27/01/2012 Look North (East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire)

Good evening and welcome to BBC Look North. The headlines tonight...

The multi-million pound business boost from the Olympics, but the MP

for East Yorkshire says there's little benefit for his area. So it

is London centric and the large Olympic legacy will be mainly based

in London. A high-level meeting appears to

bring lower bridge tolls a step closer.

A campaign to let rural communities vote on the return of traditional

fox hunts. Let the people who live in hunting country decide how the

countryside should be run. And join me live at this new

exhibition. It is all about broken hearts and wide disposing of items

like this can often bring closer and happiness.

And an interesting change in the weather on the way. Much colder as

we head into next week. With exactly six months to go until

the start of the Olympics, a local MP has questioned the value of the

Games to our area. Greg Knight, who represents East Yorkshire, claims

London 2012 will do little for his constituents. That is despite

figures showing businesses in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the

rest of the East Midlands have already benefited to the tune of

more than �400 million from the They may not produce running shoes

or cycling shorts, but Arco in Hull are busy kitting out the Olympics.

Half a million pieces of safety equipment will leave this depot

before the opening ceremony, from fire extinguishers to safety vests

to hard hats. 26 Thursdays, I worked out this morning. That makes

it quite close. We are really proud to be associated with what is going

to be the biggest event the UK has ever staged. 70,000 volunteers will

work as stewards joined the Olympics helping spectators and

athletes. They will be kitted out with uniform from this country. It

is a top-secret design that has been specially signed off by Boris

Johnson. Despite success stories like Arco's,

not everyone is convinced there is gold at the end of the Olympic

rainbow. Yesterday, East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight questioned the

game's value. When that flaming torch goes round the country, is it

not the case that the fuel it will be burning his pine sterling?

Mr Knight's constituency will be home to one of three national teams

training in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The Chinese

Pentathlon team are using facilities at Bishop Burton.

Egyptian paralympians will practise across Lincolnshire including the

Meridian Leisure Centre at Louth. The Sierra Leone team have been

offered sports centres in Hull. each of these teams will get a

grant of �25,000. That will be spent on the accommodation and food.

We are hoping they will cite sea while they are here as well.

As well as sightseeing, it is hoped the athletes themselves will pull

in the tourists. Attractions including the deep, the Yorkshire

Wolds and Lincoln Cathedral are gearing up for more visitors.

will be decorating the whole square. We have Olympic flags and bunting

and we are bringing in flowers and a cafe area.

East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire's Olympic legacy may be bronze

compared to London's Gold. But many businesses here say any boost is

welcome in these tough times. Earlier today, I spoke to MP Greg

Knight and asked him why he thought the Games would have no benefit for

many areas of the country, including his constituency of East

Yorkshire. My concern relates solely to the

overrun. I was quite happy when London won the Olympics at a cost,

we were told, of �2.3 billion. I am aware that some local firms were

given contracts out of that initial budgeting. My concerns are now are

that the budget has gone to five times that amount. If you have a

builder quote for repairs to your house, you might expect the final

bill to be 10% or 15% above the estimate, but not five times the

estimate. That is what is happening with the Olympic Games. Far too

much of taxpayer's money is being squandered. What about the Olympic

Delivery Agency? They save firms have won 43 of the most valuable

and most important contract work - �74 million. Those contracts, out

of the original budgeting. What we are now seeing is money being spent

like there's no tomorrow. �335,000 has just been spent four or they

sculpture in Dorset. Those taking part in sealing them look at it!

This is with hard-earned taxpayers' money. But there are contracts for

work for our part of the world. You cannot say there is no benefit for

East Yorkshire. I am saying there is no benefit I am aware of from

the increase in the Budget in East Yorkshire. I have no difficulty at

all with the Abid -- original budgeting of �2.3 billion. That has

now bloated to �12 billion. It is the bloating figure, the difference

between 2.-1294967284 billion, which I question whether any of it

is coming to East Yorkshire. What would you ideally like to see

happen? Do you think the Games is a waste of money? I think the Games

as originally budgeted was something we could all be proud of?

Taxpayers' money, once the word Olympics is seen on the Bill line

of the Budget, it appears people are saying pay it. Someone has to

get a grip. The National Audit Office are not happy, the taxpayers

a lions are not happy. When local people are being thrown out of work,

when people were being told there is no money for community groups,

when people were being told their pensions will have to be revised

because Britain has no money, this sort of spending is offensive.

What benefits do you think our area is getting from the Olympic Games?

Or is Greg Knight right to be In a moment...

Lincoln rower Emily Taylor and her fight fight for an Olympic place.

A deal to cut tolls on the Humber Bridge by half appears to have

taken a step closer tonight. The Government has already offered to

write off �150m of the Bridge debt. Four local councils have been

negotiating how they'll share financial responsibility for the

remainder. North East Lincolnshire Council had said it wanted to

underwrite less debt than the three others. But that stance seems to

have softened tonight following what was described as a

constructive meeting. All smiles this evening. The leader

of North East Lincolnshire Council was much more optimistic about

working with other councils and the Government to reduce tolls. It is

now his understanding that the financial burden of the bridge deal

with the Government is not as big as first thought. We're not going

to be asked to underwrite the debt. We are underwriting the share of

the operating costs. That is a different scenario, and very

sustainable. The arguments between the consuls have been based on

worries that if the plans to cut tolls feels, local taxpayers will

have to pick up the Bill for the bridges debts. It now seems that

liability has been misunderstood and tolls could sued be cut.

want want by and 50 tolls as soon as possible. The beginning of the

financial year would be great. We don't want it ratcheted up to �3

because the sums add up. -- sums don't add up. If the councils can

agree, then that tolls can be have to. For this company, that they

can't come quickly enough. Quayside spends �80,000 the year crossing

the bridge to deliver fish around the UK. It is very late in the day

to start arguing amongst themselves about politics. The politicians

really need to look at the economics of North East

Lincolnshire. There is a lot of movement over that bridge. We need

to get something reduced and have a say in the bridge itself. Despite

today's stepped forward, there are nagging questions about whether the

plan to reduce tolls can work in the longer term and whether tolls

will need to go up in future years if insufficient volumes of traffic

take advantage of them going down in the first place.

Joining me now in the studio is Lord Haskins, the Chairman of the

Humber Local Enterprise Partnership, which has the task of bringing

investment and jobs to both sides of the Humber. These talks are

dragging on, aren't they? How worried are you about the fact that

the four councils havn't been able to agree?

It will get sorted. The figures are still a bit up and the air. They

have not let me have other captain yet. But they're going to agree you

for us to look at the next week. The business community wants to be

sure that these figures are right. Do you get the feeling that they

might be flawed? The deal at the moment could be better. More of the

loan could be written off, and that is an option if we felt the figures

did not work. They have made a certain assumption about volume

increases, which business people might be sceptical about. Until I

have gone through the figures, I cannot say much more. Were you

surprised we appeared to have got the wrong end of the stick over

this? It does not look great in London. They have got their heads

round at SVRs now. All we get is a tremendous amount of goodwill from

London. Why is it important that the tolls are reduced and reduce to

soon? They have been very high for a start. Secondly, there is clearly

some economic activity, potentially, to be benefited from the word holes.

The original idea of the Humber Bridge was there was going to be a

huge amount of traffic across it. This is a step in the right

direction. How much difference it will make, I do not know. There are

a lot of people travelling expensively a cross that bridge.

must make your job of attracting business to the area more difficult.

When it is all done, and we are down to him there were level, that

will be a much easier sell. If you want to work in Hull but live in

Lincolnshire, you will be able to do so. Given what you know so far,

are we still on for April? I should hope so. We will have to go through

it in the next week or two. But you are confident? Yes. And if it isn't

right, we can go back to the Treasury in two or three years'

time and have a renegotiation. Thank you.

Police divers have been carrying out searches today as part of a

murder investigation into the death of man who was discovered in a

waterway in Boston. The body of a Polish man was found in the South

Forty Foot drain close to the Redstone industrial estate on

Wednesday. Police have spent the day collecting evidence at the

scene and ask anyone with information to come forward. At the

moment, we have the site for the man's body was taken from. Either

ask that if anybody has seen anything that they feel is

suspicious around that site, to come forward and speak to the

police, no matter how small or insignificant they may feel it is.

The husband of an East Yorkshire based Euro-MP, who became embroiled

in a nepotism row, has said he's not taking her seat. Diana Wallis

announced last week she would be stepping down as a Liberal Democrat

MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber. Stewart Arnold was the party's

second choice candidate, which entitled him to take over the job.

However Mr Arnold has now decided not to take the post as he wants to

support his wife, who is suffering Thank you for watching. Still ahead

tonight: The campaigners who say only people in the countryside

should get to vote on the future of hunting with dogs.

The things people keep when couples split up, going on display for all

Tonight picture is of Flamborough lighthouse. Thank you very much.

Another picture on Monday. Talking of performing creatures. A good

evening. Some nice pictures on this week but not one of the Humber

Bridge. I don't think we want to go there, you're doing that on

there, you're doing that on there, you're doing that on

purpose! A lot to talk about tonight. A big departure and what

we have had this winter. More on that in a moment. In the short term,

a number of showers around right now. There could be a problem with

based on some untreated surfaces. Dry with some sunshine is the

headline for tomorrow. Into next week, a cold and continental feed

means a sharp frost that night but a good deal of fine weather. That

is a big change for the winter so far. Tomorrow is fairly nondescript

with the land they care tried to get in but defeated. The cold

continental air will win for much of next week. In the short term, a

number of showers around. They have proved quite heavy through South

Yorkshire. They are heading for Lincolnshire and it could be a bit

windy with sleet and some snow, particularly over the London --

eventually these heavy showers will slip away south-east. Skies will

clear to some extent and that means a fairly low temperatures, close to

freezing point. Some nice in rural areas and untreated services. Those

are you're at high water times. A bit of missed first win in the

morning, especially across Lincolnshire. That will break-up

and then a nice day with some sunshine, a variable cloud and all

parts looks set to be dry. Top afternoon temperatures just below

normal. Highs of six Celsius. Sunday, mostly dry with the chance

Sunday, mostly dry with the chance of one or two showers.

Can you ask him not to look so smug when he says he called it will be?

Or Lisa is always apologetic. Have a good weekend.

Rural communities should be allowed to decide whether the ban on fox

hunting is overturned. That's according to campaigners in East

Yorkshire who are calling for a local referendum on the return of

hunting with dogs. But animal welfare groups say they'll fight to

keep the ban, which was introduced in 2005. More from our Political

Editor Tim Iredale. Seven years have passed since

hunting with Dogs was outlawed by Parliament. The these hunting

enthusiasts and East Yorkshire remain committed to overturning the

ban. The hunts have carried on but they just follow a trail and do not

catch the talks is any more. Let the people who live in hunting

country decide how it it should be run. There should be County

referenda across the country and then that would be democratic.

Prime Minister has promised MPs a free vote on the repeal of the

Hunting Act but no date has been set yet. My problem has always been

that it was just taking criminal law into any area of activity where

it did not belong. We will wait for the House of Commons to the side

and then we can decide. The public simply do not want a return to

hunting or to turn the clocks back. Even now, there are a number of

Conservative MPs who have come out and say that -- said they do not

support the appeal. Opponents say that public opinion is still firmly

in favour of the ban. According to one recent opinion poll, 69% of

those questioned whether against the return of hunting wild animals

with dogs. Here in Beverley, at traditional hunting town, opinion

is divided. I think there is no reason why they should not. I do

not agree with hunting a tall and think it is unnecessary. There are

more humane ways of keeping the fox population down. Absolutely not.

Why should any animal be torn to pieces like that? It is a more

realistic way of keeping the fox population down. Overturning a

hunting ban does not appear to be a priority for the government at the

moment. The pro-hunt lobby say they will continue to keep up the

pressure for another of vote on this controversial law.

And the future of the hunting ban will be debated on this weekend's

Sunday Politics, that's from noon on BBC One.

A pilot from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire has become the first

to be authorised to break the sound barrier flying at supersonic speed

over land. A Typhoon plane caused a sonic boom heard by thousands of

people yesterday. It was taking part in a security training

exercise ahead of the Olympic games. The Ministry of Defence says it's

still investigating if a plane was responsible for a huge bang heard

over Grimsby last week. They have been some comments on

that one. A rower from Lincoln is hoping she can find the form to

earn a place in the Olympic squad. A year ago, Emily Taylor wasn't

even in the elite squad but now with six months to go, her

performances are making selectors sit up and take note. Our Olympics

correspondent Simon Clark joined her at training today.

Don at a lake in Berkshire named after Olympic heroes Redgrave and

Pinsent. Already in the water, the woman's elite squad and among their

number, Emily Taylor. Emily discovered growing at university

and now, it just a few years later, she could be at the Olympic Games.

Next week we're doing some testing on the water in pairs and we have

to do really well and that. That will determine who or pairs partner

for the final Olympic team trials as. In this part of the world, you

don't need to go far to find it roars. -- rowers. Matthew Pinsent

has been watching Emily's progress and says that making the squad is

an achievement in itself. I am not saying she cannot do it, but it is

already a massive achievement to get to the level she has made

already. If she does make -- not make part of London, she will be

part of the real generation in 2016. Everybody in London has been very

helpful and I cannot be that sociable because I am training all

the time but all my friends are very supportive of that. My mum and

her husband have been absolutely amazing. I know that they are

behind me 100%. It may be six months before we can cast our eyes

on the Olympic Games but for these athletes, it is the next six weeks

that are all-important. They have to be at their physical and mental

best for the Olympic trials, the a pathway to London 2012.

Fingers crossed for Emily. Hull City are preparing to meet the

leaders of League Two, Crawley Town, in the fourth round of the FA Cup

tomorrow. The Tigers will be hoping to continue their good run of form

in the Championship. City have a fully fit squad to pick from as

they look to make it through to the fifth round draw. All we want it is

a big team. We're fully focused on Saturday and will be leaving

nothing in the changing rooms and going for it. You can hear full

commentary on that match tomorrow. BBC Radio Humberside's coverage

gets underway at 1:30. They will also have commentary of Grimsby

Town's match against Telford. And BBC Lincolnshire will be on air

from 2pm tomorrow for Lincoln City's match at Kettering.

This year marks the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and we'd like your help to

celebrate this landmark event. 60 years ago, the former Princess

Elizabeth became Queen on the death of George VI. These are the first

pictures of the young Queen returning to the UK in 1952 after

learning of her father's death. We'd like your memories of that

moment and let us know if you've ever met the Queen. We'd like to

hear what the Queen means to you. Here's how you can get in touch

with us. You can ring one of our hotlines with your memories. The

We look forward to hearing from you. Have you ever had a broken heart or

been through a painful relationship breakup? Haven't we all? Well, you

might find some comfort in an unusual exhibition of objects going

on display in Sleaford which all tell their own painful story. Phil

Connell is there for us this evening. What can we expect to see?

It is possibly one of the most bizarre exhibitions you might have

ever seen. It's the opening night here at Sleaford's National Centre

for craft and design, and the room is full of stories of broken hearts

and damaged dreams. These are the objects for which -- which for many

people over the years have made things worse.

It is a travelling exhibition from Croatia that has arrived in

Sleaford with 73 often sad but extraordinary stories. An eclectic

mix of objects that tell of tears, damaged hearts and broken

relationships. This leg it was donated in Zagreb by a war veteran

who fell in love with his social worker during the 1990s, during the

war in Croatia. He finishes in a funny way saying that a lead lasted

longer than the relationship because it was made a sturdier

material. During the course of its travels, this moving museum has got

bigger and bigger. Wherever it stops, vocals can offload at

objects which may have been at constant reminder of painful times.

Here in Sleaford, this 1974 record by 10 Ajax is one of several items

already handed in. -- Terry Jacks. He had gone away so this is my son

to him. It was very poignant at the time. This is a good way to get

over it? It is. I have fond memories of my teenage love but 30

years on it is time I handed it over. After over 30 years, Jane's

broken teenage heart could soon be on the mend. Memories perhaps best

forgotten but now for people to learn from.

The first people to see the exhibition here tonight have

discredit a bit like going for therapy. The good news is that if

you have had a broken heart, the exhibition is here it right through

April. A lady has donated this book on getting thin. The boyfriend who

bought it, she says, is just a distant memory.

If you're going, enjoy a! Let's get a recap of the national and

regional headlines. The Royal Bank of Scotland's chief

executive is under pressure to turn down his bonus of just under a

million pounds. An East Yorkshire MP criticises the

cost of the London Olympics and claims it will have little benefit

for this area. Tomorrow's weather - a low cloud and mist at first then

bright with sunny spells. Top temperatures around six Celsius.

Big response on the subject of the Olympics. One tweeted to say that

this far is benefits go, none. We pay taxes so that rich southerners

can watch sports. Rachel disagrees. I am carrying the

torch and running across Europe. We have raised the profile of Hull.

I agree with everything it said about the Olympics - what a waste

of money! All the other countries must be laughing that they do not

have the expense. Greg is a rate - �10 billion would