17/05/2012 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Hello and welcome to Thursday's Look North. Tonight, anger over a

�250,000 pay off to one of the north's former Chief Constables..

am stunped by this figure. Over �250,000 of tax payers' money

paying off a chief of police, only the second Chief Constable to have

been found guilty of gross misconduct in the history of

British policing. A former policeman goes on trial accused of

being part of a massive cigarette smuggling racket. The radical new

way of treating stroke patient, that was developed here in the

north. Decision day on plans for a controversial shopping development

in one of our cities. And Brita's got talent. The Swedish-born artist

who has a town's traders down to a T. Sport we are live in Durham City

as professional cycling comes back to the region and find out what it

First tonight, anger and dismay over a �250,000 pay out for North

Yorkshire ice former Chief Constable. Grahame Maxwell, who

left his job on Tuesday, was disciplined for gross misconduct

last year, after attempting to help a relative get a job with the force.

When his contract wasn't renewed he was given the pay out as

compensation for not reaching his full pension entiet.. Now the Home

Office says it to review payments given to those involved in

misconduct hearings. He is thought to be the first Chief Constable to

have faced gross misconduct charges in a generation. But Grahame

Maxwell has walked away almost �250,000 in compensation. He was

represented last year after helping a relative with a police job

application, though he allowed to stayment months later he his

contrauct wasn't renewed. The award makes up for lost pension due early

retirement. We could not break the law. The figures are those that Mr

Maxwell is entitled to under the law. Under regulations. Grahame

Maxwell became head of the north Yorkshire force in 2007. Just three

years later, he was charged with gross misconduct, after assisting a

relative in a police recruitment drive. In May last year, a final

written warning was -- issued, then this week he retires at the age of

51. Grahame Maxwell left the force two days ago. He seven titled to

this compensation but taxpayers aren't happy that police rules

permit such a high pay out under these circumstances. Why should he

get that money, gets a good waim any way. Why should he get that?

doesn't make a sense to ordinary people, does it. It is disgusting,

really, to get such a huge amount of money when really at the root of

this problem is most misconduct. Grahame Maxwell's compensation

comes as forces are facing kus of 20%. At the Police Federation

conference, Theresa May said reforms are essential, including

changing the retirement rules. Commenting on the north Yorkshire

case, she said: Police authoritys signed up to these arrangements

several years ago but we are looking at them in right of the

Winsor Review. He recommended misconduct hearings tould should

have the power to remove all or part of a severance payment. The

police authority could have extended his contract to avoid the

compensation. The decision was taken to let him go. Among those

angry about his pay out is Julian Smith, the Conservative MP for

Skipton and Ripon. Earlier he joined me from our Westminster

studio and gave this reaction. stunned by this figure, over

�250,000. It transpires tonight these may not be the final figure,

I have had to this afternoon ask the north Yorkshire police

authority which hasn't been covered in glory throughout the Maxwell

years for clarification, to see if this is the final number. But the

problem here is, it is Home Office rule, isn't it. He is entitled to

this pay out, if he hasn't completed 30 years service and not

entitled to his full pension. true the current regulations mean

he is entitled to this money. That is why I asked in Parliament today,

the question to the Government, and that is why I am meeting with the

police minister so that when all of these reviews are completed on

police pay and conditions we can never again have a situation where

a chief of police can be found guilty of gross misconduct, stay in

his job and get a huge amount of taxpayers cash. But in the meantime

this is going to cause yet more unhappiness in the rank-and-file,

because at the moment they are facing 20% cuts? I think that the

number you have quoted is not actually correct, first of all, but

secondly, it does bother the rank- and-file police officers, men and

women across North Yorkshire, that their chief has been allowed to

stay in this job, and then is also getting this huge amount of money.

I would like to reassure your listeners and viewers that I will

be doing everything I can to make sure that this situation in terms

of a chief of police getting these sorts of numbers, if they are

subject to disciplinary action, should never happen again. A former

Cleveland Police officer has gone on trial accused of being part of a

cigarette smuggling racket. It is allege he and other men conspired

to evade more than � 11 million tax. Two have already pleaded guilty.

Anthony Lamb retired from Cleveland Police in 2006. Three years later

it is allege head joined an already complex and elaborate conspiracy.

The prosecution barrister told the court that between July 2007, and

October 2009, the conspirtors arranged for 21 hip -- shipping

containers to be imported. Of these, seven were seized by customs, and

in total they contained just under 60 million cigarettes. The tax and

VAT on those cigarettes alone was worth �11 million. The prosecution

says Anthony Lamb was in league with another former Cleveland

officer Gary Thompson and a or -- lorry driver list. Thompson and

lust eer have admitted guilt. The jury has to decide whether Mr Lam

new and participated in what was going on. It is alleged the

conspirators rented business addresses round the north, using

false identities, but the names of existing legitimate companies.

These were used to set up bank accounts and pay import fees. The

court heard that surveillance teams often saw Anthony Lamb and Gary

Thompson together and Mr Lamb's fingerprints were on vital

documents. The prosecution say the suggestion that he, Mr Lamb,

remained ignorant of the true position is incredible. Lam, who is

from Coxhoe denies the single charge of conspiring to avoid duty

on cigarettes. The trial is 31 Yorkshire-based Territorial Army

sowns who have returned from Afghanistan met Prince Andrew today

at a ceremony in York. The men and women of the 4th Battalion the

Yorkshire Regiment were presented with Operational Service medals, to

mark the end of their six month tour of duty. The head of the

Newcastle-based bakery chain Greggs has been in London to a new attempt

to prevent the pasty tax going I had. The chief executive Ken

McMeikan met a Treasury minister to present alternative proposals. They

say they could impose VAT on takeaway food that is kept hot but

to allow pasties and pies to remain tax free. Radical new away of

treating stroke patients has been developed here in the north they

will Troy their hand at some surprising new skill, lion taming,

plate spinning and high diving among them. But they will be

learning tem through individual crow games which have been designed

to help them reuse their hand and arm after a stroke. And today, a

further 1.5 million was pledged to fund the project. Here is our

health reporter. In her Whickham home Catherine is turning into a

pretty awesome gamer. But this video game is helping her to reuse

her arm, after a stroke. I didn't feel too well. My son phoned me up,

and when I answered the phone, he didn't recognise my voice. So there

was some distortion within my voice, within a few minutes I had

collapsed to the floor. The game she was playing was deviced by

neuroscientists at Newcastle University. The brain is able to

relearn how to use an arm, and for arm movement you have to practise

probably about 40 minutes day, every day, perhaps for a year, to

get your movement control back. And so we basically put a person in the

situation where Tay can play the game, have a lot of fun, win, and

forget that they are doing therapy. And to fund their work, another

�1.5 has been announced from the Wellcome Trust and Department of

Health. I have come to the games lab at Newcastle university --

university and it is here they have been developing the games. Why is

their work so vital, and exciting? Well across the UK, every year, up

to 150,000 people suffer a stroke. Of those, up to 80% of patients

don't fully recover the use of their arm and hand. And that costs

the country billions of pounds. So it is hoped the video games

developed here will make a big difference. Based round circus acts

users can try their hand at lion taming. Plate spin organise have a

go at the trapeze. Just today, we have seen the movements come back,

just through that repeated action of doing those tasks. Before a

stroke your movements are automatic. After a stroke they aren't you

brain has to learn these movements again, so anything that is going to

help your brain to do the movements in an automatic way is just really

really important and hopefully that is what the game will do.

scientists now hope to design games for other conditions, such as

cerebral palsy, diabetes and dementia. So what do you think of

that? You can have your say and find out what ours think on the

Look North Facebook page. Details on the screen now. Sadly you can't

play the games there. Still to come. We meet the artist whose latest ex

-- exhibition features the people who run Berwick on Tweed. And we

will hear from the gold medal winning cyclist who is about to

tackle the streets of Durham City. Planners in York are deciding this

evening on one of the city's most controversial developments in years.

The proposals for a new shopping development at Monk's Cross have

attract criticism from many quarters but supporters say it prom

Is Is a new Community Stadium that will house the city's sports clubs.

-- promises. Interest in this plan is so strong, The Guild Hall simply

wasn't big enough. A local hotel has to be booked, and even then, it

was standing room only. Developers want to build a new retail park,

with a John Lewis, marks and Spencers and a Community Stadium.

Opponents claim it will drive shoppers out-of-town leading to

shop closures and job losses. It also threatens the survival of

another shopping development, one in the city centre. A long plan and

much cherrished aspiration of the council. Supporters claim it could

boost the local economy, and it would deliver the Community Stadium.

A new home for the city's professional clubs, including the

FA Trophy winning York City. Let us join Danny live in York. Do we have

a decision on those plans yet? do. Just minutes ago, we got a

final result after more than nine hours debate. Councillors have

agreeded by ten votes to four, to approval the developments so the

retail element and the city stadium. This is a subject that is divided

the city. That building behind me, The Guild Hall is where decisions

like this would normally be made. But so many people wanted to take

part in this day, they had to relocate to a hotel thon side of

the river. There were 200 people in the room. 40 people spoke in the

debate and there were impassioned views on both sides. There was the

conservation trust saying 1,000 of the city's listed buildings are

owned by independent traders and this proposal could rip the heart

out of the city. There was the football club, saying that they

would lose their 120 youth development boys if it didn't go

ahead. They relieved tonight. -- decision, you bang up-to-date on

that. It is an exhibition with a difference because it features real

life local firms and the people who run them. It is the work of Brita

Granstrom, who is originally from Sweden. Paul has been to look at

her work and meet some of her subjects. Brita Granstrom wasn't

born in ber wick but for the last 16 year she has been proud to call

the town her home. I think because it is a town on its own right, and

it so close to the border, and it is just, in a way, it is a bit of a

time capsule I think, which I think is very special about Berwick. This

latest exhibition, with the portrait, it all got kicked off by

the shops closing, which forced me to go in to, put myself and go into

the shops and actually make this portrait. So with my paintings I go

out and paint on the spot so I thought why don't we meet the

character, the meet the people. So once I have painted the brother, I

went on the paint the butcher. A butcher with a four digit phone

number. When I asked David if he wanted to be painted he said you

wouldn't fit your'sle so I painted the shop, from the other side of

the road and half an hour he came out and said "Come in tomorrow, at

one clock," so from then I came back a few days and he was a

fantastic subject to paint. It was great. I am a butcher. I am David.

I was a bit fat on them but I thought, the whole town, you know,

it's, everywhere you go I have seen the paintings, that is good. Next

stop the free trade. And Berwick's longest serving landlady. I heard

about Brenda long time before I met her, and that she was such a great

landlady and "You should meet her." A friend introduce me one night and

I came back and spent a whole week in here, painting Brenda. She is a

lovely model. My name is Brenda Collins. I have been here nearly 41

years it was built in 1769. The hand pumps are 1967. I feel as if I

have been here since then. When I sit on the street or stand on the

corner, the characters walks into my pictures which is exciting. The

show is called Bucker, Baker and it is on at Northumbria university.

love the way she captures the wood. It is time for sport. A few striems

been tempted to tell Jeff Brown to get on his bike. He hasn't taken

the hint but plenty others have. Isn't that right? It is a good job

I never listen to anything you say. I enjoy cycling into work but tot

when the weather is like this. I will leave to it the professionals.

We have ten professional teams taking part in the popular Halford

Tour Series. It kaifbgd in Kirkcaldy. This is round two and

among the riders taking frart the Rapha Condor Sharp which won last

year, is Ed Clancy. Olympic gloemedist -- gold medallist. It is

not always as wet as this. I should hoth hope not! It looks good. It is

a nice course. It is a bit slippery 2000 the back end. Aim looking

forward to race. I was going say cobbled stone, a bit of rain and

cycling, that is a recipe for disaster. Those things don't

usually mix, but throw a corner in and it is a real recipe for

disaster, we thrive on that sort of thing and hopefully everyone will

behave and once we get a feel for it we will be all right. Is this

all part of training for London? Hopefully, touch wood, you know,

the selections have been made, so yes, this is all part of mine and

Andy's, we ride for the same team, we are using it for training.

is expected of the cyclist, can you deliver? I like to think, so but we

will give it our best and what will be, will be. We wish the you the

best for that. Enjoying the race is the leader of the council who

helped put this on. A bit of disruption to the city but it is

worth it? Yes, just one night but it is fantastic publicity for us,

it is great to have races of this calibre, we have backbench trying

to build a number of cycling races during the year and get a

reputation for that, and just add to the number of sports that take

place here, so it is wonderful. you a cyclist yourself? I can't

came to -- claim to that, but I think it is tremendous, and I have

my admiration to those cyclists who will be going round the track

tonight. It is not easy, going round this course, there are

cobbles, steep hills and so onful. You are putting Ed off now! Thank

you and good luck for tonight and the Olympics. On the cricket and

the first test of the summer, England against the West Indies at

Lords, there was disappointment for Graham Onions who has been out of

the international picture for over a year because of injury. Instead

the last place in the bowling attack went to Tim Bresnan and

Bresnan was joined by his county team-mate Jonny Bairstow, making

his England debut. From York schoolboy to playing at Lords,

quite a journey for Jonny Bairstow, at just 22, given his first test

cap this morning. And this is where his talent was spotted and nurtured.

His old school St Peter's in York. He had a natural talent. He has a

very good eye. Very versus hands and he is a natural. He has got

flair. He played school crickets he would score hundred after hurpbgs

and mostly very quickly. It is perhaps not surprising lvings that

he is so talented. His father was the Yorkshire and England cricketer

David Bairstow, who took his life when his son was seven. But some

similarities between the 13th father and son combination to play

for England remain. Great dash, same sort of energy. Johnny very

much a batsman, whereas David was more of a keeper. You have to stop

the boundaries and secondly... While Johnny's career is just

starting this is the last season for his former school coach. David

Kirby has seen thousands of schoolboy cricketers but he knows

bairs has been the best and his getting Pickford England a

delightful retirement gift. It is a wonderful way to finish. It is a

great finish. It couldn't be better. Perfect. Earlier we talked to Ed

Clancy who is riding in two events at the Olympics. Kat Driscoll has

one last test to get through before finding out if she had made the

trampoline team. She is leading on points to qualify for London 2012.

If she does make it, she will be the only British trampolinist at

She has been described as one of A 26-year-old world number one,

with the drive for gold. Everyone is going to say they want to come

away with gold. You don't want to go into a comb tition aiming to be

third or fourth or fifth. That would be my ultimate goal. She has

an incredible chance of getting gold. She works hard and using her

intelligence of what is happening round the world with other

performer, the only ones to worry about are the Chinese. Technically

demanding trampolining is -- trampolining is a sport in which

Britain has never won a medal. Kat could be Team GBs only contend pore

the London Olympics. It is pretty scare Troy think about it at fist,

I think it is always an honour and privilege to compete for your

country and know you are one of the best in your country. And have the

union jack flag on you. To do it in front of a home crowd is special.

The form was good, so that is what we want. Her original passion was

swimming, but at seven, she discovered her true talent lay here,

on the nets. And with London 2012 in her sight, she now trains seven

days a week for up to four hours every day. It is the adrenaline on

the trampoline, spinning round as much as we r I like the fear of

knowing that something could go wrong and hurt myself which, most

people think I am a bit strange for that, but it brings a nice buzz on.

Kat has so far completed three of four qualifying vents she has one

more to go, the decider. Whoever has the most points at the end gets

Britain's only Olympic spot. At the moment, Kat is in the lead. There

still is the possibility everything could go wrong. I foe I am strong

enough and I have put the work in, I have the results so hopefully it

will all come good. She is ruthless actually. When she compete, she, it

is very calm, but she is a very good, it is a very good trait in a

person who is a winner. She is a born winner. Usually competition

for Kat last round four days. At London 2012, all will be decided in

two hours. A new challenge for Kat. But one she is aiming to reach new

Good luck to Kat. Good luck tuel the cyclists taking part in

tonight's series here in Durham City. Racing starts at seven, goes

on till about 8.15. It is free, get yourself along if you can. I am

feeling ill from those trampolining shots. What it was fantastic but

sick-making. Both the weather comes with a warning. It is going to stay

chilly, we have a beautiful weather shot to start us off. This was the

scene a few morningsing a, sun roiz at Bamburgh on the North East coast.

Thank you the Andy Grey. It won't be a scene like this tomorrow. We

expect rain throughout the day and these will be worst right on the

Northumberland coast. Tonight, rain North East, possibly wet again for

the cyclists in Durham. I am sure we won't let that put them off

though, and it will be driest in the west. Temperatures falling to

round about four or five, in rural spots, a touch milder in the towns

and cities. First thing tomorrow morning and that rain becomes more

widespread across the North East, always driest in Cumbria, but

cloudy here with just a few glimmers of brightness, for much of

the North East as we take a tour through Friday afternoon, it is wet

and cold as well, driving north- easterly winds, blowing this

rainfall in off the North Sea, with temperatures very low indeed for

the time of year. Just seven C for the coast with winds up over 20mph

feeling more like February perhaps than May and even in Cumbria where

it is drier, tomorrow those temperatures low for this time in

the spring, the average will be nearer round 16C, so once again, we

are quite within our rights to feel short changed temperature wise as

well as weatherwise. Here is the reason, an area of low pressure

which crosss the UK through tomorrow, it sinks southwards over

the weekend, an area of high pressure to the north over Scotland,

starts to attempt to settle things down a bitment so what that could

mean, is that things stay largely dry, through Saturday and Sunday.

It is likely to be quite chilly though, but mostly dry over the

weekend with an increasing chance of bright innocence the North East

on Sunday. The temperatures low but the forecast could be worst for the

Keswick mown take festival. That gets going tomorrow. We expect the

brightest day to be Sunday. The breezing should be light once the

winds have climbed over the Pennines, good news for those

hoping to enjoy the festivities there. Brightest on Sunday as I say.

Thank you. I will be there. Before we go let us have the main news

again. David Cameron has said he will do whatever it takes to

protect Britain from the eurozone crisis. And there is anger after

the former chief of North Yorkshire Police was given a pay off of