:00:00. > :00:00.Now on BBC One, it's time for the news where you are.
:00:00. > :00:07.Tonight's headlines: Tolls are necessary to pay off the debt
:00:08. > :00:12.The Welsh Secretary on why they aren't being scrapped completely.
:00:13. > :00:15.And people forced to leave their homes after a major water pipe
:00:16. > :00:32.bursts, causing flooding in a Powys village.
:00:33. > :00:37.There are renewed calls to scrap the Severn Bridge tolls tonight
:00:38. > :00:39.as the UK Government unveiled their plans
:00:40. > :00:45.Most drivers will pay ?3 once the bridges go back to public
:00:46. > :00:50.The Welsh Secretary says the tolls need to continue to pay
:00:51. > :00:52.off the remaining debt, maintain the road surface
:00:53. > :00:55.and introduce a number plate recognition system.
:00:56. > :00:57.Here's our political reporter Bethan Lewis.
:00:58. > :01:00.For decades motorists have had to think hard about the cost
:01:01. > :01:05.of travelling between South Wales and the south-west of England.
:01:06. > :01:07.For those who use the Severn Bridges, today's announcement
:01:08. > :01:12.is likely to significantly reduce the burden of the tolls.
:01:13. > :01:15.At the moment the bridges are run by a private company but when most
:01:16. > :01:18.of the cost of building the bridges is covered they will be transferred
:01:19. > :01:24.That's likely to happen later this year or early next year and soon
:01:25. > :01:27.after that there is due to be a big cut to the tolls.
:01:28. > :01:38.The charge for people with vans and small buses is ?13.40.
:01:39. > :01:42.And the money is only collected on one leg of the journey.
:01:43. > :01:46.The plan is for the toll to drop to ?3 for these types of vehicles.
:01:47. > :01:50.Eventually that could end up being ?1.50 each way.
:01:51. > :01:53.The charge for lorries and coaches will halve from ?20 to ?10.
:01:54. > :02:00.But the Welsh Government wants them scrapped and though the reduction
:02:01. > :02:03.is welcome news for businesses, of course many would want to see
:02:04. > :02:10.I welcome the cut in the tolls but actually it would be good to see
:02:11. > :02:12.a further cut in the tolls to at least the level
:02:13. > :02:15.which represents the maintenance of the bridges and if you take it
:02:16. > :02:17.down to that low-level then the administrative burden
:02:18. > :02:21.is so great that why don't you just take the toll away completely?
:02:22. > :02:24.But launching the plan this morning the Welsh Secretary says
:02:25. > :02:29.We are reducing the tolls, repaying the debt, but also
:02:30. > :02:32.establishing a sum of money that will allow for renovation but also
:02:33. > :02:37.allow us to maintain the bridge in tiptop condition.
:02:38. > :02:39.The UK Government anticipates that reducing the tolls will increase
:02:40. > :02:41.traffic flow by 17%, but changing the way we pay
:02:42. > :02:47.could help address logjams at the booths they say.
:02:48. > :02:49.They are considering changing the system so you don't
:02:50. > :02:55.A number plate recognition system would allow people to pay in advance
:02:56. > :03:01.But that could be expensive and effect the level of tolls.
:03:02. > :03:05.Caldicot is in the shadow of the second Severn Crossing.
:03:06. > :03:08.People they're welcome to lower charges.
:03:09. > :03:11.We go over to Bristol and it costs a fortune to come back.
:03:12. > :03:13.Many people from over there probably don't even come this side.
:03:14. > :03:16.So it's going to be great for us and bring something
:03:17. > :03:25.It would encourage more business in the South Wales.
:03:26. > :03:31.Half the price is better than no reduction at all.
:03:32. > :03:34.The bridges are due to be switched to public ownership as early
:03:35. > :03:38.as the end of this year and though a new system for paying could take
:03:39. > :03:41.longer, the aim is to introduce the new lower tolls as soon
:03:42. > :03:48.Former Welsh Liberal Democrat leader, Lord Carlile, has left
:03:49. > :03:53.Alex Carlisle was the MP for Montgomeryshire
:03:54. > :03:58.A Lib Dem spokesman said they were disappointed but not
:03:59. > :04:01.surprised, and that Lord Carlile had been at odds with party policy
:04:02. > :04:03.on a number of occasions in recent years,
:04:04. > :04:10.A defendant who cut his own throat in the dock
:04:11. > :04:13.at Haverfordwest Magistrates, has been back in court this morning.
:04:14. > :04:15.Paramedics were called there on Wednesday, to treat
:04:16. > :04:18.33-year-old Lukasz Robert Pawlowski from Pembroke Dock,
:04:19. > :04:21.who was being sentenced for a sexual assault.
:04:22. > :04:23.Today, he was charged with possessing a blade
:04:24. > :04:29.to appear at Swansea Crown Court next month.
:04:30. > :04:31.Three people have been arrested on suspicion of murder,
:04:32. > :04:34.after a man who was found unconscious on a pavement
:04:35. > :04:39.The 41-year-old was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital last
:04:40. > :04:41.night, after being discovered on Keene Street.
:04:42. > :04:48.Two men aged 18 and another who's 17 are in custody.
:04:49. > :04:50.Some homes have been evacuated and a major clean-up operation
:04:51. > :04:53.is taking place in the north of Powys tonight after a burst
:04:54. > :04:55.water pipeline caused flooding in the village
:04:56. > :05:00.Up to 40 properties have been affected,
:05:01. > :05:05.The water main, which carries water from Lake Vyrnwy to Oswestry,
:05:06. > :05:13.Torrents of water rushing down the street.
:05:14. > :05:16.Residents captured this footage describing it like a river flowing
:05:17. > :05:21.The water spilled into gardens and a dozen properties in its path.
:05:22. > :05:23.Several fire crews attended the scene with homes,
:05:24. > :05:30.the local shop, the Post Office and village hall all affected.
:05:31. > :05:33.Any water that is fast flowing can cause problems for anyone.
:05:34. > :05:38.There is quite a lot of damage to properties with water entering.
:05:39. > :05:47.Thankfully the community are getting together to help each other out.
:05:48. > :05:49.United Utilities which owns the pipeline say the flooding
:05:50. > :05:52.was down to a burst on one of the pipes carrying water
:05:53. > :06:00.Powys Council delivered sandbags to protect homes but for some
:06:01. > :06:03.they weren't enough to stop the fast flowing water.
:06:04. > :06:07.The wife called me and said the house was flooded.
:06:08. > :06:10.I came home through the back door and the yard was full,
:06:11. > :06:15.The living room here, we put sandbags down
:06:16. > :06:20.The water came through here to about six inches deep
:06:21. > :06:23.and within half an hour it was a foot deep here.
:06:24. > :06:26.A foot deep in there and all through the back rooms as well.
:06:27. > :06:38.The water main has now been isolated and the cause of the burst pipe
:06:39. > :06:42.12 households are spending the night in hotels and B accommodation.
:06:43. > :06:44.Residents will have to assess the full extent
:06:45. > :06:52.The Children's Commissioner for Wales says new guidance on home
:06:53. > :06:54.education does not protect the rights of children.
:06:55. > :06:57.Dr Sally Holland is renewing calls for a compulsory register
:06:58. > :06:59.of home-educated children and says the reluctance
:07:00. > :07:03.The Welsh Government says it's still considering the potential
:07:04. > :07:18.The president of Wrexham foot boat club Supporters' Trust has stepped
:07:19. > :07:23.down from his post. The trust owns 100% of the club and Bryn Law has
:07:24. > :07:27.questioned whether fan ownership is working. In a statement on social
:07:28. > :07:30.media the said performances were short of what fans deserved with
:07:31. > :07:34.Wrexham 15th place in the National League. The trust which took over
:07:35. > :07:36.the club in 2011 has been asked to comment.
:07:37. > :07:38.Rugby and the Dragons kept their European Challenge Cup
:07:39. > :07:40.knock-out stage hopes alive with a win over
:07:41. > :07:44.The hosts left it late but secured a vital bonus point victory.
:07:45. > :07:47.The final score at Rodney Parade was 34-10.
:07:48. > :07:55.Time for the weather now. How's the weekend looking Derek?
:07:56. > :08:02.There is a change on the way. But right now it's still cold out there.
:08:03. > :08:10.Snowing in places and some tricky driving conditions in Powys. Further
:08:11. > :08:14.wintry showers tonight. Some of them heavy with a mix of hail, sleet and
:08:15. > :08:19.snow. Some places will miss the land stage right. Some clear sky and
:08:20. > :08:27.Frost and these temperatures close to freezing or below. A slippery
:08:28. > :08:31.starting places tomorrow morning. Again more of these wintry showers,
:08:32. > :08:36.some of them heavy. Most of the snow on higher ground. Some places will
:08:37. > :08:41.be drier and bright with sunshine. Across the rest of the UK are frosty
:08:42. > :08:45.and though the staff are many with showers in the north and West will
:08:46. > :08:51.stop a few wintry showers going down the east coast into Norfolk. Lighter
:08:52. > :08:56.winds tomorrow. Still cold in the East. Only three Celsius in Norwich.
:08:57. > :09:01.Milder weather in Plymouth. Close to home in Wales a few bright intervals
:09:02. > :09:11.but a lot of cloud as well. Some more showers. Some of them heavy but
:09:12. > :09:14.falling mainly as rain. Some places will stay dry. Lighter winds
:09:15. > :09:23.tomorrow and temperatures will be higher. Still wintry on Snowdon
:09:24. > :09:27.tomorrow. Strong winds and showers. Showers to come tomorrow evening
:09:28. > :09:32.will gradually fade then some rain will spread southwards later in the
:09:33. > :09:36.night and not quite so cold. All change on Sunday. Milder air moving
:09:37. > :09:44.in from the Atlantic and that will bring plenty of cloud and patches of
:09:45. > :09:48.rain and drizzle. A change on the way. Gambon Monday but dry and cold
:09:49. > :09:51.again. We'll be back with our next update
:09:52. > :09:54.at 5.30pm tomorrow evening. From all of us here,
:09:55. > :09:56.have a lovely weekend. Why wouldn't
:09:57. > :10:07.he even look at our offer? You treat sickness of the mind,
:10:08. > :10:11.doctor.