03/12/2013 Look East - West

BBC weather website. That is it all from the BBC's News at Six.

Hello and welcome to Look East. Coming up in the programme

tonight... No to pay`as`you`go. The government backs down on plans to

toll the A14. But where does that leave the much needed upgrade? The

news that hopefully this has stopped is good for local business.

Another death at this notorious black spot. Police say the victim

could have been in the water for up to a week. We have the rest of

today's news later on. Prince Charles pays tribute to the

women who risked their lives as secret agents in the Second World

War. And the bidding started at ?2

million ` and climbed to ?4 million. A potential superstar is sold at the

Newmarket sales. Good evening. First tonight... A

major U`turn over plans to toll the A14 in Cambridgeshire. It was to be

the country's first toll road for a decade. But the notion of having to

pay to use the new section was deeply unpopular. Today's government

climb down follows weeks of pressure from MPs and business groups. One of

the reasons the tolling plan is controversial is because the A14

controversial is because the A1 corridor is the main link between

the Midlands and the Port of Felixstowe. The route is used by 40%

of the UK's container trade. But the route is congested and badly in need

of an upgrade. 13 years ago, Tony Blair's government announced a new

A14 would be built between Cambridge and Huntingdon. But in 2010, the

newly`elected Coalition scrapped it saying there wasn't enough money. In

September this year the Government announced a ?1.5 billion scheme to

build a new section of the route. It would run for 12 miles between

Ellington and the Cambridge services near Boxworth. But cars would have

been charged between ?1 and ?1.50 near Boxworth. But cars would have

been charged between ?1 and ?1. 0 to use it. Lorries, ?3. Mike Cartwright

is over the A14 now. There it is, the notorious A14,

running pretty much in a straight line from Felixstowe to the M1 in

that direction. The story behind this has many twists and turns.

Today there was another one. MPs and business leaders in Suffolk say that

a toll road were to be like a tax to get into their county. Their

lobbying has helped to get this scrapped and people in this part of

the region have been reacting to that news today.

For one of the most congested roads in the country, yet another U`turn

by politicians. Just a few weeks ago, the toll road got the

go`ahead. Today, after growing pressure, it was scrapped. In towns

like this one, fears that there avoiding paying which turned the

streets into remnants. This reaction today. Why should we have toll

roads? We pay taxes. It only encourages people to do rat runs. It

would keep the traffic off the road, it would keep the commute down and I

would not mind paying a few quid a day. You're disappointed it is

scrapped? A bit! Get out of your car and he's the boss, but I did not

think the toll road would work anyway. The toll road was meant to

be coming across this farm land here. It would have run along this

hedge line across the viaduct and edge towards Allington. The toll has

now gone, and it seems the route has stayed the same. The new road will

pass just metres from this woman's home. No toll means a lot more

vehicles on it. There will be the lights, the fumes, we will not be

able to sleep at night. I think there will be a lot of noise. I

really do. It is only that far`away. You will have all of the heavy

lorries. At this factory in Wellingborough, they make pump

equipment. They are a vital link to Felixstowe and overseas customers,

and they said the toll road would have been bad for business. This

would have had a massive impact on shipping costs, making us being

below capacity again, so this news is fantastic for local business.

below capacity again, so this news is fantastic for local business.

There campaigning against the tolls here described today as a vicar

trade, and they say that if work`out begun when it was first proposed, it

would have been a lot cheaper. Trust`macro those campaigning

against these tales have described today as a victory.

The same scheme will go ahead at a cost of 1.5 billion pounds.

Hopefully there will be details about when this work will begin and

when it would be finished, and when it will end. This stretch here, it

will remain, it would be a local road. This big viaduct near the

railway station in Huntingdon, that will come down. Speaking to people

in this part of the world, they say they have heard about this upgrade

so many times that they will believe that a new A14 when they finally see

one. Dick Jarvis is from the Federation

of Small Businesses and joins us this evening. You have campaigned

against this toll for some time, this evening. You have campaigned

against this toll for some time how against this toll for some time how

do you feel? Ecstatic. It is fantastic news. We will have to see

what the changes there might be in the design and listen to what they

come up with tomorrow with the announcement officially. What would

be the perfect announcement tomorrow? That they will start

building the A14 upgrade tomorrow paid for by the government. We pay

enough in the taxes on fuel and vehicle tax and the rest of it, so

he can use the money, he has got the money there. Hauliers have made it

clear how they would be affected if this toll would go ahead, how would

it have affected smaller businesses? A lot of smaller businesses, those

doing service work, like plumbers, electricians, builders, people like

that, they would crisscross the country, they would go to different

worksites, they would want something, they have to travel down

the A14, through the toll, and that is ?1, ?1 50, they've got to come

back, that is another ?1, ?1.50, two back, that is another ?1, ?1.50, two

to try and miss it will mean rat running through all of the villagers

to try and find your way around, and to try and find your way around, and

that will mean an increase in the movement of these vehicles. Suffolk

MPs have claimed that their involvement brought about this

turnaround, do you think that campaigners in Cambridgeshire were

ignored? Oh, your mobile phone! Someone knows you are on TV! Do you

think that you were ignored this back then? No, we were lobbying I

personally live within a mile of the A14, and the road originally, when I

moved to their, that was the a 04 and the dual carriageway, the M11

did not even come up near it. We want to see this guilt and as soon

as possible. Thank you for your time, we will be getting political

reaction... We'll be getting political reaction

to that story from Westminster later in the programme. And I will have

further coverage of the story on tonight's Look East late news at

10:25. A man's body has been found in a car

pulled from the river at a notorious accident black spot in

Cambridgeshire. Police say 50`year`old Keith Pettit could have

been in the water for up to a week. It's the sixth incident on the North

Bank in Whittlesey in as many days. Now the speed limit is being lowered

with immediate effect. Tyre marks still visible in the

grass. It was along here that Keith Pettit's car left the road and went

into the River Nene. The body of the 50`year`old from Corby was pulled

out of the water yesterday. The authorities, now checking the road

for any sign of how the accident happened. The road surface at the

moment, it doesn't appear to have any problems. You want to understand

the factors leading to the latest incident and to try and put in place

measures to prevent this happening again. But this isn't the first

accident to happen along this road. Flowers mark the spot where

18`year`old Hannah Yates died last month. Her car also left the North

Bank and plunged into the river. In Bank and plunged into the river In

fact there have been six accidents here in the past six days. People

living and working nearby say safety measures are urgently needed. You

probably need to get speed cameras down here to stop these accidents.

If not, some barriers on the River, because there are too many deaths at

the minute. I do not see they could put up crash barriers, because I

think that could be counter`productive. For now, the

road at North Bank in Whittlesey remains closed. It'll re`open

tomorrow, but with a temporary speed limit of 40 miles per hour instead

of 60. That lower limit could apply for more than a year. Local

campaigners will also meet councillors in the coming weeks to

work out how to make this road safer.

A 21`year`old man has gone missing in Bedfordshire. Sean Kennedy was

dropped off at Harlington Train Station at quarter to seven on

Sunday evening, but never made it to his home in Flitwick. He's described

as six feet tall, slim and was wearing grey jogging bottoms and a

black jacket with a hood. Police say his disappearance is totally out of

character. They were set up to help

disadvantaged children and families. But now more than half of the Sure

Start centres in Peterborough could close. The local council says

shutting them will help save more than a million pounds a year. Across

the region, there are 181 Sure Start centres, but Peterborough is the

first authority to look at closing them.

When this little girl was born, her mother struggled with postnatal

depression, feeling alone until she found other mums at local centre. It

has made me need more friends than I had before, because lots of my

friends left me when I had my child, so they all went. So I have made new

friends, where their children camping together as well. It has

made a very big difference for people, because a lot of new mothers

are not very confident in what they are doing, and they have no idea how

to look after their baby. I didn't. At being able to meet other people

in a similar situation, it really does help. The centres were

originally set up by the last Labour government in areas that were seen

has deprived, to help give children a good start. They offered parenting

skills and job`seeking advice, but now they have been expanded and in

many areas are open to all. But now with pressures on budgets, some of

the councils are looking at targeting support. In

Cambridgeshire, changing from 40 centres ten to 12 clusters. In

Peterborough, going from 15 to four super`centres and three outreach

centres, not open to everyone, only the most needy. We would like to

have a super`centre model without reach services attached to it. What

about people that feel left out? about people that feel left out?

They would have workers going out to them, they would have access to

health visitor centres, and also we would have them to set up their own

groups. Across Peterborough, they are campaigning to save these

centres. I think parents would be lost. When I was a first`time mum, I

did not know what to do, when my friends but professional advice, I

was quite emotional. These changes could save more than ?1 million a

year in Peterborough. People have until the New Year to have their

say. The retail sector in Northampton has

been dealt a fresh blow after the House of Fraser department store

announced its closure. The store, in the town's Grosvenor Centre, will

shut next year. The chain stores Next and Primark are set to occupy

the two storey unit. We're disappointed to hear about House of

Fraser. The council will be contacting them to try to see if we

can help people facing redundancy and also, bad news for the town but

positive news that new companies are coming into the town.

University staff from across the region have today walked out for the

second time in a row over pay. The first strike was held in October.

The three unions involved, UCU, Unison and Unite, say they're

campaigning for better pay. The Employers' Association which

represents universities says it's gridlocked than it is already. It is

a long way off. The plans still need government approval.

Still to come: Famous Frankel's first child fetches a fortune. We

search for our sporting unsung hero. The Prince of Wales has spent the

day in Bedfordshire. He looked round a cereal factory and enjoyed a half

pint of beer in a pub. He also unveiled a memorial to the women who

were secret agents during World War Two. During the war, 75 women `

mainly British and from all over the country ` put their lives on the

line. Most were dropped by parachute on moonlit nights behind enemy

lines. Lots of them were captured. 16 were killed. Our reporter Neil

Bradford was with Prince Charles today.

It was a very public celebration of this village's secretive past. The

Prince of Wales was the guest of honour. He unveiled a memorial to

the women who flew from nearby RAF bases during the Second World War.

It was so secretive, not even the locals knew what happened there. It

was so secret that even the villagers did not know what happened

there. They knew that planes went in and out but did not know why. It has

since become a farm and closed down. 75 female agents flew, dropped

behind enemy lines to take part in a variety of missions. Among them was

this woman, who signed up to the special operations executive, to get

her own back after her husband was killed in action. She was captured

in France, after a battle. She killed at least one soldier and

wounded others. Those who work for the special operations executive

only felt able to share their secrets decades later. My mother

thought I worked for the Ministry of fish. She died at almost 80 without

ever knowing the truth. We were under the official secrets act and

it was not until 2000 when the files were open to the public and she was

allowed to talk. Most of us were dead by then. This was one of four

in Gidman is for his Royal high. He met local artists and schoolchildren

at an art gallery. He also called in on a Christmas tree Festival. He met

factory workers and business leaders.

Despite the busy itinerary, the Prince still had time for a swift

half. He joined the veterans, to revel in their stories. Thanks to

this memorial, they will now always be remembered.

The search for the BBC East Sports Unsung Hero is almost at an end.

We're down to a short list of three. We're looking for that special

person who works tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure others enjoy

their sport. Tonight the first person on our short list is the

driving force behind a netball team, the Hertfordshire Mavericks. Gloria

Keech gives up 50 hours a week to make sure hundreds of girls enjoy

netball. For nearly 45 years, Gloria Keech

has lived and breathed netball. You will find her courtside at the

Hertfordshire Mavericks, the super league club she set up from scratch.

I have played since I was nine. I find netball is a team sport, the

camaraderie in netball is second to none. She gets her hands dirty, she

has a range of skills. She is the heart and soul. We would

not have a franchise, compete nationally, if it was not for her.

This region did not have a netball team in the top division before

Gloria Keech stepped in. Though they have won league titles, produced

England players, and regularly attract crowds of nearly 1000 fans.

It goes down to grassroots. It is not just the elite level. Gloria's

role is in the background, just how she likes it. The forms get filled

in, the club takes over, which operates thanks to a team of

volunteers set up by, guess who? Development is our middle name. It

is not just about developing players, it is officials, anybody

associated, right down to match the volunteers. There is still time to

cheer the Bedfordshire County committee. Seven days, 50 hours a

week, netball is lucky to have her on the sidelines. The winner will be

announced on Friday. Tomorrow we stay with netball and the coach from

Essex who's given more than 40 years to the sport. Sheikh Mohammed has

bought himself another very expensive piece of horse flesh. He

has paid a near world record for a foal fathered by the undefeated

champion Frankel. The Sheikh's latest acquisition came at a packed

auction in Newmarket. But no`one today could admire the form of this

potential superstar ` because the foal hasn't been born yet. Our

sports reporter Tom Williams was there when the hammer went down.

The energy, the excitement, the anticipation, palpable. Tattersalls

is packed to the rafters. Every mover and shaker is eager to catch a

glimpse of history in the making. Dancing Rain, in foal to Frankel, is

it a match made in heaven? The beauty is nobody knows the answer,

but if she inherits any of his class, and her class, it has a good

chance. Dancing Rain's finest hour came two years ago at Epsom.

Storming finish, the only winner carrying her first foal to be

offered at public auction in the first 50 years. The world record for

a brood mare currently stands at ?4 million. An expectant hush. This was

the first of Frankel's foals to be sold in the UK.

John Ferguson entered at 4 million, bidding on behalf of Sheikh

Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai. This was a horse he needed to have. S you

can think it is a lot of money but you need to consider she will breed

tend foals. It is rather like having a football team. If you want a

striker from Barcelona, you will try and get him, no matter how good your

strikers. For racing on the flat, you need to have a good horse. 4

million guineas, ?4.2 million, the second most expensive ever in

Europe. Frankel was the decisive factor. Still the world's top`rated

racehorse, no breeding. He has earned over ?50 million at start,

five times more than he won on the track. `` at stud. He is a huge

draw. Incredibly sought`after. He has not diminished in the public

eye. The interest is overwhelming. That is the same in the bloodstock

world. We cannot wait for his foals. The bloodstock market is

buoyant. Racegoers will need to wait until 2016 for the next generation

of Frankels to prove their worth. It is a lot of money. A reminder now of

today's top story: the Government will confirm tomorrow that it is

scrapping plans to impose a toll on the A14 in Cambridgeshire. The

about`turn follows weeks of campaigning by MPs and business

groups. The MPs from Suffolk played a very big part in the campaign.

Let's go to Westminster now, and our political correspondent Andrew

Sinclair. Tomorrow morning at 10am, Danny

Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, will give a speech

just over there were he will unveil what is grandly being called the

fourth national infrastructure plan. In that, he will confirm that the

toll road is no more. Critics will say this is a U`turn, the government

will say it was only plans, out for consultation, and they have listen

to concerns. The government has always believed that if you make it

easier for people to get around, it will boost the economy. Several

years ago, the Chancellor identified the A14 as one of the country's main

arteries, and pushed for it to be improved as quickly as possible.

This road has been delayed too long in the past. I am determined it goes

ahead. At first it was only the local Liberal Democrats who were

opposed to the idea. But the line from the government was clear.

Charging motorists was the only way to afford it. S I cannot be more

plain. When you live in difficult economic circumstances, you want

roads to be built. Singling out the A14 seems arbitrary and unfair. It

was the involvement of MPs from Suffolk which changed the dynamic.

They called for debates and they lobbied the Prime Minister. The

chancellor visited the region. Wherever he went he was at about the

A14. Suddenly, it became clear that the government was having to

rethink. I hear loud and clear there are a lot of people worried about

the tolls. I will take that very seriously. A lot of people will be

pleased that the plans have been dropped. The question now, what goes

on in its place? That is a very good question. What will be in the

place? We will get the details. You should always look at the small

print. In the last 30 minutes I have started to get some idea of what

will be announced. It looks as if the plans will stay exactly the

same, the Chancellor has just found some extra money from somewhere to

pay for building the new road without any toll. The other thing

the government will stress his plans are still on schedule. They want

building to start in 2016. Do we know why? I understand the decision

was taken by the Prime Minister. It seems that he made the decision

after he was told that there would be no free alternative to motorists

who did not want to pay to use the toll. They felt he had not been

properly briefed. He was under the impression there was a choice. They

said they were up for having the toll but you need a choice. The

Prime Minister agreed with them. Now the weather. You will be glad to

know the sunshine is going to make an appearance tomorrow. Today we

have a lot of cloud. That is how it will remain through this evening and

for much of the night. That should mean we will be free of frost. We

should mostly stayed dry, but there is a weather front arriving later on

which could produce rain. If there are any gaps, perhaps around the

wash, on the whole, it will be 3`4dC. We start tomorrow with this

weather front approaching. That will mean a cloudy start. Sunshine is

expected to come out mid to late morning. There is not a great deal

of rain. Like and patchy rain clearing quickly to the south`east

and then we will start to see that sunshine. It will not be

particularly warm, seven degrees will be the highest. With the

sunshine, it that will make a difference to how the weather feels.

The light wind will help things along. It remains try and find. With

clear skies, a much colder night follows. Looking ahead, the next

weather front is on its way on Thursday. This is a cold front. It

will not bring rain, but it will be accompanied by a strong wind. The

significance for us in the East is a particularly strong wind across the

Norfolk coast with some strong gusts into the evening time. That could

coincide with high tides, producing problems. Then we have this cold air

flooding southwards. A much colder day is expected on Friday. I'll be

is not far away. It should push back by the weekend. `` the mild a. A

very short lived cold snap. It is back to the bright start on

Thursday, but it will turn cloudy. There will be some rain on that

front but the strength of the wind is the concern. It will be windy

across the region. Break but called on Friday. The cloud returns on

Saturday. A sharp frost expected on Friday night. It is feeling like

winter. Goodbye.