29/04/2014 BBC Channel Islands News

Thank you very luch Goo`b9e frgm me. A.d on BBC

The headlines: Hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' mondy are to

be spent getting Jersey's c`ttle back on the export market after EU

regulations effectively banned their trade.

The UK have changed their rtles which means we have now got to

ensure that we have proper health testing in place before we dxport

any of cattle. Also: New psychoactive substances,

better known as 'legal highs', are overtaking Class A drugs, stch as

heroin, according to police. The road to promotion ` Guernsey's

Green Lions prepare for kick`off tonight in one of the club's most

important matches. Good evening.

Hundreds of thousands of potnds of taxpayers' money will be spdnt

getting Jersey's cattle back on the EU export market. The States claim

the island's herd has been free from bovine TB, brucellosis and Dnzootik

bovine leukosis for decades, but the testing regime in the island doesn't

meet European regulations. Despite this, exports to the UK had

continued, but, last autumn, the EU ruled this was no longer acceptable,

effectively banning the export of Jersey's cattle. Sophie Sulheria has

tonight's top story. It's an island icon, recognhsed

across the world. The reput`tion of high health in Jersey's herd is key

to its success, so it's little surprise that the temporary ban on

the exportation of cattle could hit the island's trade hard. In fact,

the Economic Development Department estimates that in five years, the

live cattle industry could lose more than ?1 million, and the dahry

industry could lose four tiles that. It is frustrating for the island's

chief vet, who insists the herd is free from disease. Well, it has

meant that people who were planning to export soon cannot do so, because

the conditions have to be complied with. It is very frustrating, yes.

Because, as I say, the eviddnce that these diseases are not presdnt are

compelling. The Economic Development Department say they've acted as

quickly as possible. We havd only had that will grab three in the past

few months. I have had to go to the council administrators to ask for

contingency funding for the next two years to see us through into the

next medium`term financial planning. That extra money will fund the

initial testing programme, which cost more than ?300,000. In total,

it will cost more than ?500,000 over five years to carry out the testing.

But the Economic Development Department says if it doesn't go

ahead, the industry could sde potential losses of almost ?6

million. The contingency funding has been approved, to the delight of

agricultural leaders. It is very encouraging that local politicians

recognise the importance of making sure that our industry is on an even

keel and an equal footing whth her competitors, both in the UK and

European Union. It will be `t least six months before the testing

procedure can be put in place and exports to the UK allowed to resume.

Well, these regulations effdct Guernsey's herd too. In a statement

this evening, the States told the BBC that the matter is still under

discussion, and Guernsey's SVO has been working closely with hhs

opposite number in Jersey sdeking a solution that can be applied to both

islands. New Psychoactive Substances, better

known as 'legal highs', are overtaking Class A drugs, stch as

heroin, in Jersey, according to the islands' police. Three kilos of

NPSs, with a street value of ?180,000, have been seized hn the

past two weeks. Jersey's Customs and Immigrations Service says it is also

seeing a rise in the popularity of such drugs. Jen Smith reports.

This is ethylphenidate, or Lagic Crystals, now a Class B drug that

was seized by Jersey Police earlier this month. A few days later,

?120,000 of mephedrone was recovered by Customs and Immigration. Both are

considered New Psychoactive Substances, commonly known `s 'legal

highs'. The seizures represdnt a worrying trend in Jersey. Over the

last two years we have an increase in intelligence and seizures threw

herself some custom and immhgration. We have seen a reduction in harmful

drugs like heroin being imported, and we are seeing these tend to take

their place. Jersey's Custols and Immigrations Service seized ?2.

million of drugs last year. Mark Cockerham, Director of Law

Enforcement says, New Psychoactive Substances are becoming a bhg part

of that. It is definitely a big problem because we are award of the

problems that have been caused inland and have seen an increase in

the number of seizures that we are picking up at border control. It is

a priority for the service. In the last three months of 2013, Jersey's

Customs and Immigrations Service was involved in 57 seizures of legal

highs, leading to ?60,000 of drugs being recovered. Intelligence passed

to UK organisations led to two websites being dismantled and over

200 kilos of NPSs being takdn. Jersey police say despite two deaths

in the island in recent years, the message about NPSs still isn't

getting through ` that it is dangerous, and not worth thd risk.

Guernsey's publicly`owned ahrline has agreed targets aimed at keeping

the London Gatwick route affordable for islanders.

Aurigny has pledged that 60$ of its Gatwick flights will be priced at

?79 or less. The commitment is part of an updated agreement between the

two, aimed at ensuring the `irline offers good value for money to

islanders. There is now a home available for

those that find themselves hn difficult financial situations in

Jersey. Almshouses provide long`terl

accommodation for more than 35, 00 people across the UK who ard

considered poor and in need. Today, one was officially opened in Jersey,

150 years after the last ond closed. As Emma Chambers

Jersey was destroyed by a fhre in 1859. Colin, who set up Sanctury

House, saw a need for long`term accommodation in the island, like

those provided by Almshouses in the UK. I thought, why is there not one?

It fits into our Christian belief. They are all over the country, so

why not here? Not only does it provide a place to live, but also

employment and support for those that have landed on hard tiles, like

Derek. People who have been through whatever I have been through, they

are amongst each other and they can discuss this, find a way it. It is a

very depressing situation where you can't seem to get out of it. This

five`bedroom house is already full, but a second house will be opening

in the summer. Colin hopes there will be an Almshouse in every parish

in future, so there's always a place for people in need to turn too.

In just over an hour, Guernsey FC will be kicking off one of their

most important matches. They're in a play`off semi final in

their bid to be promoted for the third year on the trot. But, between

them and a place in the fin`l, is an away fixture with Leatherhe`d. Mike

Wilkins reports on Guernsey's push for promotion.

Guernsey FC checking in at the airport this afternoon. Thehr

opponents are tough, but, tonight, Guernsey is fielding one of its

strongest teams, with many first choice players available after

recovering from injuries. It is even. We have a very differdnt squad

to the night we played them away from home and loss 2`0. There is a

huge and the confidence in the group at the moment and we believd we can

go there and get a positive result and move on to the final. The last

time Guernsey played at Leatherhead they lost 2`0, but got their revenge

at Foote's Lane with a 2`0 victory to make it honours even. Thdre is

undoubtedly a lot of pressure on the players' shoulders, but it's

something Guernsey FC has a lot of experience of. To win these games,

we have been there and done it. It has given us the mental strdngth

that I think we will need. Hf the Green Lions win tonight, thdn they

will be just 90 minutes awax from promotion with an away match on

Saturday to either Folkestone or Hastings to decide who will be

playing Ryman Premier Divishon next season.

There will be special cover`ge from 7.00pm tonight on BBC Radio

Guernsey. I had some friends over frol London

today and I was a bit worridd about the weather, but it was gre`t! Yes,

they have to do has been very pleasant. It continues in the same

vein for tomorrow. The best of the weather will be in the mornhng, and

then more showers in the afternoon. It will be a bit misty at fhrst

tomorrow morning, then it whll turn fine and dry. Let's look at the

detail, what is happening on the satellite age is quite complex, but

we have an area of low pressure developing here. This will take

charge of our weather over the next two days. It gets a little bit

closer but the time we moved to the middle of the day tomorrow. There is

the line of cloud and rain coming in, then the low pressure moves in

even closer at the time we get to the middle of the day on Thtrsday.

Thereafter, this area of high pressure and this area of

high`pressure linkup and it will lead the fine weather for the

weekend. So, lovely evening tonight. Overnight the night will be some low

or missed forming. Overnight temperatures will dip into single

figures. For tomorrow, we h`ve a reasonable day to start with. The

mist and low cloud will lift and for a short time we will get sole

sunshine. It will last, bec`use later in the afternoon the cloud

will come in. Top temperature, 4 degrees. The winds will mainly be

from the south`east. The change comes as we head into the

weekend. Plenty of showers `round on Thursday, Friday will be drx after a

cloudy start, then it brightens up for Saturday morning.

Like, but the Spotlight. I `m back with your headlines at eight

o'clock. Goodbye for now. the time just a biggish provincial

city in eastern France. One week in every month, though, it becomes the

self`styled capital of Europe as MEPs from the European Union's 8

member states descend on thhs building. There can be a tendency to

associate European legislathon with the infamous Brussels bureatcrats

but the people that actuallx decide what becomes law in the European

Union are ministers from thd governments of each member state and

the 700 odd MEPs all meet in this place. I'm here for the last sitting

of the present crop of MEPs before the parliament goes to the polls on

May the 22nd. A quick glancd at the agenda for this last plenarx session

shows that MEPs are debating, amongst other things, plans to boost

pension rights for people working in other EU member states, measures to

reduce noise at airports and a new budget to promote EU farm produce.

At home in Devon, that is going down well with an organisation which

exists to promote local produce We have launched a brand`new brand to

take products under that br`nd into new markets, both in Europe and

worldwide. What we are lackhng, of course, is the funds to be `ble to

do that sort of thing, so this initiative and plans in Europe, we

would be very pleased to sed that. Back in Strasbourg, Lib Dem MEP

Graham Watson, the party's candidate for the south`west, agrees that it

is good stuff. I think the promotion of farm produce is an important one

and whether it is Gloucestershire perry to Somerset cider brandy or

Dorset blue cheese to Cornish clotted cream, these are products

that would benefit from that promotion in overseas markets. It is

adding value to what our farmers and food producers are doing. Hhs

Conservative counterpart, Ashley Fox, also insists that much

worthwhile work goes on herd. I work on the Internal Market Commhttee and

what we aim to do is to complete the single market, that market of 5 0

million people, that we can trade and do business with. And I worked

on a consumer protection dossier that aims to signify and reduce the

burdens on businesses of consumer protection. But not everybody voting

on the week's wide`ranging business is quite as enthusiastic. Whlliam

Dartmouth, UKIP MEP and candidate, says the agenda is certainlx packed,

but not with good things. I have just had a quick look through the

agenda and there was only one beneficial item and that is

requiring members of the European Parliament to be much more

transparent than they have been hitherto in their dealings with

lobbyists. That is the only one good thing. The rest is a complete waste.

Not just a waste of time but it is also job destructive and prosperity

destructive for the UK. It hs a rather green place, this. Btt some

think it should be greener still. As the Green Party, yes, we ard keen

that environmental protection is strengthened but we're also

interested in where power is exercised. Europe has a rather nasty

word, subsidiarity, which nonetheless I think is a very strong

green principal, which is about exercising power at the lowdst

appropriate level. Greenery is also on the mind of the Labour c`ndidate.

The Greens incidentally beat Labour in the south`west at the last

European elections. For exalple the way we have done in Cornwall, which

is funded with European mondy, and the fact that wave technology is the

next generation of environmental`friendly energy

sources, and we are in a position in this region to lead the world in

this technology and the devdlopment of it and we need to be surd that we

do not miss that opportunitx. As the present MEPs walk into the

Strasbourg sunset, we must now set about the business of chooshng their

successors. There are three other partids

standing in the South West: An Independence from Europe, the

English Democrats and the British National Party. The full list of

candidates is available on the BBC website. Next week, Martyn will be

looking at the European Union's finances.

On to sport and, in rugby, the Exeter Chiefs wing Jack Nowdll is to

have surgery on his knee and shoulder next week which will keep

him out of England's summer tour to New Zealand. The 21`year`old, from

Newlyn, played for his country in all the Six Nations games this year,

scoring his first international try against Italy. Nowell missed the

start of the current campaign with a damaged knee, but the Chiefs expect

him to be fit for the start of next season.

A teenager who was paralysed following a motocross acciddnt says

he never gave up hope of riding again. Spencer Watts, who's 18,

spent five months in hospit`l after he was injured at the age of 15 But

now his dream is to race ag`in on a specially adapted bike. Spotlight's

Carole Madge has the story. For young Spencer Watts, motocross

has always been his passion. At the age of 15 he fractured his spine in

an accident and it looked lhke his riding career was over. He told me

that I would never be able to walk again and I would never be `ble to

ride again. And my response to that was, whatever it took, I wotld be

back on a bike, whether it be in five months' time or in two years'

time. My legs tuck in either side here. My back brake is here. The

front brake is here. And thhs is Spencer's solution ` a uniqtely

adapted motocross bike. But conditions are challenging.

Especially when it is wet lhke this, I could go out there and fall off on

the first corner. That is what worries me. You would have to lay

there and wait for somebody to come and pick you up! It gets thd

adrenaline going. In condithons like this, the riders use their feet to

keep them upright. Spencer has to rely on skill and technique. To

start off with it was reallx hard, to keep balance, for instance. For

an able`bodied person, it is hard. Gearing, changing gear, it hs quite

a tricky thing to get used to. Nothing stands in his way. H

couldn't believe it. He gets himself out of his wheelchair, he btmps

himself up. Instead of going, I can't do that. And now Spencer has

another goal in his sights. He wants to start competing again. I rode

from the age of eight years old It is just something that I wotld never

want to give up. It's just `wesome, really. It's just great to ride

Now, for the story of one couple's love of trains and just how far

their hobby has taken them! Roger and Barbara Stimpson from Ddvon have

spent a lot of money and tile creating their own model rahlway.

Yes, ?32,000, ten years and 'model railway' probably doesn't do it

justice! Both have serious hllnesses and now want the county's ahr

ambulance to benefit from their creation. Spotlight's Andre` Ormsby

has been to take a look. Out with the lawn and in with the

rails. It took three tonnes of concrete to lay this track hn Roger

and Barbara Stimpson's backxard and it is as long as the football field.

We have been married for 54 years which we are both very proud of ``

55 years. We both love the same things so we can't argue about

what's wrong and what's right. I just say 'yes dear'! That's the way

to have a perfect marriage. As if having this in your back garden

isn't enough, what about thd 50`foot long model railway in the loft? We

get used to it, don't we? Ydah. It's just normal to us. To a lot of

people it is a surprise. Thdy are quite shocked when they go hnto the

loft and see it. We have air conditioning and carpeting too. The

house and garden are full of model railways and carriages. Thex have

replicas of the Eurostar, Fhrst Great Western and a reproduction of

the Babbacombe Cliff Railwax in Torquay. Everything, Barb h`s done

herself. I just carried it tp to the loft and Barb's just built `t all.

Anything I build is rubbish and ends up being taken to bits. Anything

Barb builds is perfect first time. LAUGHTER

Roger and his wife are ill `nd have both had to use the Devon ahr

ambulance. Now, to show thehr gratitude, they want to open their

home to the public on June the 5th to raise money for the charhty.

Now we were talking about the health of the region early and havd had

e`mails. Thank you for your comments. Mark was quickest to

respond, he is obviously very fit! He says at 68, he cycles 20 males

per day, four days a week. Keep the comments coming. David is hdre with

the weather. We have had reasonable tempdratures,

but we have had showers. Thdy are already dying away tonight. A

slightly different problem tomorrow. It will be dry, but misty whth the

risk of fog patches. Recently, some sunny spells, then rain sprdading

in. Don't be disappointed bdcause the news is good for the wedkend.

Here is a circle of cloud. That is the low pressure moving tow`rds us

that will bring rain tomorrow, nudging to Cornwall in the liddle of

the day and spilling across us through the afternoon. As that low

pressure begins to move awax through Thursday and into Friday, wd have an

area of high pressure to replace it. From the coasts of Spain and

Iceland, the pressure will bring is nice weather for the weekend and

bank holiday Monday. The satellite picture shows you what we h`ve seen

today, but just some showers left today. Early, we had some fhne

weather and a bit of blue sky to enjoy. Whence had been light ``

winds, and it has been a pldasant day indeed with the top temperature

of 16 Celsius. We make to gdt those figures again tomorrow, but for the

most part, temperatures are down. Tonight we will have lengthx clear

spells once the showers fadd, but low cloud will form and it light be

marquee tomorrow morning with temperatures as low as seven Celsius

`` murky. The best place for prolonged sunshine will be Devon.

Temperatures, well getting tp to 16 Celsius, will be towards thd North.

That is the force cast `` forecast for the Isles of Scilly. Here are

the times of high water. For sufferers, it is likely to be choppy

along the north coast betwedn three and four feet along the south

coast. The forecast for the coastal waters is three or four at first,

but the ring westerly and p`cking up force. Thursday is very showy,

widespread across the region, but try on Friday and fine as wd head

into the weekend. Have a nice weekend.

The next update is that PM `nd at 10:25pm. Goodbye. `` 8pm.

We welcome immigration, we want immigration.

# Time for hope and action to set our people free