13/08/2012 BBC Wales Today

Good evening and welcome to Wales Today. Our top story tonight.

Olympic Golden girl Jade Jones from Flint. But how do we inspire the

next generation of world class athletes from Wales? Tonight, the

call for a little of the magic of our newest sporting stars to rub

off on us all. People are really interested in sport. I hope it rubs

off because this has to be the Our other headlines tonight.

Why does it take a year to get a wheelchair in North Wales?

After the floods, local authorities warn tonight that the repair bills

are running to millions and millions of pounds.

She refused to pay her council rates because they were in English.

Eileen Beasley, the woman who lead the fight for Welsh has died.

Why a submarine sunk 132 years ago Good evening. What a fortnight!

Sport is on a high after an incredible games for Team GB and a

record seven medals for our Welsh Olympians. It's our best tally ever

and the hope is a new generation has been inspired to become

champions. That is the big test, can the Games deliver the lasting

legacy it promised and is there enough money in the budget to build

on the success? Tomos Dafydd was A Welsh flavour to the final

celebration of two weeks of unforgettable sporting achievement.

The London Welsh Male Voice Choir and the London Welsh Rugby Club

Choir singing the Olympic anthem, signaling the end of the Games and

after the medal success, one former Olympian says now's the time to

capitalize. The legacy is what it is all about. And I took part

because I was inspired by the British performance on the

athletics track. People cannot help but be inspired. Every day I took

to someone who asked whether I had seen something. I hope it keeps

going because this has to be the start. Getting children more active

in school is one of the aims of Sport Wales, the body charged with

developing sport across the country. It primarily gets its money from

the Welsh Government and the National Lottery. Over the last

four years, the budget has increased to �38.5 million and in

two years time it goes up again, largely thanks to an increased

grant from the National Lottery. Now there's an aim to get children

doing six hours of sport a week. Schools provide a basic curriculum

in physical activity. We need to provide continued extra-curricular

teams and work with organisations so that young people can develop

further. It's been a games to remember.

Seven medals for Welsh athletes. Jade Jones, Britain's first ever

Taekwondo gold medalist. She has already got a gold post box in her

honour. Now, a party's planned tomorrow when she arrives home in

Flint. Rower Tom James got gold for the second consecutive Games, so

too Geraint Thomas. No doubting his contribution to Britain's cycling

success. Fred Evans got silver on the last day. Two more silvers on

the water, sailing's Hannah Mills from Dinas Powys and rower Chris

Bartley got the other in Eton Dorney. Sarah Thomas won a bronze

with the hockey team. The first action of the Games started here in

Cardiff. Now the council and the Welsh Government are considering a

bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth games. A feasibility study is being

carried out into the costs of The Olympic flame has been

extinguished but the memories will burn bright for a long time. Now

it's hoped the organisers' promise of a lasting legacy will now become

Pool is not an Olympic sport yet it is one of the Hawks used to bring

children in off the street at this centre. Have they been inspired by

the Olympic Games? No. Why not? is boring. Do you not feel inspired

by a gold medal? No. It does not bother me. When I get older, I want

to be a gymnast. I used to be good at gymnastics and it was a lot of

fun. Now, I'm going to go back to it. Of aid to go to boxing and I

run sometimes. That is mostly my sport. It shows that anyone is

capable if you take the time and effort to train. But in the work

and anything is possible. But what happens now? We can put away hour

Union flags and red dragons until the Paralympic Games. The challenge

now is to get this out there and to do something and take part. The

Olympic Games cost millions of pounds to stage. They have been

supported like never before. But the needs of elite artists --

athletes have to be balanced with the grass roots. There are other

ingredients. This is a top-class cycle circuit. As we have heard

time and again, committed parents can matter every match -- every bit

as much as committed children. Will the generation be inspired? It to

take a lot of back-up from parents and having more facilities like

this. He must have people who are willing to put in the money and get

the Generation going. The transport our children all over the place if

they want to do something was up if you and not one of those, I do not

think the Olympic Games will suddenly make you do. A lot of

people will suddenly have a go but how many of those will continue is

the question. The Sea cadets and Yacht Club offer tuition for

beginners. Any budding champions will have to travel and it pay for

expensive bits of kit. Sport Wales's budget will peak in a

couple of years' time. A boxing ring costs more than �2,000. We had

to raise that money ourselves. We would never have an elite boxer in

our gym unless we have this equipment. Inspiration and legacy

were the two buzzwords. You can add funding and facilities to those.

Who knows where the next medalists will come from.

David Davies was one of our Olympians in the pool, competing at

his third games, and Chair of Sport Wales Laura McAllister join me.

Congratulations on your third Games was a view that there cheering all

Our Olympians on. How was it for both of you? As an athlete, it was

special. The home factor was definitely special. We were

idolised everywhere we went. I had to pinch yourself to think we were

in Britain because everything was so perfect. The stadium and pool

was fantastic. It was the best I had been to. The closing ceremony

was the best one I had been to. is great to hear of an athlete's

perspective and that validates what I saw. There was a great spirit and

far as to come back to Wales with seven medals, the best-ever haul

was just the icing on the cake. The whole games were an inspiration. It

is up to us to capture that energy. BAF hearing the word legacy time

and time again. It is now coming down to where the money will take

us over the next few years. What is the state of play? We are fortunate

in having a government that understands the importance of sport

to communities and to elite athletes so we have Our strategy

that takes us up to 2016. We are on our way to the medal haul and the

targets we have set for that. We have a �9 million budget to

allocate just for innovative community projects of the type B

saw a moment ago. That is important because we need to capture the next

generation of talented athletes and Alsop children who may never get to

the athletics and the Olympics but just enjoy sport. You have

benefited, but if you could do one thing to change things what would

it be? Is there anything you can see from being in there and

experiencing it that would encourage people to get involved?

Just giving them the opportunity really. People have seen sports

they have never heard of but watch it and got enthralled and inspired

by it. It is to stick his of educating people what is out there

and how much enjoyment you can get out of sport. If we can use this as

a launchpad to get kids involved in sport and how good it can be done

that is the message for the future. I would rather watch Rio on the

beach. You have been a great ambassador for the country. Very

briefly, what was the best gold winning medal for you are stuck I

think Jade Jones. I think the 5,000 metres. Thank you very much for

coming in and talking to us. Adult wheelchair users in North

Wales are having to wait up to a year for an assessment. Although

waiting times have improved for adults and children across the rest

of Wales, there are concerns that the situation isn't improving fast

enough in the north of the country. Are you all right? Yes. They are

Salisbury likes to keep busy. She has spina bifida but for the past

20 years she has worked as a volunteer at a shop in Llandudno.

She is one of 70,000 in Wales that depend on we chose. Every time I

need a new wheelchair you have to jump through hoops. You have to

request a wheelchair and then go down to Wrexham to be assessed.

Measure it and then you have to wait. I had to wait a couple of

years for my new wheelchair. case is not unique. The Assembly's

health committee wanted to know if things had got better. The report

says Bedi time adults in South Wales wait for picture assessments

had almost halved. But progress had been much slower in North Wales.

People have to wait a year for assessment. A report showed a

dramatic improvement in children's Additional funding provided did

specify prioritising paediatric services. It is essential now that

findings from the committee about a strategic leadership and

communication implemented are -- as soon as possible. There will be a

more regular and routine system for recalling people to look again at

their needs. It is particularly important for young people because

they are growing physically. But they need one year will be

different to the next. The report Alsop couldn't face problems in

providing short-term loans of wheelchairs for people after short-

term illnesses. At this centre, they deal with up to 40 requests a

day. The stock is running low and so too is money. The charity

estimates they are losing �200,000 a year providing wheelchairs to

people who need them. We're working closely with the NHS and Welsh

government. We're now working closely with the health boards as

well. It is taking time, some would say too long. But we're getting

there. The Welsh government say they have invested almost �2.2

million to kept waiting times for children. But the committee says

getting the service for adults up to scratch should now be a priority.

Much more to come before 7pm. Why a submarine sunk off the Welsh

coast needs some work after 132 years. As possible.

After the floods the repair bills are running to millions of pounds.

That's the message tonight from the Local Government Association.

Ceredigion Council has admitted it will have its work cut out to

balance the books. Dozens of families in the Aberystwyth area

still haven't been able to return to their homes after floods

devastated the area two months ago. They were the worst floods to hit

north Ceredigion in living memory. A month's worth of rain fell in

this part of Mid Wales in just 24 four hours. 1000 people were forced

from their homes as the waters rose around them. But local residents

aren't the only ones who've been left counting the cost. The floods

tore up roads and damaged bridges. In the immediate aftermath

Ceredigion Council spent more than �300,000 clearing up the mess and

it expects repair costs will amount to more than �400,000. On the day

the Local Government Association warned many councils face multi

million pound bills, the authority admits it will have tough decisions

to make. The repair work after the floods exasperated the situation.

They will be a backlog on Our infrastructure because of previous

winters. We also have the flood damage coming on top of that. It

will be problematic for us. Following the floods Ceredigion

Council launched an appeal. Furniture and money was donated as

the community pulled together. Last week the first cheques of �700 were

handed out to people like Mick Fothergill from Talybont. He's seen

his insurance premium shoot up by more than a hundred pounds a month

since the floods struck. People were beginning to get anxious. In

these situations, there are many hidden expenses you are not aware

of. Things like, I want to make a wedding cake and ate did not have

ingredients or balls or spawns to make the cake. It sounds trivial

but those sort of expenses are always cropping up. Rosalie Beaston

had to be rescued through and upstairs window when the floods hit

on the night of the 8th of June. She's now living with her son.

is completely flooded. I have lost everything on the ground floor. I

was not insured. I will find it very difficult to start again.

than two months have passed since the floods struck. The true cost of

the damage is still becoming clear. She refused to pay her council

rates because they were in English. Her disobedience saw the bailiffs

on the doorstep and they took away many of her personal possessions

from her family home in Llangennech near Llanelli. Tonight tributes

have been paid to Eileen Beasley, who has died at the age of 91. She

was credited with leading the way in the fight for the right to use

Welsh in the 1950s. Eileen Beasley and her family were Welsh speakers.

As were 90% of the people living near them, including their

councillors and council officials. So in 1952 when they received their

bill for council rates in English they refused to pay until they

received a demand in Welsh. Over the next eight years, their battle

with the Rural District Council saw bailiffs visit their home ten times.

In this interview, broadcast in 1987, she and her husband Trevor

described how in 1959 their parlour was left bare, after bailiffs took

a piano, an oak bookcase, a mirror and even their carpet. Some of the

items were wedding gifts. They finally won their battle in 1960.

It was a period of growing anger and action. Protesters, here at

Trefechan Bridge in Aberystwyth, were inspired by Saunders Lewis's

lecture in 1962, which warned the language would die without

revolutionary methods to defend it. He held up Eileen Beasley as an

example of the civil disobedience he felt was needed if Welsh was to

be given official recognition. think back over her life and

realise just how much she and her husband working together achieved.

They were a formidable couple and they set an agenda that it had a

significant impact over the following 40 or 50 years. On the

day that protester Jamie Bevan was sentenced to 35 days by magistrates

in Merthyr for refusing to pay a fine issued only in English, the

cause highlighted by Eileen Beasley still resonates 50 years on.

A pioneering steam-powered Victorian submarine which sank off

North Wales 132 years ago is being conserved by divers. British Sub

Aqua Club members are trying to slow down the erosion on the three-

man submersible Resurgam. It sank off Prestatyn in February 1880.

Matthew Richards is on the beach for us tonight.

Thanks. Designed by an eccentric, bare-knuckle boxing clergyman the

Resurgam was way ahead of its time, even if it did sink on one of its

first voyages. It may be hidden from view some six miles out and

many metres below but divers are hoping to slow down the ravages of

The Resurgam resting and rusting on the seabed for more than a century.

Its Latin name means I will rise again. Until that happens,

conservationists are using science to stop any further deterioration.

That is a sink and note and we attach it with a G clamp. Divers

from Flintshire and Cheshire are attaching anodes to the vessel

which should decay while preserving the iron hull. The early submarine

was the brainchild of Rev George Garrett. There are doubts it was

ever successfully trialed and sank in a storm but it's significance is

down to its design. From the shape, we get all the present day

submarines. Long, slim with almost point depends so that it sails

through the water. It never delivered a torpedo but God knows

how it would have carried it but it was, his ideas were decades ahead

of other people. The cost of raising the Resurgam would be

enormous so for now it remains unseen by all but a handful of

specially approved divers who need permission from Cadw to explore the

protected wreck. It must have been pretty crammed and smoky because it

was steam-driven. Can you imagine a fire inside? It must have been

miserable down there. Why he chose wintertime to attempt to go from

Birkenhead and head for the south coast of England, I shake my head

in amazement and admiration. practicalities of Reverend

Garrett's incredible submersible machine may have been questionable,

but it signaled the shape of things to come. He was one of those

characters you do not see any more. He was a bare-knuckle boxing

champion and he trained for the clergy. He was an eccentric

inventor. He demonstrated a pre- prevent by sitting at the bottom of

the river in Paris. Many of his ideas were ahead of the time. He

died a pauper in America. But his ideas live on. We see echoes of his

work in submarines today. The Wales football team will not be

coming up against former manager John Toshack in the World Cup

qualifying campaign. Toshack has parted company with the Macedonia

national team. The side won 1 of his 8 matches in charge. Wales and

Macedonia are in the same qualification group for the 2014

World Cup in Brazil. Time for the weather now, here's

Behnaz. We have some stormy weather This evening, we have some heavy

showers across parts of Ceredigion and North Wales. We will see drier

conditions for most of us. Mist and fog forming and a few coastal

showers in the overnight period. Temperatures at 14 to 17 Celsius.

This era of low pressure is responsible for the weather this

week. Making its way towards Wales and the United Kingdom by Thursday.

First thing tomorrow morning, a dry start for many of us with sunshine

as they go through the day. Some of the showers could be heavy and

foundry at times. It will still feel warm with highs of 22 Celsius.

We have showers are lurking around. As you go into tomorrow evening,

the showers will die out again. We will see a little more in cloud.

Also, we have this friend making its way in from the south-west.

Another very leggy night with temperatures up to 18 Celsius

overnight. There is an early warning for the rain on Wednesday.

A heavy downpour which could cause localised flooding and also

difficult driving conditions. We have this heavy rain and cities

still warm. Very windy conditions and gusty winds especially on

exposed coasts. For the next couple of days, we have sunshine and

showers. Or persistent rain by Friday. A beautiful sunset in

today's picture. At least they will be some sunshine to compensate.

Stormy weather on Wednesday and sunshine and showers for the rest

of the week. So the Olympic Games are over. How

were they, Claire? It was incredible. A privilege to be there.

To follow an hour Welsh Olympians, we have watched them trained for

months and years. To see them compete was incredible. The

goodwill factor and the atmosphere from the bus drivers and cab

drivers, absolutely incredible. Sport did what it does at its very

best. And that's it! You know what's

coming next, a musical montage showing some of the best bits!

Remember it was a Welsh choir that helped kick it all off 17 days ago!