20/09/2011 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. Our top story tonight: Lots of babies. But

a warning tonight that we don't have enough midwives to keep up

with our rising birth rate. You could have a midwife looking

after two women, while undertaking other tasks. That is far from a

parapet and actually could be Our other headlines tonight: One of

our most successful sportsmen Simon Richardson speaks for the first

time since his terrible accident. Will he still make London 2012?

There is no way I would have thought it would take me two years

to get me where I was. They're already opening the

Champagne on Anglesey. But will the country's new enterprise zones

really make a difference? Nick Clegg tells us the coalition

deal did cost the Liberal Democrats votes in Wales.

And, a room with a view. Skokholm Good evening. So many babies, but a

warning tonight that we don't have enough midwives to cope with our

increasing birth rate. The warning comes a day after the

Welsh Government published its maternity strategy. The Royal

College of Midwives says that an extra 136 midwives are needed to

cope with the baby boom. That's a 10% increase. Over the last ten

years, live births have risen by 19%, to nearly 36,000 in 2010. The

Welsh Government says it's surprised by the claims.

I would like to save... discussing the maternity is

Treasury in the Assembly Chamber, the normal cut and thrust of

politics was set aside. The North Wales Assembly member argued any

reorganisation must take into account rural issues. This she said

came too late for her. She described losing her five-year-old

baby boy in 2009. Her I am sorry... I had to wait for over 30 minutes

and do mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage on my baby before

an ambulance arrived. I had to sit in the ambulance while it took 30

minutes to get to the hospital. At that stage, that critical hour had

passed. And I do not want any other mother in Wales to have to go

through what I went through. I am sorry I am upset. The Welsh

government has just issued a brand new McEntee strategy, they want a

midwife to have a far wider role including educating pregnant women

as well as those who are planning to start a family. This would

include raising the number of women who breast-feed, and teaching about

the dangers of drinking, smoking and obesity during pregnancy. At

this Mother and Baby Club in Cardiff, they know full well what

maternity services in Wales are like. The care beforehand is fine

actually. Straight afterwards, I think I could have had a bit more

midwife visits for care. I had a lot of attention all the way

through Labour, and pregnancy. Some of my friends were not so lucky. I

had an amazing experience. According to the Royal College of

Midwives, there has been a baby boom over the last nine years.

36,000 babies in the last year were born in Wales, and 19% increase

over 2002. They claim there are fewer midwives than two years ago.

It is a break-up call. We now see there are fewer midwives being

trained. Could our numbers are going down. It means there could be

fewer midwives to provide the care we feel is appropriate for women in

Wales. There are other issues around the 20 services. This two-

year-old was born three months premature. His mother was rushed to

a specialist maternity unit which could now be moved. 30 miles away.

My local hospital is only 10 minutes from here. I just think I

should be able to go to the hospital of my choice and have

services provided at that hospital, and not be sent somewhere else

where I do not know the staff. Nicolette is now expected another

little brother or sister. She was the best service to be available as

close to her as possible. Over the next month she will find out if

that is possible. Let's talk to our political editor, Betsan Powys.

Arwyn referred to health cuts as a complicated and controversial issue.

How will this new, independent group of experts help?

This announcement from the government about a body of experts

who will scrutinise the plans of local health boards, you could

argue they will help by taking the flak, standing between the minister

and some difficult, nasty decisions which will have to be taken. If

Leslie Griffiths can point to this board of experts and say, they are

the experts, telling me this is the right way forward, the best way

forward for this local health board, then I am listening to them. Are

you saying they are wrong? The tactic is to shoot the opposition,

but the position is saying the minister is being cowardly and not

taking her responsibilities. We will soon hear her say she is not

shirking Harris was pities and is a where the buck stops with her.

Health was the issue that dominated questions to the first Minister

this afternoon. Emotional speeches, and feisty debate about budgets,

promises, who will make the cuts in Wales and England. Today was the

first opportunity for the new Conservative leader to take on the

First Minister. The new Leader of the Opposition,

his first chance to put the First Minister on the spot. Andrew RT

Davies says he is a cuddly conservative. He is known for his

no-nonsense approach, something Tory members hope will rattle the

Cabinet. With a series of announcements from the Welsh

government since they last met, Andrew RT Davies had plenty of

material. The he chose to attack Carwyn Jones over NHS cuts, and a

report suggesting 1,200 nurses could lose their jobs. If we were

the government, we would be protecting the Welsh health service,

not inflicting �1 million of cuts that your government is inflicting

on the Welsh health service. First Minister might be facing a

new rival but he deployed a familiar argument. Never mind what

the Welsh Conservatives say in the Assembly, look what they do in

power at Westminster. We talk of transparency. This government is a

beacon of transparency, as opposed to the cat pleasures we get from

the Tories. They say we have increased health spending by �1

billion, they never say where that money will come from. One session

of questions does not change the political landscape. But there was

a new edge to today's exchanges. With tough decisions coming up in

the Budget, the argument over what should be cut and what should not

is only going to intensify. Before those feisty exchanges,

there was a minute's silence observed in the Assembly chamber in

memory of the four men who died in Flags flew at half mast, and

members from all parties sent their condolences to the bereaved

families and paid tribute to the I went to bend the rescue team,

made up in the main of those working in the Neath Valley. I

thank them for the work they were put in in. One said, it is not a

question of being thanked, there is one man down there, 62 years old.

If he is prepared to go down there and work at 62, I am prepared to

find him and I will carry on until I do find him. For me, that summed

up in a few short sentences the determination of the mine's rescue

teams and all the other people who were there who put so much effort

into finding the men. An emotional day in the Assembly,

to kick off a term where there's no doubt there's be an edge and an

intensity to the debate. The Welsh Government is sending in

consultants to Pembrokeshire Council to resolve its shortcomings.

The board will look at how it can improve child protection, and will

also look at how it's run. The move follows two highly critical reports

into education and child abuse allegations in the county.

He's one of our most successful Paralympians who had big dreams for

London 2012. But those ambitions were crushed last month when he was

knocked from his bike. Simon Richardson has spoken for the first

time today since the accident that left him fighting for his life. He

spoke to Claire Summers. What did he say?

This is a man who knows how to fight. He's overcome huge odds

before, and the list of injuries he suffered five weeks ago, and how's

he's coped with them, is staggering. Today, he told me he doesn't

remember what happened. But he knows he's lucky to be alive.

Come they first trip away from home for some and since he left hospital.

For him and his wife, the last few weeks have been incredibly

difficult. He in myself, I am in a lot of pain. Especially in my back.

Or the pelvis. I spend a lot of time in bed, lying down to rest my

back. The ASDA and left Simon fighting for his life. The 44-year-

old was hit by a van while on his bike. He suffered multiple injuries

including fractures to his spine, a broken pelvis and a detached long.

He still today has blood clots on his lung and breathing is still

uncomfortable. Take us back to the morning of the

accident, can you remember? only thing I remember his I was

meeting someone to train. I had a text from them. Say they couldn't

make it. I went on to the road for a change. I never go up that way at

all. Simons led was also severely injured as the bike snapped the

metal fibre going through it. When he got to hospital he was heavily

sedated. I had no idea where I was. Again no I was in an accident.

Sterry was it waking up like that? It was quite terrifying. I was

having dreams through the unconscious bits. To wake up and

realise you have lost at least two weeks is terrifying. The day they

gave me back his wedding ring, that was the day I was thinking, this

isn't right, there is something wrong. I said, don't be daft, it's

because his hands are swollen. This was day 10. I thought, I am being

silly. I went home and cried. accident was all the more

distressing for his family, as he was involved in a serious crash 10

years ago which their tempo and that the disabled. Cycling was

recommended by doctors to help his rehabilitation. He went on to win

two gold medals and his silver. When I came back, and never had any

support. I had a big accident. The support has been worldwide. The how

long now is the recovery? The Paralympics next year, is that out

of the question? There is no way. It will take me at least two years

to get anywhere near where I was. I can forget it. How will you feel

getting back on to a bike? first few miles... I have only ever

be up the road where my accident was in 2001, once. A lot of people

dwell on assistance. You have to be He does not want to dwell on what

has happened. He goes back to Wasperton at the end of the month.

He will see if he needs another operation on his broken back. If he

they decide to operate, that will delay at by some time. But he is

making some plans. He is setting up a safety campaign and then he is

hoping to cycles 600 miles in six days for the air ambulance service.

His wife is an absolute rock. It may taking a few years to get back

to full fitness but he is determined. Good luck to him.

We wish him well. Much more to come before 7pm.

The neighbours are birds and seals. The bid to buy the lighthouse on

this Pembrokeshire island. The coalition with the

Conservatives at Westminster cost the Liberal Democrats votes in the

National Assembly elections last May. That's what the Deputy Prime

Minister Nick Clegg said today. But he told Wales Today that the Lib

Dems would bounce back in next year's council elections. Live to

our Parliamentary Correspondent, David Cornock, at the party

conference in Birmingham. The Liberal Democrats may only have

lost one seat in the assembly elections four months ago but their

share of the vote slumped. 17 candidates did so badly that they

lost their deposits. I asked Nick Clegg whether he felt personally

responsible. Clearly, we took a knock in all kinds of elections,

not just in Wales. I think that is partly to do with economic

environment. People are uncertain and anxious and it is partly to do

with us entering into a coalition government with the Conservatives,

they are not popular in some parts of the country, not least in parts

of Wales. Nick Clegg admitting that the coalition deal had cost the

Liberal Democrats votes. But the Conservatives did rather well in

those Assembly elections. How much influence to the Welsh

Liberal Democrats have really have -- really have at the top of the

party? That is a good question. There is a

commission looking at the way that the Welsh government is funded. We

are still looking for details. -- waiting for details. There is not a

single Welsh Liberal Democrats MP as a junior member. I put it to

Nick Clegg that Wales is being sidelined. I feel that is an

extraordinary thing to say. We have done more for Wales. Gordon Brown,

I do not think, even visited Wales. We have made announcements on all

kinds of things through to transport investment, projects,

setting up the commission. And as for that commission, we were

expecting it to have been announced by now. We will get the details

shortly but even the deputy prime minister does not seem to know the

date either. Thank you very much indeed. As we revealed on the

programme last night, the Welsh Government has set out plans to

create five enterprise zones. A number of companies in Anglesey,

Cardiff, Deeside, Ebbw Vale and St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan are

likely to benefit. Tonight there's been a furious response from

Newport council at being left out. But will the zones really make a

difference with limited funds available? Here's our Business

Correspondent, Nick Servini. The champagne has been flowing as

they celebrate enterprise zone status. After months of speculation,

they were named as one of five across the country. They will be

energy on Anglesey, financial services in Cardiff, advanced

manufacturing on Deeside, the car industry in Ebbw Vale and airin St

Athan. What is on offer? The initial sums

are small. Around �10 million for the first five years covering

business rate relief but there is likely to be more cash available

for tax breaks for companies that are expanding. The aim will also be

to bring in relaxed planning rules and training grants.

Among those that could receive some of these is this technology company

on the Deeside Industrial Park. The managing director of the firm

headed at a campaign for the status. The main benefit for him will be

protection against English zones. was worried that Warrington would

take the business away from here. I knew that a lot of business would

have migrated to those areas because of the incentives but now

there is a platform. But not everyone is happy. Newport council

says it is bitterly disappointed the city has been overlooked. The

Welsh Conservatives say the plan has been put together on the back

of a cigarette packet. There were always be winners and

losers. -- there will always be. This area in Cardiff hardly seems

in need of government assistance but the thinking is that this city

has already achieved a lot in attracting financial companies and

now they are going to use public money to try to give a boost to

something they know can be successful.

Whatever the advantages, these five zones will still face serious

challenges because of the tough economic climate. A review by the

BBC Trust of Radio Wales has found listeners value its coverage of

news and topical issues with 93% saying the station gave them a

better understanding of events. There are some criticisms it calls

on BBC bosses to look into greater FM coverage across Wales, which

affects the number of people who can listen and suggests the station

re-visit its editorial strategies to see whether more can be done to

boost appeal in north Wales. Radio Wales is doing very well

despite the fact that its distribution is patchy. That is an

area where we will be pressing very hard to see whether the answers can

be got for better distribution. And then there is a perception among

the viewers and it may only be a perception that we have to tackle

perceptions as well, that there is a kind of South Wales voice to

Radio Wales. I am really pleased with the review. Virtually every

listener that contributed believes that Radio Wales is good value for

money. We recognise that there are challenges in that, particularly

around representing the whole of Wales and we have a lot of work to

do but we are already working towards try to make the radio

station as relevant in North Wales as it is in South Wales.

Denbighshire businesswoman Stephanie Booth says she regrets

people lost their jobs when her hotel chain collapsed in July. In

her first broadcast interview since Llangollen Hotels went into

administration she says some of her creditors won't get their money

back. Four of her hotels are being sold and one was closed down.

Memories of the big day, but for Elizabeth Matthews from Pentre

Broughton near Wrexham, not all those memories are happy ones. Her

parents paid �800 for a reception at the Wynnstay Hotel owned by

Stephanie Booth. But with just three weeks to go the hotel was

closed with guests moved out and staff made redundant. How had to

tell all the guests that they had to go somewhere else. There was all

that sort of thing, all of the transport. Everything had to be

changed. I was basically reorganising the wedding that I had

organised months previously. was offered a reception at any of

the other hotels in the chain which were in administration but she was

worried they too might close down. Stephanie Booth says the

combination of losing out on a million pound loan and a �900,000

tax bill meant she had no option but to call in the administrators.

But despite her efforts not everyone will get their money back.

Customers should not lose anything. There are a few suppliers but they

tend to be the big ones. We looked after all the smaller people. The

only money outstanding was between July 1st have to the 8th, which the

government is paying for those people that were made redundant.

Barclays Bank has said Stephanie Booth's company had cash flow

issues, was overspending and under pressure from other creditors. She

says she regrets investing �1 million in a new hotel without

waiting for the bank to release the money and she's learned a valuable

lesson. When we started buying the freehold of hotels, they are very

expensive, we do not have that cash available, you have to borrow from

the banks. I regret... At until eight years ago, we had money in

the bank and we did not owe anybody anything. I regret borrowing and I

will never borrowed a single penny from any banks ever again.

Elizabeth Matthews had her reception at another hotel for a

further �900. She got her dream wedding even though she'd dreamed

of it happening somewhere else. Up for grabs. Amazing views, lots

of stairs, tricky access and the neighbours are Pembrokeshire's

seals and birds. Skokholm island's lighthouse is up for grabs and the

Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales hope to buy it as we as

trying to re-establish Britain's first bird observatory and attract

more visitors. More from our Environment Correspondent, Iolo ap

Dafydd. Skokholm I leant is a nature

reserve. It is harder to get to than the nearby islands. It helps

to preserve it as a -- an important haven for sea birds. By in the

lighthouse for �100,000 would give the trust more space for visitors

to stay overnight and greater environmental control. There are

about 2,800 birds on the plot of land. It is crucial that we can own

this bit of land because anybody could buy this lighthouse and they

could renovate the buildings and there could be rats in those

materials. That would devastate the island. Skokholm was Britain's

first bird observatory in 1933. Between the 35,000 nesting pairs of

Manx shearwaters and 120,000 pairs which nest just a few miles across

the bay, that amounts to half the world's population. No wonder that

Britain's first bird observatory was established here.

During the recent gales, hundreds of these birds have to be rescued

by local volunteers and the RSPCA. Those rescued birds have now been

released in Devon and off the ferries in the eye it -- I receive.

-- Irish Sea. They lost it in 1976 when they

stopped ringing on the island. There is a network of bird

observatories around the coast. Basically, you are keeping all the

records in a format which is acceptable and meets the standards

right around the country. Wildlife Trust's target is to raise

�250,000 to buy and renovate the lighthouse. Future visitors will

Steven see the light guiding yachts and tankers along the coastline,

some wild weather, as well as Time now for the weather forecast.

Tomorrow will be a better day of the Pembrokeshire coast. But before

that we have some rain to deal with. Most of it this evening in the

south and south-east. Rain clearing from Chepstow around midnight.

Lowest temperatures eight degrees Celsius. Tomorrow's chart shows low

pressure in the Iceland. The front that brought today's rain will be

over Kent. This is tomorrow morning. Much brighter than today. Better

visibility, apart from a couple of missed patches. A couple of showers

likely in the north. A freshening south-westerly wind on

the Lleyn Peninsula. A better day tomorrow. Some cloud than some

sunny intervals but not dry everywhere. There will be some

Shell was around. Most of these in the north-west. Top 10 bridges 15

degrees Celsius. The wind picking up, becoming fresh and gale-force

in the north-west. In Brecon tomorrow, a little

sunshine. Temperatures rising to 17 degrees Celsius. Thursday and