18/01/2017 London News

Tonight on BBC London News: so it's goodbye from me,

The looming crisis facing the capital's schools -

as 70% face cuts under a new funding formula.

Head teachers fear more jobs will go.

And that means that we're looking at further reductions in staffing.

I have already cut four staff post through natural

Unfortunately, I may have to do a lot more of that sort of work.

From the Far East to the East End -

the first China-to-Britain freight train arrives in Barking.

We look at what it means for London businesses.

I'll explain how one London council is using drones to help repair

It says it should save tens of thousands of pounds a year.

And why neighbouring councils are going to court in a row

about this festival on Clapham Common.

Welcome to the programme with me, Riz Lateef.

are we heading for a crisis in the capital's schools?

The Government's proposing a change to the way in which the amount

The new funding formula would mean 70% of schools

But the Government insists that inner-city schools here will be

allocated more money per pupil than the national average.

With more details, here's our political editor Tim Donovan.

In the heart of Hackney, this secondary school has been benefiting

from funds which recognise extra needs and low incomes in the area.

head teachers here, if the head teachers here, if the

Government to reallocate resources under a new formula. He faces a

choice, cut staff could go for a bigger class sizes? Inner London has

led the world in recent times for student outcomes in terms of busting

that issue around deprivation. We have done that because we have been

given more money than other schools. Those outcomes will be compromised.

You do not remedy issues around poverty and deprivation

spending money. That will be money spending money. That will be money

that in the future we will not have to spend. Had the Government now

wanted to work? Broccoli, by spreading the money more evenly

across the country. London councils which represents the school says 20

million less or be available in funding. That is taken from the

recent audit about funding not keeping up with inflation and it

will add up to a shortfall of ?360 million in two years' time. 19 out

of 32 boroughs impacted, 70% of London schools will have to find

savings as a consequence of these savings. That is why we are calling

on the Government to change, level up and make sure that no school

loses as a result of the national funding reforms. The launch of a new

parents campaign group in Muswell Hill. Is that they were not just

from the area, where it has picked quickly to other parts of London,

too. It shows, claims one of the organisers, the rapidly growing

concern. We are seeing the effect in the classroom. That is really

upsetting parents. The Government is upsetting parents. The Government is

saying education spending is protected and we as parents are

seeing the effect of the funding squeeze in the schools that we are

using. There is disparity there. Doesn't hang you against your

skills, because you don't feel they are making a decision you don't want

to see the cuts? This campaign is not about criticising any individual

schools. We are supported of the headteachers Anneka Nitties having

to make very difficult decisions in a difficult situation. The

Government insists the existing way of funding schools doesn't work very

fairly. From now on it will be according to actual needs, not

postcode. That is why it will remain the highest fund is part of the

country under our proposals, with inner London schools being allocated

30% more funding per pupil than the national average. Many parents,

teachers and pupils in London may teachers and pupils in London may

Well, our education correspondent Tim Donovan joins me now.

Well, we heard in your report that for many years now London has had

the best performing schools in the country.

Might the change in the amount of money given to schools

It is a key thing. After years of underperformance, the last decade

and a half under what is called London challenge, the performance of

schools with the improved. Places like Hackney, Suffolk, really

restored confidence in many schools in inner-city areas. What you're

seeing here today, over the last couple of weeks, just beginning to

creep through a sense of concern about that of this funding formula.

We are told by the politicians and parents that we have fun in that

piece have been told and understands that the education budget has been

protected and in fact be Government will say in response that it is

protecting it and this year, there will be the greatest amount of money

going into education has ever been in a budget of ?40 billion and they

are saying this is a much fairer way, feel really reflecting real

needs. Not just in London, up and down the country. Once people see

the details of this formula, they will see that for more pupils, it is

a fairer way of doing it. Thank you, Tim.

Why people living on this road next to the M4

are having sleepless nights about Heathrow expansion.

I'll speaking to BAFTA nominated Andrew Garfield about his new film

Hacksaw Ridge, about him growing up in Surrey and living in London.

Next - from east China to east London.

This is the first freight train to travel directly to the UK

from China and arrived in Barking this morning.

It's taken a fortnight, but that's around half

As Sarah Harris reports, it could be a huge boost

It had made its way through Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus.

34 conainers packed with high street goods made in a city in eastern

China, heading for Barking, east London.

The first direct freight train service between China

and the UK and something London business leaders have been fighting

It brings goods in a much faster route and across the sea.

Its slower still than air freight, but it's much cheaper than the air

freight costs and it's a sign that China is

expanding its networks, trading networks,

beyond its borders in an

effective way to connect China's market with the global economy.

And it's the return journey back to China

which will benefit exporters from London.

The service is cheaper than air freight and faster than sending

There's a big demand in China at the moment, particularly for

products like baby foods or mother and baby cosmetics.

Or actually anything with a Royal warrant on.

But the cost of exporting it by air can make the prices of these

Here in Finchley, boxes are being packed to

ready to make the return trip by train.

It's a market many insiders as say is relatively untouched.

Leaving the single market makes it even while

If you go out to China, you see the cities are flooded with

things like Spanish wines and French cheeses, but yet there is a real

lack of British products, despite the demand in China.

This train route I think is just one step forward

between British China relationships and certainly in terms of trade.

With Brexit coming up, companies like us are actually quite excited

about the possibilities of more trade agreements between the UK and

The silk Road trading routes to the west were created more than

2,000 years ago, but it is hoped the renewal will lead to an increase

in trade between east London and east China for

The Mayor of London will tell the World Economic Forum

in Davos tonight that a hard Brexit, as outlined

by the Prime Minister yesterday, would be a lose-lose situation.

In a speech to business and political leaders,

Sadiq Khan will say privileged access

to the single market is critical for London.

Well, the BBC's economics editor Kamal Ahmed is there

Yes. Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, it is his first visit to

Davos and he is making a speech tonight all the business leaders

here. Many of them big, global banks operating out of London. The

leaders, chief executives are here in Davos in the Swiss Alps. A big

message about hard Brexit and what the Government likes to call clean

Brexit. Sadiq Khan says it would be bad for the City of London. But the

City of London will still need privileged access into the EU and

also the second point, maybe more slightly controversial, he says

globalisation needs to be dealt with by the European Union and if many

member states had a vote on being in the European Union, they would have

the same outcome as Britain, they might vote to leave a massive issue

of globalisation is tackled. How do you think his speech will be

received the same day that two banks have confirmed they will transfer

jobs from London to Europe as a result of Theresa May's Brexit

plans? HSBC, the big British Chinese bank and UPS the Swiss bank have

both said they are going to move some jobs, relatively limited, onto

because of the changes in because of the changes in

regulations between London and the European Union and the relationship

with the single market. That bit of the speech about privileged access,

that will go down well, but I think his second point about people being

negative about the European Union, other referendums could force other

countries to leave the European countries to leave the European

Union. Many people think that Britain is a unique case and other

countries would never think about you leaving the European Union.

Disputes between neighbours are all too common in London,

but it's quite unusual for two councils to have a row about noise.

Wandsworth is taking Lambeth to court over plans for festivals

on Clapham Common, which cuts through both boroughs.

A snippet from the South-west 4 festival over the August bank

It's a three-day event and this this year it is expected to

attract 30,000 people to Clapham Common.

Music festivals have been helf for many years here,

but for the first time last summer, the noise level allowed was

The complaints about the event also increased.

CHEERING And here's the problem, Clapham Common

sits between Wandsworth and Lambeth Councils.

Which has given permission to the outdoor concerts.

Anticipating the summer ahead, Wandsworth want the noise

levels returned to what they were in 2015.

In their fight to do so, they are taking their

We are absolutely not against the event, people having

That's been happening for years and we are perfectly happy

What we are very unhappy about and our residents are unhappy

about is the huge increase in the noise and particularly the thumping

Some of the complaints were coming from a mile away.

People who are not just immediately around the

common, but several streets back who were having

If you're sat in your garden, you can

definitely hear the noise, but I don't think it's too bad, to be

It denies a significant chunk of the Common to other users.

Of course, there will be a lot of people attending the concert and no

doubt enjoying themselves, but they won't be locals.

I think if I was an adult with a kid, it might bother me.

For its part, Lambeth Council gave us a statement

saying, legally we are unable to comment

on the specific issue, but

all events go through a rigorous process involving police, health and

other partners, including neighbouring boroughs.

Residents of a street in west London are furious after finding

out their road has been identified for possible clearance

in a Government report looking at the impact

Despite living several miles from the airport in Heston,

they fear their homes could be demolished if the M4 is widened

to cater for more people travelling to an expanded Heathrow.

But the airport maintains widening the motorway isn't necessary.

If planes are to take off and land on a new runway,

then residents of nearby Harmondsworth know that their homes

But what about the street several miles from the airport?

Rob Barnstone, who campaigns against Heathrow expansion thinks so.

I've certainly read all the small print in each of the documents.

He says he has spent months reading background reports

published by the Government on the possible impact of the airport

commission's recommendation for a Heathrow expansion.

"Substantial land acquisition of residential and

commercial properties in the vicinity of Winchester Avenue."

Winchester Avenue is right next to the M4,

which this one page in the

report suggests could be widened to feed more traffic to a

But if it ever is, then Winchester Avenue may have to go.

The Department for Transport or the Government or

Heathrow Airport have not told people about this.

BBC London spoke to many residents here and it seems

no-one may have seen this document before.

"Substantial land acquisition of residential and

Christopher Allen has lived in his house for 31 years.

Not just for myself, but the whole street and the

neighbouring streets, because we were not informed at all.

This is the first time I'm hearing about this.

Ravita only bought his home in November for ?430,000.

If you had been told this was possible, would you have bought

The Department for Transport has details about the

plans for a new runway which will be published shortly and be subject

But another resident of Winchester Avenue,

who has lived here nearly 40 years, wants to know what his plan

What would you like the Government to do?

A local MP has now tabled parliamentary questions,

asking the Government for more details.

I'm absolutely furious that the suggestion has

The Government should at least be coming out with

its detailed road network proposals and that is indeed what I have

Heathrow Airport is not calling for the M4 to be widened.

But until the final plans are known, there may be little peace

And I gather there have been some further developments on the story

tonight? Yes, the Department for Transport seems to have changed its

tune on this. Back on Friday when we first started looking at the story,

it said it did not give a statement, but the full plans relating to

runway three expansion would be published shortly. Suddenly, at 4pm

this afternoon after our report went out, calls started coming in and we

were accused of scaremongering for talking to the residents and now the

Department is categorically stating there are no plans at all to widen

the M4. This Government report names Winchester Avenue but to little

purpose. It will me a discussion of an option. It will not happen. The

homes will not be demolished. Campaigners against Heathrow

expansion are saying it is still the expansion are saying it is still the

case that the Government did not engage properly with residents in

the street and the local MP is saying the Government has been

completely unclear on this. I welcome the statement that there are

no plans to wait in the M4 onto the street and I want confirmation that

They can capture amazing footage from a bird's-eye view,

but there have also been concerns over the potential dangers of flying

Well, now drones are being used in one part of London to survey

buildings and repairs, instead of using scaffolding.

A worrying outside the window, a drone hovering over your home. This

is her council housing repairs will be carried out in Hammersmith and

Fulham from now on. Spotting potential problems, with no

scaffolding inside. A drone is more flexible and keen reach higher

levels in a much safer way. We keep people on the ground and we

controlled the drawn up there. Look make it seem somehow fitting that

today's inspection is on Batman close. The council says the dirty

drone, inspections can be costly and complex. We would have to do it

scaffolding up just go up and sent on body to inspect, which then could

come back down again and then go back up again when we do get to do

the repair, which could be several months later. It's not just routine

repairs. After this devastating tower block blaze in Shepherd's Bush

last year, a drone was used to get a closer look at the damage. This is

in the first army council has used drones. In the past, there been

concerns about whether they could be used to spy on residents. Privacy

campaigners say it is vital that the council explain what they are doing

and why. Hammersmith and Fulham Council say it has this and all the

residents here and has had to stick to strict rules seeking permission

from the aviation authority. The use experienced pilots and must be in

control of the area. A team on the ground keep an eye out for

passers-by. Modern technology, things moving forward. It might be a

good thing. It stops all the scaffolding. It saves money, because

we say it cost money to put it up and when it is up, you don't know

how long it will be there. There were a few break-ins. I think it

would be safer. Council hopes to save around ?150,000 next year, so

this new technology could become a much more familiar sight.

Some good news for non-league Sutton United the Bogside, they are said to

make - million pounds this year 's FA Cup run. They won their match 3-1

last night to reach the first round for the first time in 20 yes. It is

immersed that has been selected for immersed that has been selected for

live television coverage. Andrew Garfield is probably best

known for playing Spiderman, he also played the the co-founder

of Facebook in The Social Network. Now, the actor who grew

up in Surrey, has been nominated for a BAFTA,

for his latest role as an army medic who received the Medal of Honor

without firing a shot. Hacksaw Ridge is being shown

in Piccadilly this evening, 'I always dreamed

about being a doctor, I can't stay here while all of them

are going to fight for me. Do you figure this war is just

going to fit in with your ideas? While everybody else is taking life,

and I'm going to be saving it. Your free to run into the hellfire

of battle without a single That the clip from the film Hacksaw

Ridge, which tells the true story of Desmond Doss, an American soldier,

who did not carry weapons during the Second World War, because he didn't

want to kill anyone. He saved the lives of 75 of his servicemen in one

of the most bloody battles in the Second World War. The man who plays

Desmond Doss is Andrew Garfield, who joins me now. An incredible story,

incredible fun. It's a long wave from where you started off as a

young boy in Surrey at the youth Theatre. Did you ever think that

just over a decade later, you will be here getting deposits that you

are? Oh, goodness. It's funny, when you describe Desmond Doss's life,

the character I'm playing, I just think, what the hell am I doing with

mine? Because he was so remarkable anti-psychotic items of so entirely

for the sake of love for his fellow man. It really puts me to shame in

terms of how women choosing to spend my time playing make-believe, but I

am so, so grateful that I got to attempt to honour his life, his

actions and he was a real personification of love. That's what

he was. He have delightful of love and compassion, in action, not just

in part and an idea, but he really was a wonderful wounded healer. Had

an incredible rear last year, not only Hacksaw Ridge, but working with

Martin Scorsese in Silence. I see you're like that, would you go to in

2017? I don't know. Well, I do know. Pending Angels in America at the

National Theatre. I'm very excited about that. It's a nice thing to

poorer ones energies into. It's a nice period of history that is very

important. That's my only plan and perhaps a little holiday. I don't

know. Are looking forwarded back as next worried you're worried you're

up for two? It is an honour that the film is being recognised and been

responded to in the waiters. It is very heartening. Look like the film

is out in cinemas on general release a week on Friday and we will find

out if Andrew Windsor Park. Next month on the 12th of debris. Good

luck to him. Time for a check on the weather

and Philip Avery has joined I wonder if our friends in Kent

would have agreed with you. -7 is a CS. If that is your idea of crisp.

Things did improve when the sun came up. This was the scene captured by

weather watchers out and about across London for a sorting the day.

All the usual landmarks looking absolutely superb in the January

crisp atmosphere. The reason we have it is because the skies are

relatively clear near being that way but by day and night, hence the debt

in the temperatures. It's a completely different world a little

way up the M4 to. It's murky, overcast and utterly depressing.

We'll be off and running again with temptress getting close to freezing.

Some in the countryside and out towards the west will be down 2-3,

minus four Celsius. When the sun comes up, it will be another

gorgeous day. The cloud will just fill in at hands overhead. Then

close, nothing to my threatening. Temperatures a fraction up. It won't

make an awful lot of difference. Not much anyway breeze at the moment,

but you can bet that as soon as is honest and, we'll end up again with

quite a widespread frosts aside the day on Friday. Any difference? Not

really. Six, seven, eight Celsius. Getting into the weekend, it will be

dominated very much by that area of high pressure. Not expecting to see

any radical changes, it may just be that we see more in the way of cloud

and the temperatures down into minus degrees. Almost crisp.

The Foreign Secretary, has warned EU leaders not to give

the UK punishment beatings for Brexit in the manner of some

Boris Johnson said penalising escape was not in the interests

Thousands of British holiday-makers are being flown home from The Gambia

after a state of emergency was declared there.

The Foreign Office is advising people to avoid

New research claims seventy percent of London schools will face budget

cuts if a proposal to change Government funding goes ahead.

London Councils says schools in the capital will be

We'll be back later during the 10pm news, but for now

from everyone on the team, have a lovely evening.

Hello. I hope you're well. I really do.

Because if you're not, then chances are the NHS won't be able to

look after you as well as it should. And that's wrong.

Because the Labour Party created the NHS 70 years ago on

the founding principles of it being comprehensive, universal and free.

The NHS was created to care for us but now the NHS needs our care.

Today there are almost four million people