27/08/2014 BBC Points West

again. Something to look forward to. That is all from the

900 badgers are to be shot hn Gloucestershire and Somerset.

With TB at record highs, we ask if the policy can work.

Our other headlines tonight: bringing in the big guns `

the emergercy services dousd the Wiltshire rubbish fire

The boys are in the money: @ Banksy on the side of a youth club

And send in the clowns ` we go inside the Big Tent

A second cull of badgers in Gloucestershire and Somerset has

been given the go ahead and could get underway within the next few

weeks. The Government's pushing ahead with the second part of its

trial in the two pilot areas, despite the fact that both culls

last year failed to reach their targets. Our reporter Steve Knibbs

is within the cull zone in Gloucestershire for us tonight.

Thank you. This is the focus of the badger cull activity in

Gloucestershire. Within the next few weeks, natural England have issued

licensing. They have set minimum targets. 615 in Gloucestershire and

three 1116 badgers. In 2013, 92 were shot. And 940 were shot in

Somerset. Campaigners and police and Natural England have had tile to

reflect and take stock. Thex are ready for another round of this

controversial cull. With thd pilot cull about to start again, ht is a

nervous time for all involvdd. The criticism from in independent

report, that the operation was not effective assuming, the company

running the cull in Gloucester says lessons have been learned. The

report was critical and we `ccept that. It did, however, say that

these methods could be used safely. There were other issues thex have

raised. We have addressed them through extra training with the

shooting teams. Also getting ready for the cull are campaigners. This

group in Gloucester claims they have 1000 members ready to patrol the

cull zone. They are more prdpared than ever. We have more equhpment

this year. We will be able to see where the animals go. We will be

able to watch them and then cage them and get medical treatmdnt for

them. Bovine TB is showing no sign of going away. In Wiltshire it has

hit a record high. This man is under restrictions again. I would like to

see an all`out attack on bovine TB from all sides. From people against

culling badgers. From the Government and from the veterinary recdssion.

Just as cancer is being tre`ted Planning is under way on all sides

ahead of the pilot cull. Gloucestershire Constabularx said

they are putting public safdty at the heart of this operation this

year. Contract was implied to shoot badgers are prepared to work the

same land as campaigners who do not want a single shot fired.

We're joined from Westminstdr by Dominic Dyer from the Badger Trust

Good evening. Why not get bdhind this badger cull, this time and see

if it works? It was a disastrous failure in 2013. It cost only pounds

and we did not kill enough badgers. It probably led to the spre`d of the

disease and it was inhumane. It took badgers 1050 minutes to die. That is

not acceptable. We're talking about bovine TB which is the biggdst

animal problem in this country. It causes massive suffering. Is it not

at least worth trying? , yot can get on top of TB. There are othdr

methods being used in Wales. That's a nation of cattle. And vaccination

of badgers. Those methods are being used in England as well. TB is down

by 14% in Wales but even thd people they admit it is a long`terl

problem. Well we are having a conference on this subject `nd the

people in Wales are sounding very upbeat about what they have

achieved. It is cost`effecthve. Do you accept that in England the

Government is also trying a broad range of measures and this hs just

in the very worst areas that they are trying to get on top of this

dreadful problem to stop anhmal suffering? I have a serious concern

about the safety of the cull. We have heard stories in the Stnday

Times about shots being madd near residential homes. Police are

looking at that as a crimin`l investigation. We are asking why

more has not been done earlher. These are serious health concerns.

People could get hard in thhs cull. Thank you for joining us. ``

injured. Fifteen firefighters have spent the

entire day trying to extingtish the fire at a waste plant in Swhndon

which has been burning for just over five weeks. Today they intensified

their work by dousing the flames with thousands of litres of water

every minute. Here's Tracey Miller. Tons of highly compacted rubbish

have been burning now for 38 days. Firefighters have struggled to get

the fire under control whild it s spewed acrid smoke into the air But

from today the Wiltshire fire and rescue service say they're taking a

much more aggressive approach. Why have you not taking this stance

from the beginning? We had to remove over 1000 tonnes of waste that was

not involved in the fire to actually access the area. We have pl`ns in

place to protect the environment. We want to ensure none of the water

runs into the river. The increased efforts to put the

fire out have meant even more smoke. This is as close as we can get

because the owners have reftsed us access. But we can see the fire

because the rubbish is piled as high as a house. We have lots of small

businesses struggling to carry on and work with this horrible smoke.

They do not think of us. We have to live through this. You're rdading

this everyday? What can you do? You do you have to do. You worrx about

the consequences later. While James struggles on others have

had to close for the time bding Many with businesses next to Averies

Recycling want to know how ht was ever allowed to get like thhs in the

first place. You're watching Points West, good to

have your company. And we'vd plenty more on tonight's programme,

including a trip to Bruton ` we ask if it's the most fashionable

village in the country. And how eating tomatoes could help

fight against prostate cancdr. In the last week, thousands of

people across the West have asked for their personal details to be

removed from a public register of voters. Councils say the sudden rush

was prompted by a letter whhch warned people their names and

addresses could be sold on to It's landed on every doormat

in the country. 6 million of us will have

to reregister to vote. So far,

only 1 million have bothered. And it's the letter itself

which has left many baffled. Well, if that had gone out

from my office, you think I would This Nailsea voter was told he was

both on and off something c`lled It's a cutdown version

of the electoral roll with names and addresses that can be sold

on by councils. I guess

the council are cash`strappdd, so this is revenue because they

will sell these names on. But for someone who is alre`dy

on the Telephone Preference Service, who really doesn't want

nuisance calls, surely this is going They'll be getting letters

and phone calls And they'll know your address

and everything. Councils say they make very little,

if anything, from the selling of the open register,

which they have to do by law. Here in Bristol,

it will cost a business ?5for 1 00 It is that idea of selling

on your personal information that has prompted a raft

of voters to get in touch whth local What is interesting is we'vd had

a very large response in relation We have had 6000 people over

the last week who have cont`cted the council, primarily throtgh

our website, requesting not to be Opting out of the open register may

spare you from the perils of receiving yet more junk lail

but it will not cost you yotr vote. Those most at risk are studdnts

or people who move often. But all current voters will be

protected until Arable farmers here say this year's

crop is the best for many ydars But they're not celebrating! Th`t's

because supplies are so plentiful prices have fallen consider`bly Our

Somerset correspondent has lore There are rewards at the bottom of

his garden that outweigh thd pressures of global economy for

Barry Bryer. And the future is looking bright for the latest

arrival at Charity Farm near He certainly will not be short of

food. For the first time in many years, these women do not nded to

buy feed for their dairy cows. So plentiful was this your's crop of

maize and hay. The weather has been just right. It has rained at the

right time. Some at the right time. It has just not stopped growing It

has been growing at over ond inch a day since it was put in. Generally,

it has been a bumper year for arable farmers. Those who planted late

haven't found the weather so kind. If you want to get an overvhew of

this year's harvest, this is a good place. Cannington grain acts as a

wholesale storage facility for about 120 Somerset farmers. These silos

can hold tonnes of grain. Wheat yields especially have been high. So

has Bali. About 25% up on l`st year. `` Bali. Prices for the farler have

dropped significantly. About ?145,000 per tonne has dropped to a

lower figure. No further th`n the bottom of this garden to sed how

kind the weather has been to this banana tree. It has produced fruit

for the first time. In the liddle of Somerset. Unbelievable.

Banksy's "Mobile Lovers" has sold for ?403,000 and it's one of the

highest amounts ever paid for one of Banksy's works. The picture's been

bought privately, with all the proceeds going to the Broad Plain

Boys' Club. Banksy said he wanted the Club to have the mural `fter an

ownership tussle with Bristol City Council. Here's Jon Kay.

Left in a doorway in a backstreet in Bristol. Mobile Lovers, by Banksy.

The boys' club next door decided to claim it straightaway. They took it

from the wall. In April, thdy said they would sell it to raise vital

funds. It is like a gift from the sky. It is amazing. Is it yours to

sell? Email I think it was given to us by Banksy as a gift. `` H think.

It started a debate about who owns street art. Today, things wdre more

amicable. This man from the boys' club is not embracing the M`yor of

Bristol. It was a letter from Banksy that ended their feud. He s`id he

wanted the boys' club to have the picture and now it has sold to a

private buyer for any record sum. Did you ever think you would get

?403,000? Never. In all fairness, it is a piece of wood, forgot sake A

fantastic piece of art on it. But that is a lot of money. The money

means this inner`city boys' club, which has been here for mord than

100 years, now has a future. Good news for gang members like this one.

Some it is brilliant. Great news for everyone. All the kids from around

the area. It means everything. What easy to Banksy? A big thank you

Know they have put their own piece of graffiti were Banksy's w`s once

displayed. Proudly watched by Dennis. He says he will not be

taking this one down. Dennis and his team see this picture has not just

saved the boys' club, it has changed what they do here. Street art is now

joining sport as a regular `ctivity. And art lovers are bringing

prosperity to a somerset town too. Bruton is booming, apparently `

thanks to a heady mix of a new contemporary art gallery and lots of

national media attention. Otr business correspondent Dave Harvey

popped in to what Londoners are They have been selling ten xear for

centuries. This farm shop looks like an art gallery. Each cheese is a

waxwork. Which is just as wdll, since that is what these people have

come to Bruton four. We havdn't heard much about it until the art

gallery opened. There has bden a lot in the national press about it. This

is the gallery. Since we reported it opening in July, 20,000 art lovers

have been. It seems many stop for Cheddar on the way home. Thdy have

been in the newspapers. And magazines. It has brought in lots of

people. But I think Bruton has had a buzz going for years. And that does

means business. Transforming this family dairy and bringing ndw jobs.

When I started dairy farming in 1993, we were young and know the

cheese business is 14 and I hope it will improve. Visitors do not only

look at art and by cheese. They want to stay. In fashionable circles in

London, the word Bruton is cropping up more. People want to livd here.

It is fashionable. And therdfore more expensive? You Mac that is

probably one of the downsidds. Naturally, Londoners want to eat and

drink in style. It is all a bit Notting Hill. That is why one

national newspaper described Bruton recently. Do not say that to the

locals. The success is not just about celebrity froth. It is not

about that. This community has been here since the 12th century. We have

generations of food producers and I think this rural community, this

time and in particular, has regenerated on the back of the

community efforts. It is about the work going on here. Trendy ht may

be, but it is on the up. An idea which started in Brhstol has

gone global ` and is helping to raise money for charity at the same

time. The creators of the P`rk Street slide have sold their concept

to cities around the world hncluding San Francisco, Salt Lake City and

Wigan. For around six hundrdd pounds, buyers get an eightx page

guide to setting up their vdry own slide, including the necess`ry risk

assessments. In the last hour, Bristol chty have

confirmed their captain has joined Brighton Hove Albion on a

four`year contract. Sam joined City two years ago. He won Player of the

Year. The club says it rejected six offers from the championship side

before it finally agreeing ` fee. Now, who would have thought that

` this ` the humble tomato could be helping in the fight against

prostate cancer. Researchers from the University of Bristol h`ve found

that if enough is consumed, then it's claimed men could lower the

risk of developing the dise`se by 18 percent. The research was c`rried

out by Dr Athene Lane who's here Welcome to you. How many do we need

to eat? It was suggested from our research that if you ate ond or two

portions per day, about ten portions per week, we found the men who ate

those tomatoes had a reduced risk of about 20% compared to those who did

not. How many tomatoes any portion? About two or three medium`shzed

tomatoes. You could also have cooked tomatoes. Or a glass of tom`to

juice. We did a pilot and mdn found that drinking tomato juice was

easier. And there are other ways to eat it? Exactly. Tinned tom`toes,

fresh, other foods containing tomatoes. I am sure I have heard

this before that the link bdtween tomatoes is good between prostate

cancer and men. What is new in this research? This is a British study.

It was done in the UK. It w`s large. We had 18,000 people taking part.

Furthermore, we were able to quantify the amount of tomatoes

There has been suggestions `bout matters in the past, but not as

exact as this. I love them. It is an interesting thing. We can't make

recommendations based on ond study. It is broadly in line with what has

happened elsewhere. We would love to do a study where we would ask men to

have a tomato rich diet and compare it to men who do not have that diet

and follow them for a long period of time. Will it reduce your rhsk or

could it? It is that it could reduce your risk. Eating vegetables is part

of a healthy diet anyway, along with exercise. Maybe you could jtst swap

those tomatoes in and that could be beneficial. We have done a pilot

study but we would like to do a bigger study. This is ongoing

research. Thank you for comhng in. I will keep these later!

The Gloucestershire circus, Giffords, is well into its `nnual

tour of the region. It's bedn visiting picturesque villagds and

parks for over ten years ` `nd for them the key is tradition. The

circus is performing at Marlborough Common over the next few daxs ` but

we caught up with the performers mid season as they prepared for shows in

Early morning ` and echoes of a bygone era ` as

Soon ` it's all hands on deck as the transformation begins.

We wanted to create a miniature village green chrcus

that was as good as the continental shelves and was also a nost`lgic

re`creation of what you would imagine a circus from a storybook

If you work for the circus xou live with the circus `

and spending time behind thd scenes you get a sense of one big family.

I really love this life herd, inside the circus.

That's why when they asked le back, I said yes.

With the first show of the week just hours away, everyone starts to

get ready, although for somd, the props are slightly more complex

And then of course there's Keef the Iron, who's an old favotrite...

Tweedy the Clown is one of the regulars here.

The intimacy is a big thing for me because the audience are so close.

And for comedy, that is very good because they feel

very much part of it and yot can just instantly get that reaction.

Throughout the day there's real excitement as everyone goes through

And also a nod to the futurd ` as the younger generation start to

Giffords tries to evoke a sdnse of a circus from another tile ` and

To sit in the tent and actu`lly see people create something physical

You can see the sweat, you can see the hard work,

you can see the happiness... I think kids are just...

mind`blown by that realness of the entertainment.

After all the hard work and last minute rehearsals ` the circus opens

` the theme, a rip`roaring Greek epic `

although I promised not to give too much away...

Now let's get the weather. So many people are coming back from holiday

feeling it is cold and damp. Will it change? It could change. As a hint,

there could be good news... There will be some rain on the way.

It will not last throughout a good deal of the day. This evening, the

radar shows some rain ahead of us, moving up from the south`west. There

are moderately heavy outbre`ks of rain. But it is very fragmentary.

That will characterise the weather this evening and into tonight. Some

cleaver weather tomorrow. `` colder. Dying away as the night continues.

It will generally be a mild night. 16 Celsius. Not far behind that for

most of the countryside. A decent and bright start tomorrow for the

rush hour. Lunch time cloud will increase. And here we can sde these

showers moving gradually towards the East. But that is short livdd. It

will brighten by evening. A moderately breezy day. Tempdratures

probably up to about 20 Celsius Low pressure is dominating. By Friday, a

blustery day. Some showers. Some of that will continue into Sattrday.

High`pressure starting to come in later on Saturday, meeting Sunday

look a lot better. Temperattres will rise further. Summer is not over

yet! I love that picture sent in at the beginning. Beautiful. I had rain

in Spain, so it is nice to be back in the West Country! Another

Billiton at 10pm. Goodbye. You asked for it. You got it.

SHRILL WHISTLE I promise not to

take off all my clothes. I'm going up in the world, babes,

and from today, one can't sack someone

for going, "Bleuh-huh-huh-huh" I'm going to teach you

a lesson, Churchy. Where's your shoe? It's in the car.

I'll get it later. Big School returns for a new term.

Oh, ha-ha-ha-ha! Old friends John Thomson

and Simon Day are swapping comedy for Argentina

and the gaucho life... I AM going to moisturise.

It will be secret. ..where men are men,

and the cows aren't laughing. You won't see gauchos sitting down

watching...