16/02/2012 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today, the top story tonight.

Kirsty Jones was murdered in Thailand 12 years ago. As Welsh

police prepare to head out there again, her mother describes the

families continuing ordeal. Even if we got someone for murder, it would

not make life any easier without her, but it would mean we got some

sense of justice and she could rest Also tonight.

A van driver airlifted to hospital after a collision at a crossing

with a train. Doctors leaders warn against slash

and burn cuts in the NHS. Green bags, brown bins, kerbside

collections. Are we getting too confused about recycling. B e to e

r s. The D T Y us. And how spelling Betws-y-Coed

baffles. Is it the most misspelt Good evening. Two senior detectives

from Dyfed Powys Police are to travel to Thailand in a renewed

effort to track down the killer of Welsh backer Kirsty Jones. Officers

believe a DNA profile that's already in their possession will

It was meant to be the trip of a life time. But just three weeks in,

Kirsty Jones was strangled and raped in this hostel in northern

Thailand back in 2000. Twelve years on and her killer still hasn't been

found. Back home in Brecon, the 23- year-old's family still struggle

knowing no-one's been brought to justice. Whoever did this has

committed a crime for that they have taken away a wonderful young

life. Even if we got someone for the murder, it would not make life

any easier without her but it would give us some sense of justice and

she could rest in peace. Today, Dyfed Powys Police announced two

senior detectives are flying out to Thailand this weekend. They've been

helping the authorities there for the past 12 years. Back in 2002,

their forensic officers were able to piece together a full DNA

profile of the killer. Now they feel the time is right to visit

again to encourage investigators there to renew the search for a

match. From hairs that were recovered at the scene, a full DNA

profile was recovered. We have always suggested that they identify

the individual and that is key to the investigation. It's a step

forward for Kirsty's family. Even if they were surprised by it.

did not know if they would go or not. It is down to resources and

what they think they can do. But we are pleased they are going because

they will get first-hand information as to what they were

arguing over there. Speaking two officers, they say the answer to

the murder lies and over there. It is after them to put pressure on

the other oddities. -- authorities. A man is being treated in hospital

after a train crash at a railway crossing in Powys. The incident

happened this morning and happened when a train hit a van at a single

track crossing. No passengers were injured this morning. It happened

at around 12:30pm. The train was travelling from Newtown. It hit a

white van on the track behind me. The front part of the van was

smashed. The van and was thrown and landed on its roof in a ditch in

the or the track. The emergency services were called to the scene

and one man was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. They're rather

a couple of gates. The normal procedure is for reform in the

Yellow Box to be used. It is not clear what happened in this

incident but Transport Police are treating it as a serious incident

and they are investigating. It is a very a remote location. We are

speaking to people that were on the train and that will be followed up

during the course of our investigation. If there were dog-

walkers or anyone in the countryside, please get in touch.

What details are known about the We understand the driver was 36

years old and work-related the engineering company. There is a

farmer on the tracks -- on the other side of the tracks and is

presently was on his way there. He was carried by air ambulance to the

Royal Shrewsbury. None of the passengers who were on the train at

the time were injured in any way. Buses have been carrying travellers.

The track has now been reopened. The founder of Flintshire-based

supermarket chain Iceland is in talks with his management team to

buy the company ahead of other contenders. Malcolm Walker has

reportedly bid �1.5 billion for the frozen foods firm. The talks are

with two Icelandic banks, which own 77% of the shares. Mr Walker

started the company after investing �30 in a shop in Oswestry in 1970.

Fire chiefs are warning of the dangers of electric faults after a

blaze in Llandudno which left three people in hospital. Investigators

say yesterday's fire was caused by an electrical short circuit in a

cupboard. An elderly woman and her son are still in intensive care

after suffering smoke inhalation and severe burns. Another man was

released with minor injuries. Health Minister Lesley Griffiths

has defended her Government's reforms of the NHS in Wales after

accusations of a slash and burn approach from doctors' leaders.

Wales is the only part of the UK where NHS spending has not been

ringfenced. In a moment I'll be speaking to the secretary of BMA

It was hard hat time for the Health Minister today. Lesley Griffiths

was in North Wales to announce the �90 million redevelopment of Ysbyty

Glanclwyd. But she also came under attack from doctors leaders. Cuts

to NHS spending in Wales, they say, are poorly planned and seem to be

the result of a panic. The health boards are given a huge amount of

money to provide services and I expect them to live within their

means and come in on budget. I had a very constructive discussion.

health boards try to cope with cuts we can expect to see more scenes

like these. 550 people attended a public meeting in Aberystwyth last

Friday to discuss the future of the town's hospital. Nobody from the

Hywel Dda Health Board was at that meeting. But today a delegation,

led by the board's chief executive, gave a presentation and answered

questions during a full meeting of Ceredigion Council. I do not think

there are threats to the basic service. We had today, at the

moment, very little is likely to move. It plays a pivotal role in

the geography of Mid and West Wales. Patients and doctors at Bronglais

have said they're worried the hospital could lose vital services

as a result of the health board's reforms. The board tried to ease

those concerns today and insisted no decisions have been made yet.

But that did little to convince some of those sitting in the public

gallery. I think the population and the commissions and the people I

represent have lost faith in the board. I have come out of their

thinking it is all smoke and mirrors. They have made various

promises but I have heard various promises made by various health

boards over many years. It's a similar story elsewhere. This was

Llanelli on Saturday where campaigners marched in opposition

to possible changes to the A&E department at Prince Philip

Hospital. And as another public meeting get underway in the town

this evening it Lesley Griffiths Richard Lewis is Secretary of BMA

Cymru Wales. He joins me here in the studio. Slash and burn, that is

a pretty emotive term? It is. The important issue here is not to look

at the emotive terms but what is going on. We do appreciate that hat

boards are under pressure and it is challenging times for everybody.

The key thing about service changes is that they are properly consulted

upon. We know that health services we need to alter going forward to

the future whether it is modernisation or trying to will

provide a progressive NHS service. When health boards are deciding or

putting proposals forward, it is important that they involve health

professionals on the ground and they involve doctors and patients

and community health councils and take those people along with them

in the decision-making process. When the dialogue does not occur

then we see the problems we have heard in the clip. The Health

Minister says she is listening and there are consultations. Is the

Welsh Government getting it right? We have good delicious with the

were Welsh Assembly Government. One of our major concerns is about the

lack of doctors in Wales and we welcome recently the initiative to

do a marketing campaign to introduce more doctors into Wales

and some of that has underlie some other problems have boards have in

being able to deliver services. There are clearly concerns about

the way services are going to evolve in Wales. A sports have a

difficult job at hand. The important thing is to maintain a

dialogue and consults health officials and consult with the

public to ensure any proposals for change are properly thought through.

And getting the public on side. Since the report years ago that the

status quo could not be maintained. Absolutely. We know there is a need

to change services in Wales. There are some tricky decisions to be

made. People are wedded to the way services are designed for that that

is important and that is why we need to have a dialogue so that

everyone is satisfied and we continue to provide safe and high

quality accessible services to everybody in Wales.

Still to come on Wales Today. It has a similar landscape. Wales

looks to the Basque country for lessons in securing the future of

the language. Three little words, but internet

searches show 364 different Efforts to increase the amount of

rubbish being recycled are being hindered because the Welsh

Government and councils aren't working together well enough.

That's according to the public spending watchdog, the Wales Audit

Office. A new report says that even though Wales has the highest

recycling rate of the UK nations, long-term improvements face

substantial barriers. Mark Hannaby reports.

This is how the Welsh government wants to collect waste for

recycling. Each sort of rubbish is separated at the kerbside and

compartmentalise reform it is taken away. The government doesn't like

it when different sorts of waste are mixed, such as bottles, cans

and cards in the same green bags. Some councils and private companies

disagree, saying modern machinery can sort the waste mechanically.

The report says differences in approach pose substantial barriers

to raising the cycling rates. To achieve the higher levels that

we aspire to, we do need some level of agreement and better co-

operation between Welsh government and local authorities. We feel that

at the moment, the discussion and some of these tensions are

deflecting focus away from working together effectively to achieve the

best possible results. Councils have been set a target of

recycling 70% of all waste by a 2025. Rates have been rising,

hitting 43.6% this year. But the report says councils are fixated

with the cycling targets and unconvinced that government plans

are appropriate. Some authorities fear that the Government might

employed legislation all cuts in funding to force them to use

approved recycling methods. I think the government are trying

to do him little bit of micro management. I would advise them to

say, let's agree on the outcome and where we arrive there, how we

achieve that goal, is a matter for the council.

The report says better guidance is needed from Welsh government. Most

But which is the best way? The chief Executive of eras cycling

organisation is adamant its best to separate waste at the kerbside.

As far as I am concerned, there isn't a contest. Kerbside sorting

is the only method, as has been proved over years. We have been a

cycling for 30 years and wherever we have introduced that carefully,

it has worked really well. The Welsh government points out

recycling rates in Wales are higher than any other UK nation but the

report also makes clear that recycling alone won't meet

environmental targets. We need to produce less waste in the first

place. A group of squatters evicted from

an empty hotel in Swansea earlier this week say they're setting up an

art studio and cafe in the old JT Morgan department store in the city

which has been unoccupied for four years. Members of the Cwtch group

say they're offering a useful space for the community. On Tuesday a

judge ordered them to leave the Dolphin Hotel after they set up

camp in the empty foyer. The group claim they entered the store

legally through an unsecured window. There is a negative impression of

squatters, associated with drugs and young people but I tell those

people to come along when we are open and see what we do and see we

are a community space full of hard- working people who love Swansea and

want to make it a better place to stop

A former detective, will challenge the Cardiff South and Penarth MP

Alun Michael to become Labour's candidate for South Wales Police

commissioner, the new role to oversee police work, which we ALL

get to vote on in November. Paul Cannon, a councillor from the

Rhondda, says he wanted to restore faith in the police. Welsh

government cabinet ministers, Edwina Hart and Leighton Andrews

are backing Mr Cannon's bid, as is And you can find a list of

potential candidates who've declared an interest so far on our

website. Former Wales footballer Robbie

Savage is aiming to move into the hotel trade. He and a business

partner are behind plans for a development near Ffos Las

Racecourse in Carmarthenshire. An outline planning application for a

35-bedroom hotel and restaurant has been submitted to the local council.

A football camp or other sports facilities could also be built on

This week we've been looking at the future of the Welsh language and

it's not alone as a minority language facing a difficult future.

The equivalent of �60 million is spent on promoting and developing

the Basque language annually, while in Wales, the Welsh language board

spends under �14 million. So how do the two languages compare? Owain

Evans went to the Basque Country to With its mountainous terrain and

miles of coastline, the Basque country has plenty in common with

Wales. Both are home to a minority language, side by side with some of

the world's most dominant languages. But it may not have survived if it

wasn't for this man. He is an author, academic and politician who

died last month. At eight service in San Sebastian, he was remembered

by many Basques as a hero who keeps keep the language alive by defying

the Spanish dictator. Over the decades, the Bath revival has gone

from strength to strength. -- the Basque revival.

Industrialisation in northern Spain was concentrated in the Basque

country and they had a strong banking sector so although the

Basque country, geographically, everything was on the periphery,

the Basque country has always been a very strong player economically.

How do the languages compare? Like Welsh, them are more than 600,000

basks because in the Spanish Basque country. In both nations, the

public sector has to provide services in those services. We have

Welsh medium education and they have asked medium education. We

have Welsh-language TV and radio and they have regional and local

Basque TV as well as a daily newspaper. They spend around �50

million more on developing and promoting the language than we do

on Welsh. They have a constitutional right here to know

and use Basque. Language campaigners say that doesn't always

count for much. It is true that may be in some

towns where bask speakers are more than the other, maybe you are right

and it would be an advantage. If you go to the station, Hospital, Dr,

or to the court, you must have a proactive action if you want to

have your right granted. Despite the efforts of pioneers,

the Basque language faces many challenges. Like Welsh and other

minority languages, perhaps one of the greatest challenges is

persuading people to use the language. The current Basque

government may not be as keen to spend on the language as its

predecessors and economic situation may also have an influence. For now,

supporters of the language aren't too concerned about what is on the

horizon. Sport, and at the Welsh Open

snooker in Newport it's been a disappointing afternoon for the two

remaining Welsh players. Matthew Stevens is out after losing to

Scotland's Stephen Maguire by four sets to two and Mark Williams' good

run of results was brought to an end by the former world number one,

Ronnie O'Sullivan, who made it through to the quarter finals with

He has been playing in consistently well so for me to get a victory,

especially after the two years that I've had, just to get a victory of

someone of his quality, in a major tournament, is good, you know.

It's not the trickiest of Welsh place names but Betws-y-Coed seems

to be confusing many. Research shows it's been spelt in internet

search engines 364 different ways! So how confused are tourists

getting? Matt Murray has been out to put people to the test.

Set in Snowdonia National park, Betws Y Coed attracts thousands for

it's stunning landscape but finding it in the first place is proving a

struggle for many. Research shows it's been spelt in internet search

engines 364 different ways! From Betsy Co Wed to simply people

getting no further than Bets. So you wouldn't put your money on many

spelling it right. Eileen Burtonwood, runs a guest house and

is chair of district tourism association. She's been staggered

by the amount of variations. Lots of people spelt it in several

bizarre ways. Most of them, funnily enough, did get the first three

letters. When you put it in the search engine, it will take you

straight through and give you an idea. You get so confused. How can

anybody find their way here? But plenty do. The streets of Betws

Y Coed were flowing with holidaymakers today. Finding many

attractions but their internet searches have proved less

successful. Here is the list of the various ways people have spelt

Betws-y-Coed and it goes on and on. 364 different ways on here but of

course, there is only one correct way to spell it. Even though it's

half-term holidays, there is no room for slacking. We thought we

would have a spelling test to see if they could spell the place

You missed out the hyphens but I will forgive that.

So while the spelling might confuse many the scenery will certainly

leave visitors lost for words. Derek is a regular visitor to

Betws-y-Coed. I had to be there over Easter with a few walks. It is

Betws-y-Coed is on my weather map this evening. Apparently Betws y

Coed means Prayer House in the Wood in English. Now I'm sure some of

you are praying that winter is over! Well it isn't! In Betws y

Coed today the temperature reached nine Celsius but by Sunday

temperatures will have dropped by a few degrees. In fact it's going to

turn colder everywhere over the weekend with some rain, frost and

sunshine. Tonight mostly cloudy. A little rain or drizzle. Some hill

fog as well. Otherwise dry and a mild night. These temperatures are

about what we'd expect during the day at this time of year.

Tomorrow's chart shows high pressure over the Bay of Biscay

keeping Spain and Portugal dry but further north fronts will move in

from the Atlantic. So tomorrow morning, the north-east, the border

and the southeast may start dry but it won't be dry everywhere. Some

light rain and drizzle is likely. Damp in Carmarthen, Aberystwyth and

Dolgellau. The cloud sitting on the hills and mountains. So generally

cloudy tomorrow. Most of the rain in the north, on the mountains in

Snowdonia. Drier in the south and east with spots of light rain and

drizzle. Temperatures on the mild side but feeling cooler with a

moderate to fresh west to south- westerly wind. In Conwy tomorrow,

cloudy and damp at times. Most of the rain on the mountains. Drier on

the coast. Temperatures in Abergele rising to 10 Celsius. Tomorrow

night cloudy with some patchy rain and drizzle. The wind strengthening

as well. Saturday windy and wet for a time. A cold front moves its way

south-eastwards. The rain may turn to snow on the mountains before it

clears. However, it will dry and brighten-up during the afternoon

with a few wintry showers in the north. On Saturday night into

Sunday some frost is likely. Sunday chilly. A few wintry showers

otherwise dry and clear. Some sunshine and lighter winds.

Temperatures are around five Celsius. So turning colder over the

weekend. Sunday the best day for a walk but make the most of it. Next

week turning milder but wet and windy at times. Our picture tonight

is from Glyn Roberts. Taken overlooking Llyn Mymbyr with

Snowdon in the distance. Thanks Glyn and to all of you for sending

in your photos and for your Tweets as well. The headlines again from

the BBC: David Cameron has for the first time said he would consider

devolving more power to score and so long as there is a no vote in a

future independence referendum. He made the comments before talks

with Alex Salmond. The former energy secretary, Chris

Huhne, and his ex-wife have appeared in court on charges of

perverting the course of justice. It alleged that she agreed to take

speeding penalty points for him in 2003.

Senior detectives from Dyfed Powys Police are to travel to Thailand in

a renewed effort to track down the killer of backpacker Kirsty Jones.

She was killed 12 years ago but the case has never been solved.

Officers believe a DNA profile will prove vital.

And a man is being treated in hospital after a train collided

with a van in Powys. The vehicle was then knocked off the track this

morning and no passengers were And a reminder if you've got a

story you think we should cover let us know. We'd love to hear from you.