03/03/2017 South Today - Oxford

In tonight's programme: A wholly avoidable death.

The driver on his mobile phone, who killed another motorist

I think I'm going to work on forgiving him. I'm hoping I can

forget what he did. I'm hoping over time I will not hate him as much as

I probably did in the past. Running late - and the overbudget

electrification of the Great Western rail line could fail to meet

an already extended deadline. I think passengers between Oxford

and Didcot have been very short changed. We have asked the

Department for clarity about what the plans are but it is tough at the

people in Oxford. -- for the people in Oxford.

And later on, going underground - a makeover as a music studio brings

A man from Oxford, who was on his mobile phone when he caused

the death of a driver on the A34, has been sentenced to three years

Lewis Stratford, who's 24, crashed through the central

reservation of the road in June, killing 28-year-old

The judge at reading crown court dubbed it

a "wholly avoidable accident, which led to a wholly

When Lewis Strafford walked into court this morning, he knew he

This final warning a stark reminder that this crime can cost you much

more than six points and a ?200 fine.

Stratford was speeding to Portsmouth to visit his girlfriend.

He believed she was cheating on him and made a number of emotional phone

his car crashed through the central reservation,

hitting a blue BMW being driven by 28-year-old Gavin Roberts.

Both drivers were rushed to hospital.

When you are using a mobile phone you find the attention of the driver

is greatly narrowed. They tend to focus on the area just in front of

the car. That phenomenon is exacerbated when people are having

an emotionally involving conversation.

In court today, Judge Stephen John told Stratford:

avoidable accident, which caused a wholly avoidable death.

Gavin's mother Rose was not in court today but

She said, "Lewis, I want you to know you

I know you did not mean to cause Gavin's death.

Do not let it destroy and consume you.

Honour Gavin's memory instead and become a

Gavin's girlfriend Meg also hopes to forgive Lewis.

She met with him before sentencing to raise awareness

of the dangers of using your phone behind the wheel.

Every time I say sorry, I'm thinking it's a bit cheap.

I think I'm going to work on forgiving him.

I'm never going to forget what he did and so over time I

have that I can concentrate on forgiveness and not hate him

Meg works as a teacher at Royal Wooton Bassett in Swindon.

She hopes to stop the next generation from making the

Being a teacher a lot of my students have

seen the documentary and the

students understand what I have been going through.

We teach a lot about drink-driving and alcoholism and the

impact that can happen behind the wheel, even the use of drugs.

But we forget that actually the physical

act of using your mobile phone behind the wheel can have just as

Lewis Stratford was sentenced to three years and 10 months

in prison and a driving ban of almost five years.

Police in the Thames Valley say they've issued fines

to more than 130 motorists, using their phones behind the wheel,

The force has been undertaking a series of high profile

checks this week, including this one in Abingdon -

following a change in the law on March the 1st.

Drivers caught on their phone not hands-free now face a ?200

People under 21 will lose their license altogether

Thames Valley police says it stopped 112 overweight

vehicles at Marlow Bridge - in the first two days

The crossing was closed for two months after a 37 tonne lorry got

The historic bridge, which has a three tonne weight limit,

is a major route into the town, and its closure caused weeks

of delays for motorists and damaged businesses.

A thorough search of a former house lived in by Swindon murderer

Christopher Halliwell has come to an end with no

Specialist police officers started work in the garden and garage

and an adjacent garage on Broad Street in

Police say it was after intelligence they'd received, but say no items

of significant interest have been found.

Christopher Halliwell is serving two life sentences for killing

The scheme to electrify the Great Western Railway has been

The Public Accounts Committee say it's a "stark example of how not

The work is already up to three years behind schedule and more

There's also concern that several sections,

including the line to Oxford, will never be finished.

It promised faster, more reliable services, better stations and

But the Great Western Mainline upgrade has

been beset by serious failings, according to

It said significant flaws raised concerns about the ability of

the Department for Transport and Network Rail

The estimated cost rose by ?1.2 billion in one year.

Now it is unclear if the revised targets of 2.8

billion and a completion date of December 2018 are realistic.

In November, the Government announced

between Oxford and Didcot Parkway will be deferred indefinitely.

I think passengers between Oxford and Didcot

The plan now is it has been deferred for a decision at least until 2019,

but realistically not likely to be delivered even that early.

And then it will potentially be competing for

other emerging rail projects at the same time.

We have asked the department for clarity about what

The Great Western Railway denied passengers here are

What we've had to do was look at ways of delivering the

customer benefits, the improved services, longer carriages, faster

services, without relying in some places on that electrification.

Ultimately that means the customer still gets what it was going to get,

despite the challenges of electrification.

The Public Accounts Committee has made a series

It says the Department for Transport and Network

Rail should reassess the case for electrification section

by section and fund schemes only where worthwhile

could not be achieved otherwise at lower cost.

The committee added Network Rail needed to produce

realistic cost estimates and have robust and detailed plans.

In a statement, Network Rail said they

and the Department of Transport had learned lessons from the poor early

planning of this project and that today they do not take forward major

projects until they are properly scoped, properly planned and they

have a robust estimate of what the cost will be.

Beneficial or not, rail users in Oxfordshire now have

an indefinite wait to see if their stretch of track

An RAF pilot has been dismissed for negligence after causing

a military passenger jet to go into a nosedive on a flight

Flight Lieutenant Andrew Townshend said he was taking pictures

because he was bored when his digital camera

The Voyager plummeted over 4,000 feet in seconds,

causing some personnel to crash into the ceiling.

He was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months.

A bid to scrap all six of Oxfordshire's councils

and replace them with one has been officially been set out.

The re-organisation is expected to cost ?16 million,

but those behind the bid say it would then save ?100

Three councils, Oxford, Cherwell and West Oxfordshire,

have vowed to fight the plans, saying the change will affect local

services, cause job losses and mean "a reduction in local democracy".

We know there's been a lot of sort of criticism and vocal concerns

However, talking to people, explaining what

it means, that it's one council, better services, more infrastructure

delivered, people seem to understand.

So I asked people to look at this proposal and then really see

whether they think it's going to be a better future for Oxfordshire.

Not enough people are coming forward to get help with hearing loss,

It's thought at least two thirds of people with poor hearing

One Oxfordshire woman received an implant two years ago and now says

it has transformed her life. These people are experiencing sound

either for the first time ever... It's a big, big

life-changing day today. It's the same device that has

completely transformed For years she had been struggling

with the hearing, but after having one fitted at Oxford's

John Radcliffe Hospital, she I can't stress enough

what a big thing in Before the operation

Carol was almost totally She didn't speak to her friends

or grandchildren and said she had Now new research has shown

people with hearing issues are more likely to have

mental health problems, and people with severe

hearing loss are five times more If you take action,

get your hearing assessed and then like using hearing

aids and implants, if you've got a profound deafness,

that abolishes the additional risk. The advice then, if you do

notice your hearing Because being a good listener

won't just help those around you. It could help your

mental health, as well. If at first you don't

succeed, try again. At midnight he starts a new attempt

to break surely cycling's Steve, who is from Milton Keynes,

will try and cycle more miles It follows a failed

attempt last year. I'll will start at midnight tonight,

that's the first time, get 300 miles -- I'll start at midnight tonight,

that's the first aim, get 300 miles done earlier than normal,

so I can get a really good Steve Abraham has unfinished

business, so he'll spend the next year in the saddle trying to break

cycling's long-distance record. Steve's first attempt ended

when he was hit by a moped. A second was launched

but abandoned, too far off He will need to break

the 80,000 mile mark. Now there's a woman

called Miranda Coker, she's going to put it up

to about 230 day, at

least 84,000, think. Just like going to work every day,

get up every morning, have breakfast, go to work,

come home and go to bed. Steve has broken the one month

mileage world record. At midnight tonight he'll be on the

road for the next 12 months. Jonathan Park with that report.

Sally Taylor is in the saddle next. For me, goodbye for now.

going underground - a makeover as a music studio brings

It's one of the south's worst road bottlenecks.

As a consultation over the latest plans for the A303

at Stonehenge draws to a close, a group of archaeologists have

raised their concerns that the road scheme could ruin the famous

The current plans involve seven miles of new dual carriageway

with a tunnel of almost two miles in the middle.

The archaeologists say the positioning of the tunnel

would mean car headlights would ruin the perfectly aligned view

of the winter solstice setting sun through the stones.

Earlier I spoke to one of those in the group,

Dr Joshua Pollard from the University of Southampton.

The problem we have is that the proposed

detrimental impact on the world Heritage site.

The option will mean that new areas will have to be

constructed within the boundaries of the World Heritage site.

You are worried about head lights from cars.

In terms of the proposed western tunnel entrance has been cited, that

actually lies close to the midwinter solstice line on Stonehenge.

We are worried about the possiblity of light

pollution for those people who might contribute to witness the solstice.

It is the scheme that will improve the

journeys of tens of thousands of people weighed up against that.

It is but the argument is there could be

That is going to cost a lot more money.

It will be a lot more money but Stonehenge is an

iconic monument famous across the globe.

We have to do the best for what is recognised as being

something of international cultural importance.

High England will say it has worked with organisations and it is

committed to protecting Stonehenge and this is part of a wider

consultation. It is and this is why we are making the argument now. We

want to make sure at this scheme is replaced by a better option. Whoever

and whatever is chosen is going to inconvenience somebody. It probably

will. This is a judgment that highway" and have got to wait up. --

Highway England. The experts that have been involved in the landscape

have not been consulted in the way that we feel may have been desirable

at the outset. This is your opportunity? It is.

Her Majesty the Queen was in Wiltshire today

presenting leeks to soldiers to mark St David's Day,

She was there to see members of the Royal Welsh

at Lucknow Barracks in Tidworth, as part of her role

She also met this goat, which is the regiment's mascot.

Bournemouth's tethered balloon won't be seen in the skies

It was damaged last June - and its operators say it's no

The tourist attraction has operated for fifteen years,

giving visitors and locals a birds eye view of the town.

They've been helping school children cross roads safely

But the number of lollipop men and women is declining rapidly,

as local councils struggle to balance their budgets.

The latest school crossing patrollers who face losing

their jobs are in Berkshire, as Nikki Mitchell reports.

Eight primary schools in the borough of Wokingham,

including Highwood Primary here in Woodley, could lose

their lollipop patrollers at the end of the school year in July.

It would be very difficult for the parents to cross the road with the

children, in the morning time. The roads are very busy. I do not think

it will be safe for the children during school time. The traffic

lights do speak for themselves but the controllers can keep an eye if

traffic by jumping the lights. Children will still run across.

The borough council

One would be the crossing patrol and a zebra crossing or a pedestrian

crossing. It means we have two levels of spending at each crossing.

That is not the best way of spending resources. We would be able to use

that money elsewhere in the system for safety.

People worried about the proposals have until 19th April to tell

the council what they think, before a final decision

on whether or not to lose another eight of the South's lollipop

And we move on to sport. Tony is here on read red sofa. Looking ahead

to football. We will hear from two managers tonight. Winning but

winning with style. They want to do it the right way.

Bournemouth head to Old Trafford without a win in 2017 and having

lost four Premier League games in a row.

It's a slide which has seen Eddie Howe's men drawn

into the relegation fight in their second season

Tomorrow they face a United side no doubt buoyant

after winning their first silverware under Jose Mourinho, the EFL Cup

There has been no problem with the mood around the camp.

I think we can only be positive and only look

Certainly, there is no other way to approach this game or any

We are as confident as we can be with a run of fixtures.

We know a win needed to fully feel good

about ourselves and hopefully that is not too far away.

Reading face the first of two massive games in the next four days

when they host Wolves tomorrow at the Madejski Stadium.

The Royals are calling on fans to turn out in numbers

to roar on Jaap Stam's side who have made

Reading sit fifth in the table ahead of tomorrow's game

against their struggling opponents, the on Tuesday they host top

Six big points in their season but Stam wants to win with style.

We are not only thinking about winning that game, we are also

thinking about how we can play, how we can give

the crowd a nice game as

well, not only by having a good result but playing in a good way.

In other action tomorrow, Southampton hope to bounce back

from their cup final defeat when they return to league

Brighton midfielder Anthony Knockaert has

extended his contract to June 2021 ahead of second placed Albion's trip

Oxford and Swindon are at home in league one,

A Portsmouth win against Crewe could send them into the automatic

BBC Local radio has full commentary and follow the games live

There's live athletics across the BBC this weekend at

Surrey athlete Morgan Lake is in action in Belgrade in the high jump

The 19-year-old former Wellington College pupil and former

World junior champion cleared one metre 86 at the second time

A short time ago she was third in qualifying

although no jumper had yet reached the automatic qualifying height

of one metre 93 to ensure a place in tomorrow's final.

Two of our ice hockey clubs will clash in the Premier League

although it will be one of the last meetings between Basingstoke Bison

and Guildford flames as the Flames are to enter

Bison come into the game fourth in the table

The play offs is also the target for Surrey Scorchers basketball.

They go to the Glasgow rocks this weekend in the British basketball

league, sitting ninth- the top eight go

On Monday I told you about video technology. I am going to finish it

by telling you about that because FA and the board have announced that

the FA Cup will trial video technology next season. It is

coming. It was a grand design project

with a bit of a difference. Early last year, an enthusiastic

group of musicians came up with the idea

of transforming a disused cold war bunker on the outskirts of Salisbury

into a music based youth club. It was an exciting

and ambitious plan. But was it a plan

that came together? From cold war relic

to swinging hotspot. When we visited last year,

this was a derelict 1960s Now it is a state-of-the-art

music venue. We are in the main

space and this is the main area to hang out but we have

three bespoke practice rooms. We have a fully fitted

recording studio as well. Transforming this

to this needed money. ?100,000 came from a

council pot, with half that again in time and labour

donated by local firms. The new sound of the

underground does owe a The Cavern Club from Liverpool,

which we built under Great history and that

will fill with the new Residents were worried

about noise and safety A lot of us simply couldn't see how

this could be transformed into the sort of thing

that he was describing. All power to Ross and his team

because they had a vision I think it is an outstanding

success story. # It is the sound

of the Underground... A new home underground

really is music to the It is nice to be

somewhere different and It is going to make such

a difference to how I fell pregnant and they stuck

by me through that. They helped me with my education

and they still managed to Building the bunker has been a

labour of love. Builders have worked overtime and over budget. All the

equipment has come from local shops. It is the community working in

harmony. They are having a very busy first night. We end up in the

rehearsal room and the recording studio. This is Price of evil. They

will be going on to a very soon. The good thing about being this far

underground is lads like this can be as loud as they want. They are good,

aren't they? He is enjoying every moment they are. Good luck to them.

It is the forecast. Moved it on a step now. I am going to move it on

further. Let's take a look now at your pictures.

It was a gloomy and dramatic start to the day at Corfe Castle -

But lovely weather for ducks in Chichester -

a double bill here from Dulcie Levett.

And the wet stuff went down well with this pig in Marchwood,

What a difference a Day makes. Yesterday was spring like and today

was a soggy if they are. The theme is changeable for the next couple of

days. Cloudy skies and heavy rain for a time. This evening starts

drive but making its way into the region. Becoming more persistent as

the night moves on. A wet night but not a chilly one. Not looking at

those dropping below six Celsius. Saturday morning, the of that

overnight rain is cloud. That cloud sticking around for much of the day.

We could see brighter skies and sunshine here. In the best of that,

temperatures into double figures. 10 Celsius. Always the risk of the odd

shower through the afternoon. Through Saturday evening, much the

same story. It starts drive but a scattering of showers. A brisk

westerly went. Temperature is not dropping much below six Celsius.

Fairly mild and for the most of the night it is dry. If you start try on

Sunday morning, well done, you. It is not going to last. That westerly

wind pushing in the cold front. That is going to bring heavy rain for a

time. It will clear to sunnier spells.

Another front brings its way through with clouds. Sunday is the much

better day. Let's look at the Outlook. 10 Celsius the top

temperature on Saturday. Sunday, a wetter picture. A lot of heavy rain

for a time. As we head into the new week, we keep the cloud and cool

Atlantic a means nine Celsius is our top temperature. For a Tuesday, it

is the same story. That is it wrong us. We will be back at eight and

then 10:25pm. -- that it is it for us. Good night.