07/12/2011 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. Tonight's headlines:

A change of direction for the Welsh Government's transport plans. East-

west links take priority to get the economy moving.

Tonight, a warning for the electric car revolution as experts say there

aren't enough plug in points to Also in the programme tonight:

The idea of a barrage across the Severn is floated again - this time

with private money. After the strike - a Tory MP says

any delay in docking pay would be a scandal.

And in tonight's sport - we surprise this year's Unsung Hero

winner. Come rain or shine, these youngsters are out playing golf -

tonight their coach gets his award. He's not a boring coach that says,

"Do this, do this, do this!" He tells us like a joke then he does

Tackling traffic, getting more train services and encouraging

people onto their bikes. Just some of the headlines from the Welsh

Government's new four year transport plan. With budgets tight,

there's a focus on cheaper, smaller scale solutions to bottlenecks and

on east-west rather than north- south links. Kate Morgan reports.

One year on from the Welsh Government's first transport vision,

there's been a big change in direction. At the top of today's

list, improving east to west traffic links. Like keeping cars

moving on the A55 at Britannia Bridge during rush hour busy times.

Or improving the slip-road on the A470 Aberycynon roundabout. Small

projects designed to keep roads clear, and businesses busy.

We held a stake holders group. We are focusing strongly on East and

West connectivity, both in the North, Mid and South Wales. They

tell us that is where we want to be. We see economic value, moving

across the east and west. It is about priorities in the system.

But with big budget cutbacks from Westminster, the shift in emphasis

means delays to some high flying north-south projects. No extra

seats for the Cardiff to Anglesey flights. And there's a longer wait

for the A470 to be improved at Rhayader, with the deadline pushed

back for another four years. Unfortunately, a lot of the

projects seem to be delayed. That is worrying because not one new

project has started since the election in May. The minister talks

about an emphasis on East and West links. If there were major

financial implications, that would change the whole strategy.

On the trains, there's plans to get an hourly service between

Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury. Further south, there'll be additional

platforms at Barry, Pontypridd and Caerphilly. All investments

welcomed by these commuters in Ystrad Mynach.

I would like to have more services on the weekend. On a Sunday, for

example. It would help, yes. Especially

further up the valley. The bus service is very expensive.

In Merthyr, people will be encouraged to ditch their cars to

walk between communities on new traffic free paths. Another example

of the focus on smaller ideas which could have bigger economic and

social impacts. It is a plan that reflects the

economic climate. There has been a 40 % reduction in the Welsh

government's budget and that had to be reflected in capital expenditure.

I think what they have done is to go for a wider group of smaller

schemes, rather than concentrating on the larger schemes.

Over the next four years, the Welsh Government will be hoping to cut

back on these, not just to keep drivers moving, but also the

economy. A business plan outlining a new

proposal to build a barrage across the Severn Estuary is being looked

at by the UK Government. A consortium called Corlan Hafren has

submitted a first draft to build a low head barrage between Cardiff

and Weston Super Mare in Somerset. This new proposal would be financed

privately. It comes just over a year since the government declared

that no public investments would be available. More from our

environment correspondent, Iolo ap Dafydd.

The most talked-about scheme to harness the power of the Severn

estuary has been the Cardiff West and barrage. Plans were put on ice

last year after a two-year feasibility study found that the

cost could be �34 billion, twice the original estimate, and was too

prohibitive. Where a new plan is on the table from a consortium that

includes construction companies and energy experts. It wouldn't give

details of the plan but the Department for energy and climate

change confirmed it was assessing a business draft for a privately

financed barrage which it said was an interesting proposal. Even has

plans for the previous Cardiff barrage planned it, work has

continued on how to harness the power of the second-highest tidal

range in the world. This project is feasible because it

would last for many years. There is a capital cost at the outset but

once that has been paid off, this will be a long-term acid for Wales,

generating energy for years to come. But there would be huge

environmental issues to consider. There are concerns about any

adverse impacts to mudflats where tens of thousands of birds feed and

wild salmon stocks which migrate up the Severn and onto the river Usk.

The principal concern for us is the impact on intertidal murder habitat

which is a key supporting habitat for internationally important

numbers of birds. 70,000 birds coming here to the Severn Estuary

in the winter migration, which makes it an estuary which is

important on a European scale. Friends of the Earth has been

pushing for a long term, actually, for harnessing the River Severn

tidal energy. Our proposal is to use title lagoons rather than a

fixed barrage across the River Severn. It would be more flexible

than a fixed barrage. In the past there has been support

for a title brief and tidal raccoons on both the English and

Welsh sides of the estuary. The barrage is seen as an answer. It

was expected to provide around 5% of the UK electricity and thousands

of jobs. A barrage is still on the agenda.

The UK government will have a final say but the First Minister, Carwyn

Jones, has made a statement today anything over 50 megawatts in terms

of large projects like the garage in the future, a large scale wind

farms, they are all decided by the Westminster government.

Carwyn Jones is also energy minister. He has said that he wants

to see the Welsh government maximising the generation of

electricity from onshore and offshore wind farms. He says Wales

is open for business. He wants to work with the energy sector. A week

last Monday, many of these Energy representatives went to see him,

saying they were concerned and disheartened because of his

comments in June when he said he sought no more need for pylons in

Powys. He also said he was to see the benefit of an energy

infrastructure in Wales. That is in contrast to what he said in June.

I'm wondering whether his new proposals and policies, whether

there is a change of policy here, a change of emphasis by the Welsh

government. A man has appeared in court charged

with dangerous driving after an accident which left a Welsh

paralympic champion seriously injured. Simon Richardson was

cycling on the A48 near Bridgend in August when the incident happened.

Edward Howell Adams from Cowbridge has also been charged with drink

driving and failing to stop after an accident.

Construction equipment manufacturer JCB says more than 350 jobs will be

created at three of its factories, including Wrexham. The company's

investing �31 million to develop a new generation of engines which

will go into production in 2016. At the moment, around 350 people work

at the Wrexham site. And up to 100 jobs are being

created in Cardiff by the financial consultancy firm Deloitte. It's

expanding its operations in the city and developing a new centre

for its risk management services. The new jobs will be in place by

the end of next year. Still to come in the programme

tonight: What do these have in common? You can plug in an electric

car in both. Concerns there aren't Tens of thousands of public sector

workers who took part in a strike over pensions last week will lose a

day's pay, but some local councils have decided to delay docking the

pay until after Christmas. The decision has angered some Welsh MPs.

Our Political Correspondent, Tomos Livingstone, is at Westminster,

Tomos why is this so controversial? It is standard practice for workers

who walked out on strike to use a day's pay. Trade unions say

employers like councils should wait until after Christmas before taking

the money out. That has angered some MPs which sake it and amounts

to a strike now, pay later policy. I'm chained -- I am joined by a

Conservative politician. It is quite simple. In a democracy,

we accept people have the right to strike but with a strike comes

consequences and one of the consequences will be financial.

People in my constituency and across Wales were affected by this

strike last week and had to take a day of work because of the strike

action. Nobody will compensate them or make it easier for them and yet

the unions are expecting the public sector to make it easier for their

own members to deal with Christmas, despite the fact they went on

strike. It makes a difference to the

taxpayer whether the money is Dr from striking workers before or

after Christmas. I think it does because it

questions the blow of going on strike. It makes it easier for

unions to call people out on strike because they say, we will speak to

local authorities and despite the fact you are going on strike before

Christmas and making life difficult for other people before Christmas,

he will be cushioned and you won't have to suffer a loss of income

until February. Trade unions are calling you

Scrooge. I find that utterly unbelievable.

Unions should show a sensitivity towards the rest of the population

and, in effect calling a strike before Christmas which has caused

hard-working families a lot of money before Christmas.

A sign that this pension reform still has the power to divide

opinion a week after the strikes took place.

Talks are underway in an attempt to resolve problems at a company which

received millions of pounds of grant aid from the Welsh Government

and EU. The Welsh Government has confirmed it is aware of

difficulties at Selonda UK, which operates a hi-tech seabass farm

from a site near Beaumaris on Anglesey. A company spokesman told

Wales Today he was discussing various options with a number of

parties. The Assembly has unanimously passed

a motion calling for greater collaboration between Welsh

Universities. Education Minister Leighton Andrews said no decisions

on any possible mergers would be made until after a formal

consultation process, which would begin the new year. It comes on the

day when Bangor and Aberystwyth universities signed a deal to work

closer together in areas like teaching and learning.

Earlier in the programme we heard about the government's transport

plans, but motorists in Wales looking to benefit from greener

electric cars are at a disadvantage because we've failed to invest in

publicly available charging points. That's the verdict of a leading

Welsh academic who specialises in the motor industry. Dr Peter Wells

says a Welsh bid to be part of a �30million pound government

initiative to provide more plugged in places" failed last year, and he

fears we may now be left in the Electric vehicles are no longer the

cars of the future. They are here right now. This British-built car

is the European Car of the year. You can charge it at home overnight

for about �2. For this technology to flourish, public charging points

of vital as the car can only do 100 miles before it grinds to a halt.

Driving this car is unremarkable, save for the eerie silence you get

from having no engine and no exhaust pipe. What is remarkable of

the potential savings you can make for your wallet and the environment.

With no public infrastructure of charging points, it seems access to

this green technology in Welsh cities is severely hampered. London

has a network of more than 150 electric prods. Major English and

Scottish cities have also charged ahead with this technology. An

Irish neighbours are also sailing ahead, literally. This Irish ferry

which docks in Tolly head -- Holyhead, has charging points on

its Kardex. -- car deck.

Wales is behind other areas in the UK. Some locations have been

sponsored under the Plugged in Places scheme. Those places are

really beginning to develop a significant infrastructures and can

support a network of electric vehicles. In Wales that is not the

case. At around �30,000, this electric

car and ones from other manufacturers are not cheap. Buyers

get a �5,000 government grant and can charge it up for free at the

dealership. The Department for Transport best dinner -- estimate

8,600 cars will be on British roads by the end of this year and they

have a target of one charging point for every 1.8 cars. That would

equate to nearly 5,000 public charging points. England currently

has 704. Here in Wales, websites promoting electric vehicles pate in

even bleaker picture of how we are faring. Many points listed are

available yet. Here is one that is. If you book ahead. From this semi-

detached house in Cardiff, this man is offering motorists use of his

solar power supply, even though he doesn't have a car himself.

I put my name on the site because I want the electric cars to be able

to go a little bit further than at the existing infrastructure will

allow a. At the University of Glamorgan,

they have been researching all forms of alternative power sources,

including hydrogen and by a gas. The was government has been advised

this more diverse fault -- future is the route to follow, rather than

The take-up at the moment is quite slow. People are waiting to see

where the charge posts will be placed. But they can also charge at

home, as an alternative. I do not really think we have fallen that

far behind. The are now starting to see more private enterprise is

coming into Wales to look at putting in charge posts. One such

company working with the Welsh government is charge master. It is

setting up 40 charge points from January. The St David's car-park

will probably be the first to get it installed. Swansea should be in

the second phase of the roll-out. It is estimated there will be 2

million electric cars on British roads by the end of the decade.

Drivers from the rest of the UK will need to steer clear of Wales

if we do not have charge posts by then. Good evening. The winner of

this year's BBC Wales Sports Personality will be announced on

Monday. Details of the five contenders in just a minute. First

tonight on Wales Today, we can reveal the winner of this years

Unsung Hero Award. It's 26-year-old golf coach Gareth Wyn Hughes from

Tylorstown in the Rhondda and I've been to surprise him. We are at the

golf club. He has no idea I am here. He thinks he is here for a

completely different reason. Let's Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Thank

you for being here. Gareth Wyn Hughes, I think you think you wise

here for a different reason that I am delighted to tell you that on

behalf for everybody at BBC Wales, you have won this year's BBC's

Sports personality unsung hero or ward. Congratulations. It is

absolutely fantastic. That is brilliant. You seem a little lost

for words. Congratulations. This is the reason he has won this award.

A wet and windy Saturday morning in the Rhondda Valley. The weather not

enough to dampen the spirits of a new generation of golf enthusiasts.

Their love of the game is being nurtured by their coach, 26-year-

old Gareth Wyn Hughes. He is the driving force at this club. It is

not his job. He works as a community support officer but he

plays off a handicap of five and can often give up to 20 hours of

his spare time each week coaching the under twelves. He has been

doing it for seven years. When he started, there were fewer than 10

juniors and now what is bursting with 70 in the academy and local

schools on board. I love to see their faces I love to see them

progress. Often in the Rhondda Valleys, you were led to believe

that you cannot achieve. That you should accept the average. That is

absolutely wrong. We have huge talent. I think with a little bit

of dedication and a little bit of a hard worker, they can achieve

absolutely anything they want. of Gareth Wyn Hughes's achievements

has been the development of the nine-hole course. He applied to the

Ryder Cup fan than was awarded almost �80,000. He has also secured

the field next door for future development. He goes about his

business and does not do anything to gain recognition. This project

and facility, he helped develop it, it is really pushing junior golf in

the South Wales Valleys to the next level. He is my son but he is a

fantastic young man. He told me that someone had nominated him and

me and his mother were over the moon. I do not think anyone

deserves it anymore. The children are finding his passion is rubbing

off on them. He is the best person to have around. He has given me a

lot of confidence. I was really shy when I started. I did not like to

talk to people. He has given me a lot of confidence and help.

tells a few jokes. He doesn't just tell us and go away. He comes by

you and sorted out with you. also ensured that the golf club has

its very unprofessional. -- very own professional. I would not be

here without him. We can hardly cope with the level of kids we have

got now. It is fantastic. It is a wet and cold day and they are

turning up in their droves. It is a thriving community and golf's

selling point? It is all about family. My dad is my hero. If my

son feels about me as I feel about him, I have done a good job. Night

Shot! Excellent! We have caught our breath. How did you keep this a

secret? It was very hard! I am glad it was just one day! Did he have

any idea at all? Not at all. If I had known I was filming, I would

have changed from a working clothes! Thank you very much.

was it like when you found out? was so emotional, I looked at my

husband and we burst out crying. We said, it cannot be true. Huge

congratulations, this year's unsung hero.

So congratulations to this year's Unsung Hero, Gareth Wyn Hughes. Let

me just show how things can go wrong. Gareth's family and friends

helped to sneak us into the club without him seeing us, but we

forgot one thing. Have a look at our first attempt to surprise him.

Are we ready? Let go. It's locked. Do you know the code? It was a

really worrying couple of minutes. Thank you to that man in the

leather jacket! Gareth's won his award but who will be crowned this

year's BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year? There's still plenty

of time to vote for your favourite. We're looking at all the contenders

this week. Tonight it's the turn of 400 metres hurdler Dai Greene.

Green and gold, the combination that was the talk of the track in

2011. Dai Greene winning gold for Great Britain in the 400 metre

hurdles in the world championships was the pinnacle of another

successful year. He did not just set the gold standard, sprinkle in

some glittering performances in the diamond lead during the summer and

you have someone who will be setting his sights on more precious

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

metal at the London Olympics next Swansea City manager Brendan

Rodgers is understood to have turned down an offer to take charge

of Northern Ireland on a part time basis. He has said it's a job he'd

like someday, but for now he wants to focus all his attention on

Swansea City. Wrexham are three points clear at

the top of the Conference after a 2-0 win over third placed Southport

last night. They're now unbeaten in 15 games. Derek, I hear locking

ourselves in may not be such a bad I think the best place tomorrow

will be indoors. If you thought today was windy, just wait until

tomorrow. Trouble is brewing out in the Atlantic, bringing heavy rain.

Strong to severe gale force winds as well. North Wales will bear the

brunt of the gales with some travel disruption likely. This evening dry

with lighter winds. A touch of frost inland but it won't last.

Cloud will bring rain after midnight. The wind picking up again

with temperatures rising. Tomorrow's chart shows an intense

low on our door step. Scotland will be worst hit by the storm but Wales

will be affected as well. Wind gusts 50 to 70 mph likely.

Dangerously windy on the mountains. So tomorrow wild and windy. Some

rain and drizzle as well. Some heavy rain for a time clearing from

all but the South East during the afternoon. Milder. Temperatures up

to 12 Celsius but temperatures will drop once the rain clears. Tomorrow

night cold and windy. Dry for most but with a few showers in the north.

Falling as rain, hail, sleet and snow. Friday a cold, breezy day.

Some sunshine and wintry showers. Most of the showers in the north.

In fact there is a Met Office snow warning for northern counties.

Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Wrexham and

Flintshire. Most of the snow on the higher ground where it will settle

and build up but widespread disruption is not expected. On

Friday night into Saturday, ice will be a hazard with temperatures

falling below freezing. As for the weekend, Saturday will start frosty.

Sunshine and fewer showers. Sunday less cold but windier with some

rain. So all kinds of winter weather over the next few days.

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