:00:00. > :00:00.Welcome to BBC Points West, with Sabet Choudhury and Amanda Parr.
:00:07. > :00:11.the Americans in the running to take over an MOD Site ` leaving
:00:12. > :00:16.New management's being brought in to control the ?15 billion annual
:00:17. > :00:31.Will we buy all American in the future? Nobody knows.
:00:32. > :00:41.We'll asses what impact it might have for the 10,000 staff.
:00:42. > :00:45.flocking from far and wide ` the region becomes a magnet
:00:46. > :00:50.The preparations being made to welcome
:00:51. > :00:55.the Indian cricket team to Bristol ` but will the weather be kind?
:00:56. > :00:57.And what lurks under the surface ` the major scientific study
:00:58. > :01:07.of the life forms under the Bristol Channel.
:01:08. > :01:10.First this evening ` two American companies are believed to be about
:01:11. > :01:14.to take over the running of the Ministry of Defence procurement
:01:15. > :01:17.agency at Abbey Wood near Bristol. A union official has told us that
:01:18. > :01:22.American experts are to be brought in to manage the MoD's ?15 billion
:01:23. > :01:25.annual budget, which pays for everything from fork lift trucks to
:01:26. > :01:31.nuclear submarines. Up to 200 senior managers at the Bristol site may
:01:32. > :01:41.face redundancy. This report by our home affairs correspondent.
:01:42. > :01:49.More than 10,000 people work here buying military equipment for the
:01:50. > :01:53.MOD. Now, two American companies are being brought in to oversee their
:01:54. > :01:56.work. The Government says it wants billions of pounds spent on planes
:01:57. > :02:00.and ships and weapons to be done more efficiently. But the Union
:02:01. > :02:05.which represents scientists and engineers at Abbey Wood says it is
:02:06. > :02:11.concerned about what this will mean for the workforce. There are fears
:02:12. > :02:15.throughout about what the importing of effectively a senior management
:02:16. > :02:20.tier for the organisation might mean. That has invitations for our
:02:21. > :02:25.members amongst management because they may find themselves replaced.
:02:26. > :02:31.It also has implications for others. Potentially, it cuts off career
:02:32. > :02:37.development opportunities. Under the contract, the US company Bechtel
:02:38. > :02:45.will look after the Navy and RAF, while CH2M Hill is in charge of
:02:46. > :02:49.procurement. Half of the management here are military offers at the has
:02:50. > :02:53.been much criticism of contracts coming in late and massively
:02:54. > :02:59.overbudget. The American companies are said to want to bring in up to
:03:00. > :03:02.200 of their own experts to manage the MOD contracts. It is a
:03:03. > :03:07.staggering decision taken by somebody, God knows who, I've only
:03:08. > :03:15.learned about it in the last 12 hours, like many people. It poses a
:03:16. > :03:20.huge number of questions. Not only are we asking who they will remove
:03:21. > :03:26.and why, also, how many of the actual staff at Abbey Wood will be
:03:27. > :03:29.affected further down the line? Mac the MOD declined to be interviewed
:03:30. > :03:32.about the claims and said it was inappropriate to comment at this
:03:33. > :03:36.stage because the contracts will be announced next month.
:03:37. > :03:39.The Home Office has taken over an investigation into how fifteen
:03:40. > :03:42.illegal immigrants were able to travel to Somerset on board a lorry.
:03:43. > :03:44.The group, which included a 15`year`old boy, was discovered
:03:45. > :03:46.earlier this week near Ilminster. Avon and Somerset Police arrested
:03:47. > :03:49.and bailed a 50`year`old man. They've now handed the case over to
:03:50. > :03:58.Detectives in Bristol have released CCTV footage of a man they'd like to
:03:59. > :04:00.speak to in connection with a sexual assault. A 20`year`old woman was
:04:01. > :04:03.attacked in the early hours of Sunday morning near Park Row.
:04:04. > :04:06.Officers want anyone who was in the area at the time or recognises the
:04:07. > :04:17.Our region saw the biggest increase in foreign visitors in the whole of
:04:18. > :04:19.Britain last year, according to figures out today. Tourists from
:04:20. > :04:22.America, Australia and Germany make up the majority of holidaymakers
:04:23. > :04:25.coming here ` with more than half a million coming in the summer of last
:04:26. > :04:38.year alone. Andrew Plant takes up the story.
:04:39. > :04:46.Some of the sites in the South West are increasingly tempting to
:04:47. > :04:51.overseas tourists. From Glastonbury two Bath's rich Roman history. This
:04:52. > :04:56.is the South West's most visited city. Last summer here, tourist
:04:57. > :05:03.numbers almost doubled from the same time in 2012. Bath does not sit back
:05:04. > :05:06.and let tourists rolling. Tourism bosses here are proactive, flying
:05:07. > :05:13.out to other countries to persuade them this is a good place to visit.
:05:14. > :05:16.Some of the top tourists are from surprisingly far afield. The United
:05:17. > :05:22.States, Germany, Australia, France and Spain. International visitors
:05:23. > :05:28.spend more and stay longer. They state twice as long and spend twice
:05:29. > :05:33.as much as domestic visitors. It is good for jobs and the economy. When
:05:34. > :05:41.Mac on average, overseas visitors stay for 5.3 nights as opposed to
:05:42. > :05:45.2.7. And they spend ?330 each as opposed to ?185 for a UK tourist.
:05:46. > :05:53.The people are very helpful and kind. So, I love it here. It is
:05:54. > :05:59.really nice. There are many picturesque spots. It is beautiful.
:06:00. > :06:03.The architecture is nice to see. Business has been boosted. Bath's
:06:04. > :06:11.Aqua Glass is particularly popular with German tourists. We're seeing a
:06:12. > :06:14.lot more European, Japanese, Chinese visitors. Russians were here last
:06:15. > :06:21.year but not so much this year. A lot of Germans. It is tourists from
:06:22. > :06:22.the far east who could one day overtake those top five and perhaps
:06:23. > :06:31.become the biggest spenders to. The Environment Agency's told the
:06:32. > :06:34.BBC its dredging operation on the Somerset Levels is on schedule ` and
:06:35. > :06:38.past the half way mark. It brings reassurance for flood victims ` who
:06:39. > :06:41.want the work finished before the winter. But many worry how dredging
:06:42. > :07:00.will be paid for in future. Millions of tonnes of earth are
:07:01. > :07:03.being excavated... On the Somerset Levels they have been digging for
:07:04. > :07:06.years, but major dredging stopped in the mid`60s.
:07:07. > :07:08.After two years of serious floods ` the dredgers are back.
:07:09. > :07:12.The likes of David Broster shifting 600 tons of silt a day from the Tone
:07:13. > :07:22.When they said I was coming here, I am proud to help the community.
:07:23. > :07:25.The Environment Agency says dredging of an 8 km stretch of rivers
:07:26. > :07:30.80,000 tons of silt has been dug up ` and spread on nearby fields.
:07:31. > :07:40.A ?6 million operation ` demanded by flood victims.
:07:41. > :07:48.It is marvellous to see it. We have had 20 years of neglect. The silt
:07:49. > :07:50.coming out of the river, I am enjoying every bucket.
:07:51. > :07:53.The dredgers are using computers to return the river to
:07:54. > :08:09.We have been given the 1960s profile and are able to profile data into
:08:10. > :08:13.our equipment. What you say to someone who says it is not as good
:08:14. > :08:16.as the old days? It will be the same as the old days when we're finished.
:08:17. > :08:19.Before dredging each section ` checks are made to protect wildlife
:08:20. > :08:26.It's meant a few surprises for water voles.
:08:27. > :08:32.They are a protected species. We have a license to trap them and move
:08:33. > :08:33.them to new areas. They are going to capture and Cornwall.
:08:34. > :08:36.Maintaining the river will cost ?100,000 a year ` according to
:08:37. > :08:43.No one's sure yet where that money will come from.
:08:44. > :08:46.Thanks for joining us ahead of your bank holiday weekend.
:08:47. > :08:51.preparing the ground for East to meet West, as India's
:08:52. > :09:07.And the amazing footage capturing 24 hours of Bristol life.
:09:08. > :09:12.A decade ago, only one in 4 of Bristol's state`educated children
:09:13. > :09:16.were getting five or more good GCSE's. In the national rankings,
:09:17. > :09:19.the city was near rock bottom. But after yesterday's GCSE results, it's
:09:20. > :09:22.been confirmed the figures have improved for nine out of the last
:09:23. > :09:25.ten years. In a moment we'll be speaking to a head teacher, but
:09:26. > :09:28.first Chris Brierley has been looking back at the dire state of
:09:29. > :09:46.A decade ago, this was the story... A special report revealed that
:09:47. > :09:54.Bristol's schools are bottom of the class. Just 26% of the schools got
:09:55. > :09:59.five more good GCSEs. 2005, still at the bottom of the pile. Truancy was
:10:00. > :10:07.rife and the city had more suspended pupils than anywhere else. But a
:10:08. > :10:12.plan was being drawn up. Millions were poured into the building of new
:10:13. > :10:19.schools. In 2007, new buildings like this one. ?36 million to build this.
:10:20. > :10:28.It would herald a new dawn. But the figures were still poor. 2009, 40%
:10:29. > :10:35.now getting good grades. 2010, a change in Government. More
:10:36. > :10:40.academies. But still not above 50%. In 2012, finally, over 50%. This
:10:41. > :10:43.year, the trend is once again on the up. The city is still way behind the
:10:44. > :10:50.national average. Could it catch up? Joining us now is Sally Apps, the
:10:51. > :10:53.Principal at Bristol Metropolitan Academy. So, that same question to
:10:54. > :11:05.you. Will it continue? Absolutely. We have raised results
:11:06. > :11:11.faster than the national average. The best is yet to come and it is
:11:12. > :11:14.down to collaboration. It is down to working between different schools,
:11:15. > :11:21.different headteachers, and I am part of a federation who have
:11:22. > :11:24.schools in Bristol and in other areas and we have been working
:11:25. > :11:28.together to ensure we can improve far faster than I can learn on my
:11:29. > :11:34.own. Many schools have become academies. You think that pulling
:11:35. > :11:39.away from local authority control has had anything to do with it? It
:11:40. > :11:43.has played a part, although I would say we have worked closely with the
:11:44. > :11:49.local authorities to improve schools right across Bristol. It has allowed
:11:50. > :11:54.schools more freedom. This has allowed pupils to get a fresh start.
:11:55. > :11:58.It has given schools new buildings. It is about the quality of teaching
:11:59. > :12:05.and there are no short cuts. Historically, many parents have
:12:06. > :12:10.chosen to send their children to schools in areas outside Bristol.
:12:11. > :12:13.Will these changes ring parents back to Bristol? I think we're already
:12:14. > :12:19.seeing that. I passionately believe we should all be able to go to a
:12:20. > :12:22.good local school. That is no more the case than it ever has been in
:12:23. > :12:26.Bristol. We are seeing students returning to Bristol schools. You
:12:27. > :12:31.mentioned we're below national average. There is a lot of
:12:32. > :12:37.aspiration for changing that. What needs to happen? Well, we need to
:12:38. > :12:42.celebrate the fact we have no schools in special measures in
:12:43. > :12:47.Bristol. We have had a few tries. The key now is talented
:12:48. > :12:52.headteachers, senior leaders, school teachers working together across the
:12:53. > :12:58.city to collaborate and share ideas. Our federation is a teaching school
:12:59. > :13:02.so we have people arriving to learn how to do it. We learn first. We
:13:03. > :13:09.share ideas with other headteachers. Learning together means we can do it
:13:10. > :13:20.faster. Great to hear such a positive story.
:13:21. > :13:23.We've already been hearing about how attractive the South West is for
:13:24. > :13:26.tourists, but if anyone were to pay a visit to the West Country
:13:27. > :13:29.coastline this summer, I wonder if they'd give much thought to what
:13:30. > :13:32.lies beneath the surface of the Bristol Channel? Well the biggest
:13:33. > :13:35.scientific study in 30 years has been undertaken off Porlock Bay to
:13:36. > :13:38.try to find out just that. Nick Quraishi has been taking a look at
:13:39. > :13:41.Delving deep to reveal the Somerset coast. Professional divers embark on
:13:42. > :13:44.their mission. They recorded stalked jellyfish ` an important species,
:13:45. > :13:48.which may need increased protection. And never recorded along the coast
:13:49. > :13:53.before ` squat lobsters were found hiding in crevices. The lobster here
:13:54. > :13:56.` long clawed. Sunstar starfish occupy the sea too. And sea hares `
:13:57. > :14:02.described as exotic looking marine molluscs. It's taken three decades
:14:03. > :14:09.to study these creatures. Previous challenges were aborted due to poor
:14:10. > :14:14.visibility. Things haven't been much better on these dives ` visibility
:14:15. > :14:17.down to one and a half metres ` with strong currents. Well worth it
:14:18. > :14:31.We did not know what we would find. We had a suspicion we might just be
:14:32. > :14:35.able to see Matt and have a limited number of creatures. The sheer
:14:36. > :14:51.diversity, over 70 species, is really quite fascinating.
:14:52. > :14:55.despite the frustrations of murky water, poor visibility and fast
:14:56. > :14:57.moving tidal currents, the study proves there's a fantastically
:14:58. > :14:59.diverse marine environment off the Somerset coast, which has been
:15:00. > :15:00.somewhat underappreciated in the past.
:15:01. > :15:04.and Bath have spotted a new toilet ` with a difference. This Doctor
:15:05. > :15:07.Who`inspired Tardis has appeared along the route, outside a cafe in
:15:08. > :15:10.Warmley. With the new series starting this weekend, it's already
:15:11. > :15:13.been turning a few heads. The most common question apparently ` are the
:15:14. > :15:15.facilities inside, really much bigger than they appear from the
:15:16. > :15:35.England and India will be doing battle in Bristol this bank holiday
:15:36. > :15:38.monday. 16,000 fans will pack into Gloucestershire's County Ground for
:15:39. > :15:40.the one`day international between the two sides. The weather's going
:15:41. > :15:44.to have to play ball mind you ` Alistair Durden is there now to see
:15:45. > :16:01.The weather is the only thing they cannot control. The rest of the
:16:02. > :16:05.preparation has been done. About 10,000 temporary seats have been
:16:06. > :16:12.installed. Every single ticket has been sold. The two teams, England
:16:13. > :16:16.and India, will be here on Sunday to practice and then on Monday for the
:16:17. > :16:25.big match. We're promised a flavour of the East. We have a local bhangra
:16:26. > :16:29.band to entertain the crowd. When crowds arrive, they will see a
:16:30. > :16:30.special mural that has been painted to commemorate the occasion.
:16:31. > :16:33.They're calling it East meets the West Country. When the India team
:16:34. > :16:40.arrive in Bristol, they should feel right at home.
:16:41. > :16:59.My dad was born in India. I recently found some fabrics that my
:17:00. > :17:05.grandmother had. The same colours. For those living in the West, a
:17:06. > :17:12.chance to see superstars up close. It is rate on my doorstep. Just ten
:17:13. > :17:18.minutes to walk there. The cricket stars are coming to Bristol, which
:17:19. > :17:26.is the first time for me. We have some of the T`shirts here... Local
:17:27. > :17:31.traders are onside too, with the game estimated to be worth around ?1
:17:32. > :17:36.million. We want the whole of Gloucester Road to enjoy the
:17:37. > :17:45.economic benefits. People have been wearing brightly coloured T`shirts.
:17:46. > :17:49.Window displays, discounts, all about raising the profile of the
:17:50. > :17:59.game. The whole world will watch this game. It is good for Gloucester
:18:00. > :18:02.Road, for Bristol, for the UK. This will be the first international in
:18:03. > :18:06.Bristol for three years. With a bidding process for future matches
:18:07. > :18:13.under way, Gloucestershire are keen to show their redeveloped home
:18:14. > :18:18.should be part of England's plans. Let's pick up on that point with the
:18:19. > :18:22.Chief Executive for Gloucestershire. Are you under the spotlight from the
:18:23. > :18:30.ECB little bit? They have had an interest in the match. What is
:18:31. > :18:34.riding on this? It is the future that is the point. Monday will be a
:18:35. > :18:42.great day. This is about what comes next. This is about major
:18:43. > :18:48.international between 2017 and 2019. That includes three major world
:18:49. > :18:55.events. That will put us in the spotlight. What could it be worth
:18:56. > :19:04.financially? Each match brings in quarter of ?1 million. To the city,
:19:05. > :19:08.it is worth ?1.25 million per day. How competitive is the bidding
:19:09. > :19:13.process? Very competitive. Many counties are looking for cricket. We
:19:14. > :19:18.are the sixth largest city in England. We are a unique and
:19:19. > :19:23.multicultural city. Great female and male players. Best of luck. I hope
:19:24. > :19:27.you get the weather. Let's take a look at tomorrow's
:19:28. > :19:30.football. Keiran Agard could make his Bristol City debut at Rochdale
:19:31. > :19:33.after signing yesterday. In terms of the other games, Yeovil will come up
:19:34. > :19:35.against their former striker Paddy Madden, who returns to Huish Park
:19:36. > :19:43.with his current club Scunthorpe. Monday's West derby between Forest
:19:44. > :19:46.Green Rovers and Bristol Rovers is heading for a sell`out. Just under
:19:47. > :19:50.4,000 will be there ` a record for a league game at the New Lawn.
:19:51. > :19:59.Contrasting fortunes for the two teams so far ` Forest Green have won
:20:00. > :20:15.3 from 3, but Bristol Rovers are Nobody is more disappointed than me.
:20:16. > :20:20.The players have not gotten off to a good start. But there are 43 league
:20:21. > :20:26.games to go. We have to learn. That is key for me, that we progress and
:20:27. > :20:32.learn from our mistakes. We are confident about taking on teams but
:20:33. > :20:43.this will be a great game. We have a sell`out crowd. Great atmosphere,
:20:44. > :20:47.great local derby. That is the international wicket they will be
:20:48. > :20:54.using on Monday. All we need is good weather. Thank you.
:20:55. > :20:57.Now, have a look at this stunning image. It was taken in a
:20:58. > :20:59.photographic competition started last year to capture what Bristol
:21:00. > :21:04.looks like over the course of one day. 20,000 images were sent in, the
:21:05. > :21:08.winning one was taken by Andy Coffin. He's here now, along with
:21:09. > :21:10.the event organiser Mike Porter. Welcome. You're doing it all again
:21:11. > :21:28.Mike, what is this competition about? This is the Domesday book of
:21:29. > :21:34.Bristol. It is an unusual competition. Photographers are
:21:35. > :21:39.allocated one hour in which they take a photographic 88 photographic
:21:40. > :21:49.a 24`hour period. We get a complete range of the city in all its glory.
:21:50. > :21:53.It was successful last year because so many people entered into the
:21:54. > :22:00.competition. This is Andy's picture. competition. This is Andy's picture.
:22:01. > :22:05.It is very evocative. What made you head for the station? I had
:22:06. > :22:11.previously entered the competition and been around Bristol at the hour
:22:12. > :22:15.my photo was supposed to be taken. I was trying to find the busiest
:22:16. > :22:25.places because I thought action is what would help. I discovered temple
:22:26. > :22:31.me was the busiest place. My slot was between 7am and ATM. I took a
:22:32. > :22:34.few other photographs at the station. When it went on to the
:22:35. > :22:42.platform, there are plenty people there. Suddenly, I turned around and
:22:43. > :22:49.saw the bicycles and they looked far more interesting. It reminded me
:22:50. > :22:55.that Bristol is the bicycle capital. Brilliant. What would Brunel think
:22:56. > :23:11.about his great place becoming a bike schedule at it starts at midday
:23:12. > :23:16.tomorrow. The sponsors will be in Millennium Square, opposite the big
:23:17. > :23:20.screen. There will be a countdown. They will all be running off in
:23:21. > :23:24.different directions at midday. Where you amazed at how creative
:23:25. > :23:32.people have been? It is unbelievable. I've never had the
:23:33. > :23:39.city to do it or the equipment. Now with digital cameras, and with the
:23:40. > :23:44.internet, we're able to do something like this instantly. And anyone can
:23:45. > :23:56.take part. Thank you. We look forward to the results. Let's get
:23:57. > :23:59.the weather. A decent evening developing, if a rather cool one.
:24:00. > :24:10.things. We will see things pick up things. We will see things pick up
:24:11. > :24:14.towards the bank holiday. But that is when we see the most inclement
:24:15. > :24:21.conditions developing. Saturday will be a bright day for the most part.
:24:22. > :24:27.Sunday the same. A chilly start, turning increasingly cloudy. Rain
:24:28. > :24:38.likely in the evening and then we get into Monday, which is a bit of a
:24:39. > :24:45.dog's dinner. Blustery with showers. At the moment, showers remain clear
:24:46. > :24:52.of us. They will do that tomorrow as well. A pretty bright outlook for
:24:53. > :24:54.Saturday. But the overnight period into Sunday could be record`breaking
:24:55. > :25:10.in terms of how chilly it will get. Perhaps the Celsius. `` three
:25:11. > :25:16.Celsius. Temperatures tonight, down to 7 degrees. Closer to double
:25:17. > :25:21.figures for urban areas. One or two showers in the extreme south,
:25:22. > :25:26.Somerset, Dorset. A good deal of dry weather. Moderately breezy. Very
:25:27. > :25:44.little change through towards the evening. Temperatures down on
:25:45. > :25:51.today. About 17 Celsius. Moving onto Monday. The first of those weather
:25:52. > :25:58.fronts bringing rain in by late Sunday into Monday. Then further
:25:59. > :26:02.rain waiting in the wings. All of that will have implications for the
:26:03. > :26:05.cricket in Bristol on Monday. Details of that yet to be
:26:06. > :26:11.established. Do not write it off yet! It will be a day of
:26:12. > :26:15.interruptions, if not more. Here is the summary. Enjoy your weekend.
:26:16. > :26:19.Thank you. Decent weather tomorrow then, if
:26:20. > :26:22.you're planning on taking part in 24 hours in Bristol ` and if you were
:26:23. > :26:25.wondering what the last 24 hours in the city looked like, here they
:26:26. > :28:15.are... Phoebe Rundle is the girl for you.
:28:16. > :28:19.But how will I know when it's real? Go back to the factory
:28:20. > :28:22.and I'll sort out the rest. If you don't then you're
:28:23. > :28:25.on your own.