31/07/2013 BBC Channel Islands News

Coming up tonight. A cyclist has died after a crash in Jersey this

afternoon. Is Guernsey's States willing to pay for the plane to keep

the local link to London? intentional will be that any new

aircraft will be in place by June next year. And Durrell gets ready to

welcome a cuddly new couple to Jersey this afternoon. The police

say the man in his 40s was treated by paramedics soon after the

collision between his bike and a transit van. He died at the scene.

Distressing scenes on St Helier's streets this lunchtime. Marks the

road where a cyclist in his forties collided with a Ford transit van

with tragic consequences. Emergency services were called to the the

bottom of Mount Bingham at around a 1:15. The man was treated by

paramedics at the scene, but was pronounced dead a short time after

they arrived. Traffic quickly built up around the old La Folie pub,

causing hours of delays to motorists and public transport - with

tailbacks reported as far as Beaumont in St Peter. Tonight the

driver of the van is being treated as police call it a significant

witness. Specially trained officers are now with the victims family.

It could cost tens of millions of pounds for Aurigny to get the planes

it needs to increase capacity on the Gatwick route. It's looking to fill

the gap left when Flybe pulls out next year. And a decision today will

see Guernsey States act as a guarantee for any money the airline

needs to borrow to do that. Flybe flights from Gatwick will be

stopping soon. The last one expected next March, meaning around 700 fewer

seats on that route each day. And to fill that gap Aurginy has two

options - buy a bigger jet, or use smaller planes that fly more often.

But either option would mean investment is needed. And the States

today agreed to help Aurigny get the money it needs, either by

guaranteeing a loan. It provides the airline with the flexibility to

determine the right solutions to be able to replace the capacity on the

Gatwick route if Flybe withdrawal. The intention will be that any new

aircraft will be in place by June next year. That capacity will be

filled by leased aircraft if Apull-out.

But how much money are we talking to ensure the links to this airport

continue? The plans still have to be finalised. But in Gatwick today for

meetings, the boss of the airline was able to give a ball park figure.

It depends on whether the decision will be get to the used aircraft or

new aircraft. If the latter, it will be in the region of $35 million. But

we are not have the cash, we are after support. Purely a bank

guarantee. Aurigny will still have to make a

business case to the Treasury. And whilst the price tag may be high -

many feel the cost to the Island if it doesn't keep up it's links to

Gatwick could be higher. First-time buyers in Jersey are set

to get more help from the Government, as they attempt to build

more affordable homes. Revisions are being made to the Island Plan -

which is a guide to where and where not to build in Jersey - in a bid to

get islanders on the property ladder. But under these new plans,

only 20% will be sold - with the other 80% up for rent. And as Pam

Caulfield reports, they're already facing opposition.

This is just one of the sites that could be transformed into affordable

new homes. If given approval by the Islands government rezoning parcels

of land could get more of us on the property ladder. A lot of people are

complaining that the island is expensive, especially if you want to

purchase property. It is all well renting but if your rent is upmarket

levels and you are being squeezed, it does not give you an opportunity

to put your own roof over your head and become financially independent.

This land has been earmarked for development. A fifth of the homes

will be for first-time buyers and the same split of 80/20. Something

that is divided is opinion. Especially here in St Clement -

where up to 200 homes could be built. We have been here 64 years

and when my father-in-law bought the fields in 1924, there was a bold

running all the way down the avenue here. -- there was a marshland. So

it might not be a good idea to put houses of that. I have lived here

for 52 years and therefore the corner means a lot to me. And people

have to live somewhere and this is really terrible. I think that

although a lot would object to it, they would be pleased to see

something better than what we have got.

If residents are strongly opposed, their constable says he'll fight the

plans But it seems there is a determination to push these forward

- even if developers are against selling at below market prices A

decision on the plans is a long way off - but the public are being

re-assured they will get their say. We have seen flooding with people's

houses being flooded regularly. But the infrastructure is already

collapsing. We know the traffic and infrastructure will not be able to

take it. And it is in the green zone. And the Green zone is there to

protect the land. And the States should not overturn designation

easily. But it seems there is determination to push things

forward. The proposition here is that the States will be asked to

acquire those sides by compulsory purchase to ensure they are

developed at those figures so it is exhibited in change. White by a

decision on the plans is a long way off but the public are being

reassured they will get their say. Lots of thoughts from you on this

one. Alison on Facebook says, "Re-zoning green fields is a bad

idea, there will come a day when we need to feed this Island." Maureen

Norris says, "It's population control we need as a first

priority". And this one from Phill, "No. Thanks for those and do join

the conversation on our Facebook page - just search for BBC CI News.

Meanwhile, owners of empty properties in Guernsey could soon be

Department is considering increasing taxes for landlords of houses that

have been left derelict and unoccupied for years.

Houses that aren't homes. Up to 400 domestic properties lie empty around

the parishes of Guernsey, some uninhabited for decades. Demand for

housing is high and the the Environment Department is perplexed

as to why so many are left to rack and ruin. I don't understand it.

Personally, there are two companies by my house that have been there for

about ten years and they are becoming derelict and I do not know

why people at least let them to the rental market so getting people who

are desperate for accommodation and they can use it. Soon as they

privately property is empty and the owner goes travelling for a few

years, what right does the States have to intervene? The Treasury and

resources department is not going to start any land grabbing policy but

it is considering using taxation to persuade owners to do something with

the buildings. Maybe in respect of obtaining a planning consent, I

think that they could be a possibility of having some sort of

penalty, some higher rate of tax on the property in those circumstances.

The Government has a target of supplying between three and four

hundred new dwellings every year, so perhaps the States will soon see

BBC News understands the union which represents bus drivers in Jersey has

set a date for a strike on the 20th of August, following a meeting last

night. Drivers voted for action over shift patterns and the sacking of

two of their colleagues. The Unite Union, the Transport Minister and

the bus company are refusing to comment.

New measures are being brought in to try and get more single parents in

Guernsey back into work. Up until now individuals could claim

benefits, without having to actively seek work, until their youngest

child was 12 years old. That's being reduced to seven. It'll mean around

100 more people are classed as unemployed. People look at a sudden

rise and they think people will be thrown out of work but actually

their situation will not have changed other than the fact that we

will be taking steps to help them and get all sorts of support for

them to get into work. You're watching the BBC in Channel

Islands, later an in Spotlight, a new swimming world champion, the

Lithuanian tells the BBC about her success.

Staff and volunteers at Durrell in Jersey have been working hard

revamping an enclosure for a new arrival. The conservation trust lost

their bear couple Barbara and Wolfgang earlier this year - but now

a young female Andean bear is moving to Jersey - and she won't be alone.

Meet Bahia, Durrell's next lodger. The two-year-old female Andean bear

will be joining the wildlife trust next month from Germany. She's

moving into the enclosure which has been left empty from the loss of

lovable couple Wolfgang and Barbara but I'm afraid you won't be able to

see her straightaway. She has to go through a quarantine facility

because she is coming from a European institution so when she

arrives here, she will not be on show for a number of weeks because

she will be on side with one keeper caring for her the whole time in a

quarantine area will stop once outside the quarantine, she will be

out on show. And that's when she'll be able to

explore her new surroundings which has been revamped by staff and

Not only have they freshened it up but they've had to adapt the

enclosure for the new arrival. build the enclosure in 1997 for old

bears so a lot of it had started to rot. We seized the opportunity and

work together as a team and sourced all the material through local tree

surgeons and we have done here is create a playground for much younger

bears and hopefully Cubs. Yes, she won't be alone for long. A

two-year-old male partner will be joining Bahia in November and

there's high hopes they'll soon have a family of their very own. C a

young couple moving into a new home. And let's hope we see some more

earlier today but things are changing for tomorrow. Some mist and

fog patches around at first but beyond that, a fine day with plenty

of sunshine around. Warmer than we have seen over the past few days and

feeling rather humid. Taking a look at the synoptic situation, we can

see this warm front moving up through the UK through today which

brought lots of cloud and drizzle earlier through today. That is

clearing but leaving it fine overnight and into tomorrow. By

Friday, we see the next front arriving, the cold front will pass

through which could bring some showers and more in the way of cloud

again. Certainly making it feel fresher. For the remainder of this

evening and overnight, it should see a bit of cloud but then we will see

the mist and fog patches forming over the hills and around the coast

by dawn. A mild night, temperatures not dipping below 18 Celsius so

quite humid and sticky. Perhaps quite difficult to sleep. Tomorrow,

we will see the mist and fog patches burning off with a fine day

tomorrow. Windsor swinging round to the west later in the day and

temperature wise, we could see 2829 Celsius for Jersey and 22 for the

other islands. A warm, rather humid feeling day to come. -- we could see

28 - 29 Celsius for Jersey. Fog patches at first and then moderate

visibility. Times of high water up two feet in the swell in the North

and East but it is telling fresher and sunshine with a few showers and

And a reminder of tonight's top story. A 40-year-old cyclist has

died after he collided with a Transit van at Mount Bingham in