30/04/2014 Look East - West

Hello and welcome to Look East. rain.

Hello and welcome to Look East. In the programme tonight. The

international mega`deal that might hit plans for the Cambridge

biomedical campus. A coroner hears how a firefighter

from Bedfordshire died in a robbery in Venezuela. We will be here with

the protests against plans for hundreds of new houses in Essex. Yet

thousands are needed. So where should they go? A special report.

And on the tail of the tailgate drivers. The police have got new

powers but are they using them? Hello. It's a multi`national,

multi`billion pound deal. But it could have big implications for our

region's economy. Earlier this week the American pharmaceutical giant

Pfizer announced it was interested in taking over its rival

AstraZeneca. And AstraZeneca is in the process of building a ?200

million research centre at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. Would a

takeover put pay to that? Well, today, the city's MP has asked the

government to ensure the development goes ahead whatever happens. Ben

Bland is at the biomedical campus now.

There are big ambitions for this pic site near Cambridge's Addenbrooke's

Hospital. The plan is to turn this into the world's leading centre for

medical research and the development of new drugs. Part of that plan

includes AstraZeneca, they will be investing ?300 million in taking

over this plot behind me. Tonight there are concerns that plan could

be at risk if the American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer takes

the company over. It's at its site on AstraZeneca because of its

expertise in research into future valuable new drugs. Amy Bates at

home in Peterborough. At 21, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Part

of her treatment included a relatively new drug called Zoladex.

They said to me one of the biggest things it would help me with because

of my age and I don't have children, it would protect my ovaries so that

I would be able to hopefully have children in the future. That drug is

one of many developed by the British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca.

Last year, it revealed plans to move 2000 jobs to Cambridge. Its global

headquarters and research teams would be based on the new biomedical

campus being built here. But with the American drugs giant Pfizer

looking determined to take over the company, could that plan be looking

a little shaky? Some people are worried. What Pfizer are doing is

putting that at risk. I would want to hear very clearly from Pfizer

that their intention would be about our site. And I'd like to know that

is definitely going to go ahead. The attractions Cambridge has as a

centre for R, world leading hospitals, world leading researchers

and companies is a firm attraction. For now, AstraZeneca has rejected

the approach by Pfizer. In a statement, it said:

that assurance has been welcomed by local business leaders. We can't

comment on the detail of the commercial things. But we are very

keen to make sure that Cambridgeshire retains its place as

the place to go and the place to be for the biotech industry. And,

certainly, we have seen a lot of interest around that, and we are

looking forward to AstraZeneca moving on to the biomedical campus.

So, as two giants of the pharmaceutical world square up to

each other, at stake could be millions of pounds of investment.

And thousands of jobs right here in Cambridgeshire. Developers of the

Cambridge biomedical campus have told us in a statement that they are

proceeding with the project as planned. Indeed, just today, plans

to build a brand`new private hospital in a 4`star Hotel have been

given the go`ahead. Although AstraZeneca doesn't want to be taken

over, Pfizer could still do it in a hostile way leaving lots of

questions for us. Well, someone who can perhaps answer

some of those questions is Martyn Postle the director of Cambridge

health care and biotech. Your job is to advise pharmaceutical and biotech

companies across Europe and the States. What would your advice be to

AstraZeneca at the moment? Well, my advice to AstraZeneca employees is

don't take your eye off the ball because it is business as usual. I

would've thought that Cambridge as a centre for RND would be as

attractive to Pfizer as it is to AstraZeneca. Perhaps they wouldn't

want as many jobs here but, certainly, Cambridge is, after all,

the centre of gravity for biotechnology in Europe. So you

don't think that Pfizer and if they take over, that spells the end of

the investment in the biomedical campus? It might make some people

nervous, especially the developers, and it would make the employees of

AstraZeneca nervous, but it wouldn't be the end of the development, and

it wouldn't be the end of Pfizer having a significant research

presence in Cambridge than they already have. Julian Huppert in that

report talked about everything that Cambridge has to offer. And the city

has a lot to offer when it comes to companies like that. Absolutely, the

hospital, the University... If you talk about the axis between

Cambridge and London, there is very little outside that. The main

implication is jobs. Everyone is getting nervous about that. But

ramifications could go further than that, couldn't they? I am governor

and Salton Village College. We have been talking about opening our doors

to the families of AstraZeneca, people moving down to the area.

to the families of AstraZeneca, people moving down to the So, you're

already planning for this? Absolutely. Let's put it this way,

when might we know either way? Quite soon. The magic date is to raise six

of me when Pfizer have to either up their offer or pull`out. And how

significant is this investment here in Cambridge to the bigger picture

that Pfizer is looking at? To be honest, it's probably not one of the

main reasons they're looking at it. The main reason is tax reasons. They

have a lot of offshore cash which they will have to pay tax on if they

move it back to the US. So an idea of establishing a UK holding

company, where we have a lot of recent changes in the UK tax

legislation, such as R tax credits, that would mean they would

pay a lot less pack on that money. So, things should be clearer by the

end of the month. Thank you very much indeed.

Three men arrested last week after the death of a man in a flat in

Peterborough have been released without charge. The police were

called to the flat in Lincoln Road early last Thursday morning where

the body was found. But today it was announced that the death is not

being treated as suspicious and a file has been passed to the coroner.

Hundreds of travellers arriving into Stansted Airport were held up at

border control this afternoon. One passenger told Look East he waited

an hour and a half, with other passengers reportedly kept on planes

to minimise disruption inside. The Home Office apologised saying IT

problems were causing the hold ups. Three men accused of murdering a man

from Bedfordshire in Venezuela are still awaiting trial almost three

years after his death. Firefighter Thomas Ossel was shot dead as a gang

robbed his hotel. Today at an inquest into his death the coroner

concluded he was unlawfully killed. Neil Bradford reports.

Thomas Ossel love travelling. In 2011, he went to South America with

his younger brother. But he never came home. The London firefighter,

who was 28, was shot dead during a robbery at this guesthouse on the

Venezuelan island of Magritte. They were due to check out the following

day. Thomas grew out `` grew up here in this village near Bedford. It

didn't seem to limit his spirit of adventure. He'd already visited

dozens of countries but was unable to realise his ambition of visiting

100 in his lifetime. Today, at an inquest into his death, it was

revealed that he had fought back after an armed gang raided the

hotel, taking guests hostage. In the struggle, he was shot with a nine

millimetre pistol. And died within minutes. The inquest heard that

local prostitutes using the hotel had tipped off the gang about

potential victims. Three men are awaiting trial for his murder while

a woman is under house arrest. Prosecutors in Venezuela say it is

likely to be several months before the trial is heard because a big

club of cases. Thomas Ossel's family chose not to attend today's hearing.

The coroner said he had been an innocent victim in the robbery and

formally recorded his conclusion that this was an unlawful killing.

A dental nurse who was accused of trying to poison her boss with

mercury has spoken to Look East for the first time since the case

against her was dropped. Ravinder Kaur worked at the Shams Moopen

Practice near Bedford. She stood trial twice and on each occasion

juries failed to reach a verdict. She says the allegations resulted in

months of "absolute hell." And a diagnosis of post traumatic stress.

Anna Todd has been to meet her. Standing two trials, two sets of

trials, was just... It was just so horrifying. Not knowing what's going

to happen. I felt my life wasn't in my hands. I had criminal and civil

proceedings going on at the same time. Two types of legal battles...

To defend my position. And it was just horrible. It must have been...

A great strain on you, knowing that was a serious allegation. I was

scared. Anyone facing criminal charges would be scared. And the

painful thing about it was I haven't done anything. Like I said, I

wouldn't even... I don't have the mentality to even do... To even

commit such a crime. The entire experience... Left me ill. Did you

change as a person? I can't... I find it difficult to trust people,

I'm afraid. I won't be making teas or coffees for anyone. I won't put

myself in that position. What were you like before all this happened?

What are you like now? Has your personality changed? It has, to a

degree. I was a lively, bubbly, enthusiastic, energetic type of

person. What is Ravi Kaur like now? How have you changed? I am a bit

quiet. Really sensitive. And it has left me a bit paranoid. So, when the

judge acquitted you and you walked free from court, tell me what went

through your mind. I felt my freedom. I felt relieved. A huge

weight has come off my shoulders. And I was really happy... That I had

won the battle of my life. The Shams Moopen Dental Practice

sent us a statement in which they said that they had no control over

the issues once the Crown Prosecution Service had taken over

the case. The principal Dr Huma Khan added:

A Northamptonshire family is asking for information after a caravan

containing a boy's go`karting equipment was stolen.

It happened at lunchtime on Monday and was taken from the front of

their house in Irthlingborough. Nine`year`old Finley won't be able

to compete in events until it's found. It is quite a tight fit to

get the caravan out of the drive. You can see some of the marks here.

It is quite close to the house and hedges, so it has taken them a bit

of time to come out. Someone might have to have stopped to let it out.

When we got home, the caravan was gone. I was devastated. I couldn't

believe it. The Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall hospice in

Peterborough has announced it's raised a third of the total amount

it needs to build a new state of the art facility for Cambridgeshire. The

Raise the Roof campaign, which is supported by BBC Radio

Cambridgeshire, has raised more than ?2 million of the ?6 million target.

Those are your top stories tonight. Now it's over to Stewart and Susie

for the rest Lowestoft. It is up to businesses to

apply for aid. Still to come: Thousands of people are coming to

the East every year, but where should they live? Plus, look at

these pictures. The van is travelling at 50 mph behind the one

in front. Police get tough with tailgaters.

The population of the East is set to rise dramatically in the years

ahead. Across the region, it's expected to go up by 22% in just two

decades. But that regional figure is, of course, just an average. Some

places, like the area covered by Uttlesford District Council, are

under even greater pressure. Here it is. Saffron Walden in the North,

Great Dunmow in the South, and the M11 right through the middle. The

big employer: Stansted Airport. The population here is expected to grow

by 31% in 20 years. That's an increase of 24,000 people. So where

will they go? Kim Riley is in Saffron Walden now.

I'm in the market square of the town that has been judged one of the best

places to live in the whole country. It is hardly surprising that people

want to move here. Today, local planners were planning new homes in

the town. I have been trying to find out more about Saffron Walden. It

originally got its name from the saffron trade. The big question now

is can its ancient charms be reconciled with the demands of a

growing population? Towering over the town, the Touch Of Saint Mary

The Virgin. Desirable properties underneath. There aren't many towns

with the two wrist information centre that has over 100,000 people

per year passed through its door `` tourist information. We have so much

to offer in terms of tourist attractions: Green, open areas, a

concert arena, history... So much to bring people to the town. It is very

special. At the offices of the local newspaper, they know there is

nothing like planned housing development to agitate readers. John

has been editor for 20 years. He says that more than 1300 families

would be the ones to benefit. Coal I think people in the town who have

young families are annoyed and have been on waiting lists for years,

well hundreds are going to be brought in from outside. I really

don't understand that. Surely if we have a waiting list, why aren't we

dealing with it? It is not a sensible answer.

Bridget originally came to love you more than 50 years ago and has

fought to protect the town. She fears for its future. We would have

been distressed to see it spoiled, and that could easily happen with

the pressure of population, traffic, fumes, aircraft, the

attraction of the area could be destroyed. I'm quite elderly so I

shan't see it, but I wouldn't like it for the next generation. Bridget

Eliot talking to VMware. She says it is up to young people to rise to the

challenge of the fears she has for the town in future.

So what was happening at the council office? There are specific plans

were being put forward for housing developments. As ever, they proved

controversial. Gareth George reports on the protesters and decisions.

This protest was a polite one but there was no mistaking the strength

of feeling. The worry was that more homes means more traffic and more

pollution. It is just going to multiply the amount of cars that

passed through. There is no mitigating that. Pollution kills so

many people already. They are still proceeding with original plans

despite the wishes of the vast majority of local residents. Inside,

one of the most important meetings in Saffron Walden four years. The

consideration is three separate applications for hundreds of homes.

Developers wanted to build hundreds here, in these areas. Opposed in the

meeting by Speaker after speaker, but not all were against the idea.

They included representatives of local sports clubs because one has

offered land for a sports ground efforts planning application goes

through. But Shannon says her daughter's help is already affected

by pollution. She believes morbid make it worse and put pressure on

schools and health services. These new developments will bring in

excess of 700 homes and in excess of 1100 vehicles. It will just be the

straw that breaks the camel's back. Weak after hours of debate,

permission for 230 homes was given, but the 300 one was denied. It seems

that protesters have a partial victory.

Tailgating. Hogging the middle lane, and showing a lack of respect for

other drivers at junctions ` some of the things that can infuriate even

the calmest of drivers. And, as of last year, the police can do

something about it. They now have the power to hand out on`the`spot

fines for careless driving. So is it working? Jenny Hill has been out

with traffic police in Cambridgeshire.

It's going to be a busy shift. We are out with Cambridgeshire police.

The award it was simply too close to the one in front. `` lorry. Today

the tailgaters are out in force. But last year, officers like John were

given the power to issue on the spot fines or penalty points for

inconsiderate driving. The new powers were designed to tackle the

middle lane hog is and tailgaters on the road. One motoring organisation

estimated that a sort of all drivers could be fined. I don't think there

has been a campaign by the police to target drivers. That's why the

figures have been so low. We need more cops out there and more

education about the driving zone. The Government will assess it in one

year. I hate it when people are in the middle lane. VCE women driving

and they think they will push as they see. Backing Cambridgeshire,

John spot another tailgater. The force does fine inconsiderate

drivers, but issue warnings to many more. I would rather point out your

error than stop you at the moment. Anything we can do to reduce

collisions and make drivers aware of the responsibility is important.

Police powers will assist others. The balance is that we don't want to

just use powers, we want to educate. Well the lorry driver

escaped with a leg injury, the consequences of careless driving can

be so much worse. We are and consensus that we all

hate tailgating! Let's get the weather.

Thank you to those who sent in this picture of bluebells. The flowers

are all out with the warm sunshine we have been having. We predicted 17

Celsius today but many got up to 19 Celsius the north Norfolk coast,

with most, stage cooler `` with mist, stayed cooler. Rain is on the

way to model with this thicker cloud over the West Country. We might get

an isolated showers this evening, although it looks like it will stay

dry during the first batch. The rain is trying to make its presence felt

at the end of the night. Temperatures won't drop down to

eight Celsius. Here is the pressure pattern for tomorrow. Low`pressure

moods across the entire country so it does mean rain for the entire

country. For others in the East, it will be cloudy and rainy throughout

the day. A lot of the rain will be like in the morning, so there will

be dry interludes. It's going to be cooler, because we have more cloud,

so don't expect to feel as warm as you did today. In the afternoon,

showers develop. These look like they could be heavy, with some

merging together is a longer spell of rain. Still some drier interludes

in between. The bank holiday weekend will have high pressure. Good news

in some ways, but bad news in that it is bringing cold air. It would be

significantly colder but it will be cooler and fresher. Lots of dry and

bright weather, but some chilly nights with temperatures low enough

to bring the ground frost. Freddie will start cloudy, but will brighten

up. Temperatures of 11 or 12 Celsius through the weekend, so cooler, but

brighter, sunnier weather coming. A reminder that the BBC is offering

apprenticeships in its local radio stations. Successful candidates will

start a 15`month apprenticeship in September. If you are 18 or over by

September, a non`graduate and you want to find out more, go to the BBC

website at bbc.co.uk/las. The deadline for applications is May

12th. That's all from Oz. Have a good evening!