04/11/2011 BBC Channel Islands News

Hello and welcome to Friday's BBC Channel Islands news. Here's what's

coming up tonight... Sunny solution - the drive to

totally transform the way we get our electricity.

Also tonight - latte lifestyle. A rise in coffee shops, but are we

set to be caffined out? And Pudsey-perfect - find out why

this famous yellow bear has been in Jersey could be about to take its

first step towards encouraging eco friendly electricity. The Channel

Islands have sunshine and wind aplenty, so measures such as wind

turbines and solar power panels are being explored by the electricity

company. Jersey's government says money could be provided to invest

in the future of renewable energy sources. Anisha Shah has been to

meet one family who're already leading the way.

Winter is fast approaching and the heating is coming on in homes

across the Channel Islands. But the burden of heating bills can take a

financial toll. So much so, one family's decided to generate it's

own electricity. The solar panels were extremely well. They keep the

water hot all the time and hotter in the summer months. It is a bit

cooler now, so I have maintained my emergency heater to top up from

time to time. It has cut down on my electricity bills by half.

But they're not cheap to install, costing several thousands. In the

UK, grants are available. And there's a cash-back scheme for

those selling electricity back to the grid. In the Channel Islands,

there's little. We do have a buy- back tariff in Jersey and there are

customers who are enjoying it. One of the big issues is that they are

not quite economic revival at this point. The only way of making these

technologies work in most cases is if you are able to get access to

subsidies. That could be about to change as

the Government's looking at a new scheme to rent our roofs to

companies that fit solar panels. Some large investors and companies

have approached us saying they want to set up the scheme. It could be

on its way. It could be the start of a future

generation of self-generators. Guernsey's Public Services

Department is still considering building an incinerator to get rid

of the island's rubbish. The revelation is in an update to

deputies on the revised waste strategy, which won't be ready for

debate until February next year at the earliest. The letter from the

Public Services Minister says the export of waste to Jersey is also

being considered. Environmental campaigners say news of an

incinerator has come as no surprise. I was part of the consultation

process and I could feel that her them about that was very definitely

being considered, particularly on the last workshop. It became quite

blatant. It is no surprise to me. There are signs of optimism, though.

They are going to increase the amount of recycling targets that we

are going for, but it should be immovable target. As soon as the up

the target, we should be planning to up it again.

UK MP John Hemming has tabled a Commons motion, accusing Jersey's

legislature, executive and judiciary of political repression.

His move follows his urging the British Government to investigate

the running of Jersey following the imprisonment of Stuart Syvret. It's

unlikely that the motion will ever be debated by the Commons without

substantial support from other MPs. Learner drivers in Jersey will have

to pass a theory test before getting their provisional licence

to drive on the road. The States backed a plan by the island's

constables, who think it'll make the roads safer. Teenagers will be

able to sit their test up to a year before their 17th birthday so they

can still learn to drive the day they turn 17.

The British have long been associated with a good old

fashioned cup of tea. But do Channel Islanders now prefer

coffee? In recent years, there's been an increase in the number of

cafes popping up in the island. But is there enough demand to keep them

all going? Beckie Williams has been to find out.

The smell of freshly ground coffee. It's become a staple in many

people's diet. But could you live without it. I'd probably drink

about four cubs of coffee a day. I could not live without it. I would

have to drink whisky all the time! Everybody loves coffee and I would

have about six cubs a day. Too many, sometimes! But I love it. If money

got tight, at no way would I give up my coffee. It is too important

and essential. It's official - we are an island of

caffeine lovers. And here in St Helier, we seem to have our fair

share of coffee shops. I've counted at least 15 and that's just on the

main highstreet. I haven't seen a coffee shop prior to the last year,

so there must be doing a pretty good job of supplying us with what

we want. Thank goodness we have all these quirky coffee shops to

explore something new. And the coffee shops don't stop

coming. Costa's opening here soon, just two doors down from this local

cafe. I am really not worried what they do. I look after what I do and

I do it well. We sell the best coffee here in Jersey and they have

quite a different kind health. So, little concern then about the

increasing number of coffee shops in the island. Afterall, it seems

we're a nation of caffeine addicts. So could coffee soon take over from

a good old fasioned English brew? The newly refurbished public

offices opening tomorrow. 16 New Street will be in an eighteenth-

century style. There is just two weeks until the

Children In Need appeal. People across the Channel Islands are

doing their bit for charity. Today, a very special passenger

sealed into the Channel Islands. With just two weeks until Children

In Need, Pudsey was here to see how a fund-raising preparations are

shaping up. Here at Cineworld, the BBC in

Jersey will be hosting a special screening of Grease - so a chance

to dust off your leather jacket like Pudsey, do a hand jive and

join presenters and listeners for a fantastic night out.

And there'll be a chance to see a host of popstars like Ed Sheeran

here perform at Children In Need Rocks, a special concert in the UK

for Children In Need. We're hoping it will be a really exciting

evening where everybody dresses up. As well. There will also BP a host

of prices up in Jersey. It is bigger and better this year. We

have over 50 prizes. We will kick off at 9 o'clock with myself.

Here in the Channel Islands, thousands of pounds is raised every

year and organisers hope 2011 will be bigger and better than ever.

Just make sure you let us know about your fundraising fun.

There's an appeal for information after a hamster was found abandoned

in a bin bag in Guernsey. Hobo, as she's now known, was discovered in

Town Church Square earlier this week. GSPCA Staff were called in to

help, and are now trying to get to the bottom of what happened. The

charity says Hobo is doing well, but this sort of animal cruelty

won't be tolerated. We have contacted the police and we're also

looking into other lines of inquiry. There is no excuse for abandoning

an animal in a bin bag in town with no food and water. There are other

options. We are on the island. If people need to get rid of their

pets for whatever reason, we would And now the weather.

Colder and staying unsettled this weekend. The rain will start to

creep in from the East. An area of low pressure will be with us on

Saturday and Sunday. The wind is fairly light. This area of low

pressure is giving some wet weather in southern France and the south of

Spain. It will move through France and bring the weather front across

us during the after noon tomorrow. A lot of cloud and quite breezy. On

Sunday, we expect slightly drier conditions but there is still a lot

of cloud around giving us a few light spits of drizzle or light

rain. The saving and tonight, the showers will fade away and we will

start to see some breaks developing in a cloud. Temperatures down to 11

degrees. In northerly breeze developing. Through the day

tomorrow, after a bright enough start, we will start to see more

cloud develop, thickening all the while, and some more persistent

Trimble set in. It could be quite damp to end the day. A colder field.

13 degrees, the maximum temperature. Times of high water.

Four are so for us, there is a northerly breeze.