05/03/2012 Look East - East

Welcome to a new week on Look East with Susie and me. Coming up: It is

raining and pouring and we have a huge new reservoir, but will it be

enough to tackle the drought? Abberton Reservoir is critical for

securing supplies for our customers across Essex for the next 25 years.

The new face of the bobby on the beat. They are civilians who have

some police powers. I am more confident than ever that we can

provide a role. If you go down to the woods today,

you will see Holly hard at work. And Lord St John of Fawsley, MP for

Chelmsford for 23 years and a member of Mrs Thatcher's first

We have had more rain in the last 24 hours than during the whole of

the year so far. There is a big extension in the pipeline for one

of our reservoirs, but it is not enough to solve the drought crisis

in this region. Take a look at this. It is Abberton Reservoir, South of

Colchester in Essex. It is in the process of being expanded. It will

hold 41 billion litres of water when it is finished, making it the

third biggest reservoir in the region. It is described as a

crucial resource in the UK's tries county.

-- driest county. It is hard to believe that this is

the UK's dries county at the moment, but litter behind me is the new

Essex Wildlife Trust's visitor Centre here. We are about five

miles from Colchester. Abberton has an interesting history. It was

built in the 1930s and used in 1943 as a practice area by a squadron.

It now has a vital role to play in the region's future water supplies.

It is his huge stretch of water. Abberton Reservoir is already big,

but it is getting bigger. Today, like most days, the diggers were

hard assets. The operations director of Essex and Suffolk Water

explained why the work would improve water supplies in Essex,

the UK's driest county. We are investing �150 million in this. We

are taking water from Norfolk, where there is plenty, and

transferring it through pipelines into this reservoir for storage for

use during the summer. An Essex landmark has vanished. Abberton's

Old Pump House has been demolished. The old visitor centre is going as

well. It will soon be under water, but anyone officially opened today.

Abberton is a wetland of international importance for

wildfowl, and it is hoped that a bigger reservoir will attract even

more birds. The biggest benefit here is getting rid of the concrete

edge which was around in the reservoir. When the end has since

finished, it will be natural hedges with lots of reeds and other

vegetation, so it will attract more wildlife. We have had good birds

recently, a short eared owl recently. That was the first bird

that the team saw from the new centre.

Work will not finish until 2014. Appleton -- Abberton will be able

to hold another 15 billion litres of water, improving supplies of a

scarce resource. With the expansion work here, but

it would not ease the shortage we face now. What we needed do is

this: See rain, and lots of it. The Environment Agency organised a

special drought forum in Peterborough today. All the

important players were there, Anglian Water, the National

Farmers' Union and Natural England. They were trying to find a way to

manage the drought. The rain started yesterday and in

some parts of the region, it has not stopped yet. In Norfolk, a

forecaster has monitoring equipment in his back garden. We have got 40

mm of rain there. That is about the same and that I have had all year

to this point. I have doubled my rainfall in the last 24 hours.

According to the experts, it would need to rein for weeks or months in

order to solve our waters shortage. The Environment Agency held at a

forum in Peterborough today to discuss with water companies,

farmers and environmental groups, what to do next.

We cannot solve the problem on his own. We cannot make it rain. But

everyone can act now and help mitigate the effect of drought by

using water in the best possible way. It is a precious resource.

buildings go, this one is about as boring as it gets, but it is

important. This is the bore hole, and because Anglian Water gets

about 50% of its water from boreholes, some 600 million litres

a day, the fact that South feel's is already producing less water is

bad news. We have had to dry windows in a row, and that is the

time we expect underground aquifers to refill with rainwater. That has

not been happening. Almost a day has been wet for many, it will not

solve the drought. Anglia Water has said that unless we get more rain,

a lot more rain, the prospect of restrictions on domestic use grows

ever more likely. How much rain have we had?

How much rain have we had? These are the figures taken from

when it began raining yesterday after being until 6 o'clock this

evening. One of the wettest spots was Norwich, where there were 52 mm

of water. In Bedford, not quite so much year, around half an inch. Is

much year, around half an inch. Is there more to come? I will be back

later with the fall forecast. We will continue to update you on

the drought situation and we would be interested to hear from you if

you find yourself affected. You can phone, e-mail or get in touch via

Facebook. It has been announced that a

private security company has signed a contract to provide police

services in Suffolk and Norfolk. The company supplies door staff for

nightclubs and stewards -- stewards for public events at the moment. It

will now help in the fight against anti-social behaviour. The deal has

been criticised by a union. They are private security staff,

but they have been given police powers in a deal signed by the

Norfolk and Suffolk forces. They can issue fixed penalty notices for

cycling or for graffiti. People are always going to be wary of it, but

at the end of the day, the extent of training that we all have, there

is enough training put in place to be able to deliver these safely.

is being driven by cuts to police budgets. So far, 12 security

officers have become members of the scheme. They will join police

officers mac in having powers to seize tobacco from under 16 year-

olds, stop cyclists and control traffic. In the age of solace --

austerity, there are discussions in government about how security can

be managed. We will do anything to help the local constabulary is in

what they view as what it is appropriate for us to do. They

there was a mixed response. I think it is a good idea. If it relieves

pressure of the main police, they can go out and to attend to more

serious crimes. Without any real level of authority behind them, I

do not see how a security guard can do their job effectively. Norfolk

police say the private companies enhance the uniformed presence on

the street. The body representing most police ranks is a happy.

Police officers and those who do the work out on the streets are

governed by strict regulations. We want to know who is going to govern

the people who are actually out there on the streets and what

regulations they will have. Police forces are increasingly turning to

private companies to ease the pressures on them. It is likely

that the numbers of private security offices given police

powers will continue to rise. Late this afternoon I spoke to

Richard Olsen from the private security firm involved, GSL Dardan.

I put it to him that fully trained police officers can have trouble

dealing with anti-social behaviour, so it will be more difficult for

his men and women. They will face the same issues as police currently

face in terms of dealing with it. All our officers -- officers will

have training. They will have licences and have worked in events

and stewarding, so they have a good understanding of how to deal with

the public. There will be issues of people not respect and then, but by

and large, hopefully most citizens were -- will. They will have a see

R v Czech and some in-house training. That does not qualify

them in the same way as a policeman. That is why we have brought in

extra training. Traffic wardens are helping us with traffic management

and we have ex-police officers who will have been involved in the

issuing of fixed penalty notices. Widen the police do it for the same

amount of money? Are ultimately, we find that the services that the

police deliver currently are quite widespread. People will be buying

in services as and when they feel there is a risk to themselves. We

are currently discussing with various councils the possibility of

doing Olympic Torch relays and traffic management and policing for

those events. If you find that your officers do not get the respect

that you think they are entitled to from the public, will you pull out?

It is too early to say. We provide a lot of support and training to

ensure we are successful. We discuss it with the police. That is

four days' training, and two days in House does not seem like a lot.

It is not, but these officers to have had a number of years working

in events in the studio environment, which can be an anti-social and

Warren that in itself. Thank you very much.

Later, a round-up of the weekend goals. We look back on the

political career of Lord St John of Fawsley, he was in Margaret

Thatcher's first Cabinet. Plus, it has been a busy day in the woods.

Yes, I am in an ancient woodland, under the flightpath at Stansted

Airport. What is Holly the Suffolk Punch doing here? Find out how they

are mixing the old with the new after more news from your part of

the region. The new look Southend Airport had

its official opening today. The Transport Secretary Justine

Greening said it would provide a valuable contribution to air travel

in the South East. She said that we'd still need more airport

capacity and she would not rule out new runways Tory new airport.

Southend Airport is about to get much busier. From next month, there

will be 90 flights a week from here to destinations across Europe. The

new terminal is ready. The airport promises there will be a bit and is

is on customer service. We have a number of promises about how long

you will wait a security, never more than four minutes. We want to

make sure you can get from your aircraft to the platform and no

more than 15 minutes. The Transport Secretary said the airport's

expansion was a bout of -- vote of confidence for the area. She is

about to publish a paper on how to increase their capacity in the

region. The South East is heavily congested. Businesses worry that in

20 years' time, there will beunless something is done. We need to use

what we have more effectively. Yes, we need to think ahead and think,

do we have enough capacity in the aviation sector? If we do not, what

we do to make sure we get the right sort of capacity in the next 10, 20,

30 years? So we need another runway or airport at some stage two I am

not going to prejudge what outcome will get from the process I am

about to kick-off. For now, there is capacity at airports like San

said, but what happens after that? The Government has ruled out a

third runway at Heathrow, so will another at sunset be back on the

agenda? The plans to build an airport in the Thames are being

taken more seriously. Southend will still be handling 2 million

passengers a year. That will certainly hope -- help, but it will

not solve the problem of air capacity in the South East. The

industry ix the -- is expecting the Government to come up with

Norwich Castle Museum is reviewing security after it was targeted by

thieves twice in one week. These items linked to Lord Nelson and

valued at more than �36,000 were stolen, just days after thieves

tried to take a rhino's head. This weekend a painting by Titian valued

at �50 million pounds went on display.

The new Cromer and District Hospital opened to patients this

weekend, more than ten years after a widow left them nearly �12

million. The final bill is about �15 million, with all the money

coming from private legacies. Has some thought it would never get

off the drawing board, but this weekend, patients with minor

injuries were the first to be treated here. The new hospital will

be fully opened in your leeks and will replace the existing one. It

will include a new theatre for all it -- I operations and a breast

screening unit. We will be able to enable it to people who have to

make a journey of over 25 miles away to have that health care

delivered here. �25 million was left to the hospital as a thank-you

to the care received by a sister. The capital is being funded by

private bequest, but the operating costs are funded by public money. I

think philanthropic request -- bequests were this a wonderful way

for rich people to be a long term memory. But it had -- but had it

not been for that, there would be no hospital here. I think it is

highly unlikely. Be tested to 12 long years to appreciate this

generosity. The new hostel has been delayed by a literary of setbacks

for planning setbacks to preservation lists to bat droppings

found in the attic of the old hospital. The old will be

demolished to make way for the new. Sadness for some but relief for

many more that the local health care still has a key role in this

community. It has been announced today that

the Duchess of Cambridge will visit Suffolk this month to officially

open a new Children's Hospice near Ipswich. The Duchess became patron

of East Anglia's Children's Hospices at the start of this year.

The visit is on March 19th. Let's catch up with all the weekend

football action now. Here's Tom. Great win for Ipswich, five in six

games now. They beat Bristol City three-nil. But the key talking

point was the disciplinary action taken by Paul Jewell against two of

his players, Michael Chopra and Jimmy Bullard. It followed a

highly-publicised night on the town. Here's Kevin Burch.

Two players, same misdemeanour, late for training after visiting

night spot in the north. Punishment, two weeks' wages, more than �30,000

and suspended for two weeks. Why the difference? Well, it did not

seem sensible to tell Michael Chopra to stay away for a fortnight,

it will be given his well- documented care -- problem with

gambling. You cannot treat everybody the same. Everybody has

different characteristics. Nobody is perfect. They have made a

mistake and have been apologetic. We have dealt with that and we will

move on. And deer moving on nicely. On Saturday, it was a chastised

You have to let off steam, but there is a limit. If they have done

wrong, it should be the same for each player. Everybody has had

their personal problems. The manager has made the decision to

punish any differently and I think it makes sense. Saturday proved

that referees sometimes lose -- changed their minds. City's players

were fuming. Just to make sure, Andrew Judy made for -- let fly.

Next stop at the Southampton a week tomorrow night.

Three defeats in a row for Norwich. Stoke won 1-nil. Matthew

Etherington beat John Ruddy, the keeper won't be happy. The Canaries,

though, felt they were hard done by in the lead up to the goal. A

throw-in, given to Stoke. Replays show it should have been awarded to

Norwich, who fall to 11th in the Premier League. I think it was our

throw-in. The referee gave it to us. He was walking up to the pitch as

if he was giving it to ourselves and the linesman has made 10

changes made for some reason. John Ward thought Colchester's 3-

nil win over Preston was as good a result as they have had all season.

Steven Gillespie scored twice. His second, a penalty. Andy Bond

rounded off the scoring in the final minute. The Us up to 11th in

League One. Southend are back in the League Two

promotion spots. They're third. Playing in pink, David Martin

opened the scoring against Burton. Neil Harris got a second. The

manager dropped four players for breaching club discipline.

changes, but as the game wore on, the players settled back into

something like ourselves and the goals came.

And Late Kick Off tonight takes a look at football's ongoing

financial crisis and the fresh attempt to tackle the problem. The

Football League is introducing new "Fair Play" rules. Speaking to my

Peers across the championship, every club is facing this challenge

at the moment and everyone is gripping the issue and we will

definitely see a reduction in net player salaries going for it. --

going forward. Southend play Crawley tonight.

Highlights from Roots Hall on Late Kick Off, BBC 1 at 11:05pm. Viewers

also have their say on the current "Grant Holt for England" debate.

Former Norwich City and Luton Town winger Adrian Forbes joins Matt and

Perry in the studio. Tributes have been paid today to

Lord St John of Fawsley, who has died at the age of 82. As Norman St

John-Stevas, he was MP for Chelmsford for 23 years and one of

Mrs Thatcher's so-called "wets". He served under both Edward Heath

and Margaret Thatcher. The former Chancellor Norman Lamont said today

he brought wit, style, elegance and colour to British politics. But

behind the flamboyant exterior, there was a razor sharp mind, firm

principles and deeply held convictions.

This is one of his last appearances on BBC television in the east. Not

only was he a politician, order and a barrister up, but a

constitutional expert. The main function of the monarchy is to be a

symbol of the unity of the nation and the continuity of her history.

Does he here at Cambridge, he was educated at Radcliffe College and

elected as MP for Chelmsford in 1964. Naturally, I am saddened and

I know many constituents that work with him when he was the MP for

Chelmsford will be equally saddened as the remember the help that he

gave them. But what I think one remembers most about him was the

sense of wit, his irreverence. flamboyant figure in Westminster

and a familiar face on television. He served in Edward Heath's

government, was sacked by at Lady Thatcher and created a life peer in

1987. He was a great man, great parliamentarian and a great wit. He

coined the name of four or Margaret Thatcher and that did not go down

well at all. So here at Mass at risk -- Westminster Cathedral, his

greatest legacy was introducing the select committee system and backing

the television of the Commons. As spokesman for his family said he

died at his home on Friday, after a short illness.

And since we have been on air, the former Prime Minister John Major

has been speaking about Lord St John. He said, "He was a man of

many diverse talents. Often irreverent and sometimes waspish,

he was always fun. But his flippancy had a cost, and shortened

his Cabinet career." As we have seen, it's been very wet

and windy today. So not a good day to be working outside in the

elements. Except for one grafter who has been

hard at work all day. Holly the Suffolk Punch has been recruited by

woodland managers near Stansted Airport to help in a clearing up

operation. Alex Dolan went to see Holly the Suffolk Punch transports

us back to the days of walking the land. She is a hard at work under

the flightpath of one of the country's busiest airports. This

ancient woodland is owned and managed by Stansted Airport. He

were head of sustainability in an industry that some may say is

unsustainable. The work that the report does, one in this, is to

make sure that we maintain and if possible and hands the diversity of

all the flora and fauna here in the wood. It is an interesting one for

us, because obviously, this woodland sits close to the end of

on the runway and we have to take into account the safety conditions

of airport -- Air planes taking off and landing here. At ten-year

management plan with natural England requires the felling and

removal of trees, but nothing goes to waste. What do you mean? It was

cut down and allowed to regrow. If you have one stem and a cut that,

tour to the stems will come out of that. Tickets will begin the in

that they would Ottaway and the die, so you have to take him out.

Suffolk Punch was the original workforce. Britain's strength in

the 16th century, it became the powerhouse of farming. As machines

took over, the breed almost disappear. So why use a horse

today? I firmly believe that working horses still have a place

in the modern forestry, and the reason it it for that is there more

sensitive than machines. When there extracting from somewhere like this,

it causes much less damage to the ground. Tractors begin to the

ground and make ruts, but horses do not do that. She pursues along with

all four feet, so she might mess up the first few millimetres of the

soul, but he does not begin in the same way that a machine does. As

Holly does her bit to reduce Stansted's carbon food front, the

already airport -- planes are a constant reminder that the modern

world is not far away. We want it to rain, but I could

have done without the wind and the call.

The rain has been coming right over the top, circulating in the east

and the opera region. Before it got dark, we enjoyed some brightness

and even sunshine, and Northampton. Further east, very different story.

I can do it will be the case over night to night. In the West, it

will be more dry, with some broken cloud. Heavy for a time with the

rain, but it should become patchier and later as the rain -- the night

goes on. Possibly a touch of that ground frost. The wind will

continue to ease down, to a moderate to fresh wind in the

north-west and the North East. Tomorrow, along -- the low-pressure

dies in situ. Perhaps some of the overnight rain landing for our time,

but it will die away to leave a large lead Friday. A lot of cloud

in the morning, but further west shore, the better of the chance of

seeing some brightness and sunshine. Temperatures, and highs of seven or

eight Celsius, normal for the time of year. The wind will be much

lighter, just a gentle north to north-easterly to model. Into the

afternoon, chance of that cloud breaking to allow some sunshine

through, although we will have some areas of thick cloud around.

Wednesday, that from pitches in from the West, bringing some

cloudier skies. From Thursday, high pressure building in. We'll have

are a lot of cloud especially on Friday. It is looking largely fine