29/01/2014 Look East - East

independent Scotland. That is all from the News at six,

Hello and welcome to Look East. In the programme, inspectors say the

East of England Ambulance Service still isn't responding to 999 calls

quickly enough. Also tonight... Could the floods on the Somerset

Levels happen here on the Broad? We've been out with the dredgers.

The MP calling for tougher controls on solar farms. You can have a 300

acre farm of solar panels and you don't need any environmental impact

report at all. Whether it is noble in the mind to

suffer the outrageous arrows... And where there's a Will. Charles

and Camilla take to the stage in Southend.

Hello. First tonight, inspectors say the East of England Ambulance

Service is still failing to get to 999 calls quickly enough. But in

other areas, it does seem to be making progress.

This latest assessment comes from the regulator the Care Quality

Commission. Inspectors made a surprise visit over four days in

December. The good news, complaints are down and staff sickness is down

too. But the Trust is still failing on the crucial question of ambulance

response times. In a moment, the director of patient safety. But

first, this from our Chief Reporter Kim Riley.

The Trust handles more than 900,000 999 calls a year. Across six

counties and 7500 square miles. The unannounced inspection last month

found significant improvements in a number of areas. And after

interviewing patients, there is praise for the care received from

ambulance crews and call handlers. But the Trust is found wanting in

two key areas. Ambulance response times to life`threatening 999 calls.

And staffing. Ambulance trusts must aim to respond to at least 75% of

emergency life`threatening calls within eight minutes. And where a

solo paramedic is first on the scene, at least 95% of calls should

see an ambulance arriving within 90 minutes. `` 19 minutes. Latest

figures show that, across the board, the Trust has met neither standard.

But there is big regional variations. In Luton and Cambridge,

the Trust is exceeding these targets. And in some parts of

Norfolk and Essex consistently failing.

MPs from across the region have led calls for improvements to the

service. Yesterday came the surprise resignation of the interim chairman

Dr Geoff Harris. Much faith is now being placed in the new Chief

Executive, Dr Anthony Marsh. I'm impressed. At his rigour, vigour and

enthusiasm. He's an experienced chief executive, covering rural

areas in the past. I really appreciate the way he is focusing on

recruiting paramedics, not emergency care assistants. I think that's the

right direction. And I really want to give him time and support. But he

knows that the pace of change needs to be stepped up. And I think he

will do that for us. The report says the Trust could need over 500

additional paramedics by the year 2016. And that is a tall order. It

also quotes a review identifying substantial shortfalls between the

resources of the Trust and what it actually needs to meet national

standards. John Martin is the acting director

of patient safety and clinical standards for the ambulance trust.

Within the last hour, I asked him about the service in country areas

in Norfolk and ethics, which the report says is still a cause for

concern. `` Essex. They noted we were making improvements. We still

need more staff, carrying on recruiting to meet those response

times. The truth is you cannot find fully trained staff and it is going

to be some time before you get enough all stop we started a big

campaign to recruit 400. That is ongoing and they will be in the next

few months. You say you have increased the number of trained

paramedics. Four. That is net increase. But we have student

paramedics that have become filled paramedics. `` full. The report says

you need more money and more staff. Money is scarce. Staff even scarcer.

We will it come from? We need more money and have raised that as a

concern via the critical capacity review last year. We made it clear

we need to recruit for vacancies. On top of that, we need more money and

it will be needed to be provided to provide the same service we need. If

you do not get more money, and it is looking unlikely, accusing you are

not providing a safe service? The service is getting safer, but

response times not always where we want them to be. We need to fill

vacancies, which is what we are doing, pushing hard to do that, and

on top of that, we will need more staff. Can I check that, getting

safer is not safe, is it? The CQC report shows moderate concern,

getting two more patients than we were doing when they previously

inspected, but until we get more staff, issues will continue. How

long do you think it will be before we have a safe Ambulance Service?

The scale is large in the scale is large and Easter thing in. It will

take a number of years to be, `` is large in the East of England. It

will take a number of years to get the service to be a safe as it can

be. Thank you very much. There was good news from the

construction industry today. Managers say the improving economy

means they will take on more than 25,000 extra workers in the region

over the next five years. This from our business correspondent Richard

Bond. New homes on the fringes of our big

cities are selling like hot cakes. A sure sign of pent`up demand. This

development at Brundle, just outside Norwich, had buyers queuing up

recently. We sold ten the first weekend. In fact, all of the first

release were snapped up that first weekend. We haven't seen that since

sort of 2007. The development here of 150 units would normally have

taken about three or four years. If the sales rate continues as it is,

then we expect this site to be built in around 12 months. House`builders

are recruiting again. Many more trades people will be needed. A

skills report out today says 25,000 construction jobs are to be created

in the East over the next five years. And there will be plenty for

new recruits to do. Last year, only 11,000 new homes were built in the

region. It is reckoned we need between 20000 and 25,000 homes per

year just to keep up with demand. But it is not just house`building

that is driving demand for workers. Investment in new infrastructure and

commercial premises will also be important. House`building is a key

sector, without doubt, fuelling growth as we speak at this moment.

But also, the industrial and infrastructure sectors are going to

be key for recovery nationally and particularly in the East, with major

infrastructure projects such as the A11 and A14. The industry is

investing in its future. These trainee plant mechanics were

learning their skills today at the National Construction College in

West Norfolk. But employers also need to persuade workers who left

the industry in the recession to return.

Southend Airport unveiled another extension today. ?10 million has

been spent on more space for aircraft and a bigger departures

area for passengers. In time, managers say it will mean 300 extra

jobs too. The one o'clock easyJet flight to

Alicante takes off from Southend Airport. Tourists heading for the

sun. Meanwhile, back on the ground, and wishing touches to a ?10 million

extension to the terminal stop this is the new departure lounge. It is

deserted, but will soon be full of passengers, because Southend Airport

continues to grow. It used to be busy in the 1960s. In 1967, it had

600,000 passengers, by 2011, that had fallen to just 42,000. But being

taken over, numbers have risen again. In 2012, two 617,000. Last

year, 970,000. And a bigger terminal means more jobs. 300 new jobs as a

result of total investment. What sort of things? People working in

the board, assisting passengers through their journey. The retail

shops. And airline staff. It is not without controversy. Some neighbours

say it is getting noisier and noisier. But so far, good feedback

from passengers. Hopped off the train, nice and quiet and new and

shiny. Normally you had to queue for hours, but we wandered straight

through. It is easy to find areas. It will not be as quiet as this for

very long. A city trader who was shot in the

leg in Essex has been interviewed in hospital for the first time. Robin

Clark was shot at Shenfield station last Friday. British Transport

Police say he gave them a number of leads.

The Prime Minister stepped into the row over flooding in Somerset today,

promising to get the dredgers in to clean out the rivers as soon as the

waters recede. The Somerset Levels are low lying and flat. In many ways

like the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads. So could it happen here? Mike

Liggins has been to the River Chet near Loddon in Norfolk to see the

dredgers in action. A Broads Authority dredger removing

silt from the River Chet. The authority spends ?1 million per year

on dredging in order to keep the rivers clear for navigation. It's

like painting the Forth Bridge. We dredge out 50,000 cubic metres of

silt every year. From work that we did with Cranfield University, we

know we get about 24,000 metres of silt coming in every year. Either

from bank erosion or from head waters. The Somerset Levels.

25 square miles. Flooded. The Environment Agency is pumping

water back into the river system. But for many who live there, it's

too little too late. Why wasn't this done ages ago? Why have you only

started doing this now? An angry reception for the

Environment Secretary on Monday. But when it comes to flood defence, how

much difference does dredging actually make? On the Broads, it

does help. But it's only a small part of the picture. Here, the

Environment Agency has spent over ?100 million in the last 13 years on

a variety of schemes. On the Chet, the agency is currently working on

the river banks. It's removing a lot of the old piles, which have clearly

failed from a flood defence perspective. But also create a

navigation hazard as well. So it is helping out on that front and it is

reinstating the banks. Both building them up to the correct level. But

also profiling them that, should flood water ever top them, they do

not get damaged in such a way we cannot quickly repair them. For some

river users, for businesses which rely on tourism, there can never be

enough dredging. But when it comes to flood defence, the authorities

insist it is not the only answer. Depending on your point of view,

they are either a blight on the landscape or an important way of

generating clean electricity. But some people believe we are getting

too many solar farms too quickly? Tonight one of our MPs will tell the

House of Commons that the planning controls on solar farms aren't

strict enough. There are currently 14 working solar farms in the

region. With a further 23 either planned or being built. The latest

row concerns plans on the Suffolk`Essex border.

To the west of Sudbury lies some of the least populated and arguably

most beautiful countryside in Essex. And it's here that there are plans

to build three solar farms across 300 acres of land. It is idyllic and

very rural. And these solar farms, very large solar farms, just don't

fit in with the character. But they don't make any noise and will be

hidden by bushes. Are they really that bad? They are hidden to a

certain extent. Generally speaking, it sort of spoils the ambience and

character of the area. That is problem. This is where one of the

farms could be built. The landowner didn't want to be interviewed. But

he told me it would be surrounded by bushes. Sheep will graze the land.

Solar farms have become a contentious issue across the region.

We filmed this altercation near Thetford a couple of once ago.

Farmers can earn five times more this way than through conventional

agriculture. But one MP says they've grown so fast, there are very few

planning controls in place. If you want to build a tiny garage on your

house in this area, you have to have a full environmental impact report.

You can have a 300 acre farm of solar panels and don't need any

environmental impact report at all. So there does not seem to be a good

balance. Tonight in Parliament, he'll call for solar farms not to be

built near areas of outstanding natural beauty. Or prime

agricultural land. But those who build them say there are already

enough controls in place. And all applications are carefully

scrutinised. I don't know how they are going to make it tougher. At the

end of the day, the national policy planning framework sets out a

sustainable future for us and how we develop all types of technologies

and developments. Obviously, these developments are assessed vigorously

by the local authorities. The government has cut the subsidy for

solar power, but is reluctant to legislate further. It says this is a

clean and quick way to generate power. Mr Newmark agrees. He just

wants people to think more carefully where solar farms go.

Last night's football now. And the matches involving Colchester,

Stevenage and Northampton were all victims of the weather. Peterborough

United's trip to Sheffield United tonight has also been postponed. But

four of our teams did play. None of them managed to win, but there was a

lot to talk about. We'll start at Carrow Road.

Bleak, boggy, but nearly 27,000 braved the weather. A measurable

night for a number of Norwich fans. It's been a miserable season. But a

win this evening and they are in the top half. Such optimism appeared

totally misplaced in the first half. Norwich came under fire. John Ruddy

overworked in goal. The post proving to be their saviour. Loic Remy then

found the other one. Floods of Newcastle chances came, but were

wasted. Remy was denied again after the break. The crossbar this time

the last line of defence. Then Norwich finally posed a threat

themselves. Hooper! Another crossbar saves Newcastle. Now more even as a

contest. It boiled over late on for Remy and Bradley Johnson saw red for

one altercation. Robert Snodgrass could have stolen victory. But it

would have been harsh. City stay 12th. I thought our energy levels

were better in that second half period and we made more of a game of

it. But we are against a quality team today. Disappointing, because

we are at home. You need to make the most of your home performances.

Entertaining game, another point. But at times, Norwich rode their

luck. Is it enough for the fans? I think it's a good point. We were

lucky to get that result. Woodwork, the man of the match. It's a point

gained rather than lost. Very poor first half. They put on a show for

us. They did not lose the game. Fair enough. But there is just no heart

there and it is disappointing to walk away with the point that we

should have lost. Why do they have to get annoyed so much? We come to

enjoy a game. It is good value for money. Come on, you yellows, we will

be there next season! Mick McCarthy felt Ipswich had the

chances to beat Leeds. David McGoldrick put Town in front. But

they couldn't hold on. Ipswich just outside the championship play`offs.

Carl Robinson was furious with MK Dons' performance at Carlisle. A 3`0

defeat. The manager says some of his players won't play for him again.

Kevan Hurst scored for Southend. But Dagenham made it 1`1, leaving the

Blues sixth in League Two. If you enjoyed the Olympic Torch

Relay a couple of years ago, there's another on its way. It's the Queen's

Baton Relay which is part of the build up to Commonwealth Games in

Glasgow in July. And in this region, the focus is on Suffolk and Monday

June the 9th.We don't know all the details. But it will kick off at

breakfast time on the seafront in Lowestoft. It will arrive in

Newmarket at a community event in mid`morning. And be at schools

athletics competition in Bury St Edmunds in the early afternoon.

After that, it's Ipswich for more athletics with the big finish in

Christchurch Park. Dame Kelly Holmes won a gold at the

Manchester Games back in 2002. This is her take on the relay. Each

location are trying to celebrate sport, bring families and young

people together, what we are trying to do. If people are interested, go

on the website, or follow on Twitter, they will be able to see

what is happening around the country. You could be somebody else

at the time the bat on relay comes around. We are in Suffolk on the 9th

of June. That is key for that area. But I think it will be really

successful. We are really wowed the team and the we are gathering to go

to Glasgow to compete for team England and we hope the public

support them. Dame Kelly Holmes. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess

of Cornwall enjoyed some of Shakespeare's most famous works

today at a special performance in Essex. They visited the Palace

Theatre in Westcliffe to launch celebrations to mark the 450th

anniversary of his birth. On stage, school children inspired by their

love of the Bard. CHEERING. It may have been cold and

overcast, but that did not dampen the spirits. Hours waiting in the

cold soon forgotten. For Charlie Johnson, his first brush with

royalty at the tender age of six months. And patients rewarded with a

chat with the Duchess. They were alone sing the 450th birthday

celebrations. Rehearsals started early this

morning, 30 children from schools chosen to perform in the Shakespeare

Schools Festival. Tomaso Luongo from Suffolk delivering that soliloquy.

To be or not to be. That is the question.

You have to be very intelligent about Hamlet beforehand, because his

emotions are really complex. Overused phrase, but a

once`in`a`lifetime experience? It is, Royal variety. When we first

heard about it, we thought it would be his West End debut, but Southend

is just as good. Rehearsals over, the moment of truth, and for the

young cast, the biggest performance of their lives. Tybalt!

Afterwards, relief and parade at what they had achieved. At first, he

made a joke, saying not too many injuries, and we laughed, and he was

asking where we were from and that he enjoyed it. What did he say? He

seems very interested in England and school, and I shook his hand. I am

not going to wash it! This is so important. We need to get the word

out there to more and more schools about the wonderful work we do, how

children love it, they never thought they would meet the Royal Highness

is, so it was fantastic. And for the young actors, that meant the world.

They needed any more inspiration, they certainly got it today.

A fabulous day for them. An amazing experience, and some very good

acting. And Prince Charles coming up behind that women. Now for the

weather. The weather is a mess. Low pressure

across the country bringing a cloudy forecast today and outbreaks of

rain. The positioning as meant an easterly wind, so the weather has a

real cold steel. Through this evening, we see continued spells of

rain. `` real cold feel. More rain from France to most areas through

the night. Cloud and a brisk breeze and temperatures not falling to low,

but we could get down to two Celsius, and perhaps some frost and

ice in sheltered spots. Not great tomorrow. Quite cloudy and healing

cold. And further outbreaks of rain, particularly through the morning,

and those could be heavy. Some drier interludes. Certainly not the best

forecast through the morning. Heavy downpours, but rain becomes patchy

and later through the day, so by the afternoon, it is also through the

region. Temperatures perhaps up on today, six or seven Celsius, but

that wind direction still East or southeasterly. The wind light

tomorrow, but feeling cold. For the afternoon and evening, we just about

get rid of the rain, conditions behind it remaining cloudy. Looking

to Friday, an area of low pressure is coming, bringing rain, which is

not welcome, but it will arrive later for as in the East, and much

of the day dry if rather cloudy. As the weather front approaches, the

wind will increase, direction changing to southerly, but windy at

around the middle of the day, and the rain arriving, probably not

until after nightfall for most. But it spreads across the region, heavy

in places, the wind continuing to be quite strong through the night. But

for the weekend, it starts to get drier, brighter, temperatures up to

seven degrees. There could be some showers around, but the forecast

looks like it is improving for the weekend. But still staying quite

overnight, getting quite cold overnight, cold enough to bring a

touch of frost in places and icy patches.

Just lovely when the whole country is obliterated by a band of rain!

Stay indoors on Thursday. We will see you tomorrow night. Goodbye.

'The cost of living crisis goes deep into people's lives,

'deep into the way our country is run,

'deep into who our country is run for.

'the solutions need to be deep as well.'

I opened a pub six years ago in Hackney,

about ten minutes' walk from my house.

One of the things that really struck me was that

most of the beers that we sold weren't London beers.

They were international beers, UK beers, but from further afield.

"Wouldn't it be really great to open our own community brewery

"right here in the heart of London, in Hackney?"

the genesis of the idea of The Five Points Brewing Company

In my speech in the Labour Party Conference,

I talked about the broken energy market, and it was controversial -

..and we're going to do the same when it comes to our banking system.