23/10/2013 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Hello and welcome to Wednesday's Look North. Tonight: 130

firefighters to go from one of the North's brigades.

Unions describe the cuts as devastating. If these cuts kept ``

go ahead we will have 88. That is a 50% reduction. It is impossible to

retain the level of cuts and maintain the same level of cover.

Is there fresh hope for the family of a little girl who went missing

more than thirty years ago? Mind the doors ` the new safety

campaign on the Metro after a series of shocking incidents.

The number of pub closures continues to rise. But can the trend be

reversed? And voila! The route of the Tour de

France through our region is unveiled in Paris. We visit one of

the towns to welcome the big race next year.

In sport, a good night for three of our Football League clubs. Catch all

the goals and meet the ex`Whitehaven head coach, leading Scotland into

the World Cup at Workington The most devastating cuts in the service's

history. The most devastating cuts in the history of the service.

That's the verdict of the Fire Brigades Union following the

announcement that more than five million pounds is being cut from the

Tyne and Wear Fire Service. It will see 131 firefighters go over the

next few years ` that's one in five of front line staff. Fire engines

and stations are also under threat. Our Political Editor Richard Moss is

outside one of the stations that could be affected now. This is

Gosford fire station and it is one station which could be closed as

part of the cuts. In the past, Chief Fire officers have said we will make

sure the public will not notice the difference. This time the chief fire

officer says this is front line and the public will notice the

difference. We will get two fires in slower times than they have done up

to now. Why is that the case? 131 firefighters as you mentioned will

go. One in five fire engines, 65 Rangers will go. Three fire stations

will also close. One aerial platform will also be lost to the service.

There will be a new fire station in Benton. For smaller targeted

response are alliances will be available. They can only tackle

minor fires. Devastating cuts and the chief fire officer admits that

and said the public will notice the difference. They will notice that

there are less fire engines on the street. When a call 999 we may take

longer to get there. I like to reassure everyone, our focus is on

speed of response to life risk. If that is life risk at the incident,

we will respond as quickly as possible and we expect that response

to be very close to how fast we are today. The unions believe these cuts

are as bad as anything they have seen. They say their members are

angry today. Not just because they will lose jobs but because they have

been put in a compromised position. Their own safety and public safety

could be a risk. This is the view of the union. To lose a firefighters

and six fire engines and two stations is devastating. We had a

firefighters less than ten years ago. We will now have eating eat. It

is impossible to sustain that level of cuts and been saying the same

level of cover. `` 88. Can anything stop the cuts? The fire station said

it wants EU views from the public. The public and the MPs are

encouraged to get behind a campaign to reverse the cuts. However, the

fire service will need more money from the government. The government

said fire rescue was very important but all of the public sector needed

to play a part in cutting the deficit. There could be things like

sharing services and changing shift patterns. The fire service says they

have done all that. They cannot cut into the front line to make savings.

We have the fastest response times in the country in Tyne Wear but

that may not last after these cuts. Thank you. It's more than thirty

years since she disappeared. But today a man from Hartlepool says

he has fresh hope that his daughter is still alive. Katrice Lee went

missing on her second birthday from a shop in Paderborn in Germany where

her father was serving in the army. Her family have always believed she

was abducted. With the fresh publicity surrounding the

disappearance of Madeliene McCann, and the appeal to find the parents

to a young girl in Greece, they now have renewed hope that Katrice may

be found. Andrew Hartley has the story Katrice Lee hasn't been seen

for 32 years. She went missing on her second birthday in 1981. Katrice

disappeared from a supermarket on an army base in Germany where her

father was stationed. Her family have claimed all along that she was

stolen to order. We were last at and accused of clutching at straws. What

is possibly baiting them on the backside now, and they are focusing

on the theory that she was sold to a childless couple.

That belief Katrice was abducted was strengthened by last week's

discovery of a four`year`old child living in a Roma settlement in

Greece. Maria was found with a couple who were not her biological

parents. They've been charge with abduction. I have always said that

there was an issue of human trafficking and children were being

sold. We were laughed at and accused of clutching at straws. What has

come to pass has proven that what we said 30 years ago is true and has

been prevalent for 30 years. Last year the Royal Military Police

opened an inquiry into Katrice's disappearance ` with three lines of

inquiry ` that she fell into a nearby river and drowned. She was

abducted and murdered. Or thirdly, that she was kidnapped or stolen to

order and she is alive and well today ` probably unaware of her true

identity. They've now discounted the possibility that Katrice drowned `

the major line of inquiry in 1981. Which leaves the family claiming the

original investigation was botched. They lost a lot of opportunities.

When you consider that in the first 24 hours, even the border crossings

to all the different countries, they were not informed that my daughter

had gone missing. Six weeks later the cashier in the shopping complex

where she went missing was then interviewed. This length of time a

loud these perpetrators to get away with it. Andrew Hartley joins me

now. I understand there've been further developments on this story

tonight? I can reveal that Katrice's father, who you saw in that piece,

met members of the investigative team at the Royal Military Police

this afternoon. And whilst Mr Lee's concerns at what he sees as

incompetence and cover up in the original inquiry remain ` he was at

least brought up to speed on the latest developments. I've been

speaking this evening with the officer in charge of the

investigation Major Clive Robins He told me that despite the fact that

this case has gone on for so very long there are reasons to be

optimistic that they will get to the bottom of this case. That's because

he has a large team working on the case in a major incident room and

because policing and forensics have developed so much in the last three

decades. So hope is still there. Thank you.

A man's been remanded in custody charged with the murder of estate

agent Nicole Waterhouse in York. Her body was found in an apartment at

Phoenix Boulevard on Sunday night. 25`year`old Jeremy Green is also

charged with the attempted murder of another woman. He'll appear at Leeds

Crown Court next month. It's emerged that a third person's

been arrested on suspicion of assault by police investigating

concerns at a Penrith nursing home. Last month a man aged 21 and a woman

aged 22 were arrested in connection with the incidents at the Beacon

Edge Nursing Home. They've been bailed until later this month. Now a

20`year`old woman has also been detained and bailed until November.

Operators of the Tyne and Wear Metro have begun a campaign to try to stop

people interfering ` and taking chances ` with train doors. It

follows a number of incidents where people have become trapped and

dragged along platforms. Gerry Jackson reports.

Most of us, at some point, have left it to the last moment ` but push it

that bit too far, and like this woman in Newcastle, you could be

risking your life. You As was this man at South Hylton station ` again,

a hand trapped by a closing door. And in yet another example, in

Jarrow, a woman was dragged along the platform by an accelerating

train... Passengers managed to free her just in time. The problem ` even

on the most modern Metro carriages, the doors won't necessarily spring

back open and an obstruction won't necessarily prevent the train

moving. The doors are designed to large objects. But when people put

hands and smaller objects, the doors do not recognise them and will stoke

flows. That is how things can become very dangerous for customers.

At the Haymarket a woman jams a stick into the train doors ` the

stick travels without her. Of course these are extreme examples but Metro

say doors are obstructed in some way around 20,000 times a year. All

evidence they say that travellers are taking too many chances. Just

ask the drivers. We do have monitors on the platform which I was to

operate the doors in a safe manner but obviously when people jump on

the last minute it is dangerous. Are putting yourself at risk and you're

putting the driver risk. You could potentially go to jail.

In theory, you can be heavily fined for not minding the doors, please.

The operators hope this new slightly tongue in cheek information film

will help with the message. Look before you leap. I think it is

beneficial what they are doing. Safety is a good idea but I do not

see that practised as much as it used to be. They should be updating

the Metro so they do not do that. I can see why they are doing it, it

makes sense. You're watching Wednesday's Look

North. Dawn joins me for tonight's sport shortly. Also still to come...

Le grand depart! We look forward to the Tour de France cycle race which

comes to the North for the first time in 2014. How was the weather?

It looks decent for tomorrow but wet and windy again by Friday. Gianni

Letta for the full forecast. More and more visitors are beginning

to discover the attractions of the Eden district on the edge of the

Lake District ` according to businesses in the area. A conference

at the Center Parcs holiday village near Penrith today heard how the

region can compete with the high fells of the Lake District. And with

the economy said to be turning the corner, the sector could be set for

growth and new jobs. It has been a tough four years for tourism. It has

been hard going with the recession. Now we're coming out of recession

and there is more to spend. This is an up`and`coming destination and we

need to see Henry can use that to benefit the district to sustain and

grow employment. More and more pubs across the North

have been calling time, as difficult trading conditions force them out of

business. The loss of village pubs has been widely reported, but those

on housing estates in our towns and cities are disappearing even faster.

But now, in Carlisle, the immediate future of two city pubs is being

secured. As Graham Moss reports, beer campaigners hope it's evidence

of a growing trend. These days The Sailor has little to

be jovial about. You'll The pedestrians have walked elsewhere.

Whole areas of Carlisle have been left without a local. Beer

campaigners CAMRA says the national closure rate has risen from 18 pubs

per week to 26 pubs a week closing on the latest figures. But there's

cautious optimism the next set of information, currently being

compiled, will show some improvement. Take The Currock which

serves the estate of the same name ` here a change in the building's

ownership ` has secured the future of the pub. Had means we can stay

for a while longer yet. We have signed a lease. It means I can stay

and continue and keep the pub open which is wonderful. No one is

getting carried away, this is the magpie in, the local for this

estate. It is grade two listed and has won awards at the last paint was

signed here in the summer. It was probably my favourite pub in

Carlisle at the time it closed. We really would like to see it

reopened. It serves a big community. The locals really do miss it. Back

here, the late afternoon trade is starting to arrive. Quite a few pubs

have closed, this is all we have got left in the area. People support and

enjoy them and it is a valuable part of the community. We are community

pub that is run on regular base. Hopefully regulars will bring their

friends in and they will bring friends. We are brilliant pub and

there are going to characters that coming here. Whatever the figures

show, these Carlisle drinkers seem just happy still to have a local

pub. So, has your local closed recently?

And what do think should be done to keep pubs open. Let us know what you

think on the Look North Facebook page. The details on how to log on

are on your screen now. It's official. The world's greatest

cycle race ` the Tour de France ` will run through parts of our region

next July. The final route was announced in Paris earlier today.

It'll be the first time le Grand Depart has been witnessed in the

north of England ` and businesses deep in the Yorkshire Dales are

hoping the massive event can help them turn around their fortunes

after falling numbers of visitors in recent years. Phil Chapman has sent

this report from Swaledale. We're taught away deep in the Yorkshire

Dales National Park. Many people feel it has been forgotten until

now. Keen cyclist will read this route every day but one weekend next

summer, the whole world will meet `` see it, an estimated audience of 3

billion viewers. They hope the added attention will bring a lasting

legacy after being hit by the economic downturn in the last few

years. It is going to be a fantastic opportunity for all the businesses

to make a lot of money out of it to be honest. We expect thousands of

people. We do not know how many. We think this place will be teeming

with people. This is help was picked up within 24 hours of the

announcement but has been tough recently. It has been quite

challenging in the last couple of years. I suspect that is true for

all hospitality businesses, especially in the North. Last year,

not only the economic situation but also the weather was harsh. It is

hoped the weather behaves itself for stage one on July five next year. It

will make its way through the Yorkshire Dales before finishing in

Hannah gets. Stage two to start the day after in your work. It will then

head west back to York `` Heilig. People hope this could be the moment

for this village. It is really exciting. We have perhaps been too

far north and a lot of people when they visit the Yorkshire Dales. It

needs rediscovering. That is where the legacy will live with the Tour

De France. The owner of the cycle Centre believes people are not aware

of the magnitude of this huge sporting events. It is difficult to

comprehend if you're not a keen cyclist. I think it is sinking in

around here. People are starting to prepare for it. This is the stretch

of the route the cycling group will cover in July. Some people believe

the summer of 2014 will be like the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee

rolled into one. Then add to see if the hype will match the promises. ``

now they will have two C. More excitement to come in sports

News. Paul Collingwood has confirmed he

will retire once his current deal with the 2013 county champions

containing next September. He will coach Scotland this winter and he

will be 38 by then. A pretty good innings. Fit ball now.

Middlesbrough have signed Norwich defender Daniel Ayala on a three

month loan. Tony Mowbray who was sacked as Manager on Monday had the

Spaniard in his sights for some time. He came close to signing the

central defender on transfer deadline day and before the QPR

game. Ayala will go straight into the squad for Friday's match with

Doncaster as Boro try to shore up their defence.

Now, it was a good night for three of our football league teams last

night. Three games, two wins and a draw. There seems to be no stopping

Colin Cooper's Hartlepool who claimed their fourth league victory

in a row and Graham Kavanagh's Carlisle managed to get back on

track as well. Carlisle were determined to get back

to winning ways at MK Dons after a disapopinting weekend which saw them

lose their first game in six under new manager Graham Kavanagh ` who

was sent to the stands by the referee. The home side failed to

make the most of their chances in the first half and that ended up

proving costly when former Dons player Lewis Guy volleyed in his

first league goal for the Cumbrians and ultimately the winner against

his old club. Mark Gillespie protected their first half lead as

MK Dons fought to get back into it. And Carlisle almost made it two late

on, but sub Danny Livesey's shot hit the bar and Kavanagh's side held on

to end the Dons unbeaten home run. There was an upbeat atmosphere at

Victoria Park last night and no wonder ` Hartlepool are League Two's

in form side right now and chalked up their fourth league win in a row

against the other Dons of AFC Wimbledon. When James Poole was

tripped in the area Simon Walton made no mistake from the spot to get

Pools off and running. The visitors levelled the score though with a

penalty of their own in the second half but Colin Cooper's side hit

back soon after when Luke James grabbed his second goal in two games

to head Pools into the lead. In a dominant display, Matty Dolan's low

shot from 25 yards sealed all three points for Hartlepool who now move

up to 14th in the table just three points off the play`off zone.

York City had to settle for point at Chesterfield though ` The Minstermen

must have thought they had the three points in the bag when they went

2`nil up, a long range effort from Luke O'Neill put them ahead at half

time, before Ryan Jarvis headed in their second after the break. But

Armand Gnanduillet pulled one back from the penalty spot before setting

up the Spirites equaliser ` whipping the ball in for substitute Jay

O'Shea to rescue the home side from a third successive loss at the

Proact Stadium. Now he may be a Wigan lad but the

former Gateshead and Whitehaven head coach Steve McCormack has renewed

his links with West Cumbria. That's because he's the man leading

Scotland into the Rugby League World Cup ` with their first two pool

matches being staged at Derwent Park in Workington. McCormack, who's 40,

re`trained as a PE teacher and only coaches now part`time. He feels the

competition, which starts in Cardiff on Saturday, will give the sport in

Cumbria a huge boost. I do not think you can underestimate how important

this is to the area. We will have our base camp in the middle of

Workington. Everybody is stopping us to ask questions about the Scottish

team. It's exactly the same in Whitehaven. This is a fantastic

place to play. He is already known as one of North Yorkshire Police

might best wildlife photographers, but now he has been named one of the

best in the world. At a prestigious awards ceremony, like the Oscars, an

image captured by Steve was selected from entries all over the world. It

will now form part of a touring exhibition which will visit the

North East and Cumbria. For any wildlife photographer it is

the early birds who catches the worm. Steve often starts work at

five in the morning, the best time of day to catch his award`winning

pictures. It is the buzz of being outdoors in a wild place and sitting

for a while quietly like here to see what comes across your path. It is

this unusual image which has brought his talent to the attention of the

world. At an awards night in London, the industry equivalent of

the Oscars, the photograph was chosen out of 46,000 worldwide

entries. Steve is one of just six Britons to be commended. To get this

special moments of the birds offering the flowers to each other,

and the necklace to go round the neck of the bird was exceptional. I

thought it was amazing. People just look at it and think it is truly

special. To see these birds interacting the way they do is

amazing. His interest in wildlife began at the age of ten. Years

later, hundreds of special moments have been captured on his camera. It

can be instant like the bird image or you can spend a lot of time. But

when you capture that special image, you just know that that is the one.

His image is now part of a touring exhibition which will visit Redcar,

Newcastle and Penrith. He is already up and out, searching for that next

magic moments. That shot of that Fox was beautiful.

Incredible. What do you have for is no?

We have had a bit of everything recently. It is one of the quieter

spells that is your cot at the mouth of Redcar. `` that of your court. It

should be dry and the winds light. We should see some blue sky and

sunshine. All change tomorrow. These southerly winds turned Westerly

today. Things brightened up for the afternoon. Quite a few showers and a

fresher feel as the weather came in from this Westerly direction. Still

a few showers around this evening, but they will die away. We're in for

a dry night. Those westerly breezes easing. We could see one or two

missed patches forming. Temperatures much cooler than the Beano the last

few days. There will be one or two spots down as low as five Celsius.

And it in the first thing tomorrow. Early mist should clear quickly.

Patches of cloud around but some decent sunny spells to be had.

Essentially, dry and bright tomorrow. Temperatures peaked at 14

Celsius. The winds will be lighter, the start of Westerly and turn more

southerly during the day. Make the most of tomorrow while it lasts. A

completely different picture on Friday. This law comes in from the

Atlantic bringing wet and windy weather as we head into the weekend.

But other showery rain to come. Some heavy rain in Cumbria on Friday,

showers on Saturday with sunny spells, showers again on Sunday.

Showers throughout the East. Thank you. A look at the headlines `

thousands of jobs are at `` under threat as the Grangemouth plant in

Scotland was closed following a dispute.

The Fire Brigades union says cuts at the Tyne Wear Fire service are the

most devastating in its history. That's it for tonight. Join us at

1025.