02/01/2014 Reporting Scotland

Tonight, on Reporting Scotland... Rail fares go up, but passengers

groups say increased prices should be matched with an improvement in

service. And think it is an absolutely ridiculous entries.

Particularly when you often cannot get a seat and had to stand all the

way between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Also tonight, more bad weather on

the way. Council tax has not gone up for

seven years, but would you be happy to pay more, if it meant better

services? And we will have a round-up of all

the goals in the New Year football action.

Rail fares in Scotland have gone up today. Fares for peak-time

travellers are rising by 3.1%, but ScotRail says it has frozen fares

for 40% of journeys. Passenger groups say rail users want the fare

increase matched with better service. The company carried the

rate cut 85 million passengers last year. The cost of peak time travel

has risen 3.1% by, affecting 60% of the journeys. Today, the cost of the

peak time has risen up to ?22 50. The cost of a season ticket has

risen to ?3620. But the pace of off-peak travel has been frozen. The

price freeze has limited the average price increase to 1.9%, better than

south of the border. Any increase is unfortunate, but we have to

recognise that it has to probably match the rate of inflation. It is a

good service, but the trains are very busy. It is ridiculous.

Especially when I sometimes cannot get the seat and how to stand all

the way between Glasgow and Edinburgh. It will give better value

for money. We want the ability for every passenger to get a seat, good

quality information and good facilities and stations. ScotRail

says rising fuel prices are pushing the cost up. They say they only make

3p profit on every ?1 they collect. With the franchise up for renewal,

they will be keen to show that they can provide the perfect service.

Heavy rain and high winds are expected to return to the west of

Scotland over the next 24 hours, hitting areas affected by flooding

earlier in the week. The storm also coincides with a high tide and there

is a warning that there could be further flooding in Ayrshire and on

the Clyde Coast. Our reporter Julie Peacock is in Ardrossan tonight.

What is the latest? There are flood warnings in place for virtually

every part of Scotland. But it is in this part of the model that is at

the most risk of flooding because of a number of factors coming

together. Tomorrow, we will see one of the highest tides of the year. It

is just passed low tide just now, but that water will rise by almost

3.5 metres by tomorrow afternoon. That will happen at the same time as

a storm surge, heavy rain and high winds. This area will have a much

higher likelihood of seeing flooding. That risk will be from all

the way from the Dumfries Galloway caused up to open in the Northwest.

River levels are also saw high that areas in the east are also affected.

How bad is it expected to be? It has been pretty bad weather, pet pretty

unsettled conditions over the past couple of weeks. However, we are not

expecting the wind to be so severe tomorrow. We are looking wobbly at a

high of around 60. The environment agency says the flooding tomorrow

will be less severe than we saw on December the 30th and also on the

27th of December. Having said that, the Scottish Gottman has had the

meeting and put in a number of precautions in place. The heavy bus

replacement service in place in case any of the railway lines are

flooded. The government have given this advice for people giving

travelling to work tomorrow. I would assent to keep the face given to

them, with regard to disruption to traffic services and roads. There

could be a risk of coastal flooding. I would encourage them to check with

the operator and to register with the flood plain, so they will get an

automated message on the phone. Those are two key things people can

do to help themselves to give them the maximum possible time to prepare

for traffic disruption or potential problems on other transport. Because

of that high wind tomorrow, we expect disruption to ferry services.

Caledonian MacBrayne and other ferry operators are asking other

travellers to be flexible with their plans, because there could be delays

or cancellations. As for the weather, we will have the full

detailed weather report later in the programme. She says we can expect to

see the same kind of weather over the next few days. If you want a

more detailed idea of the risk of flooding, you can go to our website

or alternatively you can phone the flood plain, the number on the

screen below. And we will have that fool weather forecast shortly.

More than one in ten young Scots is said to be suffering mental health

problems from being out of work. The charity, The Prince's Trust,

interviewed 16-25 year olds across the country. It is calling for more

to be done, to help them cope with the psychological effects of

long-term unemployment. Stephen was out of work for eight years. He said

he really left the house in that time. He was depressed and anxious

and still finds it difficult to talk about it. It affects your self-worth

and self of belonging to the community. If you less motivated.

When it goes on, it becomes much bigger. It would seem he is not

alone. The Prince's Trust Found that one quarter of Scots interviewed

felt depressed, sometimes feeling like outcasts. More than one in ten

where self harming or turning to drugs or drink. Those who are

unemployed, 40% of them may experience mental health issues. For

example, tweezers many are likely to be on antidepressants. Stephen has

turned his life around. He has no working with the The Prince's

Trust, helping other people get their lives back contract. If there

is young people I see who are experiencing similar challenges to

myself, I can be able to empathise with them. I can maybe inflation

within the states that help me I could also then help them. The

charity is calling for urgent support from government, the health

service and lawyers. You are watching Reporting Scotland

from the BBC. Still to come on the programme...

The countdown is now well and truly on to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

In sport, all the day's football news and results and some of the

goals from the premiership's New Year's Day matches. See you soon.

It is being claimed that most Scots would be prepared to pay more

council tax if it meant better local services. The council tax has not

gone up for seven years, but councils have had to make millions

of pounds worth of cuts and expect that to continue in the years ahead.

Our local government correspondent Jamie McIvor is with us.

The Scottish government sees the council tax freeze as an

achievement. It has not gone up since 2007. But would you want to

pay more, if it meant better roads, schools or care for the elderly?

A survey conducted for a group looking at ideas for the future of

local government suggests most of us would. Two thirds said they would be

prepared to pay more council tax, if they could be guaranteed the money

would go on local services. And only about half think their council has

enough money to deliver the services their community needs. Dull new golf

course in Clydebank is run by the council. It is considering cutting

the size of the course, one of several options to answer the local

budget. In this year of austerity, finding ways to save money is harder

and the council leader is not surprised by the findings of the

survey. We have a very strong part of the community who came out and

said Friday work we not increase council tax. It was a simple and

strong message and it is something we do consider every year. We are

essentially hemmed them by the Scottish government policy. In the

streets, mixed views. How would you feel about being more council tax

for better services? The council tax, I do not agree with it, but we

have to pay for it. It would depend for the money is going to. I think

we have had an awful lot of cutbacks as it is. Across Scotland, the poll

suggests many people who would be more if they could be guaranteed

better services. The cross-party group will know that this for the

years ahead. If money is spent badly, nobody is going to like that.

If the public money is going to be spent well, people will like that

and know that the money should be sent on services. Sometimes, people

are given the answer is that they want. People are getting council tax

freezes during the duration of the parliament, which is a great thing.

Across the country, people support council tax freezes. And no wonder.

Now the group the polling was done for is looking at how to strengthen

local democracy within Scotland, once the referendum is out of the

way. The details released tonight also suggest most of us want more

say in how local services are run and only a minority of us feel part

of how decisions are made. But with austerity set to continue for some

time, it is the suggestion so many might be prepared to pay more

council tax that might provoke the most lively debate.

Detectives investigating a serious sexual assault in Edinburgh

yesterday have released new information about the suspect. A

21-year-old woman was attacked in the Canongate area of the Royal Mile

in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Police are looking for a

white man in his late teens or early twenties who was wearing a

distinctive furry headband. They are urging anyone who can help identify

him to contact them. The Scottish Liberal Democrats are

calling for action to protect patient confidentiality, after more

than 700 breaches in the past five years. Figures obtained by the party

through Freedom of Information laws detail incidents of data loss, leaks

or breaches of the Data Protection Act by health boards. The Scottish

government says it is working to address the problem.

This is the year when the people of Scotland will vote in the

independence referendum. Both the Yes and No campaigns will be

stepping up their campaigns to win votes. In the first of two

interviews, our political editor Brian Taylor has been speaking to

Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon. She has been setting out

the arguments for independence. I think this will be a year of when

the focus is on what Scotland can do and what we can achieve, not what we

can do and can achieve. Do you feel the need to revitalise the campaign,

to redirect our target the campaign? We are very clear on the campaign we

will run over the course of this year. There is the strands to the

campaign. Firstly, it will centre on the economy. I firmly believe who

wins the economic argument will when the referendum. We believe Scotland

can more than afford to be independent. Secondly, we need power

over the economy to get faster and more sustainable growth into our

economy. Secondly, we will focus on the lack of any alternative vision

coming from the no campaign. We published a White Paper at the end

of last year, but that is the only visionary as for the of Scotland.

There is no answers from the no campaign about what happens to the

budget, Joe poverty Aubrey we will be in relation to Europe. Sadly,

there will be a focus on the benefits to Scotland - a

transformation to each engine childcare, and things we can do to

get the economy growing. I think it is the message that will come the

debate and will see the yes campaign winning. Let's pick up on the

economy. Your opponents do not concede. We will start life in a

strong fiscal and financial position. We have a strong diverse

economy. We have to pursue the economies that grow our economy

faster. Parents particularly mothers will be helped into work with child

care improvements, that would generate extra money and our

economy. Bill macro on that point do you accept you have a problem with

female voters? Women perhaps take longer to make up their minds than

men but I readily accept we are coming from behind in the opinion

polls and we require to close that gap and overtake the no campaign. We

have the message, the policies and the determination to do that.

Westminster policies are plunging more and more children into

poverty. Let us have some clear answers from the no campaign

highlights looks for Scotland if we do not vote yes. Say they would need

to be in agreement with the remainder of the United Kingdom on

the economy. The Chancellor says that agreement would not exist and

things would be unstable. I do not think any UK politician has said

there would not be a currency union because we know that is in the

overwhelming interests of Scotland and the whole of the UK. I simply

put forward the proposition and I hear this from people increasingly

on a day-to-day basis, there is not enough for the no campaign simply to

shout you cannot do that. They have to come up with more and put forward

propositions that manifestly would be against the interest of the

public elsewhere in the UK. People are not stupid and want to win it. I

absolutely believe we are going to win it by persuading people that

independence is the right way to secure a better future for this and

future generations. I am optimistic and confident that if we put our

arguments properly then we will win the referendum. Tomorrow we will

hear from Alistair Darling, head of the better together campaign. The

countdown is no one for this year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Glasgow will make the games according to Valley Mitchell who has

to recruit the 15,000 volunteers. -- Valley. -- Valerie. Have a good,

good day. They may not have gone unheard but beware the games heroes.

The games makers where said to have made the games in London and there

has been no shortage of people keen to make a similar impact in Glasgow

2014. We had 700 applications, amazing, more than Manchester and

Melbourne put together. Soon, all 15,000 will have an idea of what

they will be doing through the games. This Clydeside will be

working at Hampden. I watched the Olympics and was inspired by the

whole thing. I could not resist it. I am doing spectators services, I

will be standing at the concourse and stadium getting people

directions, helping F they are lost. The majority of volunteers are from

Scotland but some are from other home nations and overseas. Training

gets under way shortly. Now some more sport. Thank you. It is the two

of Scottish football's New Year schedule. One match was played

today. That ended in a 2-1 win for Kilmarnock. That took command to

eighth in the league table. There were plenty more goals and

excitement in the four New Year's Day matches yesterday. A new year

and in keeping with recent tradition, Celtic won without

conceding a goal. Joe Ledley is free to speak to other clubs this January

but has indicated to his manager he is keen to sign a new deal with

Celtic. Motherwell are working hard to keep one of the old heroes two.

Nigel aims of is close to extending his loan from Rotherham. That 4-0

win keeps them two points clear of Aberdeen. They won the much

anticipated encounter with Indy United thanks to this injury time

goal watch to the delight of a big travelling support. And it was the

away fans who went home happy from the Highland derby. This goal proved

to be the winner for Ross County, they moved 16 points clear of the

bottom side. Hearts could narrow that gap to 13 points if they win

away to their archrivals Hibernian tonight. It kicks off at a 7:45. You

can listen on BBC Radio Scotland. Online and on digital. And you can

watch highlights of the Edinburgh derby in Sportscene on BBC One

Scotland at 10:35. There is one game under way at the moment in league

one, leaders, Rangers, looking to extend their unbeaten run. The

latest score is the United nail, Rangers one. As for the rest of

today's football the rest of the results are in. We will start with

the championship. -- Airdrieonians. Now onto rugby.

Glasgow have a 20-16 lead from the first leg at Murrayfield on Boxing

Day but the home leg at Scotstoun scheduled for yesterday was

postponed because of a waterlogged pitch. Now he is a character in the

world of darts, Peter snakebite right just failed in his attempt to

win these board's championship. He lost 7-4 to this man from Holland in

the final. You would suit your her like that. I was going to get one in

there! Thank you. More fun and games in the weather. What is to be

expected? More wet and windy weather. That has been the pattern.

We are on the receiving end of some very wet and windy weather. The

reason for this repetitive type of weather is the Jetstream. It is a

ribbon of very strong and fast-moving wins that has been

static. It has been there since the start of the meteorological winter.

You can see why we are seeing these lows piling towards us. The wind has

been faster than normal with wind speeds normally around 100 mph,

reaching 250. It will initially looked right but then we see rain

gathering and extending across many parts. There will be a touch of

Frost. The bulk of the rain does clear away to the north. Winds will

strengthen by the end of the night. Overnight lows around five Celsius.

Tomorrow driving will clear -- driving rain will clear but

predominantly for Western areas we have a warning for wind. The

combination of these deals and Western areas coupled with high

tides tomorrow, the proximity of the law, there is a strong possibility

of coastal flooding. Later in the day that is particularly likely in

Oban and tidy. Outbreaks of rain and expected in many central parts and

there is a yellow flood warning in force for localised flooding across

the South. Similarly for areas in the north of the Central Belt. In

timber meth and the North Coast the rain will not appear until later. By

evening rain will carry on for a while, pushing northwards after that

and becoming more shallowly in nature. It will become confined to

northern parts with drier conditions to end the night in the South.

Saturday will be a quieter day. More in these way of sunshine. There is

another deep area of low pressure coming in from the Atlantic on

Sunday. Sunday start stride but it will not be long until the wind and

rain start to march across. Now a reminder of tonight's main news.

Rain fears have gone up today. ScotRail says it has frozen fears

for 40% of journeys. Passenger groups want the increase matched

with the better service. High winds are expected to return to areas of

western Scotland over the next 24 hours. Coinciding with the high tide

there is the risk of flooding in her sure. Nigella Lawson says it was

mortifying to have details of her personal life and drug taking

revealed in court last month. She told the US TV station that her only

desire during the case had been to protect her children. That is off

from us for now. Good night. Goodbye.