11/05/2017 Points West

Welcome to BBC Points West. so it's goodbye from me -

Tonight we're in Swindon with exactly four weeks to go

We start a tour of the West taking our sofa out on the road,

unpacking the key issues and speaking to you the voters.

I like Jeremy Corbyn. I want to continue that. So it is Theresa May

The U? I think so. We'll be looking at

the issue of housing and asking whether anyone

has a solution. The South African grandmother

fearing deportation after undergoing a medical examination to see

if she's fit to fly. Every minute of every day,

even Christmas Day, your birthday, there's somebody in here working

on your blood. And the little girl with leukaemia

seeing what happens A South African grandmother staying

in Bristol with her family because she's too ill to fly home

fears her deportation has Irene Nel's visa has

expired and the Home Office But her family say she

won't get the treatment 73 years old and living

in constant fear. For nearly five years now

the South African grandmother has been fighting for the right to stay

here in the UK with her daughter Desree, her three sons

and seven grandchildren. I'm terrified, I can't

take that any more. The day they come to arrest me

and say I must go, that is going to It was during a visit here back

in 2012 when Irene fell ill and was diagnosed

with kidney failure. She's still very ill and needs

dialysis three times a week to stay alive,

treatment that the family say she But the treatment is expensive,

legally Irene has no right to be here, and so the Home Office have

been warning for more than a year that she will have

to be deported. It has caused so much

stress and worry. I am terrified they are going

to come back and say, Today, Irene and Desree need

to head to a police station for Irene to sign on to prove

she's still in Bristol. They have to do this regularly

but there's always the fear that this might be the day they get

the news bad news. Although Irene and Desree

dread their visits here, the visits themselves are normally pretty

straightforward and don't take very long at all,

sometimes just a matter of minutes. However, today, something that

seemed to be different. They have been in there for more

than an hour already. We don't know what

is going on, we will They've done a medical

assessment on mum. To me, that looks

like they are trying It just shows they are not going

to sit back and go, let her stay. They are going to try

and get my mum out. So this evening, after yet

another difficult day, there are still no answers

and the future for Irene It's four weeks to polling day,

a key day in the election calendar as nominations have closed

and we now know who To mark the occasion,

Points West is taking to the road We're in Regent Street in

the constituency of Swindon South, a place which has backed the winning

party ever since When Swindon South votes Labour so

does the rest of the country. In the last couple of elections they have

gone Tory as has the rest of the UK. Over the next four weeks

we'll be out and about, taking our red sofa to different

places in the West, profiling some of the key marginal constituencies

and touching on some of the hot Later in the programme,

we'll be talking to our political editor

Paul Barltrop, discuss housing and the political wheeling

and dealing of the day, but first, Robin Markwell has been

taking the temperature of this Yes, Brenda from Bristol,

another one. A battlebus would

have cost too much. Well, at least you can

do U-turns in this. Forget about exiting the EU,

trying to leave the town's most famous landmark

was challenging enough. The south of the town has

always been a tussle It's currently held

by the Conservatives They say whoever wins

here wins Downing Street Swindon was a town

forged by the railways. Labour's leaked manifesto says

renationalising those will be But while tradiitional Labour voters

welcome the policies it's the leader who

still divides opinion. You've got to have a bit

of a personality and I'm sorry, I don't think

Corbyn's got it. He is a very good

university talker and with his own little liberal set

around him but I don't think he is the right man to run the

country. Down the barbers, they're not

talking holidays but politics. Darren's a Corbyn supporter

who likes his policies But he thinks he's getting

the brush off by the press. It is breaking through the media

for Jeremy Corbyn, I think, He will speak for me

and speak for a lot of people Head south from the Parks area

and you'll see just how much Spacious new homes are springing

up to house the town's The employment boom is driven

by the service sector. The firm Carpeo is typical-

creating hundreds of jobs, That will take effect

on the 11th of May 2017. Their director is also good

at sticking to the script. I think people probably do

want strong and stable Yes, I'm not giving away who I am

voting for, of course. But it has sunk in

there, it is embedded. It is probably the key

issue of the campaign. On the streets of South Swindon

today it is clear this election is more than just Brexit

all May versus Corbyn. There was talk too about

cuts to local services This is a battle being fought out

on many fronts and it We'll be back later in the programme

at the National Self-Build Centre, You'll be seeing a lot of him over

the next four weeks. Don't away because I will be at the national

self build Centre. But now for a look at the rest

of the day's news, here's Alex. A court has heard how a man

beat his former partner with an iron before setting her alight

in her own home in Swindon. 32-year-old Anthony Porter

was today jailed for life after admitting murdering

Andraya Lyons in December. Her family's appealed to any one

in a violent relationship A fun loving and bubbly mother,

someone who saw the good in They expressed their grief

outside court today. We miss her so much

and our lives have been completely devastated by the act

of one evil, vicious, selfish, manipulative and

cowardly individual. Her partner Anthony Porter had

a problem with drink and drugs and a history of violence

towards women, including Andraya. The court heard that on the night

of the 9th of December they were at Andraya's works

Christmas party at a hotel in Swindon

when Porter became aggressive and Andraya left with friends saying

it was over between them. But Porter got back into her house

drunk and using cocaine. He beat her with an iron,

broke her nose, stamped on her, before dousing her with white

spirits setting the house Post Mortem examination show Andraya

was unconscious but still breathing Porter gave himself up

to the police, saying But the judge didn't accept that,

saying he clearly intended to kill Andraya, adding what he did to her

unconscious body was appalling. She had tried to separate from

Porter but he was still living with her because she does want him to be

homeless. I would simply say to people they can come forward and

speak to the police with the confidence they will treated

sensitively. If they can't speak to the police, there are other agencies

such as Women's Aid who will give that help and support.

Porter serve 17 and a half years in jail before

being considered for parole, and will remain under licence

An inquest into the death of a nine-year-old girl

from Gloucestershire has heard she died after a horse

Bonnie Armitage was taking part in the Cotswold Hunt

It ruptured a major artery, even though she was wearing a chest

Her father describe her as a "positive, glass half full2

kind of girl who could ride before she could walk.

coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.

The Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, based in Gloucestershire

is celebrating a double anniversary today.

Made up of hundreds of soldiers from over 20 different nations,

the ARRC has pioneered the command and control operation of NATO troops

But its relatively short history can actually be traced back much further

with surprising links to the county it now calls home.

Here's our Gloucestershire reporter, Steve Knibbs.

It gives me great pleasure to formally rename this

2008 and RAF Innsworth became Imjin Barracks - the Allied Rapid

Formed in 1992 it was the first of NATO's high readiness

Its role - to command and control troops during military

Some of the things it has done in the operational

deployed sense have been genuinely game changing.

The deployment to Afghanistan was extraordinary in so much

it was a declaration of trust, particularly by the US because it

devolved under command of a British officer.

A very substantial US force, the first time this had been

there since the Second World War, 45,000 American troops.

The ARRC may be only 25 years old but its origins can be traced

back 200 years to the Battle of Waterloo where you'll also find

The ARRC formed out of the former 1st British Corps,

set up originally by the Duke of Wellington in 1815.

In the entrance hall at Cirencester Park hangs a huge

portrait of Wellington atop his infamous steed Copenhagen.

It was commissioned by Henry, the third Earl Bathurst

from Cirencester, who at the time was Secretary of State

He was responsible for putting Napoleon into St Helena for

He was, I supposed to a certain extent, the equivalent of

He would have been heavily involved in the first corps, especially

Two centuries on, the ARRC is conscious of the role

it could play in future military history books.

In uncertain times its role this year to command NATO ground troops

should they be deployed anywhere in the world.

Welcome back to Swindon, where we've taken our red

sofa out of the studio for a little runaround.

Tonight we're in the constituency of Swindon South, one of the key

marginals in this election and we've come to the

In a moment we'll be talking housing, but I'm joined now

by our political editor Paul Barltrop.

One of the big stories of today is the close of nominations,

What is interesting as to who is standing as to who it is not

standing. There has been talking between the parties. 31

constituencies across the West counties. Conservatives, Labour and

Lib Dem candidates everywhere. Ukip a massively down sitting at less

than half the seats. They have been telling supporters to vote

Conservatives but that is not the case in Cheltenham. What is

happening there is interesting. Isn't a 15 heads of the Lib Dem

seed, taken by the Conservatives. Cheltenham last day's referendum

voted to remain so the anti-Brexit Lib Dems fancied their chances of

getting it back. They have suffered a double blow today. Ukip withdrew

their candidate and many of their supporters in Cheltenham likely to

vote Conservative. At the same time, the Greens say they will put up a

candidate after their offer of an anti-Tory pact was rejected.

At the moment in Stroud, Cheltenham and Gloucester there are three

Conservative MPs and it was a really great opportunity to return three

candidates from the Green, Labour and Lib Dems across those

It is very frustrating that we didn't get to

the stage of talking to the other parties.

People of Cheltenham won't have a Ukip candidate so I would

hope they will look at what they want to achieve, look at the

manifestos, listen to the arguments and then make the best choice

I think it'll play very big in the selection.

We have had Tim Farron for the Lib Dems them in the West Country today.

He seems to live yet at the moment. What has been very action? This is

an important reason for them, they want to take back places like

Cheltenham. He visited there today met a group of supporters trying

their best not to look disappointed but the reality is he just hopes

Labour and the green supporters in Cheltenham or do some tactical

voting. For many voters, that is something they want to be aware of.

Help yourself to a cup of tea! We're in a show home which is then built

inside the centre. For many voters, the lack

of affordable housing is one Even today, a report has come out

saying there just aren't enough houses out there,

which is why prices Some of our councils, however,

are starting to build again but it's not quite the council homes

you might imagine. In Bristol, they may be

building council houses. But elsewhere, our councils

are turning their hand to building houses for profit

to make extra money In Bath North East Somerset,

they've set up a new housing The old council house

building in Keynsham They're going to build

new flats in Bath. While others, like this one

in Kingsmead Square, This has been empty

for about four years. It used to be managed by the social

housing company, Curo. And now the lease is up,

the council's taken it back. Nine properties have already

been let in this way, The problem is at the moment our

sources of funding are reducing and we are having to be creative

to find new ways of generating revenue to provide the services

we want to provide. In Swindon, they're hoping to make

?3.5 million in two years These initiatives may be adding

to the country's housing stock, Sadly, though, according to one

local government think tank, all this commercial activity

is unlikely to end in Many places aren't doing

it for that reason. Places are engaging with this

because they want to find a way of filling in holes that

exist in budgets already. The amount of public

services is increasing, people need to find

a way of generating people need to find a way of

generating the money from somewhere. All this commercial

activity is a huge cultural But building new houses is now

a political imperative. And how the different parties

approach the problem could win or lose them votes

at the ballot box. We're joined now by Harvey Fremlin,

the director of the centre here and Julien Robinson,

an estate agent who himself is trying to get onto

the housing ladder. Welcome to my lovely home! How much

would it cost me to buy a semidetached house in Swindon? A

three-bedroom, in the region of ?240,000. Is there a demand for

them? What is the cue? The housing market is strong, that is a demand

very much from various people, first-time buyers, investors from

upsizing and downsizing. Can people afford it, obviously they can all

the prices would have come down? Our people financing its? First-time

buyers find it harder so they are financing and saving up for a

deposit. The bank of mum and dad is helping out. Rental prices are so

high. You need ?25,000 as a deposit on a house costing 250,000. Harvey,

lots of people here tonight are going to this auction buying land

and houses for renovation. Is that way of doing cheaper?

It is. We find we have got to mix of people. People who wanted buying

plots of land and we've got people who will take on a property that not

have been maintained over the years and it is a cheaper way for them to

get onto the housing ladder. Perhaps they can sell it on and move up the

ladder that way. How much would it cost me if I wanted to buy a plot of

land? What is the minimum you could arrange a plot of land for me? It is

the number one question we get asked. There are so many variables

depending on where that plot of land is, the accessibility, services. One

thing to consider is where that plot is, there will be a natural cap to

the value of any home. No matter what you end up building on it.

We've got lots of land available across the UK at the value of

70-80,000. Then you've got to build the house

on top of it. How much is that going to be? 100,000?

100,000 plus, realistically. Depending on the Dude you have taken

and the design and specification, you could have equity in the home so

it is worth more than the many you have spent.

We watch these TV programmes about building your own health and that is

always a crisis and drama. It wouldn't make good TV unless

there was a crisis. If we were to commission a TV series is to be the

family that designed a nice efficient house, stuck to the budget

and moved in when they expected to. But that doesn't make good TV. But

that is the majority of people who build their own homes.

It'd be an important issue during this election. That is it from me.

Over the next four weeks our red city will be on tour. Maybe you will

be sitting is one day. If you want to build your own home you need one

of these. It would look better on you, Alex.

Thank you for leaving me a bit of sofa.

Now many of us don't like injections or blood tests

but for children it can be particularly daunting.

So to help young people overcome their fears

some hospitals are allowing them to become scientists

Jenny Walrond joined nine-year-old Idara at Musgrove Park

Blood tests and other invasive treatments are a fact of life for

She has acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

But today she is finding out what happens to her blood samples.

Hi, Idara, nice to meet you, welcome to the laboratory.

She is becoming a lab scientist for a few hours.

Every minute of every day, even Christmas Day,

your birthday, there is somebody in here working on

It benefits the patient but it is a benefit for our

staff because it provides an opportunity for them to engage with

patients where usually the laboratory doesn't even though

they are directly involved with patient care.

Idara's visit has been organised through a charity called

Harvey's Gang, named after Harvey Buster Baldwin who had

leukaemia and wanted to know where his blood went.

Sadly, Harvey died in 2014 but his curiosity has led

to children in other hospitals being allowed into labs.

They can see why they need to have these tests done so we can then

ensure they can carry on with their treatment.

My best bit was interesting about the cells.

My next interesting one was the blood around here.

And when she next has her blood taken Idara knows

Ian is on Ian is on the roof with the weather.

It will be warm but it will be brighter with cloudy faces. We

watched a band of showers forming across Somerset today and March its

way northwards. They were persistent across the Bristol Channel. Still a

chance of a few showers forming for the rest of this evening. Here is a

wider look. Tonight, showery rain moving northwards and it will give a

wider in the. Tomorrow, a bit oddly potluck story with showers

distribution out towards the west. So, for the rest of this evening

shower with fading but up comes that band of rain during the course of

tonight. No great amounts, modest amount. It will be a mile and humid

night, temperatures between 11-13dC. The cloud base lower. Tomorrow,

still a lot of cloud alone but the heat gets to work on that and it's a

bubble up giving way to sunnier spells, some of you will stay dry

through the rest of the day but others less so. It has for heavy

showers but temperatures tomorrow into the upper teens. That is all

we've got time for. That is all we have got time for. See you later.