17/02/2017 South Today

In tonight's programme... takeover offer for Unilever.

The social-media boasting by a gang of girls

after they violently attacked a 14-year-old

Home, sweet home - new life for a Victorian jail,

but where's the quota of affordable housing?

An emotional moment - a deaf husband and wife hear

I love sound and I want to be able to hear more.

And four boys get a chance at the big time.

I will be putting these would be Billy Elliots through their paces.

Show us your stuff, boys. That is good.

Three young women have been sentenced for attacking

a 14-year-old girl with a wheelbrace in a Guildford park

The victim suffered head injuries and is still

The women had originally denied using a weapon until messages found

on their phones revealed they'd discussed how to clean

Let's join Ben Moore outside Guildford Crown Court.

It was indeed, an attack with a heavy metal wheel brace that left a

young girl with severe injuries, all because of a Facebook 's back. There

were three defendants, Sophie Burrows, Lauren Putney and a

17-year-old girl who can't be named. They left their victim with several

injuries. The court heard that as well as the physical injuries the

girl is also suffering depression and is afraid to go out. Her mother

spoke to us on these steps exclusively but anonymously about

how it has affected her daughter's life.

Only recently she's started going out again.

Had to change schools, and just change everything really.

She changed her name on Facebook, load of different stuff, just...

She don't want no-one to know this is what happened to her.

The court heard after this Facebook row in January last year the trio

made a considerable dry to a park in Guildford to confront the girl.

Sophie Burroughs wrought with her a 30 centimetre metal wheel brace.

They confronted the girl, told her to fight, when the girl through the

first punch they set about her. In the days that followed a sent a

series of text messages, one girl said, it is good, I cut her head

open. Another said, she chose to fight, now she is leading hard.

Electric Communications eventually led the girls to give themselves up

at Guildford police stations. A media appeal was issued

following the incident and it was the attention on social

media that led to the girls eventually handing themselves

in at Guildford police station. At first they denied using any

weapon of any kind during the attack but messages were found

on all of their phones mentioning the assault and the crowbar and how

to clean it and all three Sophie Burroughs was sentenced to 14

months in a young offender's institution, Lauren Cove had her

sentence suspended the two years and the 17-year-old was referred to the

youth court. The judge said they had genuine removals but he said it was

caused by a ridiculous and stupid argument on Facebook.

A major town-centre development in Dorchester has been waved

through, despite the fact that the 180 new properties will not

Last night the council gave planning permission to a scheme to convert

The entire site will now go for high-end housing,

after the developers argued affordable units would damage

These thick walls, designed to imprison, will soon be used to

impress. There will be 60 apartments in the old prison and many more in

the new block. All at a premium price. The local Labour group is

furious note affordable homes will be on offer. It is all very well

having wealthy retirees or wealthy families moving in, that is great

but we want balance. Where is the provision for local people? The plan

is to retain the old Victorian prison, making this an expensive

build. For that reason the developers have been able to

successfully argued that to include affordable housing would simply make

the scheme and viable. West Dorset council usually insists on 35% of

affordable homes. Developers can negotiate that down but it is very

unusual for there to be no requirement at all.

What do you say to local people who feel disappointed? We would have

loved to have affordable homes on the site, we tried my macro hardest

to put forward affordable homes in West Dorset. -- we tried our

hardest. There should be a affordable houses for the young

people. They will never get on the ladder for housing. People are

buying just to rent out and it doesn't give local people a chance.

Disappointing because you have to have affordable housing for local

people otherwise they will not be able to live in the county,

especially young people. The developers told us...

So regeneration now begins here but probably not without recrimination.

A fresh attempt to scrap charges for residents taking DIY waste

to their local tip has failed in West Sussex.

Many councils have introduced fees for things like rubble

and plasterboard as their budgets have come under pressure.

The amount of material being brought to the recycling centres has already

fallen and there are fears that fly-tipping will increase,

as well as questions about whether the charges are lawful

Sean Killick is down at the dump near Chichester.

Tips like this are gearing up for the busy season when we start spring

cleaning and doing DIY projects around the house and garden, but in

the future if you'd ring a bag of rubble it will cost you ?4 to get

rid of. -- if you bring. I spoke to people here and many didn't like the

idea of paying a tip tax. Alan Walker is redecorating

a room in his house. He's stripped off seven

bags full plaster, Getting rid of it here

today cost ?4 a bag. Alan wasn't too happy about that

and others here agreed. I think it will discourage people

from coming here with rubble and they will end up dumping

it somewhere else. I think it's far too expensive

for a wee bag of rubble. If you've got a really

lot of them, if you've got a whole delivery,

yeah, I agree, but Fees for dropping off rubble

and other building rubbish vary In West Sussex it is a flat

rate of ?4 per bag for In Hampshire and Dorset, dumping

plasterboard costs ?10 a sheet, but in Wiltshire there is no fee

for DIY waste. Some have accused councils

of profiteering but the boss of a Hampshire-based waste-disposal

firm believes the charges are fair. My instinct tells me that it's

inevitable that there will be these charges and these charges have been

introduced I think fairly. I think the research shows

that the councils aren't looking to profiteer from this

but they are actually looking to recover the costs

that they are incurring The county council is bringing

in the charges to help balance its budget but

the lower-tier district councils are concerned it could cost them

thousands because they are responsible for clearing

up fly-tipped rubbish. If people don't put

hard-core into the bins But there is an even worse trouble,

people put it in their residual waste bin, and that has a potential

to damage the refuse freighters and damage the ultimate

processing of waste. Horsham District Council has

released pictures of rubbish fly-tipped in its area in recent

months but West Sussex County Council says there has been no

noticeable increase in fly-tipping Opposition councillors tried

to scrap the charges at today's West Sussex County Council budget

meeting. Some have questioned

the legality of the charges. West Sussex told us today

they believe they are acting Meanwhile, Hampshire County Council

has written to the Government asking A man who shot seven cats in less

than a fortnight in Surrey has been Franky Mills from Long Gore

in Farncombe shot four cats in one day alone -

one had to be put down. Still to come in this

evening's South Today... The scheme that's inspiring

and supporting youngsters who've One of Reading's most-loved arts

venues reopens tonight following a major refit,

two years after facing The South Street Arts Centre has

hosted acts like Mumford and Sons, Radiohead and Michael McIntyre

before they were famous but Reading Council considered shutting

the venue to save money. A campaign by loyal

customers forced a rethink. Just move the light

to the other side. Technical preparations for one

of the first productions New and improved lighting

and a reworking of the studio space makes this a much better place

for performers and audiences. It just has a much more

contemporary, really vibrant feel A lot of musicians and

actors and performers of cut their teeth here,

so it is kind of integral for the development of artists

from Reading who can go on to greater things,

but also it serves audiences who are looking for something a bit

different, a bit more unusual, When you wake up in

the middle of the night... Just two years ago, the arts centre

faced an uncertain future. Reading Borough Council

considered closing it, but South Street's loyal audience

rallied - as did those who've performed here,

who hold it in high regard. I remember when there

was the potential that We were like, no, you can't

close it, because it's got so much, I guess,

history, and on the circuit of contemporary theatre in Britain

it's a really important venue. The Arts Council agreed,

offering half a million pounds of public money to improve

and extend the building. That helped convince the council

it was worth saving, so it too chipped in just

over half that. This is a huge boost

for a town keen to continue Controversial plans to knock down

a hotel in the New Forest to build retirement flats have been rejected

by the park authority. Lyndhurst Park Hotel

once had connections Campaigners objected

to the proposals to demolish the building and build 75 flats

for pensioners and 12 holiday lets, saying there was a desperate need

for affordable housing Pegasus Life says it's

disappointed with the decision. It's a disease that can kill

and scar young children for life. How to you help someone who has lost

a limb to meningitis deal with it? Today a leading charity that

supports young people who've lost limbs to meningitis has held

an event to inspire them in Reading. All the children in this game have

lost limbs through meningitis. Overseeing the enthusiastic training

is Paralympian Aaron Phipps, who For me, it's just, it's the young

people getting to meet other young people in the same sort

of circumstances as them. One little boy arrived, looked

at another little boy and went, More than 100 families have come to

the Pushing The Boundaries day. Eleanor was eight months

old when she fell ill. Originally diagnosed with a throat

infection, she nearly died. I was really ill,

and they had to chop It is something she will have to

deal with the rest of her life. Coming to places like

this really helps her see very positive role models

who have had the same amputation but are going on and doing everything

in life that they want to. The foundation helps survivors with

things like state-of-the-art prosthetics but also funds research,

and the main research in that respect is bacterial meningitis,

which can be all around us. A few people carry it in their nose and

throat, which can get into the system and attack the body. That is

why in many cases amputation businesses are. In many ways those

here are lucky. The infection can kill in just 12 hours.

For those who've come through it, days like these

fuel their ambitions so they won't let this awful

An important day and a fun day called Pushing The Boundaries. It

has been a day of recognition and a special day for our Olympians and

Paralympians. After a memorable summer of sport

at the Olympics and Paralympics, many of the South's gold-medal

winners were today honoured Prince Charles was on hand

to welcome the latest Members of the Most Excellent Order

of the British Empire. Great Britain have won

the Olympic gold medal! A golden Olympic moment for GB's

women's hockey team, that today continued to bring

rewards in the form of more medals. Captain Kate Richardson-Walsh given

an OBE for services to hockey. Her team-mates, including partner

Helen and Southampton's Alex Danson, were all awarded MBEs

for their triumph in Rio. While for Hannah Russell,

who joined Guildford Swimming Club at the age of 12, an MBE

is the icing on the cake after two golds and one bronze

at the Paralympics. Absolutely incredible, something

that not many people get awarded. 13 years of hard work I've put

into this sport and to come out As parents we are really

proud of everything she has done and it is lovely

to come to the Palace today and see Hannah get presented her

MBE by Prince Charles. We have followed Bournemouth

schoolgirl swimmer Alice Tai through the years and after

taking Paralympic bronze in September today there

was more reason to cheer. Who could forget these

scenes on the Olympic Dorset's Hannah Mills

and Saskia Clarke recognised along with Giles Scott for services

to sailing. Top honours too for Hampshire

golfer Justin Rose, while Alton's Paralympian

Georgina Hermitage, Surrey paracanoeist Anne Dickins

and Berkshire's Liam Heath A summer of sport that

will live long in the memory. Congratulations to all recipients, a

fantastic day for the athletes and their families.

Bournemouth have been charged for breaching

the Football Association's rules on anti-doping.

Clubs are required to provide accurate details of training

sessions and player whereabouts so they are available for drug

It's alleged the Premier League side failed to do so.

The club has until Thursday to respond to the charge.

As well as Oxford's trip to Middlesborough in the fifth

round of the FA Cup, there's football league

Brighton's trip to Barnsley is manager Chris Hughton's 100th

A win could see the Seagulls re-take top spot in the Championship.

In League One, MK Dons host Fleetwood.

Swindon welcome Oldham to the County Ground.

Defender Gareth Evans is a doubt for Portsmouth,

Surrey Scorchers continue their push to make the British Basketball

They're only points difference outside the all-important top eight

as they prepare to welcome sixth-placed Plymouth Raiders

That match is live on the BBC Red Button and the BBC website.

Swish. Sorry storm start their netball season earlier in the week.

A couple from Salisbury who've been married for 12 years are hearing

each other's voices for the first time after having Cochlear implants.

50-year-old Helen Robinson and her husband Neil,

who's 54, have been deaf since birth.

They're believed to be the first couple in the UK to be "switched

on" at the same time - and they can't believe

Half a century without sound, changed with the flick of a switch.

Neil and Helen have been married since 2005.

They've both been deaf since birth because of a genetic condition.

They could hear some muffled noises but now the cochlear

implants are sending electrical signals directly to the brain which

I didn't realise that the sound was coming from inside my head. I

realised it was a different sound from the sound I am hearing normally

with my hearing aids. It has led to a passion for awesome

audio. I love sound and I want

to be able to hear more. You'll be surprised

at what's caught their ears. You know the car,

when you are changing For me, I knit, and when I'm

doing the knitting I can hear the needles clacking together

and it's a nice sound. Their new fifth sense can be

overwhelming at times and clinicians also have to adjust

the volume as they become They are the latest among more than

a thousand patients treated by the university team. It is exciting to

do a first session for somebody come you never know quite how it will be

go and whether the person is quite excited or anxious and nervous.

The new device can be switched off, which may have

I can call her now and also learning to put up with

Apparently Neil was saying that he could hear the birds for the first

time and Helen was saying, I could hear our cat.

First it was a hit film, then a successful stage musical.

Billy Elliott is the story of a boy who trades boxing

gloves for ballet shoes, when he discovers

It's all set against the backdrop of the miners' strike in the '80s.

This week pupils at Ringwood School in Hampshire are staging

And who better to offer some advice to the boys

sharing the lead roles, than the stars of the West End

version, currently on at the Mayflower Theatre in

So at final rehearsals the pressure is on for the four boys who share

the roles of Billy and his best friend Michael.

The ballet has been quite difficult because it pushes you to limit that

you don't want to go to but you have to. And the tap is quite hard. I

loved performing since I was little, I danced around the kitchen. I have

done singing in past shows that I think the acting is kind of the

thing that I had to work on. It is quite funny doing the swearing

because not many little kids do that and the audience loved it because

they are not expecting it. I went to an audition like, I won't get much

of a part, and they said, you have got Billy Elliot!

With six performances this week, the boys have a busy schedule.

But they've taken time out for a special trip.

The West End production of Billy Elliott is now

on at the Mayflower in Southampton, and the lads have been

invited to get some tips from the professionals.

Come on in. Welcome to the Mayflower. What do you think?

Massive. How many seats to you think that is? That is a few, isn't it?

Martin Walsh plays the role of Billy's dad.

Who wants to be an actor when they grow up? All four of you? Why not,

that is how I started out, showing people what you have got and doing

it with an open heart and just going for it.

All right boys, time to show us what you do. That is good.

You can't make kids do things like this, they either want to or they

don't, so it is good, it reminds me of my youth, getting up there.

So now it's back to school, with an added spring in their step.

That Ringwood School production is sold out.

You can see Billy Elliott at the Mayflower Theatre until March 4th.

On to the weather for the weekend. Fraser on Friday.

It has been really mild through the half-time, -- half term, why bother

with Barcelona when you can have Basingstoke?

It was a very pleasant day across the region, springlike, with

temperatures up to 11 Celsius widely. That mild theme continues

for a few days. For tonight we are dry and cloudy, the cloud coming and

going through the night. There will be breaks in it as well and with the

light winds mist patches forming by dawn here and there. Not a chilly

night, temperatures not dropping much below six Celsius. Moving on

Saturday morning, that the lawn is rather grey and dreary, low cloud

and mist, but that will lift and clear through the morning. To the

east, good spells of sunshine, bit more cloud to the West but mild

everywhere, temperatures at 11 Celsius while widely and light

breezes. There is a rainy front coming through overnight, bringing

spits and spots of rain, but under the cloudy skies it will not be

chilly, 67 Celsius in most places. Sunday, that rain sticks around

first thing for a time but it will clear away as the morning wears on

and the bulk of Sunday is looking try and find. Bright spells

developing and some warm air being brought in on a westerly airflow. It

will feel very unusually mild, 12 Celsius the most places, and that

warm tropical air is set to stick with us on Monday. Temperatures on

Monday up to 14 Celsius. Let's look at the outlook, and half term is a

fantastic start, dry and bright, 12 Celsius and light winds. Monday,

dreary start but we will see some bright spells and very mild. --

Sunday. Monday, 14 Celsius but cloudy. Cloudy and mild but Tuesday

as well. I enjoyed that, normally you are

telling us about storms. That is it from us. More at 10:25pm

tonight. Have a good weekend what ever you are doing.

Secure your place at the 500 Words Final,