11/03/2014 BBC Oxford News

Hello, and welcome to South Today. In tonight's programme: Clahms

teenage mothers are being f`iled by the care system. The report that

says half of young mums in foster care become separated from their

children. Also tonight: 25 years to gdt this

far ` will the latest redevdlopment plans for Oxford's Westgate Centre

be approved? The growing demand for new homes.

Thousands needs to be built every year ` but councils say thex're

struggling to find land. And later on: Is the prehistoric

puzzle solved? The tiny crocodile finally pieced together on the Isle

of Wight. Good evening. Teenage mums hn the

care system are being let down by local authorities ` according to a

new report from Oxford Univdrsity. The report says that about half

become separated from their children after they leave foster card, and

its authors blame a stigma `round teenage births. But social workers

and foster carers say their priority has to be protecting childrdn. Adina

Campbell reports. A typical evening with her daughter,

but ten years ago, Becci thought she'd never share moments lhke this

with Kilah. Becci had grown up in care on the Isle of Wight, `nd got

pregnant at 16. After she g`ve birth, she had to prove she was able

to be a good mother, and th`t meant being looked after on a pardnt`child

foster placement. Obviously it is hard enough being a first`thme

parent. You make mistakes, but I just felt like I was being

completely judged, and the lady I stayed with, we didn't really get on

with too well, and she made a point of recording everything I dhd wrong

in front of me, which put md in a position where I didn't feel that I

was a very good mum, but I had something to prove. How she felt

back then makes up a big part of a new report by Oxford University

Researchers say young parents like Becci only have a 50% chancd of

staying with their children once they come out of care. The report

was done by the Fostering and Education team at this univdrsity

building. They spent four months analysing dozens of studies in the

UK, US and Canada. Many of them feel very stigmatised. They feel very

nervous about everything thdy do with their child as being jtdged, as

being watched. It is thought there are about 5000 people in thd UK who

need to be on a parent`child foster placement. Oxfordshire and

Buckinghamshire County Council admit these placements are more dhfficult

to secure, but have ongoing campaigns. Foster carers who work

for services like this one hn Wendover say it is important they

closely monitor parents. Thd final responsibility rests with the

parent. The final responsibhlity rests with them on how much of that

support, that encouragement, they take on. This couple have a

four`month`old daughter, and don't want to be identified. With a

history of drug abuse, they have just finished their parent`child

foster placements. It did fdel a bit strange, obviously. Everythhng we

said and did was being written down. It's given us our opportunity to

show the social services te`m we do know what we are doing as a parent,

and now they are backing up in the future. If we do have more children,

they won't get involved agahn. It is hoped more families like thhs will

be able to stay together in the future.

A man from Oxford is among four people arrested by counter terrorism

officers on suspicion of terror offences linked to Syria. Hd's being

questioned in Manchester, where police have been searching several

properties. The 29`year`old, from Cowley, is accused of preparing or

instigating acts of terrorism. Manchester's Chief Constabld says

there's concern that Britons returning from Syria pose a threat

in the UK. A man has pleaded guilty to a health

and safety offence after another man died falling through a barn roof in

Oxfordshire. It happened at Great Park Farm Cottages in Besselsleigh,

near Cumnor, in October 2012, where 46`year`old Dean Henderson`Smith had

been working. John Binning `dmitted failing to ensure the safetx and

welfare of the former army veteran. He'll be sentenced at Oxford Crown

Court tomorrow. The Swindon footballer Nile Ranger

has denied a charge of drink`driving. The striker was

cleared of rape last week, but today appeared at Newport Magistr`tes

Court in Wales. He was arrested at 7:00 in the morning at a service

station on the M4 in February. His trial will take place in Max.

25 years after the redevelopment of Oxford's Westgate Centre was first

suggested, a decision will be made tonight as to whether the l`test

plans can go ahead. The project to redevelop the 1970s shopping centre

would cost ?400 million, and be complete by 2017. The City Council

hopes the new centre would then bring in more than ?200 million a

year. Victoria Cook is in Oxford for us now. Why has this project been so

long in the planning? There have been various reasons. This shopping

centre was built 41 years ago, and after the last few decades, they

have been a number of attempts to get planning permission to have

expanded. One of those attelpts when all the way to the Secretarx of

State, but it was overturned, and then in 2006, it was looking likely

again. It was approved locally, but then the recession hit and the

project collapsed again. It is now eight years later, and here we are

again discussing similar pl`ns. The John Lewis part of the development

has been moved, so everyone is here again to discuss it and get planning

permission. What is planned? There are various things planned. It is a

transformation. They will bd double the number of shops, rooftop

gardens, and from this artist's impression, it will look different

to how it looks now. There lay be a brain you John Lewis departlent

store built, and potentiallx a 4`screen cinema. Is a big project.

Why do we need this developlent The main development argument is that

over the years, Oxford has become a less attractive place to become

shopping. It has lost out to local towns like Milton Keynes and

Swindon. Studies have shown that if this centre does go ahead, ht is

estimated ?200 million of trade could come back to the city centre.

That is great news here for Oxford, but not such great news for local

towns like Milton Keynes and Swindon. Either way, we will hear

the discussion and decision in a couple of hours time.

The former Gloucestershire coroner who stole almost ?2 million from

clients at his solicitors' practice has been struck off. Alan Crickmore

was jailed for eight years. Today, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal

ordered him to be struck from the roll and pay over ?60,000 in legal

costs. Many people he stole from are getting their money back.

Most people who don't get their money back through other forms, such

as insurance, can make clails to the compensation fund, and we h`ve

already made a number of paxments and expect to make more. If anybody

does have a claim against Mr Crickmore's firm, then please let us

know. 5000 new homes need to be btilt

across Oxfordshire every ye`r for the next 17 years. A new assessment

has set out housing needs for each district to meet increases hn

population. But councils sax they're struggling to find enough l`nd.

Sinead Carroll has been going through the report.

The report's been written bx consultants ` offering councils

guidance, rather than targets. For example, in the Cherwell District,

the report says 1140 homes need to be built every year until 2031. Some

think that is unrealistic. Our piece of work now is to say to

temper this report, with an assessment of delivery. How many

houses can we actually provhde in the Channel Island district over the

next 20 years or so? Realistically, it's not going to be that m`ny, is

it? Oxford City needs 1400 new homes

each year for the next 17, `ccording to this report. The leader of the

City Council thinks that buhlding on green belt might help.

What we're looking at here `re planned groups of new communities,

not a sporadic building of dxtra houses just for the sake of it. We

are building a new communitx to the south, and potentially also

expanding into the north, which would allow for significant numbers

of extra houses that are easily accessible to the city by bts or

bike. The report's figures includd agreed

developments ` so the 900 homes at Barton Park, or the 700 on the old

RAF base at Upper Heyford, or this ` the Great Western Park development

in Didcot, where affordable houses have been built.

Look at the amount required to pay for rent, and compare that with

shared ownership. It actually becomes a viable option for people

who may not have considered it in the past. We're getting people to

think about whether this max be a more sensible way to get on the

property ladder, and give them long`term security of tenurd in a

way they may not if they ard moving in and around the private sdctor.

Clearly, new houses are needed. The rising birth rate, ageing

population, new jobs, and sdcond homes all put pressure on

Oxfordshire's housing market. The county's population is set to rise

to around 700,000 by 2031` that s around 50,000 more than tod`y.

Oxfordshire's district councils are now working together to see how

where, and when they might build these new homes.

That's all from me for the loment. I'll have the headlines at 8:00 and

a full bulletin at 10:25. Whth more of today's stories, here's Sally.

you are describing, to see ht like that it sounds ridiculous. The

principal has offered to set up an investigation and says he whll be

doing that. He has also offdred to meet with the child's mother to

discuss what has happened. Still to come: Ignoring the signs. The

warning signs that motorists are not heeding in this tunnel. It's been

more than 30 years since thd Falklands conflict in which 800

British and Argentine servicemen were killed. The future of the

Islands are still a source of diplomatic tension between the two

countries. Last year, the Falklanders voted to remain British

but the President of Argenthna responded by calling for talks with

the UK Government over the hssue of sovereignty. And we continud asking

why, why did they refuse to talk and engage in diplomatic dialogte with

the government? The governmdnt has made freedom for people herd and in

Latin America and unwavering commitment. It is incomprehdnsible.

So given that history, it's probably a surprise to see our soldidrs

working shoulder`to`shoulder with Argentine forces as part of a United

Nations peace keeping force. They're spending six months together in the

UN buffer zone on Cyprus ` with some of the Argentines having done

pre`deployment training in the UK. Steve Humphrey reports from the

eastern Mediterranean. 32 ydars ago, British and Argentinian forces were

shooting at each other in the Falklands. Now they are firhng live

rounds next each other at the firing range in Cyprus. Here they `re

working shoulder to shoulder in the United Nations peacekeeping force.

We learned a lot about them, I hope they learned about ours. Whdn you

joined up did you ever think you would be working operationally with

the British? No, I did not. When you come out you you hear a lot of

myths, do not talk about thd Scilly Isles or the Falklands but they are

just myths. The soldiers ard helping control a buffer zone which

separates the Cypriot north and south. There are cars that have not

moved since the fighting stopped in 1974. Nicosia's main Intern`tional

Airport will not see traffic any time soon. It has been quitd an

experience. Having the diffdrent soldiers in the company means we

have gained an understanding of different people and differdnt

cultures, outside of what wd are used to. The UN commemorated the

50th anniversary of its first ball went in Cyprus amid hopes that

negotiations will eventuallx lead to the reunification of this holiday

island. We all know what a red traffic light means but what about a

red X? It is currently being widely ignored. That puts road workers at

risk. 35 times since the tunnel opened in 2011 there have bden

closures. The red X means the lane ahead is closed but it is whdely

ignored. Inside the Hindhead tunnel cameras pick up the consequdnces.

This car almost crashes into the service ban. In the other l`ne, cars

slam on their brakes. We had more than 100 people go through the red

XM less than an hour. It is too common and occurrence, it is to

reduce the risk all abuzz. There is no record of how many tunnel drivers

have actually been prosecutdd. Since the tunnel opened in 2011 it has

been closed 35 times. That hs partly because of problems with thd power

supply. There were 20 instances of planned maintenance, 15 timds there

were incidents of a broken down vehicle or a fire with a vehicle

where we have had to put in diversion routes to get a s`fe

response. This beauty spot was closed and blast over soap when it

shuts heavy traffic is diverted through local villagers instead It

is happening more often than local residents expected. We cannot cope

with the volume of traffic being diverted. With everybody having sat

now is these days they tend to ignored the signs and follow their

Saturn Avenue which brings them through these small roads and

villages, sometimes ending tp in complete chaos. I'd macro this man

moved to Port Smyth partly because he thought the tunnel would make

commuting to London easier. He has been disappointed. It has gone on

well over 30 times since it has been open. The red X signs will be back

in use tonight. It will be closed for routine maintenance agahn for

the next three nights. An investigation into a Berkshhre NHS

Trust has been closed after the health regulator found it w`s taking

action to improve services. The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundathon Trust

was being looked at by Monitor for failures to meet Accident and

Emergency targets. The regulator now says no formal enforcement `ction

will be taken as the trust hs taking steps to improve patient services.

As attendance continues to fall across the UK one of the mahn

problems facing the Church today is how to appeal to young people.

Hundreds of young Christians have petitioned the Bishop in Chhchester.

Many have signed up to say they are not happy with the cuts to some

parts of the church. The chtrch already spends more in some parts of

the UK on youth services. Tdstament to a strength of feeling. 780

signatures calling on a bishop to rethink his restructure. Thd

petition began life here at the weekly session of unsolved. Run by

volunteers, this group says it depends on the dieses youth work

team. We get sent a lot of these sources, different things wd can

use, differing games, different study material. Suggestions of

things to do. Also if we have problems we can ring or e`m`il the

team. Youth is currently a focus of the church. At the end of the year

the future Archbishop of Canterbury said it should be ashamed of itself.

The dieses needs to find ?40 million for the coffers this year and one CB

structure. The teams that are known for youth involvement will go. The

issue is not about yes or no for this team but it is about rdsources

that we can bring to young people. We need to expand, to structured

differently, it needs to be better. That is something which this

petition requests. We are already on the case. The judgement will be made

by the youngest in the congregation. Know the sport. What about

Cheltenham? No winners for legendary trainer Nicky Henderson on day one,

but he certainly came close. The Lambourne trainer had a third`placed

finish in the first race of the day as Vaniteaux came in third hn the

Supreme novice hurdle well behind winner behind Vautour, Mick

Channon's Sergeant Reckless was fourth. Then two close finishes in

which Henderson missed out. First in the 2:40 Handicap chase Ma Fee Elle

was beaten to the finish by Hollywell. Then in the big race of

the day the Champion Hurdle My Tent Or Yours with AP McCoy in the saddle

was just edged out by Barry Geraghty onboard Jezki. There's a full

programme of league football this week, and the promotion racd is

reaching a critical phase for many of our clubs. Cash strapped Reading

are desperate for a return to the top flight. Tonight they visit Leeds

United and former boss Brian McDermott. McDermott was sacked by

the Royals exactly a year ago during their ill`fated Premier League

season. Let's talk to Tim Ddllor who's live at Elland Road for us.

Tim, Reading are sixth are they good for that play`off place? Thd

pressure is on at the moment. Reading sitting sixth in thd table.

The other teams in the chashng pack have games in hand. It has been a

testing couple of weeks for the reading boss who celebrates his 49th

birthday today. With Leeds lid`table and floundering anything less than a

win will jeopardise their play`off chances. There have been ownership

and financial worries behind the scenes. Also in the hunt for a

play`off place are Brighton Hove Albion. They host Harry Redknapp's

Queens Park Rangers tonight. Meanwhile In league One, thd leaders

Wolves are at Swindon, MK Dons go to Notts County, Oxford could do with a

win against Cheltenham, while Portsmouth aim to score for the

first time in three games as they host Burton Albion. There's

commentary of all of those games on BBC Local radio. We have thd best of

the action tomorrow night. One other piece of football news tonight. AFC

BOurnemouth midfielder Eunan O'Kane has signed a new 3.5`year contract.

The 23`year`old was signed from Torquay in 2012 and has become a

first team regular under Eddie Howe. He's made 27 appearances so far this

season and has five goals for the club. Also tomorrow night, we'll be

in Basingstoke where the hole team Basingstoke Bison are back `t home

where they defend a 4`1 lead in the second leg of the Premier Ldague cup

final. The club are aiming to secure their first piece of silverware for

14 years in this their 25th anniversary season. You will need to

get your film roles `` therlals a few are going there again! H know.

Well, two holiday`makers made quite a historic, or should that be

pre`historic, find on a beach in Sandown, and it's a reunion that

will bring about the toothidst of smiles. The two skull fragmdnts of a

tiny species of crocodile wdre found three months apart and when put

together they're a perfect fit. The fragments belong to a

newly`discovered species whhch roamed the earth with dinos`urs We

sent our Chris Robinson to find out more. This is the skull of `

crocodile which lived alongside the dinosaurs about 126 million years

ago. It is that species nevdr before seen. How the fossil was fotnd was

something of a fluke. Back hn 2 09 a holiday`maker stumbled upon

something rather unusual. She took it to the nearby dinosaur mtseum and

they said it could be part of the crocodile skull. What was rdmarkable

was that three months later a fire grandson found the snout and the

parts fitted together perfectly It is amazing to find a piece that fits

together with something elsd in the museum. It is fantastic, unhque

These schoolchildren were vhsiting the island to find out more about

the prehistoric world. Don't worry, that was the replica, the rdal thing

is the fleet locked away. Looking at all the marks on things that

crocodiles left behind. It looks a bit eroded. You can see the teeth,

it looks rotten and black. Hts button shaped teeth were usdd to

crush the shells of molluscs. You have to have your teeth into see the

Greek name. It is a bridge between ancient types of crocodiles and the

ones we see a live today. The skull is now on display at the dinosaur

museum. You are right on a fossil find and use stumble across

something that does not planned up `` add up, just be careful because

you too could be playing a game of snap. I'm still trying to work out

what the name is! No see thdre is here, let's have this lovelx weather

continuing. Some lovely Cherry Blossom captured by Joanna Cleeve in

Midhurst today. Signs that spring is here. A great close`up of a Red

Admiral butterfly in Albert Ferrone's garden in Swanmord. And

even Barney the dog has a spring in his step because of this drx weather

we're enjoying. A lovely walk through Micheldever woods ndar

Basingstoke. Thanks to Roy Venkatesh for that one. So, we have h`d the

bit more cloud around today than in recent days. 12 degrees the

temperatures throughout much of today. Overnight tonight it will

stay dry, the cloud will cole and go and we will see some patchy mist.

Eventually the cloud peeling back so we will see some clear skies for a

time and the potential for `n early frost. There will be low cloud with

patchy mist and fog to take as into first thing tomorrow morning.

Temperatures down around three degrees. It is a grey start to

Wednesday but it is an improving picture. We should see some bright

and sunny spells into the afternoon. A pleasant feel in the sunshine with

temperatures up to 15 degreds. Some southern parts could see thd

temperatures rise up maybe hnto the mid`or high teens. Into tomorrow

night it will be settled in terms of staying dry but you can see the fog

beginning to work its way in. It beginning to work its way in. It

will be quite extensive overnight Wednesday and into Thursday.

Starting Thursday morning wd may even have weather warnings hn place

for that fog. Through the d`y Thursday there will be a cldarance.

Inland there will be some fhne sunny spells, temperatures into the

mid`teens once more. Towards the end of the week, Friday will have a weak

front tracking southwards which will bring more in the way of cloud. This

high pressure will look aftdr rows for the weekend so things staying

settled and dry with more stnny intervals on the cards. Wednesday

and Thursday will start tod`y, Thursday in particular with that

dense fog. You will see somd pleasant warm sunshine, a bht more

cloud into the weekend but still staying dry and fine. No tolorrow

night we will hear about thd row over parking. Thanks for watching.

Goodbye. Good night. Goodbyd.