15/10/2013 BBC Oxford News

a little bit mixed over the next few days. That is

Hello and welcome to South Today from Oxford. In tonight's

programme, anger, sadness and shock. Emotions run high as hundreds

of people squeeze into Banbury's town hall to have their say on

services which are under threat. I hope the council are listening and

listening with their hearts. Also tonight, taking the case on HS2 to

the highest court in the land. Later on, the students from the

south learning Mandarin in the hope it will open doors in the East.

Good evening. Parents angry at plans to cut children's centres in

Oxfordshire will be able to express their views directly to the council

tonight. The second of five public meetings is taking place to discuss

how a further ?61 million of cuts can be made to services. More than

300 people packed into Banbury's town hall yesterday. Tonight it's

the turn of people in Oxford to have their say. Emma Vardy is live at

County Hall. And Emma a big turnout last night. What are we expecting

this evening? It was standing room only yesterday and the council are

preparing for a similar turnout when the meeting gets underway in just

under an hour's time. This is a chance to ask questions to the key

decision makers and a chance to debate issues across the board. Last

night, it was the issue of the possible closure of children's

centres which dominated the agenda. We feel so passionate about this. We

are angry and shocked. Children's services are not optional, they are

vital to this community. We need these services. I hope the council

are listening with their hearts because this is about Oxfordshire's

values. Do you want to be a county which does not look after its

families and its most vulnerable children? The council says it is

listening but realistically, this authority does not have much room to

manoeuvre. It was pointed out last night that to avoid any cuts at all

we would all have to pay an extra ?250 a year or thereabouts in our

council tax. That is not going to happen but other ideas like letting

communities raise their own money to keep check centres open was

suggested to councillors. There was an interesting range of views. I

thought for public participation, it was what this was designed for.

Tonight, senior managers and elected councillors are preparing once again

to face the public. In the coming months they will have to nail down

those tough details which will determine what our slimmed down

public services will look like. Thank you.

One of five men accused of accepting stolen metal at a scrap yard in

Oxfordshire has told a court undercover police officers tried to

badger him into buying a suspicious load of material. Simon Rogers, seen

here in the white trousers, said in the past he had helped police

destroy illegal weapons and knives. He also claimed in previous official

visits officers never criticised the way he traded. All five men deny

attempting to conceal, disguise or sell stolen copper cabling last

year. The trial continues at Oxford Crown Court.

Campaigners have taken their fight against the planned high speed rail

line HS2 to the Supreme Court. They're claiming the Government

didn't carry out enough environmental checks on the

controversial route. The railway, which would cut through the

Chilterns, has a price tag of more than ?46 billion. Seven judges at

the Supreme Court are hearing the case. Victoria Cook has spent the

day there and joins us live from Westminister. Victoria this is an

important day for campaigners, isn't it? It is an important day. The

Supreme Court is one of the highest courts in the land. This follows a

year of not being very successful in other court hearings. They have

brought it to the Supreme Court. This is an unusual court because it

is a panel of judges who listen to the hearing. There are usually five

but in this case there are seven. This has been about the

campaigners' side. Legal representatives have been talking

about how the government needs to do more on the HS2 route. Campaigners

say they have not done enough checks. The Government says they

have not made a final decision on whether HS2 is going ahead or not.

In court was Richard Halton from the HS2 action Alliance. The government

says this is vital for the country so why are you opposing it? We do

not think there is a business case for it and it is not the right

solution for the capacity problems we have on the row away at the

moment. `` the railway. So far, the campaign groups have not been

successful, have they? There has been a year of fighting in the

courts. How successful do you think you will be? We are confident we

will get a good result. If you're going to force through a 15 billion

pound railway you must do it as environmentally soundly as you can.

The fact that we have been given leave to appeal at the highest court

in the UK means we feel the judges beforehand felt we had a case. One

of the options is it could go to Europe. How do you feel about that?

If the judges in the Supreme Court cannot make a final decision, we are

happy to go to Europe. That will delay it by some considerable time,

went it? We think it will be complete in 12 months. Thank you. A

new chairman is about to take over. His name is Sir David Higgins. He

has been defending the estimated ?46 billion project. There is

connectivity from the north, a north`south conductivity but also a

connectivity between the great cities of the North which we need to

explain and show the benefits of that. And also get the maximum

benefit in what this will do for regeneration in major cities in the

north and explain how that will happen now and that these cities

will not be blighted for years to come. The Department for Transport

has reiterated how vital this is for the country. It says attempts to

obstruct HS2 have been firmly reject it by two courts and it says the

government will continue to defend any challenge in the Supreme Court.

We will know the outcome in about a month's time. If the campaigners are

successful, it will be a blow to the Government. If not, this could go to

Europe or their challenge may end here. Back to you. Thank you.

A man's been airlifted to hospital from the set of Brad Pitt's new

film, which is being shot in South Oxfordshire, after being stabbed in

the shoulder with a bayonet. The professional stuntman was

accidentally injured during a rehearsal just before midday. The

World War Two film Fury is being filmed near Henley. The Health and

Safety Executive has been informed. Chiltern Railways has announced it

is to run some services on Boxing Day for the first time. It says

trains will call at Bicester North and Thame on the way to London. Car

parking will be free for the day. The firm says its trialling the

Boxing day services to help shoppers and football fans heading to games.

Rural broadband is often slow, and unreliable, but now people living in

one Buckinghamshire village believe they could have found an answer.

After years of campaigning for a faster internet connection, they've

now managed to secure help from on high, as Angela Walker reports.

All Saints Church in the Buckinghamshire village of

Hillesden. Parts of this church date back to the 12th century but it's

outlook is far from archaic. Today, high`speed broadband transmitter was

fitted to the church tower to bring the broadband connection in the

village up to 21st century speeds. It enriches our life and is

important for business and rural enterprise life and also family

support. A lot of people use Skype and the Internet and we do not have

the capacity in the broadband. We are happy to support the parish

council by lending our flagpole. Poor Internet speeds continue to be

an issue in rural areas. This small aerial can transmit wirelessly to

properties in the line of sight. Constant demand is increasing all

the time. Conventional broadband will not reach everybody everywhere

in the next few years so people are turning to us as an alternative. A

couple of miles away, Mike Ghirelli was running a business from home

with his wife. Very frustrating indeed. We have got very slow

speeds. You sit in front of the screen just watching the little

we'll go round and round. We have got this opportunity coming up and

we are looking forward to being able to make contact very quick play with

the outside world. We are almost isolated at the moment. `` very

quickly. The aerial is due to be switched on on Thursday. We could

soon see broadband transmitter is in other churches in the area. Ten

other villagers have expressed interest in similar projects.

Patients across Wiltshire are to get a new service aimed at reducing

unnecessary emissions to hospital. `` admissions to hospital. GP

coordinators will help people manage long`term health problems like

diabetes. A 16`year`old boy from South

Oxfordshire is hoping to becoming the youngest person to row across

the Atlantic but he only has a month to raise ?25,000 sponsorship to fund

the trip. Eoin Hartwright is hoping to take between 50 and 60 days to

row from Spain to Antigua. He is raising money for the Helen and

Douglas House children's Hospice. I'm quite nervous. I am losing a lot

of sleep at the minute. However, I am really excited. I have had more

than a few sleepless nights and I think that will get worse as the

time gets nearer. But I am very proud of him. That is all from me. I

will have the headlines at 8pm and I will be back at 10:25pm. I will hand

you over to Alex Forsyth. Good buy. Midlands. And we preview the elite

grand final later in the programme. In the second of our reports on

China today we look at education. It's worth more than ?1.7 billion

to the UK economy. Around one in six of all Higher Education

students now come from China. The number of Chinese students being

taught here in the South's universities has doubled in ten

years to almost 7,000, with 1,800 at Southampton University. But

education doesn't just mean educating the Chinese. 16% of state

schools now offer some form of Mandarin lessons. Let's cross to

our Business Correspondent, Alastair Fee who's at Wellington

College in Berkshire. Mandarin is even more popular in independent

schools? That's right. There's twice as many Independent Schools

teaching Mandarin. But very few have a dedicated centre like this.

Every day language classes take place here. Wellington College

began building links with China in 2008 and the school has big

ambitions for the future. At Wellington College, these pupils

aren't learning European languages, they're being taught Mandarin. As

the Chinese economy has grown, so has an interest in improving our

communication. They will have a huge advantage if they speak

Mandarin and can easily tap into the Chinese market. And also it's

about networking. It will be easier to develop important relationships

when they work in China. For six years they've had a dedicated

Mandarin school. When it opened they taught just 15 pupils, that's

now risen to 105. Learning a language offers a gateway into the

culture and having that basis of understanding will be important in

the future. There is no other language like Mandarin and I think

it can open up opportunities. Chinese students are coming here in

increasing numbers. Every year the number studying at Reading

University increases. It now teaches more than 700 young people.

It's a lucrative business, bringing in more than ?10 million. That why

a visit to China next month is likely to pay off. I'm going to see

first hand the partnerships we have with universities in China and meet

the ministry of education in China. It's got such close links with

China, Wellington has built an exact replica near Beijing ` with

the aim to make it the country's leading international school.

Whether it's university education or classes in our schools. These

could be some of the most important lessons when it comes to doing

business in the future. I'm joined here outside the Mandarin school at

Wellington College by Matthew Oakman. The school predicted this

language would grow in popularity ` how has demand increased? Almost

one`third of students are now studying Mandarin and many are

taking it through into GCSE. Many are also going on to study by

oriental studies as well. Wellington has a school in China

already. There's a second opening in Shanghai next year and rumours

of a third. With the growth in the Chinese economy and a greater

opportunity for British businesses, and we feel it is important to have

the ability to flourish in this particular language. Last year just

over 3000 pupils across the country took a GCSE in the language ` but

it's likely that will rapidly increase in the coming years. The

owners of the former Southampton liner QE2 have signed a contract

with a Chinese shipyard. COZCO near Shanghai, seen here, will refurbish

the ship as a floating hotel. The 900 cabins will be replaced by 400

larger suites. Other changes will include a shopping mall and updated

restaurants. A price tag of ?62 million has been mentioned, with

the work finished in less than a year. A permanent home in Asia for

the ship has still not been decided. Plans to drill for oil or gas in

the South Downs National Park are due to be submitted this month. An

energy company is looking at drilling at Fernhurst in West

Sussex. Ahead of the application the body that oversees planning in

the park held an information meeting today about oil and gas

development. Mark Sanders reports. After a summer of conflict, this

could be the next flash point in Sussex. Some are concerned at the

applications for exploratory drilling. We think it is a poorly

chosen site within an national park. Other sites would certainly be

technically suitable boat would have less impact on the village.

The company says it is looking at conventional pruning here but has

not ruled out seeking permission for fracking in the future. The

South Downs National Park Authority would have to consider it any

planning application for drilling and today it heard from experts

about gas and oil development. This is a meeting for National Park

Authority members to give them the opportunity to ask questions from

the experts and find that more about what is behind the

exploration. This is about getting at the facts. One of the speakers

said fracking could go ahead in Britain but only with tight

restrictions. He believes there are questions surrounding energy

security. Most people drive, most people have gas and electricity. We

have to ask, are we happy to have other countries provide that for

us? What is the ethical nature of this supply? Today was about

talking. Decisions are far another day. The applications for during is

expected to be submitted this month. Details have been announced of the

first town`wide cycle hire scheme here in the south. Funding for the

venture in Reading has come in part from central government and comes

in the same week plans will be considered for a cyclist and

pedestrian bridge across the Thames, to try to cut rush hour congestion.

Katy Austin reports. A new mode of transport is coming to town in

Reading. Hire bikes will hit the city's roads by next summer. The

council's chosen a Surrey based firm to try and get more people on

two wheels. The company we have a pointed has already been involved

in establishing schemes in Great Britain and also in Moscow. So

there has international experience to be drawn upon. The idea's proved

popular in London. The hire bikes nicknamed Boris Bikes have changed

the way thousands of people get around the capital, even if they

have proved costly to run. Cycling's enjoying time in the

spotlight here in Reading. A new bridge is being considered to cater

for the increasing number of cyclists ` as well as keeping them

and pedestrians apart from the traffic. I know how busy a place it

is from a commuting and a residential point of view. So for

me this had all the main key ingredients. There'll be 200 bikes

for hire to start off with. What makes this scheme different to

others in the south, is the way the bikes will be distributed. Instead

of being all together, they'll be spread right across the town. If

they're a success, these same bikes could soon be rolled out to

neighbouring towns too. Yesterday it was bucketing down in Birmingham.

But tonight the Poole Pirates hope to reign supreme as their delayed

speedway final gets underway in the next hour. They go into the final

leg of the Elite League Grand final with a 21 point lead over the

Brummies, so hopes will be high for getting their hands on a trophy

they last won in 2011. Tony Husband sent this from the Perry Bar

stadium. The weather it in the Midlands is considerably better

than it was 24 hours ago. Heavy rain led to the match being

postponed last night. Today they had to work hard on the track to

try to get the surface ready. This is still pretty heavy but it will

be OK for a 7 o'clock start. This is a commanding 21. Lead going into

this final. How do you approach it here tonight with the home team

seemingly out of it? Are there have been a very good side all season.

We just have to consolidate the lead that we have got. We have got

the lead but we just have to go out and try to win every race and get

as many points on the board as we can. You have some real stars. But

they cannot win it on their own, the other boys have to play their

part. You're on the brink, how begin achievement would this be? If

we can pull this of tonight, this would be the best one. We clawed

our way into the play`offs and here we are in the Grand Final. Well we

wish you well. The trophy is ready. BBC Radio Solent has live coverage

of that match. Now if you're a football fan, the mention of a

penalty shoot`out may send a shiver down your spine. The spot kick has

been the Achilles heel for England in many major tournaments. But two

non`league teams from Hampshire have just put the national side to

shame, after racking up 29 successful penalties in a single

shoot`out. And it could be a world record. David Allard explains. It's

the penalty shoot out that went on. And on. And on. 29 goals in a row

were scored, before Brockenhurst keeper Scott O'Rourke kept out

Claudio Herbert's strike. He will never be taking a penalty again it!

I was nervous but confident at the same time. Despite losing the

Hampshire Senior Cup tie, the marathon shootout could put Andover

Town into the record books, in their first season in existence.

It's raised the profle of a side who are still looking for a major

sponsor. It was certainly a showpiece for the Hampshire Cup tie.

We are pleased to be part of some history. But I think I would take

the win over the history! Today three Andover players ` and the

boss ` are coaching at the Sparsholt College Football Academy.

And penalty practice is bringing back memories of last week's epic.

I was really nervous, I'm normally quite a confident lad. But I was

really nervous coming up to the second penalty. So can double

penalty scorer Lloyd show the lads here how it's done? Oh well, better

luck next time. Sunrise over Langstone Harbour this morning by

Ian Drain. Portchester Castle in the morning sunshine captured by

from Phil Currier. And Barney with his fungi trove in Pamber Forest in

Hampshire snapped by Roy Venkatesh. It was a quiet day but tomorrow we

are expecting some mist and fog to form through the night. With the

increasing breeze for the western areas in the early`morning, that

will link into low cloud. Already he can see that band of rain that

will culminate in the early hours of the morning and spread to most

parts tomorrow around late morning and lunchtime. That clears western

areas during the latter part of the day. Temperatures around 14, 17

degrees. Temperatures returning to their seasonal average. Some late

evening sunshine on offer before the cloud increases in the early

hours of Thursday morning. Some showers dotted around the coast.

And temperatures falling. On Thursday the mild air comes in from

the south`west. It will be breezy, a mixture of the sunny spells and

scattered showers throughout the day. Then it turns on settled on

Friday. That rain edging in and with that, strong wind.

Temperatures mild in spite of that. We are expecting some rain tomorrow,

heavy in some places. Clearing western areas by the afternoon.

Scattered showers on Thursday and a breezy day. Further rain on Friday

and showers for at the weekend. That is all for it this evening. We

have a full bulletin at 10:25pm.