23/11/2011 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. Tonight's headlines. An independent review

will take place into what went wrong at Singleton Hospital, after

the deaths of two premature babies with E-coli.

I have been assured that the health board and the public health board

have implemented measures as soon as cross-infection was suspected,

to prevent further cases. Also in the programme, Gareth Jones was

killed in a car crash, aged 17. His family is supporting a campaign to

reduce the number of young people killed on our roads. I was in the

mortuary identifying my son and as I was walking in, I remember saying,

please let it not be him. I went in and it was him. Could supervising

new drivers in bad weather and that might help save lives? The farmer

who claims he's being bullied by the company behind plans for a new

nuclear power station over access to his land.

A bust-up in the British cycling team. Nicole Cooke is accused of

riding for herself and not sticking to tactics. And catch it while you

can. What could be the world's fastest can -- car is on display in

Wrexham. The deaths of two premature babies

in an E-coli outbreak is to be subject to an independent review.

Managers at Swansea's Singleton Hospital say they've asked for the

investigation to ensure the infection was dealt with properly.

In all, five cases have been identified. It's expected that

restrictions on new admissions to the maternity unit will be kept in

place until the end of the week. More from our Health Correspondent,

Hywel Griffith. Babies born prematurely are always

vulnerable to infection as their immune system hasn't fully

developed. But what led to an E- coli infection at this neo-natal

unit and the death of two babies is now the subject of two major

investigations. Managers say they've asked for an independent

review to make sure they've taken all reasonable measures to identify

the cause of the cross infection, that the management of the

infections has been effective, and that the ongoing care of mothers

and babies are safe and appropriate. It follows calls for stringent

checks. You really do need to keep up your infection control, look at

wearing gloves, make sure precautions are taken, wash your

hands between every single procedure, even with the same

patient and that there is no cross- contamination between other

healthcare professionals and other staff. The type in -- of E-coli in

these cases is very different to the strain that spread across South

Wales in 2005. That strain is commonly linked to food poisoning.

But this one is much more likely bacteria most of us carry around in

our intestine. The key feature is that they have picked up genes that

make them resistant to antibiotics. That is what can make them

dangerous. And that means anyone without a strong immune system is

at risk. Premature babies have a weakened immune system. They are

mown -- more prone to a range of infections and diseases. The issue

is that this particular type of E- coli is very difficult to treat.

The infection is very difficult to treat. Combined with a weakened

immune system, they are not able to ward off infections, plus the

complexity of it being resistant to antibiotics makes it a serious

issue. Tests have led to five cases being identified. The only person

to have been named is one of the babies, Hope Erin Evans, who died

aged five days old. The outbreak led to urgent questions being asked

at the Welsh Assembly this afternoon. I have been the health

board and public health Wells implemented measures to prevent

further cases. Singleton Hospital University -- a maternity unit

remains close to prematurely born babies. We would discuss the

outcomes and recommendations in due course. Tonight restrictions remain

on accepting prematurely expectant mothers at the hospital. Full term

births are going ahead as usual and a helpline for concerned parents is

still in place. The Prime Minister has paid tribute

to British soldiers killed in Afghanistan, including Lance

Corporal Richard Scanlon from Rhymney near Tredegar. The 31-year-

old, who served in the First Queen's Dragoon Guards, died last

Thursday when his armoured vehicle hit a makeshift bomb in Helmand

province. They were all courageous sold years,

held in the highest regard by their comrades. We'll then a debt of

gratitude and we send our condolences to the families -- we

are with them. With a young person killed every 11 days on our roads,

tougher restrictions are needed on new drivers. That's the call

tonight from the driving safety charity Brake. It comes as a survey

to mark Road Safety Week found nearly 60% of young people fear for

their lives when they are in a car with a new driver. Tomos Dafydd

reports. Gareth Jones was killed on the A55

near Llanfairpwll in 2006. He lost control of his car on this stretch

of road and went through the central reservation. Gareth was

killed instantly. He was 17. Five years on, his mother's grief

is still raw. I had spoken to him something like 10 minutes before.

The next thing I knew, I was driving home and I was in the

mortuary, identifying my son. As I was walking in, I remember saying,

please let it not be him. I went in and it was him. That was one of the

worst days of my life. I used to get up for school with him and he

used to get up for work at the same time. We used to share in the

bathroom and brush our teeth and just small things like that. It

affects me every day. Small things build-up added get to meet maybe

once a week. -- build up and it get to meet maybe once a week. The

family is joining a new campaign aimed at reducing the number of

young people killed on our roads. One suggestion from road safety

charity Brake is to enforce a minimum length of time learning to

drive. It also wants new drivers supervised in bad weather and at

night for two years after passing. Something that would have a direct

impact on students like these at Coleg Gwent. Today they were the

focus for the road safety message. Beer goggles to show the effects

alcohol can have on people's co- ordination and simulators set-out

the dangers of driving too fast. many people die from card accidents

-- car accidents and careless driving. It shows what can happen

if you're not careful. I think young people, their brains are

still developing and and they do not have the fear factor of

slightly more mature people. They do not feel they will be involved

in an accident and they carry on taking risks. We were reminded of

the dangers of the roads just this morning when a 43-year-old man was

killed on the M4 just outside Cardiff. Today, safety campaigners

focused their message on younger drivers, reminding them of the

responsibility when they get behind the wheel.

A former North Wales Police investigator has been given a

suspended jail sentence after admitting making and possessing

indecent images of children. 45- year-old Ian Williams, a senior

crime scene officer from Anglesey, also admitted causing a child to

engage in sexual activity. The watchdog which investigated called

it a despicable crime. Four people have been arrested as

part of a police investigation into a Deeside letting agency. Eazylet,

based in Shotton, closed in October allegedly owing thousands of pounds

to landlords and tenants. Flintshire's trading standards

department says it received a number of inquiries from people

concerned about their deposits. A funeral in Pembrokshire was

stopped when police asked to check whether the man being buried had

been on the run from them for more than 20 years. Andrew Patterson

fled abroad and created a different identity for himself as Mark

Attwood after being accused of fraud. A tip-off led police to stop

the funeral in Begelly to fingerprint the body, that proved

it was the man they'd been hunting. He's now been buried in a grave

which lists both his names. The company behind plans for a new

nuclear power station at Wylfa on Anglesey has been accused of

attempting to bully a farmer who's refused to sell it his land.

Horizon Nuclear Power says it needs to carry out an ecological survey

in the area. The farmer, Richard Jones, doesn't want the company's

staff on his land. Now, Horizon is threatening to use special access

powers. Here's Roger Pinney. One farming family against big business.

That at least is how this family see it. They have farmed here for

generations and do not see why they should stop now. The family is

already embroiled in a dispute with Horizon Nuclear Power. They want

their land. The company is threatening to use special access

powers. If we give in to this one, then it is only the next step and

that is compulsory purchase. I think it is our right as a human

being that we should not allow this to happen. At the moment, they seem

intent on destroying our heritage. It is not fair. To add insult to

injury, they say, the letter from the electricity company has been

written only in English. The family have replied in Welsh. Politicians

in Anglesey have been quite open in their support for the power station

and they have to make hard choices. Do they support a big multinational

company bullying its way around the island? Do they support local

people? I do not think this will be the only family and a threat.

Horizon Nuclear Power rejects allegations that it is bullying and

insist there is a difference between using Access powers to

carry out a survey and compulsory purchase powers to take ownership

of the land. Something the company Still to come in the programme:

Why there's a call to have this portrait of military hero Sir

Thomas Picton, removed from a It could turn out to be the fastest

thing on four wheels. But for now, the Bloodhound Supersonic Car is

parked up at Glyndwr University in Wrexham. The team behind the next

land-speed record attempt, which involves engineers in Swansea and

Wrexham, is showing off the prototype to young scientists.

Matthew Richards is there. I do not want to spoil the view of this

fantastic car, but they got some incredible statistics to go along

with what would be the finished product. Enough power to power 184

Charles Breslin cars. It has taken five years to develop and issue

more years until we see the final Test runs. Also, is it -- it is at

a cost of around �10 million. Let's get the low-down from the project

director. Tell us, what is the ultimate aim? This draw, we want to

raise the land screen -- its -- land-speed record. We have got very

select problems in this country. Here rat Glyndwr University, it is

attracting a lot of attention. Is that what you want to do?

Absolutely. Particularly, we want to start right at the primary

schools. We have got nearly 4,800 schools on the programme. We are

coming up to about 2 million kids. It is getting very big. I know you

have got some help you with the rocket powered engine someone at a

secret location in Wrexham. And also at Swansea University have had

to the aerodynamics. There is a great well much influence. Swansea

have done all the Arab dynamics. It has taken the better part of three

years to get this done. We have got a safe design which will not dive.

An enormous amount of work has been down. When could we see this land

speed record? It is getting very serious. We're into the build of

the car. We aim to roll it out in December of next year and after

that we will do UK trials in Britain. After that, we are off to

South Africa, where we have got 300 people clearing the desert.

were involved in the successful attempt. Yes. I was the project

manager then. You want to push many hundreds of miles. This is the last

one. It was very interesting. The idea was formed by the MoD it who

said we have got a big problem in terms of recruiting engineers. What

we went is an iconic project run through the schools. The difficulty

there have been having is that there is not anything interesting

going on in Britain and it is difficult to get people inspired on

technology. As soon as you introduce this car, that does the

business. I will see if I can get a lift home.

The deal to secure the land for Cardigan's new hospital has finally

been made. After years of delay over the site, contracts have now

been exchanged on the land at Bath House, between the owners and Hywel

Dda health board. The sale is expected to be completed in the new

year. Newly-qualified teachers will be

offered the chance to study for a three-year Masters qualification

from next September. The scheme is part of a Welsh Government drive to

raise teaching standards. It says a detailed evaluation will take place

before any decisions are made on making the qualification compulsory.

Professor Alma Harris has been advising the government on the

scheme. This is really adding value to the current training provision.

It is an unique opportunity to upscale the entire profession and

ensure that every young teacher has a real opportunity to have the best

professional training through an injection and then there early

production development. A criminal lawyer has called for a

giant portrait of a military hero to be removed from a crown court.

The picture of Sir Thomas Picton hangs behind the judge's chair in

Carmarthen. But after learning about his cruel colonial past, one

solicitor is now trying to have it returned to the museum which owns

it. Abigail Neal has the story. There's no escaping the name in

these parts. Roads, even schools are named after Sir Thomas Picton.

There's also a prominent memorial here in Carmarthen to pay tribute

to one of Pembrokeshire's most famous sons. A man who rose to

become a general and fought under Wellington at the battle of

Waterloo. He was a very well-respected, rough

and tough man, big burly man. He had military success and that was

what counted, maybe not his personality.

But perhaps it should. 200 years on, is Picton a hero or villain? His

death in battle is how he's feted, but Sir Thomas had a darker side.

It's ironic that his picture hangs in Carmarthen Crown Court because

Picton had his own brush with the law. Famously cruel, while Governor

of Trinidad, he was convicted of torturing a 14-year-old girl.

can make the point that Hitler is an important figure of history, but

one would not want his picture in the court of law. The lawyer is

calling for his picture to be removed. I have had a positive

response from people, who, once they realise what he has done,

aside from his military history, they did not think it was

appropriate. Carmarthenshire museum does not want him back. I think we

have to accept that he was a man, warts-and-all, and not judge him by

a today's standards. Even in his own time, Picton was a

controversial figure. Two centuries on, he's still dividing opinion.

Wales football manager Gary Speed can start planning his bid to reach

the 2014 World Cup in Brazil tonight. Wales now have their

fixture list for the qualification campaign after the countries

hammered out an agreement in Brussels this afternoon. Wales's

first match is at home to Belgium next September. More now from our

sports reporter Ashleigh Crowter. Gary Speed arrived at the Belgian

FA headquarters this afternoon for the first skirmish of the World Cup

qualifiers. Trying to negotiate a fixture list which would best help

as reach Brazil. Also in the room, John Toshack, now the boss of

Macedonia, also looking to get the best deal for his team. Worse will

begin their campaign at home to Belgium. Scotland are also in Group

Bay and the two sides will meet in Wales in October before speed and

his men travel north for their first competitive match. They will

have to wait until September to cross swords with John Toshack,

when the side travel to Macedonia. The return fixture is the following

month. Wales qualification hopes may come down to the final game,

that is a way in Belgium, where the managers that today. I think we

were looking for a big team at home to start. That was good. That

wasn't nailed down early. You will not see John Toshack for quite a

while. I have seen enough of him today. He spoke well and did well.

He has been to a few before. His experience showed. Wales have won

at four of the last five matches. Gary Speed has been clear he wants

to be judged on what happens in the next World Cup campaign. It looks

like an even group and Wales will hope they can keep on improving.

And there's more on that story in Sport Wales at 9:00pm on Friday

night over on BBC Two Wales. Now, with less than a year to go to

the London Games, a row between the reigning Olympic Road Race Champion,

Swansea's Nicole Cooke, and one of her colleagues, is threatening to

undermine the British team's challenge for gold. Cooke has been

accused of riding for herself, rather than the team, after a bust-

up with Lizzie Armistead at the recent World Championships in

Copenhagen. She rode ahead of Armistead to finish fourth, despite

Armistead being the pre-agreed team leader. Well, William Fotheringham

is the cycling columnist for The Guardian newspaper, and joins me

now from Worcester. Are you surprised at that Nicole Cooke has

fallen out with her team-mates? really. You are looking at a

situation where you have got two riders who have one goal. They are

both going through -- for the same thing. Frictions will arise. There

will be, not necessarily conflict, but certainly, a situation where

they are both looking to do the same thing. It is also a situation

where Nicole Cooke has not been in her greatest form since taking the

world championships and Lizzie Armistead is very much the up-and-

coming star. There is going to be an issue of war leads the team.

Talk us through that team dynamic in professional cycling. Is there

anything wrong with Nicole Cooke going for personal glory? If the

agreement is that the team are going to write in a certain way for

a certain right on a certain day, that agreement has to be stuck to.

What happened in Copenhagen was that Nicole Cooke, the agree merger

was the that Lizzie Armistead would be the leader in the final sprint

and the group would go from there, having had a chance earlier in the

race. It is not entirely clear what actually happened at the end of the

race. Nicole Cooke came in in front of Lizzie Armistead. She was held

up by a crash. The agreement was that they would ride together.

can see that you are having some trouble with your microphone there.

We can hear you and we can see it clearly. How is this a row going to

affect Nicole Cooke's chances of defending her Olympic title? What

it means is that there will be that background there. The problem is

that with it being public, the question will be raised of how they

deal with this. It looks as if they're going to do with it behind

closed doors. But obviously, it remains to be seen. Thank you very

much Rugby:

Wales wing, Shane Williams, says he's looking to end his

International career on a high. He'll play his last game against

Australia at the Millennium Stadium a week on Saturday. The 34 year old

says it'll be an emotional match, but acknowledged that it's the

right time to go. If I had a chance to keep on playing rugby and to

live as 50, I would do it, but I would not be very good. It is my

decision. I am quite excited about the day. It would be a great day.

By we have a lot of friends and family there. It will be a great

day to go at on. It would be even better when we beat Australia.

And it's been confirmed this evening that the BBC has agreed an

extension to their current deal to broadcast the Six Nations until

2017. Football:

And Wrexham will face Brentford away in the second round of the FA

Cup after winning their first round replay last night. Cardiff City are

up to third in the Championship after a hard-fought 1-1 draw at

Coventry. Peter Whittingham continued his goal run to make it

seven games without a loss for the Bluebirds. It is feeling a little

There was a frost in places last night, but overall, this autumn has

been mild. Some plants and flowers are confused. Now, over the next

few days, temperatures will be up and down like a yo-yo, but there's

no sign of a big freeze like we had in late November last year. Tonight,

some rain and drizzle in parts of the north and northwest. Elsewhere,

generally dry. A few cloud breaks and no frost. Temperatures well

above freezing. Strong and gusty winds in the northwest. Tomorrow's

chart shows a deep low over the Atlantic with a cold front

approaching Ireland. Ahead of that, mild south-westerly winds. Here's

the picture for 8:00 in the morning. A cloudy, but dry start for much of

the country. Breezy on the Pembrokeshire coast. Strong winds

on the Lleyn Peninsula. The wind lighter in Wrexham with a

temperature of 10 Celsius. During the day, it may brighten up in

places. A little sunshine for a time, but not everywhere. Cloudy in

the west with some drizzle later in the afternoon. Temperatures on the

mild side, 12 or 13 Celsius and breezy. The south-westerly wind

strong to gale force in the north- west with gusts over 50mph. In

Breconshire tomorrow, mostly dry and breezy. It may brighten up for

a while. Temperatures in Talgarth rising to 12 Celsius. Tomorrow

night, a cold front will bring a short spell of heavy rain. This

will clear leaving Friday much brighter and colder with some

sunshine. Just the odd shower. As for the weekend, it's all change

again. Turning milder and windy on Saturday. Some rain on Saturday

night will clear. Sunday is the best day of the weekend. Chilly,

but bright and breezy with a fair amount of sunshine. By the way,

Pontlliw Primary School are having their Christmas Fayre tomorrow

evening. If you're going along, expect plenty of tinsel and some

drizzle. While in Sketty, there's a Christmas tea party at St Paul's

Parish Centre tomorrow afternoon. Everyone is welcome and it should

start dry. We have a beautiful picture this evening from

Denbighshire. Now, it's that time of year again

and we'd like your children's pictures to brighten up the dark

winter evenings. The address to All being well, I hope to start

showing them in December in the run-up to Christmas.

And that is Wales Today. It's coming up to 7:00. The main

headlines from the BBC: Madeleine McCann's parents have been telling

how they felt violated by some of the newspaper reporting of the

search for their missing daughter. Giving evidence to the Leveson

inquiry into press standards, Kate and Gerry McCann said articles

implying that Madeleine was dead hampered attempts to find her.

Running battles have continued on the streets of Cairo for a fourth

day. Egypt's pro-democracy protesters say they'll fight on

against military rule. The deaths of two premature babies

in an e.coli outbreak is to be the subject of an independent review.

Managers at Swansea's Singleton Hospital say they've asked for the

investigation, to ensure the infection was dealt with properly.