As it happened: Trowbridge chemical incident

Summary

Updates from across the West of England on Wednesday 8 February 2017

Live Reporting

Council tax to go up in North Somersetpublished at 10:55 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017
Image source, Getty Images
North Somerset Council met last night to discuss a total of 88 different cost-cutting measures, after a reduction in the amount they'll get from central government. They need to save £20m from their books.
Some of the planned ideas include, external:
- Raising the four-hour car parking charge at Weston-super-Mare seafront
- Reducing subsidies to certain bus routes
- Reducing opening hours at household waste recycling centres
- Selling advertising space on North Somerset Council's website to raise money
Council tax is also set to go up by 4.75% for all North Somerset Council residents.
Speaking to Radio Bristol, council leader Nigel Ashton criticised the government's reduction in council funding:
Quote Message
It is becoming almost impossible to do this budget because of unfair funding. We've had seven years of cuts, and at the same time we've got this relentless growth in adult care services - that's not going to go away. It cannot be left to local councils to deal with, it has to be a national care. For someone like me to be balancing care of the elderly with our other statutory duties is ludicrous. I suspect there may be 50-60 redundancies from this process. Hopefully most of them won't be compulsory.
Workwear company celebrates 160 years of tradingpublished at 10:30 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017
Media caption,
Watch: Alexandra started in Clifton in the 1850s
Alexandra started out life as a drapery company in Clifton, Bristol, and now it's capable of providing 350,000 garments a week from its Thornbury headquarters.
The firm is marking its history with a special catwalk at Bristol's M-Shed later.
Eight outfits will be on display, including reproductions of nursing uniforms dating back to the 1890s and male and female business wear from the 1930s.
Police chief speaks out over Taser videopublished at 10:13 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017
The chief constable of Avon and Somerset Police has been talking to BBC Radio Bristol's John Darvall this morning.
Andy Marsh was quizzed on a recent incident which saw former race relations advisor Judah Adunbi Tasered in the face by an officer.
Quote Message
I don't accept that he was Tasered because of his race. I am not going to comment about that case, but of course there is concern that a black man was Tasered in the face. About 300 of our officers are authorised to carry tasers.
Andy Marsh, Chief Constable, Avon & Somerset Police
He also said that people shouldn't jump to conclusions after watching a video of the incident on social media.
Quote Message
We don't know the other circumstances that prevail at the time. We should wait for the full facts to come out before we comment on it.
Andy Marsh, Chief Constable, Avon & Somerset Police
Test bed for ultra-fast 5G technologypublished at 09:51 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017
The hunt is on for test beds to develop new 5G technology, and Bristol wants to be part of it.
Professor Dimitra Simeonidou at Bristol University's Smart Internet Lab said: "5G is a revolution. It's not just about having a faster connection in our mobile phones - it's also about creating a seamless connectivity with the network and it's about having complete reliability."
If you aren't sure how to tell your 1G from your 5G, then take a look at this short video from BBC reporter Robin Markwell:.
Media caption,
Watch: BBC reporter Robin Markwell explains how 5G works
Pay what you can at Salisbury Playhousepublished at 09:28 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017
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Tonight Salisbury Playhouse hosts its first 'pay what you can' evening.
Audience members will be allowed to pay as much or as little as they want for the playhouse's current production.
Quote Message
We wanted to provide an opportunity for absolutely anyone to come along. Sometimes there is a perception that theatre can be expensive. We have huge local support for the playhouse, so for one night we're happy to do this.
Tim Croall, Head of Communications, Playhouse Salisbury
A sneak peek inside GWR's new InterCity trainspublished at 09:08 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017
Media caption,
Watch: These trains will soon be ferrying passengers between London and Bristol.
These trains will soon be a familiar sight for travellers across the West of England - the brand new InterCity Express trains that will soon be running between Bristol and London.
They will be maintained at a depot in Stoke Gifford where Hitachi Rail Europe are recruiting 150 people to look after the new trains.
Hitachi has a contract to do this for the next 27.5 years.
'Last Concorde' makes its final journeypublished at 08:48 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017
Media caption,
Watch: The story of Concorde
As the 'last Concorde' made its final journey on Tuesday, we look back at the iconic plane's history.
It will be the centrepiece of the £16m Bristol Aerospace Centre, which has been built around a listed WW1 hangar.
College emus lay first batch of eggspublished at 08:31 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017
Image source, Hartpury College
Two new emus at an agricultural college near Gloucester have laid their first-ever batch of eggs.
Six eggs, which look similar to avocados, have been laid by Wendy and Wanda, who joined the animal collection at Hartpury College in July.
The eggs will be incubated for about 55 days by the male emu, Buddy.
Female emus can lay up to 30 eggs in the breeding season, every few days.
Image source, Hartpury College
Quote Message
It is exciting to see that these emus are displaying this kind of natural behaviour.
Alexsandra Lipinksa, Animal collection manager, Hartpury College
Stonehenge tunnel 'step in the right direction'published at 08:10 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017
Image source, PA
Three heritage organisations are meeting Highways England today to discuss the proposed A303 Stonehenge tunnel.
Historic England, English Heritage and the National Trust said the plans "offered the best opportunity to resolve the traffic problems" but stressed "the location of the tunnel’s western portal needs significant improvement".
A consultation scheme runs until 5 March.
Actor and broadcaster Sir Tony Robinson joined anti-tunnel campaigners protesting in London yesterday, saying the plans were too "old-fashioned" in outlook.
Avon and Somerset Police chief ready to answer your questionspublished at 07:49 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017
Image source, Avon and Somerset Police
Any questions for Avon and Somerset's chief constable? Andy Marsh will be in the BBC Radio Bristol studio from 9am and ready to take your calls.
Suggested topics so far include the use of tasers, bobbies on the beat and how to educate teenagers about the dangers of sexting.
Football: Yeovil Town exit FA Trophy after 5-2 defeatpublished at 07:30 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017
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Yeovil Town were dumped out of the EFL Trophy last night with Luton Town's 5-2 victory meaning they go on to face Oxford United in the semi-finals.
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Travel: Rail line shut between Swindon and Gloucesterpublished at 07:10 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017
Image source, Nicky Blackmarket
No trains are currently operating between Swindon and Gloucester due to the line being closed.
It follows the death of a man yesterday whose car was hit by a train on a level crossing in the Frampton Mansell area, in between Stroud and Cirencester.
Great Western Railway said, external the line's expected to remain closed on Wednesday. It added:
- A limited number of services will be diverted between Gloucester and Swindon resulting in extended journey times.
- An hourly shuttle service will operate between Swindon and Kemble, replacement road transport has also been arranged to operate between Swindon and Gloucester calling at intermediate stations on the Stroud Valley.
- CrossCountry are conveying GWR ticket holders between Cheltenham Spa and Bristol Temple Meads in both directions until further notice.
Good morningpublished at 07:04 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017
Media caption,
Watch: Staying mild with patches of rain this morning
Welcome to BBC Local Live for the West Country.
It's a little more mild outside today with patches of rain across the north and east of our region.
Stick with us until 10pm for the latest news, travel, sport and weather headlines.