17/07/2014 BBC Wales Today

capacity on one project. They have an opinion and they

consider it to be valid. I know my decision is correct.

Sheila Williams' husband was killed in work - Airbus is fined ?200,000.

She tells us it isn't enough. Did Pembrokeshire Council act on

warnings about a youth worker - now a convicted paedophile? The

Children's Commissioner investigates.

She says she was sacked for sipping cocktails - Wales' most successful

netball coach breaks her silence in an exclusive interview.

And bringing the horrors of trench warfare to life - in history lessons

I think the soldiers would have been scared.

A reckless decision - just one of the criticisms tonight

of plans to spend a billion pounds on a new M4 relief road

around Newport, which the Transport Minister has robustly defended.

There's been political reaction all day to the surprise announcement

yesterday, when Edwina Hart rejected a proposal to upgrade

an existing road, saying she would press ahead with plans for a brand

Our Political Editor Nick Servini is in Cardiff Bay.

We have got an indication of how polarised people are on this subject

because for all those who have said it was reckless, there were others

who have been campaigning for this for years. I don't think we should

be surprised because of the vast amounts of money involved and the

legacy element of this project. All of this amid the political fallout

over the course of the day. Edwina Hart is the woman under the

spotlight. She was sticking by the call.

Running smoothly on the M4 at Newport tonight. This is the one day

when traffic chaos at the tunnels may have been helpful for the Welsh

government as it tries to sell the idea of spending ?1 billion on a new

motorway to the south of the city. Selling the idea is going to be a

problem, not only in areas like North Wales but within the Labour

Party itself. In an unusual development, a number of backbench

Labour AM is criticised the decision but today, the transport and economy

Minister held firm. Free speech hasn't been abolished in

the UK. It has never been abolished in the Labour Party. They feel

passionately and they are entitled to say what they wish to say. I have

got no problem with that. They consider their opinions to be valid

and I know my decision was correct. A projected time frame has been set

out. The first contracts awarded in 2015. A local public enquiry a year

later with the intention of starting construction in 2018. The project

should be competed in 2022. Plaid Cymru hopes that they will

never come as it wraps up its opposition to the new road by

refusing to take part in any talks with Labour on the budget.

We can't work to negotiate a budget with the Welsh government which has

taken such a reckless decision to use up the entire Apollo incapacity

-- borrowing capacity on one budget. The minister also has a job selling

the idea in areas which won't see the benefits. North Wales is

overshadowed by a major road and the reaction was less than positive.

Everything is South Wales. Can they talk about North Wales for a

change? I think they should spend some money

into the road into North Wales. We need people to come here. Most of

the road is a dual carriageway so to make it wider.

The timing of the announcement was a problem for some because it came

before a cross-party assembly committee was due to publish its

report on this issue. We have seen a draft copy which says there are

grave concerns about the consultation process. The integrity

of the consultation could be critical if there is a legal

challenge, which the environmental group friends of the Earth says it

is considering because of the impact it will have on the Gwent levels.

I indicated yesterday there was something like this come when there

are passions on all sides. I know we have had a lot of lobbying from

areas and there will be a charge but you tell me what major

infrastructure projects wouldn't be subject to any challenge? That is

the reality of the world we working.

This is a decision that splits people and that has been reflected

in the language. It has been called with brave and reckless in the past

24 hours. What will happen next?

I have spoken to some assembly members who have left today for

their summer break. They say they believe this decision was pushed

through at the last minute with no proper scrutiny. Plaid Cymru's line

in the sand position could have implications next year. The decision

has been made and outraged AM is only go so far. Is it the right

call? The M4 run smoothly at Newport today but the next time there is a

major problem, and large chunks of south-east Wales virtually grind to

a standstill, you can bet your bottom dollar that the Welsh

government will use it as justification for this huge

investment, which they say will affect two thirds of the population

of the country. That is no comfort if you live in North Wales. I spoke

to an assembly member from North Wales earlier and he told me some of

his constituents see red when they see that the Welsh government has

spent ?50 million on an airport in Cardiff. He said, imagine how they

will feel when the Welsh government is going to spend ?1 billion on a

road in Newport? The widow of a man who died

in an accident at the Airbus plant in Flintshire

says the company's ?200,000 fine for breaching health and safety

laws isn't sufficient punishment. Donald Williams, was crushed

by tractor machinery which he Thank you. The judge says that the

?200,000 doesn't reflect the value of the lost life. The widow of

Donald Williams says the law doesn't go well enough. The vehicle fitter

said giving the job he loved in 2011.

It only took a moment for Sheila Williams' life to change forever.

62-year-old Donald Williams was coming to the end of a shift at

Airbus. He stood at the rear and asked a colleague to start the

ignition. The fertiliser spreader lifted and crushed Mr Williams

between it and the tractor. His widow believes that health and

safety failures need to have tougher consequences.

All our lives are valuable and should be seen so by our employers

and the government. Having experienced first-hand the system

dealing with my husband 's case, I am not convinced the current

punishment is sufficient deterrent for companies and I don't feel the

level of fine imposed today amounts to much in exchange for a man's

life. Airbus admitted a failing, not

giving training to those working with tractors and their attachments.

Hires in vehicles maintained by third party contractors.

We accept the findings of the investigation and the shortcomings

that led to this tragic incident. Have cooperated with the subsequent

health and safety investigation. I want to provide assurance that the

Mac takes the safety of our dash of Airbus takes the safety of our

employees seriously. Mrs Williams and her family are

still living with the consequences of the failings and says the proven

that it has since made are a positive step that only the threat

of harsher punishment will force companies to offer greater

protection to workers. The judge said the death of Donald Williams

was avoidable and when it claims to these tractors, he and his

colleagues were working on a trial and error basis. He said he was

satisfied that since this incident, Airbus had tightened its reporting

procedures and health and safety. A woman who stabbed a businessman

in the neck in his car has pleaded Swansea Crown Court heard

Katie Ann Jenkins killed It happened at Sterry Road in

Gowerton, after he gave her a lift. Jenkins had been on trial for

murder but changed her plea, which Labour will select

a successor to the Neath MP Peter The party made the decision

at a meeting earlier this week. The selection process is already

proving controversial, with Labour members in Cynon Valley

saying they will not co-operate with the decision

for an all-women shortlist there. Two people, a man and his former

wife, have been found guilty at Cardiff Crown Court of sexual

and physical offences against their The offences took place in the

Caerphilly and Merthyr Tydfil areas. The judge described the case as the

worst he's ever had to deal with. Caroline Evans is outside

Cardiff Crown Court. Caroline, what can you tell us

about this case? We're talking here about abuse

which took place from the 1990s up until last year when the man

at the centre of this was arrested. As you'll appreciate the defendants

can't be named in order to protect the identity of their victims, but I

can tell you that this came to light after one of the victims who is now

grown up was sent to prison himself for serious sexual abuse of children

and there he told police what had Was this family completely

unknown to the authorities? During the trial here we learned

that the children WERE known to social services,

they were on the "at risk" register We were also told that police were

called to investigate after one of the children made an allegation, but

no prosecution followed back then. Today Gwent police gave this

reaction to the verdict. In the last 16 months, more than 30

police officers have worked on the case and some of them have been

truly shocked at the gravity of the crimes committed. The outcome

demonstrates that together with the Crown Prosecution Service, we are

committed to prosecuting this type of offence, regardless of the time

that has passed. We understand the judge said

this was one of the worst cases Yes, after the verdicts were given

he thanked the jury for sitting through the case saying it was

an awful experience for them. He told the man and woman that

it was inevitable that they But he adjourned sentence

until next month while he considers A childhood dream realised -

why golfer Rhys Enoch wishes his brother could be there to watch

him make his Open debut. And bringing the horrors

of trench warfare to life - in The Children's Commissioner for

Wales has begun an investigation into how Pembrokeshire Council dealt

with the case of a youth worker - Mik Smith stayed in his job

for seven years after an inquiry into allegations he had behaved

inappropriately towards children. The council leader today

apologised for failures and said he Now a convicted paedophile,

Mik Smith has been sentenced to six But from 2005 until 2012 this senior

youth worker was able to continue having contact with children,

despite repeated concerns In 2005 a whistleblower warned

council bosses about Mr Smith's behaviour and an investigation was

launched but in the end Mr Smith was I have expressed regret about the

failings that have been but in terms of lessons learned, I think the

evidence that has already been received about an excellent Estyn

outcome, in which we have been removed from special measures.

In this week's Week In Week Out programme the mother

of an eight-year-old boy Smith later went on to abuse called for the

chief executive of Pembrokeshire council Bryn Parry Jones to resign

over the way complaints about Mik Smith were handled.

Today the council were told the Welsh Children's Commissioner

has already begun looking into the case, and this may increase

As I said here today, you couldn't expect the chief executive to know

everything about every individual member of staff that the children's

Commissioner, on the weekend programme, said that the buck

stopped with him. That is true. The council was given assurances

today that no evidence of criminal None of the managers

from the former Education department who were involved in Mik Smith's

case still work for the authority. That meeting also heard that no

further action will be taken to recover ?50,000 of salary

supplements paid to the Chief Executive. The Wales Audit Office

investigation found the payments to be unlawful. The meeting decided not

to try and claim back the money. Aerospace industry will share more

funding. It will be used to develop more environmentally friendly

planes. Airbus and other Welsh -based and police are set to

benefit. S4C needs to do more to ensure

viewers tune in to its channel That's according to the chair

of the S4C authority. The channel's annual report showed

more than 20,000 fewer Welsh speakers watched S4C last year

compared with the year before. But the report also showed people

were watching more hours per week. Claire's here now with

tonight's sport. The former head coach of the Wales

netball team says she was sacked last month for sipping cocktails

by a pool after a team victory Melissa Hyndman had transformed

the national team's fortunes, lifting them into

the world's top 10 and qualifying But in an exclusive interview,

she's told our sports reporter Ashleigh Crowter she's done nothing

wrong, and doesn't understand why This is the week that Melissa

thought would be the high point of her coaching career but instead of

taking the Wales and will him to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games,

she is spending the week at home with her family after being sacked

out of the blue a few weeks ago. The sports governing body never revealed

the reasons for her dismissal in June but now Melissa Hyndman has

decided to speak out. For me it was important to clear my

name but also for my reputation, why I was fired. When you hear

allegations on the TV, you immediately think horrible things so

I wanted to make sure that people understood the reasons why.

What are the reason that you have been given for your sacking?

Well, the reason mine was because I consumed alcohol on the Cook

Islands, which was two years ago. The second reason was deliberate

this regard for instruction. I spoke to the players about a player review

when I was told not to. Celebrating success with a drink is

something that is commonplace in sport at every level. I understand

the Chief Executive of Welsh netball back in 2012 had no problem with

Melissa Hyndman authority drinking alcohol after the tournament

victory. Recently more than 18 months later, Welsh netball, and a

new leadership in Cardiff, change their minds and decided it was a

serious disciplinary offence. The couple of girls had some

cocktails and they were passed to me offered me a sip. Said yes. For

cocktails later and I think maybe I had consumed about, in total, about

a wine glass for. I drank Coke and water the rest of the time but it

wasn't about that, it was that I had consumed some alcohol. I don't deny

that. I never did. You really, bitterly let me down.

There is no doubt that Melissa Hyndman didn't mind ruffling some

feathers. She was dubbed the Sir Alex Ferguson

of netball because of her and compromising and sometimes expletive

laden team talks. She admits to expressing disagreement with some

decisions taken by the management. It got results. Wales climbed from

19th to eighth in the world. She also took a side from the bottom of

the super league to the play-off final. Welsh netball turned down a

request for an interview and wouldn't answer a series of written

questions. Instead they issued a statement set out last month,

defending it as: Melissa Hyndman Has decided not to

appeal against her sacking as she wants to move on with her life but

she will be in Glasgow to support team Wales from the stands.

Football - Swansea City striker Michu has joined Napoli

on a season's loan with an option to buy him after that.

The 28-year-old didn't travel to America for Swansea's pre-season

Manager Garry Monk had hoped the striker would stay

Simon Easterby is to leave the Scarlets to become Ireland's new

forwards coach. The former flanker who won 65 caps for Ireland will

take up his role in October. A Welsh golfer who's made his debut

today at the Open at Royal Lytham says he wishes his brother was

around to see him play. Rhys Enoch, from Cardiff, tee-d off this

afternoon - but his brother Ben, who'd also been a top golfer, died

in a car crash five years ago. Rhys believes his brother will be

watching over him as he competes. realisation of a childhood dream for

26-year-old Rhys Enoch. But when he clinched the third and final

qualifying spot earlier this month it was a bittersweet experience.

Rhys' brother Ben - another a talented golfer - also had

aspirations to play at the highest level. Sadly, Ben was killed in a

car crash on route to this very tournament back in 2009 at the age

of just 19. I have never been to this

championship but my brother came to one in 2006 so it is nice to have

that connection with him. In the practice sessions of the last

few days Rhys, with his modest world ranking of 1045, found himself in

exalted company. The highlight so far he says was rubbing shoulders

with a golfing legend that both he and his brother idolised - Tiger

Woods. I just went to hit a few balls to

call down so I grabbed the bucket. I have gone over to the left side, put

my kids down and I realised that he was just ten feet away from me,

hitting balls. Though Cornish by birth - the

brothers were of Welsh extraction and chose to represent Wales for

their Amateur careers. But back in Truro, where the boys first began

playing golf - there's a memorial to Ben. Since his death the family has

always associated him with butterflies. Rhys says as he about

to make the crucial putt that Ben was watching over him.

butterfly landed nearby, and he knew I do feel that he is watching over

me. as he treads the Hoylake fairways no

doubt he'd welcome a birdie. However a glimpse of a butterfly may be

better for his game. I can tell you his brother would be

proud. He is having a good round and is level after ten holes. Jamie

Donaldson finished on seven over with a round of 79. Rory McIlroy

finished with a round of 66. As Wales prepares to mark the

centenary of the outbreak of World War I, children in Cardiff have been

given a rare insight into what it was like to fight in the conflict.

Staff at a high school have built a permanent, life-sized trench in the

school grounds, complete with artefacts from the great War.

They became a potent symbol of the secretary of war, where countless

soldiers left, Ford and died. When we think of World War I, it is

impossible to escape the horrors of trench warfare.

This is how one of those trenches would have looked, up close. Barbed

wire, dirt and sandbags. It's been recreated in the grounds of Fitzalan

It has been great for the pupils. The result is a permanent life-sized

replica of a World War I trench. For the children is wrote home the

terrible conditions they faced everyday during the war. They would

have been scared and the grenades thrown over, the shooting and people

dying in front of them. As well as being an educational resource, this

trench serves as a place of remembrance for the school, each one

of these puppies represents somebody from the local community lost their

lives during World War I. None of these pupils will ever have to

experience trench warfare first-hand. But they do get the

chance to see and hold artefacts from the great Hall as part of this

experience. It was quite shocking, the living conditions were awful and

you had to... It is hard to understand how they lived. The

trench will stay at the school for the next four years and there are

plans to build an underground shelter. It may just be a replica

that this trench is a powerful reminder of what soldiers faced 100

years ago on the front line. The hottest day of the year so far

for some and a weather warning tonight. But if.

26.1 Celsius in Usk, the hottest day of the year. We have showers heading

our way but a fine evening at first. Impressive temperatures ranging from

21-26?C. Tonight it is a fine evening and we have some sunshine

around but late evening we will start to see this weather front

arriving from the south with gusty winds picking up and some heavy,

thundery downpours as well. A warning has been issued by the Met

office, a yellow warning for and South Wales. There is the potential

for some surface water flooding and it is going to be an uncomfortable

night. Tomorrow the French will clear and then there is another one

heading our way through tomorrow -- tomorrow the front will clear. A few

showers lingering across the North tomorrow and a largely fine day. The

sunshine is hazy at times but feeling warm with highs of 27

Celsius. Tomorrow night is fine at first but overnight we will start to

see more showers gathering from the south-east, heavy at times. You can

see the highlights in green. The temperatures are on the Mehdi said

that there is an early warning for the rain on Saturday, which is going

to be heavy and sundry. There is the risk of hail. 18-23?C, another warm

day but not a day to be out and about as we have some intense

downpours in the forecast. Thing is starting to settle down by Sunday

and Monday but still remaining one with the risk of few showers. A

beautiful scene, our picture today. Thank you for sending it in.

Tonight's headlines from the BBC: Eight Malaysia airlines plane

carrying nearly 300 people on board has crashed in Ukraine near the

Russian border. There are claims it was shot down.

Ukraine and Russia are both denying this possibility.

There has been criticism of plans to spend ?1 billion on a new M4 relief

road around Newport, which the transport minister has robustly

defended. I will have an update for you here

at 8pm and again after the BBC News at 10pm. Good evening.