03/03/2014 Look East - West

An illegal rave wrecks a former s grain harvest causing tens of

thousands of pounds of damage. Lock in Northampton Town centre ` 24

hours after the new bus station opens. This is the First World War

from the point of view of those who refused to fight.

Good evening. A Bedfordshire farmer's counting the

cost of an illegal rave in one of his barns this weekend. It's thought

up to two thousand people went to the farm in Meppershall, where the

grain harvest was being stored. The rave lasted for hours. It took a

major police operation with officers from three different forces to close

it down. Six people have been arrested.

William Parrish surveying the damage caused by up to 2000 revellers. Only

now can he begin to count the cost. We keep the buildings as secure as

possible. Obviously, being a food store it has to be kept as clean as

possible. To come in here and see all this ` not only is it stressful,

it's pretty soul destroying. Police from Bedfordshire,

Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire were called to Manor Farm after 2am,

after revellers forced their way into a green barn and started a

generator ` with it, the music. It wasn't until yesterday afternoon

that they began to leave, after a major police operation.

We have recovered a number of vehicles. We have recovered over

?100,000 worth of cash. We have also recovered a quantity of drugs, both

Class A and cannabis. Damage has been caused to crops within the

barn, up to ?100,000 worth. Some revellers seemed unaware of the

damage that had been done. We're all having a good time, mate.

We all come here, we all party it up, mate. We all have a good time.

And that is it, mate. At the height of the rave, there

were said to be around 200 cars here, some of which had travelled

from as far as Scotland. Now, the farmer is increasing security to try

to stop it happening again. It will take specialist contractors to clean

up the contaminated grain to make it safe to eat.

We spend ten months of the year growing the crop, and then you put

it in store, you keep it in good condition, and then for the wants of

revellers enjoying themselves you see all your hard work being

destroyed. Now, farmers and the Farmers' Union

are to meet with police to talk about fears over the crime, and the

party that damaged a livelihood There's been chaos in the centre of

Northampton today following the opening of the ?7 million bus

station. Police were called in to help clear the traffic, and they

blocked off roads to prevent traffic getting into the town centre. Louise

Hubball is in Northampton now. This is as close as we can get

because those police restrictions remain in place. Behind me is the

old bus station, but today was supposed to be all about the new

station. It was a ?7 million product... Project. This morning, it

was complete chaos. There were lines of bosses not going anywhere. By

lunchtime, most of the town centre was locked. `` lines of buses. A lot

of frustrated passengers venting their anger on social media. One

eyewitness said she saw a police helicopters circling overhead. It

has been an extraordinary day. Many of the passengers we have spoken to

have vented their anger very much towards the council.

They just carry on, they don't listen to the people, and they just

don't fit. And look at it ` it's absolute chaos.

Traffic is just horrendous. This bus station isn't going to work

whatsoever. It's a disgrace. It's a disgrace to

Northamptonshire and to the County Council.

The old bus station was once voted Britain's's ugliest building. The

new one isn't proving very popular, at the minute. It was launched with

huge fanfare. For this to have happened just hours after it was

launched is a huge embarrassment. We put that to the leader of

Northampton Borough Council. At peak time, this morning, it was

fine. It actually started happening through an off`peak time.

That's what we've got to address and get to terms with ` make sure it

doesn't happen in future. Tomorrow morning is the future.

Well, we are working hard tonight to make sure it doesn't happen

tomorrow. The police have issued a statement.

They're still enforcing those road closures. The main problems are

around College Street. What everyone is beginning to think ` what will

happen tomorrow morning? Were you particularly affected by

today's delays? We'd love to hear from you, and if you see problems

tomorrow please let us know by phone or email ` the details are on your

screen. Next, a father's fight to reunite

his family. Dave Chappell is from Peterborough. His wife is living

4,000 miles way in America. Her attempt to get a visa has failed for

a second time. And tonight the couple say they're running out of

options. These are the rules currently governing immigration from

outside the EU. You have to earn more than ?18,500 a year, or have

?62,500 in savings before a visa can be issued for your spouse. If you've

got children, your salary needs to be even higher. But Dave Chappell's

military pension falls way short of that. Neil Bradford reports. Dave

Chappell says he's as patriotic as they come,

Dave Chappell says he's as patriotic as they come, but the country he

loves has let his family down. Last year, his wife Brandi was refused a

visa to live here. Now, they've been told their appeal has also failed.

At some stage, I'm going to have to break it to Emma that I don't know

when Mummy will come home. She asks every day, can we go to the airport

to pick up Mummy? And I have to say no. But there is going to come a day

when I have to say I don't know when Mummy will be coming home.

The retired Navy police officer met his wife, who served with the U S.

Navy, whilst stationed abroad. Her visa has been rejected because Dave

does not earn enough money. His military pension falls short of the

minimum income required by the UK border agency. A parliamentary

committee recently found it an amount unattainable for many.

They found that this income level of ?18,600 is one that 47% of the UK

population couldn't comply with That means that a large number of

people currently in the UK wouldn't be able to sponsor an overseas

spouse, if they were to happen to fall in love with what the Home

Office may see as the wrong person. Dave is unable to visit his wife in

America because he broke US visa laws. He accepts that he made a

mistake but both had hoped the UK would support their wish to be

together as a family. I think it's despicable. All these

people come into the UK from European countries, and they are

able to use their article eight human rights. But my daughter's

human rights, and my husband's human rights don't count, so we are being

separated because my husband doesn't make enough money.

Having served my country for 27 years, I asked for one thing which

was for my family to be back together, and I can't have that

That's the only thing I asked for. I've never asked for anything from

this country. I've given my all and I feel that we've been treated

really badly. The Chappells say they are now

running out of options. They are awaiting the outcome of an

appeal with the US authorities, but believe the chances of them living

together as a family are getting smaller by the day.

And there'll be more on immigration and the families being kept apart on

tonight's Inside Out. That's BBC One at 7:30pm.

The MP for Peterborough has won his legal battle with the parliamentary

expenses watchdog. Stewart Jackson was threatened with court action

after he refused to re`pay more than ?50,000, but he's now been told it

was all a mistake and he actually owes nothing. A short while ago I

asked our political correspondent Andrew Sinclair about the

significance of the case. This has been a bitter row between

Stewart Jackson and observe. He says it has been quite damaging to his

reputation. It all goes back to the last election, when rules were

tightened up on second homes. MPs were told they could have a bit

longer to keep claiming for their second home, but they would have to

pay back any difference. Originally, 70 MPs were sent bills. All of them

paid except Stewart Jackson, who said that there is no way that my

home has gone up by ?75,000 in two years. It's wanted ?50,000 for

that. He refused and they took into court.

But he was right all along? It seems that the surveyor got his

figures wrong. It's have told Stewart Jackson that he owes

nothing. He is still very angry that he has run up legal bills of

?25,000. He says that this was illegal overkill. It was unnecessary

and totally unjustified. This won't help relations between

MPs and IPSA will it? No. In number of MPs have fallen out

with IPSA, thinking it a very heavy`handed indeed. IPSA are

unrepentant ` they say it's our job to keep a close eye on MPs's

expenses. IQ. There is worry and confusion

tonight at one of Corby's largest employers. Today, a special task

force of unions and politicians matched to find ways of keeping it

open. The future is far from certain ` at

Corby's second largest employer we found a workforce very worried.

The town has plenty of industry but we are 900 people. We are going to

be looking at slim pickings. I'm worried because I'm 52, now

It's going to be hard to get a job at my age, again. I've worked here

for nearly 30 years. Everybody is worried. What is going

on? We don't know exactly. We wait for the answer.

The site which packages salad is not fit for purpose and is losing money,

says its owners, who, today, met with unions and politicians

desperate for ways to try and save it. What came out of the meeting,

today? Talks are continuing. The positive

vibes I get are that all the agencies are together to make sure

that they keep jobs in Corby. Investing millions to fix this site

doesn't make sense, its owners say. The options are: if another company

doesn't come along and buy it, either they close the factory `

fully, or partially ` or move to another site in Corby. Clearly,

that's what the council wants. The Borough Council can look at

support around things like rates, discounts and rate` free periods.

We're going to work really hard with the company to say: look, stay in

Corby, these jobs are important to Corby. Corby values Solway very

much. The town is growing, but could it

absorb more than 800 redundancies? That's going to be a challenge, it's

a big number. But Corby is fortunate ` the staff and the job centre here

have been working really hard with our partners. The employment figure

has gone up ` employment has gone up by 30% in the last 12 months.

It's been a big employer here for more than three decades ` its

departure disastrous for the town, say councillors. Its fate will be

decided in the coming days. Those are your top stories, tonight.

Now, it's over to Stewart and Susie, and Julie will have the weather

raising the age would make the roads more dangerous. A spokesman said no

decisions have been made. Still to come. Another heavy defeat

for Norwich City. A different take on the First World War. We speak to

the relatives of one man who refused to fight.

Cycling now, and 11 of the world's top 14 women's teams have signed up

to the first Women's Tour of Britain later this year. The details of the

tour were announced today. It's going to start at Oundle in

Northamptonshire on May seventh and finish in Bury St Edmunds four days

later. Simon Newton is an bike shop in Bury now, Simon.

This is one of the biggest bike shops. They sell about 500 bikes

every single year, and about a quarter of those now go to women.

Those women on the binaries leisure buys, they are turning to these more

sportier machines. It is grown in stature. There are big races across

the continent. There is a big race in Britain. The two Britain was

launched today. It will finish in Bury Saint Edmunds.

It's billed as a clash of cycling titans. The world's elite versus

Britain's Olympic heroines. The first ever Women's Tour begins on

May seventh. Five gruelling stages. 100 riders. 11 pro teams. And nearly

all of it in our region. Big`name British riders include double

Olympic champion Laura Trott. Silver medalist Lizzie Armistead is also

competing, as is the woman who beat her to road race gold, Marianne Vos.

Today, organisers were in Northamptonshire unveiling the route

of Stage One from Oundle to Northampton. It'll be a huge

experience. Every get nothing out of it, at least we can say we

completed. We wanted to go to the east Midlands because of the good

roads. It is easy to get to. We organised the men's tour and wanted

to create the same thing for women. Stage two of the race on May the 8th

will take the peloton from Hinkley to Bedford. The next day the women

ride from Felixstowe to Clacton on the Essex coast. Stage Four goes

from Cheshunt in Hertfordshire to Welwyn Garden City. The final stage,

on Sunday May 11th, starts in Harwich and ends in Bury St Edmunds.

The Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France now have women's events. The

launch of the Women's Tour here ` say organisers ` proof that the

sport's appeal not only continues to grow, but also spans the sexes. With

me is Sarah who runs this bike shop. How big a deal is it for women's

cycling to have those big names? It is a big deal. It will help the

image of the sport. It is great it is coming to our region. For

women's cycling have more popular has gained in terms of women buying

bikes? The Olympics helped. Women are out there cycling. Several years

ago it was mainly seen as a sport for the older gentleman, but now

there is more female specific kit which looks better. Women are there

in China is. `` enjoining it. We will know where these routes will

take us later on. The Norwich City manager Chris

Hughton is under more pressure tonight, after yesterday's four`one

defeat at Aston Villa. After the game he admitted there had been a

'mad 15 minutes'. Norwich are now 15th in the Premier League and just

four points above the relegation zone.

It started well enough for Norwich when Wes Hoolahan put them in front

after just three minutes. Hoolahan wanted to sign for Villa in

the transfer window, but Norwich wouldn't let him and the City fans

were not best pleased to see his lack of celebration at the goal. And

then came the mad 15 minutes. Christian Benteke scored a contender

for goal of the season. Two minutes later he scored again to make it

2`1. Chris Hughton must have been hoping for a fight back, but it went

from bad to worse as Leandro Bacuna finished off a brilliant counter

attack. Sebastian Bassong scored an own goal and the Canaries were

beaten before half time. It feels like a major setback, because of the

manner of defeat. We came here with intentions of continuing the form we

have been showing, and the first 25 minutes showed that. We had a mad 15

minutes. The Norwich City chief executive David McNally has said if

Chris Hughton keeps the club out of the bottom three ` he keeps his job.

The Canaries play Stoke at home on Saturday.

Staying with football, and Late Kick Off is back tonight on BBC One. And

the new series has a new line up too. Our own James Burridge is

playing up front with Paul McVeigh a former striker with both Norwich and

Luton of course. Just tell us how it will work. We are taking it day by

day. We could be in the divorce court later. We will see what

happens. James, it is a great time for the programme. A lot of our

teams have a lot to play Every team in the region is playing for

something. Every team we are covering for the next nine weeks has

something to play for. In lot to talk about including safe standing?

It is something Peterborough have been championing. You have to look

at the Hillsborough tragedy. Is it saved the first or the fans? I was

at a game on Saturday and 50% of the Colchester fans were standing up.

Because I was at the back that meant I had to stand up. It depends on

whether you go for the safety aspect or the enjoyment. I think the has to

be a happy medium. James, you are the presenter and Paul will be

reviewed and other guests? We will have all the managers from the

region. We have called Robinson coming in. `` Carl Robinson. It is

on at 11:20pm tonight. Bank you `` thank you.

Last week we heard a lot about the men who served in the First World

War. But what about those who refused to fight ` the conscientious

objectors? They were often shunned by society and sent white feathers

in the post, a symbol of cowardice. Have a look at these. They are

campaign medals. Percy Boddy got them for his work with the Friends

Ambulance Unit. But they were never worn, and Percy was actually sent to

prison for refusing to serve later in the war. His family say his

objection to the horrors of war was a different kind of bravery.

A call to arms in 19 14,000 of men and listened in a wave of patriotic

fervour. This man was a pacifist. He joined the friends Amber Liz unit

serving in France in 1916 `` Friends Ambulance Unit. He was given medals

at the end of the war. His family have been researching the story and

discovered from letters to their grandmother that he was worried

about the military nature of the unit. It seems to grow more military

than otherwise. I almost think that I should not have joined. Percy was

one of 16,000 men who refuse to fight when conscription was

introduced. He had already left the unit, feeling it was part of the

British Army. He was tried by a local tribunal and jailed three

times as a conscientious objector. He spent around two and a half years

in prison. My grandmother said the years in prison probably aided his

early death. I know she was sent a white feather, as a lot of people

were, who were conscientious objectors. Some prison sentences

were harsh, and useless. They were given work to do which was

pointless. I think at that time the idea you weren't a real man was a

hard one to stand against. Percy's stands when him support. He was

elected a Labour councillor after the war, and in 1946 he became

sheriff of knowledge. I'm sure they'll will be many who will say

people like him and the others who were objectors, were in fact powers,

but I don't believe that is the case and I believe what they did took

courage. Percy Boddy died in 1949 following a stroke, aged just 16. ``

60. Time for the weather. The best of the sunshine was in the north of

the region today. We have got if you to move into tonight. `` a few. A

loss of the showers will clear away and much of the night will be dry.

We get the lowest temperatures under the clear skies, down to freezing.

That means a bit of surface water will be out, and you can't rule out

icy patches. With light winds we are looking at some patchy mist and fog.

Tomorrow, this low and rain stays to the south`west, so for us it is not

a bad day. I think the mist and fog should clear and, apart from a few

showers, we're looking at fine and dry conditions with sunshine coming

through at times. Temperatures will be around eight or nine Celsius. The

best of the sunshine will see double figures. In the sunshine, it

shouldn't feel too bad at all. Through the afternoon, there will be

some showers but they will be few and far between. For most of us dry

enter the day. As we head into the rest of the week, Wednesday, after a

cold start, it looks fine and, high`pressure building and some

decent spells of sunshine. Then a lot of uncertainty from Thursday

onwards. It depends on where the weather friend goes to. It looks

like the rain should stay to the north of us on Thursday, so after a

bright start it will cloud over, but it will stay dry. Depending on

Thursday, Friday is looking a cloud free day. It will be breezy towards

the end of the week but much milder too. After some pretty cold and

frosty wind, we should have a mild night.

Just a reminder, Inside Out is on at 7.30pm on BBC One tonight. Among the

stories David Whiteley is back at Hemsby, three months after the tidal

surge caused so much damage. Have a very good evening.