:00:00. > :00:00.following a breakthrough in relations. -- in Iran.
:00:00. > :00:17.They say flood defences in this region were the victims
:00:18. > :00:31.An additional ?5 million of capital investment.
:00:32. > :00:34.That could have been avoided if money had been made available.
:00:35. > :00:36.The UK's biggest off`shore wind farm is given the go ahead.
:00:37. > :00:40.Experts are predicting a major economic boost for East Anglia.
:00:41. > :00:43.Another market town is left without a bank as the march of technology
:00:44. > :00:57.I Louis Smith, and I have qtalified for the English team. It is all
:00:58. > :01:04.systems go for Glasgow. Our battered coastal defencds have
:01:05. > :01:07.been neglected for too long and more That was the verdict today of MPs
:01:08. > :01:12.who have been looking closely at what happened during
:01:13. > :01:14.the tidal surge which threatened The tidal Surge left 1,400 homes
:01:15. > :01:21.flooded along the whole east coast and around
:01:22. > :01:25.17,000 acres of land underw`ter When the waters retreated, hn this
:01:26. > :01:30.region alone, 130 defence projects needed repair ranging from ` damaged
:01:31. > :01:35.sluice gate to an entire se` wall. Today's report says funding for
:01:36. > :01:50.maintenance is "at a bare mhnimum". And river wall breached in last
:01:51. > :02:01.September's tidal surge. Thd damage has since been repaired.
:02:02. > :02:07.It has damaged `` it is dam`ge that a local landowner believes need that
:02:08. > :02:09.happened. There has been very little
:02:10. > :02:15.maintenance for nearly 60 ydars That results in low point where
:02:16. > :02:20.bridges or car. A stitch in time saves nine. If these had bedn kept
:02:21. > :02:24.in good condition and maint`ined in that condition, there would not have
:02:25. > :02:31.been a problem when there w`s a tidal surge, we would survive it and
:02:32. > :02:39.carry on. Instead we have two spend vast expense patching up thd holes.
:02:40. > :02:43.They say that funding for ddfences is undervalued and has now reached a
:02:44. > :02:46.bare minimum. It also says that spending money on maintenance is
:02:47. > :02:55.much more effective than allowing costly flooding to car. Expdnsive
:02:56. > :03:02.repairs are now needed, to the frustration of the town's MP.
:03:03. > :03:04.To get the beach back in order it needs an additional ?5 millhon of
:03:05. > :03:07.capital investment which cotld have been avoided if money had bden made
:03:08. > :03:12.available for ongoing maintdnance over several years.
:03:13. > :03:17.Down the coast in Felixstowd, the report has been welcomed. A lack of
:03:18. > :03:22.maintenance here eight years ago saw the promenade crumble. Thousands of
:03:23. > :03:27.pounds had to be spent on elergency rocks until the government `greed to
:03:28. > :03:30.fund new defences. There is no question that the coast
:03:31. > :03:36.tends to get left behind in many debates both on television `nd more
:03:37. > :03:44.to the point in parliamentary and environmental circles. We jtst need
:03:45. > :03:46.to say, don't forget the co`st. Will government accept the
:03:47. > :03:51.recommendations? That is far from clear. But many people living in
:03:52. > :04:01.coastal communities Synod today s warning vindicates what thex have
:04:02. > :04:05.been saying for years. When I spoke to the flooding
:04:06. > :04:12.minister for the region, he was quick to point out that caphtal was
:04:13. > :04:17.given, but not enough had bden done in the past.
:04:18. > :04:21.Just because the numbers of houses and businesses flooded was
:04:22. > :04:26.thankfully relatively low, that does not mean that there is not `
:04:27. > :04:30.problem. If the wind had not changed about six hours before the height of
:04:31. > :04:36.the surge we would have had a very serious floods. In a sense, this
:04:37. > :04:41.report has said that there hs more to do, but that is a messagd that we
:04:42. > :04:45.have got loud and clear in central government.
:04:46. > :04:48.Do you accept that the commhttee is saying that in the past we have not
:04:49. > :04:51.done enough and we must do lore Despite the fact you see we are
:04:52. > :04:57.investing more than ever before it is not enough?
:04:58. > :05:01.I am absolutely clear that what we have got to do is make sure that we
:05:02. > :05:07.spend this budget, which is bigger than ever before are wisely. And
:05:08. > :05:11.then there is no doubt that there will be what to do in the ndxt
:05:12. > :05:16.Parliament for which budgets are not yet set.
:05:17. > :05:20.Are you disappointed that when we were undergoing tidal surges and
:05:21. > :05:25.flooding we also got news of job losses at the Environment Agency?
:05:26. > :05:30.And those people are import`nt to preserving our coastline?
:05:31. > :05:35.The most important thing is that we spend the money as well as possible
:05:36. > :05:41.and get as many flood defences on the ground as we possibly c`n. If
:05:42. > :05:45.that means changes to the w`y that the agency operates, and th`t means
:05:46. > :05:49.spending more money on the front line on flood defences, I think that
:05:50. > :05:54.is a good thing. If I'm sitting on a house on top of
:05:55. > :05:59.a cliff overlooking the North Sea and I think my house is going to
:06:00. > :06:04.disappear, what would be yotr message to me tonight?
:06:05. > :06:11.The message I would like to give is that we are listening to concerns we
:06:12. > :06:16.are working to protect as mtch as possible ahead of this coming
:06:17. > :06:22.winter, and to have a long`term programme consistent with that to
:06:23. > :06:29.protect as much of our post and the inland areas that could be `ffected
:06:30. > :06:33.by flooding as possible. While you are listening, my house
:06:34. > :06:37.could disappear into the se`. We have to make sure we are spending
:06:38. > :06:42.the money as well as we can, and we organised the programme of works as
:06:43. > :06:47.effectively as possible. Also, we should be clear, that if thd worst
:06:48. > :06:51.happens to the house and gets flooded, or a business, we will be
:06:52. > :06:55.there to support as happened this winter.
:06:56. > :06:58.The government's given the go`ahead for a huge new wind
:06:59. > :07:02.East Anglia One will be built off the Suffolk coast and contain
:07:03. > :07:07.That's enough to power more than 800,000 homes.
:07:08. > :07:10.It's the largest wind power project to be approved in the UK
:07:11. > :07:14.and could bring ?500 million into the region's economy.
:07:15. > :07:24.Our business correspondent Richard Bond is in Lowestoft.
:07:25. > :07:34.Behind me is the well`known turbine, one of the tallest of its khnd in
:07:35. > :07:36.the country. The ones proposed for the new wind farm would be nearly
:07:37. > :07:39.twice as high as this one. A glimpse of what could go tp
:07:40. > :07:42.off our coast. These turbines are among thd biggest
:07:43. > :08:08.in the world, up to 200 metres high, much bigger than anything ddployed
:08:09. > :08:10.off the east coast. They are being considered for
:08:11. > :08:12.East Anglia One. The larger turbines are much more
:08:13. > :08:15.efficient, so they are helphng us to reduce the cost of producing
:08:16. > :08:17.electricity from offshore whnd. In 2011 the industry set itself
:08:18. > :08:20.a target of taking 35 per cdnt out of the cost of offshore wind,
:08:21. > :08:23.and it is through using these big turbines that we're making great
:08:24. > :08:26.progress towards our target. East Anglia One will be 26 liles
:08:27. > :08:28.off Suffolk, it is the first of six blocks
:08:29. > :08:30.covering 6,000 square kilomdtres. East Anglia One would have roughly
:08:31. > :08:35.the same generating power as the Two wind farms of comparabld size
:08:36. > :08:43.have been dropped, one off Devon, ScottishPower pulled out
:08:44. > :08:48.of the Argyll Array saying ht was Will the investment partners
:08:49. > :08:53.behind East Anglia One deliver? We are comitted to embarking on
:08:54. > :08:56.the detailed design and procurement of the project, and that process
:08:57. > :08:59.goes on now and the intention is to Physically, it is very well`suited
:09:00. > :09:07.to offshore wind, We're very confident about this
:09:08. > :09:13.project and intend to move forward with the next phase which is getting
:09:14. > :09:16.on with the detailed enginedring A decision to go ahead could create
:09:17. > :09:26.2700 jobs during construction. So, Richard, where will work
:09:27. > :09:39.on this project actually be based? Companies need to decide whhch ports
:09:40. > :09:46.they will use during the construction phase. The contender is
:09:47. > :09:50.here in Lowestoft, another contender is Great Yarmouth. They havd been
:09:51. > :09:55.wanting to get a slice of the action. There is so contenddr in
:09:56. > :09:57.Essex. But developers say that the thing is so vast a likely to need
:09:58. > :10:03.more than one port. A Spitfire pilot has dropped a plan
:10:04. > :10:06.for a flying display in Suffolk Carolyn Grace operates
:10:07. > :10:12.the aircraft from the former But the future of flying thdre is
:10:13. > :10:32.becoming controversial and she says The story of Caroline is an
:10:33. > :10:39.intriguing one. After her htsband died she learns to fly the
:10:40. > :10:46.Spitfire. After all those ydars of seeing her, she still holds the same
:10:47. > :10:49.moment of joy of seeing her. They were to be the star turn at the
:10:50. > :11:01.local display, but now the display is of with a statement from Caroline
:11:02. > :11:06.saying that she despairs. She will be there as a VIP guest, minus her
:11:07. > :11:13.wings. The day will start whth a specially written song incltding the
:11:14. > :11:18.lines, " when morning breaks I hear the Spitfire in the sky". It is a
:11:19. > :11:23.reminder of how proud and protective this community is of this hhghly
:11:24. > :11:27.symbolic aircraft. The village is very much behind
:11:28. > :11:31.her. You can see on the village Facebook page the kind of comments
:11:32. > :11:36.she is receiving. She is well loved.
:11:37. > :11:42.The owners want a blueprint for the future which will require rdgulation
:11:43. > :11:46.of flying. Critics from the Bentwaters campaign group s`y it
:11:47. > :11:49.could ultimately mean more flights and more nice. In a statement they
:11:50. > :12:07.said this. If people are in here and hdre the
:12:08. > :12:15.Spitfire, they go outside and look at it. Or they look out the window.
:12:16. > :12:20.No one is sitting with their fingers in the years. We love it.
:12:21. > :12:25.Organisers of the village show sable still be a great day, but on all
:12:26. > :12:32.sides of the debate, people have three weeks to submit their views.
:12:33. > :12:38.We have just heard that detdctives have made an arrest in relation to
:12:39. > :12:41.murder in Colchester. Two mdn have been arrested on suspicion of
:12:42. > :12:44.murdering her widow in the fence. 86`year`old Oona Crown was stabbed
:12:45. > :12:47.and set on fire at her bung`low One of the biggest handouts
:12:48. > :12:54.so far from the national lottery is coming to Southend to help
:12:55. > :12:56.vulnerable babies and toddldrs. ?40 million will be spent over
:12:57. > :13:00.the next ten years to improve the health and early educathon
:13:01. > :13:02.of young children. Southend is one of five are`s across
:13:03. > :13:17.the country to get a share of ? 15 This woman is determined th`t her
:13:18. > :13:22.children should get the best start in life but knows that other parents
:13:23. > :13:26.locally may need a helping hand One in four children in Southend live in
:13:27. > :13:31.poverty. One reason perhaps by the local council and the preschool
:13:32. > :13:35.learning Alliance won such ` big lottery hand`out. The money will be
:13:36. > :13:39.spent on improving services for mothers to be and teaching life
:13:40. > :13:42.skills to toddlers. If you get things right at the start
:13:43. > :13:49.it has a knock`on effect. They are more content and more securd, and
:13:50. > :13:53.from then on they are less likely to go to criminality at a later age.
:13:54. > :13:58.Everything is better and thdy have a more secure funding.
:13:59. > :14:02.Evidence suggests that what happens in the first three years of life can
:14:03. > :14:07.profoundly affect a child's future. The money will spread over six local
:14:08. > :14:11.words over ten years. How whll you measure its success after tdn
:14:12. > :14:14.years? The successes of our childrdn can
:14:15. > :14:18.articulate, they have clear communication and language skills,
:14:19. > :14:21.mostly, they can articulately and emotional needs, because th`t is
:14:22. > :14:25.what is missing in Southend sometimes.
:14:26. > :14:30.Is it a change in policy to give more money to longer term project?
:14:31. > :14:33.At the moment we're looking at some very large strategic investlents. If
:14:34. > :14:37.you want to get to the heart of some of these issues you need to invest
:14:38. > :14:41.significant amounts of monex, and that is what we're to do.
:14:42. > :14:46.In five years the government funding to the charity leading this project
:14:47. > :14:52.has been almost halved to around ?600,000. The man having a gentle
:14:53. > :14:55.kick around with the kids s`ys the government cannot take its dye off
:14:56. > :14:58.the ball. We spend a lot of money
:14:59. > :15:01.traditionally on early intervention. This is about
:15:02. > :15:04.intervention, and I think it should be a policy of central government to
:15:05. > :15:10.invest more and richer we rdad benefits longer term. It should be
:15:11. > :15:15.embedded into their thinking. Politics aside, there is re`l
:15:16. > :15:33.excitement today's lottery windfall will help give these toddlers are
:15:34. > :15:38.genuinely lucky break. We rdport on the region's disappearing b`nks
:15:39. > :15:42.And medal winner Louis Smith tells us why he is over the moon.
:15:43. > :15:44.It's been predicted today that more of the region's smaller
:15:45. > :15:49.It's not just down to econolics in our smaller towns,
:15:50. > :15:51.it's down to the march of online banking and the convenience of
:15:52. > :15:58.25 years ago there were just under 14,000 branches of High Strdet
:15:59. > :16:07.By last year that figure had fallen to 7,500 a fall of nearly h`lf.
:16:08. > :16:11.One pressure group believes 25% of those that remain will dhsappear
:16:12. > :16:20.Last week the only bank in Sawston near Cambridge closed.
:16:21. > :16:26.Barclays is pulling out of Stansted Village.
:16:27. > :16:30.On Friday, Brightlingsea is about to lose both the NatWest and B`rclays,
:16:31. > :16:35.and the last bank in Needhal Market will disappear in September.
:16:36. > :16:37.Barclays has a long history in the Suffolk market town.
:16:38. > :16:39.In the flourishing high`strdet behind the post office is
:16:40. > :16:42.the original site of one of the earliest country banks.
:16:43. > :16:45.Run by Quakers, it grew to become part of the Barclays Empire.
:16:46. > :16:48.more than 200 years on there is a lot of anger that
:16:49. > :16:56.there is lots and lots of pdople, a strong feeling of people being
:16:57. > :17:06.It is an asset to the village, but if it goes,
:17:07. > :17:09.I think a lot of people will change their banks to somewhere else.
:17:10. > :17:12.It is regrettable that it is going to shut.
:17:13. > :17:14.It is a great little bank, great staff that provides a service
:17:15. > :17:18.to the community, and I don't know what the town will now do if it has
:17:19. > :17:24.Toni Digby, who has muscular dystrophy, runs her own company
:17:25. > :17:27.She was shocked when I told her the bank is to close.
:17:28. > :17:32.Getting around is not that dasy for you?
:17:33. > :17:38.I rely on my mobility scootdr to go round the village, and
:17:39. > :17:46.The cashpoint will also be removed when the bank shuts its doors
:17:47. > :17:51.Behind the closure programmd is the rise of mobile and Internet banking.
:17:52. > :17:55.latest figures show something like 40 million separate
:17:56. > :18:02.Some people have very littld need to call in their local branch.
:18:03. > :18:05.Nine years ago Paul Hughes switched banks, took up online banking
:18:06. > :18:12.Your wages get paid electronically, everything comes out direct debit,
:18:13. > :18:17.you use your card with chip and pin at the shops,
:18:18. > :18:25.Not everybody has got the Internet, have they?
:18:26. > :18:37.I think in relation to banks closing, it is important to people
:18:38. > :18:40.that they can deal with their own money and pay thehr own
:18:41. > :18:43.bills, and this is important in terms of staying independent
:18:44. > :18:47.Barclays says customer numbdrs here have been declining.
:18:48. > :18:50.It hopes those not tempted by digital banking will be `ble to
:18:51. > :18:58.carry out everyday transacthons at the nearby post office.
:18:59. > :19:01.The Olympics gymnast Louis Smith will be back in internation`l
:19:02. > :19:03.competition next month after being named in the England
:19:04. > :19:10.Despite winning bronze and silver at London 2012 his place was not
:19:11. > :19:15.Yes, Louis has been fighting to regain his fitness since taking
:19:16. > :19:19.I will be speaking to him in a moment,
:19:20. > :19:34.And good sign, and today he had every reason be cheerful. , well
:19:35. > :19:42.call after he announced he was making a comeback. Where yot ever in
:19:43. > :19:45.doubt you would make the te`m? I was a little sceptical whdn he
:19:46. > :19:51.announces comeback, but Louhs Smith is unique, and he made it b`ck to
:19:52. > :19:55.the main stage. He's one of the world's best
:19:56. > :20:00.operators on the pommel horse. First things first, return to Comlonwealth
:20:01. > :20:06.competition after winning gold in Melbourne.
:20:07. > :20:09.I have been training to 12 xears, and to come away with the gold medal
:20:10. > :20:13.on the pommel horse is a grdat achievement.
:20:14. > :20:17.His achievements in the gym and on the dance floor made me household
:20:18. > :20:23.name. But he has told his agent to cancel the bookings. It is `ll
:20:24. > :20:27.systems go for Glasgow. Yaz competed alongside Dan Keating is for
:20:28. > :20:30.Britain, but one of the most intriguing battles at the
:20:31. > :20:35.Commonwealth Games is England versus Scotland, Lewis against Dan. You
:20:36. > :20:42.guys are very supportive, does that change, Commonwealth Games?
:20:43. > :20:47.We want to see everyone do well but obviously there is a little bit of
:20:48. > :20:49.banter starting. Scotland h`s never got a team medal before, so
:20:50. > :20:53.hopefully we can go there and get a medal.
:20:54. > :21:04.Louis Smith will have to do it without his long`term coach in his
:21:05. > :21:06.corner. He's going all out for gold in Glasgow.
:21:07. > :21:09.I managed to speak to Louis earlier during a break in training.
:21:10. > :21:11.And, given the uncertainty surrotnding
:21:12. > :21:18.his selection, I asked him hf he was relieved, or just raring to go.
:21:19. > :21:25.I've got a lot of feelings. I'm relieved, anxious. I am verx happy
:21:26. > :21:29.with myself, because it was a very hard task to get from where I was in
:21:30. > :21:35.December last year to where I am now. It has been a tough jotrney, a
:21:36. > :21:39.lot of hours and a lot of sweat and training in the gym. But I'l very
:21:40. > :21:44.relieved to be where I am rhght now.
:21:45. > :21:46.Back in December, what was ht that made you decide to go back hnto
:21:47. > :21:51.competition? And you miss competing?
:21:52. > :21:56.I miss being able to do somd of the skills I could do. I felt I was
:21:57. > :22:01.slowly not being an athlete any more. I felt I was turning normal.
:22:02. > :22:07.If you have been athlete for so long, that feels alien. But I was
:22:08. > :22:09.commentating at the championships couple of months beforehand and
:22:10. > :22:13.seeing my friends and other people competing, people I felt I could
:22:14. > :22:19.still beat, and it gave me ` kick to think, don't waste what you have
:22:20. > :22:23.got. In ten years when you look back, what if you are seeing what
:22:24. > :22:26.is? I know you are disappointed not to
:22:27. > :22:29.be selected for the European Championships, and he said `t the
:22:30. > :22:34.time you thought it was a political decision. How do you feel about that
:22:35. > :22:37.now? I have still offering the s`me for
:22:38. > :22:43.the team as I was for the Etropean team, who knows why I was not
:22:44. > :22:48.picked? But I'm here, I havd qualified for the Commonwealth
:22:49. > :22:51.Games, I have had great support from physiotherapists coming in free of
:22:52. > :22:57.charge, my coach dedicating a lot of time, and it is starting to pay off,
:22:58. > :23:01.so I am very pleased. Focus was always the Commonwealth
:23:02. > :23:05.Games, and you have been selected. You did say that would be your last
:23:06. > :23:14.hurrah. Make you change your mind on that?
:23:15. > :23:20.I'm not sure. I'm not sure now. Ya got the bug again?
:23:21. > :23:23.I have got the bug again. It has opened my eyes to see that H still
:23:24. > :23:28.have a lot more in the tank. 20 5, I will be pushing for European
:23:29. > :23:34.Championships, the world Championships which is a qu`lifier
:23:35. > :23:40.for real. But I would be an old man in Rio de Janeiro. The young kids
:23:41. > :23:47.coming up, so it is going to be tough.
:23:48. > :23:51.How is your form, foreign old man? My form is not bad. I'm still four
:23:52. > :23:56.or five weeks away from being in the addition, but I'm going through my
:23:57. > :24:00.hard routine. It is one of the best routines in the world at thd
:24:01. > :24:04.moment. Training is going vdry well. I have a few aches and pains,
:24:05. > :24:07.which is normal. And they are getting a little bit worse `s you
:24:08. > :24:12.get older, but I am hanging in there.
:24:13. > :24:15.It is great to talk to you `s always, and we wish you all the best
:24:16. > :24:24.for the training and further, love games will be rooting for you.
:24:25. > :24:31.Thanks very much. It must be dreadful to get old!
:24:32. > :24:43.All those aches and pains! Now the weather: if you livd on the
:24:44. > :24:44.coast you will have noticed that northerly wind has made things feel
:24:45. > :25:13.a little cooler. high`pressure keeping things fairly
:25:14. > :25:19.settled. Things will change overnight tonight, but we h`ve a
:25:20. > :25:23.fine end of the day. Increasing amounts of cloud through thd night
:25:24. > :25:26.will bring some spots of light rain, some drizzle and showery rahn into
:25:27. > :25:31.the early hours of tomorrow morning. A lot of cloud covdr so
:25:32. > :25:37.that will mean a mild night. Temperatures 12 or 13 Celsits. It
:25:38. > :25:41.will continue to be windy from a northerly direction through
:25:42. > :25:46.tomorrow. This weather front will get away quite quickly, so lany of
:25:47. > :25:50.us may wake up with quite a lot of cloud around. Some spots of rain to
:25:51. > :25:55.clear first thing. If you lhve in eastern counties, places like
:25:56. > :25:59.Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, it could stay cloudy throughout the day. The
:26:00. > :26:05.further west, the better ch`nce of seeing some brightness and
:26:06. > :26:12.sunshine. Across the West, 09 or 20 Celsius. In the East it will be
:26:13. > :26:20.slightly cooler temperatures on the course itself. Through the
:26:21. > :26:27.afternoon, a chance the clotd will break up. Not a lot changes. The
:26:28. > :26:31.high pressure is still fairly established. It is starting to move
:26:32. > :26:36.west and that will shift thd wind to south`westerly. That is good news
:26:37. > :26:41.for us because it means temperatures will climb. They go up towards the
:26:42. > :26:44.end of the week. Thursday mhght be cloudy with spots of rain fhrst
:26:45. > :26:48.thing but it will get brighter through the day. Temperaturds into
:26:49. > :26:53.the low twenties. It may get higher by Friday as that south`westerly
:26:54. > :26:56.wind continues to bring in some warmer air and it is looking like a
:26:57. > :27:01.largely fine day for Friday with some sunny spells. A little more
:27:02. > :27:09.closely on Saturday and getting back to a northerly wind direction.
:27:10. > :27:15.That's all from us, have a very good evening.