13/03/2014 Look East - West

early 1990s. That's all from the BBC News at Six. It's goodbye from me.

On Hello and welcome to Thursd`y's Look

East. Coming up in the next 30 minutes: The bid to save a Corby

factory fails ` 573 jobs at Solway Foods ` more than half the workforce

` will go. Plus, the thieves targeting high`performance cars `

leaving a trail of broken vdhicles in their wake.

We'll be here later in the programme ` as the new Formula One se`son revs

into action, the man at the helm of Red Bull admits testing for the new

campaign hasn't gone entirely to plan.

And the little volunteers whred up to help scientists study br`in

development. Good evening. First tonight.

Confirmation that more than 570 jobs are to go at a food factory in

Northamptonshire. Solway Foods in Corby, which makes prepared salads,

currently employs 900 peopld. The company has described the b`se as

"unviable". And is set to m`ke workers redundant by the middle of

next month. In a moment we'll hear from the local MP, who says the news

is a tragedy for the town, but first Mike Cartwright joins us live from

Corby. For weeks now there has been wary

and confusion amongst workers here. A lot of speculation about whether

their jobs were safe or not. To do their worst fears were confhrmed,

most of the people who work in that factory behind me will be m`de

redundant. As for the site htself, but may even close for good.

The news began filtering through the factory this morning. More than half

their number losing their jobs. Workers told there is no gu`rantee

that the site will not closd completely. I have been herd 17

years, so it has been a lot of time since I have been out looking for a

job. How concerned are people in there? Very concerned. A lot of them

have two members of the famhly working in the factory. It hs

closing. I can do nothing. H worried about losing your job? Yes, I am

worried. People buried therd? Yes, all of them.

The site `` are people buridd in there.

The site is unavailable, saxs Solway Foods. The union is terribld than

570 will lose their jobs, 186 on the day job and 321 from the night

shift. `` the union is told. The company's in the second largest

employer in Corby for decadds. Its departure is disastrous, sahd

councillors. We have been t`lking to the company since they launched a 45

day consultation process. It is devastating news, to lose that

number of jobs is devastating for the people concerned, and their

families. It is a massive blow to the economy. Workers have bden asked

to make a decision. Voluntedr for redundancy, or not. Whether the

walk, or be pushed, a huge number will have to look for jobs

elsewhere. `` whether they walk The council have been trying to

entice the company to reloc`te to different locations around Corby. It

doesn't look like that will happen. Workers are going to hold a red ``

Iran on Saturday. There workers and union representatives. `` the rally.

The betraying to work out their next move. There will be trying.

The MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire, Andy Sawford, is a

member of a task force set tp to look at the issues at Solwax Foods.

Earlier I asked him for his reaction to today's new. `` news.

My concern is for the workforce It does nursing clear there will be

substantial redundancies. I help there will be some jobs on the site,

and the key is to support those who may be losing their jobs. How at

risk they think those remaining jobs are? I have been meeting with the

company regularly. I understand there are a number of issues, one is

the viability of the site at Corby. I have been working with thd council

to offer for example support for relocation within Corby. Thd company

are choosing not to take th`t up. They are obviously making ddcisions

they think are right for thd business. Solway Foods is one of the

biggest employers in Corby. What impact will this have on thd time?

The is no getting away from the fact this is bad news. It will bd a

worrying time for all the workers, particularly those who feel they

will be the ones who will bd made redundant. Some will perhaps take

voluntary redundancy, and I hope the company can do as much as they can

to support workers who are choosing to leave. But also to support those

other workers who are losing their jobs. You are part of a special task

force aimed at trying to prdvent these redundancies ornament them.

Where do you go from here? Will be meeting again on Monday. `` we will

be meeting again. We want to save all the jobs if we can or as many as

possible. If anybody does lose their job, we want to support thel. A

rally is taking place on Saturday. Union members will be there, some

MPs as well. What differencd will this make so late in the dax? The

workforce are very important to the town of Corby. Over 900 people work

there, maybe `` many art Corby based people. `` many are Corby btst

people. `` Corby based people. They want those jobs to stay in the town.

And there are questions that I know the workforce will want to `sk of

the company, and I would encourage the company to be as straightforward

as they can be about what h`s gone wrong and what the future holds

Andy Sawford talking to me darlier. A man from Suffolk. Who allowed his

horses to wander on to the @14. Causing a fatal accident has tonight

been jailed for 28 months. Four separate cars collided with the

animals, and 23`year`old motorist. Thomas Allen lost his life. Today it

emerged that Mr Allen was the cousin of Holly Wells, one of the

schoolgirls from Soham. Murdered by Ian Huntley in 2002. This rdport

from dawn Gerber. Our loss hs just as strong as it was in 2012. Nothing

can take away the total dev`station we feel.

A tribute to their son, 23`xear`old Thomas Allen who died on Christmas

Day. He was driving home to so with his girlfriend when his car collided

with horses that had rubbed onto a main road. The animals belonged to

27`year`old Stacey Humphries from Ipswich.

The court heard how five of his horses had wandered onto thd dual

carriageway into the pathwax of oncoming traffic. Six peopld were

injured, Thomas Allen was critically injured and died the followhng day.

We have not had someone put a four a court for causing public nuhsance in

this manner. `` before a cotrt. The court `` the horses had been left

illegally on wasteland. Up to 5 0 horses have been kept on land

without permission. During the letter `` the hearing a letter from

Thomas's mother was read out, detailing the impact it has had on

the family. In 2000 to her niece Holly Wells was one of two

schoolgirls murdered by Ian Huntley. `` 2002.

Today Stacey Humphries was sentenced to two years and four months for

causing a public nuisance. The family say this accident was ``

should never have happened, but they will carry on building their lives.

`` rebuilding their lives. 11 homes had to be evacuated and

local rail services temporarily suspended after a fire at a workshop

in Luton. It broke out around midday in Leagrave Road. Firefightdrs have

spent the afternoon trying to cool down gas cylinders on the shte. A

number of roads around the building had to be cordoned off as a

precaution. The Government is significantly

increasing the amount of money it gives to schools in Cambridgeshire.

The education minister said the county had been underfunded for too

long. Our political correspondent Andrew Sinclair is in our ndwsroom.

There's been a long battle over this, hasn't there? It has been

going on for about 30 years. Pupil funding has been allocated `ccording

to a formula which takes into account many factors, and it has

always been considered unfahr to row areas, so local MPs have bedn

fighting a battle over it. Came which I will get an extra ?20

million, ?275,000 extra per pupil per year. `` Cambridgeshire. The

extra money will be allocatdd to the schools, and different schools will

have different requirements. They have been operating on a shoestring,

and it is a tribute that thd teachers have managed to kedp going.

It may go for extra teachers, extra support classes. We have nedded this

for 30 years. But even with this extra funding,

pupils in Cambridgeshire will still be getting ?110,000 per puphl less

than those in Norfolk. It is not just came which are

getting this extra money, is it `` Cambridgeshire. No, students in

Bucks and Central Bedfordshhre get significantly more.

All this money will be allocated next April, one month beford the

General Election. A new survey has named Hertfordshire

as the least affordable place to live in the region. The Nathonal

housing Federation says a shortage of homes means that house prices and

rents are among some of the highest in the country. It says

Cambridgeshire is another problem area ` and there is little sign of

things getting any better. Police in Bedfordshire are warning

the owners of Vauxhall cars to take extra security precautions `fter a

spate of car part thefts. Dozens of cars have been stripped in recent

months, often while on the owner's drive. High performance moddls like

the Astra, Corsa and Insignha VXRs are most at risk. Sue takes great

care of her new car. The Vatxhall Corsa is her pride and joy. But she

had only had it for eight wdeks when something terrible happened. My son

went to school, he came back, banged on the window, something has

happened to your car! I could not leave my eyes, the front of my car

was missing. The car was dismantled on the drive as she slept. The

damage came to more than ?2000. She is one of dozens of Vauxhall owners

across Bedfordshire who havd found their cars taken apart. This

commuter was recently targeted after parking at Leighton Buzzard Railway

Station. There has been a spate of car crimes where people havd been

going and stripping down cars, they have been targeting vehicles,

high`end vehicles, we have had a number throughout the country ``

County, and that is why people have to help stop this happen. V`uxhall

says it is aware of the recdnt thefts, but insists securitx is not

the issue. The company says it is working with Bedfordshire police to

help identify the origin of any parts that may be stolen.

Sue Skinner said she never dxpected anything like this to happen on her

own driveway. I was in complete shock that someone had taken the

front of my car off. I did not even want my car to come back, thinking

they may come back again. Ste is no extra cautious. She has fitted a car

alarm and installed CCTV at her home. `` she is now extra c`utious.

She urges other Vauxhall owners to do the same.

Bedford Hospital has been r`nked among the best`performing in the

country after improvements were recorded in quality. The findings,

by the Care Quality Commisshon, looked at mortality infection rates

and the results of staff and patient surveys. `` mortality, infection

rates. Bedford Hospital came under fire

last year after it was stripped of its paediatric services, whhch were

reinstated in December. I whll be back at 10:25pm. For now, over to

Stuart and Susie for the rest of Look East.

requires an annual income of ?54,000.

Still to come, worries for Red Bull as this season's car fails to

perform in testing. And the students getting a helping hand from one of

the best`known orchestras in Britain.

You may remember Beth Warren. Last week she won her legal fight to keep

her dead husband's sperm. Mrs Warren, who's from Newport Pagnell,

lost her husband to a brain tumour when he was just 32. Samples of his

sperm were stored before he died. But they were due to be destroyed

next year. But within a couple of hours, her joy turned to

disappointment when the Hum`n Fertilisation and Embryologx

Authority was given permisshon to appeal. This morning the authority

said it will not be appealing. Beth is in Birmingham now.

You look a lot happier tonight than you did last week. When the Jew

here? I heard at half past 01. I happened to be sorting out ly

e`mails and I saw an e`mail from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology

Authority telling me they wdre not going to appeal. Did they ghve you a

reason? They were initially looking to appeal because of the wider

implications. I am so happy It is hard to talk! They were worried

about the wider implications but they have decided that they can

marriage `` man is that why give themselves by looking at how they

manage clinics. What is the last week been like for you? Everyday

must have been difficult. Heartbreaking. To get that win in

High Court and think, this hs it. I have got everything, I've got my

future about. To be told th`t could be taken away and the fight could

continue is heartbreaking. @ lot of tears. Now it is all smiles. What

are your plans now? Hard yot worked at what you are going to do? Live my

future and see what happens. Definitely focus on my caredr and

become established as a physiotherapist. Build up mx

savings. Spend more time with friends and family. See what the

future holds. What do you think he would have made of this? I have been

told by somebody people how proud he would have been. He was a fhghter. I

am sure he would be proud. Xou still have not made a decision on when you

will use the sperm? No, I do hope it will be right in the future. I do

know that things change. I don't know. Now it just feels likd it

doesn't matter, I can focus on being happy and moving on. There `re no

restrictions on me any more. Celebration tonight? Yes! I have got

some friends coming around. A couple of drinks. Not too many, I have got

some friends coming around. A couple of drinks. Not too many, I'l working

tomorrow. Just the relief, everything, the happiness. H have

not got to fight any more. Ht is amazing. Lovely to see you looking

so well. So wonderful to sed that smile.

Next to motor racing, and the new Formula One season gets unddrway

this weekend. Red Bull of Mhlton Keynes will be looking for their

fifth title in as many years. But just when everything was gohng so

well for the team, the governing body of the sport has come tp with a

long list of changes to everything from engine size to fuel. And

testing for the new season has not been going to plan.

After months of quiet, Sund`y afternoons are about to get loud

again. Formula one is revving its engines for a new season. Rdd Bull

had had a stranglehold over the rest four years. Sebastian Vettel has won

34 out of the last 77 races, including the last nine in ` row. If

they win any more, the team will have to think of building a bigger

trophy cabinet. But things `re not looking so rosy ahead of thd first

race of the season in Austr`lia I think it is probably damage

limitation in the first few races. We need to get to the finish. It is

only in Melbourne we will sde where we are compared to our opponents. In

reality we have no idea. Rule changes mean smaller engines, added

weight and fuel limits have caused the team problems in testing. The

final days in Bahrain were spent mostly in the garage. Not only did

they have an unreliable enghne, that has a knock`on effect for you cannot

develop your car. The only way you can integrate new development is to

prove it on the racetrack. The only way you can prove that on the

racetrack is to run reliablx. It is a long season with plenty of time to

change their fortunes. A fifth title is not necessarily written off yet.

Whether you are winning or losing in this game, the goal is alwaxs the

same. It is always about trxing to improve, trying to be better. Trying

to engineer solutions to engineering problems. That is what this team has

proved to be fantastically talented at over the last few years. The team

will be working 24 hours a day in the build`up to the race on Sunday.

Can they summon the energy to make the car a contender again?

Scientists now believe babids start learning in the womb. Late hn a

pregnancy an unborn baby can recognise the sound of its lother's

voice. Now researchers at the University of Essex are tryhng to

find out more about the way babies carry on that learning after they're

born. A new laboratory has been set up at the university's centre for

brain science, and the rese`rch team has begun recruiting some vdry young

volunteers to help them in their work.

Relaxing in the Essex baby lab before playing her part in serious

scientific study. This 19 wdek gold is about to make our contribution to

a programme seeking better understanding of her childrdn and

young babies react to the world around them. First term mother sits

down with her in front of a screen. A series of infrared light to create

a reflection on the baby's dyes If device tracks the movement of the

eyes as different images appear We know that infancy is a statd in

which the brain develops more. We need to know what is going on, what

they think. She was not too sure about the next device Sylvi`

produced. It looks vaguely sinister. It is a head net. We have sdnsors

whereby we can pick up the electrical activity on the brain.

All of the sensors are covered by soft sponges, so babies are usually

fine with that. They do not even notice they have this speci`l hat

on. We record the activity on the brain. It is totally safe and

non`evasive. It just records. It is like a thermometer when you have ``

recording the temperature. We hope lessons will be learned, absolutely.

We want the parents to be more aware of their baby development. We find

it is really important to hdlp good bonding with the mother. To know a

little bit more about what hs going on in the brain. Idris Elba being a

star. Now the team are seekhng more young babies to take part in the

research. `` Iris. We think she is a humdinger. Stephen looked great in

that headset. Just imagine what it would be like

for a student band or school choir to have one of Britain's best known

orchestras as their very own backing group ` just for one day. That's

exactly what happened this lorning, when the BBC Concert Orchestra

played at the Hippodrome in Great Yarmouth. 800 people were there to

see a very special prom by the prom. The BBC Concert Orchestra is the

mainstay of Radio 2's Fridax night is music night. But today it was

about Thursday morning. Thex were in town to give local youngsters a

chance to see an orchestra tp close in full flight, and also to beat up

any notion that classical is too cool for school. The show w`s hosted

by Rebecca Keatley, BBC TV children's presenter. When xou are

in a school orchestra, it mhght not be as cool. Hopefully we will show

today the wide variety of things that orchestras do. It opens their

mind and their eyes to what is out there. The orchestra ran through the

classics to demonstrate how they are relevant to the class of 2004. Some

members of that class even got to take part. On percussion, students

from Aylsham high. And on vocals, the choir from Flegg High School. It

is amazing, the whole experhence. Most people are into pop and they do

not think orchestras are th`t in. But when you see them performing

songs now, it is really good. The concert closed with a real pinch me

moment for a young rock band. Titled macro played with the BBC orchestra

as their backing group. `` The Rumble. It is not something that

happens every day. It is prdtty cool. The power and enthusi`sm

generated by a live orchestra is tremendous. Those kids have never

heard anything like that. From Mozart to a medley for the World

Cup, these young people havd been given an experience they will never

forget. For some it could bd life changing. That is the idea.

Tomorrow's musicians may have found their calling today.

We were just saying how noisy it was when nothing was happening. They

were having such a great tile. The weather. Let's start with a

foggy scene from this morning. Scenes like this across the region.

The fog was quite widespread. Once more to night, it would become

widespread. It had an impact on the temperatures we achieved today. You

can see from the satellite hmages, some of the areas where it lingered.

Particularly the North Norfolk coast. As we go through this evening

and overnight, this fog will become quite dense. Poor visibilitx. If you

have travel plans later tonhght or early tomorrow morning, do `llow

extra time. It could cause some disruption. Not a great deal of

depth to the fog. Damages could get close to freezing. A touch of frost

is possible. `` temperatures. When the frog `` fog clears, we should

have reasonable day. Longer spells of sunshine expected in the

afternoon. If you hang onto any fog, expect a cooler day. 14 or 06

degrees in the sunshine. Thd wind will pick up a little bit. Ht will

push any fog into the North Sea from the coast. It is looking largely

fine for the afternoon. Long spells of sunshine. Looking ahead, the

pressure patter and sticks `round. High`pressure sticking around. A

week weather front heading south. That will introduce more cloud. The

breeze will pick up. What it means for the weekend is that we will not

have problems with mist and fog We will not have problems with Frost.

It maybe cooler. Saturday whll bring quite a bit of cloud. For m`ny, a

cooler day. Temperatures will shoot up in the sunshine. A better

prospect on Sunday. Longer spells of sunshine. Cloud around on Monday.

The breeze continuing into next week.

That's all from us. Join us tomorrow. Good night.