19/12/2011 BBC Channel Islands News

Hello. Good evening. A very warm welcome to BBC Channel Islands. Our

top stories: A legal challenge - our politicians are to sue the UK

in a bid to save our online shopping industry. Plus, no bank

account, no job. The community scheme offering a lifeline to those

in financial trouble. And why no fun-raising means no fun for this

Jurnsy and jersey states will take the UK Government to court to try

and overcome the decision to scrap VAT relief. Businesses here will no

longer be able to sell items to the UK tax-free. Both islands mounted

legal challenges to try and change that. Employing hundreds of people

Guernsey's mail order industry is big news for the island. Last month

it was announced companies based in if Channel Islands would no longer

be able to sell goods to the UK VAT-free. Guernsey States are

fighting back. It is in the interest of our community to

challenge the UK Treasury on the grounds their decision is

discimtory under EU law. Our understanding is a simultaneous,

but individual action, will be taken by our friends and colleagues

in jersey. Suffice to say that the courts will consider all of the

different arguments and they will maketary decision in law and it is

on that basis that we are hopeful that we will get a favourable

outcome. At a cost of �60,000, the policy council think it is money

worth spending, given the potential cost to the island if the

businesses don't stay here. A woman was sexually assaulted

after a night out in St Helier. Police say it happened in Royal

Bank Court in College Hill in the early hours of Sunday morning. The

27-year-old had become separated from her friends in town. Officers

are looking at CCTV footage and doing house-to-house enquiries. An

aircraft was forced to return to jersey after it was struck by

lightning yesterday. The Flybe flight was five minutes into its

climb when it was hit T captain returned to jersey, where engineers

spent an hour checking for any damage before the flight resumed. A

passenger on board describes the moment the lightning struck.

Suddenly there was a loud bang. I looked out of the window, it was

followed by like an exploding rainbow. There seemed to be a

multitude of colours. It slid down to the back of the plane. There was

not any other noise. It all happened very quickly. Obviously

people were startled on the plane. The crew were excellent. A new

Telecoms research centre opened in jersey today. It is a joint project

between Jersey Telecom and the Chinese company UT Starcom. It will

test new communication products to market around the world. Today the

assistant chief minister, senator Phil Bailhache opened it. They

believe it will be advantagous for them and for UT. It will become the

strongest player, not only in the Asia Pacific market, but also

European. Also we believe that by the very good innovation and faster

service, quality to their customers, it will become one of the strongest

players in Telecom services here in the European market. More people

are seeking help from jersey's Community Savings Group than ever

before. The organisation helps people who are struggling to get

bank accounts and offers loans to help people with bank problems. Our

correspondent has talked to a former prisoner who is trying to

get back on his feet. I had a drug addiction to hard drugs. Because of

that I became blacklisted, because I spent money on the wrong thing.

Martin did not want to appear on camera today. He told me how not

being allowed a bank account meant he could not get a job and could

not move on with his life once he left prison. I pretty much expected

to get knocked back by banks. morning, how can I help you? Martin

turned to the team here at the jersey community savings for help.

They set up an account for him to put his money into. His story is

not unique. They are seeing more and more people who can't get a

bank account and who need loans. Last year, they managed OK on their

income, now they find they are not managing. It is people they have

seen and helped in the past that are proving to be the worry.

What we are finding now is certain of our existing customers that have

been in the -- had an account with us for four or five years, this

year have come back for help over Christmas. There has never been a

year where that has happened in the past. Brian says the situation will

get worse before it gets better. For Martin, he is now set on

getting a job and starting again. I don't think I would have got as

far as I have. I think I would have struggled. Thanks to all their

support and care while I have been there over the last few years.

Moving on now. Major work at one of Guernsey's busiest play grounds is

unlikey to happen. �500,000 needs to be found to refurnish the area

at Saumerez Park. Peter Sirett says it is money the

state does not have. Usually a busy playground, the winter weather was

keeping families away from the park today. After all it does not

normally feature a water slide. The popularity of this park has taken

its toll on the equipment. The environment department thinks it is

time for a change. It is in need of maintenance. It is becoming more

and more intensive. It has reached the point where we have to think,

is it worth putting money into it, or better to start again? I think

it is better to start again. plans do that, offering not only

new equipment, but a new experience. This area behind me will be turned

into a space specifically for children. There'll be another one

for toddlers. That area towards the back, over there, will be just for

teenagers, catering for as many people as possible. All of the work

will come at a cost. That is the big one. It's going to be in excess

of ppbz 500,000. The money cannot - - �500,000. The money cannot come

from the States. It was provided by the lion's Club. It has been here

20 years F we can get the funds it will be good for another 20-plus

years. With a tough fund-raising target, there will be those that

doubt whether it will and those who question whether the work is even

needed. Guernsey comedy duo Justin Chubb

and Chris Bran missed out on a British Comedy Award at the weekend.

Their show, This Is Jinsy was up against Ronnie Corbett and the team

against -- behind Little Britain. Jinsy has been commissioned for

second series on Sky. It is based on the writer's experience of

island life. Now we will see what the island's weathers going to be

like over the next few days. Here's like over the next few days. Here's

David. Good evening. Mild air is moving

across the Channel Islands. During the day time temperatures in double

figures. A lot of cloud which has come in today has produced rain.

That is moving out of the way. Overnight, tonight, it becomes

mainly dry. We keep a lot of cloud. Another weather system will

approach, but probably late in the day and more especially this rain

will be an overnight feature. Wednesday starts off wet, stays

cloudy with some drizzle. All the while the air is come from the

south-west, which means the temperatures will be on the rise.

Overnight, tonight, we will keep a lot of cloud. Just a few showers

left behind. Temperatures should not fall below nine or ten Celsius.

Tomorrow morning, just the chance perhaps of a few breaks in the

cloud to let the Sunshine in every now and then. For most of the day

it is cloudy. Ten Celsius, the top temperature. The winds from the

north-west, which occasionally will be fresh. For our coastal waters,

north-westerly four, occasionally five. Mainly clear conditions with

good visibility. Times of high Choppy at Vazon. Temperatures will

be kept up into double figures. Perhaps they will drop a little by

the end of the week. It is a westerly or a south-westerly for

the next four days. Rain clearing to drizzle in the afternoon. Bright,

but cloudy on Thursday. On Friday another batch of wet weather sets

in. That is l be the pattern of weather for Christmas Eve and

Christmas Day, quite a lot of cloud and the winds from the west. Here's

the summary. Goodbye for now. BBC Radio jersey has been

automatically entered for a national broadcasting award after

winning Best Local Radio Station. It is entered for an Sony Radio

Academy Awards for stations with less than 300,000 lister ins.

Channel 103 came a highly commended second. Congregations from across

the island spent the weekend enjoying their weekend services.

Let's enjoy the congregation at aldny St Anne's Church with their