14/02/2012 BBC Channel Islands News

Good evening. These are our top stories: End of the line for Connex

as an English company could takeover Jersey's bus service. A

warning letter for litter louts, but will it be backed up by the

legal action? And singing the praises of local artists, the

project putting our painters, sinners and writers' centre stage.

-- singers. Connex may not be running Jersey's bus services next

year. A new UK company has been named by the states as their

preferred choice. HCT is a not-for- profit organisation, and if the

deal goes ahead, its buses could be on the road at the start of next

year. We'll hear more from the company in just a moment, but first

Rachel Royce has this report. But Connex has been running the

island's bus service for eight years but now that might change. I

knew company is the state's preferred bidder. Be offered the

best deal on price and range of services. They tend to use brand

new buses, a different size of buses, they are very into the

community and they will service the rock -- the rural areas of their

community. The public seem to have different views. If it is not broke,

don't fix it. They if they bring in new bus routes it will be a good

thing. FC Twente said it was disappointed not to be given the

opportunity to build on its successes of the last 10 years. It

said they had an increase in passenger numbers of one million in

the last 10 years. There is a stipulation in the new contract

that there should be more bus drivers, not less. Well Dai Powell

is in charge of the HCT group - the states of Jersey's preferred bidder.

He joined me from our Westminster studios earlier - I began by asking

if they were given the contract, would there be job losses. There

will not be any job losses. We intend to take on the current staff

who are running the service and we intend to increase the service and

therefore increase the staff. are calling yourselves a community

bus service, what does that mean? The company is a social enterprise.

We are an organisation that trade for social good. We are part of the

communities where we work. We do not have shareholders, we have a

charity as the top company. We do commit to keeping on the school

services and local services that run at the moment? We would speak

to the public and official members of the State to see what is

required but we would be looking to enhance the current services, not

make cuts. Hopefully be community would notice it is an organisation

that works very closely with the community. I understand the service

on the island is currently a good service and we hope to improve it

and maintain that. We would provide an enhanced service. You are also

in negotiations to run the bus service on Guernsey, I must as

quite the Channel Islands, compared to your other operations in London

or Yorkshire, we are quite small fry, aren't we? Why do you want to

run our networks as well? Jersey in particular it is a

community within itself and therefore our business model works

very well in a defined community. It is a good sized contract and it

is a really nice community where we think our business model will work

really well. We will keep an eye on the bidding process. Thank you for

joining us. Well, what do you think? Do you think Connex should

keep the contract or are you convinced by what you have heard

�5 million is being spent on a new flooding project for St Helier.

There will be a 20 metre deep over float shaft. It will mean the

temporary loss of 85 car-parking spaces. A delegation of French

politicians have been in the Channel Islands today to discuss

emergency planning, environmental issues and energy provision. Do you

get annoyed by litter louts in your neighbourhood? Well, Guernsey

Police say they're getting tough on the problem, with dozens of warning

letters going out this week. But will they result in prosecution?

Penny Elderfield reports. Litter. In a busy town it comes with the

territory but what can be done to stop it and make sure people are

using the bins provided? Guernsey police say enough is enough and

last week issued four more warning letters to people who are

discarding their rubbish around the town. In the majority of cases they

were seeing to us, this is an offence and we are being so silly,

it is just something we do out of habit. Best man heads up a

Neighbourhood Watch group and this seafront car park is on his patch.

He feels the police are not as willing to prosecute people for

littering any more. I have not bothered to report it any more

because they do not do anything. Most of the lettering that goes on

now happens at night with late- night takeaways. It produces other

problems because a lot of these people make a lot of noise.

police will be keeping up their campaign against litter but the

cost of actually prosecuting someone will no doubt have to be

considered before the action goes further than just a warning.

Budding artists in Jersey are being given the opportunity to promote

themselves online. The Arts Trust has set up a free data base for

talented islanders. Beckie Williams has been to see if there are any

Henry Cavill's or Nerina Pallot's This woman has grown up with music.

She moved to the island eight years ago and last year performed at

Jersey Life. But she says living here means it is hard to raise her

profile internationally. It would be great to be working with more

musicians, more exposure, playing in festivals elsewhere in the world

would be amazing. She is just one local artist who has signed up to

this website by de Jersey Arts Trust. The aim is to showcase local

talent. It is completely free and gives people an opportunity to

network. I would like to see it used as a one-stop-shop for people

to know who is here in the island, how they can get in touch with them

and get involved. Also it would be something we can use to represent

Jersey when we are talking to people overseas. It is not just

aimed at singers, this man is an artist to designs cartoons. There

are some graphic design companies I might get work for example to

illustrate a children's book. Jersey has a whole host of talented

islanders. It is sold in the future that people like them will be

promoted by being spotted on line. Now let's get the weather. Good

evening. Not a great deal of change in an hour weather pattern at the

moment across the islands. The winds will remain quite keen

tonight but these will back away and he's by Thursday. The high

pressure is dominating our weather pattern at the moment. We could see

a few showers tonight and tomorrow morning. Little change tomorrow but

by Thursday the winds will be back and this weather front will make

progress towards us through Friday possibly giving as some rain late

on Friday and quite a damp day on Saturday. We have some breeds in

the cloud initially tonight and the cloud will return. By morning there

will be a little rain. Winds from the north or north-west. Tomorrow

morning will see a lot of clout and a few showers. Perhaps some breaks

developing in the cloud. Fresh to On Thursday there is little changed,

perhaps a few breaks in the cloud and lighter winds. Friday is more

cloudy. By evening some patchy rain. That rain will be around for much

of the day on Saturday and also a moderate to fresh westerly wind.

All the while, a relatively mild. Let's go back to our top story

finally - the news that Connex is not the preferred candidate to

operate Jersey's Bus Service from 2013. A company called HCT - who

are also Guernsey's preferred operator - could take over. Lots of