11/02/2014 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today - our top story: Will we have to abandon

living by the coast? Tonight why some communities will be

lost to rising sea levels. Who would buy a house in a place

they know is not going to be there in 20 years time.

Snow for some of us today - but tomorrow a warning of severe gales

of up to 80mph threatening disruption.

Our other headlines tonight: Would a law requiring minimum staffing

levels for nurses in hospitals improve care for patients?

They've got the chemistry right in Ceredigion - the only local

authority to get an excellent report when it comes to education.

2,400,000... And the Cardiff auctioneer who sells

PEOPLE for millions of pounds. Good evening. Coastal communities in

Wales are being warned they could face being abandoned in future. Some

councils say rising sea levels mean they're too expensive to defend in

the long term. The Minister for Natural Resources Alun Davies says

retreating is not part of his approach. But some councils have

told BBC Wales that plans are already in place. Gwynedd council

says they're set to retreat from the village of Fairbourne in the year

2025. Further down the coast in Borth it's 2055. But in Newgale in

Pembrokeshire it's already happening. Here's Tim Rogers.

While we Storms rage, the question facing many communities is how are

we going to defend them in future? Is the cost goes up, the reality for

small towns is they will have to abandon. Plans adopted widely social

-- by the council are those of managed retreat. The future looks

bleak. Any policy that declares there is a

cut-off point is inevitably going to make house values in the area drop.

Who would buy a place in an area that won't be there in 20 years

time. There are 50 communities that have

been marked for some kind of retreat from the sea. The leader of the

council in Gwynedd says there is not the money to defend every community.

A few have mentioned, the plan is try to maintain the position in the

short-term but in the long term we will have to have that managed

retreat and look at the future of that community. I recognise people

will be in a difficult position. As the weather deteriorates,

short-term plans have been adopted. It was drawn up by the advice of

special engineers. The Minister for natural resources Aled Davies

suggests there is a difference of opinion tween the government and

local authorities. Managed retreat is not part of our

policy. We are looking at managing defences.

That is a big pointy just made. Managed retreat is not part of our

long-term policy. Not today but your basic point that

you can't do everything everywhere and you can't fund everything

everywhere is absolutely correct. The expert advice is that sea levels

will continue to rise and doing nothing is not an option. As weather

continues to confound predictions, the question of how will the

vulnerable communities be defended in future is becoming more urgent.

Professor Mike Phillips is an expert on climate change and sea level

rises from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. We heard there

that retreating is not part of the Welsh Government's plan but at the

same time there isn't enough money to protect everywhere - so what's

the answer? Very difficult. We can advance, stay

where we are all retreat, managed retreat and now active intervention

are key strategic objectives. What hasn't been done at the moment is

the enabling strategy. How will we do the managed retreat and how and

what studies are being taken to actually measure the effects of the

coastline and on the shortest scale. We've had the wettest January for 40

years, this winter has been particularly stormy - has the

situation been made worse because of the harsh conditions?

Definitely. Without doubt. Sea levels rising, temperatures are

rising and the storms are becoming unpredictable. The consequences on

the shoreline, because we live there, we have to defend.

Will coastal areas of Wales become no-go areas in future because people

won't live there because of lack of protection?

In some parts, yes. The majority of the coastline is relatively stable

because of geological conditions but what needs to be done is detailed

analysis. The Fairlawn situation, for example, they haven't done a

complete beach study over a long period so five years of seasonal

surveys linking to sea-level change and winds and storms and then they

can make the decision effectively of the time. They may even change the

decision over time. Thank you very much.

More on that story in Week In Week Out tonight at 10:35pm here on BBC

One Wales. So, as the debate goes on, how we

should deal with the affects of the storms? Wales continues to be hit by

bad weather. Today it was rain and snow and that's caused treacherous

conditions on the road. The A470 between the storey arms and Libanus

is partly blocked tonight after an accident and we're being told more

severe weather is on the way tomorrow.

In the hills, snow closed some roads. These pictures show

conditions near Aberystwyth, where a lorry jackknifed and blocked the

road. The knock-on effect of flooding added to local disruption

on trains. Some services were cancelled that in Swansea,

passengers arriving on the London train remained philosophical.

The train was on time and we left on time but between certain places it

was very slow. They are doing their best in exceptional times.

All the trains are slow but we got there.

No football today in Wrexham but they were out inspecting the pitch

or what could be seen of it. Newport County had their match called off.

This weather has been full of surprises and in Monmouth today, one

of our viewers found this sealed by a rowing club forced top -- by the

rowing club. The council has been dealing with water near the leisure

centre. Tomorrow we are only allowing the

older students into school. There are floods on the roads so we are

clearing Belize. It is difficult for water to get away and we are getting

requests for standard bikes -- for sandbags. This is going to be

compounded by further bad weather. We are due for more heavy rain and

crystal gales and snow and we should be ready for disruption to transport

and possibly power supplies. A full forecast later in the

programme. Now the rest of the day's news.

A vote to ban the smacking of children could be held before the

next Assembly elections after Welsh Government ministers promised the

issue would be considered as part of future legislation. The pledge came

after a vote to outlaw smacking was defeated in the past half hour at

the Senedd. Our Political Editor Nick Servini is there for us. How

close was the boat? Comfortably defeated in the end but there is

quite a lot of support free vote in future, what about the past?

The debate still going on. What the government said was if it had

passed, it would have held up that entire process because they hadn't

carried out consultation and it might have been challenged in the

courts. We had an impassioned debate this evening. At times points were

put across emotionally. Here is a flavour of what some of them had to

say. Discipline, in my opinion and in my

house means teaching and there are less violent ways of teaching

children how to behave. I prefer to talk or shout.

I believe parents should have the right to chastise their own

children. A ban on smacking would criminalise tens of thousands of the

Sindh, loving parents who discipline their children -- of decent, loving

parents. There were remarks on council bosses

pay? There was a committee of PM 's -- of

a arms. They will look at pay in the public sector and what has got a lot

of attention, the question of senior pay among chief executives of

councils. The Chief Executive of one council is in the middle of an

investigation. Carwyn Jones was asked about the pay package of

nearly ?200,000. He said while he wasn't angling for a pay rise, he

said it was surprisingly Chief Executive of temperature council is

paid ?65,000 more than the first Minister of Wales.

The family of a man whose death is thought to be linked to the online

drinking game Neknominate say they're heartbroken. Stephen Brookes

from Cardiff died on Sunday. The 29-year-old's family say they've

been overwhelmed with support. South Wales Police are still investigating

a possible link between the game and his death.

A plan to introduce a law requiring minimum staffing levels for nurses

in Welsh hospitals is being proposed by the leader of the Welsh Liberal

Democrats. The Royal College of Nursing backs Kirsty Williams'

proposal, which she thinks will lead to improved care for patients and

she's urging Assembly Members to support her. Here's our political

reporter James Williams. Recovering at home from her recent

knee replacement surgery, June pours over some of the responses to her

letter of complaint. It wasn't the quality of nursing care she received

in Abergavenny that concerned her but the quantity of nursing staff.

It was just horrendous, the workload that they have to put up with and

that is what concerned me. She was brilliant, she looked after us all.

She was very cheerful and bright and professional but it was just way

beyond what one person should be expected to do.

She is still waiting for a response from the local health board but they

say they have investigated her concerns and she can expect a reply

shortly. When idea to try and improve staffing levels would be a

law to introduce a minimum member of nurses. That is the idea of the

leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

What we know from international evidence in parts of the world where

they've already done this if they have seen a significant drop in

mortality rates in hospitals. We know there is a direct link between

the number of qualified nurses and then having the time they need to

spend with each individual patient, looking after them, and that is good

for patients. On the day the worst government

announced an extra ?50 million for the NHS, supporters say it would

tackle substandard care and save money in the long run. A shortage of

nursing staff was found to be a factor in the case of Stafford

Hospital. Welsh NHS has the lowest staffing levels in the UK. A Welsh

nurse will look after ten patients on average but there are eight

patients per nurse Scotland. We are supporting this because we

know patient care is at the centre of all of this. We need the right

number of nurses to deliver the right care for patients.

It is also a proposal supported by the Welsh Conservative. I'd can be

heaviest to -- Plaid Cymru have yet to decide. Unless is gone is enough

support at the end of March, it won't see the light of day. It would

be a disappointing conclusion for people like June who want to see

something done. You are watching Wales Today from the BBC.

Much more to come before seven o'clock: For the fallen of Flanders

- the new sculpture which will top the Welsh First World War memorial

is unveiled. And the Cardiff auctioneer selling

off people for millions of pounds - in the world's biggest sports sale.

There hasn't been too much to cheer about for Welsh schools recently

with the latest chief inspectors' reports and PISA's international

rankings but Ceredigion can allow itself a pat on the back - the

school's inspectorate Estyn has described the county as excellent.

It's the last council to be inspected, and the only one to be

awarded the highest rating. Our Education Correspondent Arwyn Jones

went along to see what they're doing right.

The last council to be inspected and they kept the best till last. What

is the secret of ten Mac? This set of figures hold -- of Ceredigion.

This set of figures is a tracking system that means they know what is

going on in schools. People's said tests set by the council every year

and the results are poured over. It enables us to up the game in

terms of taking the challenge and support out of schools on an into

ritual people basis. -- individual pepo basis. We can ask schools what

has gone on in relation to the data. Other councils have been along to

see if they can also use this tracking system and it is in the

county's schools where they see the results.

The gap between boys and girls is narrowing and attendance rates and

standards are among the best in Wales. It is among the top five

authorities in terms of results. Inspectors were impressed by the

pastoral care and things like this haven, which every secondary school

has. They are paying dividends because since they were introduced,

part-time exclusions are a quarter of what they wear and permanent

exclusions have gone down from 15 every year to the row. -- two the

row. Six are in special measures. The worst government has put some in

the hands of four consortia. The idea is that larger organisations

can offer more support. If we don't have that local contact

between the improvement team and the schools so they know each other well

and can work together well, you are not going to get the improvement.

I've made this point in the past and I will do it again now come you need

that local improvement team working with schools.

Other councils have been told to follow Ceredigion's lead. Perhaps

this county holds the solution. Councillors have approved plans to

close a leisure centre in Wrexham to cut costs despite strong public

opposition. More than 100 protestors gathered outside the meeting. The

council says it wouldn't be considering closing Plas Madoc

leisure centre under normal circumstances but it's looking to

cut spending by ?45 million over five years.

I worked in the leisure centre for 30 years so it's very close to my

heart. The local people use it, I use it myself. Where we should go if

it closes is anybody's guess. I children learned to swim there and I

think it's an outrage they are even thinking about it.

We've got nothing else in the south of Wrexham.

You might get a knock at the door in the coming weeks - which among other

things means there must be an election around the corner. So which

way will you vote? David Cameron has promised a referendum on the UK's EU

membership. It's likely to form a large part of the debate in the run

up to the European Parliament elections in May. Today Plaid Cymru,

which wants to stay in the EU, became the first party in Wales to

set out its stall. Daniel Davies reports.

2.5 million tonnes of cargo come through Cardiff docks every year.

That shows the importance of the single market, says Plaid Cymru. The

party's mood was lifted after Anglesey's by-election success that

repeating that success could be much more difficult. They came third in

the last European elections and the poll, -- the poll suggests UKIP have

made ground. We have challenges, mainly down to

low turnout. The debate around the EU and the future of Europe has been

very narrow and confined by the forces of the right. Our message is

that Wales does well out of European cooperation and it makes sense to us

to remain as a partner. They would like an independent Wales

to become an EU member state eventually but should the UK have a

referendum on its membership? We don't oppose a referendum. The

problem is the kind of debate that is taking place at the moment is so

negative and it's not happening in other parts of Europe.

Plaid Cymru says it can be a voice for Welsh workers and businesses in

Brussels and it hopes isn't a voice that is drowned out in the ballot

box in May. Over the last year we've been

following the progress of the campaign to erect a new Welsh World

War One memorial in Flanders. Today is an important milestone. The

design of the bronze dragon which will top the monument was unveiled.

Roger Pinney reports. Unveiled by the first Minister. It

is just a clay model but when finished, this dragon will stand

tall in bronze. Instantly recognisable as Welsh, according to

the sculptor, proud and powerful. The work of the sculptor from Tenby

was selected from a short list. It is humbling to think a piece of

my work will be there for everyone from Wales to go and visit, to

commemorate their loved ones and people who have been affected by the

war. 20 14th -- 20 14th sees the centenary of the war in all its

horror. Last year stone for the monument was

crossbody from a Welsh quarry to Flanders. It will be topped by the

Brom striker. It was completed on-site last weekend and is just

waiting for the Dragon. When it is on position, it will be

facing where the German front line was in 1917 so for me as a person,

it effects the ferocity and bravery of their Welsh.

In Wales and Flanders, fundraising continues for the memorial but they

are confident it will be ready for August's dedication. Today an

important milestone was passed. Cardiff city has confirmed Craig

Bellamy will serve a three match ban after accepting a football

Association charge of violent conduct following an incident at the

Liberty Stadium. The bluebirds are promising to put

the defeat behind them with an improved display against Aston Villa

tonight. The bluebirds are in the bottom two of the Premier League

after a loss at Swansea, six point pint tonight's opponents.

An antiques auctioneer from Cardiff will be wielding his gavel at the

biggest sports auction in the world tomorrow. Richard Madley has been

the auctioneer for cricket's Indian Premier League since it started

seven years ago. And he's become a cult figure in cricketing circles.

Here's Matt Murray. 2,400,000... Huge sums of money in

the richest cricket league. This is the man in the centre of the

auction, making sure players go for their top priced. He has to manage

bids from some of India's most powerful people, ranging from

industrialists to actors. It is a far cry from the day job. Richard

from Cardiff is more used to standing antique furniture in

Bristol. Here it is more bargain hunt than Bollywood but ringing down

the gavel isn't too much of a departure for him.

If I'm selling a chest of drawers for ?100 hundred and ?50, that is no

different than me saying 150,000, it is just that little increment at the

end that I add-on. Richard Fussell anything from

Cabinet to curtains from as little as ?10 but he has sold ?60 million

worth of players in two days. The Indian Premier League is Twenty20

cricket with global appeal. It is box office with the world 's best

cricketers playing to packed out stadiums and millions watching on TV

around the world. The biggest draw at this year 's auction will be

Kevin Pietersen. His career with England ended at Rockley -- ended

abruptly but he could go for as much as ?3 million. Welsh fast bowler

Simon Jones is also for sale. He would like to play in the biggest

Twenty20 league. To have a chance of being in the

auction is something that excites me. I'm 35 and I have couple of

years left at Twenty20. That could open up doors around the world.

Richard is getting ready for tomorrow's auction.

In India he is a cult figure, known as the hammer man. This year's

auction is the biggest yet, with 500 players up for sale.

It's not high prices but high winds worrying Derek.

I wish I could say the rain is going, going, gone. It's not. More

trouble is brewing over the Atlantic! Yes it's time to batten

down the hatches again. If you have any left. There is more severe

weather on the way in the next 24 hours. More snow for some of us,

heavy rain and severe gales. There is a Met Office amber wind warning

in force. Turning stormy in parts of the North and West tomorrow

afternoon. Gusts 60 to 80mph. Possibly 90mph on exposed coast and

hills. Strong enough to bring down trees and power lines. Major

disruption is possible. That's tomorrow. In the meantime tonight

cold and breezy. Some dry weather but some heavy wintry showers as

well. Mostly rain, hail or sleet on the coast. Snow inland for a time. A

few centemetres in places even at low levels. More on higher ground.

10cm or four inches on the Brecon Beacons. Icy patches too, with

temperatures inland falling close to freezing. Now during tomorrow the

next Atlantic storm will move across Ireland bringing more trouble. So

here's the picture for 8:00am in the morning. A few places dry but most

wet with rain and showers. Some snow too for the higher parts of mid

Wales and the north. Rain on the coast. The wind increasing as well.

Around the middle of the day a spell of torrential rain will spread

across the country. Another 20 to 30mm likely. Clearing to showers

during the afternoon. The wind becoming a big feature. Gales or

severe gales even inland. Storm force winds in parts of the N and W

with damaging gusts over 80mph in exposed places. Tomorrow evening

severe gales in the north will slowly ease. Turning drier as well.

Some clear spells and a few scattered showers. Thursday less

windy and brighter with a mixture of sunshine and showers. Some of the

showers heavy with hail and wintry on higher ground. Friday will start

dry and bright but it won't last. There is yet more wind and rain on

the way. In fact by the end of this week many places will have seen

another 60 to 80mm of rain. Around thre inches. --three. The outlook

for next week and into the last week of February is unsettled. Further

spells of wet and windy weather but probably less extreme with some

drier interludes. Stay with us tomorrow for updates. That is Wales

Today. Thank you for watching and good evening.