25/01/2012 Look North (East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire)

Good evening and welcome to BBC Look North. On the programme - the

contrasting stories in a challenging economy. We do hear of

factory closures and the industry and people cutting back but I

cannot stress enough it is the reverse for us. Everyone is cutting

down on what their spending and certainly our customers Tonight as

fears of another recession grow, we'll hear the differing

experiences of people and businesses.

A Hull MP tells us getting the Humber Bridge tolls down is key to

the area's future. They have to. One of the issues about the economy

is removing the barriers to growth in Hull. The tolls across the

Humber Bridge are one of those barriers.

Also coming up on tonight's programme: The NHS defends sending

three senior officials to Florida costing tax payers thousands.

And the father and daughter graduation success story. A windy

night with some rain later, all the As fears grow of another recession,

just how fragile is our economy in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

The number of people out of work in our area continues to grow, big

names like BAE Systems are cutting posts, but renewable energy

companies hold a lifeline. One report this week raised concerns

about the skills gap and there are still concerns over the Humber

Bridge Tolls. Tonight, we'll have the story of the economy from

across the region. We start in Grimsby where one company says it's

bucking the manufacturing trend. Phil Connell reports.

In times of recession, selling food can be a good idea. Whatever

happens, we all need to eat. For this dish company in Grimsby,

business has never been better. secret of our success is because we

have decided to invest in the future rather than what most people

might do it in hard times is to make cuts. We have spoken to

consumers about what they think is important. For others, today's

gloomy predictions have brought concerns. This organisation in

Grimsby has just lost �15,000 of funding. Another victim of councils

tightening their belts. It is difficult have allowed their Caporn

hand and beg money to keep us going. There may come a time when there is

no alternative and the money runs out. Fears of a new recession and

impacting differently on manufacturing and local services, a

region where the economy is creating winners as well as losers.

Phil Connell reporting on how manufacturing and local services

are dealing with the downturn. The most recent jobs figures show

11,000 more people unemployed in Yorkshire and the Humber and 7,000

in the East Midlands. So what's the outlook for those who are facing

redundancy or for those who've recently lost their jobs? Emma

Massey reports from East Yorkshire. Frank Melton has been working at

BAE Systems for 23 years. Last September, the company announced

900 job losses. He and his fellow work colleagues are facing

redundancy. I will survive one where the other. It is the younger

ones, those under 50, who have to think about their families. They

can either stop where they are or move. When Pauline King was made

redundant from MFI she looked for similar work locally but with no

success. So she set up her own business as an entertainer. I think

it is there but you need to wait for it. I thought, if I play my

cards right, it is not bad. There is work out there but he cannot be

afraid of their the lows. Two people having to make their own

way in what could possibly end up being a double-dip recession.

economy is growing at half the rate in 2011 as it was in 2010. All of

us in our constituencies see the effects of this. Whether or not

people have managed to find work, when it comes to economic recovery,

everyone is looking for some good news.

Emma Massey on how unemployment is having an impact in East Yorkshire.

Today's figures make disappointing reading for small businesses and

they lie at the heart of the economy in Lincolnshire. The

county's Federation of Small Businesses says their members face

a very difficult future as the economy continues to struggle.

Simon Spark has spent the day finding out how this major part of

Lincolnshire's economy is facing the challenges.

It's a busy, bustling success story. Since its opening in April last

year, Caistor's new arts and heritage centre continues to thrive

despite launching in an economically challenging year.

we opened, we had not a clue as to whether they would get one or 300

people through a door. From day one, the cafe takings, which we rely on

to sustain the project, has been fairly consistent. You have to keep

things fresh. You have to have a reason for people to what to come

back again. That is what people are doing. We have come from Scunthorpe.

It is so nice here with good coffee. But this is a business run

voluntarily. Elsewhere in Lincolnshire, the retail sector has

been hit hard with many stores discounting heavily to survive, a

problem that's forcing smaller businesses to close, like this

ladies fashion shop in Lincoln. releases up for renewal and

business is not good enough to renew. I have not got the

confidence to renew. I do not want to go and enjoy doing what I am

doing but I cannot afford to stay. After eight years of trading, Anita

can wait no longer for a recovery that hasn't happened yet.

Within the last hour, I've been speaking to Nick Boles, the

Conservative MP for Grantham. I started by asking him why we're not

seeing an improvement in the economy. The trouble is they're not

any quick fixes on easy answers. We have this huge debt burden. Not

just the government debt but also personal and business debt which we

built up over a long period of time. What we're doing as a country is

trying to work it off. Every family has tried to do it and the

Government is doing it and growth will suffer until we have got

through a good amount of that. have a 17 year high for

unemployment. On the brink now of another recession. How much longer

is this going to go on for? Can you put a table at? Anyone who tries to

predict that kind of thing it is probably a full unless there are

much better economist than I am. I think the first thing to say it is

that I hope we're not going, and they don't believe there is any

reason yet to think, that we're going into a recession along the

lines of a couple of years ago. Negative growth is very small.

Those figures are often adjusted. I think the prediction for the

officer budget responsibility was for two quarters of very slightly

negative growth. I do not want people to be frightened into

thinking we're going into a serious recession. If the eurozone

collapses, all bets are off. What we're doing his bumbling along at

the bottom are not getting any left, like an aeroplane that cannot take

off. What we need to do is try to get off the ground. As I said,

getting our debts down makes that harder. You do need to get off the

ground because you are the government. Can you understand the

sheer frustration of people? Frustration and fear for the future

and for their families. How to cope with the bills coming in and will

they be in a job and a couple of years? I understand all of it. We

take total responsibility but we really believe it when we say to

people that it would be a disaster to try to change course. Almost the

only thing we have on our side right now is that we have some of

the lowest interest rates in the world. Anybody who has a mortgage

or a bank loan or any business with an overdraft, they know what it

would do to them and how much worse it would be if there was interest

rates went up. The Government must get to it plans to cut public

spending in get borrowing down. Then, the economy will have the

room to grow. If we change course now, we will have a worse situation

and will have thrown away of the good work we have done over the

last couple of years. Our contact details coming up in a

moment. The Government says cutting tolls on the bridge will provide a

huge boost to the economy of East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Our

Political Editor Tim Iredale is at the Humber Bridge tonight. Are we

any nearer to that happening? think today's economic news will

have increased the pressure on local politicians to sort out this

a rock -- long-running saga. A few weeks ago, I stood on a Humber

Bridge with the Chancellor, George Osborne, as he announced that the

bridge would be at the centre of the government's plans to boost the

economy of northern Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire. This will be

done by the Government reducing the outstanding debt on the bridge and

with Paul has been reduced by half to �1.58 each way for cars. This

has not happened yet, largely because the four local authorities

and the Humber have not been able to agree what to do with the

remaining debt. North-East Lincolnshire Council is concerned

about divvying that up for ways. Tonight, that North had spoken to

Alan Johnson, local MP here and former cabinet minister, and he

says it is essential this is sorted sooner rather than later.

One of the issues about the economy is removing barriers to growth in

Hull. Brittle's across the Humber Bridge are one of those barriers.

The government and in essence offering us �115 million. For local

authorities to turn their back on that by failing to reach agreement

across the Humber would be catastrophic. I do not think that

will happen. We understand Alan Johnson, other local MPs and other

council leaders will attend a meeting in Hull on Friday to try to

finally find a solution to the debt issue on the Humber Bridge. I think

it is the political equivalent of heads being banged together. Thank

you. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this story. What's the

key to future success in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and how

has the economic downturn affected Police investigating the

disappearance of Hull woman Diann Conboy have found a body. The 47-

year-old went missing from her home in Orchard Park more than a month

ago. Searches have been taking place since then. The body which

was found in the Welwyn Park Avenue area of the city has yet to be

formally identified. An underwater search team has been

called to Boston after a body was found in a river. The discovery was

made this lunchtime in the Wyberton West Road and Linley Drive area of

the Town. An investigation is now person died.

Farmers in Lincolnshire have been warned they could be targeted by

criminal gangs looking to steal metal and equipment. There's been a

big increase in farm thefts across our area according to the insurance

company NFU Mutual. As well as fuel and livestock, thieves are

targeting machinery for its scrap metal and selling it abroad. Their

primary targets seem to be copper and lead. There is a scrap value to

any sort of machine and any machine not secured, is gone. We're also

seeing international gangs targeting tractors and we know that

most of the big tractors that have been stolen in the rear are going

abroad, often to Eastern Europe and then distributed throughout the

world. That is a big business, accounting for maybe �20 billion

From Tue for watching. Still ahead, the NHS defence

sending senior officials on a trip to Florida, costing thousands.

Celebrating together, the first of The picture is of sunset at

Driffield. Very nice! Thank you for that comment! I have forgotten what

I was going to say! Tonight, quite a bit of rain to

come from the West. It clears, and much of tomorrow will be bright,

with sunshine. A few scattered showers. The weather front will

print shop bursts of rain after midnight, then we are back in the

clearest off for Thursday and Friday. -- be clearer stuff. A lot

of uncertainty for the Further Outlook. It is mild out there. A

lot of cloud. The wind will pick up ahead of the weather front. After

midnight, the rain will come from the West. If you have got an early

Cnut for the morning, it will be A wet start, but the rain should be

clear off the coast from nine attempts. Then, it is brighter,

with sunshine. Plenty of sunshine in between the showers. The strong

wind will ease. Like to win tomorrow. The temperatures are

close to the long-term average. Be very similar forecast for Friday.

Sunny spells and scattered showers. Then, a battle looms for the

weekend. It will get a bit colder. Many people have pointed out that

yesterday they suggested there should be a statue of us in Hull!

It would be so expensive. It would have to be press, to match your

skin tone! -- it would have to be brass! I will just be a small one!

The NHS Trust has defended a decision to send three of its

managers, including the chief executive, to the United States,

for a three-day conference. The event took place last week at this

hotel on Florida's Delray Beach. The trust have said that the

conference covered areas which would benefit -- which will benefit

The trust has to make savings of �95 million over the next three

years. The news of the trip drew a mixed response in Hull today.

With the technology we have got at the moment, I do not understand why

a trip to Florida has any need. is difficult for nurses to find

work. It is a waste of money. depends what the conference was. It

could have been of some use. There is no need to make these trips any

more expensive than they have do. Earlier, I spoke to Emma Boon from

the Taxpayers' Alliance. She says it is hard to justify the trip when

the NHS is trying to save money. Leadership is important, training

is important, we want managers to know what they are to win, but it

is worrying that tax payers have picked up the bill for a trip to

the United States, especially at a time when costs need to be kept

under control. The trust has -- trust should have considered if

this was the best possible value. They are trying to learn how to

improve the care they provide to patients in East Yorkshire. If it

does that, you would be happy? have got to be sensitive to the

fact that there is pressure on their budgets, and perhaps they

could have been an alternative to the training in the UK, perhaps

they did not need to send all three marriages. The tax payers will not

look kindly on this. Given that the trust has got to make savings of

�95 million over the next three years, �5,500 is a drop in the

ocean. It is not about the sum of money. We could say that about lots

of different things, and it adds up to millions. Billions, in fact. We

have got to view the principle. Did it have to take place in the state?

Did they have to send so many people over? Could they have done

at some other way? Could they have reduced the cost? Tax payers will

be asking the questions. The chief executive is reported to have said,

if you want a world class service, you have to involve world-class

people. If you start going down that road, you could justify all

sorts of costs. Tax payers expect those sorts of costs to be kept

under control, and there are questions to be asked about whether

or not tax payers should have footed the bill, given that it was

in the United States and several members of staff went out. They

were not fulfilling their duties while they were away. That

represents a cost as well. You might want to comment on the

story. We look forward to hearing from you. Should the trust be

spending the money on training over Start the text with the word

McNaught. The father of attendance and is

calling for a change in the law after being refused compensation

following his son's murder. The body was found in waterways across

northern Lincolnshire. His father replied to the Criminal injuries

compensation Authority, but they have turned him down, citing his

previous criminal convictions as one of the reasons for the refusal.

A 10 million pound investment combined with the recent return of

student midwives means that the Pilgrim Hospital in Boston is

facing a much brighter future, according to health officials. Last

year, the Care Quality Commission issued a series of reports

criticising standards at the hospital, but managers say many

improvements have been made. More money is being spent here than

in the last three years put together. More than �4 million on a

new intensive care unit. 2.5 million on the endoscopy department.

1.2 million on a brand new MRI scanner. This means that many

patients will not now have to travel great distances for their

MRI scans. For the cancer imaging, we could not do this here. The

patient had to travel to Nottingham, Grantham, so they were doing some

work, but some of them had to go to Nottingham. Now, we can do it in

Boston. The new investment could not come at a better time. Boston

has had a poor run of things. It is nice they are trying to get it back

to normal. If the surroundings are nice, you feel nice cover you feel

better about it. You feel as though you are being well looked after.

2011 was a torrid year for the hospital, with a series of critical

reports by the Care Quality Commission, a police investigation

into a member of staff and the nursing and midwifery Council's

decision to withdraw students. But the new improvements are now

helping boost morale. culmination of all of the work

coming together has been a huge morale boost. It has come at a

great time, on the back of improving quality and results. It

is great news. Additional facilities in the end Oscar de

department means more patients will be seen more quickly. It will allow

us to have 3000 more procedures a year, and it will shorten and

waiting times to two weeks. Hospital managers say they hope the

package of improvements will signal a bright new future for the

hospital. They said they are confident the next report from the

Care Quality Commission will signal how much progress has been made.

Three of our football clubs played last night. In League One,

Scunthorpe United went behind in the first minute, and it lost 3-1,

to Sheffield Wednesday. Grimsby Town's winning run came to an end

when they conceded a late equaliser. Lincoln City are five points clear

of the relegation zone. When most fathers go to a

university graduation ceremony, it is to watch their child get their

degree. Today, one father from Lincolnshire broke the mould by

joining his daughter to actually graduate himself. The university

thinks it is the first time a father and child have ever

graduated together. Graduation is a proud day for any

student, but for two from this University, today was extra-special.

Not only was Leah Warriner-Wood collecting her master's degree, but

her father, Derek Warriner, was as well. We have both look forward to

it, we were surprised we would be graduating together. It has been

the most amazing, enjoyable day. When I went up myself, I was proud,

and I was proud of my father. fathers come to see their children!

Yes! I have got to see mine, from a different perspective! She

graduated a few minutes before I did. It was wonderful. I am full of

pride. It is a really wonderful day. As well as their day jobs, they

have been studying hard at their homes in North Hykeham. They took

conservation and theatre and consciousness. For two generations

to graduate on the same afternoon, it is a first for the University of

Lincoln. We normally see students graduating, and it is a wonderful

day for them, and for their parents, who have shepherded them through

their academic careers, but when the parent and the daughter

graduate at the same time, it is a wonderful experience. Today may not

be the last time that they graduate together. They are now thinking of

If you have got a story you think we should know about, senders and

e-mail. The main headlines.

The economy in reverse, the UK's output shrank at the end of last

year. There will be a meeting of Labour

politicians to discuss the issue stopping a deal over the Humber

Bridge debt. The weather for tomorrow, the rain

clears, then it is much brighter, with sunny spells and a few

scattered showers. Responses coming in on the story

from the Hull and East Yorkshire NHS Trust about the officials on

the trip. One person says, how dare they? It is criminal, considering

the way they are cutting essential services are. One person says, it

is a disgrace that the NHS have used thousands in sending senior

officials to America for a jolly. The money should have been used for

the vulnerable patients. One person says, it is outrageous they can

waste money on trips to America when patients cannot get cancer

treatment. How can we take them seriously? One person says, can we