07/01/2014 BBC Oxford News

perhaps 48 hours of drier weather for many of us. But between now and

Hello and welcome to South Today from Oxford.

On the programme this evening: Rising water. Rising anxiety.

Floods bring misery to homeowners and delays to road and rail

travellers. Tonight there's a warning that we're

still not over the worst of it. Also: The toughest budget yet. Where

the axe will fall as Buckinghamshire cuts ?65 million.

And later on: The home straight. As a property development gets underway

on a racecourse new figures show the industry could be leading the

economic recovery. Good evening.

Flooding across our region has caused misery and travel problems

for thousands of people. Experts are warning the water levels are likely

to continue to rise for another two days. Rural communities have been

left isolated while in Oxford city roads have resembled rivers. More

than a dozen warnings remain in place and people are bracing

themselves for worse this evening. In a moment we'll look at the

picture in the South Oxfordshire, but first Victoria Cook has spent

the day in Oxford. This road is supposed to be closed,

and for good reason. Each vehicle that ignores the restrictions are

sending waves of dirty water towards people 's homes adding to worries.

Businesses have been cut off from their customers. This funeral firm

has had to close its chapel of rest. People can't get to us. They can

still contact `` contract despite telephone but physical access has

proved to be a problem. Even walking has been difficult.

Some have found alternatives ways of getting through. But with several

road closures traffic in parts of the city has been chaotic.

That is closed, I have to go all around, a big detoured.

Some trains have also been running at reduced speeds. The Environment

Minister, in Oxford meeting farmers today, also faced a difficult

journey. I am acutely aware of the impact in

Oxford where sadly 86 properties have been flooded and my train went

through standard water is before the station when I came up from Reading.

The floodwaters across Oxford are still rising. Many here complaining

of the smell from overwhelmed sewerage systems.

Clearly that is leaking into the flood water as well.

Thames Water says its network is under extreme strain. This block of

flats on the Botley Road in West Oxford is entirely surrounded by

flood waters. Today's heavy rainfall early on won't help, it's seeping

towards the slowly rising Thames. I have been given no advice, and I

don't think my neighbours have either. The next 24 hours are

critical. Victoria Cook, BBC South Today.

Meanwhile in rural areas across our region, many are hoping the sandbags

will hold out. For some local businesses though the damage has

already been done. Peter Cooke has this report.

Testing the waters for the afternoon school run. Like dozens of roads

across the county, this stretch in Culham near Abingdon was closed to

motorists, leaving some residents feeling vulnerable. Jane only bought

her house five months ago. Because the river goes around we

have got it coming in the front, as you can see down there, and then

also round the back, from the garden. We are high about the most

so we are hoping we will be OK. For others well used to the highs

and lows of river life, it's a familiar story.

This is probably as high as I have seen it in recent years. Obviously

in years gone by it has been through the houses but I have never

experienced it. All in all, considering we are right on top of

the river we have been fortunate. These lights are not being used to

stop any traffic, the houses behind me making preparation for the coming

days, they are expecting water levels to rise. Despite that people

are still taking the risk to come through the dangerous waters. Down

the road and a football pitch turned swimming Poole. A clear reminder of

the financial and human cost this weather can cause. The chairman of

Abingdon football club say they will be unable to play for ten weeks. He

will lose ?10,000, the fifth of the club 's annual income. This page was

dry on Sunday, and is under nearly three feet of water. The worst is

yet to come. It's worth repeating that the situation is changing all

the time. Right now there are 15 flood warnings and 18 flood alerts

across our area, you can get the very latest information direct from

the Environment Agency. Their Floodline number is 0845 988 11 88.

A jury's been told how a former Thames Valley policewoman sold the

personal details of 2,500 people who'd been involved in road traffic

accidents, illegally earning ?26,000 in just eight months. Sugra Hanif

from Banbury was working as a police constable based in Oxford. She's

denied using the force computer system to obtain, and then pass on

information, which was then used to provide referrals to accident claim

companies. Two co`defendants, based in Birmingham, also deny conspiracy

to commit misconduct in a public office, and additional offences

under the Data Protection Act. Wiltshire's Air Ambulance Trust has

today signed a deal for a new helicopter which should come into

service by the end of the year. That's when the contract for the

existing aircraft is due to expire. The new American`built helicopter is

the most up`to`date twin engine aircraft available, and will be

equipped with the latest technology. It's to be based in Swindon, and is

being rented under a ten`year contract. Plans to make ?65 million

of cuts over the next four years at Buckinghamshire County Council have

been under the spotlight in Aylesbury. The Council's leader's

called this the 'toughest budget yet'. Areas likely to be affected

include home to school transport, grass cutting and public travel

subsidies. Our political reporter Helen Catt has been at the meeting

and joins me now. Helen, what more was said this morning?

This was an opportunity for the budget committee to grill the

council leader Martin Tett. He wasn't mincing his words

acknowledging that there will be in his words "some pretty significant"

cuts to services because of the money it has to save. Like

Oxfordshire, it's scaling back on things it doesn't have to do by law,

the "nice to haves" if you like. He was asked if there was anything he

had personally found it difficult to put forward, he said he'd been very

sad to have to reduce respite breaks for carers and also plans to stop

cutting grass and killing weeds as often, as he knows that people do

care about what the area they live in looks like.

What about council tax? At some point that was a suggestion it might

go up to about 5%. People in Buckinghamshire had been

asked if they would consider paying more, at the top end around 1.50 a

week extra for a band D home. There was pretty healthy support a

substantial rise BUT the figure which has found its way into the

budget plans is much lower, just a rise of 1.99%. Martin Tett says

there is a good reason for that. We have always assumed we are going

to make ?65 million worth of cut and the council increase `` council tax

increase of 2%. We had the option of a higher council tax increase where

the extra money would be ring fenced for sole spending on roads because

that is the top priority. The response wasn't overwhelming enough

to justify cost of a referendum and we have gone for the 2%.

He also had some strong words for central government this morning

claiming nobody in government really understands the pressures county

councils are under and the way money is dished out to them leaves them

"flying blind" as he put it when setting their budgets.

An investigation has concluded that the major fire which destroyed a

cash and carry warehouse in Banbury was started by accident. Demolition

teams have now begun clearing the remains of the building and part of

the neighbouring tool hire business premises which together suffered

millions of pounds worth of damage. Fire crews from four counties helped

to tackle the blaze last month on Beaumont Road. Work's begun in

Didcot today to build the UK's largest solar farm. Its due to be

completed next spring but campaigners say it will ruin the

local landscape, and isn't an efficient use of the land. Angela

Walker has this report. I am in a field in the middle of

Didcot, and this is typical Oxfordshire countryside. Soon there

will be solar panels as far back as the eye can see. That is because

this 230 acre site is being turned into the UK and's largest solar

farm. It is part of a growing trend and it is because farmers can get

double the return on that investment for producing solar power and they

can from crops. Green campaigners say they are a brought on the

landscape. I don't people help appreciate how inefficient they are.

When it is dark, cold and grey, they are extremely inefficient, operating

at about 15% of their capacity. It is really not a particularly good

use of agricultural land. In the shadow of Didcot power

station this land was previously earmarked for a reservoir for

Abingdon and Morrison and there were plans to put an airport here `` and

more recently. Building a solar farm is now thought to be the best

possible use. We have some of the poorest land in

Oxfordshire, this is great for clay, it is a very marginal land in terms

of arable farming `` grade four clay. This will take over from the

coal burning power stations, with a renewable energy source.

Love them or loathe them, we are likely to see more of them because

there are numerous planning applications. The Farms in

Oxfordshire. How does a chicken walk safely

across the road? The answer, according to one company in

Oxfordshire is that they wear a reflective jacket. The chicken

jackets have been a huge success for the company, Omlet, which is based

near Banbury. Over a thousand have been sold since the product launch

before Christmas. I am not making this up. They're

designed to keep the birds warm and cosy. The firm worked on six

prototypes before settling on the design, which uses a lining

developed by Nasa. It is a really interesting

development for chicken keeping. It shows people are treating them like

pets, it is not a farmyard animal. They want to look out for them just

like they would dog or cat so giving them the best food, buying them

treats, keeping them cosy and warm in winter. There is a great

opportunity to do a new range of chicken jackets for all seasons.

Rumours that tomorrow we are doing a story about hamsters wearing

Wellington boots are unfounded. So far. That's all from me for the

moment. positive influence on that, will it?

Paul, thank you very much. Still to come in this evening's South Today,

Alex Dyke is looking to the skies The family of a Bournemouth man, who

it's believed disappeared wearing no clothes, have appealed for him to

come home. We are going stargazing. It's all very exciting. We will

boldly go where no man has gone before ` as long as it's not too

cloudy! The family of a Bournemouth man who it's believed disappeared

wearing no clothes has appealed for him to come home. Aaron Fiveash, who

is 36, went missing from his parents' house in Southbourne early

yesterday morning. Police say he was in a confused state. Despite a land

and air search, there have been no sightings of him. We need your help

to find him. Thank you. House building is on the rise. Latest

figures show that the UK construction industry grew by 2.2%

last autumn. It's seen as a key indicator of economic growth. One of

the reasons why is the number of jobs it creates. A study at Reading

University concludes that for every home built, two people are employed.

Our business correspondent, Alastair Fee, has been to Newbury to assess

the impact of the town's racecourse development. It's among the most

talked about new developments in the south. 1,500 homes surrounding

Newbury's racetrack, each new build is also bringing with it employment.

At reading University they have studied the impact of new homes, the

conclusion that every new house creates two jobs for the duration of

a year. The equation is much talked about and often`repeated by

Government ministers keen to get the country building. Because of these

extra jobs that stimulates demand and it helps us to grow and recover

from the recession we've had. It is also important to remember it's not

just the homes themselves, but the people who move into the homes that

have good economic effects. Most of those people would be in employment.

A lot of them will be in very skilled employment. It brings money

into the local economy. It's not just direct jobs on site as many as

two jobs are believed to be created in the supply chain. What is harder

to establish is the lasting impact on the community. It's a difficult

analysis to carry out. Instinctively, here at Newbury we

know there could be 4,000 people living on this development. They

will use all of the local facilities, the local shops, the

local leisure facilities and thereby creating new jobs. It's difficult to

quantify that. Officials figures say the project will create 1700

full`time construction jobs and 55 apprenticeships. They believe the

development will lead to 70 new retail and 110 leisure jobs. In the

long`term what might happen is it will encourage employers to come

into the area and then that is really what we're looking for as a

business community, is sustainable growth and then that could have a

real big impact on jobs in Newbury and West Berkshire area. It will

take 10 years to complete the Newbury racecourse development. It's

estimated 4,000 people will live there. To get the full economic

benefit the town has to get them spending and working locally. . It

mitt `` working locally. Police chiefs

from two of the South's police forces have today denied crime

figures are being "fiddled". The Chief Constables and PCCs of Sussex

and Thames Valley have been giving evidence to the Home Affairs Select

Committee. Both areas have recorded a reduction in crime in recent

years, and they were challenged by MPs over whether officers are

misreporting crimes to meet targets. I cannot operate effectively

protecting the public, in terms Thamesle valley, unless I understand

what crime is happening where. It's absolutely in my interests to make

sure that crime is accurate `` accurate. It's an issue of public

trust. We need the public to trust the police. To trust us to tell the

truth in the witness box in court, to trust us to record crime

accurately. A charity in Wiltshire has been awarded thousands of pounds

from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Fovant Badges Society maintains the

regimental badges that were carved into the chalk downs above the

village of Fovant by the soldiers of those regiments. Ena Miller has been

finding out how the money will be spent.

It was their duty to go to war. This is their legacy. We don't really

know why they built those badges in the first place. Some of the

soldiers that returned here, wounded, we actually believe they

constructed the first damage in 1916, that they wanted to make a

mark on the hillside to say, we were here. Or that we even existed. I

live where these 20,000 soldiers where, so I'm part of the community

that these soldiers lived in and, therefore, I feel it's important

that keep those damages in a good condition `` badges in a good

condition as a memorial to them. ?8,400 grant from the Heritage

Lottery Fund will help the Fovant Badges Society put their paper

archive on`line. It will create an education section for children in

Wiltshire. Richard hopes it inspire children to see the damages for

themselves. They are such physical things, I think, I hope, together

with the knowledge they have, get some feeling why it's important to

keep the badges on that hillside for future generations. They really are

impressive from the air. Do you remember on Sally's Journey I saw

them with that Tiger moth. Slightly better weather. That coming

newspaper a moment. Tony is here. We start with boxing. Last year we

featured Ebonie from Portsmouth Boxing Club. She had a fantastic

last year. Ebonie flies to Serbia for the latest challenge of her

promising career. She's competing in the Nations Cup for England, which

runs from this Wednesday until Sunday. Last year the 15`year`old

from Heart of Portsmouth Boxing Club won the European title in her 50

kilo class and took bronze in a World Championship event.

Bournemouth are making preparations to host Liverpool in the fourth

round of the FA Cup even though they still have to face Burton Albion in

a re`arranged third round tie. It's been confirmed this afternoon that

the winners of next week's game will stage the fourth round match at

12.45pm on Saturday, January 25th. The Cherries are using the

experience of having hosted Real Madrid last summer to make off the

field plans to host Brendan Rodger's side, even though they still have

next Tuesday's game against Burton to play. Entertain the biggest club

in the world at the Gold Sands this year. We have all the preparations.

We are making preparations now. We are not tempting fate, have you to

be well`prepared in advance. Ben Robinson at Burton will make exactly

the same arrangements hoping they will be the victors. It will be a

very, very special day for everybody here to see some of the greatest

players in the world. If they get through. Next Tuesday night for that

Burton match. Dorset darts player Scott Mitchell

is through to the second round of the World Championships at Frimley

Green in Surrey He won a thriller against Hampshire's Paul Hogan at

Lakeside. The match went to sudden death after Hogan checked out with a

bullseye to save the game in the fifth leg of the deciding set.

Mitchell, from Bransgore, was being watched for the first time in 15

years by his dad Jeff, and held his nerve to secure his place in the

next round. It's only the number 12 seed's second win at the event. Paul

has been around and Paul knew me before I knew him. I always knew it

would be a tough game probably the viewers at home... We are two

southern boys, we know each other inside and out. I wasn't going to

give up because my dad was here. The darts continue on the BBC throughout

the week. Fine darts continue on the BBC throughout

the week. finally, A Southampton`born motorcycle rider

has won the second stage of one of the world's toughest rallys. Sam

Sunderland rode his way to victory in Stage Two of the Dakar Rally, a

223`mile route in Argentina. The rally sees riders and drivers take

on a 5,000`mile route from Argentina, through Bolivia and

finishing in Chile. He has done very well. I knew you were watching the

darts this afternoon. How? I could hear the cries from the sports desk.

It was tight. Paul Hogan got bull's`eye to save that match. Well

done to Scott Mitchell. His dad was watching as well, tremendous.

Thousands of people are making their way to Portsmouth tonight for an

out`of`this`world experience. The BBC's Stargazing Live is back, and

the city's historic dockyard is one of the live locations for the BBC

Two programme this evening. BBC Radio Solent's Alex Dyke is there

tonight. The big question, Alex, has the cloud cleared yet? Is it fancy

dress and who have you come as, Alex? I'm a cross between Buzz

Lightyear and Steve Austin the $6 million man, what do you think?

Let's meet some people here. Over here I have Nicky from Newbury.

Thank you for coming. This is your home`made telescope. It is. How much

did it cost to make? A couple of hundred quid. It looks fantastic in

Doctor Who tardis blue. Have a great night. Thank you very much. This is

Steve from Banbury. You have bionic binoculars. What are they trained

on? The moon. It's cloudy at the moment. It will clear up. Over here

I met rob frert Reading. He bought it. It's worth ?3,000. He got it on

an auction website for ?1,500. It has a remote control? Yeah. It will

track the star as the earth rotates it will counter rotate and keep it

it in the eye piece. You can do that on a remote control? Yes. You can

take long expose urs of faint galaxies. You have a good night

tonight. The weather is OK It has been up to now. Be positive. I have

found a space comedian. This is Helen. Space, it's not that funny as

a subject? It is. It's very funny. When you look at the people involved

in it, the eccentric people involved in space exploration and the weird

and wonderful facts about space. Buzz Born to be an explorer. His

mother's maiden name was Moon. No! A while ago when he was in his 70s he

recorded a rap record with Snoop Dog or Snoop Lion, as he is now. Go on,

Helen. Go. Thank you. Here we are. The weather is much better than we

thought. There are thousands of people all over the historic

dockyard. We are just keeping our fingers crossed there are no

showers. Sally, hopefully you and the gang back at base will give us a

very positive weather forecast. We can only hope so. We wondered

whether Alex was about to get into a rocket. I think he does. In that

suit. Let us look at the suit. He is climbing into something. You are

looking good? Let's hope it's waterproof. The rain is on the way.

All the tickets for Portsmouth Tonight have been snapped up

already, but you can see Stargazing Live on BBC Two tonight, tomorrow

and Thursday night, all starting at 8.00pm. Worth a watch. What are we

going to see? You said it will be wet? Rain. If they are staying out

late tonight they will see the rain. It will clear quickly. Rain tonight

and tomorrow night. A good deal of dry weather tomorrow, good news. Is

what we need. Now a look at your weather pictures:

Mike Miller took this photo of the large waves in Milford on Sea.

Standing water is fun for some, this picture was captured in Netley in

Hampshire by Martin Curtis. The floods were causing an

'inconvenience' in Abingdon, this picture was sent in by Dick

Richards. I see, very good. More rain on the cards tonight and also

tomorrow night. You can see the weather front moving in from the

Atlantic for tonight. This is the one tomorrow night, in between that,

some dryer weather tomorrow, which is the good news. Through the course

of tonight we will sow ril torrential downpours in places. More

so for the Isle of Wight and West Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire as

well. The rain will clear after midnight. It will rattle its way

through. The heavier bursts are further east where you are. A yellow

warning in force for that heavy rain. We could see up top three

quarters of an inch of rainfall. Lows of six to seven Celsius. A

dryer, quieter start to the day tomorrow. We will see rain arrive

tomorrow evening, before it does, lots of sunshine during the morning.

The best of the sunny spells during the morning. The afternoon maybe the

odd shower for parts of Oxfordshire. This weather front behind me will

creep in tomorrow evening. It will arrive after dark tomorrow and

spread in through the early hours of Thursday morning. Highs of 9`11

Celsius. The winds will be lighter than in recent days. Dryer end to

the day tomorrow. The rain will arrive tomorrow evening. It could be

heavy in places, thunder with hail as well. Lasting through much of the

night through the early hours of Thursday morning. Temperatures fall

to seven to eight Celsius. Another mild night to come. It will turn

chilly as we head through the week and head towards the weekend. On

Thursday it may be a damp start, but it will be an improving picture. The

sun will make an appearance. The winds will start to fall lighter.

Through Thursday day time blustery day the odd shower but should stay

mainly dry. 2`hours of dry conditions, but we do have that rain

over night tonight, lasting until the early hours of tomorrow morning,

clearing, a dryer start to the day tomorrow, lots of sunshine on offer,

before more rain arrives tomorrow night. Could be heavy and torrential

in places. Dryer day on Thursday. Breezy day with showers scattered

about, mainly for the south coast. Dryer Friday and Saturday. They are

the best words we heard in a long time, dry and dry spell is what

people want. Finally. You were flushed with your picture weren't

you? Very impressed. Should have had your glasses in to see what they

were. Worked it out in the end. That is it. Have a good evening. Good

night. Good night. A tenth of a second

could be the difference