23/02/2016 BBC Wales Today

That is all from the BBC News at Six. It's goodbye from me.

Welcome to Wales Today. Our top stories.

The Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies says David Cameron's EU deal

was not "robust" enough for him to vote for the UK to remain.

There are very good arguments to stay in but I believe

there are stronger arguments to come out of the European Union

That is why I stuck to my guns and stuck to my principles.

600 pupils, parents and teachers protest against plans

If we don't even have a high school here, how is the town

The battle over collecting your rubbish.

The council piloting the collection of bins every four weeks.

The former Conservative MP Neil Hamilton on the campaign

against his bid to stand as a Ukip Assembly member.

I was born in Wales, I grew up in Wales, I was educated

in Wales both in school and university.

Wales name their side to face France this Friday.

He's one of three players brought into the team,

Alex Cuthbert will start so too Jonathan Davies,

The leader of the Welsh Conservatives says David Cameron's

deal was not "robust" enough to convince him to vote to remain

Andrew RT Davies will vote to leave the EU at the referendum on June

23rd, but says his first priority is trying to win the

Our political correspondent Daniel Davies reports.

The most important election in a generation, he says.

But this morning's questions were all about another vote.

Politicians around here including Andrew RT Davies

would rather the EU referendum was happening later

The Assembly election would be overshadowed

At that election the Tories hope to kick Labour out of office

and occupy the corridors of power in the Welsh Government

Between now and the Assembly election, your opponents will use

every opportunity to remind voters that on Wales' place in Europe,

Is that going to damage your Assembly election campaign?

At the end of the day the Conservatives

My vote, David Cameron's vote, is worth

no more than your vote, than the lady or gentleman walking

outside this building, than the lady or gentleman

in Cardiff, Wrexham, Mold, the length and breadth of Wales

The Tories united in celebration after last year's

general election but now they are divided over Europe.

Had Mr Davies discussed his views with the Prime Minister?

Whatever those decision are taken, I will stand by them.

Mr Davies is one of three Conservative AMs

who have said they will vote to leave.

Three more have confirmed that the remaining side.

The other eight either haven't decided or are not saying.

At the end of the day you have to decide what do you think

is in the best interest of your constituency,

your country and I've decided that I think we should go

I think it is a good deal for Britain.

On both sides of the debate, some declined to do interviews today

but in the Senedd, Carwyn Jones was only too happy

to comment claiming leaving the EU would take money out

Where it is that money going to come from in the future?

Where is it going to come from in the future?

It cannot come from the Welsh Government,

it is too much money for us to be able to afford.

The reality is, Welsh farmers know where they stand at the moment

and they will resist being invited to jump

off the edge of the cliff in the hope there is a net

on the other side as they have been invited to do by the Leader

Mr Davies says he would fight for ways

to get money from Westminster if funding was cut

He paid tribute to the Prime Minister for negotiating hard

on EU reform but in the end the deal on offer wasn't robust enough

so he is following his instincts and voting to leave.

Well, Daniel, is at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.

What motivated Mr Davies to make this announcement now?

He felt he had to say something. The timing isn't ideal, a election in

May and the referendum in June. Once the referendum was called it was

inevitable people would ask Mr David Howie intended to vote. There will

be some nervousness in the Tory party about losing votes to Ukip in

the Assembly elections. The polls say they are on course to win seats

here. It would do no harm for the Conservative leader to say he is a

Eurosceptic as well. As he said today, he is following his

instincts, sticking to his guns. He has always been a Eurosceptic and

despite David Cameron's attempts to change the UK's status in the EU

you, Mr Davies hasn't changed his mind. But he wants to fight the

election without distractions. He is facing a big distraction all of his

own making. What effect would remaining

or leaving the EU have on business? Well some large companies employing

over 14,000 people in Wales are calling for the UK to remain

part of the European Union. Airbus, BT and Ford are among those

who've told BBC Wales that jobs and growth will be better

served by being in the EU. Those campagning for us

to leave the EU say trade will continue

even if the UK left. Here's our business

correspondent, Brian Meechan. The sum of Wales 's biggest

employers. The Basque government identifies these anchor companies as

global organisations with a headquarters based here. -- the

Welsh Government. Airbus wings are made in Broughton on the side and

transported to Toulouse where the planes are assembled. The company's

boss is one of those who signed the letter that King EU membership. We

are committed to our operations in the UK whether we're or out. The is

you about is investment for the future. Where do the new jobs come

from? Where does the growth happen? It is about creating the

environment, the operational competitiveness. Airbus employs 6000

people in Wales. BT has 3000 workers well Centrica, which owns British

Gas, employs 2200. Ford has nearly a thousand people. Toyota which

employs nearly 500 has also said being in the EU is best for the

business. None of the anchor companies have argued they would

like the UK to leave although some decline to comment. Today's letter

in the Times was signed by some of the biggest companies operating in

the UK. What a large percentage of the Welsh workforce is employed by

small and medium-sized companies like the ones operating on this

industry and state income Brown. It seems they have a slightly divided

view on the benefits and drawbacks of EU membership. They will be those

that are benefiting from access to the European market. There will be

those who are benefiting from the supply of labour but there are those

who are struggling with European regulation. They want to the facts

of the arguments both for and against.

We have got that. This industrial estate is expanding but that has

nothing to do with the EU. According to his critics. Ken is a former Ukip

candidates who runs a printing firm. He says it is the bigger companies

that are benefiting. Some companies can gain from cheap foreign labour.

We are not one of them. The cheap foreign labour has done damage to

the employment market in the UK. People are fearful of it again. We

have heard from some of those with an interest in the outcome of the

referendum today but they will be more companies getting involved in

the debate in the coming months. Now the rest of the day 's news.

cancelled some operations because of high numbers of patients.

80 additional beds have been put in place across its hospitals to try

Other hospitals across Wales say they're extremely busy

and are urging people to visit emergency departments

An ex-Scoutmaster who was jailed for 12 years in 2014 for abusing

boys, was back in court today where he admitted to charges

Martyn Tucker pleaded guilty at Caernarfon Crown Court to 28

offences of indecent assault spanning an 18 year period.

More than 600 schoolchildren, parents and teachers have been

protesting at plans to re-organise secondary education in Powys.

The council wants to close Llandrindod and Builth Wales High

School and build a new school in Builth Wales.

It also wants to replace two schools in Brecon

The cabinet has voted for a full consultation to be carried out.

Rather than double maths it was a silent demonstration

They were protesting against Powys Council's shake up

Llandrindod and Builth Wales High School and a new school being built

A petition with more than 1,300 signatures on it was handed

What I'm particularly concerned about is the impact

At the moment there are three schools in special measures in this

Indeed, I haven't got a problem with that.

What I have got a problem with is the school being sited

The impact on this town and the students who are here

would be highly negative, in my opinion.

Over 600 pupils, teachers and parents have turned up here

this morning to protest and handing in a petition

This the secondary school here for well over 50 years

and these people don't want to lose it.

Llandrindod Wales is a small-town of a

population of just under 6,000 people.

If it even didn't have a high school here how is that town

If it goes it'll be a great loss to the community.

It is a major thing in the town and I

feel very passionate about it and so do other people.

At a packed meeting councillors approved a recommendation to consult

on a merger of Llandrindod and Builth Wales high schools,

as well as a consultation on the closure of Brecon High

and Gwernyfed school, to establish a new English medium

The council says with three schools in special measures and pupil

numbers dropping by around 800 in four years they had

We can't offer a sustainable curriculum and a satisfactory

The consultation will start in September but these pupils

protesting already fear this could be beginning of the end

How often do your black bins get collected?

Every week? Every two weeks?

Well some people living in the Conwy council area are set to move

to black bin collections once every four weeks.

Councillors there voted today to trial the idea in an attempt

Roger Pinney is at Conwy's Council headquarters now.

Conwy Council in common with other local authorities facing pressures

here. The recycling target and shrinking budgets. The initial

proposal was to introduce four weekly bin collections right across

the county. That would keep 3000 tonnes of waste and save half ?1

million a year. There was opposition to that so instead the council has

opted for a compromise. Green beans, recycling bins, will be collected

once a week but black bins come a non-recyclable is, will move from

being collected once every two weeks to once every three weeks. They will

be this pilot area, the very first in Wales, where black bins,

non-recyclable is, will only be collected once every four weeks.

Dave Cowans is the council cabinet member responsible for waste

collection. It demonstrates that

Conwy is a transparent A guarded approach was adopted

by Cabinet, one which I think on reflection will

provide the data we will need to justify

a four weekly collection. We cannot, and I emphasise

this, we cannot continue to sustain using ?1.5 million

of taxpayers money in a hole You say there was opposition will

stop there was. Council officials here believe that

four weekly bin collections in the long term are inevitable right

across the county. Not just here in Conwy. The opposition is worried

about things like fly-tipping, smells, dog waste, sanitary waste.

Among those voicing the concerns is the Conservative Assembly Member for

Clwyd West, Darren Millar. A lot of people will be pleased

that they have abandoned the wholesale introduction

of four weekly collections for the time

being but there will still be a lot of concern amongst families

with children and amongst other people who produce lots of pet

waste, for example, that even a three weekly collection is taking

those collection periods for too The council says it all into dos

mitigating measures in the pilot area including things like extra

bins for large families, weekly nappy collections. As to where the

pilots will be, that has yet to be decided.

Much more to come before seven o'clock.

28 all girls teams to be set up across the country.

The adventurer from Old Colwyn is the first person to walk

The former Conservative MP Neil Hamilton has

defended his attempt to stand for Ukip at this summer's

The party has launched an investigation after an anonymous

leaflet criticising Mr Hamilton was sent to party members.

In an email to members, leaked to BBC Wales,

a Ukip official says the matter may be referred to the police.

Here's our political reporter Paul Martin.

Most experts agree Ukip is on course for a handful of seats this summer

but is Neil Hamilton in line for one of them?

Clearly recognisable, he and his wife, Christine,

They may soon be spending a lot more time here.

Many people in Ukip Wales have had some pretty

brutal things to say about Neil Hamilton over

They say he has been parachuted into this contest

and that he is an outsider when it comes to Welsh politics.

I was born in Wales, I grew up in Wales, I was educated

in Wales both at school and university.

My father was the chief engineer for the coal board in Wales.

He had an office just across the water there

in the early 1970s before he retired.

I am just as Welsh now as I was then.

But some feel the Hamiltons carry baggage stemming from the cash

for questions saga of the 90s which cost Mr Hamilton

The Guardian newspaper alleged he had taken money

Years of litigation followed and Mr Hamilton has always

A lot of stuff has been said about me, which is untrue,

My probity has been questioned and yet I've been through a massive

investigation by the Inland Revenue, all my finances over ten separate

tax years and I came out of it whiter than white.

Now the party has launched an investigation into this anonymous

leaflet sent to members last week urging them not to vote

for Neal Hamilton as a regional candidate.

Mr Hamilton says the leaflet is libellous.

It is the latest twist in a messy selection

process that has been going on for months.

Every week seems to bring a different bad news story for Ukip.

That said, they are still doing incredibly well in the polls.

They could win as many as nine seats at

But if this culture of infighting continues it might be difficult

for those Assembly Members to work together

and bring about the change that Ukip wants to see in Wales.

We still don't know who will be picked for

the most winnable regional seays for Ukip at the election.

Members have until a week Friday to vote for their favoured candidates.

Once the votes are in, we will have a better idea

of the Hamiltons chances of making Cardiff Bay

The Welsh Government has agreed to route a planned bypass away

News of the Wales team to face France now.

Here's Tomos with all of tonight's sport.

There are three changes from the side that beat Scotland,

one forced on Wales because of an injury

Centre Jonathan Davies is fit to start.

Coach Warren Gatland says he's looking for the players

to step-up their performance against France.

A win would send them to the top of the Six Nations Championship.

He picked up his 50th cap against Scotland.

The injury Jonathan Davies picked up in that game won't keep

him out of the France game this Friday.

He joins a backline largely unchanged.

Gareth Davies and Dan Biggar start again.

It'll be Jonathan Davies and Jamie Roberts's 42nd game

together in the centre, a record for Wales.

The only change in the back sees Alex Cuthbert handed a first start

in this year's Six Nations, replacing his team-mate

at the Blues, Tom James, who isn't on the bench either.

James came close to scoring against Scotland, his failure

to cross the line is partly the reason

he has been dropped according to one former winger.

I think he has played exceptionally well for Cardiff Blues.

He's put his hand up and come out very well.

But that opportunity, I think, at international level you probably

got to finish them off and I think that is what has taken a bearing

In the forwards, the front row remains the same.

Bradley Davies comes into the second row replacing Luke Charteris.

He hasn't recovered from a knee injury.

Flanker Dan Lydiate is back with Wales captain Sam Warburton

switching to a more familiar role of open side flanker.

France training in Paris today will name their side tomorrow.

They are unbeaten so far after wins over Ireland and Italy.

But they haven't got the better of Wales since a World Cup semifinal

The roof will be closed for the match.

Staying with rugby, and the girls game here is about to be transformed

with the creation of a new season in the summer.

28 teams, based at centres around the country, will be set up

and will help cater for the recent demand from girls to play rugby,

Gemma Rollins, centre. Tyler Clark, neutered rugby. Karen, centre,

women's rugby team. The current stars mixing with the

potential talent of tomorrow. With the experienced grand slam winning

format Wales captain, Ryan Jones, leading the way it is spring and

summer all girl rugby initiative has been launched. It is fantastic to

see these girls who have come here today. We have had a great time and

enjoyed themselves. They want to know when they can do it again. That

is what rugby is about. We are engaging whole new generation of

boys and girls. But there is work to be done. Girls playing organised

rugby in Wales has not played a prominent part in club and school

sports culture. Their clubs are few and far between. We've got some

pockets of excellence were going on between either consolidated effort

so girls can play rugby in format of their choice and having enough

members to play fixtures, festivals, competitions. We need to make sure

that growth happens in a sustained way. The season will start after

Easter and run from April to July. With girls only team set up by 28

cluster centres around the country. From Monmouth, to mould,. I'm glad

they don't think it is just for boys. It is fair bet some people

will think girls are not capable of doing it because they are not strong

enough. I think we are. We had a strong as boys. It is good that boys

and girls can do it was due think you carry on as Mac probably.

Women's rugby is expediency huge growth around the world. Rugby

sevens will be an Olympic event and the Wales team at the Six Nations

are preparing to welcome the French this Sunday on the back of a win

over Scotland. That game was a must win for us. We are happy to get the

result. Knowing we didn't play as well as we could have, we are

confident we can put on a show against France was not successful

the national team is sure to attract more talented sportswomen which in

turn will help secure a bright future for the game.

It has been confirmed within the last few minutes that Cory Allen is

out for the rest of the season after injuring his leg against Leinster on

Saturday. That just then. Last summer we brought you the story

of a young adventurer about to embark on his latest

incredible journey. Well, six months and 1,600 miles

later, Ash Dykes has become the first person to walk the entire

length of Madagascar solo. The 25-year-old from Old Colwyn

in Conwy worked with a number People have walked the length of the

island before. But that is to evidence that anyone has walked the

mountains rage of the island. Having trecked through Mongolia last

year, 2016 saw Ash climbing the spine of the African

island, Madagascar. It was tough, it was much

tougher than I expected. I think the Mongolia

expedition gave me confidence and I

underrated Madagascar. To complete Madagascar

it was just so difficult. The toughest bit was probably up

north in the jungles. Putting your back through it,

crawling on your hands and knees. I caught malaria

which was terrifying. My temperature was 40 Celsius,

the doctors believe I only had But she got on the case,

gave me medication when He came back fighting

fit ready to go again. When he wasn't avoiding crocodiles,

Ash was having other We had to build a raft

using natural resources We all gathered on the raft

to get ourselves across. We almost lost the camerawoman

at night time to a really strong river crossing

which was probably the most We were lucky to survive

that, all of us. Ash regularly stayed overnight

with the locals he met Always nice to wake up

to a tribal community. The people were amazing,

so hospitable, so helpful. There was a section in the middle

of the island where they have not seen a westerner before

and when they saw me and a local Madagascee,

they would sprint for their lives. He even picked up

a travelling companion. Our last hour together

before I set him free. I carried a male white chicken,

named Gertrude, for two and half weeks.

The locals say you have to, it keeps away the bad spirits

He was set free at the top of the summit.

Adjusting to life back home, Ash won't be settling

I'm planning my next big adventure which is just as crazy.

I can't give anything away, unfortunately.

There are a few different ideas and each one of them

It has been a lovely day here for many of us. What has the forecast

install? Chilly but dry.

Lovely sunshine. This picture taken by our weather

watcher Ann Riggs in Pembrokeshire shows blue sky and cumulus

clouds over Trefin Bay. While in Rhyl, there was hardly

a cloud in the sky this afternoon. The air over us has come

from the Arctic and with a clear sky this evening temperatures

are dropping quickly. Colder than last night.

Around freezing on the coast. Minus five in central Wales

with a widespread sharp frost. Tomorrow's chart shows high pressure

to the west of Ireland. So here's the picture

for eight in the morning. Cold and frosty but dry,

bright and crisp. A few clouds over the Irish Sea

with the odd shower on Anglesey. During the day, a few clouds

will develop inland. The odd light shower in the north

and on the west coast. But no more than that.

Most places dry with sunny spells. Temperatures a little lower

than today after a colder start. Reaching five to eight Celsius

with a mainly light winds. In Denbighshire dry

with sunny spells. The odd light shower

possible in the afternoon. After a frosty start

temperatures will reach In Bridgend tomorrow,

frost then fine and mostly sunny. Tomorrow night a few showers,

heavy and wintry in places, Some dry, clear weather as well

with frost and one or two A few scattered showers

but still some dry, bright Low pressure near Cornwall may bring

a little rain and snow on high ground but there is a chance

it could stay dry. The forecast for the weekend is more

certain with a cold north easterly wind and it

should be mostly dry. So after all the wind and rain

this winter, the next couple of days much more settled with sunshine,

frost and a few showers. It's coming up to seven o clock,

the main stories from the BBC. The Leader of the Welsh

Conservatives says David Cameron's deal was not "robust" enough

to convince him to vote to remain I'll have an update for you here

at eight o'clock and again That's Wales Today, thank

you for watching. From all of us on the

programme, good evening.