07/03/2014 Look North (East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire)

away. That's all from the BBC News at Six. On BBC One, we now join the

BBC's news Good evening and welcome to BBC Look

North. The headlines tonight... Humberside's Police and Crile

Commissioner says claims th`t legalising cannabis will reduce

crime are misguided. To pretend that criminality and crime will disappear

because cannabis is legalisd, whoever suggested that is in cloud

cuckoo land. RAF Waddington gets a thirty five million pound upgrade to

extend its life. The biggest investment for 50 years is seen as a

positive sign. 90 minutes from Wembley. Hull City prepare for a Cup

showdown. Bump in the road, the unusual traffic problem fachng

drivers near Skegness. Some pleasant weather to come, I will be back

later with all the details. There are calls tonight for cannabis to be

legalised. Campaigners in Htll say people who use the drug for medical

reasons shouldn't face arrest. The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is

one of the politicians callhng for a review of Britain's drug laws. But

Humberside's Police and Crile Commissioner Matthew Grove says

those who support the legalhsation of cannabis must be living hn "cloud

cuckoo land". More from our Political Editor Tim Iredald.

Multiple sclerosis sufferer Sue Lunn admits to smoking cannabis on a

regular basis at her home in Hull. She says it eases the pain caused by

her condition. A former special constable, Sue Lunn says her home

has been raided by the police on three separate occasions and she

received a conditional discharge when she appeared in court charged

with possession of cannabis. Last April I was caught because H had the

police at my house. On the third time they charge me with

possession. I was given a conditional discharge. I thhnk the

law is unfair. I do not feel I am a criminal and I do not think anyone

who knows me would consider me a criminal. Some campaigners believe

we should follow other countries. Uruguay have legalised it, Portugal

have decriminalised it. Thex have seen positive results, reduction in

crime. The US state of Colorado recently legalised cannabis sold for

recreational use from licensed premises. In an interview for this

week's Sunday Politics ` thd Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg c`lls for

a full review of Britain's drug laws. There is nothing tough about

carrying on with polities which are not working. Does anyone thhnk we

are winning the war on drugs? Cannabis has been illegal in the UK

since 1928 and in 2004, the Labour government downgraded it. In 20 9,

it was upgraded again, due to fears about the impact on mental health

and evidence of stronger varieties. However, suggestions that the police

should start taking a softlx softly approach on cannabis have bden

dismissed by senior officers and by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

To pretend that crime would disappear because cannabis hs

legalised... Whoever suggests that is in cloud cuckoo land and I invite

them to come with me to the really difficult areas that I reprdsent and

come and meet the people. Come and meet the law`abiding citizens who

have to cope with criminality. Westminster remains divided on this

issue, but Sue Lunn says shd'll continue to use cannabis evdn if

means the risk of going to jail Tim Iredale. BBC Look North, Hull.

Earlier I spoke to Mary Brett who campaigns on the dangers of

cannabis, she told me why the drug shouldn't be legalised. Cannabis is

much stronger these days th`n in the old`fashioned days and therdfore

much more dangerous. Do you think it is spared that someone like Sue Lunn

has a criminal record for t`king the drug to treat her illness? This is

where emotional blackmail comes in. You feel sorry for people lhke that,

but pure medicines hath to be thing `` `` lots of people are getting

relief from pain. There are so many other side`effects will stop there

are more carcinogens in cannabis smoke than cigarette smoke `nd it

damages people. It can causd psychosis, harm the immune system.

It clogs up the brain. It is fairy harmful with all these other

ingredients. If we were deshgning drug laws today, do you think

cannabis would be illegal and alcohol and tobacco would bd

illegal? Far more people did from using them. No, alcohol is tsed by

over 90% of the population, so more people will be harmed by it, it is

the same as cigarettes. Drug use, illegal drug use is 9% of the

population. Obviously more people will be harmed by alcohol and

cigarettes. Any talk of leg`lising cannabis, what is your thought on

that? Not at all. The code hs if you do that, to children in particular

and I am worried about children they will get the message that

legalising means it is safe `` because if you do. They can get it

from a street dealer anyway. They will do that anyway. Cannabhs is the

gateway, not how they get hold of it. Interesting. Thank you. This is

a story on which you are having your say on our Facebook page today. Pete

says, 'Legalisation would bd the most rational option. A leg`lised

and well regulated trade in cannabis takes control out of the hands of

criminals and would generatd millions for the public purse.'

Phillip says 'We have enough problems with the abuse of `lcohol,

so why compound the situation with even more people out of control on

other drugs?' If you want to get in touch with us you can, should we

look at changing the laws on cannabis, or maybe you think all

drugs should be kept illegal? I will look forward to hearhng from

you. And the legalisation of cannabis will be debated on this

weekend's Sunday Politics from 1am on BBC One. The show will coming

live from the Liberal Democrat conference. In a moment... Coastal

areas get a share of millions of pounds that ministers claim to help

rejuvenate their town centrds. RAF Waddington will have 35 million

pounds spent on rebuilding `nd extending its runway. The Mhnistry

of Defence says it will extdnd the life of the base by another 25

years. It's the first major work to be done on the site since the 1 60s.

Jake Zuckerman is at RAF Waddington, Jake, how important is this

announcement? It is being sden as a significant sign for the future of

the base. Work is due to begin in July and it is expected to continue

until late summer, 2015. Thd base's runway will be rebuilt and

extended, the first major upgrade here since the 1960s. It has a key

role as home to a fleet of surveillance and air born

intelligence gathering aircraft For the duration of the work, all

aircraft will have to be based at other air fields. What will be the

impact on the base when the work starts there? Waddington is best

known for its international airshow and the organisers say that this

year's event will go ahead `s usual, but for next year, it is not

clear what, if any, impact there will be. The Ministry of Defence

says that the rebuilt will dxtend the life of the runway by 24 years

and four Lincolnshire, that is the most important aspect of thd

announcement. That major investment, really does signify the RAF's

long`term commitment to continuing operations here. Thank you. Lots of

people will be happy about that Is that good news for Waddington? It

will extend the life of the air base. The search continued today for

an American tourist missing in Lincolnshire. Fifty`two year`old

Denise Gray was last seen bx the friend she was staying with in

Revesby on Monday. Specialist police diver teams have been looking in

areas of water close to where she dissappeared whilst on the ground

officers have been searching local woodland. A former senior ddtective

in the Humberside Police force has appeared in court in Manchester

charged with several offencds including rape, harrassment and

stalking. Colin Andrews is due back in court later this year whdre it's

expected he'll enter a plea. A former head master who sexu`lly

assaulted school boys in Lincolnshire and North Norfolk could

face life in prison, a court has heard. Bryan Greenhalgh aged 63

pleaded guilty to fourteen offence most of which took place between

1976 and 1984 at two boarding schools. The judge warned Greenhalgh

there was a "real risk" of ` life sentence being imposed at the next

hearing in May. Twenty years ago nobody wanted to live in thdm, but

now boarded up properties on housing estates in Hull have been ttrned

into new one bedroomed homes. Demand for small properties rocketdd when

changes were made to housing benefit, in some cases a hundred

people were chasing just ond flat. Now the council and a local housing

association is converting dozens of abandoned buildings to cope with

demand. Sarah Walton reports. Home sweet home. Jane downsized to this

flat from a three`bedroom home when changes to housing benefit leant she

was getting less money. You do not know if you will end up on the

streets. I know that a lot of people are bidding for the same properties.

She ended up owing ?700 in rent but still had to wait to move. H have

been here two months. I was delighted. Until recently, her home

was a bedsit. Properties like this were abandoned in the 1990s because

of a lack of demand. They h`ve a new lease of life thanks to a local

housing association. We do not have enough one`bedroom propertids. Hull

City Council have converted 70 flats as part of a project to transform

empty buildings. It secured nearly ?60 million in funding and `ims to

create 650 new homes. This hs part of a row of old shops which have

been boarded up and work has started to convert them. It is one of six

old commercial sites which `re being turned into about 70 properties

most of which will have one`bedroom. The council has a difficult line to

Trent. The changes might not last. The current government have made

clear that after the election they will be sticking with the policy. Ed

Miliband, the Labour leader, has said that if Labour wins thd

election, they will abandon the policy. As a local authoritx, we

have to be careful on where we put all our resources. The focus on

these properties may be temporarily, but for those who have been able to

move into them, it will havd a lasting effect. The Unison trade

union has reached an agreemdnt with the Yorkshire Ambulance Service

meaning its members WON'T now take industrial action. But membdrs of

another union, Unite, are on strike as we speak. It's all part of an

ongoing dispute over shift patterns and meal breaks. Unite clails

patient safety could be put at risk. Managers say they've taken steps to

maintain safe and effective services. There'll be anothdr strike

on Monday. A swimming pool hn Cleethorpes will be closed tntil at

least the middle of next wedk because of health and safetx

concerns. The pool at the town's leisure centre was shut on Londay

after complaints about the flooring. The results from slip`tests are

expected next week. Still ahead tonight: One game from Wembley.

Steve Bruce's old club stand between Hull City and the capital. Forget

potholes and traffic jams, drivers near Skegness are facing a very

different challenge. This put a graph was taken by

Christopher Lewis and it is the new St Botolphs Bridge in Boston. ``

photograph. I have been reading an e`mail about you, it says that she

never appears to have worn the same dress twice. It suggests th`t she

has an enormous wardrobe or buys one, where is it once and then takes

it back. `` where is it oncd. This weekend, it looks pleasant It

will not be all sunshine, tomorrow it will be great, but it will

brighten up and there will be sunshine tomorrow afternoon. Sunday

does not look too bad, therd will be a weather front, but it will affect

Sunday night into Monday and then next week there will be high

pressure and a lot of settldd weather. It has been lovely this

afternoon, breezy, but as you can see, the cloud broke up nicdly and

we have had plenty of sunshhne. It is clear at the moment. This will

allow temperatures to plummdt. As you can see, later on, it whll cloud

over and mist and fog will spread up through the South. Temperattres will

drop low enough for frost. The sun will rise tomorrow at 6:34al. We

will start with a lot of cloud, a grey start, a little bit dalp,

drizzle in places, but we whll see an improvement and it will gradually

brighten up. In the afternoon, some pleasant spells of sunshine. Like

today, it will be mild. Temperatures range between 13 to 15 degrdes. Next

week, pressure will build from the south. We have not had high pressure

dominating since the beginnhng of December. There will be a lot of dry

weather, but it could be frosty at night.

Have a nice weekend. Bridlington and Hull are getting a share of millions

of pounds of government cash, that ministers claim will help rdjuvenate

town and city centres. The loney is part of a scheme to help struggling

coastal communities, as our Business Correspondent Paul Murphy rdports.

Bridlington is perhaps one of Britain's better`known coastal

communities and the ?2 millhon grant it is getting is to help it reach

and rate. The money is going towards paying for its centrepiece project,

and improved leisure centre. Hoteliers have welcomed it but say

more work and more money is needed. There are so many expectations here.

Hopefully, this will come to fruition over the next couple of

years, we cannot be happier with any amount of money. In Hull, a thriving

community of digital progralmers and artists is based in this warehouse.

They include this young man. I am running my own business,

specialising in web design `nd web development and apps. I work with

the guy in the United States. We work remotely and it is gre`t. The

digital project wants to expand and the Treasury Minister has bden shown

at the dry dock where it wants to build a new headquarters. It is

getting a grant of ?300,000. This is government money getting behind some

brilliant ideas to grow the economy here. This sector is a rapidly

growing part of the economy. It is the third year at these grotnds have

been awarded, a recognition of the special challenges of living in

relatively isolated areas of the UK. Hull City manager Steve Bruce says

his team has a "wonderful chance" of reaching the FA Cup semi`finals The

Tigers take on Sunderland on Sunday, a club they've already beatdn twice

in the league this season. @nother win would see Hull City plax at

Wembley for only the second time in the club's history. Jill Archbold

reports. They've only been once but Wembley is a place with special

memories for Hull City and their fans. Now, the team have thd chance

to return. We have not been in the semi`finals since 1930, so H do not

know if there are many supporters around who were there, I hope there

is, and that puts it into context of what it would mean to everyone. It

was a 2`1 win over Brighton last month that got the Tigers through to

the last eight of the competition. Now they take on Sunderland, a team

that sacked Steve Bruce thrde years ago and a team they've alre`dy

beaten twice in the league this season. But the North East club has

beaten Hull on all three occasions they've met in the FA Cup, `nd

recently made it to Wembley for the League Cup final. I think there is a

feeling that we want to go back and it is a good opportunity. Otr good

opportunity for Hull as well, it will be massive. At the club shop

today, Hull City fans were cautious but dreaming of Wembley. It would be

fantastic. It would be marvdllous. They are playing better,

Sunderland. I think we should do it, but we haven't got our strikers

in. After the club was formdd in 1904 they had to wait over ` hundred

years for their first appearance at Wembley. A win here on Sund`y would

see the next one happen much sooner. Jill Archbold, BBC Look North. And

that game will be live on BBC Radio Humberside on Sunday lunchthme. The

game kicks off at two and coverage begins at one o'clock. In tomorrow's

football, commentary of Scunthorpe's home game with Northampton will be

on FM. Kick off is at three. There will be commentary of Grimsby Town's

trip to Macclesfield on AM, on digital and online. And BBC Radio

Lincolnshire will have Lincoln City's visit to Alfreton. Coverage

begins at two on Saturday Sport Rugby League, and both Hull FC and

Hull KR are hoping to kick start their season this evening. Hull KR

have yet to win losing at C`stleford at home last weekend and Hull FC

were beaten by Warrington. Both coaches say they need to improve.

This fixture is massive for us. We are reading a lot about how they can

be on zero points, but we nded a result. We need to tidy up ` few

mistakes and if we do that, we are confident we will do well. @nd both

games will be on BBC Radio Humberside tonight. Hull KR's trip

to St Helens is on FM and online. And Hull FC's home game with

Bradford will be on AM, on digital and online. Both games kick off at

eight. Lincolnshire skier J`de Etherington is hoping for a medal in

her first event at the Paralympics in Sochi. The games began whth the

opening ceremony this afternoon The 22`year`old from Bourne, who is

visually impaired, began skhing on family holidays. She'll takd part in

the Women's downhill tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed and the

best of luck for her. A famhly of badgers has forced the clostre of a

road in Lincolnshire, and it could be months before it's open `gain.

The animals have made their home underneath the road at Thorpe

Culvert near Skegness, making it unsafe to use. But Highways

officials say they can't do anything about it until well into thd summer.

Kate Sweeting reports. They are secretive species known to dnjoy

their privacy and in fact most of us would be lucky to ever see ` badger

in real life, but in the cotntryside near Skegness, one family h`s made

its home in an altogether more public spot, with rather

unneighbourly consequences. We received a report last year that

there had been a whole under the road and when we went out to

investigators, we saw signs of badger activity. We assessed the

situation and decided we nedded to close the road to keep the public

safe. Despite the closure, some vehicles are forced to conthnue

using it, rumbling right ovdr the badger's set. I do not why ht has

been close for so long. I nded to go this way. To get the road open,

plans have been put in placd to have this family of badgers evicted, but

it is a long and delicate process. It looks like we cannot do `nything

before June, because badgers tend to made in November and give bhrth to

their young in January. Nattral England will not want us to do any

work while there are young badgers in the area. When they are old

enough to leave, this is thd plan to move the family out, I gateway will

be put around the entrance `nd two weeks later, a door will be fitted

and the badgers will have to use it. A few weeks after that, a stop will

be fitted making it only ond way. They will be forced to go elsewhere.

Over the next new months, the badgers will be able to enjoy a

little bit of peace and quidt. Let's get a recap of the national and

regional headlines... The hdad of the Metropolitan Police describes

the damning criticism over Stephen Lawrence as devastating. As there

are calls for a review of Britain's drug laws, Humberside's Polhce and

Crime Commissioner says those who want to legalise cannabis are

misguided. To pretend that criminality and crime will disappear

from our communities becausd cannabis is liberalised, legalise,

whoever suggested that is in cloud cuckoo land. Tomorrow's weather A

cloudy start with the risk of a little drizzle at first. Turning

drier and brighter through the day. A fresh southerly breezy. A top

temperature of 13 deg C. Should a cannabis be legalise? The rdsponse

on this, Cyril says for those that medically needed, though should be

exemption. My late wife could have used it. Joe says that all drugs

should be illegal, it is bad for the government to be supporting illegal

activity. Graham said if cannabis helps sufferers, then ordin`ry

cannabis should be availabld. Charlie says the bigger problem is

legal highs, these laws need to be looked at more than legalishng

cannabis. Cannabis is natur`l, chemicals are dangerous. Chris says

that smoking and drinking are legal and socially acceptable forls of

drug`taking, so legalise and control other drugs. This is from Stewart,

he says I have smoked cannabis for 14 years and I find that it is an

effective alternative to alcohol to unwind after work and cannabis does

not clog up the brain as shd puts it. That was Mary Brett earlier

Thank you for those, had a peaceful weekend. Goodbye.