20/02/2014 Reporting Scotland

from BBC News. It is goodbye from me.

Tonight, on Reporting Scotland: After several fatal crashes, a major

crackdown on helicopter safety in the North Sea. Among 32

recommendations are bans on flying in poor sea conditions, and limits

on the number and size of passengers.

Britain has won the bronze medal! Scotland's female curlers clinch

Olympic bronze in dramatic style in Sochi, with tears of joy to follow.

I am so happy. These girls have put in so much work and it is good to

know everyone wants it as much as each other. We all push each other.

We'll have the story from Russia, as well as reaction here in Scotland.

Also on the programme: Thank you. Scotland, stay with us.

Bowie backs the union, with a supermodel's help, but can

celebrities really influence the independence referendum?

Uncertainty round the corner for Rangers as the troubled club seeks a

loan of up to ?1.5 million. And re-enacting the 14th century

using 21st century graphics - a new experience for visitors to

Bannockburn. A major overhaul of helicopter

safety in the North Sea has been recommended by the Civil Aviation

Authority. It follows a series a fatal crashes - the latest being the

accident off Shetland last year in which four people died. Among the

recommendations are: A ban on flights when sea conditions are at

their most severe. Helicopters will only be allowed to fly if passengers

are seated next to an emergency exit. And there'll be a limit on the

physical size of anyone travelling offshore. Our reporter Kevin Keane

has been assessing the impact of the recommendations.

It was when this helicopter crashed into the sea off Shetland in August

last year that the pressure intensified to urgently improve

safety. Four were killed in the accident and it was the fifth

ditching in the North Sea in as many years. James Nugent is one who

survived the crash and he thinks safety improvements are long

overdue. They are old helicopters that are

being maintained to do the job they need to do. We need to bring in an

expiry date on these helicopters. They were manufactured in the 60s

and 70s. Some of the changes will have a big

effect on the helicopter industry. Passengers who are too big to fit

through escape windows will not be allowed on and all workers will have

to sit next to annex it. Each helicopter is laid out slightly

different team. This one has seating for 19 passengers. In this case,

clearly only these seats and these are next to emergency exits so all

of the central ones would have to remain unoccupied. The industry's

regulator which has published the report told me reducing the number

of passengers will affect flights. There will be some impact, in the

order of up to 20% on some flights but we are not sure of the overall

impact yet. However, given that safety is the overall priority we

believe this should be and will be managed by the operators themselves.

Tighter rules on weather conditions means more flights will be cancelled

when the sea is at its worst and better emergency breathing equipment

will become mandatory for all passengers. Unions say it is vital

that the CAA now delivers on the recommendations.

As time passes, different priorities arise and our pressure is to keep

the pressure on to make sure they do what they say in the report.

The worst of the recent helicopter crashes in 2009 resulted in the

deaths of all 16 on board. The solicitor for many families left

behind says today's report will not silence their calls for a full

public enquiry. Scotland's women curlers have won

bronze at the Winter Olympics in Sochi. All the pressure was on the

skip, Eve Muirhead from Perthshire, to deliver an inch-perfect final

stone in the tenth end against Switzerland. And she kept her cool

to lead Team GB to its coveted Olympic medal. From Sochi David

McDaid reports. One last match, one last shot, one

last chance for Eve Muirhead to win an Olympic medal. They go in the

air, the brushes, and Britain has won a medal.

I am so proud. What a massive relief to get the

Olympic medal round our necks. Today, the tears of joy replaced

yesterday 's tears of despair at missing out at the shot on gold.

We were devastated yesterday but we put it behind us and we made sure we

were not coming home without a medal today. We dug deeper and did really

well. There was also satisfaction for the

gold who won -- for the coach who herself won gold in 12 years ago.

I have lost many in my career and it is not a good position to be in, but

I am really proud of the girls. They fought tooth and nail and really

deserved that win. Does winning make you feel

different? It does. It is what every athlete

dreams of and I am super happy. Now, how to celebrate achieving that

Olympic dream? Back to social media!

So today's bronze success means to doubt -- guaranteed medals for Team

GB. Tomorrow the men are back to play against calendar and to see if

they get silver or gold. -- against Canada.

There was delight at Eve Muirhead's home rink in Perth. Our reporter

Julie Peacock is there tonight. Sally, who hasn't been following the

fortunes of the British curling team over the past couple of weeks? Today

we were rewarded with bronze from the ladies and now the possibility

of gold or silver from the men tomorrow. This is where it all

starts. Local clubs like this one here in Perth. This is Eve

Muirhead's local club and where she has trained for years. It is a

hugely popular sport here with lots of people taking part. Even here,

they have noticed a real gem in popularity in curling since the

start of the Olympic Games. It was all eyes on Sochi at her home

rink as she played the final shot to secure bronze for Britain. It was

wonderful. So exciting. The -- she's such a nice girl and deserves

everything that comes her way. Perth, like Scotland, is in the grip

of Olympic fever and taking to the ice is the best cure. This ice rink

was full of people wanting to give it a try.

We have got some friends who live nearby. It is harder than I thought.

When we saw an advert for it, it was a good opportunity to come along.

It is hoped today's success will inspire the next generation of

curlers. A lot of people have come because of

the Olympics. Do you think it will convert to medals?

People do get inspired to try new sports in the Olympics. A lot of

people will think, I can do that. I have been watching a bit of this

curling and it has got me thinking. How hard can it be?

It is going in. Oh, right on the button! South Korea here I come!

I have to confess to using a body double in that final shot. If you

think you can do better, clubs across Scotland are running taster

sessions to try and get more people involved in the game and, hopefully,

convert some of our infuser you have them into medals in the future. --

enthusiasm. You're watching Reporting Scotland

from the BBC. Still to come on tonight's programme: In the third of

our special reports on unpaid carers, we look at the challenges

facing people in rural areas. In sport, fears of the fans that the

club could be heading for administration once again. The

Rangers club. And, Scotland rugby players have

checked in for Rome, determined to avoid their third straight defeat.

Pressure mounts for Scott Johnson. We consider their Six Nations

chances. Last night, David Bowie became the

latest celebrity to add his voice to the referendum debate by calling on

Scotland to stay with the UK. But does celebrity endorsement, one way

or another, make a difference? Here's our political correspondent,

Glenn Campbell. It is pop, not politics. But at last

nights bricks, the best male sado -- fellow artist used his speech to

urge stocks -- Scots to stick with the UK. What made it unusual, he

sent Kate Moss to deliver the message. Scotland, stay with us!

If intervention has made him one of the heroes of the pro-union

campaign. A perhaps more rebel, rebel for those in favour of

independence. However you see it, you could say his short composition

on the referendum was intended as a sort of love note to Scottish

voters. It comes soon after the Prime Minister appealed to people

across the rest of the UK to use their influence in the independence

debate. From us to the people of Scotland let the message BBS, we

want to stay. The "yes Scotland" campaign launched

their own celebrity backing. It is about time we...

At last year 's parade in New York another endorsement for the yes

side. It will be an interesting new period for Scotland. Why not?

More recently, John Barrowman backed the union, but will any of these

interventions and influence the vote?

I think it is a great tactic for celebrities to get involved because

people listen to them, unlike politicians, but I don't think it

will influence what people think. Pop stars and celebrities have

plenty of opportunity to attract attention but their political clout

is less certain. A baby who was seriously burned in a

gas explosion in Pakistan is expected to arrive at Glasgow

airport for life-saving treatment in the next hour. He lost his father,

mother and brother in the accident. He will be taken to Yorkhill

Children's Hospital for an assessment. Our reporter is at the

airport tonight and you may find some pictures in her report

upsetting. In just over half an hour, through

this arrivals gate at Glasgow airport will come the little baby

after a very long journey from Pakistan. He is only four months old

but his barn -- life has been marred by tragedy already. His parents and

brother were killed in a gas explosion in Peshawar. It left him

with horrific burns to his face and body. His family in Scotland were

incredibly worried about infection setting in so they got the ball

rolling and got in touch with MPs and MSP's and last week, the

Scottish Government said they would stump up the cash for his care here.

So, he is about to arrive and when he does, he will be whisked to

hospital in Glasgow where he will begin a long process of recovery and

years of possible painful surgery to his face. But his family want to say

how grateful they are that people here have given him a second chance

at life. A look at some other stories from

across Scotland this Thursday night: An investigation into why a fishing

boat ran aground and sank last summer has concluded the skipper was

at fault. A Marine accident investigation Branch report found

the skipper had been distracted by his mobile phone while changing

course. His radio was so low he failed to hear to warnings from the

ports watchkeeper. BBC Scotland understands plans will

be revealed tonight for a ?40 million investment in the Borders.

It is understood they are for a distillery run by -- by... Based on

the outskirts of Edinburgh. Campaigners in the Highlands say

children with particular problems like autism could lose out after a

local authority voted to cut its budget for additional support. The

number of youngsters with additional support needs is rising.

Nearly 70 firefighters tackled a serious fire which destroyed and

Aberdeen beach-front restaurant. Crews were called shortly before

half past four this morning. The flames tore through the roof of the

building causing extensive damage and disrupting rush-hour traffic.

Dumfries has the highest rejection rate for credit card applications in

the whole of the UK according to a new study. The credit card

comparison site said two thirds of resident in the postcode area were

turned down in the past 12 months. But rejection rates, it says, has --

have been increasing everywhere as credit card companies tighten up

their criteria. This week, we've been looking at the

experience of Scotland's unpaid carers. In our third and final film

in the series, we're looking at the challenges facing many of the

country's rural carers. Ian Hamilton reports.

Living in rural Scotland can be peaceful and it elected. But if you

are caring for a loved one, it can be a silly deep and lonely. --

idyllic. So getting support from one another at a caring centre like this

one, where I have come to meet some carers, is vital. My husband lost

both of his legs and he has got renal failure as well. And I was not

aware of anything, people that could help me and I felt very isolated. It

is this your distances involved that makes life tough just to do the

simplest things and get a little help. We have five towns and the

majority of all the services people will need of any age are all based

around those towns. As is the public transport. Get two or three miles

out of these towns and you are starting to meet up with problems.

Being a rural carer can be fraught with problems, particularly if you

do not drive. People tell me they are what makes them stay is a strong

sense of community. The Scottish Government currently have a bill of

consultation. It is up to local authorities to provide more support

for Scotland's caterers. Local authorities say the bill is not

necessary. We think there are quicker ways of delivering

improvements, through working together with the NHS. Over the next

20 years, it is estimated the number of carers in Scotland will rise from

650,000 to 1 million. This means that more than one in five of us

will have some form of caring role, a role that few of us are prepared

for. Time for the sport. Good evening.

A Rangers fans group spokesman has told BBC Scotland that he fears the

possibility of the club going into administration again. He was

speaking as the Ibrox club has admitted it's asked for a ?1.5

million loan from two major shareholders. It's a situation a

financial expert says is a ''significant concern.'' Jane Lewis

reports. On the pitch, things are going well.

A typical header. But for the pitch, does this latest News raise

concerns? The Rangers board confirmed to the stock exchange this

morning that they are in discussions with two major shareholders with a

view to organising a loan. They say they are looking for up to ?1.5

million to provide working capital for the club. It is a significant

concern, I suspect. They seem to be asking for this money for a

short-term needs and to look for such a significant sum of money to

meet short-term requirements, I think, as a Rangers supporter I

would be asking the board but its long-term planets. BBC Scotland

understands the loan discussions involve partners James and Sandy

Easdale. The brothers who both hold positions on the board of Rangers.

These developments come on the same day that Rangers' Chief Executive

Graham Wallace e-mailed supporters encouraging them to engage with the

football club at it looks to move forward. Because their input is

valuable. Mr Wallace has on many occasions said that, under no

circumstances, was Administration and option. Unfortunately, this

recent announcement does not do much to alleviate fans' fears that it is

a possibility. Rangers may be keen to hear from supporters. Tonight it

seems fans want the club's board to do the talking.

The Scotland rugby squad say they have erased all thoughts of the

wooden spoon in this year's Six Nations campaign. The team have

flown out to Rome ahead of Saturday's crucial match against

Italy still nursing wounds after a heavy defeat to England in their

last match. Brian McLauchlin reports.

Checking in for what they hope will be a victory. The Scotland players

chasing victory that so far in this season's Six Nations had eluded

them. Scotland may have had a dreadful start to this season's Six

Nations, losing their opening two fixtures. They have also lost their

last three trips to Italy but these players feel that the tide is about

to turn. We have got a very positive attitude this week. That is one of

the things we set out to do at the start of the week, get about the

England game. If everyone was to talk about the England game and

focus on what happened, that is their decision but we have got a

responsibility to beat Italy. Roll back the clock two years. This

defeat to Italy in Rome meant Scotland ended up with the wooden

spoon. A scenario not being entertained by this squad. There is

plenty more rugby to play in the championship. It is the third game

in the Six Nations as a whole so we are certainly looking to put things

right on Saturday. Disappointing results mean interim head coach

Scott Johnson's position has been questioned. A victory in would go

some way to answering his critics. Now, a look at what else is

happening across Scottish sport. David Murdoch says he is inspired by

Eve Muirhead's rink winning runs that Sochi. Tomorrow he will play

Canada with his team. He will muster all of his experience going for

gold. Train harder, throw more stones, I have been doing everything

from previous campaigns to get experience of the guys of what it is

going to be like here. All of the things we have learned about how to

win games over the years to try and help them focus.

Joe Ledley says he knew his Celtic career was over as soon as the club

accepted an offer for him from Crystal Palace. The midfielder moved

to the English Premier League on transfer deadline day, despite being

offered a new deal at Parkhead. For a couple of years, yes, and when I

heard Crystal Palace put an offer in, a Premier League opportunity

with a great club and great fans, I thought it was time for me to go.

And play in the best league in the world.

It's the end of the road for Stephen Gallacher after the first round of

the World Matchplay golf in Arizona. With three to play, the Scot

squandered a two-hole lead to the two-time Open Champion Ernie Els.

Welcome to the Pars Wash. Dunfermline are the first Scottish

club to launch their own car wash facility. All profits are going to

Pars United. And don't worry - first team players are not usually

responsible for the wash. 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 your sport for

tonight. Thank you.

Visitors to the historic Bannockburn site in Stirling will soon have the

chance to re-enact the famous battle of 1314. State-of-the-art graphics

and Hollywood special effects are at the heart of a new ?9 million

tourist attraction. Andrew Anderson's been to have a look.

This doorway will transport me back 700 years to the battle of Alnwick

urn, recreated here at the visitor centre. By 21st-century digital

technology. # The Battle of Bannockburn. The

first room we come to recreates the eve of the two-day battle with the

English and Scottish armies making their preparations for what lay

ahead. Very little was found at the sight of the Battle of Bannockburn

in terms of artefacts, so historians have been lustily involved to make

this as realistic and as historically accurate as possible.

What we have done is showcased in 48 hours the Battle of Bannockburn in a

highly immersive experience with a lot of historical research into the

detail of how the nights and different aspects of the battle took

place. This is the final room, the room with the battle laid out on the

table in front of the players. On one side, the English army led by

Edward the second, on the other side of the Scottish army led by Robert

the Bruce. Will it work out the way it did 700 years ago? Today I was on

the side of the English army. That should have been a major tactical

disadvantage. Attack! Just attack! 700 years ago,

the Battle of banned urn was fought over two days. -- the Battle of

Bannockburn. Today it was over in just half an hour. And with an

unexpected outcome. That is the Battle of Bannockburn 2014 over, can

you believe it, the English army won. But unlike 700 years ago, both

of those armies will live to fight another day as this battle is

re-enacted and re-enacted once the visitors centre is open.

He was so getting into that. Hello. It was a rather wet afternoon

through parts of the Central Belt and the South but this evening we

revert to breezy with showers. Low pressure sitting towards the north

and within the flow of the low, westerly winds continue to feed the

showers in. And so showers crossing the country west to east in the next

few hours, but by the end of the night it turns dry for many central,

southern and eastern parts of the country and temperatures down close

to freezing at in towns and cities holding just above. One to rural

parts seeing a patch of frost and some icy patches. Tomorrow, Friday,

is another day of showers, mostly in the West, a dry start in the East

but with that strong wind the showers will be blown right across

the country. By mid-afternoon, it is an East Flash West split, the

further east you are it will be drier but not entirely dry. --

East-West. Wintry over the hills and high ground. Tempered arise, seven

or eight Celsius, but it is feeling colder in the wind. A decent day

through parts of Aberdeenshire and into Inverness and up towards

Caithness, Ark not feeling too bad, Shetland far better than this

morning. The rest of the afternoon into the evening, the showers

continue to pile their way in from the west. If we take a look ahead

towards the weekend, will pressure still nearby towards the North.

Another out in the Atlantic but the study weekend on Saturday morning it

is not too bad, reasonably dry and bright. One or two light showers

around and still breezy. Temperatures seven or eight degrees

and by mid-afternoon we start to see that rain uprooting the West Coast

and it worked its way in a night, so if you are out on Saturday night,

expect to get wet. It will be a wet and windy start for Sunday morning

but it should improve as the head through the afternoon, the rain

becoming confined to southern parts of the country. The central belt is

more showery, still windy but it should be mild, nine or 10 degrees.

Saturday is probably better than Sunday.

Now, a reminder of tonight's main news. More than twenty people have

been killed in one of the bloodiest days in the crisis gripping the

Ukrainian capital Kiev. Gun battles broke out between security forces

and anti-government protesters, shattering a fragile truce that had

been agreed overnight. A major overhaul of helicopter

safety in the North Sea has been recommended by the Civil Aviation

Authority following a series of fatal crashes. Its recommendations

include a ban on flights when sea conditions are at their most severe

and a limit on the physical size of anyone travelling offshore.

And that's Reporting Scotland. I'll be back with the headlines at eight

and the late bulletin just after the ten o'clock news. Until then, from

everyone on the team - right across the country - have a very good

evening.