13/12/2011 South Today

Hello, I'm Sally Taylor. Welcome to South Today.

In tonight's programme... We have a series of special reports

looking at today's inflation figures and what they mean for

people in the South... Rescued from their burning house -

the family caught up in what a businessman says is a series of

attacks. If these people are not caught someone is going to be

killed. Launching a legal challenge - the

future of the Rosebowl could be dragged through the courts once

again. And would ewe believe it? Green

sheep, in pens, on a roundabout. few days later I went round and

there were several sheep and they were all green!

Hello and welcome to a special edition of South Today. Later in

tonight's programme, we'll hear how last night's storms hit the South,

including the story of the man who escaped this tree crashing into his

bedroom. But first tonight, we begin a series of reports looking

at the economy and turn our attention to today's inflation

figures. It was announced this morning that the current rate of

inflation is 4.8% - that's using the Consumer Price Index which is

the Government's preferred measure of inflation and excludes mortgage

interest payments. That's down from the previous month, but still well

above the Bank of England target of 2%. While inflation is still at

some of its highest levels we've seen this century, many of you will

remember 1975, when inflation peaked at more than 24%. But what

do today's figures mean for our household budgets? Allen Sinclair

has been studying the data. Allen. The headline figure of 4.8% tells

us how much goods are increasing in price. But what about the money in

our pockets? Is it keeping pace? It's difficult to get regional

inflation figures because so many of our prices are set nationally.

So we've been studying local wages using the Government's 2011 Annual

Survey of Earnings, for the year up to April. During that year, median

weekly pay for full time workers While that's three times faster

than the UK figure, inflation during the same period was running

at 4.5%, so pay awards are failing by some way to keep pace with price

rises. There's wide variation within the region. Dorset has some

of the lowest levels of pay, but wages there rose by 3%. In West

Sussex, part time workers saw their pay rise by an inflation busting

5.7%. But the figures suggest wage packets in Reading and Portsmouth

have fallen. And the trend across the board is that public sector

workers were getting higher increases than those in the private

sector. We begin our reports tonight in the

world of business. The cost of raw materials is rising, and firms say

there's nothing they can do to escape that. Chrissy Sturt has been

to a foundry in Poole which turns out the largest number of disc

brakes in the whole of Europe. The price of the metal they buy is up

by 50% and eventually that will be This is molten metal at 1,500

degrees. It is how life begins for the brake discs that end up in our

cars. The heat is always on and the price of the raw materials that

feed this boundary have leapt and that fans the flames of inflation.

-- Foundry. They have had to pass a 50% rising cost to their customers

and that means the price of new cars and spare us goes up and up.

Raw-material are higher priced than ever before. It is difficult to

know what our government can do about that problem. 200 people work

here, all facing rising costs in their own homes. They asked for a

wage rise and got it this year but were costs in the foundry will keep

rising there is no guarantee their pay packets will keep up.

Many households are tightening their belts as they feel the

squeeze between income and outgoings. Danielle Glavin has been

to meet a single mum in West Sussex, who finds making ends meet more and

more difficult. Fiona's luxury used to be sugar in

her tea. She doesn't have that any more. She is 19 and a full-time

student but she has no parents to help her. I sit here with the

lights off to try and save on bills and stuff like that. It does get

really hard. I go to bed early so I do not have to keep the TV arm. I

need to catch up on my college work but I can't afford to put into a

net on, -- internet on, so the fact there everything is going up, I

have to make sure that he has everything he needs. I wanted to

cope -- pay for private school for him but that hope is gone. Why do

people work hard for their children? I want to give him more

than just food. This world is hard and it is even harder when you work

and work and get nothing in return, nothing. I am barely able to pay

the bills. Even after three years of studying I cannot do that.

landlord has reduced the red. Friends held out as well. The money

soon goes. Fiona says debts quickly build up.

Low interest rates mean low mortgage payments for homeowners.

But they also mean poor returns for savers. And those returns are

struggling to keep pace with inflation. Laura Trant has been to

meet Anne Pettman, a retired Hampshire County Council worker,

who's now secretary for her local bowls club in Christchurch.

This woman is a prudent saver and like her finances to be on target

but retirement is not what she expected. I have always been one of

these people who like to think ahead and that I would ultimately

retired and have a comfortable lifestyle without too much worry.

Of course, that is not how it has turned out. Her investments have

not paid off in the way that she hoped. I had an amount invested

eight years ago and it was about �7,500. When I checked recently,

because I thought I would cashiered in, it was a stock market-based

investment, it was worth another 2000. That is all it has increased

over eight years. That is a return of 3% a year, around 2% less than

inflation and a report this week says there is no standard savings

account which keeps up with inflation. It means her lifestyle

has taken a knock. We have saved on our holidays. We certainly do not

furnish a house as often as we might have done. While her pensions

are increasing at the rate of inflation, being prudent is not

paying off. The actual value of your savings is going down but you

can't have not saved because the do not know what might come up.

Saver Anne Pettman ending that report by Laura Trant. You've been

talking to people on the street - what sort of reaction did you get?

The big thing is that the mismatch between what people get in their

pay packet and the cost of living. We are paying a lot more. Food

prices have gone up, gas and electricity, petrol. Lots of things

are going up but few of us have had a wage rise that reflects that and

can counteract that. On top of that, the economy is still in the

doldrums, public sector workers are having a pay freeze. Things are

beginning to look bleak for the month to come. This is the sort of

thing that people were telling me earlier... I had a pay rise in

September but everything has gone up so much. Everything is going up.

It is very expensive compared to last year. Loads of people lost

their jobs. Why have been trying to find a job and I am stuck for God

knows how long. I have not had a big enough pay rise to cover the

cost of living. We do not have any extra money in our pockets like we

used to. The everything goes on the family costs and saving has become

a secondary issue. What about the political reaction, particularly to

the slightly better inflation figures? Or of the politicians will

welcome any reduction in the rate of inflation but the amount is so

tiny that I think most of us will barely notice it at all. That has

not stop the opposition from making a great play of the fact that they

think the government should be doing a lot more. It quite simply

means that people are tightening their belts and thinking very

carefully about what they spend their money on, where they go and

shop, and of course, that means that businesses are depressed as a

result, money is not flowing through to retail businesses,

people are not making buying decisions, and worth that might be

masked by the Christmas period, it certainly is a difficult outlook

for the area. Let's talk to the Conservative MP for Gosport. She is

in Westminster for us. Thank you for joining us. Inflation figures

might be going in the right direction but people watching

tonight are feeling really difficult times still ahead? It is

a very hard time for hard-working families and pensioners across the

region. I think this is the second consecutive month were inflation

has gone down and albeit a small amount it is a step in the right

direction. It is comforting to see that actually it has only kept --

been kept as high as it is by alcohol and cigarette prices.

Things like food and clothes that families really need, it is going

up more slowly. The Bank of England target of 2% seems an awfully long

way off. The fact that wages are certainly not keeping up? Obviously

monetary policy is set by the Bank of England, who are independent.

Independent economic experts do think that now it is dropping, it

will continue on that trend. Let's hope it is a respite. I think you

heard the despair from some people this morning, particularly the

young mother struggling. Financial commentators are saying it will get

worse before it gets better. 2012 could be worse than this year for

people. It is a very tough economic climate and we want to do

everything we can to support people through this. There are things

coming out of the government of the time for the young mother that you

mention, with an extra of �380 million into free childcare places,

a quarter of a millionth free childcare places and we are lifting

people out of tax. And there will be the biggest ever single increase

in pensions next year. Tomorrow night, we'll be looking at

jobs on the day the latest unemployment figures are released.

BBC so it has learned that plans to sell the Rose Bowl cricket ground

to Eastleigh Borough Council could face a legal challenge. The council

announced last week it was considering investing in the ground

but now the chief executive of a hotel ground who took High Court

action to block a development said they are talking to lawyers about

further action. From pop concerts to international

cricket, the Rose Bowl has seen a sell-out crowds. The business

dealings behind it have been under strain. Despite substantial

investment, the venue has been making a loss and last week,

Eastleigh Borough Council announced they were considering putting

taxpayers' money into the venue. That was a controversial move but

now this man, whose company operates the Holiday Inn hotel next

to the site, says he will fight any deal that creates new facilities at

the cricket ground. There are significant risks and get the

council wants to spend 38 million at the first shot. It could go up

to 50 million. It is going to take its borrowings up to 130 million.

Does this make sense and is it prudent? It is the repeat of an

unsuccessful action that he took up the holiday end -- at the High

Court for years ago. People say you do not want the competition?

business has been there for eight years now and is established. The

situation we have is, we have no issues at all when the planning

application was put in. At that time, the council had no

involvement in terms of any proposal to finance the project.

The situation changed for us when the council started in its own

judgment to want to become a hotelier. We thought this was

improper and unfair. In a statement the Rose Ball said they are not in

debt to the England and Wales Cricket Board and they point out

that their business is not just cricket. It also involves event

management and conference facilities. There was no comment

this morning -- this evening from Eastleigh Borough Council, he will

consider the deal on Thursday. Still to come in this evening's

South Today... The fake flock of sheep causing motoring problems.

The government's announced that 20 towns and cities - including

several in the South - are to get their own TV stations within two

years. Brighton and Hove, Oxford and Southampton are all in the list

of 'pioneer areas' which will be the first to roll out the service

which will include news, current affairs and entertainment.

Fallen trees and flooded roads - last night saw heavy rain and winds

of up to 80 mph across the South. This power line in Handcross came

down after a tree fell on it. Five cottages lost power. As high winds

battered Dorset, this was the scene at Sandbanks. And this year's �1.5

million improvements to the sea wall in Selsey were tested. The

council have repaired the breaches with sandbags. But one of the most

extraordinary stories of the night happened in Winchester, where one

man is very lucky to be alive. Let's join our reporter Steve

It was a very stormy night right across the south and in Winchester

it will come some was lying in his bed here when a large -- Dick

Wilkinson was lying in bed when a beech tree crashed through the roof.

He had to be rescued by firefighters and needed specialist

treatment to one of his ears. Moments after arriving home from

hospital, Dick Wilkins and posed for photographs outside his house

and gave a graphic description of the moment a tree came crashing

through his bedroom roof. I was between sleeping and waking,

listening to the storm and there was an enormous crash. It was like

the Eiffel Tower falling on Crystal Palace, as it were, I felt quite a

hard blow to the side of my head and then the noise stopped. A 60 ft

beech tree was brought down by strong winds this morning. It's

daughter was sleeping in another part of the house. Pure horror I

suppose. I instantly thought, a bomb, but then, no, a tree. It was

very frightening. It was probably much more frightening for my father.

With his bedroom wall topped -- blocked by debris he had to be

rescued by firefighters. He was taken to the Royal Hampshire County

Hospital in Winchester and then went to the plastic surgery unit in

Salisbury so his ear could be treated. A I think I am all right

really, very lucky. Yes, very lucky. It could have been very much works

as you can see from looking at the damage. It has been a dramatic day

for Dick Wilkinson and one that he and his family will never forget.

We expect more storms here in the south later in the week and we have

a full weather forecast later in the programme. From Winchester,

back to the studio. Thank you very much. Sarah will be

hit in just a few moments. What a lucky man he is! Rail commuters are

facing disruption tonight because of a fire at Brighton railway

station. No one was hurt but the station was closed for a time. It

follows disruption earlier today at Waterloo when signalling problems

caused huge delays for morning commuters. The fault between

Clapham and Waterloo is the second signalling trouble to affect local

services this week. Yesterday a cable theft at Twickenham caused

hours of disruption for passengers. A businessman who has seen �500,000

worth of profit go up in smoke as put up a cash reward to help catch

the arsonist he believes are responsible. He believes he is

being deliberately targeted and is refusing to back down.

This is the moment that arsonists poured petrol through his house and

set it alight. The damage cost more than �100,000. It was the start of

a vendetta against him, he believes. Obviously my family are extremely

anxious. I am not going to lie down and have these people trample all

over me. Since the initial attack, five of his business vehicles have

all been destroyed by fire. Each one cost �40,000 to replace. It is

a total of �200,000 in the last 18 months. The latest ban fire could

have wiped out an entire family. An employee we was it -- an employee

was in bed when he heard an explosion. The flames quickly

engulfed the front of the house. The family had a close escape.

older children were not too bad but the younger ones were just

screaming and shouting, what's going on? There were flames

everywhere. They were petrified. Jock has had enough and he is

offering �10,000 for anyone who -- any information which will lead to

a conviction. It will be a huge weight. I have a lot of

responsibilities as any managing director has in these difficult

times and this is one major aggravation that I could well do

without. It is ruining my company. I am hoping that someone, somewhere

will come forward and put an end to this madness before someone is

killed. Hampshire Police are aware of a number of arson attacks in the

area and say investigations are ongoing. They want any witnesses to

contact them directly or through the crime stoppers line.

They completed a tour of Afghanistan earlier this year, but

today 400 Officers and Guardsmen of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards were

on a different type of duty. They marched from their base in

Aldershot for their annual christmas carol service. Sarah

Holmes was there. THEY SING.

Singing carols may be part of most people's traditional Christmas but

for the soldiers the service was particularly significant. This time

last year they were in Afghanistan, experiencing a very different

Christmas away from friends and family. Three Miep of their

colleagues did not come home. These soldiers were all killed in action.

It is hard to think those guys will not be coming back. For the lads

that have lost friends and some had lost a brother as well, it is a

poignant moment when you are in their singing carols.

Lieutenant received a mention in dispatches for his courage. He is

now looking forward to a traditional roast and 80 trip to

the pub. It is very nice to be back here with your family and friends

and I just want to go for a pint on the weekend. After their busy year,

today's service was an opportunity to get together. It is nice to get

a whole battalion together whatever time of year it is. It does not

happen that often. To have the carol service that we missed last

year so it is nice to get back with the family. The soldiers will soon

be on Christmas leave and this year they will be enjoying the

festivities away from the dirt and dust of Afghanistan.

Sports News For You. Salisbury City play at Grimsby

tonight in their second round FA Cup replay. The sides drew in a

goalless game in their first meeting on Salisbury's home turf.

They're our only non-league side now left in the competition. If

they can win away tonight, they face a third round tie with League

One side Sheffield United. BBC Wiltshire will have live coverage

of the game which kicks off at 7.45pm.

There's been disappointment for the South's sailors at the World

Championships in Perth. Injury forced Southampton's Ben Rhodes and

partner Stevie Morrison to retire from the 49er event. Then a back

injury saw Winchester's Iain Percy pull out. He and Andrew Simpson

from Dorset, had gone into their days Star class racing with a

twelve point overnight lead. But the injury struck during the first

race - meaning the reigning world champions and Olympic gold

medallists couldn't continue. That must have been a huge

disappointment for them. Never mind, they will get on and be up and

going by the Olympics next year, 2012 us what we are looking forward

to. Delight the tree? It is beautiful. First time in with

the tree for you? Yes, feeling very festive. If only the weather would

feel the same! Yes, there have been released on a blustery winds last

night. They died down a bit today but there are strong winds forecast

in the next few days so we have not seen the last of it. So many of you

braved the elements today to send in weather photos. This one from

Julian Engelsman showing a beautiful double rainbow on Lancing

beach But it wasn't all doom and beach But it wasn't all doom and

gloom, as Carol Frogley can prove. These pigs certainly enjoying the

sunshine in a field near Emsworth There was sunshine and showers as

well and the showers were pretty hairy. You cannot see them pictures

here. There was also at hail and thunder and even some reports of

some snow. There were fleeting conditions out there. Tonight much

of the weather will ease the way up the coastal areas will cling on to

something more persistent as the night goes on. The band of rain is

nudging coastal counties and the island. Where we have had wet

weather, please take it steady on the roads because there is the risk

of ice on untreated services. In the morning this feature nudges in

from the West. There will be more persistent rain and we may just the

a dusting of snow fall and sleet to higher ground, possibly at lower

levels as well but it will not stay put too long. Tomorrow's

temperatures will feel fresh and Chile. Tomorrow night the wind will

pick up again and along the coast we could see gale-force gusts so

very strong winds through the course of tomorrow night. Wet

weather will sweep through as well. On Thursday it, it is not a bad day,

we have some high pressure looking after us for the daytime. There

will be nice bright and sunny conditions but it will be breezy.

But here is the next area of low pressure heading our way but there

is some uncertainty as to where it will head up. The front should

arrive green wet and windy conditions. We have a yellow early

warning from the Met Office for strong winds through the course of

Thursday night and into Friday as well. It is worth bearing in mind

that it will be rather windy. Stay tuned to a local radio station for

the latest updates. Thank you very much. I want to talk

sheep with A fake flock of sheep is causing

trouble in West Sussex. Some drivers have complained that

plastic sheep on a roundabout could be confused with the real thing.

The County Council has had to take action. Mark Sanders has assured us

that his report contains as few sheep puns as possible.

You might believe it, but we do not. They are penned in, not for their

put it -- protection of the yaws. Plastic green sheep have been

worrying motorist. They were first spotted at this roundabout in

Shoreham about two weeks ago. first another round there was one

sheep and it was white and then added later I went round and there

were several sheep and they were green. The fake flock was put here

by Hampshire County Council but it was paid for by a business. They

were painted green to stop them being mistaken for sheep. Four

viewers in urban areas, this is what a sheep looks like. Even

painted green, some motorist raised concerns that the sheep were real

so the council put barriers around the sculptures so hopefully drivers

will not be distracted by them. What do the locals think? Lovely! I

was pleased to see them there. have penned them in though? Why?

Because it is a danger to drivers! That is incredible. That could only

happen in this country. I would have thought if they were plastic

it would be quite obvious they were plastic. The sheep will remain