Rob Byrne
BBC News Online

Our coverage across the Channel Islands has finished for today.

We'll be back on Wednesday from 08:00 with the latest news, weather, travel and sport.

Don't forget BBC Channel Islands News on BBC One at 18:30 and 22:30.

Rob Byrne
BBC News Online

Image source, GSPCA

The Guernsey animal welfare charity says the growing popularity of having reptiles as pets is leading to more of them being abandoned.

The numbers being cared for by the GSPCA have seen a "dramatic increase" in recent years, with 14 being cared for in 2016, much higher than the average in previous years.

GSPCA Manager Steve Byrne said it was important people care for exotic pets in the correct way.

"Feed them appropriately and ensure their needs are met as coming from tropical to desert environments mean each species and their bodies require certain humidity levels, temperatures, lighting, feed and much more which can vary depending on the time of day or even season without which they can die.”

"With the numbers we have seen recently at the GSPCA we are concerned for the growing trend of these exotic pets that need specialist care," he said.

Rob Byrne
BBC News Online

Image source, States of Guernsey Island Development Plan

Construction company Ronez is planning on starting to quarry material from the eastern end of Chouet Headland by 2021, subject to planning approval.

Ronez's existing Les Vardes site will be exhausted in around ten years' time.

Quarrying at Chouet would initially start on Ronez-owned land at the eastern end of the headland, the company said.

Exploratory drilling will begin on the site, which is designated as a mineral safeguarding area, external, on Monday.

General manager Steve Roussel, said: “Should our extensive studies at the headland prove that it contains commercially-viable mineral reserves, and the development framework is adopted, it would be Ronez’ intention to start preparing a planning application but only in respect of the land owned by Ronez.

“Quarrying is considered to be of strategic importance to Guernsey and a new quarry at Chouet would provide decades of sustainability for the Guernsey industry.”

BBC Radio Guernsey

A group which helps disabled people secure and sustain work in Guernsey says more than a third of its current cases are related to mental health.

The national CEO of mental health charity Mind says Guernsey's government needs to turn its mental health strategy into a reality.

The Guernsey Employment Trust says a significant number of people it helps suffer from mental health problems and are trying to get back into work.

Image source, PA

BBC Weather

It will stay dry later this afternoon and overnight, with largely clear skies.

The odd mist or fog patch may form during the early hours.

Jersey:

Guernsey:

BBC Radio Jersey

Image source, States of Jersey Environment Department

The Jersey Landlords Association has warned measures designed to protect tenants in the island may increase the cost of renting.

The association's president Robert Weston believes landlords might get fed up with excessive red tape and pull their properties off the market, or increase rents as they are charged for mandatory inspections that aren't needed.

"The enforcement should be the result of a complaint by a tenant, not inspectors going round inspecting 18,000 properties.

"Who's going to pay the cost? Well, the landlord is going to be charged £30-£40 per unit inspection, and that's going to go onto the rents," Mr Weston said.

States members are due to debate plans to provide greater protection for renters,, external beginning today.

Rob Byrne
BBC News Online

Image source, Ronez

Exploratory drilling will begin at Guernsey's Chouet Headland next week in the next phase of a project to assess whether the area can be a future quarry site.

Construction firm Ronez is behind the work at the northwest tip of the island, which it says is "essential" to a future planning application.

Ronez says it's in discussion with the States over over the future of land which is suitable to be quarried, of which it owns a third, with the remainder belonging to the States.

Drilling will take place during daylight hours from 6 November 2017.

Facebook

Image source, States of Jersey Environment Department

You've been having your say ahead of the item being debated in the States of Jersey., external

Russell: I've worked in the building and services all my working life, I've seen some shockers on both sides of the fence, yes landlords need to up their game, but why if a tenant destroys it?

Ellen: Yes - it’s shocking the way some people live.

Shirley: Oh pleeez. If a individual decides to rent out a property then that's a chance they take.

Rosemary: Greedy landlords have been getting away with this for years not always locals either.

Eddy: Long overdue!!!! There should have been a cap on renting over here a long time ago, as well as landlords being held accountable especially when we pay more per square metre than anywhere else in the world.

Jonathan: There are minimum standards now, it’s called the tenancy Law, it’s strict, needs to be complied with and is meant to protect both the Landlord and Tenant.

Guernsey Press

Any move to merge La Houguette and Forest primary schools would be met with ‘a huge amount of opposition’ from parents, external, according to two parish deputies who are on the Education committee.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's Chief Minister has ordered a review of States policy on reporting sexual abuse or harassment within the government.

It follows similar moves at Westminster where a new system of dealing with complaints has been proposed.

Senator Ian Gorst said he wanted to make sure processes within the States allow victims of abuse or harassment to come forward.

"The reality behind the headlines is, I fear, that people are afraid to come forward and to make a complaint about individuals.

"They're afraid they won't be believed, that it won't be acted upon, and often they will therefore suffer in silence," he said.

Rob Byrne
BBC News Online

You might wonder where the tradition comes from.

Guernsey's Anglican Vice Dean Father John Moore says the custom, like dressing in costume, and trick-or-treating, goes back centuries.

"The tradition of carving pumpkins initially started in the Middle Ages," he says, with lanterns "supposed to represent the souls of the dead".

Father Moore says people believed the souls wandered the earth until the following day, All Saints Day.

All Hallows' Eve therefore provided a final chance for the souls to get vengeance before moving to the next world.

Jersey Evening Post

Detectives have praised an ambulance service telephone operator and specialist States police negotiators who spoke to a killer for more than one hour on the phone, external after he stabbed his neighbour 18 times.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey residents have until the end of the year to correct any errors, deliberate or accidental, on their annual tax form.

After that time people will be fined or prosecuted, with harsher penalties planned from next year.

Since April, when the voluntary tax disclosure initiative was launched, 50 people have come forward with accidental and deliberate omissions.

The tax office says the most common mistakes have been not declaring non-Jersey income such as UK ISAs, dividends on shares, and rental income on foreign property.

Guernsey Press

Traffic "carnage" descended on the island yesterday, external as road closures began to affect two major routes.

BBC Radio Jersey

Image source, States of Jersey Environment Department

Rented homes in Jersey need to meet a certain standard, or be taken off the market, the island's environment minister has said.

Deputy Steve Luce believes proposed new laws will ensure that anyone renting a home will be guaranteed a level of health and safety there., external

Jersey Landlords Association has warned of excessive red tape, but Deputy Luce said he had seen the terrible conditions some people have lived in with damp, rotting window frames, and ceilings falling in.

Deputy Luce said: "I want those properties either improved or removed."

BBC Radio Jersey

Image source, Gifford Aubin

Plans for a memorial for children who suffered abuse in Jersey care homes should be in place by next June, it's been revealed.

In the latest progress report on bringing in the recommendations from the care inquiry report, ministers say they hope to have a clear idea of what form the memorial will take.

People who have spent time in care, and other islanders, will be able to put forward their suggestions for it.

Decades of slavery, bullying and abuse were revealed in the report into the care system in Jersey.

Victims reported hundreds of alleged offences of physical, emotional or sexual abuse.

Rob Byrne
BBC News Online

Image source, GSPCA

The number of reptiles being cared for by a Guernsey animal welfare charity has "dramatically increased", bosses have said.

The GSPCA told the BBC it cared for 14 reptiles last year. Between 2011 and 2015 the charity said it saw between one to three reptiles each year.

The GSPCA has also cared for nine reptile species so far this year, including five corn snakes, two musk turtles and three bearded dragons.

GSPCA Manager Steve Byrne said: “We have seen a huge increase in the number of reptiles coming into the shelter in the last two years.”

“In fact its 1,300% increase when we compare 1 January 2016 until now, in comparison to the previous two years of reptiles coming through the doors at the GSPCA.”

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

An under 15's football league is to be introduced in Guernsey for the first time.

Guernsey's FA says the success of an under 13's league that was first introduced in 2013 has meant there are now enough boys to add a league for under 15's players, as well as the current under 14 and 16 age groups.

"This is a first for Guernsey football and is testament to the work undertaken throughout youth football by the GFA, GFL and the clubs. We look forward to seeing this league grow and flourish over the coming seasons," said Nick Graham, chairman of Guernsey Football League.

"It is great to see the continued growth in youth football, and the introduction of a new under 15 development league is testament to the local clubs and their commitment towards providing opportunities for children to participate,’ added Angus Mackay, football development officer for the Guernsey FA.

More than 700 players are now involved in youth leagues in Guernsey with six teams competing in both the under 13 and under 14 leagues, four in the new under 15 league and seven in both the under 16 and under 18 leagues.

BBC Radio Jersey

There could be tighter controls on how Jersey's government statistics unit uses data about islanders in the future.

The department will be legally obliged to be independent and fair with the way it treats information., external

While the unit is already seen as an independent body, it's not yet been bound by law.

The change is part of a review of how information is gathered about islanders.

Rob Byrne
BBC News Online

Guernsey Bowls player Todd Priaulx is top of his section after the second day of competition in the World Singles Champion of Champions competition in Sydney, Australia.

Priaulx is leading section 1 of the men's competition on 18 points.

You can follow his progress here. , external