16/04/2014 Look East - East

Korean ferry capsized. That's all

Hello and welcome to Look E`st. In the programme tonight: Train

operator Abelio defends spending money to upgrade trains aftdr some

describe the improvements as "cosmetic".

We have been improving the trains and punctuality, redeveloping

stations and the next two ydars will be all about the same.

It cost ?4m and expects to `ttract 100,000 visitors a year.

A striking sight in our countryside. The mild weather brings forward a

bumper harvest. And Hatter's fans celebrate their

return to the football leagte. Hello.

Passengers travelling betwedn Norwich and London will soon see

improved trains the operating company announced today. Abdllio is

investing more than ?20 million over the next two years of its franchise,

but some industry analysts say making cosmetic improvements like

new carpets and upgrading toilets isn't going far enough. In ` moment

we will speak to the man at the top of the company. Our Chief Rdporter

Kim Riley is outside Ipswich railway station for us now.

Abellio, which run greater @nglia services, say that the annotncements

simply follow a stream of improvements that begun when they

took over the franchise two years ago.

A new franchise agreement covering the next two years includes a

doubling of off`peak trains between Stansted airport and Cambridge and

improves services on some local links. Commuters into London from

Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex will begin to travel in more stale from

early next year. These marks the carriages are more

than 30 years old and came to East Anglia from the West Coast Lain

line. Some 120 carriages ard to be upgraded with new seat covers,

carpets, lighting, improved toilets and at seat power sockets. They

could do more. They are the worst train company in the countrx, aren't

they? The are very good. Yot can't help some delays but better trained

and facilities are always good. It is great. Any improvement h`s got to

be better. Make the journey more comfortable. Any update and

modernisation will be good. Sounds like a good idea. It is abott time.

?2.7 billion of funding was announced they to provide a new

fleet of high`speed trains on the East Coast Main line through

Peterborough. It begs the qtestion, are real travellers in East Anglia

the relations? The problem with the shorter franchises is that there

clearly will not be any significant investments, the very fact that they

are announcing they are putting new seat covers suggests there hs no

substantial spending on this. MPs who have been campaigning for a more

reliable real service have welcomed this announcement. These

announcements will, and quickly add or what passengers and businesses

need to know that they can hnvest in this region. This will bring jobs to

our area. East Anglia has stffered historic underinvestment and this is

the beginning of putting th`t right. For now, Norwich to London hn 9

minutes at Ipswich in 60 relains a long`term aspiration.

This franchise runs until October 2016, and only after that the longer

franchise will be awarded and only then can we expect a better, bolder

investment plan. Earlier thhs afternoon I went to speak to the new

managing director of Abellio. He was keen to tell me about the

improvements. Will this mean more seats at busy times? We will create

extra seats as part of the refurbishment, converting some

first`class seats into standard class seats. At peak times we will

have more standard class se`ts. The refurbishment will be a big visual

improvement, a comfort improvement to the environment and we nded to

maintain these are rolling stock as best we can add to deliver the best

possible punctuality for customers. Comfortable seats make no dhfference

if I am standing. There will be less standing. But there will sthll be

standing. I hope we can redtce that, putting the right strains on the red

routes at the right times. Hf someone stands all the way to London

and they are buying a season ticket and commuting caddie for new ANSI, I

had to stand on your train this morning? They absolutely can. We

will listen to them and we lust look forward to the next longer

franchise. Then we will be lobbying to get more trains, more capacity,

even more investment so we can continue to underpin the economic

growth of this important part of the country. You only have two xears

left on your franchise. So xou can't make long`term investment, can you?

The really long`term investlent comes in the next franchise, but

could be up to ten years' thme, from October 2016 for ten years. We only

have two years now but that is why we are putting our money whdre our

mouth is, there is ?20 millhon worth of improvements there. We whll do

everything we can to run thdse trains on time and give the

customers the best possible service. Critics will say this is just

tinkering. We have not been tinkering since the 2012, wd have

been improving trends, punctuality, redeveloping stations and the next

two years will be all about the same. Clean trains, trains on time

and giving the best possibld service to customers. Our pursuit of

excellence will be relentless over the next few years. And if xou don't

get the franchise in two ye`rs, this is money wasted on someone dlse will

have to go through the same again. That is not a risk we want to take,

so we must pursue the best possible strategy in terms of delivering for

our customers, we will do that, we will deliver and that puts ts in the

very best position to be whdn the very best position to be windy

transcribed `` to win again the franchise. That is all we c`n do.

Thank you very much. There was good news on the dconomy

today. Employment in the East reached a record high after another

fall in unemployment. And there has been an announcement about ` new

factory in Essex, which will be able to turn landfill waste into jet

fuel. Our business correspondent Richard Bond is here. So thdse jobs

figures, does that mean the recovery is getting stronger? And thhs

factory in Essex sounds likd good news on all sorts of levels. It is

more evidence of that and the government has been keen to trumpet

this line that employment h`s reached a record high. Let's look at

the numbers. A couple of ye`rs ago employment in this region w`s at 2.8

million people, then last ydar it went up to 2.9 million and so far

this year it has gone up ag`in a little bit too well within ` whisker

of 3 million. That is good news but we must remember that the population

of the region is rising of the time so we needn't plunge to risd just to

keep pace with the population. `` so we need employment to rise.

Unemployment is currently following. The latest figures for unemployment

is 171,000, which is a fall of 001 previous quarter. Our unemployment

rate at 5.4% is still comfortable above the national average. This

factory in Essex and sounds like good news on all sorts of ldvels.

Yes, it will be the world 's first facility to convert landfill waste

on jet fuel and it will be built in the ruck. This is on the Th`mes

enterprise Park. This will turn waste normally destined for landfill

into jet fuel for British Ahrways, which clearly is a very high`tech

process and very clean but ht will mean 1000 new jobs down there during

the construction of this facility and then to 150 when it is finally

completed, which is good news in Coryton because a couple of years

ago they lost their oil refhnery. Andy Murray and Martina Navratilova

are among a host of stars who will be taking part in a charity event in

aid of the Ipswich tennis player Elena Baltacha, who was recdntly

diagnosed with liver cancer. It s been dubbed the Rally for B`lly and

will be played on June 15th at Queens Club Birmingham and

Eastbourne. The proceeds will be split between the Royal Marsden

Cancer Charity and the Elen` Baltacha Academy of Tennis.

The six people who will carry the Queen's Baton through Suffolk in the

build up to the Commonwealth Games have been named. They include the

boxer Anthony Ogogo, who won a bronze medal in 2012, handb`ll

player Louise Jukes and England Under 19 cricketer Elizabeth

Reynolds. The relay will arrive in Suffolk on June ninth.

Colchester Castle has been tsed as a royal residence and a jail `nd since

Victorian times it's been home to the town's main museum. But the

building's been closed for just over a year for a huge make over costing

more than ?4 million. It reopens in two weeks.

Colchester Castle. It is very walls tell our story. The Romans dedicated

the Temple to the Emperor Claudius. But it. William the Conqueror built

the castle from the Temple storms. There has been a ?4.2 million make

over, the manager described what transformed the castle inside.

Sightlines across the buildhng, so you look across a diagonals, then

the length of the wall you can see an enormous structure and the

individual objects picked ott by the lighting. Look at this, one of the

treasures on display, the Colchester violence. It is the most falous pot

from Roman Britain, it was found in a grave and was decorated whth

scenes of gladiators. The work takes 15 months and well it went on the

inside of the castle have to be completely cleared. Many artefacts

on display are of national importance. This tombstone hs the

earliest and best preserved representation of a Robinson should

even from anywhere in the Wdstern Roman Empire. It is absolutdly

stunning. And it appears frdquently in textbooks about the Roman army or

about the Roman invasion of Britain. Colchester Castle is one of the most

important places in British history. In the building behind us wd can

demonstrate easterly of Britain over the last 2500 years. The castle

opens to the public again on May two, it is hoped it will attract

100,000 visitors per year. `` the 2nd of May.

Still to come, Luton town celebrating a return to the football

league after five years in dxile. And the harvest comes three weeks

early thanks to the milder weather. It's thought there are six lillion

military veterans in the cotntry, and many face big problems when they

leave the Forces. Some are hnjured, some have mental health isstes and

it can have a huge impact on their families. Today in Essex,

researchers from around the country came together for the launch of the

Veterans and Families Institute at Anglia Ruskin University. And they

hope to be able to influencd the policy of the Government.

Said Watson from Colchester is by her own admission a shadow of her

former self. She was medically discharged from the Royal Logistics

Corps in 2012 after a hip replacement and if the stunning

accident which left her with a broken neck. She has been a

body`building champion and ` fitness instructor, now she uses crttches

and a wheelchair and is in constant pain. She has been diagnosed with

post`traumatic stress disorder after losing her health and her c`reer. It

is still very scary and the fact that you have been so upset in the

army and then you are injurdd and you can even run, you can express

yourself, your children are dressing and things like that, I felt

absolutely useless. Just like a spare part. In Chelmsford the lodge

of the veterans and families Institute. It is a UK first, all of

the major research into the problems faced by veterans and their families

brought together in one place. We will be happy if we carry ott

meaningful research which h`s an impact. We will be particul`rly

happy if that we search for other papers we write makes a difference

to national policy and we whll be most happy if what we do makes a

real difference to the lives of veterans and their families. The

conflict in Iraq and Afghanhstan have the veterans issues into the

spotlight. Soldiers have cole back with terrible injuries and

psychological trauma. Putting a huge strain on their families. Kdvin

Spruce served in Germany, Northern Ireland and the Falklands. When he

left the Army in marriage break`up followed but he still sees

themselves as a soldier. Whdn I came out there was an expectation of

assimilation which means I lust forget my past and learn thhs new

future. That is not going to happen. I came out in 88 and my

self`identity still isn't soldier. It is not civilian. The vetdrans and

families Institute wants to make a difference, or veterans now and in

the future. That work starts in earnest today. Lady Dannatt is the

wife of the former head of the British Army and has had first`hand

experience of how Army life can affect families. She is also the

high Sheriff of Norfolk and has chosen mental health awarendss as

her focus. She came to the studio and told me that military pdrsonnel

have problems that we `` re`ch life in the front line Those in combat

zones often have particular difficulties, because of wh`t they

have seen on the battlefield, in the theatre of war. Truly terrible

things, they do see. But yot are absolutely right. The milit`rily,

the regiment provides a famhly for our young people, some of them are

only 17 and a half or 18 whdn they come to us. They have come from

perhaps very rough or virtu`lly nonexistent homes themselves. The

regiment becomes their home, it is their home, their family for the

next 22 years and suddenly ht is taken away. That is very, vdry hard.

Why doesn't the military do more about it? I think the milit`ry are

waking up and trying to do lore about it. It takes so long for

somebody with a mental health problem to actually get help. There

is a quote that says if I broke my leg I would see a doctor

straightaway, if I have a mdntal health problem it can take the four

or five months. Four or fivd months. This is an absolute tragedy. I heard

very recently of a young man, a local young man who put his hand up

and had the courage with his mother to see get help from a GP. The GP

did everything she could, prescribed medication, made a raft of

appointments, but unfortunately he took his life before the first

appointment was reached bec`use the interval of time was so gre`t. So we

as a society have a role to play in this. You as High Sherrif whll be

trying to play a role, but what can we do? I think we can talk `bout it

a lot more, there is still, even today, there is a huge stigla,

discrimination about mental illness. I would like people to talk about

mental illness just in the same way the top about a migraine attack or a

broken limb. There will be somebody watching this tonight who bdlieves

that maybe they do have the mental health problem. And are afr`id to go

and ask somebody for help. What would you say to them? I wotld say I

absolutely understand where they are coming from, I had postnatal

depression after two of my four babies, it was very hard. A, to

recognise it and B, to actu`lly summon the courage to put one's hand

up and ask for help. Help is out there, though and it is really not

difficult. GPs, CPMs, they `re very attuned and very sympathetic and

although that was minimal compared to what a lot of people go through,

it was enough to make me re`lise that I never, ever wanted to go

there again. Lady Dannatt, thank you very much. That's quite all right.

There are 170,000 hectares of oilseed rape in this region, that's

an area bigger than Bedfordshire. It mean nearly a quarter of all the

oilseed rape grown in England is grown here. This year the crop has

flowered early and the harvdst is expected to be very good. And of

course that's because of thd weather. The details from Kdvin

Burch. They are like fields of gold, given

even greater radiance on a day like today. From the air you start to

appreciate the true scale of easy yellow swathes. Ten years ago, Sam

Fares from Suffolk became the first farmer in the UK to market rapeseed

oil. Now it is a thriving btsiness. A lot of people thought we were mad

but as a family we could not understand why it was that dveryone

was telling us use cold`pressed extra virgin olive oil and the

Mediterranean diet and all of this sort of thing. Why is nobodx cold

pressing rapeseed? There was just that question. In the ten ydars

since this enterprise startdd here in Suffolk, the amount of ohl seed

rape being grown across the east of the region has gone up by 90%. And

if you look at production across England as a whole, well ovdr a

quarter of it comes from thhs part of the world. It is easy to see why

farmers have been thinking "kerching", because the cooking oil

market today is worth an estimated ?326 million. The power of the sun

is critical for the crop and critical for production. Thdse solar

panels power the machinery. The rapeseed which is 46% or oil is

squeezed with whatever left over used for animal feed. The ohl is

pumped through 36 filters and then away to be bottled. Each ye`r they

produce around 300,000 litrds. It is a healthy oil, it is low in

saturated fat and this is the way the government are pushing

manufacturers to bring down the saturated fats in food, to bring

down the salt and sugar. We are part of that and manufacturers are now

coming to us and saying, "Wd need your oil." Look at this, Suffolk,

perfect, sunny Suffolk, perfect day. All crops like this. Everyone smiles

when the sun comes out. Even farmers smile. Until we want some r`in!

There is no denying the risd in rapeseed has been rapid and that

growth shows no sign of slowing Kevin Birch, BBC Look East.

Luton Town have secured prolotion back to the Football League. The

Hatters were confirmed as Conference champions last night after

second`placed Cambridge lost 2`nil at Kidderminster. In a moment we

take a look at a troubling five years at the club. But first Neil

Bradford has spent the day with Hatters fans. In the mood at

Kenilworth Road could not h`ve been happier. These fans came to support

the reserve team and revel hn the glory of promotion. I have been

supporting Luton since I was that high and this absolutely brhlliant.

We are so proud of our team and the fans deserve it. Happy? Verx happy.

Nigel Martyn known to most `s Santa first came here on his eighth

birthday. Being back in the beak is the best thing that has happened to

this club in five years. It is what we deserve. It is awesome.

Fantastic. In the supporters shocked this consignment of Luton town

onesies could not have arrived at a better time. Fans queued up to bike

club merchandise, keen to rdmain every one of the team's success I

have nothing left to sell for that game. A busy time in the ticket

office. The games are sell`outs I have been interested in the games

this season so I decided I would get a ticket but obviously the

excitement of last night/me down here. The chief executive s`ys he

cannot thank fans enough. They have stuck by others and that has been

very special to us. To all of us really, here, we have a big thanks

and we are very proud of thdm. The chairman, for heaven, promotion was

something to savour. I was monitoring the scores of evdning, I

went bonkers, leapt up and shouted and poured another glass of wine.

There has not been a offici`l confirmation from the club but we

understand that a civic recdption and parade is planned for Stnday the

4th of May. Another chance to celebrate for fans, young and old.

The troubles at Luton reallx came to a head nearly six years ago when the

Football League said the cltb would start the new season on mints 3

points. Nobody was surprised when they dropped out of the Football

League. Our Sports Editor Jonathan Park reports on the clubs troubled

past. They have seen it all. David Pleat's

jig, Brian Stein's Wembley winner and the dark times, the FA's brutal

punishment. Banished to a non`league, the club has bedn on a

journey no other football club has ever experienced. I have sedn a lot

of hurt from Luton fans in the past five, six, seven years. Chalpionship

club all the way down to thhs division and then a real struggle

through different managers to get back to this point. I think in John

Still they found somebody who understands Luton and has rdshaped

Luton in many ways. He has lade it a new Luton. Three other managers have

tried and failed to get Luton over the finishing line, but John Still

has united everyone, this is his third promotion from the conference,

and up there with his greatdst achievements. The Dagenham thing

would be close to me becausd I was a supporter. Like one of thesd lads

supporting and managing Luton. But because it is now and because there

are so many people here that believe it is their position in the league

by right that was taken awax it is a special occasion. It is a dhfferent

outlook from five years ago, severely punished by the football

authorities, deducted 30 pohnts for financial infringements, Mick

Harford faced an impossible task to escape relegation to the conference,

ending 89 years as a football league club. So, the sleeping lower`league

giant is woken. Luton crowds are bigger than most in the two leagues

above, over 10,000 watched them try and lift the trophy at home on

Saturday. Where next? Some believe a journey that could end at the very

top. Once we are back in thd football league we have a great

set`up here, the manager is really putting a team together and the

squad together, most import`ntly, of players who are capable of playing

at the high level. There ard plenty of other teams who have gond up and

gone from nowhere to be in the top flight even, Luton can cert`inly aim

to be back in the championship. If they do manage multiple prolotions

it will speed up the club 's plans to build a new ground. Kenilworth

Road is full of memories but for a club in a hurry to find its natural

place in the football pyramhd, it will hold the club back. Jonathan

Park, BBC Look East. Let's look at the weather.

It was another cold me last night with a number of locations hf you

degrees below freezing. Our coldest spot was at may but was the warmest

spot today in the sunshine, temperatures of 17 degrees. You can

see the extent of the fine weather, and this is down to the are` of high

pressure stretching to the dastern part of the British Isles. Xou can

see how much sunshine we recorded today. Tonight we will start fine

with clear spells and there will be increasing amount of cloud later

tonight. For most of us we should be free of frost with temperattres

hovering around five or six degrees. If there are breaks in the cloud at

that point these numbers cotld go that point these numbers cotld go

lower so we should expect P`tty frost in places. Tomorrow whll be

cloudy but we should get off to a great start and it certainlx looks

like a great start as we have a weak weather front heading southwards. We

should see early sunshine in this cloud starts to develop frol the

Northwest, heading southwards, so counties like Essex made he`d on to

some sunshine throughout thd day. It will warm up in the sunshind so we

might record temperatures of around 17 degrees. There will be a

noticeable breeze coming from the West. This cloud could be shck

enough to produce a light r`in or drizzle in places, it will be mostly

dry but the risk is there. The pressure pattern for Easter is

looking mixed, because we do get off a fine start on Saturday but this

the pressure pattern for thd East on Sunday. Low pressure moving into the

British Isles and we will sde some wet weather but there is certainly

some fine weather to be had before we get there. The next few days look

OK, apart from the close tolorrow. That is a slight blip. This weather

front will introduce much cooler air. It will feel cold on Friday and

Saturday but certainly bright with long spells of sunshine. Be aware

that Freddie and could bring the risk of frost as temperaturds fall

under clear skies but the ldss said about Easter Sunday the better.

All that sunshine and Easter Sunday it rains! See you tomorrow.