07/03/2014 Spotlight

away. That's all from the BBC News at Six. On BBC One, we now join the

Farmers are told they can dredge a BBC's news

Farmers are told they can dredge a river to cut flooding, but tonight

there's a big question over who'll pay.

Good evening. Worried residents living along the River Clyst put

their concerns direct to the Environment Secretary today. For the

secretary of state to come down to Exeter and visit and ask all the

farmers, councils, all the stakeholders were invited to come to

the meeting, is refreshing. Also tonight: Fears for the future `

calls for cliff erosion at Sidmouth to be tackled, amid concerns the

town could flood if nothing's done. Challenging times for Dorset

fishermen, as they deal with new laws to protect stocks. And a

glimpse into life on the front line ` but do you know the author of

these First World War diaries? Farmers, councillors and businesses

leaders from across East Devon came face to face with the Environment

Secretary today to press the case for urgent action to reduce flooding

on the River Clyst. Owen Paterson was told that the fragile economy of

the area was at risk if nothing was done. Dredging of the river wasn't

ruled out, but tonight it's still not clear who would pay Our reporter

Anna Varle is in East Devon for us tonight with more reaction to Mr

Paterson's visit today. Owen Paterson arrived at the farm.

You can see it behind us. This was a meeting held in private. It was the

first time all parties sat together around one table to discuss the

issue of flooding on the River Clyst.

An early meeting for the Environment Secretary, but one which is said to

have made a difference. Owen Paterson spent just over an hour

discussing the flooding of the River Clyst with council representatives,

the Environment Agency and local farmers. I would like to personally

find Owen Paterson becoming down and listening to the problem. That has

forced environ agency to engage and that now promised an approach going

forward. It is what been asking for for a long time, but it is better

late than never. Landowners have been fighting to get this section of

the River Clyst dredge B years. Now it seems a being given the go`ahead,

but the question is who will fund it. The stumbling block is who will

do it and who can pay for it. The Environment Agency has some major

responsibilities, particularly with the weather we have had over the

last two years. We will have to concentrate our money on protecting

homes and communities. This field has been under water for three

months now. He says has not been allowed to clear the wearer

himself, but after today's meeting that could change. Hopefully with

the help of neighbours we can get together and use equipment that we

have two hands, which will be able to make some improvement to the

situation on the River at a relatively simple cost. That should

improve the drainage between 70% in the river itself. Whoever ends up

footing the bill, the parties have agreed the first step stop we can do

this ourselves, and we can set up a local drainage board. That is what

Owen Paterson said others, why don't you set up a drainage board. It is a

first step but one which it is hoped will lead to a solution. Action will

now be taken and dredging is a possible solution. As to the future

and he will pay, that is undecided, but this hasn't dampened down the

campaign and they are keen to start work as soon as possible.

People living near cliffs which are being eroded in Devon are hoping

that plans for an improved sea defence scheme could help. Some

houses in Sidmouth have lost around 15 metres of their gardens in recent

years and there are fears that if the cliff continues to erode it will

expose the whole town to flooding. Sophie Pierce reports.

Life on the edge. These householders are in constant fear of more chunks

of their land falling into the sea. In the course of the last two years,

the coastal erosion that was coming in very much from the front and the

sea end has now spread around to the side and the end of the River Sid,

so we are being eroded from two separate directions. The effect of

this is that the mouth of the river is exposed to southeasterly gales in

a way it wasn't previously, when the cliff protected it. It is not just

about a few properties. This cliff protects the whole town from

flooding. East Devon Council is trying to understand why the erosion

has got so much worse, so it can do something about it. They have been

talking to locals about what they think is causing the erosion. We

know quite a lot about the coastal processes and we are researching

what has been happening, but there is nothing as good as local

information and knowledge going back generations. So, part of our project

is to look at how the coast has evolved over generations, and for

that we can do lots of desktop research, but there is nothing like

talking to the public and listening to their views. Local people have

been worried for years about the lack of action on erosion, so are

they encouraged? It is useful in terms of getting other people

involved and understanding what the issues are. My hopes are that we

will find out what the true cause or reasons for this rapid erosion is.

We can develop an acceptable action plan and that can be implemented in

the not too distant future. The need for a solution is pressing. It may

not happen imminently, but at least the work has started.

The family of a man whose body was washed up on a beach in Cornwall say

they are desperate for answers about what happened to him. The police are

treating Alan Jeal's death as suspicious, after he was found with

unexplained injuries on Perranporth beach more than week ago. Eleanor

Parkinson has the latest on the investigation.

This is Alan Jeal, filmed by CCTV withdrawing money from a cashpoint,

just 24 hours before his body was found on the beach, some 20 miles

away. Alan Jeal's body was found close a rucksack and wallet

containing a photograph of a small boy, believed to be the dead man as

a child. Alan Jeal is only identified after family members

recognised an artist impression released by the police. The police

say they're treating his death as suspicious because of injuries found

on his body. There are injuries to a variety of points on his body. I

can't go into detail at this time, but it is safe to say not all of

them can be explained by natural causes. The police now want more

information about what happened to Alan Jeal in the 24 hours after

withdrawing money from this cashpoint and when he was found dead

on the beach. He just withdrawn some money, so you might spend some money

in local shops, or someone might have seen him getting on a train or

bus because they believe he didn't drive. People here are keen to

help. We are shocked to hear about this. We would like to ask people to

remember what happened. Any information they can give to the

police. That would be helpful. Alan Jeal had lived in Weybridge from

those of us live. As a young man he worked as a scientist, but he hadn't

worked recently and lived alone. His family say he was a mild mannered

gentleman and are shocked and saddened by his death.

Tourism leaders in Looe say they expect to lose up to 60% of their

business when a major holiday route into the town is closed for four

months from next week. Cornwall Council wants to stabilise St

Martin's Road following a landslip last year, in which Susan Norman was

killed. It says measures will be put in place to support local residents

and businesses during the works, including a campaign to promote the

area. Fishermen say new byelaws

restricting some of the waters off Dorset are proving a challenge, but

there are hopes that it will eventually pay off as fish stocks

recover and move out of the restricted areas. Practices which

disturb the sea bed are now banned where young species are trying to

grow. Spotlight's Simon Clemison reports on how conservation needs

are balanced against the needs of trawlermen.

Whatever the weather, if the fishermen are out, so too are the

patrols. Far beyond the eye can see, there is a whole world out on the

water which is also being policed. Just like the towns and villages we

leave behind. Today Simon Pengelly and Sam Dell are off the coast of

Dorset checking the new byelaws are being followed. The idea of these

new laws is to protect what's going on beneath the surface on the sea

bed, the reefs and the sea grasses where the scallops, the sole and the

plaice live. That's somewhere they can hide from predators, somewhere

they can eat but it's also somewhere they can breed and that's crucial.

Crucial, because unless there are nursery grounds, stocks can't

rebuild. Not all fishing practises are banned, but trawlers and

dredgers which rake up habitats where young species are trying to

take hold are outlawed. We're just approaching a scallop dredger. He's

fishing outside one of our closed areas. But he's close it? He's close

to it but he's the right side of the line. The crew has the power to

board any boat but efforts are focussed on those most at risk of

straying into waters which are now out of bounds. The company is

complying with the new laws and so this is a friendly visit. And Mark

Cornwell knows exactly how restricted his operation has become

because fishing is now done by sat nav. You can tell where the

percentage of the fishing was is inside the closed area. Where all

these different colours are? Everything in this is old scallop

fishing. That's all now closed. This is all now closed. Further down here

is all closed. So the few bits left here is what we're left with. So

you've got quite limited areas now? Yeah, with all the same amount of

boats fishing those limited areas. This fisherman believes the new laws

can work if what the authorities are hoping for comes true. Hopefully

fish species will thrive in these areas and spread out beyond the

boundaries of these closed areas. Fishermen aren't sure about that at

the moment are they? Fishermen aren't sure. Some people have been

displaced by the closure but we've been working very hard throughout

the process to consult with the industry and make sure that they can

still access areas, important areas where they will have less impact on

the sea bed. Success will depend not on how the industry or the

authorities react but how nature itself reacts. There is talk of warm

sunshine tomorrow. It's been quite a year for graduates

of Exeter Chiefs rugby academy ` we meet some of the rising stars. And

life on the front line is detailed in two remarkable First World War

diaries ` but do you know the soldier who wrote them?

Seaside towns around the South West are to get cash injections from the

Big Lottery's Coastal Communities Fund in order to create new projects

and safeguard jobs. St Ives in Cornwall will get ?500,000 for a

water sports centre, Minehead in Somerset ?300, 000 for a training

and skills hotel and Weymouth in Dorset will be given ?650,000 for

two nature reserves. EXETER Projects in Devon have been awarded

the largest share, with just over ?2 million for two schemes ` a ?1.8m

arts and enterprise centre in Teignmouth and ?300,000 for a

Jurassic Coast visitor centre in Seaton. Spotlight's Hamish Marshall

reports. No wonder they were celebrating in

Teignmouth today. After years of campaigning, local arts will have a

new home. The Carlton Theatre will be knocked down and replaced with a

new multi`purpose centre. If you take a look at the outside it is

deteriorating. People think it is closed, so a brand`new building on

the seafront is bound to attract people. The ?1.75 million from the

coastal communities fund completes the funding needed for the new

facility. It'll provide a 210`seated auditorium, a work hub of eight

separate rooms and exhibition space. This building will bring a of new

businesses into the area. Equally, the businesses need the colour of

the arts. If you look at all the major events in the UK, the arts

have always been prominent. A few miles east, as the crows flies, and

you have the Jurassic coast. It attracts hundreds of thousands of

visitors, and Seaton with its shops, restaurant, pubs and bed and

breakfasts, is hoping to cash in on that. Soon this site of a former

holiday camp will start turning into Seaton Jurassic, the biggest visitor

centre on the World Heritage site. Those behind the scheme say it'll

create 12 full time jobs and indirectly create another 100.

Whilst the core benefit will be generated here, the area around

here, be at the local self`catering cottages and hotels, we have a plan

where we can deliver one hotel in the area. That'll be underpinned by

an extra visitors we get in. Todays grant was for ?300,000. It's hoped

the centre, run by the Devon Wildlife Trust, will attract up to

70,000 visitors a year for a hands on experience. It is important.

There is a lot more interaction these days. There is more touch and

feel. That is where we have to be when we develop the centre. Building

work, both here and Teignmouth, should start later this year.

In a huge weekend for the Exeter Chiefs, not only do they have two

England players in action ` Tom Johnson and Jack Nowell ` they also

have an Anglo`Welsh Cup semifinal against Bath. This year has seen the

club's academy produce a number of first team players. Andy Birkett has

been along to meet a few of the new stars.

They have only been waiting in the wings a short time, but now they are

taking centre stage. Sam Hill and others are on up. The system is

working. We identified guys from 13 years onwards. We get them from

schools and centres in Cornwall. The guys have potential and where card

and they will come through. And the Jack Nowell he has made the step

from junior to senior level in six months. I had a massive year and it

is good to see someone I played with going on to do such good things. We

said when we joined it would be special for the one day when we are

playing together. We are getting there now. I was hoping to get some

time but I didn't expect to play as much as I have. It is unbelievable.

It gives you a buzz. Nominated for the award, his ambition is to join

Jack Nowell on the stage. It has been my ambition to favour England.

I was a bit disappointed I didn't. I have to work on my set piece stuff

and get that solid and then hopefully impress and go through.

These guys are now played England. There are the players we would like

in a year or five years time to push on the whole ethos of the club. We

have some strong players coming through. If we can keep developing

them and improving them, there is a good future for sure.

On to football, and some say this is the business end of the season. Here

in the South West, it promises to be an interesting few weeks ahead.

Spotlight's Dave Gibbins reports. The pot is starting to simmering

nicely. There is a time Yeovil Town could remain a championship club

after going four games without defeat, including a draw at Reading

last week. If they keep that run going by beating Sheffield Wednesday

they could climb out of the relegation zone. The job Gary has

done is unbelievable. We have that fighting spirit. It remains to be

seen whether we can do... Finish the job off, which I believe we can.

Plymouth Argyle have come from nowhere to get two points within the

play`offs. That is because of a three match winning run. The last

games have produced nine goals. That included this 5`0 hammering. Since I

have come back from injury I've been playing well. The whole team is

playing well and scoring goals. I'm just trying to do my best for the

team and hopefully get the three points. Exeter will have to sharpen

up in front of goal. They will have to claim their first win at home

since October, but they will look below them in the league. It is

looking grim for Torquay United. They are seven points away from

safety. They haven't won in five league games, and tomorrow they face

one of the play`off contenders, Fleetwood Town.

You can follow your team on BBC Radio Devon and BBC Somerset along

with updates on the BBC Sport website.

Now to a story which has already got a lot of people talking across the

South West today. We need your help to solve a mystery. Following our

series last week about the impact of the First World War on the region,

we were contacted by a viewer who'd found two diaries written by a South

West soldier. I have been taking a look at the diaries to see if we can

track down the family of the man who wrote them.

The diaries cover the period from September 1915 to July 1918. Herbert

Cecil Elgar was heading with the first Devon Royal Yeomanry to

Gallipoli. They sailed from Liverpool, and on 25th of September

he writes, all aboard, we're in high spirits and we were escorted by

three destroyers. Soon saw the last of dear old England. Valerie Harper

came across thr diaries after they were found in the roof of her

previous home in Plymouth. It is just so incredibly well written, and

a lot of it is by pen and ink, so how they managed to do that under

the conditions. It is so graphic and beautiful really. By November 1915,

Herbert and his comrades were under heavy shelling from the Turkish. On

the ninth he wrote, my birthday. Reached my coming of age. But two

days later it seems the shelling intensified. He writes, our best

officer Captain Teddy Hain, from St Ives in Cornwall, was killed. His

death cast gloom over the whole regiment. The cold weather soon

played havoc with Herbert's health. November 28, 1915. Still freezing,

especially my poor feet. I can't feel them at all. Oh for a little

warmth. By Christmas Day, he was in Alexandria, in Egypt. This is entry

for the 25th. Thought a lot about home. Feed decidedly better, never

do I want frostbite again. Had dinner of boiled beef. I'm in tears

reading them. The hardships they went through. It is just awful. And

I kind of fell in love with this guy. I thought he was so amazing

how, with all this awful stuff going on, they still managed to find

things of interest and other things. Indeed there were lighter moments.

He describes taking it bet with a friend over whether there were more

acres of land in Yorkshire than words in the Bible. He appears to

have spent most of 1917 in Palestine, where the death toll

continued to rise. On April 21 he wrote, Mitchell died of wounds, very

sorry. He came from Bodmin. By 1918 he is in France, and in the middle

of the year receives some good news. The entry for June 30th records,

going on leave today. Bit excited. By two July he is back in the

south`west, then writes, delighted to meet Father and the girls at the

station. `` July the 2nd. On six July he describes a day out in

Plymouth. Lunch at Colliers. Tea at Goodbody's. On the 14th he wrote,

packing to go back to France. And that is the last thing he wrote in

the diary. I would like to know what happened to the chap, because it

suddenly comes to an abrupt end. So for my own interest, I would like to

know what happened to the chap, and I would love them to go back to

their family. Do you know the family? Valerie has

let me look after the diaries and I've taken them home this week. They

are fascinating read. If you can help us, get in touch by e`mailing

or even drop me a line. Thanks to everyone who has got in touch. He

did survive the war. We would like to please the rest of his story. We

will let you know how we get on. Time for the weather. David, talk of

sunshine. It can't be true? I've waited four months to tell you on

Friday we have a dry weekend. We have some fine weather to look

forward to. We may get 17 degrees on the north coast. Some mist and low

cloud but that will go away. It is much warmer temperatures up to

figures. Most weekends we have been looking at wet and with the that

Ratko windy weather, but warmer is coming in from Spain. It's more of a

breeze tomorrow, but that will help lift those temperatures and after a

misty start it should improve. By the time you get a Sunday there's

not much change. One week system is bringing us more cloud, especially

on Sunday. There will be just a cue light showers. Find this evening,

and we have had some glorious sunshine today `` fine this

evening. We did have some beautiful weather at this beach. BC is a bit

chilly `` the sea. It has been studied by those big waves, so some

pretty chilly conditions. On the north coast it will be pleasantly

warm. It will be like spring. Later on tonight, all the cloud that has

been sitting in the English Channel will gradually drift back across

us, so many others waken up to a disappointing start. It is misty and

great and there may be some spit of drizzle. Don't be too downhearted,

because it will improve in the morning. Overnight haemorrhages of

four degrees. After a great start `` overnight temperatures. We could

easily see temperatures of 14 to 15 degrees, possibly a 16 or 17

degrees. That is the forecast for the Isles of Scilly. A cloudy start

and fine and dry. Don't expect it to be sunny all day. Perhaps more black

cloud appearing later in the day. These are the times of high water.

The waves on huge but some clean, usable safe. Bigger waves on Sunday,

especially along the north coast. That is a dry forecast for fought

days. We haven't seen that for several months. Enjoyed that

sunshine. That is all from us tonight. That is the last spotlight

from the studio for the time being. This has been our home for many

years. It is home to many different programmes. These set the Sunday

Politics show is still in a studio at the moment, with a programme,

this Sunday. We are moving to Tenby Studios for the next few months,

while this one is refurbished `` temporary studios. A refurbishment

is long overdue. We will be in a new studio on Monday. Hopefully you

won't see too many changes. Have a good night.