01/11/2013 South Today

changes to grading and assessment. That is all from the BBC

Hello. I'm Sally Taylor. Welcome to South Today. In tonight's programme:

Too expensive ` a council tells a disabled tenant it cannot afford to

make necessary improvements to her home Calling time on late night

drinking ` pubs are told they may have to pay for policing if they

want to serve alcohol after midnight.

. I would like a stairlift, do the bathroom, like they promised, and a

ramp outside so that I can go to the shops. Calling time on late`night

drinking, pubs are told they may have to pay for policing if they

want to serve after midnight. Stay safe around the bonfire ` the

warning as firefighters go back on strike.

And solving the world war one mystery ` who is Rosie and why is

her great grandfather from the Isle of Wight buried in Jersey?

A Hampshire woman with severe mobility problems is pleading for

alterations to be made to her council house so she can use the

toilet and bathroom. Wendy Kirkby has arthritis and diabetes and had a

leg amputated in the summer. Gosport Borough Council says it would cost

?16,500 to make the necessary changes to the three`bedroom home.

They already spend over ?250,000 a year adapting council homes. Despite

promises in August that the work would be done, officials now say it

might be better for Wendy to move to a bungalow. Steve Humphrey has been

to meet her. Wendy is desperate for changes to be

made to her council house so she can move around more easily. She would

like a stairlift and she needs alteration is made so she can get

into the downstairs toilet. I cannot get into the toilet. That is as far

as I can get. Embarrassing that I have to use a commode and I have to

be washed by someone else. 60`year`old Wendy has arthritis and

diabetes and she had to have her right leg amputated last summer.

When did you last go upstairs? The 20th of June. Officials at the

council say it would cost around ?16,500 to carry out the work. They

say she is under occupying the house and that it might be better for her

to move to a bungalow. The counsellor is angry at the way she

is being treated. I think the council is behaving disgracefully by

forcing her to move against her will to save money. They have promised

repeatedly to Wendy to do the work and they should keep the promise.

They should not force her to move out when she wants to remain in her

home. They keep going on about a two`bedroom bungalow but they have

not got any. They say, we will show you one to see what it is like. When

we get one. Disability rights campaigners say that getting funding

is in great `` is becoming increasingly difficult. The need for

accessible properties is growing and the money is not keeping up with the

demand. No one from the council was available for interview today. A

spokesman said the council is currently spending around ?250,000 a

year on adapting people's homes. As a short`term measure, it says it

will improve access to Wendy's downstairs toilet and also give her

a ramp so she can get in and out of the front door more easily. The

council says negotiations will be continuing with Wendy and her family

over her future housing needs. Pubs and clubs in Southampton that

continue serving alcohol after midnight could pay thousands of

pounds a year in a late`night levy. Money raised would go towards

covering the costs of policing party goers. A similar scheme began in

Newcastle today. But pub owners here say it's not needed and will lead to

closures. Rob Powell reports. Pulling pints past midnight could

soon get pricey for some pubs. The late`night levy was made available

for local authorities by the Coalition Government. Now

Southampton City Council is looking to bring it in. Some people will not

be able to continue trading with the charges. The city won the award two

years ago for the efforts they had made in reducing late`night disorder

so this is frustrating. The pub would be charged between ?300 and

?4500 depending on the side of the `` the size of the venue. It would

be split between the police and the council. Newcastle brought into a

charge today. First city in the country to do so. We have issues but

we do have an extremely safe city centre and we want to maintain that

and increase awareness. That is what we are going to do. Southampton City

Council says it expects the charges to total over ?140,000 per year. The

police say they put 50% of their resources into a few streets in the

city centre on Friday and Saturday nights. By raising the levy, we can

make sure everybody gets a better policing service, but also increase

the safety of those people enjoying the night`time. Southampton has 96

pubs and clubs with licenses to serve past midnight. Some locals say

it needs to anti`social behaviour. It is horrendous. Car windscreens,

wipers, mirrors, they have to be replaced. Garden walls get kicked

down and pot plants are stolen. Hampshire's police and crime

commission will conduct the chance to be a `` be involved in the

consultation. `` welcomed the chance to be involved in.

A body has been found in the water at Durdle Door. Dorset Police

spotted the body at about 1.30pm this afternoon. The RNLI and

Lulworth rescue teams assisted in recovering the body. The man has not

yet been identified. Last week the coastguard unsuccessfully searched

for a man from Portsmouth who got caught in the current off the Dorset

coast. Plans have been announced in Reading

to tackle a rise in demand for primary school places. New classes

will be created at 12 existing primary schools and a new academy is

to be built in the Oxford Road area. In all, 2,500 more places will be

provided over the next seven years. Reading Borough Council is expecting

to borrow around ?30 million to pay for the expansion. We have received

?19 million from the government which is welcome but it is only a

third of the money needed. We will find the money ourselves as a

council. We will find two thirds of it ourselves. We do not make any

apologies for that because we feel it is a rarity for treading's

children and parents to invest in education `` we feel it is a

priority for Reading. Many of us are looking forward to a

weekend of bonfires and fireworks. But people are being urged to take

extra care tonight because firefighters across the south are on

strike until 11pm this evening. Members of the Fire Brigades Union

walked out of their fire stations just a few minutes ago. They're in a

bitter dispute with the Government over pensions. Nikki Mitchell

reports. Last`minute preparations ahead of

the firework party at this pub. At least 500 people are expected to

come here with firefighters on strike and with thatched roofs next

door, the organisers are taking extra precautions. I am not that

worried because we have got loads of people with lots of experience to

help us. It will be OK. In terms of the strike, I am against it. I think

any other time, fine. But tonight, I think it is a little bit

irresponsible. I would back the firemen. I understand why they are

shouting out, it is to do with pensions, but I am frightened they

will damage their own reputation. The latest action follows a four

hour stoppage in October to protest about raising the firemen retirement

age to 60. Most people's fitness levels decline quite rapidly after

55 so we will not be able to maintain fitness and there is a

possibility these firefighters after 55 could be sacked. The government

says that negotiations are ongoing. Most sensible people would say, stay

at the negotiating table. I cannot see how it is logical to argue

strike action is appropriate. All of our fire services are urging

people to be especially careful to night, to consider attending an

organised event rather than having fireworks in their back gardens.

Contingency plans are in place but cover across the South is inevitably

low. Response times will be slower and critical fires will be

prioritised. At least eight companies have

expressed an interest in taking over a contract to build a hotel at

Hampshire's Ageas Bowl cricket ground. Work on the 175`room Hilton

was stopped last month after developer Denizen went into

administration. The scheme has been backed by Eastleigh Borough Council

which has committed to buy the finished hotel for ?27.5 million.

Still to come in this evening's South Today: Alexis is out tonight

at a Children In Need event. Join the later in Swanage for a special

Children In Need challenge. Should the church be taking on

high`street lenders? In July, the Archbishop of Canterbury announced

he wanted the church to offer its own short`term loans but at lower

rates of interest. It was an idea that began with a former accountant

who's now a reverend in the Salisbury diocese. This week he's

been speaking to the Sunday Politics and our political editor Peter

Henley joins me now. Peter, what's he been saying? He shares a

background in business with Justin Welby. They want to take a more

practical approach. They want to get actively involved where they think

they are our problems. One area they are encouraging the church to get

involved in is lending money. Local credit unions like this one in

Dorset, it is the huge interest rates charged by commercial payday

lenders for small amounts of money that he thinks is sinful. He is

encouraging church people to do what they can to provide an alternative.

I think our legislators are weak. In America, many state legislators have

outlawed payday lending as a social evil. If they can do that, I think

our legislators can be tough on payday lenders. In the Bible, Jesus

through the moneylenders out of the temple. He says so long as a credit

union is run for mutual benefit, it is covering costs rather than making

profit, that is all right. There were mixed views among people we

spoke to. Low interest. Church is to do with religion not finance. There

are a lot of poor people about and I think they should. It can be

dangerous because sometimes there is a danger it could go wrong. Where

will it stop? Will churches get involved with the electricity

market, trying to undercut cos? Will people be criticised, Vickers, for

getting people involved in schemes if they go bust? That is the debate

we will have with our guests, a Liberal Democrat MP from Dorset and

a Conservative MP. You will also be discussing the

regulation of the press? We have a local newspaper editor who will not

be signing up to the new press regulation.

And you can join Peter for the Sunday Politics this Sunday from

11am on BBC One. A record attempt to row a million

meters, a pantomime horse travelling from Leeds and a 12`hour continuous

run. Combine it all with a giant bear and it can all only mean one

thing. Yes, we're just a fortnight away from Children In Need and

tonight the fundraising is already well under way in Swanage. And

Alexis Green is there for us now. Alexis, what's going on?

Fun day out? Certainly was. Lots happening in Swanage tonight and

tomorrow. I have been meeting some of the people fundraising for

Children In Need. It was all hands on hammer to prepare for tomorrow's

Children In Need challenge at Swanage holiday Park. We are lending

a helping hand. We will have this done by tomorrow! The excitement was

building for one of the challenges, named the bear. They will be making

their way back to Swanage without spending any money. It will be hard.

We are going to try to get to Leeds and after Leeds down to Leicester

and try and get on the motorway. Getting in a bit of last`minute

practice in and around Swanage. Horses that platform to, please. ``

horses to platform two, please. Sorry. Then it was a quick gallop

back for the big sendoff. CHEERING We were there to do the honours and

there was plenty of support for the eight volunteers heading to the

airport to fly to Leeds. Hopefully those eight volunteers

made it to Leeds in time. They will be starting off at 8am tomorrow to

make it back to Swanage. Let us talk to other fundraisers. The

headmistress of the primary school. What are you doing? We are bouncing

the same distance it takes children in Uganda every day to walk to get

water. Two other fundraisers who have been busy for the last few days

attempting to break a world record in rowing a million metres. It is

for days, six hours, 32 minutes. Well done. How are you feeling? I am

doing well. I get a break every hour when we swapped over. When do you

expect to finish? 11, 12 o'clock tonight. Fingers crossed you smashed

the record. Lots going on here. Live music here tomorrow and other

events. Do come down if you are out and about in Swanage.

Doing a grand job. Good luck over the weekend. We will come back to

you for the weather in a few minutes. We will be heading to the

cricket nets in a moment. First, can Southampton maintain their excellent

start? Here is the man who can tell us.

Last week, Southampton swept past Fulham at St Mary's, a performance

hailed by the pundits as one of their best in recent times.

Normally, nine games into the season, you can see a pattern

emerging. Manchester United not even on the table. Southampton,

fantastic. Last week, they swept past Fulham, a performance hailed as

one of their best in recent times. New additions like Victor Wanyama

and Dejan Lovren have added some spine to the team, a team which has

conceded only three goals this season. Up front, Rickie Lambert was

back on target last week. As they travel to Stoke, he's admitted

European football is certainly on the players' minds. It is

incredible. When we were in league one, I think we were mostly thinking

that the Premier League was eight distant dream. We have showed people

it was possible. `` a distant dream. It is going to be hard but that is

what we are striving for. If it happens this year, it would be

brilliant. If it doesn't, that is what we will try to do next year.

Here's the weekend's other football, all of it live on BBC local radio.

Reading's trip to Sheffield Wednesday is one of the featured

matches on the Football League Show after Match of the Day. In league

one, Swindon and MK Dons both face home games. In league two, two

community`backed clubs play each other as Portsmouth face Exeter.

We'll have the main talking points on Monday.

We were with Poole Town in the non league on Friday. Tonight, we have a

chance to highlight Salisbury City's excellent start to the season.

They're up to fourth in the Conference Premier after a fine win

over Hereford last night. Clovis Kamdjo headed in the first. Daniel

Fitchett got two on the night, his first effort was deflected. Hereford

got one back just before the hour before Flitchett was on hand again

to turn in from close range. The goal of the game came deep into

stoppage time, Ben Wright from distance. Probably the best of the

game. A great win for Salisbury. Well done to them.

Six British sailors, many of them from the south, set sail in the

Transat Jacques Vabres race this weekend. The event is a two`handed

race which sees multi`hull and mono`hull boats sail from Le Havres

in France to Brazil. It's a big moment for Southampton`based Sam

Goodchild and Ned Collier Wakefield from Sussex. Two years ago, they

were forced to withdraw mid`event, but are hoping for better in their

new`look boat. We put in a lot of effort last time and we got up to

the leader of the race and unfortunately hit something in the

night and had to retire. Unfinished business. We have a fantastic new

toy and we are both hugely excited. We have not had enough time but

there is never enough time. We're looking forward to Sunday. We will

have a report on Monday night's programme.

Now to a cricket net with a difference. A brother and sister

gathered a group of youngsters from Lymington Cricket Club to help them

hold a very special cricket practice at Walhampton School in Hampshire.

It started yesterday, but they were still going when I went down there

this morning to turn my arm over. They bowled ball after ball after

ball. This 24`hour cricket marathon was the idea of Cameron and

Francesca. It meant a lot to them. Recently, my grandma fell ill with a

brain tumour. Rather than just standing back and watching, we

wanted to help in a different way, help other people. Other people in

that situation and who could benefit from the help from the charity which

we chose. 22 of the kids started the challenge at 10am yesterday. We are

23 and a half hours later, almost 10,000 balls bowled later, I thought

I would have a go myself. Here we go. I am a bit rusty but why did the

children choose cricket for the challenge? We wanted to raise money

and do it with something we liked so we thought we should do a cricket

match will stop we are a lot more accurate than we used to be. Urine

we did in the daytime so we did not have to lose sleep like other people

`` we did it in the daytime. I gave them a few tips and I hope they keep

working on it because there is a lot of talent right here. As the clock

ticks, the Jordan had raised more than ?10,000 for the charity. Test

match tickets as a surprise. After a round 1600 overs bowled, it was over

and out and time for bed. Very well done. Most of them just

waking up in time to watch the television tonight.

Very good bowlers. You could tell I was a wicket to ``

wicketkeeper! We are trying to find Rosie from the

Isle of Wight who left a touching message on the grave of her

grandfather. We have been finding out more about the story.

It all started when this sign appeared on a World War One grave at

a cemetery in Jersey. A BBC Radio Jersey reporter became intrigued and

started to research the background of Private George Hanlon. The Isle

of Wight clue proved fruitful. Documents traced George back to

there. The 1911 census records George as living here in Fort Street

in Sandown, together with his wife Ellenor. At that time the pair had

four children ` Martha`Ann, Frederick, Joseph and Mary. George

was working locally at a golf club. Records show that in 1914, aged 43,

he worked as a barman near the railway station in Sandown. George,

who'd previously served in the Royal Artillery, joined the Royal Defence

Corps and was guarding a prisoner of war camp on Jersey when he died in

1916. His cause of death was not listed. This morning BBC Radio

Solent put out an appeal to find the mysterious great`granddaughter

Rosie, but instead found Brian Hanlon, one of George's

grandchildren who lives in Romsey. He has photos of his grandfather and

has researched the family tree, but doesn't know of his distant cousin

Rosie. It seems George left behind quite a large family. He had nine

children, I had 32 cousins. There were 32 children in those nine

marriages and there's no`one called Rosie amongst those. But of course

it could have been one of their children. It could be her great

great grandfather, but I don't know. I'd like to know who Rosie is as

well. So, we've learned something of an old soldier who died serving his

country nearly a century ago, but the identity of Rosie whose quest

led to this touching tribute remains a mystery.

So, the mystery partially solved, but we'd love to speak to Rosie

herself. Can you help us find her? If so, please email us or contact us

via Twitter or the BBC South Today Facebook page. Onto the weather. A

couple of pictures first. Howard Sheffield sent this picture

of three piglets enjoying the autumn near Pondhead enclosure at

Lyndhurst. And Anni Stevens captured a spooky looking Arundel Castle at

dawn this morning. Stormy weather coming. Travel

disruption expected. Ferry services between the Channel Islands and

Weymouth have been disrupted due to a forecast of adverse weather with

some services cancelled. Check before you travel. Let us talk to

the lady who knows about it. Whether having an impact already and bonfire

parties going on as well. 60 mph gusts are possible tonight.

The satellite picture from earlier, the cloud brought as rain throughout

the course of the evening. It will continue. We could have up to half

an inch full this evening and for the first part of tonight. The rain

will gradually clear and following that, the odd shower. Temperatures

staying miles. `` is staying. Tomorrow first thing at around 7am,

temperatures around nine. A murky start to the day. And improving

picture. Bright spells developing. Sunny spells may trigger up one or

two showers in the afternoon. Tomorrow afternoon, temperatures

will rise to the seasonal average of around 12 to 14 degrees. Sunny

spells tomorrow afternoon. The winds will increase. Gusts tomorrow

evening of around 60 miles an hour on the south coast. Inland gusts of

40 to 50 miles an hour. Tomorrow evening should stay predominantly

drive for firework displays. There is the risk of the odd shower ``

predominantly dry. Tomorrow night, a fresh appeal to things with a west

to north`westerly wind. The outlook for the rest of the weekend...

Sunday, blustery conditions. Mainly dry. Monday should be predominantly

dry, feeling a lot fresher. Tuesday, rain expected later on. Let us talk

about firework displays. We have two for you. Manor Park in Aldershot.

Gates open at 5:30pm. Should be dominant the dry. Go prepared just

in case. Cool field to things. The other one is Winchester bonfire and

fireworks. Gates open at the same time, 5:30pm. ?5 per person. The

risk of a shower. Should stay mainly cool. From all of us in Swanage,

back to you in the studio. Thank you. Have a great weekend.

You are getting musical this weekend. Jason Donovan?

Not singing with him! Is special Children In Need event at the

Mayflower in Southampton. This Sunday, the pop legend Jason

Donovan, Nigel Harman from Eastenders and Downton Abbey and

myself will be at a charity gala raising money for Children In Need.

The fun starts at 6pm. Tickets are ?20 and are still available. On top

of that, we have the cast and crew of Ghost, the musical. Stay safe.

Thanks for watching.