05/02/2014 BBC Oxford News

rise. That is all

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

Allegations of bullying and violence among pupils at a public school.

A former member of staff says she was forced out of her job for

raising concerns. Also tonight: The morning after the

night before. The repairs after storms left thousands of homes

without power. A hug from his mum for a record

breaking rower. The 17`year`old who's become the youngest person to

row across the Atlantic. And later on: By royal appointment.

Queen guitarist Brian May funds an alternative to the badger cull.

Good evening. A former member of staff at the

prestigious Oratory School in Woodcote is claiming she was

unfairly forced out of her job after repeatedly raising concerns about

the behaviour of pupils. An industrial tribunal has been hearing

allegations from Rachel Ashley, who resigned in 2012. She claims she was

pressured to leave after reporting incidents of violent behaviour and

bullying. Officials at the ?30,000 a year public school deny any wrong

doing. Adina Campbell reports. The Oratory is one of the country's

most exclusive private schools and so any case questioning the

behaviour of its pupils was always bound to cause embarrassment. During

the course of the past three days the industrial tribunal panel here

in Reading has heard claims of animal cruelty to birds and cats,

and also allegations of extreme bullying among some of the boys. The

claims come from a former employee, Rachel Ashley, who worked at the

school near Woodcote in South Oxfordshire for three years. She's

brought a case for constructive unfair dismissal, saying that she'd

repeatedly flagged`up her concerns to senior colleagues, but was told

that boys will be boys and nothing was done.

Miss Ashley claims that during her time as a house mother, a

supervisory role, she raised concerns about four boys. She

reported seeing banned items including a bow and arrow, fireworks

and other sharp objects embedded in gloves, and claims as a result she

feared for her own safety and that of the children. On another occasion

she reported seeing a boy being bound and then beaten by others. But

while she felt the incidents should have been reported to social

services or the police her worries weren't taken seriously. She was

even reprimanded by other members of staff for reporting what she'd seen.

Today the tribunal has heard from the school's deputy head, Thomas

Hennessy, who says he was aware of incidents of bad behaviour and that

these were properly investigated. Recommendations on appropriate ways

of dealing with such behaviour were up to the headmaster to enforce. The

hearing continues and it is likely to be a few more weeks yet until the

panel makes his final conclusions. An Oxfordshire care home's been

issued with a formal warning to improve standards by the Care

Quality Commission. St Katherine's House in Wantage was visited by

inspectors at the end of last year, after concerns were raised in

October. They found the centre falling short on five of eight

nationally agreed standards for quality and safety. The CQC says

there's no risk to the 50 residents, and the company running St

Katherine's is taking action to address the concerns.

More than half the country is overweight according to new figures,

and Milton Keynes is in the top ten areas for expanding waistlines.

Public Health England used people's Body Mass Index, or BMI, to draw up

a league table. On average is 63% of people in the UK are overweight or

obese ` but there's a wide variation. In Oxford over half the

population, almost 56%, is classed as overweight. In Aylesbury Vale,

it's around 64%. Tipping the scale at more than 70% comes Swindon. And

heavier still is Milton Keynes, with more than 72% of the population

overweight or obese. Some question the value and reliability of using

BMI data but, as Jessica Cooper reports, the study's prompted local

authorities to redouble their efforts.

Lionel used to fit into these clothes when he weighed almost 19

stone. Within three years he lost seven stone. I just wanted to look

normal and wear normal clothes and I feel so much better for doing it. I

sometimes go around the grandchildren and play on the swings

in the park things and like that. When we go on holiday I go on

everything, everything they go one I go on and I really enjoyed it. It is

a newly sovereign life. Through walking and reducing his portion

size Lionel has kept his weight down but new figures show he is now

amongst the minority in his local area where more than 70% of adults

are classed as overweight or obese. Milton Keynes Council says reducing

the health risk for people who are overweight is one of its main

priorities and people who are classed in that group are referred

to services by their GP. It has also vowed to double the public health

investment to tackle the obesity problem. Weight loss is the main

reason people join this gym in Bletchley and it is where GPs refer

their patients on to exercise programmes instead of giving out

prescriptions. Over the past three years I have seen 80% of people who

take part in the programme and complete the 12 weeks make a

significant reduction to their weight loss and we have had a number

of our clients who have lost upwards of two or three stone by taking part

in this programme. Lionel puts his weight loss down to willpower. He

loves baking cakes but never eats them.

Winds of up to 50 miles an hour have been battering the Thames Valley.

8,000 homes were without power this morning. And with more storms set to

follow, Sinead Carroll has been assessing the impact of the weather

here. Clearing up after one storm, and

preparing for another. The guys are here today clearing the rubbish

which gets dragged in off the field and blocks the streams and the water

cannot get away. Last night's storm led to power cuts

for many. It is absolutely bananas. It is frustrating to be living in

2014 and not having electricity. Every time there is a storm or some

sort of weather. The power cuts forced closures at

Marsh Baldon school and pub. I have already cancelled three parties for

lunch and I have turned away three groups for lunch. It also knocks on

my staff. At the village hall a lack of heating meant changes to the life

drawing class. It started to become a bit cold so the life drawing

session became a figure drawing session. We have had to close ``

close of the model and gradually people had to filter away because it

got too cold to work. Power was restored by 2.00pm,

Southern Electric apologised and says it's consulting residents to

make improvements in future. But with more bad weather forecast for

the next few days, environmental and transport teams in Oxfordshire and

Buckinghamshire are standing by to deal with any further disruption.

Wiltshire councillors have voted to keep their controversial 22% rise in

allowances. It was initially voted through in November. The council's

leader, Jane Scott, had already said that she won't be taking her

increase. 24 councillors voted last night to reverse the higher

allowance payments, but 60 others voted to keep the extra money.

A teenager from Oxfordshire has become the youngest person ever to

row across the Atlantic. Eoin Hartwright, who's just 17, was part

of a team of four. They finally completed their journey last night,

landing in Antigua after more than six weeks at sea. Charlotte Stacey's

been speaking to him. After 43 days at sea, land is finally in sight.

Eoin Hartwright started this journey and normal teenager but crossed the

finish line a record breaker. At 17 he is now the youngest person ever

to row across the Atlantic. I asked him earlier what it was like to

finally get off the boat. It is an amazing feeling. I could not

actually walk to be honest when I got on land and I completely forgot

about the record until I sat down and the race organiser came over and

said I was in the Guinness book of records and that was really cool to

hear. His journey raised more than ?5,000 for Helen and Douglas house

and he hopes it will continue to rise. For now he is keeping his feet

firmly on dry land and celebrating his incredible achievement.

It is an incredible achievement. Congratulations from all of us here.

That's all from me for the moment. I'll have the headlines at 8.00pm

and a full bulletin at 10.25pm. Now more of today's stories with Sally

Taylor. Still to come in this evening's

South Today: Nicknamed HMS Pepperpot ` the Portsmouth warship hit so many

times during the Second World War. Network Rail has laid out its scheme

for a new direct rail link between Reading and Heathrow Airport.

Subject to planning permission, it aims to start groundwork in two

years' time and open in 2021. Our Transport Correspondent Paul Clifton

is here. The idea has been around for a while but this sounds much

more definite. We knew the Government was putting

up half a billion pounds for this. Four trains an hour, running from

Reading straight into Heathrow's Terminal Five. Now we know that, if

it gets planning approval, the work will begin two years from now. There

will be a five kilometre tunnel and digging that will begin in 2018,

with the first trains in 2021. There will be a spur off the Great Western

Main Line. Let's zoom in and see that it will leave the Main Line

east of Slough, straight into the tunnel to get underneath the M4 and

then the M25 and into Terminal Five. There is already space for two

platforms under the airport. A big empty box was built at the same time

as the terminal, it just needs fitting out.

This would bring big benefits to the Thames Valley.

Local business groups reckon it will create 40,000 jobs in the Thames

Valley and bring ?2 billion in economic benefits. It would pay for

itself in ten years. At the moment, to get from Reading to Heathrow by

public transport you either take a bus or get the train into London and

then back out again. This will take half an hour off the journey.

So what has happened to plans for a Southern Rail route into Heathrow?

Has that gone away? No, it hasn't gone away. But nor has

it really moved forward. The scheme is called Airtrack and it seemed

certain to happen. But some local councils raised concerns about how

much time level crossings would be closed to road traffic. That stifled

progress but it could eventually still go ahead.

The South Downs were turned into a national park to help keep it as a

green open space. But a row has broken out at Rogate in West Sussex

over plans for a new golf course. The greens and fairways would be put

on heathland. The golf club says walkers and grazing animals will

still be able to use the land. Sean Killick reports.

It is he planned at the moment, it is also designated as common land

which gives people the right to raise livestock here. But it is

owned by a golf club who want to put a new course on the land. They say

public access would be retained and people could still raise livestock

but these people say that they be difficult.

We would have to keep the cattle in certain areas and then move them as

and when. I don't know how it would work but it would be totally

practical. A group campaigning to protect

common land rejects the plan. It is going to be very dangerous

because we know the speed golf balls travel it. Unless they restrict

access where people to currently go where they like, my concern is for

people 's safety. The golf club declines to be

interviewed but in the statement they said they had no intention of

stopping public access, merely to prevent its abuse, such as

scrambling, fly`tipping and vandalism. There will be a vote on

the plan in the next few months. More than half of Portsmouth's

parking wardens will be on strike today. The 24 hour walk out by union

members began last night from midnight. The wardens are

complaining about pay and poor changing facilities. They also claim

they're under increased pressure to issue tickets. The council says it's

still talking to the unions but says it does not set targets for parking

tickets, as this would be illegal. It badger vaccination programme

could be cheaper and more effective than a cull. Brian May is heading

the campaign. He'd already set up the badger sett

the site in Dorset and today rock star Bryan make to the House of

Commons to call the county to be an early pioneering vaccination against

TB as an alternative to the cull. If you do for years of vaccinations

you would get her immunity which takes them out of the equation. We

are concerned about the badgers and the cattle to the government on

again about the cattle because they make money.

Partly because of monitoring, the costs rose above vaccination.

More than 300,000 people have signed a petition calling for a badger

vaccination and Brian May believes he can get donors involved in his

alternative. The rock band Queen have donated money. Politicians from

all three political parties were at the launch.

On to sport and we are going to talk about Reading football club.

Something happening off the pitch. It's a return to the Reading Way.

Sir John Madejski has confirmed what fans have long suspected ` the

Royals owner Anton Zingarevich is no longer involved in the day to day

running of the club. Board chairman, Sir John, also revealed he's looking

to sell not just his minority stake in Reading, but also the Russian's

share. Joe Campbell reports. Sir John Madejski tonight is master

of all he surveys. But the storms outside his apartment are as nothing

compared to the troubled waters the club must navigate. The promised

investment from new owner Anton Zingarevich and his family just

hasn't lived up to expectations. The time he's putting into the club,

well, that's now nonexistent. So Sir John is back in charge.

We are going to run the club like it used to be run so that is very

comforting for everybody concerned. Running football clubs is not an

easy thing as people find out. Does that mean they are saying they

want to pull back and you are acting as an agent to sell all 100% of the

club? I suppose that's probably right.

Sir John has spoken out now to reassure fans worried for the future

of what they see as their club. What would you say to those who want

a resolution. All I can say is they and me both.

Oxford United maintained their unbeaten away record in League Two,

with a hard`fought point at Bury. The U's went behind in the second

half at Gigg Lane, but a first goal for the club from midfielder Josh

Ruffels put United back on level terms. Oxford remain in third in the

table, in the final automatic promotion place.

And Swindon Town can move closer to a trip to Wembley tonight. They face

Peterborough in the first leg of their Johnstone's Paint Trophy

Southern Final. There's live coverage on BBC Wiltshire. Kick`off

slightly earlier than normal at 7:15pm.

Local rivals Havant Waterlooville and Gosport Borough will face off

for a place at Wembley, in the FA Trophy Final. The clubs' grounds are

separated by around eight miles as the crow flies, either side of

Portsea Island. Havant Waterlooville booked their place in

the last four by upsetting Aldershot Town at Westleigh Park. The Shots

had Jordan Roberts sent off before half time, and the Hawks took

advantage. Dennis Oli got the first, and when Nic Ciardini made it 4`1,

Lee Bradbury's side could start to look forward to the juicy local semi

final. Brett Williams' penalty was a consolation.

We've spoken a lot about snowboarder Billy Morgan over the last few

weeks. Well, tomorrow it gets serious for him because his bid for

a Winter Olympic medal gets underway in Sochi. Although the opening

ceremony doesn't take place until Friday, Southampton's Morgan takes

part in qualifying in the slopestyle event tomorrow morning. You can

watch live on the BBC Red Button from 6am UK time.

From snow to ice, and two of the South's team face off tonight for a

place in the Premier League Cup Final. Basingstoke Bison lead

Guildford Flames 8`3 from the first leg of their semi. But Guildford

have home advantage at the Spectrum Leisure centre this evening. That's

underway at 8pm. Motorsport next, and a

Hampshire`based team are revving up for the 2014 World Superbikes

Championship, which starts later this month in Australia. Today the

Crescent`Suzuki team unveiled their new bike. And confidence is high at

their New Forest base. They started out in this humble shop

but now there's Superbike team are plotting world domination.

Some people come in to have their mortar by serviced. You don't have

too the and enthusiasts to enjoy the spectacle.

Northern Ireland's Eugene Laverty finished second last year and turned

on the top of to join Crescent`Suzuki.

I feel I have got unfinished business and want to fight for the

championship. Another British star steps up after

winning the British superbikes title in 2013.

It was a natural progression but it is not always the way it goes. Some

people aren't as lucky to have this opportunity so I will make the most

of it. We have invested heavily in the

Raiders and hopefully they can give us the results they deserve. ``

invested in the riders. Hopes are high for a good year.

Those bikes have to be sold to the public, that's how you qualify. Moto

GP or souped up ones. Fascinating. Now one of the most

famous Portsmouth warships of World War II is being remembered this

month. HMS Penelope was bombed so often and

had so many holes she was given the nickname HMS Pepperpot. Eventually

she was sunk by a U`Boat off the Italian Coast. Today just seven men

who served on HMS Penelope are still alive. Today one of them was given a

special presentation to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the sinking.

Steve Humphrey reports. These are the extraordinary

photographs the resulted in HMS Penelope being given the name HMS

Pepperpot. The holes were created by flying shrapnel.

The German aircraft seemed to follow us around. The Admiralty stated it

was the most bombed ship in World War II. In the Mediterranean Royal

Navy ships were coming under almost constant attack.

That's all you did, day in and day out, fire at aircraft coming down at

you. HMS Penelope's luck ran out in

February 1944 when she was sunk by a U`boat. Just under 400 men died, 206

survived, including Norman who spent two and a half hours in the water.

If you couldn't swim, you drowned. And then others couldn't keep going.

To mark the anniversary of the sinking of the ship, Norman was

prevented with some special mementos by John Bush, who served in the

Falklands on the most recent ship to be called HMS Penelope.

We spent a lot of time in defence watches which is preparation for

action in the Falklands. We were doing that for weeks at a time.

These guys were doing it for years at a time and in far harsher

conditions. Norman is certainly a survivor. He

celebrates his 91st birthday on Friday.

Let us get on to the weather and Alexis is with us. It has really

been incredibly strong winds and lots of rain.

Yes we had a cast of 79 mph earlier today. The ground is very saturated

and we have more rain on the way. Fred Ellis captured a sandstorm at

East Head in West Wittering. Lorna Jacobson took this photo of

the huge waves at Chesil Beach in Dorset. Just a reminder not to get

too close to the sea to get a photo. After stay safe.

`` you have two stay safe. And Roy Venkatesh took this photo of the

flooded fields to the west of the spires of Oxford.

A quieter night but those showers will remain, easing out. A dry start

tomorrow but it won't stay that way. We will see a band of rain and work

its way up from the south and it was they were thus for much of the data

model. `` it will stay with us for much of the Day two morrow.

There is a weather warning for the rain so stay tuned for more

forecasts. Those showers could band up and merge into longer spells of

rain. A wet start to the day on Friday but we are looking at a brief

respite with maybe some sunshine before the next area of low pressure

swings in from the Atlantic bringing more rain into Saturday morning and

another amber weather warning for that.

more rain into Saturday morning and another amber There is the flat line

number if you need it. The wind will not be as strong as

today but pretty brisk along the coast. Severe gales through Saturday

along the south coast and gales inland.

It is one thing after another. And it doesn't look like it's going

to stop soon. Tomorrow morning we will get up

early to watch Billie Morgan. Good night.

NICK CLEGG: Are you in, or are you out?

That's the real question at stake at the European elections on May 2 nd.

even though that would wreck the recovery and destroy jobs.

The Conservatives are now openly flirting with exit,

and the Labour Party, well, they just don't have the courage

they wouldn't lift a finger to help keep Britain in the EU

So I'm asking you to vote for the Liberal Democrats,

in for the sake of British prosperity and jobs.

I'm in because we set the global standards

95% of everything we use, we eat we heat ourselves in, comes in by sea.