28/11/2011 South Today

Hello, I'm Sally Taylor. In tonight's programme, we go

undercover to expose a controversial plan. The cost of one

motorist was over �600. When I came back later, the car had gone, and

of course I thought it had been stolen, which was a big shock.

Fighting the floods, the new plan being considered to stop a repeat

of this. To see it happen again was heart-wrenching, not to mention the

financial aspect of the insurance, premiums have rocketed.

Then Lady's new ice-breaker departs for Antarctica. -- the Royal Navy's

ice-breaker. And farewell to a Southampton some

as the film director Ken Russell Motorists in the South could be

faced with another year of clamping misery before new laws come into

force. The Government is planning to bring in tighter regulations to

control the business. But, in the meantime, Inside Out has followed a

prolific car clamping company in Southampton which makes hundreds of

pounds from drivers in just a few hours. Dennis Wilson from

Southampton is one victim, he paid out almost �700 for choosing the

wrong parking spot. Jenny Craddock reports.

19-year-old Dennis Wilson is one of many Hampshire motorists who are

angry at the charges they have had to pay after being clamped by

white's car-park solutions. It was an area I had parked in lots of

times before, and I have no idea it had been made a prohibited area so

I did not look for any signs or anything like that. Then when I

came back later, the car had gone, which of course I thought it had

been stolen, which was a big shot. Mr Wilson was not displaying his

disability badge and his car had been towed away. Because it was a

Friday, he says they told him he could not collected until after the

weekend. The total bill? By the Monday, it was �300 for towing away,

180 I think for the clamp, four days of storage at �42, and on top

of that you were virtually obliged to pay by credit card because not

many people can lay their hands on seven or �800 on the spur of the

moment, so the total I paid was �680.40. All of these people have

been clamped by the same company and are angry about what happened,

yet it is perfectly legal. For now, that is. A bill is currently going

through Parliament to outlaw clamping on private land. Not

before time, says one local MP. am definitely no fan of clamping.

The sooner we get the prohibition on this on the statute book, which

should be next spring, the better, because it has got to stop.

And Inside Out presenter Jon Cuthill joins me in the studio now.

You and the team went undercover to expose the company. How did you do

that? The first-string is to ask Mr White for an interview, we wanted

to hear his side of the story, but he declined the offer. So I got

myself a car, I got myself a ropey disguise, and I got a pretend

sister and parked the car in a spot that we knew he patrolled. Sure

enough, within 40 minutes, this happened. We got clamped by the

company. What we wanted to do was to see if we were charged the same

rate that motorists have been telling us. We just heard from

Dennis Wilson, charge nearly �700. We wanted to see how the charges

back-up, and they certainly did. Are there many victims to this

company? We found with seven that spoke to many, many more. They

operate in the Southampton, Eastleigh, Winchester areas. It is

not the fact that people are parking in the wrong spot and

getting punished for that, what we are questioning is the level of

punishment because surely the fines should be in proportion to the

level of wrong doing, and that is what angered so many motorists that

we spoke to. They said in some cases, yes, I parked in the wrong

spot, but how can it be justified that I am charged hundreds and

hundreds of pounds? I have to say, Jason White is not breaking the law,

he is not doing anything wrong, it is just the level of charge. Thank

you very much. You can see more on that at 7:30pm tonight on BBC

Inside Out. A community on the Isle of Wight

have been left stunned after part of their church was set on fire. St

Mary the Virgin in Carisbrooke has been targeted for the third time in

recent months. Yesterday, parishioners found the altar ablaze

when they came in to prepare for a service. Two crucifixes had also

been removed. Six people have been arrested for arson and theft.

Coming in for a service and finding a church full of smoke and the

damage to the Alter and the way in which the crucifixes had been

ripped off the wall and thrown around the village, it has upset a

lot of people, they were left in tears after seen it. -- after

seeing it. BBC Radio Berkshire's mid-morning

presenter Anne Diamond is accusing News International of making her

out to be a "cold-blooded murderer". She told the inquiry into media

ethics that she had been "targeted" by Rupert Murdoch's empire. In 1987,

The Sun ran a front-page headline disclosing a traffic accident seven

years before in which a man died. The inquest and a subsequent Press

Council inquiry ruled that she was not to blame. She said there must

be change. I think I would most like to say

that it does not have to be like this. It is so sad that a handful

of bad journalists have besmirched the profession in this way. We need

a free press because I know a lot of very fine journalists who do a

good job, and we have been hearing so much in the last few weeks of

very bad journalists who have done an appalling job.

And Anne will be talking about the press enquiry on BBC Radio

Berkshire from 7am tomorrow with Andrew Peach.

Nearly 300 people working for Thames Valley Police have had their

jobs saved. Last year, the force announced hundreds of police

officers and staff would lose their jobs to balance the books. Now, far

fewer posts will be cut than first thought. Our home affairs

correspondent Alex Forsyth joins me now with more on this.

Like most police forces, Thames Valley has to save money, �50

million over the next few years. Earlier this year, the force said

this would mean cutting around 800 jobs, including 250 officers. But

today, the Chief Constable has said that is no longer the case. Now,

the total jobs to go over the next four years is likely to be nearer

to 500, and just 100 of these will be police officers.

We had to lose may be some investigation roles, police

officers, may be some intelligence roles. More of those are safe. Of

the Police Staff, we will lose less police community support officers

and less INVESTIGATORS. Both of those roles are very much nearer

the front line -- Les case investigators.

Thames Valley says there are several reasons for the change. If

they freeze council tax next year they will get a �4 million grant

from the Government, more than they had budgeted for. And there is a

national review of police pay and conditions, which could see the

amount police get paid for things like overtime reduced. This could

save Thames Valley Police �12 million a year. So although it

might mean more police officers in work, it could also mean they are

on less money. These changes will affect all police forces, but so

far no others have said they will mean fewer job cuts. And while

Thames Valley Police is relieved to be protecting some posts, hundreds

of jobs are still going. So they are increasing officers in

neighbourhood patrols, but staff in support roles will reduce. The

Chief Constable said despite this little bit of good news, tackling

crime while balancing the books will get tougher over the next few

The Government has announced that it plans to close the search and

rescue helicopter base at Portland in Dorset in six years' time. This

reverses an earlier decision to keep the site open. It follows an

announcement earlier this month that the coastguard co-ordination

centre in nearby Weymouth would also close. In future, search and

rescue helicopter cover for Dorset will be covered from Lee-on-the-

Solent. They thought the problem had been

fixed. But just months after a new flood alleviation scheme was

completed, homes in Reading were swamped for a second time.

Household insurance premiums have rocketed since the latest flooding

in August. Tonight, council leaders will vote for further costly works,

which they hope will solve the issue once and for all. Allen

Sinclair is in Reading tonight. It is an awful experience for

people whose hands are flooded but imagine it happening to you for a

second time, especially after you have been told work has been

carried out to protect your property. Neighbours in Reading are

understandably angry and very anxious, fearful that the next

heavy downpour could make it third time unlucky.

August's flash flooding caught many people out but none more than the

residents of Kingsley Close, that is because Reading council had only

just completed a quarter million pounds scheme intent -- intended to

prevent flooding like this after many more homes had been swamped

for years previously. Speaking today, neighbours that did for a

second time were still frustrated and angry. To think it could happen

again was heart-wrenching and not to mention the financial aspects,

the insurance. Premiums have rocketed, we have to pay .. We used

to playing house insurer has. they thought they were going to

amend, they have paid -- they have made worse. I hope they sold it

very soon, otherwise insurance is not going to want to know.

government-funded scheme involved burying a huge underground tank

which worked exactly as planned, preventing flooding over a much

wider area. The problems in Kingsley Close this time had been

caused by blocked drainage ditches on nearby private land. The heavy

downpour overwhelms them, with water seeping back. I am very

confident now that what is going to be done will be as much as can be

done and is being thoroughly investigated. The only thing I

would say is you can never totally 100% guarantee against flooding

anywhere in the can do. Measures being debated by councillors

tonight include using new powers to go on to private land to clear

ditches and send the bill to the landowners but they will need to

wait another heavy downpour to see if this time it actually works.

Councillors are meeting here tonight and will rubber-stamp plans

to spend �100,000 on measures to clear the drainage ditches. They

will not be put to the test, though, until we have another heavy

downpour. In the past, it has been cleaned up

by scout groups, but now the probation service says a small

stretch of water on the Isle of Wight is too risky for its

offenders to touch. The Isle of Wight parish council received the

feedback after a risk assessment was carried out at Lukely Brook

near Newport. Catharina Moh has the story.

Lukely Brook, not exactly a tyrant, but during prolonged heavy rainfall,

the area Kennford, which is why Newport Parish Council want to

clear the undergrowth so it can flow freely. They were hoping to

save taxpayers' money by getting the local community payback scheme

involves, where offenders would come and clear it for free. But

they were told it was to gain to us. It is a community job, health and

safety. What else is there that have an safety cannot do? Let's see

how deep the water is. That is the depth. The Hampshire Probation

Trust told us it was possesses all community payback projects and in

relation to this project the proposed site at Lukely Brook is

next to a busy main road and it was felt that it was not advisable to

place a group of offenders under supervision in such a location.

Community payback schemes see offenders doing a variety of unpaid

work. This is one group helping out last December in Sussex during the

heavy snowfall. It is not that dangerous. I remember being a scout,

I used to do stuff like that. just put yellow jackets on. Tony

said in the past scouts had cleared his job. -- played this book. It is

a job that needs to be done but will not be done by offenders. The

council are now looking for companies willing to take on this

task. Still to come: there is a change in

the air. We will have the forecast.

It is getting cooler this week but find out later in the programme

when we will have the heavy rainfall and the strong winds.

Today was supposed to be the biggest online shopping day in the

run-up to Christmas but chances are many of you will want a festive

high street experience. Lights and decorations are up in most places

across the south to entice shoppers. In Bognor Regis a scheme has just

been launched to allow visitors to qualify for free parking. But along

the coast, the Green run council in Brighton and Hove is looking to

There is no need to feed the meter with his parking scheme. For �1 you

get a disc entitled you to two hours' free parking. Its aim is to

help the local economy. I am hoping it will achieve more

food for for the traders. Bad economic times, we want to help

them as much as we can. All credit to the organisations, we are

putting for this. The councils have listened to their concerns. There

was a petition with 6,000 signatures in favour of the scheme.

Always a good idea to save people money. If they said it on parking

they will spend it on the shops. Get more people in a camp, have a

look round. The number of shops that have shut down. Bring more

people into the town. Parking is always a big issue. Along the coast

Brighton and Hove's council is planning to increase some parking

charges. Tariffs in some of the busiest parts will double. Some

charges in a quieter car parks will fall. The castle predict it would

raise an additional �1.3 million -- the council. It would be invested

in transport schemes. Some people will end up paying more. But we

hope people would try to find other ways to come into the city centre.

We have got an excellent bus service. A lot of rail connections.

Half the people that come to the city already come by public

transport. We would want to encourage people to give it a try.

Back in Bognor Regis for free parking project starts on Thursday.

A trial scheme which will last for 12 months.

It is fair to say the man behind me here was flamboyant, controversial

and provocative. The film director Ken Russell has died in hospital at

the age of 84. He had been making films for more than 50 years and

was known for his controversial works such as Women in Love and

Tommy. He was born in Southampton and lived in the New Forest for

many years. We look back at his life and work in the south.

I hope my hold house is still there. Yes! Hasn't changed a bit. There is

a home is where the parties and Ken Russell wore his heart on his

sleeve. He grew up in Southampton and as his film-making career took

off he stayed local to his roots. Some of his biggest films were set

in the south. I always think of him as my mentor. He changed my life.

After I did Boyfriend I went on to do theatre and film.

A fellow of Southampton Solent University he remained involved

until the end, regularly reviewing work for the students. How long did

that take to shoot. Five days. is a good effort.

In 2006 he cheated death. His home in the New Forest went up in flames.

He and his wife managed to escape seeking refuge in their local pub.

Today the village remembered its most famous resident. He was full

of life. Lots of stories, great guy, good fun to have around. A quieter

character. He would come in and ask for interesting things. He came in

once and wanted a couple of white overalls for a play he was doing.

Very short-tempered, good attitude. Just a normal one of us lot, really.

To the outside world he was one of Britain's most notorious film

directors. Renowned for his unconventional approach. BBC's

South invited him to make a film about female footballers, and his

eccentric style shot through. You'll never guess what they were

doing taking the water at Brighton. It was his work for the big screen

will insure his memory will live on a. This was felt across the number

of locations in the south. He was a quite large character, although he

was assured man. But a very large character. You tried not to put in

-- put a foot wrong. As long as my films last, it will be so. I will

have my left my mark. 10 Russell died at the age of 84.

You knew him quite well. I do plenty of work with him. He was an

incredibly passionate man about what he did. Probably the most

difficult man to interview. He didn't suffer fools gladly.

Lovely man. Auntie's board. -- on to spot. A bit of a conflict,

Reading and Ipswich. What a result for the royals. Take a look at the

goals. This is the result of the weekend. 1-1, dramatic last 14

minutes at Portland Road. Josh Carson made it to, you thought they

were heading for defeat. Stoppage time, equaliser. They will get a

point, no, three minutes into injury time, they claimed their 4th

away win on the road, much-needed result. Excellent for Reading.

Portsmouth were at home on Saturday. The club saying nothing about last

week's arrest and subsequent baling of Vladimir Antonov for alleged

asset-stripping of a Lithuanian back. They removed his name from

the inside page of the programme before the game. On the field a

face from the past returned to haunt them. Portsmouth fans can

remember him, David Nugent back at his former club on Saturday. We

will remember this save for a while. Their home form is their strength

this season. David Norris finds the net. Nugent, 20 goals in four years

at Fratton Park. They always come back to hurt you. 1-1 it finished.

Southampton always call, don't they? Well, not on Saturday. They

were beaten by Bristol City. Nicky Maynard, another deflection, and

his Coventry City with how not to play a way out at the back. Good

save, shame about the defender. Brighton on course to his second

win in three, city levelled through this fine header. This is his first

goal for the club. Lee Bradbury will not be on his own for much

longer. He is naming an assistant at Bournemouth on Wednesday. The

best chance against Oldham, this volley from Charlie Sheringham.

In lead to Swindon were too strong for Aldershot, two second half

goals. Crawley remains second in the table. Josh Sims and with a win

at Rotherham. -- Josh since then. So many deflected goals. -- Simpson.

Ian Williams is celebrating after winning the world match-racing

title. His third world title. He sees boats race of head-to-heads.

He is there from the left, and led to his crew to victory in Malaysia

or a board Team Pindar. Newbury racecourse so it's feature meeting

of the air. Quite a story. The Hennessy Gold Cup won by Carruthers

strained by Mark Bradstock, part- owned by Lord Oaksey, a former

winner of this race, many moons ago, 35-year-old jockey Mattie Batchelor.

A little bit of local sporting history made other weekend as three

female officials took charge of the men's football match in the Wessex

Premier Division. Lucy May on the left-hand side refereed the game

between Tottenham kneeling and Lymington Town. -- Totton and Eling.

The first time in their history three female officials have taken

charge of the match. What I want to get out of this is a positive

stance of female referees, they see three of us doing it and they hope

they can do it as well. I had the way this has been publicised and

positively supported by not only the clubs but also the media, it is

something that will be really positive to come out of it. Heavily

we will continue to grow as females in the men's sport. It is good.

It is good. They make the point, it wasn't just some kind of stunt.

They are genuine, they are good at it. Interesting to see if the mood

changes on the pitch. The Royal Navy's new ice patrol

ship has just left Portsmouth this evening for an eight month to

plummet to Antarctica. She spent six months undergoing a rapid refit

after being released from away. The ship is ready for her mission

surveying and patrolling the frozen continent. This is HMS protector.

She weighs 5,000 tons and has her own giant ice knife. It is the

weight of the Basle combined with the ice knife that crashes through

those metre thick chunks of ice. 70% of the world's fresh water is

prison in Antarctica. Hundreds of thousands of years old -- is frozen.

When you get some of these ice cores taken from the British

Antarctic Survey you can hear the fizz of the air escaping from

thousands of years ago. A piece of history. The ship used to be a

merchant ship. We have added a lot of military capabilities, notably

survey equipment. It is second to none, really impressive bit of kit.

For me, and of this survey, in the background of warfare, and frigates,

this is very different. For many on board this type of mission is the

first. Something completely different. The furthest I have been

is the Mediterranean. This is something completely different.

This is the country's first ice- breaking patrol in the Antarctic

since the endurance ran into trouble off Chile in 2008 and

nearly sank after taking on water. For the next three years HMS

Protector is on lease from the Norwegian company. The impressive

ship doesn't travel alone. It is accompanied by a flotilla of small

boats, quad bikes and the reader than a sawn-off on board -- and

there is even a sauna on board. big freezer, another freezer at the

back. Didn't get any more in there. It is certainly in shipshape.

There wasn't a sauna a board a Endurance when I went to Antarctica.

You had a month on board. And a bit extra when we got stuck.

On to the weather. It will not be as cold as that.

A bit of rust this morning. -- We do have some very mild air over

us. Come tomorrow afternoon that slips southwards and the cold air

takes charge. Winter is certainly on its way. This week, quite a lot

of rain around at times. Very strong wind, in particular

overnight tonight and tomorrow daytime. For this evening we can

expect a cloudy night in general. A lot of rain arriving from the

Atlantic. Patchy in nature. You can see the odd burst here and there

through the early hours. The cloud cover will hold in the warmth.

Temperatures overnight will get warmer as the night progresses. A

mild night to come. Not as cold as it was last night. We start the day

tomorrow with a lot of cloud around. The main band of rain arrives. It

will be very heavy in places. Gale- force gusts of up to 70 mph.

Despite the rain fall, there will be a high of 14 degrees. That is

when it turned colder tomorrow night. One or two showers may drift

in from the English Channel 4 southernmost counties. For some of

us, staying dry altogether. There will be some respite on Wednesday.

We do have this weather front edging its way in. Some sunshine on

Wednesday. Also the odd shower. 4th the rain will rattle in. That will

clear first thing on Thursday. A mixture of sunny spells and chatted

-- scattered showers. Further rain moving in on Thursday. Friday, the

best day to enjoy the sunshine. It will stay dry. The wind will be a

lot lighter. More cloud edging its way in. Very heavy rain, strong

wind. A little respite on Wednesday. Sunshine on Friday.