06/02/2014 BBC Wales Today

Peter, thank you. That's all from the BBC News at

Welcome to Wales Today. Our top story.

A plea from council bosses after the floods - we desperately need help to

pay for repairs. They take their concerns direct to the Welsh

Government. Joanna Hall stabbed 40 times in her

own home. She lived long enough to say who attacked her. This is the

moment police arrested her killer. Stephen Williams is an evil monster

who needs to be locked away so that he can hurt no one else.

Drilling for gas trapped beneath the ground - Wales looks to Lancashire

to question the benefits of fracking.

Also tonight. Michael Laudrup is considering

taking legal action after his sacking from Swansea, as the new man

takes charge at the Liberty. I am just trying to do my best for

the club. I have always done that in the past as a player.

And they're expecting a bumpy ride to Ireland as one player commits his

future to Wales. They're facing a repair bill running

into millions. Today, council concerns about who's going to pay

for the damage caused by winter storms were taken straight to the

Welsh Government. The Natural Resources Minister was visiting the

North Wales coast. But Alun Davies stopped short of announcing any

extra money for repairs. Roger Pinney reports.

A relatively calm day for once. But on the prom there was plenty of

evidence of the damage caused by more than a month of storms. The

Environment Minister was here to see it. Local politicians were quick to

get to the point. Are you likely to be announcing further funding? We

have already announced the funding. ?2 million is not going to even...

The cost of storm damage here has been put at ?5 million. Other

authorities face similar bills. The people know where they think the

money should come from. Who should pay for it? I believe the government

should pay for it. The government. But Wales or Westminster? An

announcement is due. In Natural Resources Wales assessment is coming

but still the big question remains. It is not just here, there is damage

right around the Welsh coastline. If they're going to be any more money?

We have already announced money for emergency repairs and that is

happening at the moment. Engineer is helping to fix alias that have been

damaged over the past month. We are now assessing the damage for the

long-term. Our reserves will not cover this devastation. A band down

Wales, councils are beginning to count the cost of the damage so far.

Pictures of storms lashing the prom in Aberystwyth have appeared on TV

screens and newspapers across the UK. In Ceredigion they are already

looking at a bill in excess of ?1.5 million. And some bus passengers had

a lucky escape here. And this is unlikely to be the end of it. This

who pays the bills business is turning into a political row. Until

today, the Welsh government had promised ?3 million but should the

UK government help pay as well? And what about Europe? UK government

ministers or ministers in Cardiff, who should ask for the money from

Europe? The UK government pledged another ?30 million in England. That

prompted a cry for help from a Plaid Cymru MP. Following the flooding in

2007, the UK government accidents are Solidarity fund. -- accessed.

Isn't the UK government guilty of absolving its moral obligation of

helping of communities in times of crisis? Matters relating to flooding

is a devolved matters. Like the storms, the bills keep rolling in.

Derek will have the latest forecast later on.

A man from Tenby has been found guilty of murdering a woman after

stabbing her 40 times. Joanna Hall was attacked at her home last March

but she survived for three weeks. During that time she was able to

tell the police what had happened. Miss Hall's family described

Williams as an evil monster. Cemlyn Davies reports.

She's a murder victim who was able to tell the police who was

responsible and today Joanna Hall's killer was brought to justice.

Afterwards, a statement was read out on behalf of Miss Hall's family.

Nothing will bring her back or change the keenest things that

Williams did to her. Unfortunately, we now have to live with that for

the rest of our lives. Stephen Williams was an evil monster who

needs to be locked away so that he can hurt no one else in the same

way. Joanna Hall died three weeks after she was stabbed by Steven

Williams at her home in Tenby. The pair were known to each other and

the court heard they had slept together several times. Steven

Williams has never denied being with Joanna Hall that night but the

self-confessed alcoholic said he'd popped to a local supermarket to buy

a bottle of whisky when the attack happened and by the time he returned

to the flat Miss Hall was lying on the floor bleeding excessively. But

the prosecution argued this CCTV footage shows there was already a

significant amount of blood on Williams' clothes when he went to

the shop. The jury was also told his fingerprints were found on a knife

in the apartment and the court heard Williams said to Miss Hall, "Will

you just die?" It took the jury of six men and six women eight and a

quarter hours to reach a majority verdict, where ten jurors agreed

Steven Williams was guilty of murder. Steven Williams showed no

emotion as the verdict was delivered. In the public gallery,

Joanna Hall's mother and sister, who have been in court throughout this

trial, burst into tears and other family members embraced as they left

court. Steven Williams will be sentenced either tomorrow or on

Monday. The family of a prisoner at

Bridgend's Parc Prison was wrongly informed he had died. The security

firm G4S say they will apologise after the incident, which followed

the death of a different prisoner at the start of the month.

The Cardiff Airport shuttle bus service has carried, on average,

less than four passengers per journey since its launch. The Welsh

Government-funded shuttle was used by around 2,800 people per week

between August and January. A review of the service is underway.

Lots of talking from managers past and present at Swansea City today.

Claire's here. Former Swansea City manager Michael

Laudrup says he's taking legal advice after being sacked by the

club. He issued a statement just before his successor Garry Monk's

first press conference. The club captain, who's now been made head

coach, says he would do anything to help the club. And he confirmed he'd

like to do the job on a permanent basis. Here's our sports reporter

Ashleigh Crowter. He has walked into the Liberty

Stadium hundreds of times as a player. But Garry Monk now has a

different job, leading the club out of danger in the Premier League. At

the press conference, he cut a relaxed figure. A man not overawed

by the job in front of him. It is not as if I really had a choice. I

have always said I will be prepared for the club and that is all I have

to be. I will not be anyone else, all I can be is myself. I have been

here for ten years so I know everything about the club. I know

everything about the players. I know everything about the reputation. The

club felt this sort of situation I was probably the best person to take

it on. Managing the club would be one of the proudest things I could

ever do. It is not the way I thought it could happen but it has happened.

But my focus is not on that, it is on the players and this game coming

up. As he smiled, settling into its new seat, it contrasted sharply with

the man he replaced. In a statement, Michael Laudrup said he was deeply

disappointed to have been dismissed, in particular the manner

in which it happened. He said Swansea had given no reasons why

such a hasty and final action was necessary. He added that he was now

taking legal advice but thank the fans for their continued support. He

said it had been an honour to manage their great football club. He also

said that the club have not allowed him to come back to the training

ground to say goodbye to the players and so he was having to do it via a

statement. He described their contribution to the club's recent

successes as fantastic. Garry Monk says he does not know how or why the

Laudrup was sacked. He was just asked to prepare the team for the

game against Cardiff. If it was to be my last part as a player, it

would obviously be because I have done well. Swansea and Cardiff now

have new managers in place. Saturday's derby will be a major

test of their credentials. More sport later on as we turn our

attention to rugby. Back to you, Tomos.

?40 million is being wasted in Wales because of changes to housing

benefit, according to the housing association Wales and West. It says

millions of pounds have been spent adapting homes for disabled tenants

who may now have to move to smaller properties, meaning their original

homes have to be made standard again. Here's our economics

correspondent Sarah Dickins. Judith Parker's house was specially

adapted to her family. A room each, wider corridors and lifting

equipment in the bathroom. It costs ?19,500. Person died three years

ago. She is now deemed to be and occupied. The housing benefit has

been cut and she is struggling. I can't afford to buy anything for

myself. New clothes. These clothes are hanging off me basically. Judith

is now paying just more than ?16 a week to stay there. The report

argues it is a false economy if disabled people moved to a smaller

house which then also needs to be adapted. Its research shows that of

the 9500 homes it manages, 779 are under occupied and of those, 74 have

been adapted for disabilities. That has cost on average ?7,700 for each

house. Wales and West argues that across Wales that adds up to ?40

million for all the adaptations. The longer it goes on, the more likely

these people are to move and the money that has been spent will be

wasted and they will then demand new adaptations in the new properties.

The housing association has had a reply from the Minister for welfare

reform. He says the bill was spiralling out of control and it had

gone from ?11 billion up to ?23 billion after the last Labour

government and he was also expecting that to go up to ?25 billion by next

year. The UK government also says it has given nearly ?8 million to Wales

for what are called discretionary housing payments to help tenants

struggling to pay rent. Applications go to local councils and Wales and

West argue what is also needed is for disabled people living in

significantly adapted housing to be exempt from what opponents call the

bedroom tax. You're watching Wales Today. Plenty

still ahead. Scraping stamp duty for some homes -

the plan from the Conservatives if they win the next Assembly election.

Police are carrying out investigations at a Cardiff school

whose deputy-head teacher has already admitted hiding a camera to

film children in a toilet. Those offences took place elsewhere. Now

detectives have been given full access to Ysgol Glantaf where he

worked. Live now to our reporter Nick Palit, who's outside the

school. What is the latest? Six days ago, the deputy head of this Welsh

medium secondary school appeared before Cardiff Magistrates' Court on

three charges of voyeurism. Buchanan pleaded guilty to recording another

person doing a private act without their consent for the purpose of

sexual gratification. Those offences involved using a camera that was

hidden in a toilet. Acting on information, police recovered that

camera along with memory sticks with files of five children on it. Those

fences did not take place at this school but in court it was said that

the police investigation was still ongoing. Today, the headmaster at

this school has written to the parents of all pupils to bring them

up to date with the investigation. In his letter, he says that South

Wales peace officers have been given full access to the school to aid

their investigation and they will continue to cooperate fully -- South

Wales Police. He says he knows their respective elation that more charges

will follow but because the investigation is ongoing, he cannot

comment or speculation further. He says that they understand this is

extremely concerning for everyone involved with the school. Mr

Williams has been suspended from his post and will appear before Cardiff

Crown Court on February 21. The Welsh Conservatives say they

would scrap stamp duty for all properties worth up to ?250,000 if

they were in power at the Assembly. It's the first policy set out by any

of the parties on the tax, which is in the process of being devolved to

Wales from Westminster. Here's our Political Editor Nick Servini.

It will be the most high-profile new tax that the Welsh government is

getting its hands-on. The Conservatives have fired the

starting gun on what to do with stamp duty. You don't pay any stamp

duty on properties with up to ?125,000. Between 125000 and

?250,000, you currently pay 1%. Over ?250,000, it rises 3%. The average

property price in Wales is around ?160,000. This house is worth

?250,000 so any buyer would potentially save ?2500. The

Conservatives estimate the policy will benefit around 13,000 people a

year, cost around ?20 million and would pay for it from the housing

budget and savings. We believe home ownership is a key part in driving

entrepreneurial spirit in Wales. We need a more dynamic economy and one

of the biggest dreams people have is owning their own home and having

that foot on the property ladder. Very often collating the last couple

of pounds but the obstacles in the way. Most of the houses on this road

in Cardiff could be affected by the proposal, so what impact could the

policy have on the market yet? If you look at an average of ?160,000

within the 1% bracket currently, I don't think that will be a

difference between someone getting a mortgage and not getting a mortgage

in what is a rising market. The Welsh government has questioned the

cost of the stamp duty policy and says it will come up with its own

proposals when its plans are fully developed.

Mortimer 's on whether income tax will be devolved to Wales as well.

Partial control of income tax, but they will need to be a referendum.

The stories we brought you last night with comments by Labour's

Shadow Welsh Secretary, very sceptical comments about the

benefits to Wales of this, and he said the first Mr Carwyn Jones

agreed with him and that the first Minister had not asked for income

tax powers but the Conservatives have pointed out that in his

admission to the Welsh office committee of MPs last month, he did

say that income tax powers should be devolved to Wales, subject to a

referendum and subject to changes in funding and the structure of the

tax. The Conservatives, who have spreads on this themselves, are

trying to make the point that there are spreads in the rank of labour as

well. We spoke to Owen Smith tonight and he says that submission should

come to Wales only because at that stage it was evident that the powers

were coming anyway and Welsh government was just being

responsible. The Welsh government says that there is no contradiction

here and the tax in its current model are effectively useless.

A group of Welsh MPs have been visiting a shale gas site in

Lancashire as part of their inquiry into energy. The UK government is

issuing a new round of licenses which allow companies to explore for

oil and gas, but there are economic and environmental concerns. Our

environment correspondent Iolo ap Dafydd met them at a drilling site.

North Lancashire is farming country, full of narrow lanes, dairy

cows and sheep. In between larger towns such as Blackpool and Preston,

there are rural villages, but under these fields they could be billions

of cubic feet of shale gas. Three Welsh MPs preparing a report on

energy came to see how a company drills for shale gas. There is a

potential here for another -- huge number of jobs to be created for an

industry that could improve energy security for the UK and pushed down

energy prices as well. Clearly, the Labour and Conservative party are

absolutely agreed that any fraking that expose has to be done safely.

The company has temporarily stop due to technical reasons but it is one

of the oldest wells and companies enough gas for one megawatt of

power. But some are unconvinced about the potential economic of

drilling for shale gas underground. What surprised me here is learning

how little this one well actually produces. It is one megawatt of

electricity. You will need an awful lot if you are going to produce as

much as the average power station. We have got to look very carefully

at whether it is worth that investment. Every energy provider is

going to claim that it is going to be the next thing since sais bread

and it is going to sort all our energy needs -- sliced bread. We as

politicians and representatives and decision-makers have got to treat

all those claims with an adequate degree of scepticism. In Wales,

protest groups have been formed to oppose the process. The company have

no interest in Wales yet but other companies are exploring gas reserves

around the South Wales coalfield and in north-east Wales. These MPs and

their colleagues are preparing a report on shale gas. The British

George called survey are also doing a report on just how much shale gas

they could be in Wales. That has been commissioned by the Welsh

government and they are respecting it at the end of this month.

Rugby's on the agenda now. Back to Claire.

Wales' four regions are taking legal advice over the nonpayment of

European Cup cash. They were hoping for an ?800,000 instalment

yesterday, but will have to wait another two weeks to see if they get

it. Meanwhile, the Welsh Rugby Union has stepped in with the offer of a

temporary loan. Our sports news correspondent Gareth Lewis is here.

Let's deal with this late money and the regions first of all. What are

they saying? The company which runs the European cup met at a board

meeting yesterday and they decided to postpone any decision on payments

and they did it on their own legal advice because of uncertainty over

the future of the tournament. Wales's regions and the English

clubs are backing a different European cup edition next season.

Understandably, the regions, it is understood, have concerns about

paying their wages this month. ?800,000 is an awful lot of money.

What are the WRU offering? They are considering offering a loan to cover

any shortfall, if the regions request one. The union have said

there are no strings attached. The regions are unlikely to take up that

request as things stand. They want to know more about what security

they would need to put up and more on the terms of that loan. They may

feel as well that a loan is a sticking plaster. The next board

meeting is on February 19 way a decision will be made on this

money. The regions have had the latest instalment of money this week

for playing in the Pro12, which is the lead we watch on BBC and S4C on

Fridays and Saturdays. But Wales centre at Scott Williams is staying

put. With all the uncertainty, another one decides to stay in

Wales. The young Scarlet centre had an offer of a central contract from

the Welsh Rugby Union and an offer from the Scarlets and he has opted

to sign for his region. He scored a great fright on the weekend against

Italy. Against the Six Nations in mind, there will be a lull tomorrow

and over the weekend but next week Brace yourself for a formal

announcement from the regions that they will look to join the initial

Premiership next season. -- English Premiership.

Scott and his Wales team-mates have arrived in Dublin ahead of their Six

Nations clash with Ireland on Saturday. Wales, led by Sam

Warburton, say they are under no illusions about how difficult the

challenge will be. Ireland have named their team today. They welcome

back captain Paul O'Connell and centre Gordon D'Arcy. Wales left

their base earlier, not looking forward to a bumpy flight in the

difficult weather conditions, but relieved not to be catching a ferry.

A flight is better than going over the Irish Sea at the moment. They

are all fit and well. Just looking forward to getting out there now. It

has been a long week since the Italy game. This game has been very much

in the forefront of our minds and it is going to be a hell of an

occasion. Something the coaches and players are really looking forward

to. Well, tomorrow night we'll have all

the build up to Wales against Ireland. Many fans are making the

trip to Dublin this weekend despite the atrocious weather. Spare a

thought for these supporters, cycling to Dublin for charity. Among

them, former Wales International Colin Charvis, who says the group

are committed to making the 200 mile journey despite the bad weather.

Let's get the weather picture. Any let up in the wind and rain over the

next few days? I can promise a window of better

weather tomorrow but I'm afriad it's not going to last. Another winter

storm is on the way. Warnings are in force. One for heavy rain, plus an

amber warning of severe gales for southern counties tomorrow night and

Saturday. There are also two flood warnings in force. Tonight, more

rain and showers. Some heavy rain too. The wind picking-up as well,

becoming fresh to strong with temperatures staying above freezing.

Tomorrow's chart shows a ridge of high pressure over Wales for a

change. But more trouble is brewing over the Atlantic. This next big low

is heading our way. Here's the picture for 8.00am in the morning.

Light rain in the north-east. Snow on high ground. Elsewhere will be

dry. Clear in Pembrokeshire with sunshine. Windy on the coast and

feeling chilly. During the day, the whole country will become dry.

Brighter too with sunshine for a while. However, cloud and a few

showers will spread from the south-west during mid to late

afternoon. In Carmarthenshire tomorrow, it will be much drier than

today. Tomorrow evening the weather will go downhill again. Another

spell of heavy rain. Strong to severe gale force winds as well. The

rain clearing to showers after midnight. Saturday will be very

windy. The south and west coast bearing the brunt of the gales. More

rain and heavy showers as well. Hail and thunder possible. Just a few

sunny intervals. And very blustery in Swansea for the football. Not

quite so windy in Dublin for the rugby but be prepared for heavy

showers. The tides this weekend not so high but big waves are likely,

especially in the south-west. There is a risk of more flooding on parts

of the coast, especially in Pembrokeshire with strong onshore

winds. Sunday will be windy with sunny intervals and blustery

showers. Perhaps more persistent rain in the north. The wind easing

later. Calmer on Monday but low pressure will bring more rain and

strong winds on Tuesday. Turning colder next week as well with wintry

showers by Wednesday. The main news again from the BBC.

William Roach has been found not guilty of sex offences. He was

cleared of two counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault. We

will have the latest for you at 8pm. Have a good evening.