15/11/2013 Look North (East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire)

Commonwealth Summit in Sri Lanka. That is all from the BBC News at

six. On BBC One we join the news teams where you are.

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

that controversial housing benefit changes are leaving tenants with

growing debts. We need to make some tough decisions in the nine months

to come. It will lead to some infections and an increase in

homelessness. `` elections. `` even sections.

The long walk home ` why the road into one Lincolnshire village will

be closed at Christmas. We'll show you how your Children in Need

donations have helped East Yorkshire youngsters. And we bring you all the

fun of the field. We are having a party.

Tomorrow will be mostly dry low cloud will increase through the day.

It was designed to free up homes for larger families and save money but

now councils in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire say changes to the

housing benefit system are pushing tenants into financial crisis. Since

April people claiming the benefit have been charged for every spare

bedroom prompting critics to call it the bedroom tax. The government

insists the changes are working but the Labour party want it scrapped.

Now in North Lincolnshire it's claimed there's a shortage of

smaller properties and in Hull almost 2,000 people have fallen

behind with their rent. Sarah Corker reports. Thousands of people living

in council houses that are too big for them ` and getting housing

benefit to pay for it. The government's solution ` tenants

either downsize or are charged for each spare room. Critics call it the

bedroom tax. There is a shortage of smaller homes. The council has

recently renovated around 60 of these bedsits to help rid the man.

`` meet demand. It is a financial crisis for individuals. The council

is doing everything it can but there are limits to what we can achieve

without sufficient numbers. In East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire `

research shows since April, more tenants have fallen behind in rent.

The highest figure is in North East Lincolnshire ` 69% of those affected

by the policy are in rent arrears. In Hull ` 64%. Boston ` just over

half are in debt. I first met Maria in February ` she lives alone in

this three bed house in Hull. She's charged for her two spare rooms and

is now ten weeks behind in rent. I would pay around ?9 every week rent.

That has now jumped to ?36. I am falling more and more behind. We

have 400,000 people in over crowded accommodation...

The government says it needs to free up larger houses ` like Maria's `

for families stuck on a waiting list. I would ask the opposition to

work with local authorities. To actually help constituents downsize

so they can live within their means. In Scunthorpe many tenants do want

to move but can't. While they are waiting they have to pay. Other

people might be waiting, housed in temporary accommodation. Everybody

ends up paying more money. It will lead to an increase in homelessness.

An emergency fund is helping those most in need but the government says

the taypayer can no longer afford to pay for spare bedrooms.

Earlier I spoke to Robert Oxley from the TaxPayers Alliance and asked him

if the majority of people backed the government's plans to remove the

spare room subsidy. When you put neutral questions to the public they

back reforms to welfare. They back the principles. They know that

council houses at a precious resource and that many people should

not have a spare room. But in north`east Lincolnshire 69% of

people are in arrears. That implies the policy not working. Councils are

not using discretionary payments correctly. More needs to be done to

make sure that people are downsizing. There is a huge waiting

list of people in overcrowded situations. So you're pointing the

finger at the councils rather than the government? For years we have

politicians claiming that they know how many homes people need and

arcing planning laws getting in the way. `` arcane. But now there is a

chance to make sure people adding more appropriate accommodation. The

housing is simply not there. 70 people chasing every 31`bedroom flat

in Hull alone. `` Beverly `` every free one`bedroom flat. Should the

government ploughed on? They need to recognise this is only half a step

to solving the problem. Planning rules continue to get in the way.

Thank you. We want to hear from you on this

story. Get in touch. Coming up: Most of Lincolnshire's

threatened libraries could be saved from closure.

It's just over a month until Christmas but how would you feel if

your house was almost cut off for the whole festive period? Residents

of a Lincolnshire village say they are furious about being 'marooned'

by engineering works. Network Rail say they need to carry out the works

on the railway line which runs through Saxilby. Closing a level

crossing in the village will cut off those who live on West Bank for two

weeks. It's because plans to build a temporary road fell through. Simon

Spark has the story. West Bank is a dead end street. It's only vehicle

access into the centre of Saxilby is over this crossing. But Network Rail

will need to keep the crossing closed for a huge amount of new

signalling works, which will cut people off for the entire Christmas

period. They are a large corporate company who think they can run

roughshod over ordinary people. Why inconvenience all of us like this?

Over the Christmas period? It is appalling. When these gates close

for two weeks on the 20th December, a shuttle bus will bring residents

to this point. They'll then need to walk down this path to get another

shuttle bus on the other side. But this is why elderly residents are

concerned, in many places the path is thin and the weather will be

wintry and unpredictable. But this is the route they'll need to travel

with all their Christmas goods. Well this is where that footpath ends and

it's from here that they'll be collected by another shuttle bus to

take in them into the centre of the village to collect their cars. Joyce

and Bert are the oldest residents, both in their 80s. Until a fortnight

ago, we understood that there was going to be a road round out. Then

they have said, there is not. They have lead us astray. And now we are

fascinating, really. But some can see the positive side. Times like

this remind you were the community. This is a community project.

This work was originally planned for the summer but had to be deferred

because the route was being used for rail diversions necessitated by the

spoil heap slip at Hatfield colliery. Unfortunately the next

time this essential work could be planned was Christmas.

But for many residents here it's the worst possible time.

A 23`year`old man has been released on bail and another released with no

further action after they were arrested on suspicion of death by

dangerous driving on Wednesday night. Fifteen year old Koen Allwood

was hit by a car while crossing Dam Road in Barton Upon Humber. He'd

just broadcast his first internet radio show. A 15`year`old girl who

was with him is in Hull Royal Infirmary with serious injuries.

A ?100 million plan has been announced for a new stadium, 500

homes, a shopping park and part of a relief road in Boston. It was

revealed as directors at Boston United said they want to move the

club to a new site off the A16 in the south of the town. The lease on

the current ground expires in 2018. Just over four years away. The clock

is ticking. We need to move. The current ground is unsustainable. It

is great, but it is old and needs a lot of work.

A 20`year`old man from Scunthorpe has been jailed for attacking and

robbing his grandmother. The woman who is in her eighties was found

sitting outside her house in Scunthorpe in July with serious head

injuries. Her grandson ` Jason Mace ` pleaded guilty to the attack.

Today at Grimsby Crown Court he was jailed for seven years.

A Canadian company will return to the East Yorkshire village of

Walkington in the New Year, to conduct further tests for oil.

Rathlin Energy previously erected a drilling rig at the site in their

search for fossil fuels. It was understood their explorations had

finished. But they need further laboratory samples before deciding

whether it's commercially viable. Almost all of Lincolnshire's

libraries that were threatened with closure could remain open. The

county council had proposed closing 30 community libraries but says

volunteers have come forward to run twenty four of them. `` 24. And it's

extending a deadline to allow bids for the other six. Jake Zuckerman is

in our Lincoln newsroom now ` Jake, what has the county council said?

The county council says it's still finalising plans, but it hopes all

of the libraries could stay open. Although it does still need to find

?2 million of savings. The council says that community groups have now

come forward to run nearly all of its libraries ` that's similar to

the way Saxilby library is run already. That's manned by volunteers

to keep it open. If the community had not come forward, we would be a

very different situation. I grateful and encouraged that not only will

they potentially have community library, it could be a hub for other

services also. When the council announced it might

have to close libraries, there were protests, and people signed

petitions against the plans. The group trying to save Lincolnshire's

libraries has said that it wants professional librarians rather than

volunteers working in libraries. Today, those against the closures

say the council hasn't listened to what people wanted in the

consultation. The opinion of the people is that they are angry and

upset about the situation. They want a professionally run the library,

the second option was a community run the library with volunteers.

Third was a mobile library. But it came out very strongly that they

wanted a professional library, not volunteer run.

The county council says more than half of the 280 threatened mobile

libraries also look close to being saved. A final decision on the

future of the library service as a whole, will be made next month.

Still ahead tonight: Some of the unusual things you've been doing to

raise money for Children in Need And now the weather.

The fundraising continues. Join me later.

Keep your pictures coming. This was taken by James Mason. And artistic

picture of the sky. As we head to this evening it is

going to stay fine and dry. Again, tomorrow it stays dry with sunny

spells. Cloud will increase. Today has not been that bad. Some decent

spells of sunshine and temperatures getting up to a roundabout the 11

Celsius. Some spot will see Falkirk forming. Especially to the south. ``

fog. Under the cloud, about six Celsius. Tomorrow morning, the sun

will rise at 7:29am. Here are the high water times. There could well

be some patchy fog. Particularly across more southern areas. The best

of the bright and sunny spells will be throughout the morning.

Particularly in East Yorks. Thick cloud could produce dazzle. But most

of us will stay dry. Temperatures reaching 11 Celsius but it will be

cloudy so it will not feel that pleasant. The next couple of days,

going into Sunday, a weak front producing rain and basil. `` dazzle.

`` drizzle. I choose day, highs of just five Celsius. `` by Tuesday.

People across East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire have been busy raising

money for BBC's Children in Need. People across East Yorkshire and

Lincolnshire have been busy Last year, this area collected ?300,000,

and today's events culminate in a huge Pudsey Party which has just

started at Sirius Academy in Hull. Let's go live there now and talk to

our reporter Caroline Bilton. Caroline, what's going on there

tonight? Welcome. We are having all the fun

here. We have a coconut shy. Take a look. Doing everything to raise

money. We have got plenty of people with money and that there are

pockets. `` money in their pockets. Let's take a look at some of the

things you have been up to throughout the region. You have not

let us down. We will see more later in the programme. Every penny raised

goes to charity. One project in Bedlington are doing their bit to

take children off the streets. Halloween may be long gone but it is

all about making happy memories for his children. They all regularly

visit this centre which runs craft classes and Child centred activities

for youngsters from impoverished backgrounds. It keeps them off the

streets. Gives them something to do. You never know who is hanging about

the part. It is very important to my little boy. They enjoy it. The

children love what of the centre has to offer. You can go and do stuff.

Quizzes. I like the arts and crafts sessions. And the Friday sessions,

we do fun stuff. Painting and stuff. I have been on the computer. It is

really good? Yes. I am bored if I don't come. The charity has gone

from strength to strength. All the equipment repurchase, the sessions

we run, none of it would be possible without the money. We really rely on

it to help further the project. The sessions are enjoyed by everyone. I

love my job. I don't mind getting up for it in the morning. Nobody can

argue with that. That is just one charity that has

benefited from BBC Children In Need. We will see more of what you have

been doing later in the programme. We are having a great time. We are

having a party. Doing lots to raise money. Take a look at this. ?25,000.

What have you done to raise that money? Through our making a

difference locally fund. Selling special goods in the store. That is

what it is all about. We have got all the fun going on here tonight. I

will be broadcasting live throughout the evening. I hope you can stay

with us. We will do our bit. Back to you.

If you are going along, enjoy. If you're watching, 7:30pm on BBC One.

A report on the first anniversary of Police and Crime Commissioners has

praised the Lincolnshire and Humberside PCC's for their work. The

study says Humberside's Matthew Grove and Lincolnshire's Alan

Hardwick were some of the best for being transparent and for the way

they've spent public money. Mr Grove was named as second best Police and

Crime Commissioner in the country. It ranges through to information on

what is being spent, what the office spends, what contracts they are

awarding. If Humberside and the PCC were a football club, they would be

competing for a European place, and have a shot at the title.

Thank you to all of those who got in contact with us yesterday after we

heard from the Commissioner for the Humberside Police area, Matthew

Grove. Here are some of the messages:

supporters going to the FA Cup replay on Tuesday are being asked to

use coaches to travel to the game. There were 12 arrests at the derby

match last weekend. In football this weekend Scunthorpe United can move

in to the automatic promotion places in League Two with a win against

Accrington. You can hear full commentary of that game on BBC Radio

Humberside's FM frequency. Grimsby Town's trip to Tamworth is on medium

wave and digital radio. BBC Radio Lincolnshire will have full

commentary of Lincoln City's match at Forest Green. Their spot

programme is on air from 2pm. All day our cameras have been out

across East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire to see what you have

been doing to raise money for Children in Need. Here are some of

the highlights. It's been really good to take

photos. There is a red velvet chocolate cake

that has my name on it. We have been following a route

across Yorkshire. We are selling cake we made at our

house. Really, really exciting. Everything we're doing is all about

children in need. Ordinarily people out on the streets

having a good time. That is what it is all about.

It has been busier than last year. The local total should be higher.

One e`mail says, we had a sponsored spell, and cake bake. Thank you to

everybody fundraising. Let's get a recap of the national

and regional headlines. Protesters surround the Prime Minister's

motorcade as he makes a controversial visit to Sri Lanka for

the Commonwealth Conference. There are claims that tenants are facing

debts and homelessness because of changes to housing benefit.

Tomorrow's weather, the best of the brightness will be early on. Cloudy

with a chance of rain. Top temperatures, mild, 10 Celsius.

The bedroom tax. A big response. We says my mother is unable to move

home because the children have moved out. She cannot afford gasoline at

visitor. It is a disgrace. The council could not care less. Steve

said he was offered a two bedroom flat. I is single person, if I

turned it down I would have lost my position on the waiting list.

Another viewer, there is no system of benefits for me, just taxes. No

sympathy. Lucy says, why should I subsidise others? Many people say

that. Mark says, for too long people are holding onto their council homes

after the family moved out. Pay for it with a premium. Good night.