01/08/2013 South Today

South Today. In tonight's programme. The cost of topping up - the

businessman who is driven to distraction every time he fills up

the tank. This is pretty painful, to find something that is that far out.

Search for a stolen car - why the latest police appeal may draw a

blank. The Isle of Wight man who shook the

world and is revered in Japan. And did the horse Skyline bring home

Good evening. We all like a discount and Chris Bunce thought he was

getting one when he signed up for a diesel fuel card. With a fleet of

vans to run for his small Hampshire electrical company, it would be a

convenient way to control costs. But now it appears Chris has been paying

more than you or I would at the pumps for at least the last two

years. An administrative error is blamed and Chris thinks he could be

�30,000 out of pocket. Ed Sherry has the story.

It was meant to allow his drivers to Philip conveniently at a slightly

reduced rate. When he realised there was a problem, Chris was shocked.

When I look at how that could have helped our company, it is painful.

BP say it is extremely concerned about claims and has asked UK fuels

to investigate. It has acknowledged there has been an administrative

error and by next week will re-examine every bill he has

received. Chris was paying approximately �1.61 per litre. The

UK average is. By the time you shop around, you use more fuel. I get it

from the supermarket. It is getting beyond their means of a lot of

people so something needs to be done. With five vans on the road and

a business to keep afloat, the consequences could have been a lot

worse. You don't notice it, but to look at it at the end of that term,

it is pretty bad. We are not that big a company. If somebody try to

take that amount of money in one hit, it would be devastating.

That report came about when Chris himself made contact with South

Today. Don't forget, if you've got a story, do tell us via email or

social media. The details are on the screen now. Our next story also

comes from a viewer's email. Jon from Berkshire was sent a police

circular asking people to keep an eye out for two stolen vehicles, but

part of the number plate details had been blanked out. When he asked why,

he was told it was for data protection. Joe Campbell is in our

Reading studio with more on this. Thames Valley Police, like a lot of

forces these days, use the web to appeal for the public's help. We

were contacted by Jon, one viewer here in Berkshire, after he spotted

a request for help tracking down stolen cars. Details included make,

model and colour and parts of the registration. Now, when Jon asked

why just parts, he was told it was about data protection and meant to

stop people tracking down the car's owners. We approached Thames Valley

Police to ask if this was really the case and they told us, we send out

the minimum amount of personal data to help in investigations and, in

the case of car registrations, we will generally send out the make,

model, colour and part registration as these are more likely to be

remembered by a witness who can call us and help with the investigation.

They do add that in some cases they put out full registration numbers,

so today we thought we'd put their claim about partial registrations to

the test. How am I supposed to know what the

missing letters are to find that car? I think it is easier to

remember if you have only got half the numbers. You might not be able

to remember the full one. As you say, it would be easier to remember.

As long as you don't spot a license plate that is similar. You need more

details than half the number plate. A lot of this information is

publicly available anyway. I put in the registration of my own car and

it was first registered in 2010, it was described as blue although most

people would say it is grey. Most details you can find out by putting

a car registration into various websites. But what you can't find

out is the name of the person who owns it. To do that, you have to

have sent off a form like this. They ask for a lot of details, a lot of

information about yourself and also, for example, your reason. If you

have been involved in an accident with a MIDI has not exchanged

details. -- a person who has not exchanged details.

A soldier awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross was killed by his own

grenade during an enemy attack in Afghanistan, an inquest has found.

Lance Corporal James Ashworth, of the Hampshire-based Grenadier

guards, was killed as he stormed an insurgent position in Nahr-e-Saraj

in Helmand Province last June. He was 23-years-old. The inquest ruled

he was unlawfully killed when a shot hit his body armour, detonating a

grenade he was carrying. Four people have been arrested today

at the site of an anti-fracking protest in Balcombe in West Sussex.

Some demonstrators blocked the entrance using an old fire engine.

Preliminary tests have begun and drilling for oil is expected to

start soon. Protestors believe it will lead to the controversial use

of a technique called fracking to extract shale gas.

The case against a man alleged to have infected two former girlfriends

with HIV has been stopped because of his poor health. Henry Assumang, 35,

had denied two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm on the women,

who cannot be named for legal reasons. The Crown Prosecution

Service has applied for proceedings to be suspended following new

medical evidence concerning his health.

The Royal Berkshire Hospital has set -- spent the equivalent of 800

nurses salaries as it tries to fix a new computer system. The rising bill

for consultants has reached almost �17 million. More than 50 people are

currently being employed to sort out teething problems with a patient

records system. This sounds like this system has run into major

problems. More difficult news for the computer system. It was supposed

to provide bedside access to patient records and allow efficient boxing

is of x-ray scans, appointments and surgery. At the moment it can only

be used to make outpatient and some surgical appointments and doctors

have complained that they can take 20 minutes to do that. But what the

real worry is the cost. The Royal Berkshire Hospital has spent �28

million on this system. That is �18 million more than necessary

according to auditors. What the Freedom of information request has

discovered, �16.6 million was spent on IT consultants. To give you some

context, that money would pay for 790 junior nurses for a year. In

response to the story, the trust has issued a statement and it said the

trust has issued -- lessons to be learnt from the development. They

continued to employ a number of interim staff who are supporting in

the work to make sure that staff can continue to deliver high quality

care to patients when using the system. They are currently working

with the company that made the system to make the best use of this

system. What is of considerable concern is that there is no time

frame as to when the system will probably work.

Plans to build a state boarding school for inner-city pupils in the

heart of the Sussex Downs have been scaled back. The Durand Academy

wants to open the school on the site of a former special school in

Stedham, near Midhurst. But some residents are concerned about its

impact in a national park. A revised planning application will no longer

include the sixth form centre. Durand says it is still firmly

committed to providing a sixth form later on.

Network Rail has breached the terms of its operating licence on tracks

in the south. The rail regulator says the infrastructure owner has

failed to meet performance standards. The regulator says that,

even allowing for last winter's extreme weather, Network Rail would

not have met its targets in this region. Recently the heatwave has

caused further disruption. The regulator says the railway has

inadequate weather resilience and day to day maintenance was also

poor. Margaret Thatcher described the

Greenham Common peace women as very unpopular with locals and an

eccentricity, according to government archives just released.

Her comments were made in 1983 when a decision was made to deploy US

nuclear cruise missiles to Berkshire. Women who opposed the

move set up camp at the air base in protest, remaining there until 2001.

Still to come in this evening's South Today, straight from the

horse's mouth - Alexis on her debut at Glorious Goodwood.

I came, I wrote, I finished, but how Pay and display or stand and

deliver? Councils are being accused of ramping up parking charges to

help their already stretched budgets. The latest figures confirm

that town halls are generating huge sums. They show what's left once

running costs are taken out of all the money collected. In Brighton and

Hove, that was almost �14.5 million - one of the highest in England.

Rushmoor, which covers Aldershot and Farnborough, had a �2 million

profit. That's more than either Reading or Portsmouth. While in

Surrey the County Council spent more than it collected, putting it at

more than a million pounds in the red. Councils insist any surplus is

put back into the transport budget. Steve Humphrey reports from

Salisbury. Mention the phrase parking charges

in Salisbury and you generally get a very robust response. Very

expensive. I come from London, I thought outside of London should be

cheaper, but it is just the same. come from Weymouth twice a week and

it is even more expensive. How much did you pay for that ticket? �5.50.

This shop owner believes the cost of parking is having a negative impact

on trade. My customers don't come into Salisbury as often as they used

to. People used to drop their children off at school and then come

in for a copy. They don't do that so much. Figures obtained by the BBC

show that the income from car parks in Salisbury has dropped from

�180,000 a year since the higher charges were introduced in April

2011. But the council points out that there has been a substantial

increase in the number of passenger trips on the park-and-ride service.

The Cabinet member responsible for parking said, we believe we achieved

a difficult balance of supporting the local economy, protecting public

transport and encouraging people to use sustainable transport so that a

pollution in the city centre is reduced. And the council says the

number of visitors increased last year.

Sport now and we are going to start with golf.

We are celebrating some very impressive performances from women

in sport today. Georgia shot a round of 68 and is

the leading amateur at St Andrews after the first round. The

17-year-old who lives near Bournemouth is one of the world's

top amateur players and proved her talent in finishing her round with

two birdies. She's two shots off the lead. You can follow it live on BBC

Television. Surrey and Hampshire both have home

ties in the quarter finals of this season's T20 competition. The

holders, Hampshire, will host Lancashire at the Ageas Bowl next

Wednesday evening. Before that, Surrey will host Somerset on Tuesday

afternoon. Tonight, listeners to BBC Radio

Solent can hear an hour of Portsmouth chat ahead of the club's

first season in League Two. After a well documented fall from grace,

Pompey have finally stabilised and they're the subject of the second of

now. It is the people's lab and more than 10,000 season-ticket holders

they did. Portsmouth head into this season as the country's biggest

community owned football club. Do you feel different now? I do. Every

I go into a match, I feel I am contributing to a club rather than a

director or a shareholder that has taken our money. It is always great

being a Portsmouth fan. Now is a fantastic time. We have seen a lot

of relegation. It is time for promotion. The number of new

arrivals is in double figures. seems different here. Everybody

feels as if they have known each other for ages. We have not got the

biggest squad so it means you have got to stay together as a group.

have got to realise where we are. The foundations we have got to lay

to make sure that financially we are on a secure footing and we have got

players who want to be here and play for this football club. There is a

lot of pressure because we are the favourites, and rightly so, because

everybody involved in the club wants to go up. But what is success for a

club that has bottomed out and, just three years ago, played Premier

League football? Success is being here at the end of this season

having given fans something to cheer about and 18 to be proud of. Whether

that means a team that has been promoted. -- 18 to be proud of.

have visited venues like Old Trafford and Wembley in previous

years but this year it is a little different. The reality is Accrington

and Oxford. I can't wait. A sell-out on Saturday against Oxford.

The Pompey forum is on BBC Radio Solent from 7.05pm on 96.1FM.

It's involved demanding physical tests, weeks of training and a

steely determination. Today was the day that all of that had to come

together as Alexis took part in the first race of the day at Glorious

Goodwood. Sally and I were watching on. We can join her live. It was an

amazing day. I think the most important thing is, did you enjoy

it? I certainly did. I have got the champagne and water because I have

been very dehydrated today. What glorious weather we have had at

Glorious Goodwood. I have had the time of my life.

Nine women, six furlongs, one very special race. Now it is really

hitting home. I am so nervous. I am going to be back on this finishing

line within 72 seconds in around three hours time. People are betting

on how many of the ladies will fall off. It is easy for us to sit here

and criticise. But coming down the hill at Goodwood, you turn to the

right, we have had quite a few falls and unseated riders in the past.

dressed up in my specially designed silks, I headed to the weighing

Skyline. This has become one of our signature if events and it is

symbolic as fighting against human hearts on its hindquarters. And a

little bit of last-minute advice from Skyline's trainer. Just keep

travelling. Then I am off. I even get some support from some familiar

faces. It was a fast and furious start and within seconds I saw my

not disappointed. As long as she has enjoyed herself. That is what being

a jockey is. That is the pain I go through. Well done. You were

brilliant. Since a kid, I have always dreamt of being a jockey but

I was too tall. I have had my chance and it has been the best experience

I was so proud of you, Alexis. Now you have had time to think about it,

how do you feel? Just thinking about it, it is such a crazy thing to do.

I was thinking a few months ago, what can I do that is crazy? As a

little girl I wanted to be a jockey and I had five hours sleep last

night. Not much if you think about it. I walked the course this

morning, earlier on, and the spirits of the girls, everyone was so

lovely, it was fantastic. Your horse looked suited to a longer distance

and as you are coming across the finishing line, you were getting

stronger and the front runners were puffing a bit. Talk to me about the

physical effect of the race. start off fully fit but, going down

to the start at the beginning, my legs were already like jelly because

you have got to hold the horse. It really wants to gallop as you come

out of the parade ring. The start, it started off fairly good, my legs

went to jelly about three furlongs in, and then my arms went after

that. The big question is, if you were asked to do this again next

year, would you do it? Absolutely, without a doubt. Did not even

hesitate. Fantastic. We are proud of you. Well done. Enjoy that

champagne. Absolutely wonderful. Today is the centenary of the death

of one of the Isle of Wight's most remarkable and influential

residents. Chances are you've never heard of him, but he is revered in

Japan and is almost certainly responsible for saving millions of

lives in the years since he died. He is John Milne, the inventor of the

seismograph and a pioneer in the study of earthquakes.

An exhibition of his life has opened at Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of

Wight and Roger Finn has been to see Earthquake Wizard dead. The Daily

Mirror on this day exactly 100 years ago. John Milne was a mining

engineer who travelled to Japan where he transformed the world's

understanding of earthquakes. The Carrisbrooke Castle Museum inherited

much of his archive and has put some of it on display. One of the

visitors today was John Milne's great nephew from Australia, who has

made a documentary about his ancestor. On the first day he

arrived in Japan there was an earthquake. He had arrived there

partly because the government had opened the country to foreign

experts and engineers and they needed to solve the problem of

earthquakes so he built the horizontal Enderlin seismograph

which was the first one that could measure earthquakes. In Japan,

earthquakes are a real problem and they cause a lot of deaths. He

pioneered safe buildings and earthquake engineering. A lot of

lives have been saved. In gratitude, the Emperor gave John Milne a rare

honour - the Third Order of the Rising Sun. The hope is that the

exhibition will spread Milne's renown to a new generation. We do

have an exhibition open until the end of October and it is wonderful

to see so many local people coming in and discovering who this amazing

man was. And he lived here, a mile away. From his home in Shide, Milne

and his Japanese wife organised a network of earthquake detectors

around the world and became the focus for the growing science of

seismology. Tonight, at the Art Centre in Newport, they are having a

special showing of a documentary and right beside it, they have just

unveiled these murals celebrating the life of John Milne. We might not

have serious earthquakes in this country but once we had a man who

taught the world about them. We will remember that name now. Now

year so far. And we have got plenty of photos to tell that story.

and tonight is going to be pretty hot as well. The temperatures are

gradually inching down over the next few hours but it is going to be a

rather murky night to come. Tonight we will see a clear skies for much

of the region to start. As we go into the early hours, the cloud

starts to build in from the West. It may bring some scattered showers.

But temperatures not getting much lower than 15 Celsius. Tomorrow,

Friday, we start on a cloudy note. That cold front working its way

across bringing outbreaks of showery rain. It is going to bring with it

some sharp showers and we may hear the odd rumble of thunder. But by

around midday, we will start to hear things chirrup. Still some showers

into the afternoon but we should see fewer of them. Temperatures still

pretty decent but not as hot as today. Feeling warm but not as hot

as today. Overnight tomorrow, through the evening, one or two

showers. I suspect you will see a little bit of cloud building up.

Still feeling relatively humid. As we go into the weekend, Saturday is

not looking too bad. A little bit breezy with sunshine and showers in

the mix. The showers are likely to be on the light side. A pretty

decent start on Sunday with some sunshine around. Cloud will spill in

from the West. Later on, that band of rain arriving. We do have some

events coming up and we start with not doing too badly. Still feeling