08/10/2013 BBC Points West

Hello and welcome to Points West. The headlines: It's almost certain

the government's controversial cull of badgers has failed to meet its

Cheers at Cotham Grammar School of badgers has failed to meet its

their most famous old boy as Peter Higgs wins a Nobel Prize for helping

Residents who bought their own retirement village after the company

We will find out how the latest technology in a bedroom here in

Blackwell could make robotic hands Good evening. It's almost certain

the government's controversial cull of badgers has failed to meet its

target. An MP with close links to farming has told the BBC of his

disappointment with its result. farming has told the BBC of his

Somerset, which is aimed at reducing TB in cattle, ended yesterday. In

Gloucestershire it'll finish next week. Our political editor Paul

Barltrop joins us from the cull Here in West Gloucestershire the

cull has not yet finished, but it has been dealt a blow. There are

many indications that the cull is not hitting the mark. It seems that

marksmen have failed to kill enough They were called pilot culls — for a

reason. Badgers have been culled before — using cage trapping or

gassing. But trying to kill large licenced to lay in wait near badger

setts — and shoot them when they Somerset the target was 2,100. In

Gloucestershire the aim is to kill 2,900. Those carrying it out are

professionals — but there'd already Trying to hinder them have been

determined campaigners. At night they've played cat—and—mouse games

with police, trying to stop the The marksman has worried us. He

with police, trying to stop the clearly got a gun and a four x four.

He hasn't moved. He has been behind those trees and he hasn't gone.

marksmen — but may have slowed their work. Official figures for the culls

haven't been announced — but it Paul, what have we learned today?

Conservative MP for Tiverton and Honasan, Neil Parish. He has strong

connections to the farming community committee in Parliament that deals

supporter of the cull. He told me that there is a problem with the

suggesting that their cull is field, We have also heard from somebody

called Paul Caruana. He was involved in a previous trial years ago in the

West Country. He says that halfway through the Somerset cull come he

was contacted by the operators who wanted more staff, and he helped put

in touch with people who had worked the previous call, because it seemed

says that as of last Friday, the figures were falling far short of

As far as numbers go, 750 up to figures were falling far short of

is not enough. 70 present target success or failure, I think the

is not enough. 70 present target has to tell you that. In my view,

numbers wise, it is a failure. What will the government do next?

comment, but clearly they are under a great deal of pressure. Yesterday

the Minister responsible for the cull, David Heath, was sacked. They

have only just chilled and his replacement and decided who will be

responsible so they have a new minister, and it looks like the

government may be looking for a minister, and it looks like the

policy as well. We will wait to His teachers thought he was a bit

years later, he's just won a Nobel Prize. Peter Higgs has today been

honoured with the highest award Prize. Peter Higgs has today been

Science for his work predicting Prize. Peter Higgs has today been

new particle — now called the Higgs boson. Now 84, he's a former pupil

of Bristol's Cotham School, where today they were celebrating his

achievements. And as Andrew Plant reports, he's not even their first

This was Peter Higgs last year, signing autographs for students

This was Peter Higgs last year, Bristol. A man by nature shy and

reserved adapting to the idea of becoming one of the most famous

cheered today's news. Remarkably it is the second Nobel laureate to

cheered today's news. Remarkably it through its classroom doors. Paul

Dirac won in 1933. Exactly 80 years on, this Bristol school clearly

Dirac won in 1933. Exactly 80 years a formula for scientific success.

I think that having somebody who has come into school that many of them

have met and can relate to, will perhaps draw them into that subject,

and maybe we will have another Nobel scientists from Bristol University —

a city with close ties to Peter Higgs. He was given the freedom

a city with close ties to Peter mathematics and formulas that he

came up with underpins all our modern theories of how nature works

at its most fundamental level. Without him we would have none of

those theories and we wouldn't be able to explain the fascinating

world of matter. It's been 49 years since Peter Higgs predicted his

Already then experiments like this existed, but lacked the power to

test his theory. They were finally confirmed last year in the biggest

and most expensive experiment in particles together at close to light

theoretical discovery 18 years after he left Bristol. Now 84, he's now

among the biggest names in physics, his work rewarded with the biggest

Newbold, professor of Physics at The significance of this to Peter

particularly because he has waited 50 years until last year when the

scientific community in Cern found the Higgs was on. That's right.

He is a very modest man, and I believe he has gone on holiday.

He is a very modest man, and I yes. The Nobel Prize is the single

biggest honour a scientist can receive. This is clearly very well

revolutionised our understanding of the universe. I think the community

recognised a long time ago that the universe. I think the community

Just imagine the brainpower it needs to work out a theory that it takes

committee to prove it is right. Exactly. It is a fantastic story.

Pure thought reason this out 50 years ago, and as you say, it has

taken the machinery at Cern this You work with young people, and

together with the work you are doing at Cern, how inspirational is this?

Does permeate to the students? Over the last few years we have

Does permeate to the students? enormous interest, not just from

students but from the public. People university are really turned on

students but from the public. People this research. Not everybody is

going to find the Higgs goes on this research. Not everybody is

the future, but they will go off and do a huge variety of things. This is

really inspirational science, that I'm sure most viewers do, but does

it actually matter to anyone outside the scientific community? Does it

If I tell you that if the Higgs the scientific community? Does it

on didn't exist, all the particles in your body would fly apart at

on didn't exist, all the particles speed of light, you can start to see

the significance of what has been discovered. I have seen it described

in the media today as the key to the universe, and that is probably not

an understatement. What the Higgs goes on does is make particles have

mass, have wait. If you imagine something moving around like the

ripple on the surface of a liquid, the Higgs goes on makes things move

slowly, which allows matter to form and allows the universe to exist.

It is a wonderful day for particle And a special programme about Peter

Higgs called The Particle Man, made by the BBC earlier this year, will

be shown again tonight at half past midnight on the BBC News channel.

He had teacher has been suspended after a pupil was seriously injured

Wiltshire. The pupil was hard at Springfield Academy. A 42—year—old

man had been arrested on suspicion of GBH in relation to an incident at

the school and had been released on bail. The chair of the governors

said that the headmaster, Tristan Williams, continues to enjoy the

People living in a Somerset village will find out later if they've got

enough funding for a flood defence Cannington were flooded last year.

The Environment Agency has already offered some money towards the cost

of building defences, with residents and businesses asked to make up

of building defences, with residents difference. A meeting this evening

will update people on the scheme, aimed at diverting waters away from

A man's been arrested in Stroud aimed at diverting waters away from

connection with a protest aimed aimed at diverting waters away from

saving a 100—year—old apple tree. The man, who's 44, was detained

saving a 100—year—old apple tree. police earlier this afternoon on

suspicion of assault and aggravated trespass. Protestors have been

campaigning against plans to remove the tree in order to build houses on

Weston—super—Mare is finally back home after being stranded for nearly

a year and a half in the Middle East. Joe Thompson and his family

had been living Abu Dhabi, but when the time came to come home, he

suffered such a severe panic attack that he was unable to get on the

Other attempts to get back by land and sea Benfield, but thanks to

Other attempts to get back by land from a hypnotist, he has made.

Back home at last. For the Thomson Because all the worries over the

last 15 months, the all just went. We knew that we could be a family

again. That's all we ever wanted, to For 12—year—old Joe, who at most be

looking for to seeing his dog again, it has been a difficult weight.

properly been the guilt of putting my family through all this. My

parents say it has no worries, but I it is upsetting to see them like

It's been a long and stressful wait. We first with ported the story last

summer when I interviewed Joel and his dad on Skype. They had been

living in the United Arab Emirates since 2009, but when the time came

to leave, Jill had such severe anxiety attacks he can get on a

plane. Plans were made to bring anxiety attacks he can get on a

home by land and sea, but that didn't work out either. But then,

with help from hypnotherapist this summer, he was finally able to get

back. The successful journey home was paid for by the hypnotherapist

who says that his fear of flying is In 20 years of working in this

went into full faecal position. In 20 years of working in this

was shaking, his heart was racing, he was sweating, shivering, very

frightened. Once we got him settle down, the flight went very smoothly

Jill, who will be 13 on Monday, down, the flight went very smoothly

celebrating being back home with a new bike. He says he has got a lot

I got a bike. Obviously my family. I've been invited to play with the

It's good to have you home. Still to come tonight: The artificial hand

that could be created in the comfort of your own home, simply by hitting

And a brush with Art — find out of your own home, simply by hitting

these pupils made by of a painting by British artist Stanley Spencer.

The troubles of elderly people living in retirement homes have

The troubles of elderly people much in the news recently. We've

covered the Bristol pensioners trapped in their flats when the

covered the Bristol pensioners broke down, and when companies go

bust altogether the problems are even bigger. But today we've a story

from Gloucestershire about a group of retired people who've fought

back, clubbing together, buying of retired people who've fought

their retirement village and running correspondent Dave Harvey has more.

It was a revolution plotted over the roses. At last, maybe now we have a

chance of actually taking over ourselves. Betty and Peter may be

the ringleaders, but they have a formidable army of foot soldiers.

Like many, these people bought into a peaceful retirement in a village

where everything was taken care a peaceful retirement in a village

And, like many, they soon found a peaceful retirement in a village

things were not taken care of and then the company that owned the

maintenance. Things needed repaired, they didn't do it. The inside of the

not the roads, the gardens or the freehold — and faced losing the

not the roads, the gardens or the We looked at the situation and

decided the only way to make sure our futures were secure is to take

control of our own lives. Because your house is essential to your

control of our own lives. Because themselves they needed to raise

control of our own lives. Because We have come together as a group,

determined that we loved our village and it was going to be ours. When

you're talking about families, you have got professional solicitors,

accountants, architects, in whole range of skills became available to

How can the residents be confident that they won't suffer the same

How can the residents be confident as the company who used to own it

and went into ministration? Simply, This is not charity, this is about a

seek to maximise the profit they can take out of the residents, then

seek to maximise the profit they can decisions being taken with the

residents and the community at the Of course — the real work begins

now, as the residents take charge of their own village. And across the

country, many others are watching to see if what they're calling "silver

power" might work for them too. Don't mess with them. Silver power

A man from North Somerset has just hours to go to hear if he's raised

Made on a 3D printer, inventor Joel Gibbard from Backwell hopes his

Made on a 3D printer, inventor Joel will be available on line for anyone

has until Thursday morning to raise From humble beginnings great ideas

can grow. For Joel Gibbard, moving back to his childhood bedroom for a

few months to save money is a small price to pay for his big idea —

few months to save money is a small This is a dextrous robotic prostatic

hand. It is a low—cost hand made out of 3—D printed plastic. I can close

the fingers, and as one becomes Of course, the robotic element of

the project is nothing new — but the prohibitive for most amputees. The

Using the latest 3D printers, Joel We can make prostheses strong enough

quickly, and you can make these And look at this — the latest idea

hot off the printer. A robotic hand for a child. Behind every great

robot assistant who lives at home, is a childhood. And look, I think

there may have been some early inspiration going on here. On the

It's not really about the money inspiration going on here. On the

me. What I am trying to do is raise enough money through crowdfunding to

complete the project. It should enough money through crowdfunding to

a year, and by that point everything will be open source, everything

a year, and by that point everything be online, and people will be able

to make these devices themselves, make them and sell them if they

to make these devices themselves, want to do is make the devices more

With almost £32,000 raised so far, it is tantalisingly close. Will

With almost £32,000 raised so far, to establish whether exercise can

help agents come more mobile. Our health correspondent Matthew Hill

has been speaking to one patient affected by the devastating disease.

Having to cope with pain can make depressed at times. I found it

Holly Simon attended the exercise classes last year at Trowbridge

The strange thing is, when I am really in pain, I get on the bike,

and the pain goes. I sit on the really in pain, I get on the bike,

and do various things, and it goes. I'm jumping up and down on the

trampoline, just doing the exercises relieves the pain far quicker than

patients recruited to take part relieves the pain far quicker than

unique trial to find out if exercise can improve their condition. It

unique trial to find out if exercise means that a small group of people

with the condition can attend a six—week course at a local hospital

We are not a significant improvement in the pain that people experience

and the amount that they are able to do following the classes. Also

people say it has built up their confidence to exercise independently

Is that as powerful as medication? medication for arthritis, which

Is that as powerful as medication? be successful. A lot of people

experience side effects associated exercise is a safe and effective

It will take three years for the final results of a trial to be

available. It could mean their GPs patients like holly instead of

Swindon Town and Bristol City are Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Swindon

are at home to Plymouth Argyle who are in the division below them.

Bristol City are also up against League Two opposition as they travel

to Wycombe Wanderers The school visit was part of Your Paintings, an

ongoing initiative to increase access to the UK's national art

collection, which can be explored online: experts were on hand to

collection, which can be explored through Sir Stanley Spencer's work.

There is cabbages and a little girl pointing at a man, and he looked

There's an old lady with a stick My favourite bit was the dog in

There's an old lady with a stick friends has one, and I like to

appreciate in this rarely seen painting. Village Gossip by Sir

Stanley Spencer. Painted probably in 1940. Today it is on tour, and is

generating a lot of... Gossip. There really is a lot to talk about.

Children from our school where really lucky to see a wonderful

masterpiece. They are also having a whole day working on the fabulous

masterpiece. All the children have been doing lots of fun activities

That sums it up perfectly, except that there was also this — year

That sums it up perfectly, except re—enacting the composition. They

used the costumes to make a college, and their imaginations to create

I've done a picture of the lady and their imaginations to create

the mountains, and she is saying" it's freezing. " I've done picture

of Daphne on a roller—coaster, and she is saying, I wish I could go on

This is part of the BBC's your The school visit was part of Your

Paintings, an ongoing initiative to increase access to the UK's national

explored online: she is certainly an Gemma Cooper has the forecast.

This newly refurbished garden is fantastic. Twilight is falling and

it is relatively mild, but if we have a look at the forecast we can

see the chains that is coming in the next few days. It was only during

the latter part of Tuesday that next few days. It was only during

cloud broke, and a lot of the cloud was thick. Temperatures did well, we

reached 17 in many parts of the West. This is relieved last day

reached 17 in many parts of the the mild weather. Change is afoot

starting tomorrow. For the next the mild weather. Change is afoot

days, the mild air is pushed out of northerly air. It is not just the

direction of the other changes, northerly air. It is not just the

intensity of the winds pick up will stop there is a biting wind through

Wednesday and Thursday. As Clyde begins to build once more we might

see patchy overnight drizzle. We are looking at overnight lows remaining

in double figures. Tomorrow dawns mild, still some patchy light rain

around. That will be some holes around, it will be potluck as to

whether you see the sunshine. We begin to feel the changes as we

whether you see the sunshine. We through from tomorrow afternoon

whether you see the sunshine. We the evening. We maintain some mild

air as we push through to Wednesday night. We will see skies clearing as

the north—westerly pushes the cloud as the evening. Clear skies combined

with cold air, it could be a very cold night. That sets the tone for

high—pressure moves northward even further towards Iceland we get

biting north—westerly winds for further towards Iceland we get

whole of Thursday. Northerly for Friday. But the winds push the cloud

looking at some very good spells of that averages on paper are what

looking at some very good spells of want for this time of year, but

looking at some very good spells of wind chill will make it feel colder

than it should. We haven't spoiled with our values of late. It has

than it should. We haven't spoiled like summer. By the end of the week

will a cotton but at least blue I can't believe it. How dark it

will a cotton but at least blue DIY SOS returns to our screens this

evening — made just across the car on BBC One. While you're watching