06/07/2011 Spotlight

Checking out - Air South West is suspending flights from Plymouth

Airport for a month. Welcome to Spotlight. Also tonight: Facing

eviction, anger from the relatives of the elderly residents being

forced to move. She is 89. She's worried. She's now on

tranquillisers, which she has never been on before. A colourful troop

through streets as the cold stream guards are granted the freedom of

Exeter. There are more concerns this evening over the immediate

future of Plymouth Airport. Air South West has cancelled all its

flights from July 29th for a month, moving them to Newquay instead. The

airline's blaming a lack of local military radar cover, but the

airport says it's never been available in the summer and it can

operate safely without it. Spotlight's John Ayres is live at

Plymouth Airport. Well this is bad news for the airline and for the

airport and bad news for the city of Plymouth. Let's make it clear,

Newquay airport will operate as normal and the plan is passengers

from Plymouth will be bused to Newquay. This is causing concern

among people in the Plymouth business community. Some of the

businesses we have got here are internationally-based. If the

chairman of company is flying in from the United States, it is vital

he gets to his business as quickly as possible. We will never know if

he didn't have an airport how much business we might lose and it is

essential that we find a viable alternative. So we don't lose any

of inward investment or the local growth of businesss that is crucial.

Now Air South West is blaming this on military cover for radar

military cover from HMS Drake. But operatorings have operating during

this month when it is not in use for 16 years. The reason it stops

is for holiday cover. Joining me is an economist. What do you think is

the impact? I don't think it will be major in the short-term. It will

save a bit of money for Air South West. And at the end of the day

they will stop the flights any way in December. That is when the key

impact will be. It makes it harder, more costly for local businesss to

serve their market and they will have to take more time out of the

office. It makes it harder to sell the city to inward investors and to

turists that. Will be the impact with an August shot down. --

tourists. So in a short message, do you think it will be a real problem

long-term? I think it is a problem long-term and adding to a number of

difficulties which Plymouth has. The truth is the airport is not

viable and we have to move on. Thank you. Air South west which is

operated by eastern airlines did release a statement, but eastern

airlines did not want to be interviewed. But they have said

passengers concerned will be contacted. Thank you. Residents of

a care home for retired bank staff, including a woman of 105 who's

lived there 30 years, are facing the prospect of eviction notices

this week. The Royal Bank of Scotland Care Homes Foundation says

Wallis Court in Torquay is losing money and must shut. But residents'

families are fighting closure, which they say is unnecessary.

Here's our Health Correspondent, Sally Mountjoy. Stuart has been to

visit his 96-year-old father in his Torquay care home. Donald worked

for NatWest bank for 40 years. This home is one of three set up in the

70s for pensioners of what is now the Royal Bank of Scotland. But

others have been handed eviction notices. It is causing extreme

distress. He describes the decision as cruel. Which I agree with. He is

happy and does not want to move. He is not very mobile. I think it is

going to have a devastating effect if I have to move him. We asked to

speak to trustees of Royal Bank of Scotland Care Homes Foundation who

were at the home for talks with staff today. The chairman of

trustees was not prepared to comment. But in a statement the

charity said that the trustees had been conserd about continued

financial losses and low occupancy rates at the three homes. The

foundation said it understood that resident and staff found the

prospect of closure upsetting, but it would do everything possible to

MEP people through the process. The families say with half a million

Royal Bank of Scotland pensioners eligible to live in the homes, it

is hard to believe the charity can't fill them. They're fighting

closure and have filed an official complaint to the Charity Commission.

Selwyn's father was a bank manager and her mum Lily lives at Wallis

Court. They have been outstanding in the way they have cared for her.

I believe she would not be alive today if it wasn't for their loving

care. He says the home's excellent rating is supported by staff and

those who live there, including a woman of 105. Selwyn's mother is

distressed. She has made friends there, she is 89. She's worried.

She is now on tranquilisers. Because she can't sleep. She is

often tearful. That is unacceptable in my opinion. Lily regards Wallis

Court as her home and one she never expected she would have to leave.

Police have confirmed that a body found near Fernworthy Reservoir in

Devon is that of missing Joel Andrews. The 24-year-old from

Monmouthshire was last seen six weeks ago after a rave close to the

reservoir. His body was discovered in nearby woodland at the weekend.

Police say their enquiries are continuing. The Alzheimers Society

claims that around three quarters of dementia patients in Dorset are

missing out on treatment because their condition isn't being

properly diagnosed. A study by the organisation has found huge

variations in the rate of diagnosis across the country. It's estimated

that half a million people nationwide are currently living

without a proper diagnosis. Thousands of people lined the

streets of Exeter today as the Coldstream Guards were granted the

Freedom of the city. The regiment marched through the city centre

before an inspection and ceremony where their colours were blessed.

As Hamish Marshall reports, it gave some local soldiers the chance to

march on home ground and follows a service at Exeter Cathedral last

night. It was the day events like the Royal Wedding and trooping the

colour came to town. For the second day in a row in Devon, the

Coldstream Guards were marching to be honoured. Only the fourth

military unit to be granted the freedom of Exeter. It is rare in

terms of whole regiment being on parade. But also I have only done

one freedom before of some ten years ago. It is a real treat for

us to recorrect with an important part of the country for the

regiment. The Coldstream Guards recruit in the South West, making

today extra special for some of the 300 on parade. I have grown up hoor

since I was eight and I come here every Saturday and to march through

part of this regiment is amazeling. The turnout was fantastic. The

people I think feel as proud and we feel proud of whole regiment.

is the culmination of two special days for the troops, after being

given the freedom of herton yesterday, there was a special

concert at Exeter cathedral from the regimental band. The sound of

music around Exeter cathedral as the band of the Coldstream Guards

performed. The concert entitled Heroes Pride of the Nation was part

of a celebration of the regiment's Devon links. It was great fun and

what I liked most is the warmth I could feel from the audience here.

What a great place to play, the cathedral is a wonderful place. The

audience were really warm. The band There was more music today as the

guards marched past the Guildhall. The sight of red tunics and

bearskins was not to be missed. Some people queued for two hours.

Makes you feel very proud. brought my grand daug. I wouldn't

have missed it for nothing. much work went into making that

look right today? For somebody who hasn't been in the job long it

takes a bit of effort. But I have been in the job for a while and it

can be anything from a few hours to a whole evening. They are the last

regiment local to Devon still in service and have given everyone a

rare day. An impressive sight and some wonderful music. A school in

Cornwall is considering selling off part of its site to a supermarket

chain, to fund a major rebuilding programme. Governors at Newquay

Tretherras School say the sale of the land is the only way to fund

new classrooms, a library and a new theatre, because government money

is no longer available. No deal has been struck, but the idea has

angered some local people. The head teacher has defended the plan.

can't rebuild part of your school for two and six. And you know there

are lot of people coming up with loads of suggestion about this and

that. But there isn't any money around. We do need to raise a

significant, multi-millions to rebuild what we need to rebuild.

Coming up: The campaign to remove the Council Tax discount on second

homes. Plus the burning issue of rubbish - campaigners say

incinerators don't tackle the real problem. And a fast boat to the

Arctic - we'll follow Pete Goss on Cornwall Council is calling on the

Government to bring in new legislation to remove the Council

Tax discount on second homes. The authority thinks the proposal could

generate �1.6 million which would then be used to provide more

affordable housing. Councillors are now going to write to the Secretary

of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, to seek

his support. Spotlight's Emma Ruminski has been to Cawsand in

Cornwall to find out what people there think of the idea. A nice

place to live. And the nice place to holiday. It is popular with

second home owners. But owning a second property could be about to

get more expensive. The discount on second home owners has been reduced.

Before 2009 the Council Tax bill for their holiday home was

discounted by 50% that. Has now shrunk to 10%. But Cornwall council

has voted to take this further and wants the Government to allow to it

abolish second home discounts. think as an off-the-cuff reaction,

I'm in favour. The problem about the lack of affordable housing for

people who have grown up in the area, I don't know see why people

who are lucky enough to afford a second home should enjoy a subsidy.

Locals can't afford them. Especially youngsters. So no, I'm

all for it. In some ways I think it is bad they're peerpblising people,

but for people who live locally, they haven't got a chance to get a

home. If they're not I living full- time, should they pay full tax? I

don't know. T I suspect my gut feeling is they shouldn't. Second

home orns are often blamed for raising house prices out of reach

of locals. But kit argued holiday lets bring in tourists. -- but it

can be argued that holiday lets bring in tourist. One councillor

said there are almost 14 thousand properties registered as second

homes and removing the 10% discount would provide an additional �1.6

million which could be used to provide homes for locals. Shelter

believes we should go further and local authorities should have the

power to charge second home owners and that money would be used to

help provide for people in the county who need housing. That is

desperately needed. The charity Shelter wants tax loopholes closed

for second home orns and estimates there are up to 8,000 people in

Cornwall waiting for local authority housing. We tried to

speak to some second home owners in Cawsand today, but they didn't want

to talk to us. Nor did estate agents or those arranging holiday

lets. So is this idea of bringing in new legislation to remove the

Council Tax discount viable? Earlier I spoke to our Political

Editor, Martyn Oates, in Westminster. There are two issues

here. One is the fact that the Council Tax discount allows local

authorities to identify second homes, to know where they are and

how many they are. There is a related point which has been

important in Cornwall, that is that some people get a second vote by

having a second home. That is perfectly legal in some cases,

although not everyone agrees with that. But Cornwall council removed

a lot of people from the electoral register, who they said shouldn't

have been there. The other point which was raised was the

possibilities of people who rent out their home registering for

business rates instead. That would remove the revenue the Council Tax

revenue council gets at the moment. If you have any views on this,

The burning question of what to do with our rubbish has sparked a

fierce debate across the south west. Landfill is running out and

creating energy from waste has become the preferred alternative

for many south west authorities. They say it's an efficient method

of getting rid of waste. There are three sites where incinerators are

planned. At St Dennis in Cornwall, a legal challenge has just been

mounted to the proposed plant. In Plymouth a planning application has

been submitted to build an incinerator at Devonport naval yard.

Meanwhile on the outskirts of Exeter Viridor has been awarded the

contract to incinerate 60,000 tonnes of waste a year. As our

Environment Correspondent Adrian Campbell reports, rubbish has

become big business. At this new recycling centre at Pinhoe, �4

million has been invested to try to reduce the amount of waste that

will be disposed of as landfill. Landfill is becoming expensive,

because of environmental taxes. What do people think about burning

waste to create energy? If you can repsyche it will stuff we throw

away and produce -- recycle stuff we throw away and produce energy

that is good. But does it proDawes a will the of smoke? Does it

produce bad things within the smokist itself. We're going to run

out of landfill. So if they can incinerate it and have energy going

back into the system, then great. At this site, the old incinerator

has made way for Viridor's plans to burn 60,000 tonnes of rubbish a

year. The process is reliable. They haveed a -- they have had this in

frapbt France for -- they have had this in France for 0 years. And the

cost will be less. But one man questions the concept of burning

rub toish produce energy. We need to start bringing forward real

sensible policies about reducing our waste. Which means getting

together with packaging companies. In order to do this properly.

Incineration is a controversial subject. In Cornwall plans for a

energy from waste plant has been delayed after a legal challenge by

campaigners. They are worried about special areas of conservation near

St Dennis. The time scale in the court could be heard been three

months. But it could stretch to six months. In effect it could delay

matters by six months. See that ta UK say they are aware of -- SITA UK

say they are aware of challenge, but are unable to comment while the

challenge continues. The takeover of Plymouth Argyle Football Club

has been completed. The protracted sale and purchase of the Pilgrims

was finally sealed this afternoon. Spotlight's Dave Gibbins assesses

what this means to the troubled club. The Plymouth saga could rival

any best sellers. The twists and turns are enough to leave you in

agony and the pain is being felt by staff and fans. The Irish

consortium at last put pen to paper today. They will buy Home Park and

the land for around �5 to �6 million. Peter Ridsdale will assume

control of football matters in a more official capacity. The staff

and players will be paid in full, but over a period of time. Manager

Peter Reid reed can continue his player recruitment. Season tickets

can be bought and the commercial department can seek new response

sors. They have have to -- now they have to satisfy the Football League.

And then come out of administration and receive the league share. They

aim to do that before the season kicks off in August. University of

Exeter graduate Arul Suppiah last night set a new Twenty/20 cricket

world record by taking six wickets for only five runs for Somerset

against Glamorgan. The slow left arm bowler started his haul when

Glamorgan had reached 77 runs. The 27-year-old Malaysian completed his

record when the Welsh county were bowled out for just 98. Somerset

went on to win by five wickets. Cornish adventurer Pete Goss has

completed his latest challenge - a journey from the north of Scotland

to the Arctic Circle. He was part of a team to become the first to

make the voyage in a rigid inflatable boat. They battled rough

seas and crossed hundreds of miles of water to reach their destination

in Norway. John Danks reports. Setting out from Wick in the north

of sloond, on course for the Arctic. For Pete Goss this is just a hop,

skip and jump? Have I done longer trips. I have done a four and a

half month race. In that sense it is a different adventure. We wanted

to do this voyage in the smallest open boat possible. The 6.3 Humber

ocean pro is the smallest you can go. Because we have a large fuel

requirement. It is a small boat, the further you go from land, the

smaller it becomes. The team travelled more than 900 miles. Six

days after leaving Scotland they arrived in Norway. We took these

tiny ribs from Scotland above the Arctic Circle. We have proven that

a we can take this on. And learn and enjoy it. We have had our up

and downs. There has been some hard days, but that is what it is about.

The Arctic water didn't stop them celebrating in style. Finishing the

challenge! Makes me feel cold looking at that. I don't know what

the water temperatures are around ah coast. About 14 degrees. It is

ah coast. About 14 degrees. It is not very warm on land either. We

have had some wet conditions and some blustery conditions outside

now. For the rest of the week we have got blustery conditions and we

continue to see the risk of showers and longer spells of rain. This was

earlier today where we saw a bit of bright, dry weather. But the rain

soon arrived and the wet weather set in across the South West. Some

of the rain was quite heavy. The conditions challenging fog -- for

the aircraft. Tomorrow will be brighter, but sceness like this

will greet us as we see showers and some will be heavy. Let's look at

the big satellite picture that shows what is going on. A deep area

of low pressure between the tip of Ireland and the north coast of

Devon that. Area for a while will give us a strength of wind that is

unusual at this time of year. Then it moves away and the second half

of the night quietens down. Tomorrow a mixture of sunshine and

showers for the morning. Perhaps drier in the afternoon. Then more

wet weather will give more persistent rain in the evening.

Friday, is a bit more straight foreed -- forward. The weekend

becomes drier. There this a picture from today. You can see the curl of

cloud that has developed. This will give us some strong wind tonight.

Mostly along the north Devon and north Cornwall coast that. Wind

will drop after midnight. So briefly tonight 40 to 50mph gusts

are possible. Later on the winds will drop. Some showers stay with

us through to the end of the night and temperatures between 10 and 13.

Tomorrow, there is some sunshine in the morning. But also one or two

sharp showers. That will be the case through to the end of day and

into the evening more persistent rain coming in. As are you can see

some sunshine between the showers. There is the temperature for much

of tomorrow. 16 or 17 where we see showers. Up to 19 in the sunshine.

Not as wingedy, but still a fresh south-west breeze. The forecast for

the Isles of Scilly, showers are possible, also sunny spells. Later

it clouds over with more rain. Times of high water are on screen.

For the surfers the surf will be messed up, because of the strength

of the wind. The north coast up to seven foot and messy. The south

coast less, but still chopy. Coastal waters, the winds are

south-westerly, force four the five, but occasionally six gusting seven.

Freshening again in the evening as more rain sets in. Showers with

moderate or good visibility in. -- the showers. On Friday more showers.

Into the weekend, the winds calm down. The sunshine comes out. And

the temperatures rise. By the time we get into Saturday and Sunday,

probably a few places getting to 19 or 20 degrees in what a is -- in

what is a dry story. But blustery tonight. Thank you. We're all

getting a response from you on the second home on Council Tax. Gaynor

said I think full Council Tax on second homes is rights. You don't

get a discount for having two cars. Why should houses be different.

from Jane says I own a second home in Cor wall - Cornwall and the

house was inherited the only way can I afford to keep it is to let

it. I employ several local people. David says so how many affordable

homes can be built for �1.6 million. Ian says why should the wealthy be

exempt from a tax that everyone else has to pay? Another from Tim,

that says why should they gate discount if they can afford a