14/02/2017 Points West

Welcome to BBC Points West with Alex Lovell and David Garmston.

Our main story tonight: The racist tweets of a local councillor.

UKIP suspends Philip Winter after an online remark

which causes offence - the council chairman

The comments are racist and they're misogynistic and they're not

the views of anyone on this council and I don't think anyone

Councillor Winter says his Twitter account was interfered with.

Our other headlines tonight: Throwing the book at them -

a protest at plans to move Bath library.

Director Ken Loach joins the demonstration.

Drink limits at the Cheltenham Festival after drunken scenes

Camilla has a Valentine's dance in Bristol and jokes,

A councillor from South Gloucestershire, who says he's been

inspired by the tweets of President Trump, has been accused

Philip Winter, who serves on the lowest tier of local

government, a parish council, has been suspended

He's a councillor who nails his colours to the mast,

Philip Winter is outspoken locally, but now one comment on his Twitter

Calling black people a derogatory word, and saying

Mr Winter is on Almondsbury Parish Council, run from a small office

Today, they have been overwhelmed by complaints.

completely horrified and disgusted. The comments are racist and

misogynistic. They are not the views of anyone on this council. A lot of

the councillors have said to me that they don't want to set at the same

table as him. Would you like him sacked? I would, definitely. This

e-mail says what kind of people in Almondsbury would have that kind of

person on the council, and remind me never to visit, ever. That is very

sad, isn't it? What he has done is tarred the whole community.

I think the comments reflect more on him than the community we live in. I

feel quite disappointed. I would hate to think that it has brought

the village and to distribute and that these people from outside, that

is the impression of Almondsbury. Consider winter didn't want to

appear on camera today. I spoke to him on the bone. He said the

messages on his account are is this one particular about black people

being deported have been altered by hackers. He believes he believes he

has become a target. Ukip Centre bridge brief statement today saying

that he had been suspended and an investigation will follow.

The police say they have received a complaint and are investigating.

All this after Mr Winter started at twitter account because he was

inspired by Donald Trump. He said he feels like he's done nothing wrong

and wants to stay on the parish council. Whether or not they want to

keep him, is another thing entirely. Our reporter Andy Howard

is here with us now. Andy, how did Philip Winter come

to be a parish councillor? He was not elected, which might be a

surprise to some. Four people left the council and only four people

came forward, so proud of being cast he became at parish councillor. 18

months ago he posted comments on Facebook which used offensive

language towards Muslims, so he has been in the news. It is not unusual

to get co-opted onto the parish council because there aren't

volunteers, for example. Can they sack him? Not directly, no. This now

goes to the local council, which is South Gloucestershire. An officer

there will look at this case, they have had plenty of complaints, and

work out whether Mr Winter has broken a code of conduct, which

would've signed when he became a counsellor. If they can find he has,

they can suspend him for fire him. All the parish council can do is

call a special meeting and at that meeting their will unequivocally

distanced themselves from what has been said on that twitter account.

At this point, that is all they can do.

Hundreds of demonstrators, including BAFTA award-winning

film director Ken Loach, have gathered in Bath this evening

to protest against council plans to move the city's central library.

The authority claims it will save almost ?1 million a year.

We are getting pretty used to these protests in bad. This is the second

in as many months. We have lost most of our protesters tonight. Let's

show you some shots of when it was in full swing, about 45 minutes ago.

There were several hundred of them outside the Guildhall. The council

say this isn't about the library closure, it is about a library

relocation, going from about 200 relocation, going from about 200

metres up the road the, to about 400 metres in the opposite direction,

down to the bus station. Moving from the centre of Bath, to the edge. The

council say they need to do that because they have a big hole in the

budget. They need to save ?37 million by 2020. They have already

saved 12 million from the budget this year. There are various ways

they are thinking of doing that. One is a ?5.6 million cut in adult

social care. There could be job losses, and also modernising the

library service. They reckon that will save you time a year. That is a

significant part of the overall cuts they need to make. Lots of voices

here tonight is very vocal about the library but perhaps the most famous

was the film director Ken Loach, fresh from winning habit after the

other day. He said he passionately believes that the council should not

be relocating the library. The library is a big feature

in the centre of Bath. It's a place where people

can come and read. It really expresses something

of the community of the city, The idea that it's closed and put

some were less accessible, it's generally diminished,

the books are fewer. We also spoke to a lady called Julie

Hazlewood. She volunteered at the library for five years and she is

deeply upset. They said -- she's said they should be cutting other

things before they touched the library.

Why do they have to take away the beautiful things,

the beautiful libraries, the beautiful parks,

So, there we are, lots of people back trying to convince the council

who are inside right now that they should leave the library service

It's Valentine s Day and you're watching BBC Points West

And on the programme, lots more to bring you too.

Including: Off to play rugby up North - Bath confirm that

George Ford will be leaving at the end of the season.

A lamp for lovers - we find out more about the last

Valentine Lamp in Somerset about to be lit in a

A brothel in Weston-super-Mare was closed for business this

morning, following our investigation which revealed teenage girls

were employed to hand out leaflets several years ago.

Today, we've uncovered further allegations about more recent delays

in protecting vulnerable young people in the town.

Here's our health correspondent, Matthew Hill.

Butterfly's is normally open for business 24/7,

but this morning I was told it was closed.

I mean, if there was something going on, why haven't

So the police have not been here yet?

There's nothing going on, somebody is making up stories.

We can prove you are from our footage.

This follows our revelations on last night's Inside Out West.

Undercover footage shows Butterfly's is a brothel and we presented

evidence that teenage girls helped out four years ago cleaning

For over a decade, Butterfly's has been operating in plain sight

of the Conservative controlled council, the police

I wanted to ask the Conservative MP for Weston, John Penrose,

what he thought about how the police and the council have handled these

He preferred to give me this statement, which says:

"I'm very concerned about what may be new evidence, especially about

what goes on inside Butterfly's and shall be taking all these issues

It's wrong, definitely wrong, but it's not

Well, I think it should be closed down, yes?

Tonight, we can also reveal new concerns about how vulnerable

Leaked documents show there were safeguarding concerns

Two teenage girls suspected to be at risk of grooming.

The delay was "unacceptable" and confidence low about

North Somerset Council told us: "All safeguarding concerns

are treated seriously and properly investigated.

A strategy meeting to discuss the concerns relating to the girls

was held the day after we became of their identities.

The opinions expressed in the meeting appear to have been

made without knowledge of the work underway at the time to protect

But questions remain about what is going on under

It's been announced there's going to be a crackdown on binge

drinking at this year's Cheltenham Festival,

As well as limiting the amount of alcohol people can buy

inside the racecourse, over in the town centre,

council enforcement officers are to be given more powers to issue

on-the-spot fines to anyone who's overindulged and misbehaving.

Two professional footballers photographed urinating

Then one, Northampton Town's James Collins,

These photographs, taken at the start of last year's

Cheltenham Festival, made national headlines,

fuelling the boozy reputation that some critics have given the event

Alcohol consumption during that week, we get the impression

is going up year on year so we need to have more tools in our toolbox

At the festival itself, drinks will now be limited to four

Organisers say they don't want people to come purely to drink.

They want racegoers to enjoy the festival

without being blighted by those drinking irresponsibly.

But of course, it's not just inside the racecourse that

Every single year during festival week, tens of thousands

of extra pints are drunk here in Cheltenham town centre.

Its enforcement officers, like Brian Daughtrey here,

will be given extra powers to curb anti-social behaviour,

confiscate alcohol and, if necessary, hand out on-the-spot

Previously, only the police have been able to do this.

Needy get a lot of unseemly behaviour during the daytime, people

who are pre-drinking before they go to the racecourse. The image

definitely needs cleaning up. Having watched from afar for the last few

years, things have definitely changed, and I wouldn't say that the

better. The alcohol is a downside. People have a tendency not to know

when to stop and that is what brings it down. The pubs, clubs, hotels

think it is a great time, but I think it is really encouraging that

the racecourse is working more closely with puppets is here to make

sure they played their part in cutting down on the excessive

drinking that goes on. Organisers hope that this year's festival will

be remembered for the racing. A Bath and England player is leading

the campaign for research Dave Attwood has been raising tens

of thousands of pounds for dementia. Initially, his aim was to help

sufferers, but over the last three years he's switched his focus

to the links with concussion. Recent figures revealed the number

of reported incidents rose during the last season for the sixth

year in a row and it now accounts What started your interest

in dementia and research? Initially, I was raising money as

Anna London Irish of Bristol University. It was through my

grandparents, they both suffered with dementia, so I had first-hand

experience on degenerative brain diseases. Bristol University had

some strong links with neuroscience going on. I met some of the guys

there, just copy table conversation, and it spread rugby and how

concussion is a growing concern in rugby. Then we started talking about

potential links across that. Do you reckon there is a link between the

two? I really hope there isn't. I'm sure if there is a link it is not a

hugely strong link. The truth is, we don't really know. We can say with

certainty there is no link and that is what concerns me. When I was a

young child and I wanted to play rugby, the more you can find out

about it, your body will go through wear and tear, that is fine, but you

never think the wear and tear your brain will go through. The worry is

that you spent 15 years playing professional rugby, and 15 years

later down the line you are starting to see the early onset of

Alzheimer's and dementia, stuck to that. We don't want to have to deal

with that. Potentially, it could there. The fact that it is rising so

much, why do you think that is? Is there a change in the game? People

are getting bigger, faster, stronger. Sports science is getting

better. We are heavier and bulkier, more lean. That means that the

collisions involved are bigger and stronger, the way the game has

evolved, players are playing the game for longer so there are more

conditions and ball. The second part of this, with the new assessment on

concussion, we are seeing more of it. We are seeing more concussion is

happening in rugby. I was doing some research on the First World War and

I saw pictures of Dean to rugby players, they were an ordinary size,

11 stone. Now it is so different. You devised a special helmet which

might help. There is a grey area. There is some development of the new

head guard that some people have suggested will help concussion.

There is nothing concrete on the ground saying that head guards will

limit concussion. I purely wear a scrum because my mum tells me too.

It is to stop me getting cauliflower ears and cuts and abrasions, to look

pretty pictures is the gist it. The interesting thing about these new

guys with the head guard, they were the first people that are starting

to look at the science of the head guard and Hayek might actually

impact what is going on in the brain during these collisions. There is so

much more could talk about. And keep coming in to talk us. I keep telling

my son to pass the ball! It scares me to death. Thanks for coming in.

Now this is a story you'll be interested in, Dave.

Bath Rugby have confirmed that your fellow England

international George Ford will leave at the end of the season

He will re-join Leicester Tigers, whose current fly-half,

Freddie Burns, is moving the other way.

Ever since his dad, Mike, was sacked as head coach

at the end of last season, there have been rumours that

George Ford was unhappy and wanted to leave.

Now the club has made public the news that

I think it is one of those things, you never want to lose a guy he is

world-class, but on the other side you want players that are happy to

here. Obviously, he put wasn't comfortable planning his future

George arrived from Leicester in 2013 and during that time

has become a regular England international.

Still only 23, he has his best years ahead of him,

just not in the blue, black and white.

Most supporters have felt that George has been a bit unsettled the

season, maybe during parts of last season. There will be glad there is

clarity in this situation. George is an immensely talented rugby player,

but if you see is his future being at Leicester, we will wish him well.

Bath Rugby have softened the blow of Ford's departure by announcing

that fellow England international Freddie Burns will replace him.

Born and raised in the city, and having come through the club's

academy, Freddie now has the chance to make his mark on the first team.

I met him and he is an outstanding young man. He is a good character.

He is also really aware of his strengths and weaknesses and wants

to be involved in the team and really enjoys the rugby we are

With the speculation over, Bath's focus will be on staying

in the Premiership play-off places, with another Twickenham

Now, of course, today is Valentine s Day.

If you need a romantic place for a proposal tonight,

then you could consider under the Valentine Gaslamp

It's the last working one left in Somerset.

But as Michelle Ruminski reports, the tradition of lighting

it could soon die out unless an apprentice is found.

Reg's love affair with the Valentine Lamp all began

when he found its cast iron column in a skip.

Over nearly three decades, he has put his heart

and soul into restoring it, decorating it with symbols of love,

All I know is that I got carried away and I think, in a way,

I fell in love with the lamp by accident and it controlled me

Because I often say, "Whyever did I start",

but having started and rather liking the romance, it's difficult to stop.

And it's fair to say the Valentine Gaslamp has

a special place in many other people's hearts to.

You can't fault him and I'm just hoping that people take good care

of it because you won't find anything like that anywhere else.

How many years have you been going to the ceremony?

So it really does mean something to you?

And a lot of other people around here, as well.

None more so than Dave and Sue - Reg's daughter.

This is here two years ago that I proposed to Sue and brought

with me a heart-shaped red cushion and got down on one knee

Great shock, but a wonderful shock and we're now planning to get

married and live the rest of our lives together,

but we'll will always have that history with the Valentine Lamp.

But with Reg growing older and his family living up North,

he is urgently looking for someone to replace him.

About five foot 11, I would say - pushing it!

You see, I'm looking for a lamp-lighter to take over.

Tonight, Reg has done the honours for the 23rd time.

He's hoping his lamp lighting tradition will spark someone else

In the last hour, the Valentine Lamp has been lit in a special ceremony.

Around 100 people turned out to celebrate this annual

My friend propose that a fish and chip shop in Warminster, anywhere

can be romantic. Was the answer yes? It was. At the next bag of chips.

Today is all about love and true love is hard to find.

But some of you watching tonight have struck gold and been married

Gordon and Maureen Rutley, from Clevedon in North Somerset,

For Valentine s Day, they've shared their story

with us and their secret for a happy marriage.

Maureen was sat on the lap of Shirley, her friends. I was going to

pass Shirley for the bands. I plucked up courage and walked across

and Maureen stood up. I felt embarrassed away thought I had

better dance with her now! He had the most ghastly, horrific tie on

and I thought, my golly, he is a space! For the first year of our

relationship you were still in the RAF, so the letters went back and

forth between Bristol and Lyneham. We got together at weekends. That's

right. We were married at Saint Barnabas Church, Daventry Road. We

had the reception at Maureen's Mum's house. We didn't stay the whole

time. We disappeared to Temple Meads where we booked a holiday in a hotel

called the Mayfair in Piccadilly. My best trade is a make a cup of tea

every morning, take it in, we can wrap, say, it is time for tea,

Maureen. I normally grown. You normally prudent and moan. Anyway,

she drinks the teeth, but that has been every day except when I have

been in hospital. Isn't that lovely? I make tea for my

telly husband, yes. I make it for you occasionally.

Finally tonight, the Duchess of Cornwall was taken

for a Valentine s Day spin today and joked "don't tell my husband".

Camilla, who was on a day of engagements in Bristol

without Prince Charles, dropped in on a tea party run

The Sun's royal photographer, Arthur Edwards, charmed the Duchess

onto the dance floor, saying, "I want to dance with

Later, the Duchess remarked, "Thanks for the dance, Arthur.

Now to someone who loves the weather - Ian, who's up on the roof.

How's it looking for Valentine s night?

Tomorrow will start when Tariq, with a fairly prolonged fears of fairly

mild weather, which should last the remainder of this Mac -- this month.

It might turn colder again in the mid-heart of March, but that is a

long way away. Tomorrow, to add dry start, an area of showery rain

pushing up from the south-west, likely to turn heavily. The chant of

some brighter weather in the afternoon, with the chance of some

showers, but they will die away into the afternoon and honour to the

evening. A band of rain across us at the moment. The occlusion runs its

way north eastwards, then it will tail off as we get better known to

the day, by which stage we are into a more mild south-westerly flow that

will dominate the pattern for the rest of the week. At the moment, the

light rain is trying away at the minute. A lot of hill fog and that

will continue to be the case with the course of the night. It will be

a mild night, by early tomorrow morning though showery outbreaks of

rain coming up from the south-west. Cabbages will start tomorrow at 67

Celsius. Then it is a case of waiting for the rain to arrive. They

will be showery and fashion, but they could come together and it

could be some thundery downpours. By the afternoon the showers will tail

off into the evening. Temperatures will get up to ten or 11 Celsius

tomorrow, they can get as high as 12 or 13. That could be some fog around

to start at the estate. Other than that, a decent day, a quiet one. It

will be noticeably mild. Happy Valentines night. We will see

you again tomorrow.