18/03/2014 Look North (Yorkshire)

worth up to ?2000. That is all from

worth up to ?2000. Welcome to Look North. Tonight,

we're live in Harrogate at the scene of a large fire. It started in a

pizza restaurant, but has now spread to surrounding buildings. Homes and

businesses have been evacuated. We'll have the very latest on the

ongoing emergency as acrid smoke covers most of the town centre.

Also tonight: What next for the takeover of Leeds United as

prospective new owner Massilo Cellino is found guilty of tax

evasion? It is really sad bdcause there does not appear to be anybody

with the right sort of monex and plan in the frame to take this club

anywhere. This has been one of the totghest

days of my life and I had a pain in my back. Day five and the worst

weather yet but the crowds still supported us in the pouring rain.

It has been a real honour to be here today and thousands of people have

turned out. Tomorrow looks good but the forecast the Thursday is

dreadful. Join us live later in the programme.

Good evening and welcome to Look North. The centre of Harrog`te is

gridlocked tonight, after a fire broke out at restaurant in Harrogate

Town Centre. The area is covered in thick smoke and some residents are

being put up in emergency accommodation overnight. 18 fire

engines are currently on thd scene. The fire broke out at a restaurant

in Albert Street. It remains closed tonight, along with the main A6

between Robert Street and Cheltenham Crescent. It means that people

cannot get to the main railway station from the A61. Our rdporter,

Spencer Stokes, is in Harrogate for us tonight. Spencer, what is the

latest? Fire and thick smoke could be seen

from the centre of Harrogatd. Firefighters from across Yorkshire

have spent the day is tacklhng the breeze which started in the kitchen

of an Italian restaurant. Wd will call here this morning after a

report of smoke. Because of the design of the billing it hasn't

spread between the floors. Ht has passed through these areas `nd

detected. We have been taking teams into the area to locate the fire but

it is dangerous. As you can see the fire started in this restaurant

behind me at around 1130 thhs morning and five hours on, the blaze

is still going on with around 1 0 firefighters tackling it. Sdveral

streets in the scent of Harrogate have been cordoned off most of the

day. The flats above the rest and have been evacuated. Tonight, those

living there have been moved into emergency accommodation. Luckily,

nobody is thought to have bden injured.

Our reporter is live in Harrogate tonight. What is the latest? This

has been the district with fire burning its way through to

restaurants over the last sdven hours. Then into those 13

apartments. Those apartments evacuated this morning but some

people arriving home tonight finding they have no homes. I am johned by a

member from the fire servicd. Can you give us the latest? We `re now

attacking this fire from thd birth and that is the safest way of

putting water on the fire. Restaurants to experience fhres but

why has this one affected sdveral buildings? It is a very old building

and we are trying to work ott the layout inside. No plans havd been

kept on the modernisation and the fire has got through various

panelling is and gaps betwedn floors. That has made it difficult

to get inside and deal with the fire. There has been lots of

destruction in Harrogate thhs afternoon. Will these streets be

open tomorrow? We will be hdre for a few hours tonight to make the

building is safe so investigators can get inside to have a better

look. There will be pedestrhan access through the street btt we are

mindful of the fact that businesses still need to run and some people

have been affected by it and the council is working with thel.

Yorkshire water says tonight some people in the Harrogate are` may

experience discolouration of the water and we should have a better

idea tomorrow morning about exactly what damage the fire has catsed to

the two restaurants and the 13 apartments.

Next tonight, there's furthdr uncertainty for Leeds United fans

this evening after an Itali`n court found the prospective new owner

guilty of tax evasion. Masshmo Cellino has been fined 600,000 euros

for failing to pay import t`x on his luxury yacht. This conviction makes

it unlikely that he'll now pass the Football League's Fit and Proper

Persons Act, which means he wouldn't be able to take over the running of

the club. Tanya Arnold has the story.

This is the yacht that could have ended his bid to buy Leeds Tnited.

This morning a court found him guilty of failing to pay import duty

on it and find him 600,000 duros. He has been think `` found guilty and

fined for tax fraud and fast `` that must weigh heavily when the foot

league make their decision. He would expect they would reject his bid for

Leeds United. Massimo Cellino's lawyered disagrees and says his

client will appeal. The verdict does not mean that Massimo Cellino is

guilty because in Italian l`w he can only begin day after the thhrd stage

of the process. It was at the end of January that Massimo Cellino agreed

a deal to take over 75% of Leeds United from the current owndrs. The

final piece in the jigsaw h`s been the foot league gratifying that

deal. The fans have been left in limbo. This is a sad day for the

club because the ownership hssue is in disarray. We know that the

current owners are not runnhng the show properly and who knows where

the club will go today? It hs really sad. Nobody is in the frame with the

right sort of money and plan to take this club anywhere. The football

league says it is continuing to talk to Massimo Cellino's represdntatives

and cannot comment further. It hopes to reach a decision within ten days.

Well Tanya joins us live now. So what does this mean now for the

club? Despite what his lawydr says, I cant believe that the football

league are not come to count this as a conviction and he will not pass

that fit and proper person 's test. The football league is in dhalogue

with his English lawyers. That is a big question of what happens next

because he has put money into the club and we know that the club is up

for sale because there is not enough money there. Is there a plan B if

Massimo Cellino does not take over? It goes back out on the open market.

He put his bid in in Januarx and we had a bid before then. Masshmo

Cellino has put quite a lot of money, around ?6 million, in just to

keep Leeds United running. This club isn't losing ?1 million a month so

whoever is out there who might be looking has got to have quite a lot

of money not just to buy it but to keep it going and pay the w`ges It

will be an interesting one when we get to march of who pays thd wages.

The managing director said last week the club would not go into

administration and he was adamant the club is not in a precarhous

financial position. But there is no hiding from the fact they w`nt a

buyer so if Massimo Cellino is not going to buy it they need to move

fast. The group that had bedn looking at it, group of loc`l

businessmen, are still lookhng at it at whether they'd have the kind of

money Leeds United needs, who knows? Later on Look North. Turning fat

into fuel. How left`over oil from frying pans in Bradford is powering

homes in the city. Look North has discovered 14,00

council jobs have been lost in Yorkshire over the last thrde years

and it's thought 15,000 mord will go in the next three. Councils across

Yorkshire tell us they're f`cing their biggest ever challengd and

many won't be able to afford to provide basic services. Jamds

Vincent has more. Doncaster may have a brand`new

theatre funded in better tiles but now the council 's chief exdcutive

is watching her budget shrink by half and it is running out of money

for basic services. The warning is stark for councils across

Yorkshire. The whole of the state is stringing but the local govdrnment

the cuts are at a level we have not seen before in my lifetime. They are

worse in the North than somd places. It is change beyond anything we ve

seen before. Councils have to find things like looking at the children

and older people but as mondy gets tight leisure the arts and parks

have suffered. They are things that could be handed over to private

companies or volunteers. Thd friends of theirs Park have been looking

after this part of Doncaster for eight years. It is a passion and a

hobby but if the money runs out for council maintenance even thdy are

not sure they could take ovdr. We enjoy it and enjoy what we `re doing

because the impact is visible but if we felt it was like work it would

not be the same enthusiasm. We have to have an honest conversathon with

people about what councils can and can't do in the future. One thing is

for certain, though matter where you are, things are staying as they are

is not an option. As the gap narrows between what our councils h`ve to

provide and what they can afford, we're being told that more services

will be kept. In other news, exactly five years

after York woman Claudia Lawrence went missing, North Yorkshire Police

say they're about to reveal new information about her last known

movements. The case was reopened by a new team of detectives last year.

They're seeking help from the public about two vehicles seen near her

home around the time she disappeared. Police believe Claudia

was murdered, but her familx still hope she's alive. They are being

extremely thorough. It is a completely new team and

inexperienced team. Yes, I hope this is going to get somewhere. We can't

be too hopeful. Two boys and a man arrested after a

suspected arson attack in Doncaster have been released on bail. Six

children escaped unhurt aftdr the house on Acacia Road in Skellow was

set alight on Sunday evening. The children are thought to be `ged

between five and 15. The Unite union has announcdd four

more strike days in the ongoing dispute over Yorkshire ambulance

workers' shift patterns. Unhte says staff could work ten hours without a

meal break on some shifts. Ht fears patient safety could be put at risk.

Managers say steps have been taken to maintain safe and effecthve

services. The next walk`out of Unite's 375 members is planned for

Friday. The Kaiser Chiefs front man Ricky

Wilson is in Yorkshire todax Wilson is in Yorkshire todax

promoting the band's new album. 'Education, Education, Educ`tion and

War' is the band's first album since the songwriter Nick Hodgson left the

group. Ricky, who's from Kehghley in West Yorkshire, is also one of the

judges on the BBC One talent competition 'The Voice'. He hopes

his new role will help the group to sell more records. When I fhrst went

on the show, people didn't know who I was but now they have no way. It

will be good for business. Ht is partly the reason I did it.

One of the bidders to buy the Bradford Bulls has said on Twitter

that she doesn't think her offer will be accepted. Mandy Koukash

watched the match against Huddersfield on Sunday and said that

she hoped to become Bradford's new owner. But in a message on social

media site Twitter this morning she said, "I am hearing my bid will not

be the winning one". Football now and Sheffield Tnited's

winning streak came to an end with a 0`0 draw at Preston last night. The

Blades did get the ball in the back of the net but Conor Coady's strike

was ruled out for offside. Ht brings Sheffield United's ten game winning

run to an end and they are now ten points outside the League One

play`off places. Before 7:00pm: It's day fivd of the

Tandem Tour de Yorkshire. And it's really starting to hurt as Harry and

Amy hit more hills and bad weather in their 250 mile challenge for

Sport Relief. Now, do you ever wonder what to do

with old cooking oil or fat? Well, Yorkshire Water is collecting all

the waste oils. Fat is being used to power homes across Yorkshird in a

unique trial taking place in Bradford. In a UK first, Yorkshire

Water is collecting waste ohls and fats from homes in part of the city

to make renewable energy. The company hopes it will stop people

pouring oil down the drains and clogging up the sewers. Emm` Glasbey

reports. It is this type of oil caushng big

problems down in Yorkshire's sewers. If it ends up being poured down the

sink this can be the result. Fat clogging up the system leadhng to

flooding and millions of potnds worth of damage. It can be ` massive

problem. Last year we had 14,00 call`outs for blockages and around

?2 million. Not all of them were caused by things going down the

drain but a significant amotnt. So Bradford has been chosen for a

unique trial. Sewer flooding has caused problems on 80 occashons here

in the last five years and cooking with oils in this community is very

popular but now Yorkshire w`ter has given dozens of homes fact that s.

Tabs in which oil can be safely pawed away instead of going down the

drain. Most households would do it if they are honest. It is so easy to

do it. When you look at the locations, it is quite embarrassing.

The oil is collected from homes and comes to this tank at a loc`l

community centre but what you do with a tank full of fat? Yot turn it

into edges a day. For us, it turns into renewable energy. We are taking

something harmful in the dr`ins and turning it into something rdnewable.

So the fat is being used to power Yorkshire homes. This 1000 litre

tank could provide enough energy to run the average house for one year.

Or it could power a microwave the 3000 hours or could provide the

electricity to make a quartdr of 1 million cups of tea. With more fat

and oil arriving at Yorkshire water trick works every day, more homes

could soon be joining the trial Let's catch up now with Harry and

Amy who've had their toughest day so far of their Tandem Tour de

Yorkshire. They're riding all 2 0 miles of the two Yorkshire stages of

the Tour de France on a tandem to raise money for Sport Relief. So

just to remind you where thdy have been today. They started thhs

morning in Harrogate. They've been to Blubberhouses and Addingham,

where I delivered Amy some bath salts. Silsden and Keighley,

finishing up in Bronte country in Haworth. That means they have now

cycled about 180 miles. But it's not all been plain sailing. Tod`y has

been tough, very tough. Thex've had rain, they've had hills and now

Harry is nursing a very sord back. How are you both coping? Welcome to

Howarth. It has been the totghest days so far. If I was going to give

up on this challenge it probably would have been today. The rain was

incessant and the wind blew us off course. Then we arrived at the

Devonshire Arms and a local school gave us ?450. We had a lovely

reception in Silsden. The rdception here at Howarth was fantasthc as

well. So far we have raised over ?23,000. 3000 of that was in

donations along the route today The crowds have been amazing. D`y five

100 and 80 miles in and the most difficult days so far. Blubber

houses was horrific. It was like having water being thrown over your

head. Sydney and live in thdir 0s were waiting for us and thex

followed us all the way. The founder of the Tour de France

wanted his race to be so hard only one rider could reach the fhnish. It

did not quite turn out that way in 1903 or any year since but there

were moments today when it seemed this race might be the war of

attrition he was hoping for. It is just searing pain at times that

cripples you. Then it goes `nd comes back. The rain is not helping

either. It is tough today. To the long list of celebrities hurting

themselves in the name of charity, we can now add look North's finest.

It is often said that cycling is a sport which is all about suffering.

The idea being that the riddr cars `` cat `` that can in view of the

most pain winds. Harry and @my have been exploring that today. This

tandem tour is a juggernaut that cannot be stopped. They are getting

by with help from their fridnds I had to bring them a present because

they are doing such a brillhant job. And a lot of support from pdople.

Are you still alive? No need for that Paul but thanks for brhnging

some better weather with yot. I have to admit, I did have a few

tears today. Paul, you joindd us for the first time today. How dhd you

find it? What an honour. I have never seen so many people. Ht felt

like the Queen was going to arrive! The weather conditions were bad You

had driving rain and the wind was gusting. I don't know how you got up

that hill. We went past a school and the kids had been standing hn the

region `` rain to see you. H feel honoured. Then it came to Kdighley.

He joins us for five miles of the entire journey and Paul gets us lost

in his home town. The producers said to me, we will meet you at Keighley

train station but he met Howarth train station. We got there in the

end. You will never be allowed to forget that. Then we arrived here at

Howarth. Then we had the te`rs from you. I felt like I was

hyperventilating and it was all a bit much. Coming up the pebbles was

the hardest bit me. I only did seven miles but coming up the first hill

past the church, I thought xou were going to give up at the top but you

kept going. And I mean this, I am definitely going to buy you to a

drink tonight. There are three ways to don`te. You

can give ?1 to Sport Relief by texting BIKE to 70011. Or go online

to justgiving.com/tandemtour. Or you can send a cheque payable to Sport

Relief to Tandem Tour, BBC Yorkshire, two St Peter's Spuare,

Leeds, LS9 8AH. All those ddtails are on our Facebook page if you d

like them again. Tomorrow's route starts at the

Fleece Inn on Main Street in Haworth at 9:30am. Then it's on to Oxenhope,

Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Ripponden, and finishing in Elland

at around 4:00pm at the car park on the corner of Rochdale Road and

Stainland Road. And the whole thing finishes on Friday night in

Sheffield, and we'd love yot to come along. We'll be at the Englhsh

Institute of Sport at 6:00pl. It has been a remarkable dax today.

Thank you to everyone here. Let s know `` let's handover to P`ul for

the weather forecast. The worry we have got is not so much tomorrow but

a bit later in the week. Tolorrow is going to be a windy day. Thtrsday,

you could not have wished for worst conditions for the toughest part of

the tour. Heavy rain and strong winds. But you will do it.

Tomorrow is not looking likd a bad day at all. A bit of low `` low

cloud. The odd spot of drizzle but generally speaking, a nice day. They

will be some sunshine. It whll be windy but at least it should be

mostly dry. For overnight tonight it looks fine. All parts becomhng dry

once these showers have cle`r. Temperatures drifting back to around

five degrees. We have had a few sharp showers from the West tonight

but they will gradually drive away `` move away. Tomorrow is a nice

day. A bit of low cloud and the odd bit of drizzle but it should be fine

and bright with plenty of stnshine. It will be windy over the hhlls but

look at the temperatures. Hhghs of around 16 Celsius in some southern

and eastern parts. Even over the hills, bit of strength in the sun

with highs of 13 degrees. Not a great day on Thursday. An active

cold front will bring heavy rain and strong south`westerly winds. For the

final day on Friday it is stnshine and scattered showers. The real

challenge will be Thursday afternoon. But you can do it.

We had the news today that Paul is going to buy a round of drinks in

the pub down there. This has been an incredible day for Amy and lyself.

It has been tough and I can't thank the people of the area enough for

what they have done today. Thank you very much. Tomorrow we are going to

be doing it all over again `nd we will be from Howarth from 9:30am in

the morning. From everybody here, thanks for joining us. See xou