12/09/2013 Spotlight

Are lessons being learnt from the Winterbourne View scandal?

Good evening. Welcome to Spotlight. After a pattern of serious abuse,

the government said there should be a dramatic reduction in people with

learning disabilities in hospitals. A visit from the Care Minister, but

charities question whether there really is a shift. We're concerned

the South West isn't taking this as seriously as they should. All the

people and we have spoken to said they are taking action but there is

not much evidence in response. Also tonight: Keeping Cornwall

connected to the capital via its only airlink. Easyjet agrees to

take over the Newquay to Gatwick route from Spring of next year.

Around 100 office staff at two Devon councils could be made

redundant in cost cutting measures. And, cool running — the 49—year—old

who carried a fridge from John O'Groats to Land's End.

Why a fridge? She wouldn't let me have the cooker!

Two years ago, the BBC uncovered evidence of what was deemed

"appalling" abuse at a private hospital caring for vulnerable

adults from the South West. The scandal at Winterbourne View

prompted the government to rethink the way patients are cared for,

saying too many were in hospitals. But, as Matthew Hill reports, there

are now questions whether change is really taking place.

This report contains a scene from the Panorama programme.

The minister was invited to buy the father of Sam who he believed there

was —— who he believed was Abu —— abused was staying at the UKIP. He

doesn't know you're coming. The family did not want him to be

filmed as they don't want to bring back painful memories for him.

Behind these walls festered a culture of cruelty where it

inhumane treatment was inflicted on people who couldn't defend

themselves and were and are believed when they spoke up. The

hospital has closed and residents of similar large institutions have

to find similar accommodation closer to home by next June. Since

the scandal was revealed, reports of abuse of vulnerable adults has

risen. In Somerset alone two years ago, there were 516 in this it did

—— investigations. The next day, 577. Not enough progress is being

made, according to one charity and they say Somerset County Council

has not responded to a Freedom of Information request to find out how

they were doing in achieving their target. We are concern a south—west

isn't taking this as seriously as they should. When we have asked for

evidence, there has not been much in response. What will you do about

it? I am constantly putting pressure on the system to make sure

it happens as it should. Everybody is committed to this. We have a

Concorde act that all the systems have to deliver this. If they

don't? He if it doesn't work and local commissioners do not do what

they have to do then we have to look at tougher action. The council

says there are now only 11 adults with learning difficulties living

out of Somerset and There are plans to ensure that they, like Sam, are

found a home locally by next June. Being hundreds of miles from London

and connections to the rest of the world, the fact that Newquay

Airport offers a link to the capital is seen as crucial by

businesses. It's the South West's only one. And this programme has

learnt that it WILL survive. Flybe may be dropping the service to

Gatwick but EasyJet is picking it up, although it's not clear yet

exactly how many slots they'll offer. Our business correspondent,

Neil Gallacher, is in Newquay tonight. Neil.

What we have been told is that There is a future for the air link

to London. Before today it looked like we were coming perilously

close to losing it all together. I have been told by more than one

senior figure in the world of local politics and business that easyJet

will come on board by the end of March. The air link as we know it

today is run by Flybe. They fly to Gatwick and back three times a day.

But its days are numbered as they have sold their landing slots at

Gatwick. EasyJet will be able to use them for air services from

wherever they wish. The news that easyJet will keep up some service

to London is being received positively. It is absolutely

significant. We are acutely aware how the link is important for Devon

and Cornwall and having that vital link to London is crucial. What no

one has told us is how many flights a day easyJet will run between

Newquay and Gatwick. The slots are valuable, especially the peak time

ones. EasyJet could well only run one or two services daily. If

passengers could only fly around the middle of the day, how much of

a problem would that be? One in the morning and one in the evening?

Business people could then do it in a day. I think they need to keep it

going whatever it is. Any it would be grateful. Maybe just one flight,

but realistically you need two or three. Newquay airport, meanwhile,

would only say today that it is in discussion with several airlines

about the London route. EasyJet would not discuss their Laker's ——

latest thinking, saying only no decision has been made.

Neil, if it is only one or two flights, is it a service worth

having, do you think? There is no doubt that would be a real second—

best to what we have. But it would be way better than the alternative

which would be tantamount to saying, "Cornwall closed to Investment".

Another service might come on board as well. The government was talking

about subsidies from regional air links in to London in parts of

Britain that don't benefit from the high—speed to investment., all

would certainly benefit from that. Thank you. Nearly a quarter of the

office—based workforce at two Devon councils could be made redundant.

West Devon Borough and South Hams District Council say shedding

almost 100 staff could save them £3.5 million a year. Spotlight's

Janine Jansen joins us now. Janine when could these job losses take

place? If approved next month, the job losses will take place over the

next two—and—a—half years. There are about 100 office—based staff at

West Devon Council in Tavistock and around 450 at South Hams Council in

Totnes. So, if approved, in total around 97 staff will go across all

levels. That's about a quarter of office staff. How do the councils

propose working with fewer staff? Well, they say they're looking at a

new model to deliver services in future which will involve new

technology. They say customers expect service 24/7 including

evenings and weekends. They'll invest around £4.5 million in new

technology to improve customer service. But if you don't embrace

the digital age, there is help at hand.

What we are careful to say is that we are not forcing people down a

digital route. People will not want to work in that way so we will

ensure we still have excellent services in terms of face to face

and telephone services. Big savings but could we see the council tax

reduced? They want to save 2.5 million year on year so council tax

will not be going down. But council tax won't be going up hugely either

if this is approved. Businesses have reacted angrily to

plans to cut CCTV cover in three towns in South Devon. Teignbridge

District Council will consider cuts which will affect cameras operating

in Newton Abbot, Bovey Tracey and Dawlish. The council says it's

because it is receiving less money from the government and there is a

freeze on council tax. Our South Devon reporter, John Ayres, has

more. They are here to keep us safe. CCTV

cameras record crime and prevention is better than the cure, is the

theory. Teignbridge council are cutting them to help them balance

the books and it is horrifying local businesses. If this happens,

the criminals will be openly aware there will be no system preventing

that. Newton Abbot Business security is a group which helps

prevent crime in the town. To the chairman, it is so much more about

preventing crime as it helps locate lost children and vulnerable people.

The council has said each incident costs £16.61. But how can you put a

value on finding a four—year—old girl who has gone missing? You

can't. The police cut their share of the fund as part of their own

budget cuts. The council's grant from the government is falling and

the administration promised a council—tax freeze. The council

believes local businesses should pay if they want CCTV. The

businesses and banks in the area have not come forward to replace

the funding stream. We are facing running costs for the facility and

we are facing outdated equipment which needs replacing at

considerable cost. Councillors will be considering the benefit of CCTV

when they vote next week. A one of the famous salmon

fisheries in the region has had to close because of a mysterious

disease. Hamish Marshall reports. A beautiful scene on the East Lyn

but below there is a distinct lack of salmon and sea—trout which make

it so popular with anglers. It is currently closed as a fungal

disease has wiped out much of the fish stock. This angler has fished

here for over 20 years. When they come from the sea they carry small

lesions. What happens is they come into fresh water, pick up a

secondary infection which leads to this fungus and that is very

visible. You walk up through the river and you can seek fish laying

on the gravel covered in white fungus around their gills. Anglers

come from all over the country to fish here... And it is the only

fishery owned by the Environment Agency and a permit is cheap. There

have been isolated cases in other rivers but nothing like the levels

here. The cause remains a mystery even after scientists tested in ——

and infected fish. The results of analysis have been inconclusive

really. It is a bacterial agent that causes the skin to be eroded.

The exact cause is unknown. It has been a while since the river was in

full flow. These rocks are often well below the surface. They was a

small outbreak of the disease last year but in 2013 it has been much

worse. The first —— the drier summer is one theory behind the

increase in levels. Cheques will be carried out to see if stocks can be

replenished to allow the fishery to open next year.

Still to come: The Antiques Roadshow comes to Exeter. Thousands

turn up to get their treasures valued.

Out of the frying pan and into the firing line as the apprentice comes

to Axminster. Work is about to begin restoring

the Lyme Regis home of the All third John macro who wrote The

French Lieutenant's Woman. The house needs major repairs and it is

also architecturally significant. The woman who lived there invented

a form of artificial stone which revolutionised the eighteenth—

century building industry. An 18th century advert by the first

inhabitant of this house. An example of Elena code's cast stone.

It enabled the stone to be made using —— using mouldings. The

embellishments are all made of this fantastic stone. It worked on big

and small mouldings and was widely used in the 18th and 19th centuries.

But this seaside home is now in a sorry state of repair. The

staircase got moved and changed over the years. It has been taken

on by the The Landmark Trust which plans to repair and sympathetically

let it as a holiday rental. Its last inhabitant was the 20th

century author John macro. This is the loveliest room of the house. It

was his writing room. It is now in a fairly dilapidated state and has

serious structural problems as well. With views out over Lyme Bay, it is

here that he finished his most famous novel. He described the cock

a simply the most beautiful sea rampart on the south coast of

England — Alison time but delicate. You can imagine him here on a

wintry day as he described the French Lieutenant's woman. "the

figure stood motion this staring out to see...". "a figure from myth

more than a fragment of a petty provincial day." urgent repairs are

due to start on this romantic Villa next month.

We have bat so we need to time it very carefully note —— so as not to

disturb them. The structural issues are such that we do not want to

leave them another winter. Repairs come at a price. The trust has

raised £1.3 million but it still needs another half a million to

finish the job. When finished, there will also be a museum.

For 36 years, they've been putting their prized possessions in front

of the cameras. Today, Exeter was the backdrop for

the Antiques Roadshow. The queues stretched around

Cathedral Green with people hoping to unearth a hidden history or find

a family fortune. They want to know if they keepsake is special. Has

the programme's presenter ever brought something of heroin to be

valued? Of course I have! You have to take advantage of working on

this programme. One of the expat had a look at my engagement ring

which I knew was Victorian. I had various bits and bobs that I

brought along. None of any value whatsoever. Most objects have come

from relatively humble home. But some are plucked from a much

grander surroundings. This family has already appeared on Country

House Rescue. I brought this bird along which is Tibetan with a

crystal body and emeralds and sapphires and various other stones

decorating it. Not hugely old, about turn of the century. It is

very pretty. Eric Knowles had a close look at how artifacts and

many more besides. We are natural borders. Heaven bless who invented

the attic or the seller. —— hoarders. We live in an age when

everything gets thrown away. I have to say thank you to everyone's

ancestors to put things in lofts and keep me in a job. Were any

masterpieces found today? You will have to wait to the programme is

aired some time next year to find out.

You'll probably all have seen the apprentice on TV. Well, a company

in Axminster has taken at the idea and is using it to develop a team

of management trainees. They have been split into two

groups. The losers get to clean the warehouse.

This is an amazing opportunity. One week, two teams and a boss to

impress. I am in the market for 10 new managers and they had better

watch out. You got something very Warren here. What has happened? ——

very wrong. He to impress at 10 potential new managers.

The stake is glory of failure but no one gets fired.

Axminster tall centre is one of the biggest employers in the town ——

tool centre. These managers of the future have a challenge to brand

and market sausages. I was expecting them to sell lots of

sausages and they have sold one metric tonne. That is a lot of

sausages. I couldn't get to sleep and home at 9 o'clock at night. It

has been full on and I have been thinking of sausages 24/7. For the

sausage supplier, a brief to be tough. We had a meeting which was

starchy and then when we did the production we were a little less

hard on them, put it that way. There is a serious message behind

this apprentice Style Challenge. The company takes its staff and his

feature seriously. I have been there seven years. I have known it

from a little shop in town to what it is now and it is exciting to be

a prospect. I want to push it forward and make it bigger. The

teams will be called to the boardroom at 730 tomorrow morning

to find out who wins an all— expenses trip to London and to get

to clean up the warehouse. Tony Phoenix—Morrison arrived in

London this morning after completing a 1000 mile journey. He

has raised money for charity and all of us asked, why?

For some people, a 1000 mark job —— job would be quite a challenge. But

Tony has done the journey with a fridge on his back. Then add the

finishing line he adds a little extra weight, his seven—year—old

son. He didn't run to raise money for so Bobby Robson's charity which

raises money for research. Why a fridge? She wouldn't let me have

the cooker. I wanted to carry something really heavy to

demonstrate and signified the burden of cancer. If you have ever

had a family member who has had cancer, you feel their burden. I

wanted to take my burden along some impossible journey just like the

impossible journey of cancer. He did much of his run with a hip

injury after a fall. Despite needing treatment on route, he kept

to his gruelling Schedule of 26 miles per day. Him and his rich

have completed other major runs on his back —— he and his fridge. His

wife says he is unstoppable. It is amazing he managed to carry it for

quite so many miles. He has put some miles in. When you put any

pressure on him to give up? He has talked about it and I have it on

camera. But every now and then I hear him talking about other little

challenges. Today, he was handed a cheque for £43,000 from the company

who made the fridge. But he is now off to the Great North Run where

the funding —— fund—raising continues. Which way his Newcastle?

Quite a feat, isn't it? You wouldn't manic two minutes with

an oven on your back. —— you wouldn't managed two minutes.

And now for the weather. Did he carry anything in the

fridge? A glass of wine or so milk? Some sausages.

Good evening. We have some change in the weather now. Summer has a

very quickly drawn to a close. As we head through the weekend, we

will see a drop in the temperatures as colder air floods in. It is mild

at the moment although Misty in some places. This great string of

cloud in the Atlantic has a weather system at wrapped around it that

will be slow moving across us. It will generate outbreaks of rain

tonight. Quite wet weather tomorrow,

particularly in the evening. By Saturday, it has gone through so

hopefully it will a bright and dry day. Short lived though because

Sunday sees a change. You can see how the clout has been fairly

extensive over the south—west today. The cloud has not stopped some of

our heathers flowering. But the low cloud has thickened and it started

to produce fog. Our cameraman got quite wet as the rain started to

set in. The wind will become light and variable overnight but we hold

on to all the clout say it is misty and damp and there will be drizzle

in the wind. More persistent rain, especially in the small hours of

the morning. Quite a mild night. Warm and humid start to the day

tomorrow but also wet. The rain may peter out for a time and we may get

glimpses of sunshine in Dorset and Somerset. By the end of the

afternoon and in the early evening, the brain begins. We could have a

couple of hours of quite intense rainfall.

The wind will be north or north— westerly. For the Isles of Scilly,

quite a wet day. Write briefly in the morning but some rain becoming

quite heavy later. Misty in the low cloud and the risk of coastal fog.

Sunday is quite unsettled. A notably windy day for all of us

with gusts of wind to gale—force along the coast of Cornwall and

Devon. Certainly turning colder. Monday, a drop in the temperature

as cool air arrives. We should see sunshine on Monday in between

scattered showers. Thank you very much. That it. I am

back at 10:25pm tonight. From all of us here, have a lovely evening.

Thanks for watching. Bye—bye.