24/03/2014 BBC London News

chilly old week, George. Rais thank you. That's all from the BBC news at

six, so it's goodbye from me and on BBC One we can join the BBC news

teams where you are. Tonight on BBC London News... It is

revealed the ceiling collapse at the Apollo Theatre, which injured nearly

80 people, was caused by old and weak materials. Other ageing West

End theatres are warned to check their venues as a matter of urgency.

Also tonight... Thousands stop to pay their respects as the RMT

leader, Bob Crow, is laid to rest. He was someone whose heart and soul

was injustice, not justice for desperate people, but global

justice. Global for all the world 's workers. Plans to build thousands of

new homes at a historic dock yard come a step closer, despite local

protests. Plus... The young cancer patients benefiting

from a series of concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.

Good evening. It has emerged that the collapse of a ceiling at a West

End Theatre which injured nearly 80 people during a performance was

caused by the deterioration of materials. A letter seen by the BBC

reveals that ceiling at the 100`year`old Apollo was held

together with hessian sack`cloth and plaster and these had weakened over

time. Westminster Council has written to other venues warning them

of the dangers and urging inspections. The Apollo re`opens to

the public this week. It was a dramatic scene. What happened here

in December was not part of the show. A packed audience watched the

performance and part of the ceiling fell in. Dozens were taken to

hospital. Even buses were used to take them now. Westminster Council

is still investigating. A letter sent from its health and safety

teams said it appears Hessian wadding became weak overtime and

that led to the sudden collapse. Similar suspended ornate ceilings,

it said, should be thoroughly inspected as a matter of urgency by

a historic plaster specialist and structural engineer. There are a

number of routes of similar construction since the late 1800th.

They are all very different, different sizes, spans, number of

panels, etc. They are all subject to an inspection regime. There is a

high level of confidence that these things are being looked out and made

safe. It does not mean the ceilings have to be pulled down. These

ceilings have stood for a long time. There is no need to destroy them

just because there is a process which needs to be taking place about

renewal and strengthening. There is no reason why, sometimes with a

limited amount of work, the ceilings can carry on their lives for many

hundreds of years in the future. The owner of the Apollo did not want to

comment on the letter but the theatre has been refurbished and

will open on Wednesday. Plenty more ahead tonight, including... Feeling

the heat. Why Londoners would be more affected by climate change than

people elsewhere in the UK. Thousands of people lined the

streets of East London for the funeral of RMT Union leader, Bob

Crow, who died earlier this month. His coffin was carried in by a

horse`drawn carriage in the colours of his favourite football team.

Trade unionists from around the country came to pay their respects.

Our transport correspondent, Tom Edwards, reports.

Thousands lined the road to the cemetery with their flags and

banners to pay their respects to one of the most well`known leaders, Bob

Crow. They came from all over the country. Bob Crow was many things.

He fought for people, his own people, and a lot of other people as

well. He was a very nice man. His legacy was that he has built the

union up from about 50,000 members to 80,000 plus members. It will

carry on after he has gone. On the cheap, London Underground put up

posters at stations. Many transport workers wore black ties. At 1:30pm,

there was a minute 's silence. The funeral procession started at midday

in Woodford Green where Bob Crow lived. He was one of the most

well`known union leaders. In London, his strike tactics on the tube were

divisive and controversial. But, his members benefited and today they

paid tribute. He was passionate about looking after working class

people and their families. He will be missed. It is not just his own

members in the movement. He is irreplaceable in the British trade

union movement. He was a passionate campaigner for transport for working

people, a decent, safe underground system. The funeral service was this

afternoon private. Tributes will also be paid to Bob Crow on May Day

with a special event planned for the capital.

Two men have pleaded guilty to charges of encouraging terrorism and

disseminating terrorist material. The charges relate to the murder of

Fusilier Lee Rigby. Ibrahim Hassan, also known as Abu Nusaybah, was a

friend of one of the men who killed the soldier in May last year. Hassan

was arrested after speaking to the BBC's Newsnight. He was charged,

along with his co`defendant Shah Hussain, under the 2006 Terrorism

Act. Six people suffered minor injuries after a police van was

involved in a collision with a car in South East London this afternoon.

The van, believed to be travelling at speed, under blue lights and with

its siren on, rolled over on the Jamaica Road in Bermondsey at around

1pm.. An investigation is under way. A Metropolitan Police officer who

blew the whistle on police manipulating crime figures has

resigned, claiming he was bullied by Scotland Yard. Last year, PC James

Patrick told MPs the force was under`reporting rape and sexual

offences and re`classifying thefts as lost property.

You have more on this. He said today, it was not an easy decision

that he had lost faith in the force and felt he had to resign. All this

stems from his review of a years worth of crime figures. He has

appeared before a committee of MPs to explain the findings. He claimed

things like sexual offences were being under reported by about 25%,

he said a whole lot of crimes in one area had been downgraded to one

crime. He said that up to 300 burglaries have been classified, or

had gone missing in one area, in a couple of weeks. Things would

clearly be reported as burglaries. You would rerun the same report and

there had been a human intervention, i.e. Management intervention, and

those burglaries had effectively disappeared in a puff of smoke. It

was admitted there was some truth in what was stated in terms of the

crime statistics not being entirely accurate. PC Patrick still faced

gross misconduct charges. Those have been downgraded and he will be

facing disciplinary charges at the start of April. He said he is going

to leave the force. The reason, he says, is because he feels he has

been bullied by The Met and have come to the conclusion that

whistle`blowing is not worth it. What has The Met said? The force has

said it would be inappropriate to comment at the time. Back when the

allegations first surfaced, one of the senior officers said, we will

welcome anyone coming in to look at the crime statistics. They said, the

public having faith in these statistics is essential. The

Government has confirmed it is scrapping a proposed link between

HS2 and a line which carry services from London to the continent. The

route has been dropped after the chairman said last week that plans

to connect the two lines was too expensive. The Transport Secretary

said he would remove it from legislation. The HS one, HS to link

has not secured consensus. It requires too many compromises in

terms of its impact on freight, passengers and the community. I

intend to remove the link from the Bill and withdraw safeguarding as

soon as possible. The Labour MP for Hogan and Saint Pancras welcomed the

news but warned many homes in the area will be destroyed. It will mean

500 homes will be destroyed and the lives of about 5000 people will, for

a decade, be subjected to the noise, filth and disruption of the biggest

engineering project in Europe. The mayor 's flagship segregated cycle

superhighway two has been partially closed for resurfacing just five

months after it opened. The Bow to Stratford extension is segregated

from traffic and includes redesigned bus stops to allow cyclists to pass

buses more safely. Transport for London says the weather over the

winter meant that the blue surface needed repairing. London has more

cases of TB annually than the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece and

Norway combined. That's the claim from doctors at University College

Hospital, who took their Mobile Screening Unit to Parliament today.

They're calling on the Government for urgent investment, to help

prevent the spread of the infectious disease. Researchers have found that

more people in London and the South East die during heat`waves than in

other parts of the country. Scientists at Imperial College

London say that within the capital, people living in areas like Hackney

and Tower Hamlets are the most vulnerable when it comes to climate

change. Alex Bushill has the details. From heat ways to cold

spells, we have had both in the last year. While today's sunshine felt

good, research suggests we in London are amongst the best suited to cope

with global warming and the dormant threat it poses to health. The

findings found that death rates from heart or lung disease in London

increased by more than 10% for every one Celsius increase in temperature.

Among the areas most vulnerable, Tower Hamlets and Hackney with the

chances of dying doubling on hot days. The elderly are the most at

risk. Not good news for local residents at this drop`in centre for

pensioners by Victoria Park. If it is a heatwave and you get hot, it is

uncomfortable. I live in a flat and it is sweaty. I am all right. I go

through the heat on that and, touch wood, I am OK. Often it is when

someone is quite frail or has a pre`existing chronic condition.

Things like a lung condition or a heart condition. There are those who

believed the research is overstated. It talks about the

effect of global warming on winter. I put this to the author of the

report. Cold winters kill more Londoners than hot summers. It does

not just mean a warmer winter, it could mean a more valuable winter.

That could negate the value of extra warmth. We are not sure whether

there will be fewer winter deaths if there is climate change. ) he is

calling for all of London to better prepare for the extremes of summer

and winter. Still to come... I meet the man charged with taking Surrey

cricket back into the top flight, who also happens to be a close

confidant of Kevin Pietersen. I will be looking at the work of a Teenage

Cancer Trust, as they bring together a host of star names for a series of

fund`raising concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.

Plans to build thousands of homes on the site of a historic dockyard on

the banks of the River Thames came a step closer to being approved today.

The architect, Sir Terry Farrel, is behind the design of the

redevelopment of Convoys Wharf in Deptford. But campaigners are

calling on the Mayor to ensure the site's heritage is preserved when he

makes a final decision on the plans later this month.

Dep Ford dockyard. Royal ships were built here. Sir Francis Drake was

knighted here and two of captain James Cook's ships were equipped for

voyage here. These are the dockyards today. It's been derelict for the

last 13 years, but it's the rich history that many feel have been

swallowed up in high`rise residential blocks and businesses

and the fate of the land will be decided one week today, by one man.

One man, Boris Johnson, will determine the future of this site

and Boris Johnson's lead adviser on architecture is Sir Terry Farrell

and he is the architect of this site. Boris Johnson has got the

responsibility for making a decision here and he's got to prove that in

no way Sir Terry's involvement in this site is going to corrupt his

decision. That is really important. If he says yes, this is a glimpse of

the future. The vision of Hong Kong developer Hutchinson, who say

Convoys Wharf will become a place of creativity, inspired by a rich

heritage. Today, the Greater London Authority has recommended the Mayor

of London approve the plans, but there are fears the high`rises will

overshadow history. Boat builder Julian Kingston believes his vision

to construct a replica warship within the docks could be one way to

marry the past with the future. The it's not really a big ask of the

developer. With an education and training programme around the ship,

with the sort of skills that could be developed from that, with the

sort of links that we could make to other activities within the

community, it is a no`brainer. It's so easy to do and it will link the

site so tangibly to the rest of Deptford and the rounding borough.

In today's report the GLA says it strongly supports the key aims of

the project. Boris Johnson will debate the proposal at City Hall

next Monday and campaigners have one week left to persuade those who

intend to build to use history as the foundations. To sport now and

after a disasterous winter tour of after a disasterous winter tour of

Australia and last month's news he was being dropped by the England

cricket team, Kevin Pietersen has firmly committed his future to

Surrey. Much of the decision is credited to their new coach, Graeme

Ford who earlier today spoke to us. Surrey County Cricket Club would

probably like to forget last season. We can't change what happened. We

Gotrel gaited so we'll look forward and that's important. We have

brought in a new coach in Graeme Ford. Impressive individual. Surrey

always said there was only one man they wanted for the job here and it

was Graeme Ford. He game highly recommended, especially from two

senior Surrey players, the first the captain, Graeme Smith and then Kevin

Pietersen. It was a difficult winter for Pietersen. Dropped by England

after the ECB announced the time is right to rebuild not only the team,

but also the team ethic, despite the end of his international career,

Pietersen has signed a new contract with Surrey. Much of that is credit

today the new coach. He's immensely disappointed he's not going to be

playing international cricket again, because he still had a number of

good years ahead of him. But I think he's a smart enough guy to know he

has to move on and there will be others challenges and hopefully one

is playing some good cricket for Surrey. Ford has previously coached

Kent, South Africa and most recurrently, Sri Lanka. Pietersen

built his friendship growing up in South Africa and often turned to him

for advice. Something that continues now. Although Ford does play down.

Kevin's a guy who has mat fewered a hell of a lot and is able to handle

his own life without too much advice from me. KP did turn up to catch up

with Ford after the cameras had left. He's about to travel to Asia

to play in the Indian Premier League, meaning Surrey will be

starting the season without him. A task made greater but them being the

team to beat. There's always been hatred to Surrey, because it's a big

club in London and it gives us that extra motivation to play well.

Graham Ford's first match in charge is at the Oval against Glamorgan on

6th April. Sara's joined us now, because moving

on to football, and that wrong red card for Arsenal at the weekend?

Everyone has been talking about this. The Premier League has been

quite incredible, we have to say. So many incredible goals over the

weekend. West Ham fans will be thinking about what Wayne Rooney did

to them on Saturday as well. Yes, that red card. For anyone that

didn't see it over the weekend, it was in the whele see and Arsenal

match at Stamford Bridge. The referee was watching this handball

by Arsenal player Alex Oxlade`Chamberlain. But he sent off

Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs in error. Chelsea went on to win that plach

6`0. `` match 6`0. There was a lot of controversy for two reasons.

Because the ball didn't look like it was going into the goal, it didn't

necessarily warrant the red card, so that was a problem and the fact it

was the wrong player as well. We have heard from the FA today and

they've said that neither player will serve any ban following the

incident. And on top of that, testify said that the referee, who

did come out and apologise straightaway, that he will no longer

reach any further disciplinary action and he will be refer rugby

league Southampton's home game with Newcastle on Saturday. I'm sure

there are a lot of Arsenal fans will be thinking differently about that

decision and of course more on that story on the website. I'm sure there

will. Staying with football, because Late Kickoff visits a players who

left the capital to find his confidence, fair to say? It's a name

that the faithful will recognise. It's John Bostock. A real bright,

young star playing for Crystal Palace and he was sold to Tottenham

playing in the Premier League ands playing in the Premier League ands

you said he lost his confidence, but he's managed to find it again, but

he's had to go a long way. He's playing in Belgium for the side

Royal Antwerp. The most important thing for me last season coming here

was to find my footballing home, somewhere I would play and get my

head down and learn the game and have a platform to express myself

and develop as a player. Well, he's actually playing out at Royal

Antwerp and out there he is under the form Chelsea striker, Jimmy

Floyd Hasselbaink. All the news from all the London clubs below the

Premier League is on BBC One tonight at 11. 20pm. Thank you.

Tonight, musician Ed sheer ran kicks off a host of celebrity performances

at the Royal Albert Hall. All to help raise money for young people

with cancer. Shane Meadows was also there and we went to talk to some of

those who will benefit from tonight's charity concert. The Elgar

Room at the Royal Albert Hall and a group of current and former cancer

patients take part in a workshop. Organised by the education

department and the teenage cancer trust, it's a support opportunity

held while the venue hosts charities behind raising concerts. Music is

very much part of our heritage with Roger daletry as our patron and

music therapy is a very powerful way of uniting and empowering young

people. # I want to be drunk when I wake up

on the right side of the wrong bed... #

Ed sheer ran kicks off a week of fundraising concerts. One Repuck

lick and Suede are also on the bill. Sever day seven young people are

diagnosed with cancer. These annual concerts are the flagship event for

the charity. It brings together musicians and entertainers who give

up their time for free to help raise funds to improve the quality of life

and a chance of survival for cancer patients between the ages of 13 and

24. In today's workshops attendees were writing and producing their own

songs, while sharing experiences of their own cancer journey. It takes

your mind off it and gives you something to do. I already had the

family support because my nan and uncle were terminally ill before I

was diagnosed, but the Trust they are like an extended family. I could

tell something was wrong the next day when I had three doctors come

in. Today, Shane Meadows and his producer Mark Herbert reveal their

latest project, a short film for the charity, as they were announced as

official em`Bass doRs. `` am because doRs. It was no different than when

I made something like This Is England. It is a passionate story.

It doesn't get more real than two people are in there having treatment

at the time. For me, I wanted the girls to tell their story. The

concerts take place until Sunday. Time for a check on the weather with

Wendy, who is here. How is this week looking, because I'm not sure what

has happened to spring? It's definitely here. It's suddenly gone

chilly. Actually, it will feel chilly as we go through this week,

because it's going to be a cold easterly wind that is springing up.

We havious had one of the colder nights of not just spring, but

winter. Down to minus two this morning. Frost around. Clear skies

to begin withment beautiful blue skies through the day. Then we have

seen it turning a little more hazy with the approach of the weather

front. That's what we'll start tonight with. Clear skies, but

quickly that will be replaced by the cloud. As we get to midnight, the

first bits and pieces of rain will show up. It's going to be patchy to

begin with and mostly light rain, but as we go through the night it

gets parked over our part of the world and there will be moderate

bursts of the rain as we go through night. It won't be quite as chilly.

We won't get down to minus two tonight. We'll look at four or six.

It will, though, be a bit of a soggy rush hour tomorrow morning. That

rain is lingering with us. Again, there will be some heavier bursts.

The breeze is coming in from the south`easterly direction. That will

be key through the next few days. Interestingly, that weather front

just recedes away to the west as we go through the afternoon. And so

temperatures, well on the cool side again. 11 degrees at best in London.

Eight or nine elsewhere and the best chance of seeing some brightness

tomorrow as the front creeps away to the west, will be to the east, just

before sunset. There may be one or two heavier showers here and there

in a few places. For Wednesday, it looks like we'll have a fairly

bright start to the day, but we have a low pressure system out across the

low countries, which is going to creep into us and throw some showers

out to our region. Crucially, that is the beginning of the flow of

easterly air. That's not very warm. It is going to be nippy right the

way through this week, even though the numbers are actually picking up.

It will feel a lot more chilly with the wind. Decent spells of sunshine

through the day on Thursday, but the risk of showers too. We'll end the

week on a cloudy note. A recap of the day's main headlines

now. More than two weeks after the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370

disappeared, the families of the 239 on board have been told the plane

did crash and that no`one survived. Ukraine has ordered the withdrawal

of its forces from Crimea, after another military base was overrun by

Russian troops. The third in the last two days. A 15`year`old boy has

appeared in court charged with the murder of Shereka Marsh at the

weekend. She was also 15 and she was shot in the neck at a house in East

London. It's been revealed the collapse of a ceiling at the Apollo

Theatre, which injured nearly # 0 people during a performance was

caused by the deterioration of Victorian hessian and plaster work

that supported the ceiling. And thousands of people turned out

in East London for the funeral of the RMT leader, Bob Crow, who died

earlier this month at the age of 52. That's it for now. More later.

Until then, from all of us here on the team, enjoy your evening.

Goodbye for now.