29/08/2014 North West Tonight

September will settle down with Sony spells and it will get warmer -

sunny spells. A story with a happy ending.

Welcome to North West Tonight with Roger Johnson and Annabel Thffin.

Tributes to "a beautiful rax of light" ` the former Liverpool drama

student killed after trying to rescue a dog from a level crossing.

Pet is just such a short wh`t has happened. She had her whole life

ahead of her. `` it is such a shock. Residents had expressed concerns

about safety at the crossing. Blackpool Airport is up for sale,

but what will it mean for jobs A large mountain rescue operation is

launched after two men are stranded The Blackpool Illuminations will be

turned on this evening. Join us later as we find out more.

Friends and family have paid tribute to a 22`year`old woman killdd

It's understood Yasmin Jones who studied at Liverpool John Moores

University was trying to save a dog which was on the tracks.

Local residents have raised concerns about the safety of the crossing.

Described as a beautiful rax of light with a lust for life. Yasmin

Jones was killed here at thd Fisherman 's path crossing hn

Formby. The 22`year`old was trying to rescue a dog that was on the

tracks when she was hit by ` train. If there is a wind taking the sound

away from you, you will be slightly put off. This man believes the

crossing was dangerous. Sevdral people have been killed over the

four or five last years. To think of her friends going home without

heart, it is something you cannot contemplate, it is very sad. I was a

week or last met simply emp`thising with the parents. It is horrendous

what has happened and such ` waste of life. She had whole life ahead of

her. Yasmin Jones from Somerset had just achieved a 21 in drama from the

John Moores University. Tod`y this pub closed as a mark of respect In

a statement her family said... Her friends also paid tribute.

Everyone is in bits. It has come as such a shock. To lose someone so

close to our hearts, we do not have any words to describe the s`dness.

There is also anger. This is a busy crossing and many fear it could

happen again. You do not get much time to share the train, and because

of the bend of the track, you may not see the train until 89 seconds

before the train crosses thd crossing. Any statement, Network

Rail said that this crossing has been identified for closure and it

is working with local authorities to ensure that work is done to the

footbridge. Residents say this must be fixed sooner rather than later to

prevent another tragedy. The chief executive of Liverpool

Council is to be questioned by the city's mayor about what he knew

about sexual abuse in Rotherham Ged Fitzgerald was the senior

official at Rotherham Counchl The Mayor, Joe Anderson,

says while Mr Fitzgerald co`operated with the latest inquiry and isn t

named in the report, he plans to 1,400 children were abused

in Rotherham, according to Allegations of abuse had bedn made

in a Home Office report as long ago as 2002, but sole senior

figures at the council and South Yorkshire Police believed some facts

were either exaggerated or lade up Now there are calls

for the resignation of some of those One of those under scrutiny is a Ged

Fitzgerald, the chief executive of Rotherham Council from 2001 to 003.

He does the same job at the Liverpool Council. The Mayor of

Liverpool has said he will puestion Mr Fitzgerald about that earlier

report and will seek clarifhcation from Rotherham about Mr

Fitzgerald's role in these `buse cases.

This was Ged Fitzgerald talking about bringing The Giants to

After leaving Rotherham, he was senior officer at Sunderland

before becoming Lancashire's chief executive.

There, the leader of the cotncil was forced to defend his salary

after it was revealed he earned more than ?200,000 pounds a year.

Mr Fitzgerald's now on holiday and hasn't had his say.

He wasn't singled out in thd latest report, but when he returns to

the town hall, he faces questions about his time at Rotherham.

The judge must argue the case and he has to do it publicly to set the

record straight or to say, xes, I made a mistake and I have ldarned

from a mistake and this will not happen again. That is what Lr

Fitzgerald would have to sax. Tonight, the Mayor of Liverpool

said child protection remains of Stuart Flinders,

BBC North West Tonight, Merseyside. The ten councils of Greater

Manchester have approved a joint It's thought to be the largdst

project of its kind in the country. The problems caused

by binge drinking in the area costs ?1.2 billhon

a year according to a report. Plans include better enforcdment

of licensing laws and help A biker has died today

in the senior race of the 50`year`old Gary Firth crashed at

the 11th milestone on the TT course. The Yorkshire man was

a newcomer to the event. The race was immediately red

flagged and will not be re`run. Three more people have been arrested

on suspicion of the murder of Police say a 19`year`old man,

a 24`year`old man, and a 17`year`old girl, all

from the Preston area, were arrested 18`year`old Jonjo was fatally

injured in an attack on Thieves have stolen laptops from a

school. The future of Blackpool Airport is

up in the air this evening `fter There's disappointment in the town,

but also hope the sale will mean Passengers have been told

it's "business as usual". But a letter to staff says ht's too

early to say what Sunseekers flying off this `fternoon

from one holiday resort to `nother. It's owner, Balfour Beatty,

wants out The council wants

the airport to stay. It is always important to h`ve an

airport in your area that you can have that. It fits in with `ll our

other car sport arrangements, we do the Blackpool transport, so we need

to the airport, it is vital to the town. Blackpool's passengers numbers

went up. Last year more than 21 millhon

passengers used Manchester @irport. At Liverpool Airport

the figure was 4.1 million. But Blackpool's strength

seems to be convenience. Just get off the plane and ht is no

hassle. It is on my doorstep, it is quick and easy. It is simpld to use.

Waiting only 30 seconds whereas Manchester or Liverpool takds 2

minutes. Parking is also easy. Balfour Beatty bought

Blackpool Airport six years ago But it's making a loss `

currently ?1.5 million a ye`r. The firm is only selling Bl`ckpool

Airport Limited ` not the l`nd. The 100 staff have been givdn no

guarantees about jobs It's hoped

a new owner will expand services. I believe it gives us the

opportunity to move forward and if we get the right buyer to increase

trade. We could encourage holiday`makers from Europe to come

to Blackpool as well. Prospective buyers have unthl

the 10th of next month to express Mark Edwardson,

BBC North West Tonight, Blackpool. How attractive is Blackpool Airport

to potential buyers? That's a question I put earlier to

the travel editor of The Independent Look, I have watched the fortunes of

Blackpool Airport for a long time and I do not think that this

development will do that anx more cause for optimism. Simply look at

the geography of the area. Hf you are starting your journey from

anywhere east or south of Preston, well, it makes more sense to go to

Manchester airport which, of course, has far more flights than Blackpool.

Unfortunately, even for people living in the capital leaks, yes,

Blackpool is neither but Manchester is only slightly further and you

have a far wider choice of flights. It is worrying, does it havd a

commercially viable future? People like smaller airports like

Blackpool. It is lovely and friendly, it wins awards and as a

passenger Albert Driver go to an airport which has a couple of

hundred people as opposed to for example 20,000 people. Some people

will pay a premium for that. But most airports are both steel with

high fixed costs. Whether or not you have one flight and were gohng to

vote, which Blackpool will struggle to do even on a good today, or

whether you have 20 or 40 flights and Howard as Manchester is able to

do. There have been suggesthons that the airport could grow in shze, but

while the demand meets that potential growth? That is a good

question. If I lived in Fledtwood or Blackpool, I would think it was

fantastic and let us keep this going for as long as possible. I could be

in Spain from my front door in under three hours, terrific! But

unfortunately, the bigger and stronger that Manchester gets, the

more its gravity increases `nd the more it will draw people aw`y.

Blackpool has had a slight resurgence recently. But thd mast ``

the vast majority of flights are done by Jet2. And if they thought

they would get a better deal elsewhere, I think they would

abandon Blackpool as has happened in the past. Should people at the

Blackpool Airport be concerned about their jobs? I think that is always a

concern but as long as it continues it will be a great place to work and

I hope that continues for some time. There's been a major search

and rescue operation in the Lake District after two men got

lost while out walking last night. Dozens of volunteers

from mountain rescue teams covered a huge area between Great L`ngdale

and Scafell in appalling we`ther conditions after the men di`lled 999

saying they were stranded. Back at base, 16 hours after the

search began. Around 60 Mountain rescue volunteers were involved

many a lot all night. Searching a vast area for two men ill`epuipped

and lost. The search only ended when the men somehow found their way back

to civilisation. They were cold and wet. Their equipment was not the

best. One of them did not h`ve any waterproof trousers. They wdre

moving in the dark, difficult conditions. They managed to set it

out last night and started loving this morning at first light. The

conditions here are not too bad that the moment, certainly nothing

compared to what the rescue teams were faced with last night. There

was torrential rain and winds so strong some of the rescuers were

blown from their feet. Also out in this Weatherup was crisp jacks. He

went prepared but has kept barely protected him. I have never had such

a horrible experience in my life. The wind was 60 or 70 mph,

everything got ripped out of the ground, my tent, my equipment and

clothing was soaked through, a really bad tonight. After a search

operation involving five different teams, helicopter, specialist dogs,

ID afternoon it was a job done, and told next time, anyway. Thex hope

this will serve as a lesson to others and to not underestilate the

fortunes of nature. Good, happy ending. Yes, th`t makes

a change. Wigan and Widnes go head`to`head

in Super League: We hear from Andy Gregory `

a legend with both clubs. And getting ready to sparkld

on the prom. Blackpool prepares for the big

illuminations switch`on tonhght We also hope to speak to June and J

later as well. `` Union J. Sport now and in football, the

Europa League draw was made today. Everton have been drawn in Group H

with Germany's Wolfsburg, French team Lille

and Russian side FC Krasnod`r. The first match will be plaxed

on September 18th. Everton play Chelsea tomorrow

in the Premier League. Strikers Romelu Lukaku and

Samuel Eto'o could both facd their former team for the first thme

since joining up at Goodison Park. But it's the form of Steven Naismith

who's grabbing all the headlines with two goals in

the first two games of the season. The Scottish international says

the change of manager from David Moyes to Roberto Marthnez has

given him a new lease of life. At the start it was a lot to take

in for the players, more so the ones who had been under David

Moyes for a longer period of time. To go from one extreme in tdrms

of learning about how to defend and play, to becoming more dxpansive

and a possession type of te`m. For me,

I have found it more enjoyable. You are given more freedom than

under the previous manager and it has given me more confidence

and I have flourished under that. And you can see more

of that exclusive interview with Steven Naismith on Football Focus

on BBC One, tomorrow at 12:00pm Mario Balotelli could make

his debut for Liverpool awax to The Italian international,

who scored against England in the World Cup, has returned to

the North West just 19 months He cost ?16 million pounds from

AC Milan and is famous for laking But Manager Brendan Rodgers says

the player is now focusing He has settled in really well this

week. General committee is to Merseyside. He has immersed himself

into the club. He has been doing great and that is what we w`nt to

see. Apologies for that noise, you could not hear Brendan propdrly

Burnley manager Sean Dyche says Turf Moor must become

a fortress against the best teams in the Premier League if thd club

The Clarets lost their first home match of the season

to Chelsea despite taking the lead with a spirited performance.

Tomorrow they face Manchestdr United and Dyche says they will do

Anyone who wears our shirt will give everythhng,

The crowd know that and I think they appreciate that.

They want us to win and we want to win.

We know the challenge is a real high`level challenge this sdason.

No more so than Manchester Tnited coming to us at Turf Moor.

But it is there, it is a great occasion

Super League now, and Widnes are enforcing stricter alcohol controls

It follows crowd violence during the Challenge Cup selifinal

Police intervened after the final whistle

as some Widnes supporters invaded the pitch in front of rival fans.

The club says although the investigation is ongoing,

The Vikings, who are currently in 8th pl`ce, need

to beat their old rivals tonight to edge closer to a play`off spot.

Champions Wigan, who trail St Helens at the top of

the table, will have their sights set on retaining their titld.

Now I've been looking ahead to the match with Andy Gregory,

one of the legends of the sport who played for both clubs.

He went on to win five Challenge Cups with his hometown club Wigan.

But it all started with his first final in 1981

Woking out at Wembley, Widndss in black and white, Hull Kingston

98,000 people, I was thinking, Oh, my God, where am I?"

After the game when I got interviewed I spoke to

Eddie Hearn about the try and I went past someone

Three of the players I menthoned in the interview were not even playing!

You achieved so much during your time at Wigan,

but when you look back on your time, is there a moment that you would say

is your greatest success on your greatest moment in a Wigan shirt?

To walk out at Wembley playhng in the red and white with 56,00

All of my family and friends, hardly ever missed a game.

To hear your name with a minute to go.

And you have won the game against Halifax, and number seven, @ndy

Gregory's name comes out, as man of the match in the Wembley final,

What do you make of the current teams?

Widnes are trying to sneak hnto the play`offs, Wigan are the ch`mpions

They have a faint chance of making the play`offs.

But Wigan, they will be disappointed if they do

The Wigan fans and public, that is the ultimate, they lust get

I would've loved witness to get into the play`offs and for Wigan to get

to the final. Meanwhile, table leaders St Helens

travel to Challenge Cup`winners Leeds Rhinos knowing another four

points from their final thrde games Saints go into the game on the back

of a 40`16 thrashing of Wakdfield. Gary Wheeler is absent with a groin

injury while fellow half back Lance In last night's match, Warrhngton

almost pulled off a sensational They fought back from 23`6

down just after half`time to lead 24`23, but were denied the victory

when the visitors landed a drop goal Live commentary and coveragd can be

heard on local radio stations or online.

Sorry, Roger, I should also mention that Andy Gregory is in his

testimonial year and people should look out for that.

The line six miles of Blackpool Promenade Abel Shine until November,

guess, we are talking about the Blackpool Eliminations. Thotsands

are expected to see Peter K`y, the Bolton comedian, perform thd

official switch on. Ian is there for us know. We are very excited to see

Peter Kay. But Matt Cardinal will also be present, I understand. Yes,

I am afraid that Matt Cardinal has gone. Thankfully the music has died

down and I can hear you better know. There are thousands here, there you

go, few will enthusiasm. We have been here since four o'clock this

afternoon. The crowds have grown. Lots of local acts this aftdrnoon

but some big`name stars will appear later tonight. Who are you looking

forward to seeing today? People from the X Factor, mainly. I am looking

forward to seeing Union J. There are too many to mention. What about

yourself? Yes, I want to sed all of them! We are hoping to speak to

Pixie Lott. Yes, that is right. Yes, I think I did this a few ye`rs ago.

I am really looking forward to it. There could be up to 20,000 people

here tonight, an exciting prospect. , the better! I am very exchted I

am going to be singing some new songs. I am `` I am excited to be

performing in front of all of them. There are some dancers currdntly

going through their mouths `t the moment. This is the buzz th`t Peter

K will be using. Let us go backstage, you have seen my pass,

have you not, my friend? `` bus And here we go, I have managed to find

Union J. How are you doing, boys? Really good, thanks. I really

looking forward to performing tonight? Yes, absolutely. The sun

has come out as well, it will be brilliant. It is the loudness of the

crowd. They went absolutely crazy when the names of the acts were read

out. It is going to be awesome. What are you expecting tonight, LL will

be special for you? `` will it be? Yes, hopefully everyone will sing

along with others. And you got to appear on North West Tonight.

Absolutely fantastic. We can get you a sneak preview on this pagd. They

are just setting up the instruments. 20,000 fans. That reception is all

for me. `` on this stage. I did not think I would be on the stage ahead

of the Blackpool Illuminations! They do not need anyone else know. Who

needs union `` Union J? ! Hd was like a magnet to the crowd! He will

never live that down! This is our latest picture. Over the

next few hours it should st`y fairly dry.

As the night continues so whll the showers but it will be a mixed bag.

The breeze is very strong. Xou will notice that through the night.

Temperatures are very good, 12, 13 or 14 degrees, it is relatively mild

but you will not know it from the amount of anoraks that we s`w there

in Blackpool! It will be drx and warm for the weekend and as we begin

the start of next week. 20 of cloud cover and the showers will continue

during the morning. The bredze will remain gusty. When she get past

lunch time, the picture will improve. The showers get killed off.

That ridge of high pressure is building and it will squeezd out

those showers. Look at this little line of showers. That will love

through parts of Cheshire and the world and even into Greater

Manchester for a short whild. It definitely looks better.

Temperatures around 17 or 18 degrees. A few more showers through

Saturday night into Sunday. Sunday is a day of two halves. It will be

dry and fine until the tail end of the day. That's when the moves

across. But at the beginning of next week this area of high pressure

moves towards us and that whll make a big difference. Sunday morning to

tell the afternoon will be dry. Wetter in the evening. Next week it

will get warmer and brighter and it looks like it could be largdly dry.

Excellent news, a bit of sulmer What do you think of our colleague

at the eliminations? He is becoming a bit of A* with the locals We will

never see him again, I hope the estate is safely! `` gets ott

safely!