29/01/2014 Look East - West

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

Good evening. The first funding has finally been unlocked to kick`start

the development of a new town at Northstowe, just north of Cambridge.

But is it enough? There will be fewer facilities for people to

enjoy. How one city is leading the way in making sure that every child

has a primary school place. And later we have a special report on

solar farms. Are they a blight on the landscape? And all the world is

a stage for Charles and Camilla Good evening. The first funding has

been knocked to kick`start the development of the new town at

Northstowe. The entire project has been in the pipeline for years, but

now the plans for a brand new town are nearing reality. Our reporter

Ben Bland has the story. It's something that's been talked about

for more than ten years. Today's deal between the county and district

councils and the main developer is a big step towards turning the plans

into an actual town. And here's where it will go. 10,000 new homes

between Cambridge and Huntingdon. The first phase ` 1,500 ` will be

built near the village of Longstanton. Initially the councils

were hoping to secure ?65 million from the developer to pay for

amenities in Northstowe. Last year that was cut to ?40 million. They've

now settled for a contribution of ?30 million, less than half what

they originally wanted. And some councillors are very unhappy about

it. There will be less facilities for

the community to enjoy and it will mean more cost in the long`term

being put back to the local authorities were hard pushed and

facing financial crisis. With fewer community facilities there will be

more anti`social behaviour and mental health problems. So it is a

false economy if we allow developers to pay less money. The money they

have secured will go towards a primary and secondary school, sports

pitches and cycle routes. Some will also go towards paying for the

guided bus, which is already in place. But under the deal there will

be fewer affordable homes in the first phase. Instead of two in five,

it'll be just one in five. And for that, the developer makes no

apology. 40% of affordable housing was all the subject to viability and

the 20% in the first phase after all is 300 affordable housing units

which will be available for local people. I think that is a

substantial provision. This development will be one of the

largest in the UK ` a whole new town. Today's deal means that

shovels should hit the ground by this summer, with the first homes

ready by the middle of 2015. One of the issues that has emerged

from today's meeting is that the proportion of affordable housing for

Northstowe has halved. Earlier I put it to South Cambridgeshire's cabinet

member for Northstowe, Tim Wotherspoon, that fewer affordable

homes would exclude many desperate to get on the housing ladder.

While affordable housing is a technical definition and one in five

is a number that is being talked about quite widely and compared to

the 40% which is our policy. But there are questions of viability.

When you start a project like this is always more expensive to get over

that first stage. The other aspect is that there will be a wide range

of housing for first`time buyers in particular. Housing available at a

price that first`time buyers can afford. The other issue is the new

road, 1500 new homes being built, is that not going to cause a huge

amount of problems for those trying to access the road network? Well in

the first phase I do not think it is quite such an issue. We have worked

hard to get me a 14 back onto the agenda. It is thanks to local

campaigning that we have got it back onto the roads programme. I'm sure

it is little credit to the local campaigners against the toll that we

have persuaded the government to see about telling as well. But will it

be able to cope in the short`term? The transport assessment has been

clear about that. But the first phase remember, it is likely that

the 814 will be ready before the first phase is completed.

Next tonight, inspectors say the East of England Ambulance Service is

still failing to get to 999 calls quickly enough. But in some areas,

like Luton and Cambridge, it does seem to be making progress. The

latest assessment comes from the regulator, the Care Quality

Commission. Their inspectors made surprise visits on four days in

December. This from our chief reporter, Kim Riley.

The trust handles more than 900 000 emergency calls each year across six

counties and 7500 square miles. The inspection last month found

significant improvements in a number of areas and after interviewing

patients there was praise for the care received from the ambulance

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

response times to life`threatening by 99 calls and staffing. Ambulance

trust disdained to respond to a high percentage of calls within eight

minutes. And at least 95% of calls should see an ambulance arriving

within 90 minutes. The latest figures show across`the`board trust

has failed to do that. MPs from across the region have led calls for

improvements to the server. Yesterday came the surprise

resignation of the interim chairman Doctor Geoff Harris. Much faith is

now being placed in the new chief executive Doctor Anthony Marsh. I am

impressed, he has bigger and enthusiasm and he is an experienced

chief executive in covering rural areas. We appreciate that he is

concentrating on recruiting paramedics and I think that is the

right direction. I want to give him time and support. He knows that the

pace of change needs to be stepped up. The report says the trust could

need over 500 additional paramedics by 2016. 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.

Earlier he told Look East the report has recognised that the Trust is

making improvements. The report highlights that are clinicians have

a high degree of patient satisfaction. We have recruited a

number of staff this last year and on top of that we have increased the

number of staff internally who have become paramedics. We started a bit

campaign to recruit 400 now and that is ongoing. They will come in over

the next few months to man the ambulance.

The final "missing link" section of the Bedford western bypass could be

completed after funding was made available to buy up nearby land The

Borough Council has secured nearly ?16 million and is now set to

publish Compulsory Purchase Orders to buy the land required for

construction. The money has come from a number of agencies including

the Department for Transport. It's hoped the work can begin later this

year. Every child will have a place at one

of our primary schools. That's the guarantee from one city in the

region which has faced unprecedented demand for places. One thousand

children came forward in just one year needing to be schooled in

Peterborough. And the council there is spending tens of millions of

pounds to create spaces. I would like you to discuss whether

you think we should ban playtime or not. Five minutes, off you go.

Small school, high expectations That is the motto of Winston

primary. But soon the school is to double in size, so great has been

the demand for places. Pressure is on the younger age groups where

there has been a higher birth rate and more children in the area. There

is about 30 children who do want to come here but we are not able to

offer them the space. 5000 extra places have been created in the past

seven years but still more are needed. This year there will be six

school expansion project creating 1500 extra places at the cost of

more than ?25 million. Last year the city had to find 1000 new places,

down to more people move into the city and one of the highest birth

rates in the country. But the council says this expansion will

create spare capacity. We can guarantee that every pupil who wants

to come to school will have a school place but not necessarily where they

wanted to go. A brand`new school and a brand`new head teacher. The Thomas

Deacon junior college where they see rising pupil numbers as positive.

Most children are in the city and I do not think the city would be

getting the fantastic facilities with the new schools or expanded

schools without that growth in Peterborough. Work is going on

across the whole city to expand schools or build new ones. They will

be ready to take pupils this September.

In cricket, Cambridgeshire's Charlotte Edwards has helped England

retain the Ashes against Australia. She scored 92 not out as England won

the first Twenty20 international by nine wickets. It's her fifth Ashes

victory. Victory means England have won the multi`format series with two

Twenty20s to spare. They will lift the trophy for the second time

within six months. We were pretty determined this morning. It was a

must win for us today. I just went out there. I have been in good form

but to play on a great wicket here, and to lead the team through like I

did, we had and plastic support from Sarah Taylor today. It is a real

high for us. The Cambridgeshire heptathlete

Louise Hazel has come out of retirement in a bid to defend her

Commonwealth title later this year. The 28`year`old, who won gold at the

Delhi Games in 2010, retired in September but says the lure of

competing in Glasgow was too strong to resist. She confirmed her return

after a series of tests today involving sprint work, the long jump

and shot put. She told the BBC she felt in better shape than she

thought and can't wait to get started.

Those are the top stories. I'll be back at ten with

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 windy for Saturday. With clear skies

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,