10/04/2012 Spotlight

Heading for a drought - restrictions could come into force

next week. Good evening. South West Water says domestic supplies

shouldn't be affected, so who is? Also on Spotlight tonight: Found

guilty of murdering his partner - the local property developer who

also tried to strangle his ex-wife. Given just months to live - the

woman now taking part in a pioneering cancer drug trial.

meant that I'm here. And I'm looking forwards to my daughter's

wedding in July. And happy holidays, but has the weather dampened the

start to the season? We don't let it spoil our fun here, we find

something to do. Well despite the rain yesterday, Spotlight

understands that a drought situation could be declared in the

South West over the next couple of weeks. Underground water supplies

are lower than usual, after a prolonged period of below average

rainfall. Farmers are most likely to be affected. South West Water

says domestic water restrictions are unlikely. South West Water's

reservoirs are 84% full as of the beginning of the month, compared

with 87% last year. But that's only because the company has taken 8.25

billion litres of water from our rivers to keep three reservoirs

Colyford, Roadford and Wimbleball, topped up. Spotlight's environment

correspondent Adrian Campbell reports. At this farm in Cornwall

the oilseed rape crop looks healthy. Two days of showers have given them

a watering. But Mike, who chairs the national crop board, says the

rain fall throughout the winter has been well below normal. I keep

records of the rain fall. From January to March this year in old

money we have had seven ifpblgs of rain. The same period last year,

ten inches. How are you coping with the conditions? It almost seems

these drier springs are recurring. So we made decisions about the way

we managed the crop and put fertiliser on earlier so it can be

used effect ively and the crops don't sufficient. We have done that

here. -- crops don't suffer. We have done that year here. Much of

the country is already under drought restrictions, the South

West can't be far behind. The Environment Agency says all ground

water levels remain low. Especialfully east Devon and parts

of Dorset. For the moment they advise everyone to use water wisely.

South West Water has used rivers to replenish the reservoirs, but

they're still 3% lower than this time last year. We have made a lot

of investment in our ability to move water around and we have two

new rest voirs and we're using pump storage schemes to pump water from

the rivers during the winter and to supplement the national inflow to

the rest voirs. This year the three schemes have put in water that

wouldn't otherwise be there. Environment Agency said it has been

talking to farmers about way to save water and it seeps almost

certain the swers -- seems almost certain the South West could be

subject to a drought order. So why do we need this Drought Order?

look here the river looks healthy. But the past couple of days we have

had rain fall. The issue is the ground water. That has been the

problem. And over many months we have had low rain fall that has had

an impact on the ground water. We're facing an environmental

drought. Not one that consumers will suffer from, there won't be

hosepipe bans but what must be put right is the Lel of the rivers and

we have got to improve their situation after taking so much

water over recent months. What is the situation in Dorset? Well if

you look across to west Dorset, we're in east Devon, if you look

there, they have wells that rely on ground water. Wessex Water said its

concerned about river levels and they're not in a healthy state. So

there is some cause for concern. Thank you. And David will have a

full forecast later in the programme. A man who strangled his

partner at their home in Devon is tonight beginning a life sentence.

John Doyle's claim that he accidentally killed Sian Rees in

self-defence was branded as preposterous by the judge at Exeter

Crown Court. It was also revealed the 54-year-old had attacked

another woman in a similar manner. Hamish Marshall reports. John Doyle

was tonight facing a long prison sentence. One day last June changed

his life. Because he ended the life of his partner. Sian Rees had

breast cancer treatment on the day she died. At the same time, Doyle

was in the pub getting drunk. She called into this hotel to book a

room for the tonight. She went back to the house to collect over night

things, but never left alive. No one knows for certain what happened

here at the house the couple shared at herton Mill. We know there was

an argument but the jury decided that John Doyle intended to kill

Sian Rees that night. Doyle's crime came to light the following morning,

when he crashed his van. The judge said that he was on his way to

dispose of her body. He tried to present himself as caring partner.

But the fact was that she had received some life saving treatment

on the same day that he killed her. I have no doubt that in placing her

body and the items that he used to kill her in the vehicle, that was a

significant ef tort to hide all evidence of wrong-doing.

sentencing Doyle to a minimum term The court heard Doyle had also

tried to strangle his estranged wife in 1989 in Australia after she

left him for another man. A woman who was given months to live says

her life has been extended by taking part in a pioneering cancer

drug trial. Rosemary Reid from Plymouth was diagnosed with

malignant melanoma and the cancer spread to her internal organs.

Taking part in the trial won't cure her, but it has reduced and

stabilised her cancer. Rosemary's story is documented tonight on the

BBC programme Horizon. Spotlight's Emma Ruminski reports. Rosemary was

diagnosed with malignant melanoma four years ago. Surgery and

chemotherapy cowl not stop it spreading. When cancer gets to that

stage, it is sooner or later terminal. That was a hard thing to

come to terms with and... To tell our children really. Referring

Rosemary to hospital in lopbtd gave her hope, as she took part in a new

drug trial. There was a new drug which is the one that the programme

is about which I have been on since last July. It is still on what they

call extended access, that means it has had the nirblg trials, but even

with that extended access it is only for some people who have to

have a mutant gene. The Institute of Cancer research found 50% of

patients have a plue Taited gene. In this cavity is the essential

part of the molecule that make it cause cancer. After identifying the

problem, drug designers found a chemical to plug a hole in the

protein. The scan was good. really. That is the most important

thing. Wow! So definite shrinkage of the abnormalities. Eight or nine

times out of ten you can say to the patients things have got weer the -

- have got better. That is a great thing, after so little progress

treating the disease. But the drug isn't available on the NHS yet.

Let's hope that the NHS, it is given enough funds to make sure

everyone who needs it gets it. meant I'm here and looking forward

to my daughter's wedding in July. Rosemary Reid ending that report by

Emma Ruminski. And you can see more of her story on Horizon tonight at

9 o'clock on BBC2. Safety checks have been ordered on the type of

helicopter used by air ambulances in the South West. A crack was

discovered on the main rotor hub of a Eurocopter EC135 in Scotland.

It's prompted a safety warning by the European Aviation Safety Agency.

Both Devon and Cornwall air ambulances have said they don't

have any issues with their aircraft. The latest housing market survey

from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors shows a mixed

picture for the South West. It found there were more potential

first-time buyers, but prices continued to edge downward. There

were major delays on the M5 today after a crash near Exeter involving

five vehicles. No-one was seriously injured, but long queues built up

northbound stretching back to the A30 junction at Alphington. Tourism

businesses in the region are reporting a mixed start to the

season. Changeable weather over the bank holiday weekend and the rising

cost of fuel are being blamed for visitors taking shorter breaks.

Latest figures show visitor numbers were down 5% on this time last year.

Spotlight's Andy Breare reports. When you holiday in the South West

the weather's always going to be a gamble. But the easter week's wind

and rain didn't little to deter these campers. You adapt and do

something different. There is always something to do. You can Qom

and go, whatever the weather. have got plenty of games on board

if it is wet and windy and plenty of books to read and music to

listen to. We're quite happy. the same camp site this family are

sheltering under canvas. They have travelled from hull hull, but

they're not bothered by the weather. But aware it is getting more pricey

to visit. We don't let it spoil our fun, we always fine something to do.

There is lots to do on the site. You can do for a drive. But the

fuel thing is, it adds to the holiday and it does make you more,

think more about going in your car. Tourism figures from the easter

weekend show visitor numbers were similar to last year. There were

fears that rising fuel costs and an ininspiring weather forecast may

have put people off. But they did come. They just didn't stay that

long. We had one great day and do OK day and one awful day. That

creating a great runaway. We saw people exiting earl yerl. In term

of numbers we were on a par, in terms of spent we had a day written

off by the rain. Tourism bosses say it shows the region must continue

to market itself and rising costs means visitors know their budgets

better and while they cannot control the weather, they must

ensure the South West increasingly represents good value for money.

Teachers from the South West say they fear for the future of their

jobs, and for their pupils. Delegates at the National Union of

Teachers' conference in Torbay have voted to strike if necessary over

Government plans for local pay deals. Delegates at the conference,

which ended today, also decided to continue opposing academy schools.

Spotlight's Community Affairs Correspondent, Carys Edwards,

reports. The votes say it all. There was almost unanimous

opposition to many of the government's education reforms.

Delegates voted to consider industrial action if the Government

goes ahead with proposals to introduce local pay deals.

motion passed today said we should take action up to and including

strike action. I believe we would be doing that with our fellow trade

unions and other public sector unions. The Government is thinking

about its, or are they going to do it? Teachers on the same grade earn

the same amount wherever they live. The proposal cowl mean teachers pay

different amounts in different parts. Cathy is a special needs

teacher in Cornwall. She believes pay could be lower in the South

West. My worry is that if teachers in Cornwall were paid less than

those in other parts, the best teachers would be attracted to the

areas where the pay is higher and the quality of education here would

suffer. There is a sense of disillusionment among teachers and

they talk of fear over pay, jobs and over the way edge is going to

be delivered. But the Government said the pace of reform needs to

increase and it wants to cut red tape and raise standards. More than

half of Secretary schools are already academies and one teacher

said they needed to embrace change. It is a new world of education and

there are challenges, but there are opportunities and we need to step

back, take time to think about those opportunities to make sure

we're best representing our members and delivering the education we

want to provide. The NUT is threatening strikes over pensions.

No decision on possible strike action over local pay will be taken

for months. But for many disillusionment is already here.

Time now for the sport and Dave has all the details. With four games

left to play in the football season, Exeter City are still hoping to

perform a great escape from relegation, but it's touch and go

for Torquay United in their bid to for Torquay United in their bid to

go up. BT has Exeter's 3-0 win come too late to save them. They had one

hand on the safety rope after these three goals. It gave them a

platform to launch their bifrd for platform to launch their bifrd for

survival. If we keep producing performances like that, you never

know. If we win the last four games, that get us to 50 and that in past

year has been good enough. You year has been good enough. You

never know. It is still on. Yeovil fell to a Lloyd Sam hat trick at

Notts County. Franks balance tds equation late on sh but Sam

completed his trio in a-1 result. The Glovers should be safe with

eight points to sit on. There is no room for error at the top of League

Two. After Torquay's Howe punished a mistake, they veered off course

at 2-1 and ten men. But in the final minute they kept themselves

in the promotion frame. This deflected goal goal was riteal as

Plymouth moved away from the Plymouth moved away from the

relegation alarm bells. The Cornish Pirates rugby coach Chris Stirling

has brought forward his departure date from the Championship club.

The Kiwi is taking up a post with the New Zealand RFU after this

Sunday's play-off home game against Bedford Blues. Stirling took the

Pirates to the play-off final last year, when they were beaten by

Worcester. He announced last December that he was planning to go

back to his native country. Tennis players of all ages have been

getting extra coaching and tips from the mother of Britain's most

successful player. Andy Murray's mum, Judy Murray, was in Newquay

today to help out at a tennis roadshow, aimed at getting more

women into the sport. Here's Eleanor Parkinson. She may be

better known as Andy Murray's mum, but Judy Murray is the captain of

the British women's team. And today she was in Cornwall. The road show

was organised to get more women into the sport. Experienced players

were asked to bring along new players. We have so many people

here and so many young girls, so many mum, I think there are some

granny and a lot of lady coaches. It is a fabulous day out for people

who are keen to try tennis in the area. I like the competition and

being out in the sunshine. And the fact that you have got so many

different shots you can play and there is always something to work

at. Everyone gets involved, people of all abilities and ages. We live

in a remote place, but we have a tennis club and it is a nice social

able court. It is hoped somewhere in the crowd there could be a

future Wimbledon champion. Finally, Newquay Cormorants' world record

holder Jonathan Fox has been selected for this year's

Paralympics swimming team. Newquay pair Benjamin Procter and Matt

Whorwood await their confirmation. That is all your sport today. A

Devon wildlife park which inspired a Hollywood blockbuster has been

enjoying its busiest Easter ever. The boss at Dartmoor Zoo says the

weather has helped, but it's the movie which is creating the real

buzz. Spotlight's Scott Bingham went along to see for himself.

Benjamin Mey signs copies of his book that was adopted for the film.

The movie has been a big hit and he admits the publicity has been

priceless. It's fantastic. It's a $50 million advertising campaign.

We haven't got that kind of budget. We're about 50% up on a normal busy

Easter. Part of that is the weather. But when you talk to people, it is

the film. It has created a huge buzz. He is not wrong. We took to

children to see the film and they have seen the film and now want to

see the zoo. We thought we're on a camping trip and we're coming to a

camp site that was near. We thought, well why not? We have seen the

movie. I wonder what it's like. were blown away by the movie and we

thought as we're here we have to see the Zoo. It is a wonderful zoo

and close to the zoo they picked for movie. The zoo has been

preparing for the visitors, an overflow car park has been

completed, but pulling in the crowds is what the business iss all

about. Benjamin said the book and film haven't brought in the

millions people may imagine, but the place has come a long way since

he and his family bought a zoo. East and West came together this

Easter weekend at a Devon festival to celebrate a Nobel Prize winner,

who was the inspiration behind Dartington Hall. The progress of

the Dartington project by Leonard and Dorothy Elmhirst was largely

inspired by Bengali writer Rabindranath Tagore and the values

he held most dear. Aysha Iqbal reports. A fusion of east and west,

at Dartington Hall. A celebration of the links with Rabindranath

Tagore. He was the inspiration behind the venue. Indian dance,

music and philosophy have something special. But so is British dance,

British music, British science, British technology. So we have this

festival to create a synthesis of east and west. This Easter weekend

paid homage to Tagore through talks and performances, inspiring the

crowds to connect to Dartington's history. We have progd a series of

events from talks and workshops, and we have shown a film about

earth. And we have got some great gigs. So people can come and here

the best of British and Asian music and the artists are all using

Tagore's songs as inspiration. was when the founders of the home

Mehta gore that he recommended Devon for the project. Today

Tagore's philosophy, love of the arts and passion for social

equality remain close to its aims. There was a bit of sunshine around

at the weekend. And lots of blossom on the trees. I bet it has all

blown down now. Is there more rain to come? There are fears of drought.

You know, if we talk about drought, You know, if we talk about drought,

the rain will fall. The forecast for this week is to continue with

the showers. They may be far between tomorrow, but they will

keep going. And also quite cold. The night frosts cowl return.

Yesterday we had a huge down pour. Lis comb saw 42 millimetres of rain.

That is what we expect for the entire month of April. For those

who need it, perhaps it was good news, the wet weather yesterday. We

have seen showers and sunshine today. And that is the theme for

the rest of the week. The low pressure is up to the western coast

of Norway. It will bring us north- west winds tonight and tomorrow and

then slowly the winds become northerly. That is a cold direction

for us and will give us some low overnight temperatures. But the

April sunshine and that combined with the cold air from the north

generates unstable air. So that is why we have had sharp showers. Some

of the showers are given some big down pours. Most of which have died

away and there is not a great deal of showers activity now. But this

was earlier on Dartmoor, where there were some showers in the

distance. And one or two gave some hefty down pours of rain. But it

has not deterred people on the moor, enjoying some reasonable weather.

But you need to wrap I. That breeze has made itself felt. Today,

despite the sunshine, temperatures around 12 degrees. But some

spectacular scenes with the big clouds. You can send in your

photographs to Spotlight Weather. Now the detail tonight. While the

showers have faded, they will return later, particularly across

Cornwall and west Devon. The further east, the lower the risk of

seeing showers and the lower the temperatures. A few places across

east Devon could see temperatures down to one or two degrees above

freezing. Cold enough for a touch of frost here and there. Tomorrow

there will be plenty of sunshine in the morning. Showers will get going,

but they will be isolate add many will get away with a dry day and it

will feel pleasant. But you need to get Ute of breeze. 12 degrees the

maximum temperature. But throw in that north-west wind and it will

feel like eight or nine. For isles of silly, showers and a breezy day.

Time of high water are on screen. The cleanest surf will be on the

south coast. It is choppy on the north coast. Not much to say about