:00:00. > :00:08.That is all from BBC News At Six, I will be back with more
:00:09. > :00:13.Tonight on BBC London News. Tube unions ballot for five days of
:00:14. > :00:19.strikes in a jobs dispute. Critics say they've ignored calls for
:00:20. > :00:23.mediation. They need to consider more than just the welfare of their
:00:24. > :00:29.own members, but also all of the people who travel by chewed every
:00:30. > :00:32.day. `` by the tube everyday. We hear from one union who say
:00:33. > :00:35.Transport for London has humiliated their members. Also tonight: A ?1
:00:36. > :00:37.billion regeneration of Croydon gets the go`ahead.
:00:38. > :00:42.It means thousands of new jobs and hundreds of new homes.
:00:43. > :00:49.Moving in to where a 2012 athlete once lived. We meet the first
:00:50. > :00:54.residents of the Olympic village. To know that I am on the other part of
:00:55. > :00:58.the park, with all of that legacy, that adds an extra special thing to
:00:59. > :01:01.it. And, home to some of the UK's most valuable paintings, Kenwood
:01:02. > :01:18.House re`opens after a multi`million pound restoration. Good evening,
:01:19. > :01:21.welcome to the programme. Thousands of tube workers are to be balloted
:01:22. > :01:30.for strikes over planned changes to working practices. It could mean a
:01:31. > :01:33.five`day walk`out on the underground in the new year. The announcement
:01:34. > :01:37.comes after plans were unveiled last week to shut ticket offices in
:01:38. > :01:40.stations across the capital and run trains all night at weekends. Unions
:01:41. > :01:43.say they're concerned about job losses. But Transport for London
:01:44. > :01:50.insist there will be no compulsory redundancies. Our Special
:01:51. > :01:55.Correspondent, Kurt Barling reports. After last week 's announcement on
:01:56. > :01:58.closures of ticket offices and with plans to run services through the
:01:59. > :02:02.night and never need for different roles to accommodate these changes,
:02:03. > :02:07.the RMT union has confirmed its members will be balloted for strike
:02:08. > :02:11.action in the U `` New Year. We have not caused this dispute. We have not
:02:12. > :02:15.asked for a pay rise or more annual leave, we just had a letter to the
:02:16. > :02:19.door saying members have to apply for our jobs. The best thing to do
:02:20. > :02:23.is for London Underground to mediate is to withdraw that, and then let
:02:24. > :02:27.sit round a table and resolve it. We are up for that. They started it.
:02:28. > :02:32.The reason we had a ballot is because they threatened the members.
:02:33. > :02:35.RMT members will receive ballot papers next week which means strike
:02:36. > :02:40.action could begin by the 17th of January and will last through to
:02:41. > :02:46.early February. Transport for London say they have opened a 90 day
:02:47. > :02:49.consultation period with underground staff over their plans for
:02:50. > :02:54.reorganising the way the tube system works. They agree that this will
:02:55. > :02:56.involve changing peoples roles, but confirmed that the stations will
:02:57. > :03:04.remain staffed at all`time and there will be no compulsory redundancies.
:03:05. > :03:08.To London MPs have tabled a parliamentary motion to encourage
:03:09. > :03:15.wider debate about the changes, fearing they could, my safety. These
:03:16. > :03:20.are the people that deliver services we rely `` compromise safety. I want
:03:21. > :03:23.them to deliver the service. I want jobs retained, offices open, with
:03:24. > :03:28.information and security available for all of us. The Conservative
:03:29. > :03:32.group at the London assembly be that users of the tube system are tired
:03:33. > :03:37.of strikes as a way of resolving disagreements over the way to run
:03:38. > :03:41.the network. A majority of people, almost 60%, have had enough of
:03:42. > :03:45.industrial action on the London Underground and feel that strikes
:03:46. > :03:49.should be outlawed and some other measure should be brought in to
:03:50. > :03:54.resolve the dispute. The ballot has now been called and the talking will
:03:55. > :03:58.start. The plans are on the table for everyone to see, including the
:03:59. > :04:03.public. The question is, can accommodation be found in order to
:04:04. > :04:11.avert a strike at the beginning of next year? Lots more to come
:04:12. > :04:14.including: A royal visit to London Zoo plans to crackdown on the
:04:15. > :04:24.illegal trade of wildlife are unveiled.
:04:25. > :04:31.Around 5,000 jobs are to be created as a result of a ?1 billion
:04:32. > :04:34.regeneration project in Croydon. The redevelopment, which has just been
:04:35. > :04:37.given the go`ahead by the council, includes a huge shopping centre and
:04:38. > :04:40.leisure complex, as well as hundreds of new homes. Alice Bhandhakravi is
:04:41. > :04:48.in the town centre tonight. What's been the reaction to this news?
:04:49. > :04:53.I am on North end, one of the main shopping streets, and this is where
:04:54. > :04:58.the redevelopment will take place. I've been here most of the day. I've
:04:59. > :05:06.been speaking to lots of people, and it has been hard to find anyone who
:05:07. > :05:10.is not excited about it. In the 60s and 70s it was a cultural hub, or
:05:11. > :05:14.what people would describe as a retail destination, the biggest in
:05:15. > :05:18.south London. Now though, as much as they love it, many people here feel
:05:19. > :05:25.Croydon looks slightly down at heel and tired. So, like many has beans,
:05:26. > :05:31.Croydon is getting a face`lift. This is a major opportunity for Croydon.
:05:32. > :05:35.A number of buildings do look tired and this investment of ?1 billion
:05:36. > :05:40.will bring Croydon up`to`date. Brand`new, exciting buildings and
:05:41. > :05:46.exciting experience in the centre. As far as make overs go, it will be
:05:47. > :05:51.extreme. Some of the old facade will be preserved, and behind them will
:05:52. > :05:55.be the space for 300 new shops. ?30 million will be spent on transport
:05:56. > :05:59.improvement. 600 new homes will be built and 5000 jobs are being
:06:00. > :06:06.promised. Attractive plans for shoppers out today. I think it needs
:06:07. > :06:11.it. Because I remember as it used to be, and it used to be really nice to
:06:12. > :06:15.come to Croydon. We need to keep up with everyone or it will die on its
:06:16. > :06:21.feet. It will be good to create more job opportunities in Croydon.
:06:22. > :06:25.Westfield and Hammerson have joined forces because they are confident of
:06:26. > :06:30.potential returns. But what is the risk for independent businesses? I
:06:31. > :06:34.don't think any will be left out in the cold. We are talking to them and
:06:35. > :06:36.finding them locations to trade from during the development, and if they
:06:37. > :06:43.want to come back into the development we are certainly up to
:06:44. > :06:46.that discussion. Even those who were literally out in the cold felt warm
:06:47. > :06:50.and fuzzy at the prospect of the new scheme around the corner. All the
:06:51. > :06:56.small businesses should benefit from this. You don't feel threatened with
:06:57. > :07:00.it on your doorstep? I think it will create so more many people coming to
:07:01. > :07:04.the area, even if not from Croydon, they will come to have a look. They
:07:05. > :07:11.will have for years to wait though as there is a lot of work to be
:07:12. > :07:15.done. Before work even get started in 2015, the scheme will need to get
:07:16. > :07:20.approval from City Hall and government. There has been issues
:07:21. > :07:24.raised locally about how good the transport links will be and the
:07:25. > :07:28.extent of the affordable housing. Boris Johnson has declared himself a
:07:29. > :07:32.big supporter, and I suspect that getting approval will be a
:07:33. > :07:35.formality. Alice, from Croydon, thank you.
:07:36. > :07:40.A man who boasted about using firearms and living the gang
:07:41. > :07:43.lifestyle on a social media site has been jailed for 22 years for
:07:44. > :07:47.attempted murder. Kayode Oshin from Isleworth used a machine gun to
:07:48. > :07:50.target his victim who was shot in the neck but escaped without serious
:07:51. > :08:00.injury. The 21`year`old then used YouTube to post homemade rap videos
:08:01. > :08:03.making reference to the incident. Scotland Yard has offered a ?10,000
:08:04. > :08:06.reward for information which could lead to the capture of a killer who
:08:07. > :08:09.escaped from a Mental Health Unit last month. Lerone Boye was jailed
:08:10. > :08:13.for life after stabbing a 17`year`old boy to death at a party
:08:14. > :08:17.two years ago. He escaped from the John Howard Centre in Homerton, and
:08:18. > :08:24.police believe he may still be in the east London area. There've been
:08:25. > :08:28.calls in Parliament for a cycle safety summit to be held in the
:08:29. > :08:31.capital as soon as possible after the death of six cyclists in a
:08:32. > :08:35.fortnight. A Commons debate has heard how the government plans to
:08:36. > :08:37.discuss the issue with the Mayor and Transport for London bosses. Our
:08:38. > :08:44.Political Editor Tim Donovan joins us from Westminster. Tim. This was
:08:45. > :08:49.what is called a Westminster Hall debate, not in the main chamber, but
:08:50. > :08:53.it has the advantage that whilst they are not that well attended,
:08:54. > :08:57.they can allow an eventual `` individual MP to raise a topic of
:08:58. > :09:01.urgency and get a response from government. That is what Mary McLeod
:09:02. > :09:03.has done, Conservative MP for Brentford and I is what Mary McLeod
:09:04. > :09:08.has done, Conservative MP for Brentford and eyes are worth, after
:09:09. > :09:14.the Olympics. But someone who said there should not be a knee jerk
:09:15. > :09:17.reaction, but there had to be an urgent reaction, and she said she
:09:18. > :09:22.would like to see a cycle safety summit which involved all of the
:09:23. > :09:26.agencies as soon as possible. She was very frank about her own
:09:27. > :09:32.experiences as a cyclist. I do feel that every time I do it that I'm
:09:33. > :09:36.taking a risk. Even though I do abide by the rules of the road. But
:09:37. > :09:40.even if you look at Parliament Square, just outside, you do feel
:09:41. > :09:49.you are taking your life in your hands as you cycle around. What is
:09:50. > :09:53.the government's response? The cycling minister was at the debate
:09:54. > :09:57.and said there was no room for complacency, but a lot of action was
:09:58. > :10:01.already happening. He claimed ?50 million has been given to transport
:10:02. > :10:05.for London to improve junctions. He was encouraging local authorities to
:10:06. > :10:11.reduce the speed limits that he had set up in September. And he also set
:10:12. > :10:15.up a task force to look at the question of HGVs. It did not agree
:10:16. > :10:21.to a summit but said there were already important meetings going on
:10:22. > :10:28.and others planned. I have met with Chris Boardman, British cycling, and
:10:29. > :10:31.others to discuss this issue. And indeed, tomorrow, I already have a
:10:32. > :10:36.meeting in my diary to meet with transport for London to discuss the
:10:37. > :10:40.issues. On the 4th of December, the man is coming to the Department for
:10:41. > :10:45.Transport to discuss these and other issues `` the Mayor of London. You
:10:46. > :10:51.can see how this has begun and tipped over into an area of genuine
:10:52. > :10:54.concern about gaps in public policy and so forth. There is clearly going
:10:55. > :10:59.to be more scrutiny over the coming weeks and months, not least to look
:11:00. > :11:04.at the kind of improvements that TEFL and the dashed transport for
:11:05. > :11:08.London and the government promising. On Monday there is a transport
:11:09. > :11:13.select committee looking specifically at safety at cycling in
:11:14. > :11:15.London `` the safety of cycling in London.
:11:16. > :11:19.Meanwhile, one London council is looking to improve cycle safety by
:11:20. > :11:23.introducing new technology for Lorry drivers. A device to help detect
:11:24. > :11:26.cyclists approaching an HGV will be trialled in Ealing. Many cyclists
:11:27. > :11:30.who've died on London's roads have been involved in a collision with a
:11:31. > :11:36.lorry. Our Transport Correspondent Tom Edwards reports.
:11:37. > :11:46.Many large vehicles have blind spots. Out of 14 cycling deaths this
:11:47. > :11:48.year, nine of them involve HGVs. As we found out, sometimes it's very
:11:49. > :11:57.difficult for drivers to spot cyclists. They come along the side,
:11:58. > :12:00.on the left`hand side. In Ealing they are trying a warning system
:12:01. > :12:08.that picks out cyclists and pedestrians. If a collision is
:12:09. > :12:11.imminent, this happens. It will not pick up metallic objects at the side
:12:12. > :12:17.of the road, railings, people on the footpath, it is people in a
:12:18. > :12:20.collision danger area. This lorry has cameras all the way around it
:12:21. > :12:24.and what the system does is stitches the images together so that the
:12:25. > :12:32.driver can see 360 degrees around the lorry. But what makes this
:12:33. > :12:34.system different is it is intelligent. According to the
:12:35. > :12:40.manufacturer, it uses image recognition software to cut down on
:12:41. > :12:43.the warnings that are needed and that desensitise the driver.
:12:44. > :12:50.Campaigners have given it a cautious welcome. Does it concern you it
:12:51. > :12:54.still relies on the driver? Yes. Personally I think the visibility of
:12:55. > :12:57.these lorries is terrible. Manufacturers should make it so the
:12:58. > :13:06.drivers can see where they are going. The system costs upward of
:13:07. > :13:10.?800. Councils are now paying for a six`month trial. We would love to
:13:11. > :13:16.see this not just taken up by councils like Ealing, but also bus
:13:17. > :13:20.drivers and other companies, private companies as well. Meanwhile, this
:13:21. > :13:24.morning, more officers have been camping down on road users breaking
:13:25. > :13:55.the law. All authorities remain under huge scrutiny and pressure to
:13:56. > :14:00.improve cycle safety. It hardly looks historic, a young London are
:14:01. > :14:04.making a cup of tea in a kitchen, but she is the first residents to
:14:05. > :14:11.move into the Olympic Village, the first person to put down roots in
:14:12. > :14:16.London's newest postcode, eat 20, just married and at the start of a
:14:17. > :14:22.new era. It is an amazing feeling and when we moved in everything was
:14:23. > :14:29.brand`new and it was quiet and it felt great to move into this amazing
:14:30. > :14:34.place. The village house to 23,000 athletes and officials, packed in
:14:35. > :14:40.sometimes six to an apartment. The flats have been redesigned adding
:14:41. > :14:45.kitchens and new floors. They are converting the village into 2800
:14:46. > :14:50.homes. Half of the village is in the private sector and the other half is
:14:51. > :14:55.affordable homes. They are aimed at people in low to medium income
:14:56. > :14:59.brackets. This is one of the affordable ones, only available to
:15:00. > :15:07.people earning less than ?60,000 a year. It is very cheap. We looked at
:15:08. > :15:12.other places and we did not see anything that was decent, under 12
:15:13. > :15:21.hundred thousand pounds a month. Martin is about her rent in the
:15:22. > :15:27.American block. He is going to pay ?1300 a month for a one`bedroom
:15:28. > :15:32.flat. Moving from Manchester to London was never going to be cheap.
:15:33. > :15:41.The thing that attracted me was the quality of the apartments and the
:15:42. > :15:49.furniture and the transport links. A bit about the Olympic village did
:15:50. > :15:55.appeal to me I admit. Around 10,000 homes by 2030 is planned for the
:15:56. > :16:01.village. That is nearly one home for every competitor last year.
:16:02. > :16:04.Some travel news coming in and there is major disruption to train
:16:05. > :16:12.services in and out of London due to a fire in a London Bridge signal
:16:13. > :16:17.box. Services have been suspended from London Bridge, Cannon Street
:16:18. > :16:22.and there are reports of people evacuating trains and working onto
:16:23. > :16:27.the tracks. Network Rail advises passengers to take alternative
:16:28. > :16:32.routes. You can keep up to date by tuning into our radio station. Or
:16:33. > :16:46.you can look on our travel Twitter feed.
:16:47. > :16:50.Still to come to night: You did not hear it, but we will tell you why it
:16:51. > :16:56.was a close shave off the pitch for Jose Mourinho.
:16:57. > :17:01.And it is home to an internationally renowned art collection, but it has
:17:02. > :17:06.been closed for 18 months. Now Kenwood House reopens its doors to
:17:07. > :17:14.the public, having been restored, repaired and revived.
:17:15. > :17:20.The Duke of Cambridge was joined by his father on a visit to London Zoo
:17:21. > :17:23.today to highlight the issue of wildlife conservation. Prince
:17:24. > :17:28.William's new organisation aims to help tackle the illegal trade in
:17:29. > :17:33.animal products like rhino horn and elephant tusks.
:17:34. > :17:38.A father and son visit to the zoo with a difference. Vince Charles
:17:39. > :17:43.joined his son at London Zoo to help support a new wildlife conservation
:17:44. > :17:51.group. They got up close with a five`year`old male tiger from
:17:52. > :17:59.Sumatra and both were impressed. What do you think of the Tiger? Very
:18:00. > :18:05.majestic. Many animals are under threat from poachers. This new group
:18:06. > :18:09.aims to tackle illegal trade. The more we show people and educate
:18:10. > :18:13.people on what they are buying and seeing and change their attitudes,
:18:14. > :18:18.we have got a chance of changing the way things are going. At the
:18:19. > :18:24.group's first official meeting delegates were told how elephants
:18:25. > :18:30.are still being killed for ivory and there has been a dramatic surge in
:18:31. > :18:35.rhino poaching. We have to reduce the hunting of illegal wildlife
:18:36. > :18:42.parts from various threatened and endangered species, so the
:18:43. > :18:47.consumption in Asia and elsewhere is one of the key issues. There has
:18:48. > :18:57.also been a record number of illegal wildlife Caesar's that seizures at
:18:58. > :19:03.airports. It is hoped this will help conserve animals around the world.
:19:04. > :19:08.In football tonight Arsenal and Chelsea are in Champions League
:19:09. > :19:14.action. Sara Orchard is here. It is getting to crunch time for both
:19:15. > :19:17.teams. There are only two matches left in the group stage and it is
:19:18. > :19:23.important to progress from the group stage. It is because it is very
:19:24. > :19:30.lucrative for the clubs. Arsenal are at home this evening taking on
:19:31. > :19:37.Marseille in group F. This is them in training yesterday. Chelsea are
:19:38. > :19:42.in Switzerland tonight facing basil. Both clubs are in very healthy
:19:43. > :19:48.positions. For Arsenal it could be an achievement in more ways than
:19:49. > :19:53.one. We have to get out a very special football permutation
:19:54. > :19:58.calculator. If Arsenal win this evening and another result goes
:19:59. > :20:03.their way, they will have progressed to the knockout stages. It is an
:20:04. > :20:07.achievement because it is the 14th consecutive season they will have
:20:08. > :20:14.done that. But that does not mean they are taking their opponents this
:20:15. > :20:18.evening lightly. They have quality. They are in a better period at the
:20:19. > :20:24.moment because they just won their last two games. That makes them a
:20:25. > :20:32.dangerous team to play against, of course. It could be the quality of
:20:33. > :20:39.our concentration and our focus. Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho is having
:20:40. > :20:46.to explain his haircut. We are used to this with David Beckham, but this
:20:47. > :20:51.time it was the blues boss. He was questioned about his shorter
:20:52. > :20:56.hairstyle at the press conference. He informed the media he shaved his
:20:57. > :21:04.head at the Chelsea ground using his striker, Fernando Torres Brno hair
:21:05. > :21:16.clippers. Who cut it? Myself in the training ground. But why? I decided
:21:17. > :21:20.to do it. I asked Fernando to give me his machine and I did it myself
:21:21. > :21:28.in front of the mirror, and it is cheap. I have no idea how to follow
:21:29. > :21:35.that. If you want to keep abreast of what the teams are up to this
:21:36. > :21:42.evening, keep abreast with us on our local radio station. It has
:21:43. > :21:48.spectacular views across London and houses some of the most valuable
:21:49. > :21:53.paintings in Britain, including works by Rembrandt, Gainsborough and
:21:54. > :21:59.Turner. Kenwood House reopens to the public this week after a
:22:00. > :22:04.multi`million pound refurbishment. It has been featured in the film 's
:22:05. > :22:08.Notting Hill and Mansfield Park and has hosted some picnic concerts and
:22:09. > :22:14.has been home to an internationally renowned collection of art. Now
:22:15. > :22:21.following a ?5.9 million restoration, Kenwood House reopens
:22:22. > :22:27.to the public. We have fulfilled Lord Ivy's original intention. He
:22:28. > :22:31.gave the collection to the nation. He said he wanted the house to have
:22:32. > :22:39.the feeling of a residence of an 18th`century gentleman. That is what
:22:40. > :22:43.we have tried to do. This is the most substantial restoration since
:22:44. > :22:49.1987 and includes the repainting of the exterior, refurbishing three
:22:50. > :22:57.rooms in an 18th`century style and restoring Robert Adams' original
:22:58. > :23:04.scheme in format areas. The emphasis has been put on making the house
:23:05. > :23:08.feel more like a home. Visitors are welcomed by an open fire, a warm rug
:23:09. > :23:14.and leather chairs where you can sit, relax, read, enjoy the
:23:15. > :23:19.paintings, and discover the many stories that make up life at
:23:20. > :23:26.Kenwood. Volunteers have been a significant part of the restoration.
:23:27. > :23:31.The house has now recruited over 200 people to inform visitors to the
:23:32. > :23:38.venue. We have been trying hard to recruit from the local area. There
:23:39. > :23:43.are people from Camden and Islington and further afield as well. We are
:23:44. > :23:49.giving people in the local area an opportunity to be a part of Kenwood.
:23:50. > :23:55.We want this house to be a haven for people. People might not know about
:23:56. > :23:59.the collection here, but we have got it all. They might not know about
:24:00. > :24:06.that, but we want to encourage them in, people who have been walking in
:24:07. > :24:12.the park for years. Just to sit down and we hope the wonderful atmosphere
:24:13. > :24:17.will rub off on people. Admission to one of Britain's's most historic
:24:18. > :24:25.stately homes remains free to the public when it reopens its doors
:24:26. > :24:32.this Thursday. It looks fabulous. Time for a check on the weather.
:24:33. > :24:40.Where we have got the clear skies a touch of frost is likely to develop.
:24:41. > :24:45.I had a look at the radar and where we have got thicker cloud over East
:24:46. > :24:51.London there are a few drops of cold rain. The frost will not be there
:24:52. > :24:57.for a very long before the cloud fills in all the gaps. Later on
:24:58. > :25:04.there will be a bit more of that cold rain. But temperatures are
:25:05. > :25:09.covering on the weather map. It will turn rather misty and there could be
:25:10. > :25:14.some local cloud on the tops of our highest hills. You can expect for on
:25:15. > :25:19.the North Downs and the Berkshire Downs and the tops of the Chiltern
:25:20. > :25:24.Hills. Tomorrow morning it is going to be a lead and start to the day.
:25:25. > :25:30.It will probably feel quite raw if you are out and about in the grisly
:25:31. > :25:35.rain. Very gradually that should fizzle out and things will brighten
:25:36. > :25:40.up in the afternoon. Temperatures will be similar to today, but
:25:41. > :25:46.without the sunshine it will feel more chilly. Although tomorrow night
:25:47. > :25:51.is likely to be dry, it will turn misty once again once the sun has
:25:52. > :25:57.set. We will have that low cloud over the top of the hills and that
:25:58. > :26:02.is where you will find fork. Thursday will start off cold, misty
:26:03. > :26:07.and great, but there is a good chance the cloud will break up later
:26:08. > :26:12.in the day and that will give us a brighter end to the week. But by
:26:13. > :26:18.then the breeze will have picked up. The chance of a few rain
:26:19. > :26:23.showers, particularly across Essex. As far as the outlook is concerned,
:26:24. > :26:28.things are beginning to brighten a bit during the day. The daytime
:26:29. > :26:36.temperatures are starting to rise, but the night`time temperatures will
:26:37. > :26:42.get colder when it is dark. I feel chilly just listening to
:26:43. > :26:48.that. The main headlines: A Scottish parliament has set out its vision of
:26:49. > :26:51.an independent country ahead of next year's referendum. It claims the
:26:52. > :26:56.country would be better off if it breaks from the UK. Opponents have
:26:57. > :27:02.dismissed the document as a work of fiction. A police officer has been
:27:03. > :27:08.charged over the Plebgate affair, accused of falsely claiming to have
:27:09. > :27:12.witnessed the incident. The CPS says Andrew Mitchell was not the victim
:27:13. > :27:17.of a conspiracy. Tube workers are to be balloted on
:27:18. > :27:23.strike action over planned job cuts. Critics say the unions have ignored
:27:24. > :27:28.calls for mediation. There is major disruption to train services in and
:27:29. > :27:33.out of London due to a fire in a London Bridge signal box. Karen
:27:34. > :27:39.Cross, Cannon Street, Waterloo East and London Bridge have been
:27:40. > :27:44.affected. You can see more on our website. I will be back later on the
:27:45. > :27:45.ten o'clock news. Thank you very much for watching and enjoy your
:27:46. > :27:48.evening.