07/02/2013 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Hello. Welcome to Thursday's Look North.

In tonight's headlines. Sellafield Ltd admits it allowed

four bags of radioactive waste to go to landfill. A court hears how

failure went to the highest levels. As the Government announces cash

for flood protection schemes, a long awaited defence for Morpeth is

set to get the final nod. Waiting for a lift at the platform.

It's been there for several months. Find out why you can't use it.

And for sale. A pretty cottage near the water, but you'll really need a

boat if you want to live there. In sport, we look ahead to the

start of the new Superleague netball season. And we speak to new

Sunderland striker Danny Graham about being a Newcastle fan and

being booed at the Stadium of Light just days before he signed.

I sort of expected it and they just It was a failure that went to the

very highest levels of the company. That was the indictment from

prosecutors today of the blunders which allowed low level nuclear

waste to be dumped in a landfill site by the owners of Sellafield.

Sellafield Ltd today pleaded guilty at Workington Magistrates Court to

seven charges relating to the disposal of four bags of waste at

Lillyhall, just outside Workington. The court heard how a doctor's

report revealed that landfill staff were exposed to radioactivity. And

the disposal was only discovered by chance, by a worker on a training

exercise. Magistrates today said that although the risk was low, it

should never have arisen. And they say their powers of sentence are

not strong enough, so they have sent the case to the Crown Court.

Mark McAlindon joins us now from outside the magistrates court.

You may ask her Material of this kind can end up like this. But this

case is shocking. A monitoring machine which is supposed to

separate claim waste from dirty was set to zero. An employee on a

training and exercises put a bag of contaminated waste through that

monitor and it came out clean. That rang alarm bells. It launched an

investigation which has ended up in the magistrates' court today. In

court today, we were told that the feelings in this case went to the

highest level of the company. The prosecutions were brought by the

Environment Agency. The overriding aim is to ensure protection of the

public and the environment. We do this by a regulation and that is

why we brought this prosecution. Are these breaches serious?

carried out a full investigation and we have already required

Sellafield are limited to put in improvements so this sort of thing

will not happen again. discovered the blunder was only

discovered by chance, by an employee on a training exercise.

That discovery kick-started an intensive investigation. It was low

level, but left to landfill workers exposed. Doctors say that some

groups of people would have been exposed and would have been hailed

re due activity from waste at the landfill site. -- in healed. Week

require their nuclear industry to control its hazards. Where

necessary, we will take enforcement action to protect people in society

from the these hazards. Afterwards, Sellafield limited declined to be

interviewed because they said sentencing was not complete in

court, a barrister said the company accepted this was a source of deep

disappointment. What happens next?

As you say, this sentencing will now go to the Crown Court because

magistrates do not believe they have got sufficient power.

Thank you. And Cumbria's nuclear waste row

took a potentially sinister twist today. Police could be called in to

investigate allegations of intimidation of county councillors

in Cumbria after they rejected the multi-billion pound plan for an

underground nuclear waste facility in the Lake District. The former

Environment Secretary Patrick Jenkin told the House of Lords that

he had obtained what he called a chilling email sent by an anti-

nuclear campaigner. He has called for an investigation. Stephanie

Cleasby reports. The nuclear waste vote caused

passions to be raised on both sides of the argument in Cumbria. And

today we got an insight into just how heated it got. In the House of

Lords, the Conservative former minister, Lord Jenkin, said he had

been given what he called a chilling email sent out by a

campaigner opposed to the nuclear The Energy Minister Lady Verma says

it could be a matter for the police. But the Deputy Leader of the

council, who also received the email in question, says the

intimidation issue has been blown out of proportion. A did not feel

intimidated by it. People have strong views of these issues. But

are the Cabinet members are all experienced counsellors and had

been in situations similar to this in the past and are well used to

immortal representations from members of the public. In another

twist, Councillor Tim Knowles, who was responsible for nuclear issues,

has resigned from the authority's cabinet following last week's

decision. Stephanie Cleasby, BBC Police searching for a missing

Harrogate man have found a body. Keith Broadbent, who's 61, was

reported missing on Tuesday evening. Officers carrying out searches of

the River Nidd near Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough found a man's body

this afternoon. Mr Broadbent's next of kin have been informed, but

formal identification hasn't yet been carried out. The search for Mr

Broadbent has been stood down. The debate over where the remains

of Richard III should be buried took a fresh turn today. Earlier

this week, it was announced that bones found in a Leicester car park

were those of the monarch, who died in 1485. He was the last King of

the House of York and thousands of people have signed a petition

calling for him to be buried in York. Now York Minster has released

a statement saying they support the view that Richard should be

reinterred in Leicester Cathedral. The long-awaited flood protection

scheme for Morpeth in Northumberland is set for final

approval by councillors tonight. A storage reservoir upstream of the

town should prevent any future floods like those of 2008 and 2012.

The county council will pay more than half of the �23 million bill.

New flood protection schemes announced today include: Keswick

surface water work, a flood storage scheme for Pickering and coastal

protection work at Sandsend near Whitby. Adrian Pitches reports.

This was Paul Gillie's bed and breakfast beside the River Wansbeck

last September. And this was his B&B today. The workmen are almost

finished and he is back in business. We're just days away from opening

again. That is how close we are. We have had some delays, but we are

nearly there. Just doing the finishing touches. Just got the the

last little bits done on the ground floor. The builders are doing their

snagging lists. Just days away, thankfully.

Nearly 1000 homes and businesses were overwhelmed in the floods of

September 2008. The need for better defences was undeniable. But the

plans were put on hold until last year when the county council

offered to pay more than half the bill. With planning permission

secured tonight, work can get underway within days. We will be

having a small opening ceremony next week where we will start

taking down some of the trees we need to take down to start building

some of the defences. We will be constructing new defences and

refurbishing some of the existing defences in the town. We will start

when the weather gets better in the spring, moving upstream. We will be

building a large dam to act as a flood storage reservoir in times of

high flow. With homes and businesses getting

back on their feet, 2013 looks a lot brighter, but there is a cloud

on the horizon and that is the insurance deal there has to be

struck between the government and the Association of British Insurers.

Without that deal, 200,000 homes could be without insurance by the

middle of this year. For years, rail travellers at

Alnmouth station in Northumberland have had to rely on a high

footbridge if they wanted to cross to another platform. Last year, a

lift was finally installed. Good news for people with disabilities,

or pushchairs or heavy luggage. But nine months on, not a single

passenger has been in it. Because as Gerry Jackson reports, a lift

without a phone is like a pub with no beer - not much use!

Alnmouth, a quiet sort of place, apart from the occasional gentle

cursing perhaps. Humping a heavy case between rail platforms is no

fun when you are able bodied. But if you are not so mobile, or just

in a hurry, it must be a relief to see a brand new lift installed

after years of waiting. But hold on. The thing is, even a shiny, brand

new lift has to have an emergency phone or intercom put in in case it

breaks down. In this case, they built the nice lift all right, but

the phone lines never got put in. And it is not allowed to be used

until the phones work. The lift has been waiting for passengers for the

last nine months and the passengers are waiting for the phone

engineers... To get their finger out and get it fixed. You would

think disabled access was a priority. It's crazy. What happened

before we had phones? We had lifts before we had phones. If people get

stuck, they can shout. The station is run by Northern Rail.

It said, we are currently awaiting confirmation from BT as to when

this work can be completed. Our passengers are our priority and

unfortunately, we cannot allow the lifts to be used until every

provision has been made for their safety. I did see you huffing and

BT have told us that the work has ended up costing more than planned

and has only recently got the go- ahead. It expects to have the less

operating in the meantime. I did say you huffing and puffing a

little bit. Just a little bit. There is quite a bit of luggage in

there. A phone line. The that It's a two bedroomed cottage near

York with a nice garden and beautiful views. And all for the

bargain price of �70,000. But you're unlikely to get a mortgage

or insurance and you'll definitely need to leave room in your budget

for a boat. Olivia Richwald reports. No man is an island, but here in

North Yorkshire, buy this property and you could live on one, albeit

an occasional island. Every time it floods, that is several times a

year, these two homes are marooned and now one of them is for sale.

For the past couple of years, it has been getting in three, four or

five times a year. You are marooned for about a fortnight, nobody can

get into you and you cannot get out. The top road floods.

Retired lock keeper Rob Gaskill has lived here for 30 years. But he has

had enough and is moving onto a narrow boat to enjoy his retirement.

Nevertheless, he does have fond memories.

People, the weather, the views, peace and quiet, security. I like

it when it floods. It is the nearest I will get to living in a

castle surrounded by water. I know we're not going to get burgled.

The cottage is owned by the Canal and River Trust. It needs a lot of

work and flooding is guaranteed. The first public viewing last week

had to be cancelled because, you guessed it, this was as close as

you could get. Today, it's better and the auctioneer is positive.

would buy it tomorrow. It is a holiday opportunity for an investor.

You can get very good returns for this sort of property. It has got a

lot of potential. A unique position. I think it could be a good

investment for someone. A lot of work to do, but it is probably

worth a punt for a developer like myself.

Buying the property behind me is not for the faint-hearted, or those

who are afraid of water. There have been seven floods inside the house

since the year 2000. But if you look at the chart over here behind

me, there have been many floods here since the 1980s. Finally, some

advice from Rob. Buy a dinghy, have a life jacket

and get some waders. But don't bother with insurance, because you

will not get it. The cottage goes under the hammer

on February the 20th. Plenty more to come in tonight's

programme. We hear from Sunderland's new signing about

divided loyalties. As Valentine's Day draws near, some

tips from a best selling romantic novelist. But who is Jessica Blair?

And I will be here with you Visit County Durham launched its

biggest ever marketing campaign Valentine's Day is just a week away

and perhaps you're looking for inspiration as to how to show that

special person in your life how much you care. Well, it just so

happens that here in the region we have one of the country's most

successful authors of romantic fiction. Peter Lugg's been getting

some tips from Bill Spence who writes under a female pen name.

You need some ideas for Valentine's Day? Look no further than your

local bookshop. The section you will need is romantic fiction.

Listen to this. Kate froze. She saw him stiffen as their eyes locked.

The moment seemed to last an eternity. Then Titus turned and

walked away briskly. She stared after him, unable to move.

The author is local, perhaps we should meet. The inspiration for

these novels lies behind the door of a picture-postcard cottage in

Ampleforth. A workstation is littered with the trappings of

romance. This is the home of the author Jessica Blair. John swept

her into his arms. Jessica Blair is the nom de plume of wartime bomber

crew Bill Spence who now, aged 87, has more than 20 romantic novels to

his name. Or her name. The publishers, when I submitted the

first book, they decided that they would like to publish it but wanted

to use a female name. You don't say no to publishers.

In his younger days, and under several different names, Bill also

wrote westerns and war stories. But it's romance where his expertise

really lies. Just ask his daughters. He's always been a ladies' man. He

has always been in a house of women, basically. The wife always says I

should be more romantic. What would you do before you got married? You

would court her. You would court your sweetheart. Once you get

married, don't stop courting. Court her all her life, she will

appreciate that. Do what you would have done when you were trying to

get her interested in you. Thank you. It is simple.

Nothing wrong with garage floors. He has made no secret of the fact

that he's a Newcastle United fan but Danny Graham is now committed

to the Sunderland cause. Some might think it's a brave move joining a

club where some of the fans clearly didn't want him. But the 27-year-

old Tynesider is desperate for the chance to show them what he can do.

You would not have put too much money on Danny Graham leaving

Swansea for Sunderland after this reception at the Stadium of Light.

BOOING. But what a difference five days can

make. CHEERING.

When you came off the pitch with Swansea, a lot of fans were booing,

what was going through your mind? Not a lot to be honest. I expected

it. There was a lot of stories flying around in the press. I sort

of expected it and I just got on with it. But never once did it put

me off in terms of wanting to move here. I just took it on the chin

and moved on from it. That initial animosity sprang from a fanzine

interview some years ago when Gateshead born Graham made a jokey

reference to the fact he would never support Sunderland.

It was tongue in cheek, a long time ago. The things were said, I am not

going to hide from that, but I am here now. The reception I got on

Tuesday to the one I got on Saturday was great. A lot of them

seem to have forgotten about it. I hope they know I am here to do well

and that I'm 100 per cent committed. The move has led to a bit of a

Teesside reunion. Graham left Chester-le-Street to team up with

Lee Cattermole and Alan Johnson at the Riverside the year after the

two of them helped Boro win the FA Youth Cup in 2004. While he is now

a �5.5 million striker, he has had to work hard to get where he is.

Being a young boy at Middlesbrough, a Premier League club at the time,

it was great for a young footballer, but that changed. Players came in.

It was always going to be tough. It was always going to be a case of

getting first-team football and Carlisle give me that opportunity.

I had two good years there. Watford, I had to prove myself again. In the

Premiership, last year, I had to prove myself again. I've risen to

every challenge and I'm hoping to do the same again here.

Since last summer's Olympics, women's sport has been enjoying a

higher profile than ever before. Netball has seen a huge resurgence

in popularity and after England's recent historic series win against

Australia, there's more excitement than usual ahead of the new

Superleague Season. Team Northumbria fly the flag for the

elite game in our part of the world, and their match against fierce

rivals Loughborough Lightning next Monday is already a sell out as

Dawn Thewlis reports. It's been a long pre season for

these players who have been in training since September and they

cannot wait to get started. Lisa Stanley has taken on the coaching

role full time which will benefit the team and her.

I've got plenty of time for the girls. I can see them when they're

training. I am head of netball at Northumbria University, I have got

five teams as well. Much better than last year when I was working

two jobs. We have a much stronger team this year so I hope we get

into the top four this year. The team is made up of a PE teacher,

a physiotherapist a solicitor and students, of whom only three are

imports, and home grown talent now makes up the bulk of the team.

For me, that is really where we needed to get to with Team

Northumbriaa. The imports are a support to us rather than an

integral part. We're looking at a team full of people that have

learnt their trade in the north- east. We have got home grown talent

coming through. And we've got people like myself who have been

around for a long time who are excited still to be part of it.

As it's turned out new Australian import Sally Butters is going to

miss the first few weeks of the season though injury. I don't think

many people were happy when I told them I put my arm, skiing. Not on

the netball court. A bad start. Sport is funding Netball to the

tune of �25 million over the next four years. England Netball have

worked incredibly hard to promote a sport which is an Olympic sport. It

can get pushed to the sideline, but participation rates are some of the

highest in the country. It is exciting that they have finally

managed to recognise all that hard work.

I am feeling a little bit nervous at this time. Paul is going to be

talking about glamour calendars. The name Pirelli does, -- Does it

conjured up a glamourous image. Combine that with the fact that

they have a huge factory in Carlisle and it seems the ideal

candidate to judge or January Who better to separate the high

performance from the dodgy remould than two quality control experts,

each with their own keen interest in photography. Pam concentrates on

what comes into the factory, Peter on what goes out. What would they

be looking for in their ideal January weather picture? Possibly

some nice snow and quite vibrant colours, nice and sharp photographs,

not too cluttered. Really looking for a nice, striking image,

something that you would want to have on your wall for the whole of

the month, that reflects the area that we live in.

The quality control process begins. As always, it is not an easy job.

But Peter and Pam narrow it down. The runners up. First of all, a

lovely image from Luke who is only 17, of the phone box. It is a very

striking image with very vibrant colours. Very bright. Yes, lovely.

The other one that we liked was by Stuart Goodman from Wetherall. The

reflections were so sharp and such a calm photo. Yes, it is, something

you can put on your wall. What about the winner? We have

picked our overall winner and it looks like the one from Blyth beach

which, again, has very vibrant colours.

The umbrella colours match the photo. That is why we really liked

that one. I think it just goes to show what talented people there are

across the region. Congratulations to George for a

very good photograph. Thank you. Congratulations to

Back to the weather in hand. Of mostly dry picture ahead as we head

into the sea thing. We will see the cloud gradually thicken up, but not

before temperatures drop and give a touch of frost. A bit of a grey

start despite the icy patches. Many places will see some sunshine

develop. The East Coast may hang onto some thicker cloud. Just the

odd shower in Cumbria. Temperatures, like the last few days, will peak

around four or five Celsius. That wind will feel a little bit more

Prisca than it was today. That is the picture for tomorrow. That

weather a fund clears away, it never quite clears the cloud away.

Through the weekend, this more active with the system comes in

from the West. Perhaps the risk of more widespread sleet and snow for

the second half of the weekend. Over the next few days, some decent

dry spells, but an increasing risk of patchy rain turning to sleet and

snow at the end of the weekend. In the North East, a similar sort of

picture, not as much in the way of brightness tomorrow. Temperatures

has -- similar on Saturday, dropping on Sunday.