03/03/2014 BBC Channel Islands News

and Thursday. That's

The number of emergency food bags given out in Jersey doubles, as

people struggle to feed themselves and their families. We ask if it's

time the government did more to help. It would be questionable

whether we should be seconding further moneys to charities who are

giving out food parcelles. Also tonight. Here we go again.

Strong winds and high tides swamp shops in Guernsey. Meanwhile, a

mini`tornado rips a hole in the roof of this house in Jersey. Join me

later the find out about the new weapon in the fight to conserve gern

sighs natural habitats. `` gern sighs natural habitats.

Hundreds of people living in Jersey are relying on food banks to feed

themselves and their families. There's been a dramatic increase in

the number of islanders turning to charities like the Grace Trust for

basic needs. Last year they helped 193 separate clients, who between

them received 735 bags of groceries. The Trust also deliver food on a

monthly basis to 70 families in need across the island. In a minute we'll

hear from Jersey's Social Security Minister, but first, Emma Chambers

reports on efforts to help islanders facing hardship. March 2011. 31

March 2013, 63. Then it goes on and on, from October, 2011, was 37,

October last year we got through 90 bags of groceries. The demand for

emergency food bags have more than doubles in the last two years.

The charity supplies food for those in need. Clients who have been

referred to them or have found the courage to ask for help. We can see

people coming in here now, and some of them we see regularly, people who

are struggling with it and the familiar story in the background as

well, of being out of work or having to wait for benefits to come

through, so we are able to help And they aren't the only ones who have

seen a rise in the number of islanders needing support. The Paul

Deveraux haven't been fighting poverty for over a century. They

collect items to give to nearly 60 people a week and they expect that

to increase as the island's population grows I am not saying

that the majority of clients are newcomers to the island because

oddly enough they aren't. The newcomers to the island in the main

are people who are of working age and not working. The people we are

dealing with are local residents. The food banks don't receive state

funding but rely on donations by Jersey's community to help those

facing hardship within the island. Well, this comes as the BBC's

Panorama programme reveals that third of all councils in England and

Wales have subsidised food banks. But speaking earlier, Jersey's

Social Security Minister ruled out providing financial support for the

charities in the island. I think the States as a whole and the taxpayer

are funding Income Support to the extent of about 73 million last

year, so it would be questioning whether we should be sending further

moneys to charities who are giving out food parcels. People get

referred to the food bangs from Social Security, does that mean the

States are relying on food banks to help? I think the people we refer

would probably be people who are not emjibl for Income Support, because

they haven't been here five years continuously or ten years in the

past. There is no financial assistance through the benefits

system for these people, and that is why they would be referred to these

charities. Some of them are local, is that a

concern? I think when we use the word local we would have to define

that. Certainly in Income Support language, that means Fife years or

more residence and similarly for any back to work programmes. Would you

say that benefits here, in Jersey, are enough to allow people to live?

Yes, I believe they are. I think the components which are available to an

Income Support household are sufficient to provide a reasonable

standard of living. It is supposed to be a stepping stone to get back

into work. I believe they are significantly high enough at the

moment for people to cope. Today's high tide, which brought

flooding to Jersey and swamped businesses in Guernsey, could be the

biggest ever recorded according to forecasters. A tide of more than 40

feet, which is due again at around 8 this evening, pounded areas that

have already taken a battering this winter. And it wasn't only water

causing problems. In Jersey a mini`tornado left a trail of damage

in its wake, including ripping a hole the size of a bed in a roof in

St Clement. Jen Smith has more. This is becoming a familiar sight.

Both here at Beaumont in Jersey And in St Peter Port in Guernsey.

Today's high tide was 40.4 feet this morning.

It closed roads and even brought flooding to areas that have already

seen a deluge this winter You are looking very welt and I feel sorry

for the shop owner, it is not good for them, really. I have never seen

a tide as high as this. I wouldn't want to go through it. But the high

tide hasn't been the only extraordinary weather event, this

house in Jersey fell victim to a mini tornado. The whole house

rattled and banged, as if it was in the middle of a hurricane. It felt

like a mini tornado went over the house and ripped off a lot of the

slate roof. Literally, within ten, 20 second, it was all peaceful and

quiet again. Jersey's Transport Minister who has been helping with

flooded area, says the team is looking at new ways to protect

against the elements. The engineers are working on solutions to stop the

water coming through, we can't stop it but to slow it down, maybe huge

iron gates or extra drainage, but the new pumping station we have

that is pumping about 1,000 litres a second of water away, and it is

still very hard to cope with that. So it is taking on nature, really.

For now, with another big high tide due in over an hour, an anxious

evening lies ahead for those who have been swamped by the sea.

Guernsey and Jersey churches could stop paying money to the Diocese of

Winchester, and instead pay it into a shared fund. The Church of England

in each island pays hundreds of thousands of pounds each year to the

diocese, which is used to pay clergy, training and other costs.

The bailiwicks are currently under the temporary oversight of the

Bishop of Dover. The Diocese of Winchester has so far not commented

on the issue. A second candidate's now in the

running to become Guernsey's next Chief Minister. The current deputy

Chief Minister Jonathan Le Tocq officially joined the race this

morning. So far, the only other politician standing is the Social

Security Minister Deputy Allister Langlois. Nominations close on

Thursday, ahead of the election next week. Still ahead: The storm felled

trees being made into wood craft. You may remember us telling you

about plans to turn the Guernsey cow into a weapon, a weapon of mass

conservation. Well, the green grazing herd has recently been born

and Mike Wilkins has been to see how the calves are shaping up for their

new job, to help conserve the island's endangered habitats.

Meet Charles and while you are at it say hello the David, the new Fifes

conservation in Guernsey. `` faces. Cute Taize are, these

carves,some of whom are days old have a big job ahead of them. They

will be going out as who conservation herd, respondable for

maintaining and preserving the natural happen at the of Guernsey.

The group La Societe Guernesiaise claims almost half of the grassland

has been lost in the last decade. Agricultural intensification and

changes in the land use are being blamed for the demise of species

rich heathlands and habitat. Now thank to Charles and David they are

going to try and reverse that trend. It is going to be right across the

nature reserve, they will do a wonderful job on grass lands, dry

grass lands, Marshy ones and out on the cliffs as well. They are going

to be used on land owned and managed by La Societe Guernesiaise. Almost

60 hectares. We are second only in, as landowner, second only to the

States so we are talking about a fair proportion of Guernsey. That is

going to be managed in this wonderful way, with, we call it the

conservation herd but we all refer to them as Julia's cows. They are

not cows of course, they are young steer, but, you know, that are

Julia's. Yes. It is hoped Charles and David, along with others will

start their job in May. Helping to rien I have rate the island habitat.

Moving on to the sport. Time for some sports news now, and

in rugby, some Jersey players have described yesterday's match at

Cornish Pirates as the worst conditions they've ever played in.

As you can see, it was a bit of a mud bath! The Islanders are playing

in their away strip of light blue ` if you can tell the difference!

Jersey was beaten by 19 points to 15 in Penzance, but a last`gasp

penalty`try saw them take a bonus`point from the game. That

helps them move seven points above moving on to the sport. The first

thing said to the players was I was proud of them. I know how difficult

a place this is to come, especially in conditions like that, you know,

we had a mad three minutes before half`time, and a mad three minutes

after half`time. But, we showed a lot of character. Bad conditions

there then, in Penzance, evenening we saw the pictures there and we

have seen a mini tornado in Jersey today, yet more bad weather and high

tides in Guernsey. Is the Wendover? I think the worst is probably over.

I ought to talk about the times of high water or how high they are

going to be. This morning they were 10.2 metre tides at St Peter Port.

Tonight they are 9.9 metres, that is about an hour ice time. But tomorrow

morning, I will give you the types in a second, the tides are round

about 10 metres again, so not that much less than they were first thing

this morning. The difference is pressure isn't so low, and the winds

aren't quite so strong, so it may not cause quite so much of a

problem, but I have to say it is another exceptionally high tide

This week, it is still a bit unsettled, but it is less cold and

certainly a lot drier than it has been recently. This is a new area of

low pressure that is heading our way, that will brush past us, I

think, through the day tomorrow drifting down towards western

France, then away into the Mediterranean, so by the time get to

Ben, it is much quieter and with a finger of high pressure over most of

northern France and the English Channel, a chance the dry out and

see bright and dry weather. The wind are lively at the moment, they are

north`west winds and they will drive in the showers for a bit longer but

later on it should become dry. Four degrees the minimum temperature

Tomorrow, not a bad day, the winds continuing to drop, and also

changing direction, becoming westerly, then south`westerly, by

the end of the afternoon, perhaps a few light showers may turn up, but

for most of the day it is dry. Nine or ten degree, will be the top

temperature. That is the coastal waters forecast, the winds are

north`westerly four or five, backing south`westerly three, then southerly

by the end of the day. Showers with mainly good visibility. Times of

high water. . The evening high tides tomorrow not

as high as the morning ones. Fairly choppy surfing conditions,

and I think for the rest of the week there is a lot of dry weather to be

had, there is more rain late on Friday, Friday night and into

Saturday. Temperatures on the rise too. Up to

12 degrees by the end of the week. That is it for four, we have the

headlines at 8.00. Cornish charity Shelterbox to change

the range of kit it offers. The Red Cross, which helps coordinate major

disaster responses, says sometimes simple tarpaulins are a better

option than the high`quality tents offered by Shelterbox. Sam Smith

reports. In Haiti shelter box delivered 5000

tents to earthquake victims. There were tensions over who got what and

an internal report by Shelterbox reveals that there were even fears

of violence. The Red Cross says that age jealousy is a general problem.

To be able to deliver a package of items so that all the needs of a

person are met is excellent. One needs to do that knowingly because

in a certain context if one group of households gets everything then we

all collectively have to think about what happens to the next community

who may only get tarpaulins. Shelterbox, currently in the

Philippines after a recent typhoon, is thinking outside the box. To

respond to what people are asking for, what we understand to be the

need, on some occasions something like a tarpaulin and fixings kit

might be more use to someone whose home has not been destroyed or badly

damaged but they need a way of making initial repairs and that

could be something we could usefully do. Tonight Inside Out hears

concerns that the charity's box focused publicity does not always

reflect the reality. Shelterbox has has made it clear that it delivers a

variety of AIDS but it has recently removed this slogan from its

website. These are troubled times for Shelterbox when it's former

chief executive is still on police bail after being arrested in a fraud

enquiry but he denies any wrongdoing. Whether the

organisations charities still revolves around the iconic box or

something else remains to be seen. And you can see more on that report

on tonight's Inside Out at 7.30 on BBC One.

Time for the sport and Cornwall's rugby international was back in town

this weekend. He enjoyed himself. That is coming

up and it is good news all around on the rugby front. Exeter Chiefs ended

their run of five consecutive defeats in the Premiership with a

convincing 18`0 win over London Irish at Sandy Park. Two Henry Slade

penalties set them on their way with ensuing tries coming from Phil

Dollman and Ian Whitten. It's the first time they've kept a clean

sheet as a Premiership team. England rugby international Jack

Nowell was back in his home town of Newlyn over the weekend. He spent

some valuable and precious time with his family and also popped into see

the Cornish Pirates beat Jersey 19`15 at the Mennaye Field in

Penzance. 20`year`old Jack now all was back where it all started for

him. The academy at the Cornish Pirates has come a long way. He is

now on the right wing for England. He was welcomed back to the Mennaye

Field as the Cornish Pirates face jersey in the championship. A lot of

memories of being on this pitch as I grew up. It is nice to come back and

see my good mates play out here. It is really nice to come back. It is

very nice and I am very grateful to all the sport I am getting down

here. Is there a demand for autographs? A couple but to be fair

I really do not mind because it is so nice to come back and see

everyone and see my family and friends. After some indifferent

results of late Jack watched the Cornish Pirates get a welcome win

over jersey with several tries. Last year I was down here playing for the

Cornish Pirates and Max is a quality player and he showed everything that

he had today. The conditions were not very nice to play in but he

played a good game. Jack now goes back to the England training camp in

Berkshire to prepare for the six Nations showdown next weekend with

Wales. I am sure the break at home will have done in the world of good.

In football, Yeovil Town had three players sent off but still managed

to hold out for a 1`1 draw at Reading. After Shane Duffy had given

them the lead at the Madejski Stadium, Byron Webster saw red for a

foul which resulted in a penalty. But Town goalkeeper Marek Stech

saved the spot`kick. After Reading equalised, Joe Ralls became the

second Glovers man to be sent off, followed by striker Kieffer Moore

who was dismissed for a second caution.

Plymouth Argyle are closing in on the League Two play`offs after their

5`0 trouncing of Morecambe at Home Park. Durrell Berry's first goal for

Argyle, two from Lewis Alessandra against his former club, Curtis

Nelson and Andres Gurrieri put the Pilgrims only two points behind

Southend, who are in the final play`off spot. But Argyle have a

useful game in hand. Exeter City, usually far better away

from St James Park, came a cropper at York City by two goals to one.

They were two down before Scot Bennett's goal but it wasn't enough

as City slide to within six points of the relegation positions. Torquay

United remain in big trouble, seven points adrift at the bottom of

League Two after a 3`0l reverse at Hartlepool. Jack Barmby, son of

ex`England international Nick, scored one of Pools' goals.

Finally, the new series of the regional football programme Late

Kick Off returns tonight here on BBC One at 11.20pm. I hope you can stay

up and watch it. They will have a lot to talk about

with Yeovil and Plymouth. Not half!

Thank you very much. With so much misery caused by the

recent storms across the South West, its nice to know some good has come

out of the bad. The Cornwall Association of Woodturners have been

taking in storm felled trees to turn into wood craft.

But, as Johnny Rutherford reports, they now have so much wood they're

having to decline some offers of free timber.

Breathing life back into wood that has been brought down by the

storms. As they say, it is an ill wind that though `` that blows

nobody any good. On our side of things there is a glut of trees at

the moment. Unfortunately it is terrible that we have had all of the

storms and these lovely trees have come down but we benefit out of it

when it happens. We can take some of the trees and drive off in our kilns

and inward sheds and a lot of use can be made out of a lump of wood.

This is a piece of Sycamore straight from the storms. Not all wood from

the storms can be easily worked on straightaway. Most timber need three

or five years to dry out for turning so these storage has recently become

rather fall and some of those of fallen trees have had to be

declined. They would Turners urged the public not to throw away their

timber. To me, it has got to really appreciate it. This way we can use

and some of us can get some value out of it and get something they

would enjoy for the rest of their life. The Cornwall Association of

Woodturners allows people to learn the craft with help from free but

rational tuition. This woman is turning a bolt from her own storm

damaged eucalyptus tree. Before I came here I used to put the logs on

the fire. Now I examine every lock first and decided I can make a ball

out of it. I have been filming here for two hours at the branch of the

Sycamore tree has been turned into bars. To think that this was still

growing just over two weeks ago before the storms.

Now it is time to meet the next of your storm heroes.

A man who helped save dozens of boats in danger of sinking has been

nominated as one of BBC Spotlight's storm heroes. Harbour master Philip

Ward took quick action after huge waves broke through storms defences

threatening to engulf the inner harbour at Porthleven. Local people

say he saved many people's livelihoods. He says he was just

doing his job. Eleanor Parkinson reports.

This was the scene last month. Boat owners and villagers alike in a race

against time, battling to rescue the fleet of boats from the harbour. The

storm driven waves had destroyed the timber balks designed to protect the

inner harbour from the sea. Three weeks on it is a quieter day and the

boats are safe on the quayside, out of harm 's way. Several did think on

that day but local people say the toll would have been a lot higher if

Philip Ward `` Philip Ward had not taken such quick and decisive action

which is why he has been nominated as a storm hero. To Dave Philip Ward

was busy with more routine jobs such as making up new moorings. On the

morning of February five he was woke to find the entire harbour under

threat. When I turned up at 7am for work I saw one of the balks snap and

within half an hour the rest of them broke as well. We rallied around and

I got the crew together with all the boys that work for me and we tried

to secure the balks from floating around at it in boats and then we

had to try and decide whether to get the boats out and what we would do

with them. We decided that the boats had to come out. That meant almost

40 boats had to be pulled out of the water. The cranes and one thing and

another and a lot of people turned up and helped. I think there were 50

people that it ended up but everybody knew what they were doing

and helped and pulled everything out. You have got to have a front

man and Philip was the front man. His reactions were very quick and he

threw everything at it that he possibly could and we managed and

here we are now. Many of the boats in the harbour have been there for

some time and local people say that the harbour master has saved a piece

of history. He says that he was just doing his job and next on his list

is to get the new timber balks fitted so that the boats can get bat

on the water and the fishermen can get back to work.

Well done to him. And please keep your nominations for

your Storm Heroes coming in. You can contact us at the addresses that are

on your screen we could all do with some quieter

weather. The rain was extraordinary. Is it going to get any quieter?

I think this week is a lot better but it is not settled. We do have

some high`pressure briefly. There is still some rain arriving at times in

the formal showers towards the end of the day tomorrow and perhaps

towards the end of the week we will see persistent rain returning. For

much of the week it will be less cold and a lot drier and certainly

less windy than a has`been. At the moment we have a blustery wind which

is feeding in some sharp showers around one area of low pressure

which is moving away from us. It is moving to low countries. It is not

quite the same track here and that one will briefly brush past us as it

dives down into mid`France tomorrow. That will mean a slightly different

story to tell so the wind will not be as strong tomorrow. As we see

some rain it will be lightly and passion and mostly in Cornwall and

West Devon and further Easter will be largely dry. There is a thing of

high`pressure covering most of the News Channel and southern Britain

from midday on Wednesday. A lot of the areas of low pressure are moving

through Ireland and Scotland from Wednesday into Thursday. The detail

on the showers that we have seen so far, there are some fairly potent

showers out there with the odd rumble of thunder and a flash of

lightning and even some hail but they are beginning to move away in

the next few hours. Later tonight we have a thin line of showers crossing

last but most of the night will be dry and the wind will continue to

drop. Enough clear sky to allow the temperatures to fall close to

freezing. There will be a frost for many of us in land tonight to wake

up to in the morning. We wake up to a dry start with light winds and

some morning sunshine. More cloud will come in off the Atlantic and

drifted to Cornwall and maybe West Devon, with a few light showers

coming out about but the rainfall is nothing compared to yesterday and

the showers of today. It is like Apache and parts of Somerset and

Dorset are ending up with a dry day throughout. Those are our

temperatures. The forecast for the Isles of Scilly. They are closer to

the area of low pressure so it is a damp day here with a bright start

and patchy rain turning up in the afternoon. Big tides coming in.

South coast times of high water here. Once the winds become

southerly which will happen through the afternoon tomorrow there are

some good surfing conditions on the north coast. That is the forecast

for the coastal waters. On Wednesday it is largely dry with quite a lot

of cloud around after a fine start. Thursday has drizzle in the wind and

potentially persistent rain towards the end of the week. All the while

it is getting a little bit warmer. Have a good evening. Good night.

We will be back with the late news and weather at 10:25pm. The whole

team will be with you again tomorrow. Have a very nice day.

Goodbye.