22/11/2013 BBC Oxford News

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

Living with HIV. We meet the fitness instructor backing a new campaign to

try to get more people tested for the disease. New cases have reached

their highest level in the Thames Valley. Preparing for winter,

volunteers in Banbury taking on jobs as snow wardens. And we meet the

chefs stirring up Sweet Christmas treat this weekend.

It's one of the UK's most serious health problems. But some people

still feel awkward talking about it. Now, the number of people who are

HIV positive in the Thames Valley has reached more than 2,500 for the

first time. The disease continues to be passed on by people who don't

know they have it, according to doctors. Today a week long campaign

is beginning, urging people to get tested. Our reporter Emma Vardy's

been to meet a woman who's been living with HIV for three years. I

went for a routine checkup. Four years later my blood resulting back

as HIV`positive. Given the crushing news. Fitness instructor Amanda

Nicholson believe she will contracted HIV from a past

relationship. My first thoughts were, I going to die, is anybody

going to want me? It is terrifying. We had to talk about have you been

checked, I was clear, so was I, OK, great. And it turned out he had not

been checked and his ex`cop and had been checked and he assumed that he

was clear because she was clear. You never know that you are clear until

you get tested yourself. An estimated 2500 people are living

with HIV in the Thames Valley. Around one in five of those are

undiagnosed and most at risk of passing it on. Last year, 176 people

where newly diagnosed, an increase of 12% on the previous 12 months.

The virus attacks the immune system but if caught early, many people can

still live a long life, and the new campaign has begun today calling for

people to get themselves tested. There are still a significant amount

of ignorance and stigma around HIV. We need to get people tested and on

to get people tested and onto effective treatments, and that is

key to ensuring people's long`term health and during long`term health

as a long`term strategy. Since being diagnosed Amanda has got married and

had a daughter and took medication during pregnancy to stop it

spreading to the baby. What sort of reaction do you get from people?

Mostly good stuff, to be fair, most people are very supportive. You get

some people who are so frightened that they will not actually talk to

you. At the end of the day, I had sex and I got HIV. We all have sex

and we can all catch HIV. It is not a gay thing, it is not the black

thing, it is everybody. The Greenpeace activist, Philip Ball,

from Chipping Norton, has been granted bail after being held in a

Russian prison for two months. He's a member of the "Arctic 30" who are

facing "hooliganism" charges after protesting on a Russian`owned oil

rig in September. Even though he has been granted bail, he still in

detention. His family say they are proud of his action and his protest

over oil going. Plans to move a transformer from Didcot power

station have been put on hold for another week. This was the scene

when one of them was moved from Didcot along the A4 and M4. There

will be closures northbound this weekend because of bridge works.

It's a development including 500 homes, a new station and thousands

of square metres of offices, and last night more than 100 people

turned out to discuss Oxford's Northern Gateway. The project `

earmarked for just north of the ring road at Peartree ` would also

included a new railway station. But there are concerns the road network

won't be able to cope. Our political reporter Helen Catt was at last

night's meeting. Tell us what was said. This is the Northern Gateway

in Oxford, bits of land owned by three different Oxford colleges from

the petri services down to the south. It is being earmarked for

business led development, said 55,000 square metres of employment

space by 2026, with some residential building, up to 500 houses. At the

moment the City Council is developing its action plan for the

area. The workshop last night was one of their ways it is getting

feedback from residents. And what do people have to say about it? One

issue that was unsurprisingly overwhelming, congestion at the

roundabout and how extra traffic would change that. We feel besieged,

here, we are surrounded by three major routes. We have this daily

nightmare. Of course, the prospect of a major new development at the

Northern Gateway fills everyone with dread. The message to the City

Council was clear. Don't give permission to build anything on that

site until a traffic strategy is in place to deal with those extra cars.

Some people are questioning the need for any more business space in the

city and of course, there was the possible impact of building on

greenfield sites. Work to find Ash trees with tolerance to hashtag Back

has started in Oxford. There are an estimated 120 million Ash trees

across the UK, but experts believe only 1% of trees are capable of

resisting Ash tieback. We want to find those that are tolerant and

bring them together so that we can put them into a breeding programme

that could be genetically diverse, and robust for future problems and

resilience to climate change which is very important, too. Councils

across this region are recruiting volunteers to help clear snow and

ice from the roads over the Winter. Banbury is the latest to launch a

community scheme ` it says it's impossible it to clear routes

without help from locals. Victoria Cook has more. Scenes like this

could be around the corner. We're being told to pick up a and clear a

path, just like Mike small, who has signed up to become a snow warden.

Last year his daughter went into labour but snow left them stranded.

He wants to make sure that this year nobody gets stuck. It is like

neighbourhood watch to try and help yourselves. You cannot expect the

council to do everything for you immediately. And the main roads are

the priority. But to get off the side roads, weakened do that easily

ourselves. Banbury town council says it is impossible to grip all the

roads and pavements, so it needs locals to get together and pitching.

It is providing clothing, shovels and sold, but it says that it is not

a replacement for council services. I do not think that the state should

provide everything. If we all volunteered and did a little bit

that would enable us to the council tax low and also let people look

after their own environment. Less than half of the road network is

cleared by ostrich County Council. It costs ?1.3 million. To clear

more, that cost would increase and so would council tax. Banbury town

council is not the only one recruiting local volunteers to clear

roads. Communities all over the region have been asked to pitch in

and anyone who is interested is being offered training. People

taking part must be easy to contact and be ready to go when, or if, it

snows. Thousands of people are expected to

attend switching on of the Oxford Christmas lights. A parade of 500

lanterns will place later this evening. The BBC has apologised

after giving the wrong answer to a question about a Czech composer

during an episode of University challenge between Oxford and

Cambridge University. The Cambridge team from Clare College guessed

wrong name, but host Jeremy Paxman also corrected them with the wrong

answer. Despite the mistake, Claire College still beat Christchurch

College and claimed a place in the University challenge quarterfinals.

That is all from me. I will have more at eight o'clock and that

10:25pm. Here is Sally Taylor. will be shut between Didcot and the

M4 until Monday morning. There's a 70 mile detour for motorway traffic

via the M40, A404 and the M4. Still to come in this evening's

South Today: Keeping the tradition of Stir`up Sunday ` will you be

making Christmas puds this weekend? A man has been airlifted to hospital

after he was badly burnt in a fire at Bognor Regis. He was in this

bungalow in Clarence Road when the fire took hold this afternoon. Two

crews from the Sussex Fire Rescue Service, wearing breathing

apparatus, managed to put the fire out. Another man in the house

suffered smoke inhalation and was treated at the scene.

A Gosport firm, Vector Aerospace, has announced it's reviewing the

size of its workforce. The company say there's an expected fall`off in

work as the Royal Navy's Sea King helicopters are retired from service

in 2016. 1,000 people are employed at the Fleetlands site. The company

say a consultation's expected to last several months.

The Berkshire jail made famous by Oscar Wilde, who was imprisoned

there, has shut for good. The last few young offenders to be held at

HMP Reading left a month earlier than planned. The closure is part of

a Government programme to replace old and inefficient prisons. And

it's sparked a debate about what should happen to the historic

building. Nikki Mitchell reports. The last prisoners were moved out

this morning. One was happy to be going home, though, with his release

date coinciding with the closure. I was in there for 19 months. It's

quite a nice prison. There is a good bunch of staff. They do well. I'm

going to look for a job now and try to sort my life out. The last

remaining offenders here found out where they were being moved to last

week. They were all gathered on the landing, apparently. Big smiles for

those moving to prisons closer to home but this appointment for those

moving further away. The closure is part of a nationwide prison

replacement programme. The prison service said it wanted to provide

better value for the taxpayer, while helping to bring down our stubbornly

high reoffending rates. The prison's 160 staff are being given

the option of redeployment or voluntary redundancy. There is a

community of people here who have worked here for many years and

really cared that these lads so it is a very sad day. It's a pity the

Ministry of Justice should reach the conclusion that this was too

expensive to run. I would have thought, because of its size, it was

ideal and would have given much more community feel rather than a

massive, the institution where nobody knows anybody. I don't know

what's going to happen to the building because it is a historic

place, with Oscar Wilde and everything. It had a profound effect

on him. During his time, most of the other prisons were quite poor and he

was in with children but it was the execution of a soldier that had the

inspiration on him to write a book. As the jail was listed on another

listed site, there will be convocations. The blip we will be

looking for the Ministry of developing the site. We will want

any developer to recognise their responsible at ease and also the

potential. Hopes for a commercially viable redevelopment with space for

community use on the site. The owners of South Parade Pier in

Southsea have been forced to close it over concerns for safety. The

listed building was shut over a year ago after it was found to be a

danger to the public. The owners had intended to reopen it on Monday but

the city council has ordered it to be closed to protect everyone.

A year of dredging work is to be carried out in the shipping channel

to the port of Southampton, to make it deeper and wider. Fareham company

Boskalis Westminster has won a ?30 million contract to dig up three

million cubic metres of clay, sand and gravel from the channel, which

runs for 25 miles through the Solent and east of the Isle of Wight. It

follows this dredging, close to a new container berth that will open

next year to handle a new generation of larger ships.

The largest cruise ship to be based in Southampton has been announced.

Carrying more than four thousand passengers, Anthem of the Seas will

bring ?50 million a year more business to the port than this

year's ships. Here's our transport correspondent Paul Clifton.

And some will certainly look different. The viewing pod, on a dry

`` a hydraulic arm, will lift passengers high above the sea.

Passengers will also be able to try flying. You can fly, effectively,

with air coming up from beneath you to hold your loft. You will be on a

ship in the middle of the ocean and there will be a ripcord and you

won't even be touching anything. The keel was laid earlier this week at a

shipyard in Germany. With 4000 passengers on 16 decks, Anthem will

arrive in April 2015. The target market ` younger people, cruising

for the first time. It will replace this ship and will add 500

passengers to every sad visit. Shortly before it arrives, rival P

will bring another new ship to the port, called Britannia.

On to sport now and the Premier League returns tomorrow after the

international break. And Southampton fans will be wondering if their

side's tremendous start to the season can continue, Tony, it could

get even better for them tomorrow, couldn't it?

People are cruising into Southampton on those big liners and they know

the football team is putting the city on the map.

Over the next two weekends we could get a sense of just what this

Southampton side is capable of. Next week, they go to Chelsea. Tomorrow

it's Arsenal. Saints start the day third, but could go top if they win

and Liverpool, in second, don't beat Merseyside rivals Everton tomorrow

lunchtime. Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 18 home games against

Southampton but people are seeing a different Saints side this season.

Southampton have been scintillating as they surged into the top three.

Football has lauded their style and the English call that has helped

them get up the league. McGreal it'll be tough. They've massively

from last year. It is going to be a tough game. Southampton haven't been

at the top of the league for 30 years and the manager knows how

formidable arsenal could be. TRANSLATION: Obviously, the team we

are going to play against on Saturday is playing the best but won

the league. All the teams want to bring the ball back quickly. There

is nothing special there. We just do it better than others. TRANSLATION:

In the league, a team can beat any team. We have the belief that we can

beat any side and we just have to keep on believing in that until the

end of the season. At least one X Saint could stand on their way

tomorrow. Theo Walcott is expected to return from injury. This team has

already picked up points at Anfield and Old Trafford so confidence is

not something the men will be short of.

After three league games without a win, Reading travel to Blackburn

tomorrow. Seven points separate the seven places between the two sides

tomorrow, with the Royals in the thick of the play`off chase in

sixth. They're looking for a first win since the victory at Doncaster

last month. Meanwhile, here's what else is

happening this weekend. Bournemouth want to keep goalkeeper Lee Camp

beyond his initial loan spell. The Cherries, in 14th, take on Derby in

ninth at Dean Court tomorrow. Meanwhile Brighton are at Wigan.

Don't forget there's full commentary of all the matches on BBC Local

Radio while the Football League Show has all the goals straight after

Match Of The Day. The programme is on the iPlayer for a full week, as

well. We'll have the main highlights on Monday.

Michael Carberry top scored for England on a disastrous second day

of the Ashes series. Carberry scored 40 and appeared to be helping

England set up a strong position in the first test in Brisbane until a

batting collapse saw the visitors skittled out for 136. The Hampshire

batsman said he relished his opening Ashes experiences. They bowled

really well. On a personal note, I loved the challenge. It was great to

get involved and to be part of the start of the Ashes. Loved being out

there, love to the battle. They came hard and that's where you want to be

as a cricketer. London Irish return to Premiership

action this weekend by travelling to Leicester. The Exiles, who play home

games at Reading's Madejski Stadium, are boosted by the return of Shane

Geraghty, Marlon Yarde, and George Skivington. Irish are 11th in the

table, with only two wins this term. In the national league, 12th placed

Worthing go for win number four at Richmond. Henley, in 10th, are home

to Blackheath. Enjoyed your sporting weekend and we

pray for better things down under! Traditionally it's the Sunday before

Advent that families make their Christmas Pudding. Stir`up Sunday is

this weekend. Macri We made it earlier this year. The

recipe is often kept secret within the family but there's always dried

fruit and a bit of booze involved somewhere. And then there's the

traditions of making a wish as you stir and putting silver coins in the

pudding. I think I've eaten those! I hope not. I went to the Spreadeagle

Hotel in Midhurst, where they have a very odd tradition.

Come inside this hotel and look at how they deck the halls. Which room

do you know that has decorations from Christmas? When our residents

come over Christmas, they stay under night and we give them a Christmas

pudding and they come to reception to be and they leave it as their

reservation for next year. How old are some of these? The oldest one

I've seen is from 1947. Have you had anybody come back after a number of

years to claim their Christmas pudding? That did happen. We ship it

and inside, there was just a morsel which was the size of a walnut

rattling around inside. We've got a total of 83. We dropped one the

other day and it fell onto somebody's head! Here's to more of

them. In 25 are the Gloucesters. This one

has a little heart. Sweet! We've been stirring up Christmas puddings

are hundreds of years, wherever we are. From the Christmas kitchen at

Aldershot, puddings preparing to go around the world. For the boys who

can't get home to mother, they are putting in the real stuff. What's it

like, boys? Any good? Macri blew give it a really nice mix and make

sure everything is distributed. Now it's time for us to get in. Try to

break it down if you can. Do you have a secret recipe? Why is it

secret? It's such a tradition here that we have to. Is it about a

particular ingredient that you put in? I couldn't possibly say! Do you

put alcohol in? Oh, lots! Traditionally, there are 13

ingredients that go into a Christmas pudding. They are supposed to

represent Jesus Christ and his 12 disciples. I didn't know that! Do

you make Christmas pudding? No, I specialise in breakfasts. What do

you remember? How did it work in your house? Everyone made a big wish

and some of us took ages doing it! You've made your wish but do watch

out if you add silver coins. We had a blind aunt staying with us and we

deliberately made her Christmas puddings with the silver piece in,

thinking she would discover it. Unfortunately, she swallowed it! We

never saw it again. Mine seems to be rather full. We had noticed! Rather

a lot in my pudding. We cook it but we can never eat it! One last

tradition. Like the brandy... `` like the brandy. It makes you feel

Christmassy. I steamed pudding this morning. Smell it! It got steamed.

You've put some alcohol in that! I just emptied the bottles! I'm always

a bit too full when it comes to Christmas pudding. Also used are

from east to West, apparently. That's because of the three wise

men. Little traditions to everything.

The weather is going to be maybe over the weekend and a bit more

cloud so today was probably the best day. Roger captured a steam powered

paddle steamer on the River at Wareham.

That is a happy dormouse hibernating in a licensed box in the woods in

West Sussex. It doesn't even look real!

John took this photo of a sunset and that is Peter the poodle.

I can't stop laughing! Over the next few days, a lot more cloud than

today but had she broke and fostered through the course of tonight. Under

clear skies, temperatures will fall away rapidly. The odd shower for

Buckinghamshire. Temperatures will plunge and there is the risk of

patchy ice. `1 Ord two in the countryside. A cold, frosty start to

the day tomorrow. There will be sunshine but more cloud for the

afternoon. Temperatures will reach six to seven. A very similar to what

we had today. There is the northerly wind. Tomorrow night, a risk of mist

and fog patches and patchy frost where we have a few clear spells, as

the winds will fall right. They will fall like to on Sunday than much of

the week with lows of one two four. `` between one and four. With the

high`pressure, there is a lot of cloud associated. Cloud is brought

of the North Sea on the north`easterly breeze and so a lot

more cloud, some brightness to be had but it will stay dry. Monday

will be cloudy. A lot of cloud associated with the high pressure

over the weekend and into next week, though the winds start for light as

we head through Sunday. Tomorrow will be the best day to enjoy the

sunshine. Frost and fog first thing, which could linger until

mid`morning. The winds stay lighter over the next few days, so it is

going to be pleasant. A crisp feeling each morning. More weather

and a 10`day forecast on the website.

You like to beat poodle! I didn't think you are going to get through

that. Have a great weekend. We're back on

Monday. Good die. `` you liked Peter the poodle. Goodbye.