11/04/2017 Spotlight

tomorrow's talks when he will try to persuade Russia to end

Tonight, the row over revitalising Exmouth.

Could it be the end of the line for the traditional seaside resort

as multimillion-pound plans to revamp it get the green light?

It's challenging but rewarding and I think the rewards

It is very much to give people the lives that they want,

it is about supporting them to do the things that they want to do

campaign to entice more care professionals here.

They are one of the finest motorcycle display groups

in the world, with a large repertoire of stunt-riding tricks.

Looking back at 90 years of the White Helmets.

And from Welsh summits to south-west sands -

how this view has been voted as one of the best in the country...

It's been in the pipeline for years but tonight it's full steam ahead

for a multi-million pound redevelopment of Exmouth seafront.

Along the way there's been fierce resistance

to the ?18 million scheme, but following a council

development meeting today, the Devon seaside resort will be

Council leaders say the investment is vital to the future of Exmouth

but many local businesses, some who have been there

for decades, say it's the end of their traditional seaside

Well, our business correspondent Carys Edwards

Yes, it has been a glorious day here on the Exmouth seafront. I have

crazy golf behind me, the board park and the beach. Many wonder why

anything at all needs to change. Exmouth of course has been renowned

for generations for its traditions, rather than for transformation.

Following the vote today, that seems as if it is about to change.

Exmouth has been described as a jewel in the crown of seaside

resorts, but today's vote backing the council's vision

for redevelopment means this seafront could undergo a radical

transformation within the next few years.

All of those in favour of the application?

Final approval was given for the multi-million

pound watersports centre, a 70-room hotel, shops,

a new restaurant, cafe and play areas.

I am very pleased, very pleased indeed.

Exmouth is a world-class location and we want it to be

a world-class destination, and the important part about today's

approval is that it allows us to get on with that now.

But protesters at the meeting today describe the scheme

as a huge monstrosity, which will destroy

After years of fighting, their last-ditch battle has failed.

I am concerned simply because of the scale and that it

will be in a prominent position on the seafront that

I do not believe that many residents in Exmouth really appreciate

what is going to happen on this site.

You know, it is going to change the character completely.

So, the new plans mean the crazy golf course will have to close,

along with the boating lake and the amusement arcade.

This cafe has been here for 41 summers, but this year

Devastated, my family has been here for 40 years, we employ several

people here, including myself and we are trying to find somewhere to

avoid redundancies but I do not, that is 21 jobs gone. We are

devastated because it is dog friendly, lovely people run it, we

have been coming here for years. It will be a big blow. This is such a

family orientated place. is not easy and says

it will continue to consult every step

of the way. The protesters, though,

will not give up. We have lost today's battle

but the battle goes on. Yes, we shall be there right until

they concrete the seafront over. As one pro-councillor said,

"Let's get on with the job." Well, tourism is one of the

fastest-growing and most important industries here in the south-west.

With me to talk about the wider issues of regeneration is Robin

Barker who is the spokesperson for the South West Tourism Alliance. How

significant would you see the vote today is for Exmouth? It is

important because it is recognition that this resort cannot stand still.

Like so many other resorts across the south-west and country, it needs

to modernise and make sure it is fit for purpose for the next ten, 20,

100 years. And ever resorts do not invest, what are the implications?

Right across the country we have seen resource battlefield to invest

and they have gone downhill with rising unemployment and so on. And

the resin, this huge global industry, you always need to be

looking at what is coming along and anticipating it and try to react in

advance to make sure you are on top of the game. Do be do that in the

south-west? How have seaside resorts across this region changed in recent

years? Over the last 20, 30 years, you can see a transformation, you

see places like farmers as a maritime centre, as though as a

seafood centre, St Ives as a cultural and artistic one. Some of

the others may not have found their niche and Exmouth needs to do that

and build on some of its greatest assets. I understand you run the

tourism awards, what do you look for when you try to look at what is good

practice? It is about excellence in terms of delivery, delivering a

fantastic service and about businesses that are always investing

and making sure they are ahead of the game. It is only 20, 30 years

ago that many accommodation providers were moving into top suite

facilities but the groundbreakers are in the fantastic spas and

outstanding service and so on. It is never seizing. Thank you, Robin

Barker, for joining us. The decision here in Exmouth of course has now

been made. The next step will be for the developers to put forward their

ideas for what these buildings will look like and I am sure that locals

and tourists alike will be watching extremely closely.

Thank you for that, Carys Edwards. The Royal Marines are to cut 200

posts as the Royal Navy reshuffles staff ahead of the arrival

of new ships. Our reporter Nick Quraishi

is at the headquarters of 3 Commando Brigade

in Plymouth tonight. Nick, can you put some detail

on this announcement? Well, this is regarded as the

spiritual home of the Royal Marines and it somewhere where the first Sea

Lord Sir Philip Jones once worked. He has announced these changes and

said they are needed to meet the challenges of what is becoming a

dangerous and uncertain world. The MoD insists it will involve a

reshuffle but no redundancies, the cuts will be achieved through

natural wastage and through redeployment. 200 jobs are affected

in total. 100 are backroom roles and the expertise from this will be used

on new carriers that are coming in but what is affecting specifically

the south-west is a 100 jobs and at another command centre of the road.

That is going to turn into a full-time maritime operation unit.

That will free up some posts like heavy weapon specialists. There has

been reaction and people are accepting things must change in the

Royal Marines after things have already been cut back on the other

Armed Forces, but once footnote, the MP Sir Oliver Colville has said that

he will write to the Secretary of State to see if he has yet more

plans for change. Voce, Nick, thank you.

The pressures facing social care in our region have been highlighted

again with research showing hundreds of people leaving the care

More than 41,000 workers in the greater South West

are leaving the sector every year - that's the biggest turnover

It's highest amongst front-line care workers at nearly 40%.

Problems recruiting staff have been blamed for the recent closure

of a number of care homes and care providers - the latest announced

An organisation which represents home care providers says this region

has particular issues when it comes to recruitment.

In the South West there are particular challenges created

by seasonal work from tourism and hospitality, that adds

an additional pressure for employers and, again,

it is about making sure that care work really is the job

The job is really fulfilling for them and the terms

and conditions compete well with other sectors.

An estimated 30,000 new care workers are needed over

So now a recruitment campaign called Proud To Care,

which has been piloted in Devon, is to be rolled out

Our reporter Anna Varle has been to see one

When I left school at 18, I was very keen to do a gap year...

One of many being used as part of Devon's campaign to encourage

She's been looking after Sally for five years.

I think it is a very rewarding job and I have always wanted

to make a difference, so enabling people to be more

But Sarah finds recruiting new staff an issue.

If we do not sort out the recruitment, I think supported

living could be jeopardised because obviously one on one

requires a lot more staff than say residential,

so my fear would be that people who had been in supported living

with a lack of staff, they would then go back

Other care providers are turning away work because they do not

We are turning quite a lot of packages away because we do not

have the capacity from a timing point of view and also

We have already seen two care homes close this month

because of recruitment issues and the situation looks

Already in the South West, we have the highest turnover

of staff in the sector in the country.

An estimated 41,000 people leave every year.

And with an ageing population, the region needs around 30,000

new carers within the next eight years to cope with the demand.

This is why local authorities across the region are signing

And if we are to start to communicate with people

in a meaningful way, there needs to be a consistent

To do that we need to do it at scale, and with that in mind,

16 local authorities recognised that there is a lot more power

The main political parties in Devon have said it is good news

the campaign is being adopted regionwide, but those in care need

to be valued for their work in pay and recognition.

Proud To Care South West will go live across the region this summer

and it is hoped success stories like Sarah's will continue to make

an impact and attract more people into the profession.

It is supporting them to do the things that they want to do

Still to come in tonight's programme.

The Somerset musicians hoping to be instrumental in saving

The weather has been glorious, prompting trips

but that can seem like an impossible dream

But thanks to Cornwall Accessible Activities that dream became reality

A special pony and buggy were brought in for children

in wheelchairs to enjoy the sand and the sea, games were put

on and a mobile loo with a hoist was hired to make it all practically

But usually there is a mountain to climb to make it happen

Today, they are at the heart of the action.

The pony and buggy brought make delighting in the sand

Normally, it is impossible for us to manage a day at the beach.

Today has been absolutely incredible so far.

I can't believe what we've already done.

Adam has whizzed across the sand using Obama the pony.

He been in the waves, he has actually had the waves around him.

He has had the experience that able-bodied children have.

The thrill of running through the waves is a whole new sensation.

Some wheelchair wheels just won't turn in the sand

and a ten-year-old child is too heavy to be carried.

That is why a day like this brings a sense of inclusion that can help

tackle the feeling of isolation felt by some families

If you are taking people to a place you love,

and peole have never been able to access it, that gives

You are sharing things you enjoy and that is always more fun.

Apart from getting onto the sand, it is staying here for the day poses

So Cornwall Accesible Activites programme, or CAAP,

which is organising the day, has hired a mobile

It is one less thing to worry about and it means the focus can be

on the fun for Rachel, Adam and other families here.

Cornwall has so few toilets like this.

Lots of places do have them now but there's very few,

and it is very limiting as to where you can go.

Today is just one day, but CAAP hope it is a shift

towards communities taking practical steps to help include everyone.

We would like to see our young children have is ramps and walkways,

and beach buggies that are acceptable and aren't locked

away that you have permission to use three weeks advance with permits

Just readily available equipment, that you can look out

the window and think, it is a lovely day today, I will go

down to the beach with the kids, and just know that you can do it

Those are the things that we are looking for.

That attitude of welcoming peolple with disability.

It could be a long time before Adam can do this all again,

but while he is here there is no stopping him.

Absolutely brilliant, everyone enjoying the beach.

Musicians from around the world are taking part in a unique online

challenge to help raise money to save the life of

Stephen Sykes is suffering from a blood cancer

which isn't responding to conventional treatment.

His doctors say he needs an expensive drug which isn't

So musicians are rallying to the cause,

from musicians in America... To the band of the Scots Guards.

Trombonists... Guitarist... Even people with animal horns. They are

all doing it, playing a piece of music called The Acrobat online and

challenging others to do the same. And all to raise money for this man,

a talented trombonist himself, now seriously ill with Hodgkin's

lymphoma. Some of them have been really good, in fact, they all have

been really good. Some have been so exciting that it is making my hair

fall out now. Somebody was playing a carrot and a red pepper! Then we had

one family from the other side of Wincanton in the garden with the

grandchildren and I think they were playing watering cans. The Acrobat

challenge which aims to raise ?90,000 for radical cancer treatment

was the idea of another trombonist from Cambridgeshire, who just wanted

to do something to help. I was aiming at trombonists and thinking

about the Internet and the ice buckets challenge, it is a famous

solo, The Acrobat, so the challenge sounded good. I had it a minute ago.

Apparently the tune is so simple, anyone can do it. That is right.

Yes, then... Almost anyone! Clinton Rogers, BBC Spotlight.

Next tonight, a group which has been around for 90 years or so,

so you may just have seen them in action.

They're called the White Helmets and they've been performing

at shows and events around the country since 1927.

Look at some of the pictures from over the years.

But the team - which is part of the army -

is soon to be disbanded, and based in Dorset they've been

Abby Newbery reports on the end of an era at Blandford Garrison.

They have been jumping, holding on tight and surviving for 90 years,

but for the White Helmets, it is the end of the road.

This is their last season before the team is disbanded.

They teamwork and the effort that they put and is brilliant.

A lot of kids and families enjoy the display.

This move is called the double angel.

There are 23 men here today forming the team.

Two of those are black helmets hoping to gain

Whilst this will be the last season for the Royal Signals

Motorcycle Display team, they still need two more

members to complete the squad for the summer.

Today is their final test, performing in front

You fall off a lot in our training and you end up with a lot

Nobody juggles into battle, but the fundamental skills are been

able to do almost anything on a motorcycle have been important.

For decades have been delivering vital messages,

but now the Army wants to showcase the more modern ways

The world changes and these represent the form of communication

Of course, communication and today is fantastic.

Very much electronic, and we must all live with those times.

It is a very sophisticated organisation now.

Today has been a good day for Luke, as he dons his new headgear,

After this summer, they will go back to the regular posts with the Army,

bringing 90 years of history to a close.

And you can hear more on the White Helmets on

Radio Solent's Breakfast in Dorset programme with Steve Harris

Now an update on D-Day veteran Verdun Hayes

He's been making plans - not content to be the UK's oldest

skydiver, Verdun now wants to go into the record books as the oldest

We featured Verdun when he made a skydive a year ago at Dunkeswell

airfield for charity when he was 100 years old.

Well, on May the 13th he's going to jump again

If all goes according to plan, it means he'll smash the world

record set by a Canadian in 2013 by 34 days.

Now what makes the perfect view - countryside, seaside?

Well, the view over St Ives Bay in Cornwall has been named as one

of the best in the country in a national poll.

To be honest, we're rather surprised somewhere

in the South West wasn't top - that honour went to the view

from the summit of Snowdon, but we sent John Danks

with his backpack to St Ives for the day to soak up

St Ives is looking particularly gorgeous on this

But what makes this view such an eye-pleaser?

This is my favourite place in the whole world.

For me, it is the iconic St Ives view.

The higgledy-piggledy houses and the beautiful harbour.

And whether on a smartphone or a more sophisticated camera,

people gather here to snap the vista.

The colours of the sea water just make it.

I must have a thousand photographs and they are all different.

You can see the harbour, you can see the boats going and out,

and people on holiday, children enjoying themselves.

This, it seems, is a view with a very special place

And it is glorious, but there are so many places to choose from. Not one

in Devon was mentioned and there are lots of places. Here is David with

the weather. Sadly all good things must come to

an end and I think that is good to happen over the next 24 hours. More

clouds coming your way. Tomorrow, rather more cloud than you would

like. Mostly dry but because the lose the sunshine just that bit

cooler although the temperatures would be that different. There is

clouds in the north-west. We have high pressure in charge just now but

it is getting squashed and pushed down by this weather front from the

north. There won't be a grey deal of rain on that one front but there

will be a lot of cloud tomorrow. The area of high pressure close by is

perhaps not strong enough to keep the cloud at bay on Thursday. On

Friday, a couple of weather systems coming and means a rather grey day

and a possibility of some light rain or drizzle will stop that is the

satellite picture from earlier today. Let me show you what it is

like right now in expert when it has been a glorious day. Beautiful, fine

weather. Not a grey deal of breeze but enough for some other sailors. A

lovely end to the date with relatively quiet seas along this

stretch of the Devon coastline. From here, we go to Branscombe Woodhead

has also been a fine today. These badgers have been found by our

cameraman. It was like things have pointed down here. Temperatures

haven't been particularly high today. They see temperature is still

just 10 degrees at the moment. Letters follow the progress of that

weather front to the north. I don't think it will reach as overnight,

just more cloud. Like we saw last night, a lot of clear skies which

means it will be quite cold. In a few places temperatures will get

down to 45 degrees, most of us holding up quite well. Tomorrow we

have more cloud around and it is capable of producing showers to it.

Some brief breaks in the cloud letting the sun and but not too blue

skies that we have seen everywhere to date. There will be a keen wind

from the north wind. Top temperature of 12 or 13 degrees. Here it will be

bright and mostly dry but at times cloudy. There are times of high

water... The staff will pick up. Small waves at the moment but they

will pick up in the second half of the week up to two or three feet.

Choppy on the north goes. There is a coastal waters forecast... Brighter

on Thursday, rather grey and cloudy for Good Friday and a future was

around on Saturday and temperatures back down to normal. Have a good

evening. So - St Ives, one of the best

views in the country - but as we know, there

are so many others. Over to you now and some

of your favourite views There have never been

so many people in work - that's what the Government

keeps telling us. But what's the reality of this

Tory jobs bonanza? Well, if you're one of the millions

of people working on a contract without fixed hours

or days, then it's not so good. Nor is it so great if you're one of

the millions Mark and his wife are among those

who relied on And then the Conservatives started

hacking away at them. I'm a delivery driver. I do 35 hours

a week for ?8 an hour. My wife gets ?9 an hour

for an 18-hour week. Between us, we make

around ?20,000 a year,