08/01/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Hello, welcome to Look North. In the programme tonight...

The Coroner at the David Rathband inquest says everyone involved did

all they could to help the blinded officer. His family say they will

continue action against Northumbria Police.

Offside ` Newcastle and Sunderland football clubs accuse a police force

of lying about its involvement in changing derby match kick`off times.

Toxic dilemma ` councils lose the cash they need to clean up pollution

like this, but could still be prosecuted if they do not clean it

up. And this week's Big Question ` would

an independent Scotland be this region's friend or foe?

In sport ` bottom of the Premier League, but Wembley beckons for the

Black Cats. A 2`1 win over mighty Manchester United gives Sunderland

the upper hand in their Capital One League Cup semifinal.

The inquest is over. The verdict was suicide, but for the family of PC

David Rathband, it does not end here.

Relatives of the officer shot and blinded by Raoul Moat in 2010 have

confirmed they will continue a civil action against Northumbria Police.

PC Rathband was found hanged at his home in Blyth in February 2012 and

the coroner at his inquest has implored family and friends not to

blame themselves. Northumbria Police Chief Constable

Sue Sim, who had retained PC Rathband on full pay and promised

him he could return to police work, rejects the family's criticism. It

is the half years since PC David Rathband one shot. Today, a verdict

of suicide was given, after he was found hanging.

In the first months after he was shot, PC Rathband showed incredible

resilience and enjoyed his new`found high profile, setting up the Blue

Lamp Foundation, a charity for emergency workers injured in the

course of duty. In 2011, he attended the trial of

Raoul Moat's two accomplices, who both received life sentences for

their crimes, but he then entered a downward spiral and moved out of the

family home that August, after a furious row with Kath which prompted

his son to call the police. He started a relationship with a

survivor of the London bombings, Lisa French, and although he spoke

of suicide, she never believed he would go through with it.

His estranged wife said the same and today she paid tribute to her

husband. Three and a half years ago, all of our lives changed

irrevocably. While I have lost David, he has left me amazing

children and I am immensely proud of them and what they have achieved. He

would also be very proud of the work of the foundation he started to aid

those who are injured in the line of duty.

His family blamed both Kath and Northumbria Police for failing their

brother and son. The loss of David has devastated to his family and we

will never be able to come to terms with this. Darren and I, will

continue the litigation against Northumbria Police.

But Chief Constable Sue Sim, who kept PC Rathband on full pay and

offered him another police job, rejected their criticism.

She said: "We must refute any suggestion that we failed to support

David or that the support we provided was inadequate."

Included in that support was a clinical psychologist, a trauma

counsellor and the use of a specialist agency for rehabilitation

of people who have lost their sight. Sue Sim concluded: "David was a

valued and skilled officer. We all repeat our deep sadness at his

death." With me now is Peter Sweeney, from

the Blue Lamp Foundation, the charity set up by David Rathband to

provide financial help to members of the emergency services injured in

the course of duty. Peter, to you, who was David

Rathband? David was a cheeky chap. He was very motivational. You can

look at that photograph there, that cheeky smile. He was very

motivational. I think a lot of people do not realise that before

the injury, he had never spoken in public before, but afterwards became

a very motivational public speaker. That's still drives me on today.

This sort of charity was not around to help him when he was so terribly

injured. It did not. The inspiration came from himself. Lying in his

hospital bed, his family had the likes of car parking fees to pay for

week 's. They had to pay for that themselves. There was no one to turn

to. He made them are promise they can then that he if he could do

something about it in the future in the same circumstances would not be

a bit of pocket. Is it possible to keep the charity's profile high

without David? We have had two years of working with David. We will

continue. When David went to Australia in November 2010 and

unfortunately, has unfortunate death afterwards, we have continued as

much as possible. We do not have his physical presence, but we know what

he wanted us to do and we will continue to do that. We have got a

lot of helpers fundraisers across emergency service personnel. And

also, I would say, not to embarrass you, all on the voluntary basis.

The public row between Northumbria Police and our two Premiership

Football clubs has continued today. In recent seasons, the kick`off

times for the highly`charged derbies have been moved forward, to the

frustration of many fans, who want a traditional three o'clock, or later,

start. The force claims it ''cannot direct changes'' to kick`off times,

but the clubs say that simply is not true and described the comments as

''frankly, false and absurd". Violent scenes at last year's Tyne

Wear derby in Newcastle. This is why Northumbria Police says it has to be

involved in the arrangements for the games They deny directing when the

games should be played, but the clubs say they do, so are they

lying. I do not expect them to agree with it. We are factually correct in

saying we do not and cannot and will not order a football club to take a

football match to a particular kick`off time to another team. Do we

make representations and possibly objections? Yes, we do. But we do

not order changes. Newcastle and Sunderland say

Northumbria Police has rejected ever single request it has made for the

derby games to be played after 1.30pm. That refusal means they miss

out on lucrative TV money. Both clubs say that the suggestion that

the police do not have direct involvement in changing kick`off

times as absurd. Geniune football fans say they are

the ones punished and branded hooligans because of the behaviour

of a minority and believe it is the police who have the ultimate power.

Without a safety certificate, the match cannot go ahead. Although they

maybe cannot impose the time, they could then not grant a safety

certificate. The police have ultimate power over whether a match

takes place. Northumbria Police says it is aware

of the importance of the derby games, but its priority is to ensure

the safety of both sets of supporters.

Stuart joins me now. This is quite a major falling out. Any sign of a

peace deal? I think we are close. Northumbria Police described the

situation as regrettable. They are talking about the need to get round

the table with the two clubs. It is a conversation about how the plan a

safe match in the future, so we do not see the repeat of those scenes

which started the clip. David Cameron has led tributes in

the Commons to Captain Richard Holloway from County Durham, who

died two days before Christmas while serving in Afghanistan. The Prime

Minister said MPs' thoughts were with his family in the North East.

He was tragically killed after being engaged in enemy fire in

Afghanistan. He was a highly respected soldier and our deepest

sympathies and condolences should be with those parents, brother and

girlfriends. It is a risk to health and every day

it pollutes the River Tyne, but now a plan to clean it up is on hold

because the government has cut the money to pay for the work. Councils

have been told they will no longer get cash to cleanse some old

industrial sites and that means places like the former St Anthony's

Tar Works in Newcastle will continue polluting.

It was abandoned in 1983, an old tar works by the Tyne, yet 30 years on,

the legacy is still with us. At low tide every day, tar seeps up from

the site and pollutes the river. The city council says it is a risk to

health, but now a government fund to pay for clean`ups has been scrapped

and it is left to carry on leaking. Twice a day, you get it coming up

into the surface and polluting the river. It is estimated there is

about ten litres of coal tar every low tide going in the air. We tend

to wear masks now when we deal with it. You can smell it from here

Andrew workers report getting headaches.

The cost of putting this right is about ?2m. Councils used to get cash

from the Government department DEFRA. It is still the local

authority's responsibility to deal with it, so the council is breaching

its obligations, but it says it cannot afford it without government

support, so it is in limbo. The council did get ?400,000 to

investigate the problem, only for the cash to dry up when it came to

solving it. Funding for cleaning up contaminated

land nationally fell from ?17.5m in 2009/10 to just ?2m this year. There

will still be money for "absolute emergencies". The government says it

is regrettable, but necessary, and councils should now prioritise the

"highest risk" sites. Some are worried. I will raise this as a

matter of urgency. I want the site cleared up. Central government has a

responsibility to help the local authority pay for it. I have not

fully succeeded, but I will have another go. In fact, Newcastle City

Council has a legal obligation to put this right and, by doing

nothing, could be prosecuted. Tonight, the Environment Agency told

Look North while it could take action it's "first aim is to work

with organisations to get sites cleaned`up rather than taking legal

action". All But with no cash to do the clean up, it seems the remains

of the old tar works will just carry on seeping into the Tyne.

In just over eight months, something happens which could the change the

face of Britain. Scottish voters will decide whether or not they want

to live in an independent country. Northumberland and Cumbria share a

108`mile border with Scotland and border communities often depend on

Scottish services. But they'll still have no say in the big vote.So for

our Big Question this week, we ask would an Independent Scotland be a

friend or foe for our region? One rural landscape, but two

countries. Left of the river, Scotland, on the right, England.

Farmer Dougie Watkin has land in both. 10% of the land is on the

English side announces the side I live on. 90% of the land lies in

Scotland. I suspect a few asp people right across here, they would

probably consider themselves borders, rather than Scottish

English, because they have such a fit in both countries. On September

18, the people on the Scottish side of that water will be asked this

question "should Scotland be an independent country?"

What would an independent Scotland mean for us?

As nature puts on a show for us at Flodden battlefield, it is a

beautiful,peaceful scene, but the monument reminds us of a grim story

just over 500 years ago. A story of conflict and carnage here between

England and Scotland. These days landowner Lord Joicey works with his

neighbours rather than battling them, but he worries about an

independent Scotland. There is potential for being forgotten about.

We're not particularly well served by London. We would be this little

corner of England that would be forgotten about.

20 miles north East, Berwick's walls, It is estimated the town's

changed hands 13 times between England and Scotland, but this

tourism boss is relaxed about an independent country. We are not

anticipating much of the change. We work closely with businesses across

the border. We have a lot of cross`country projects. I think a

lot of Scots, in the same as people here, do not realise exactly what

they have in this part of the world on their doorstep.

But while newly independent Scots might spend there cash here,

spending i a bit of a sore point. At the moment, government spending on

people in the North East is ?9,419 per person. Compare that with

Scotland's figure of ?10,152. Of course, we are used to different

policies in Scotland in England. The likes of free prescription charges.

The Scottish cup and has already talked about possibly reducing

corporation tax. But what would all means year? Gavin Jones runs a

hamper delivery business in Berwick. If an independent Scotland brought

in more favourable business taxes, Gavin may up sticks. As we go down

the track of this, the profit margin difference may mean that we would

jump over the border. You could move from Berwick into Scotland? Yes, it

is possible. On the border, the January light's

fading. September seems a long way away. Just over eight months then

for Scotland to decide and perhaps for those of us just on the other

side of the border line to work out what it all means for us.

And on tomorrow night's Look North, we'll hear from former North East

residents living North of the border who will help decide Scotland's

future. If they vote for independence, do we have two send

Paul back? Oh, I had not thought about that. Maybe we will just have

two tax him a little more! Sunderland are just one game away

from a trip to Wembley, for the Capital One League Cup final. Last

night's 2`1 win over Manchester United gives them something to hang

on to, when they go to Old Trafford for the second leg, two weeks

tonight. It's still a tall order for the Black Cats. But it's certainly

not beyond them. Bottom of the division and we won!

Strange thing isn't it. You do badly in the league and then do better in

the cup. The last time Sunderland reached the

League Cup final, back in 1985, they were relegated from the top flight

just a few weeks later. But few fans were worrying about that bad omen,

after putting one over the Premier League champions. If they are to

make it to their first final in 22 years, they'll need to show the

fighting spirit they did last night ` and hope they haven't used up

their share of the breaks! Even at the age of 40, and after a lifetime

in the game, Ryan Giggs has probably never known a match like this one!

Having hit the bar, he then blocked a goal`bound shot from Adnan

Juanuzaj and was in an offside position when the youngster hammered

in the rebound. And just when he thought things couldn't get any

worsee, they did. In first`half injury time former United team`mate

Wes Brown turned Seb Larsson's free`kick across goal ` and it was

Giggs who supplied the final touch ` his first own goal in a 23`year

career. The lead was wiped out, seven minutes after the interval.

Skipper Nemanja Vidic jumped highest at the far post, and most fans

expected United to kick on from there. But on came Adam Johnson, a

former City man, of course, and when he went down under Tom Cleverly's

challenge, referee Andre Marriner went with his assistant's flag and

pointed to the spot. Fabio Borini was the hero of Sunderland's derby

win over Newcastle and their saviour in the previous round of the Capital

Cup against Chelsea. Now he's given them a precious lead to take across

the Pennines. We know it will be very difficult. But to have a

chance, we had to take a lead back to Old Trafford. But will that

advantage be enough to make it another miserable evening for these

three United greats? We'll know in two weeks' time.

He's just run right across Australia, but there was no escaping

the boss today for the man better known as Run Geordie Run. Mark

Allison returned to his day job as an IT Software Developer just two

days after arriving back in the UK. So far he's raised tens of thousands

of pounds for The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and The Children's

Foundation. Amy Lea joined Mark's colleagues this morning for the

office re`union. It's not your typical welcome back to work, but

then again this is no typical man returning from no typical trip

abroad. Mark Allison ` better known as Run Geordie Run ` had a bit of a

surprise when he headed down to the canteen for his usual bacon sandwich

this morning... I was a shy rather unhappy. It looked as if there was a

huge queue in the canteen. It was last Saturday, just before midnight

UK time, that this happened. Mark spent 82 days running from Perth to

Shell Harbour ` covering distances of more than 40 miles every day.

Meanwhile back in the UK ` his boss and his team ` were following his

progress on social media. I think a few colleagues got very emotional

about it. Run Geordie Run says he's looking forward to the weekend

already, when he'll have his feet treated for the first time since

arriving back in the UK. This is where he will be spending the

foreseeable future. He will be back at his desk working hard. The money

he has raised has now raised over ?50,000. Amazing. That was a very

well deserved bacon sandwich! Time to look skywards this week as it's

BBC Stargazing Live. Northumberland was recently named the best place in

England to see the wonders of the night sky. But what happens if you

live in town ` what can you see in the heavens WITHOUT any specialist

gear? Hannah Bayman has three winter wonders you can enjoy anywhere in

our region..Night falls over the city. The stars come out but so do

the street lights. Don't despair. Let your eyes get used to the dark

for half an hour and there is still plenty you can see in town. The

moon. Our closest neighbour. If the right side is lit up, the moon is

waxing or growing. If the right is dark, it's waning or getting

smaller. The moon looks much bigger when it is low in the sky at

moonrise. You can check moonrise times online. If you get a pair of

binoculars and something to rest them on you will have an even better

view. The darker patches are from extinct volcanoes, they are one

other floors. The brightest caterers about 50 meals across. Orion. Look

south ` the same direction that most satellite dishes face. Find these

three stars in a row and you have found Orion the Hunter. Look at his

top left shoulder. Even with your naked eye, you can see it has a

reddish glow compared to the other stars. It is Betelgeuse, a red giant

star that one day will explode as a supernova. In Newcastle's Times

Square, enthusiasts are out doing pavement stargazing with passers`by.

For sixteen`year`old Matthew it's a chance to raise donations for a

World Challenge trip to India. It is quite satisfying. You get to see the

moon up close. You always also get a very good reaction when people see

Saturn for the first time. You do not need to go near the countryside

to do astronomy. You can see the likes of the moon, Jupiter. The

giant planet, shining more brightly than any star. It will be dominating

our night skies for the first few months of this New Year. With

binoculars, you can often see its largest moons. And tomorrow, there

are such ads of seeing the Northern lights. And if you can get away from

street lights, tomorrow night there is a chance of seeing the Northern

Lights after a solar storm yesterday. And for more on what you

can see in the night sky, BBC Stargazing Live is back tonight and

tomorrow at 8pm on BBC Two. Now, I am afraid you will not need

the telescope to see the bad weather! Thank you to you and cook

for this photograph. It is going downhill tonight. Cloud is building

up. Most others will see some rain. There could also be some hill snow

over higher ground. This rain is pitching in from the hall of the

region. There could be some snow on very high levels. Overnight

temperatures remaining very male, however. Tomorrow morning, the rain

begins to ease off once the get up tomorrow morning. Some bright spells

for many as we start tomorrow. Isolated showers pushing in again

from the West during the course of the afternoon. Temperatures rather

all, only up to six or seven Celsius. You can see this Reg of

high`pressure, so that is going to be with us tomorrow night, so that

should help the people who fancied easing at the stars. It could also

remain dry for much of the weekend before this other opiate pressure,

which we can see just at the edge of the map in the middle of the

Atlantique, pushes them. So, Friday, he bit of rain, but looking better

for the weekend. After tonight 's rain and hill snow, it should remain

largely dry for most of us for the next few days. And that is all for

now. Join is again after the BBC ten o'clock news. Goodbye for now.