28/02/2012 Look North (Yorkshire)

Route Hello and welcome. Getting ready for the front line.

If the Yorkshire soldiers making their final preparation before

heading off to Afghanistan. If we were hear their hopes and fears

before they leave for one of the most dangerous places in the world.

If also tonight, a fire wrecks a leisure centre in Selby just one

month after a million-pound refurbishment.

Despite opposition from hundreds of villagers, plans for a housing

development get the go-ahead. are really furious. If this goes

through, God knows what will happen here. We will be called Leeds will.

In Sheffield, the university is marking the end of a project to

refurbish some of its most iconic buildings. Be spent 36 million

doing that the Arts Tower and tonight it has let up in a

celebration. Looking westwards, there is a lot

of cloud but towards the coast temperatures reached near record

It is one of the most dangerous places on what -- in the world but

this week hundreds of soldiers from Yorkshire Art due to be deployed

there. Third Battalion the Yorkshire

Regiment is being sent to Helmand Province in Afghanistan to --

Afghanistan for a six-month tour of duty. They are making their final

preparations. This army training ground in Bulger

is home to Third Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. They are about

to deploy 21 of their most dangerous places in the world. As

you might expect, the training is a tough area. Judy is no exception.

These soldiers will be marching -- have been marching for about two-

and-a-half hours. They are carrying 40 kilograms in wait and this is

the kind of thing they will be expected to do in Afghanistan every

day. They are straight into a fire fight next. 21-year-old Michael

from Halifax has only been in the army for a year. In a few weeks'

time, he will be fighting in Helmand Province. We have trained

for it. I have just had a friend who has lost his brother out there

and it is not good to hereof, but she bashed -- but you were there to

do your job. There are 650 soldiers who will be taking over the role of

task force Helmut. Their job will be to hold ground and to improve

security for at the local population. The main thing is to

hand it over to the Afghans and obviously make hearts and minds and

stuff like that. Some of these soldiers took part in operations

back in Afghanistan in the 2009, and there are looking forward to

seeing the process that has been made. A any person who says they

are not nervous is a liar because it is just how it is. Every day

will be a risk out there. training has certainly paid off. It

has been a very good training package. Bravery and battle skills

are awarded in this Battalion, it is clear that these soldiers are

ready for their up and coming mission. It is about transition

into an Afghan lead. There has been deep progress over the last few

years and it is a very worthwhile mission. We hope to take that

forward over the course of the summer. The soldiers are about to

be deployed for a six-month tour of duty. It will be dangerous and they

may not all return. For the families left behind, it will be a

long and anxious wait. Our thoughts go with them.

A major fire has caused serious damage to a leisure centre in Selby.

Residents living nearby where warned to keep their doors and

windows shut when the blaze broke out at the leisure centre.

The centre had just undergone a refurbishment and may now have to

be pulled down. As dawn broke this morning, it was

flames that lit the sky in Selby. The Abbey Leisure Centre was ablaze.

Nearby it residents were given a rude awakening. I thought it would

not come this far. It was a bit scary. Ebdon look bad to start but

then as the morning progressed there was more and more as -- more

and more or smoke and we saw the riff dipping and then the police

and fire engines arrived. firefighters brought the flames

under control. Specialist appliances drafted in from West

Yorkshire to help. Residents it will to keep doors and windows

closed. The smoke dead to die down at the rapidly when the crews went

into the building. The crews did a good job, did at their best to

contain the fire to the first floor. There is significant damage to the

leisure centre. As you can see, the damage inside is extensive. Coming

up the stairs, it has water damaged and smoke blackened. Through here

is completely destroyed. Surveyors do not yet know whether the

building -- building can be saved. A significant blow to the town.

understand everyone was evacuated safely, let us be thankful for that.

Yorkshire Fire and Rescue have done a fantastic job. A �1 million refit

was completed only last summer. No one knows how much it will cost to

repair this time. Later on Look North, hoping to make

a splash at the Olympics after success at the London aquatic

centre. We speak to two Yorkshire divers about their hopes for 2012.

The crimes of a conman who defrauded to unsuspecting residents

across Yorkshire for years are being highlighted by a BBC

programme. One couple in Harrogate paid Julian Donoher thousands of

pounds for drainage work, even though no work was carried out.

It is just one example of what is proving to be a lucrative business

for criminals across such a. We will be talking to Ruth and just

about the difficulty of catching doorstep traders.

Julian Donoher conned mainly elderly people out of nearly

�30,000. He was jailed for three years after a major investigation

by North Yorkshire trading standards. Retired teacher Jane and

her husband in Harrogate were among his victims. The men were there for

four days of digging. It was an enormous hole. We were not

suspicious because we did not know for the pipe was and they could not

find it. We thought they were doing the best they could. The Morrisons

were conned into being Julian Donoher �330 for unlocking the

train at their home, work that should have been done for �65. When

the train dock -- drain blocked again, they shelled out again.

said that is an awful lot of money, could we get it cheaper elsewhere?

And they said that is the nature of the job and was so charming and

convince them that I am afraid I believed them. The courts are now

trying to recover funds from Julian Donoher to reimburses victims for

work charges -- work charged way above its value or not done at all.

A judge described it as a deliberately planned professional

fraught -- fraud. Julian Donoher is now behind bars, just one example

of the serious doorstep columns faced by investigators.

Joining us now is the truth and Jews, head of fraud investigations

for North Yorkshire trading standards. -- truth and just.

enviably elderly people who are targeted by these types of gangs.

Looking at this case, I do not know how much it would cost if I

suddenly was told there was a problem there were -- with my

drains. This fraud was more sophisticated than the average case

we deal with. There are lots of cases where elderly people are told

they need work and they're not in a position to check. Are you

surprised by the ease with which people are taken in? Not at all.

Primarily because these offenders are professionals. They have spent

years training in ways to read -- to con people. Do they actually

looked and watch for houses where single elderly people live by

themselves? Absolutely. And they also... There is also evidence of

gangs passing on information between them. There is a basic

thing that you would say, that is that anyone who knocks on your door,

it is always one of those crimes that gets you really angry, but

there is basic advice to say it looked, check with the people who

are supposedly doing the business and also get other quotes.

advice is very clear. People should not deal with doorstep traders at

all. Legitimate businesses do not need to cold call. Called a halt --

called Colin telephones -- telephone calls and other serious

issue. We urge people to be very cautious. We would advise people to

deal with local reputable traders or on the basis of a friend or

family member. -- a recommendation from a friend or family member. We

have made seven arrests in the last two weeks alone. We have a number

of victims in ongoing cases who have spent thousands of pounds on

these gangs and have lost their life savings. You can see more

about that on BBC One tomorrow. Chesterfield Council has scrapped

plans to increase their council tax in the new financial year. Instead

the local authority will accept a Government grant and freeze rates.

The council had announced plans of a rise, but changed their minds

after feedback from locals. The budget for the coming year will now

be agreed on Thursday. Polly Signor are continuing to

search for and 19-year-old man who has been missing for two weeks.

Jordan Sullivan was last seen on the River Ouse on Valentine's Day.

Police have been carrying out daily checks on the riverside where he

was last seen. The Yorkshire production of

Frankenstein's Wedding has been nominated for a Royal Television

Society award. The play was filmed at -- in Leeds and broadcast live

on BBC Three last year. Do you have strong views about the

state of Yorkshire's economy? Are you struggling with the cost of

living? Perhaps to a business is booming and you think things are

not that bad. We will be discussing all these issues on a special

programme. It is called our economy, the Look

North debate. If you would like to be part of the audience, contact us,

Tell us you a story and what you would like to ask our region's

Her show what a have come up with a way of stopping metal theft. They

could be workman, but actually the are metal thieves. At Yorkshire

Water site in Headingley in Leeds, cameras record the moment beastie

with tractor solely can melt down the metal parts. -- the steel.

Yorkshire Water say that this type of crime has reached an epic level.

It is up constant battle. They can strike at night, when it is darker.

Quite often, the world where fluorescent vests to fit in. --

they will wear. Once the East covers are stolen, it is all too

easy for people to fall down manholes and the bark. This is the

solution - a different type of cover. It has made out of fibre

glass and it will replace the traditional type of metal cover. We

have tried them and a number of hot spots, particularly Sheffield and

castle fort. CCT V and motion sensors have been installed. It is

If these fibreglass covers work well, they will be installed across

the network. They are apparently more durable than the metal ones,

the are cheaper to install and most importantly, they have little or no

scrap value. I meet in has been taking place all

day to decide whether 300 homes can be built in a village in Yorkshire.

The proposals were originally rejected, saying it could not have

deal with a development on the scale. Why has this proposal been

so controversial? The queued out the door and along the road. About

350 people, almost all of them fighting plans for 300 new homes in

Menston. People worried about changing the feel of the village

and traffic. There are problems with schools, there may be a

problem of having too many people into many houses and cars in the

village. We are really fury is, and if this knows -- if this goes you,

God knows what will happen here! -- we are furious. This is what of the

field that they are fighting to save. They argue that Menston's

infrastructure does cannot deal with the extra homes. Developers

disagree, saying the two sites are suitable for the new homes. With

diametrically opposed opinions, this was always going to be a

heated meeting but no one thought it would last quite so long. At

around 3:30pm, councillors left in a minibus for a site visit. They

did not return for almost two hours. The meeting has just finished. And

you bring us up-to-date? It finished 45 minutes ago and it

lasted about eight hours. That is very unusual. Tonight, councillors

have approved plans for what site in Menston. It all the residents

here that this had been reluctant decision and the have had a very

difficult day. -- they have had. The campaigners have spent two bad

years fighting against these proposals. The mood was more

depleted, disappointed and angry after the meeting. There may be an

appeal. That is a possibility but by no means a certainty. Before 7

o'clock tonight, towering achievement. A �36 million

redevelopment brings light to one of Sheffield most iconic buildings.

-- Sheffield's most iconic. What a fantastic boost it was for

Yorkshire as diverse -- Yorkshire's divers. Sarah Barrow won bronze and

Monique Gladding picked team GB a spot in the individual ten-metre

platform 1 year after the most horrendous head injury sustained

whilst driving. You have got over the psychological trauma of that,

Monique, but it still must go through your mind? It has been an

interesting year, but the main thing for me is to be enjoying my

diving again and that is what I have had to do, to build up

confidence. To be part of the team, such a fantastic team, it is our

best World Cup. Here you are in action. He secured a place of the

team. Your place in the Olympics is not a cure, though, is it? -- not

secured. There are five or six goals that are very talented and

unfortunately for me, we are very strong event. It is fortunate for

Great Britain. How many turns you do in that kind of somersault? The

maximum is three and a half. The boys do for the half. -- 4 1/2. It

is exactly one year to the day since she had that horrific

accident in Russia. Your horse that -- you're hospitalised. In Moscow

three your mind as you are walking towards taking that momentous

decision to do that I. Right now, there are so many things that I am

focusing on technically that I have to think about to make sure that

I'd is right, it is not in my head at all. I have worked hard with the

psychologists. I am just making steps to make sure I am part of

that team. You're in the record books, that must feel very nice,

Sarah? The first ever medal we have had at a World Cup diving event.

Yes, myself and my partner. And it was a strange partnership, wasn't

it? We expected to be together? We have been together since 2010. It

was due to injuries to other partners... Monique was my partner

before! We have been together for two years. We can see a performance.

It was really really could die. -- it was really, really at could die.

-- a good dive. You got bronze, it was great! We were innate place

just before our final dive. We knew we could get more than 70 points.

To get 82, we were so happy. And I ask you about the aquatics?

Everybody is raving about it. Walking into the centre, the

building is amazing. They have that crowd behind you, it is

unbelievable. To imagine 14 and a half 1000 that the Olympics - might

imagine 14,500 at the Olympics, it will just be unbelievable. There is

a better way on the ceiling. The actual centre makes it an echoing

chamber. It roars down the centre. It is brilliant. Do you feel any

pressure that you have got a medal in the World Cup? It is very hard

for us, as well as Monique, our sport is there, but as individual

drivers, we have not qualified. -- as individual divers. The trials

are in June. If my partner and I do make it, we will go into the

Olympics in trying to the best we can. Isn't it lovely, when you're

talking about the need to be precise, that there will be exactly

the same clothes? I thought genes were part of the uniform! It is

just that you both have good taste. I wish you well. Then has crossed

he will be there. We're sure you will. Thank you. The latest arrival

at the North Anston Wildlife Centre is ruffling a few feathers. Paul

has been laughing all the at the story. It is a vulture with an

eight-foot wingspan. Mrs Vernon, he arrived a couple of weeks ago. --

this is a turn-on. It is native to Africa, not Yorkshire. -- this is

Vernon. He is causing a stir amongst the peacocks. You settle

down with us all to hear. He is from South America, as opposed to

central Africa, where Vernon is wrong. He is considerably smaller

than Vernon. They have settled in very very well. I'm not sure what

is funny about a vulture, do you? We're just trying to find out

whether or not we can get down to Sheffield, because you'll be seeing

some bright, colourful lights in the sky over Sheffield. We cannot

quite get there at the moment. Shall we tell you what you would

have seemed? It is the University of Sheffield, which is lighting up

one of the most iconic buildings. It is all very exciting. That is a

lovely picture of a microphone stand! Tom, cumin please! -- men,

please! -- come in, please! I could not break the walk up all those

stairs. It is one of Sheffield's most iconic buildings. It is Grade

2 listed. Let us take you briefly inside, to one of the building's

most famous features, the non-stop left that you can get in and out of.

It is one of the most effective ways of making the students --

moving the students up and down. They had spent �36 million and the

have lit up the top two floors to celebrate. The man with the purse

strings is Keith. Was it complicated? Yes, in that it was a

very large building and its location and size of the building,

lot of challenges. It was particularly with it being Grade 2

listed. We think we have done a fantastic job and we all have the

lights on at the top the Tower for the next few days. It is great to

see the light on at the top. I went inside a few years ago. You have

done a lot of work. Why does it look any different? Actually,

externally, it is very similar. Unusually, for a listed building,

we have changed the whole exterior facade. Part of the listing is to

maintain the special features of the building. Internally, it is

transformed. We have opened it up, there are lots of open-plan spaces,

the natural light is fantastic. Students will have a fantastic

experience when they come to study here. The thing we have done a

great job. It is a great time to celebrate the investments we have

made. Good for another 40 years of service, I'm sure. It opened in

1965. Maybe one day, I will be able to go to the top and the famous

left. Why was he laughing at a story about the old alter? You have

been telling me off for not saying crocuses? We do not have a good day

yesterday, did we? A few pictures coming in today. Bridlington was a

Let us have a look at those temperatures. -- Bridlington was a

few degrees short. He conceded breaks in the cloud here. When the

sun came through, it was very pleasant. We start the evening

along the coast with clear skies. A lot of cloud, some patchy fog. That

cloud will move eastwards overnight. Apart from some drizzle, watch out

for some patchy fog. It will be mostly dry. A lot of cloud at times.