05/03/2012 Inside Out North West

Hello, I'm Tony Livesey. Tonight, we are in Rochdale and we will find

out why this famous industrial town has been getting such a bad press.

On tonight's programme, dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

in our troops. Extremes sweats, screaming, shouting. It was like

being electrocuted. My arms and legs are lashing out.

Broadcaster Liz Kershaw returns to her home town of Rochdale to see

why it has been making headlines. If we are being honest, Rochdale is

a bit of a dump. Under why the Olympics could be bad

news for tourism in the Lake District. It is going to cost my

hotel tens of thousands. It will cost the region as a whole

A film-maker from Cheshire is making a movie to raise awareness

of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, suffered by soldiers returning from

war. Filmed across the region, it is based on a true story. Last year,

around 4,000 UK troops were diagnosed with mental health

problems and shattered emotions and fearful nightmares are nothing new

A century ago, it had no name. As the horrors of the First World War

unfolded, medics began to realise that wounds were not just physical.

Psychiatrists, overwhelmed with patients who couldn't walk or talk,

had to accept there had been mental trauma. They called it shell shock

and treated 80,000 cases. But a ceasefire doesn't always mean the

end of a soldier's suffering. 100 years on, and a new film is trying

to raise awareness for the condition known as Post Traumatic

Stress Disorder. Max is up there sobbing his heart

out. Baby, this isn't you, this isn't the Ben I know.

The film has been made by actor Scott Ryan Vickers, who used his

own house in Poynton as one of the locations. I've left my mark on the

house. This is the scene where I had to break in, smash the door

down. I put my foot through the window, so had to get that repaired.

Scott has personal experience of PTSD and wanted to make a hard

hitting film. He spent two years writing the film which is called

Advance to Contact. That is a military description for engaging

the enemy. He plays Ben, a former soldier who can't settle into

civilian life. His own experience of stress and PTSD was the catalyst

for the project. My sister died when I was 18 or 19 and it affected

me in a very strange way. I wasn't affected immediately. I felt kind

of just very empty. And then gradually, for the next couple of

years, I started to get depressed. I didn't know why. It stops you

doing normal things. The only way I can explain it is your mind kind of

turns against you. And Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can be

Eddie Edwards from Preston is a former Para, who served tours in

Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo and four in Iraq. He's lost close

friends, seen colleagues blown up. And he's survived so many hostile

encounters, he believes, if he'd been a cat, he would now be dead.

At the time, you don't acknowledge it. You try to distance yourself

away from the actual incident. But at the same time, your training

does kick in. You just go as a robot, sort of thing. You know what

you've got to do, when you've got to do it, how you've got to do it.

So you'll crack on, do the job. And then when you get five, ten minutes

head down, that's when it starts. Like sitting back thinking, I've

just done this or just done that. Been here, seen that. When he

returned from Iraq, he couldn't settle into civilian life. His wife

Becky noticed the change immediately. I met Ed, a happy

relaxing person. When he came back from Iraq, he was moody, didn't

want to know anything and he worried about everything. And I was

worried, because me and Ed had just got engaged. But I knew I needed to

stand by him, because I loved him for who he were. I could walk down

the street and see someone in their traditional dress and I have to

look twice. Or if I hear a bang, or if I see fire, I'm very, very on

edge. It's not that I see it visually. It brings back the

memories which makes it all real again. The majority of the town, I

will not go out the house. I want to be somewhere where I will know I

will not hear certain noises. I wear earplugs on Bonfire Night.

I guess it affects your sleep and everything? Yes. Sleep wise, I

don't think I'll ever properly get a good night's sleep again. Me and

my wife can't unfortunately share a bed. Some nights I'm lashing out,

extreme sweats, screaming, shouting. The only way to describe it is I've

been electrocuted. My arms and legs are lashing out, right left and

centre. The film also stars Sarah Jayne

Dunn, an actress best known for her role as Mandy Richardson in

Hollyoaks. She plays the long- suffering wife Jess, who knows her

husband needs help. It shows what the families of sufferers of Post

Traumatic Stress Disorder go through, especially the wives of

soldiers returning from the war. But it tells a positive story as

well. The fact that there is help out there. The fact that he gets

support from his friends, from his family. The fact that he gets to

breaking point, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Ben, we need to do something about this. You don't sleep. You're

paranoid. You're angry all the time. Is there the regiment or someone

you can talk to? What do you mean paranoid?

Help for war veterans is scarce. But one former soldier is changing

that. In offices near Chorley, Steve Pearson has set up a charity

called Our Local Heroes Foundation. Staff help soldiers face the future

and live their lives as normally as possible. Money raised by the film

will be donated to the charity. How did you feel after the

operation? Steve Pearson has also taught

himself to be a radio presenter. Each week, he broadcasts on a

Preston community station. Good evening and welcome to Hero's

hour. Today his guest is Anthony Cooper,

who was badly injured while serving in Afghanistan with the Duke of

Lancaster's Regiment. Anthony spent five weeks in a coma after standing

on a makeshift bomb. He lost both his legs at the knee, his right eye,

two fingers on his left hand and suffered severe brain injury.

section commander was stood right behind me and he got blown into the

river. Covered in my blood, so everyone thought it was him that

was injured. And then he was pretty traumatised. I think, when people

actually realise there is something that they actually suffering from,

a mental illness. Which is what it is, they're suffering from mental

illness, that it needs help and needs addressing. Then people will

become more aware of it and less likely to shun them and make them

This Northern-based production was crewed by people who have agreed to

give up their time for free. And to edit his film, Scott's come down to

this London-based production house, who also aren't charging. Scott's

film runs for half an hour and will be released in the summer. It deals

with an emotive and complicated issue, but he believes there is

also optimism. It would be great if a soldier did watch it and think,

you know, it's not just me. And it's not all my fault. And there is

help out there. The conflicts of the last century

have also produced advances in the treatment of combat stress, but not

Eddie Edwards is recovering thanks to counselling sessions, where he's

encouraged to talk about the past which haunts him. But like a virus,

it can spread to the people he loves most. I sat with every

counselling session he went through for a year. And I was heavily

pregnant near the end of the worst ones as well. And the stories I

heard, I have nightmares now and it really does affect my life. I don't

think I'll ever comes to terms with it. It's something that I've got. I

know I can't do nothing with it. I'm always going to have it. And

it's just life now. I've just got to carry on as best as I can.

Coming up, will Cumbria have to jump through hoops to survive the

Olympics? For a few weeks, it will be a challenge, but we must set

that against the long-term benefits of the Olympics. The benefits are

great. Over the years, Rochdale has had

its fair share of media attention. It is after all the town which gave

the world Gracie Fields, Cyril Smith and the Co-op movement. But

in recent years, it has been held up as a symbol of the recession.

Even McDonalds has abandoned its town centre. We asked the

broadcaster Liz Kershaw to come back to her home town to find out

the truth about Rochdale. I'm from Rochdale. I haven't lived

here for 30 years, but I still sound like I do. That's because I'm

proud of my roots. And I get tired of every time a chain closes

everyone says Rochdale must be a dump. So I've come back to see

what's going on and what can be done about it. Rochdale was once a

hive of industrial activity, boasting more than a hundred cotton

mills and bringing in workers from all over the world. But with the

demise of the textile industry came a decline in the town's fortunes.

As the mills closed, few manufacturing jobs were created in

their place. Now one in ten people in Rochdale are out of work.

Walking up Yorkshire street, I count nine charity shops and a

staggering ten pawnbrokers. Lots of the big hitters, including

McDonalds, have left. I can't find anyone who has a good word to say

about the place. What do you like about Rochdale? Nothing. Would you

go shopping? Bury, it is far better. Why do you think Bury is more

appealing? I think it is because of unemployment. Rochdale it is a bit

of a dump. It makes me sad to hear people talk the place down. I have

such happy memories of spending time in town with my cousin Linda.

I was in Boots and you were in M&S. Yes. You were a cut above me,

because I was in Boots. The old Woolworths was here. They

demolished all these shops and the entrance was here for the market.

It was criminal getting rid of that. Rochdale needs that. That was the

poshest shops in Rochdale. That was womenswear. But also, tailoring,

that is where my father would go and have his beautiful hand-made

suits fitted for him. Look at it. Pay-day advance and pawnbrokers. My

father, honestly. It is really sad. If mice that -- if my father could

see that, he would be rolling in his grave. And there's another

familiar face just off the high street. Marjorie, do you remember

me? Yes. That's because your family have been in retailing a long time.

And your family had a poodle parlour and we'd bring Sooty in.

That is right. And you'll remember coming into town and walking up

from the bus or walking up Yorkshire Street with your family.

It was a social hub as well. What would you like to see the town

centre? I would like to see a market, I could, vibrant, busy

market in the town centre. It makes such a difference. As in Bury,

which has a brilliant market. It And Rochdale has great transport

links and ASDA is opening a giant hub near M62. That will create

hundreds of new jobs. They will not actually be making anything. That

was a point I put to Rochdale's MP, Simon Danczuk.

I was taught economics and they taught me to create wealth, you

have to add value to roar materials. Where are those jobs? The good

thing for Rochdale, and something we can build on, is it has

traditionally had an engineering background and manufacturing jobs

are important. We have important manufacturing. For example, Taylors

and Holroyd. They are massively important at creating jobs.

National government have to do more to help them. They are doing. We

have a regional growth fund from the Government. That will help them

develop. Government money, regional grants, I keep hearing this, is

that not just papering over the cracks? A You are right. He we are

going to get Rochdale back where it needs to be, we have to encourage

private sector businesses to develop. We have a very low level

of business start-ups. That is compared to other parts of

Manchester. The council could do more to encourage entrepreneurship

us. Of the local colleges could do more. We have to support existing

SMEs so they can do better. A 326th English boroughs, Rochdale has 29th

most deprived. What can we do? There is no future for 17 year-olds.

We have to create a future for them. We can make Rochdale a destination

in terms of tourism and getting visitors. We have a lot to show in

that regard. It is the birthplace of the Co-op movement. There is a

lot of work to be done. I do feel we are just starting. We are

starting a fresh and that is helpful. We need to be more

realistic. Maybe McDonald's closing has been a wake-up call the town

needed. On the same row as Marjorie's underwear shop, Paul has

opened a boutique and he is heading up Rochdale's new high street

foundation which aims to breathe new life into the town. The council

are turning the space above him to emporium to give new traders a head

start. I could set up in here with all my clothes. That would be a

vintage store. Possibly not! This has been taken. It will be bags. It

is something that is needed. We are looking at where there is

weaknesses and trying to build on that. Will we are looking at giving

affordable options and hopefully they will come here, do all right,

and play a bigger role in the town. This would be a great place to meet

and hang out. Of course. That is how high streets are evolving. They

are not just about retail, they are community spaces. This will do that.

The local authority is promising more than 1,000 new jobs with the

completion of the Kingsway business park. The Metrolink is arriving

soon and will provide to the town with a long needed public transport

connections to the rest of Greater Manchester. And I have got my own

vision. This is the River Roach which gave Rochdale its name. This

is just all you will see orbit. I was brought up to be proud of a

major feature of the centre. -- see of it. This is the widest bridge in

the world. It was put here at the turn of the 19th century to cover

the river. Think of all the destinations in the world,

including London, they all have canals. Imagine tarmac in over the

Thames. It is time we turned back Moorcock and did the damage that

was done to this town. -- turned back the clock. You could have

markets, chairs, tables, ice-cream sellers, I would turn it into a

place where people could meet in safety and enjoyed one of the

finest town centres in the world. My mum was a local councillor and

when I go back to the town hall, I am delighted the current leader

shares my vision for putting Rochdale back on the map. That

concrete is coming up and the river is being reopened. All that way you

see the concrete will be a green park. Families will want to come.

Let us put the pride back in Rochdale and in this borough. If

you were pride -- you're proud 30 years ago. That pride will be back.

We are driving that vision. It is happening. That is a promise?

Absolutely. Promise me you will come back and open it. Thank you, I

would be proud. Sorted. The problem has been diagnosed and treatment is

underway. I will see you back here in a few years' time. Do join me

for a coffee alfresco by the river. As the UK gets ready for the

Olympics, times have been preparing for foreign visitors. The promised

boom that could go bust. In the lake District, there are real fears

were games could be a test of endurance for the tourism industry.

It is set to be a titanic struggle worthy of two great Olympians

fighting it out. The International Olympic Committee has the honour of

announcing... The beauty of the latest it versus the excitement of

the 2012 Olympic Games. It is awarded to the city of London.

Tourism is worth �2 billion a year here in Cumbria. Anything that

threatens that is cause for concern. The forthcoming Olympics are

casting a shadow Home Is beautiful horizon. I am on a trip to find out

if the lake District will be part of the party or left out in the

cold. Like most visitors, I have brought my camera. At the Langdale

Chase Hotel, the Olympics have been bad for business. We do a lot of

Japanese bookings. We have taken a lot of cancellations this year. We

have lost in excess of �10,000. cancellations have a knock-on

effect? Yes. We have lost weddings. We do a lot of weddings. We can

undo the dates now. -- we cannot do. Japanese tours often start in

Edinburgh and end in London. This summer, hotel prices in the capital

are up to six times higher and there is a shortage of flights to

London. One operator who normally brings 5,000 Japanese tourists to

the lakes told me they have no tours planned during the Games.

That means lost business. We have had cancellations from some of the

operators. We wondered whether that would happen but now the

cancellations have materialised. Are they telling you for sure what

the reason is? We are seeing a the series has been booked from May to

September and the slots that cancel -- that clash with the Olympics

have been cancelled. London is part of the tour and you cannot get

accommodation there. It is OK to measure the bookings that are being

cancelled but I've a lot harder to estimate the bookings that never

materialised. -- it is a lot harder. If you are a Japanese visitor, this

is the place to come. It is a hilltop farm, the home of Beatrix

Potter. 15,000 Japanese tourists come here every year to immerse

themselves if in the world of Peter Rabbit. It is our number one market.

It comes down to one thing, the books. They have been used in

Japanese schools to help people learn English. People in Japan know

the stories. It presents a beautiful picture of Britain. It is

traditional and picturesque. they were not to come, what would

that do to you? It would be a big challenge. We are looking at it at

the moment. As things stand, we have more bookings for 2012 than

last year. But the way the group's work, they start to cancel her as

they get closer to the time. We do not know what the outcome will be.

John thinks the Olympics will benefit the lakes. This one here is

a risk. It will be a challenge. But you need to look at the long-term

benefit. We have the Olympics. The whole world will be looking at

Britain. The benefit for as there is great. That is the message of

the Government was trying to put out when the Culture Minister

kicked off a tour of England in Cumbria, promising there were

benefits for all. If there is one message I hope everyone takes away

from this morning, it is next year is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime

opportunity to promote business in Cumbria and the north-west. But not

everyone agrees. That is despite a big push from the Government to

encourage us all to fill the gaps left by the Japanese tourist. Hotel

owners say there is a catch. To advertise on the Government's

website, you have to drop your price by 20.12 %. It is like asking

to give parents -- asking parents to give a 20% discount in the run-

up to Christmas. The lakes consist of private operators. They will

find it hard to push this through. If it is a deal, are a lot of

businesses are already producing those deals as part of their normal

marketing efforts. Most businesses will have special offers. We are

asking them to take those existing things they would be doing and

joined with the government in a Countrywide marketing plan to

harness the opportunities of the Olympics. This five-week period is

the most important time of the year. It is going to cost my hotel tens

of thousands of pounds. The lakes as a whole, undoubtedly, millions.

Not everyone is pessimistic. Stephen was one of a group of

Cumbrians who went to Japan to remind them of what they are

missing out on. It was an opportunity to tell them about

things taking place in the lake District. It is good to talk to

them direct. We cannot just sit here and wait for them to come. We

have to go to them and tell them what is happening. He had some

practical solutions for the would- be tourists. We suggested they come

in through other airports in Europe so other airports, like Manchester

and Glasgow, get in on the action. We have one example of that already.

It is clear from my travels through the lakes there has already been

some losers. Contract and money have been lost. They will be a

nervous few months as the clock ticks down to the opening ceremony.

It will only be after the games that we will know whether it will