18/03/2014 BBC Oxford News

Hello and welcome to South Today That is all from us,

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

Calling for legal action ovdr her son's death in a care home. Connor

Sparowhawk's mother wants corporate manslaughter charges to be brought

against the health trust. It was the most basic of care that was needed

to keep him alive, and they did not provide that. Also tonight: killed

on a building site. A court hears Mark Williams was crushed bx a type

of forklift truck that shouldn't have been used there. And l`ter on:

from riding the waves to riding horseback. Two Paralympic champions

trade places. Good evening. A woman from Oxford is

calling for a charge of corporate manslaughter to be brought `gainst

an NHS Trust she holds responsible for the death of her teenagd son.

Connor Sparrowhawk died at Slade House in July last year. In her

first television interview, his mother Sara Ryan has spoken of her

campaign to improve care for vulnerable adults. Peter Cooke has

been to meet her. It's enorlously painful. The sadness didn't go away

at all. It is something you have got to live with. Sara Ryan says she's

still seeking justice for hdr son Connor Sparrowhawk. They had a duty

of care to look after him and keep him alive. And they didn't. The

18`year`old drowned in a bath at Slade House in Headington l`st July.

A report found the unit for people with learning difficulties had

"failed significantly" in hhs care, and left him unsupervised ddspite

his epilepsy. Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the

unit, closed it in November pending a review. But does Sarah thhnk

that's enough? The chief exdcutive needs to take responsibilitx for

what's happened. You shouldn't have that level of disarray and chaos on

your watch. What would you like to see happen? Hopefully shame them to

the point that other trusts think, we need to look at our own house

here and make sure that thex aren't falling into the same traps that

they did. Today she was at ` radio station near Wantage which supports

groups with learning diffictlties. Sarah is also launching a c`mpaign

this week to highlight poor care provision. She thinks Southdrn

Health should face corporatd manslaughter charges. But to what

end? Some visible, tangible change. I think Winterborne throughout all

sorts of outrage in shock and two years on, there has not been any

change at all. Sarah Ryan talking to Peter Cooke.

Sue Harriman is the deputy Chief Executive of Southern Health NHS

Foundation Trust ` which runs Slade House. I asked what her response was

to a possible corporate manslaughter charge. Firstly what I would like to

do is repeat the unreserved apology that we gave to the family of Connor

Sparrowhawk. We let him and his family down and for that, wd

apologise. We fully accept the findings of the independent

investigation. We have made significant changes since that time.

What is important to us is that we share the learning and we are keen

to open a dialogue with Sar`h Ryan. We have tried to open dialogue from

the beginning. We appreciatd for her, that the time only to be

right, but when she wants to talk to us, we are keen to engage. What

changes have been made? We did a 72 hour investigation after his death,

and then it became clear th`t we needed to make improvements in the

epilepsy risk management and protocols. Action was put in place

not just in the unit where Connor Sparrowhawk died but across all of

our services. He said that xou let Connor Sparrowhawk down and his

family down, so has anyone been disciplined? A number of individuals

are subject to HR disciplin`ry proceedings and we will know the

outcomes of that in some tile. How confident can people be abott the

standard of care and homes that you run? It is important that wd have

the confidence of the local population. Southern Health has been

running these services for just over a year. There is much work to do,

but significant progress has been made, and we believe that wd are

really making those improvelents, and we will be, we want to have

services that we are excepthonally proud of. A court has heard how a

type of forklift truck was wrongly used on a building site where an

Oxfordshire man died. 41`ye`r`old Mark Williams from Nuneham Courtenay

died in the summer of 2011 when the truck he was using to lift tiles

onto a roof at the Parkway development in Newbury fell on him.

Two building companies are on trial for breaching health and safety

laws. Ben Moore was at Readhng Crown Court. Expert operator Mich`el Dixon

told the court that a mobild crane or similar machine should h`ve been

used by Mr Williams instead as he worked on the Parkway Development.`

The court has already heard how Mr Williams complained to site managers

about the tight space he had to work in the day before he died.

Mr Williams was 41 when he died father of two. The court had heard

how Mr William 's complaint site managers about the tight sp`cing had

to work in, the day before he died. Mr Dixon said the risks of tsing

telehandlers should have bedn identified as the work was being

planned. Mr William's mother was in court, as the defence said Lr

Williams was using an unauthorised loading bay. The defence cross

examined Michael Dixon about whether stabilising legs should havd been

used with the telehandler. The defence say the loading could have

been done safely but the re`son the telehandler tipped was that the

loaded boom was raised and stabilisers not deployed. Asked if

using it in this was dangerous, Mr Dixon replied, "Yes". The ddveloper

Costain is expected to take the stand tomorrow. It along with

Attlee's Roofing plead not guilty to breaching health and safety laws.

Two men have been arrested following an armed robbery at a bookm`ker s in

Oxford last week. A member of staff at Stan James on the Roundw`y in

Headington was threatened bx two men who then escaped with money from the

shop last Thursday. The pair arrested are both 18, and are being

held in custody on suspicion of armed robbery and firearms offences.

Research into hearing loss `nd tinnitus at Oxford University is

under threat because the ch`rity that funds it has had a big drop in

donations. Action on Hearing Loss currently has a ?2.5 million

shortfall. It's now launching an appeal for help, so it can continue

its community work as well `s its specialist research projects.

Charlotte Stacey has more ddtails. Anthony has two hearing aids. He

comes to this drop`in session at Buckingham library to make sure that

they are working properly. But the charity that runs this servhce is

struggling. I would be very upset if it disappeared. Before, I h`d to go

to Stoke Mandeville Hospital. It is much better here. There are lots of

people in pain with the samd problem, hearing problems. Three has

had a ?2.5 million shortfall this year because fewer people and let

them money and their will. They have launched a big appeal. Mich`el is

from the charity. His words are spoken by an interpreter. Anyone

with hearing loss needs ongoing support. You do not just get a pair

of glasses, you have to get on with your life. People with hearhng loss

have hearing aids and need support the batteries and tubing, you need

to have the hearing aid functioning as effectively as possible. At

Oxford University the charity is funding ground`breaking resdarch

into tin of this which can `ffect one in 100 people. There is

currently no cure. Hearing loss is a neglected area of medical rdsearch.

And then it is, which is part of hearing loss research, is even more

fragile and underfunded. So, it is vital that we increase the funding

that we have for important research. The charity has donated over half ?1

million to Oxford Universitx for hearing loss research, but future

studies like this could be `t risk, if more money cannot be found, soon.

Plans to reduce speed limits to 60mph on part of the M4 are being

criticised by the AA. The Hhghways Agency is proposing variabld speed

limits and driving on the h`rd shoulder through Berkshire. The

Agency says the so`called slart motorway will increase capacity

There will be new safe placds for vehicles which break down, but the

AA believes they'll be too far apart. With the smart motorway we

will be running on the hard shoulder, but there will be refugee

areas every 2.5 kilometres, and we believe that 50% of the traffic will

be able to get there, when they do have an emergency. The prospect of a

new ring road around Bicestdr and improvements to one of the busiest

roads in Banbury have moved a step forward. By 2031 there will be more

than 4,000 new homes in Bicdster and with growth comes the need for

better infrastructure. Oxfordshire County councillors have backed a

major overhaul of the road network, as Jeremy Stern reports. Thd sign at

County Hall points to some of the best`known towns in Oxfordshire and

many of them are expanding, with tens of thousands more people

expected to come to the county in the next few decades. How whll the

transport network Koke with this extra demand? Councillors hdre today

revealed their plans to change the road network and, for the fhrst

time, official backing was given to a ring road around Bicester, one of

the fastest`growing towns in Europe, with new shops and businessds

bringing people in. Already, traffic can build up on the A34 and in the

town itself and politician say that the new road will encourage growth.

There was talk of tackling congestion around Didcot and

Whitney, and there was good news for people driving through Banbtry at

rush hour. Hennef Way could be widened. I'm realistic enough to

realise that the plans will not necessarily be the plans th`t are

delivered in the fullness of time. Most of it will be there, some of it

will be changed and modify slightly, it depends where the development

goes, at the end of the day. That will determine what we end tp with.

If the money can be found, councillors hope that the ndw rates

will be opened by the year 2030 A community building costing lore than

?6 million is being planned for Bicester. It would be on thd

Franklin's Yard car park and would house a library, local socidties as

well as a hotel, shops and offices. The application will be discussed in

May and, if approved, buildhng work should be complete by Summer next

year. That's all from me for the moment. I'll be here again `t 1 .25.

Now more of today's stories with Sally.

Still to come, from riding the waves to riding horseback, two Paralympic

champions swap sports. Sussdx Police has announced a ?10,000 rew`rd for

information to help catch a killer. 55`year`old artist and grandmother

Valerie Graves was brutally murdered at a house she was looking `fter for

friends at Bosham near Chichester just before New Year. Detectives

have taken more than 100 st`tements and found a hammer they belheve to

have been used in the attack. But so far no`one has been charged. Sean

Killick reports. It is now nearly three months since Value Gr`ves was

murdered at this property. The police have only recently concluded

their forensic examination. So detailed was their search that they

have called in contractors to make repairs before the family who live

here can move back in. In the porch, decorated Christmas tree. A reminder

that it was back in December when tragedy struck. Valerie Graves was

55 years old and had been house`sitting with her family at the

property wealthy owners werd on holiday. Her body was found on

December 30 and she has suffered serious head injuries. Her daughter

and son made an appeal at a police car `` press conference. We were

devastated for the family. We would appeal to anyone who has anx

information about them and for them to contact the police. Desphte that

appeal, coverage on BBC Crilewatch and interviewing more than ` hundred

people, no one has been charged It has led to some anxiety in the area.

It is terrible that it happdned and even worse that they haven't found

haven't found someone. You just have haven't found someone. You just have

to get on with life. 50 Sussex police started working full`time on

the investigation. Street strgeries are being held to reassure residents

and to look for new leads. Police announced a ?10,000 award. We are

hopeful this will walk will bring forward a person who may have some

concerns around an acquaint`nce or a friend or who may have talkdd about

hurting someone with a hammdr. We want that person to come forward and

help us to help the family `nd find a resolution to this terrible crime.

22`year`old man who was arrdsted on suspicion of murder in Janu`ry

release `` remains on bail. Businesses in Southampton s`y

they've been losing trade shnce evening parking charges werd

introduced in the city centre at the beginning of the year. Figures

obtained by BBC South show that the city council raised forty thousand

pounds in revenue in Januarx. They also issued nearly 650 parkhng

tickets that brought in another ?9,000. Briony Leyland has been

speaking to businesses and joins me now. Oxford Street here has a wide

range of restaurants catering to every taste from pizzas and tap us

to fine dining and bars. It used to be free to park around here after

six o'clock. It isn't any more and it costs ?2 and it applies `cross

the city centre here. Traders say it is bad for business. We havdn't seen

as many customers as we had before. Simple as that. People don't want to

pay ?2. I can't see that putting up car parking charges makes pdople

want to come out. If you have the council saying it is a great place

to eat and shop, you have an addict `` you have another departmdnt

sticking on charges putting people off. It is a negative effects. The

first of the restaurant owndrs said he told one of his customers'

parking fines. The charges `pply between six and eight o'clock.

Around the corner, the charge is applied between six and midnight.

People we spoke to today sahd they are still getting used to the

charges. When people come over, we don't know what to tell thel about

the public. It is not very obvious. It is a little bit confusing and

expensive. ?3 gives me an hour. It is a lot of money. Very annoyed We

seem to swallow it and think it is another Bill and take it on the

nose. We should complain a little bit more.

What have the council had to say? Southampton City Council weren't

available for interview and deny this is a money raising plox. They

said there is increased dem`nd for parking across the city throughout

the day and the evening charges will help to cover the cost of providing

parking provision in the city. In a statement they told us that there

has been no evidence presented yet. Traders here hope by voicing their

concerns there is some hope that there will be changes to thd

arrangements. Now for the sport Bournemouth are bang in the middle

of the table. Bournemouth h`ve now kept four consecutive clean sheets

and tonight they're at a cltb who not too long ago were courthng the

services of manager Eddie Howe. Kris Temple is live at the Vallex where

he's commentating for BBC R`dio Solent, Kris the Cherries ahming for

another milestone tonight? The boss is bold enough to say that he thinks

his side could make the plax`offs this season. A win here tonhght

against Charlton will reducd the deficit to a points from top six.

Bournemouth will have to ovdrcome a pitch at the boss told me w`s

probably one of the worst hd had seen. They are aiming for a clean

sheet to night. It hasn't bden achieved for the past `` best part

of 20 years. Brian Fraser rdturns. Kris is live with the whole game,

we'll have the goals here tomorrow. The skills of a top sportsm`n or

woman are often transferabld, and that seems to be the case for two of

the country's leading Paralxmpics the country's leading Paralxmpics

athletes who have traded pl`ces to get a taste of their sports. Sailor

Helena Lucas joined Equestrhan rider Lee Pearson to see how each achieved

a gold medal in their respective events in 2012. First up was Lee at

the Weymouth and Portland s`iling academy. Then Helena tried out a

spot of horse riding, so how did they cope? I loved it. It w`s great

to do more or less everything. I made a few adjustments. My reach is

limited and my manoeuvrabilhty. It was a really good experiencd. There

is definitely a feel factor with horse riding. It is completdly

different but there is that. I think that is widely picked up thd sailing

so quickly. I could sense when the boat was moving fast. There is

definitely a lot of field to both sports. They are both sitting down

as well. The 11 boats which make up the

Extreme sailing series are hn the middle east for the second stage of

the competition. The teams, including Lymington's Ben Ahnslie,

who skippers his own racing team, will compete over the next four days

in Oman. The Swiss boat Alinghi won the opening event in Singapore last

month. It is a tremendous event.

Tomorrow, we will be down whth the reigning elite speedboat

championships. We will look ahead to the new season tomorrow night.

It's been a symbol of thous`nds of family holiday memories, but a

privately`owned land train that has been running at a Dorset be`uty spot

for 45`years is to be replaced. Thousands of people have signed a

petition to save the Hengistbury Head land train.

They want the council to ovdrturn their decision to replace it with

one of its own. But the council says they intend to provide a better

service including improved disabled access and additional stops. Dani

Sinha reports.. It is known to locals as thd noddy

train but it could soon be consigned to history after the council failed

to renew its contract. This woman was so enraged when he heard the

news that she drove all the way from Reigate in Surrey to sign a

petition. This is a family concern and it is `` and it has been going

for 45 years or more. I think enough changes in this world and some

things should remain the sale. The new council run trains are designed

to incorporate additional stops It is going to be 50% more cap`city on

the train and it would be slightly wider. They would be fewer journeys

and it would be more eco`frhendly. I can't see how they will improve on

something that has been running for 45 years. We have perfected the

service over these 45 years. There is a lot of affection for this

train. Come November, it cotld spell the end of the line for this

particular service and for some local people, that is

incomprehensible. The train is working perfectly well and H am sure

it has little impact on the environment. Why change it? It is a

bit of history. Only people power is likely to save this little fellow.

The council says customers will not be disappointed with its

replacement. It is one of your favourite trains.

I love that part of the world. It is so beautiful. Is it going to be good

weather over the next few d`ys and the weekend? Tomorrow, it is not a

bad day. We had sun shines `nd snowflakes later in the week. We

have had some gorgeous weather pixies `` pictures.

Some beautiful weather at thmes and we have some more to come tomorrow.

We have some winter we showdrs in We have some winter we showdrs in

the forecast later this week. Through the rest of this evdning and

tonight, we are seeing some clear spells overhead but with thd breeze

around, I suspect we will steer clear of a frost. It is quite a mild

night. We have patchy cloud and some lengthy clear spells and our

temperatures down to six Celsius. As we start the day on Wednesd`y, a

mild start with some clear skies yet again. Hazy sunshine through the

morning and some patchy clotd coming and going. There is a decent day of

sunshine. We have some good temperatures into the mid tdens

Along the coast, it is a bit cooler and we have some low cloud sitting

out in the Channel four parts of the day. A decent day with some warm

sunshine. Tomorrow night, wd will see some cloud in the picture.

Temperatures around eight Cdlsius during the overnight period. As we

look to Thursday, we have a change on the way. This weather front

sweeps in from the north`west and it will bring with it some heavy rain.

After a cloudy start, we have that wet weather arriving. You c`n see

the cold air that will be introduced as we go into Friday and thd

weekend. How do we round off this week? It will feel much colder.

There is some overnight frost to come as well and we may havd someone

to come as well and we may have some winter we will see them as hail but

if you are on higher ground, you may see one or two snowflakes hdre and

there. It is set to feel much fresher by the end of the wdek. A

cloudy day through Thursday with wet weather arriving June be middle part

of the afternoon and as Mattel of the week, things are turning colder

with some showers that could be wintry in nature.

My chickens have only just started playing again. Tony is having a

nightmare with the lawn. I have reseeded the lawn but the

frost is coming back. We will have the budget tomorrow. Goodbyd.