11/03/2014 Look North (East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire)

. The headlines tonight: The woman in charge of

Lincolnshire's ambulance service says response times are still not

good enough. As surety concerns and I would want to reassure people that

every focus is going in to improve those response times. `` I share the

concerns. Anger at plans to close the only

public toilets in Grimsby. They should ask people what they want,

not what they wanted to do themselves. They never ask the

people. Also on tonight's programme: Three years since the death of Amy

Winehouse, her former mother`in`law offers help to the parents of drug

addicts. And the Lincolnshire skier now on

the verge of a third medal at the Winter Paralympics.

The Internet craze that is sweeping the Christian world. `` the

equestrian world. More sunshine to come tomorrow but

there will be frost. Good evening.

Getting it right on ambulance response times in Lincolnshire

remains our top priority, that's the message from the woman who runs the

service. Chief executive Sue Noyes insists patients are seeing

improvements. The East Midlands Ambulance Service has been fined in

each of the past three years for missing its targets and a planned

reorganisation has been put on hold until that improves. Our health

correspondent, Vicky Johnson, has today met senior managers from the

Trust to find out what the future holds for patients.

Peter, it's worth remembering the plans to reorganise the East

Midlands Ambulance date back to 2012 and were the Trust's response to its

consistently poor performance. But the Being the Best project meant

plans were approved to close ten ambulance stations across

Lincolnshire. Campaigners have been strongly opposed, including Guy

Grainger, who's raised concerns about cover in Market Rasen. We

should be having two ambulances in the area on stand`by at all times.

Rather than bringing those ambulances in over at least 15 miles

to have to respond to those incidents. What it means is that we

will be looking at a redesign of that strategy. Where appropriate,

there will not be station closures. Streamlining the estate strategy in

accordance with those comments. Last year, EMAS were fined ?3.5

million after failing to meet response times. Of ten ambulance

trusts in England, EMAS was one of only two to miss targets. The

service is supposed to get an ambulance to 95% of all

life`threatening emergencies within 19 minutes, but EMAS missed this

target by more than 3%. We are just below on the red one. But we have

seen some significant improvement on the A19 on the convenient target to

just below the 95%. That is quite some improvement for Lincolnshire.

We have not seen that for some time. So after a difficult few years,

what's it like for the crews? They are still concerned about staff

rotas and also the closure plans. My members have been through a lot in

the last 12 months, 18 months, not just the response times but we have

had the tobacco of the programme, proposed changes to sick leave, meal

breaks and the one thing that really concerns members is the change to

rotors and how that will affect the service delivery.

The unions will now meet with the new management tomorrow for more

discussions. `` the change to the working schedules.

In a moment: The Minister for Fisheries visits

Grimsby to discuss the industry's future.

The only council`run public toilets in Grimsby are facing closure, even

though ?1 million was recently spent upgrading them. North East

Lincolnshire Council argues it needs to save more than ?70 million from

its budget and they won't close until an alternative has been found.

But campaigners say there has been no consultation and a petition has

been started. Phillip Norton reports.

Closed within weeks, the signs at Grimsby's last remaining public

toilets put up yesterday. It's a move that's come as a surprise for

users... And their cleaner. Two people came and said, "I am putting

some signs up because they are closing." I have been told they are

closing and I looked at the sign and it said the 24th of March. It is

diabolical. They gave me two weeks close is that I have not got a job

any more. Those who use the toilets are angry

and have started a petition. I don't see why they want to close them. A

lot of our customers are wondering why. There are no toilets around

you. I used it when I do my shopping. They should ask people

what they want, not what they want to do themselves. They never ask the

people nowadays. The Government says there should be

proper consultation with the public over the closure of toilets. But

even the ward councillor says he's been kept in the dark. To close

toilets which were only renovated a few years back, I find it bizarre.

Now it will have to be signed off by the portfolio. One councillor who

will sign it off... That is not right for democracy. It will not

come to us councillors until the next full council meeting. That is

absolutely appalling. Just four years ago, the council spent ?1

million upgrading toilets across the borough. The closure of these

facilities and those of the market Hall will leave Grimsby town centre

without any public conveniences. Last night, the leader of North East

Lincolnshire Council said the closures were due to underuse and

budget cuts and that the public should use privately run facilities

at Freeman Street market and Freshney Place shopping centre. The

thing is that we have got alternative provision in the market.

We have spoken to the alternative provider and said, " look, it seems

ridiculous having to toilets within 200 yards of each other. " We might

as well combine services together and make it work for both parties.

Are the nearby? Yes, they are in the market. There are public toilets.

But both the market and Freshney Place have told me today there's no

agreement for the use of what it says are customer toilets. The

shopping centre saying it was unaware of the closure. Earlier, the

council did something of a u`turn. It now says Garibaldi Street will

stay open until alternatives are found. Campaigners say they'll fight

to keep them. Phillip Norton, BBC Look North, Grimsby.

Earlier, I asked the council leader Chris Shaw if council tax payers

deserve and want public toilets. Well, of course. That's why we're

not actually closing them. We are doing three re`provisioned toilets.

We've got this idea that the toilet is going to go. It's just going to

be supplied by another set of people in a different place. Yesterday, you

posted a notice on the toilet saying, " Closed on the 24th of

March. " Today, you are saying they will stay open for now. Why the

U`turn? It's not a U`turn. The ones on Garibaldi Street, it was the

contracter put the wrong sign up on the wrong toilets. Once we get the

re`provisions in place on the other side... On Garibaldi Street, it's on

the other side of the road, the new toilets, then we will be closing the

old ones. So you are blaming the contracters, not the fact that you

had a change of mind because you're worried about bad publicity today?

No, Peter. They were always supposed to put a toilet on the other side of

the road. That's what we're doing. We are working with partners to do

that. It's just a case of, you know, the sign was put up at the

wrong place so people jumped to conclusions. The left hand does not

know what the right hand is doing. I mean, Freshney Place did not even

know that the toilets were closing down. You've not even spoken to

them. Well, freshly place do know, Peter. That's the thing, they do

know. We've had a lot of consultation with them to do what we

are doing. It's the Freeman Street market where we're still negotiating

with them to get the right facilities but the thing is, at the

end of the day, I've got to save this authority 76 million. My choice

is to keep all of these toilets open and close the children's home or ask

people to walk 100 yards and use an alternative toilet. Bearing in mind,

Peter, in Grimsby town centre, in July there is a brand`new set of

toilets opening in our brand`new bus station. So you... It is hardly that

people will not have a choice. You are trying to save money by getting

people to use public toilets in the shopping centre so you can save on

your budget. That's the story, the bottom line? Well, the bottom line

is us being a more efficient council. That is what we have been

told we have to be by the Government. The ratepayers don't

want to pay an awful lot more and it is by working in partnership with

people that we can get these things done. What you are doing is trying

to push the customers into toilets in a public area and save money by

closing down public toilets. That is what you are trying to do. Why don't

you just admit it? No, Peter, what we are doing is making better use of

council tax payers' money by working with... No, what you are doing... To

give them toilets. What you're doing is closing public toilets to save

money. Why don't you just admit it? Because we are not doing that. What

we are actually doing is saving money by working with others to

supply better toilets. So if you want public toilets in your area,

you're not going to get them. It is tough really, isn't it? We've got

ten public toilets in North East Lincolnshire. We are talking about a

re`provisioning of three. Hardly doing away with public toilets! And

that will save the ratepayers a considerable sum of money that we

can put into street cleaning and into things like children's homes.

And I think that is better value for money. We'll leave it there. Very

good to talk to you tonight. Thank you very much indeed. Thank you,

Peter. Let us know what you think of this

story. Samantha says, libraries, toilets, what next question marks

the council should get their act together. This story is from

Grimsby. The council needs to save ?70 million. Is closing the public

toilets a good way to save the money? How vital is the service? We

will have some boards before we finish. `` thoughts.

I look forward to hearing from you. A 33`year`old man has been released

on bail following a dog attack in Lincoln. Armed Police were called to

a quarry in the east of the city on Sunday night, where a 22`year`old

woman suffered what have been described as life changing injuries

to her face and head. She is now in stable condition after undergoing

surgery. Thanks to everyone who got in touch

on this story after last night's programme. Lesley says, "Every dog

regardless of breed should be muzzled in public.

Thank you very much indeed for all of those.

The funeral of a woman who led the campaign to scrap tolls for hospital

patients was held today. She had lobbied MPs and lead petitions

urging for them to be of dollars `` abolished. It was attended by family

and friends. Planes from a Lincolnshire air base

are making flights over eastern Europe as concerns about the future

of the Ukraine continue. They are monitoring the situation of Poland

and Romania. They will be joined by NATO colleagues from Germany.

The former mother`in`law of the singer Amy Winehouse has told BBC

Look North that parents need to take responsibility if their children use

drugs. Georgette Civil lives in Lincolnshire and says she spent

years in denial about her son Blake's addiction. She now has

little contact with him but has written a book to try and help other

parents. Gemma Dawson reports. I look at him and he does not fit that

stereotype image people have of addicts. Here, he is my boy.

Georgette's son, Blake, was half of one of the most famous couple's in

the country. Married to Amy Winehouse, the pair's every move was

followed by the press. But despite reports of drug taking, Georgette

told me she spent years in denial. That is probably the hardest thing

for any mother to come to terms with, to say, "my son is a drug

addict. " It is the hardest words a mother will ever have to say. And it

is the most destructive denial because as long as you are in

denial, what you're doing is you are in enabling your child. You are

enabling them to continue having a dependency.

At home in Lincolnshire, Georgette's written a book sharing her

experiences. After reflecting on the last few years, she now believes

parents need to take some responsibility if their children use

drugs. I did things, not with an intention to hurt him but I made

mistakes. I was young and I made mistakes. We all say, " if I could

have my chance again with the knowledge I have got today, I would

do things so very differently." But yes, I take full responsibility that

I contributed up to three or four runs up the ladder to his rejection

`` addiction. Georgette's now estranged from her eldest son but

hopes one day, they'll re`build their relationship.

Let's hope so. Thank you for your company.

Still ahead tonight: We talk to the Lincolnshire skier on

the verge of her third medal at the Winter Paralympics in Sochi.

And celebrating their horses, the internet craze that's sweeping the

equestrian world. Pictures coming in tonight. Thank

stunning. stunning.

How are you? How are

What a lovely day it is. Bethany says she requests peter to be a

judge in her lingerie modelling competition. Are you busy that day,

Peter? 's you are on your own! If you're going to get yourself into

deep water, I am not joining in! Was like you should consider it. Fog and

low cloud at first tomorrow. It will gradually turns sunny but some of

the low cloud might be a little reluctant to clear but high pressure

still in charge. The main thing is that is going to be dry and probably

stay dry through the rest of this week and much of the coming weekend.

A nice, fairly prolonged spell of settled weather. We are in the

middle of it. The low cloud did form overnight. We had a widespread frost

but it cleared fairly readily and this afternoon has been beautiful.

11 Celsius! It is warm in the sunshine but still quite chilly in

the shade and along the coast, with a gentle breeze. Tonight, I think we

will have a widespread ground frost, even perhaps frost in the air in

some thoughts `` sunspots. There will be mist, fog and low cloud in

some places. Here is a look at the temperatures. In the countryside, it

will be a fair amount lower than those temperatures are suggesting.

The sun will rise in the morning at 6:24am.

A lot of low cloud and fog first thing in the morning. As I say, some

of it may be quite reluctant to clear. A slow process, some of that

lingering into tomorrow afternoon but the general trend will be for it

to break up, blue skies to become established and most of us tomorrow

afternoon should enjoy plenty of sunshine. Just a hint of a little

bit of sea fog not far from that coastline. The coast itself will be

quite cool, with a gentle Orange Order breeze. Inland, Tim Celsius in

Hull. 12 Celsius in the afternoon sunshine. `` 10 Celsius. `` a gentle

onshore breeze. The weekend, that is forecast.

And a mild has been sent, seeing the shirt and tie that Paul often wears,

I know now why Look North is not what gas in HD! It would be more

than the viewer could cope with. I would have to iron them then!

When HD starts, I am going! Most of the fish and seafood that we

eight is processed in Grimsby, an estimated 70% of the UK total. Today

the government's Fisheries Minister visited the town to hear about the

challenges that are facing the industry. George Eustiss offered his

support to a campaign to encourage more children to eight fish and

seafood. `` to eat fish and seafood. Crispin Rolfe reports.

Winning ministerial approval. This pack's designed to get primary

school pupils eating seafood. George Eustice is the government's latest

Fishing Minister and he's now backing the Fish is the Dish, an

education pack going nationwide on Monday. The whole thing is... This

is his first trip to Grimsby. We want to encourage children to get

used to eating is an early age but also preparing and so they are not

just buying fish fingers. The Government is also looking at how we

can promote careers in the food industry. We have got a government

recommendation that you should be eating fish twice a week. One being

oily fish and the other whitefish. We do not come anywhere near that in

the UK. That is for health, not for pushing up the profits of seafood

companies. It is for health. But will primary school pupils, even in

Grimsby, be persuaded of seafood's succulence? They might give it a try

but I don't think they would like it. I think it is a good idea and

good for the children also. It is healthy. She lost this fingers, lost

fish and chips and it is the way forward, is it not?

Grimsby's industry hope so as earlier at the minister visited its

fish market amid hopes that George Eustice can help the town rediscover

its best years as the processing industry picks up. Whether it can be

done on a huge skill, not to be done on a huge skill, not to the old days

of yore when Grimsby was the Premier fishing port... But I certainly

think there is scope for improvement, increase in business as

well. One of the things we have to be mindful of as the history of the

past. We have to build on that and look to the future. The Humber

region has a great history with the fishing and deep water boards.

Today, though, industry leaders in Grimsby have been looking to the

future and hoping this visit will boost the town's key trade, as well

as encouraging more people to eat seafood. `` deepwater fishing boats.

This fingers 40! `` fish fingers 40! Lincolnshire skier Jade Etherington

finished second in the Super Combined slalom event this morning,

at the Winter Paralympics. It means she is virtually guaranteed another

medal! Jade, who has already won two medals at the games, originally came

in fourth, but moved up after two other skiers were disqualified.

Earlier, I spoke to Jade and asked her how she felt after winning

Silver on Saturday. Her story is amazing. As long as she finishes the

course on Friday, she will win a medal.

It was quite a lot to take in. For me, it was the first race, the first

time I had ever raced at a Paralympic event. To come down and

when that silver medal in the downhill, it was so good. It was

definitely a confidence boost for me and Caroline. We have not been

working that long together. It was only a third downhill together. We

were both really happy with the performance and we tried to take

that into the next couple of races. It was a fantastic achievement. The

question that everybody has been asking me is how you do it. What do

you need to be told to be able to do what you do? I spend time with

Caroline all the time, on and off the hell, 24/7. In the actual cause,

she will tell me when to turn, is the main thing, and when the tour

bricks are. We do a lot of the communication and what they commands

will be in inspection and that is when I will look at the terrain, the

steepness, but we're going to land, whether there is going to be some

are shared. Gosh! There's quite a lot communication. That is

definitely the key to our success in skiing and also the distance. We

been really close to Caroline and telling her win to go, when to wait.

A chance of another medal on Friday? Hopefully! Are run today was quite

good but we have not been on the slalom for a while but we are going

to get up really early and, you know, try to get our energy as we

are both feeling really tired from all the highs and lows that we have

had. I think we are just going to try and save energy and call for the

slalom and have fun. Well, you have been fantastic. Many

congratulations. Good luck for the rest of the week. Lovely to chat

with you. Thank you for having me. Technique care! `` take care! 's

what a fantastic story and good luck to her on Friday and good evening to

her family, who I think are tuned in.

It has been announced that Hull City's FA Cup semi final at Wembley

against Sheffield United will take place on Sunday April 13th at 4pm.

And today, Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has been given a

seven`match ban after headbutting City midfielder David Meyler during

a game at the KC Stadium at the start of the month.

Scunthorpe United can break a club record this evening if they avoid

defeat against Southend. The Iron haven't lost in 19 matches and it's

a record that's given them a great chance of promotion from League Two.

Our Sports reporter Simon Clark is at Glanford Park. What are the

chances of United breaking this record?

Peter, in this extraordinary week of FA Cup semifinals and Paralympic

medals, Scunthorpe are on the brink of breaking a record that took the

previous team into the Championship was a good chance. Difficult in

tonight against Southend United led by Phil Brown. Therefore has fallen

off a little bit since they were beating by the Hull city side in the

FA Cup. Great chance for Scunthorpe. I will be back to let you know how

they get on. 's, `` That match will be live on BBC Radio Humberside.

Sportstalk is on the air now with build up to the game. On AM and

online, they've got Grimsby Town's game with Hereford.

online, they've Lincoln City are at home to Welling

this evening. BBC Radio Lincolnshire will have commentary of that game.

Their build up starts at 7pm. Enjoy the football tonight.

First there was the selfie. Now it seems there's a new internet photo

craze but this time it involves horses. It's taken the equestrian

world by storm. Kate Sweeting can explain all.

This is Barry. Barry is used to the quiet life. Hello! Unbeknownst to

him, something big has happened to him recently. He has gone viral. But

do not worry, it is not time to call the vet. When I say viral, I mean

Internet viral, like many of his 4`legged friends. He has joined the

new worldwide social media phenomenon on known as

#Neighnomination. You put a post on Facebook with a picture and a bit of

writing about your horse or horses of a lift in. Then you nominate

somebody else and the hopefully do the same thing. Hundreds of

thousands of horse owners have already posted images of their

animals on social networking sites, with everything from silly sell

these to nostalgic pictures from the past. `` silly pictures. Why is

proving so popular? Is becoming because people absolutely adored

talking about their authors. They are members of their family, as far

as they are concerned. I named my son after one of my best horses.

People are like that, they just love talking about them. Even a

Paralympian has been getting in on the action. People are doing it at a

grass roots level and so are top horse riders. It really has captured

the whole of the equestrian industry. It is quite funny really!

And some of the horses certainly seem to be enjoying the attention.

Irony is very famous. He says he likes being famous. He has retired

from top`level eventing so it is quite nice that he still can be

famous in his own right, even though he is retard from being famous for

competing. So there you have it. The latest

social media crazed straight from the horse's mouth. Sorry, couldn't

resist! Horse and hound, I read nothing

else! It is 7:55pm. Let's get a recap of the national

and regional headlines. Britain's best known trade union

leader Bob Crow has died suddenly at the age of 52.

The woman in charge of Lincolnshire's ambulance service

says response times are still not good enough.

Tomorrow's weather: A grey start, low cloud and fog

slowly clearing. Most places brightening up with long sunny

spells. Maximum temperature will be 11 Celsius.

That is all from me. I will be back later on tonight. Join me then.

Goodbye. Dash`mac whilst we are on the subject of toilets, Judy says

that people will be urinating more on the street close. Ian says that

if the council wants to save money then he can start with expenses.

Another asks what happens when the market is closed. Perhaps the

council should not have spent all the money on crazy paving. Another

says that the council has the right idea because you have never used the

toilets. David says, "have I gone daft? Surely the council should have

decided to shut them before doing them up. It is absolute

incompetence. Who scored "close in public toilets is a step back in

time to when disease was rife." `` absolute incompetence. " Just

finally, Hilary says it is often the first stop after long journey.

How do they expect these poor traders and market stall holders to

survive? It will put people off visiting Grimsby and I do not think

I will bother anyone. Big response on the subject of toilets. It is not

too late to comment. Have a nice evening.