24/01/2014 Spotlight

If you have heard a rumour that things will get colder and sweet,

find out more on amid growing concerns over flooding

in Somerset. Good evening. Welcome to Spotlight.

A local council says the situation is now so serious it urgently needs

extra support. The predictions are more people going to be flooded this

weekend. 200 to 300 people may be further affected this weekend. We

need outside help. Also tonight: A devastating disease

affecting sheep and cattle is said to be worse than previously thought.

Research has shown that the Schmallenberg virus is more

widespread than originally predicted.

And destroyed by fire ` Western Greyhound believe they're being

targeted by arsonists after an attack on their Liskeard depot.

With more heavy rain forecast this weekend, a major incident has now

been declared in all parts of Somerset affected by flooding. Huge

areas of the county are underwater and there is a warning tonight that

several more hundred homes could be flooded in the next few days. In the

last hour, Somerset County Council has joined Sedgemoor District

Council in declaring a major incident, in the hope it will

trigger outside help for the area, possibly including military

assistance. The knock at the door no one once.

Good afternoon. This afternoon, the fire service were going door`to`door

warning around 30 householders their homes are now at risk. Day and

night, the Environment Agency is pumping water of the Moors. As the

rains continue to fall, so in places the waters continue to rise. Civic

leaders say declaring this a major incident should open the door to

more help coming in. We are not getting on top of it and more water

is on the way. So we are saying to the Government, look, we need

outside help, whether in the shape of the military assisting, we have

had too many a roads blocked for far too long... Those at risk cannot

wait for help from the outside. They are preparing for the worst and in

the case of this man, making plans to evacuate his home. We are getting

ready to evacuate. My son and his family have come down to help put

things up on breaks and do what we can indoors to alleviate the

problem. Admit increasingly bitter rows about who is to blame for all

of this, people affected by the Flood staged a protest this

afternoon outside the offices of the Environment Agency. The organisation

they say has turned the problem into a crisis. They are not interested.

It is the responsibility of the Environment Agency to dredge the

rivers to stop this happening again. The agency say they are doing all

they can in the face of exceptional weather. But they say these floats

will not be going down any time soon. There is definitely... It is

not going to go away in the next fortnight. It will be with us for at

least a month and further topped up during this period, so really it is

the long haul. Not a message that goes down well here. With more heavy

rain forecast at the weekend, and is turning to fear.

`` anger is turning to fear. More and a full weather forecast

late in the programme. You can also keep up`to`date with BBC radio

Somerset and online. Next, a virus which causes birth deformities and

still buoyant in livestock. Now a survey into Schmallenberg in the

South West reveals the number of cattle and sheep affected is far

higher than originally thought. The research, carried out by the Rural

Business School found out that many sheep tested had been exposed.

This sheep might look perfectly healthy but it tests positive for

Schmallenberg on this farm. The day we found out we had 70% exposure, it

was a shock and we sat down and talked about how best to go forward

and whether we needed to vaccinate. Schmallenberg is a disease which

first came to the UK two years ago. It is carried over the Channel and

spread by midges, but the effects can be devastating. You start

getting a number of lambs building up and it is very demoralising. With

the disease so new, the Royal business School was founded by deaf

and the EU to carry out the research last year. They tested more than

3000 cattle and 2000 sheep and the results showed many more were

affected by the disease than was expected. 80% of cattle and 70% of

sheep gave a positive result. We saw a series in packed in some farms at

the beginning of 2013 as a result of infection picked up in 2012. That

was very serious on particular farms. David has lost 18 cattle and

more than 30 calves to the disease. Six cars have died on his son's farm

in the last fortnight alone. I tried to talk to him last night and tell

him it it is not the end of the world, but I think he thinks it is.

The survey also revealed that the prevalence of the disease was much

worse in 2012 than last year. This suggests cattle and sheep are

developing an immunity. The vaccine is now available but some farmers

claim the costs outweigh the risk. New research says there has been an

increase in the number of South West households living on an inadequate

income. The findings come from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and are

based on what the public thinks are the basic requirements for a decent

life. More from the organisation in a moment, but first we went to meet

a single parent who despite having a job still struggles.

On the face of it, Sian is doing well, bringing and estate agents in

Plymouth with the potential to own up to ?35,000 if she makes target.

But the housing market is only just getting back on its feet, so bonuses

are far from guaranteed. For Sian, with a two`year`old to look after,

rent to pay and a car to run, money is tight. Paying for everything on

your own makes a huge difference and takes up the majority of what you

earn. Bills are paid and mortgage and rent are paid, food and

childcare, but it does not leave you with much. And that backs up new

research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. It looked at what it

calls people who no longer reach the minimum income standard, the measure

based on what numbers of the public think of the basics for a decent

life. It found that the South West has seen a big rise in the number of

minimum income standard households in the four years from 2008. Two

thirds of lone parents, like Sian, are now below the minimum income

standard. For a Labour MP from Plymouth, the findings do not come

as a surprise. I have increased caseload, 200, 300 people making

enquiries every week of one sort or another, and those people are in

significant personal debt, some of them, struggling to make ends meet,

concerned about the cost of living. They do not feel better off. But the

Government today produced figures which they say showed workers have

seen their take`home pay rise in real terms in the last year by 2.5%.

Read the message is that an implement is falling. We saw the

largest drop for several years last week. The economy is getting better.

The arguments continue about the state of the economy. For people

like Sian, the day`to`day reality is how to ensure a decent standard of

living. Earlier I spoke to Donald Hirsch, a

co`author of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report. I asked him why

so many people in the South West were struggling to have a reasonable

standard of living. As to back people throughout the UK have really

been feeling the pinch in the tougher economic times. `` people

throughout the UK. Our research looks at what people can afford

after paying things like rent. The two difficult things in the South

West art that earnings have not particularly done very well and on

the other side, housing costs tend to be very high. They have gone up

quite a bit recently. So what people actually have left after paying rent

or mortgage can be we use very low, and people are struggling. The South

West is a region where the number of people whose disposable income is

below what we consider to be the minimum has increased the most in

the last years. How reflective are these figures today, bearing in mind

that the Government is saying that in the last year or so, people's

incomes and standards of living have improved because inflation has

started to come down, employment prospects are better and wages are

starting to improve. We certainly know that this year it is likely

that many people will at last be having wage rises that keep up with

inflation. It will be a long time before they get back to bed they

were. The Government is arguing that that coupled with changes to tax and

people having less tax taken away is also giving them more money in their

pocket. `` back to where they were. It is just about true if you do not

take into account certain things which you can point to take into

account. A lot of people on low incomes are dependent not just on

their wages and it is not just about tax, but they are also getting

things like tax credits. Even if they are in work they are getting

money from the Government, and that money has been cut. So I am afraid

it is quite a selective comparison and the people we are talking about,

struggling to get to a minimum, especially families with children

where if you work your wages are not enough and the Government top them

up, if you reduce the top ups it is just not true that you have more

money in your pocket. Derriford Hospital's emergency

department has been named as the best in the country for seeing

patients within national time limits. Latest figures showed 98.6%

of people attending A are seen within the four hour national

target. Bosses at the hospital say it is down to better planning and

hard`working staff. As promised, a full weekend weather forecast coming

up later in the programme, and we will be off to the Plymouth light

Centre where Dave will have all the sport for us.

`` Life Centre. 400 youngsters in this year's

Disability Games. The police are investigating a fire which has

destroyed three buses at a Western Greyhound depot in southeastern

Cornwall. The fire in Liskeard follows an

arson attack last May at the depot in Summercourt near Newquay, where

30 buses were destroyed. The fire at the depot broke out in

the early hours of the morning. People living nearby were awoken by

the flames and raised the alarm. This film was taken by a family

whose house overlooks the depot. At one stage they feared for their

safety. It looked like the actual depot as well as the buses had

started to catch fire. Today the company confirmed that three buses

had been completely destroyed in this fire. The entire depot has been

sealed off to preserve the evidence, and a specialist forensic team will

be brought in to examine the scene. The police and fire investigators

are conducting early enquiries to establish the cause of the fire so

that whether or not it is accidental can be qualified. Last May, 35 buses

were destroyed by an arson attack at Western Greyhound's depot at

Summercourt near Newquay. This is still being investigated. The

managing director of the company told the BBC he believes his company

is being targeted. That must not be very comfortable. No, obviously the

vehicles are insured. There have been no deaths or injuries which is

fortunate. Buses can be replaced. But of course it is the effect on

the public. The public are affected if the services are affected and

that is devastating. One has to wonder who is doing this. This

latest fire has caused disruption to local bus services. Two routes were

affected today and could be affected tomorrow.

The campaign against major cuts in Torbay is being stepped up. Church

groups plan a vigil outside the council this weekend. They claim

cuts will hit the most vulnerable. The Leonard Stocks Centre in Torquay

could close. We have been finding out about the service it provides.

There is no denying that David's life has been difficult.

A recovering drug addict, he was released from prison on Christmas

Eve. For the past few weeks he has been living at Torquay's hostel and

hopes to turn his life around. Thanks to this place, I have been

helped. But the centre that is home to 24 residents is fighting for its

life. Its funding is threatened and that could force the centre to

close. The people we are supporting need help and will continue to need

help. If we are not providing it it will fall to the police, health

services, the community to provide that help. And it will be much more

expensive. Torbay Council has to make cuts. They are insisting they

will find new ways of helping the wearable people. But some housing ``

Some housing associations are very wealthy and have tax`free profits.

We are going to say to some of the housing associations, come and help

us with not only your expertise but your accommodation and staffing and

finance. The people behind the Leonard Stocks Centre say in four

years it has helped almost 450 people. They are now wondering

whether people like David will be their last.

Next week the Catholic Bishop of Plymouth, Christopher Budd, will

retire and hand over the reins to his successor. Our political editor

has been talking to him and reflecting on the period of his

leader `` leadership. He has been needed for nearly 30

years. I time of change for the church and the people he served.

When I first came to Plymouth, it was very white and English, that is

the best way to describe it. Node you have people from France, Spain,

Poland, Germany and all sorts of other places. Italians have been

here a long time, like the Irish, though. His time in office also saw

only the second and third visit to Britain by a reigning Pope will stop

do you feel some people, `` as some people in the church do, that with

some of these issues of morality and conscience, the church is being

pushed out? There is an element in our culture that wants to privatise

this, totally. We want to resist that and say, like anyone else, we

have a right to have our say and to argue the toss with the people over

whatever it is. And I wanted very much hope that that will continue.

We should not be edged out of public debate. It is not just a purely

private affair. The welfare of human beings, which the gospel is about,

to some extent, cannot be privatised. The Pope tweets,

cardinals have blogs, do you think social media has a role to play? In

the time I have in my retirement, I may be getting into some social

media. Who knows? I baby become a real pain in the neck. `` I may

become. Blogging priests and bishops, I think there is a risk in

that. We should not do it too much. Most of the Bishop's predecessors

were not given the luxury of retirement. In the Isles of Scilly,

many years ago I said to a very small group, if I am still alive

when I retire, I will come and be your priest, so I am going to do

that. Mainly from the end of November until Pentecost, which is

normally May or June. He will consecrate and thrown his successor,

Mark O'Toole, next week. Time for the sport now and the

Plymouth Life Centre has been staging a special event today

involving hundreds of school children from across Devon. Dave

Gibbins has more. Here at the Plymouth Life Centre, it

is this year's Winter Ability Games. It is for children, 400`plus

children, of varying disabilities, plus 100 volunteers. That makes up

the Active Devon initiative, Active Devon being based in Exeter. More

about that in a moment, but first, Yeovil Town plan a big FA Cup shock

in the fourth round at Premier League Southampton tomorrow. They

will have more than 3,000 fans cheering them on at the St Mary's

Stadium. Saints are ninth in the top league

and will provide a hard obstacle for Gary Johnson's team to overcome, but

this is the Cup and the Somerset Greens are up for it. I am not sure

they will necessarily enjoy playing us. We may not be a huge fixture in

their calendar. We have to upset the odds, work hard, believe in our own

tactics, and try to spoil theirs. So at least you go into the battle

believing that you can win it. And while the children from Tiverton

High School are enjoying the diving which is here at the Plymouth Life

Centre, let's hope the weather relents for our region's League Two

sides. Plymouth Argyle look to recover from two home defeats last

week by Cheltenham Town at Home Park. The Gloucestershire team lie

just a point behind Argyle, who are 11th in the table.

Exeter City have lost two games to the weather. They hope for better

against Wimbledon, while Torquay United go for a second successive

win under new manager Chris Hargreaves at Oxford.

Exeter Chiefs' head coach, Rob Baxter, has been talking about his

induction into the Premiership Rugby Hall of Fame. It includes luminaries

such as former Leicester and England captain Martin Johnson, and referee

Ed Morrison. Baxter leads the Chiefs into their final two pool ties in

this season's Anglo`Welsh Cup, starting with Ospreys at Sandy Park

tomorrow. Right from the board, right through to the cleaning staff,

we are all in it together. We went to Cardiff last week in the Heineken

Cup and I looked around and the whole office staff were in there,

enjoying a day out in Cardiff. That is the kind of club we are, where we

enjoy being in the Premiership, we see it as an opportunity and

something to enjoy, not a battle to worry about.

The Cornish Pirates will leapfrog London Scottish in the Championship

` that's if they win in Richmond tomorrow. A tough one for head coach

Ian Davies, as the Pirates narrowly beat the Scots exiles 16`8 in

November. Plymouth Albion, eighth, have had

equally difficult ordeal with fourth`place Bristol on Sunday.

Quite a few sports going on just below me. For example, rowing, table

cricket, archery and seated volleyball. Yes, it is the Winter

Ability Games. An Olympic bronze medallist from Beijing 2008 proved

popular with all at the Life Centre. Open water swimmer Cassie Patten

from Cardingham in Cornwall was the special guest, offering her advice

and expertise to the children, and those not necessarily in the pool.

One of my tasks for the day is to sign as many autographs as possible.

In the programme there's a "Find Cassie Patten" section. Sometimes

just talking to young people and sharing your experiences can really

help inspire them to participate and then carry on with sport. It was the

biggest turnout for a Winter Ability Games, and the first time the event

had been held at the Life Centre. The superb facilities were a hit for

all concerned. Wow. I wish when I was young we had facilities like

this. Incredible. We are really lucky that our youngsters have

access to this today, because it is a stunning facility. Will you

becoming back next year, or do you try to get around the county? We try

to use different venues but when you look at this it is difficult to

compete with. So who's to say it will not be

returning to the Life Centre next year?

Finally from me, the best of luck to Exeter Chiefs' Dave Ewers and Sam

Hill, both of whom make their England Saxons rugby debut tomorrow

night against Ireland at Gloucester. And two more ` Dave Lewis and Henry

Slade, are replacements. Back now to our top story, and a

major incident has been declared for part of the Somerset Levels, which

remain flooded. Our Correspondent Clinton Rogers is there with the

latest on the situation. Thank you. As you can see, it is

raining here tonight, and more heavy rain is forecast for Sunday. That is

the problem, almost as soon as the Environment Agency pump the water of

the Moors, nature puts it back again. The village behind me near

Bridgwater, the septic tank drainage systems of most of the houses have

now been overwhelmed and there is sewage overflowing. The question a

lot of people are asking now is how soon before that becomes a public

health issue? Small wonder the Civic leaders have decided to call this,

as they have done today, they say they need help and in whatever form

this help comes, one big is for sure, it is desperately needed.

`` one thing is for sure. The weather.

Hopefully some dry weather again tomorrow, but as we have just heard,

there is more rain in the forecast for Sunday, not just wet weather on

Sunday but windy conditions, too. We have had about 20 millimetres

today. The rainfall is now moving through Somerset that it will be a

while before that clears. The good news is it will be drier on

Saturday, but more rain forecast for Sunday. Windy all weekend. Several

flood warnings in force. You can go to the Environment Agency website to

find them, or use the telephone number. Lots on this satellite

picture. Lots of cloud. Something of a break in that cloud out to the

West of our land. That will arrive later on this evening. `` the West

of Ireland. A chance for some brighter weather tomorrow. We might

even get some sunshine. A few showers towards the end of the day,

mostly along the Bristol Channel and through central parts of England.

This lump of cloud leaving the East coast of Canada will raise across

the Atlantic to bring us more wet weather on Sunday. But this is quite

fast moving so even though we have a very wet start to the day on

Sunday, it moves away quickly through the afternoon. The rain we

have at the moment is stuttering along, not leaving particularly

fast. Brighter colours in their showing where the rain has been in

the last few hours. More of that to come for Somerset and Dorset for the

next few hours before it finally moves out of the way, and we are

left with slightly better conditions, improving visibility.

Some mist about but not be low cloud and fog we have seen today.

Tomorrow, quite a lot of cloud, briefly some sunny spells, and then

towards the end of the day, a line of showers through Pembrokeshire and

then through the seven a street, so perhaps affecting North Devon and

Somerset. But for most of us tomorrow a windy day. `` through the

Severn estuary. Not as warm. Quite a wind chill with the stiff breeze.

From the Isles of Scilly, some of the best weather.

The waves are likely to be pretty big and not necessarily that clean

either. Cleanest along the South coast.

The wind starts at eight force five tomorrow and increases to six or

seven, particularly along the North Devon and Cornwall coasts. There is

a warning for the rain on Sunday. It will also be quite a windy day.

50 mph or 60 mph. Cold Monday and Tuesday next week, even with the

risk of some wintry showers. Your BBC local radio stations will

keep you up`to`date with the weather situation across the weekend.

Goodbye.