03/01/2014 Reporting Scotland

Tonight, on Reporting Scotland: The west coast of Scotland is battered

by high winds and rain, as a tidal surge threatens to flood homes and

businesses. My defences are holding up OK, I

just hope that everybody else's is as fortunate as I am. We'll have the

latest, with more winds, rain and snow forecast for the weekend.

Also in the programme: It was a time of industrial and political strife,

now Cabinet papers from the 80s reveal how the Thatcher Government

tried secretly to cut Scotland's budget.

Could Steven Fletcher be heading for Celtic? Neil Lennon says he'd be

interested, if the Sunderland striker were available. You were

wonderful .

And bringing the curtain down on the Perth Theatre, but there's an encore

to come when the historical venue gets a multi-million pound revamp.

A tidal surge, together with severe gale force winds, have been

battering western and southern parts of Scotland. There's been flooding

along coastal areas with nearly forty flood warnings in place at one

point. In a moment we'll be reporting from Ayrshire, but first

this from Laura Maxwell, who was further up the Clyde coast as the

worst of the weather hit. The front at Helensburgh felt the

force of today's storm, the high tide combined with strong winds,

heavy rain and the storm surge saw the peer Andrew surrounding car

parks almost completely submerged. Locals did their best to protect

their homes. My defences are holding up OK. I hope that everybody else is

as fortunate as I am the stop the conditions are horrendous. We still

have not peaked, I do not think. Half an hour ago, you could see the

road here, but in that time it has completely flooded. Locals say this

is the worst they have seen it in living memory. They have their

sandbags and are hoping for the best. Preparations were well under

way this morning before the surge hit. Council workers out in force,

handing out sandbags and clearing drains. We did have flood warning in

place. It is a matter for local authorities, but we are having

feedback today from local responders that they have done in places like

Argyll and Bute, they have taken appropriate steps. Not everyone

escaped. Some businesses were caught. Train services were

cancelled for a time. In Dumbarton, the river burst its banks, even

before high tide. This even, most people are breathing a sigh of

relief. But keeping a close eye on the weekend.

Winds at one point reached 68 miles per hour in some places. Severe

gales combined with tidal surges affected ferries along the Clyde

coast and also breached the sea defences. This report from Julie

Peacock. You didn't want to get too close to

the coast in Ayrshire. In a loose of water after the sea walls in

Ardrossan. No trains break this line for a time. The parks and promenades

were strictly off-limits, this is the worst flooding the area has seen

in two decades. It's did not stop people coming to see the storm

unfold in front of them. I think it is quite exciting, really. It is not

very good for cars and transport and people's houses and flooding, but I

like the wildness. In Troon, council workers were out patrolling since

this morning, ready to clear drains and shore up homes with sandbags.

High tide has been and gone thankfully. This is the only road

that has been affected here. The plans that we put in place have paid

dividends. Thankfully, no one has been affected too badly. The high

tide has just passed and the waters are beginning to recede. It has been

a very windy and wild day. Thankfully, the flooding has only

been in some localised areas. Many people have said that this is the

worst they have seen it in years and there is a sense of having a lucky

escape. The weather has disrupted travel plans, but train and ferry

services are getting back to normal. On the Isle of Arran, getting around

has not been easy. Some people are making the most of the unsettled

weather, these windsurfers may be glad to know that more is on the

way, even if conditions want to be as dramatic as today.

Laura Bicker is in Ardrossan for us tonight. Laura, what is the

situation there now? It may not look like it, but

conditions have dramatically improved over the last few hours. He

couldn't have stood here earlier. It has receded. It has come back behind

the sea walls. There are still warnings in place. Police Scotland

are worried about the next high tide, particularly further north in

Fort William which will peak in the next 30 minutes. They warned earlier

that conditions there could be severe and there are still some

disruptions to rail journeys, check before you travel is the advice.

Some roads are still closed because of flood water. There is more bad

weather forecast. These winds still remain pretty heavy at the moment.

The advice from the Scottish Government is to check and remain

vigilant when it comes to travel and with the rain on the way, keep

watching for flood warnings. You're watching Reporting Scotland

from the BBC. Still to come on the programme - Bringing the curtain

down on the Perth Theatre, but a multi million pound revamp should

ensure a bright future. Celtic are interested in signing

Steven Fletcher, but how interested? We analyse the effect that that

Terry Butcher is having on Hibernian.

Details have emerged of attempts by ministers to make secret cuts to the

Scottish budget during Margaret Thatcher's premiership. Cabinet

papers released by the National Archives today reveal that the then

Conservative Scottish Secretary George Younger insisted that he

would only agree to half the cuts the Treasury was demanding and only

if they were "invisible" to the Government's critics. George

Younger's refusal to accede to bigger cuts disappointed Mrs

Thatcher and sparked a Cabinet row. Our Westminster correspondent Tim

Reid reports. It was the year the miners Mstrike

began, a dispute that became a defining moment in Thatcher's

premiership. Thousands lost jobs, it was a turbulent period and that came

after years of public spending cuts. Behind closed doors, the Scottish

secretary George Younger was fighting his own battle to try and

beat off much larger cuts. Cabinet papers released today show

that the Treasury sought ?60 million in cuts to Scotland's block grant.

It was a request that Mr Younger described as astonishing. Writing to

the Chief Secretary of the Treasury, Mr Younger said that the cuts

offered were the most I could surrender without risk of detection.

He added, I am simply not prepared to run political risks of cutting my

programme further. To see this detailed correspondence

about the need to keep figures in visible or visible -- in visible, I

find that very interesting. Mrs Thatcher thought Scotland was

getting more money than it deserved under the Barnett formula. The chief

secretary wrote to Mr Younger... The documents also reveal a memo

written by Mrs Thatcher's Private secretary which revealed she was

disappointed. George Younger did his utmost to try

and defend Scotland and Scotland's public spending against the Treasury

that was trying to cut back in Scotland. To some extent, he was

successful. It shows us the highly charged nature of the debate. The

nature of some of the decisions being made in Government are no

difference to decisions made by governments or -- of all hues. The

arguments back then are not dissimilar to some that are still

being made today. A murder investigation has been

launched in the Govan area of Glasgow after the death of a

26-year-old man. Police were called to a disturbance at a flat in Drive

Road early this morning. They say they're following a definite line of

inquiry in connection with the incident.

Around 400 mourners in Edinburgh have paid tribute to a young

footballer who died before Christmas. 13-year-old Jamie Skinner

was a former Hearts youth player who collapsed during his first game for

Tynecastle FC. Hearts manager Gary Locke was among football supporters

from across the capital who attended the funeral service at a cemetery in

Craigmillar this afternoon. This is Scotland's year of decision,

the year of the independence referendum. That brings a

Yesterday, we heard from Nicola Sturgeon, the Deputy First Minister.

Today, it's the turn of Alistair Darling who heads Better Together,

the campaign defending the Union. He spoke to our political editor Brian

Taylor. I have always argued that there is

no reason why Scotland couldn't be independent. But it is not in our

best interests. We have devolution of powers and education and health

in the Scottish parliament, but we are part of something bigger with

the opportunities that come from business and the security that comes

from being part of a larger country. It is in our best interests, we are

better and stronger together. Don't you access to that Scotland may have

different priorities on some issues, that independence would

offer the possibility to pursue those priorities? It is political

choices. We know that Scotland is facing the challenge of and ageing

population. I don't think we should have all of the burden on that on 5

million, when at the moment that burden is shared across many more.

Apparently, you have a lead in the polls. What is the campaign

strategy? It is important this year to try and persuade those people who

are still undecided and there are a lot of them that we are better and

stronger together. There is a strong positive case to be made for the

United Kingdom. We have the best of the both worlds. But we are part of

something larger. It is good for businesses and security. At the same

time, we have two persuade those people who already are convinced

that they cannot be complacent. I think this is going to be closer

than people think. This is something where we need a high turnout so we

get a decisive result. That is why it is our job to persuade those

people who are still on the fence that they come out and vote. You are

a senior member of the Labour Party. A entirely comfortable

working so closely with the Conservatives? I don't have any

problem with working with people when I agree with them. I disagree

with the Conservatives on many things, but I happen to agree that

Scottish best interests are being part of the UK. On that issue, it

would be foolish as childish to say that I want to speak to them because

I disagree with them when I agree with them on this. After all, this

is an issue that affects the future of our country for 50 and many more

years after that and that is why it is important that if we believe we

are better together, we should say something stopped IEP soon that,

even though one unnamed Conservative says that you are comatose? In

politics, you get people who say things like that. Frankly, in ten

years or 50 years, does it matter? The big issue, the biggest single

issue, is whether or not we get the best of both worlds, remain part of

the UK, the opportunities and security that comes from that, or do

we leap into the unknown. That is a massive question and is bigger than

any individual and that is why it is important we go and win a great we

can. When will we know the consequences of a no vote? There are

two things here. The political parties that believe in devolution,

as opposed to independence, working on plans that will be published I

dare say later this year. Do you need a coherence? I think that will

happen anyway. Whether or not they have an agreement or whether they

work towards that, in some ways I think that is secondary to the

second point I wanted to make and that is I think the decision in this

referendum will be made fundamentally on the economic

arguments. On the currency, are we going to get into the European

Union, will we be worse off better off? It is the economic arguments

that will decide what happens in September. Of course, constitutional

matters matter, but if you look at all of the evidence, it is those

fundamental economic arguments that will clinch it, especially amongst

the undecided. Large fragments of a meteorite worth

more than twice their weight in gold have been found in Perthshire. It's

96 years since the Strathmore meteorite fell to earth. Now the

UK's only professional meteorite hunter is discovering new pieces of

one of the few documented space rocks known to have fallen on

Scotland. Rob Flett's been to meet him.

There are lots of space rocks just waiting to be found in this area.

Meet Robb Elliott, his obsession with meteorites has taken him all

over the world and closer to home which at this house and picture

which was hit by a meteorite in 1917. This is the top of the range

when you have documented evidence of a space rock of not only hurting

something man-made but coming through the roof of your house!

Scotland does not have a lot of meteorites but there will be more

waiting to be found. When meteorites enter the atmosphere like these

pictures from Russia last February, the fragments are spread over a wide

area. The pieces can be valuable and Robb has a unique way of finding

them. This is a golf club with a powerful management at the end of

it. Most pieces of meteorite will stick to that. This is the fifth

Strathmore meteorite, a personal thing I discovered some weeks ago.

You can see the magnet sticks quite readily to it. That is a feature of

both eft rocks and meteorites. So we must take this back, cut it, have a

look inside and make sure it really is a 4.5 billion -year-old piece of

space rock. Robb Elliott has been making a living buying and selling

meteorites for the past 20 years. The spat -- Strathmore meteorite is

old and weathered. It will earn a lot of money.

This is not found any Perthshire field turns out to be worth more

than twice its weight in gold. Celtic are interested in signing the

Scotland and Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher, but only if he

becomes available. Now that the January transfer window is open, the

Celtic manager Neil Lennon is keen to add to his squad, but could he

afford an English Premiership striker? John Barnes reports.

This is the latest man to be linked with a move to Celtic, Scotland

international Steven Fletcher. The Sunderland striker who has scored

three goals this season has been used as a substitute recently under

new manager Gus Poyet, so is he on Neil Lennon's wanted list? He is an

excellent player but it is purely speculation at the moment. I cannot

say any more than that. I think most teams in Britain would like him and

affordability may be a problem for us. The Scotland striker who moved

for ?12 million 18 months ago from Wolverhampton Wanderers to

Sunderland is now valued at ?6 million, but with the Celtic manager

be interested in signing Fletcher and he was offered to him? Yes. His

phone has been red-hot now that the transfer window is open and he says

he hopes to have his first new signing agreed next week.

Now, the weather may be bleak, but there have been outbreaks of

sunshine on Leith. And it's in large part down to that man behind me -

Terry Butcher. He led his Hibernian side to victory in last night's

Edinburgh derby, lifting them to the dizzy heights of the Premiership's

top six. Our senior football reporter Alasdair Lamont examines

the Butcher effect. Leith and Easter Road in particular

as a happier place to be these days, more so after a win and Terry

Butcher's first Edinburgh derby as Hibernian manager. James Collins set

them on the ride to a third consecutive victory. James Collins

scores the goal of his derby games! Hearts equaliser might have sown the

seeds of doubt and the names of some Hibernian fans.

When you concede a goal like we did out of the blue, it's not that of

our straight for a few minutes but we showed our resilience and it was

a good test for the players. A few weeks ago that we would not have

been able to overcome that. But this Hibernian said he seems to

have a different mindset. And it looks like the goal which has won

the Edinburgh derby for Hibernian! So is that down to the Terry Butcher

effect? It is a massive is set. -- effect.

He gives us great character. You can see on the part as a player

responding, you know exactly what you have to do.

What they must do now is to continue this great vein of form with only

one defeat in eight games suggesting that the new man is doing something

right. Now a look at what else is happening

across Scottish sport, and there's a transfer window theme to it.

Aberdeen have a new defender. He's Alan Tate, signing on loan for the

rest of the season from English Premier League club Swansea Cit, but

what kind of player is he? I do not like to talk about myself, hopefully

just experience and know-how and knowing how to win games. I hope

people will judge me on that basis. Lionel Ainsworth's staying with

Motherwell till the summer. His loan deal from English club Rotherham

United's been extended. But keeping Viking Stavanger's Henri Anier is

proving more difficult. I am working as hard as I can to come up with a

deal for him. If we can get some money and finance that, it is a

possibility. Ross County have re-signed Greek

defender Evangelos Iknomou. He played for the club last season.

County have also signed Michael Tidser on loan from Rotherham.

St Mirren's Gary Harkins has moved to English League One side Oldham on

loan. He could make his debut against Liverpool in the FA Cup this

weekend. Kilmarnock striker Kris Boyd says

he's not looking for a move in the January transfer window. He scored

his sixth goal in as many games in Killie's 2-1 win over St Mirren

yesterday. And there are more sports stories

plus all the latest news, 24 hours a day on BBC Sport Scotland's website.

Always a pleasure to give you the latest transfer news, Sally.

It's played an important part in the history of Scottish theatre and now

Perth Theatre is about to take a big step to secure its future. When the

curtain comes down tomorrow on this season's pantomime, the building

will close for around two years for a ?15 million refurbishment. Andrew

Anderson reports. You were wonderful! You were

marvellous! A couple of ugly sisters playing at

Perth Theatre, regarded as one of the most attractive in Scotland. The

cast of this year and remain will be the last on the stage at Perth

Theatre for a couple of years as it undergoes a ?15 million

refurbishment, with audiences who enjoy the splendour of this on the

auditorium should not fear, it is being preserved.

Many actors have featured here at the theatre, actors like a young

Alec Guinness and a Ewan MacGregor. Photographs of great actors from the

past. Donald Sutherland also played this theatre. It was home to

Scotland's first repertory company and back in 1955, actors had a

phenomenal workrate. The same company of actors would rehearse

during the day and perform at night. There was a parade of time when it

was a superb place to be. They are now trying to secure this

theatre's future for the next 100 years. An impressive new entrants

and new studio Theatre will be built. This goes along with the

development of Mill Street and a closer connection between the

theatre and the concert hall will make this a very interesting place

to be. The comic capers of this pantomime

will bring down the curtain on at one of this theatre's long history

and when the make over is complete it will once again worked its magic

on audiences. Andrew Anderson, Reporting Scotland, per. --

Perthshire. Good evening. Things are said to

improve during the overnight period. We are seeing gale force winds at

the moment but they should easily during the course of tonight. We

still have put of them to contend with and if you look at the chart

you can see that. Lots of rain being generated during the course of this

evening. That will turn shabbily in nature and eventually the body of

cold showers becomes confined to Northern areas and the winds will

gradually settle down. Quite a noticeable difference. Temperatures

will fall down to around four Celsius but they will remain lower

for the Borders with the rest of some ice. There is an ice risk first

thing tomorrow. Some showers across the Northern areas following sleet

and snow over higher ground. There is a change with rain edging from

the South during the later part of the morning. For the afternoon,

there will be snow and dissent and the Met Office have issued a general

weather warning. They believe it will mainly affect higher ground so

the M74 and the A68, Haile routes could be affected. Keep your eye on

that. It will be great with some sunny spells towards the Edinburgh

area and the further North you go there is more sunshine. The North

East gets the best of the sunshine. Sunshine for the Outer Hebrides but

the Northern Isles will feel quite mild. Much lighter winds, the

afternoon as well. If you are heading for the hills, Western edges

will see a fresh wind but these will eventually ease. And improving day.

Dry for Eastern and Southern ranges. The rain will continue to push into

the South. For those who like to ski or snowboard, it is looking good

weather-wise. The winds will ease but please be careful, check with

the ski centres for the latest details. That rain, sleet and snow

edges further North and it will be dry with some clear spells. This

area of low pressure is moving towards us but it will be a wet and

windy day on Sunday. It starts dry with frost and then the rain moves

across a stronger gale force wind. Now, a reminder of tonight's main

news: A tidal surge together with severe gale force winds have

battered Western and Southern parts of Scotland today. There has been

flooding along coastal areas with nearly 40 flood warnings in place at

one point. In England and Wales it's been a

similar picture with many properties flooded for a second time in recent

days. Severe flood warnings for nine areas there have been issued meaning

there is a "danger to life". Join us at 10:25pm. Goodbye.