04/04/2012 Look East - East

Hello. We are alive from the headquarters of Anglian Water. I am

here to put your questions to the bosses. Who will be affected and

who is not? Safety warnings and the Essex

Street where a gas blast caused devastation.

We are back to see how the changes to the Olympic mountain biking

course have gone down with Team Great Britain.

Let's hope your garden is fed and watered because, for most of us,

from midnight tonight a hosepipe ban comes into force. I'm at the

headquarters of our biggest water company, Anglian Water, and I am

here to put your questions to the people in charge. They have

4.3million customers in this region from Northampton and Milton Keynes

in the west to Norfolk in the East. This ban affects all of them and

also a million customers who get their water from Veolia Central,

the old Three Valleys Water. So how will it affect you? Without a

hosepipe you can't water the garden or clean the car or boat. You can't

fill a swimming pool or a paddling pool. And you can't clean paths or

patios. But there are some exceptions. These people are not

included. Blue badge holders, people with ponds which have fish

in them and business users. But what happens if you ignore the ban?

Well, the water companies can impose a fine of a �1,000. But

Anglian Water say they hope it won't come to that and that they

will "Take steps to remind" people found using a hosepipe.

All of this on the day the rain finally came. So who can and who

can't keep the tap running? This report from Alex Dunlop. Make the

most of today's downpour, it could be the only way your garden gets a

good soaking from now on. But the rules on who can and cannot use a

hosepipe are clear cut, they will not apply to businesses. Selling

turf, a like this is this, are aggrieved because people cannot

water their garden. We want an exemption of 28 days for people to

water neuter. People have to go through the winter earning next to

nothing, and with this band in the spring, which should be a good time,

they are being kicked in the teeth. Where some lose out, others gain.

This company cannot cope with the demand for water butts. We have

sold half as many water butts in one month as we did in last year.

The shadow water minister and Luton MP says thousands of firms will be

hit by the hosepipe ban. We need the long awaited reforms that the

government promised to make sure they can do more on water

efficiency. We know climate change means this will be an increasingly

frequent problem. There are some inconsistencies which allow car

washing but not other issues, you cannot use a hosepipe in this way.

We need to sort this out. From tomorrow we will revisit the

drought of 1990, the last time a hosepipe ban was imposed. The next

starts in a 5 1/2 hours and local authorities will have to turn up --

turn off some taps, and ornamental fountains. This sports club sources

its water from a private borehole. Hopefully the restrictions will not

stop us, we are allowed to take out these litres, hopefully we should

be all right. The hosepipe ban is bound to affect many and infuriate

some. How long will it go on for? That is anybody's guess. The one

two decades ago lasted 288 days. want to hear from you during this

programme. You know the address, I am sure. Please do get in touch.

Why can these people not use water from the hosepipe? The last thing

we would want to do is put a business in jeopardy, but, they use

an awful lot of water. It will take 28 days on average for the Turf, it

get through a 1000 litres of water an hour, a hosepipe, and we must

realise we are in a serious drought. You are considering this though?

were looking for a way forward at industry level, especially for turf

sellers. Will the rain today make any difference at all? It will help

with the gardens but not the drought situation. The way the

water system works is it recharges through the autumn, October-March.

We had two very dry winters, and it needs to rain an awful lot. We have

got lots of questions for you. Please keep them coming in. We will

give them to Martin during the second half of the programme.

Every time somebody stops us doing anything somebody will feel hard

done by, especially if the ban affects them but not the person

living next door. Let's go live to Kim Riley in Suffolk. Yes. I am in

the market town here, is reverse winding in from the distance, and

it has been raining. I am standing on the bridge on Bridge Street. If

I move in this direction and point you to those houses, they get water

from Essex and Suffolk Water. No hosepipe ban for them at midnight,

but a few yards down, of the bridge, talk to these people and they have

the water from Anglian Water and will have a ban from midnight. I

have people on either side of the divide here. You can carry on using

your hosepipe with gay abandon. we can. And our next door

neighbours can be fined �1,000 if they use theirs. You won't be doing

that? No, it is grossly unfair when your neighbour is in that situation

and you can use as much as you want. Philip, can I come to you. How do

you feel about the ban? People will lose things from their garden, you

cannot get that on him of water without a hosepipe. You cannot be

expected to transport used amounts in cans. It will be very difficult

for the Cricket Club, it will be a struggle. Especially if we have

another very dry period. Our I know you have strong views about us

being careful with water. I think we are very careless. It is a

finite thing. We live in a semi- arid part, we are dry here than

Spain is. I think we should be more careful with our water. We should

conserve it and be more respectful of it which we are not at the

moment. I am a great believer in what they call grey water, saving

the bath water and putting it in water butts, and using the water

from milk bottles to water the plants as well. A lot of ways we

can conserve water if we really put our thinking caps on and drive.

Thank you. You were telling me, Philip, it was the other way round.

The people this end had be banned and that end did not. We have come

In some parts of the region have a ban and other parts do not argue

doing something wrong? All of our customers are affected and we are

very clear, we are bringing it in because we need to because of the

drought. It is the first time for 20 years. The if they can do it

without a hosepipe ban, why can't without a hosepipe ban, why can't

you? We are restricted by Our county boundaries. Will people get

a rebate if they cannot use their We are using company and

shareholder money, which customers will not pay, as well. Why can't we

have desalination plants? It costs are about �100 more per litre to

generate. Up until now we have had to dry winters. We are not the

Sahara. The impact on water bills would be significant if we had gone

down that route. Jonathan said the hosepipe ban is spin and propaganda

from the hosepipe companies. There is no spin, we are in a serious

drought. I think everybody knows that. You can ban people from using

hosepipes, but what about the water companies themselves. He is on

about leakage, you are losing water through leakage. You were doing

very poor last year. We had a bad year last year. During the winter

when pipes burst. In order to keep customers on we kept pressure on

those points. We did miss our leakage target. We will not this

year, we are better. We have 60 extra leakage technicians, who we

hired in the autumn, to reduce it. We will never be happy with it.

we did not have any leakage we would not have a hosepipe ban,

true? No. We would still have a drought. We have got 40,000

kilometres of pipe. It would go round the world once in length and

pipes to leak. Leakage per plumber to is about six cubic metres, half

of the industry average. We are not complacent but are working very

hard. We have many more questions coming in. We look forward to

speaking to you in the second half of the programme. Call or send an

e-mail now if you have a question. That will be after a round-up of

In it has been revealed today that metal thieves may have been

responsible for the gas explosion which shattered a residential

street in Clacton. The theory emerged as investigations continued

into the cause of the blast on Monday. A woman remained in a

serious condition in hospital. Investigators know when the gas

explosion happened because this clock in the rubble stopped at

2:28pm. But as this expert knows, finding out why it happened will be

more difficult. One line of inquiry will be metal theft. There have

been incidents of metal theft in the area, although it is clearly

too early to say it if it was the case here. The thefts have been the

same street as Monday's explosion. His property had gas pipe stolen,

the pipes were replaced but not long afterwards they were stolen

again. One of the houses next door to that destroyed is managed by a

local estate agency and says it is all too aware of metal theft.

know that gas pipes have been taken from the side of buildings,

electrical cables being taken off the side of buildings. Similar to

the rail tracks losing their cables. Investigating these loss adjusters,

the National Grid issued this safety advice. If you smell gas

which of all appliances and the meter. Open all doors and the

windows and do not turn electricity on or off as it can trigger the

condition. Meanwhile national newspapers have nicknamed this

hamster lucky because it survived the explosion at subsequent fire

A teenage girl has been raped after being taken to a house in London

Road in Pitsea. She was taken to a nearby house where she was attacked.

Police are looking for a sighting of the girl by the barge pub. The

Liberal Democrats have published their original manifesto for the

elections. The party leader says that he is doing all it can to

support hard-working families. A year ago, the Liberal Democrats

controlled five councils, and our control just won it. The Liberal

Democrats are always enthusiastic at election time. Despite barely

making double figures in the opinion polls, they are put in a

lot of effort in. This is Cambridge, where they have one -- run the

council since 2000. But last year, they lost four seats here. The Lib

Dems part of the coalition has made him unpopular with some boaters.

The manifesto is championing achievements in government. We want

to argue the case for what we are doing in government, and a home --

our whole message is about hard- working families that need a bit of

break -- bit of a break. He a much stick are you getting? We find that

the reaction is very good. People, on the whole, understand that

things are really difficult. We are clearing up an enormous economic

mess. 10 years ago, the Lib Dems were celebrating taking control of

Norwich City Council. Now play are down to four seats, squeezed by

Labour and the Green Party. But Nick Clegg says he expects to make

gains this year. He admits it is going to be hard work. Eight

writers' Centre in Norwich has been given �3 million by the Arts

Council to expand its facilities. It is also hoping to raise another

Norwich has always seen it -- seen itself as a cultural centre. Now it

wants to create a writers' centre with an international reputation.

In collaboration with the City Council, the University of East

Anglia and the Arts Council, the centre will have hits -- had its

home in this eighteenth-century building. It will be a space to

teach writing. There is going to be a cafe, bar and performance space.

This space is for writers. This man is a writer who moved to Norwich

three years ago. I think it is a fantastic idea. It is great for

writers like me, who often do their work at the dining room table with

lots of distractions. It is good to have a place where I can go and not

have to worry about having to buy another of three cups of coffee.

Norwich is already well known for a creative writing course at the

University of East Anglia. The International Centre for writing

will need another �7 million. It is It has been a big day for the

region's two Olympic venues. The GB mountain-biking team were on the

course in have to farm in Essex. And at Lee Valley in Hertfordshire,

the Whitewater canoeists were also in action. It is approaching crunch

time for the GB team, because next week is the Olympic trials. We will

find out who is in the team and who isn't. They have drained the course

for now. They do that when they are not training. We were keeping an

eye on these athletes. Do you think you have the measure of the course,

or does it kicking from time to course -- time to time? Its early

kicks in from time to time. It is one of the most difficult and

complicated courses in the world, and you do not get a moment of

relaxation, because it comes back to buy two. Can you explain what it

will mean to qualify for the Olympics? To not qualify would be

very disappointing. We have worked really hard and put a lot of effort

in. Our lives can go on. We are happy with what we have done. We

have done an awful lot of good stuff. It is just the biggest deal

for sport in our country, perhaps ever to this point. It is going to

be absolutely awesome. It will be great to be a part of it, and just

what a fantastic price. What a brilliant thing to do. It will be

so called to be part of it. Champagne will be on view. The

Olympic mountain bikers were also in action at Hadleigh Farm in Essex.

They were checking out the course there. We were with them. If you

are looking for a bike ride in the countryside, you have come to the

right place. It is very challenging technically. You want a hard race

in an Olympic Games. You are Hadleigh Farm and its heels --

Hills have become harder. From extended climbs to the rock garden.

The world's riders better brace themselves. The course is getting

harder and harder every year. We want to stay ahead of the game.

the race, you don't think about anything. You do what you do.

about 170 metres of climbing per lap. Today, it was about unveiling

what will be there after the Olympics has -- Olympics have been

and gone. The pub will be improved for walkers, runners and those on

horseback. How it will be paid for is still unclear. We don't want to

burden the council tax payer in the future. We want to develop a plan.

It will enable us to fund the course, and fund further

development for the country for pluck. Thousands of people are

expected to come here in August. Have the part's legacy will be

slightly smoother. The park will be open after the Games. It is good

news, and let's hope it is good news for an athlete here. One of

Newmarket's's racing stables it is to be turned into a heritage centre.

The Palace House stables will be restored, and the site transformed

into a venue celebrating Newmarket's history. It will have

paintings donated by the British Sporting Art Trust. Let's go back

Welcome back to Anglian Water. By and with the customer services

director, Martin Oakley. This one from Fiona Bailey. I have a garden

teeming with wildlife. Cannot fill it if it starts getting low?

cannot fillet with a hosepipe. Rainwater is fine, but not with a

hosepipe. I have chickens, dogs and cats. Will I be able to use a

hosepipe to fill containers? Yes, you can. That is protecting

livestock and health and safety, and the welfare of animals. That is

included. You just fill their containers. Correct. Can a lawn

bowls club use a limited amount of water? No. The nose sporting

activities? We have made an exception where there is a health

and safety impact, and with cricket pitches, for example, it is better

to keep it safe. If there is a health and safety implication, that

is fine. Anglian Water paid a dividend of millions of pounds to

its shareholders, despite the leaks. What is the correlation between

these two facts? We are investing �3 billion over five years in the

local economy and investing in our in its but -- infrastructure. We

are managing drought, and protecting our supplies. �100

million to manage drought. �100 million to protect future water

supplies. That will not be passed on to customers. Susan says, and

Mike correct to think that Anglian Water are pumping water to Essex

when there is a hosepipe pounds -- hosepipe ban? We actually reporter

took Essex, and we take water from Essex as well, and we are looking

to increase that around our periphery. A number of people ask

the same question it. They are not on a meter, so they want to know if

they get a reduction on their bill? I'm afraid not! Why our business is

being able to use water when residential uses are not? I think

we are very conscious that we do not want to impact on commercial

livelihoods, so we have taken a pragmatic view. That is going to

save between six and 7% of water. One last want. I have not heard

anything from Anglia Water directly. We have done a massive amount of

media coverage. We have put a few broad drops through. -- door drops.

We have had some welcome rain across the region. It has been down

to this huge area of low pressure but has sat across most of the

country. Heavy rain, but not for everyone by any means. If we look

at the radar Trott from earlier, the heavy rain tended to be in the

north of the region. If we look at the rainfall totals, you can see

what a contrast it was. Norfolk and Cambridgeshire getting over an inch

of rain, but part of Buckinghamshire got just three or

four mm. There are still some patchy rain out there, and it would

take little what clear, but it will be more patchy as the day goes on.

Were we -- we will be left with some cooler air behind that area of

low pressure as it clears away. We should stay frost-free tonight,

with a low temperature of three Celsius. The winds will stay north-

easterly. Tomorrow, a different sort of day, really. A fairly

cloudy start, but the clouds will break-up, and slightly more

promising to bitters for tomorrow. An expected high of nine Celsius.

With a moderate north-easterly wind, it could still feel a quite chilly

through the afternoon, with further spells of sunshine. Looking ahead

to the Easter weekend, there is a week weather front around on Friday,

and although it will stay dry, it may bring some patchy rain later in

the weekend. We have some shower symbols on there. temperatures

around normal for this time of year, and the only overnight low is

Thursday, when we could get down to minus one, and we could get some

frost. Elsewhere, frost free. Thank you very much. It is one of those

strange coincidences the just a few hours of -- before a hosepipe ban,

the heaviest rain we have had for weeks. But even if it rains heavily

for the next few weeks. It won't get better before the autumn. You