10/08/2011 BBC Wales Today

Hello. Welcome to Wales Today. Tonight's top stories:

A strong Welsh police presence on the streets of England. Welsh MPs

call for a re-think on any funding Also tonight:

The tills aren't ringing. Businesses in South Wales say sales

are worryingly slow. The underwater plant with potential

power. Could seaweed be fuelling our homes of the future?

Left derelict and neglected, but the wheels are turning again after

50 years. The watermill brought back to life.

And we're live at the Cardiff City Stadium where Wales are looking for

a second win on the bounce against Good evening. There are calls

tonight for a rethink over plans to cut the number of police in Wales.

More than 1300 jobs, front-line officers and civilian staff, are

expected to go in the next four years. Opposition politicians say

the cutting numbers here would be a mistake. All four Welsh police

forces have sent officers to London and other cities to try to contain

the violence. Shutting up shop. Some stores in

Cardiff, including this jewellers are not taking any chances. They

have been closing early for the FA -- for the past few days. South

Wales police have been very good. They have given us a lot of

intelligence and a lot of recommendations on how we should

deal if we have any rioting or disturbances. But it is business as

usual for many retailers. The riots may not have reached Wales but the

debate over their cause and how to prevent them certainly has. All

against a backdrop of government spending cuts. Be inspected of

Constabulary estimates that within four years, there will be 764 fewer

police officers in Wales. More than 500 civilian police jobs will be

lost. Labour put the figure is higher. We have always said that

these cuts were coming too fast. They were deeper than necessary. It

gives enormous problems to the police in having to try to maintain

the services and the response that the public expect. The UK

government says it is possible to cut police funding and numbers

without cutting the front line. The organisation which represents

police officers in North Wales disagrees. We have a set number of

police officers. We have sent officers to London and Manchester.

This is the time for the government to see the importance of

maintaining a police officers. Officers from Welsh forces are

currently helping the Metropolitan Police on the streets of London.

Tomorrow, Welsh MPs will join colleagues to debate the

disturbances in Parliament. important thing is that the debate

surrounds why this is happening, the economic and social problems we

have in the UK and the future direction of fiscal policy and the

effect it might have one hour society rather than just

concentrate on what has happened in the past few days. One Welsh

backbencher will have first-hand experience to report. The Monmouth

NP8 returned from holiday today to report to the front line. He is a

volunteer special constable. We can hear from David now. Is there any

chance the government will think again on police funding? Not if

David Cameron sticks to his guns. Hottie is saying today is that he

has asked the police if they need more resources and they have told

him they have enough. He understands the demands for extra

money for the police and for the campaign to stop the cats, but the

government's position is that it is possible to cut but it -- to cut

but the funding and the number of police officers but not to harm

services on the front line. The government argues you can do other

things by changing the working practices of the police, changing

of the ways in which they are funded and the way in which they

operate. That can actually mean that although less money is spent

on the police, the services to the public are still as strong as ever.

It is a very difficult political argument for the Prime Minister to

win at a time when police forces are stretched and the Metropolitan

Police are relying on the four Welsh police forces to help it

police the streets of London. Tomorrow, can we expect a full

turnout of Welsh MPs? Most Welsh MPs. Normal people in August are

enjoying a holiday and we have done a ring around today and I can tell

you that at least three quarters of the 40 Labour MPs -- of the 40

Welsh Labour MPs will be here tomorrow. They are cutting short

their holidays, delaying the holidays. They want to be here.

Although so far the disturbances have been confined to English

streets, MPs will be talking about wider issues, about the social

problems that mind -- but the social problems that may lie behind

these issues. David Davies will want to have his say. He has got

very strong views on how the police operate. By the time is be tomorrow,

the MPs will be sure from 11am and will finish after eight hours of

debate. Many businesses here say sales have

been down during the last few months. The South Wales Chamber of

Commerce surveyed almost 3,000 small and medium businesses and

said it was partly down to the longer Easter break and the Royal

wedding. Today, the Bank of England said inflation could rise to five

percent by the end of the year and lowered its forecast for growth.

It was supposed to be a cause for national celebration. A bonus day

off and a moment to distract us from the surrounding financial

gloom. Now it seems the Royal Wedding is being cited by companies

as a reason that Welsh businesses grew more slowly than expected in

the second quarter of the year. In a survey of 2,800 small and medium-

sized businesses carried out by the South Wales Chamber of Commerce, it

was found that in Swansea, 34% of company said sales had fallen. In

Newport, 28% of firms said sales had dropped and in Cardiff, 21% of

companies said their sales had dropped. This man has been running

his training camp in Swansea for 20 years and has noticed a fall in

business. He agrees the Royal Wedding did not have the figures

but says there are four more important underlying issues. One of

the latest forecast, which are slightly under -- slightly

overblown, say that most Welsh businesses say they do not think

there will be in business in two years. In my view, there are

certainly not optimism of a sustained kind in companies with in

Swansea in any sector. The survey also showed that more than three

quarters of businesses reported no export activity and that is

something that business analysts say it must change if we are to

improve the Welsh economy. markets that we need to be looking

to and the government could properly assist in terms of helping

access those markets are going to Asia more generally because that is

the part of the world that is still growing reasonably quickly. In the

short term, the hoping Swansea at least is that football and

Swansea's promotion to the Premier League and a boost business. Any

longer term, companies here are just as dependent on the wider

economic picture as the rest of the company. -- country. Today, the

Bank of England's lowered its forecast for growth. It is believed

inflation could rise to 5%. The health board is currently

trying to trace former workers to offer screening tests. As many as

30 people may have been affected. The trust became aware of the

problem when it took over as boss stability for Bronglais Hospital in

2009. It realised the asbestos in the building had not been managed

as strictly as it should have been. An investigation was launched which

led to today's findings. Despite the news, the Trust is keen to

stress that there is no risk to patients or members of the public.

Our first priority is the welfare of our staff. It is regrettable

that some of our staff have not been -- have been potentially

exposed to asbestos. We are offering them screening. We want to

make sure that they have that opportunity to be seen by our

occupational health team and following that prices, we will

offer them all the support necessary. Asbestos was a proper --

poplar building material because of its strength and resistance to heat.

But expose its share to it over a long period of time can lead to all

kinds of health problems, was commonly lung cancer. It has been

banned in the UK building trade since the mid- 1980s but remains in

as many as half a million public and commercial buildings year. The

Hywel Dda Health Board says systems have been put in place to prevent

still ahead: We know their strength in rugby but how will Wales cope

with the Socceroos tonight? And it has not worked for 50 years.

The mill finally turning back the crop -- the clock.

Hundreds of Welsh soldiers are about to finish their training in

Wiltshire ETA -- ahead of a tour of Afghanistan. The Queen's Dragoon

Guards will be concentrating on training the Afghan army. We have

watched them being put through their paces.

It is a three-week exercise for the Queen's Dragoon Guards. And a few

months, they will take on the Taliban for real. The Welsh Cavalry

will be in a number of roles including watching over patrols

like this with the Afghan national army. Four troopers Trooper Thomas

Warner and Trooper Joel Edwards, this will be their first tour of

duty. I will be the driver. By will be going out on patrols and to

providing help for the infantry. Just having a look around the area.

Looking out as far as we can. Welsh Cavalry were in Helmand

Province two years ago. This time, the emphasis will be on getting the

after an army to take the lead. previous dollars, they have left us

do the job but now they're trying to get the Afghan civil to see if

we can get the more care -- capable of doing the task we have been

doing. British afghans and former Gurkhas are playing the role of

civilians and Afghan army and police for this training exercise.

They have even built a Helmand Province style village. British

Army foot patrols out with the Afghan counterparts are becoming

smaller to encourage them to take the lead. Sergeant Jason Davies

will be spending a lot of time with his Afghan trainees. This time, I

am part of a two man team. I am advising around 60 Afghan national

army. I will be training them in the afternoons. I will be having a

game of football with them, Rigby, because the World Cup will be on.

We will be doing medical training, mine clearing, cleaning the rifles,

cleaning weapons, looking after their kit. Trying to educate them

slightly in the things that if they look after something, it will last

longer. It is highly important to train how to deal with mines and

other explosive devices. They have caused a huge proportion of British

fatalities so far and continue to pose a real threat to international

Seaweed. Could it be the answer to our future energy needs?

Researchers at Aberystwyth University have been looking at how

kelp can be used to produce fuel. Cemlyn Davies is on the beach for

us tonight. Now, as you can see, there's no

lack of seaweed in this part of the world. Most of this stuff is what's

called egg wrack but, out there in Cardigan Bay, there's an abundance

of kelp. You can only get to it when the tide's out but that's

exactly where the researchers from Aberystwyth University have been

gathering their samples. I come down to the beach once a

month. Dr Jessica Adams makes another treacherous journey to the

heart of Cardigan Bay. She has been looking at how this underwater

plant can produce fuel. One of the big problems with most of the pile

fills we made today is that they come from land plants, particularly

ones we eat like maize and week. Seaweed, we don't really eat, apart

from here in Wales. It is not taking a bland. P kelp is a freeze-

dried and made into a powder ready for the next step. In a

fermentation, you have got your dry seaweed and some water. You have

also got some East and that uses the sugars in the seaweed to

produce the ethanol which can then be used as fuel. The research at

Aberystwyth University is part of a wider �20 million project. As well

as creating by a fills, the Beacons programme looks at ways of

producing everyday things like clothes and cosmetics without using

oil. It was Wales right at the head of some of this research. That is

obviously important but, more globally, if you think about

climate change, we are trying to encourage organisations to move

away from using oil and use some of those chemicals we can get from

plants. As the research into ways of combating climate change

continues, Jessica's may not be the only findings making a splash.

If I am joined by Dr Jessica Adams. It is possible to create by your

fuel from seaweed but how realistic is it that one day we will be using

seaweed to power our homes and our cars? Realistically, if that was

the only thing we were using the seaweed for, I am not quite sure it

would be viable, at least in the near future, just because of the

economics. What needs to happen for us to get to that point? It is part

of this new project that we are doing with the idea is to take out

high-value products from the sea weed and the residues that were

left over can be used. That way it could become viable. You have also

established what the best time of year is to be harvesting the kelp.

Yes, we have discovered that in the summer, there is the highest level

of the carbohydrates which can be used for making ethanol. We also

found that they have the lowest level of metals in the seaweed at

that time and that also has an effect. And for you, this project

is coming to an end. What is next for you? Taking on, extracting new

and interesting chemicals which can be used in a range of different

cosmetics and pharmaceutical uses. Looking at the residues and whether

we can do useful things with that as well. And that is something

Aberystwyth University will be doing? Yes, on seaweed and a range

of other plants. Thank you very much for joining us.

Wrexham Football Club will play its first match of the football season

this Saturday after fans forked out �100,000 to help pay an outstanding

bond. The Football Conference confirmed the Dragons match against

Cambridge United will go ahead as planned. Using social network sites

to mobilise support, the Racecourse faithful raised the six figure sum

in just seven hours. They all got involved and then it

took a life of its own. To see people coming down and phoning from

all over the world as well, someone from Canada. Fantastic. But whether

it is �100, �1 or �10,000, it is the act of people putting their

money in to help save the football club and moving it forward.

Sport now, and the Premier League starts this weekend, so maybe

tonight isn't the ideal time for an international friendly. But that's

what we've got. It's Wales against Australia at the Cardiff City

Stadium and Ashleigh's there for us. Well, we've been used to seeing a

spate of withdrawals before recent friendly matches. But it's a sign

of the team spirit that Gary Speed is building that the likes of Bale,

Ramsey and Bellamy have all turned up to play in tonight's match

against the Socceroos, even though the start of the Premier League is

only a few days away. But Gary Speed is well aware there'll be a

few club managers watching tonight. Already we feel we have done some

good work with the boys. It is important to us but I understand

their point of view. I have spoken to a lot of them on the phone so

with the communication is there between the managers and we will

make sure we look after all our pick -- players.

With the Premier League only three or four days away, we are joined by

a Iwan Roberts. What does that say about the spirit that is building?

I think it is a really positive sign for Gary Speed that they are

fully behind him. They really want to take Wales forward now. We have

got to start climbing up those rankings. The only way we can do

that is by winning games. The team we have got out tonight and the

players Gary Speed has got at his disposal, I can see us doing that.

Craig Bellamy's future is still at India. Do you think he will want to

put himself in the shop window tonight? It is a great chance for

Craig. He did not go away pre- season with Manchester City. He

does not want to go to Celtic. Sunderland have put a bid in for

him but he has stated he was to come back to Cardiff. It is a great

platform to show what he can do although we all know what Craig can

do. A big month coming up for Wales with a game at Wembley very shortly.

But this will be a tough test tonight. They are a good side. They

qualify for World Cups on a regular basis. They have got players

playing in the top leagues all over Europe. They are 23rd in the

rankings so they are a decent side and it will be a tough test. It is

important that we build on the victory be got over Northern

Ireland in May. Two victories on the spin, that will do confidence

the world of good. Any chance Wales could get a second one on the trot?

I think we can, especially with the team we have got out. We will take

the game to them and get a positive result.

We'll update you on the result in our bulletin at 10:25pm and let you

know what happened in Cardiff's Carling Cup first round match at

Oxford. And don't forget that tomorrow we'll find out the Wales

rugby team to face England on Saturday. Will Henson be in or out?

Find out in our lunchtime programme at 1:30pm tomorrow. Certainly

plenty to look forward to, Claire. An 18th Century watermill in Powys

has re-opened today after a �400,000 renovation. The derelict

Melin Talgarth was restored as part of a lottery funded Village SOS

Scheme aimed at reviving countryside locations around the UK.

From Talgarth, here's Craig Duggan. Turning again for the first time in

65 years, Melin Talgarth. Last year, it when the big lottery award and

this is the culmination of a �400,000 lottery-funded project

which it is hoped will breathe new life into the community. There was

no inner workings in the mill, it was completely broken down. It has

all been beautifully restored, by volunteers a lot of it. Now we see

an absolutely gorgeous buildings. With an official opening, for

people of a Talgarth could look back on 12 months of very hard work.

The flower it now produces is used to make bread in the milk's cafe.

For the local man who built the new workings, it is a cause of great

pride. This is the first time I have actually done the whole

project. We have restored mills but we have not restore them to fulfil

a function. They have been restored for exhibits in museums. This time

we are producing flour which is used in the bakery to produce the

bread they are using in the cafe. It is the whole circle. The story

of the transformation was filmed as the BBC joined the lottery fund in

the project. While this project is nearing completion, other doors are

opening. Advice is available on their website for other communities

who want to embark on similar projects and more money is

available. Lots of information, good examples, pressed practice,

advice, but we are also launching a 5 million pound fund as a

competition so we can pick some good ideas for more villages that

want to take this journey and give them a small grants to smart --

start them on their way. We hope this is a beginning. The story can

be seen tonight on BBC One Wales at 8pm.

Right, I think it's brollies at the ready. Behnaz has the forecast. A

Let's take a look at a live shot of Aberystwyth. It is very windy. Also

some rain. Let's take a look at the forecast for this evening. Wet and

windy conditions to come up for all of us but, at the moment, much of

the wet weather seems to be across parts of North Wales. The a weather

warning has been issued. There is a risk of localised flooding. Much of

the wet weather across North Wales, spreading into the West as we go

through this evening. Late-evening, reaching parts of the East. It's

very wet night in store and windy conditions. Temperatures are

holding up, ranging between 15 and 16 degrees Celsius. We have got an

area of low pressure tomorrow morning across parts of North Wales

and another across the Atlantic. First thing tomorrow morning, the

rain will clear through quite quickly and then we have got a lot

of cloud and a few showers into the afternoon. The wind and lighter

than today but still noticeable across the coast. Feeling rather

humid tomorrow and in the evening, a much quieter night. Remaining

cloudy and rather mild. It will stay Raji dry -- largely dry.

Friday will be largely dry and rather humid and then we will see a

band of rain making its way in from the West as we go into the early

hours of Saturday. The best day of It's almost 7pm. The main news

again from the BBC: The Prime Minister has declared a

fightback against the rioters who've been wreaking havoc in

cities across England for the past four nights. Today, David Cameron

vowed that the violence would be stopped and said he would not allow

a culture of fear to exist on our streets.

There are pockets of our society that are not just broken but,

frankly, sick. When we see children as Ian as 12 and 13 looting and

laughing, when we see the disgusting sight of an injured

young man with people pretending to help him while they are robbing him,