21/12/2016 Look North (Yorkshire)

Good evening, you're watching Wednesday's Look North.

Coming up tonight: Is a ?900 million windfall

Plans for an elected mayor for the region face delays

after a row with Derbyshire over which areas will be part of it.

A year on from the devastating floods, residents say

they still live in fear of it happening again.

If push comes to shove and there is, God forbid,

another incident like Boxing Day, then at this moment in time as it

Market-stall holders prepare to shut up shop for the last time to make

way for a new cinema complex in Wakefield.

And Amy meets the needle-felt artist who's inspired

A reasonable day to come tomorrow, with sunshine and a few showers.

But some very disturbed weather for Friday and the Christmas weekend.

Plans to elect a South Yorkshire mayor, with a range of powers

over local services, are in disarray tonight.

Chesterfield was due to join the so-called Sheffield City Region,

but Derbyshire County Council said they didn't like that

idea and went to court. A judge has decided that

consultations on the new region were unlawful.

The legal wrangle has cost a six-figure sum and is likely

to delay the mayoral elections next May.

Almost ?1 billion of funding is at stake, and there could be

Tom Ingall has our top story tonight.

It's full of decisions. Like, who gets what. Take Chesterfield itself.

Geographically it's firmly in North Derbyshire. But political leaders

here think an invitation to join the new set so much I feel economic

region was too good a gift to refuse. -- Sheffield economic

region. It is about investment and economic opportunity. It is not

about geography or administrative boundaries. It is getting economic

activity devolved from government of the local decision-makers, of which

I am one, and ensuring that is used in the best place for Chesterfield

residents. Devolution of power was supposed to be a gift from

Government to the regions. Then Chancellor George Osborne promised

more cash, as long as a male was elected. He was keen to grab and

local politicians as a deal for the Sheffield city region was signed. --

too glad hand. It should have been straightforward. There is Sheffield,

rather, Barnsley and Doncaster at its heart. Also over, Derbyshire

Dales and north-east dog should councils were invited to join in.

Bassetlaw and Chesterfield wanted to become a buzz with full voting

rights. But garbage or county council sake Chesterfield cannot be

claimed just like that. They went to a High Court. The judge agreed that

the consultation to establish the new region was an more. Your luck

I've had more contact from people in the field over this issue than

anything else. People have been very alarmed that they didn't know

anything about it. And very concerned that they didn't have any

chance to say what they thought about it, either. So far, there's no

sign of the Goverment's taking the gift back to the shop. In a

statement after today's ruling, the Department for Communities and Local

Government said... As 2016 draws to a close,

Chesterfield is no closer to answering the question, does it, the

calling a phrase look north towards Sheffield? Or does it, like the

twisted spire, lean towards Derby and the county council offices in

Matlock. We have asked them for an interview, but they gave a short

statement. They said they are considering a judgment and or

announcing the steps shortly. The timetable for electing a new mayor

looks at best ambitious. So what does this ruling mean

for further devolution in Yorkshire? Professor Tony Travers is an expert

in local government from the LSE. Is this a real mess, Professor? It

is a bit of a mess, isn't it? What we've got here in effect is one

local authority, that stop the show, going to court to stop another

combined -- that's Derbyshire. The stop another come by authority

proceeding with a deal they have already struck with the Government.

Having local authority is going to court against other local

authorities is not great. There are costs involved of course. This will,

as you are about to discover, create consequences for the possibility of

all of this going forward, having a directly elected mayoral election.

You heard something about the arguments that Chesterfield put

forward. Have they got a point? I mean, clearly there is an issue

here. Because, you know, you've got districts that are, or District

Council areas, that are in counties that are outside Yorkshire wanting

to join a city region. Now, city regions don't respect traditional

boundaries, coordinates trip. The economic area of Sheffield is

certainly one that spills over a number of boundaries, including the

old South Yorkshire county boundaries. As we have seen in the

not of pressure and option as well. The question here is, -- into

Nottinghamshire. How does the economic rationality of a city

region cope with traditional local authorities and the boundaries.

Clearly the county and Derbyshire feels that of just feel breaks away,

Chesterfield is a substantial authority within Derbyshire, it begs

questions about the future of Derbyshire. On this occasion, they

set so much saying it was all about how the cause patient was undertaken

in Chesterfield. If I have to put you on the spot, what is your gut

feeling about whether or not there will be a mayor in 2017 in the

Sheffield city region? I think, given that the combined authority is

saying that it's going to review the judgment carefully, and that

suggests there would have to be a further consultation if they want to

hold together the listing authorities, it is hard, as of now,

to see the mayoral election going ahead next May. Professor Travers,

thank you for joining us. It's nearly a year since homes

and businesses in Yorkshire This week, we've been

looking at the legacy Today, we hear from

the residents of Calderdale. Millions of pounds are being

invested in a new flood prevention scheme, but many residents say

they still live in fear Charlotte Leemng is in Todmorden

for us this evening. Thank you, good evening. The year

may have flown by for many of us, but here in the Calder Valley it

really has been a long and painful 12 months, that's because the floods

caused around ?150 million worth of damage. What a whopping figure that

is. And people here are still recovering. We are here in the

Golden Lion pub in Todmorden. It's very Christmassy and joyous tonight.

But make no mistake, there are still people trying to get in their homes

and businesses trying to reopen. We have spent the day here across the

Calder Valley, speaking to some of the people who were affected.

The Calder Valley will never forget Boxing Day 2015.

By 3pm, the River Calder was at the highest level ever recorded.

Water rampaged through the valley, showing no mercy.

From Elland to Todmorden, and some residents had no choice

but to risk their own safety to help others.

At this close, dozens of elderly people had to be rescued

from the ground floor flats, which were completely submerged.

The 82-year-old only moved back into her flat on the close

I used to walk round and just peep in the window and thought,

We've done this, we've got over this.

I'm not going to be worried, be afraid of the rain.

But others are looking for more reassurance.

Calderdale Council has ?60 million set aside for flood risk management.

But the severity of the floods came with both a financial

Flood warden Tim risked his own safety to save the lives

And he says people still feel vulnerable.

We've got flood stores, but with nothing in them.

So if push comes to shove and there is, God forbid,

another incident like Boxing Day, then at this moment in time as it

And it's a shame, because we're told there is so much

money available to us, yet we never see any of it.

At this bridge, the fear of further floods has forced some to move away.

John and Catherine's home was destroyed last Christmas.

And they want a safer place to bring up baby Edmund.

We just decided that it wasn't probably the best place to sort

And also you've got the whole flood risk and all that

So, you know, the house next door came on the market so we decided

But that ever-present threat of damage and harm does hang over

Some experts have even said it's a miracle nobody died

Now these communities want to know that the flood protection

work will save them, should the heavy rains come again.

So let's speak to the man who will know, the leader of Calder Dell

Council, councillor Tim Swift. A lot of people saying they would be

worried if bad weather came again that they would not be protected. I

understand why people will feel nervous after the experiences of

last Boxing Day. I want to reassure them that we are doing everything we

can. We've got extra teams out there, checking the drains, clearing

the gullies and so on. Plus we will have extra staff on stand-by over

Christmas just in case of the worse. We know that the Environment Agency

have put a huge amount of effort into preparing the river defences to

make sure that we are prepared as we can beat if there should be further

problems over this winter. There were heavy rains in November, we

know that storm Barbara is on the way. What plans have you put in

place for that? As I say, we've got teams out right now, making sure

that the drains are checked and as clear as they can be. We will have

extra staff on stand-by throughout the Christmas weekend, so if there

are any problems, we are ready to respond quickly. Councillor Swift,

thank you. They are having a right good time in here tonight, but my

word, it was very different on Boxing Day. It came so quickly,

didn't it? It this time of the -- the year when we get ready to make a

big party. Then everything just happened to wipe everything off, all

the dreams and your hopes. You cannot get on with this year against

up yellow but people really turned out to help you, didn't they? Yes, I

don't want to go through that again because all of my friends are

fabulous. You know, maybe about 100 of them came to help us clean up in

three days. And you are open again and having a good time. You looking

forward to the future? Yes, I hope so, this year is going to be

brilliant. I hope we can skip this and go to 2017 and have a pace,

peaceful years. Some people say that community spirit is it cliche or a

thing of the past, but community spirit has shone this year. People

have come together and really made each other safe. So we are hoping

for a peaceful Christmas, aren't we, in the Calder Valley. The white and

we also a here here to that. Happy Christmas to you all. -- and we all

say here here to that. A man who claims he was abused

at a children's home in Yorkshire has been awarded thousands

of pounds of compensation. Hundreds of men are suing

the Catholic Church over historical abuse

at the St Williams Approved Three other men today

lost their case for compensation at the High Court in Leeds,

and another will be Our reporter Caroline Bilton

was at the hearing, Diocise of Middlesborough,

we say, shame on you! They are a group of more than 200

men, suing the Catholic Church over claims they were abused

at a children's home in Yorkshire Today wasn't just

about compensation. It was the proof they needed

that they may finally be believed. I still have to live

the nightmares of all of this. It's the worst feeling you can have,

to be called a liar, Nigel Feeley from Leeds was 13

when he was sent to the St Williams His case for compensation

is still to be heard. He was one of the boys

that the former principal, He's been jailed three times now

for physically and sexually The former chaplain Anthony McCallan

was jailed in January The home was run by

the Middlesbrough Docese It is these two Catholic

organisations that the former pupils 249 men are carrying

out this litigation. But it has started with

just five test cases. Judgments were handed down

here at the High Court in Leeds The judge found only in favour

of one of the claimants. Today's judgment does not reflect

on the other 245 cases that Those acting on behalf of victims

say they will appeal. I absolutely feel sick to the guts

with what's happened today. Not just for myself,

but for the other 248 victims of St Williams,

and probably many more. It's not about compensation,

it's about justice and recognisation And hopeful that the last judgment

in this case will rule in their favour when it

comes in January. Well, David Greenwood

from Switalskis Solicitors has represented survivors since 2003,

and joins us now. David, it must be a bittersweet day

for you. You represented the one man who has been awarded compensation,

and two man who were not. Can you understand why the judge made that

decision? I can understand it. He stuck to, you know, the strict

letter of the law and the evidence that was presented to him on the

day. It appears he hasn't taken into account a lot of the background

evidence that we tried to present to him also. We will keep trying. We'll

try again. We'll hopefully get the right decision eventually. I've got

249 men who claim that they were sexually abused at Saint Williams.

I've witnessed many of these men in my office in tears. I'm convinced

that there is a lot of evidence that this sexual abuse was happening, and

I will continue to achieve justice for these men. We heard one of the

men say that, it's not about compensation, it's about being

relieved. So will believe. This must be a real setback for them.

Definitely. A lot of them have said to me, this is just about

recognition. The fact that this happened, for it to be recognised by

somebody in authority, a court would have been great. It appears that

this judgment or this decision hasn't recognised the hole that was

done to these three men. Why was it held in a civil court? These are

very serious charges? Yes, I know that Look North has reported

previously that these men were convicted in 2015, and one of them

was convicted in 1993. Those were criminal convictions. For the men

who have suffered psychological form, and the pain and suffering of

the sexual assaults, they are entitled to claim compensation. And

they have to do that in a civil court. Just one final point. What

does this mean, very quickly, for the Catholic Church? The Catholic

Church have been resistant to these types of cases for a long time. I

think the fact that this is coming to court now means that they need to

get a grip of these cases and change their policy on how they respond.

Thank you. In other news now, and a former

serviceman from Scarborough has been jailed for attempting to burgle

the mansion of England 24-year-old Robert McNamara

from Scawby admitted the offence Rooney's house was targeted

as he played in his Today Mcnamara was sentenced to two

years and eight months. West Yorkshire Fire Service has

issued a warning to e-cigarette users after a battery exploded

in a man's pocket. Investigators say the man

was keeping batteries They say people should avoid storing

them alongside other metal objects The man was left

with slight injuries. Hundreds of people attended

the funeral of one the most prominent members of

West Yorkshire's Sikh Mourners in Bradford

paid their respects to 69-year-old He spent his career working to build

relationships between different Mr Panesar was also a former

president of the Council Because of the impact

he had on Sikhs, you know, locally, as I say,

locally, nationally, Because he was such a key

figure of the community, not just for Sikhs, but for people,

all kinds of people. We've seen Muslims come here today

already, Christians, Jews. There's people here from all

backgrounds because he was such Bradford Council could consider

selling the Alhambra Theatre and three other venues as it has

to make cuts to its budget. A management buy-out

of Bradford Theatres, which also runs St George's Hall,

the Alhambra Studio and King's Hall in Ilkley, is one of four options

in a report that's being discussed Other ideas include putting

the theatres under the control Stall holders at Wakefield's indoor

market are facing an uncertain Christmas and New Year,

knowing they'll soon have to shut up They have been in the indoor market

for decades, and at its current location for eight years.

The Council has agreed to sell the site to private

developers, who want to build a nine-screen cinema there.

A new outdoor facility has been created near the Cathedral,

but many traders say this is no good for them.

Some people have already moved out. This unit here, this is where I used

to be. Martin has been selling curtains and bedding for almost 50

years. But he knows that this is his last Christmas trading at

Wakefield's indoor market. The council wants to sell it, and it is

likely to be turned into a new cinema complex. Some stores have

already closed, but others continue to make the most of what is left

here. There is Richard here with, well, it's got to be one of the best

selections of ladies underwear, nylons, tights. Dressing gowns. It's

got to be one of the best selections in Wakefield. As more units close,

fewer people seem to be popping in, and shoppers say they are very

disappointed. The old market was fantastic. When it was over there,

it was fantastic. People used to come from miles around. For

Wakefield market. Years ago. But they don't now, they all go to

Barnsley or Huddersfield, wherever. They should have left it down there,

built a tree to walk around it, and they'd have been a lot better off.

They still have the Sunday markets and everything. Lynne's cafe is

still thriving, and is one of the first things shoppers see when they

come into the market. She plans to retire at when it closes. If I could

wave a magic wand, the layout would be different. It's never been right

from day one, everything has been wrong with the market since day one.

I've seen the current state of Wakefield market. Compared to what

it used to be, it's a crying shame. My heart goes out to the market

traders and there, because they have been stuffed in a little corner.

It's about a tenth of what it used to be. It's just, the atmosphere has

gone. Wakefield Council wouldn't go on camera, but says its new outdoor

market is proving successful, and that it will help indoor market

traders relocate the vacant shop units in the city if they want to. I

don't think closing down independent traders like ours is the right way

to go. Personally, I don't want to go into just a shot. I like the

environment of a shopping centre or a market area so will just a shop.

I'm here until the bitter end. I'm the last person, when the police

turn out the lights, that'll be me. That place has a special feel to it.

That made me well up a bit! My parents and grandparents have been

to that market. The original market have a special spark about it, it's

sad to see it go. Next night, something that you probably won't

find on the outdoor market in Wakefield. -- next tonight.

Now, I'd like to welcome a woodland friend -

Although he does look very life-like, you'll be pleased to hear

he's made completely from wool - a technique called felting.

He's the creation of the sculptor Zoe Stainton from Huddersfield,

whose inspiration comes from the Pennine Moors

Come in here with me, this is my new workshop.

In the back room of a house in Home Bridge, a family of woodland

What starts as a photograph or sketch becomes a lifelike

animal made entirely from locally-sourced materials.

I've been told I work really quickly.

It actually took me about four days to make that one.

What's the whole process, how does it start?

First of all, we start off with a metal structure,

And then you are wrapping the wool around it.

And then you end up with, you get the basic form, like that.

And then you can pack it using a range of felting needles.

And the process of actually using the needles compacts it

And eventually you'll get the form like that,

and you add the colour in the final stage.

And then you've got detail like the whiskers.

It's here on top of Home where Zoe gets her inspiration

Although sadly today wasn't a day for nature-spotting.

There's no substitute than actually seeing the real thing,

And you can adapt that into your sculptures as well?

Yeah, it really informs the work, so you can see that movement

Zoe fits her new love of felting around teaching ceramics

And although these cubs are still in their infancy,

I'd like to make, I'd absolutely love to make some really big

I've been in touch with Liberty's in London.

I think they look lovely against a really lovely stone fireplace.

A lovely day. It looked a bit hairy bear on the moors! -- a bit hairy

there. It's not going to be a white Christmas? The emphasis is on strong

winds, gusts could be 60 to 70 mph. A couple of pictures have come in in

the last 24 was. Beautiful, the wind turbines will be working in the next

few days, no doubt about that. Thanks for sending those pictures

in. Tomorrow is not looking that bad, a

few showers. A sneak preview for Christmas Day. You can see the

tightly packed ice bars on the chart, with gusty winds on the east

of the Pennines. -- isobars. Also very mild verve. Not beyond the

realms of imagination that we could get 13 or 14 degrees on Christmas

Day afternoon, very mild but exceptionally windy. The satellite

picture, we had a few showers early on. Still one or two across the

Pennines. But really it looks like many of us will be fine tonight.

We'll keep those showers running into Pennine areas overnight. Very

isolated features. To the east of high ground it is dry. Very breezy,

but we you have shelter from wind, there will be a wide spread ground

force. The sun rises in the morning -- ground frost.

Eastern areas, eastern parts of Yorkshire, fine and sunny. A

scattering of showers in the Yorkshire Dales, one or two getting

across to the north your moors. But they will struggle to get any

further than to the east of the day one. Most of the showers in the

West. The sunniest whether further east. Going to feel fairly chilly,

with top temperatures just below average for this time of year. Six

or seven Celsius. Six Celsius is 43 Fahrenheit. The wind really picks up

through morning. After a fine start, some heavy rain for Friday

afternoon. With gusts reaching 60 plus mph. Christmas Eve, Christmas

Day, sunny intervals with a few showers. As you can see from the

temperatures, very mild on Christmas Day. That's the forecast. What do

you think of it so far? Rubbish! Wishing you all a wonderful

Christmas. I will see you in 2017. Good night! Will be back tomorrow.

Goodbye.