19/04/2017 Points West

Welcome to BBC Points West with Alex Lovell and Sabet Choudhury.

Our main story tonight: The contest for control.

Political parties in the region set themselves for a seven-week

We'll assess the day's events and look at the other

Also in the programme: The dog attack that's left a pregnant

woman and her husband needing hospital treatment.

The brakes go on at BMW at Swindon as workers stage a 24-hour strike.

And after a transplant funded by public donations,

this teenager makes his way back to school.

The rush is on across the West to prepare for a general

Political parties and election officers are having to move fast

after MPs confirmed today we will go to the polls on 8th June.

A third of the region's parliamentary seats changed hands

at the last election and there's sure to be plenty of close

Let's join our political editor, Paul Barltrop, who's

This is Chipping Sodbury. In the weeks to come, there will be a lot

of electioneering come. The Conservatives took the seat of the

Liberal Democrats last time, Thornbury and Yate. The second most

marginal Stroud in Gloucestershire. The Tories there been chased by

labour. Bath, the Liberal Democrats are the main challenges the. And

then Bristol East, the Conservatives might just fancy their chances.

Plenty of work to do for the parties, activists and candidates of

the next seven weeks. At the Liberal Democrat

office in Chippenham, Campaigning already

underway for May's local We were already prepared for the

game, you warm up for the match, and we have been ready since the

referendum. We are moving fast. Last year's Brexit vote was very

significant for both I joined a few days after the EU

referendum result. I have been a conservative voter before them that.

I have been a member of the party for 20 years. But this feels quite

different, a lot more bus and people coming forward. It is good.

Warming up for a summer election are Somerset's Conservatives.

They were already busy campaigning to keep control

A little bit shocked yesterday. I have been campaigning for the county

for a number of months now. We thought the time had gone for the

general election. In both contests, they face strong

challenges from the Lib Dems. We have had the county council

campaign up and going and we will use the same people, resources and

system. We are in a good place to launch a national campaign.

Others are still selecting candidates.

In Stroud, former Labour MP David Drew is considering standing

It is a surprise. I am not sure if it is good for Labour, but it is not

good for the country because I am worried we seem to be going on a

populist bandwagon and I do not think that is good for our

democracy. He knows party leader Jeremy Corbyn,

who last year came campaigning in Gloucestershire, isn't doing well

in the polls. It would be nice if we had lots of

people out, sticking up bunting and the rest of it, but it is not quite

like that election, it is taken up is on the hop, maybe the

Conservatives knew it was coming. Campaigning for local elections has

been underway for months. Spare a thought for the election

officials. They have got a real job on their hands.

With just seven weeks to go, electoral officers have told us it's

going to be difficult to secure some of the usual polling stations

But, of course, before the general election,

there's a very important contest to be decided here in the West.

There is a risk the all this excitement risks washing away the

local elections taking place on the 4th of May that they are really

important. The best part of 1 million people voting for a new

position. Voters are beginning to wake up to this now and receiving a

booklet this week in the post Bristol, Bath and Gloucestershire.

They have also had the polling cards. We will hold a debate tonight

in the science park with all the candidates. They are reversing some

of the technicals at the moment. This is the first time all six have

come together but this debate will be aired tomorrow, so if you are

interested in this election, that is the one to watch after the late news

tomorrow night on BBC One when all the arguments will be thrashed out

over this new job with big powers. We have met the candidates already

on our vintage bus, and the like, it is the turn of our last two, an

independent candidate and a Liberal Democrats.

Four candidates down, just two to go.

Their last leg of the tour took us to beautiful Bath.

I think it looked better painted orange.

Stephen Williams was the MP for Bristol West but lost

He was also a minister in the coalition.

We've got a great story to tell about both our cities

All it's lacked over the years is one person to sell it

to the world and to a better deal out of government as well.

Because I've got in-depth experience, and this is going to be

It's going to be bringing people together in the community

here in the West of England but it's also going to be up

in London frequently, meeting with the Prime Minister

and other key ministers, asking for what we need in Bristol

and Bath in terms of public transport investment and a better

What are you proposing when it comes to old railway stations?

I'm proposing, as a start, just to reopen four,

but I've met with Network Rail and they say that that is feasible

But, of course, what we need to do in the long run is complete

electrification so we can do so much more.

Will you take our quickfire Metro Mayor mini quiz?

The Metro Mayor will be able to call in planning decisions,

perhaps like the one to extent Cribbs Causeway.

Can you name the two anchor stores, at either end of them now,

The Metro Mayor will have responsibility for trains perhaps

Bristol Temple Meads, Lawrence Hill, Stapleton Road,

Who's the current manager of Bristol Rovers football club?

Our last stop was Bath's big neighbour and, in true Bristol

fashion, we were held up in traffic at the Brislington lights.

Appropriately enough, that was just what our final

candidate, John Savage, wanted to talk about.

There's lots to do and this is a starter, but we need to get

the three local authorities to get some idea of working together,

I've been trying for years, and to find something they can agree

It will probably start with transport.

You are talking about bringing back the tram at the time we're getting

I think the Metrobus is a great thing, it's been well done,

but it's very late, it's 20 years behind.

If we look to the future, thinking about what the place

will be like in 2050, then trams are an important part

of that, they have a longevity and an efficiency that

Will you take our West Mare quickfire quiz?

Our region has a proud heritage of manufacturing.

Can you name the Bath firm that makes the cranes

What was the number of the bus powered by human waste that plied

What was the name of the Channel 4 teen drama that was filmed almost

Oh, dear. Not Holby... Skins? And on that disappointing note, our grand

tour came to an end. The driver was already on overtime and I was out of

questions. Now it is up to voters to decide whether they want to get an

board the West's big election. I think Robin has got a format that

the new programme. And our Metro Mayor debate will be

on BBC One tomorrow at 10:45pm just Don't miss that or anything else

we have still to bring you on tonight's programme,

including a report from I will report on how Lamport is

hoping the grant will develop the River parrot and revive its

fortunes. And the present which took four days to wrap.

A heavily pregnant woman and her husband needed hospital

treatment after being attacked by two dogs in Wiltshire.

Emma Vickery began having contractions after two mastiff-type

dogs left her with multiple bite wounds at around 7pm yesterday.

We were hoping the dogs would sniff about and go away, but the nightmare

happened, and they started attacking us. The up your teeth marks.

It is a popular spot for dog walkers.

Yesterday evening, Sam and his wife, Emily,

were walking their chihauhaus when two mastiff-type

What happened next left them both needing hospital treatment.

They wanted those to ours out of our hands. They were constantly biting

us. We were screaming for help. We feared for our lives. It was a

horrible ordeal. They were charging at my stomach. At one point, I was

on the ground. I did not see how it was going to end.

Emily, 37 weeks pregnant, began having contractions,

This is where they came for the walk. It is one of the most

picturesque spots in the home of Wiltshire. The car park hundred

metres in that direction when the attack happened. From talking to

other Doug walkers, they may not have been the first. Something very

similar happened here just a day or two before. Our Doug was attacked on

Sunday. Walking around, two dogs came and attacked him. She put him

on a lead, made straight for her car and was gone.

Police are now looking for the owner,

described as a woman in her 60s who left the scene in a Mini.

Emily and Sam have been left shaken by the attack.

Their chihauhaus needed emergency treatment

They don't yet know if they've suffered any permanent injuries.

Staff at BMW in Swindon went on strike today

It's the first in a series of eight 24-hour stoppages by members

of Unite Union designed, they say, to encourage BMW bosses

Andy Howard has been on the picket line today.

Many of them have been here since 5am. That's when the walk-out

finishes tomorrow. Not just in Swindon bidden four other plants

across the country. They are waving their flags, honking their horns

about pensions. The message to BMW is clear, to remove their final

salary pension, a scheme many have been paying into for the entire

working life and replacing it with something else is not the raw water

were looking for at the end of it. This factory in Swindon didn't make

anything today because most of the staff walked out

for the first time Let's say his annual wage is ?30,000

- he would have been expecting But that pension plan has

suddenly been scrapped. Now, he says, he'd get more

like ?14,000 a year or even less If Trevor lives to 80,

he could be about ?120,000 worse I feel very disappointed. I feel

like the company has let me down. I have worked there for 36 years and

now they are trying to rob me of my retirement.

Today, the picket line was full of similar stories.

I stand to lose in excess of ?120,000 for my pension pot. I want

to retire with dignity and respect, and BMW should honour that.

Even the union's assistant General Secretary visited to add his voice.

We cannot accept that. Our people are being treated differently in the

UK than elsewhere. The company needs to sit down with us negotiate a

proper deal that will satisfy everybody, and unfortunately we are

a long way from that the moment. BMW'S statement said this type

of pension is "unsustainable and unaffordable in the long-term"

and they are changing it now to "protect existing and future

pensions and ensure long-term competitiveness

of the UK operation." Whether you think they're

masterpieces or not, there was no progress

on the production line here today. One of England's smallest towns,

Langport in Somerset, is bidding for hundreds of thousands

of pounds to help it become more It's applied for a grant

which could see floating pontoons As part of our 60th birthday

celebrations, we've asked famous And tonight, it's the

turn of Dragons' Den She's been finding out

what prompted Langport's bid. It was a major incident. The wettest

winter on record triggered an event on a scale no one could have

predicted. In 2014, large parts of the Somerset Levels spent much of

the winter under water. Villagers were isolated, homes evacuated and

the farming community in disarray. John Humphrys lives locally and took

on the challenge of cycling through the floodwaters. John, got to ask

you, why did you do it? I have a lot of spare time on my hands at the

moment and I had to be done. What do you think the floods did to the

community spirit? I think it brought people together in some ways.

Devastating for a lot of people. It made people look at other people's

problems and a lot of help within the community and outside as well.

Talking to people here, I get a real sense that the floods actually

revive the spirit of community, but the area has moved on and they now

face new challenges and are working together to overcome them. In the

face of cuts in public funding, the town council like many across the

West is stepping into balance the books. Langport is known for having

99% independent shops, mostly small businesses. We are trying to make it

desperate nations are more people come and spend money, helping

businesses to thrive. -- destinations so the town is turning

to the River parrot and ironically, as Brexit looms, the Europe to bring

revenue into the town. Today, this is a lovely tranquil scene, but in

the 1860s, this was a bitterly fought with goods being carried the

Bridgwater to Bristol from timber, coal, sort and bricks, but is going

up and down the river, but with the arrival of the railways, the traffic

on the waterways got less and less. But today, there are plans to

regenerate. The four Article 50 was triggered last month, a local group

bid for ?100,000 of European money to develop the water from here so

day-trippers can explore the River so anglers and local people can use

this fantastic stretch of water. One of the people involved is Mark

Fuller, and he has invited me and local business people onto his boat.

Lovely to meet you, Mark. It is a beautiful day on the river. If you

are successful in your bid for the EU money, what would you do with it?

The money's main gain is to allow people to access the river, and if

you look to the side here, you will see the disabled fishing base. We

hope to replace these with pontoons to allow safe access to the river.

You got tourists visiting the area. What would all of this mean? It is

another feather in the cap on another reason for us to get people

to visit Langport. There is the opportunity to reimagine it is a

place for visitors to come and enjoy, as a tourist attraction in

itself. Patricia Marx run the Somerset business agency offering

support and advice to local firms. She says the town can learn a lot

from other Somerset towns and villages. It is making the best of

its assets, and Langport has got the river, it has got the beautiful

Somerset Levels, and taking examples like broom, which has got the

market, a music venue, Bruton, the up-and-coming one. It has got lots

to do yet, and I am delighted that some of the stuff is coming forward.

I was born in Taunton in this county and really care about how it

develops. Langport has a real opportunity to shape its future.

What happens next here really matters.

And if you want to know how Deborah Meaden found

being a celebrity Points West reporter, then go on to our Facebook

The Somerset teenager whose potentially life-saving bone marrow

transplant had to be funded by public donations has

14-year-old Daryl Allinson from Frome had his first

transplant in 2015 but, when his rare cancer

returned a year later, the NHS turned down funding

Our Somerset correspondent, Clinton Rogers, who has covered this

story from the beginning, has the latest.

This isn't just any old return to school.

I am a little bit nervous, but mostly excited.

Small wonder - the last time Daryl was in a classroom was a year ago.

What he has been through, just to know that he is going back

to school again and being a 14-year-old and back

with his mates, I am just so proud of that boy.

It's been a roller-coaster couple of years for a teenager and a family

who refused to give up and defied the odds.

When the NHS refused to fund a second

bone marrow transplant, they said, these are difficult

decisions based largely on evidence of which treatments are effective.

Which left the family to launch a public appeal -

an appeal which raised more than ?80,000 for a second operation.

Now Daryl has recovered sufficiently to go back

Back among friends, just trying now to lead a normal life.

Not that it's that normal for a new student to be greeted

by a college principal on his first day at a new school.

I feel like I have got more energy, but still not enough to do full days

Yes, towards the NHS, and I always will.

I always will feel angry towards them.

To say no to my child or to any child.

Here, they're keen to ease Daryl back into full-time

And what better way to start than with maths?

I know going back to school 's hard work, but well done.

Now, you'll never guess what I've bought you!

It's just what you've always wanted - Concorde.

It had taken four people four days to wrap her up

to protect her from building work at her new home at Filton.

And today, the wraps were off and next is six weeks of maintenance

work and hopefully a grand opening this August.

I have already been to at least one barbecue. Tomorrow will be a starts

the with bright weather but the trend will be the cloud to increase

through the course of the morning. A few spots of light drizzly rain

embedded in that, not much of that though. Through the course of the

afternoon, a lot of cloud around but brighter spells possible. We have

high pressure across the top of the British Isles. That means any fronts

tend to be weak affairs. That will be the case tomorrow morning with a

warm front coming in, introducing cloud. The sign for light drizzly

rain. But of little consequence for those of you wanting reign of any

note. None of that around at the moment. A dry story done it. The

cloud has been increasing so the amounts of cloud will dictate where

we sit temperature wise. We could get as low as four Celsius. More

broadly, 5-7 C by first light. Some early sunshine around John the first

part of the morning. That will get squeezed up on the north is that

cloud increases. A little bit of light patchy drizzly rain. A number

of you will not see any of that at all. Through the afternoon, a fair

amount of cloud that they hope brighter spells. Temperatures

tomorrow 13 Celsius. They will climb up on Friday, drop on Saturday,

largely dry taking us to the end of the week.

the most that have ever voted for anything in this country,