0:00:04 > 0:00:06Welcome to the programme. Tonight's headlines:
0:00:06 > 0:00:09Jay Liptrot is a firefighter but a blaze at a house he rented
0:00:09 > 0:00:11out killed five people.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15As he's jailed, a warning to other landlords.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18And they claim it's making it difficult
0:00:18 > 0:00:20for older people to recycle, hundreds protest after a council
0:00:20 > 0:00:22changes their collection system.
0:00:37 > 0:00:37Good evening.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41A judge has urged landlords to take steps to keep their tenants safe
0:00:41 > 0:00:45after she jailed a man who owned a property where five people died
0:00:45 > 0:00:47in an arson attack.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50Part-time firefighter Jay Liptrot failed to make basic improvements
0:00:50 > 0:00:53which may have saved Lee-Anna Shires, her partner, son,
0:00:53 > 0:00:59niece and nephew. Matthew Richards reports.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01Jay Liptrot tried to save his tenants as one of the first
0:01:01 > 0:01:05firefighters to arrive at the scene of the blaze in October 2012.
0:01:05 > 0:01:0920-year-old Lee-Anna Shiers, her partner Liam Timbrell,
0:01:09 > 0:01:13their 15-month-old son Charlie and Miss Shiers' four-year-old nephew
0:01:13 > 0:01:16Bailey and two-year-old niece Skye when the
0:01:16 > 0:01:19downstairs neighbour Melanie Smith set light to Charlie's pushchair
0:01:19 > 0:01:22following a lengthy dispute with Lee-Anna Shiers.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25The court heard how no fire door had been fitted which could have given
0:01:25 > 0:01:29the victims an extra 30 minutes of protection from the flames.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31The windows were too small for people to escape through,
0:01:31 > 0:01:33trapping the five inside.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36Liam Timbrell's hand prints were found of the glass he
0:01:36 > 0:01:37tried in vain to smash.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41Our overriding hope is that each and every landlord will learn from
0:01:41 > 0:01:46this tragic event and if not already in place, they will take immediate
0:01:46 > 0:01:50steps to ensure properties are safe for the occupiers and comply fully
0:01:50 > 0:01:57with fire regulations to prevent any other totally avoidable deaths.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00On the right, Steve Allen lost two children, his sister and nephew
0:02:00 > 0:02:03in the fire, he read a statement in court acknowledging
0:02:03 > 0:02:07his long friendship with Jay Liptrot, who remains his landlord.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10He said this was not a case of their family pushing for a prosecution but
0:02:10 > 0:02:14they felt it was the right thing for the police and CPS to do. They said
0:02:14 > 0:02:17they hoped Jay had learned his lesson, not just for himself
0:02:17 > 0:02:19but for all landlords.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22"To them it's a business, but for us, it is a home.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24"They should ask themselves whether they want their family or children
0:02:24 > 0:02:26"to live there. Is it safe?"
0:02:26 > 0:02:27The Residential Landlords Association says
0:02:27 > 0:02:31its members can often be overwhelmed by the amount of regulations they
0:02:31 > 0:02:34must meet and need more support to help them comply.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38There are so many different areas for landlords to comply with these
0:02:38 > 0:02:41days that it is very often the really important ones like fire
0:02:41 > 0:02:46get missed and actually what happens is the bureaucratic pieces of
0:02:46 > 0:02:52regulation actually come to the forefront and people are more
0:02:52 > 0:02:55concerned about filling in pieces of paper as opposed to making sure that
0:02:55 > 0:02:56their properties are up to standard.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58The Welsh Government says the Renting Homes Bill,
0:02:58 > 0:03:01passed this week, means greater clarity in relation to landlords'
0:03:01 > 0:03:04responsibilities including requirements surrounding
0:03:04 > 0:03:06smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09Melanie Smith was jailed for a minimum of 30 years
0:03:09 > 0:03:11for murder in 2013.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14The judge Mrs Justice McGowan said though Smith started the fire,
0:03:14 > 0:03:18Jay Liptrot's failings meant it was able to spread undetected causing
0:03:18 > 0:03:20incalculable harm.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23He was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25A former butcher from Pontypridd who killed and
0:03:25 > 0:03:29dismembered a 47-year-old woman has been sentenced to life in prison.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33Christopher May will serve a minimum of 28 years after being found guilty
0:03:33 > 0:03:35of murdering Tracey Woodford.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39Her mutilated body was found in his flat in April.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42A former South Wales Police officer has been charged
0:03:42 > 0:03:43with two counts of rape.
0:03:43 > 0:03:4644-year-old Jeffrey Davies will appear before
0:03:46 > 0:03:48Cardiff Magistrates' court on Monday.
0:03:48 > 0:03:53The alleged offences took place in 2002 and 2003 when Mr Davies
0:03:53 > 0:03:56was a detective constable.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00Two inmates from Swansea Prison have been taken to Morriston Hospital
0:04:00 > 0:04:01after two cell fires.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05Emergency services were called at around six o'clock this evening.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08The Ministry of Justice says there was no wider disruption
0:04:08 > 0:04:11to the prison regime.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14There are concerns that Swansea and the Valleys could miss out on
0:04:14 > 0:04:16electrification of the rail lines.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20A committee of MPs has branded the increased cost of electrifying
0:04:20 > 0:04:24the line from London to Cardiff, "staggering and unacceptable".
0:04:24 > 0:04:27The Public Accounts Committee accuses Network Rail
0:04:27 > 0:04:32of planning failures that could double the budget to ?2.8 billion.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Network Rail says it has now made changes.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38There is also a very important review that's about to come out
0:04:38 > 0:04:42by Sir Peter Hendy who is now the chair of Network Rail, which will
0:04:42 > 0:04:46look in more depth than we have had time to do at the future of these
0:04:46 > 0:04:47major infrastructure projects.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51I fear it may not be good news but I'm hoping, we hope as a
0:04:51 > 0:04:55committee that will give some honest approach on delivery and cost.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59A coroner at the inquest of a man from Gower who died after
0:04:59 > 0:05:03being hit by a coach on Swansea's Kingsway in 2013, has ruled that
0:05:03 > 0:05:07the layout of the road and the speed limit were factors in his death.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11Following a narrative verdict, Daniel Foss's family said they're
0:05:11 > 0:05:12relived the lay-out has now changed.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14Swansea Council will consider the findings to determine
0:05:14 > 0:05:18whether more action is needed.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Hundreds of Blaenau Gwent residents protested today
0:05:21 > 0:05:24against a new system for collecting household recyclable waste.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27They claim elderly residents will struggle to carry boxes of rubbish
0:05:27 > 0:05:29down steep steps to the roadside.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33The local authority has vowed to help residents.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35All: What do we want? Black back.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37When do we want them? Now.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40They're missing their old bin bags here in Blaenau Gwent.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43They were replaced last month by a system of trolley blocks, a
0:05:43 > 0:05:47stack of three recycling boxes for paper, metals, plastic and glass.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51But the protesters are angry that big trucks picking them up want them
0:05:51 > 0:05:54at the front of the house, and many elderly residents simply
0:05:54 > 0:05:57can't manage to carry boxes weighing over 20kg.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00People want the bags, not the boxes.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03There's too many people that are struggling.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07A lot of collections used to be up the old alleys.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10They have now put it to the front of the property.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12They can't get these great big wagons up there.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16You have got people with steps at the front of their houses
0:06:16 > 0:06:18and the back of their houses.
0:06:18 > 0:06:19It is not suitable.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23They haven't thought of the people's needs.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25The old system used to work...
0:06:25 > 0:06:2767-year-old retired factory worker Chris Meilleur from Cwm is one
0:06:27 > 0:06:30of those affected.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33The new system means he is now forced to store much of his rubbish
0:06:33 > 0:06:35in the most unusual of places.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38The reason I put my bins in the bath is because the night before,
0:06:38 > 0:06:41if it is raining, I don't want to drag wet bins through the house.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Maybe even three times I have to do this, because you have
0:06:44 > 0:06:46got three different bins.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49As we get older, obviously, as you have seen with the stairs and
0:06:49 > 0:06:53all the rest of it, it is going to be a little bit of a problem for all
0:06:53 > 0:06:57of us, but then again, it is not only just us as older people, the
0:06:57 > 0:06:59youngsters as well have got to suffer with these things.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03Blaenau Gwent is the joint third worst performing authority in Wales,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06recycling just 51% of its waste.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08They will be fined if they don't reach the Welsh
0:07:08 > 0:07:10Government target of 58% next year.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13That is why this new system has been brought in.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17However, they have vowed to help any residents struggling to cope.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20For those that want a bag, we are offering a bag solution with
0:07:20 > 0:07:23handles, which is easy to carry, or a box, or a combination.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26What we are saying is, tell us what works for you and
0:07:26 > 0:07:30if you still don't think we've got a solution, our wardens will visit
0:07:30 > 0:07:33you and try and make sure that we customise a solution.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36It isn't that we don't want to recycle, because recycling is so,
0:07:36 > 0:07:37so important.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40We must recycle.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42But they are making it physically impossible to do
0:07:42 > 0:07:45and that is why people are so upset and angry about it.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48The changes here in Blaenau Gwent also mean that black bag rubbish
0:07:48 > 0:07:51will only be collected once every three weeks.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53Protesters believe that's also not acceptable
0:07:53 > 0:07:57and constitutes a health hazard.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59Well it's turning colder this weekend.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01Here's Derek now with the forecast.
0:08:02 > 0:08:03Hello again.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05The winter woollies will definitely come in handy this weekend.
0:08:05 > 0:08:10Arctic winds are sweeping south across the UK bringing a big drop
0:08:10 > 0:08:11in temperature.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13And the wind a big feature tonight.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16Gale force winds could cause some disruption.
0:08:16 > 0:08:21Gusts around 60mph in the north and west, some wintry showers
0:08:21 > 0:08:24spreading southwards as well.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26A mix of rain, hail, sleet and snow in places.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29We could see a few centimetres of snow on some hills and mountains.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33Tomorrow morning, there will be some dry, bright whether an sunshine.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37But still a strong and cold wind, a few showers towards the west coast.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41Across the rest of the UK, there are yellow warnings
0:08:41 > 0:08:43in force for both gales and snow.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45Icy patches as well.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48Most of the wintry showers in the north, a few in the west
0:08:48 > 0:08:49and towards the east coast.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52Otherwise, a lot of dry, bright weather tomorrow
0:08:52 > 0:08:56but feeling cold everywhere, only three Celsius in Glasgow.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59In Wales tomorrow afternoon, some dry, bright weather
0:08:59 > 0:09:02an sunshine but also some showers, some heavy showers in the west
0:09:02 > 0:09:07spreading further inland and there could be some snow in places too,
0:09:07 > 0:09:11for example on the Carmarthenshire hills.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13Feeling very cold tomorrow, the wind slowly easing
0:09:13 > 0:09:15and temperatures below average.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18Tomorrow night, there will be clear spells, less windy
0:09:18 > 0:09:20and also further wintry showers.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24Again, some snow in places mainly on higher ground.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26Some frost and icy patches.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30On Sunday, a few more showers, some heavy showers in Pembrokeshire
0:09:30 > 0:09:33but most of the showers will clear leaving many places dry, bright
0:09:33 > 0:09:35and crisp with some sunshine.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39Temperatures still on the cold side but the wind lighter.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41We are in for a taste of winter over the weekend.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45Gales for a time, wintry showers, snow in places,
0:09:45 > 0:09:47some sunshine as well.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51The cold snap short lived, turning mild again next week
0:09:51 > 0:09:53with some rain on Monday.
0:09:53 > 0:09:54And that's Wales Today.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56We're back at 5.50pm tomorrow evening.
0:09:56 > 0:09:57For now from all of us here, have a good weekend.
0:10:03 > 0:10:04MUSIC: Boombastic by Shaggy
0:10:04 > 0:10:04MUSIC: Boombastic by Shaggy