15/03/2012 BBC Channel Islands News

Good evening, welcome to BBC Channel Islands on the evening the

islands have LOST their high court A judge rules the UK CAN stop tax

relief on our low value exports, - but our politicians vow to fight on.

A workforce in crisis. We speak to some of the thousands of workers

fearing for their future. These are economic sanctions against the

Channel Islands and these were reserved for rogue states. Also

this Thursday evening, BBC Radio Jersey and BBC Guernsey are 30

years old this week. We revisit its biggest news stories - and some old

The Channel Islands have lost their battle to save Low Value

Consignment Relief. It means thousands of jobs across our

islands are now at risk. In a moment, we'll be hearing from those

involved in the fulfilment industry as well as our politicians, but

first our reporter Penny Elderfield has spent the week at the High

Court in London and has this report. It did not go the way the state

wanted in court. The judge decided to roll in favour of the UK

government, meaning they can push ahead with low-value consignment

relief on goods in the Channel Islands. The legal teams had tried

to argue it was not there to discriminate against the Channel

Islands in this way but the judge said it was not unlawful under

European Union legislation and nothing could stop them targeting

the scrapping of LVCR. But he recognised the significant impact

it would have, the economy. It is a blow for be fulfilled and Industry,

which relies on LVCR and employs thousands of people. It was ruled

they should pay 15 % of the UK's legal costs. The Channel Islands

authorities do intend to appeal. The UK pressure group Retailers

Against VAT Avoidance Schemes has been instrumental in persuading the

British government to bring in this ban. They gave us this comment

after the decision Away from the court, there's a human face to this

story. The UK government I think should have acted earlier. I also

think politicians in the Channel Islands should be seriously

thinking about how they allowed this to happen, knowing what the

outcome would be. It could only become more or tears as time went

There are thousands of staff directly and indirectly employed in

Fulfilment businesses across our islands. But after today's

announcement, what next for the industry and its workers? Phil

Balderson runs a health spa in St Helier. He sells vitamins and

supplements over the internet and employs around 12 staff. Today

wasn't an ordinary day at work for him as he waited to hear for the

future of the fulfilment industry to be determined. I very much

regret that that is the decision that has been reached. We will be

looking at the legal possibility and we thought we had a very strong

case. It is clear what is happening is discriminating against Jersey

and Guernsey. Now Phil says he may have to locate part of his business

elsewhere as a result. It is damaging to the Channel Islands. We

will have to look at moving some operations to the UK in order to

maintain the high levels of service our customers enjoy it. And that's

a view shared by Marcus Quinn he is in charge of this online business.

He empathises will Phil and says what the UK is doing is unfair.

a small company, we are very important with regard to these

customers services but we do not anticipate job losses. These are

like economic sanctions against the Channel Islands, policies reserved

for a rogue states, like Iran, Iraq and places like that. It feels

unfair. In here, we have got one of the biggest distribution operations

for DVDs and CDs. It is estimated 1,600 people work in the industry

across the Channel Islands. Nobody wanted to talk on camera but the

staff said although they are worried, they remained upbeat. For

now be working in his warehouse will continue but for many other

That's the reaction of the businesses involved in fulfilment,

but what of our governments who have led this legal challenge? Well,

Guernsey's ministers weren't available for interview, but did

release a statement saying they were disappointed that the court

deemed the removal of LVCR lawful. And added, "The States of Guernsey

will consider its response, and also continue to work towards

mitigating the effects of the decision." A short while ago

Jersey's Economic Development Minister, Senator Alan Maclean

joined me in the studio and I asked him if this was the end of the

legal challenge. At this stage I cannot save. We have got the

ability to appeal to the European Court. We will consider when we

have got the full details and judgment whether an appeal will be

appropriate. Do you have any idea how many mail order companies will

leave the Channel Islands without this advantage? We are not counting

the numbers but we understand a lot of jobs will be at risk. Some

businesses will scale down the operation and job losses will

result. We are trying to make sure we can help these people. What

preparations have that the government been making? You could

have hundreds or thousands of people needing support and the

benefit bill could go up. benefit bill is one of the reasons

we took this action in the first place. It will cost money in income

support when people lose their jobs. We are looking at developing the

fulfilment industry. A number of companies or work without being

dependent on LVCR and we will develop that area. We have been

looking at a back-to-work team to find a job alternatives for the

people at will unfortunately lose their jobs. What is your message to

people watching tonight that will be affected? We are working to

support businesses and maintaining as many as we can by looking at new

products and markets and for people that to lose their job we will work

with them to find alternative Jersey's Health department and

Police have issued a warning about the use of so called "legal highs".

The Medical Officer of Health says that new and dangerous substances

are becoming available, some of which have been implicated in at

least 42 deaths in the UK. Cable and Wireless is putting up its

phone charges in Guernsey because more people are relying on mobile

phones. Guernsey's utility regulator says that, combined with

a need to invest in broadband and fixed line infrastructure, is why

line rental charges will rise by 76 pence a month from April. In return,

Cable and Wireless is lowering the cost of peak time local calls, but

the average customer will still see their bills go up overall. Sport

now and imagine having the opportunity to compete alongside

some of the country's top cricket players. Several of the players

play in the Premier League competition. The Twenty20

tournament takes place in July and the chairman said it is a great way

for players to gain invaluable experience. By mixing with former

England internationals, we hope that senior players will do them

the world of good. It gives them a great feeling playing on the bigger

stage and we hope to have bigger crowds. It is great, it is exciting

and it is a brilliant development for the youngsters. 30 years ago,

the Channel Islands got their own BBC local radio stations. Jersey is

celebrating its anniversary today and Guernsey tomorrow. We have been

looking back at three decades of memories. Welcome to a brand new

station... Keeping its finger on the local pulse, this is BBC Radio

Jersey. News and views. What, why, when and where. Tuning in next week

to your new local station and enjoy BBC local radio. It was 30 years

ago that the Channel Islands got their own BBC local radio station.

Good afternoon... You are in tune with BBC Radio Guernsey and we have

got the official opening of the station with Sir John leverage.

gives me great pleasure to declare BBC Radio Guernsey Open. Some

people are no longer with us but others are still here and have

worked their way to the top. cannot believe it is 30 years. That

is absolutely impossible. It has gone so quickly and I am just

really proud to still be working for BBC Guernsey and I am honoured

to have covered so many fantastic events and many news stories.

Pollard appeared in the very first Radio Jersey magazine. How things

have changed. When you are editing you used razor-blade and chalk

pencils and if you were not careful you took bits of your finger as

well. Today, there would be celebrations. I think we have been

rooted in the community from day one but 30 years later with the

history and the heritage, we play a bigger part in the Channel Islands

than ever before and we are the station people turned to at a time

of crisis, a time of challenge and celebration. Radio Guernsey and

Jersey have both been featured in an advertising campaign. It is the

third time the BBC has ever advertised on commercial television.

-- first time. While many reflect on three decades of local radio,

others look ahead to the next 30 years. Happy birthday to us. And as

part of the 30th birthday celebrations in Jersey, we are

launching a search for a start competition to find somebody with

the talent to be a radio presenter. Anybody can apply. More information

online. Tomorrow it is BBC Guernsey's official birthday and

tomorrow afternoon, Sir Cliff Richard will be wishing the station

a happy 30th birthday. Speaking of future talent, students from this

school have been doing what used for Radio Jersey as part of the BBC

school report. They have interviewed the Governor and have

filled a news bulletin which you filled a news bulletin which you

can watch online. Now the weather. The weather is changing for the

Channel Islands after the fog and sunshine. We have got a lot more

cloud coming and bringing eventually rain. Quite an unsettled

weekend. It is quite a long way away but getting closer to night.

It will arrive tomorrow evening and it will be wet on Saturday. Dry

tonight and mostly dry tomorrow and eventually, rain becoming

persistent. Some will be quite heavy on Saturday morning. Tonight,

skies will gradually cloud over and we will get a bit of rain. South-

westerly wind and seven degrees will be the minimum temperature.

Misty and down to start tomorrow but eventually, some sunshine

breaking through. Temperatures getting back up to 12 degrees.

South West wind. We have got a whisker of cloud being a bit

stubborn in moving out of the way. Marine forecast. Visibility

moderate or good. Tide times... More for the surfers to enjoy but

not necessarily at cleaned. It will be quite chubby. Just -- choppy.

That is how it is looking in the next few days with temperatures up

to 11 degrees. As the rain disappears, it will be replaced by

showers on Sunday which could be heavy. Nine degrees the top

temperature and a bit quieter, A reminder of the top story tonight

and the Channel Islands have lost the battle to save LVCR, putting

thousands of jobs at risk. There will be much more reaction to this