08/09/2011 Look East - East

Hello and welcome to Look East. In the programme tonight:

Anger as a new countryside development is approved. This is a

green light to developers that will see the destruction of much

cherished piece of the countryside. Bravery awards for police after

they rescue the passengers from this dramatic car crash.

Travellers at Dale Farm tell the council, we don't want the homes

you're offering. And I am in Trafalgar Square for

Hello. First tonight, the planning permission described as madness and

based on guidelines which may never become law. Controversial proposals

for a lorry park in Norfolk were approved today after councillors

were told the government now expects authorities to back plans

which promote economic development. It's thought it's the first time

this national planning policy framework has influenced a planning

decision. It could mean hundreds of developments across the region will

get the go-ahead. Alex Dunlop is at Great Ryburgh in Norfolk now.

The company that owns this massive malting plant in grit) wants to

build eight lorry park on a greenfield site. This morning,

local councillors voted in favour of the application. And what was a

local planning spat has turned into a part of a much wider debate over

planning law. For decades, the village of Great)

and the malting site has rubbed along quite well. This has just

come out of the place. This process is tonnes of barley every year.

This is its lorry park, but it is five miles away. The company wants

to move it to this field next to the plant, 350 metres from a

special conservation area. They say it will mean it less traffic.

does not seem very sensible -- sensible for the trucks to leave a

site empty, park up five miles away and come back empty in the morning.

This is why it there will be a reduction. Opponents say the lorry

park will affect wildlife and the quality of laugh for villagers.

This is the green light to developers which will see the

destruction of much cherished pieces of countryside.

legislation surrounding this is the proposed government changed to

planning guidance where economic development would have a greater

priority. Before voting for a lorry park, councillors attention was

drawn to that change in policy, which is still up for debate. Beat

the proposed change in planning law have an impact? It was taken into

account, brought to the attention of the committee. I do not think it

necessarily had a huge sway, if any sway at all. But campaigners like

these are who successfully opposed and development of a new town near

Cambridge chair and those a posing a new incinerator, it says that

developers would have an advantage under the new regime. Planning

should be even-handed, not promoting one aspect of developing

over and above social and environmental concerns. So Great

Ryburgh's malting plants will expand. Opponents say this could be

the first developments given the nod over a planning law which does

not yet exist. I have since spoken to one of the

councillors who voted against the application and she said she was

absolutely appalled that this strapless station had been brought

before the committee that voted -- that this draft legislation had

been brought before the committee. She said one or two of her

colleagues may have been swayed. The government said this is a

consultation document and should not be used to on planning

decisions. The consultation will end in the middle of next month.

Earlier I spoke to the Planning Minister Greg Clark. He said the

government had made it clear the new policy was still at

consultation stage but he denied that it wanted economic development

to take priority. There is no change in the purpose of the

planning system which has always been, as your viewers know, to make

sure that any growth that takes place creating homes and jobs that

we need is done at the same time as safeguarding our very precious

national and -- natural historical environment. It is taking a way

this top-down imposition and trusting local people to do what I

know people do if they are given their head and allowed to take

decisions in the interest of the community. They will make decisions

which is sensitive to the local environment. I do not think the

people of great Whitebirk have been feeling their views have been taken

into account. They had been overwhelmingly against this new

lorry park being built. understand this was a decision

taken by the local council. I think it is right that people have

elected representatives making these decisions rather than by

these unelected regional bodies that have been set up that have no

democratic mandate and often do not know the real places which people

live. Up the best, a sometimes difficult decisions are made but

they should be made by local people. They say local people, but it will

be down to the councillors, done -- not the people. It is down to the

councils who are elected by local people. We are going further than

that, we are giving the right to every neighbourhood, village of a

parish or neighbourhood in a town or city, to produce a neighbour had

plant which sets out in detail for that neighbourhood, village or part

of town how they want their part of town to develop. But organisations

are very concerned about these proposals. It is in consultation.

Do you expect it to be watered down and changed before it becomes law?

I think what we will find when we sit down together is we will

discover there is far less between us than first appears. If there are

aspects that require a clear explanation, if there are issues

that are of concern, I am happy to address them. This is a

consultation which is simplifying over 1000 pages of policy that

every local council had to be bound by, very difficult for people to be

gets to grips with that. We are making it much simpler.

The police have released dramatic pictures of a car being driven at

high speed on the wrong side of the road before it crashed through a

hedge and burst into flames. Some of the people inside would probably

have died if it wasn't for the bravery of two police officers.

This is the moment a 16 year-old driver loses control of his car,

smashing into a field at 90 miles per hour. His girlfriend and three

teenage passengers are now moments away from death. The car catches

fire. Today, the two officers who saved their lives returned to the

scene to recall what happened. we came up to the junction, the

vehicle has come straight across the junction. We don't know what's

happened. It has gone straight into the field and we have only seen the

lights go into the air, so we know it had flipped. The engine bay was

on fire. The pursuit began in Histon in Cambridgeshire. It came

to a dramatic end at the Needingworth bypass. Straightaway

we could tell that we people were trapped. The colt was on fire and

they needed help. Unfortunately we were there to hold them. We could

not stand by and let them perish. The driver is the first out and

attempts to escape, leaving his girlfriend and passengers in the

burning vehicle. It is now with the fire spreading through the car and

about to explode at any moment that PC Draper risks his life to free

the trapped passengers. Both officers have now been awarded for

the determination and courage they showed that night. I feel very

proud, very pleased. It is an honour to get that sort of award

from senior management, peers and colleagues. It is nice to be

recognised for an hour actions on evening. I feel very proud of what

we have done that evening. driver was sentenced to 12 months

in prison. Although that did not stop him from telling his

girlfriend but it was him that tracked her unconscious from the

wreckage. Coming up later in the programme,

our rugby players ready to take centre stage at the World Cup.

And former Paralympian Danny Crates is in Trafalgar Square. By the time

I had finished speaking, London will be 10 seconds closer to

hosting the Paralympic Games. We will be bringing you all the action

from Trafalgar Square. That is of Students who made it through the

scramble of clearing and won a place at university are facing a

new challenge tonight, finding somewhere to live. Anglia Ruskin

University in Cambridge says its rooms are full and students may

have to defer their place for a year. Mike Cartwright reports.

This man has a place at university, but he has not got a place to live.

He has been looking for weeks. Always told this. Unfortunately we

have not got anything at the moment. I can take your details and case

something comes up and we can give you a call. He starts here next

week. It has been a nightmare. If you really wants to have a good

chance of getting anything, you have to be in Cambridge every

single day. Going to agencies, calling people up, using the house-

hunting teams. This former nursing home was going to be sold. Now the

landlord is having it refurbished for 27 students. Most move into

their rooms on Saturday. The estate agent says hundreds of students

contacted have. In my experience, I have never seen it like this before,

people are not finding anywhere. Some landlords are having bidding

wars on their homes, and students are paying well over the odds.

of the students affected came through Clearing, late arrivals. On

their website, the university is asking them to be flexible and look

up to an hour away from the City. This happened last year, why has it

happened again? The university told Applications here are a 9% this

year to almost 17,000. One option for students, the university says,

is to differ, but fees next year are rising. The other option is

stay and keep looking for somewhere to live.

If you're a student struggling to find accommodation, or if you have

another story to tell, we'd love to Officials say worries over the

health of one of the travellers at the Dale Farm site in Essex won't

delay the planned eviction. Supporters of 72-year-old Mary

Flynn argued that she's severely ill. But after taking a fresh look

at her case the council confirmed today she'll be part of the

clearance as planned. In the past few weeks, Mary Flynn

has become a key figure in the battle over Dale Farm. When the

Court of Appeal ruled that the clearance of 60 pitches there which

did not have planning permission could go ahead, Basildon council

agreed it would take seven days studying fresh evidence about her

condition which includes breathing problems and needed to use a

nebuliser. But today, without seven days of, the council said it had

offered fresh accommodation and gave its response. It is actually

in her interests not to be on site when the clearing happens. All of

her needs can and will be addressed if she takes up the offer.

eviction is planned to start his 11 days, the council says it has been

left with little choice after 10 years of wrangling over a site

which critics say has blighted the area. Yesterday the Prime Minister

backed the clearance says it is a basic issue of fairness. We are not

taking houses from homeless people. They are entitled to have them. We

are asking for a piece of ground not bricks-and-mortar. Today some

of the travellers staged a fresh protest. They say the eviction will

leave them go no way to go and claimed it would be unfair for them

to take council accommodation when there are others already in the

queue. We are asking the council for a piece of ground, lots -- not

a house. There are people waiting and it is unfair if we take the

houses in front of them. They will see that we are not to take

anything away from them, we do not even once taxpayer money.

council says date have made offers of accommodation, but they say they

want to remain true to their community and remain where they are.

The BBC understands that Southend Pier could be closed for up to two

weeks after being hit by a barge. The westerly side of the pier was

damaged on Monday. The barge was being used for fire protection work

when high winds blew it into the pier.

In football, Colchester United are looking to strengthen their squad

with the transfer window for loan signings now open. The U's have

made an indifferent start to the season in League One. A 1-1 draw

with Scunthorpe on Saturday left them 13th in the table, and in need

of reinforcements. I have put a couple of phone calls

in, I am not the only one ringing up about the same players. It is

just a question to see if other clubs will release their players

and we can get them in. We would like to strengthen the squad if we

can, that has been a best kept secret for a long time!

A marine engineer has been given an award for bravery for saving the

life of a pensioner. 72-year-old Patricia Scott was rescued by John

Cressey after she fell into the Broads during a holiday at Acle in

Norfolk. Yarmouth coastguard, over! John

Cressey has been on the brought all his life. He is contracted by the

boat hire companies to help out holidaymakers to get into

difficulty. She was very lucky. The water was cold, it was a lot

windier than today. In July last year, he was working when 72 year-

old Patricia Scott, and none swimmer, fell into the water. She

was moments away from being crushed by her own bread when John Paul had

to safety. A boat will have landed on this side and crushed her

against the pier. She was quite frail, 72 years old. She might not

have been here. You are one of the unsung heroes of the Broads. Today

the chief executive of the Broads Authority handed over her bravery

award from the Royal Humane Society. Between you and me, I have probably

saved 18 people, this was the 19th person in 40 years. And I have

never had any recognition before. But I think it is good for me, now,

and the Broads, to get a bit of recognition thought the work I have

done. John Cressey is a modest but very remarkable man. Once unsung,

You are watching Look East. Coming up, Owl wants to watch in the Rugby

World Cup. The new political year is just

starting and that means one thing. The party conference season is upon

us. Over the next month politicians and activists from all the main

parties will come together to celebrate, or commiserate, and

debate future policies. Tonight members of the UK Independence

Party are gathering in Eastbourne and many from this region are in

high spirits. If you ask UKIP if they are doing

well, they will send you here, to Ramsay in temperature. Earlier this

year, this became the first council in the country to be run by UKIP.

There is always talk about big breakthroughs, but it is small

steps, and we are making impact. We took over a local council, running

it, and it is breaking into local elections and the district

elections. That is when we will get our break through into Westminster.

Once dismissed by the Prime Minister as a bunch of fruitcakes,

UKIP refuses to go away. A large proportion of its support comes

from this region, but only in European elections. Despite its

efforts in the local elections, it still only has three district

councillors across the East. It is easy to belittle us in that way,

but our vote went up considerable at council election time. It takes

time to come to a tipping point when you win a seat. We did well

enough for us to become quite confident and enthusiastic about

being better next time. You have to follow the rules of the country or

don't be here. So seriously is the company -- party taking the next

election, he is already interviewing potential candidate.

UKIP is continuing to grow in popularity. At Essex University,

they close the monitor -- voting habits. They are picking up

disaffected Conservatives. Another development which is interesting is

that people now are becoming significantly more against British

membership of the European Union. That is why the Party is gathering

in optimistic mood. They are only proven -- polling at 6%, they have

no council seat and one of their MPs has defected to the

Conservatives but UKIP believes it speaks for money and it's time will

come. -- it speaks for many and it's time will come.

Ten players from our region are taking part in the Rugby World Cup

which starts tomorrow. Northampton Saints have eight players in the

tournament, including Soane Tonga'uiha. He plays for Tonga, and

tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock our time, they play the favourites New

Zealand. He is the Tonga and beefcake who at

20 stone has brutalised D best packs indeed Premiership. As Iraq,

man map -- as a result, Soane Tonga'uiha it is loved by the

Saints fans. I am quite scared because I do not know half the team,

have not been back for four years. I have not been speaking the

language to my mother! Do you miss it much? When you go back, is it

like old times? There is a few moments when we have got down time

when I look back and I think about the years ago when I was there, and

he would have thought when I would be now. I am glad I am out of there,

I am fortunate to be where I am now. Aged eight, Soane Tonga'uiha move

to what he thought would be a brighter time in New Zealand. But

for him, it has anything back -- it was anything but. It was really

tough. Some moment I thought, what am I doing here? I hated my mum for

taking me over there and leaving my friends in Tonga. When you think

back but you are grateful for what they have done, you feel that you

should pay your mother back. Eight years on, Soane Tonga'uiha is back

in New Zealand, one of the most feared forwards in the modern game.

Tonga has made quite an impression. Went he stands on the touchline

tomorrow, Soane Tonga'uiha will be fighting back the tears.

Preparations will go out of the window, emotions will be running

riot. It is not going to be easy to stop the tears coming down but I

think it will be an emotional moment, I'll quite to come forward

to it. -- I am quite looking forward to it.

Time now for our weekly report rounding up the stories affecting

this region for London 2012. Athletes from our region were

taking part in International Paralympic Day. The event in

Trafalgar Square showcases the 20 sports on offer and comes a day

before tickets go on sale. We sent former gold medallist Danny Crates

along. Just over six and a half years ago,

I was on stage hit in Trafalgar Square when the announcement was

made that London would have the honour of hosting the Olympic and

Paralympic Games. We are back here today when the Paralympics has his

chance to showcase what it really has to offer. What are you hoping

this will achieve today? I had two things out of today. One, people

have a great day enjoying a different sport on show, it is

fantastic. I also hope it brings home to people that the games are

very near now. Ellie Simmons is one of the biggest names in Paralympic

sport, I must have signature for any Olympic autograph hunter.

Having now at home, it is exciting, hopefully will have a massive crowd.

Hoping to emulate her success from Beijing is a volleyball player.

Butterflies in my stomach, that is my feeling. We are boosting our

training, it is hectic. The main feeling is excited, everyone wants

to be there, on the starting line, walking out and having a home crowd

cheering pulled a up today's event at Trafalgar Square is a great

opportunity for lesser-known sports like golf ball to showcase what

they have to offer. It is one day before the tickets go on sale.

get Paralympic sports. You guys in in large part have been responsible

for that. People like Tanni Grey Thompson are household names. She

has transcended all sport. A lot of big changes in Paralympic sport had

been driven by people in this country. I think we stand a better

chance than most of filling those venues. I get people stopping me in

the streets saying, I'm going to get Paralympic to Bix. That is

great! It is an amazing place to be. We invented the Games, we are

pretty good at it, and we are going to have something special to show

the world. Hundreds of thousands of people missed out on her Olympic

tickets so organisers will be hoping that tomorrow's launch will

prove just as popular. It was cold this morning, wasn't

It was really chilly when I took my daughter to school.

Am I getting the blame again? Es! It will not bitter, it was not

The temperature is in at the moment higher than it has been all day,

this area of low pressure is bringing in warm air from the south.

We started today with a lot of cloud right across the region, but

if I animate the chant from One and PM, it started to thin and break.

Many parts of the region enjoying a fine end to the day, sunny spells,

really starting to feel quite warm for this time of year. The second

half of the night, we will start to get a bit more cloud developing and

we will see some rain are pushing up from the South overnight. Darker

colours around Chelmsford, there might be the odd heavy a burst.

Most of their rain is expected to be light and patchy. It will be

warm tonight, average for this time of year is 10 or 11. Into tomorrow,

the warm front that brings in this warmer air moves well away. More

warm air coming up on the south. A fine day expected. An area of low

pressure expected ready to change that for the weekend, but I will

come onto that shortly. Tomorrow, you will notice that it feels warm

and pleasant with sunny spells developing. It will start Caddick,

patchy rain to clear first thing, but it will thin and break,

allowing sunshine to break through. It is going to be very warm

tomorrow. The wind speed will pick up a little bit and we will end up

with a moderate south-westerly. With slightly unstable air, in the

west of the region we could get the odd isolated shower. Most places

staying dry, turning clouded what the end of the day. This is the

pressure Chard for the weekend. An area of low pressure, a cold front

spins through on Saturday. Another weather front from the south will

bring wet and windy weather. The isobars are tightly packed,

indicating fairly strong winds. Warm and sunny tomorrow, make the

most of it because as we get into the weekend we see the wind speed

picking up, breezy conditions. The temperature will fall, but not

dramatically. Fairly cloudy conditions on Sunday, outbreaks of