17/12/2012 Inside Out North East and Cumbria

In the next half an hour, are our forests facing the chop? We assess

the march of one deadly disease across northern woodlands. We've

watched it move season upon season further and further west and we did

nothing. We are now facing the penalty of standing idly by for so

many years. Cash-strapped councils are whacking

up the charges from rat catching to cremation. Are you paying more than

your neighbours? They just said there was a �20 charge and we said,

we are no different from anyone else. Why should we have to pay

more? Why Christmas baking in North Yorkshire is helping our soldiers

back to health. When I was discharged, I had a bit of a short

fuse and I found coming in and making 200, 300 rolls, it helps and

takes your mind off it. Stories from the heart of the north-east

A killer disease is stalking our countryside. It's already claimed

tens of millions of ash trees across Europe and now it's here in

every part of our region. A technology helped on the

battlefield is being brought in to help lead the fight back. Can it

work? "The ash tree's trunk reaches up to

the heavens and its bow is spread out over the countries of the Earth.

It's roots reach down into the underworld. When the ash tree dies,

the world will fall as we know it. It will be the end of the Earth."

Apocalyptic words from Noseh mythology but the ash trees really

are dying. The killer disease that spread across Europe has now

arrived here. At the end of the day, everyone will hold up their hands

and say we probably all could have done better. It's going to be quite

devastating to our countryside, I should think. There has been

without doubt quite a major failure of the regulating authorities.

our countryside be changed for ever and what can we do to stop it?

Cumbria, and the audience is gathered for a recording of Radio

4's Gardeners' Question Time. The subject on everyone's minds - the

aash crisis. Can the panel tell us, is there any hope, especially for

our ash trees. There are some tough decisions to be made over the next

couple of months, and whether to fell the mature trees that have the

disease. Getting rid of saplings as an easy call. Felling mature trees,

that's tougher. What happens between now and spring is crucial.

I must have planted myself at least 1,000 ash and must have done

planting plans for hundreds of thousands. I think now they are all

going to die. But there are other things that might come up. We might

find some ash that are resistant to it and I will keep on planting ash.

I'm going to put only 10 per cent in my mixes but I am hopeful that

some will be resistant. It will be a more dramatic change to the

landscape than that caused by Dutch elm disease. It will. The

proportion of ash in the country is far in excess of anything that elm

ever got to. We are now paying the penalty of standing idly by for so

many years. When you consider that scientists first observed the

disease in eastern Europe and it started to move across, and we have

watched it move season upon season further and further west, and we

did nothing. For the programme's veteran presenter, little doubt

about the level of concern. general feeling is that it is

unstoppable. If they had managed to confine it to plantings in the last

five years, that they could identify as saplings imported from

Europe, there was hope then. It was going to be very difficult even

then, because the wind blows. That's the way of nature. Now it is

in mature woodland. The gallop has started and there is the feeling

that anything we do now is going to be bolting the stable door. There

is good reason to worry. Ash dieback has been confirmed at sites

in every part of our region, across the north-east, into North

Yorkshire and Cumbria. It's in both established woodlands and the

recently planted sites. Is there anything we can do? Can you spot it

with your naked eye? I can look out for some of the symptoms so we will

have a look at this ash tree here, maybe. I have come to Dalby Forest

in North Yorkshire. Scientist Paul Beals is DNA testing trees. All I

need to do is take small slivers of the bark. Just cut away a little

bit of the tissue. A sort of biopsy. Exactly! I'm taking tissue from the

tree itself which may or may not contain the fungus. He is using kit

designed for the battlefield. The precursor to the technology we are

using now was originally developed to test for things like anthrax

been a wartime situation. These very rapid diagnostics will be very

useful for what we're trying to develop. The faster you can

identify something, the quicker you can put actions into place.

test is now under way and we will find out how it is doing later on.

Actions can slow the spread, but the dangers are grave. In Denmark,

90 per cent of ash were affected and at that rate, 72 million of

Britain's ash trees would die killing about five per cent of our

woodland. The government wants us all to help through Citizens

Science. The Forestry Commission's site offers tips on how to spot the

disease and what to do if you see it. There's hope maybe some of the

ash trees have an in-built resistance. Not every tree is

killed by the disease and in terms of the woodland we have seen today,

ash is only one component so other trees may be able to fill any gaps.

You haven't spotted it here, do you think it will make an appearance at

some point? It will gradually extend its range. That is what has

happened in Europe and other areas. We need to be prepared and it is

about taking sensible, measured actions that will save the lives of

the ash trees we've got. There is a programme to develop resistance as

well which is another way to help maintain the ash's future.

disease is spread through spores you'll find in the leaves. It won't

spread at this time of the year but the evidence from Europe suggests

it will march on at the rate of 20 to 30 kilometres in a year.

There might be more bad news to come. What if your ash tree was

infected? You might be told to leave it standing but if you have

to pull it down, it will cost. Your home insurance will not cover it

and the bill might be as high as �3-4,000. They have not seen cases

yet but tree surgeons could be chasing a windfall. It could bring

a lot of work in. Depending on the access, the trees overhanging the

house mean we have to lower things down and also it depends if it's

dangerous. If there is rottenness or if its decayed, then you might

have to bring in a mobile lift platform and you could be looking

at a cost of �1,000 for a day's hire for one of those. Taking the

tree down and taking it away, a lot of money. Is anyone to blame? Some

say yes. Businesses like this tree nursery in Northumberland are

already counting the cost. This crop is probably worth about �13-

14,000. That will be a complete write-off. Even though there's no

evidence of ash dieback here, they're banned from moving or

selling the saplings as part of government action to slow down the

spread. There has been an extraordinary lack of communication.

The government knew about it but they haven't been telling the

industry what's going on. Therefore, we've been flying pretty blind

about where we need to import from, or whether we need to stop

importing altogether. Have we been too slow off the mark to start

with? It seems as if only now something's happening. I'm sure

we've been too slow. At the end of the day, I think everyone will hold

up their hands and say, we probably all could have done better.

committee of MPs has now launched an inquiry which will look at ash

dieback and the way it's been handled. I met the woman leading

the investigation. She thinks Britain's tree industry, which was

importing trees from Europe, needs to look at itself. Effectively,

we've been importing affected trees. You didn't need the Government to

tell you that was a dangerous thing to do. This was a practice which

should have been looked at by the industry as not being very sensible

to export seeds to re-import potentially affected trees which is

what has been happening. That is something that I hope now the

industry will look to, to plant the seeds and grow the trees in this

country. The sad truth is that regardless of whether we could have

kept ash dieback out, it is now too late. Action to turn back the tide

is under way but millions are likely to die. Despite the

headlines, we probably will not face a way out of ash. Some will be

able to face the disease. But what about our ash trees here in Dalby

Forest? The good news is the test on this one came back negative but

that is not the end of the story. For it will be next year before we

can be sure how this disease is spreading and whether this ash will

Still to come on Inside Out tonight. Making your way back from the

battlefield. They need to do something. They need to be creative.

They also need to think, they need to measure, they need to feel. How

can it be bad? Councils are slashing millions of

pounds from their budgets as they try to make ends meet, and to help

fill that financial black hole, they are also bidding to put up

their charges for everything from rat catching to allotment rents.

Now more than ever, you could be paying wildly differing amounts for

exactly the same service depending on where you left. -- live. Times

are tough in the town halls across the North, as local councils feel

the financial squeeze. As cuts start to bite, they have to make

sure they're making money whenever they can. You probably already

think you're paying enough for your council services but I'm going to

find out which are charging the most and the least.

This is where the rat pulled itself through and then pulled around here

and it ended up on this step. A few weeks ago, Olive, who lives in

North Tyneside, had some unwelcome visitors, rats. They were running

all over, running down the street, under the leaves and everything.

You're frightened to open the door, frightened for the children when

they come to the house. Nearby building work meant these rats were

looking for a new home in the sheds and houses near by. More unwelcome

news when Olive phoned her council to get help. They just said there

was a �20 charge. I said, "I don't think we should be paying for

that." North Tyneside council introduced the �20 charge in April

as part of its budget and has offered to give Olive advice on her

problem. I think, yes, I would pay for it but this is something

different. This is dirty. Not nice, is it? Maybe Olive should move.

Northumberland, Hull, the Wirral, Doncaster and Stockton will all

sort out your rat problem for free. If if it is free for them, why

shouldn't it be free for every one? Olive becomes the first person to

receive this prestigious Certificate from Inside Out. The

coveted Hard Times Award. Amongst the 10 councils in England

facing the biggest cuts, you'll find Burnley, Barrow and Preston.

Authorities across England say they have no choice but to hike up the

charges. It seems no council services are off limits. Even in

times of austerity, you'd think at least one council service would be

sacred, but it seems the fees charged for burials and cremations

might be about to rocket, and one of the worst places could be

Here, the dead need to be dead rich. It should be a service to the

bereaved from the council, it's not a business. Merseyside Undertaker

a business. Merseyside Undertaker David Barrington is seriously

unimpressed with Sefton Council's plans to hike up cremation fees

from �600 to �750. Making it the most expensive in the country.

believe in some ways it's a tax on the dead, and the revenue isn't

being investor in cemeteries and crematoriums. It's going into the

council's black hole. What do you suggest? I think they can make

efficiency cuts elsewhere. I don't think to hit one particular service

is the way to go. Don't take the money because you can. We totally

understand people's anger, concerns, anxiety. I wouldn't want to be in

that position either. The fact is, we have to save money and increase

charges, and that's one of the many charges that are being increased.

And what about other areas? Well Copeland Council in Cumbria is

proposing up to a 15 % rise in fees. And the cheapest? Cheshire West and

Chester, street Helens and Durham are financially some of the best

places to die. Even in hard times, you face difficulties, so you get

our award. Thank you. And in these hard times if you thought you could

save a few pennies by growing your own - I'm afraid not. For a plot

this size we pay �24, going up to �65. Over 170% increase. I

appreciate they've got to save money, but 170% is phenomenal.

Sheffield Council disputes Phil's calculations and says government

cuts has forced it to raise fees. It's an easy way for them to raise

money. If you've got green fingers Sunderland is a good place to live

- one of the cheapest allotments in the north for just over a tenner.

think that's an excellent price, shame Sheffield Council can't do

that as well. But in Bury a medium size plot will set you back well

over a 100 pounds. Phil reluctantly accepts the Inside Out Hard Times

award. So we're being hit in the pocket - and some people think

councils should be looking hard at their pay roll before they put up

their charges. We're talking about middle managers who are getting

paid 50, 60,000 a year plus, and they need to get back on that sort

of bureaucracy. Nobody wants to see people being made redundant for the

sake of it, but at the same time councils are not employment

exchanges, they are there to provide essential services, and

they have to cut their cloth to suit their means. Councils point to

thousands of redundancies, but not with these guys. Where do we start?

Over zealousness of the wardens. Tony who runs a music shop in

Bolton believes this is how the council is making up some of it's

short fall. Everyday it feels like you are in constant battle between

you and the council. It never felt like that in the past, but at the

moment it is us and them. Is it about the money? It must be. Tough

times out there, Tony. Have our Hard Times Award. A few doors down

Marie's family has been selling pasties here for 184 years - she's

never known it as bad. parking's really affected the

business, we used to have such a big staff, and we're just reducing

all the time, because people are not allowed to pull up for two

seconds. Traffic wardens are around them all the time. Where we do make

money from parking fines, that money is reinvested in the service.

Road safety schemes, and highway maintenance to improve them for

everybody. So your definitely not raising money under the guise of

being tough and fair with parking? No, not at all. Another way

councils are looking to raise cash is through sponsorship. Leeds City

Council offer sponsorship on their payslips. For 3 grand, plus VAT,

you can advertise your wares on some of East Riding's roundabouts.

You can sponsor a flower bed in Lancaster! And in Newcastle you can

get your company name on a litter bin! The thing is our councils are

strapped for cash but have millions of pounds in assets,- like this

temple de convenience - some public loos in the centre of Newcastle.

It's currently closed, but for sale. They have had 6 expressions of

interest, including one company who plan to convert the facilities into

a bar In fact a whole array of goods are up for sale or have been

sold by our councils. On the conveyor belt this week,

Newcastle's state carriage, one careful owner valued at �80,000.

�12,000 worth of old books sold by Manchester City Council on eBay. Up

for sale Eden Council's Mansion House in Penrith, yours for �1.1

million. Fancy a 17th century Grade II listed wedding venue? Woolley

Hall has been put up for sale by Wakefield Council. There's no doubt

there are some tough times and choices ahead for our local

authorities, but as I've seen the difference in charges is stark -

why and is it fair? It's not unfair, local authorities have their own

priorities, budgets, and local issues. So they have to cut their

cloth accordingly, and that really is the essence of local government.

If people do think it is unfair they can have their say, not only

at the ballot box, but citizens' panels, partnership work on all

local authorities up and down the country. Balancing the books is

certainly going to be tough for Northern Councils and you could say

councils need to make money wherever they can. But as we can't

pick and choose, it's no wonder some of us are looking over our

shoulder's rather enviously at the man or woman in neighbouring areas

who might be paying a whole lot Baking certainly seems to be backin.

But forget fashion, its got a therapeutic value which is being

exploited at a groundbreaking bakery in Catterick Garrison. Its

called the Veterans Artisan Bakery and its helping squaddies get to

It's an early start at Catterick Garrison. The Veterans Artisan

Bakery opened last year to help reskill soldiers who's lives have

gone wrong since they left the Army. It's not the macho world they're

used to. Some days it can get to 40 plus heat, like a warzone. A few of

my friends have said it's a woman's job. I've asked them to come try it,

and they've said it sounds like too much hard work. It's a good workout.

Charlie was a rifleman in the marines for two years. When he came

out last year his life quickly fell apart. Everything got on top of me

my discharge, breakdown of relationships, I had a little bit

of a breakdown. Ended up getting arrested, it was quite bad at the

time. Colin served for 15 years. He found himself living on friends'

floors after his marriage broke down. Looking back living with

friends on their settees, sometimes floors, I felt like my roots had

been lifted. There was times I really despaired with myself and I

didn't know what to do. The bakery sells to the garrison and pubs and

delis in the area. Its the first bakery of its type in the country.

Business and therapy rolled into one. Damien, who's only 19, is just

starting out in the kitchen. He was discharged from the Army after a

car crash. It's been in my family, grandad, step-dad, it's affected my

quite badly, it's all I ever wanted. I had a lot of stress, anger, I put

my foot through the TV. I have been diagnosed with anxiety, so I don't

want to go on anti-depressants. bakery is part of the Beacon, a

supported housing scheme for single soldiers who are living rough or at

risk of being homeless. Come in to my flat, you can see I'm a musician.

The Beacon housed Polly, he was medically discharged from the Army

with post traumatic stress disorder in 2008. I joined the Army as a

young guardsman. Operational duties were Northern Ireland. We were in a

place called Carickavalley Woods, South Armagh, unfortunately a

friend and colleague, Lance Corporal Simon Ware, he stood on a

landmine. He was instantly killed. I get flashbacks, the smell of pine.

It's a trigger, if I walk past, for instance, the Body Shop, and there

is a smell of pine, I could have a panic attack, it's a trigger.

Things went from bad to worse when he left the Army. It was very

chaotic, I was getting my pension and pay-out, and of course, I lost

the money, didn't know what to do, I squandered the lot, �40,000. I

was left in Stockton to be fair with you, that's where I lived

sleeping rough outside KFC for four nights. I feel a total connection

with them because I have hit rock bottom in my life. Celebrity chef

Rosemary Shrager has been supporter of the bakery from the beginning.

During the last recession we lost everything. I wasn't at war, but I

was at war with myself. I understand what it's like to start

again, that's what it's all about. I want to help people starting

again, the thing is never to give up. But can baking bread really

help? How can it be bad? Is focusing on a vocational subject,

they need to do something, with their hands, they also need to

think, they need to feel, how can it be bad? Back in the bakery,

they're under pressure. There's a special delivery. It's for the

Christmas fare at the local primary school. It's helped the veterans

massively really. A lot of the guys who come in here are broken, a lot

of them are severely mentally traumatised. Getting them in the

bakery, getting them chatting, start talking about life

experiences or what happened to them in the Army. I had a bit of a

short fuse when I was discharged, but I found getting back into every

team, making of bread rolls, it helps, it takes your mind off

things. It is good. Bakery is there to take my mind off things. I'm not

sat here thinking about things the same with the gym. When I was

discharged I had a short fuse. bakery will not help me, it tastes

nice. I spent a lot of time there, but I like music. My life has

turned around, I am happy. future for me is on the up.

over at the school, the bakery stall is a huge hit. I like baking,

my daughter likes debate, it's a great idea. They are getting a

reputation. It is fantastic, a lot of a struggle when we leave the

Army, it helps. It gives the guy a new release, something to do. The

bread is very nice as well. They are really nice. Awesome.

That is all we have time for tonight, and in fact this series.