15/04/2014 Look North (Yorkshire)

We'll be live outside the ground as tributes are paid to those who lost

their lives in the worst sporting disaster in history.

Also on tonight's programme ` a seven`day reprieve for Kellingley

Colliery. The pit stays open, but only until miners vote on its

future. We'll have the latest live from Kellingley.

And, pleased to meet you ` the moment ex Yorkshire cricketer Geoff

Cope met his new guide dog, Queenie. We have all enjoyed some beautiful

sunshine today. Will it continue tomorrow? I will be back later in

the programme with the forecast. First tonight, two great cities

united by grief. In Liverpool thousands of people have gathered at

Anfield to remember the 96 football fans killed in the Hillsborough

disaster 25 years ago. And in Sheffield tributes from the

city where the worst sporting disaster in British history took

place. Our correspondent John Cundy was in the Leppings Lane on that

fateful day. `` Leppings Lane end. He joins us now from Hillsborough.

Very emotional, I am sure. It certainly has been. These two

cities have carried the burden of having Britain's worst sporting

disaster. Sheffield itself has had an enormous burden to carry as well.

They were traumatised all around the ground that day, residents took in

Liverpool fans who were barely get and allowed them to use their

telephones to contact loved ones. This is how Sheffield today

remembers 25 years on. We meet today to remember. To

remember those who died. Tehran member those who were injured.

Remembering the day a city can never forget. Hundreds at the Hillsborough

stadium room all `` memorial to the 96 fans who died that day. Six

minutes past three, the moment when the football match was stopped as

tragedy unfolded. Remembering one victim, Paul Carlile, who died at

age 19. His sister Donna and her family travelled from Liverpool to

pay tribute. It is wonderful what is happening at the Kop but I wanted to

come to Sheffield to remember that Paul is never forgotten along with

96. Across Sheffield the day was remarked `` was marked by a city's

respect. Runners completed a charity trek from Liverpool to Sheffield.

Candles were lit and prayers offered at Sheffield Cathedral. We have been

at the Cathedral and it is a very poignant day so we thought we would

like some candles in the crypt to pay are spectres. The church has a

clear message of hope that even terrible suffering can in the end be

healed. The reason we are holding this short commemoration today is to

show that we stand with the people who suffered and who suffer still as

a result of what happened is 25 years ago, and we believe that

supporting each other healing will come. Healing which families like

Donna Miller's have sought for so long. Devastation, really. Even

after 25 years we are still looking for answers and we hope this inquest

will give us what we want. It is a need for all of the families. I

don't know if we can ever move on but maybe we could move on with

healing if we get some of the answers we need. 25 years to the

day, Sheffield found a truly fitting way of remembering the 96. While all

that was going on in Sheffield, there was a massive anniversary

service going on at Liverpool football club at Anfield. An

estimated 25,000 people were fetching up there and two of the

speakers were Andy Burnham, who was the culture Secretary five years ago

when he came under a terrific barrage of shouting from the Kop. He

was so shocked that he ordered the enquiry. Another speaker was Trevor

Hicks, the Keighley businessman who became one of the leading

campaigners for the families. There is still an uncertain road

ahead but the country is with you now. It now knows the 96 better than

it did before and it knows them as your sons, daughters, fathers,

cousins, all with their own hopes and dreams. What was your call five

years ago is mine today. Justice for the 96. There will be a great deal

of heartache ahead for all of us but we will get there, just as we have

been here for 25 years. Families, we mourn our loved ones constantly, and

especially today, but the spirit of the 96 earns in our hearts and

drives us on. John, I know that to this day you

still feel what happened at Hillsborough personally. Is there a

movement in some shape or form, however small, towards closure for

the victims and the families? I think it is a long way off. I was

one of the lucky ones, I was in the Leppings Lane ends, but I was in one

of the side pens, not the central pen where people were crushed to

death. We will have the enquiries from the Independent Police

Complaints Commission and the John Stobart enquiry into what happened

that day. I think we are long way from completion on this. I think

this history that has gone on for quarter of a century will go on for

some years yet. I know you will be there for every step of the way.

Next tonight, Kellingley Colliery has been given a seven day reprieve

while miners vote on a phased closure of the pit. Some union

members have already rejected a ?10 million loan from the government

which would keep it open for 18 months.

But UK Coal has urged them to reconsider and is tonight sending

out ballot papers to all members. Let's take a look at how we got to

this point. On two April UK Coal said it was shutting Kellingley and

Thoresby pits and needed urgent financial help to stave off

insolvency. The following week the government offered to provide a ?10

million loan to keep the pits running, but only for a further 18

months. On Sunday night union members at

Kellingley rejected the idea of a phased shutdown, saying they wanted

the government to explore further options to keep the pits open. There

were fears that vote would lead to an immediate closure but today UK

Coal said it was sending out ballot papers and urged the miners to

support the plan. The results of that ballot will be announced next

Wednesday. Our reporter Emma Glasbey joins us now from Kellingley.

The miners leaving Kellingley tonight have been telling me they

are arriving every day to work not knowing what will happen, what the

day will bring. Tomorrow, letters will be arriving at their homes from

UK Coal asking them to confirm if they will agree to a gradual

shutdown at this pit. Safe for seven days, but UK Coal

says this kit will close. The company are sending out ballot

papers to all workers asking them if they will agree to a managed closure

over 18 months. Miners of all ages told me this afternoon they are

devastated. It is my job and that is all I have known, mining, I have

been doing it 35 years. It is a sad day. I feel let down. I am one of

the nine new starters so I thought I might be ten years here. There are

25 years of coal down there, I don't care what anyone says, it is all

profitable. How is everybody feeling? Is dreadful. The University

of Southampton has rejected a managed closure but one minor today

told me he has agreed to the plans for a gradual shutdown. `` the

National Union of Mineworkers has rejected.

If the only other option is closing sooner, a gradual shutdown is the

only way. A lot of people will not have any way to look for other ``

for anything else. UK Coal today insisted and managed

closure by autumn 2015 is the best option for everybody.

I would love for somebody to step in with ?100 million but there is

nobody. Are only option is 18 months. My job will go, many others

will go, some of us will be able to work for 18 months, our suppliers

and customers will be paid and we will all get better redundancy.

Otherwise we will go into liquidation in the next few days and

nobody gets anything. The ballot papers are expected to be sent out

in the post tonight. Workers will have until next week to respond.

With me now is Chris Kitchin from the NUM. What can you tell me about

what will the in this letter? It is seeking the commitment of the

members who work at Kellingley to work as normal towards the UK Coal

managed closure plan. What is your advice to your members going to be?

We have always kept the position that wherever the pit is open we

will continue to campaign because we believe it makes economic sense to

keep it open and keep mining the coal that is burned down the road at

Drax power station so we will campaign to extend the life beyond

18 months. So you will be advising them to vote no to UK Coal's plan?

We will be advising them to vote to keep it open short`term so we can

advise them in the long term on the future it can have. UK Coal are not

writing to the workers because they have in principle agreed to a

managed closure. What is your response to that? Thoresby colliery

is under a different union so they work differently to the `` to the

NUM. What happens will not become clear until all the workers here get

to have their say? Later on, the Queen of shops Mary

Porter 's returns to Rotherham. `` Mary Portas.

Anti`fracking campaigners have staged a protest in North

Nottinghamshire. They say the practice will damage the local

environment but the company at the centre of the protest says it is

aiming to reduce carbon emissions. This morning one protester scaled a

drilling rig belonged to Dart Energy in the Daneshill Energy Forest just

north of Retford. Our reporter Kate Bradbrook watched the drama unfold.

It was definitely a date to be out in the sunshine but green campaigner

will Thompson took that advice to another level, literally. `` Will.

Can you tell me what you are doing up there? It is the people who live

locally who are being adversely affected by all of this. Following

on from this, all the people who will be affected if this technology

continues to spread across our country. Will is one of a number of

protesters who have been camped here for weeks. They are worried that

exploratory drilling will ultimately lead to fracking. The process

involves drilling down into the ground and blasting rock with water

to release shale gas. Campaigners insist it is unsafe. We are worried

about the process contaminating the Aqua fire and also the methane that

gets released will also go into the atmosphere. Dark energy, which owns

the site, says it is working towards a low carbon future and that gas

will play an important part. It also says gas produced in the UK means

security of supply, tax revenues and jobs.

Will has been up there for just over eight hours, he has been negotiating

with the police but he has just shouted out, I am not going

anywhere. But 20 minutes later he was on his way. The fight against

fracking in our region, it seems, has only just begun.

A 61`year`old woman who was found dead in Leeds on Monday has been

named by police. The body of Pauline Butler was discovered in the Rawdon

area. A postmortem examination revealed she died of stab wounds. A

65`year`old man is in custody in connection with the murder.

The new groups running the NHS in North Yorkshire seem to have turned

around the funding problems that have faced the county for years.

Last year, four Clinical Commissioning Groups, made up of

GPs, took over from the primary care trust which left them with millions

of pounds of debt. But so far, three of the four groups have reported a

SURPLUS for their first year of business, totalling over ?4 million.

Six North Yorkshire beaches have been given an "excellent" rating for

water quality. Whitby, Sandsend, Filey, Cayton Bay and the North and

South bays in Scarborough have all been given the top rating. The

Marine Conservation Society says the main reason was the dry weather last

summer. All ten of North Yorkshire's beaches have reached at least the

minimum standard. Demolition work is under way at the

former Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post building in Leeds. The

landmark offices on Wellington Street were opened by Prince Charles

in 1970, when they housed more than 1300 staff. The building was the

home of the two newspapers until 2012, when it was put up for sale

and staff were moved to new offices on Whitehall Road. Let's talk about

one of my favourite pastimes, shopping. You might render a few

years ago the Porter is Roger was launched. `` Portas. Towns up and

down the country were given a ?100,000 grant and one of those

selected was in South Yorkshire. It was innovative and bagged another

?280,000. Today Mary Portas went back there to check up on progress.

You are not looking at Hebden Bridge or Harrogate. This is Rotherham. If

you haven't stopped by recently, forget all of your prejudices. It is

now home to dozens of new independent shops. 23`year`old Nora

does up furniture in her store. It is a totally different

experience, offering something different from the chain stores. A

lot of people are still finding us and they really sit `` they are

really surprised. Robber is a Portas town, named after Mary Portas, who

advises the government on how to serve the high Street. `` Rotherham

is. Today she is back to check on progress.

How are your shoes doing? I remember you really well.

I saw a high street in a town that was desperate for regeneration that

was looking very sad and today you can see is extraordinary steps have

been made, a vibrancy and an energy. What you have here are lots of new

independent businesses but if you are like me and you think they won't

last it might surprise you to find out that a lot of the shops are

celebrating their third and fourth years in business. Like Gemma, who

runs creative workshops from her base in the town's Imperial

buildings. I have been in brother for four years and I have noticed a

massive change, it is vibrant and unique. It is buzzing. The number of

empty shops is down, shoppers are up, but have Rotherham residents

really noticed? It is absolutely brilliant, a nice regeneration is

going on. If you see it today it is great, isn't it? I don't know about

changed, it has a prime mark on the banks, market. It is all right,

yeah. 14% of shops here remain empty but with every new venture that

opens it improves the chance that Rotherham as a whole will succeed.

Let's hope so. Before seven o'clock...

One very special man and his very special dog. When Jeff met Queen

Nick ` we meet the former Yorkshire and England cricketer as his new

guide dog settles in. `` when Geoff met Queenie.

Sheffield Steelers have named Jared at `` Jared Payne is as their

permanent coach. He has earned a two`year deal after

winning 11 of his 13 games in charge.

Any animal lover knows that the arrival of a new dog in the family

is a big deal, and for former cricketer Geoff Cope it's been a bit

of a roller`coaster. Geoff is registered blind and

depends on guide dogs. You may have been following his journey with us

from his previous dog retiring to him finding a new one. Cathy Killick

went to see him. Meet Queenie, 20 months old and

raring to go. And her new owner, Geoff Cope. It is the start of a

very special relationship, as he allows Queenie to become his new

guide. Helping both is instructor Sue MacDonald. The process will take

the best part of a year as they learn to work together. Providing

the bonding is right she will respond to me and that is the

important thing, that the two of us bond together and form a

partnership. As a former Yorkshire and England

cricketer, Geoff knows the importance of teamwork. When he

first lost his sight, a labrador became its guy and they lasted six

years together but the dog retired last year and went to live in need

Dale. He is proving a tough act to follow but Queenie is getting there.

A dog is only as good as its handler so a lot of training has to go in

for Geoff. There is a lot of memory, a lot of directional things he has

to remember, a lot of things he has to do with his body and his feet to

give her the best chance of doing what she needs to do. Guide dogs are

an elite in the canine world. Training costs thousands. Queenie

has already experienced this kind of training and now she is doing it for

real. Good girl. Steady. Foreword. The first time I went out on my own

I was very nervous to say the least and she took me through it and

suddenly you think, what are you worrying about, she can do it,

providing we stick together we will be all right.

They will be welcomed down at Headingley, I can tell you. The

previous dog has a fantastic home machine is going to live with

Geoff's got caught. `` God daughter. You can find out more on

our Facebook page. If my cat was on a lead he would

walk me off the edge of a cliff. Yesterday I put some timely lot ``

suntan lotion on his ears, everybody thought I was mad. If they are white

they can get cancer on their ears so it is very important.

High pressure remains in charge over the next few days. On Thursday there

will be a few spots of rain but the high pressure will break down any

spots, making the rain light and patchy. Tomorrow looks like a fine

day with sunny spells, the best through the morning. Through the

afternoon a bit more high cloud from the North. High pressure dominates ,

tomorrow a fine day. Not much cloud around this week, it has been

lovely, but quite chilly along the coast, and the temperatures dropping

of rapidly through this evening and overnight. We expect another frost.

Last night in the Vale view what we got down to `3.3. I don't think it

will be that cold but still temperatures getting down to

freezing in spots. Cool enough everywhere for a touch of ground

frost. Tomorrow morning the sun will rise at four minutes past six. A

fine start but a chilly one with a touch of Frost in some chilly spots.

Sunshine through the day but we will see more cloud through the

afternoon, turning the sunshine a bit more hazy. The breeze will be

light from the south`east and this will be a benefit to the coast.

Slightly higher temperatures, around 15 degrees. Inland, 16 for Leeds.

Some pretty impressive temperatures for the time of year. Make the most

of it because it will be cooler and cloudy on Thursday, one or two spots

of rain. Not too bad for Friday and Saturday, definitely the better days

of the Easter weekend. I think the story of the

Hillsborough disaster is one of the worst stories we have ever had to

cover on Look North. Today, people have been remembering the victims of

the worst ever sporting disaster. We leave you with moments from the

tributes from two great cities, Liverpool and Sheffield.

We will never forget them. Good night.