05/12/2013 North West Tonight

6pm. It's goodbye from me and on BBC One, we join our teams where you

are. Good evening. Welcome to NorthWest

Tonight with Annabel Tiffin and Tony Livesey. Our top story: The first

blast of winter ` New Brighton left under water after high tides break

through the sea wall. That caused chaos in the shopping centre behind

me but it was not alone. The water swept across the road and inundated

the local lifeboat station. And New Brighton's not alone ` the storm

brings damage and disruption right across the North West. Eno will be

here with a full round up of the weather. Also in the programme:

After Millie chokes to death, a coroner calls for changes in first

aid training for all nurseries. The perils and plusses of fracking `

we continue our look at the shale gas boom Stateside.

And cricket down a mine? This umpire in Cumbria can't get his head round

it. High winds and a tidal surge have

caused havoc across the region. A major clean`up operation is underway

in rural. Major damage has been done to restaurants, coffee shops and a

supermarket. Car parks were submerged underwater. David Guest is

there for us now. It was not only the shopping centre deluged, so was

the lifeboat station. They are continuing to clean up tonight. Here

you can see the wind is still very blustery and behind me, the blue

lights of a police van because this area is still sealed off. You can

see the marine point shopping complex, that was particularly badly

affected by today's storm. The waters came quickly and

relentlessly, swamping all. This was the scene at the Morrisons

supermarket. The went to try and help customers to their cars. We

were up to our knees. Elsewhere in the development, others were caught

in the deluge. The sea was that high, backed by a significant

breeze. Visualise that coming right over the sea wall. Even the lifeboat

station was not immune. We went of to make sure the hang`up was all

right and on the way back came word of children and parents stuck in the

nursery opposite. Could not get out because the tide was still over the

promenade. We took the boat and put the kids and parents on the boat.

The road itself there was a rise in the tide and it was flowing

significantly so vehicles were trying to get away and it was very

challenging for them. This looks like a vessel in distress on the

high seas. It is a work of art ripped from the sea front and tossed

into the waves. This was the scene at the Fort perch car park. In New

Brighton the storms brought damage but no one was hurt. Somebody could

have been heard this afternoon. The Fire and rescue service tell us at

12:20pm, they had to rescue a man who put himself on the sea wall

Luckily he was brought to safety. Here that the lifeboat station they

are still clearing up after what has been a very busy day. Ian, how

unusual word the weather conditions? Very unusual. It is

unfortunate we are on spring tide and also behind that was winds of 60

knots. The results came right over and flooded our place as well.

People coming down and putting themselves in peril. They get too

close and be an result is, fortunately there were no tragedies

but it is so easy for that to happen. It would have been very

awkward for us to go out to sea but we would have managed it. Will we

see more flooding tonight? The tide is bigger tonight but the wind has

backed off a bit. Hopefully it will not happen again. I would be annoyed

if it does because we have only just finished cleaning up! Situation in

New Brighton, a very difficult day today, a high tide tonight but

because the wind has got a hope not to experience the problems they did

this afternoon. The fire service will be on alert just in case

anything should happen. The message is it is spectacular seeing the

waves going over but don't put yourself in peril by going to see

them. Well, it's not just New Brighton and

Merseyside that have been affected. In Greater Manchester the winds

brought trees down and have caused travel disruption. Parts of

Lancashire have been affected by flooding, while Cheshire, Cumbria

and the Isle of Man have all been left battered and bruised by the

stormy weather. Across the north west, roads have been closed, trains

cancelled or delayed and ferry services suspended. Our reporter

Nazia Mogra reports on a wild day across the region.

This shows how bad the flooding was today across the region. The winds

reached 70 miles per hour at their height. And they battered every part

of our region. From north to the south. In Greater Manchester the

driver of this lorry lucky to be alive after a large tree fell on it

in long`sight. Traffic on the Barton Bridge came to a standstill as this

lorry overturned. And fire crews tried to secure part of the roof of

the indoor ski centre Chill Factore. In Poynton in Cheshire, a tree falls

on a car. The driver escapes without injury. In Saltney, water levels

were being closely monitored on the River Dee. I live half a mile away

and so quite concerned. I had never seen anything like this. In

Lancashire a similar picture. The main concern here flooding.

Blackpool promenade was closed as waves crashed over the sea wall In

Preston near Leyland more flooding caused long tailbacks. And in

Lytham, the life boat station flooded and it was hard to see where

the sea started and the road ended. This has been a very unusual event

for us in that it has been a combination of tidal surge,

compounded by the terrible weather lashing the UK and Northwest since

early this morning. In Cumbria roads flooded around Morecambe Bay as the

gales added several feet to the height of the tide. And at

Milnthorpe the tide gates were shut to protect the village before the

tide came in. But some drivers and passengers had to be helped out of a

stranded car by Cumbria Fire and Rescue. Arnside was also battered by

the winds and water. In Walney the seafront flooded. And in Barrow the

town's Christmas tree fell. On the Isle of Man there were a number of

fallen trees across the island and police had to pull down a lamp post

as it was unsafe. Across the north west, drivers and those on public

transport faced huge delays. Many motorways closed and train services

cancelled. These passengers at Manchester's Piccadilly Station like

thousands facing chaos. Some flights from Manchester Airport have been

delayed. And earlier, Mersey ferries and the Isle of Man steam packet's

services were suspended. The advice tonight, check before you travel.

Some of those pictures were spectacular. Just goes to show, you

know it is coming but there is nothing you can do. A stormy day in

all parts of the region. It is improving. We started off with 2

flood alerts but we no longer have any flood warnings. Also we have

some strong winds at high tide this afternoon. 77 mph around the Irish

Sea coast. Having said that, we have lost the Amber weather warning for

the wind but a different type of warning to tell you about at the end

of the programme. A coroner has recommended changes in first aid

training for all nursery staff, following the death of a

nine`month`old baby in Stockport. Millie Thompson died after choking

on her lunch last year. Today, a jury concluded that she died as a

result of misadventure and that the outcome could not have been

different. But Millie's parents are considering legal action against the

nursery. Naomi Cornwell reports Millie Thompson was a normal,

healthy nine`month`old when she arrived at Ramillies Hall Nursery in

Cheadle Hulme last year. But the inquest at Oldham Magistrates Court

heard that she began to choke and turn blue while being fed her lunch

of shepherd's pie. Despite attempts by nursery staff and paramedics to

save her, Millie was pronounced dead just over an hour later. Today, the

inquest jury concluded that she d died as a result of misadventure.

Millie had inhaled food which resulted in a complication that was

both rare and difficult to diagnose. Given the circumstances, they said,

we do not believe that the outcome for Millie could have been

different. We will continue to miss her and think of her family every

day. This has been devastating for everyone involved. The jury was told

the nursery had several first aiders and complied with all regulations.

But some staff knew general first aid for adults and children and

hadn't received specialist training in paediatric techniques. The court

also heard that the ambulance operator who took the 999 call had

failed to grade it in the most serious category, but that this

would have made no practical difference to how quickly the

ambulance arrived. Outside court, Millie's parents criticised the

quality of care given to their daughter. We believe a catalogue of

errors led to a situation where it was too late to save our beloved

daughter. The coroner John Pollard said he intends to write to the

Secretaries of State for Education and Health, asking for all nursery

staff to have specialist training in paediatric first aid. And to the

Chief Executive of the North West Ambulance Service, asking for all

emergency call handlers to be given extra training in how to deal with

cases involving children. The ambulance service has said it's

considering the coroner's recommendations. Millie's parents

say they're now considering legal action against the nursery and the

ambulance service. A man has been charged with murder

on the Isle of Man. It follows the death of Neil Roberts, who was 0.

He was found dead in a house in Castletown in the early hours of

last Sunday. Four men have been arrested after

the death of a man at a Greater Manchester nightclub. 30`year`old

Nick Bonnie, from Stroud in Gloucestershire, died after taking a

drug thought to be ecstasy at The Warehouse Project in September.

Police have arrested three men aged 29 and one aged 30, all from the

Gloucestershire area. A consultation ends today on a

project which could see nuclear waste stored at an underground

facility in Cumbria. Cumbria County Council voted against the plans in

January, but the Government wants to start a new process excluding the

County Council, leaving the smaller district councils to decide.

Sefton Council has rejected plans by community groups to take over two

libraries in Crosby and Aintree A separate plan to run Ainsdale

library is still being considered. It means six of the borough's 1

libraries will have closed this year.

There's been fresh argument today over the controversial process of

fracking for natural gas. Friends of the Earth claim the Chancellor's

planned tax breaks to encourage the industry could be illegal. Well

we've been looking into fracking all week and tonight we return to Ohio

in the United States. In the second of his reports, Peter Marshall's

been to the small town of Carrollton which is two years into the sort of

gas boom we could well witness here. Glittering horizon or dark days

ahead. Opinions on fracking are split. It is the subject of songs,

everyone has a view. So watch the view of someone who is a next`door

neighbour to the industry in Carroll County. Gary lives within a few

hundred yards of a rig. He will not get royalties from the industry It

is different. It is both good and bad. The noise is not good but

several of my friends have owned companies here in town and are doing

five bidders. They are hiring employees. It is good. So far.

Sheriff Dale Williams has patrolled Carroll County four more years than

he would care to remember, so how has the gas boom changed his job?

There has been a lot of criminal activity `` has not been a lot of

criminal activity. But a lot of traffic problems. Carroll County was

hit by the recession before the gas boom. Some of these apartments, the

average rent was probably 350, 400 a month. Now they are getting $ 500.

This farmer has had no say when they put the well pad on some of his best

land. I did get payment when they put the well pad in but as far as

the total picture of the farming and that, I don't want to see any more.

Which you have preferred not to hear about the gas industry? It might

have been better off if we had not heard about it. All of the gas that

comes out of the ground will end up here at this factory south of

Carroll County but coming here causes disruption. Update you can

see a swathe cut through the trees to make way for pipelines. It is not

perfect but it is not evil either. We will not cut corners to make

profits. We all live here, we breathe the same air and drink the

same water. We will make sure everything is done right. In Carroll

County fracking has helped some others through the day it arrived.

Expect a similar split here. We and our series tomorrow with a final

report on the businesses who have the license to drill here in the

Northwest. We will ask who they are and what are their policies. Still

to come on North West Tonight: And it is just not cricket but it is

going underground. More than a hundred historic

buildings across the North West are on the English Heritage at risk list

and face an uncertain future. In a special programme tonight, Louise

Minchin asks if it's too late to save them from ruin. One of the

buildings the programme features is a derelict mill in Lancashire.

This is Queen Street Mill textile museum, a living example of how to

preserve the way we were but other mills and buildings remained

derelict and empty and time is running out. Decisions on their

future are being made by council is trying to balance books at times of

huge financial cuts. This now means more than a third of conservation

staff losing their jobs in the last seven years. This is one of the

areas of problem that I mentioned. These two men are from English

Heritage on at at risk site survey. The derelict mill built in 1868 is

one of 100 key buildings in the region on the English Heritage at

risk list. A site goes on how at risk list when it is under serious

threat of neglect and decay. We have a conservation area which contains a

vast number of empty industrial buildings and when they are empty,

they are not maintained and when they are not maintained,

deterioration sets in, costs can escalate and it can then become

economically unattractive prospect for investors to take them over

Manchester's Victoria baths will also feature in tonight 's

programme. It is on at 7:30pm on BBC One.

Details of this year's BBC Performing Arts Fund have been

revealed, with the North West receiving more funding that any

other region outside London. The money comes from phone voting

revenue on BBC shows including The Voice and Strictly Come Dancing It

provides a vital financial boost for community groups and theatres `

including the M6 Youth Theatre in Rochdale. We have a lot of young

people in this area who find it difficult to access things like this

because they cannot afford to come. By getting funding we can provide

groups for either a low or no cost to these young people. David Moyes

has conceded his team has a long way to go if they are to get back in the

race for the Premier League title. United are 12 points off the top

after defeat to overturn last night. It is the first time Everton have

one at Old Trafford in 21 years Liverpool font knowledge thanks to

four from Luis Suarez. This was a tough defeat for David

Moyes to take. Under him, Everton had never won at Old Trafford.

Roberto Martinez with his new side managed it at the first time of

asking. The blues fans their first win at United for more than two

decades. And United's bass with problems to solve. We could not get

the goal would be bits of luck to get us a goal in front or more. At

Everton 's training ground it is clear expectations for the season

are very high. We would be disappointed if we did not make it

into the champions league spots That is how far we have come. Luis

Suarez's had hat`trick against Norwich might be the best ever. The

first was brilliant. The second one was great instinct but the third one

was out of this world. He gets his hat`trick but to top it off in the

free kick. Just for good measure, Suarez then setup Liverpool 's fifth

in a 5`1 victory. The only black mark against Manchester city 's

title has been their away form by last night they made winning on the

road looks straightforward. They conceded two goals against West Brom

but had already made the game safe with three of their own. Sergio

Aguero and Yaya Toure enough for Pellegrini's blues.

Those of you who play cricket in the north of England will know that the

game can't always be played in idyllic sunshine on long, warm

afternoons. But one Cumbrian club today completed a long series of

extreme cricketing escapades, by playing a match against a rival team

deep inside a Lake District slate mine. Mark McAlindon went along to

watch what's believed to be the world's first underground match

On a stormy day in Cumbria, the best place to be playing cricket is deep

in `` inside a mine. After we got flooded in 2012, we set about trying

to raise money by playing cricket in the strangest place we could. We did

well and we wanted a boost before Christmas to raise our profile so we

thought a wild first, why not? Six overs we will just have to go for

it. We can't see the ball very well so hopefully get a win.

Stall walls of the local Cumbrian cricket leagues. Neither has played

in circumstances like this. The competition is so keen that even

here, no prisoners are taken. A bit of experience to say the least. I

didn't see it hit my head. They refused to cave in to pressure and

knocked the runs off although no one was left disappointed. It was really

good fun, a bit disappointing but such is life. Hopefully raise a bit

of money in the process. That umpire was out loud to before wicket. Do

you know, it would not normally mean he was wearing that helmet but I am

glad he was. We can see enough of the weather we have had today, let's

see what is in the future. You may have noticed I am starting the

forecast with a different weatherboard. A frosty weatherboard

meaning things will change tonight. We have had very high winds today,

up to 80 mph. That is Easington night. Nice beginning to form and

because of that, we have a yellow weather warning from the Met office

and that is for eyes. This lasts all the way until midday tomorrow.

Wintry showers sneaking through the Cheshire gap tonight. Hill snow in

places and further north across Cumbria and Lancashire, clearing

skies and as they clear, frost forming. A chilly night here.

Temperatures in towns and cities will fall below freezing and in all

four areas we could see temperatures as low as `4 or minus five Celsius.

Tomorrow, yes it will be less windy but it will be chilly. Bitterly cold

may describe what we will see tomorrow. We start off with frost

through the morning. The cloud bills in the afternoon with more showers

speaking through the Cheshire gap. We are likely to see the showers

practically anywhere. These are hit or miss showers. In between we may

see snow on high ground. Temperatures tomorrow, very

disappointing. Highs of three Celsius in parts of Lancashire.

Tomorrow night we are likely to see a frost forming again. As we head

into the weekend, an improvement. Plenty of cloud around but eight,

nine or 10 Celsius. It will practically feel like summer and

less windy as well. But generally, for the next 12`24 hours, the North

East of England for the high tides tonight but here in the Northwest we

be OK. Thank you. Glad you are back. It is very nice to have you back.

Lots of people have been tweeting about it. I have just come back for

a day but my day job is now on the one show. It is good to be back I

will see you all at some point in the future. Good night.