08/02/2012 Look North (East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire)

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

Three decades after being given infected blood, a man from Hull

fights for his day in court. Sadly many people have gone on to

infect their partners. That is unforgivable. It is nothing short

of manslaughter. Claims that youth unemployment could be reduced as

the Government encourages businesses to take on apprentices.

Homeless shelters turn people away due to an unprecedented demand for

emergency accommodation. In the last few months there's been

around about a 40% rise in street homelessness.

And the new 75-mile walking route through the Lincolnshire Wolds.

More wintry weather on the way. There could be snow by tomorrow at

Good evening. It was a routine dental operation almost thirty

years ago, but it's left one Hull man fighting for a Government

apology and more compensation. Glenn Wilkinson was one of 4,000

people given contaminated blood by the NHS during the 1970s and 80s.

The blood had been donated by American inmates, and had been

bought by the NHS because it was cheap. It left Mr Wilkinson, now 47,

with hepatitis C. Today, he's launched a national campaign to

highlight the issue, and is calling for a full judicial review. He's

been telling Look North his story. It has quite literally devastated

my life, everything from employment to how I actor around my family.

Glenn Wilkinson has lived with Hepatitis C since his teens. He was

given at contaminated clotting agency during an operation. In the

1970s and Eighties thousands of people, mainly haemophiliacs, were

given tainted blood. 2000 have died as a result. Hoddle the authorities

new people were carrying viruses -- although, they did not inform them.

Consequently and very sadly many people have gone on to infect their

partners. That is unforgivable. That is nothing short of

manslaughter. The blood had come from the United States, from prison

inmates, so-called skid Road dollars. In 2009, an independent

public inquiry found that UK authorities were slow to react.

patients took that product in good faith. It was given to them by the

Government through the NHS. They did not expected to be infected.

Somebody has to take some level of responsibility. Patients infected

are entitled to �20,000 when their first entitled -- develop Hepatitis

C. Her second claim of �50,000 is made when that person develops

liver disease. They are also eligible for an annual payment of

�13,200. My constituent has produced evidence... This afternoon

in Westminster, Hull MP Diana Johnson has been debating whether

the payment is fair. Criteria is fraught with difficulties for many

individuals. As I understand it, only around 20% of those people

with Hepatitis C are eligible for assistance under the second stage

payment. That needs to be looked at. Campaigners seeking a full judicial

review hoped today's debate will highlight their plight, and secure

the apology they have been waiting for.

If you have his view on this story or experience of it yourself, you

can get in touch. Coming up, Council leaders meet to finally

agree a plan to share the Humber Bridge debt.

The Prime Minister has said the Government will act to help workers

that face losing their jobs at a Grimsby food factory. He was

responding to a question about the future of 337 staff at Kerry Foods,

during Prime Minister's Question Time and in the Commons.

possibility is the extension of the recently announced enterprise zone.

Can the Prime Minister give some comfort to my constituents by

sympathetically looking at that proposal? He is great -- quite

right to speak up for his constituents. I am very happy to

look at the idea of expanding the enterprise zone and see what else

we can do to help his constituents. North Lincolnshire Council is

promising to do all it can to support staff losing their jobs at

a mortgage centre in Scunthorpe. More than 200 workers will be made

redundant following a decision by the Lloyds Banking Group to close

this offers as part of nationwide cuts. We have the new enterprise

zones on the Humber bank. That may be in many years, but initially we

are trying to look locally in Scunthorpe. Some firms are looking

to expand. 200 people is a lot of people T try to find work for. But

we will really try. A minister has ruled out making our area a special

case when it comes to financial help from the Government. Skills

Minister John Hayes has promised a big increase in the number of

apprenticeship places in areas of high youth unemployment, such as

Hull, Grimsby and Scunthorpe. With hundreds of workers facing

redundancy, these are uncertain times for anybody entering northern

Lincolnshire's jobs market. Often it seems there is little hope to

school leavers. But these teenagers in Grimsby are finding out about

the latest apprenticeship opportunities with local companies.

18 year-old Hannah has been recruited by a solar panel from.

knew I did not want to go from -- to university. A lot of people do

not get jobs after getting degrees. I wanted to get an apprenticeship

early because Tom -- you're working and learning at the same time.

will be looking to recruit more people. With these more -- new

candidates we will be able to push the business forward. When they

take on a new apprentice, businesses can claim an incentive

of up to �2,500. Apprentices receive a minimum weekly wage of 97

pounds 50, almost double the �53 a week they received -- they would

receive in jobseeker's allowance. The Government claims that for

every pound of their investment into apprenticeships, �18 is

delivered into the wider economy. How many apprentices will find

genuine long-term jobs? Apprenticeships are definitely the

way forward. It gives the young person an opportunity to develop a

career, and the employers the opportunity to employ somebody who

wants to stay the course, who will develop their career through the

employer. A recent report suggested that one in four young people in

Grimsby were not in employment, education or training. The hope is

that more will find themselves hired rather than fired in years to

come. The I have been speaking to the

Skills Minister and Lincolnshire MP, John Hayes, who represents South

Holland and the Deepings. I asked him with one in four people in

Grimsby being out of work, can these apprenticeships address the

scale of the problem? In the last year, in Grimsby alone, the number

of apprenticeships has grown from 482730. That is a 52% increase. The

biggest increase we have seen. It is not the entire solution. We need

to grow the economy. We need to give people more opportunities by

growing their skills, too. We have seen jobs go at Kerry Foods in

Grimsby. Some people may say, what is the point? Kerry Foods said that

is due to competitive pressures. We know things are tough for

businesses. That is why we want to help businesses to get the right

people to do the jobs. Kerry Foods are a very large company. In other

parts of that company they are continuing to grow their

apprenticeship numbers. It is not all bad news. In Grimsby we are

growing apprenticeships. We want to spread opportunity. The average

starting salary for a graduate is thought to be �25,000. We young

people really give up that opportunity for less than one run

the pounds a week with no guarantee of a job at the end of that?

average apprenticeship wage is around �93 per week. We

commissioned independent research which showed that somebody with a

level three apprenticeship would typically earn �100,000 more, that

is the same as a degree. What are the guarantees of a job at the end

of that? The vast majority Hend up working for the firm they trained

in. We certainly know there is a greater chance of getting a job if

you have got the right skills. Gaining an apprenticeship, which

you have forever, of course, that travels with you, that's Gill,

maximises your chances of getting a job, keeping a job, progressing in

a job. In this area we rely so much on the public sector. Do you think

we need to be made a special case? I wouldn't describe Lincolnshire as

a special case. I would describe it as a special place. The people of

Lincolnshire have been resolved, the Endeavour, the energy, skills

and enthusiasm to do their best, to be their best. Government can help

and we will. When we need to stand back, we will also do that.

Lincolnshire, top county, now, always has been, always will be.

John Hayes, the Skills Minister. Maybe you have got thoughts on this

Police in Scunthorpe unreleased two images of a man they want to talk

to in connection with a series of from robberies in the town. The

images were captured at Coral bookmakers on Monday. All the

bookies have also been targeted. The latest robbery was today at a

jeweller's. Officers are looking at a possible connection. Firefighters

spent much of this morning bringing factory near Pocklington on the

control. 45 firefighters and eight engines were at the site. An

investigation is underway. Tributes have been paid to Florence Green,

the last surviving veteran of the First World War, who has died at

the age of one at No 10. She died at at care home in King's Lynn. She

served as a waitress in the Women's Royal Air Force and Mana Moray F

days. Of course, huge sadness on the personal side. Her family must

be, even at her advanced stage, it is still awful to lose a mother, a

grandmother, a great grandmother and a great, great grandmother. I

think more widely it is a very significant given that she is the

last survivor of the First World With subsea a roast temperatures, -

- with sub-zero temperatures, homeless shelters have had to turn

people away because of the unprecedented demand for emergency

accommodation. The Salvation Army estimate there has been a 40 % rise

in the number of homeless people nationally. At Lincoln's who was

shelter, they have had to put up extra beds to cope with the

increase in demand. In Hull, there are more than 60 beds now available

after a new shorter was built. Organisers say the rise in numbers

means they are still some people they cannot accommodate.

I a hot meal on a cold day. The Salvation Army opens up his kitchen

to the home was three times a week. A year ago they were serving up to

18 people. Today, they fared 51. Many here call it a lifeline.

was not open, all these hungry mouths, where will they go? They

will go no were, they will go days without food. It is not just about

the food. It is a place to shelter, something people say is getting

harder to find. You have got to know where to go. They will be

wondering what they are due have got. Where can you go? They are for

poor and they are turning people away. People go to garden shed,

allotments, under bridges. This is not unique to hole. At this place

in Lincoln, they have faced turning people away. -- this is not unique

to Hull. We will give people sleeping bags, blankets, hot drinks,

super. We sometimes send them in the direction of St Mary's, but

they are having the problems we are. What causes homelessness fairies.

Drugs, alcohol, relationship breakdowns often figure. Some

people I spoke to Today became homeless within the last year and

directly blamed changes in their benefits. Shelter's say they have

anecdotal evidence that economic hardship is playing a role. We have

people who have had executive post -- executive positions then find

themselves on the scrapheap. They find themselves in a situation they

would never have dreamt they would find themselves in. Currently,

demand for help is outstripping supply.

Thank you for watching tonight. Still ahead: How one woman's

determination ended in a new 75 mile walking route through

Lincolnshire. That's taking it too far! And the

retirement party for one of Humberside Police's longest serving

Tonight's photograph is of a cargo ship on the River Humber. Thank you

for that. Good evening. I have one from the driver of a bus saying, I

would love to see Paul driving a bus at!

You could come along with me! We have got another Met Office

barely warning in place. Last night, it got down to minus man at

Scampton. -- minus nine. There could be problems with the commute

tomorrow evening. There is a risk of snow later. A warm front trying

to get mild air in from the West. It will fail and get pushed back by

the Continental air which is currently across. There has been a

lot of cloud today. Temperatures have really struggled. It is cold,

and pretty cloudy as well. It does not look as though it will be as

cold as last night. It will be frosty, with temperatures down to

minus four. That is 25 Fahrenheit. Those are your high-water times. A

quiet start to Thursday. Gradually, we have that a weather front which

will erratically spreading. There is a snow risk at first. I am most

concerned about East Yorkshire, perhaps into North Lincolnshire fog

at teatime commute yesterday. -- for that teatime commute. That's

A meeting about the Humber Bridge tolls will start in Grimsby shortly.

The council is meeting to agree a plan to share the remaining bridge

debt. If the plan is approved, it should mean plans to reduce the

Bridge tolls can start moving ahead. Leanne Brown is in Grimsby. What

are we expecting to happen in this meeting?

We are expecting the deal to halve the tolls on the Humber Bridge to

finally be rubber-stamped. It follows months of uncertainty. You

may remember it was in November when the Chancellor announced he

would take on half of the Humber Bridge's debt. That was under the

condition that all four councils to con the remainder of the debt. They

include North East Lincolnshire Council, East Riding Council and

home -- and Hull City Council. The plan was for a 25 % split share --

a 25 % split between the four. The leader of the council here, Chris

Shaw, did not accept this. On Friday, there was a breakthrough.

Councillor Chris Short changed his mind and said he would go forward

with the split. That means a deal can go through now. He said that

had to be under the understanding that it was with the utmost

priority that it was look at that Humber Bridge tolls are scrapped

for those travelling to hospital. Thank you very much. We will let

you know the outcome of that meeting in our late bulletin. Thank

you to everyone who got in touch about a woman who was spared jail

after getting drunk with her 11- year-old son. The woman has been

given a 12 month community and supervision order. A barrister is

calling for a debate on whether to sterilise those parents who will

not get help to overcome their addictions. Lots of strong views on

A new 75 mile trial for cyclists and ramblers and horse riders is

opening in Lincolnshire. The Linsey Trail has come about after four

years of hard work by a woman from Market Rasen. Sheila Brookes will

see her dream become a reality. Lindsay Smith has more.

Picturesque pathways, tranquil Fords and an abundance of peace and

quiet. The Linsey Trail is his 75 miles circular route. It is the

work of Sheila Brookes, a keen rider of pony driven carriages. She

spent months searching for pathways wide enough to take care carriages.

We pored over a lot of maps. We went to see if the roots would go.

Sometimes, it didn't. On one occasion, I was leaning out so far

to keep a carriage uprights that I said, if we did it again I wanted a

trapezium on the back! The trail starts at Willingham Woods near

Market Rasen. It takes in Louth, Horncastle and rugby. -- Wragby.

There are not many trails of this kind around. It is hoped the Linsey

Trail will attract tourists. We are aware that Moffatt have a carriage

driven rude. Lincolnshire is leading the way a little bit in the

East Midlands. -- we are aware that Northorpe have a carriage driving

routes. Chris Kerr runs a hotel on the route and says it can only be

good for business. People will get benefit from it. Anybody supplying

food on the routes, whether it is bistros or coffee houses.

Linsey Trail may have been inspired by Sheila's ponies, but it can also

be enjoyed by ramblers, cyclists and horse-riders. It is all set for

a grand opening in April. Grimsby Town are through to the

quarter-finals of the FA Johnstone's Paint Trophy after a 2-

1 win last night. The Mariners 1 against Bath City after goals from

Anthony Elding and Rob Duffy. The owner of Hull City has revealed

that he considered pulling out of the deal to buy the club. Speaking

to me earlier on the radio, Dr Assem Allam explained as his

accountants went through the finances, they uncovered tens of

millions of pounds worth of debt. Everybody I talked to, they said,

no, thank you. It was football on nothing. I had to continue.

talks about many other things, including the offside rule. You can

hear the interview by going to our website.

An unusual retirement party was held this morning for one of

Humberside Police's longest serving staff members. This man, Ross! He

has been involved in everything from missing person searches to

monitoring football matches. Crispin Rolfe met him.

He likes to put on a brave face, but don't believe a word of it.

Ross is really a pussycat. This Humberside Police horse has been

chomping and criminals for over 15 years. But now it's spur hanging up

time. He is the bravest horse I have ever known. There is nothing

he will not go into. He does not like donkeys! When not having his

reputation ruined, Ross has led the thin blue line on night out in

Beverley and Hull. He has kept crowds under control and dealt with

protests across the area. It is quite intimidating going to protest.

Ross broke down so many barriers. He has also had to create them, at

grounds like Glanford Park. Mounted divisions are under threat. Some

forces have got rid of them mounted divisions. They do still have a big

part to play in modern policing. Fortunately, Ross's writing days

and now over. Having served his time, he is retiring to the Horses

Trust in Buckinghamshire. I suspect he may miss all the attention.

A reminder of the headlines. A victory for football manager

Harry Redknapp, cleared of charges that he tried to hide nearly

�200,000 from the taxman. Three decades after being given

infected blood, a man from Hull calls for an inquiry into why the

government allowed it. Talking about apprenticeships, this

from J. Where did he get the �193 a week? I am doing an apprenticeship

which pays me �150 a week. �50 of that goes on petrol. Jenny says,

apprenticeships provides struggling local businesses with the means of

cheap labour for three years. There is still a massive lack of real

jobs available. Katie says, I am on an apprenticeship. I enjoy working