12/12/2013 Look North (Yorkshire)

Welcome to Thursday's Look North. On the programme tonight, Leeds City

Council wants to shut down three lap dancing clubs. We are talking

several hundreds of thousands of pounds. For the ultimate outcome of

putting people out of work a fortnight before Christmas.

Leeds City Council will be here to explain why they want to close the

clubs. Also tonight, Wakefield residents

campaign against plans to build a new travellers' site close to their

homes. And thirty years after a successful

campaign to save it, passenger numbers are booming on one of

Yorkshire's famous railways. What are the next few days looking

like? Join me later. Good evening. Three lap dancing

clubs in Leeds ` which were told they had to close down tomorrow

night ` have launched a legal fight back. The council refused to renew

their licences after new policy limited the number of clubs in the

city centre. The clubs say the decision will cost hundreds of jobs

and believe the council is waging a moral crusade against them. Joe

Inwood reports. The final decision was that the clubs would have to

close in a victory for campaigners. But for people like Laura, and

uncertain Christmas. There is the possibility that you only find a job

before Christmas. How can you afford Christmas? Will I have to go and

jobseeker's allowance? She is not alone. There are claims that

hundreds of people will lose their jobs if all here loses his business.

He is challenging the decision in the courts. We are talking several

hundreds of thousands of pounds for the ultimate outcome of putting a

couple of hundred people out of work a fortnight before Christmas, based

on, in my opinion, moral viewpoints of a select number of the committee.

Under the council plans, three of the cops would close. Leaving the

remaining strip clubs in the city on one Small St. And this is it. To

strip clubs within 20 yards of each other. Both of them staying open.

For people who live and work in the merrier, the concentration in one

Small St seems unfair. We are a residential area. We have

respectable businesses and don't want to be seen as being

incorporated within a strip club quarter. Things are less certain

after a judge said that at least one club can stay open whilst it

appeals. Two more decisions are expected shortly and a legal battle

now looms. It could be costly for both the clubs and the council.

Well, we are joined now by Alison Lowe, a Leeds councillor who's been

campaigning for these night clubs to close and James Teagle from Blacks

Solicitors in Leeds. Is this a moral crusade? No, it is about business

and being a child friendly city. We want to generate new businesses that

will replace the jobs lost this week. You talk about children.

Buildings with sensitive uses, that was one of the reasons for closing

these clubs. After 10pm, there are not many children around. But there

are lots of workers in the city centre, people who work in the

hospital. They deserve to be safe and feel safe. But you are going to

move the main traffic that would go to these clubs that would now head

to one very small residential street. The council was not moving

anything. They are existing businesses. But it will move people

there. Surely better to have them in a central thoroughfare. I don't

agree. In a central thoroughfare more people are faced with these

businesses as they go about their lawful business. The people who will

benefit from this are the lawyers, solicitors, and barristers. This

will cost a fortune. I wouldn't say they will benefit. What will happen

is they should be a quick decision made. Going back to basics, if you

are on the receiving end of the decision made by a local authority,

if you feel you have been prejudiced, you can appeal to the

High Court. There are three clubs that will be affected. They will

each have their own teams of legal advisers. Do they have a good case?

If it goes to reach this review, that suggests they do. The good news

is that the court has a filtering system to get rid of cases that have

no merit whatsoever. But if the court feels that there is

potentially something in the claim, they would be quite happy to look at

the matter in greater detail to work out weather or not the council has

followed the correct procedures. Does this have anything to do with

the tour to France coming to Leeds next summer? We don't want Leeds

shown in anything but the very best light. We are a fabulous, child

friendly city. This is one step closer to being the best city we

could possibly be. Well you've had a lot to say about this story. The

vast majority of comments were in favour of the clubs staying open.

Matthew thinks the council is applying a moral judgement on

something legal Lisa said they employ people so that's a good

thing. They are legal and pay taxes so can't be shut down. Next tonight.

Leeds biggest travellers' site could be expanded to accommodate more

families if the plans get approval from councillors tonight. But people

who already live at Cottingley Springs near Gildersome say smaller

sites spread across the city would be better. Meanwhile people living

in Durkar near Wakefield say they're furious about proposals to create a

new travellers' site close to their homes. Ian White reports. At in

force to protest plans for a travellers site on the outskirts of

Wakefield. People say they are shocked that a local beauty spot can

be an official base for gypsy families. It is a completely

unsuitable site. Not even properly serviced. The area floods on a

regular basis. It has major problems. Wakefield Council is

looking at a number of possible locations like this green belt land

near the M1. But there are concerns crime will increase. We are very

annoyed. You can leave anything lying around, you have to lock your

doors. Even when you're in the house you have to lock your doors. We

wanted to be in a lovely, quiet peaceful area, it will be ruined.

Gypsies affect the values of properties. I know that is not

politically correct. But it is something that every single person

he was concerned about. The human soul does this house. `` the view

sold us. They will spoil the view for everybody. Nobody from the

council would agree to an interview. But they confirmed they were looking

at the site. Meanwhile, in Leeds, opposition from travellers

themselves to expand this site. People who live nearby say that

making this larger without local facilities would be wrong. They want

to keep us all in one place. All the gypsies and Irish Travellers, in one

plot. Using this same road would increase the traffic by one third.

It is an extremely busy road as it is. A decision is due tonight.

Residents are stepping up opposition.

Later on Look North: Paying tribute to one of the most popular leaders

of our time. And we commemorate the life of Nelson Mandela.

In other news now, and the Shadow Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, met

with campaigners who are worried about the future of services at

Rotherham Hospital. Local politicians and hospital workers

gathered outside the main entrance to discuss their concerns about the

Trust, which has to save ?50 million by 2015. At a board meeting next

week Trust will outline its plans for services over the next five

years. It is sending that message, isn't it? Everyone understands that

these are difficult times and we need to make savings. But that does

not mean we should break up local services that matter greatly to

local people. A ?16 million scheme to dump huge

boulders on the beach around Scarborough's spa has been

abandoned. Last week a tidal surge caused huge waves and flooding in

the town. The Council had wanted to put rock armour along a stretch of

the South Bay to bolster the sea defences. But instead they'll now

repair the sea wall and stabilise the crumbling cliffs.

Police officers in West Yorkshire have released a video to warn of the

dangers of drink driving. In it, they speak of the horrific

experience of dealing with deaths on the road. Figures have been falling

in recent years but they say Christmas is a challenge. The police

video shows the dreadful results of drink driving in the county.

Officers like Kerry Gibson speak of the trauma of having to tell

families they've lost a loved one because of drunken drivers. At the

time you take a deep breath and deal with it in a professional way. You

have to take a deep breath and try to leave it at work. Then you go

home to your family and you just give your children a cuddle and

thank God that they are OK. A former director of the Bradford

and Bingley has been fined ?30,000 for failing to tell the board about

the real state of the bank's finances. The bank was nationalised

in 2008 during the credit crunch. The Financial Conduct Authority says

Christopher Willford knew its financial outlook might be weaker

than expected ` and should have raised it with the board

immediately. The authority says the size of the fine reflects the length

and timing of the misconduct. A planning application to expand the

White Rose shopping centre by a quarter has been approved by Leeds

City Council. Supporters say it will create new jobs and help the local

economy. But the company behind bradford's long`awaited new Broadway

shopping centre had objected to the plans saying it would have a

"significant adverse impact" on their development. The plans have

been approved as long as issues over money for altering the local roads

can be agreed. Trading standards and South

Yorkshire police are cracking down on counterfeit alcohol, in the run

up to Christmas. Hundreds of bottles of fake booze have been seized in

Doncaster in the last few months ` often, it contains the same

ingredients used to make nail polish and anti`freeze. And the effect on

those who drink it, can be extreme. Kate Bradbrook reports. Oliver and

Christopher and in their third year at the University of Sheffield. They

enjoy a drink, like many students. Last year, during freshers week, it

was counterfeit vodka. I thought for the price it was pretty good going.

We did one bottle, then all I remember was waking up in the

hospital next to a friend. I asked where I was. I didn't know where I

was. I had vomit and blood in my hair and face. I could not even work

out how to stand up. I could not see. I was shocked with myself.

People need to think before they buy. In Doncaster today, police and

trading standards attempting to get the message across. Warning students

of the dangers of fake alcohol. There is not a big problem with that

in Doncaster but we must take effective action at the start to

make sure that remains the case. It also sends a message to those who

might sell alcohol of a counterfeit nature that we will not accept it

and a cracking down. Some of the substances can be found in

antifreeze and nail polish remover. Which is the genuine article? It is

easy to spot in this case. There are several ways you can tell, this does

not have a good quality label. And it does not say where it is

manufactured. The third sign, it is not crystal clear. It is this

message that trading standards are trying to get across. Oliver and

Christopher have no long`lasting effects, but with much of fake

alcohol still been sold, others might not so lucky.

A special service celebrating the life of Nelson Mandela is being held

at Leeds Minister tonight. Mr Mandela, the first black President

of South Africa, died last week at the age of 95. He came to Leeds in

2001, when huge crowds turned out in Millennium Square to see him being

granted the Freedom of the city.Len Tingle is at Leeds Minister, where

the service is going on. Len ` Mandela came to Leeds ` so it was

appropriate that the city should pay tribute to him? Very much so. What's

more, this is a celebration. It is still going on. The tone was set at

the beginning. A specially composed him to Nelson Mandela sung in the

style of South Africa. `` hymn. The council leader outlined that this

was an occasion celebrating the links between the city of Leeds and

Nelson Mandela. Not just the 2001 visit and the crowds that turned up,

but in the 1970s the University hit the headlines by naming him as

president of the University. In an address to the congregation the

council leader said, that was very controversial at the time, because

the authorities still thought of him as a terrorist. There are many

here, but also ordinary people. Who have just come along to pay

respects. Before the ceremony started, we had a word with some of

them to ask why they had attended. It is an opportunity to give thanks

for his life. Everybody wants to continue to be a part of what he

stood for. He inspired loads of us when he came to Leeds. I'm here

because of what he has done for me. He brought the idea of justice and

freedom. He has opened doors for us. It was not for him I would not be

here. I would be a product of apartheid. You actually met him 20

years ago. What you make of that time?

He had an amazing facility for putting you at ease. I was supposed

to film him making a speech and interview him after. What happened

was, we got lost! We did not arrive until he was sitting down, so he

stood back up again and gave another five minutes of the speech,

especially for me. I will remember that for ever.

Coming up, a journey to Wonderland. To Ripon, the inspiration behind the

Lewis Carroll classic novel. And now another work of art.

It's 30 years this weekend since plans to close the famous

Settle`Carlisle railway were announced by British Rail.

Campaigners fought hard to save it and were eventually successful. Now,

three decades on, passenger numbers are booming. Is there anything more

beautiful than the Settle Carlisle line?It was one of the last great

mainlines of the Victorian era. It's just heaven really as it runs

through 72 miles of rugged countryside passing Yorkshire's

three peaks Whernside, Ingleborough and Penyghent. There are some great

landmarks like the Ribblehead Viaduct which is now a Scheduled

Ancient Monument. And Dent station which is the highest mainline

station in England. 30 years ago there were just two trains a day and

only 90,000 passenger journeys. Today there are 1.2 million journeys

each year and it's a key freight route carrying thousands of tonnes

of coal and timber. Here's Spencer Stokes. Two of the men who helped

save the line. Reunited with sign that was supposed to kill off 72

miles of railway. British rail formally announced the closure of

the room with framed notices at stations in 1983. John knew it was a

death sentence for the railway and joined an uphill battle to save it.

How could they propose to close such a magnificent line? It perhaps was

not used by many passengers and services were being run down, no

freight on the line, so you could see the argument, but it was very

sad. Closing the line would have let communities isolated, forced to rely

on cars and a patchy bus service. It had happened to hundreds of places

before, but locals did not want to be living off another closure. The

plight attracted national attention. They were petitions to save the

line. They came from constituencies all over the country. Possibly an

orchestrated campaign, I don't know, but MPs would have got their ears

bent up and down the length of the land. The MP who would have the

final say was an arch Thatcherite, but also a railway lover. Michael

Taylor agreed to save the line and has since become a regular visitor.

`` Michael Portillo. As Conservatives we wanted public

services to run efficiently so we wanted to reduce subsidies, but we

also had respect of the National Heritage and you it was a

remarkable, historic line. Fortunately be brought together. The

economic case for closure was weakened WinFast numbers of people

began to travel on the line. `` when vast numbers. It was a kind of

closing down sale. Then engineers made it clear that they could do the

job preparing Victorian structure is much more cheaply than we thought.

So the line was thrown a lifeline by a synthetic minister and is now a

jewel in the Northern rail's round. `` a sin that it minister. `` a

sympathetic minister. Hundreds of people come from all over the world

to use this along with the locals. In the foreseeable future it is

usually unlikely we will see a notice of closure for the line. It

is here to stay now. 30 years on and a mixture of antiquity and

modernity. A railway that can celebrate its past secure and

knowledge that it has a future. I love it. The Spa Gardens in Ripon

aren't particularly well known, but they should be. They've won a green

flag award fourteen times in a row. There's a cafe, a bowling green,

pitch 'n' putt, and beautiful flowers and now...a unique new

sculpture that celebrates Ripon's links with Alice in Wonderland.

Cathy Killick's been to see it. It is usually associated with

destruction but the chainsaw is here a tool of creation. Michael is

transforming tree trunks into a wonderland. We will be able to fit

in the mad Hatter. The dormouse has been requested. The Queen of hearts,

or a pack of cards maybe? I will have to wait and see! The story was

written by Lewis Carroll, a choir boil at the Cathedral just a stones

throw from the gardens. `` choirboy. Carvings inside are said to have

inspired the story. The link with Lewis Carroll is well known but

there is nothing in the gardens to signify that. So we decided it would

be a good idea. It is wonderful, very interesting. The illustrations

are of a disturbing nature which fascinated children and help make

Alice the most popular book in the world at one time. These

illustrations are what inspired Michael. As you can see from the

Cheshire cat behind me, it is fit to frighten any child! That bracing

approach is perhaps what you would expect from a chainsaw sculptor. The

children will be allowed to play on it when it's finished, that is... If

they dare! This picture was taken this morning.

Very pretty. Thank you very much. Kim says, my little boy is a massive

fan of Paul. He won't go to bed until he sees the weather report.

And he went to school dressed as you, for a day about what the pupils

wanted to be when they are older! That is wonderful. Here are another

couple of pictures. Lots of mist and low cloud. A beautiful picture.

Taking yesterday morning. `` taken. Keep the pictures coming in. The

headline for tomorrow, change coming during the second half of December.

Starting tomorrow. The Atlantic will assess itself right across the UK.

`` asset. `` assert. Severe gales and the risk of heavy rain. Daylight

hours over the weekend should dry and sunny, I'll be very windy. Mild

today, temperatures nudging double figures. It looks set to be cloudy

overnight. Further outbreaks of rain. Frost free, the lowest

temperatures coming in at seven or eight Celsius. The sun will rise in

the morning at 8:16am. Here are the high water times. Some rain at first

on Friday. That will work out of the way. Then the next weather probable

spread rain back in from the west. `` weather front will. Milder from

the south`west, double figures just about everywhere. The weekend, wet

and windy, Saturday night, Sunday should be dry and sunny, but still

windy. Another of the that dancing clubs

facing closure has been granted a stay of execution by the High Court

in London. No date has been set for the appeal. Good night.