30/01/2014 BBC Wales Today

A reminder of our main story: New from me, and on

coast. Large parts of the country are warned to expect disruption.

Tonight in Aberystwyth, students are being evacuated. The cost of

repairing our coast after recent storms reaches ?8 million.

The unlawful payments to council chief executives so they'd avoid

paying tax. Now, calls for them to resign.

Major building projects on the way here but do we have enough skilled

workers to deliver them? In tonight's sport: The simple

training techniques that makes Wales one of the fittest sides in world

rugby. We go behind the scenes to watch them being put through their

paces. And she had to stop singing because

of a brain tumour. The artist swapping the pop career for the

paintbrush. There are warnings tonight to stay

away from the coast as thousands of people brace themselves for more bad

weather. It comes weeks after parts of the country were damaged by

storms. Gale force winds, heavy downpours and high tides are

expected tomorrow. In Aberystwyth, 450 students are being evacuated

from the seafront and all lectures have been cancelled until Tuesday.

People in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire are being warned to

expect severe disruption and fire crews are on stand-by. The latest

weather warnings come as local authorities estimate they'll have to

spend almost ?8 million to clear up and repair the damage from earlier

this month. Our environment correspondent, Iolo ap Dafydd, is in

Aberystwyth for us this evening. It has been the wettest January 40

years. We had storms in December and then the big storm three weeks ago.

The cost of cleaning up as reached ?8 million already but there was

some good news today. On top of 2 million pledged last week, further

1.6 mil in pounds was pledged by Edwina Hart and Jane Hutt who came

here today. That money will be spent on speeding up the repair work,

especially in tourist areas. So some good news but there is some bad

weather on the way. Three weeks ago Aberystwyth the

headlines as the sea Three weeks ago Aberystwyth the

promenade. High tides and winds created the strongest surge

the decades. The repair work is still going on. Extra stone now

fills still going on. Extra stone now

The rush is on to fix as much as possible before this weekend's high

tides. Sea defences will be needed eventually and design could be

completed by the end of the year. There is the option of a reef off

the shore. Increasing the height of the promenade and putting a wall in

front of the promenade. That a number of different options. --

there are a number. Workmen laying new pavement in readiness for the

Easter tourists. Local business owners wish owning -- were showing

how a quarter of ?1 million has been spent on repairing this area. A

further ?1.6 million was pledged today. Anything we can do to get

them back in business is important. If you had a bad experience

somewhere, you go back and say, it was awful in Wales. The worst

affected local authorities have told BBC Wales how much the repairs will

cost. Conwy council estimates spending ?5 million. Ceredigion at

least 1,000,000 and a half. Gwynedd's estimate is now ?800,000

and temperature Council reckon they will need to spend half ?1 million

to repair damage. -- Pembrokeshire Council. It is not just the local

authorities that have been hit. Network Rail spent -- spends ?1

million to maintain the track along the Welsh coast and now they have

extensive repair costs. Since we saw the tidal surge in December, we are

looking at a bill of around ?15 million. That is on top of the usual

?1 million year we invest in the maintenance work. All along the

coast there will be nervous checks on the expected high tides. In

Aberystwyth, 450 students living near the promenade are being

evacuated for safety reasons. Let's get some thoughts now on what

could work as a sea defence year. I am joined now by somebody who speaks

for the civil engineers. What could work in Aberystwyth? The final

answer will be a combination of solutions. The problem starts out

there in deep water. That is where the wave is at its strongest. The

first step is to kill as much of the wave is at its strongest. The

energy out there as we can. Then one can work on the foreshore, shallow

water will allow the wave to break earlier. When the waves come ashore,

structures are available which can coast -- cope with that in a better

way than this wall did a few weeks ago. That sounds like an extensive

tech logical answer. But probably a very expensive one. You show me the

piece of string and I will measure it. You are talking about millions.

Some defences have cost ?30 million and we could be talking ?20 million

year? I don't wish to speculate other than to say it will be

millions. That cost will pay dividends if such an event happens

again. Thank you for joining us in Aberystwyth. I am told the planning

has already started in terms of a new coastal defence and they are

hoping to have a design potentially by the end of the year.

There are calls for senior officers at two Welsh councils to step down

after auditors said pension payments they received were unlawful.

Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire councils have allowed staff,

including their chief executives, to opt-out of the Local Government

Pension Scheme to avoid paying tax. Cemlyn Davies reports.

Mark James and Bryn Parry Jones are the two Council Chief Executive 's

who have received cash instead of pension contributions in order to

avoid paying tax. But according to reports by the Wales Audit Office

the payments were unlawful because the council has acted beyond its

authority. I would like the councils to recognise they have made mistakes

and they have to assert -- they have twisted extent. If they want to take

lawful decisions in future they should follow the proper process.

Since 2012 Carmarthenshire council has paid Mr James more than ?27,000

instead of contributing towards his local government pension. The

council has now put an end to that but a separate port finds the local

authorities decision to cover his legal costs in this case against a

local blogger was also unlawful. Carmarthenshire county council has

spent more than ?26,000 helping the Chief Executive to pursue a libel

counterclaim against Jackie Chief Executive to pursue a libel

The audit office has asked the authority to withdraw its support.

The council says there authority to withdraw its support.

full debate on the reports and authority to withdraw its support.

forward to demonstrate demonstrating its actions were

honourable and lawful. In the meantime Mr James is facing calls to

step down and this morning the issue was raised in the Commons. Can we

have a statement about guidance to public bodies about the moral

obligations of senior public officials to pay their due tax and

penalties for noncompliance? I have seen what the Welsh audit office has

had to say about the lawfulness of those particular payments and in

that sense I hope they will be exceptional rather than typical. In

temperatures case it is expected that by the end of March a total of

more than ?51,000 will be paid to Bryn Parry Jones and another senior

officer instead of pension contributions. The authority says it

will consider the auditor's report and opposition councillors want

action to be taken. We as an opposition and Labour group will be

retailing our request from November which calls for the Chief Executive

to be suspended. The audit office has called on Pemba ship Council to

stop making direct payments to senior staff -- Pembrokeshire

Council. Dyfed-Powys Police says the force is in discussions with the

auditor. The Pembrokeshire coroner is asking

the UK Government to review mental health procedures for soldiers.

24-year-old Lee Bonsall was found hanging at his home in Tenby in

2012. He was discharged from the army in 2007, but an inquest today

revealed there were delays in psychiatric assessments and GPs

treating him for depression did not know about his military background.

When he got discharged, he was asked whether he wanted his medical

records referred to as GPs -- GP and he declined that. I think it needs

to be something that happens automatically because that is no

doubt whether they've had military experience then.

A driver has appeared in court accused of knocking down a lollipop

lady who used her body as a human shield to protect a group of

schoolchildren. 62-year-old Robert Bell from Rhoose in the Vale of

Glamorgan is charged with driving without due care and attention.

50-year-old Karin Williams suffered multiple injuries in the crash last

June. Four girls and a boy under ten were also injured. A trial is

expected to be held later this year. A father and son have both denied

expected to be held later this year. charges of forced labour involving a

man working on their small-holding near Newport. Daniel Doran and his

son, David Doran, were arrested following a raid at Cariad Farm in

Marshfield. They pleaded not guilty to the charges at Cardiff Crown

Court. They'll both stand trial later this year.

A High Court Judge has decided later this year.

it used a foreign TV channel to show Premier League football matches. The

owners of the Rhyddings Hotel in Brynmill now face a legal bill that

could be higher than ?125,000. BBC Wales understands the Premier League

is now likely to bring civil cases against other pubs across Wales and

England. Businesses say that a skilled

workforce is one of the top issues they face in trying to grow and

boost the economy. The Welsh Government's launched a ten year

strategy and it says it will work with employers and provide

investment. But it also argues that firms and workers have a

responsibility too. Here's our business correspondent, Brian

Meechan. A new power plant on Anglesey,

possibly -- a possible M4 relief road and a prison in Wrexham. Just

three projects could see the skill levels of the Welsh workforce put to

the test. I enjoyed. I like doing the welding and I'm going to go on

to level three Fai can. -- if I can. The deputy skills Minister launched

the new strategy which he says will focus on making sure businesses get

what they need. We know in terms of low skilled jobs they are shifting

away from the Western world. We need to capitalise on the growing demand

for the higher skilled jobs so the strategy we have launched today will

do just that. New report shows as many as 40% of employers taking on

school leavers at 16 describe the recruits as poorly for work. Brings

employs over 2000 people and that requires a workforce with a very

diverse range of skills. The Chief Executive is also the skills

Commissioner for Wales. I think you'll see the business working more

closely with education in terms of trying to develop those skills,

particularly communication skills, earlier on. Not all employers are

convinced it is the responsibility of companies. I agree the private

sector should be involved but I think it is the responsibility

sector should be involved but I the education sector to provide a

sector should be involved but I workforce that is numerate and

literate and has the basic skills. Ministers

literate and has the basic skills. employers with investment and argue

literate and has the basic skills. it's a two governments, businesses

and young people like these to work together to ensure Welsh prosperity

for the future. together to ensure Welsh prosperity

You're watching Wales Today. Still to come: The pop star forced to stop

singing and now developing a new talent for art, born from a

life-changing event. Tonight's sports news now. Here's

Claire. In less than 48 hours, the eyes of

the rugby world will be on Wales as the Six Nations kicks off, but

tonight the plot thickens in the regional rugby dispute. The regions

claim they haven't been paid by the Heineken Cup organisers and are

almost ?1 million out of pocket. Our sports news correspondent, Gareth

Lewis, has just come off the phone. Gareth, what exactly are the regions

saying? The regions are angry and say they were expecting ?800,000

today from the company which runs the European cup. The region 's

version of events is disputed the decision was made last set tender

which said all payments needed ratification. ERC say the regions

had representations in the shape of Stuart Gallacher at that meeting.

The WRU supports the ERC version of 's. The money goes through the WRU

cough is. It is deadline day tomorrow. Otherwise they may join

the English premiership. This row over money means there is lots of

anger over this money and possible confusion over dates.

Away from the politics, on Saturday, Wales begin their quest to win three

Six Nations titles in a row. Behind me is the squad of 2014. Their

recent success has been built on the players' high levels of fitness. Our

reporter, Ashleigh Crowter, has been given access to Wales' training

base, where he discovered what the players have to put themselves

through to pull on that famous red shirt.

It is a place where the players are usually made to suffer but not

today. It is nice to watch other people do it. A group of fitness

journalists are getting a taste of what the squad is put through in the

run up to the six Nations. The players are there to show them the

run up to the six Nations. The ropes. We do this at the start of

the session so we can train and fatigue. A match is like that. The

the session so we can train and things that happen in games.

Different players excel in different tests one thing is always the same,

a fierce rivalry within the team. They make sure they know which

player wins each one. It is very competitive. You feel sick and it's

not a pleasant feeling. The man who plans it all is an Australian whose

job title is head of physical performance. It was his idea to use

cryotherapy chambers to help players recovery -- recover. Everything is

measured. The distance they run, they weight and body composition and

there are times in training. No stone is left unturned in pursuit of

excellence. You got the doctor with the sleeping tablets and we try and

provide sleep hygiene and different nutrition strategies. The medics are

there, the soft tissue therapists. Lots of different people to make the

wheel turn. The aim of all the effort is this. Last year 's

championship winning try scorer believes he could not have done it

without perfect preparation. You know you output that working off the

field and you've got more chance of doing it on the field. It gives you

that edge. With the six Nations often decided by small margins this

is where it could all be won and lost.

On that evidence, Wales are more than ready to defend their title and

tomorrow night we'll be live at the Millennium Stadium with all the

build up. In football, with the clock ticking

on the January transfer window, Swansea City have withdrawn from the

chase for England Under-21 international Tom Ince. But the

Swans have added to their under 21 resources by recruiting England

Under-19 international Raheem Hanley from Blackburn. Cardiff are still

battling through red tape before confirming the permanent deal for

Brazilian international Fabio and a loan move for Wilfried Zaha, both

from Manchester United. That's tonight's sport. Tomos, back

to you. She was a successful Welsh pop star

who toured the world, but a brain tumour at the age of 26 left Mared

Lenny unable to sing and fighting for her life. Four years on, her

condition is improving. But while she's had to abandon her music

career, she's developed an extraordinary talent for painting,

as our Arts Correspondent, Huw Thomas, has been finding out.

Colourful, symmetrical and very bright. Mared Lenny's patients --

paintings are dazzling. The painting only began after she collapsed

paintings are dazzling. The painting a brain tumour four years ago. It's

changed her life and while it triggered a new talent it robs her

or another. successful music career but her

condition meant the singing had to stop. I was so lost without the

music, so lost trying to work out where I slotted into life. It was

hard to deal with. Painting has helped her recovery and the first

exhibition has been poplar. I see patterns and colours differently

after my operation. Everything jumps out at me a bit more. I want to get

things down on canvas. Most of the time it is freestyle. These big

patterns emerge. She's had no formal training and had never painted

before becoming ill but it's played a big part in her recovery. It saved

my sanity. I have accepted I would be a musician like I used to be. It

is nice to have something positive to come out of something so awful.

She plans to take the paintings on tour.

More bad weather's expected. Derek has the details for us.

It's been the wettest January for 40 years. Nearly 250mm or ten inches of

rain. This figure is the average for the whole of Wales. Some places have

had a lot more rain. It's also the fourth wettest January since records

began in 1910. Unfortunately, there's more wet and windy weather

to come tomorrow and on Saturday with a risk of more flooding.

Tonight will be dry for most of us. And where the cloud breaks a frost

is likely. A few mist and fog patches as well. Temperatures inland

falling below freezing. As low as -2C in Mid Wales with icy patches

possible. The wind picking-up in the West. Tomorrow's chart shows a deep

low over the Atlantic pushing fronts towards us. Now, at 8:00am in the

morning, much of the country will be dry, cold and cloudy. A few mist and

fog patches. Windier in the West with rain in West Pembrokeshire.

During the day, the rain will spread across the whole country. So turning

wet and windy. Some heavy rain. Typically 10mm to 20mm with a risk

of localised flooding. Snow on the mountains and poor travelling

conditions. Today was the coldest day of the winter so far. Tomorrow,

temperatures will rise higher but feeling chilly in the wind and rain.

In Pembrokeshire tomorrow, turning wet and windy. Gales on the coast

with a high of 10C in St Davids. In Newport, the rain will arrive before

midday. The wind increasing with a high of 8C in Goldcliff. Tomorrow

evening the heavy rain will clear but showers will follow.

evening the heavy rain will clear and wintry with

evening the heavy rain will clear snow. The wind easing for

evening the heavy rain will clear But on Saturday the wind

evening the heavy rain will clear severe gales on exposed coasts and

evening the heavy rain will clear as well. Hail and thunder in places.

Sleet and snow too. Snow mainly as well. Hail and thunder in places.

levels as heavier showers. Also, a risk of flooding on parts of the

South and West coast due to the combination of gale force onshore

winds, a storm surge and high spring tides. The biggest swell on the

Bristol Channel coast Saturday evening. Sunday, a better day. Less

windy and drier. A little sunshine with a few showers in the South and

West. So after the wettest January in Wales for 40 years, there is more

heavy rain and showers on the way into February. No sign yet of

several days of dry weather, which we desperately need.

Tonight's main headlines: There are warnings tonight to stay away from

the coast as thousands of people brace themselves for more bad

weather. It comes weeks after parts of the country were damaged by

storms. Gale force winds, heavy downpours and high tides are

expected across the country from tomorrow morning.

For the very latest information on the weather, you can tune into BBC

Radio Wales and Radio Cymru. There will also be updates on the BBC

Wales news website. We'll have the latest for you at

8:00pm and again at 10:25pm. That's Wales Today. From all of us here,

have a good evening.