:00:10. > :00:12.Good evening. And a Happy New Year from Points West!
:00:13. > :00:15.The cost of crossing the Severn Bridge and Second Severn Crossing
:00:16. > :00:18.has increased. It's now ?6.70 for cars.
:00:19. > :00:23.Both bridges are due to pass into public ownership soon,
:00:24. > :00:25.which could lead to a reduction in toll prices,
:00:26. > :00:34.something home buyers are responding to, as Catherine Powell reports.
:00:35. > :00:38.To commemorate the first crossing of the Severn bridge, I have great
:00:39. > :00:40.pleasure in unveiling this plaque. The first bridge was opened
:00:41. > :00:43.by the Queen in 1966. But for people like these
:00:44. > :00:56.in Chepstow the annual price I commute over to Bristol every day.
:00:57. > :01:02.And my partner does. We are paying ?13 a day to get over to work. I do
:01:03. > :01:03.it a view night a week. It becomes a struggle getting back and forth
:01:04. > :01:09.because of the prizes. -- prices. The government has already said
:01:10. > :01:12.it could halve the fees to cross the bridges when they
:01:13. > :01:14.come back into public ownership, although drivers
:01:15. > :01:16.may have to pay both ways. Estate agents believe that could
:01:17. > :01:19.result in more people from the West looking for homes over the bridge,
:01:20. > :01:27.where prices are lower. 70%-80% of our buyers lately have
:01:28. > :01:31.been from over the bridge. With the bridge coming down in price, people
:01:32. > :01:32.assume that they can work over the bridge and save money.
:01:33. > :01:35.The government is still considering plans to alter the way we pay
:01:36. > :01:38.to cross the bridges, and says it will confirm the details
:01:39. > :01:46.The Government wants every home in the West to have a smart meter
:01:47. > :01:49.But suppliers like Bristol Energy warn that target may be
:01:50. > :01:51.missed after the project was hit with delays.
:01:52. > :01:59.a digital revolution is about to take place.
:02:00. > :02:02.I've come to change your gas and electricity meters today for you.
:02:03. > :02:05.Lovely. Come on in. Thank you very much.
:02:06. > :02:08.This is a scene the government wants repeated on every doorstep.
:02:09. > :02:13.Energy suppliers offering customers a smart meter.
:02:14. > :02:15.I wanted to be more aware of my costings.
:02:16. > :02:18.I'm a single mum, I've got three girls,
:02:19. > :02:23.just to see where my money's going each month.
:02:24. > :02:27.After about an hour's work in the garage, the new meter's installed.
:02:28. > :02:32.It will translate how much gas and electricity she uses back
:02:33. > :02:36.It means accurate bills, and an end to meter readings.
:02:37. > :02:40.Mum of three Kelly now has new instructions for daughters.
:02:41. > :02:42.Lights off, chargers unplugged in the evening.
:02:43. > :02:53.Just having this new gadget in the home is meant to gently
:02:54. > :02:57.Studies show consumption of gas and electricity can drop by 2%-3%.
:02:58. > :03:01.It means bills will fall by an average of ?33 a year.
:03:02. > :03:04.But all of that can be worked out in the short-term at least
:03:05. > :03:07.if the cost of installing them is passed from suppliers
:03:08. > :03:12.Security experts at GCHQ have been drafted in to address concerns over
:03:13. > :03:20.And now suppliers are signalling the government target of every home
:03:21. > :03:23.having one by 2020 might be too ambitious.
:03:24. > :03:25.It is possible, but exceptionally challenging.
:03:26. > :03:30.I think the programme was initially delayed at the national level.
:03:31. > :03:32.Peter, I think you are using business speak for,
:03:33. > :03:39.I mean, it can be done, but it is a mighty target.
:03:40. > :03:42.Many homes in Britain can update to a smart meter straightaway...
:03:43. > :03:45.It might just take a little longer to get there.
:03:46. > :03:50.Robert Markwell, BBC Points West in Bristol.
:03:51. > :03:52.To rugby, Tom Varndell became the Premiership's joint-top
:03:53. > :03:54.try-scorer of all time to help Bristol overcome Sale for a second
:03:55. > :03:56.straight league win, and Gloucester Rugby sit ninth
:03:57. > :04:02.after today's 12-13 defeat by Northampton Saints.
:04:03. > :04:04.To football, a New Year goalfest at The New Lawn,
:04:05. > :04:08.where Forest Green took on Torquay. The game finished 5-5,
:04:09. > :04:11.Keanu Marsh Brown and Christian Doidge both scored twice.
:04:12. > :04:17.And here's a look at the rest of the New Year action.
:04:18. > :04:18.Ipswich inflicted a fifth straight Championship
:04:19. > :04:22.defeat on Bristol City, Tammy Abraham scored this equaliser
:04:23. > :04:25.after half time but Ipswich took the points with a late winner.
:04:26. > :04:31.Matty Taylor took his season goal tally to 18 with a second-half brace
:04:32. > :04:34.as Bristol Rovers secured a home win over Wimbledon.
:04:35. > :04:38.It was defeat for Swindon at MK Dons, goals came from Luke Norris
:04:39. > :04:44.and Raphael Rossi Branco but it ended 3-2 to the hosts.
:04:45. > :04:46.Cheltenham lost 1-0 to Wycombe, they created a string of late
:04:47. > :04:48.chances, but the visitors held on for victory.
:04:49. > :04:51.And Yeovil and Portsmouth ended the year with a goalless draw,
:04:52. > :04:58.struggling not just to score, but to see...through the fog!
:04:59. > :04:59.Finally, swimmers in Clevedon welcomed 2017
:05:00. > :05:03.The New Year tradition was more low key with no official organiser
:05:04. > :05:07.or charity collection, some say it had grown too big.
:05:08. > :05:10.But that didn't deter this brave lot, we'll be hearing from some of
:05:11. > :05:17.On to the weather, here's Bee Tucker.
:05:18. > :05:24.The bulk of the rain is beginning to clear out towards the south.
:05:25. > :05:26.It may linger for a time on the south coast,
:05:27. > :05:28.but further north we will see largely clear skies.
:05:29. > :05:30.It will turn rather chilly, with widespread frost rurally.
:05:31. > :05:35.Most towns and cities staying out a bit above freezing.
:05:36. > :05:38.A chilly start to the day but a brighter day.
:05:39. > :05:43.We should see plenty of sunshine.
:05:44. > :05:45.Lots of blue skies, light winds, but temperatures will trouble
:05:46. > :05:49.Highs of just 4 degrees or 5 degrees.
:05:50. > :05:52.It sets us up with a cold start to the day on Tuesday.
:05:53. > :05:55.But it should still be dry and bright with plenty of sunshine.
:05:56. > :05:58.Largely dry through most of next week, but we will see more cloud
:05:59. > :06:08.And that's it. We're back in the late news.
:06:09. > :06:17.Good evening. Well, to Bake Off 2017, the weather has been fairly
:06:18. > :06:21.mixed, wet and cloudy in the South, colder but clearer further north.
:06:22. > :06:23.This was taken in County Down earlier in the day, plenty of
:06:24. > :06:31.sunshine there, but with clear skies by day, a cold nights tonight. That
:06:32. > :06:35.will fill the south across the country, the cloud and rain clearing
:06:36. > :06:39.through the early hours of Monday morning across that area. This is
:06:40. > :06:42.how it is looking first thing, cold and frosty, colder than this in the
:06:43. > :06:47.countryside, still some wintry showers for northern Scotland into
:06:48. > :06:51.the north-east of England, so a chance of icy stretches first thing
:06:52. > :06:54.on untreated surfaces. Through the day, Monday is looking quite decent,
:06:55. > :06:58.mostly dry with wintry sunshine and light winds, still breezy towards
:06:59. > :06:59.the north