

the reaction in Holyrood from our political editor, Brian Taylor, but

first here's our westminster correspondent, Tim Reid.

Autumnal scenes at Westminster, no sign of the high winds elsewhere,

instead a political storm. . Oil forecast are independently produced

by the Office for Budget Responsibility so either the SNP

believes that it has been -- numbers have been fiddled to stack up their

against independence or the truth is this, they are making a false

promise to the Scottish people. The Office for Budget Responsibility has

reduced by ?4 billion the amount that North Sea oil will contribute

to the economy, ?3 billion less than the SNP estimates. It assumes

increased investment in the North Sea oil and gas sector, and that

leads to less production in the medium and longer term, I don't

think those two assumptions of increased investment and lower

production are particularly credible. The Chancellor has

allocated extra money to Scotland's budget with ?10 million for building

on Shetland in Scotland's ministers match it. You're the Scottish

Government now has to make a choice about whether they are going to take

the same priorities that we have two help the economy to go or whether

they want to spend the money elsewhere. Scottish ministers say

plans that could see school leavers having to work until 69 before

getting a pension will be reviewed after independence. Opponents say

that raises more questions. With the prediction on decreasing oil

revenues, with the challenge of raising pension ages, the SNP need

to give this -- a sense of how they will fill these black holes. No

disagreement today, over ?10 million for a sign said -- re-signed centre.

This statement is the last before Scotland decide its future. It has

become one more battle ground for those who want independence and

those who do not. I'm joined now from the Scottish

parliament Brian Taylor, Brian, I am sure the Scottish Government will

have been watching the statement closely. What is the reaction in

Holyrood? because of that referendum, everything is seen

through the prism. Let's talk about pensions. You have to work longer to

get one. The Scottish Government say some of the increase can be deferred

and -- and then -- under independence. Business rates, the

Chancellor is capping business rates in England. I'm betting that John

Swinney will match that exactly when he announces next Wednesday.

Childcare, you have that core issue and argument, the Scottish

Government says it is a big offer under independence as a venue can

get the tax revenues back that allow it to be funded. The opponents say

you have some money now, get on with it. Alexander is comforted by one

thing that the issue of the possible offer is being discussed by his

rivals. He borrows the line from Burns.

It was billed as a Dragons' Den-style competition to regenerate

struggling Scottish town centres. But BBC Scotland can reveal that all

seven of the winners of the pilot Retail Rocks project have now either

shut down or moved out of the Aberdeen community where it launched

three years ago. Fiona Stalker reports.

Final preparations for the opening of her new gallery. This artist was

a retail rock winner. She shut up shop in Tory last week. It was great

at first. There was a tangible air of something happening. After six

months, it all died down and we were left it to our own devices. There

was some support, but I think they should have been more strategic

support and a longer term plan. The aim was to help regenerate the

community, once a thriving district. Now, all of the Retail Rocks

businesses have either shot or left the area. Budding entrepreneurs were

given empty shops for a year. What went wrong? Don't think football is

enough just yet. But I will say is that the Retail Rocks came at a time

during the downtime - downturn. Shops don't last long around here.

They're here for a few months and gone. They just aren't making a

success any more. The streets just like this now with hardly any shops.

Sheila hopes her business can continue to grow, sadly not here.

Plans for an offshore wind farm which would be seen from Donald

Trump's Aberdeenshire golf resort have been put back to 2017. The

Trump Organisation has taken legal action over the Scottish

Government's decision to approve the project.

HGVs using the A9 between Dunblane and Inverness will be allowed to

travel at up to 50mph as a result of average-speed cameras being

introduced next year. Lorry drivers have warned that the existing 40mph

limit would lead to long tailbacks and more accidents.

A ?13 million redevelopment of the terminal at Aberdeen Airport will be

the biggest change since it opened in 1977. New baggage reclaim areas

and more shops and restaurants are included in the plans.

The work should be completed by 2017.

The arts charity NVA has been given a first grant from the Heritage

Lottery Fund to develop the derelict St Peter's College in Cardross as a

visitor attraction. The former training college for priests closed

more than 30 years ago. A new centre for scientific innovation is to

named after the Nobel-winning physicist Professor Peter Higgs.

It'll be built at Edinburgh's Royal Observatory and will focus on space

technologies. And there are more stories from your area - and all the

latest news, 24 hours a day on BBC Scotland's website.

It may be years late and hundreds of millions of pounds over budget, but

the Edinburgh tram project finally has something to celebrate. Late

last night, a tram successfully completed the first test run along

the capital's most famous shopping street. Our transport correspondent,

David Miller, was there to watch. 11pm, Haymarket station and tram to

64 is heading for Princes street. It is the first one to run on these

streets for more than 50 years. It is emotional as I was here in 1956

on my father's shoulders. And ever thought I would see it again. The

tram is flanked by teams of engineers. Tram bosses say they are

back in control. We have all worked together, whether that is transport

Scotland, we have all worked together to make sure that we get

back on the timetable. It is approaching 1230 am and the tram has

completed its first run up long Princes street. This is a milestone

for the project. But it is a milestone that is long overdue. And

there are many more tests to be completed before the trams can enter

service next May. It is a start. Our team have been delighted to bring

the first tram back into the city. There is a great excitement for it.

The trams are almost silent at times, unlike there many critics.

Now it is time for the sports news. Two of Scottish football's most

senior managers say referees need to be protected.

It follows the two-match ban given to Dundee United striker Nadir

Ciftci, for excessive misconduct towards an official. And although

the Referees Association say the length of the ban is deeply

dissatisfying, they're not considering a strike, as John Barnes

reports. This is the incident that has

Scottish football talking. Dundee United's Nadir Ciftci placing his

hands on the throat of the assistant referee. Today, the referees say

they will not back down on their battle for protection. Despite

having been given the reasons for the two-game ban, the referees say

they stand by their original communication at the leniency of the

band sent out the wrong message. They added:

one man who was close to the incident understands clarity over

punishment is important. It is good to talk things through, we don't

talk about that enough. If we can do that, then an event like that --

events like that, we can get to the bottom quickly and make sure that

everyone knows what the punishments are and why they have been

delivered. Another with history when it comes to referees understands

there. I understand that some people think it was too lenient, you have

to take each individual case on its own merits. That is what has

happened here. You wanted to detect referees, to. More talking to be

done, but no strike. Stephen Maguire has been knocked out

of the UK Snooker Championship. Going through is the Australian

world number one Neil Robertson who beat Maguire by six frames to two.

Maguire was the last remaining Scot in the competition but has exited in

the quarterfinals. Andy Murray won't win the Australian Open in January,

according to John McEnroe. Murray has yet to play a match since a back

operation in September, and McEnroe thinks he won't be fit enough to add

to his Wimbledon title. Dunfermline will play Rangers at

Ibrox in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup. Ryan Thomson scored

for the Pars as they beat Ayr United 1-0 in their fourth round replay.

Glasgow Warriors have named their side to meet Cardiff Blues tomorrow.

Warriors skipper Al Kellock will make his 50th Heineken Cup

appearance at Cardiff Arms Park tomorrow night. He made 20 Cup

appearances for Edinburgh and 30 for Glasgow.

Eilidh Child will carry the flag as she captains the first ever Scotland

team to contest the Glasgow International Match in January. The

hurdler will lead a 22-strong team. It's the first major international

event in Glasgow in Commonwealth Games year.

And there are more sports stories, plus all the latest news, 24 hours a

day on BBC Sport Scotland's website. That is all of the sport. Before we

find out about the weather, this was the genetic scene our cameras

captured in Glasgow at lunchtime. the genetic scene our cameras

captured in At day refreshed by from the winds and rain, dark clouds

spread across the sky bringing snow. How is it looking?

I am pleased to say that the winds have calmed down. Tonight, our

attention shifts away from the strength of the wind and tin --

towards further snow and outbreaks of rain. You can see the strongest

winds push away to the east along with that area of low pressure.

Tonight, we have a Met Office and yellow be aware warning in force for

those snow showers. We could see five or ten centimetres for Shetland

and the North Highlands and Aberdeenshire. Strong to gale force

winds here, just saw 70 mph the Shetland. Miserable conditions with

drifting and blizzard conditions over the high ground. Elsewhere, it

becomes dry. A few showers drifting down the West Coast, on the whole

it'll be clear, cold and there will be a risk of ice. Is separate Met

Office warning is in force for that, particularly where services are wet

following showers. Temperature, tonight will be widely below

freezing, -6 or seven Celsius in parts. Tomorrow will start bitterly

cold. We will keep a fleet of snow showers coming into the Northern

Isles and around northern coasts. Through the day, cloud increases in

the West as this week warm front pushes in. I say warm, but as the

moisture in it meets the cold air, we will see outbreaks of light and

patch is now pushing north eastwards across the country. Should not

amount to much. For most places, dry weather with some sunshine although

cloud increasing for the afternoon. It will be a cold day with

temperatures not getting much above freezing. But we have lost the

strong winds. Still strong over Shetland at first. Then they will

ease. Winds will be easing down, but it will be a bitterly cold day. That

theme continues through the rest of the afternoon. This weather front

continues to push in and eventually will bring milder air, so the snow

will turn increasingly to rain which is a sign of things to come for the

weekend. Milder, but rain in the West, we will lose the strong winds.

That is Reporting Scotland. I will be back with the headlined at 8pm

and the late bulletin at 10:30pm. Good night.