21/03/2012 BBC Points West

Good evening and welcome to BBC Points West.

The headlines tonight: Fuelling the debate about the budget. The Bosses

of a coach company watch as the chancellor fails to cut the price

of diesel. The manufacturing company that

wants to recruit, but can't get the staff.

Practising for an emergency as one town on the Severn is identified as

being at risk of flooding. And agony at the gate for David

James as he punches a hole in Bristol City's efforts to avoid the

A tax cut for people on low incomes, a boost for aerospace, even a

mention for a west country celebrity couple. That's how the

chancellor will hope his budget will be remembered here in the West.

Labour says the government is just helping its rich friends and

ignoring the soaring price of fuel. So when the dust settles, are we

better off or not? Here's Dave Harvey.

A budget for business and for hard working families, that's what he

called it and I watched the chancellor in Taunton with both

today. This family firm runs coach trips.

They've done so for 90 years. They buy a lot of diesel. A penny at the

pump costs the company �10,000 a year. In the summer, fuel duties

are set to rise by another 3p. When the chancellor stood up, they were

hoping he would axe that - he didn't.

I do not propose to make any further changes to the fuel duty

plans already set up. So here's Stuart Berry's Budget. No

relief on that tax hike planned for his fuel bills, but a small drop in

corporation tax to sweeten the pill. On the downside, reduction in

capital allowances will cost us a considerable amount of money and

offset to a large degree any reduction in corporation tax. It is

there much a case of give to one and take away from the other.

Keeping those coaches on the road and in the right place, people like

Sam Williams. With one daughter and another on the way, Sam works part

time in school hours, exactly the sort of person Mr Osborne had in

mind for this. People will be able to earn up to

�9,205 before they have to pay any tax.

Since she earns under 9,000 a year, from next April she'll keep it all,

but on the downside, Sam and her husband will no longer get tax

credits for their children. That money, she swims and does

ballet each week. That contributed to those activities. Is it the

budget for hard-working families? don't know about supporting. I

think they are going a little way to soften the blow on child tax

credit, but I am going to be worse off.

As ever, there are swings and roundabouts. So who really wins -

companies, or individual tax payers?

On balance there was more for individuals and businesses this

time around, but he did not have a lot of scope to do very much with

nearly 1000 billion of public debt, there wasn't much room.

Well one firm in Gloucestershire is seeking more than a hundred new

employees as its exports continue to grow. Renishaw based in Wootton

Under Edge is a West Country success story, but it's struggling

to find enough skilled people to meet demand. Here's Sarah-Jane

Bungay. You can create an effective quality

control basis around this type of equipment.

Renishaw makes intricate measuring tools As a consumer we may not see

them, but they're used in a vast array of manufacturing. Crucial in

the production of the car you drive or even in helping the dentist to

keep your smile bright. A tiny sphere on the end of this

probe is taking measurements from the dental mould. That can then

produce a crowd which will be a snug fitting and as close to the

size of your tooth as possible. Everything appears to be very

positive at the moment. We are seeing growth right across the

world in the States coming back strongly but also a huge growth in

China and again in the UK. The innovation here is immense, but

there's a problem. In the last 10 years we have seen a

noticeable change in their education system that has not quite

in our favour. It is harder to find people who are committed am

competent in maths and the sciences. So while there are jobs on offer,

recruiting the best people to fill them could prove as complicated as

some of the equipment which is produced here.

A little earlier I spoke to the Business Secretary, Vince Cable,

and asked him if there was anything in the budget for struggling

businesses here in the West. One of the interesting features of

the Budget is the extent to which the Chancellor and me are talking

about industrial strategy, supporting manufacturing. There is

a big project to support research and aerospace industry which is

crucial for the Bristol area, in addition to supporting manufacture

during. Bristol is at the hub of a lot of creative industries such as

animation. They will benefit from additional tax relief.

Manufacturing generally, oil and gas industry, pharmaceuticals are

all given a big boost in the Budget. Things Cable talking to me earlier

about the tax break for Wallace and Gromit.

Let's get some reaction from Aardman. Sabet Choudhury is at

their headquarters now. There are certainly an error of

excitement here after the news of that tax credit from the Chancellor.

Miles boiler is the head of broadcast here. Thank you for

joining us. Great news for you, but is there an element that you are

holding the country to ransom by saying, give us incentive or we get

out of here? We don't like to characterise it as

holding the country to ransom, it is a business reality that

competitors overseas are getting subsidies from governments and has

made it impossible to compete on a level playing field. We were

considering having to offshore some of our production activities, but

it looks like, with this tax credit coming in, we went have to do that.

What makes you and the animation industry so special?

Other industries have had this, the film industry already get tax

credits and the Chancellor announced tax credit for the Games

is distrait. Not just the media industry,

manufacturing, let's say. The case that we made his there is

a particular decline in animation in the UK which will effect what

our children see on television. There has been a decline from 80%

UK programmes to 20% UK programmes. Great news for Aardman Animation

and anyone here is a fan of those two gentlemen. It means their

history with Bristol will certainly continue for a while.

Dave Harvey is here. As with all budgets, there are winners and

losers. How has the West Country done?

As you saw, the mum in Taunton, lots of people like a on low

incomes keep �1,000 more tax free and another 1000 next year. That is

the biggest single increase. He did not put a hike on cider or beer. On

the other hand, things under the wire. That child tax credit being

withdrawn so again, Sam working part-time and her husband working

easily go above the threshold so they are losing that. A lot of

people find there is something coming in, but a little more going

out. What is the opposition response?

They called it a millionaire budget. As Stephanie were saying, this row

over the 50 p tax rate dominating. Plenty of ammunition for Labour.

Kerry McCarthy in Bristol told us at the same thing earlier.

The problem with the Budget was that it was so skewed towards the

50 p tax cut but benefits 50,000 people �10,000 per year. Battered -

- they are not the people I was looking to help. I was looking to

help people on lower incomes and there was nothing to support them.

People being hit by tax credit cuts, no action on fuel duty, nothing

about cutting VAT which is what we have been calling for.

Disappointing for my constituents. With barely mention tax on be used,

cigarettes, the things that normally budgets are all about.

That is a sign of the times. People are much more concerned about jobs,

income and inflation. Plans for a controversial nuclear

power station at Hinkley will be debated in public over the next six

months. Protesters say it would be dangerous and uneconomical. As our

Somerset Correspondent Clinton Rogers reports, hundreds of people

turned up for the opening day. Appearing in public for the first

time - the four people who will decide whether new nuclear comes to

Somerset. French energy company EDF want to build two new reactors here,

next to the existing power station at Hinkley Point. If it goes ahead

it will be the first nuclear power station to be built in Britain for

two decades. Today, around 200 people turned up for the first

public meeting of the Infrastructure Planning Commission

- the government appointed group who will hear all the arguments for

and against and then make a recommendation.

Today marks the start of six months of debate on whether Hinckley see

the biggest civil engineering project the West Country has ever

seen should go ahead. It is what the commissioners won't be

discussing that is raising eyebrows in some quarters.

Anti nuclear groups say the whole process is undemocratic and flawed

and it will not allow them to challenge important issues like the

safety of nuclear power. That is the safety of raptors, the

aftermath of the accident in Japan, the storage of radioactive waste

for 100 years. The commission say those issues

have already been debated and decided. Here they want to discuss

local issues like traffic and the impact on local communities. And

the power company behind it say they're optimistic of getting

consent. We listen very hard for over three

years and developed a very strong application. Would you bet on it

happening? I am not a betting man, but I am very confident.

Once all the talking's done, it's likely the Energy Secretary will

say yes or no to Hinkley early next This Wednesday's Points West with

Alex and David - all your local news, sport and weather from your

local BBC team. Coming up: We meet the beach volley player from

Gloucestershire hoping to net her Around 120 pupils and staff at a

school at the Bristol Brunel Academy are being offered screening

for TB. They're thought to have been exposed to a slight risk of

catching the infection, after spending time with the student

who's since made a full recovery. Medical experts stress it's

difficult to catch TB, but they want to ensure children and staff

are offered tests. These were the terrible scenes in

Cornwall eight years ago when flash floods caused incredible damage.

100 homes and businesses were destroyed in a matter of hours. Now

the town of Lydney has been identified as having the potential

for a serious flood. How would we cope if it happened here? Today,

police ambulance, fire and volunteer rescue organisations came

together to test their response. A bright and calm morning was a

bitter blow for those who wanted extreme weather conditions to train

for a major flood rescue. First job - to arrange some casualties.

Special weighted dummies were thrown into the River Severn,

quickly swept away by the tide, just as a person would be.

In a real time incidents, our primary role would be to recover

casualties and to get those to a position where they would have a

good chance of survival. Maybe calling a helicopter, may be

getting them to an ambulance on the shore or maybe a crew on a lifeboat

maintaining Life Preservation. All of this is part of the exercise.

Every rescue agency likely to be called upon also gathered on the

river banks. The coastguard search team quickly found something.

hear me? From the equipment to the personnel to the vehicles, this is

designed to be as real as possible. So why Lydney? Well, the way the

hills and rivers converge on the town mean, although it's extremely

unlikely, a serious flood could happen.

Today is fundamentally around protects shown as much as we can to

the people of Lydney. I'll would like to stress that it is extremely

unlikely to happen, but once the risk is identified, it is incumbent

on us to plan a training exercise to resolve any issues.

This is the first of a three day practical exercise. Everyone hopes

this sort of response will never actually be needed. If it is, these

rescue teams will certainly be prepared.

A woman from Somerset who dressed as a man to fool a doctor into

prescribing her drugs, has been spared jail. Max Quiberon, a serial

bigamist who used to be called Emily Horne, pretended to be her

former partner. Laura Jones reports from Taunton Crown Court.

Long before today's sentencing, Max Accastes Quiberon was no stranger

to either the courts or the press. These pictures are from 2009, she's

about to find out if she's going to be sent to prison for bigamy. At

this point she had married 5 different men, but had never once

got divorced. What is your reaction? I think I should get a

divorce. Two years and two more husbands later, this time it wasn't

about bigamy though, but fraud. Quiberon had pleaded guilty to

dressing up as her current partner, to fool a doctor into prescribing

drugs for her own use. Sentencing Max Accastes Quiberon to

a community order, Recorder Johnathan Barnes said that she had

come terribly, terribly close to being sent to prison and that this

would be her last chance. He went on to say that if she came back

before a court again to face any further offences of this kind, that

he didn't have any doubt that the judge would send her immediately to

custody. The former glamour model has

previously spoken of having had difficult times in her life and has

said that she just wants to make people happy. She will now be

electronically tagged overnight for a month and supervised and

supported by the probation service Control of one of the West's big

councils could change hands without the public having a say. South

Gloucestershire councillors will vote this evening on whether to

scrap their cabinet. It's run by the Conservatives who

are threatening a walkout. Our political editor Paul Barltrop

reports on a row dividing a Council which used to be called a model of

togetherness. Election night last year and what

do we have? All three parties standing and smiling together.

South Gloucestershire had a reputation for consensus and co-

operation - just as well because no one got a majority. The

Conservatives won most seats and took charge, but that could be

ending. These are the serious faces today of Labour and Liberal

Democrat councillors who are forcing a vote to get rid of the

Tory executive cabinet. It is frustrating. We spend a lot

of time discussing this same issues that the executive might discuss,

but at the end of the debate we can't have a vote.

There are times when the majority of councillors would not agree with

some of the decisions being made. Not many, but some and you cannot

imagine how frustrating it is to go back to your residence and say, I

am sorry, we agree with you, but there is nothing we can do about it

under the system. There are 70 councillors, but just

seven of them form the cabinet which makes the vast majority of

decisions. That would be abolished. There'd still be a leader, but much

power would be in the hands of committees of councillors from all

parties. Which is what most councils had in the 1990s. The

ruling Tories aren't happy. We do feel that the residents

should be the ones that have consultation. Tonight committee, if

they do make this change to the committee, we feel that it will be

a black day in the south Gloucestershire for democracy.

Tonight's meeting could go on late and be close. But if the vote is

for change, the Conservatives must then decide if they'll walk away

from running South Gloucestershire. Now, you've spent hours tending

your allotment, nurturing your home grown veg and then, just before

harvest, disaster strikes. Night raiders steal all the fruits of

your labours. Well, allotment holders in Swindon have got so fed

up with the moonlit thefts, they've called in the local police, who in

turn have gone all hi-tech in the hunt for the root vegetable robbers.

They enjoy the good life here. As with many allotments, there's a

waiting list, but growing your own here doesn't always mean you get to

eat your own. The biggest problem is the kids get

over in the site. Later in the season and they actually come over

and still the crops as well. The vandalism and the thefts occur

mainly when the growers have gone home for the night. So the police,

with money from the parish council, have come up with a far-sighted

solution - night vision. These are the night vision goggles we are

using. They are lightweight and sturdy and produce a really clear

image inside which is good for picking out individuals.

It's a foggy night, this is what the naked eye sees, but PC Keys and

his specially adapted scope see this. To give you an idea, remember

his jacket and hat are black. people are hiding behind bushes and

sheds, it is possible to see them. Then we can direct troops to

intercept them all tackle them ourselves.

They are used to the concept of police helicopters with night

vision goggles, this is their colleagues on the ground a cheaper,

but just as effective way of seeing in the dark.

Each pair costs around �350 cash from the council which they believe

is well spent as keeping a watchful eye on this community is now

If they come after your cabbages, perhaps you should blow them arouse

Bury. Football, and goalkeepers might

want to look away for the next few minutes. Bristol City's David James

had one of those moments where you just want the ground to swallow you

up. But he wasn't the only west country goalkeeper to be caught out

in last nights games. Goalkeepers tend to be judged

mainly by their mistakes - something David James has had to

deal with in his long distinguished career. But this wasn't a night

he'll remember with any affection. Sometimes the football pitch can be

a very lonely place. Manager Derek McInnes says that mistake set the

tone for the match, but the defenders surely had to take some

of the flack for Watford's second goal. Eight defeats in 11 now for

goal. Eight defeats in 11 now for City who are just four points above

the relegation zone, having played a game more than those below them.

Former player-manager Glenn Hoddle was a guest at Swindon and the man

who led them into the Premier who led them into the Premier

league 19 years ago saw them take a big step towards promotion from

League Two. They're now seven points clear at the top after

beating 2nd place Toruqay. Alan Connell's strike and a header from

Oliver Risser making it 15 home wins in a row for Paolo Di Canio's

men - with room still for improvement.

15? Only 15? That is nothing. This is why we are at the top. The

target was to go up, our main target.

But Cheltenham's challenge is faltering. Promotion rivals

Shrewsbury inflicting a fourth defeat in a row. England under 21

keeper Jack Butland has been a star performer for the Robins, but this

fumble proved costly. Yeovil's Sam Walker was another red faced keeper

- beaten by this cross-shot from - beaten by this cross-shot from

Danny N'Guessan. The Glovers five match unbeaten run coming to an end

at the hands of the League One leaders Charlton. Back in League

Two. Matt Harrold's goal put Bristol Rovers in front at

struggling Plymouth, but they weren't able to hold on for the win.

The Devon side grabbed their equaliser with just six minutes of

A beach volleyball player from Gloucestershire is making her final

preparations for the start of the sport's World Tour which could land

her an Olympic place. Denise Johns has spent much of her

life in America, but now calls Churchdown home. With most

tournaments taking place thousands of miles away she spends much of

her year abroad. Zoe Gough caught up with her packing for her next

trip. It's a life that really is lived

out of a suitcase. Denise Johns spends more months abroad than in

her adopted country. Home is her husband Jody's parents house in

Gloucestershire. He's also aiming for the Olympics so time together

is scarce. It's tough and we do travel a lot

because there is no British indoor beach volleyball court. So far this

year we have been to New Zealand for almost two months and came back

to the UK for a couple of days and then went to Tenerife and then came

back for a couple of days. It is a lovely places that we travel to,

but it is taxing on you travelling constantly.

Denise trains in Bath with partner Louise Boulton. Winning tournaments

is key and from April they'll come thick and fast. If they want to

return to Horse Guards parade this year.

The test event for the Olympics was incredible. To see the support of

the barons and really learn about beach volleyball and absorb the

sport. Questions have been raised about

non-Brits taking Olympic places, but Denise is proud to represent

the nation. I am a Brit. My dad is British and

his family are all over the UK. I grew up with the British customs,

Christmas crackers, saying Happy Christmas instead of merry

Christmas, I feel very British. I love being a run British people.

They have been so welcoming and I really enjoy being in England. I

will definitely stay here. And what can be more British than a

cup of tea with the mother in law. What could be? May be an allotment

with cabbages and rows buries! Let's turn to the weather. It has

Let's turn to the weather. It has been a lovely day, hasn't it?

It has been. Not like yesterday where we had a split, the cloud

broke giving us blue skies and sunshine. We got a 14 Celsius in

those places and tomorrow will beat that. It is shaping up to be the

warmest of the year so far. There is moisture on the way, but not

this big area of low, it is a weak front pushing up from a Europe that

will bring moisture Thursday night. Patchy and light. For the rest of

the evening, clear skies continue. The legacy of the sky is from the

daytime. The card will then Porsche in. Urban areas six and seven

Celsius. In the morning, the sunshine takes hold rapidly with

good spells on the way. A little cloudy over parts of the West, but

even decent sunshine in Somerset. The further north you go, 16 or 17

Celsius. Pleasantly warm for this time of the year. Temperatures be

on what we would expect for this time in March. After that, cloud

will break and then in a few places, but in the wind we see the

beginnings of that front coming up from Europe. Patchy light rain that

could encourage a little further north but no inroads into the dry

ground. We have to wait for high pressure to move away allowing the

deep area of Atlantic to move in and bring wet weather. We will see

good spells of sunshine on the good spells of sunshine on the

weekend, but we still need to wait for the rain.

We want the nice weather, but we need the rain. Thank you very much