12/01/2017 Look North (Yorkshire)

Good evening and welcome to Thursday's Look North.

A step closer in the fight for justice for the families

23 people or organisations could face prosecution for the 96 deaths.

I am happy that it's going the right way.

I don't have a sense of victory, I just see the wheels of

We'll hear from Yorkshire campaigner Trevor Hicks,

who lost two daughters in the event.

I'm live in Scarborough where traders are battening down the

hatches ahead of unexpected storm later on.

A year after a Leeds man risked jail for smuggling a child

refugee out of France, he says he has no regrets.

And tributes for the Barnsley legend Norman Rimmington as the football

You knew on a match day that if you came and saw Norman sat in his seat,

everything was fine with the world. We were going to do well.

Met Office warnings for ice tonight and severe coastal girls tomorrow.

Join me for the very latest forecast.

23 people or organisations face possible criminal prosecution over

Eight are believed to be police officers.

Files relating to the events at the Sheffield Wednesday

ground have been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service

which will decide whether or not to press charges.

96 Liverpool football fans died at the ground in April 1989 and this

is the next step in the family's fight for justice.

This report from our correspondent John Cundy.

Misconduct in public office... Ford leading Hillsboro campaigner, Trevor

Hicks, whose two daughters were amongst the victims, today marks a

milestone in the 20 -- in the long campaign. He is confident

prosecutions will be brought. The numbers I found are a little

disappointing in the grounds that there are a lot of people who have

been involved in this, people and organisations, but similarly, there

is no point in pursuing anybody on what isn't a robust case.

Our belief is that there is sufficient evidence for charges to

be considered and the sort of charges are Manchester by gross

negligence, perverting the course of justice, misconduct in public

office, safety in stadiums... The jury at the inquest decided they had

been unlawfully killed when they were crushed on the Hillsborough

terraces. The fans were blameless, there had been serious police

failings at the FA Cup semifinal. Among them, daughters of Trevor

Hicks. The families brought private prosecutions for manslaughter

against the Hillsborough match commander, David Duckenfield and his

deputy, superintendent Bernard Murray. The jury reached no verdict

against David Duckenfield and Mr Murray was cleared. But at the late

inquest, David Duckenfield admitted he had made mistakes and was not up

to the job. A range of bodies, including gamblers service,

Sheffield Wednesday football club and the licensing authority, were

also under question. -- including the Ambulance Service. A four-year

inquiry has been completed. We have to accept the fact that there will

be some charges made and there will be no doubt civil claims as well. We

just have to face that. But you have to get through all that in order to

be in a strong position to face the future. I am happy that it is going

the right way. I don't have a sense of the jury. I just see the wheels

of justice turning slowly, but they are turning. We are in a

substantially better place than we were a couple of years ago. The

Crown Prosecution Service is expected to take a couple of months

to decide whether any Hillsborough charges will be brought.

Coastal resorts on the East Coast have been preparing for bad weather

and tomorrow morning's expected tidal surge.

There are currently six flood warnings in our region with three

Our reporter Phil Bodmer joins us now from the town where people have

spent the day putting up barriers and bringing in sandbags.

Yes, they are very worried. They are taking the precaution seriously. A

number of traders have been sandbagging their business

properties and also boarding up. Don't be full by this deceptive

calm. In the early hours of this morning, we expected to get wild.

Let's get reaction about this and the precautions being taken. Let's

talk to chief inspector from North Yorkshire Police. You have been in

meetings, should we be concerned by this expected tidal surge? Yes, we

have had regular updates from the Environment Agency and the Met

Office and we can identify properties that are at risk and the

residential and commercial premises for Whitby, Townsend scars will.

What precautions are you taking? Are extra police on duty if people need

help? Yes, we are working with a number of agencies to ensure that we

have resources in place overnight that can be on the ground and

respond. We have also been trying to contact all the homeowners within

the affected areas and giving them consistent messages about where to

go for assistance. In 2013, there was damage in various parts of the

borough. ?1 million cost, but I imagine you have road closures in

place tonight to protect the public? Yes. The danger we have tonight is

the high tide plus particularly powerful waves which will make it an

extremely dangerous place. Therefore, a number of roads will be

closed and there will be restricted pedestrian access to footpath. The

plea to members of the public is to adhere to the restrictions, they are

your safety. There are a lot of people anxious about a lot of people

anxious about tonight. If they need help, what should they do? You could

be overwhelmed with calls? There are regular alerts through the

Environment Agency website and also through the borough council. There

are flood line is being advertised on those websites with people need

extra assistance, please direct them. Thank you for talking to us

tonight. A potentially busy night for the police. The high tides are

expected at 4:20am. There is a window between 3:20am and 6:20am.

Then there could be a higher tide around 4:40pm. But the situation is

flexible. The advice is to be prepared and watch the forecasts and

keep an eye out on the situation and look out for other people. Back to

you, Lara and Harry. We're staying with Yorkshire's coast

because - treacherous or not, it's providing the inspiration

for this year's Welcome to Yorkshire's entry

in the Chelsea Flower Show. Momentum is building for one

elected mayor to serve Labour council leaders have

indicated today they are now willing to consider the idea,

which had previously It comes on the day

that this year's elections for a South Yorkshire Mayor have

been called off. Our correspondent Danni

Hewson can explain. It has worked for London, having one

figurehead to fight for the capital has brought added cash investment

and prosperity. The government thinks it can work for the rest of

the country. Six areas will vote for their own mayor in May. These

include Manchester, Liverpool and the West Midlands. Yorkshire will

not. The mayor 's get to wrestle control of a whole load of power

from Westminster and it comes with a pot of cash, ?30 million a year.

Almost ?1 billion over 30 years. As it stands, Yorkshire won't get any.

This deal would house secure cash will serve Yorkshire with a mayor

elected in May. Now, over a legal challenge over Chesterfield's

involvement, it has been postponed and could collapse, which the

government does not relish. The government is committed to that deal

and I would encourage South Yorkshire leaders to remain

committed because if they walk away, we will take the deal off the table

and that money and power will not be coming to South Yorkshire. But

today, supporters of Yorkshire white Mare seized on the delay. And other

council leaders have said they will consider the option. We are happy to

take this forward, to talk about the opportunities, where we could work

together and see whether a Yorkshire wide me oral model -- male role

model, will help us. Many believe that such a mayor would pack a

greater punch and has blamed Labour. Link. Their national leader has

denied playing politics. They are passionately representing their

local areas, that's what drives people. They want to get it a better

deal. But it has taken two years and the stakes are high. The worry is

that the divide between these places and their ability to engage with

government, between those places that have mayor and those that

haven't, will get even greater. So, after months or years of saying no,

why is it possible that Yorkshire's political leaders could accept one

mayor. How would it work and who would it be?

So to find out more about the plans for a Yorkshire-wide mayor,

we're joined by our political editor Len Tingle, who's in Westminster.

Good evening. How likely is it that this plan for each Yorkshire white

mayor could gather momentum? As far as the government is concerned, not

likely at all. We have been arguing about this since George Osborne

announces devolution revolution. A cluster of councils around a city

would work together to improve their economies so they would be better as

a group rather than individuals. In Yorkshire, that has genuinely --

generally been done with South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire forming

their own devolved region left by a mayor. But because the argument has

raised so much, and politics have got involved, nothing has been

sorted. The nearest was South Yorkshire but at the moment, it is

looking as though there are one or two councils who are saying that it

is not that they do not like the idea of smaller regions that can

work more effectively, but they want to explore using the wider Yorkshire

brand. But plenty of powerful voices including the government, saying it

will not work. Is there a sense that Yorkshire is missing the boat as

other regions have got elections in May, with that extra funding?

Absolutely, and that has been put me time again. You saw that remark from

Andrew Percy, who said that Yorkshire has got to get its act

together. There is a great opportunity her, extra cash and

extra powers under an executive mayor, grab it now. We heard that

the mayor role elections was South Yorkshire will not go ahead. Do you

think this idea is now dead in the water? There have been reasons for

the deferment which may become permanent. Jostling for position

between Doncaster and Sheffield. Doncaster is now saying it would now

prefer to not entirely lose the South Yorkshire deal, but to look at

a Yorkshire wider deal. Sheffield has had its problems. And there is

that basically horrendous mistake of trying to... Legally they have got

to look at this sort of deal that is on the table and let the public have

a say on it and the Sheffield city region leaders put that, had the

consultation, but didn't do it properly, and the High Court says

they have to do it again. That is why they have had to have a

deferment. Whether that would be permanent, that looks increasingly

likely. Thank you very much. In other news now, ten years

after a homeless man was found dead in a damp cellar in Harrogate,

police say they're convinced there are people out there who hold

vital information about his death. Robert Pride-McLeod was discovered

in the basement of a homeless He had heart problems

and weighed just five stone. Detectives think the 49-year-old was

assaulted shortly before he died. Three arrests were made

in the initial investigation, but all were released

without charge. It's been confirmed that the leisure

centres in Knottingley and Castleford will close

on the third of February. Wakefield District Council say

the pools are in a dilapidated state Protesters campaigning to keep

the pools open say older people and children will struggle to travel

to the new centre, which will be The re-opening of a West Yorkshire

bridge damaged by the Boxing Day floods has been delayed

by bad weather. Elland Bridge was due to re-open

for cyclists and pedestrians by the end of this week,

but rain and low temperatures have held up work to

waterproof the structure. Calderdale Council say they're

hopeful work will be More than 8,000 people in Doncaster

have been fined for fly-tipping, dog fouling and littering

in the past year. The number of fines issued in 2016

was almost 30 times higher It's because the council has

employed a private company to crack Rotherham Council is now

planning to do the same. We tend to use the word "legend"

a little too easily these days. But today in Barnsley we said

farewell to a genuine one. Norman Rimmington gave his life

to Barnsley Football Club. He did everything at the place -

from coach to kitman. All Saints Church, Darton. Packed to

the rafters. And head, a perfect service to say farewell to Mr

Barnsley. Mick McCarthy, Barnsley legend, needed all his strength to

make his wonderful tribute. As a young player, he gave me so much

support, so much encouragement. He always saw the best in people.

Certainly in me. And probably one of the reasons I am stuck here and had

the career I have had is down to him.

I've known him all my life. A tremendous character. He looked

after all the players, did their washing, did every job. Great bloke,

great bloke. Oakwell. Sometimes, words are not needed. The fans'

reaction says 1000 times. I have no known all my life, and his family.

And he is a legend for the club. You knew, on a match day, if you came

and saw Norman sat in his seat, everything was right with the world.

We were going to do all right. And well done to the football club, they

made everything right for his family. Mick McCarthy has always

phoned my dad up, even when he left Barnsley. He kept in touch. People

have been to see him while he has been in the home. Danny Wilson came

to see him at 7:30am when he -- before he went into training. And

Alan Clark, they've all been. The match we were invited to just after

he died, it was amazing to see the crowd chanting his name. He has just

been our dad and when you see people like that, it was emotional. That

was Norman, how fantastic. Talking about him and service itself. The

people who attended the service speaks volumes and volumes. Farewell

to Norman Rimington, never to be forgotten.

Headingley Stadium - the home of Yorkshire Cricket

and Leeds Rhinos - has been given the go-ahead

It's for the south stand on the rugby side, and the one

shared by the cricket and rugby clubs.

A Leeds City Council report says they would secure Headingley's

status as an international venue and bring significant

The clubs are yet to reveal how they'll pay

It's critical that this development is completed.

The clock is ticking but it is all going to be completed

before the summer of 2019 for the Cricket World Cup

Time is against us, but there is a way of delivering it,

providing we can get the funding mechanism in place.

A man from Leeds who tried to smuggle a four-year-old refugee

girl out of France has said he would consider breaking the law

It's a year since Rob Lawrie from Guiseley was caught by French

authorities with the girl in his van.

He'd been trying to take her to members of her family in Leeds.

Since then, he's continued to take aid to refugee camps in Europe

and has even had a film written about him.

Cathy Booth's report contains flash photography.

A media scrum for the man who broke the rules.

Rob Lawrie's story made headlines around the world.

at the Calais refugee camp known as the Jungle, former

When Bru's father asked him to bring her to lead

where she has family, Rob followed his heart

It's now a year since he was given a suspended fined by a French court.

He faced smuggling charges but was only found guilty

of a lesser charge of endangering life because of how Bru had

a lot of people think I just turned up in the day and was asked

to help the little girl and on the day, I went,

We had formed a relationship with her father and Bru,

the little girl over a period of weeks.

Take yourself back in your mind to that time

Did you ever think, I shouldn't be doing this?

Because first of all, it was an irrational,

So there was no time to kind of get scared or ask yourself questions.

Would you ever consider breaking the law again to help a child?

I would consider it. Would you do it?

I knew that was coming. I would consider it.

Yeah. I will always consider it, yeah.

Whether you would call it notoriety or fame,

Rob has used his situation to raise awareness.

He gives talks to schoolchildren about the plight of refugees

and has sold the rights to his story to Hollywood.

I used to think my life was like everybody else but people

And when I examine it, it's different.

So, while Rob Lawrie couldn't help little Bru,

Hundreds of thousands of people will get to see Yorkshire's stunning

coastline when it's recreated at this year's Chelsea Flower Show.

Welcome to Yorkshire has unveiled its latest plan

for a garden for 2017 - which will feature cliffs,

Yorkshire have always done well at Chelsea as these

The individual gardens not only capture the public's imagination

Emma Glasbey has been to meet the designer who has the task

In Yorkshire, we don't need anyone to tell us

But it doesn't hurt to remind everyone else.

That's why Welcome to Yorkshire has chosen the coast as inspiration

for what it hopes will be a spectacular display

And what could be more spectacular than this?

The stunning Thornwick Bay at Flamborough.

There is nothing quite like the Yorkshire coastline.

Its rugged, it's beautiful, it's teeming with wildlife and it

has an impressive collection of wild flowers.

A Leeds designer has had the rather nice task of spending time

at the coast to develop the ideas for a potentially

The scenery is so fresh, the cliffs are white.

On a winter's day, there aren't many flowers around,

but under all this grass, there are quite a lot of different

varieties of wild flowers all waiting to come through.

It will be Welcome to Yorkshire's most ambitious gardening yet.

They will be building a beach, cliffs and even

The stone will be from the same quarry used to construct

Whitby Abbey back in the 13th century.

Thousands of people will be able to get a glimpse of the Yorkshire

Lots of people don't know it's here, lots of people don't

And it's so varied, as well, all along because of the county ,

-- all along the coast of the county,

places that are only 20 or 30 miles apart and find absolutely

different scenery and absolutely different atmosphere.

Recreating the best of our coastline in a small corner

But this is a hidden gem Welcome to Yorkshire wants

we are understandably very proud of that coastline. Understandably

concerned because of a storm surge. 1953 was a bad one, not like that,

is it? People who remember that would be

horrified at the thought of another tidal surge. January 19 53. In some

spots along the coast, the 2013 storm surge was bigger than the one

in 1953. One along that scale is not expected, but some coastal flooding

is expected. The scale is one to 12, women are storm Force ten wins

tomorrow. There was only violent storm 11 and hurricane at 12, so the

wind speeds are right at at the top. The high tides generated by the Moon

and the sun are not as high as those generated in 20 -- 2013.

Timewise, it's early in the morning? Scarborough is about four o'clock.

The big tide may be at 4:45pm because the northern wind will be

running all the day long. The wind adds to the astronomical tides.

Let's look at the detail. The wind warning and also the ice weather

warning and the weather warning for storm force winds. You can see on

tomorrow's weather charts the closely packed isobars. Coming down

from the north, remember the tide runs from the north of the Atlantic

-- top of the Atlantic and down the North Sea. So the wind is adding to

two high tides. We have got rain and snow in the south-east but the

system associated with that is pulling away southwards. There maybe

I is on untreated service in the next couple of hours but there maybe

a short spell of rain, sleet and snow later. Some of us can wake up

to a slight covering of snow but it could wash the great of the roads

and the cleared behind, ice may well reform. The sun rises and the high

water times are read these times. Very heavy seas indeed. The coast

stormy. We get rid of that system quickly, what our four eyes for the

commute in the morning. For many of us, cold and sunny. -- watch out for

ice. Quite wintry temperatures. Into Friday evening, very quickly we will

see a widespread frost developing. For the weekend, Saturday looks cold

and sunny. The wind will slowly ease. Another frost into Saturday

evening and then for Sunday, Raymond will spread from the West, -- rain

it will spread from the West, preceded by snow. Then grey and

damp. What a busy forecast. Keep an eye on

the weather and tune into your local BBC radio station as well. Thanks

for watching. Good night. ..and keep telling yourself

over and over, "This will end." Ladies and gentlemen,

the bride and groom. So what if I forgot

our poxy anniversary? Er, I think this year

was copper. 14th is poxy. Marriage is a marathon,

not a sprint. Like a marathon,

you have to keep on going... ..drink as much as you can... Please

tell me you can see them, too. ..and keep telling yourself

over and over, "This will end." Ladies and gentlemen,

the bride and groom.