12/04/2012 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. Our top story tonight. Warren Gatland at

the beach home in New Zealand where he fell from a ladder. Concerns

about his recovery in time for Wales' summer tour. He'll need

surgery next week after shattering bones in both heels. It's a very

strong bone when it's intact. It's like an egg. As soon as there's a

break in it, it's like a Crunchie chocolate bar inside. Also in the

programme. Parents and children are camping out tonight in a protest to

save this dry ski slope from closing.

Campaigning from the classroom, as Nick Clegg defends a big drop in

the number of Lib Dem candidates for the local elections.

Preserving a rare wetland. The campaign to raise �300,000 to save

it from developers. And the remains of Swansea's once

great copper industry. Now new research to find out more about

Copperopolis. Good evening. Wales coach Warren

Gatland is to undergo surgery after falling from a ladder at his beach

home in New Zealand. The 48-year- old is in leg casts after

shattering both his heels. There are concerns about his recovery in

time for Wales' summer tour. Claire's here. What more do we

know? Warren Gatland fell whilst cleaning

windows on Easter Monday when he lost his balance and fell 10 feet

onto concrete. Doctors have told him he needs urgent surgery to

reconstruct his right heel. Back home, the Welsh Rugby Union say

they are confident he will have recovered in time to take charge of

Wales' three Test tour to Australia in June, but Rob Howley will take

day to day charge of the coaching team during his absence. Ashleigh

Crowter has the story. The warren Gatland seaside family treat --

retreat in New Zealand is the perfect place to enjoy a quality

time. The Wales coach relaxed there with his wife and two children do

in the World Cup last October and he was back fair over Easter. It

turned into a weekend he will never forget. He fell off a ladder while

cleaning windows on Easter Monday, dropping three metres on to

concrete. It is certainly a serious injury.

The bone in his right foot will need to be reconstructed after it

broke in three places. About three- quarters of these have injuries

happen in middle-aged men. They either have a car accident or four

-- fall from a ladder. It is a classical scenario for this injury.

It is a very strong bone when it is intact. It is like an egg, very

protective. As well as there is a break, it is like a chocolate bar

inside. It just collapses in on itself. If both heels are injured,

even if it does not require surgery, it means not putting any weight on

it for six weeks. In his absence, the Welsh Rugby Union have asked

Robert Howley to lead the coaching team. He and other staff will be

liaising with him during his recuperation. He spends a lot of

time in New Zealand and he has a team of coaches in Wales keeping an

eye on all the players. It is not just be coaches, there are the

physios and the video analysis guys. Everyone will be working behind the

scenes as usual and it will not disrupt preparations too much.

statement, Roger Lewis said he had spoken to Gatland on a number of

Wales were already planning for Gatland to take a sabbatical next

season if he has -- is appointed as the next British Lions coach. Their

contingency plans may now be needed early. I do not think he will come

back to Wales in between. It will obviously disrupt the Welsh

preparations. Having said that, it also gives great and valuable

experience to Robert Howley and Robin McBryde and Neil Jenkins.

Next year, the likelihood is they will be on their own in the Six

Nations Championship. Wales play the Barbarians in a warm-up game in

Cardiff on 2nd June. That is just seven weeks away. For once, it is

the coach not just the players who will be struggling to get fit in

time. So surgery next Thursday for the Wales coach, and we'll keep you

up to date with his recovery. I'll be back with the rest of the day's

sports news a little later. A group of children and parents are

preparing for their second night camping out at a dry ski slope in

Capel Curig in protest at plans to close it. The slope at Plas Y

Brenin was due to close at the end of this month. But it's been shut

early because it's been damaged. Roger Pinney is there for us this

evening. Yes, this is the Welshpool occupied

protest. You can see the tents and the youngsters -- two mac.

Generations of locals have learned to ski here. One or two

international skiers have cut their teeth on this will pass well. But

now they say it is the end of its natural life. It will be too

expensive to replace it. You were here last night. Was it

called? It was a little bit cold. There were some squirrels as well.

Generations of our families have learnt to ski here. We come here at

least three times a week. We reveal of the ski slope. -- really love

her. You are one of the mothers involved

in this protest. They are saying it is too expensive to replace. It is

expensive to replace but we have done our own research. He had some

funds available and we believe it can be viable. It has not been

promoted in the right way. Sales have dropped. We believe we have

information that says if we advertise correctly, a lot of

people will use it and we can maintain it. The whole thing needs

to be replaced. It just. -- it does. We have people with the ability to

help us free of charge. We are prepared to use them. Let's get the

word from the boss. By a quirk of the devolution settlement, this is

owned by Sport England. They say it is viable if you marketed it.

great to in -- invite everyone to Snowdonia on a lovely evening. We

have tried to promote the ski slopes over a number of years but

we have seen a decline in its use over a great many years.

Unfortunately, it is the kind of surface that has got a declining

appeal. We have been able to run the slow but we have now reached a

stage where it needs a complete replacement. When we look at the

cost of replacing it, and we compare that with the income we

will generate in the future, we just know that we will never get a

return. The suggestion is you have lost interest in skiing. We have

not lost interest in skiing but unfortunately you reach a stage

where promoting things is not cost- effective. We are about promoting

sport and participation and getting people involved in sport.

Unfortunately, this particular activity, dry Scopes fleeing -- dry

slope skiing is on the decline. We are doing our best to promote areas

such as mountain biking where there is real growth. The protesters say

they will keep going but they have some cold weather ahead. Almost

2,000 drivers and passengers were stopped for not wearing a seatbelt

in just two weeks here. Police forces across Wales carried out

targeted patrols to stop those not wearing a belt, as part of a new

awareness campaign. Dyfed Powys Police recorded the highest number,

with 843 people stopped over the two week period.

A jury at Caernarfon Crown Court heard today how a woman who was

allegedly raped by two footballers told police she couldn't remember

the attack and suspected her drink had been spiked. 23-year-old Wales

and Sheffield United striker Ched Evans, seen here in the middle,

denies the attack on the 19-year- old woman last May, as does Port

Vale defender Clayton McDonald, seen here on the right. An

investigation is underway after the body of a woman, thought to be in

her seventies, was discovered in Caban Coch Reservoir in the Elan

Valley. The body was found by a passer by this morning.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has been back to the classroom on

the campaign trail in Wales today. He stopped off at Oystermouth

Primary in Swansea, where he defended his party's campaign in

the local elections, despite a major drop in the number of

candidates the party is fielding in Wales. I think it is perfectly

normal but if you consider the changing circumstances compared to

the last elections, when we were not in government, we were not

having to face these difficult decisions on public spending and so

on. We are fighting these elections in different circumstances. Of

course, it is tougher. We are taking difficult decisions and

taking responsibility in a way that Labour never did. Is it damage

limitation? As a political party, as circumstances change, you focus

your resources and your candidates at your time and your energy where

you have a strong presence on the ground. As we do win places like

Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham and so on. In other areas, where we might

be on the back foot, we do not have as many candidates last -- as much

as we had last time. You cut your cloth to suit your circumstances of

the time. When people come to vote, they were not vote based on how

many candidates the party has put up across the country. We are

investing more in schools, delivering fairer taxes, delivering

the largest cash increase in pensions ever, more apprenticeships

than have ever been delivered. People cannot vote for candidates

if they are not standing. We are standing hundreds of candidates. We

are doing so ferry proudly. We are very proud of our record naturally.

We have stepped up to the plate to clear up the mess left by Labour.

We are delivering. One issue playing on the doorsteps is the

question of regional pay. Vince Cable says it will not happen. The

Conservatives in the coalition to seen to be sending out a different

sort of message. What is your message -- the position? There has

been some ludicrous scaremongering from the trade unions and Labour.

It is important that people understand this. This is not new.

Last autumn, it was announced that independent pay review bodies would

look at this. If he will not going to do it, why look at it? This has

been going on for years. The Labour government introduced it in the

Court Service. We are not going to impose it from above but it is

being done incrementally. All the Chancellor said was that the

independent pay review bodies would look at it. No decision by the

government has been made. There is no question of us in polls in this

on Wales or imposing this on departments across Whitehall. --

imposing this. Well, Mr Clegg has been in Wrexham tonight, where

around 50 workers and supporters from the threatened Remploy factory

in the town lobbied him as he arrived for a meeting with the

local Lib Dem party. The future of the Remploy factory is currently

subject to consultation. Meanwhile, the Welsh Conservatives

have launched their campaign for the local elections, insisting

they're the party best placed to challenge Labour. They're promising

more local accountability and a freeze on council tax. Here's our

Political Editor, Betsan Powys. It was a launch on home ground for

the Conservatives. In Newport, they eat the local council. They know

that Labour up out to recapture it. The Welsh Conservatives know that

the battle lines are drawn. The Welsh Conservatives deliver

when they are given a chance in local government. We want to make

sure we capitalise on that could work that has been undertaken over

There is a pledge to tackle littering, Dad if -- dog fouling

The emphasis in Monmouth was on cutting edge technology and local

knowledge. Party workers admit that the

national picture is never far away. The unpopularity of the Granny Tax

rock --, it worries about public spending cuts. But they say the

main concern is about Labour's track record in Wales.

We have not been standing still in Wales for many years. We have been

making gains and this time again, we will be on the doorstep,

fighting for every vote, to keep on delivering that better option,

those Jose's -- choices for the people of Wales. With more

candidates than before, the Conservatives want to hang on to

what they have got. Still to come, remains of

Copperopolis. More research to reveal more of its past. The Gwent

Wildlife Trust is trying to raise �300,000 to buy some rare,

preserved wetland on the edge of Magor Marsh. The area goes to

auction at the end of the month. Our Newport reporter, Jordan Davies,

is there now. Take a look at that landscape.

Those marshlands go for miles up to Newport and beyond and contain some

pretty were rare wildlife. The trust wants to buy some more land

and it says it is unique in the area.

90 acres of lush green wetland. The village macro Marsh reserve is part

of the Gwent Levels. It is part -- it is of special scientific

interest. The Wildlife Trust wants to extend its reserve by the

equivalent of 49 football pitches. The Trust is hoping to buy 11

fields surrounding this area but it says they have been untouched for

the last 50 years and contain some of the rarest habitats on the Gwent

Levels. It is particularly known for its rare flowers. This is

called a cuckoo flower. This woman says it his key they

secured the new work land. If we continued to lose these species

rich sites, there is nowhere for them to move to. Some of the

features, like the network of drainage ditches date back to the

14th century. The 49 acres of-- land will be sold at auction at the

end of the man. -- month. It is not the best time in economic

history to be asking people these questions but I also think it will

be easy because we are looking at a future that is more than five years.

We are looking long-term to secure this landscape for future

generations. The trust is relying on its 10,000 members to dig deep

and preserve the for more of this rare habitat for future generations.

I am joined by Roger James, the President of the Wildlife Trust.

You must have some great memories of this blaze. Yes, going back 26

years. I have seen a lot of changes. A lot of changes for the good. If

we could purchase this land, it will be even more important. What

is so special about this land? has a wonderful selection of

lowland wetland flowers. There is also the great risk of being

developed. We are hearing things about things on the motorway and

the more we can save our rich heritage, the better. It will be a

challenge to raise �300,000 by the end of the month. It will be. But

you have to be an optimist in the green movement. We have done it

before. We have a limited amount of time to tour. I am quite confident

that we can do it. What do you say to the people that would like to

see the land developed? There is room for both of us. As well as

religion and politics and things like this, you have got to take the

fact that people want to see different land uses. I am aware

there is a housing shortage but I am sure there is a place for both.

We await to see the outcome of the auction at the end of the month.

The rest of the day's sports news now and it's four defeats on the

bounce for Swansea City in the Premier League. Manager Brendan

Rodgers says his side's performances just haven't been good

enough in their last four games. The Swans have conceded 10 goals

and scored just one, in four straight defeats. After losing at

QPR 3-0 last night, Rodgers says they still need one more win to be

safe from relegation. We need to get over the line. We are still not

there. We are on 39 points. We have five games to go. We need to make

sure we finish off the season. Up until now, it has been terrific. It

has been a disappointing night but we need to regroup and refocus

again. Get that concentration in. Cricket and the weather has played

its part in Glamorgan's first home Rain and thunder really disrupted

things this afternoon. Rugby and Scarlets coach Nigel Davies has

today paid tribute to fly-half Stephen Jones, who is leaving the

club to join English side Wasps. The 34-year-old is Wales's most

capped player and says this is the right time in his career for change.

He's signed a two year contract and his former coach says a new

challenge is exactly what he needs. He will want to prove himself in

that league. I am sure that he will do that. In many ways, he has

helped define the modern No. 10. In terms of tackle awareness, strength

of character, and also physicality. You must not underestimate that. He

is the epitome of the modern-day Number 10. In the heat of the

industrial revolution, it was copper that put Swansea on the map.

Today academics from all over the globe have been gathering there to

learn more about the city they nicknamed Copperopolis. Rhodri

Lewis reports. A peaceful site today. It's difficult to imagine

the Hafod copper works in Swansea were once at the centre of a

worldwide industry. At one point 90% of the globe's smelted copper

was produced here. 200 years ago this would have been the scene of

great activity with heavy industry right in the heart of Swansea.

Copper ore and coal were brought in to create the smelted copper

Swansea was famous for. Ore from Anglesey and coal coming down the

valley. The ore was even brought here from as far afield as Chile

and Australia to be finished before being exported around the world.

Now academics from all over the world are gathering in Swansea

university to talk about how the city earned its nickname of

Copperopolis and how the industry became an early example of

globalisation. What we have got his national discussions which are not

interact at all. We want to get a more interactive global view of how

it operated. And what a Swansea 19 individual places, South Australia.

Mel Davies is originally from Cwmavon, but has spent the past 40

years in Australia studying how the relationship between Wales and that

country developed when its good quality copper was brought here to

be smelted. The percentage was quite amazing. You were looking at

some times 35 % copper. Today, it would be about 1% or less. It was -

- it made South Australia. Though the works have long since closed,

the hope is the new study will uncover more about the global

impact of a key part of Wales' industrial heritage. Derek's on the

Gwent Levels this evening, an area Yes, I filmed here for Weatherman

Walking a couple of years ago. Just down the road from Goldcliff to

Redwick. It's an interesting part of the country and well worth a

visit. The weather today has been very mixed across Wales. Most

places dry and sunny but some showers as well. Most of the

showers in Mid Wales and the south. Heavy downpours in places this

afternoon with hail and thunder. This evening showers in the South

East will die down. And with a clear sky it will turn quite cold.

Lowest temperatures around 1 Celsius with a widespread ground

frost. Colder in rural areas with a slight air frost. Tomorrow's chart

shows a slack weather pattern over the UK. Low pressure, so the

weather there very unsettled. So tomorrow mixed fortunes. A dry and

sunny start for most of us with a few showers in the north. During

the day, more showers will break out. If you catch one, it could be

heavy with hail and thunder. Some places, though, will miss them and

stay dry. The north coast and Anglesey becoming sunny during the

afternoon. Top temperatures 9 to 12 Celsius. The wind becoming gusty

near any showers and storms. In Newport tomorrow, a dry and sunny

start. Clouds will build. I wouldn't rule out a heavy shower in

the afternoon. Temperatures in Nash rising to 11 Celsius. Tomorrow

evening, most of the showers will fade away to leave a dry night.

Another cold night too. A widespread ground frost. A slight

air frost in mid Wales and the north. Saturday a chilly, breezy

day. A few showers around. These wintry on high ground but some dry

weather as well. A few sunny intervals. Most of the sun on

Anglesey and the west coast. Sunday a better day. Dry with sunny spells.

The wind easing as well. Temperatures below average and if

you're gardener watch out for frost. So sunshine and showers again

tomorrow. Colder over the weekend with some frost. Sunday the best

The main news again from the BBC. A fragile ceasefire in Syria seems to

be holding more than 12 hours after it came into force. Reports suggest

there has been a drop in violence, despite both sides reporting

violations of the truce during the day. Warren Gatland fell 10 feet

while cleaning windows at his family beach home in New Zealand.