05/03/2014 BBC Oxford News

high-level talks to resume the Hello and welcome to South Today

from Oxford. In tonight's programme: Assdssing

the risks. Mark Williams died at work hn 2 11,

now prosecutors say his employers are to blame Also tonight: Becoming

clearer ` the world's smalldst telescope gives this woman back her

sight. When I saw Charles close to the

first time in 15 years is absolutely wonderful.

And later on Help to buy ` but for who? The government housing scheme

that's making it harder to get on the property ladder.

Two companies charged with health and safety failings after the death

of a roofer from Oxfordshird are on trial. 41`year`old Mark Williams,

from Nuneham Courtenay, was crushed by a forklift truck on a buhlding

site in Newbury in July 2010. Katy Austin was in court.

Father of two Mark Williams from Nuneham Courtney in Oxfordshire died

on 20 July 2011. He was employed by Attleys Roofing, and was dohng

tiling work on the Parkway construction site in Newburx. The

Health and Safety Executive has now taken Attleys and the main site

contractor Costain to court over alleged safety failings that they

say led to his death. Today the prosecution outlined their case at

Reading Crown Court. The cotrt heard that Mr Williams was lifting tiles

up to the roof by operating a telehandler ` like a forklift truck

but with an arm that could love forwards. But the space he was

working in was so small that to turn his machine he had to make dxtra

manoeuvres and raise its arl while loaded with tiles, causing ht to

become dangerously unstable. The court was told how the telehandler

tipped up, and although Mr Williams jumped from the cab, his machine

fell down on top of him, crtshing him. Mr Williams' mother and sister

in court today, his mother sobbed when the prosecution spoke of his

death. The jury also brieflx heard evidence from Andrew Quelch, another

worker operating the same m`chine as Me Williams. He's expected to

continue giving evidence tolorrow. Both firms, Costain and Attleys deny

the charges against them. Another care home for peopld with

learning disabilities in Oxfordshire has been ordered to take action

after failing an inspection. The home in Piggy Lane in Bicester

failed on five of the six areas looked at by the Care Quality

Commission, including the c`re and welfare of the people there. It s

run by Southern Health, the same organisation responsible for Slade

House, where Connor Sparrowhawk died last year.

BHS is to close its store in Oxford. Staff were given letters on Monday

telling them that following a recent review the company had decided to

close its Oxford branch. It will cease trading on the tenth of May

and it's understood 60 staff have been told they are at risk of

redundancy. A 50`year`old man's pleaded guilty

to fraud after he deceived ` grieving mother out of the life

insurance she was awarded following the death of her son in Afghanistan.

Jason Mackie died in Helmand Province in 2009. Two years later

his mother Lee was persuaded by Gary Sheehy from Bampton to invest more

than ?4,000 in a camping business he had no intention of starting. He

will be sentenced later this month. Apprenticeships may be growhng in

popularity but some businesses here say taking someone on is more

trouble than it's worth. Whhle larger firms find it easier to cope

with the paperwork, smaller ones say they won't do it again becatse the

system lacks flexibility and there's too much red tape. Here's otr

Business Correspondent Alastair Fee. George is training to becomd a

motorsport mechanic, and is learning the trade on the job. The g`rage

wanted to take him on as an apprentice, but after coming up

against problems with the sxstem, they gave up and employed hhm

anyway. If we were at the company and had an

HR department and that was someone's job to go through that

process, but when I'm trying to deal with customers, run the bushness

doing nothing else, it becoles so time it wasn't cost`effective. It's

a similar story at this software company. They thought taking on an

apprentice was good idea, btt found the difficulties outweighed the

benefits. When they took us through the

process involved we were provided with poor documentation and poor

assistance in actually completing the documentation. And to bd honest,

it was shoddily produced, as though it was almost an afterthought from

their end, which it certainly shouldn't be.

In the middle of National Apprenticeship Week, with events

being held across the South like this one, it's not the mess`ge the

Government wants to hear. I like more businesses to gdt

involved. We are simple buyhng the process to address concerns that

some businesses have, and I'd like all businesses to have a good

experience, but overall, thd picture is good.

There's been a big push to get more young people to consider an

apprenticeship, and in most places it's working. In Oxford, nulbers are

up to present, in Buckinghalshire the rise is 12%. Wiltshire hs the

exception with a fall last xear The support you a lot about how to

pursue a job environment, and you can also get paid for it as well, so

that's a great bonus. Is the ideal way of learning for me

because I get to learn in the work place.

I learn a lot better to doing things rather than someone telling me

stuff, and it's a lot more laid back here, so you can have a laugh as

well and is not a serious, xou still learn a lot more, which is better

for me. George's career is on track ` that's

thanks to the persistence of his employer not the support of National

Apprenticeship Service. Unthl there's more help, small businesses

like this one say they won't be taking on an apprentice agahn.

Ambitious plans to transforl the centre of Swindon, could either draw

in the shoppers or alienate them, depending on which side you're on.

The Conservative`led borough council says multi`million pound pl`ns for

the redevelopment of the Fldming Way area will be a massive boost for

Swindon. But the Labour opposition says businesses will be driven away.

Jeremy Stern reports. Is not much to look at now, but this site could be

the centrepiece of a vibrant new Swindon. The car park is sahd to be

replaced with trendy shops `nd restaurants, part of a multh`million

pound regeneration led by Forwards and.

We see a lot more jobs and ` lot more people living in the town

centre, there is a cultural facilities, a lot more people coming

into the town centre and enjoying it.

Planning permission has been given and construction is due to begin in

this street in 2016. It can get busy with traffic, but cars will be

diverted away and it will bd made much more open for pedestri`ns and

cyclists. The idea is to link up the North Swindon with the town centre

over their. But Labour councillors say shoppers like to drive to town

along Fleming Way, and bannhng cars is a mistake.

We will have this street with traffic building up either side of

the town centre East and West because traffic can't get in and out

of the town. Forward Swindon which acts on behalf

of the Tory lead Boro Counchl insists the changes will improve

transport links. Both partids agree that new jobs, and new investment

can only be good for the town. It's 15 years since Margaret Ward

from Aylesbury has seen her husband's face. Now, thanks to a

rare operation, her sight is returning. She suffers from advanced

age`related macular degener`tion which affects over half a mhllion

people in the UK. Now she c`n see her family again ` and it's thanks

to the world's smallest teldscope. Charlotte Stacey went to medt her.

For the last 15 years, Marg`ret s view of her husband Charles has

looked a bit like this. When I saw Charles close to for the

first time in 15 years, it was absolutely wonderful. I just

couldn't believe it would ever happen, even though he is 94, he

still hasn't got any wrinklds. Three months after her oper`tion,

she can watch TV, read, and has been able to see her great`grandchildren

for the first time. Life will be very much easidr, and

it will be nice for her to say all her great`grandchildren and

grandchildren and all the f`mily, because up to now she just hasn t

been able to recognise faces at all.

Margaret has end`stage macular degeneration and is one of only

seven people in the UK to h`ve had this operation. Telescope slaller

than happy was inserted in the place of her lens, and then translits what

she sees on to the healthy part of a retina which is not affected by the

condition. It restores functional vision to the

point where they are able to interact with family members, enjoy

part of their life were not able to enjoy, such as watching teldvision,

and bring back a lot of thehr disabilities act into the rdalm of

being able to do those things. The telescope magnifies the image by

three, so Margaret is having therapy to help her brain adapts to her

nutrition. At her wedding anniversary on Sunday, and this year

she will be will to see the man she married nearly 70 years ago.

For advice or information about telescope implants, contact the

Macular Society on 01264 350 55 or www.macularsociety.org.

That's all from me for the loment. I'll have the headlines at 8pm and a

full bulletin at 10:25pm. Now more of today's stories with Sally

Taylor. we help the children develop in the

area of needs. It is a great loss. Stay with us. Still to come in this

evening's South Today: Kris Temple on the return of an old favourite at

Goodwood. Find out why am here as thex

reinvent a meeting last seen in 1966.

Rail passengers in the Southampton area are being warned about

significant disruption in the next few weeks. Network Rail will be

renewing worn out track. It means buses will replace trains over eight

weekends, including Easter. Points like these are wigging out.

Partly that is because the lines suffered a lot of wear and tear

They are busy with passenger trains but also carry 31 and heavy freight

trains a day from Southampton docks. They can only be replaced bx closing

the railway. The porters re`lly doing well. We have 20% mord

containers in Southampton. The increase in car traffic is 250%

There is a lot more aware and hair only switches and crosses. `` there

is a lot more work where and tear. South West Trains passengers are by

almost one fifth in the last six years. This project will cost ? 0

million and take 40,000 working hours. 32 trainloads of matdrial

will be needed. The result, each weekends of disruption for

passengers on South West Tr`ins Also Southern Railway, First Great

Western and cross`country. Between March and May, all lines in and out

of Southampton will close. That worries taxi drivers outsidd the

station. It might take more taxes, they might not. Timescales... We

might lose a lot of work. Btses will replace trains. Even short journeys

will take up to one hour longer than normal.

The cost of housing in parts of the South has increased at more than

double the rate of wages ovdr the last ten years, according to the

National Housing Federation. And there are now concerns that

Government schemes to help first time buyers may be creating a boom

in house prices. The Help to Buy scheme has led directly to lore than

250 sales of newly built properties in the region. But some first time

buyers say that it is not hdlping them. Frankie Peck reports.

Working out at her gym is the easy bit for self`employed personal

trainer Holly. Working out her finances and how Help to Bux works

has been the struggle. It is a good scheme but not aimed at those with

their own businesses. It is very difficult if you have your own

business to get a mortgage. You have a lot to prove. An equity loan means

you can purchase a new`build property with a 5% deposit. The

government`backed scheme wotld lend you up to 20% interest free for the

first five years and the rest is paid with a traditional mortgage.

Last year was the first timd in five years we saw 1 million transactions

in the UK. The long`term avdrages about 1.5 million, so that puts it

into context. We have seen ` recovery and it should conthnue this

year. It is from a low base. But despite the highest number of

mortgage applications since before the downturn, there are fears the

banks are still not lending. We re still not back up to the hehght of

the market terms but we are on our way. That should get us back to that

place. We are in a very poshtive position and it will reflect the

economy. Our industry reflects what is happening. The second part of the

scheme is a mortgage guarantee ` it is meant to encourage lenders to

offer loans to buyers with smaller deposits. A lot of people,

especially first`time buyers, it is impossible for them to save enough

money for a deposit in the current climate. Rental prices are so high.

From that perspective, yes, the 20% loan from the Government dods help.

For Holly, the overall cost and the size of repayments meant nehther

scheme was worthwhile. If you make a profit, the Government will take a

chunk of that. That is something I was not prepared to do. Help to Buy

is working for some first thme buyers, but for many others like

Holly, confidence in the market is still being rebuilt.

Council house tenants in Wick in Littlehampton are angry that new

homes may be built on their estate which they say will affect their

quality of life. They held ` demonstration outside a meeting of

Arun District Council this dvening. Residents say they'll lose open

green spaces if the houses `nd flats are built. The council says adding

20 homes on the Greenfields estate will help it start to fill ` huge

demand for social housing. They are not wrong. We need housing.

I desperately need a bigger house myself. We're not saying do not

build, we are saying there `re other sites. Let us know where thdse are

and we can all have an input and come up with a happy solution that

will suit everyone. For us, it will make a big difference. People

continue to come onto a reghster. At the moment we have a situathon where

we have to have people in bdd and breakfasts when we cannot house them

adequately. Any housing that we can acquire will start to ease the

situation. It's a revolutionary treatmdnt that

could eventually help thous`nds regain their sight. Doctors in

Southampton have used a gend therapy technique to improve the vision of

six patients who would otherwise have gone blind. They believe the

operation, which revives light`detecting cells, could in time

be used to treat common forls of blindness. Chris Robinson rdports.

When he was 27, carpenter Stanford Thompson was told he would start to

lose his eye sight. Eventually, he would go blind. Nearly 20 ydars

later, and he's looking to the future. A year ago, he underwent a

pioneering treatment which leans he can see again. It is nothing to the

level it was, but it stopped and halted the condition and get out

improvements. Also, seeing stars at night. I have not seen that in ten

years. Suddenly now, if I concentrate, I can make it stars in

the sky. My future is very bright now. Stanford has a rare genetic

condition ` choroideremia. He's one of a handful of patients to undergo

a special form of gene ther`py treatment. Because of a faulty gene,

cells at the back of his eyd were dying, leaving only those in the

middle. Doctors stopped these from dying by injecting new workhng

copies of the faulty gene. They also believed that some of the cdlls they

thought were dead have been revitalised and so improved

Stanford's vision. One of the men leading the study says it's still

early days but it could go to help cure more common conditions such as

age`related macular degener`tion. I think it is a very encouraghng first

step. Politeness refers to lots of different conditions, but I think

this gives us an important new tool to try and tackle that problem. ``

blindness. It is very worthwhile doing. Following the initial trials,

it is hoped more people will now be put forward to receive the

treatment. Extraordinary. Kris Temple hs here

tonight with the sport. We `re watching very closely as Sotthampton

players get the call up. They make the final cut, get the

plane to Brazil. Most notably Luke Shaw, of course.

The eyes of the country's football fans will be on Wembley tonhght as

England play their final frhendly before they name their squad for the

World Cup in Brazil. Four Southampton players are battling to

make the cut, most notably Luke Shaw. The left`back would bdcome

Saints' youngest ever England international if he plays a part

against Denmark tonight. Our reporter David Ornstein is `t

Wembley for us. Welcome to Wembley, where it is a

very big night for England but also an important occasion for

Southampton Football Club, with four players included in an Engl`nd squad

for the first time in their history. We have seen Rickie Lambert, Adam

Lallana and Jay Rodriguez, but tonight they will be joined by Luke

Shaw. With Leighton Baines rested, it is Luke Shaw versus Ashldy Cole.

Perhaps they will get 45 minutes each. Ashley Cole has 136 c`ps. Luke

Shaw is 18 years old and uncapped. England have never lost thrde

matches in a row at home before but this is a final opportunity for

those players to stake a cl`im in Roy Hodgson's England squad in

Brazil. This coverage on BBC Five Lhve of

that game. The former chief executive of

Weymouth Football Club has been banned from all football activity

for eight years. Gary Calder was found guilty of charges he had

denied in relation to betting on a Weymouth match in February 2009 The

Terras lost the Conference game against Rushden 9`0 after bding

forced to field a youth teal due to insurance issues surrounding their

senior players. When it comes to motorsport, the

chances are that you've heard of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and the

Revival. But the West Sussex venue have re`instated another prdviously

iconic event to their calendar. The Members Meetings were last staged

back in the 1960s. But this month, they're coming back. I went to

Goodwood today to find out lore Motor racing fans at Goodwood didn't

let the rain spoiled their day. 71 members meetings took place between

1948 and 1966. Legends like Stirling Moss would regularly race at the

circuit. Those members meethngs attracted people who wanted to race

in the same track as the st`rs. So, after 40 years, why has the circuit

owner decided to bring them back? He wants to revive the circuit and this

adds a new chapter. Whereas Revival recreates a high`profile races of

the year, the members meeting is grass`roots motorsport. Tod`y some

of the cars underwent testing. A multiple competitor and teal

principal, Ray Mallard will continue a family tradition by racing at

Goodwood. They are wonderful in their own light map but this is its

own event. They will be joined by nearly 30 Formula 1 cars from the

1980s, made familiar by the likes of Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansdll. The

cars allowed for a day like today but they will be here. It whll be

the largest group of turbo Formula 1 cars assembled since the 1980s. As

well as drivers scoring, melbers can win house points for the designated

team through several events. Memories to be stirred both on and

off the track. It should be a good fun day.

You can have a rest now, Krhs. In fact, take some time out, bht of

peace and quiet. Relax from your busy schedule.

A bit of cucumber that you put on your eyes and stuff. You don't need

it. People are being encouraged to stop

and reflect at a new sculpttre exhibition, called Sanctuarx, which

opened today at Salisbury C`thedral. Lewis Coombes, always a laid`back

person himself, has been to meet those behind the project.

When you think of the word sanctuary, up 100 tonnes of Portland

stone have the spring to mind. But placed in the tranquil setthng of

Salisbury Cathedral, granitd is somehow softened. Sanjay can be many

things. It is a place where you can't even `` you can take leave of

the traveller that go around and create a calm space. The sanction

they could be a very active place. It has taken a week to inst`lled

this. How'd you get this pidce out to the middle? It is one block. That

fits to that. It was a very heavy block and I split it myself. The

contrast between old and new stone is clear. Justine is about Sanctuary

how you find that place within yourself. `` the theme is. Ht is a

very good partnership. This place created for reflection and

contemplation. First impressions are good. For most. People get ` sense

of stillness and quiet. If H was looking for sanctuary, it would be

in the church. It looks likd a disintegrated cathedral that has

been taken to pieces. These construct and `` deconstructed. The

cathedral is testament to the beauty of stone in strength and detail

Visual poignancy and it rel`tes to what is going on in the world is

much as to ourselves. The sculptures are on show until the summer,

beneath the spire that conthnues to inspire.

Work for the old boy, althotgh here, isn't it? 40 winks. It is a

beautiful place. It looks lovely. It is in the perfect setting. @lexis is

here now. With that in mind, don't spoil the mood, really.

I do have good news for you. It is something we have not seen for three

months. Can you guess? Is it sunshine? It is high pressure. We

will see a lot of it in the coming weeks and it could stay with us for

some time which is very good news. Andy Lyons captured the sun rising

at Peveril Ledge in Swanage. Short`clawed otters enjoying the sun

at Marwell Wildlife photogr`hed by Roy Venkatesh.

And David Hunt captured a fheld of daffodils frost of Southsea Castle.

`` in front of. Through the course of the night, a lot of cloud. Should

be frost free for most of us except parts of Sussex. For the first part

of the night here, we could have frost. Elsewhere should be lainly

dry. Perhaps a spot of drizzle for parts of Dorset and Wiltshire with

temperatures falling to a mhld `7 Celsius. The winds will be fairly

light. It predominantly dry start to the day tomorrow. We will sde

outbreaks of light rain and drizzle for the western areas. Westdrn parts

of such, Wiltshire and Dorsdt, maybe creeping into Hampshire. Thd best of

the brightness for the southeastern corner of the country. Tempdratures

could reach a high of 10 Celsius. There will be a lot of cloud

tomorrow and there will be ` high of 10`11. Winds stay light as well

tomorrow. We will see outbrdaks of rain and drizzle. A damp night to

come. Perhaps low`lying fog. Temperatures will drop to a mild

7`8dC, so even milder than tonight. Those outbreaks of rain will

continue through the day on Friday, courtesy of this weather system It

is a dying weather feature `nd that means we will see cloud. Not huge

amounts of rainfall, perhaps 1` millimetres of rain through the

course of the day. Should bd an improving richer with that weather

front sliding southwards through the evening. We can see high prdssure

stays with us. Finally, we can breathe a sigh of relief and we will

see settled weather from thd weekend onwards into next week. That high

pressure will finally be with us and will be set to stay. That mdans lots

of sunshine and barely any rain to dog of. We talk about settldd

conditions on the way, but we will have a lot of cloud in the next

couple of days. Perhaps the odd spot of rain and cruise for the western

areas in Friday. `` rain and drizzle. Temperatures will rise by

the weekend. Inland, in parts of Oxfordshire, we could see hhghs of

16 Celsius. Tomorrow, I'm going to teasd you.

We're talking to a woman about an emotional journey she made to

Paris. About 60 postcard shd dotted around the city that led to a

publishing deal. She will bd talking to us about it tomorrow. Good night.