07/08/2013 Look East - East

Susie and me. In the programme tonight, how our

region is being transformed by wind power.

Today's official opening of the Greater Gabbard network cements our

reputation as the European leader in renewable energy.

I meet the Energy Minister, who tells me that wind farms are

delivering jobs. It's extraordinary to see people who

thought their careers as fishermen were over now powering the boats

that have the service these wind farms every day.

We've got all the goal action from last night's cup football, including

an embarrassing exit by Ipswich Town.

And the business revival fuelled by these fields of beautiful flowers.

We start tonight with a major milestone in the region's

development of wind power. The official opening today of the

Greater Gabbard offshore wind farm cements our reputation as a European

leader in renewable energy. Here are some facts about the wind

farm. It sits on sandbanks about 14 miles off the coast of Suffolk. It

has 140 turbines and cost �1.6 billion to build. And here's the

important bit - it produces 1.75 terawatt hours. That's enough

electricity to power half a million homes. Let's start with the official

opening today, and our business correspondent, Richard Bond.

Well, this is the operations base for the Greater Gabbard wind farm.

It is in a building right next to Lowestoft fish market, where

transfer vessels, and go and bring personnel to the wind farm. It is

quite a breezy evening as you can see behind me, but out at sea over

there, that is a whole lot bigger. It is off the coast near Sizewell

will you will find Greater Gabbard, a forest of turbines belt onto

sandbanks. This was the scene two years ago when construction was

underway. A joint British and German wind farm to help plug our energy

gap. Greater Gabbard cabbages 500 megawatts of energy. On a day like

today, it would produce enough power for the needs of the Hall of

Suffolk, around 500,000 homes. can Greater Gabbard started five

years ago. Components were shipped out of Harwich, but not everything

went smoothly. The construction worker died when a turbine blade was

loaded onto a vessel. There was also a dispute about the quality of

turbine foundations. The power enters the good at Sizewell. The

operations base is at Lowestoft, where the Energy Minister opened the

wind farm today. Britain is the world leader in offshore wind.

Greater Gabbard is the region's fifth offshore wind farm and the

second-biggest after London Array of Essex, which opened last month.

There are more even bigger wind farm is planned. Most of the components

are made abroad. That is true of Greater Gabbard. This firm made the

keeping forehead. -- made a part of it. The project cost around �1.6

billion. We haven't got the major manufacturers in the UK. Part of

what we're trying to achieve is to get those manufacturing

organisations to invest in the UK. The opening of Greater Gabbard shows

the region's offshore wind industry has come of age. With more

developments to come, it will only get bigger.

On that point, the orders of Greater Gabbard recently got consent for a

massive extension to the Greater Gabbard, doubling its size. What can

that could start next year. -- work on that could start.

Well, the emergence of Lowestoft as an operational base for renewable

energy has opened another chapter in the town's history. What was an

economy heavily dependent on the fishing industry has undergone a

transformation. Our chief reporter Kim Riley has spent the day there.

Lionel Roberts and his brother Gary are wholesale fish Milsoms, a

business started by the grandfather. -- wholesale fish

merchants. Now the trolls are gone and there company is one of only two

wholesalers still in business. The decline is dramatic. No-one seems to

care about the fishing industry any more. It is a dying industry. Think

everyone has sort of given on it. There is no fight left in anybody.

They have held their hands up and surrendered. The Duke of Edinburgh

pays a visit to Lowestoft, and his first call is to the fish market.

The newest trawler in the harbour is the Boston Herald. She is living on

her maiden voyage. Lowestoft's newest cast leads to do Lowestoft's

oldest job. Today around the fish docks, a picture of the claim. Not a

single trawler to be seen. Half a dozen boats now make up the

Lowestoft fishing fleets. This man is a skipper here. It is in danger

that the moment. A handful of votes left, and we're hanging on by the

skin of our teeth. I'll get upset, and then cooled down. End of story.

This man was made redundant by an engineering company after a

three-year apprenticeship. Two and half years ago, he became an

offshore technician on the Greater Gabbard wind farm. There is an

opportunity for different treatment to come here. I would recommend it

to anyone, to be honest. Do you believe in the industry you're

working on? I do 100%, yes. And renewables, it tells 500,000 homes,

so brilliant for that. I get a lifetime home out of it hopefully as

well. Fishermen have been able to forge a new career from a dying

industry. Let's just show you this. Here's

Greater Gabbard lying off the coast of Suffolk. It's the second-biggest

after this one, the London Array. Up here, the Sheringham Shoal. And

there are many more to come. When I spoke to the Energy Minister Michael

Fallon today, I wanted to know if he was disappointed that two thirds of

the �1.6 billion it cost to build Greater Gabbard went overseas.

We don't make turbines in this country at the moment. We're hoping

to persuade Siemens, the turbine manufacturers, to do it here in

Britain. But half �1 billion over ten years has come here. It has come

in the form of jobs. There are people working in the operations

centre and hundreds of others involved in installation and

servicing and maintenance of these turbines. There are going to be many

more as the wind farm is developed. We will have more local British

jobs. Do you think it is an opportunity that British companies

have failed to see coming? It has built up and I think they do now see

the opportunity that is for ports up and down the east coast of this

country to be involved in this new court -- growth industry. It is

extraordinary to see people who thought their careers as fishermen

were over now powering the boats that have the service these wind

farms every day. What about the subsidy for renewables? It is

estimated it is costing the average household about �45 a year. It could

go up to �200 a year. I don't think that is quite right. Any new energy

technology isn't three. It does require some Government report --

support to start with. That will reduce overtime as the industry

builds upscale. That support will be withdrawn. I'm sure we will be able

to compete with other new technologies, not just offshore

wind, but a biomass conversion, wave power and tidal power, and all the

other new types of renewable energy. Would you welcome big farms onshore?

These are matters for the local community. Planning matters are

decided locally. We're seeing a large number of applications being

dumbed down at the moment. People are unhappy these come down now,

aren't they? Planning is local, and it is important that wind farms

aren't too crowded together and councils, when they take these

decisions, Karen Wake the cumulative impact. Nobody wants to see entire

valleys or hillsides cluttered with wind turbines. But there are parts

of the country will be unwelcome and weary double been one of them. --

where they are welcome and we're there will be more of them. These

decisions are local. But let's be honest here, we need a mix of energy

of all kinds. We can't be overdependent any more an

international oil prices or gas prices. We need more home-grown

energy of all kinds. And the Sizewell C? I hope so. We have to

replace our power stations. Some have been withdrawn. They are 17 and

18% of electricity the moment. We need to replace that somehow. You

have one nuclear station or 6000 went turbines onshore. -- 6000 wind

turbines. In other news tonight, a passenger

aircraft had to circle the skies of Norfolk to burn off fuel this

lunchtime after its flaps jammed. The Delta Airlines Airbus had more

than 300 passengers and crew on board. It had taken off from Charles

de Gaulle Airport in Paris en route to the US and was diverted to

Schiphol in Amsterdam as a precaution. A report out today says

the recent heatwave has led to the death of thousands of fish in the

region's revels. The hot weather drastically reduced oxygen levels,

causing distress to fish. The Environment Agency had to intervene

in Norfolk and that victory in Essex. -- and that victory in Essex.

Still to come, flower power in Suffolk. And jubilation in the fans

as the Steelbacks make it to the finals. -- in Northants.

This week, we have been looking at the care service men and women

receive after they are injured on duty. We've seen the work of the

recovery centre in Colchester and the support service to bereaved

families offered by the charity Scotty's Little Soldiers. We're

delighted to welcome General Lord Dannatt, the former head of the

army, who lives in Norfolk. We have seen in those excellent films what

determination and courage can achieve. Absolutely. Those films

really encapsulated brilliantly real determination, real good it. People

want to make success of the second period after the injuries. We would

talk some more anemometer. -- in an moment. Tonight, our defence

reporter Alex Dunlop finishes his special reports with the veterans

who never give up despite terrible injuries.

Blink and you wouldn't notice that Duncan is a double amputee, but take

a close look, because these false legs and their own are about to make

history. There is a ratchet effect to keep it on your leg. Duncan hopes

these high-tech limbs will withstand the most innocent beatable terrain

north. You will walk the hundred miles and -40 degrees. It will be

about 3000 metres. Possibly we will have stumped swelling and all the

rest of it, so we will have its -- have changes there. If that happens,

you will not get your prosthetics on. That is a nonstarter. We have to

be mindful of that. Somehow, Duncan survived this huge roadside

explosion in Helmand. The only unbroken part of his body was his

arm. I am told his recent training was up what in the pack -- was a

walk in the park compared to what awaits them in Antarctica. He will

race against the US and Team Commonwealth to get to the bottom of

the globe. Have all suffered life changing injuries in combat. We're

getting on skis for the first time, and a selection of people are there.

There is a double amputee, other amputees, a guy trying to ski with

one arm. There is a guy cruising past two is blind, 100% line. It was

absolutely bizarre. You're coming with us to the southpaw? -- the

South Pole. The charity behind it is Norfolk -based Walking With The

Wounded. This is the only people to act meet the challenges head-on and

over, it will inspire others to do the same. We're here to help the

wounded and sick into work. We do that through funding, education and

training programmes, providing a support, so that have support.

November, Duncan will leave his wife Kim and daughter, Lily, and head

south. He should be home for Christmas. They have stuck by me

through thick and thin and that shows how much they cared about me.

I wanted to show my wife I am back in addition to physical state again.

There are so many reasons to do it. More remarkable pictures. Lord

Dannatt, we have seen people with courage and determination and what

they can achieve. But many soldiers" can homes, broken lives,

sometimes in prison. We need to think about them, don't because the

Mac -- don't we? You're absolutely right. We need to provide some sort

of family. Making the transition into civilian life is a difficult

one. The support that needs to be provided has to be broadly based.

Quite rightly this week, you have been focusing on those who have been

grieved or injured. But the vast majority have to make the transition

having had wanted here in the military and now a second career in

civilian life. That is where a whole range of service charities working

with local authorities have a really important role to play. These

charities are doing so well, Help For Heroes, Walking With The

Wounded. But should it be down to charities question mark shouldn't

the Government be helping? You're absolutely right. The Government has

a responsibility to make sure that there is good provision for veterans

and people leaving the Armed Forces. It is a funny thing if you look

through history. The British way has been for the public, private and

charitable sector to come together. You wouldn't have the Royal Hospital

Chelsea BS can hospital -- the Royal Hospital in Chelsea BS can hospital

in Scotland. All of us who are no longer serving, the charity gives us

a great chance to make a contribution. To put our hands in a

pocket and donate to charity in one way or another. We have seen it in

Norwich on elsewhere in the region. When hundreds and thousands of

people go out on the streets and cheer those soldiers coming back, it

really makes a difference to them. There is a role for all of us to

play, whether the supporting on the street, putting our handiwork

pocket, or making sure pottage and is do their bit. -- committee shall

be put our hand in our pocket. That is a danger, and I think service

charities are alert to that. It is important we go an articulate any

need. After all, this seriously injured young men and women, their

battle has only just begun and is not over. In their souls, they are

still fit young people, aged 20 something. And then they are in the

30s, 40s and 50s. We have to articulate the case for the

continuing to be generous and support. This other person in the

recovery centre in Colchester largely funded by Help For Heroes.

The funding has to go on for the next 20 or 30 years. Help For Heroes

understands that and the Government understands that, so we need to get

the message out to the great British public, we all have a role to play

to make sure we support our service people. There is a growing awareness

of the trauma suffered by the soldiers. The post-traumatic stress

disorder. You see that as a ticking time bomb, as it were? Where we're

going to have this 15 years down the line and a lot of people who need

help? You put your finger on the most difficult issue. If someone has

been tragically injured and has lost an arm or leg, it you can physically

CD have problem and you can help them. -- physically see they have a

problem. But the psychological issues are more dangerous. Because

someone who has enjoyed actual culture of being a soldier, I am

tough, I can do with this, I consulted myself, when he she finds

they can't and it is ought -- and they resort to alcohol or drug abuse

and find themselves on the wrong side of police, tragically, some of

these cases end up in suicide. That is when we have a real problem to

deal with. The biggest issue on going is to understand psychiatric

needs, to be wise that actually, it is not a weakness to say, I've got a

problem in my head. That is an injury as damaging and difficult as

a physical injury, and that is what we have really got to do to help

people. Local authorities can combat stress, and other charities. We all

have a role to play. We have a seminar in Norfolk on the 4th of

November to try and get to grips with this problem. It is a key one.

Your right to ask about it. In cricket, Northamptonshire are

celebrating reaching the finals of the Twenty20 Cup. It's quite a

turnaround for the county, who sacked their head coach last season

and were the worst-performing side in limited overs cricket. Last night

they had one of their biggest ever crowds to watch them beat Durham.

And today, the players have been celebrating on the golf course.

Different ball, same old Phoebe. The better good smack. -- same old

Phoebe. After one of the most lucrative nights in hamsters --

Northamptonshire's recent history, some of the players were given the

day off. Someone distracted by last night's celebrations. We want to

play in front of a big house all the time if we could. We had a few more

people than the game with the MK Dons. The atmosphere was fantastic.

We were written off at the start of the season so it is nice to prove

people wrong. How is the hangover? Yeah, it's good! Turn around here

was remarkable. There were more bums on seats last night than during the

entire county Championship season last year. The financial benefits

are clear. The match generated an extra 6-figure sum, crucial currency

for a club which has struggled to make its presence felt in a

competitive sporting market. I call it weather and winning. A

combination of those two have made a significant difference to the number

of people who have come to watch as the summer, and we have been greatly

encouraged. Hopefully it will stimulate more interest in the

cricket club in what is predominantly a rugby team. You were

the worst side in the kit 12 months ago. What has happened? --

implicates the months ago. We did a lot of social chin. We did a lot of

classroom work, which sportsman hates doing. Northamptonshire might

not be the biggest county, but they are proof that had glass can go a

long way. -- hard work can go a long way.

In football, Stevenage, Peterborough and MK Dons are all through to round

two of the Capital One Cup. And all of them beat other teams from this

region. The biggest shock of the night came at the Lamex Stadium with

League One side Stevenage knocking out Ipswich Town from the

Championship. After losing 4-3 against Oldham,

Stevenage's boss hoped his side would learn from the mistakes. It's

which the demolition. 0-0 at the break. They are the penalty and it

was slotted home. Mick McCarthy made six changes to the side that lost at

Reading. He said he had no regrets. Stevenage made sure of the upset

when the ball was bundled in the end. The Colchester boss arched the

fans to stay positive despite seeing his side thrashed 5-1. They went

ahead, before it was 1-1. Goals later an immediate 3-1. The manager

praised his players for a river second-half display rounded off by

another two goals from Lee Tomlin. The MK Dons one at Northampton. The

had a comfortable cushion. The opposition pulled one back, but the

damage was done. Southend's manager still Brown

didn't think his players deserve to be on the losing side, but they are

out after that 1-nil defeat against Yeovil. They had opportunities to

equalise, but acrobatics in the goal kept him out. The chance of one cup

run is already over. A family flower business says it's

turning back the clock and turning its back on imports from the Far

East to grow closer to home. Winter Flora from Suffolk was the first

producer of dried flowers in the UK and supplies many big high street

names. For years, it used flowers from the other side of the world,

but now all that has changed. They are not many fields of flowers

here. This is an oasis of colour amongst the wheat. Here there are

poppies, Nigella and others, and they are all destined for the dryer.

The most important thing is to make sure the flowers... This man runs

Winter Flora. His parents started the business in 1969. Back then,

they grew their own flowers and then stopped and imported them from China

and India. That has come full circle. We spent the last 12 years

not going in this country because the market had changed and we were

left importing. But the global -- cruel flowers in this country again,

it is a great sense of pride. you produce dried flowers? When you

cut, they going to try and rooms, removing moisture but keeping the

colour. That gives a flower that will last for the season.

quality is absolutely as good as it can be. There is no advantage in

quality terms from buying in the Far East to what you can reduce here.

The UK and Europe has some wonderful arrays of different plants and

flowers which you can go. You don't need to think of the Far East to

mean exotic. We can do everything here. We just have to look alive and

absolutely can grow. Growing close to home could make business sense,

tapping into a trend that says local is best. Already, sales seem to be

responding. These arrangements are sealed by the likes of -- sealed by

the likes of APPLAUSE Next and John Lewis.

Already, they have decided to grow Already, they have decided to grow

more flowers here next summer. It has been cooler over the last few

days, and last night it was quite chilly. Average temperature for this

time of year is 12 Celsius. But on the Norfolk and Suffolk border, it

was 6.5 Celsius. The number of places in single figures. Not quite

as chilly tonight, but still we could get single figures once more.

Today's weather has been affected by this large area of clouds. The

western half has had the better sunshine in the day. Still a bit of

cloud in the eastern half. Most places should be dry. Over night,

some clear spells and maybe the odd Mister fog patch. The bidders could

reach into double figures tomorrow, but they could also be about eight

or nine Celsius with a gentle north-easterly wind. Sunshine will

start the day, and a change in wind direction and meaning the butchers

will perk up a bit. 22 and 23 Celsius is possible. " Produce an

isolated shower, very isolated, so most places should have a dry

afternoon. Looking ahead, a weather front crossing the country. It will

increase the wind speed and bring more crowd -- McLeod for Friday.

They will not be much rain on it by the time it gets dollars. Quite

cloudy on Friday, but gradually brighter. Also a bit on the breezy

site. Into the weekend, Saturday looks the driest day. Temperatures

around 21 Celsius. An approaching weather front will bring us read

overnight. A wet night for Saturday. That will clear on Sunday and give