22/03/2017 Channel Islands News

These are Wednesday's headlines: developing

Could permeable pavements be the answer to stop

We are looking to identify areas where we could see the greatest

benefit for the retrofit of sustainable drainage into that urban

environment. Plans approved for building three

of Jersey's Finance Centre and 250 homes get the

go-ahead at Gas Place. And I'm alive from the Jersey War

tunnels where there is a special film premiere and the heroic actions

of a Jersey woman during the occupation.

First tonight: The leaders of Jersey and Guernsey's governments have

voiced their support for people involved

Jersey's Chief Minister Senator Ian Gorst tweeted his

"thoughts are with all those caught up in the attack",

in which four people, including a police officer

and the man thought to be the attacker, have died.

Guernsey's most senior politician says he "recognises the vital role"

played by the emergency services "at times like this".

Both islands have confirmed staff at their London offices

Water bosses in Guernsey believe building extensions and paving over

driveways is making flooding worse in the island.

The process called "urban creep" leads to more water ending up

in sewer systems, rather than soaking into the ground,

so they're now urging residents and developers to use more

sustainable drainage systems, as Jessica Banham reports.

The sudden downpour of hail and heavy rain took everyone

In July 2014, drains in St Peter Port were simply

overwhelmed, as too much water flooded the sewer system.

Now, Guernsey Water think this may be the answer.

It might look like an ordinary pavement,

but it's actually permeable, meaning rain water can soak

through into the ground, rather than heading overland

It's an example of a sustainable drainage system, and the company

thinks it will help prevent flooding in the island.

But not everyone's convinced - this bar on the Pollett was flooded

Long-term, obviously, it seems like a good idea for anyone

outside St Peter Port, but with St Peter Port

being built up already, the flow of water coming

from buildings is already going to be massive when we get

these freak weather events, and what's going to happen

is that the water is still going to go into the drains,

flow into the sewers and flood the buildings along the Pollett.

But water bosses say they're not only urging builders to use

this permeable paving in new developments.

They also hope to replace existing paving in town.

What we're looking to do is to introduce sustainable drainage

as a retrofit into town in particular areas,

and what we're looking at is the areas of greatest benefit

where we'll get most out of our investment.

The new advice has been welcomed by the building industry,

who say sustainable drainage schemes have already started

being implementing, as seen here in Clos Barbier.

But there are concerns it could take time to see the benefits.

You will start to see small improvements obviously

in the first year or so, but, in terms of having

a significant impact, I would have thought it's

Guernsey Water acknowledge this won't be a quick fix, but hope that,

by working alongside the island's builders and architects,

ultimately they can make flooding like this a thing of the past.

Jessica Banham, BBC Channel Islands News, Guernsey.

Two major developments in St Helier have been given

planning approval today - 250 homes at the Gas Place site,

and a third new building at the Finance Centre.

There'll be a lot more building work to come in St Helier,

following today's double dose of planning approval.

While finishing touches are being put to this first building

at the Finance Centre on the Esplanade, work has started

on the second, and a third has got the go-ahead today.

It'll be five storeys, with underground parking.

Plans for a housing development at Gas Place have been rejected

before, but today a new version won approval for about 250 homes,

The buildings will be one or two stories lower than originally

intended, and I think that is the key issue for residents on the

street, so there is less impact than there was before.

It could still be blocked if an appeal is made

in the next few weeks, but, if there's no objection,

Luxmy Gopal, BBC Channel Islands, Jersey.

Work could start soon on a new site for businesses facing eviction

The companies have until the end of the year to move on.

This old vinery is one of two that have been identified as possible

Today planners gave the go-ahead at an open planning meeting

for the necessary work and change of use.

With any planning permission, it is a three-year permission, so we will

have to instigate that as soon as possible, but also it you are a

reasonable landowner with a reasonable application for the

clearance of a glasshouse, we hope you instigate it soon.

The body of a man found off Pleinmont in Guernsey over

the weekend has been confirmed as Patrick Eker.

The 49-year-old's disappearance sparked a major search

after he was reported missing on Saturday.

Police say his death is not being treated as suspicious

and an inquest will be held at a later date.

A film based on the true story of love, defiance and courage of one

Jersey woman during the occupation is having its Channel

Another Mother's Son tells the story of Louisa Gould,

a shopkeeper in St Ouen who sheltered an escaped Russian

It had its London Premiere last week, but is now having a special

showing at the Jersey War Tunnels, where Emma Chambers is now.

Good evening. Hello. Yes, the location of this

film premiere could not be more appropriate. The tunnels are a

striking reminder of the hardships endured by slave workers during the

German occupation here in Jersey. One witnessed by many islanders -

some who just couldn't stand Her actions made her a war hero,

and now a film sensation. Do you know how dangerous this is?

Any mother would do the same for love. Why do you think I am doing

this? Saving "Another Mother's Son" -

the heroic actions of Louisa Gould, adapted into a film

by her great-niece. I thought, wow, this

is a fantastic story, and I'm so proud of what these

people did, and around that time I started to think somebody's got

to do something with this, because otherwise it's

going to get forgotten. You know, small

documentaries not showing... Most people don't actually

seem to know the story. But I was nervous about it, because

you don't want to mess it up. You feel a responsibility

to get it right. But this isn't just a sad tale

of war and survival - it's one of love, which cost

Louisa's life, and now it will be If I'm ever lucky enough

to have another film made, I will never again have quite

the personal connection I am just delighted to be able

to watch on home turf with people Actor Jenny Lecoat speaking

to me earlier today. One of the start of it joins me now,

actor Julian Kostov. You play Bell, the Russians slave workers saved by

Louisa Gould. What about the film made you want to be part of it?

It was an amazing character to play and I did not know about the

occupation that happened at all, and it was a remarkable story to tell. A

wonderful character and so many emotional scenes, in very different

areas of human emotion, like fear, anger, happiness... I could not have

asked for a better character to play. It is a dream come true and an

honour for me to tell the story of Louisa Gould.

It wasn't filmed in Jersey, so how does it feel to be in the island now

I am honoured that I was invited, and I actually wanted to come here

on my own anyway, because I have imagined this place in my heart and

mind so many times during film-making, and it is amazing

finally to come and see it and overwhelming to see the tunnels as

well and know what my character went through. It is an absolute pleasure.

Thank you, Julian. If you want to see the courageous story of Louisa

Gould, the film will be showing in cinemas across the British Isles

from Friday. Thank you, MR. It looks like a great

and emotional film and I am sure many of us will be going by the

cinema. Now let's take a look at the

weather. Good evening. We have had some of

this today, glorious sunshine and not a bad deal to it either. They

are is cold, another cold night in store. This shot taken across

Guernsey. Blue sky and sunshine today. Tomorrow we celebrate World

Meteorological Day. If you have got any pictures of plants, then please

send them in. If you want to find out more about this, the website is

there. Onto the forecast for tomorrow and not quite as bright as

today. Briefly some sunshine perhaps and a lot more cloud, with risk of

showers for a time, persistent rain and a risk of thunder and hail. A

mixture to come through the day tomorrow. All wrapped around this

area of low pressure. This is the middle of the day tomorrow. By the

middle of Friday, it looks like that weather front will travel out into

the channel, travelling north away from us. A brighter picture on

Friday. And Saturday looks like a breezy day but a fine day with

sunshine to enjoy. A few showers possible overnight tonight, and that

will continue through to the morning, perhaps in a clear sky to

get temperatures to single figures, four or five Celsius. Tomorrow has

briefly brightness and a few showers perhaps in the morning, then briefly

sunshine and more general cloud from the East to give us more persistent

rain. 10 Celsius the maximum temperature tomorrow. Highs of time

water there. -- times of high water. Small waves they are, and coastal

waters forecast... Winds from these tomorrow, three or four, rain or

showers with good visibility. Friday morning, cloud around still, but

improving swiftly. Friday looks like a decent day, a breezy weekend

ahead, but if I went to look forward to. Charlie.

Great pictures in the sunshine although looks can be deceiving. I

went out for a it was chilly. If you have great pictures to share with

the nation's Weather Watchers, go on the website.

It's Red Nose Day this Friday, when many people

across the Channel Islands will be doing fun and crazy things to raise

money, or sponsoring others who are doing challenges.

Fundraising efforts in Jersey got a celebrity boost today -

TV and radio presenter Vernon Kay visited to help

While I am in Jersey, we are going to be raising awareness of British

Airways's Flying Start in aid of Comic Relief. And we have friends

from an intergalactic location, carrying buckets around St Helier,

so get involved. And we'll of course have plenty

of coverage of Red Nose Day on Friday across the BBC on radio,

television and online. If you are doing something special,

get in contact with us here at BBC Channel Islands News. You are

up-to-date with the latest news from the Channel Islands. I will be back

with an update at around 8pm this evening. Because of an extended late

news and international news on at 10pm tonight, will be on error later

at 11pm this evening. There will be regular updates on the website.

Until 8pm tonight, I wish you a pleasant evening and good night.

Bye-bye. about the unique operation to tow

a stricken freighter to safety. The three thousand ton Lady Alida

lost power and was being blown onshore in the early hours

of yesterday morning. The Penlee and the Sennen Cove

lifeboats pulled the ship to safety. They had to carry out the operation

a second time when the ship's David George has been

to meet the two coxswains. The 88 metre freighter, Lady Alida,

with seven crew on board had lost power and was being blown onto rocks

on the South Cornish coast. In the early hours,

lifeboats were sent to the The first time the two boats had

attempted such a task. It wasn't easy, with

the weather conditions, We did what we had to do,

we stopped the boat from drifting Many hours later the crews

were at the lifeboat station when they were called to the ship

a second time because she was I don't think we had more

than a couple of sips of tea, and we were asked to go

again, dragging anchor. The 3600 tonne ship is more

than 60 times heavier than Both of the lifeboats are equipped

with these huge diesel engines here on this lifeboat,

the combined power is two and a half So they have got plenty

of pull, even to toe a big ship, a 3000 tonne

ship, but power alone The biggest issue for us was keeping

the lifeboats on the right place, without hitting

each other, so the boys on the deck had a lot

of work to do and they did

a really good job. This might have been a job

for a coastguard emergency type which were stationed around the UK

coast until they were scrapped six With the removal of the constant

presence of the tugs, we have known that eventually,

we would get involved in this sort of job,

it has given us a lot of confidence

that if the same happened again we could at least keep

a ship in a position and hopefully prevent

it The ship is alongside

in Falmouth docks waiting There's been special recognition

for a seven year old girl for her amazing work as a carer,

we'll meet her later, plus getting fired up

in South Devon. Join me on board the beautiful

Braveheart as she takes to the tracks for the first time in 12

years. Now you may remember a very

special moment on Spotlight We would like to introduce you to

the French consul with us this evening. Her

TRANSLATION: Verdun Hayes, might of the Legion of honour. -- in the name

of the president of the French republic, I make you a night of the

Legion of honour. That was Verdun Hayes from north

Devon being presented He'd recently returned

from a trip to Normandy where he paid his respects

to a fallen comrade. Well since then more than one

hundred D-Day veterans from the South West have come

forward to go on tours The scheme - which is funded

by Libor fines imposed on banks - is now being extended and veterans

will be able to visit Charlotte Foot has been talking

to one veteran from Dorset who's been remembering the events of more

than seventy years ago. Wartime Weymouth, and the harbour

is a sea of green. Young American troops

setting sail for France, Dorset a gateway

to the battlefields. The journey across the Channel,

one that so many veterans One they thought they may

never return from. Today, World War II veterans

are being offered the opportunity to sail once again,

and there's been an increase in the So much so that the Royal

British Legion is now I just thought, I've been there

before, and it was so different then Really expected to see

something nice and have a few 92 year old Peter Price

from Weymouth is even hoping Lots of people havn't

really travelled much at all since they came

back from service. I know people used to have a holiday

about every ten years. Across-the-board it has been

unprecedented and in the south-west, we have had over 100

veterans book on to tours. Now to put that into context,

last year we took a hundred veterans, so we've noticed

an exponential rise in people wanting to go on these tours

which is Despite the success of the scene,

the charity believes there are still more D-Day veterans

who they are not in contact with and with most in their 90s,

they want to make sure that they all have

the A seven year old girl from Cornwall

has won an award for helping to care Evie Gwilliams is now so skilled

at caring for Freddie she even Evie's mum says she does it

because she loves him. Eleanor Parkinson has been

to meet the family. She may only be seven years old but

she takes her responsibilities very seriously. Her younger brother

Freddie has a red condition, he needs medication every day and she

knows exactly what to do. First you plug the tube into his tummy, and

then, you get one of the syringes and you put it on the end of the

tube, and you push the top bit down and before you take it off, you push

the white spitting, so the medicine comes out. -- the white bit in. It

is important he has the right amount, and your mum has taught you

how to do that? Yes. She also helps give him his meals and putting to

bed. Her mum says she has never asked Evie to help but she wants to

do it. If he is in the bath, she will say that she will take over and

she wants to dress him and do his nappy and give him his milk and she

does a lot for Freddie, she is very good. And I understand you have been

very busy with other children and, Evie has put him to bed on her own?

You take him through to his bed, and even if I'm busy with Freddie. She

then takes over the role of looking after car spec, she has even cooked

Casper some tea, haven't you? Mummy showed you how to use the oven and

she reads Casper a bedtime story. So she helps with both the boys. And

now Evie's degradation has not gone unnoticed, she has just wants a

little star award. Evie seems unfazed and is happy to get back to

the job that she thinks is so important.

Now it's been out of action for over a decade, but today

the Dartmouth Steam Railway proudly brought the locomotive 'Braveheart'

She made her long awaited return across the South Devon coast

and our reporter Heidi Davey was onboard....

After laying dormant for 12 years the beautiful locomotive brain heart

came into the sunshine to claim her rightful place on the track, it has

been an intensive labour of love for all involved at the Dartmouth steam

away and today's unveiling meant that the team were up early again to

make sure that she was ready for her audience. Today I started at half

past six, involving cleaning at yesterday's fire, the firebox and

then lighting brand-new box. And paraffin. Children, a primary

school, lined the platform to get a glimpse of her and then it was all

aboard as we set off along the south Devon coast.

It is hard work keeping this going? Yes between one tonne and 2.5 tonnes

of coal a day and near enough gallons of water every round-trip.

And for younger passengers there was definitely a favourite bit. My

favourite part was the dark, dark tunnel. Rumbling noises. That steam

may be a bit stinky but for young trade hearts driver, it is a day he

will never forget. We never put a BR standard together so we had was

pictures of when it was last running, if you head scratching

moments but I think we got there all right. How does it feel? Happiest of

my life so far I would two say. What a glorious picture that was. A great

day for everyone involved. Not bad weather either for Braveheart and a

big day for weather forecasting tomorrow?

It is Michu logical day tomorrow and I will talk about than in just a

second. Good evening we have had sunshine, I know we have had

showers, when you point out but everywhere has had blue skies but

where the skies have been like this it has been a lovely day with the

sunshine, not too windy, quite pleasant, sent in, also showers,

affecting some of us. Somerset quite sharp showers, that was the shower

in the distance and also some rainbows, a combination of the

sunshine and some rain, this 117 in Taunton. As I pointed out tomorrow

is world Michu logical day. This years his clouds, if you got any

good cloud pictures. And the website is here:

the area of low pressure that has brought us the showers and more

unsettled weather today is still going to be around here tomorrow.

Quite a cloudy day tomorrow, for those who had lots of sunshine, the

same weather system still close by on Friday, gone by the time of the

weekend. 18 easily weekend, but this time of year it has and strengthen

it and we are expected to see some low temperatures, certainly

coalfield to the air with sunshine out of the breeze and quite pleasant

and unusually so, some fine weather coinciding with the weekend. At the

moment there is the risk of a shower this evening but most of the showers

have now gone and what we are left with is some clearing skies

overnight, this was the picture from earlier today, down in Cornwall

where again, skies but again some threatening looking cloud. The

showers that we have seen today have also been of hail and sleet in

places, it is not unusual to see this in March, but it is in between

showers we have also had some lovely sunshine as well. Temperatures have

been up and down because of the showers. Most of the showers as I'm

inch and are now fading away so overnight tonight we are going to

see a good deal of clear sky, once that process is underway,

temperatures are going to fall away pretty quickly, we could well see a

frost overnight tonight and the risk of some mist and fog patches. Very

light winds, and temperature starting the day tomorrow morning as

low as one or 2 degrees above freezing so there is even the

possibility of a risk of ice here and there. Now tomorrow, across

Dorset and Somerset, a layer of cloud, will travel westwards. It

will be fairly broken cloud but I think the risk of a spot of drizzle

and light rain is possible through the rest of the day, Utrecht and

easterly wind and a top temperature of nine or 10 degrees. For the

aisles of city some bright weather and then gradually clouding over

with showers developing later in the day, a bit more breeze developing

coming in from the north-east tomorrow. There are the times of

high water. For our servers, the waves are small tomorrow, the breeze

does pick up but for most of the North reaches, anywhere up to three

or four feet. There is the coastal walkers, the winds are from the

East, four to six with the risk of showers. A bit warmer to pot

a bit chilly during the night time. Will you be bringing cake for

WorldNet daily? The late news, at ten, hope you can

join us then, good night.