01/11/2013 BBC Channel Islands News

In a hello and welcome. The That is all from the BBC

In a hello and welcome. The headlines: The final phases of a

major States housing revamp could begin next autumn, giving hope to

hundreds of States tenants. We have serious damp and mould issues. My

door is not watertight. Disappointed, saddened, but not

shocked ` parents react to news that two primary schools will close. It

is a terrible day for all the children, the staff and the parents

and the whole community. And swapping the mowers for the

mooers ` the beautiful breed coming to the rescue of our endangered

habitat. Work could start next October on the

final phases of a major revamp of social housing in Jersey. If

approved, the work on ways macro housing estate in Saint Clement will

be one of the weakest undertakings in building on the island. `` the

biggest undertakings. Amy Ware is desperate to get out of

her damp flat. She moved in here two years ago and

says building problems rapidly became apparent. We have serious

damp and mould issues. My door is not watertight. Some of my windows

do not close. I only have hot water for certain hours a day and I cannot

eat three times. You can feel the wind through the windows and I

cannot leave my pram downstairs because there is nowhere to lock it

away. But now Amy's property and another 105 will be knocked down and

replaced with 137 new builds over the next few years. It is the final

phase of the Le Squez development plan. Work could start next October

but until it is finished, people like Amy will have to remain where

they are. If we had spare properties that were empty, we could move

everybody out, bulldoze it and get on with it in one phase. It would be

a lot quicker but it is just not possible. We have 700 plus families

on the waiting list in addition to those at Le Squez. It is difficult

but they have been understanding and I will get it done as quickly as we

can. He would not say when the building work will be complete but

it is likely to be years. For Amy, but cannot come soon enough.

Disappointed, saddened, but not shocked. That is how many parents

have responded to news that two primary schools will close in

Guernsey. St Sampson's Infant School will shut next year and St Andrew's

Primary School in 2015. On the surface, a normal start to

the school day. But an underlying feeling of sadness, as parents got

their children of at a school that is now set to close. So many people

feel devastated. It is a terrible day for the children, staff, parents

and whole community. It will disrupt their education and that has not

been taken into account. It is to save money. As a campaign, we made

this badge, and it represented every child on the island. That is why the

different colours are there because right from the start we said, this

is an island`wide issue. And emotions were running just as high

last night as the politicians who fought to keep the two schools open

left the States disappointed. The best being we can do now is to help

to ensure that these parents, children, teachers have a very

smooth transition. I cannot see what we can do other than that now. I am

now determined to support the parents, pupils and teachers and

make their life as easy as possible over the next two years. And

ensuring these children have a smooth transition to their new

schools is the focus now for those who led the campaign is to save the

schools, rather than trying to reverse the decision. We have to

work with what you have got and do the best for our children. Education

is confident closing these schools is the best option but they are

going to have to work hard to reassure parents moving forward

Meanwhile, debate on reform to supplementary benefits and the rent

rebate scheme will resume in Guernsey States in two weeks time

after the agenda failed to be got through. Earlier a change to the

benefit system was rejected when a vote split the assembly. Members

will reconvene later in the month. Thank you for being with us. Still

to come in Spotlight: The full`scale search for this youngster, who was

eventually found fast asleep under his bed.

Brilliant story. Stay tuned. In sport, illness has been the story of

Guernsey tennis star's Heather Watson's year.

She had glandular fever and dropped to below 120 in the rankings. She

dropped out of her tennis tournament tonight although she won two games

yesterday. After those triumphs sports reporter caught up with her.

It has been successful here at Barnstaple for Heather Watson after

she won in singles and doubles. Deposit like for you? It was a tough

day. # What was it like for you? I woke

up with a bad stomach and not much energy but I somehow managed to get

through. I was not sure if I could play the doubles but I had two

hours' rest and that really helped. And then we came and won are doubles

so we are very pleased. You are regarded as the best thing since

sliced bread for British tennis so what were the problems you

encountered earlier this season which you seem to have overcome

This season I got to my career high at the beginning of the year, but

ended up getting ill, getting glandular fever. And coming back too

soon, because I was keen to play, especially the Grand Slams. And not

being fit is not going to win the matches. It took a confidence

beating. It has been a dominant effect and I was not winning any

matches. But I am pleased with how I am finishing the year now. You seem

to be regaining confidence. I noticed your mother was here as

well. How much of a support is she? It is great to have my mother

around. I have had such a tough time this year and your family is always

there for you. Where are you going after this tournament? Back to

Guernsey. I am going to have a holiday. Insane Peter Port? Yes ``

in Saint Peter Port? What are your ambitions for next year? To get back

into the top 100. More in Spotlight. The Guernsey cow is a symbolic

representation of the island and it is now being used as a weapon to

help conserve endangered habitats. The beautiful grassland of Guernsey,

but the conservation group La Societe Guernesiaise claims that

almost half of the island's species rich grassland is being lost in the

last decade. Agricultural intensification and changes in land

use are being blamed for the demise of heathland and insect habitats.

Faced with such a shocking situation, there is only one place

to turn and it is this lot. OK, maybe not quite these cows but plans

are already under way for a conservation herd whose primary

objective is not to produce milk or meat but to keep passages clear

without destroying important insects and flowers. They will go to these

grassland and some environment Department land. They will reduce

the dominance of grasses and make their patches for wild flowers to

germinate, and hopefully over time we will see swathes of wild flowers

and butterflies and bees and invertebrates, and then the birds

that feed on them as well. Our cattle do not come cheap and the

heroic herd is costing almost ? 000 to buy. And it is all thanks to one

man, who ran a gruelling marathon across the Sahara desert to raise

the funds. The Hurd did not cross my mind when I was in the middle of the

desert, to be honest. It was a tough race, my first ever marathon. I had

never run one before. It was a really tough race but it was such an

incredible experience so it was well worth giving. So if you have a

pastor problem, do not bring in the mowers when you can bring in the

mooers. Probably not the best weekend to

have fireworks and bonfire displays as far as the weather is going

because it looks quite implement. As we get into Sunday evening there is

the possibility of widespread and heavy rain. For tomorrow, windy

conditions. Showers around right through the day. A little colder,

too, so wrapped up warm if you are heading out. You can see most of

what is happening through the weekend on this satellite picture.

This white cloud here is giving us the rain. That will move away

swiftly. This cloud here is the next area of low pressure. That will move

quite swiftly in during the course of the day on Saturday. In the

afternoon into the evening we have the strength of wind and that one

will move swiftly away again with a new area of low pressure on Sunday

bringing wet weather especially by early evening. So lots going on over

the next 24 hours. Windy conditions for a time in that rain band. The

wind will change direction, becoming largely westerly by the morning and

overnight temperatures no lower than 12 degrees. Showers off and on

tomorrow morning. Continuing throughout the day. Becoming quite

frequent in the afternoon. All through the day tomorrow, the wind

will steadily increase. Come the end of the afternoon, lively wind. There

is our coastal waters forecast. Good visibility outside of the showers.

Most West facing beaches are likely to be messy because of the big seas

and the onshore wind, for the surfers. Heavy rain setting in on

Sunday and Tuesday. Monday is the best day.

about his brother. I was just hiding. You were just hiding? Yes.

You're watching Spotlight from the BBC, tonight with Rebecca Wills and

Simon Clemison. Take a look at the speed this boat

across Tor Bay ` we'll hear from its record`breaking skipper who's blind.

And aiming to hit the winning shot. We'll find out what Guernsey's

Heather Watson makes of the Barnstaple Open.

Millions of pounds is being invested in a new centre at an agricultural

college where students will be taught how to look after rare breeds

of animal. Bicton in East Devon is specialising in growing the herds `

some which are still only small in size, as our environment

correspondent Adrian Campbell has been finding out.

Strawberry is a very special and rare cow with a pure pedigree. She

is a dairy shorthorn, one of just 70 in the world. She and eight other

colours like her have come to this college, which intends to be a

centre of excellence training students in the care of breeds. ``

she and eight four calves. We have a programme where we use embryo

transfer to flush Embrun was out, to put them into surrogate heifers

which can be any breed so we can boost the numbers very quickly so

that the breed does not die out. Once we lose a fix, they are lost

fervour. `` to flush embryos out. This is the entrance to the new

school. It is costing around ?3 million and is very impressive. From

the outset, it is a striking addition and the staff are already

looking forward to moving. We are very pleased with how the building

looks. Can you give us a look at the handover will be? At the latest at

the end of next week. It is not just rare cattle they specialise in at

this college, the students say they believe they will be learning very

marketable skills here as rare breeds become increasingly important

to agriculture in the next two years. Lecturers say there is a

bright future ahead for their students. Animal care strip to have

experience with a wild variety of animals. To make them more

employable, we deal with small and large animals. We teach them all but

the importance of keeping rarer breeds alive and how they have a

place in the animal care industry on the farming industry. The college

says it is in a unique position to develop important skills for

tomorrow's farmers. Now, travelling at speeds in excess

of 95mph on the water is probably enough to phase most people. But

imagine doing it when you're blind. Well, former bank manager Mike

Newman took a powerboat to full throttle in Tor Bay and broke a

world record to become the fastest person on water, who's blind. Mike

already holds the blind land speed record and becomes the first man

ever to hold both. Our South Devon reporter John Ayres was there to

watch. This is the boat, the challenge to

keep something like this steady at sea and at high speed. Mike has been

blind almost since birth. He is a big motor sports fanatic, that is

why he doesn't. For a few minutes or Mormons, I can glimpse into a world

that I would normally love to live in. It is a very physical

experience, very tactile. `` minutes for moments. I cannot see where I am

going but all of the other senses are live and heart of the

experience. He is being helped by the boat owner. He is going to have

to use all of his senses, which he's good at. He needs those to survive

when we do not. Walking around with my eye shade, `` eyes shut, I would

fall over. He does not. He has all of the natural attributes to keep

the boat level. To break the record, Mike has two drives in a

street light in one direction and then back in the opposite direction.

It is an average of the top speeds. It is measured by GPS and from the

support board, it has clearly broken it by at least two miles per hour.

Speechless! It is an amazing rush. Exhilarating experience. To be the

fastest blind man in the water. It is a hugely emotional time for

family and friends. George Nelson used to teach and when he was under.

I am proud. I know just what it has meant to him. He has been through a

lot to get this far and it is great, we are so pleased to be here

to see this event with him. Michael already holds the blind land speed

record at 186 mph and has performed 26 looks looks in a plane. It does

not stop here. He wants to break others know. `` 26 loop the loops.

And we've heard that record has been verified at 95.18 miles per hour, as

measured by GPS. The UK's premier indoor tennis

tournament reaches its conclusion this weekend at Barnstaple in North

Devon. As the open reaches its conclusion, where better to send

brave? `` Dave? Here in Barnstaple, we will be

talking to Heather Watson on the completion of a doubles match,

behind me warming up with her partner to one. We will be talking

to her about her current form but first, the rest of the sport. Tom

James returns tonight for a Premiership rugby jewel. James is

back and starting for the first time in four games. He replaces Tonga's

player, an international duty with this country. Also back is the

full`back. The Chiefs, now fourth in the table, face a team which is much

improved so they will be wary of what lies ahead. BBC Radio did in

his commentary. BBC radio Cornwall will follow the corner pirates.

They look to recover from their 41`6 battering at London Welsh against

London Scottish. Tomorrow, and intriguing contest for plumbers

Albion when they face Bristol at Brookfield. `` Plymouth Albion.

Turning to football, Yeovil Town, unbeaten in two Championship games,

attempt to stretch the run at Leeds United. They took care of promotion

plans at Nottingham Forest. Exeter city's away form is turning out to

be far superior than that of St James' Park. Portsmouth will not

present any fears. John Sheridan will be keen to add to

last week's win at Mansfield was another against Northampton.

Alan Mel returns to bury as Torquay United manager as they try to haul

themselves away from the bottom three. It has been a successful time

at the tennis Centre for Heather Watson.

She joins me now. What you think of the facilities question work I love

them and this club. It is great. It is my favourite colour. And the

crowds here are from. We always had a good show. Does this kind of

tournament help you get over the recent problems that you have had?

Absolutely. I had my first few wins in a row last week and I am bringing

the confidence that I came from there after some really tough

matches to this week. What were the problems you encountered earlier

this season, which using to have overcome? This season, I got to my

career high at the beginning of the year. I ended up getting sick,

glandular fever, and coming back too soon because I was keen to play.

Especially the Grand Slams. Not being fit, you know, is not going to

win you matches. Because I have lost a clue, `` lost a few, it took a

beating to my confidence and it was a domino effect and I was not

winning many matches. I am pleased with how I am finishing the year.

And noticed your mother was here. How much of a support issue? It is

great to have her around. I have had such a tough time this year and your

family is or was there for you. Where are you going after this

tournament? I am going back to Guernsey. I am going to have a

holiday. In Saint Peter Port? Yes. Well`deserved, if I may say so. What

about 2014 is to mark what are your additions for next? My first goal is

to get back into the top 100. `` what are your ambitions? We wish you

well and every success. Thank you very much.

Heather Watson from Guernsey. She is going back home. You can see Heather

and Jo Anne because there is more tennis on Saturday. It starts at

1pm. Dave having a lovely time in

Barnstaple. South West yachtsman Sam Goodchild

is preparing to compete in a transatlantic yacht race. The

23`year`old Falmouth skipper will set off from Le Havre, in France,

this weekend in the Transat Jacques Vabre race to Brazil. His co`skipper

for the race is Ned Collier Wakefield.

It's the second time the pair have competed in the race, having failed

to finish in 2011. Meanwhile, organisers are considering whether

to delay the start because of a forecast of bad weather. Spotlights

Andy Breare is in Le Havre. `` what light's.

Thousands of French ceiling fans have been coming to the race village

to see the boats and meet the skippers who will be setting off on

the race to Brazil at the weekend. Sam Goodchild and his co`skipper

have unfinished business with this race. Two years ago, the boat

suffered damage and they were forced to retire. The last time, about one

week and, we were in the top two and had some damage. It all kind of went

wrong. We had to dump the boat and it was not repairable. It took five

months to fix. We had to ship it back to Europe so could not carry

on. This time, we at the very least want to finish. I don't want to do

badly, as we do it. As you can see, the fleet is all here and ready to

go. The only sticking point is the weather. The reason is due to start

on Sunday at lunchtime. There are more is going around that that might

be postponed until Monday because of a storm that is due to hit at the

weekend. The final decision on that will be taken tomorrow morning. We

have a low pressure system that is coming in and we are going to have

some fairly strong winds, 45 knots, and it is whether it hits us in the

channel. If it is someone else will become runaway and are not doing so

many manoeuvres then we will be tackling into 45 knots of wind. It

is better to delay it. Ahead of these yachts, a 5500 mile race. Sam

and Ned not only want to finish this time round but are hoping they will

be in contention for a podium race. We have got plenty of wind here. Not

at the moment but coming up to stop Saturday evening?

The start of that race could be affected by some strong winds. Not

just sailors being affected. Lots of us are going to a bonfire of

fireworks display this weekend. It is going to be fairly windy.

Probably the quietest night will be tonight's displays. But there are

displays tomorrow and Sunday and it will be quick windy. Also doing just

that little bit cooler because of the threat of wind which is coming

in from the Atlantic. You can see 3`D's worth of whether on this

subtly. That lump of cloud is tonight's remain. A little area of

low pressure. `` three days. Out here, further across the Atlantic,

another lump of cloud will arrive on Sunday to give us some excellent.

This is the main feature. This lawless recent awards. Develops and

becomes a deep `` this law is racing towards us. The wind will peak at 60

mph on Saturday. We will probably have the strongest gusts of wind in

the Bristol Channel. For all is, Saturday evening will be windy. That

moves away over the next 36 hours. At the moment, we have some heavy

rain in the English Channel. That is brushing up parts of East Devon into

Dorset and Somerset. For the rest of us, a few showers are possible but

later denied, a lot of that we will move out of the way. We will get

some clear skies, allowing the temperatures to put down into single

figures as well as some mist and fairly light winds. Those are the

overnight temperatures, anywhere from seven degrees in the

countryside to 11 degrees in the towns. Tomorrow morning, to not be

fooled too much by a bright and quiet start. Gradually through the

day, the winds will increase, the clouds will also and by the end of

the afternoon, plenty of showers around. History showers also. Any

were inland, the costs will be around 40 mph. Particularly along

the coast and the Bristol Channel, we could have 60 mph winds.

Temperatures not feeling very one tomorrow. Feeling a lot colder

because of the strength of wind. If you are out tomorrow evening, you

will need a windproof and waterproof. There are plenty of

heavy showers around. The will feel quite chilly and it will be very

blustery. That is the forecast for the Isles of Scilly. Showers and

increasingly windy. Times of high water here.

If you are heading out to sea, pretty rough seas. Ferries could

well be affected by the strength of wind on Saturday. On the north

coast, these conditions are likely to be very messy, if not stormy

through the afternoon. The coastal waters forecast, for those aiming to

go out to see. This lump of cloud is a new area of low pressure. That

will arrive a cross was during the course of the latter part of Sunday

and into Sunday night. It will become quite wet again and also

windy. Take care of this weekend. That you, David. That is the end of

another Spotlight week. I will be back at 1020 5p. From everyone on

the team, had a good evening and good weekend.

Goodbye.