07/05/2014 Spotlight

After the potholes, the pay`outs ` the BBC News at Six, so it's

After the potholes, the pay`outs ` thousands of drivers receive

compensation for damage. Good evening and welcome to

Spotlight. An investigation by BBC South West shows the cost to

councils includes hundreds of thousands of pounds in repairs for

motorists. We'll examine the bill after the wettest of winters.

The battle to keep pupils safe. There's anger as a major scheme to

rebuild dangerous school buildings is scrapped.

There are three incidents now involving glass windows falling

inside the building. Each time we have been fortunate they have been

no children around at the time, but it could so easily have been a

different story. And, the children told to pull their

socks up, by taking off their shoes! Nearly 6,000 drivers in Devon and

Cornwall have received compensation because of damage done to their cars

by potholes. The figures uncovered by BBC South West show more than

?800,000 has been paid out to motorists since 2008. The vast

majority of claims were in Devon, with about 500 people coming forward

in Plymouth alone. Torbay Council had to give more than 80 drivers

money for repairs. In Cornwall, the number was nearly 1,500. The data

includes last winter, the wettest ` water was the cause of problems,

frozen or not. Scott Bingham has been speaking to motorists.

David is still battling Devon County Council over a claim for ?500 worth

of damage to his wife's car, caused by a pothole in 2012. He said his

wife was driving along this stretch of road between Haverstock and chill

it. It was night`time, the road was not late and covered in surface

water and puddles. She hit the same pothole on two separate occasions.

The car suffered two flat tyres, which were easily repaired, but what

was more worrying was the damage they later discovered to the

vehicle's suspension. It is very annoying because you pay your tax

and this goes to what they are supposed to do as a legal entity,

but also, it is the safety issue. It is not even an apology. They just

say they don't have to pay, go away. I could have ended up rolling

off the side of the motorway. David's claim was dismissed, and he

is now planning to take the matter to the Small Claims Court. Devon

County Council said it does not comment on individual cases. But,

there was no shortage of comment on potholes from listeners to BBC Radio

Cornwall today. I was driving in one will and court unfortunately a deep

pothole. My car in Egypt league blue it's tired. `` immediately blew its

tyre. The alternative way of doing a repair, it can possibly last for one

good hard winter. In the long term, it is better to do a proper job and

it is to do a quick fix. The councils admit they are struggling

to keep up with repairs in the face of government budget cuts, so the

pothole count, it seems, will continue to rise, along with the

compensation claims. Well, we've already had lots of

reaction to this issue. Thank you for getting in touch, do

keep your comments coming. Almost ?60 million needs to be spent

to bring local authority schools across Cornwall up to scratch. But

the Council says with shrinking government funding it doesn't have

the cash to clear the backlog. It comes as the county's largest state

school was today told major rebuild plans have been scrapped. Tamsin

Melville reports. Late last year there was a near miss

at Helston committee college. It was a near miss, the glass fell out. It

could have caused serious damage. Are you worried about the health and

safety of pupils? There have been three incidents involving

plate`glass windows falling inside the building. Each time we have been

fortunate they have been no children around at the time, but it could

easily have been a difficult different story. Windows are now

being bolted shut. We have so much rain coming in, you could have

committed down the corridor. There are issues with the walls, asbestos,

it makes it difficult to do any repairs. This blog is well past its

sell by date. There had been high hopes of a ?10 million rebuild, but

today, Cornwall Council scrapped those plans. It says all funding

options have been exhausted and it is not affordable. It is battling

shrinking budgets and a multi`million pound repair bill

across the county. I have got ?6 million to address a massive

backlog. When you look at rebuild, I am never going to achieve that with

such a small amount of money. In Helston, staff say the conditions

are worrying. The water splashes down from the ceiling onto the

children and it makes it difficult for them to learn in here. The

council says they will continue to provide maintenance at Helston, and

meanwhile the government says it is spending ?18 million on building and

refurbishing schools across the country. It has just launched a

second funding phase which councils will be able to bid for.

The production of beef in the South West could be significantly reduced

as hundreds of farmers consider giving up altogether. Figures from

one industry body suggest 20% of the herd could be lost if the market

continues to fall. The price farmers were getting for British beef were

at a premium following the horse meat scandal, but the market has

since plummeted. Anna Varle reports. This calf is just days old. It will

hold little value for farmers like Bill if the market for beef

continues to drop. In the last three months alone, he has seen the price

the debts for each product for by ?250. `` price he gets. We have

dropped to these levels in the last few months. If this continues, we

cannot continue to produce beef at a loss on a. We know what our costs

are. The organic beef trade is taking an even greater hit. Joy is

down ?500 per animal. If this prize carries on, 20% of producers in this

area will stop producing beef, and that will have a dire effect on the

countryside. We have produced beef and kept the countryside in the

state it is now, and to keep it as it is, in need to be graced by

livestock. Beef is one of the main enterprises in this area. The

English beef and Lamb executive says there are three reasons for the

planet in price. Firstly, there are more cattle on the market. Secondly,

we are importing more beef from Ireland which is cheaper. Thirdly,

consumer sales are down. People are buying cheaper cuts of meat. British

beef is amongst the most six bounces in Europe, partly because of

Britain's higher welfare standards `` the most expensive. They don't

have the fixed costs that we have in this country. We have two how's them

through the winter and provide fodder, but in other parts of the

world, cattle stay out all year. Prices are expected to continue to

fall over the coming weeks. Firefighters have been tackling a

fire on board a P ferry at Falmouth docks. The incident began

on the European Endeavour, which is undergoing a refit, just before 3pm.

A Falmouth, which runs the docks, said there was no damage to the ship

and no injuries reported. Cornwall Fire Service said the fire involved

an oil tank which had ruptured alongside the ship.

With just a fortnight until the European Elections, there's great

speculation as to how well the most recent major political player will

do. UKIP has had particular success in the South West over the last

decade. Martyn Oates reports now from one of its strongholds within

the region. Having a French name, the name

sticks. This man is the son of a French immigrant, perhaps not the

stereotypical image of a UKIP politician. He is not the only UKIP

cancer in the region to admit to having done very little campaigning

to secure his own election. So, why does he think people voted for him?

I think people are concerned on two fronts. Immigration and the effect

it has on local jobs. I think the other thing is that many people are

concerned about all the cutbacks going on right now. When they

realise that we are subsidising India's space programme, they really

wonder whether charity ought to begin at home. Both of Bideford's

County Council seats were taken by UKIP which makes it unusual. It

differed is in many ways typical of many similar towns across Devon and

Cornwall. A maritime location, a prosperous past, and a rather less

prosperous present. I wanted to find out what local electors think of

UKIP and its policies. I think we are overpopulated. We are only a

little island. I think we are overpopulated. We have not got the

facilities on our little island for everyone that comes. I believe in an

international unity. I speak with an Irish accent. The bigger mix, the

better. UKIP has been doing well in European elections since 2004, but

it is only since last May that it started to make a modest

breakthrough in local elections. The party currently has 14 councillors,

for in Devon, six in Cornwall, one in Torbay, two in Somerset and one

in Dorset. Westminster, though, is where they really want and need to

succeed. For the moment, there are no UKIP MPs. But there are already

MPs here at Westminster who espouse many of UKIP's headline policies on

Europe, climate change, education, and they are in the main party of

government. Not David Cameron and the Conservative leadership, but a

substantial number of Tory MPs who think UKIP are being allowed to get

away with pinching the Tory's clothes. Many have gone across to

UKIP because they are desperate in the sense that our party are not

doing what they want us to do. UKIP have created a fill`in for this

vacuum that has been created by politicians who have lost touch with

the voter. Despite the obvious policy overlap between some Tories

in UKIP, the latter insist they are out to take votes from Labour and

the Lib Dems as well. All the polling suggests that UKIP takes

more votes from the Conservatives than Labour, but we are not come he

our strongholds. `` we are not complacent. We will beware to very

hard. Every Labour vote count wherever you are in the region. This

is a system of abortion voting. This is about collecting people who will

vote for the south`west interests, in the way that the Liberal

Democrats have done. All four parties will undoubtedly be watching

the outcome of this last major electoral contest before the general

election very closely indeed. The other parties contesting the

European Elections in the South West are the Greens, the British National

Party, the English Democrats and "An Independence from Europe". The full

list of candidates is available on the BBC website.

Now, if you have children you'll know there are two things that are

almost impossible to find in the morning sometimes ` one shoe, and

the other. But at a school in Dorset your efforts looking behind the sofa

and under the bed may all be in vain because you don't need them ` not in

lessons anyway. Sarah Farmer looks at whether a shoeless classroom is a

more productive classroom. Shout, Thai, and slippers? The Isle

of Portland Aldrich community Academy has a classroom dress code

with a difference. They have adopted a no shoes policy for lessons. Their

behaviour improves. It is ready hard to be naughty without your shoes

on. It is even harder to only with your shoes off. The kids are happy

to sit on a cleaner floor and read and do things come to be. Students

wear shoes when they are in the technology lab. Beresford were

available when they visit the bathroom, but other than that, it is

socks and tights. Stripes seem to be on trend with the occasional polka

dot. Some even have holy ones! The teachers are suited and not booted

two. We wanted to engage learners in every element of design in this

building. The children found lots of examples and they've really hooked

on the idea that it would be a good idea to learn without shoes. You

might get your socks ready dirty outside. It makes you relaxed will

stop you can't touch the floor, and if you can, you can't feel the

constant sound of your shoe rubbing against the floor. With shoes it is

really loud, but it is calm without shoes. They really seem to like it.

But I had to ask, is there a problem with smelly feet? There are loads of

smelly feet. The number one swimming club in the

country, Plymouth Leander, will be represented by five of its swimmers

in this year's Commonwealth Games. Leander's head coach Jon Rudd will

also be leading the England swimming team, but as Spotlight's Dave

Gibbins reports, his quintet are from different countries and

islands. A five pronged attack from The Met

Leander this July `` Plymouth. I am representing England. I've swim

butterfly. I come from the Cayman Islands. I represent Kenya. I am

from Uganda. England will be led by Leander's

head coach, who is celebrating the club's status as UK champions, which

it has achieved for the sixth time in seven years. I am hopeful our

guys go and swim with honour and pride because they know that

Plymouth is a big part of the reason that they are going, and we will see

what the medal table tells us afterwards. 19`year`old Ben Prout

spearheads the England bid for medals. Last year he smashed Mark

Foster's ten`year`old butterfly record, and has just broken the 50

metres freestyle record. You only get to chances a year. It is all the

training which makes the difference. The Isle of Man is usually renowned

for its annual races, but now they have something else to shout about,

a top female swimmer who is going to Glasgow. We are a small team, so it

will big rate to do well and put the Isle of Man on the map. Anthony

James won silver and bronze in the Delhi games four years ago, but

failed to meet the requisite times, which just goes to show how tough

this year's competition is going to be.

The Chelsea Flower Show provides the opportunity for gardeners to reveal

their latest innovations. And this year is no exception. But, are some

of the delights from Devon really flowers? In fact, what on earth are

they? Janine Jansen has been taking a look.

Not a space ship, but a purple turnip. Think of Chelsea, and I bet

you would think of flowers, but the exhibition by Suttons seeds from

Paignton will feature a huge selection of vegetables. There are

some quite interesting vegetables amongst us. This is what most people

would recognise as a cauliflower. What we found last year, we had this

one last year, it is a unique one with its it on. It looks really

good. I know what you were thinking, how do they get all the vegetables

ready in May? It is difficult getting vegetables at this time of

year. One of the problems is doing it in the gardens, you have to grow

everything in pots, which becomes a challenge when you get warm days

like today and I have been trying to shade everything. Though in a garden

you would have succession, at Chelsea, the expectation is that

everything is nearly at its peak. Some stuff you try to hold on, some

stuff you try to bring on. To celebrate 50 years of the Southwest

in bloom, there are some surprises. The first black large cherry tomato

being launched at Chelsea, so we are excited about that. For the flower

lovers, this is something really new and quite unique. A brand`new fourth

sunflower. It is quite unique in its colouring. You can see the maroon

with the yellow tip. The exhibit will focus on the flavour of Devon

with Coast and vegetables and be linked to side. I am definitely

going along to find it! `` the link to side.

Now, I'm not Sir Tom Jones, and she's no Kylie, but we do seem to

have spotted the musical stars of the future here on Spotlight. Blue

Horyzon from West Cornwall were offered a record deal after we

featured them and they've just started work in the studio. Carole

Madge has been catching up with them and joins us now from Penzance.

You join me at the recording studio where the band are here today.

Little did they realise in 2011 when they formed that they would soon be

making their first professional recording and they would not have to

travel very far to do it. One more from the top. They started off

basking on the streets of Penzance, but now they are playing for gigs a

week and are making their first professional recording.

# You see the light, I see the dark...

It is fantastic. Our producer is really incredible, really brilliant.

He has done so many albums and he has recorded so many people. It is a

real privilege to be recording with him.

Excellent,, and have a live Blitzen. The producer has worked

with artists like Paul McCartney. With his help, Blue Horyzon are

aiming for even greater success. I hope that we do all right. I hope we

can make a living and keep making music for people, and just keep

enjoying it. And Blue Horyzon have a next gig in

Newlyn on May 16. The cat for their album. Take it away, boys!

Nice to see them doing so well. Not so much harmony in the weather. We

have had some showers today, but tomorrow the wet weather really does

turn up, and sadly it coincides with Flora Day in Helston. Let's start by

having a look at the summary of tomorrow. There will be rain at

times, it is quite windy, and perhaps the clearest coming to late

for most of the events, right at the end of the day. Wet weather early in

the day, and then again around the middle of the day. After that,

things will start to improve. By Friday, hopefully we will see some

dry weather, but only for one day because the weekend could be rather

wet and breezy. There has been some brief sunshine in between a few

showers today. This was earlier today in Helston where preparations

have been underweight. `` underway. This scene could be wetter tomorrow

because of the rain, particularly in the morning. It should be a great

day, despite the bad weather. Do take a waterproof or Ambala if you

are going. `` Amber alert. `` umbrella. By the end of the night,

here comes the wet weather. You can see the brighter colours showing the

heavy bursts of rain. It could be pretty wet before it begins to ease

in the afternoon. A second line of showers Suite

three, and it is after that that we see an improvement and perhaps some

sunshine later in the day. Temperatures ranging from 12 on the

coast up to 15 or 16 inland. After a wet morning on the Isles of Scilly,

it will be breezy and brighter towards the end of the day. Some big

waves. Messy along the north coast. Generally moderate visibility

because some of that rain is quite heavy. Friday will be much lighter

with some sunshine, some passing showers, but the weekend forecast is

getting colder and some quite mastery additions. Some heavy rain

Friday night into Saturday. Quite a cold weekend and windy with plenty

of showers. That is all from us this evening.

Join us again with the late news at 10:28pm. Good evening.

'This is the story of Nick Clegg - a man entrusted by a nation

'to act upon the policies he proposed.

'But he soon became The Un-Credible Shrinking Man.'