04/12/2013 BBC Points West

Keep up-to-date online. That's

Good evening and welcome to BBC Points West. Our headlines

tonight... Should a medicine for acne be

banned? The parents of this schoolboy claim he took his life

after being given the drug. Now they say it should no longer be

prescribed. Will the Brewhouse Theatre be like a

cat with nine lives? Councillors meet tonight to decide its future.

Dive right in! A new company takes over the running of the Bath Spa.

And back on the slippery slope ` Eddie the Eagle threatens to make a

comeback. I jumped at the chance, literally. I have my skis in the

attic am I got them down and we will see if I can do the business again,

26 years later. Good evening. The parents of a

teenager, who took his own life months after being prescribed an

acne drug, have begun a fight to have it banned. Jack Bowlby was 16

when he was found dead in his room at school. An inquest into his death

was unable to prove it was caused by the medication but his parents say

they feel it played a part and want to make others aware of the risks.

Zoe Gough reports. A brilliant horseman who had

everything to live for. Jack Bowlby killed himself last October in his

room at Cheltenham College. He had been taking Roaccutane to treat his

acne. And, although the inquest didn't find the drug responsible, a

toxicologist told the hearing he couldn't rule out that Jack may

still be alive if he had not taken it. His parents are now fighting to

have Roaccutane banned. The weekend before he died, he definitely was

not right at home. We thought... before he died, he definitely was

not right at home. We thought.. We not right at home. We thought.. We

did not associated with the Roaccutane. He was not himself. He

was quiet, withdrawn. There was no joy in him. The drug's makers,

Roche, said 17 million people worldwide use this product and no

link has been established between the medication and either depression

and suicide, although Roaccutane comes with a warning that some may

experience mood changes and increased depression. But it remains

a popular treament. It can change people 's lives completely, make

them feel far more positive about their skin, change the way they

behave with their peers and give them more social confidence. Some

people are so debilitated by this disease and this allows them to gain

more confidence. But, for Jack's parents, the effectiveness doesn't

outweigh the possibility of more deaths. And they've now taken their

campaign to Parliament. Young lives are at stake and we can no longer

afford inaction. The Health Minister has now promised to look into the

matter. For Jack's parents, this is a campaign to stop others suffering

a similar loss. A loss they say they will never recover from.

Vincent Tabak, a Dutch man who had been living in Bristol, is to appear

in court in connection with making and possessing indecent images of

children. Avon and Somerset Police say the images were found on his

computer more than two years ago. He's accussed of two offences of

making the images and four offences of possession. Police say they've

been working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service on the case and

decided there was sufficient evidence to put them before a court.

Councillors are meeting right now to discuss the future of a Somerset

theatre which went bust earlier this year The district council bought the

Brewhouse Theatre in Taunton from the administrators. Tonight, they

vote on whether to lease it to a volunteer group of local

enthusiasts. Our Somerset Correspondent, Clinton Rogers, is

live for us now outside the theatre. Thank you.

Yes, tonight is a big night for the Brewhouse. Ironically, right now

it's open, just temporarily to host a local school production. The

theatre closed back in February, when the company running it went

bust. A bad day for Taunton. Tonight could mark a new chapter in the

history of the Brewhouse Theatre, if the council that owns it and the

volunteer group that was to run it can agree on the figures.

The pupils of Taunton School have been making their own bit of history

at the Brewhouse Theatre this week. They're the first to tread the

boards here since the theatre closed its doors in February. This has been

a temporary reopening of the theatre doors, for five days only. The

long`term future of this place depends on a council vote tonight.

The council has always owned the building. It bought back the lease

from the administrators for around ?150,000. Now it has to decide

whether a volunteer community group should be given a new lease to run

the theatre. I think that we all agreed that everyone in the room to

night will be looking for a good outcome and I am sure we will

achieve a good outcome. That will be that Taunton Theatre Association

will be able to work closely with the council to deliver something

good for the people of Taunton. When the Brewhouse brought the curtain

down eight months ago, it was a purely commercial decision as the

Brewhouse was heamoraging money. purely commercial decision as the

Brewhouse was heamoraging money The lifeline is public money ` about

?150,000 to buy it, around ?350,000 lifeline is public money ` about

?150,000 to buy it, around ?350 000 ?150,000 to buy it, around ?350,000

to put it right. They will then lease it for next to nothing to the

volunteers if that's what's approved tonight. So is that sensible in a

time of austerity? In many ways, we tonight. So is that sensible in a

time of austerity? In many ways we time of austerity? In many ways, we

have subsidised many leisure activities. Swimming pools are holes

into which we pour money, not just water! If you want to serve the

community, they want a good cultural offering. The Brewhouse Theatre can

offer that. There's been overwhelming public pressure to get

the Brewhouse re`opened. Whether it can stay open clearly depends on

long`term public support and the ability of any new theatre manager

to do what the last lot couldn't, at the very least break even.

So councillors are debating the future of this place right now. They

are just a view hundred metres in that direction. We will give you the

result in the late news to night, if they have finished debating!

That production of Cats looked amazing!

You're watching your regional news programme, BBC Points West, on this

wintry Wednesday evening. Stay with us as there's much more still to

bring you. Including... We're flying with the stars as Carol

Vorderman fulfils a lifetime ambition.

And we need more room at the inn, as the Knutty Knitters show us their

latest Nativity creation. I'm looking forward to that!

One of the West's premier attractions, The Bath Spa, is likely

to be run by a new company after tonight. The parent company of

Wessex Water wants to take over the remaining 42`year lease from the

current operator. It's up the council to agree the deal. But, as

our Bath reporter Ali Vowles has been finding out, the take over is

far from hostile and is likely to be good news for the city.

On a cold December morning, the warm Spa waters could not look more

inviting. Since it opened almost seven years ago, it attracts over

200,000 visitors a year to the city and has turned into a success story

for the city. The Spa is owned by the council, but the 50`year lease

to run it is with Thermae, who pay a profit share to the council. But now

they want to sell their shares to the parent company of Wessex Water

who also run spa's and hotels around the world. It is definitely a

friendly takeover. While the spa has been successful over the last six or

seven years since it has been open, it is really looking to the

long`term future. The new company, YTL, say there will no job losses

and in fact are promising much more business for the city. It is

investing heavily in Bath and is currently coverting this old college

building into a five`star hotel, currently coverting this old college

building into a five`star hotel, compete with full spa facitilites.

It hopes it will be a win`win situation for everyone. This will

continue to run as it is. This is a successful spa. It gets a great

throughput of people and roll is great for the city. What we bring is

an international presence and they bring and expertise that will help

grow the business. Over the 50 year lease, the council hope it will earn

lots of money. It has already earned ?1.8 million since it opened in

2006. Last year, it earned ?600 000. However, getting to this point was

painful. No`one will ever forget the trials and tribulations of the Spa

being built. The opening was four years late, the Three Tenors sang to

mark its opening and still it remained shut. There were

disagreements and lawsuits over peeling paint and who was liable and

the cost to the taxpayer in Bath was ?26 million. The council say it will

eventually recoup its costs and is already generating over ?12 million

in the wider Bath economy. It is paying back the investment, it is

bringing in income and revenue to many businesses and shops and

restaurants and cafes around Bath. We held our nerve, or we had no

option. Time has proved it was the correct decision. The long`term aim

is to get the city seen as a European Spa destination, keeping

the visitors ` and their money ` coming into Bath.

Cuts are to be made to bus services in Dorset. County councillors met

today and voted to reduce subsidies by ?850,000. Buses serving

Sherborne, Blandford and Thorncombe are among 13 services which will

lose out. The council say they're hardly used, with the subsidy

costing up to ?9 per passenger. Campaigners warn young and elderly

people in rural areas will be badly affected.

The MP for Somerset and Frome, David Heath, challenged the Deputy Prime

Minister today about why his constituents are still having to

make do without broadband. While over 80% of those in his area will

be connected in three years' time, he says it still leaves more than

8,000 properties without access to the internet. And he asked when the

Government would be committing funds to finish the job. Mr Speaker, we

are investing, as he knows, over ?33 million in extending the coverage of

superfast broadband in Devon and Somerset as part of the roll

programme. That is exhilarating. Somerset as part of the roll

programme. That is exhilarating Over 10,000 premises are to be

covered by the project by the end of the year. 74,000 by next July. On

the final 10%, we announced a plan to extend broadband coverage further

I2017. That will be set out in detail shortly. One of Bristol's top

judges has gone back to school to explain to the children how the law

works. And, for the first time, our cameras were allowed to follow him

as he took the court room to the assembly hall. Our Home Affairs

Correspondent, Steve Brodie, watched him in action and has this exclusive

report. Ladies and gentlemen, you have heard the evidence in this case

and the decision you have to make is really quite a simple one. Did this

defendant Rob that woman? Mark Horton is one of Bristol's

best`known and most experienced judges. He's normally in court,

presiding over trials involving organised crime and complicated

frauds. But, today, he's back to school. These pupils at the Orchard

School in Bristol are taking part in a mock trial. They're the jury.

Where were you in the afternoon? a mock trial. They're the jury.

Where were you in the afternoon I Where were you in the afternoon I

was at home. They have watched the reconstruction of a robbery and the

judge gives speeches for both the prosecution and the defence. He says

it's important for the children to learn about the legal system and to

learn how to deal with pratical probelms. They require you to

listen, they require you to make a judgement about people and come to

the best practical conclusion you can. They have the ability to do

that and they don't realise they do. These children have had a creamy

hard lives, some of them. They need to work for a hard to survive and,

in the course of that, they acquire fantastic skills in dealing with

life. The issue should be the money was taken from her bag. She says it

was by him, he says it it wasn't him. The day began with the class

being split into different groups and the judge talking them about

they want to achieve in life. Like many schools in Bristol, the Orchard

has a full`time Police Community Support Officer. She's in no doubt

as to the value of the judge's visits. At first, there was

apprehension. The kids are bit unsure as to why a judge might be

coming into the school. Some notes there as well but as the day rolls

out, it is quite apparent that the kids get a lock from it, meeting

such an influential character does well for them. The week before the

class all came here to Bristol Crown Court and watched the judge in

action. So what did they think? Scary. They are scary? Yes. Not many

people get this experience, meeting an actual job who has done lots of

interesting cases. I am amazed, as you should be, about how little they

know about how the system works. know about how the system works.

Despite watching Eastenders and all these programmes where the system

appears. When they do understand, they are fascinated. Scary or not,

the message is important. The children get to know about the law

and its place in their lives. As for the judge, it's back to court. You

wouldn't muck about in class if you had a High Court judge there.

The new chairman of Swindon Town, Lee Power, has reassured fans that

the financial future of the club is safe under his ownership. His

comments follow the completion of his takeover yesterday. Lee,

pictured here in the grey jumper, says he's invested around ?750,000

so far this season and has vowed not to allow the club to get into debt.

On the pitch, Yeovil Town beat promotion`chasing Blackpool last

night at Huish Park 1`0. They took all three points thanks to a John

Lundstram goal in the 21st minute. In an eventful match, Blackpool had

three players sent off in extra time.

A quarter of a century after he shot to fame, Eddie the Eagle is making a

comeback. It was back in 1988 that Eddie, who's from Cheltenham, became

Britain's first Olympic ski`jumper when he threw himself down a 90`foot

ski`jump in Calgary. Now he's planning on getting his skis back on

and performing at one of the highlights of the ski`jump season in

Germany. Well, earlier today, I spoke to Eddie and began by asking

him why he wanted to do it all again.

I have always had this inkling that I wanted to get back on the jumps

and my wings were clipped early on. While I am still young enough to get

the skis on, I want to see if I can get on the jumps 26 years later. I'm

sure you are young enough but you have got quite a good significant

birthday coming up and you are owing to be competing against people who

are whippersnappers. How is your fitness? I'm probably lighter now

than I was 26 years ago, so the fitness side isn't so difficult.

than I was 26 years ago, so the fitness side isn't so difficult The

fitness side isn't so difficult. The psychological side, I have been

imagining myself doing a jump over the last few weeks, so that will be

OK. I'm not competing against the whippersnappers, I will be going

down first, making sure the speed is OK for the other jumpers to go down

and do their business. I would love to be able to compete against them

but that would be in possible now for a 50`year old like me. Are you

spurred on by the diving programme you took part in? It was on ITV

earlier this year. You won it! I did win it. That was an inspiration.

win it. That was an inspiration Standing on the edge of that board

and diving in, I thought there were still life in the old dog yet and

I'm still able to do the business and so when this opportunity came in

and asked if I would like to jump in this New Year's Day jump, I jumped

at the chance, literally! My skis are in the attic, I got them down

and I will see if I can do the business again 26 years later. You

are having a go next week! They wouldn't want me to do it without

training and so I will try to get out next week and get a couple of

weeks training in, work my way back up to the 125 metre ski jump and

then go for it. He is brilliant. then go for it. He is brilliant

Happy birthday for tomorrow! What could possibly go wrong?

A dream came true today for the former star of the TV show Countdown

and presenter,= Carol Carol Vorderman. She passed her

flying exam to become a pilot. Decades ago, Carol tried to join the

RAF as a trainee but, at that time, they didn't take women. So, today,

she fulfilled a lifetime ambition at Gloucester Airport. Tracey Miller

was there to see her do it. Thrilled at passing her private

pilot 's licence. It is a dream that began 30 years ago, when she tried

to join the RAF pilot training scheme but found they did not

recruit women. I always wanted to do it and because I could do maths and

I went to Cambridge, I thought that was the best chance I had of someone

wanting to training as a pilot. Reddish airways or whatever. The RAF

didn't take women in the 70s and when I graduated, British Airways

close their training school down, so I went and got in a factory in

Lowestoft instead! Next year, the real training will start as she

tries to get her commercial licence. She wishes to follow in the process

of Amelia at heart. The first woman to do it then and

now she has done it again, alone. Amelia was also passionate about

women learning to fly. Carol's instructor and the owner of the

flying school hope more women will become pilots. It is something not a

lot of women do, not because they cannot do it but because they do not

think of doing it. It does not occur to them that they can do it. They

buy lessons for their husbands but they did buy them `` they don't buy

them for themselves. Carol hopes she will encourage others to take to the

skies. Her next dream is to fly solo around the world. She will do it, I

have no doubt! Congratulations! Now, it's back after being a huge

hit last Christmas. It's this ` The Knitivity ` a life`sized version of

the Nativity, made by a group of women who've dubbed themselves The

Knutty Knitters. And after 12 months out of the spotlight, the needles

have been going 19 to the dozen again and they've created three new

woolly characters ` an angel, a camel and a donkey. And two of the

Knutty Knitters, Alison Spurrell and Julia Worth, join us now. These are

massive! Lots of people will remember them from last year but

those people who have seen them for the first time, what is there

reaction? It is usually that they did not think they would be six feet

tall. How hard is it is at all? There cannot be a pattern. No,

definitely not. What is new this year? The new characters are the

donkey, the camel and the angel. year? The new characters are the

donkey, the camel and the angel. And donkey, the camel and the angel. And

someone was asking about the size of the angel. We did not know about the

size of the angel, so that is how we would do it. Tell us about this

little fellow. This is a donkey You little fellow. This is a donkey You

don't see too many like that on Western sands. It has had a mixed

reaction, hasn't it? People either love him or hate him. Most people

love him. Most people can see this out and about, where? We are on tour

around Bristol. We're at the cat macro crib `` Crib festival. We are

going to shopping centres and schools. Just reminders why you

doing it. We are doing it for Saint Peters Hospice. There are six of us

from the school where she taught you are the Knutty Knitters. Do you use

large needles? You need loads of stitches. Are they machine washable?

We have tried! Any more for next year or is your stable complete? The

stable is complete, yes. How much have you raised? We raised almost

8000 last year, we are aiming for 10,000 this year. Can people diving

and have been pictured taking with it? We ask if they have a donation

if they take a photo. Some just take a picture as well. What is the star

of the show? I think the camel this year. Thank you, ladies. Because you

are here, we have no room at the inn. Ian has been kicked out onto

the roof. Indeed I have. I could do with a

scarf because temperatures are getting chilly as we get onto in

these night. These guys have been clearing today and that legacy means

that as we run into tonight, we will see a chilly picture compared to the

last night. That said, any fog will be kept at bay because the wind will

be picking up, which will be noticeable through tomorrow, albeit

most of the day should be dry. We will start to see chariot breaks

later in the evening. This is how things are set up for now. A benign

pattern as we go through tonight but those isobars tighten and we see

severe conditions in northern parts tomorrow. Some newsworthy weather

there. All genetic, we on the other side of that. It will be windy but

not exceptionally so. That cold front slips South, bringing in some

cold air. Tonight, a dry picture. You will see the blue appearing on

the picture there, showing us getting down towards zero quite

quickly. A variable cloud appearing as we head through towards daybreak.

The breeze picks up and temperatures at the lowest getting down to

freezing away from the coast and they will be some spots where we get

down to `1 and `2. Chilly and breezy start tomorrow. The best of the

brightness will be in the morning was up through the afternoon, there

will be more cloud around and eventually that will start to bring

in the showers. There comes that cold front. The showers will be

fragmented. The winds tomorrow Gustard 45 mph, quite different to

the weather recently. That said, temperatures will be around eight up

to ten Celsius. We're on the western boundary of that cold front so as we

had through into Friday, we reverse all of that trend. The nasty weather

towards the North Sea heads away from us and the more benign

conditions reappear as high pressure dominates the story once again from

the south east as we head through the weekend. There is no letup of

that pattern for quite a number of days ahead. It could be another two

weeks or so of sitting under high pressure with very similar

conditions to the ones we have seen lately. Interesting to see how the

temperatures respond to a southerly flow as well.

Now it's time to continue our countdown to Christmas and open

another window on the Points West advent calendar. Every weekday

night, we're choosing a festive picture sent in by one of you of a

wintry or Christmassy West Country scene. Today, it's a picture taken

by Duncan Palmer in Somerset and he's named it Swan Lake. We've

received so many fantastic pictures, so thank you so much for getting in

touch. If you've got one that you'd like to be considered, then our

email address is on the screen. Some very talented photographers out

there. That is it. I will be back at 10pm, otherwise you tomorrow.

Goodbye.