12/02/2014 Look North (Yorkshire)

end of the week? No. Had Russia heading our way and wet and windy

again. That is Welcome to the programme. Tonight,

the worst storm of the winter hits Yorkshire. The M62 is among the

roads affected as 90mph winds storm in. More snow is also on its way.

We'll have the very latest for you as commuters face a difficult

journey home. Also tonight, tractor aid. Yorkshire's farmers help

flooded farms in the south, but could floods here hit food supplies?

The growing numbers of Roma migrants in Yorkshire. How one council is

trying to help them settle. We go behind`the`scenes. What a day to

train our tandem ride. On Wild Wednesday, we hit the hills. A

stormy night ahead across Yorkshire. Blizzard conditions possible over

the Pennines. The latest coming up shortly.

Welcome to the programme. Thank you for joining us. The most severe

storm of the winter is hitting Yorkshire tonight. In the last hour,

winds of 92mph have been recorded near Sheffield. The M62 was closed

across the Top this is afternoon after a lorry was blown over. Snow

and ice have added to the problems in places. There is more of that to

come. We will go live to Tom Ingall in Sheffield for the latest there.

Charlotte Leeming is in Leeds city centre. Charlotte, how is it there?

Good evening. It's terrible. The Met Office told us these gales were

coming. My goodness have they arrived here tonight. Difficult to

turn around, but it's a difficult commute for many people in the city

centre here. Atrocious it is. I'm glad I have this bollard to help me

keep upright. The weather impacted our region this afternoon. That was

on the M62, a very exposed part of our region of course. A lorry

overturned there. That closed two lanes of the west`bound carriageway,

causing a lot of congestion. That is happening tonight as well. Just to

update you on the M62. It is is closed tonight to all high ciders in

both directions. That's between junctions 22 and 24. Let us not for

get as well as the wind we will have wintry showers and snow over the

Tops. That will be difficult tonight. Avoid that area if you can.

In another part of West Yorkshire, in bingely, this was the scene

outside the town's swimming pool. That is when a tree blew over on to

a number of cars. Miraculous no`one was hurt in that. We are bringing

you down to tonight, the traffic and travel situation on the trains,

Northern Rail are having difficulties on the railway line.

You can expect delays and cancellations. At Leeds Bradford

Airport, one flight in the last hour has had to be divert too dangerous

for it to land. We will keep you up dated tonight of course. That is the

situation here in Leeds. Let us hand you over to Tom Ingall in Sheffield.

It's a fierce evening in Sheffield tonight. The winds picked up between

3.00pm and 3.30 pm. We are getting gusts with periods of calm. When

they come they take you by surprise and grab hold of you. The highest

record wind speed is 92mph. It has blown the light off the top of the

camera. That is how surprising the gusts are. Transport problems right

across South Yorkshire. Speed restrictions, accident on the top of

the Woodhead, the exposed places. The trains suffering as well. If you

are travelling to London, trees down on the line causing delays. Services

suspended from Manchester to Liverpool because of the strong

winds. Thank you very much. The strongest winds are forecast to hit

our region around now. They are too strong for us to deploy our

satellite trucks safely. We wanted to show you just how strong the wind

are even in the city centres. We will try to do that later. Paul, how

bad is it at the moment? It's as nasty as we get. 92mph gust at High

Brad field. 92mph in the South Yorkshire Pennines, 79mph at Emily

Moor we are aren't in the peak of the gusts. We expect them to peak

from 9.00pm to midnight tonight. As we have seen, we have exceed that

and we might head towards 100mph if High Brad field has come up with

that already. Let us look at the footage from today's storm. We have

received this report from Ian White out and about this afternoon. This

lorry became the first victim of today's appalling weather. It

toppled over in high winds closing part of the busy M62 this afternoon

between junctions 22 and 23 west of Huddersfield. Elsewhere, a dusting

of snow brought picture postcard scenes, high up near Holme Moss. The

wind knead feel colder than it actually was. That wasn't putting

walkers off. We're quite used to the hardened weather and conditions in

Holm Firth. Let's enjoy it. At England's highest airport, planes

were taking off as normal, but getting a battering from the

elements. No plane spotters here today. No`one messing about in boats

at Yedon. Not the weather for ducks, too choppy. We are in Bingley, 1,000

feet above sea level. We have encountered all sorts of conditions

here, rain, sleet, snow and now the really cold biting winds. Of course,

things are set to get worse as the evening continues. Along the road

the white rose flag was flying proudly, winds were picking up as

youngsters finished school for the day in East Morton. When I see the

weather report and I hear it will be windy we are concerned for the

safety of the children getting to and from school. Concerns like,

trees, that is the main concern. And cars. The doors, things blowing

about in the wind. We need to make sure that the children are safe. In

Leeds city centre tonight what has become a regular event. Roads around

Yorkshire's tallest building, Bridgewater Place, the scene of a

fatal accident three years ago, closed to traffic because of high

winds. Paul will be back with a full forecast later. We will report on

how flooding is hitting farming in Yorkshire. If you have pictures of

how the weather is affecting you, you know how much we value them. We

would love to see them. There are lots of ways to get in touch. Post a

comment on our Facebook page: or you can send us annel mail, our address

is: You can tweet as well. We will show them late fer we can. Later,

Massimo Cellino misses the chance to watch Leeds play as the Football

League considers his takeover bid. More news first of all on a deputy

care home manager from South Yorkshire who stole almost ?15,000

from residents, has been jailed for two years. Denise Nichols took the

money from the bank accounts of 23 residents at the Wensley Street Care

Home in Sheffield. Police said the fraud was a "flagrant abuse of

trust." The money's been paid back by her husband. The veteran

politician Tony Benn is in hospital. Mr Ben, who is 88, was MP for

Chesterfield until 2001. He's understood to be seriously ill. He

was admitted to hospital over the weekend. The increasing number of

immigrants from Eastern Europe in parts of Yorkshire. Last year, the

former Home Secretary, David Blunkett, warned of an "explosion"

in the Page Hall area of Sheffield unless action was taken to integrate

Roma migrants. He accused the Government of "burying its head in

the sand." There's also a big Roma population in Rotherham. The council

there is trying a different approach to help `` integration. One area

where they are settling is Rotherham. 4,000 Roma now live in

Rotherham and the council has started running induction days like

this one to help with integration. If there is no rub ish, there is no

reason for the rats to come. The culture they have come from, none of

this was a concern. For example, we've seen, from research that we've

done, that fly tipping, rubbish is thrown everywhere, there's no bin

services, so this is totally new to a lot of families. This is only the

second time this type of event has been held here in Rotherham. It all

happens here at the Lifewise Centre, which is a model town built inside a

warehouse. Stop, look, listen, think before you cross the road. It's not

just the adults who are learning about life in the UK. For children,

it's basic things like how to cross the road, which must be mastered. As

well as other essentialals like fire safety. `` essentials. We are trying

to give them the basics so that they know the legalities and what ` in

each of the services. What they need to do. It's inducting them into

British life, basically. We are learning new things about recycling.

Before we put everything in the same bins. Now he knows to recycle. I was

happy when they were talking to me to don't do serious things to listen

to mum and dad. Different things like that. "It's a really good idea.

It's really helpful." In November, the former Home Secretary, David

Blunkett, warned there could be an "explosion" in the Page Hall area of

Sheffield if the Roma community there wasn't integrated.

Here in Rotherham, the council has found a new way to tackle the issue.

It seems to be working. So, is the Rotherham approach the

right one? In a moment, we will talk to Dave Brown from Migration

Yorkshire, which helps local authorities to deal with the impact

of migration, but first Robert Oxley from the TaxPayers' Alliance. It's

not 9 council job to tell people how to live their lives. B, also when it

comes to immigration and coming to this country, there has to be kind

of a basic thing that you should be able to engage with local services

without requiring extra effort and extra taxpayers money from those

councils. Dave, does rob vert a point? Should we use taxpayers money

to pay for courses to help people cross the road? Councils are right

to be spending this money on their local communities, whoever the

people are. Some of this money isn't from the taxpayer, we are drawing

down European money through the Migration Yorkshire's Roma matrix

project. We want more money from government to deal with this. There

is an economic benefit for migrants being in this country. We want it

down from local (inaudible ( has increased from zero to 3,500 in 10

years. With these work restrictions lifted no doubt that will increase

dramatically. Are we right to have concerns about the pressure this is

going to add to our services? I don't think it will increase that

much now. We have seen quite an increase in this period of time.

It's in specific areas. There are concerns in local areas. It's in

everyone's interests we integrate people, children in particular. They

respond well to this. If we can get in children in schools learning

about what they should be doing and being good citizens that benefits

everyone. Before 7.00pm. Animal feed and bedding head from Yorkshire to

Somerset to help farms struggling with floods. And, not long to go

until our charity bike ride. Join us to find out how we are getting on.

Strike the pose, Amy. First though, back to problems caused by the

weather, I'm afraid. The floods in the south of England seem to get

more serious by the day, don't they? This is the Somerset Levels, so far

Yorkshire has escaped the worst, but some people here are affected, and

not for the first time. This was our reporter Danny Carpenter. He loves a

field, at John Dickinson's farm near Bawtry in South Yorkshire in 2007.

This was Danny at the same farm again, in 2008. He has grown a bit.

This is the farm now, with water being pumped off John's fields

again. Some farmers now fear so many fields are flooded, the food supply

may be affected. Danny's been back to meet John again. The eyes of the

nation have been fixed on the South West. The worst flooding in living

memory. This is South Yorkshire, where flooding, for farmers, has

become a fact of life. 2007 was the record year here. Since then, it

hardly seems to have stopped. The pump has been running 24/7 for week,

but the river just keeps breaking it is banks. This is grazing land for

John Dickinson's jersey cows. He keeps resowing, but the water keeps

coming back. It kills the grass and the soil it grows in. We need to get

back to a managed river system. You can't go back 300 years and let

things run naturally. There are 60 million people in this country

today, that has a big effect on the environment. These rivers need to be

managed so the river runs to where it's supposed to do, as quickly as

possible. His neighbour, Russell, is busy lambing. He also grows food

crops, when he can. The every year, he's losing land to floods and he's

worried about the long`term impact. There needs to be new money and real

investment into the infrastructure of drainage. Just to protect houses,

it seems ridiculous, those people in those houses need to eat from

somewhere. We've got to, in the future, we have to realise that and

put more value on farmland. It is a simple fact, that the most fertile

soil is found in river valleys. Soil that can't be cropped if it's

underwater. The harsh and simple maths is that more floods means less

food. It doesn't look better there than did a few years ago. Other

farmers in Yorkshire are preparing to deliver castle feed and bedding

to farms which have been hit by floods in the South West. Tractors

pulling two trailers loaded with 30 tonnes of hay and silage will be set

off from Woolley near Wakefield tomorrow to travel to Somerset. Phil

Bodmer's meet the farmers behind the idea. It's a simple gesture,

Yorkshire farmers working together to help their flooded colleagues in

Somerset. Under the steel grey skies of a rain soaked winters morning,

they were busy loading a trailer with cattle feed and bedding ahead

of a journey to Bridgewater. I felt there was just not enough being done

quite in the country. I don't grow cattle feed. I haven't got cattle

feed, I could offer them time and transport. I came up with the idea

on Saturday morning of getting my colleagues in the area and

delivering them with... Organising cattle feed and delivering it. These

farmers know the heartbreak flooding can bring. Cattle on the Somerset

Levels would usually be grazing on fields which are now underwater. I

think the first thing is to get the water off the land as quick as we

can. To make sure that those businesses have the feed for the

livestock. Come together and help to tackle this very difficult

situation. Is There is ?1,000 worth of animal feed aboard this trailer.

That may not be much in terms of it is monetary value, for farmers and

their stricken animals on the flooded Somerset Levels, this load

will be priceless. The convoy is setting off early tomorrow morning.

It will be a long, slow journey. For those at the other end though, it

may mean the difference between going under or staying afloat. Let's

have a bit of sport. If you were waiting for a final, defin tiff,

once and for all confirmation of the Leeds United takeover, wait for it.

Oggy, what can you tell us? Well done. The watchword tonight is `

wait for it. We will have to wait a couple more weeks it seems for the

outcome of those meetings between the perspective new owners of Leeds

United led by Massimo Cellino and the Football League on the other

side of the table thechl have to rubber stamp his purchase of a

majority stake in Leeds United football club. If you are a fan of

any of our four teams in action on the field last night, including

Leeds United, it was a night to test your patience. The VIP seating area

contained a reservation for the Italian businessman, Massimo

Cellino, who is expected to go and watch the team he is planning to buy

subject to his meetings in London today with the Football League. The

seat was empty. Mr Cellino reported in sick on the night, on the field

Leeds were off colour themselves. The only goal was scored by Brighton

in the second`half of the the big changes proposed at Leeds United may

be a good thing. It's in the hands of the Football League and Mr

Cellino. What will happen, I don't know. Sooner the better, as far as

I'm concerned, everything is sorted. The mood wasn't better at

Huddersfield Town who failed to score in a 3`0 defeat by Nottingham

Forest. Forest's finishing was a class above. The home manager

described the match as "men against boys." Sheffield Wednesday lost 3`1

at home to Wigan. Wednesday's first defeat after a run of 10 without

losing. Their biggest loss could be of their midfield player who

suffered Annele injury and could miss a serious chunk of season.

Bradford City were our own remaining hope of po a goal no. Luck, I'm

afraid, Carlisle beat them by 1`0. Leaving City just five points above

the relegation zone. In case you hadn't heard, tonight's league one

match at Bramall Lane between Sheffield United and Brentford is

off because of a waterlogged pitch. Yorkshire have signed Aaron finch.

He holds the world record for the highest 2020 international innings.

He spent a season playing for Clifton Alliance in York. He can't

wait to get back to Yorkshire in May. It's a successful and great

county. I have heard nothing but great things of it. The opportunity

to play county cricket and 2020 cricket is something I wanted to do

for a while. The time is right. I'm grateful that Yorkshire has have

given me the opportunity. 's hope the weather changes before he gets

here. To the Winter Olympics. Tomorrow morning's Ski Slopestyle

event. Is our man Woodsy going to be fit enough to compete for the medal

he's been working so hard towards? Sheffield's James Woods, to give him

his full tight, is not 100% fit. He suffered a hip injury in training

last week. He says he will give it his all even though certain

movements do hurt. It's a gnarly sport, that means tough, I think.

Qualifying starts at 6. 15 am tomorrow. The final is at 9.30 am.

Today's steepest sporting achievement is coming up and you

have my upt most admiration for even trying this on your tandem. In just

over a month's time we begin a very big challenge for Sport Relief. The

idea, not mine I must add, is to cycle the two Yorkshire stages of

this year's Tour de France on a tandem. It's around 250 miles over

eight days. What do we need? Lycra, and an idea of the hills that await

us. Something we should maybe have looked into before agreeing to the

challenge. We need to be functional, not fashionable. You want to look a

bit glam. I want nice gel shorts. Gel. Nice tights or long trousers,

that are warm. I want something that breathes. You want to wear lyrca,

don't you? Well, maybe! Look at those Bobby dazzlers.

We look exactly the same. Come on. Let's get cycling. You're not

wearing those glasses. I am. Not with me you're not. I am. Nothing

looks nicer than a Yorkshire mountain. I'll take your word for it

Harry, it's better than the view I've got. We will face plenty of

climes on routes. Kidstones is 424 meters above sea level. We hit Holme

Moss today. Help wasn't far behind. Are you going up that way? Yes.

Harry, let's jump in. Thank you so much. Jason does trike tours of

Stage 1 of the Tour de France routes. How do you think we will

cope? You have seen the physical state of Amy. You have seen me. How

will we cope with Holme Moss? You will be absolutely fine with a good

wind behind you. A wind like this? You don't want a day like today! The

intention was that is we would tandem up from the bottom and reach

Holme Moss. We are on the tandem we sort of gave it up as an idea

really. There is a fair covering ever snow up here. The wind, I've

never felt anything like it. I'm really worried. What if is it like

this in March. Won't be. It will be glorious sunshine. It will be a

doddle. I would give you a cuddle, but... I need a bit of warmth.

Desperate times, Harry? Absolutely. Major reality check. What do you

mean by "Amy's physical state"? We will be cycling the whole route in

Marge. We will let you know how to donate to Sport Relief. You did look

like a drowned rat. Three quick pictures which summarise what we

have had so far. That is a downed tree in Lothersdale. That the was

before the winds picked up to where they are now. This illustrates, this

is not good quality. Taken on a phone. It gives an idea of how wet

the land is and the water from today pouring off the land. The land is

now on a knife edge. We can do without any more rain, there is a

lot more to come. This was Holme Moss. This gives an idea of the snow

line. Right up on the tops. Blizzards to come at Holme Moss for

a time tonight. We will start with the wind speeds. HighBradfield

92mph. The winds will not peak for another two or three hours.

Dangerous conditions out there, especially across western parts of

Yorkshire. Amber warning in place. Blizzards over the top of the

Pennines for a time. That is out of the way. A better day in eastern

areas tomorrow than this feature brings more heavy rain up later on

Friday night. Look at that swirl of cloud. The strongest winds now

packing in behind the cold front which left the east coast at the

middle of this afternoon. This frequent showers now piling back in

from the west. The wind will strengthen further. The showers will

turn to snow over the tops, blizzard conditions for a time. Showers will

move northwards. After midnight the severe gales will slowly ease.

Lowest temperatures coming in at about two Celsius, 36 Fahrenheit.

The sun will rise in the morning at 7.31 am. Still windy we will have

lost the severe gales by first light. It should be mostly dry with

some sunshine. Just a hint that later the showers will become more

organised, especially to north and parts of West Yorkshire giving some

wintry showerses in places. Top temperatures around six Celsius,

that is 43 degrees Fahrenheit. Still a strong South West wind, but not

the severe gales we are going to get in the next few hours. Friday

morning a respite, more heavy rain on Friday night into Saturday. Amber

warning for severe gales in the next few hours. That is the forecast.

Check out local radio for information. Harry and Paul are back

at 10.25pm with the latest on those storms. Until then, stay warm.

Goodbye. Hello and welcome to the One Show

with Matt Baker. And Alex