07/03/2012 Spotlight


07/03/2012

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Fighting for their positions - the fire chiefs say they won't stand

:00:12.:00:15.

down after awarding themselves a big increase in allowances.

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Good evening. The chairman and deputy chair of Devon and Somerset

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Fire and Rescue Authority say they have the full backing of their

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members over the controversial decision.

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Also on Spotlight tonight: Senior staff salaries under review

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- the school whose head teacher earns over �150,000.

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Benefiting from water sports - the children for who life hasn't been

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:00:45.:00:47.

The South West's biggest fire service is tonight at the centre of

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an extraordinary row between four senior Conservatives amidst

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allegations of "bullying and dictatorship".

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The chairman and deputy chair of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue

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Authority have been told to stand down by the leaders of the two

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county councils after they approved a 25% increase in allowances for

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authority members. The two men have hit back, saying they'll fight the

:01:04.:01:14.
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move to oust them. Our home affairs correspondent Simon Hall reports.

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Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority is now attracting

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attention for the controversy surrounding its governing body. The

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chairman and his deputy have been told to stand down by the leaders

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of the Cardiff Council for approving a 25 % increase in

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allowances for authority members are. -- County Council. Both men

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say they will fight to keep their jobs. I am saddened by it. I feel I

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have been bullied. I had the full backing of an independent fire

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authority and it should not be interfered with from without.

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not particularly happy with it. I accept that they have the remit to

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appoint me or not to appoint any but I do feel if I am doing my

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constitutional duty I should not be punished in any way. The secretary

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of the Union in Devon and Somerset told me about his concerns. He it

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is not good for someone who works in the fire service. We need to

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deal with it and deal with it swiftly. We have got elections

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coming up in May and they need to sort themselves out and put the

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interests of the fire service first. The row is being fought out between

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suppose it political allies. It could be a long-running dispute. A

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resolution may only come at the Annual General Meeting at the end

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of May. They would not be interviewed but in statement

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explaining their decisions to tell the two councillors to stand down,

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the leader of Somerset County Council said raising allowances was

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a very poor and ill-advised decision. The leader of Devon

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County Council said it was wrong at a time when the public were

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suffering with austerity cutbacks. The MP for Exeter, Ben Bradshaw, is

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calling on Devon County Council to launch a full investigation into a

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school which pays its head teacher �152,000 a year. The council is

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already carrying out a review of senior staff salaries at West Exe

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Technology College in Exeter. As Mr Bradshaw raised his concerns,

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the school today announced that it was putting its bid for academy

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status on hold pending the outcome of the review. Ali Chitty reports.

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Governors at West Exe Technology College confirmed this morning that

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their application for academy status is now on hold, pending the

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county council's review. Salaries are set by the school's governing

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body which requested the review before Christmas. The chair of

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governors at the time, at Steve Maddern, has resigned. The news has

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been welcomed today but the situation at the school requires

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further investigation. I welcome this review but it is not just

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about the salaries. There are other concerns around surrounding

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decision-making. I think the county council needs to carry out a proper

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investigation into the governance of the school so that the parents,

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staff and children can be reassured. West Exe Technology College has

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been improving under Steve Maddern, but following a reorganisation in

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2005, all schools have been showing improvements. St James's took the

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title of the most improved school in Devon this year and its head

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teacher's salary is significantly less. Parents said they did not

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believe Steve Maddern could justify his �152,000 pay cheque. Half of

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the kids don't even really know much. I think it is a joke what

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they allow the kids to wear. I don't think he is that good of a

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headmaster to be paid that much. does not do anything, he is only an

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administrator so why should he get the money? The County Council says

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the review into staff salaries is continuing and it would be

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premature to make any further decisions regarding the school

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until it is completed. LIVE The police say that a woman who was

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found semi-conscious in a cemetery near Redruth this morning has now

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died. Officers have sealed off the cemetery in Illogan whilst they

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conduct their investigation. A local man has been arrested.

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A former Newlyn fisherman has received a life sentence for the

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murder of a man four years ago. Brian Harrison will serve a minimum

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term of 16 years. At Truro Crown Court, Mr Justice Burnett said the

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attack on 44-year-old Neville Dunn was deliberate, vicious and

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repeated. Mr Dunn was left with permanent brain damage after he was

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kicked in the head. He died two years later. The prosecuting

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authorities say it's an extremely unusual case as Harrison was

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already in prison for the attack. A farmer says his barn has been

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burnt down twice and his milk contaminated in a string of attacks

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on his land in West Somerset. The damage has been put at around

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�80,000. Stewart Thomas claims it all started after he publicly

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backed the planned cull of badgers. Steve Powell reports.

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Stewart Thomas surveys the charred remains on his farm just over two

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weeks ago. There must be better ways of conveying a message. This

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was just the latest in a string of incidents that Mr Thomas believes

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cannot be put down to chance alone. Three weeks earlier he and his wife

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had to run into a burning barn to save these cows. And twice now,

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milk from his dairy was found to be contaminated. They must have come

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into the parlour and put it into the system because there is no way

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to get it into the tank. Somebody knew what they were doing to put it

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into the system. Mr Thomas believes he is being targeted by animal

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rights supporters because of a recent local newspaper article in

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which he voiced support for badger culling. There are people in the

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countryside who would do such an act. If they want to give a message,

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I am sure there are far better ways of doing it. It is just terrorism,

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that is all. The police say there is no firm evidence to link the

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incident to animal extremists but they are taking the investigation

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extremely seriously and keeping an open mind. The National Farmers'

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Union say farmers need to be vigilant. So worried now is Mr

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Thomas that he has taken to patrolling around his farm at night

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in the hope of deterring further attack.

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Campaigners fighting to protect an area of land in Weymouth have lost

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their appeal to keep its protected status. The area, known as Curtis

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Fields, was registered as a town green, but today the Appeal Court

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ruled in favour of the owners, Betterment Properties, that it be

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removed from the register. Campaigners say they'll be asking

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the court for leave to appeal the decision. Earlier, I spoke to our

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political editor Martyn Oates about how removing designation as a

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village green would surely set an important precedent.

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It would, but that is not have happened in this case. A designated

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village green has got pretty rock solid protection under the law. The

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legal argument in this case revolved around whether Dorset

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County Council had gone through the correct procedure in the first

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place. The developers argue the castle had used the wrong act of

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parliament but then the president - -... The appeal court has agreed

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that it is null and void. For isn't there a wider disagreement about

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village greens? The government is concerned about the number of

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applications for village greens and the kinds of sites that are being

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proposed. It is now looking at changing the law which would make

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it more difficult to designate sites in future. For instance, the

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criteria to find what a village green really is could be narrowed

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and there might be an application fee of up to �1,000 in future. It

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might become impossible to launch one of these applications once an

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application has already been submitted on the same site. The

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government says it has no intention of allowing existing designations

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to be overturned. How are people reacting? Some bodies simply intent

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to thwart development say they welcome change and they would like

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the government to go further. On the other hand, groups to protect

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rural Ingram's -- England are concerned about what they see as a

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watering down of the current level of protection.

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An outbreak of an animal virus which can cause deformities in

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newborn sheep and cattle has now spread across the South West. The

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latest Government figures show the Schmallenberg virus has been

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identified on seven farms across the region. It's believed the virus

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has been carried here from Europe by midges. Sarah Ransome reports.

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Traditionally, a time of new beginnings, but this year a shadow

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hangs over thousands of sheep farmers across the south-west as

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lambing gets under way. These are healthy but an outbreak of

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Schmallenberg virus is spreading. The first case was detected in

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Cornwall two weeks ago but new figures show two farms in Devon are

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now affected, while in Somerset and three in Dorset. The virus can lead

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to birth deformities in livestock. Colin Rowland is getting ready for

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lambing. He does not know if his 1,000 or so pregnant ewes have been

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infected or not. If we have a Schmallenberg virus we were just

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have to get on and deal with it. If we have it in large numbers it is

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very distressing. Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope we have

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not got it. It is thought the virus came to England on infested --

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infected midges blown across the Channel from Europe last autumn.

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The Department for food, environment and rural affairs say

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it is hard to keep track of it because farmers don't have to

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report it but it is urging them to be vigilant. The government admits

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a vaccine is some way off but is working with its European partners

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to find a way to protect -- prevent the disease in future. Colin

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Rowland is keeping a close eye on his flock but it is a waiting game.

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These use argued Alam next week and only then will we know if his farm

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has been affected. More than 30 disabled workers in

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Cornwall could lose their jobs after the factory where they work

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was earmarked for closure. The Remploy plant in Penzance, which

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makes healthcare products, is one of 36 across the UK due to shut

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after a government review concluded they were unlikely to become self-

:12:11.:12:21.
:12:21.:12:26.

funding. I do feel there is quite a few

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people who will probably never work again because in this climate, it

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is difficult for able-bodied people to gain employment, let alone a

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disabled person. The RSPCA says it's taking a

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growing number of neglected horses into care. It blames the economic

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climate and some irresponsible horse owners for continuing to

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breed when they can't afford to keep the animals. Spotlight's

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Janine Jansen reports. The RSPCA was alerted to this field

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in South Devon. They said the conditions were totally

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unacceptable. Huge nails stuck out of doors and the stables look like

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someone's bathroom. Financial issues were great problem. The

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family did not have a car. These animals were not being seen or

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weeks at a time. When we arrived at the location, there were three

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horses in the same condition. Unfortunately, one of them was

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deemed under veterinary advice that the kindest thing to do to their

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third one, because of the ongoing condition, was to have the animal

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put to sleep. Her but it is good news for the other two. They are

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both being cared for at this century in Newton Abbot. The

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century says it is currently at full capacity. Italy has 172 horses

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out on loan and 109 are receiving debt and the care and 18 are

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looking for new homes. In the last 12 months, we have seen a distinct

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rise in the number of referrals. We have also seen some people who have

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had horses and ponies are suddenly finding that they are struggling

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financially and they have had to bring those horses and ponies back

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to us. In addition to that, we have also had a distinct number of

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increasing calls relating to members of the public seeing horses

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and ponies in fields and being concerned for their welfare.

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there is a special way home in Day this Saturday at the sanctuary in

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little him still. Coming up next:

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How water sports are transforming the lives of disadvantaged

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youngsters. Plus, how did your local team get

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on? We'll have all the goals from last night's football.

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And find out what happened when this nine-year-old girl had a close

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:14:58.:15:05.

Sailing and surfing is hoped to transform the lives of scores of

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young people in Cornwall. The high cost of water sports has meant that

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some young people have never been on the water despite living close

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to the sea. Now one organisation is trying to change that.

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Herein Cornwall, we have golden sands stretching for miles around

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the coast, attracting as tourists from around the world but just a

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few miles from here there are children who have never been to the

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beach let alone experienced the thrill of water sports.

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Capsizing, a far cry from a lesson in maths or English. But the school

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lessons have a serious same - to transform lives by offering new and

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challenging opportunities. It's is the first time I have never sailed

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with my friends and that. It is good. One I haven't you done it

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before? His is quite expensive. There is not a lot to do around my

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school up but down here that is a big space and we can just run round,

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get our hands dirty and play in the water. It is about building

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confidence and improving personal and social development schools and

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building teamwork. Developing all of those schools that you need in

:16:20.:16:30.
:16:30.:16:31.

life and any sort of job you going to. The scheme is run by Cornwall

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Murray network, with European funding. Young people are offered

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free lessons in a range of watersports. It was set up after

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research found that in some deprived parts of Cornwall, around

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half the children had never been to the beach. It is making a

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difference socially and in the classroom. If he are not confident

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and have low esteem, then you might have trouble in any part of

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education but some of these children who are not big fans of

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school are finding a different type of education here. The children are

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motivated. Some even plan to take up careers in the marine sector.

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Whatever they choose it is hoped their experience in the water will

:17:16.:17:25.

in some way help their life chances. Three-quarters of the South West's

:17:25.:17:28.

Football League teams were successful last night. The

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exception was Exeter City whose 2-0 defeat at Brentford has left them

:17:34.:17:39.

in serious relegation trouble. I so just City have plummeted into the

:17:39.:17:44.

bottom four of League 1. They conceded two goals at Brent

:17:44.:17:49.

ford, and they had their captain sent off for elbowing an opponent.

:17:49.:17:55.

He will miss the next three games. City are in big trouble and go to

:17:55.:18:00.

fifth place Milton Keynes dons on Saturday. They can take heart from

:18:00.:18:05.

Yeovil Town's single goal when last night. Gavin Williams struck just

:18:05.:18:13.

before half-time. They had to survive without Dean pan out who

:18:13.:18:18.

was dismissed at half-time before the goalkeeper saved this cannot

:18:18.:18:27.

say. -- penalty. Torquay United came out of their contest with

:18:27.:18:34.

Alter shot down with three points. -- Aldershot Town. They are making

:18:34.:18:39.

a late bid for automatic promotion. It took just 15 seconds for

:18:39.:18:49.
:18:49.:18:52.

Plymouth Argyle 2 Scots at Wimbledon. -- to score at Wimbledon.

:18:52.:18:57.

It has been a very special week for 19-year-old girl from North Devon

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with an unusual hobby. Ali Carter from Great Torrington are so

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interested in aircraft she wrote to the Royal International Air tattoo

:19:06.:19:10.

to see if they could help to realise her dream. And that is what

:19:10.:19:18.

happened. The spy plane coming into land, its

:19:18.:19:22.

flight path normally a state secret but today there are some very

:19:22.:19:32.

special waiting. QPR arrive on that car screaming around the corner. --

:19:32.:19:41.

key puerile on that card arriving in the corner. Today, the little

:19:41.:19:51.
:19:51.:19:51.

girl has the job of talking the pilot threw two touchdown. Bingo,

:19:51.:19:57.

on the ground. Designed to fly on the very edge of space, when the

:19:57.:20:01.

year to get this close to terra firma, the pilots cannot see the

:20:01.:20:08.

ground. This was a dream come true for LA who fell in love with planes

:20:08.:20:12.

at the Royal International Air tattoo. She wrote to the organisers

:20:12.:20:21.

and the pilots saw her letter, and she never expected this to happen.

:20:21.:20:28.

A I wrote this letter and it went to the Pentagon. And they decided

:20:28.:20:35.

to let me do this it is really fun. The pilot was actually flawed with

:20:35.:20:39.

the amount of knowledge that she had. She will certainly be very

:20:39.:20:45.

qualified and whatever she wants to do in future. The plane is still

:20:46.:20:50.

popular. There is often said that at any time there will be one

:20:50.:20:55.

flying somewhere above the earth. What are very lucky young girl, a

:20:55.:21:01.

day she will never forget. An apt to castle Togo today. It was

:21:01.:21:11.
:21:11.:21:18.

Tonight, a touch of frost. A lot of clear sky covering most of South

:21:18.:21:23.

England now. There might be some cloud creeping into western

:21:23.:21:27.

Cornwall later in the night. This evening there might be some showers,

:21:28.:21:34.

but most of those will fade away. Here is that cloud that gave us the

:21:34.:21:40.

wet weather. You can see a lot of clear sky. This speckled cloud his

:21:40.:21:48.

shower bearing cloud, but we will not see much of that overnight. A

:21:49.:21:53.

couple of cold fronts moving away from us. This weather front to the

:21:53.:21:56.

West will trickle past the North of the country and bring a lot more

:21:57.:22:02.

cloud across northern Britain. We will have sunny spells to enjoy

:22:02.:22:06.

tomorrow. As we move into Friday, you can expect a bit more and the

:22:06.:22:11.

way of cloud but again a lot of dry weather and high pressure is firmly

:22:11.:22:15.

in charge as we move into the weekend. Looking at the detail, you

:22:15.:22:20.

can see where the way -- where the rain has been. Most of those

:22:20.:22:26.

showers will move away tonight. A lot of clear sky and very quickly a

:22:26.:22:32.

big drop in temperatures. That is already happening. By the morning,

:22:32.:22:36.

temperatures as low as three or four degrees. Some places might get

:22:36.:22:43.

law. Always a bit of a breeze along North West Cornwall. Perhaps not

:22:43.:22:47.

quite as called here. Sheltered parts of southern and eastern Devon

:22:47.:22:51.

as well as Somerset and Dorset could see temperatures down as low

:22:51.:22:55.

as one or two degrees above freezing. The possibility first

:22:55.:23:00.

thing tomorrow morning of a touch of frost. It also means and I start

:23:00.:23:05.

with some sunshine. A little cloud coming in from West Cornwall.

:23:05.:23:10.

Patchy cloud will develop through the day but not much of that. Most

:23:10.:23:14.

of us will expect to see a good deal of sunshine and it will feel

:23:14.:23:21.

warm more. The reason, much lighter winds. We have had a blustery day.

:23:21.:23:26.

Tomorrow, temperatures up to between 10 and 12 degrees. It will

:23:26.:23:31.

feel warm more. Much lighter winds, more sunshine and generally better

:23:31.:23:37.

than it has felt. As for the Isles of Scilly, it will be patchy cloud

:23:37.:23:43.

around. Much less windy here than we have seen today. Tomorrow

:23:43.:23:53.
:23:53.:24:00.

promises a reasonable doubt. Here are the high water times. If you

:24:00.:24:04.

are heading for the beach to do any such thing, I expect the conditions

:24:04.:24:11.

on the North coast to be clean issue. The South coast will still

:24:11.:24:17.

be on the top Teesside with those onshore winds. Sea temperature is

:24:17.:24:24.

just nine or ten degree sold a pup warm. Here is the coastal waters

:24:24.:24:34.
:24:34.:24:35.

forecast. Looking further ahead into the weekend, on Friday, quite

:24:35.:24:40.

a bit of cloud around. It will still be tried. The winter mainly

:24:40.:24:45.

from the West and temperatures up to 11 or 12 degrees. Saturday, the

:24:45.:24:51.

cloud is a little thicker. It will be reluctant to break up and allow

:24:51.:25:01.
:25:01.:25:06.

sunny spells to develop a bad could happen in the eastern areas. Apart

:25:06.:25:16.

from tonight, it should also be Tomorrow night we will follow to be

:25:16.:25:20.

hundred teenagers from the South West travelling too Poland to read

:25:20.:25:23.

best for themselves the concentration camp at Auschwitz.

:25:23.:25:28.

We'll look at how the Holocaust Educational Trust is trying to keep

:25:28.:25:32.

the lessons of life. We spoke to some of those before they laughed

:25:32.:25:37.

about what they are expecting. I think it will really put things

:25:37.:25:42.

into perspective, like in my life, it will make things seem trivial.

:25:42.:25:46.

And it will teach us something about humanity and what we are

:25:46.:25:50.

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