17/03/2014 BBC London News

well. More details if you want to go on the website. That's it. On BBC

One we now join the BBC's news teams where you are.

On the programme tonight, residents concerns about in the harbour for

the HS2 rail link. More of the other structure is in Camden than anywhere

else. Today, they have admitted that they had got it wrong. It is time to

go back to the drawing board. We talk live to the Transport Minister

about the plans. Also tonight, a convicted Mafia boss living in

London walks free from court after winning his battle against

extradition. Plus... The Keith Blake Clark murder trial hears how a gang

of attackers paraded his helmet around like a trophy. Injured on the

28th of May, 2011. And theatre of war, the stage production helping

injured soldiers on the road to recovery.

Hello and good evening. Ambitious plans to redevelop Euston were back

on track for a third time today having previously been scaled back.

The station will become the London hub for HS2, the ?50 billion high

speed rail route, linking the capital with the north. The decision

has angered some people living and working in Camden, who claim they

will face years of disruption as work to transform the area takes

place. But plans to link HS2 with the line running between St Pancras

and continental Europe were dropped, a decision cautiously welcomed by

campaigners. Our Transport Correspondent Tom Edwards reports.

Back to the drawing board again for Houston station. More expansive

plans will now be considered. This area will already lose hundreds of

homes and businesses to HS2. More uncertainty, worrying those who live

here. We keep asking them but we never get the right answer. What are

they going to do? We are still worried. The whole community is

worried. The plan for a link between HS2 on the line to the continent has

already been dropped. Dubbing it would have caused huge disruption in

Camden and two overground services. That link might still be tunnelled,

but other ways for the passengers to get to Saint pancreas will be looked

at. This is actually the third plan that we have had for Euston station.

The first was scrapped at the costs were vastly underestimated and over

concerns about disruption to the local community. The papers say that

it shows that the whole scheme is badly thought out. I think it is a

damning indictment of what HS2 has done so far. We have been arguing

for four years that these plans would devastate Camden. 80% of the

construction is in Camden. Basically, they have admitted today

that they have got the whole thing wrong. I think it is time to go back

to the drawing board. The Euston arch, demolished in 1962, could be

reinstated, that much of the funding will come from private developers.

And concerns remain. Because we do not live in the children's, we are

not being offered compensation. And the more they start date is put off,

if it ever happens, the more people are saying what is going to happen

in three years or five years time? How can we plan for our future? HS2

will cost ?50 billion and make journeys quicker to and from the

north. The government says it is needed to provide extra capacity and

to boost the economy. King's Cross was not a place you would like to be

around late at night. It has completely changed the station and

the area around it. And the developer and of the station has

been a catalyst for growth and jobs. We want that to happen at

Houston as well. The mayor has also welcomes today's announcements,

saying that he wants a development next to although common, and that is

still part of the plan. But these are unlikely to be the last changes

to this contentious project. Well joining us now is Transport

Minister Baroness Kramer. Good evening. You have to feel for the

people of Euston, because plans have been chopped and changed and now it

is back to the original plan anyway.

The point is to get the plan right. I think David Higgins was right in

saying that we were not being ambitious enough. You have to look

at the plans that are being carried through for King's Cross and forcing

pancreas. Think most people, although they have lived with

disruption and found it difficult, are very pleased with what has been

delivered. We need to deliver that high`quality for Euston. They did

not sound very pleased there, the people living in Camden. What

assurances can you give to them? People will feel some disruption. We

are working closely with the council and local groups. Part of the reason

why we have made the decision to drop the HS one link was because we

realised it was very disruptive to the community, without levering the

kind of benefits that we wanted from and effectively. And so we are

listening and engaged, but I think, in the end, we have to make sure

that what we deliver is a high`quality development at Houston

that people will look at and say, yes, this was right for London. You

mention the scrapping of the link between HS2 and HS1, the high`speed

link to the Channel Tunnel, but wasn't one of the benefits

originally of HS2 to reduce short`haul flights to the

continent? If you scrap that part of the tunnel, does it not defeat the

object, even though people may well welcome it to make people will still

have a very easy transfer to Eurostar and to future rail services

with the continent, it was getting from Euston to Saint pancreas is a

relatively easy trip, made even easier in this process. But it is

making the link to Euston unnecessary? There is another link

to although common, which is increasingly important, because you

can get to the Heathrow X arrests and the West Coast mainline. ``

Heathrow express. There are a lot of opportunities to do this. It is not

to say that the link will not come in the future. There will be a lot

of work but doing that properly, not the way it was originally designed.

And that is the thing, it is about uncertainty. The big thing with any

infrastructure project is everybody will not be on`site, but people need

to be feel like they have been treated fairly. And that is not what

we have been hearing. Well, it is a large of the structure project to

begin with, and it is extremely complex. I think we have done a good

job of consulting. The ideas that are coming forward now are part of a

result of that consultation. We have a hybrid bill in Parliament and

people are engaged and will be engaged. I believe they will be

pleased with what comes through. Minister, thank you.

Coming up later in the programme, the controversial car ban aimed at

cutting pollution in Paris. Could a similar scheme work here in London?

A convicted Mafia boss who's been living in London for 20 years,

walked free from court today after winning his battle against

extradition back to Italy. Domenico Rancadore was arrested in Uxbridge

last year, where he was living under the assumed name of Marc Skinner,

with his wife and two children. The BBC's Legal Correspondent Clive

Coleman reports. Leaving court undercover, Domenico

Rancadore and his British wife, after a significant victory.

Uxbridge in suburban west London is perhaps the last place you would

expect to find a member of the Sicilian Mafia. But since 1993,

Domenico Rancadore, whose crime family the Italian police say were

involved in racketeering and drug trafficking, had been living here

under the name of Mark Skinner. A former teacher, he was known as the

Professor. Despite two acquittals in the Italian court, in 1999 he was

convicted in absentia of being a Mafia associate and sentenced to

seven years. But his quiet suburban life came to an abrupt end last

August when police arrived here with an arrest warrant. He has been in

custody, fighting extradition, until today.

The district judge told the court that he had originally decided to

order Domenico Rancadore's extradition, satisfied with

assurances from the Italian authorities about its prison system.

But in a dramatic turnaround, he said that a judgement from the High

Court last week meant that those assurances were now it's simply too

vague. The general assurance as to where he could be held was

insufficient. Because of the systemic problems in the prison

system in Italy, they have to give specific assurances as to where

people will be held and the conditions in which they will be

held. The Italian authorities have said that they intend to appeal.

Meanwhile, the convicted Sicilian Mafia man arrived home, his head and

face in a scarf, to resume his quiet suburban life in Uxbridge.

The founder of an organisation in Waltham Forest which tries to steer

young people away from extremism, Hanif Quadir called on people to

tackle radicalisation. His comments come as the immigration and security

minister visited an east London Mosque to talk about the

government's anti`terrorism strategy. Abdi and Chaudhry Arab

descent of the government's strategy. Muslim men who accept that

they are vulnerable of radicalisation. A lot of children

are vulnerable. They have not got much to do so it is easy to become

radicalised. But this centre keeps you busy. As well as community

workshops and activities. That is why they come to this youth centre

that tackles extremism had on. The workshops provide a forum for

challenging jihadist propaganda. Its members say that it works. If you

have an environment like this and you give them time and listen to

what they have to say, you will not have that problem. We come here to

play and waste time, so we are not on the streets. The founder, Hanif

Quadir, was once a would`be Mujahideen, travelling to

Afghanistan before deciding to combat radicalism in his own

backyard. He now has an unpopular view on what needs to be done.

People from within the Muslim community, they are out there to

undermine Islam and the Muslim community at large. There is a lack

of willingness inside our communities to come and challenge

those narratives and those views. Until such a time, I'm afraid that

we will not be having much of an impact. Others argue that the

government should be doing more. They question why budgets have been

cut. Hybrid that question to the Communities Minister. Why have you

cut funding by 10 million pounds since 2010? When this government

came in, we have refocused. Previously, this campaign had been

about countering terrorism and community engagement, but we felt

that that was getting in the way. That is why we have refocused it. It

points at how government and communities are working closely

together and accents that the key remains how to reach those most

vulnerable. A jury at the Old Bailey has heard

how the killers of PC Keith Blakelock passed around his helmet

like a trophy after his murder. The officer was stabbed and attacked

with a machete during the Broadwater Farm riots in 1985. Marc Ashdown is

outside court now with more details. Today, we have been hearing from one

of three key witnesses for the prosecution. This man was granted

anonymity and is giving evidence under a synonym. He was also hidden

by a curtain. `` pseudonym. He admits that he was part of a gang

which attacked PC Keith Blakelock on 1985. He said he kicked him a couple

of times. He also says that his Saab the defendant in the group as well.

Mickey Jacobs denies murder but the witness says that he saw him punch

and kick the officer a number of times. He says his him armed with a

six inch knife. After an attack `` the attack, the witness says that

the officer's helmet was carried around like a trophy. He says that

Nicky Davies bragged that he had stabbed him a couple of times.

This afternoon, you was cross`examined? At right. He has

been cooperating with the police. `` that's right. He admits he has been

paid ?5,000 for his help. In court, he admitted that he has lied a

number of times. Firstly, under a police interview, he named one of

the Ring readers Tom Winston Silcott, who was convicted in 1987

and his conviction quashed in 1991. He also said that other people were

there on the evening and we now know that they were not there at all. The

murder trial continues. The government is to pump ?200

million into the building of a new garden city in Kent. It will see the

construction of around 15,000 new homes, but the local County Council

says there are is planning permission in the area and there has

been for a number of years. Mark Norman is an en suite.

The high`speed line behind me is the centrepiece of these plans for the

journey into St Pancras. Building on the redevelopment of that has

already happened in east London generally and of course the Olympic

legacy. But this is not the first time we have heard ambitious plans

to build thousands of homes in north Kent.

Through the trees, you can make out his trim quarry. The landowners have

planning permission to build 6000 homes here. The government want to

see what they call a new Garden City. But hold on, shouldn't we be

able to see some houses over there? 18 months ago, the leader of Kent

County Council told me that they had done a deal to see building work

start in the eastern quarry. Securities have suggested that they

will start to build the first homes there. Paul Carter today still

believes that homes will eventually be built in the eastern quarry. To

be fair to the company, they have started to build the first 150

homes. A small number compared to the potential for that site. We now

want to see accelerated progress by the company, with a bit of help and

challenge from the central government corporation. Politicians

hope to see a around 15,000 homes built on land already earmarked for

development with up to ?200 million available for projects like new

roads and schools and all led by a new urban development corporate and

created to build the so`called Garden City. But will it actually be

a Garden City? In led to earth was the world 's first such city but to

qualify, you have to adhere to certain principles and in

particular, the land is held in trust for the community with profits

from things such as factory rentals, being used for the community.

Development has been slow and that's why we're taking this step because

development Corporation can make this happen quickly and also

critically, the Chancellor has said he will be putting in up to ?200

million of capital investment which will create the infrastructure to

unlock house`building. The owners of this land say they welcome yesterday

's announcement but do add up the valley represents a quarry and needs

investment before homes can be built in any quantity. Aside from these

plans, is also a possibility of a ?2 billion investment in a theme park

locally and potential for a new lower Thames crossing. Some of the

players in this game were surprised by the Chancellor's announcement

yesterday. Many want to see how the suburban developers Corporation will

be constituted, to see that has the clout to push through these plans

when many plans failed over the Lex decade. `` last decade. Stay with

us. Still to come. Serving up lessons in food and finance. The

primary school using a different approach to learning. And it started

as a recovery project for wounded, sick and injured service personnel

and became a resounding success. We speak to those involved in the

powerful production, The Two Worlds Of Charlie F, as it returns to the

capital. Motorists in Paris faced unusual

restrictions this morning. To tackle high levels of pollution in the

city, only cars with odd`numbered registration plates were allowed

into the centre. With London being one of Europe's most polluted

cities, could the Parisian plan work here? Emma North's been finding out.

It was a quick measure to get lots of attention. In Paris today if you

tried to get into town but your car had the wrong number plate, you had

to pay a fine and then go back home. How much? No! London and Paris have

about the same levels of pollution. It contributes to around 6`9% of all

deaths in the capital. So could a similar plan clear our air?

Everybody has more than one vehicle these days. Families have two or

three vehicles, so they maybe would be able to get around the ban by

using a different car on a different day. The second reason I think it's

not going to be that effective is, private cars are only a small part

of the total emissions from the transport system. London's pollution

comes from three main sources. First the traffic which makes up around

40%. Secondly, the pollution made from keeping London working, such as

central heating. The rest is made up of imported pollution blown in from

the Netherlands and France although London export its fair share across

the Channel. London and Paris are two very different cities. London is

much bigger and its centre is much harder to contain. But do they

differ on another level as well? Namely, when it comes to addressing

pollution, does London lack ambition? We should be thinking just

as big. Obviously, cutting the cars in that way, it's a short`term

measure. There's lots of long`term measures we should put in place as

well. Which, claims the Mayor's office, they are already doing. This

mayor has brought forward most competitive measures to address

London's equality, so we have got the most polluted buses off the

streets, cleaning up the bus routes making them the cleanest in the

world. Tightened the low emission zone and are consulting on a low

emission zone for central London. We have imported Paris' bike hire

scheme and could soon be embracing their electric cars, too but they

offer us an alternative. Banning cars from the capital, now that

might take a little more persuasion. Indeed. It started out as a recovery

project to help wounded soldiers write about their experiences. The

theatre workshops proved so successful it was turned into a

London production featuring the service personnel. Now the play is

on tour with a cast of both war veterans and professional actors and

opens in Richmond tonight as our Arts Correspondent Brenda Emmanus

reports. On my second tour we never saw them. Not once. It was like

fighting ghosts. From the front line in Afghanistan, to the morphine

induced hallucinations in the physio recovery room. The Two Worlds Of

Charlie F is a personal and moving exploration of the effects of war.

It is inspired by true stories. The company, to two commando, Royal

Marines. The victim of the Taliban mine, this Marine lost his leg on a

tour of duty. He's been involved with this project since its

conception. I needed something. I needed something outside of

recovery, outside of physiotherapy, outside of that rehabilitation to

focus my mind on. And maybe distract myself from the actual

rehabilitation. First performed at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2012,

the play was conceived as a recovery project for active soldiers. It was

the first time the MOD have allowed access to wounded servicemen to

share their stories. We've been telling the story for two years, and

most of the guys you see on stage, if not all of them, don't have any

snags anymore about what happened to them, the direction their life is

going in, and the people they are becoming. So it's just given us back

us, right. It's been incredibly good for us. The original production

brought together 30 wounded injured and sick service personnel under the

professional guidance of a team who wrote and directed the play. While

the soldiers got used to the whole concept of theatre, the production

team had immersed themselves in the theatre of war. The collaboration

between the soldiers and production team reveals strong parallels

between the military and theatre world. You have rehearsals, just

like they have rehearsals. And you become a company. And the soldiers

say when they are out operations, you are fighting for the man or

woman next to you, and you've got each other's back. I suppose, just

in the same way, we are very much a team and when the guys are out there

on the stage, they have got each other's backs. The production will

be raising funds for the Royal British Legion. It's a Richmond

Theatre this week and the Churchill Theatre in Bromley in April. It's

one of London's hottest new restaurants, already fully booked

and run by eight and nine`year`olds. It's the idea of a primary school

near Twickenham to help children with maths, science and of course

cooking. Helen Drew has the story. Strawberries. They're nice. Make

sure they're not bruised. Not shopping for their lunch but

deciding on the menu for their own restaurant. Eight and nine`year`olds

from Hampton Hill Junior School near Twickenham are running a temporary

restaurant this week. Hi kids, how are you? Good thanks. It's part of a

school project which incorporates subjects including literacy, maths

and science. After planning their menu, it's off to the local

suppliers to buy fresh produce. They always come in and buy it. They are

pretty good. They seem to know most of the time what they want and I

just help them with portion size, how many people they're feeding and

things like that. Then back to school where the restaurant is

based. Each pupil had to write an application for the job they wanted,

giving them a good idea about the employment process. Next, the diners

descend. Two fruit? One flan and one fresh fruit salad. They had proper

waiting training at a nearby restaurant. I tried to make sure

that I'm not too chatty but chatty enough. You need to be polite, get

the food on time and make sure you've got the right main. The

school plans to expand the restaurant every year. The children

really feel valued and actually behave like an adult. They write a

proper application form, and they come into the restaurant to do the

job they feel they have the skills to do. They are valued by the

parents, the staff, the community. At ?7.50 for three courses, it's

certainly good value. But, like all the best restaurants, it's fully

booked. I think that's great, actually. Let's see if the weather

can match. They might fit a sin if we can book

ahead. As for the weather, it's going to start OK this week `` they

might fit as in the. More unsettled. The high pressure has

been with us for a good few days. By Thursday, it will be replaced by a

low pressure system. It will turn quite breezy and the weather front

will plague us on Thursday and Friday, so, we might have to say

goodbye to those sunny Sundays. Two weeks ago, 21 degrees, yesterday, 20

degrees. By the time we get to next Sunday, it will be 11 degrees,

something like that, little more seasonal. This evening and

overnight, the cloud which has come and gone throughout today is still

with us as we go through the night. There may be a few points in the

night where it is thick enough to produce one or two drops of rain

here and there. Very, very light occasional showers. The breeze is

going to be coming from the south`westerly direction. A

combination of that means it's not going to be a cold night and it will

be frost free. 6`7 Celsius. A little bit of a great start to the day

tomorrow and another week weather front coming through as well.

Probably in the middle part of the day and the early part of the

afternoon and that could just produce one or two outbreaks of

very, very like showery rain. The breeze will be picking up as well.

By the end of the afternoon towards the end of the evening, it's the

best chance of seeing brightness getting through. Temperatures around

30 degrees which is normal for this time of year. Wednesday looks like

it'll be the warmest of the warmest of days this week. Some sunshine at

times. Thursday will cloud over. Some rain moving in but still

hanging around on Friday as well. Breezy through the middle part of

the week. Thank you. The main headlines now.

America and the EU have announced the first sanctions against Russia

on the day Crimea declared itself an independent state. They've both

announced travel bans and asset freezes against officials from

Russia and Ukraine. Authorities in Malaysia believe the final message

from the airliner that disappeared nine days ago was made by the

co`pilot. It's unclear whether the plane was in contact with air

traffic control after a tracking device on board was turned off. The

chairman of High Speed two has challenged politicians to speed up

the parliamentary process for approving the rail project. Sir

David Higgins said this would cut the budget and deliver the entire

project three years early. That's it for now. I'll be back with the

latest for you during the ten o'clock news. From all of us on the

team here thanks for watching and enjoy your evening. Bye for now.