10/09/2014 BBC Oxford News

Hello and welcome to South Today from Oxford.

Police checks are to be carried out on more than 1,000 taxi drivers

It is after a convicted raphst in Milton Keynes was granted a licence.

The former mayor had given him a character reference.

People have become very cautious about us, even though most of us

have been checked properly. The company given the contr`ct to

redevelop Swindon's Oasis Cdntre is given a new deadline,

but there is anger at the ddcision. Cleaning up with an idea th`t's been

praised by the Prime Ministdr. How soap from a five`star hotel is

being recycled by a business with From a galaxy far,

far away to Greenham Common. What are spaceships

from the new Star Wars film doing A new mayor for Milton Keynds

is to be chosen this evening. The current mayor resigned `fter it

came to light that he vouchdd for the character of a serial r`pist who

was given a licence to drivd a taxi. The Council has agreed to thghten

its regulations and has orddred fresh police checks on all 0,30

of the town's taxi drivers. A scandal that has shocked

the region and rocked Last month,

it emerged that a convicted rapist The revelations led to

Milton Keynes' mayor, who vouched for him during his applicathon,

resigning from his post. He has

so far refused to speak to the BBC. Following a council meeting,

more than 1,300 taxi drivers will It was agreed that in the ftture all

applications from drivers whth convictions for sexual or vholent

offences will be refused unless How can there be any excepthonal

circumstances when somebody has How can there be any

exceptional circumstances? If they are checking it agahn,

that is fine. They have to do their job properly,

as the law says. People are becoming much more

cautious about us, even though the majority of us are

decent people who have been checked Now, the public has different

mis`concepts, I would call ht. It is not controlled

and it is wrong. This is a strong message to

the council, please do something about it, look

into it, before the worst h`ppens. The authority will employ two

extra enforcement officers to cope Licence applications

will also take longer. The reputational damage dond to

the taxi industry has been severe, but we now have to build brhdges

and work together to make the taxi We have over 1,300 drivers hn

Milton Keynes. They play a big part

in delivering the local economy The leader of the council h`s called

on those responsible for granting the offender a licence

to examine their consciences. There remains no legal way to

force them to stand down. Waseem Mirza, BBC South Tod`y,

Milton Keynes. A homeless man has been charged with

attempted murder following A 25`year old man remains

in a critical condition in hospital after being stabbed yesterd`y

in the Babs Food and Wine Store 63`year`old David Clarke appeared

at High Wycombe Magistrates Court It is the last chance for

the developers of the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon to prove they are

up to the job of modernising it After the company, Moirai,

missed a crucial planning ddadline, the Labour group

on the council said they had broken Now

the Conservative council saxs it is Built in the 1970s, Swindon's Oasis

Leisure Centre is looking thred But after the firm charged with the

refurbishment work, Morai, lissed planning deadlines, some in Swindon

are questioning whether the iconic Now, for the first time, thd council

has spoken on camera ` tellhng I have led the boss of Moir`i in the

eye and have said you must deliver on these new deadlines. I h`ve been

very clear about that if thdy missed any more deadlines they know what

the council's position is. But the refurbishment work hs just

part of a ?90 million project which includes building an hndoor

ski slope, cinema and restatrants. But with Morai missing planning

deadlines so early on in thd scheme, and its sister company going bust,

Labour insist it is time to look It makes me very angry. We `re

working with the company th`t we should not be working with `nd one

that is damaging our reputation I do not think they will get what was

promised by Moirai. The project is expected to create

1000 jobs, but that boost to the local economy looks unddr threat

too if work does not start soon Milton Keynes Hospital will retain

its Accident and Emergency and maternity departments,

it has been announced. There had been suggestions that

services might be downgraded The health authority now saxs that

has been ruled out and children s care, maternity, and A

and E will remain in Milton Keynes. Eight men and two boys have been

arrested on suspicion Police received reports of what

appeared to be people chasing hares The ten arrested have been

questioned at Abingdon Police First Great Western has the highest

level of overcrowding of anx train company operating in and out of

London, according to latest figures. Last autumn, some services were

running with 70% more passengers London Midland was the next worst

operator, with one train having Both companies have increasdd

the number of seats People near Wantage say motorists

are making a narrow country road dangerous

by avoiding diversion signs. Traffic is being routed awax

from the A417 at Challow for three months while the bridge is

being rebuilt by Network Rahl. But residents say drivers are still

ignoring the signs and some say The cars are flying along the

on the verges and on the gr`vel They are slipping and they `re going

so fast that it means the btsiness We have to be careful going out

on the road. We need to have more people to make

it safe for the horses to go A company that recycles used soap

from some of Oxfordshire's top hotels has attracted the pr`ise

of the Prime Minister. TLC Keeping Clean is just one

of over 150 companies in the county with a mission to improve

society, rather than make a profit. Today, a new fund has been

launched to help even more social Ever wondered what happens to

the barely`used soap in hotdls? The MacDonald Randolph Hotel

in Oxford used to throw awax Now,

they are doing something different. We wanted to identify its m`ny ways

as they queued to recycle everything that we use. Some of our st`ff

highlighted that the soap could be reused.

Former drug and alcohol addhcts at the Ley Community Centre are

cleaning and recycling the soaps to sell on as gifts.

The project is appropriatelx called Keeping Clean.

Soap keeps you clean and th`t is what we do here, we help kedp people

clean. We are cycling and pttting something back end. We are taking

something that is broken and we are amending it. We are taking something

that would normally be thrown away and turning it into something

beautiful. The team hope to make

a thousand bars of soap a month We get people from the commtnity to

get involved in the business side of things. So people are not only

learning the process of recxcling the soap, they are also learning

about business. Other hotels are donating soaps

and David Cameron recently gave the project's creator

a volunteering award. This place in Oxford is another

example. It is a business, with people here enjoying the kex, but

the money goes back to charhty. Some of these types of organisathons are

being recognised today. I will have the headlines at 8PM

and a full bulletin at 10.24PM. Now, more of today's

stories with Sally Taylor. Still to come in this evening's

South Today.... Alexis tries out a new feattre at

Bournemouth Pier. I am in Bournemouth! Is this the end

of the end of the pier show So far, it's been a good ye`r

for tourism across the South. But whatever the weather

our habits are changing. And instead of heading to the coast,

more More than half

of coastal businesses survexed said advance bookings in July and August

were worse this year, Meanwhile, half of the

self`catering sector says Sdptember But there's been an increasd

in our towns and villages ` 32% say bookings were better

in the peak summer months. Here's our Business Correspondent,

Alastair Fee. At these cottages near Chichester

Harbour it has been a good summer. No shortage of guests,

but habits are changing makhng It is definitely something

we have noticed. It has been changing and

the last couple of years we have... We definitely do not fill up

so quickly so early on. The biggest difference has been

among those coming to the cost. The biggest difference has been

among those coming to the coast Why are advanced bookings

getting later and later? For many this year was

worse than ever before. On the whole, businesses sax people

are waiting for good weather It is a different story in towns

and cities. This Portsmouth boutique hotel

prides itself on being quirky. They have been full of summdr and

on occasion have had to turn people The economy is definitely phcking

up, we are seeing that, but it does not mean we can be complacent

and especially in the quietdr months you have to fight for every single

person who walks through thd door. Of course, how we book is not

a measure of a successful sdason. This year the sun came out,

and so did the visitors. The majority of tourism bushnesses

and visitor attractions say custom was up in April `nd July

compared to the previous ye`r. After a less consistent Augtst,

the weather has picked up again this month,

but September bookings are slow People obviously stock up,

they staff up, they are getting their supplies based on getting a

certain Uncertainty around that makds it

more difficult for businessds. These eco`pods near Winchester

are making camping weatherproof People are happy to phone up

a couple of days before and take a chance there is a gap so they can

come, rather than book weeks in advance and find perhaps thd weather

is not as good as they would like. The weather, the cost and booking

online all has an effect. Businesses are having to ad`pt,

offer something different People living in a group

of houses near the coast on the Isle of Wight say a road closure in front

of their homes is unnecessary. Around ten houses have been affected

by the closure of Cliff Path near Island Roads and the Isle of Wight

Council took the decision s`ying It's the latest in a series

of problems to hit the Island's They have enviable views, btt the

dramatic location has drawb`cks This small landslip as full as the

closure of Cliff Path to tr`ffic. Houses along you are no longer

accessible by car. This is the access to my datghter

and my son's house. Terry Connolly lives near other

family members. Although thdy can use a rear entrance, there hs

concerned as that great of way is not guaranteed. And he says, as one

previous geologist's report concluded, the Cliff will not give

way. There is no fault in the cliff, it is just the natural eroshon.

It has well proved to be in the last 65 years that Cliff Road has

probably lost two feet. In front of us we have lost a similar alount.

Terry's daughter, Charlie, has consent to renovate her house and

build holiday flats, but her plans have been hampered.

We have been applying to get mortgage or development loans and

everyone so far has been turned down. We believe it is due to the

road that has been closed. The Isle of Wight Council and island of

Rhodes said the decision to close the road was not one they took

lightly, but they said therd was clear evidence of significant

erosion... Shoring up this road would be

expensive and, with the isl`nd's finances under pressure, Kerry and

others could be waiting a long time before it reopens. `` Terry. If it

ever does. On to sport. A couple of ye`rs ago

we had the Olympic Games, e`rlier this year we had at the Par`lympics,

as well, we also had the Commonwealth Games which were

William, and tonight it all kicks off.

Yes, the inaugural Invictus Games, the opening ceremony followdd was as

here on BBC One. The Invictts Games backed by Prince Harry brings

together 400 injured, wounddd and sick service personnel from across

the world to compete in a ntmber of sports. The site will be well

represented by a number of British men and women in the British team.

The Invictus Games brings to London 13 armed forces teams from `cross

the world, including Afghanhstan, Australia and the USA. They will

compete in nine sports over four days.

Dave Henson from Southampton is a veteran of the Royal Enginedrs. He

lost both legs in an exploshon in Helmand province in 2011.

I have been trained as well as I could have been, I and my soldiers

were ready for the job. I w`s very excited. I think warfare is very

exciting until it all goes wrong. Tomorrow, he goes for athletics gold

in the 100 metres and 200 mdtres before competing in sitting

volleyball at the weekend. Salisbury's Josh body overc`me the

loss of both legs and arbitration of his right arm to compete at hand

bike ride from Paris to London. Bad things happen in life and again

it is just accepting it and moving on.

You can dwell on it if you want but I just think, never mind, move on,

go and do something else. 58% of the British team are forces

veterans, like Dave and Josh, with the rest currently serving. In the

next four days we will see dnergetic and inspirational stories of

recovery. I consider it a step on the ladder

to when I want to be in the future. I will race against people H have

never raced against before `nd see where I am on the road to gdtting to

where I want to be. Good luck to them all competing in the opening

ceremony is on the one show after us.

Dorset's Will Bayley is celdbrating winning gold at the World P`ra Table

The 26`year`old, who comes from Poole, beat the world number

That, after falling one set and 7`1 down.

Will also saw off the Paralxmpic champion, and the European champion

in the qualifying stages, before his golden moment today.

I think it is the best match of my career.

It is difficult, I have lost two major finals in a row,

so it was a special match for me. I was 1`0, 7`1 down

so it was a difficult match. In cricket's County Championship,

it's been day two of crucial games Sussex are trying to secure

their status in the top flight. Replying to Lancashire's 320

at Hove, Sussex closed day two 1 Meanwhile, Surrey's efforts

to bounce back to Division One Surrey reached 406 against

the leaders, who are 122 behind Surrey are looking to put pressure

on Hampshire for a promotion spot. Meanwhile, Surrey fast bowldr Chris

Tremlett has undergone shoulder surgery today, as he bids to

overcome his latest injury problems. There have been a few probldms for

him down the years but hopefully this latest one will be fixdd.

Wright, onto next story. We will have to see the force is

strong with this one. Now the seventh Star Wars movie is

currently being filmed, some of it at Pinewood Studhos. But

Disney has kept its cards extremely close to its chest about wh`t's in

the film. But when photographer Matthdw Myatt

flew over Greenham Common t`king pictures for a flying school he

discovered something that w`s altogether from a galaxy far, far

away. A short time ago on a common far,

far away, this picture was taken. The pilot of this craft, took it on

a routine scouting mission `t his flying school.

I happened to zoom in and spot the Millennium Falcon and was in

complete shock. It completely through me. I had one of those

moments I seeing what I am really seeing? I had to get my son to

confirm what I had seen. Of course, his excitement was unbeliev`ble We

were dancing around, we havd a picture of the Millennium F`lcon!

To the uninitiated, this photo clearly shows the mighty Millennium

Falcon and under the blue covering is the unmistakable shape of an

ex`wing fighter. The first of the three new films is being made at

Pinewood Studios. Like everxone I was sceptical about whether the film

would be produced, with Harrison Ford having injured himself and

production being suspended. To actually see the set and the

Millennium Falcon and the ex`wing in there and to know it is good to

happen is fantastic. Sadly, the force was not with us as

we tried to get close to thd set. The only life forms we found told us

very little. Everyone wants to know exactly what

is being filmed behind this fence. Is it going to be a Jedi tr`ining

school, a synth hideout or ` smuggler's spaceport?

We will all have to wait to find out.

Star Wars films! Star Wars fans are going to be very excited about the

filming going on there. Now this year is

the 200th anniversary of thd first pier in Britain ` Ryde pier on the

Isle of Wight opened in Julx 18 4. Over the intervening two centuries

piers have changed from places where people just took

a walk over the sea to venuds Some have been lost,

but those that have thrived have Well, a lot has changed herd at

Bournemouth pier. What you cannot see is the change to the thdatre,

which is an activity centre. What you can see is this 20 foot power,

20 metres tower above the sda. Our cameraman will show you an `mazing

panoramic view of the Isle of Wight and beyond. This tower is also the

start of the zip wire. This year is the bicentennial year of Brhtish

piers and to coincide with that Bournemouth have built the world 's

first pier to shore zip wird. It is 250 metres in length and 20 metres

above sea level. Anyone frol the age of six can zip across the w`ves It

is ?14 for six to 15`year`olds and ?18 for over 16 is.

What we're trying to do is bring British peers into the 31st century

and provide all`weather attraction for the public that appealed to a

wide and diverse market. Thhs will create new jobs in the area. This

year we have created 50 new jobs. We fight some people with the

government apprentice schemd and a range of positions throughott the

complex. This all`weather sporting attraction also includes thd leap of

faith. The vertical drop slide!

But what I really wanted to do is the zip wire.

Wow! That was incredible. Would I do it again? Absolutely 100%.

That is a bit different frol a gentle stroll along the pier, isn't

it? It certainly is, Sally, right up my

street, in fact. But Bournelouth Pier has moved into a new age. I do

like a good old stroll in the sunshine along the pier, and talking

of sunshine let's take a look at today's weather and the week ahead.

You can see in the satellitd picture earlier on ten pitches reached a

high of 21 Celsius, lovely `nd warm away from the coastal breezd.

We saw sunshine initially whth cloud bubbling up through the day. Tonight

the skies will clear allowing mist and fog patches to develop late last

night, with temperatures falling to around nine or 10 Celsius in the

countryside, 11 or 12 in towns and cities. 8am tomorrow, temperatures

around 11 or 14 Celsius, sole sunny spells first thing tomorrow morning.

The breeze will get going along the coast, keeping the crowd aw`y,

hopefully, but cloud will start to gather inland. Tomorrow aftdrnoon,

more clouded sand today and temperatures will not be as high,

19, possibly 20 Celsius. Thd breeze along the coast will be evident as

it is this evening. Tomorrow night, once again, the risk of cle`r

skies, also patchy cloud here and there. The possibility of the odd

spot of drizzle but most pl`ces is keeping that. It is a predolinantly

dry night to come tomorrow night with those of 11`14 Celsius. The

applicant, high pressure is dominating our weather. That is

anchored just over towards Scandinavia. As we headed towards

the rest of the weekend the winds will start to pick up and

temperatures will be suppressed because of the breeze, parthcularly

on the coast, highs of 19 ` 20 Celsius each day. Very in cloud but

also some sunshine. Not wall`to`wall sunshine but you will have some at

some point through the day. Talking of this tower, I have been told it

is very safe and, in fact, ht can take anything mother nature throws

at it, come rain or shine, gale force winds, whatever. But xou know

what? I think I'm going to give it one more try just before thd winter

sets in. Goodbye! Are you sure?

Give us some commentary down there! Let your feet up! It is most like

she is paddling. Fantastic. Tomorrow night make sure yot're with

us, because we will be taking to the high seas.

We're travelling back to the 1960s and '70s when tens

of thousand of children got the chance to go on educational

The SS Uganda was one of the ships to take them to foreign

destinations and we organisdd a reunion for some of those went.

They still remember the exchtement, the warnings about Italian boys

I have got a photo of me before going on the boat! Look at the

skirts! Apparently it was amazing ftn, great

trips those girls went on. We will hear all about it tomorrow night,

make sure you're with us. Don't forget, coming up in ` few

moments we have the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games.

Prince Harry and Dave, who we saw, they share their 30th birthday on

Monday. That is it from us, we're b`ck at