12/02/2014 Spotlight

end of the week? No. Had Russia heading our way and wet and windy

again. That is The South West hit by the full force

of nature from the coast of Dorset to the ravaged rail line in Dawlish.

It has caused damage to buildings and sent huge waves crashing into

West Cornwall. Good evening. On Spotlight tonight, we'll report on

the damage left in the wake of this latest storm. This is the scene live

in Kingsand in Cornwall where there are renewed concerns about the

safety of this historic building. Also tonight. Going nowhere. The

crew of a cargo ship are stuck in port after the vessel was detained

over safety concerns. Love letters straight from the heart. How to pen

the perfect Valentine's message. The South West has again been

battered by winds of more than 80 miles per hour, affecting homes and

businesses already damaged by previous storms. On Berry Head in

South Devon, gusts of 85 miles per hour were recorded. The gales

brought down trees, power lines and roof tiles causing road closures in

many places A number of flood warnings and flood alerts were in

place for coasts and rivers. In Porthleven in Cornwall, the wind was

strong enough to lift the backs of cars. In Lyme Regis, the Cobb was

battered by high waves. In Dawlish, work to repair the rail line was

severely hampered. Some South West attractions including Dartmoor Zoo

and Haldon Forest were closed because of the weather and transport

links such as the Tamar Bridge were also affected. In a moment we'll be

reporting from some of the worst`hit areas, but first live to our

reporter Janine Jansen. You can see the famous clock tower

behind me being battered by the storms. Engineers have placed

special props around the foundations to stop it getting further damage.

They have removed a balcony off the top because it about hanging on by

just one bolt. The committee are holding a meeting tonight to decide

what to do about the tower. David Cameron promised to talk to English

Heritage and they are coming here tomorrow to assess the damage done

to the tower to seek what could be done to repeal it `` repair it. The

highest wind recorded was 85 mph at Berry Head. We have had the power

lines down. Western Power say more than 8000 homes are currently

without power. We have had flying tiles off the roofs in Torquay. Many

roads have been closed. We had a fire Tavistock in the substation. It

also affected the traffic lights. The next morning is plummeting

temperatures and ice. If we have not had enough problems, tomorrow

morning, drivers are being warned to beware of ice.

In West Cornwall, the coast has been battered by winds gusting up to 80

miles an hour. The waves have been hitting ports and harbours already

damaged by weeks of storms. Eleanor Parkinson reports from Land's End.

The recent storms have generated some of the most spectacular

pictures of the last few weeks. People were out again with their

cameras to capture those shots. It is fantastic to watch. If we can

stand still long enough! We have lived here 25 years. The coastguards

have recorded that Harry Kane force winds have been recorded out to sea.

`` Harry Kane `` hurricane force winds. Part of this historic pier

has been washed away. Devastating. We used to fish off it as kids. We

have had damaged periodically which we tried to maintain that this is

way beyond anything we can do. This is what happened to the beach cafe

after waves crashed over the roof. It took the roof down. We have

cleaned up now but it is a mess. At high tide, the waves get even

bigger. This is just a prelate for another storm on Friday. `` a

prelude. Once again, the south coast of

Cornwall, Devon and Dorset bore the brunt of the high winds and huge

waves. It his several communities still clearing up the damage from

last week's storms. `` it hit. This was the scene this morning as winds

began to whip in from the Atlantic. He winds are gusting at around 80

mph. Despite warnings to stay away from the rough seas, people still

took risks. Conditions were quite challenging to reporting. They are

predicting guests have up to 80 mph. In Plymouth, businesses affected by

the large waves last week were now boarded up. The front features took

another hit. The flags outside the Met office in Exeter gave the

forecasters inside a measure of how powerful the storm was. Waves and

stay whole in the sea wall at Dawlish. Despite the extreme

weather, work to reconnect the south`west carried on.

Further along the coast, there were dramatic scenes as the historic Cobb

in Lyme Regis was overwhelmed by mountainous seas. It attracted

scores of spectators to the Dorset resort.

On the edge of Dartmoor, people are adjusting to the idea that one of

the options for a future alternative inland railway would go through

Oakhampton and Tavistock. Network Rail told us they have already done

an outline study of this. This is a peaceful time capsule and a home. It

came as a little bit of a shock to us having been told it would not be

used again. Not everyone in the area feels the same. It was cut in half

when the line came in. The farmhouse is within 20 metres which will be

very intrusive. The long`term prospect of bringing trains back

here hinges on ringing trains from Plymouth to Tavistock. I think the

route would be a fantastic idea. I would hope this has gone up by about

20% in terms of probability. That is even now a campaign by the Liberal

Democrats to restore links to North Cornwall. Dawlish fears it could be

the beginning of the end for the coast route. The roads would not be

able to take the influx of traffic. We will just disappear off the face

of the earth. Many people are determined the coastal route should

never be lost. I wanted to see what the other options are. That is more

long`term foot up in the immediate term, we have to do the repair and

look at the long`term resilience. They may be other engineering things

we could do to help that particular vulnerable bit. The length of track

which started this will soon be lost to view.

The issue of rail services in the South West was raised by no fewer

than four of the region's MPs at Prime Minister's Questions this

lunchtime. Our Political Editor Martyn Oates joins us now. There was

one announcement that people have been pressing for? Labour MPs have

been demanding confirmation of a payment for a rail upgrade in the

region. They say it was promised after the storm damage last year

which had not been delivered. Liberal Democrat MPs from the region

joined them. In terms of the specific question he asked, we are

finding ?51 million to fund ten projects to improve resilience to

flooding . The Government describes all of this money as being for the

South West. Meanwhile, the play minister was tantalising people in

the far South West with faster trains. I understand his concern.

The gap created IP Dawlish disaster will take time to deal with. Above

and beyond that, I know what he and people in Plymouth went is a

timetable to getting a three hour service to Plymouth. We have a

longer term programme and we are looking at rail alternatives.

Speaking generally, the Labour leader ask the play minister whether

if money is no object in the flood relief exercise, the will be making

500 environment agency staff redundant? My question is a simple

one. Given the promised yesterday to make sure we have a resilient

country for the future and spend whatever it takes, is he committing

now to reconsider these redundancies and reconsider the amount of money

we spend on flood defences? The play minister had nothing to say that the

Prime Minister had nothing to say on that.

The Prime Minister has said money is no object when it comes to helping

people affected by the storms. BBC Radio Devon's Bill Buckley will

interview David Cameron tomorrow at midday.

As Somerset residents battle to protect their homes from the latest

bad weather, hundreds of farmers on the Levels are still fighting to

save their livelihoods. Spotlight took wildlife expert Mike Dilger to

meet some of them. In the Valley behind, this is a farm with field

upon field of nothing but water. This is higher than it has ever been

recorded. You have some high land and you have been able to take your

cattle further afield. You are one of the lucky ones. The farm

buildings are high and that is great. We have been able to take

stock from other farmers as well. Water may be the immediate problem

but nobody knows what condition the sign will be in when it is gone. We

have never seen our land like that. Tony Davis 's whole world is

underwater. If we do not have a good spring and summer, we will struggle.

It makes you wonder about giving up farming. You put your heart and soul

into it and at the end of the day, it breaks you. Tony thinks it might

be two months before he can return to his farm for top it may take

longer to find out the quality of the site. We have been hearing about

the weather damage across the region. There were dramatic scenes

at the Cobb in Lyme Regis. High winds and heavy seas. The Cobb

bearing the brunt of the latest battering. Whether there are storms,

there are storm tourists. This woman came to see the spectacle from North

Devon. In a way, it is frightening. Even for residents, this is

something else. I have never seen it in the 26 years I have been living

here. It is like white sea horses. The sea defences standing strong and

the Cobb is removable. `` immovable. It is April and structure. The

engineering behind it is incredible. It deflects the waves

and sends them rolling off along its length and minimises the damage. The

harbour is quite calm. I think the wind has died down just a bit. They

see is bubbling behind me so that is still plenty for the storm tourists

to enjoy. The temptation is to get too close. Never a good idea. But

there was someone who could not resist the Ely were of the waves. ``

the lure of the waves. As long as I can back in one piece, that is OK.

Sea defences new and old are being fully tested once again.

The crew of a cargo ship are stuck in a Cornish port after the Maritime

and Coastguard Agency detained their vessel over safety and welfare

concerns. Express One was towed into Fowey after suffering engine

failure. When immigration officials went on board, they were so shocked

at the conditions, they called in safety inspectors. The 7000 tonne

livestock carrier is alongside number five dock. It is usually

occupied by China Clay ships. The MCA said deficiencies including

emergency training and fire detection system and substandard

clue accommodation put up the harbour master is responsible for

the safety of vessels in the port. The shortcomings for the queue are

specifically no heating and no heart water `` hot water. It is not clean.

I am delighted the MCA and UK government is taking this tough

stance to make sure the standards are set so that they are safe to

transit around our coastline and that it is a fit standard for the

queue. `` clue. `` crew. It was only when inspectors went on board but

they discovered the conditions the people working in. The mission has

provided them with warm clothing and wireless papers to make sure they

can contact family so that they know they are safe. We have given them

sweets and cake. We did contact the owners and they did not want to make

a comment. We do understand that work is underway to repair the

engines. In a statement to the BBC, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency

said it would be prevented from sailing and would be `` would

continue to be detained and it could take a week.

Tomorrow, Torquay Council is due to vote on a package of cuts aimed at

saving ?22 million. One of its most controversial plans is to scrap the

area's mobile library service. Users say it will hurt the vulnerable and

isolated. The council says losing the service will be regrettable but

it is preferable to cutting opening hours at mainstream libraries.

Services to help homeless people and drug addicts are also at risk from

Torbay's cuts. Mark is a recovering drink and drug addict. He came to

the project to sort his life out. It provided him with a roof over his

head. I had a problem which was ongoing for years. I wanted a chance

to get help and to sort my life out. The council has to make millions of

pounds of cuts. The project was set to lose the lot. The council has

revised its plans. The director is planning to make up some of the

shortfall with his own salary. We will operate at full capacity and

have the same staff. We can do that on 15% cuts. The council has found

?135,000 to support another project in the short`term . Without support

this, it is feared vulnerable people will end up requiring emergency care

in accident and emergency departments. We need to reach them

before they become ill. Local church groups held a vigil about the cats.

Torbay Council has so far not commented but long`term, logics will

have to find money from elsewhere to survive. That project. `` projects

will have to find money. Some sports news and Yeovil Town,

along with Torquay United, remain in serious trouble after last night's

football. At Huish Park, Joe Ralls put the Somerset team ahead against

fellow Championship strugglers Millwall, only for Ian Holloway's

side to wipe that out and earn a 1`1 draw. The result keeps Yeovil bottom

of the table. Torquay stay next`to`the`bottom of League Two

following a 2`1 home defeat to the club just below them, Northampton.

Two goals in the first 16 minutes put United on the back foot from

which they never fully recovered, despite replying just before

half`time. How romantic are you? Have you ever

written a love letter to your sweetheart? I am not telling you. Or

has modern technology such as Facebook, Twitter and texting

changed how you communicate your love for someone? Well, with just

enough time to get a card in the post for this Friday's Valentine's

Day, Johnny Rutherford has been getting top tips on how to write the

perfect love letter. Dear Anna, how I long for your debt

was `` such `` touch. I have been practising writing a special letter

for my life `` wife. We are here to talk about love and how to express

it and get it. This is a class to learn how to write a love letter. It

is a one`off evening lecture at Exeter University. Doing something

like this makes you come across as an old romantic but I want to write

a meaningful letter. The letter means you, not all these other

people. It means going for it and putting down how you feel on paper.

Since meeting you, I can only smile. That technology can also be

romantic. We use a lot more images in digital culture. You can express

what literally cannot be expressed. Everyone else in the world is just

in black and white. Even now, in this digital age, the pack things

away for later also letters provide the ability to do that. Have to hold

onto. We may begin to lose the edge to send valentines that we will

never lose the urge to receive them. `` but we will never lose the urge.

Lovely stuff. We can return now to our top story. Western Power

distribution have told us 5000 homes are without power cut Devon,

Somerset and Cornwall. David is here with the forecast.

The winds are beginning to drop. Tomorrow is a quieter day and we

should see a few showers dotted around. The possibility of some snow

on higher ground. We will not see the strength of wind we saw today.

The highest gust was that Eddie head. `` at Berry Head. They are now

lower and continue to drop. We still have the saturated ground and more

rain. It is likely to return in the form of showers tomorrow for top

Friday will bring in a new area of low pressure. The curl of cloud here

is a lovely book of cloud. The highest winds are between Ireland

and the South of Scotland. That pressure will move out of the way.

Notice how much further apart the isobars are for midday tomorrow.

Another area of low pressure races in from the Atlantic to bring more

of the same. More rain, wind and gusts of wind could be up to 70 mph

on Friday. That is the rain we saw earlier today. It is now gone. Those

showers could be heavy throughout the night. They will turn

increasingly wintry. High areas could wake up to a dusting of snow

tomorrow morning. Most likely over Exmoor and Dartmoor. A cold night to

come with overnight temperatures along the coastline at four or five

Celsius. Inland, closer to serial Celsius. `` 0 Celsius. S have a look

at the forecast for tomorrow. We have some sunshine and a few

scattered showers. Wrap up warm there is a cold wind tomorrow.

Temperatures struggling up to six or seven Celsius. With the wind chill,

it will feel colder. Quite a list read they for the Isles of Scilly.

Surfing conditions will be hundreds that horrendous tomorrow. ``

horrendous tomorrow. For the coastal waters forecast, this is easier on

the eye. Very rough but the policing `` that decreasing. Saturday will be

a windy and blustery day. Next week, a lot less stormy.

Snow and ice. That is all we need! We will be back with an update after

the ten o'clock news.