16/06/2011 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. The top stories tonight:

A major blaze in Swansea. Witnesses report seeing the smoke from as far

Also on the programme: Repeated failures to comply with

safety alerts across Welsh hospitals. They are life-and-death

issues. They are only issued about the most important issues, which

repeatedly caused harm or even death.

A Libyan couple airlifted to Cardiff are charged more than

�1,000 by the NHS after the birth of their child.

Rock star Richey Edwards disappeared 16 years ago. His

sister joins calls to make it easier to settle the affairs of

And Cardiff City and close in on a new manager. They are in talks with

Walkers Stadium. Good evening. Firefighters are

tackling a major blaze in Swansea tonight which has led to the

closure of one of the main routes out of the city, causing traffic

chaos. Crews are urging people who live in the area to stay indoors

and a building has been evacuated. The blaze is at the former Mettoys

site, near to the city's park-and- ride at Fforestfach. Our reporter

Matt Murray is in Fforestfach for us now. Matt, what's the latest

there? You should be able to see behind me

that there is a thick black cloud of smoke poet -- ploughing across

the hall of Fforestfach. It can be seen for up to 12 miles. There are

currently 75 firefighters tackling the blaze. I have just come back

from the industrial estate. I can tell you of that it is very smoky

it down there. I have been speaking to people of poor work there were

told me it is not as bad as it was. At lunchtime, it was really bad.

There was a thick black smoke hanging over the industrial estate.

They say you could not see five feet in front of you. The problem

is that the fire has broken out at an old warehouse. People are caught

work there told me the old warehouse was used to store tyres

and they could be up to eight tens of shredded tyres there. The

problem with tackling a blaze like this is it is tackling a rubber

fire. You cannot use water. As you can see, read that fires create a

lot of smoke. The concern is that sometimes they cannot be in four

days. I have been speaking to people caught work on the

industrial estate. At about 1 o'clock, they say you could not see

anything around Fforestfach. I saw it at 2 o'clock. It was not too bad.

It looks like it is getting worse. It was like fog on the main road.

It is toxic smoke. They have told the neighbours to keep their

windows closed. I could not get in. The roads were blocked. There are

police on the bottom, their row police on at the top.

We saw a shot of killing cars. Has it caused lot of problems on the

roads? Yes. It has caused chaos on the roads. It has been gridlock

around Swansea. When I was trying to get close to the fire, I had to

walk. There were tailbacks of up to four Myers all down Carmarthen Road.

The majority of Carmarthen Road has been shattered. It remains closed.

There are no cars coming down here at the moment. It will remain shut

until the smoke begins to clear. The main advice for people living

in the area is to keep all windows and doors shut. The main concern

sure is that even though no one has been injured, the problem is that

with a rubber fires, sometimes they can burn four days.

They ran her concerns about patient safety in Welsh hospitals tonight.

BBC Wales understands a report due to be published tomorrow will show

repeated failures to comply with safety alerts across the Welsh NHS.

They include guidance on issues like blood transfusions and some

surgery. Our Health can tell us more.

This report, due to be published tomorrow morning, is by Action

Against Medical Accidents. It shows how well or not Welsh house --

health board's response to safety alerts. The figures show not a

single health board in Wales was 100% compliant with these alerts,

as they are meant to be. Some health board complied with less

than 50%. The Welsh government requires alerts to be dealt with in

a timely way, but in one case, the report was five years over do.

Safety is a cornerstone of the modern NHS and when things go wrong,

alerts are sent out to help other hospitals avoid making the same

mistakes. But information supplied by the Welsh government shows

health boards in Wales are routinely slow to respond. All

seven have failed to fully implement and alert on the use of

oxygen cylinders which should have been completed over one year ago.

Guidance on reducing harm from delayed and admitted that medicine

has not been fully implemented by six out of seven. Likewise, an

alert on emergency blood transfusions had only been fully

implemented in one part of Wales. All of the patient safety alerts

are vitally important. There are life and death issues. They are

only issued about the most important issues, which repeatedly

caused harm or even death in the NHS. Not complying by the deadline

with ace patient safety and it is putting patients at an unnecessary

risk. They are vitally important. The Health Minister Lesley

Griffiths was on the wards in Merthyr Tydfil today, an area with

one of the lowest compliance rate in Wales. She refused a request to

discuss the report, but the health board say they take the end it

Seriously, with some yet to be completed only awaiting final

documentation. What should we make of these

overdue alerts? Is it just day-case of paperwork not be incomplete or

something far more, -- fundamental? The Welsh Government say the

figures are not necessarily incorrect but to not reflect the

work being done to ensure patient safety compliance. The situation

she is not that different to England where some trusts are also

failing to respond. It seems the NHS is failing to heed their bill

health warnings. The Vale of Glamorgan council has

lost its legal fight to save Barry magistrates court from closure. The

council used a judicial review to question the decision, but in the

concluding a judgment, it was noted that even know the case was

important for the people of Paris, there was nothing illegal about the

decision. The contest to become the next

leader of the Conservative Party in Wales has seen Angela Burns give

his backing to Nick Ramsay. Supporters of his rival art --

Andrew RT Davies says he has the momentum. Ballot papers will be

sent out to members tomorrow. And with details of what's coming

up on Dragons Eye, here's Felicity Evans.

The two men who want to lead to the party go ahead to head it tonight.

Join me for Dragons eye. A couple in Cardiff a court fled

the violence and Libya have been charged more than �1,200 for their

baby to be delivered in a Welsh hospital, even though the baby's

father is a British citizen. Jamal Teer and his Libyan wife were

airlifted out of Tripoli as part of the Foreign Office evacuation.

Five-week-old Nabeel was born in Cardiff just like his father and

grandmother before him. But when he was delivered by emergency

caesarean-section last month, the NHS also delivered his parents a

bill for �1255.After graduating from the University of Glamorgan,

Jamal had been unable to find work here, so thought he'd try his luck

in his father's homeland of Libya. But when unrest against the Gaddafi

regime broke out, Jamal says he and his heavily pregnant Libyan wife

Nayrouz were forced to flee in fear of their lives to Cardiff. However,

after Nabeel's birth here, Jamal says he was astounded to receive a

bill from the NHS. There must have been missed communication. But they

really looked into the scenario of my case, it is not a matter of me

trying to beat the system. At the end of the day, the baby is British.

My wife is foreign, I understand that. But I had no chance. --

choice. And then to send me a bill, that was just a laugh. I was really

disappointed. In a statement, Cardiff and Vale

University Health Board say that people who do not normally live in

the UK are usually required to pay for NHS treatment. Health

economists say the rules are in place to discourage so-called

health tourism where people from abroad arrive here hoping for free

treatment, but the rules are complicated. We pay for health

through our taxation. When we receive services, they are free at

the point of delivery. The residency requirement Mansell quite

complicated. If you have been here for 12 months, you were entitled.

If you came here to work, you were entitled. It is a quite complex

situation in terms of determining whether somebody is entitled to

free NHS care. Jamal's MP has now raised the

matter in Parliament, convinced there's been a mistake. In earlier

examples of this, when the UK government have been clear that

ukase that since coming into the country should be treated as if

they are permanently resident, then they can get NHS treatment for

nothing. I think that is what should have happened in this case.

The Welsh Assembly Government say they have sympathy with the couple.

They say there are occasions when people may be exempt from charges

and it is for the NHS to ensure that they have taken the exact

circumstances into account before applying the rules.

The sister of Richey Edwards has given evidence to the UK's first

parliamentary inquiry into missing people. Rachel Elias, whose brother

was a member of the Manic Street Preachers, wants to make it easier

for the families of missing people to settle their affairs.

United in grief and frustration on an important and wet day at

Westminster. Richey Edwards sister Rachel Elias joined other relatives

of missing people to press for a change in the law. Richey Edwards,

guitarist and songwriter with the manic Street Preachers disappear

and to -- in February 1995. His car was found near the Severn Bridge.

His body was never discovered, but the band continued to pay royalties

to an account in his name. His family were unable to take control

of his estate until he was officially declared dead at 30

years later. The bureaucracy added to the crease. There is no

automatic process that a family can fall into when they are faced with

trying to wind up a loved one's legal affairs. That is what we are

here today to ensure that happens. We hope that by doing what we are

doing today, we can help future families Poirot already faced with

a difficult problem, if they can have a clear, simple, usable system

in regards to presumption of death. The charity says a new law would

make it easier to sort out a missing person's affairs. Because

there is no death certificate available when someone is presumed

dead, he won left having to trek through a succession of court

processes, a separate court process for and in your marriage, a

separate one for pro bait and a separate one if you wish to end

your financial affairs in other circumstances. The family's local

MP is sympathetic and supportive. Very often, a sister has -- a

solicitor has never dealt with issues like this. It was almost

like a crazy paving, the law. It needs a slab of concrete, something

right across the board. The charity and the families have

the change will bring pressure on Plenty still to come before 7

o'clock including - A step closer to getting their man. The latest on

Cardiff's bid to secure Watford's Malky Mackay.

20,000 head to Carmarthenshire for what is billed as Britain's biggest

Think deprivation in Wales and the cliched picture you get is of the

southwest eyes. There reporter today suggests that committees have

problems are far more widespread. The seaside village of Amlwch on

Anglesey is highlighted by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Roger

Pinney is in Amlwch now. It is pretty here this evening.

This is the porter. The village centre is just over there. The

Joseph Rowntree Foundation report says there is no such thing as a

typical deprived community. They may have similarities but the

problems in a place like this at different to those in inner-city

London. In tears there now, it is on his

knees. People living here are lucky to have a job here. See how many

jobs there are advertise it -- advertised for Amlwch. Why would

they come back here? There is nothing. Voices from Amlwch as

presented by Joseph Rowntree Foundation. They paint a picture of

a community in decline. All very depressing. In truth, I have never

thought of Amlwch as a depressing place. Perhaps looks can be

deceptive. Jobs and cash are in short supply. Statistically this is

a deprived community. Amlwch doesn't fit the identikit picture

of deprivation. They call this a youth club for the over-fifties, it

meets in the Memorial Hall. There is something on here every week day.

The UK Government talks about the big society to mend broken

communities but the view here means that Amlwch may be economically

deprived but broken it is not. see the better side of Amlwch.

People want to join in, they enjoy each other's companies. We provide

a place for people to meet and chat. Have you have fun-year-old port

from the sea, time was when the export of copper was big business

here. In recent years the economic problems have been well-documented.

The large local employer closed a decade ago. In the village centre I

met two local people with conflicting views of life here.

People say it is dying but I say it is dead. There is nothing here.

have got enough shops here, we have local businesses that sponsor

things that we want to do. We are more deprived of many more than

anything. It isn't a question of the South Wales Valleys. Back at

the Memorial Hall, it is time for the keep-fit class. The message

from Dom-year-old and Joseph Rowntree Foundation is not all

deprived areas at the same. There is a notion that all low income

areas and deprived. Joseph Rowntree Foundation points out not all are.

Here there is a sense that there is a community spirit. There are big

problems here, in terms of unemployment. The report says those

problems need to be tackled. Football. Cardiff City have moved a

step closer to appointing Malcolm McKay as their manager. Watford

have given him persists -- permission to speak to the

Bluebirds. Ashleigh Crowter is that they Cardiff City Stadium. Is it

just a matter of time? Things have taken a big step

forward today. It would be no surprise if at some point to the

next 24 hours or so Cardiff City were able to name Malky Mackay as

their new manager. What third reluctantly granted him permission

to speak to Cardiff City. -- Watford. Cardiff and Watford would

have had to thrash out a compensation deal in their hundreds

of thousands. That has paved the way for these tock to carry on.

Malky Mackay was very keen to talk to Cardiff City. They need to get a

man to replace Dave Jones. Let's talk to a blue big fan. Do you

think he is a good manager for Cardiff City? I have no idea. He

has done a good job at Watford. Here he is starting from scratch.

There aren't many players for him to deal with. It is going to be an

interesting job for him but you have got to hope that he will do a

good job because his track record ain't bad. He is not a big name.

Alan Shearer came into the frame yesterday the stock are you glad

that it is rocky McKay and not Alan Shearer? The whole thing has been a

caution with Malky Mackay. It would not surprise me if they were

scrapping around for somebody else. It is a relatively cautious but

sensible appointment. Find you very much for joining us this evening.

Talks are continuing this evening was a want our politicians tonight

and tomorrow morning and we will bring you any update on this story.

-- watch our bulletins tonight. Glamorgan have approached Hampshire

for Simon Jones was up he began his playing career with the Welsh

county. He suffered a number of serious injuries and starring in

the 2005 Ashes series. At the national swimming

championships, Georgia Davies and Marco Loughran get another chance

tonight to qualify for the British team for next month's's would have

been chips. Tom Haffield also goes in the final of the 400 metre

medley where he was fastest in qualifying.

More than 20,000 people are expected to flock to Pembrey

Country Park near Llanelli for what is being billed as Britain's

biggest didn't festival. This is the second year Beach Break Live

has come from Wales. It attracted controversy last year with some

local people worried about potential trouble. But police said

the majority of festival-goers were well behaved and fewer arrests were

made. The gates are open and by the

weekend this place will be thronging with 1,000 or of students.

The organisers say they have laid to rest any lingering fears of the

festival. It is normal that when an event

comes to my idea for people to be concerned about the impact. People

are worried that noise, sound. They are worried on impact to the park.

The event can be run very well here with minimal disruption. It was not

just the potential for noise and mess the protesters objected to.

Last year opponents of the festival said it had done done enough to

benefit the Carmarthenshire economy. The organisers had disagreed with

this saying they have been keen to engage with local businesses and

Traders. Around 250,000 meals are expected to be eaten here. Most of

the vendors have been encouraged to buy from a local wholesaler who in

turn, has bought from local producers. Physio, 15 local traders

from craft shops to masseurs have been invited to set up here free of

charge. One of those who have secured a pitch is Sewards fruit

shop. It is fair that local businesses have a chance. We should

have the opportunity and hopefully though if the sun is shining our

people will want eat fruit. Whether they will be eating fruit or not is

one thing. People are getting excited. The atmosphere is so

unique, people are so friendly. It is good for the local economy. For

I am local. It is brilliant. Everyone here is looking forward to

four days of music and fun and hoping the sun will continue to

shine. Then, a festival would not be a festival without a little bit

of rain and mud. The sea temperatures are quite cold

they stopped from Pembury to Carmarthenshire. Ffos Las

racecourse has a lot of Blitz and glamour tonight, it is ladies'

night. It is all change again tomorrow. There is more rain on the

way and stronger winds as well. There's a trough of low pressure

moving in from the Atlantic. We're dry weather tonight's but with a

scattering of showers. Few local up -- crossover the mountains. Here is

tomorrow's chart. The low pressure swinging north east would and that

mean means a wind and rain. Wrexham may start off dry but it will not

last, rain is likely in the north. That rain extending down the west

coast into Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and into Swansea.

Acer the leeway and will be picking up as well. We will all see some

rain. Some heavy bursts over the Brecon Beacons. Reprise will become

strong on exposed mountains and hills. -- the breeze. In Ceredigion,

turning once, brisk and gusty winds. Temperatures in Plwmp 14 degrees

Tomorrow evening looks wet, then drain well clear. Blustery showers

following. That takes us into Saturday. Cool and breezy and

blustery showers. Some of them heavy. A strong wind on the Bristol

channel. Yes, it is June. Sunday looks better but on the whole, dry

and bright with some sunshine and less windy. Sunday the best day of

the weekend. Our picture tonight. Rain tomorrow but at least the

pollen count will be lower. The gardens in Merthyr Tydfil and

opening up for charity On Sunday. It should be tried with a bit of

It is coming up to 7 o'clock. Tonight's headlines. Retail sales

fell by eight twice as much as expected last month as shoppers cut

back. The shadow Chancellor says it is time for emergency action, a cut

in VAT. Here in Wales, firefighters are tackling a major fire in

Swansea which has led to the closure of one of the main routes

out of the city causing traffic chaos. The blaze is at the former

Mettoys site in Fforestfach. Local people are being urged to stay

indoors. A about 1pm, you could see nothing.

At 2 o'clock it wasn't too bad. It is getting worse again. I couldn't

get in, the roads were blocked. There is police and the bottom,

police on the top. Let's return to our reporter in

Fforestfach. Since we heard the news coming in, you have been there.

What is the latest's as you can see there is still a thick, black cloud

no smoke covering Fforestfach and the surrounding area. I have been

down to the industrial estate. People are walking around covering

their faces and mouths. They are trying to protect themselves from

the smog. People told me the fire broke out at an old factory which

they believe was being used to store shredded tyres. That is where

the fire broke out. The problem is with a rubber fire, it is difficult

to tackle with water. It has started to rain here. That could

make things a lot worse. Back to you.