16/12/2013 Look East - West

arrives on Friday. Can't wait! That's all

Welcome to a new week. On the programme tonight, shut down and

under investigation, the Milton Keynes Winter Wonderland that turned

into a nightmare. It is appalling. Nothing that you would expect. It is

very deceiving. Safety barriers for an accident blackspot but is it too

little too late? Later, homeless at Christmas, Ely's

post office is operating in a car park?

And all flood in to save the seal cubs orphaned in the storm.

`` donations flood in. It was meant to be a magical moments

to start the festive season, with Santa, skating and reindeer. But

visitors say that instead it was an expensive disaster which has ruined

Christmas. Hundreds of families flocked to winter wonderland in

Milton Keynes at the weekend. But today, many are demanding refunds.

The event has been cancelled after just one day and treading standards

are now investigating. `` trading standards. Children

arrived here, expecting a winter wonderland. Some parents paid more

than ?100, and some draws more than 100 miles. The website was glossy

but they say that what they got was a joke. An ice rink described as a

few plastic sheets. Santer's Grotto, staffed by young men in

cheap elastic beards. Parents say that they could not communicate with

the children. Two reindeers with no antlers. I think they have been

elaborate on the internets with the details. I did not expect it to be

that bad. It is appalling. On the website, they say it is like Hyde

Park. It is nothing you would expect. Today, the last of this

winter wonderland was being magic to way. Elsewhere, the event organiser

and questions to answer. I'm pleased to say that Lorenzo Franco... He

claims that although some things were not write on Saturday, parents

warning others on social media not to turn up caused a frenzy. I'm

disappointed in the way that it turned out and I am angry at the

parents for not giving us chance to put `` giving us a chance to carry

on the event by putting things right. Other callers were furious.

I've been telling my kids for weeks how wonderful it was going to be. I

could have cried myself. I've built the whole family up for a special

day and it was rubbish. It is thought that ?20,000 worth of

tickets were sold. Yuri Farber yourself. Do you think your little

boy would have enjoyed that experience? He would not have

enjoyed the morning experience. `` you are a father yourself. He would

have certainly enjoyed the later experience. Can you guarantee that

everyone who paid will get their money back? They will. Definitely?

Definitely. Lorenzo Franco has apologised in person to Amelia

Richards, who has cerebral palsy and was supposed to officially open the

event. I'm glad he has apologised. I think that is all he can do now. But

think that is all he can do now But the thing he should have organised

it better. Trading standards is investigating whether any or fences

have taken place and, if so, it says it will take appropriate action.

it will take appropriate action Campbell park is run by the Parks

trust, who agreed to let the winter wonderland operate. IRC briny fox

from the Trust if they had any idea that the event would be so bad. Not

at all. `` I asked briny fox. The marketing was fantastic and everyone

had high expectations that it would be high`quality. Unfortunately, that

did not turn out to be the case. And when did you find out that it had

not gone well? On Saturday, I was there myself, and there was not

impressed with what eyesore up there. As the day went on, there

were quite a lot of people there and they were enjoying some of the

activities on offer. As the day went on, Santas grotto closed and from

that point, it started to spiral down hill. Where does the

responsibility lie? You actually allowed this country to come onto

the site and put on this event. We will look at our procedures again to

ensure that when event management companies approach us to put on

events, that maybe we look more robustly at their track record. The

difficulty we have had on this occasion is that if a professional

events company comes to us and produces the documentation that we

would expect, then it is quite difficult to foresee that something

like this might happen. Some say it has been a disaster. People claim it

has ruined Christmas. You worried that it might stop people from

coming to the events at your site because it damages the reputation?

That is something that concerns us. We have a track record of putting on

fantastic events and is a shame that this event has been so

disappointing. But we hope that people realise it is a one`off and

that this is not typical of the events that happens in Milton

Keynes. It is a real shame, but we have several hundred events every

year that run without incident. Briny fox.

Next night, police were on the streets of Corby appealing for

information about a local businessman beaten to death exactly

a year ago. David Ross was found in a hotel room where he had gone into

hiding. Adaptive thinking was carpeted `` detectives thinking he

was targeted because of a nightclub he owned.

Could the people in these pictures help catch a killer? It is just

before 7:30am on a Monday morning. Meters away, David Ross, a nightclub

owner and taxi driver, is being viciously assaulted, punched,

kicked, killed in a hotel room where he had gone into hiding. Except the

one year later, the CCTV is shown on the same street this morning.

Officers hoping for valuable information. Shopkeepers stunned by

what happened here. Considering we were there at the time you're

mentioning, because we start early for Christmas, it is quite shocking.

David Ross owned this nightclub. David Ross owned this nightclub

Police investigating whether he was being forced to sell it by criminals

wanting to launder money through it. He had worked hard all his life.

Finally, he had the opportunity to realise his ambition is an open`air

nightclub. He worked as a taxi driver and a dormant, but this

really was his dream. And he was not going to give it up. David Ross to

Kiran here on Sunday the 16th of December last year. `` took a room

here. Next morning, he received the call. At 7:32am, he sent a text but

at 7:45pm, he failed to arrive for a pick`up. His taxi was parked across

the street where that van is. That could have given his attackers a

hint as to where he was but police leave that he was tipped off `` they

were tipped off. Summary went along the corridor here, and into the room

where he was sleeping. In that room, he was severely beaten and later

died. One year on, the police say they need the public's health to

find those who killed David Ross. `` the public's help. He moved to the

Sawtell, afraid for his life. `` this hotel. Safety barriers are

going up along one of the worst A tops `` accident blackspots in the

north`west. After seven accidents in less than a month, the council has

acted. The moment campaigners had been

fighting for. On one of the region's most notorious roads.

Barriers going up after two deaths. One of those was Hannah Gates, 18,

who died last month. Her family say that their barriers came too late

for their daughter. It would have been preferable to have them before

the accident, but what is important is that we learn and we act quickly

where there are accidents. With winter around the corner, and the

risk of ice and fog, it is important that we get the barriers in as

quickly as possible. It is welcome that that is happening this week

will stop the accident started `` the accidents started on the 3rd of

November. Within a week, four cars plunged into the river with

passengers thrown into the water and having to escape. On the 2nd of

December, the body of Keith Patchett, from Corby, was recovered.

And on the same day, another accident. This time, the driver was

unhurt. The safety barriers they are building here will cover 250 metres

and will be finished by the end of the week. The City Council is also

looking at what other safety measures could be brought in.

In Whittlesey, some say it is not before time. It is too late. They

should have done something years ago. I'm glad that something is

being done and hopefully after the publicity around the deaths, this

will help to get it sorted out. The 40 mph limit will stay while the

council works with campaigners to try to make the area safer.

Four people had been stabbed after an 18th birthday party in Luton was

gate`crashed. The event on Friday night had been circulated on social

media. At around 11:30pm, several strangers arrived at the house and

it turned violent. The victims were treated at the Luton and Dunstable

Hospital but have since been released.

The East of England and all in service has appointed a new Chief

Executive, but we still do not know whether he is permanent. Anthony

Marsh takes on the role after months of poor results and criticism of the

service. The East of England Ambulance

Service has not had a permanent Chief Executive for one year. Five

of its senior staff are employed on an interim basis. In June, report

was published looking at the trust and what it needed to do to improve.

Now the man behind the report is going to be the new Chief

Executive. I've worked in the ambulance service and they know that

area particularly well. `` I know. I'm determined to share my ambition

with that of the managers on the front line, to deliver excellent

services to local communities. The most recent figures show that the

ambulance service is failing to meet all three key response times. It is

this risk on `` this performance that has put the current Chief

Executive under pressure. Why did you not say, they don't want me,

Executive under pressure. Why did you not say, they don't want me so

you not say, they don't want me, so I'm going? I have been in the NHS

for 30 years and all other deeply. Think it is a great part of my

society and I am addicted to this Trust. Think it is the best in body

and of what I believe this the NHS is about. It is not yet known if the

new Chief Executive will be permanent. It will continue to head

up the West Midlands service. That is something that Unison's regional

representative is worried about. representative is worried about

This chap is coming in from the West Midlands, and looking after the West

Midlands as well as us. We feel that we should have somebody who can look

after us exclusively. The amylin service said they would not comment

until they could make an official announcement, which is expected in

the next 24 hours. `` the ambulance service. They told us that they have

paused the recruitment programme so that they can develop further

options. During his time in the West Midlands, Doctor Marsh froze the

recruitment of emergency care assistants. He favoured the use of

trained paramedics. He also brought in a fleet of new ambulances and has

put the focus on response time targets. It is not easy running an

ambulance service. Especially if you are in charge of two trusts. At

improvements will be needed for the sake of staff and patients.

`` but improvements. In Northampton to company has been

fined ?20,000 after a scaffold collapse forced shoppers to run for

safety. The metal poles crashed through canopies near the Willow

Place Shopping Centre in Corby in August of last year. Nobody was

hurt, but several people were treated for shock. Desborough

Scaffolding Limited has been fined for reaching health and safety laws.

Those are the top stories tonight. Now we

threat on a plane which was forced to land at Stansted Airport. More

than 200 passengers were on board the Airbus. It was due to land at

Heathrow in September. The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, has

promised that two councils in this region will be given special status

if his party wins the next election. Basically, it would mean that

Stevenage and Luton would be able to get homes built outside their own

boundaries. He was intervening in a row which has seen several housing

schemes delayed, because councils in the area can't agree where to put

the homes. In Stevenage and lit and they are facing a very real housing

crisis. Stevenage needs an extra 10,000 homes. But we are to expand

has sparked a furious row. People are quite happy for people to come

into town to take up employment opportunities. But what about

actually living there. The Labour run areas border Hertfordshire.

Apparently there is space there. That is a clean they deny. `` claim.

We have to protect the vulnerable green belt. We have to ensure that

any housing development is appropriate. The Labour leader

believes that this is contributing to the cost of living crisis. He

wants to leave `` ease the problem. He has promised that the Labour

government would give Stevenage what he called a right to Google. ``

grow. We are sending a clear signal today that councils that block the

wishes of others cannot be allowed to do so indefinitely. If councils

cannot agree to with each other on how to expand and Labour will make a

decision for them. Rather than wield the state, the government is trying

to play the councils. Today it has announced millions of pounds of

extra funding. The minister behind this team, at the headquarters of an

estate agency, says that is the way to get things moving. The government

has put the number of things in place. They are trying to get things

moving. We all want to see the supply increase. We want to get the

market confidence going again. All of the main parties know how key and

issue the says. `` this is. Andrew joins me now. Is this a big issue `

councils not getting on? Authorities in our region to get on relatively

well. Even those with Labour authorities involved. But Labour say

there are a few places where they can get on. `` can't. But doesn't

this happen already? Labour say something stick to long. Under the

system, it will take much less time. One other thing that has been

announced is that the developers set online for too long without

developing it then it will be seized.

A row over the future of Post Office buildings in the region is causing

controversy. Managers want to save money by sharing premises with other

shops. But of course, if the building is not yours there can be

problems. In Ely, they have found themselves without a permanent home

over Christmas ` so they are now selling stamps in a car park.

Patience and goodwill. They are stretched to the limit at this post

office in Ely. It was in a chemist but when they didn't renew the lease

it was made homeless. For the foreseeable future that is in this

cabin. It took 12 months to sort it out and they came up with this. It

seems to be working fine. It is ridiculous. They could have rented

another shop. But Post Office managers admit they do not know

where or when they will find a business willing to take it on. We

are actively looking for new options. This is a great opportunity

for retailers in Ely to come forward and say they would like to take the

post office alongside. Some people are now worried this could happen

elsewhere. Here, the plan is to close this post office and move it

into a shop. But not everybody is convinced that there is a good idea.

You lose the experience of the staff. Most of the staff go to other

offices in the area to stop you lose all of that experience. Here is

where it may call. The owner says he has come under pressure to withdraw

his bed to provide post office services in a shop. It was never our

intention to upset anybody. We are surprised that the union have taken

such action and trying to persuade people to boycott us. Some people

will see these changes as downgrading the post office. Two

others, it is about adaptation in order to survive.

Sport now, and the weekend will be remembered for a memorable goal at

Norwich, and a memorable win for Saints. Kicking off with the

football, here's Tom. A win would have lifted Norwich to 10th in the

Premier League but the draw against Swansea will be remembered for a

very special goal. It was scored by Gary Hooper. He cost ?5 million in

the summer. After an injury`hit start to his career at Carrow Road,

Gary Hooper is now showing my Norwich valued him so highly.

However, it was Swansea's front line that threatened first. After signing

a new contract last week, City's captain Sebastien Bassong was

shrugged off the ball all too easily ` Nathan Dyer took advantage. Ten

minutes before half`time, the goal`scorer went off with a

suspected broken ankle... Although initial x`rays today suggest he's

got away with a very bad twist. It was in first half injury time that

Hooper made his mark. Hooper... What an astonishing goal! 1`1 at the

break. Swansea had more of the play in the second half but Norwich

looked more dangerous. Michael Turner was desperately unlucky not

to score with this header. With a quarter of an hour to go, Hooper `

who's now scored four goals in six games ` looked like he'd got the

winner. Brilliant save! It ended 1`1. A point maintains some

momentum. Seven points from four games hauled Norwich five clear of

the drop zone. I thought the game was there to win. In the end we got

a good point and in the last two games we've done very well. It sat

up nicely. I thought I'd give it a go. It looped over the keeper! I

don't usually score outside the box. Usually inside. But it was a good

goal and a good point. They're the special goals, when somebody can

produce something from nothing. The timing was perfect ` just before

half`time. The second half performance showed that we could

have gone on to win it. Next up are matches against the Premier League's

bottom two ` Sunderland then Fulham. More goals like this could make it a

very Merry Christmas for Norwich! Opposing strategies for two of our

under`pressure managers. Joe Dunne at Colchester hasn't been seen or

heard since his side lost 4`0 at the weekend. He didn't do any post`match

interviews. In contrast, Aidy Boothroyd ` whose Northampton side

remain in the relegation zone ` has come out fighting: today saying

he'll 'live or die' by his decisions and that he can't fault his players'

attitude. Four wins from four. Lowestoft boxer

Anthony Ogogo is now targeting a title fight next year. The Olympic

bronze medallist landed some hefty blows on Saturday but was taken the

full six rounds by Dan Blackwell before winning on points. Ogogo

unbeaten since turning professional. In rugby, Northampton boss Jim

Mallinder says they have hope after Jamie Elliott's late try secured a

thrilling 18`9 win over Leinster in the Heineken Cup. Here's the table.

The Irish side are still top but Saints' bouncing back wonderfully

well from last week's heavy defeat. Everything to play for with two

games to go. We learnt some lessons in the week. We came here very

quietly determined. I think we went out there and had a really good

game. We put Leinster under a lot of pressure. We're delighted to get the

result. That's it. More sport on the website

where you can find full reaction to all the weekend's results.

Staff at the RSPCA in Norfolk say they have been overwhelmed by the

generosity of the public following the rescue of orphaned seal pups.

Hundreds of pups were separated from their mothers during the recent

tidal surge. So far more than ?25,000 has been donated. At

Eastwinch, volunteers work around the clock to keep around 100 seal

pups alive ` mindful that some try to bite the hand that feeds them!

Because they're just learning, some of them aren't that keen. We've got

to get them used to it. We've got 49 left to do. It's a relentless rota

of feeding and nursing. The cost of care for each pup is ?22 a week.

After the RSPCA launched a crisis appeal, donations flooded in. More

than ?25,000 has been raised. I'm stunned by the public response. It's

been incredible. Huge donations. A lady drove from Northampton with a

fridge! Incredible. Really kind. ?25,000 is a lot of money, but to

put it in context that would pay for the seals in this sanctuary for the

next 11 weeks. To get them back to full health will take up to five

months. This is a vulnerable time of year for seals as hundreds come onto

our beaches to pup and look after their young. In the tidal surge ten

days ago, hundreds of pups were swept into the sea and separated

from their mothers. Every day, more like this one are brought in. We're

in for the long haul. We've got so many pups in. But the staff are

coping wonderfully. We've lost three but the rest are looking much, much

better. As we head into mid`winter, prayers here are that the weather

will be more forgiving for the seals who can't come in from the cold.

Very cute! Now for the weather. The weather

front is going to start feeding and more rain. Over the next few hours,

some of it could be on the heavy side. During the second half of the

night, it goes over to the east. Overnight it will be around four or

six Celsius. We could see lows of two of the Celsius. `` or three.

Perhaps some patchy mist fog. Tomorrow we have this weather front

in the south`east. It could push back some thicker cloud. It looks

like a dry start to the day. Perhaps some overnight mist and fog slowed

to clear. It should be fine and dry everywhere. Some brightness and

sunshine coming through. The best in the North. Temperatures tomorrow are

closer to average. Seven Celsius. We hold onto the light winds. Through

the afternoon and evening, the weather front were pushed back some

cloud. Mainly laid rain and drizzle. Very patchy. As we head into the

next few days, it will be largely fine and dry on Tuesday and then

some patchy rain later. Wednesday should be largely fine and dry with

some spells of sunshine. Increasing cloud. After dark we should see some

rain pushing his thoughts. It could be heavy. Gusting winds. All of that

should be out of the way by Thursday. Still quite a blustery day

but largely fine and dry. Some spells of sunshine. Small chance of

isolated showers. Friday is a repeat performance on Wednesday. Largely

dry. Clouds increasing. Rain expected after dark. It could be

accompanied by quite blustery winds. Perhaps some frost and more

sheltered spot. Thank you. Goodbye.