08/04/2014 BBC Wales Today

London. If you want more details, you can head to our website. Now on

BBC One Welcome to Wales Today. Our top

story: Businesses are growing increasingly confident about the

future, but our exports and recruitment are still cause for

concern. Technology is moving so fast, it is moving at an

unprecedented rate at the moment, and there just are not enough

developers and people coming through the university with the current

skills. Substantial cuts to bus services. 77

jobs at risk in the Gwent Valleys. They're the people who save lives,

so how come mountain rescue needs help with funding?

One of Europe's largest wind farms could be coming to the Welsh coast.

Will they get permission? And rewrite those history books. Why

the huge ancient earthwork running the length of Wales may not be

Offa's Dyke after all. Good evening. After seven years of

economic uncertainty businesses in Wales say they're more confident

about the future. In a survey by the South Wales Chamber of Commerce, of

660 small and medium sized businesses across the country, 61%

say they expect their profits to increase in the next year. 95% of

them say they are looking to retain their existing workforce or recruit

in the next three months. But the survey also found more than half had

problems recruiting, especially in computer technology and engineering.

Here's our Business Correspondent, Brian Meechan.

At this engineering company in Newport, they are putting the

finishing touches to their latest product. They make control systems

to operate heavy machinery. I asked the managing director, Peter Lewis,

what he made of the increasing confidence. We have not seen it yet.

Big industry is still looking after the billions that they have in the

bank. We are waiting for them to share some of that out and play some

orders. But construction seems to be picking up. That should be followed

by the steel industry. And hopefully we will see the benefits. But it is

not all good news. The survey found a shortage of skills, particularly

in the areas of engineering and technology. This is a recruitment

agency that specialises in these areas. Those engineers looking to

retire at the moment, engineers coming through at a graduate level,

but there is a gap in the middle. On the IT side, technology is moving so

fast, it is moving at an unprecedented rate at the moment,

and there just are not enough developers, and people. More than

half of what is made here is exported. This unit is being shipped

to divide. The survey shows 85% of Welsh businesses trading

internationally had seen sales remain constant or increase. The

chamber warns this figure is not as high as other parts of the UK. I

think sadly that other products and businesses have the opportunity to

explore. We have seen inroads into the Middle East and Southeast Asia

but again, there it is a massive market. Increasing confidence is a

good sign for the economy and it makes it more likely that businesses

will invest and take on extra workers. The warnings of a skills

shortages and sluggish exports will be ringing alarm bells. Losing a

major contract was the reason for the loss of over 600 jobs in Newport

yesterday. The Federation of small businesses says the Welsh Government

is failing to support the food industry. Work with us to give Villa

-- to deliver more for Wales. We are committed to saving jobs but we are

also committed to driving growth in the food sector in Wales. The food

sector as a whole is already outperforming the rest of the Welsh

economy. We are seeing a 6% year-on-year growth. Business is

believing the worst is over may be welcomed but most realise that we

are not out of the woods yet when it comes to recovery from the worst

economic crisis in generations. I guess it is a useful snapshot, but

can we really read anything into the figures? I think it is good that it

shows increasing confidence. We also have figures today from the IMF,

looking at the growth rate for the UK, the whole UK economy over this

year, when it says there is gone to be 2.9% growth, and that is going

back to the kind of growth levels we were used to seeing before the crash

happened. That said, there is a concern that a lot of this growth is

of course being fuelled by house prices and also by excessive

spending. And that is what led us into problems in the past. We are

definitely not out of it yet. The thing about business confidence is

that it means businesses will spend money on investment, which obviously

helps other firms, as they get business out of that, and also means

people get more money in their pocket. People are getting jobs and

that means they have cash to spend on goods and services. There is a

concern about skills. We cannot compete worldwide with this issue of

a low skilled economy. That is to be dealt with. As does a proper export

market for Wales. The biggest bus operator in Wales is to close one of

its biggest depots in the Gwent Valleys in July, putting 77 jobs

under threat. Stagecoach is blaming a misguided drop in support from the

Welsh Government and reduced local authority investment. It says cuts

to routes will follow in Monmouthshire, Torfaen, Caerphilly

and Rhondda Cynon Taf. Our reporter Paul Heaney is at the Brynmawr depot

tonight. Yes, this is all about money. You

have mentioned the drop in the amount of money that the Welsh

Government is giving companies like Stagecoach and others throughout

Wales, essentially compensating them for allowing older people, people

over the age of 60, to ride on the bus for free. And that amount of

money has been coming down in recent years and we have heard warnings

before from various companies and now Stagecoach now warning that

services and potentially jobs could cut.

Now, the buses behind me serve a fairly large area in the south-east

of Wales. All the way across to cut filler -- Caerphilly. We understand

some of the services could be put at risk. As well as the 77 people

working at the depot, they could lose their jobs. The Welsh

Government says it is disappointed to hear this news. It is yet to be

told officially by the company this is the case. As you can imagine, the

unions are also disappointed that the decision. I put some of those

concerns to the managing director. Thank you for joining us. It is not

sound like there has been much negotiation about this pot of money

that you get. There has been consultation. But there has not been

so much as regards negotiation. There has been a lot of discussion,

both sides having gauged consultants to look at the issue of

concessionary travel reimbursement. They both came to different

conclusions. It would seem that the line is drawn. The Welsh Government

say they have had an independent third party looking at this. And you

will be no better or worse off as a result of the changes they have

made. No better or worse off than we would be if there was no such

scheme. The consultants they used were engaged by the Welsh Government

and paid for by the Welsh Government. Our consultants were a

different firm. And they came to a different conclusion. Would you be

open to sitting down with the Welsh Government? We have asked... I am

talking about the trade body, we have asked for meetings with the

Minister and there seems to be some reluctance. But we are more than

happy to engage at any time. Thank you for your time this evening.

Again, one other point to make, the reason that people care so much

about these bus routes and about the services is that they allow people

to get out of their homes and retain them independence and of course get

to jobs. We do not know the detail of which services will go. That will

come in the coming weeks. Staying with travel and passengers in Mid

and West Wales will soon be able to use new peak-time hourly train

services between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury. It's being paid for by

the Welsh Government and will run from May next year. The services are

part of a number announced for the Cambrian and Heart of Wales rail

lines. Scarlet fever cases are at their

highest levels in Wales in 20 years. Health officials say they're now

aware of 379 cases so far this year. That's more than the whole of last

year. Scarlet fever can cause a high temperature, red rash and sore

throat, but can be treated with antibiotics.

A former mine manager at the Gleision colliery has told a jury

how he warned Malcolm Fyfield about water in the mine. Ray Thomas, in

the dark suit, was standing in as mine manager before Mr Fyfield took

over. Four men drowned when the Swansea Valley pit flooded in 2011.

Mr Fyfield denies four counts of manslaughter through gross

negligence and the mine operators deny corporate manslaughter.

The judge in the trial of the former Shadow Welsh Secretary Nigel Evans

has told the jury his good character is something they should take into

account. The Swansea-born MP, in the middle of your picture, denies nine

charges including rape and sexual assault. The judge is summing-up the

case, before the jury considers its verdicts.

They risk their lives to save others, but one of the mountain

rescue teams covering North West Wales is warning it'll struggle to

survive unless it gets money from Government. The Aberglaslyn Rescue

Team was called out more than 50 times last year. Almost all the

money it needs comes from donations. Our reporter, Aled Hughes, has been

with them on a rescue exercise. Saving a man swept 1000 feet down

Snowdon by an avalanche. This is what real mountain rescue looks

like. Now I am the one lost on a hillside in complete darkness. I am

somewhere on the mountain, tonight I am playing the role of an injured

walker is the rescue team go out and try and find me. I have just put the

call in. They should get back to me soon. This man is about to put his

son to bed. My phone call puts an end to that. He drops everything and

makes his way to the base. What has happened as we have been paged by

the police with an incident. They received 59 similar calls last year

but practice makes perfect and these mock rescues keep their skills

up-to-date. The team deploys. They have a rough idea of my location but

nothing concrete. The same goes for their funding. All this costs money.

We cannot survive without a lot more funding. And relying on just

donations from the public, we are struggling to achieve that. Roughly

around half an hour since I put the call-in, I can see the lights and I

can see some of the guys coming towards me. Those lights coming

towards me are a welcome sight. Even though they do not know what they

will face, it is still a very rewarding job. It is nice to see the

relief on someone's face when you get there. They can see you and the

team and they know that they are going to be OK. And that helpers

with them. The relief on someone's face is the nicest thing. The Welsh

Government says it appreciates the work they do and will try and find

ways to help. Meanwhile, the UK Government has said in the budget

that many could be available to voluntary organisations such as

this. Getting into difficulties on the mountains of North Wales happens

regularly but funding regular funding to help those who help them

is a different matter. Aled is in Snowdonia for us this evening. These

are all volunteers. What do they need the funding for? It is for

things like equipment, training, bigger outlays such as the four x

four vehicles. The Aberglaslyn team are struggling at the moment. Their

Land Rover 's are really showing their age. We show -- spoken... Land

Rover 's cost tens of thousands of pounds, money they do not have. 92%

of the funding required comes from public donations. That could mean

standing outside shops on a Saturday afternoon shaking buckets, waiting

for people to put their money in. Again, the volunteers giving their

time to try and raise money to keep things going. It looks idyllic there

tonight but looks can be deceptive. Yes, exactly. In the past 24 hours

alone, the mountain rescue team was called today to rescue a 55-year-old

man, 12 of the same team were out last night rescuing three more

people on Snowdon. And they are being asked to do a lot more things.

They are getting involved in front rescue missions. They were all

involved in the April Jones search, as we all remember. The team is now

being asked to do so much more and tonight they are putting their hand

up collectively and saying, come on, help us fund this, we cannot keep

this going alone. Much more to come before 7pm. If only the traffic was

this light now, but not everyone's happy about Newtown's proposed

bypass. And why the huge ancient earthwork running the length of

Wales may be much older than we thought and not Offa's Dyke after

all. It's a massive project in the Irish

Sea between Anglesey and the Isle of Man. The Rhiannon wind farm could

become one of Europe's largest wind farms and work could start in 2017.

The developers are spending millions of pounds on surveys and will submit

planning applications in the autumn. But as our environment correspondent

Iolo ap Dafydd has been finding out, it will be another two years until

there's a financial commitment to build the wind farm. 12 miles beyond

the islands is where the wind farm could be built. A joint-venture

between the owners of British Gas and Dong Energy. It could dwarf is

energy nearby. This is already being built of the North Wales coast.

Rhiannon could be four times the size of this build. It could be more

than two years until a final decision is made to push ahead,

despite the millions of pounds that has been spent. We will not know

until we have the consent is that we need. We will then go through a

financial decision. We will then have to look at the technology. It

will be after that. As many as 440 turbines could be built between the

north-west coast on Anglesey and the Isle of Man, barely visible in the

distance. There are some concerns on how that could impact tourism on

both islands but others see opportunities. And Anglesey -based

company which repair, maintain and build vessels are extending its

fleet. This one is used to carry workers between the mainland and

offshore wind farms. Potentially, any development out in the Irish Sea

could be very good for business in Holyhead. Over 200 are employed in

the business locally. And there is 2 million -- this to William Power

Boat is built with an eye on future contacts -- and this ?2 million boat

is built with an eye on future contracts. Once the site is

completed and producing electricity, there is always gone to be an

operational and maintenance requirement to go out to the

turbines. But building turbines is a long way off. First there is the

consultation and then in the autumn, Centrica will submit applications

for various permits. Any power generated also needs to get back to

dry land. Sites like this one will be crucial. Connecting power on land

may be the least costly aspect of all the extensive research and

soulless survey aimed at already taken place. -- has already taken

place. They will have done quite a lot of environmental work with

different part is. There has already been a lot of of money, many

millions of pounds, spent on this just to get to the point where they

can consider making the application. It is not only

financial investment that is important. And to the point where

they can consider making the application. It is not only

financial investment that is important. Medical backing for

offshore wind farms from the UK Government is equally important.

It's been talked about for years and years, but as the Newtown bypass

inches closer to becoming reality, the owner of a caravan park says the

preferred route will destroy his business. The plans are on display

again after revisions were made to the route approved last year.

Charlotte Dubenskij reports. Queueing in traffic has become part

and parcel of the commute through Newtown. This is the build-up on a

quiet day. At peak times, it can take up to one hour to drive through

the town. Last year a 3.4 mile bypass around Newtown was given the

green light to ease congestion. At an exhibition today, people have

been viewing the preferred route. Starting at the 8489, the bypass

will go south of the town, heading towards Welshpool. But the owner of

a caravan park says if the preferred route is built, it will spell the

end for his business. The caravan business year will not survive. It

will have to go. You cannot expect the customer who wants to come to

the caravan park to be onside when the bulldozers go straight through

the middle of it. And take at least half of the centre of the park out.

It will include the Bowling Green and some of the caravans. They will

not come on holiday here. If the proposed route goes ahead, the plans

will cut the caravan park into and they say that will lead to the near

collapse of their business. But many businesses in the town say the

bypass must go ahead. I think if it is delayed again, it would be

catastrophic. It has to happen. Every business needs to be

considered. But for one business, the bypass cannot stop. The visions

to the approved group go on display today. The Welsh Government says the

changes including bringing the road closer to the caravan park could

save the Project 5000000 pounds. People will now have the chance to

have their say on the revisions. Its true purpose has been the cause of

debate for centuries but at least they all agreed who built it. Offa's

Dyke, the massive earthwork, which runs the length of Wales from

Prestatyn in the North to Chepstow on the Severn. Named after Offa, the

eighth century Saxon King of Mercia. Well, there's new evidence it may be

at least 200 years older. Meaning of course Offa didn't build it at all.

Here's Roger Pinney. From the air, it is striking. In our

culture, a figure of speech right down to today of the boundary

between England and Wales, even if it is not exactly follow the border.

This section may not be the most impressive but it is easy to

identify nonetheless. I am walking through from Wales into Mercia. And

this is Offa's Dyke, or is it? Possibly not, according to new

research. You can see where we undertook our excavations. Paul

Belford is used to explain in the past but after damage offered a rare

opportunity to excavate, he has ended up with something new to

ponder. Carbon dating suggests it may be at least six two centuries

older than previously thought. It adds to the mystery, he says. There

had been some excavations previously. But never any dating

evidence. It is an enigmatic monument, in some respects. Lots of

theories about what it was four, a defensive structure, a visible

symbol of power. A bit of both. How does the historical jigsaw fit?

1066, the most famous date in English history, the Norman conquest

brought to an end centuries of Saxon rule. 200 years before that came

Alfred the great, he was the one who burnt the kegs. Offa ruled the

kingdom of Mercia a century before that. But the new carbon dating puts

the structure a few centuries older the map. Typically, what you have is

a bank of earth with a ditch on the side. What do you make of this new

research? It presents a bit of a challenge. I am wondering if we will

have them change our name is an association. It reminds me of a

modern politician, taking credit for someone else's work. It is the first

time ever that there has been a positive dating. So if not Offa then

who? A question which will not worry the walkers who enjoy the path each

year. As for the archaeologists, they say much more work needs to be

done now. Football, and former Everton striker Gwennan Harries has

joined up with the Wales women's team for the first time in 18

months, ahead of tomorrow's World Cup qualifier against the Ukraine.

Harries hasn't played since injuring her knee at the end of 2012. But she

could play some part in tomorrow's match in Llanelli, as Wales hope to

build on their excellent recent form, including a 5-nil thrashing of

Turkey last Friday. I never gave up hope of giving back.

I am thankful for the help that I have received. Without their help, I

do not think I would have made it back. It is nice to be back involved

with the squad. Hopefully I will return to that itch. -- pitch.

Olympic silver medallist Fred Evans and fellow Olympian Andrew Selby

will be available to represent Wales at this summer's Commonwealth Games.

The pair were expected to miss the event in Glasgow because of their

commitments with a new professional boxing competition, but it's now

been delayed until October. Cricket and Glamorgan have been in

action in their County championship match.

Will it be a good week for cricketers and the rest of us,

Derek? It should be dry at the Oval

tomorrow. And here in Wales plenty more dry weather over the next few

days. Cloudy at times but a few sunny intervals are likely with

little if any rain. Dry this evening and overnight. Breaks in the cloud

and with lighter winds one or two mist or fog patches will form.

Another chilly night. Temperatures inland falling as low as three

Celsius with a ground frost in places. Nearer seven Celsius on the

coast. Tomorrow's chart shows high pressure over Brittany. Further

north, fronts will bring rain. Heaviest in Northwest Scotland.

Here's the picture for eight in the morning. The whole country dry.

Bright in places but on the whole plenty of cloud. Misty in places but

any fog will soon lift. The wind lighter than today and temperatures

a little higher. Later in the morning one or two light showers may

break out but most places dry. Cloudier than today but some

sunshine in places. The wind lighter than today so feeling milder. Top

temperatures 11 to 13 Celsius in Bridgend tomorrow. Generally dry. No

more than the odd shower possible. The temperature in Maesteg rising to

ten Celsius. In Montgomeryshire, dry tomorrow. More cloud than sunshine

with a high of 12 in Llanidloes. Tomorrow night most places dry

although spots of drizzle are possible in the north. Some low

cloud and mist in places with a low of five Celsius in Presteigne. More

dry weather on Thursday. Just the odd shower in places. However a

front may bring a little rain to the far north and north west during the

afternoon and evening. Friday largely dry and brightening up.

Sunshine in Wrexham. Chilly Friday night into Saturday with some ground

frost likely. And then for the weekend high pressure in charge. A

weak front will move south perhaps bringing a few spots of light rain

and drizzle but no more than that. The emphasis on a lot of dry,

settled weather. The main news again from the BBC.

The South African athlete, Oscar Pistorius, broke down in court,

describing the moment he realised he had shot his girlfriend, Reeva

Steenkamp. Mr Pistorius, who denies murder, said he believed there was

an intruder in his house. Businesses in Wales say they are

more confident about the future but a survey by the South Wales Chamber

of Commerce also found more than half had problems recruiting,

especially in computer technology and engineering.

I'll have an update for you here at 8pm and again after the BBC News at

Ten. That's Wales Today. Thank you for watching. From all of us on the

programme, good evening.