09/12/2011 Look North (Yorkshire)

No let up in the wintery weather - treacherous driving conditions on

Yorkshire's roads. In a class of its own - we take an

exclusive look at Trinity Shopping Centre's new roof, the biggest

glazing project in the country. 25,000 light bulbs, handle of

reindeer, even be often stuffed penguin is enough to create the

very Chesterfield Christmas. Another day, another of warning.

Today it is the turn of widespread ice on untreated surfaces. First

tonight - the wintry blast continues to cause major problems

in Yorkshire. Yesterday it was gale force winds. Today hail, snow and

black ice created treacherous conditions for motorists.

Around parts of Bradford and into neighbouring Calderdale there were

numerous minor accidents as vehicles skidded off the road.

Bradford Council have admitted they were caught out by the weather this

morning. Ian White reports. Snow and freezing temperatures,

black ice and Hale, a miserable journey for these motorists in the

morning rush-hour. This is the road between Halifax

and Keighley. The conditions are atrocious and deteriorating. It is

wet, cold and miserable, but there is a hidden danger, the sheet ice

on the roads. It has been causing lots of accidents, this road being

knocked down by a vehicle that crashed.

For the recovery workers it was a busy morning in atrocious

conditions. To Rhodes had sheet ice on them and

their drivers can't see what is on the roads. -- the roads have sheet

ice. I went to drop my kit off to school and there was nobody inside.

Gritting lorries did get out by mid-morning, but did be bad weather

catch Bradford Council out? We have to be honest and say that

it did. We gritted the roads according to our schedules and then

we had a debt -- a heavy downpour of hail and sleet, which caught us

out. Then there were some accidents further down the highway system,

not as I understand it related to the weather, which caused further

problems and prevented the gritters getting there.

The police are reminding motorists to take extra care in more exposed

areas and to allow extra time for their journeys as the cold snap

continues. Meanwhile, in North Yorkshire the

main problem has been flooding. Last night, the worst-affected

areas were in Wensleydale and Swaledale, with fears that a stone

road-bridge in the village of Grinton was about to be swept away.

Well, now the main focus has shifted 55 miles south east of

there to the city of York, where flood waters are expected to peak

within the next hour. Cathy Killick joins us now from the banks of the

River Ouse. Bring us the latest. Nobody is

going to be sitting on that bench. Yesterday there was a daily used in

the Dales and this was the consequence, rapidly rising river

levels. -- Ede louche. This was the foaming torrent that looked in

danger of sweeping away bridges. 12 hours later everything is totally

benign. These pictures are at Grinton. At one point that -- the

water was so high that the villagers were fearful for the

bridge but they are heaving a sigh of relief now. You can't believe

the difference in a few hours. Where is the water heading now?

pulse of the water has cleared all of the river systems in the Dales.

We had peaks earlier in the day in Britain, new flood defences proving

useful there. --). The floodwater will peak at around 7 o'clock. It

will stay at that level for about six hours before going down. The

Environment Agency says that areas will flood but it is just normal

for York at this time of year. This, I guess, is our first taste of

winter. Thank you very much for that.

Now, there are currently six flood warnings in place in North

Yorkshire, including at the Ouse in York - and you can visit the

Environment Agency's website for all the latest information.

Now, while most of us wanted to escape stormy scenes like these

yesterday, one Yorkshire scientist was rushing headlong into them -

and not just once but several times. Dr Peter Knippertz from the

University of Leeds is a specialist in the dynamics of storms.

He's currently in Exeter with a group of similar climate experts

and yesterday they flew - yes, flew - into the eye of the storm over

Scotland and northern England. He joins us now from our Exeter studio

to explain why. It sounds very dangerous. Was it? I don't think so.

We had very experienced pilots and they knew exactly what they were

getting us into. They had lots of rules to follow to secured the

safety of the passengers. I don't think it was dangerous, it was very

exciting! What is the data like that you collected? There are two

different types, we have lots of instruments on board to measure

where the aircraft flies and we drop sonds from the aircraft, and

they fall down through the atmosphere and record the vertical

temperature of the air and these humidity. Now we are trying to make

as much sense of how the storm actually works as we can over the

next month. I wonder what you learn from an experience like that. We

know it is windy and wet but have you come up with any earths

shattering observations as to why it started? I think why the storm

was so heavy was closely related to an extraordinarily strong jet

stream across the North Atlantic. We understand that pretty well and

it was well forecast by Abe Met Office models but when it comes to

the detail of the storms, exactly where the strongest winds would be,

this is where it gets a bit more problematic. Of course, this is

what we want to know in the end, so you need much higher resolution in

time and space to learn about these aspects of the storm. Our

conventional network is not good enough so we really have to fly

into the storms to get these high- resolution observations to

understand where the strongest gales form within the storm.

got lucky because it was a special plane and you had only booked it

for three weeks. Yes, this is the UK research aircraft and it is

shared by the academic community and the Met Office to do this kind

of research but of course there are rather projects using the aircraft.

We headed booked for three weeks and we were extremely lucky that

such an interesting system occurred in the three weeks. Thank you very

much for joining us. A later, disease in the countryside

- the killer tree fungus spreading through woodlands in Yorkshire.

In other news, two baby girls are in hospital after a house fire in

Bradford. Emergency crews were called to the property on Marsh

Street in West Bowling this afternoon. The girls, aged one and

ten months, suffered burns and are being treated at Bradford Royal

Infirmary. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

North Yorkshire Police has a new deputy chief constable. Tim

Madgwick, who's been with the force for 23 years, has been acting in

the post for the past six months. He replaces Adam Briggs who retired

in February after a number of disagreements with the police

authority. More than 2500 workers from

Unilever's sites, including their base in Leeds, have been on strike

over cuts to their pensions. The Unite union says the company's

proposals will see the retirement income of staff cut by up to 40%.

Unilever says it has improved its offer and the action is

"disproportionate". A new �1 million treatment unit was

opened at Sheffield's Northern General Hospital today. The

Sheffield Hand Centre aims to bring together all the expertise needed

to treat hands, wrists and fingers. The centre was opened by champion

mountain biker Steve Peat, who lives in the city and is no

stranger to hand injuries. I think it is a brilliant facility.

Luckily I have not had to use it yet but I have had plenty of

injuries over the time. I think a specialist unit like this is

excellent, come in and get treated in a day, so I think it is a

brilliant facility. And next tonight, a clarification and

an apology. Last week we reported that 19-year-old Hollie Bentley

from Wakefield had been cleared of causing violent disorder after

posting the words "Wakey Riot" on Facebook last summer. During our

reporting of the case we inadvertently showed a picture of a

different woman, not Hollie. We would like to apologise to her for

any offence and inconvenience we have caused.

Next tonight, a killer tree disease has been discovered in Yorkshire,

just the second outbreak to be found in the country. The pathogen

attacks Lawson's cypress trees, which are commonly found in hedges

and landscape gardens. It has been found on woodland in

the Washburn Valley near Harrogate, which is part owned by Yorkshire

Water. Danny Carpenter has this exclusive report.

Once again, there is disease in the countryside, a killer pathogen that

attacks Lawson's cypress trees. They have it in Plymouth and we

have it in Yorkshire, the only confirmed outbreaks in the country,

but it is becoming a pattern. This is the part of the cypress

that has died. It should be bright green and it is golden-brown.

It was only discovered because the Forestry Commission are flying over

the country looking for a different disease, wandered attacks -- one

that attacks large trees. If it gets in our iconic trees,

like oak trees... I am old enough to remember Dutch elm disease and

that wiped out fantastic hedgerows across the UK. I don't know what

will happen but we don't want to get it into our forest reserve.

There are still problems with another strain of the pathogen,

which arrived last year and led to mass burnings of trees. It may be

climate trees or into -- increased international travel but new

diseases seem to be arriving here ever more frequently. These

diseases travel and mutate. You never know where they will crop up

next or what species they will attacks. Or you can do is fell and

plan for the future. In Dolby they are already doing that, mixing the

species up, getting away from monoculture, getting natural breaks

to stop the spread. It is about building up the level of diversity

in our woodlands in terms of the tree species, how are we plant them,

aged structures and different habitats. Hopefully they can stand

against some of these pathogens and if not it is a case of being

vigilant. Back in the Washburn Valley they are taking the most

basic precautions to take -- tackled the outbreak. Boots can be

cleaned, the trees card. They are to be cut down and burnt. -- the

trees cannot. If you have been shopping in Leeds

recently you may have noticed a huge white framework appearing

above buildings in the city centre. What is taking shape is the

enormous roof structure of the new Trinity Shopping Centre.

With just over a year to go until it opens, our reporter Spencer

Stokes has been given exclusive access to the roof.

Leeds city centre already has one roof that stands out from the rest,

the 1863 Corn Exchange, and now just a few hundreds metres away a

new dome on the skyline. A massive spider's web of metal and glass

that draws its inspiration from the Corn Exchange and another scheme.

It is based on the Eden Project, big open spaces are round the city,

how to the church and then back down to Albion Street and

Commercial Street. Up before the views can be

appreciated by shoppers there is a lot of work to be done. This is the

kind of project that will get double-glazing salesman very

excited indeed. Each panel of glass weighs 90 kilograms and, when it is

completed, this atrium will cover 40,000 square feet.

The open space will make Trinity looks very different when compared

to other shopping centres and lift a Leeds up the league -- the league

table that measures the size of city centre shopping area. Leeds

sits in 7th place but after Trinity opens it will take the 4th spot and

it is hoped that the iconic roof will help to attract shoppers from

those rival cities. Up we are building this shopping

centre in the city in the North of England. We believe it is a

worthwhile investment because we will be bringing millions of people

to the city of Leeds. The opening is pencilled in for

spring of 2014, by which time this giant double glazing project should

be well and truly complete. I noticed that when I walked into

town. Spectacular. Before 7 o'clock...

For a weekend of sporting action. The Sheffield Steelers will be

hoping for success with three matches in as many days.

Added Chesterfield couple spreading Christmas cheer with a winter

Wonderland of the Rhone. -- and the The Iron Lady, a film about

Margaret Thatcher is a released in January. As our political editor

discovered, a rather unlikely actor up from Yorkshire is cast.

Where there is discord, of May we bring harmony. She is heading in

the most heated Government. Meryl Streep has already been tipped for

an Oscar at for her uncanny portrayal as Margaret Thatcher,

even before the film is released. It is an astonishing cast, award-

winning Jim Broadbent plays Dennis. But there is another performer who

should not go unrecognised. He is one of the anonymous faces of the

back -- on the back benches. I was turned into the extra -- an extra.

There were half-a-dozen Tory wigs down their guard and the place and

they work extras as well, but they had to sit on the same side as any

shouting insults at Thatcher. That was the most amusing part!

Dennis Skinner was a constant thorn in at Margaret Thatcher's side. He

famously heckled her at her last Prime Minister's Question to --

questions. He has not changed his views on her. People talk today

about where has British manufacturing gone? The truth is,

it went in the Thatcher years. millions of voters that elected her

fork a then record three times until her resignation in 1990 have

a different view. Margaret Thatcher thought of herself as a moderniser

who refuse to be deflected by anything. She refused to read

newspapers. She would not change her mind when it was made up. She

was and human being and you could read her like a book. People knew

where they stayed with power and they came to realise that she was

actually carrying out what she said she would do. Love her or loathe

her, the film will certainly be popular. After all, she made

history as the first women to become Prime Minister. Gentlemen,

shall we joined the ladies? -- joined at the ladies. I am really

looking forward to seeing that. There is more about this on the

Politics Show on Sunday. Let's turn to sport now, and

Bradford City take on one of the two teams below them in League Two

this weekend. Despite doing well in cup competitions, up City have won

just three league games this season - the last one was this one against

Northampton back in October. They're just one place above the

drop zone and take on bottom of the table Plymouth. I think it is too

early in the season to say it is a must-win game, but we are well

aware that it is an important game for us. We are looking to reproduce

the performers level we have shown in recent weeks.

Well, if you're an ice-hockey fan, then it's going to be a great

weekend of sporting action. Sheffield Steelers' top of the

league clash against the Belfast Giants takes place tonight at The

Arena. It's the first of three matches on three consecutive nights.

Paul Ogden looks ahead. Belfast at home tonight, then for

Coventry for the Challenge Cup on Saturday and back home for Sunday

teatime to face Braehead. I wonder what other sports men would compete

with this kind of pace and power on three consecutive nights. You hear

other sportsmen, particularly soccer players, complain about

fatigue? Do that cos you to smile? Alleys of it. We do not really have

that option. We cannot say, I am tired. That is not an excuse. You

have got to be ready to battle for 60 minutes per night. Would play

three in a role last week -- we played three games in a row last

week. It is not unusual. In fact, it is common practice overseas to

have a weekend treble. So this latest sign edge will know exactly

just what to steel himself for. He only touchdown on Friday, if he

does not have that fuzzy head yet he will after this weekend. Their

eyes are having a good season so far so we will try to keep going. -

- their guys. It is the Christmas period so if we can stay on form

into the new year, I think we will have a decent chance. Cold outside

it may be, but temperatures are except -- expected to get warmer

here this weekend. I am guessing they will sleep well!

I bet you cannot compete with this. A couple in Chesterfield had used

more than 25,000 bulbs to transform their house into a winter

Wonderland. As you can see, here is our little known in the garden!

A festive itself, surely. This is my limit every year, at 2 ft tri!

But come, let us tiptoe through this winter Wonderland. I can

promise you a fantastic display of reindeer, twinkling like it's on

every tree, and this is a garden you can come and explore. You can

come through it and see that it -- the fantastic displays for yourself.

My favourite is the large snowman and the penguins. Who needs a

creative genius to put this sort of thing together? Over here we have

Brian, whose brainchild this is. was afflicted with non-Hodgkin's

lymphoma and diagnosed on Christmas leave 2004. So we decided that from

that day, we would provide to -- we would raise and give something back

to agree to charity. Leslie, do you encourage Malcolm? Yes, or we do

all we can to make it a success. I do not try to rein him in! We're

already getting stuff for next year. Malcolm, you are assisted by Terry.

How long does it take to put these lights up? We start generally in

the last week in October and we are just about finished for the first

of at -- 1st December. So, five or six weeks. That is right. By the

time you have finished and put them away, there is a quarter of the

year gone. It is a pleasure, though. What happens if you get to the end

of one of the strings and there is appalled by it? We are in trouble!

To trace the it is a huge effort. Let's mention of the charity

involved. Presumably people like Malcolm opening their gardens must

make a huge difference to your charity. They certainly do. We are

always very grateful to people who do this sort of thing. We rely very

much on the generosity of the public and this is just

unbelievable. While we have been you, there have been lots of

families bringing children. It is a wonderful film full -- thing.

It is wonderful that people like this are so generous to share their

Christmas and help raise money for cancer charities. Malcolm, where

are you? We are at s 42, six bx. Please, do not feed the penguins!

Thank you very much. We have got a heartbroken weather

presenter tonight because he has brought -- bought -- brought his

tree. It cost me �50! Let me show you the contacts, where

We start with another warning. There is already ice on the

untreated services across Yorkshire. Temperatures are close to freezing,

especially over the hills so take care on the roads. This warning is

in force for the rest of the night. Tomorrow morning will not be too

bad, there will be a few light wintry showers in Pennine areas,

but elsewhere fine and cold with some sunshine. A bit of a gap in

the weather systems we have been having. Sunday afternoon should be

bright with sunny spells. We have had an awful lot of showers and

they are still feeding end, especially into Pennine areas. They

will be a mixture of rain, hail and sleet. Skies further east are

already clear. Showers dying away and skies clearing everywhere. It

looks like it will be the coldest night of the season so far,

although later on a few wintry showers may well push back into

Pennine areas. A widespread, moderate frost and widespread ice

on untreated roads and pavements. The coast will be cold and lovely.

A bright start in eastern areas with some sunshine. There will be

more cloud for the West. A scattering of fairly light wintry

showers. They will fizzle through the morning. As a general rule,

eastern areas bright with sunny spells, to the West always more

cloud. That cloud will thicken with some rain coming in tomorrow night.

A slow start with a low of minus four. Temperatures will struggle up

to four in Scarborough. Similar values as to push through South

Yorkshire and into the North Midlands. The extended outlook,

Saturday night turns wet from the West. A bit of uncertainty on

Sunday, but it looks like after a wet start certainly North and West