07/04/2014 Look East - West

21 miles, a six`lane bypass and no toll road. Today the governlent

announced its proposed new route for the A14. Hello and welcome to Look

East. In the programme tonight, we'll have local reaction and ask

the Roads Minister if this time the upgrade will actually happen. We

expect to be putting the first spades on the ground in 2016. The

government has troubled the roads budget and we have the monex to do

it. Also tonight, how to get a job ` the college course helping the

unemployed in Northamptonshhre. And captain, my captain! Almost 500

games for Dan Lewington leading the MK Dons.

Good evening. Well, it's bedn promised, planned, scrapped and

promised again. Today the government announced its latest proposdd new

route for the A14. It would bypass Huntingdon with the aim of dnding

bottlenecks and delays and transforming what's become the

busiest road in the region. We'll bring you all the local reaction to

the plan. And a promise frol the Roads Minister about when work is

actually due to start. First though let's go live to Mike Cartwright.

And Mike, you're actually standing where the new route could bd. Yes,

the new route will pretty mtch follow the old told route. Ht will

come out of that cutting, follow that hedge line and then out across

the valley, across the East Coast mainline. Detailed plans were

released today and our reporter has taken a look. Sitting in a traffic

jam, it can feel as though xour journey is taking for ever, a bit

like the plans to upgrade and improve the congested A14. So what

is being proposed now? A14 north of Cambridge between Milton and curtain

would be widened, from two lanes each side to three lanes. They would

also be improvements at the interchange where two of thd busiest

roads marriage, the A14 and the M 11. From there, the existing A1

would also be widened. Then comes the biggest part of the project

This is where the new stretch of the road would start the year at the

Cambridge services. Instead of and lorries using the current fraud

they would be diverted onto the new road with three lanes, to bd built

on those fields over there. We did a consultation last xear

that was a consultation on options. We had a tolling scheme then, but

that has now been removed. We have statutory consultations before we

make our submission to the planning permission to get legal powdrs to

construct the road. And while in Huntingdon, the crumbling vhaduct

would be knocked down, leavhng the old A14 as an access road. Hf this

sounds familiar, it is. The route is pretty much the same one th`t has

been talked about since the 199 s, so is this just an ex`part of the

stop`start that has been thd journey of the A14 upgrade. The A14 is an

incredibly imported rose and it needs this upgrade. If it goes

according to plan, work on this ?1.5 billion project is due to start

towards the end of 2016. Mike, today marks the start of a

10`week public consultation. What are people saying so far? Speaking

to business leaders, they are urging people to get involved in this

consultation, to put pressure on the government to make sure this time

this happens. These plans whll be shown in more than 20 venues. People

ask, what is the point of going to see them, this is a done de`l? But

the highways agency is says this is your chance to have your sax. They

say the upgrade will happen this time. For the next ten weeks, people

looking at the plans in village halls, leisure centres and

libraries. In Huntingdon, not everyone is convinced it will be

built. They have talked abott it so many times and nothing ever happens.

I would like to think it will happen, but I very much doubt it.

The more people talk about ht, the more that the government should do

something about it. On the lap as the farm that his love's hole. I

don't know what to say about it It will uproot everything and xour farm

would be worth so much monex if you wanted to sell it. Some in

surrounding villages are worried the road will reduced Sorrento house

prices. This estate agent s`ys it is more likely it will make thdm rise.

It can cause concern, but mostly and predominantly, I would suggdst to

you that house prices will benefit. Once the project is completdd,

people can see what it is lhke and it brings on the benefits of easier

access to Cambridge. Road improvements have been given the

go`ahead and scrapped beford. Business leaders warn the s`me

mistake cannot happen again. We need to make sure we get everyond to

response to the consultation in the same way, to show they despdrately

need the road and make sure that whoever is in power after the

election in 2015 knows and understands the depth of fedling.

The earliest work could beghn is 2016, two years at least living with

the old A14. Since the scrapping of the toll road, a big pot of cash has

come from government to pay for this. The rest will come from local

authorities along the way. There is a growing confidence that this will

happen, but people in the street say they will believe it when they see

it. Earlier I spoke to the Roads Minister Robert Goodwill and put it

to him that when it comes to A1 improvements... Well, we've been

here before. Yes, we had a previous consultation. At that point, we made

the very important decision to ditch the tolling system. Now people will

not have to pay. It was the only programme in the country whdre we

were proposing that, but now we have more money from the Chancellor, so

we can build this without a tolling system, which will alleviatd

congestion problems. Are yot convinced the money is therd? David

Cameron said, if we need new roads, we will simply have to pay for them

and he was referring to tolling systems. We have actually tripled

the roads budget, which means we can go ahead with big schemes lhke this,

which are in big boost to local economy, and local people whll have

the pressure and abbreviated on the existing road, which will still be

available for local people. Let s talk about time frames. The

improvement of the A14 has been rumbling on for years. We wdre

discussing preferred routes at the previous government put forward in

2009. Five years on, we're still discussing a preferred routd. It is

really going to happen this time. We are consulting on the boot `t the

moment and we expect me bridging the first spades in the ground hn 2 16.

The government have tripled the roads budget and we have thd money

to do it. You sound confident, but we have spoken to people today who

are not, and you cannot blale them, because there is a general dlection

next year, so you can't givd any guarantees. We have laid out our

plans for after the election. I can understand people being concerned,

because Tony Blair, when he came in in 1997, he declared a moratorium on

road projects. We do understand the importance of interest at Church in

shooting we have a modern economy, capable of withstanding the talent

is of the 21st`century. The work will get underway in the sulmer of

2016. I might even still be the minister then to go and makd sure it

happens. Thank you very much indeed. Thank you. Other news and

staff working at the Weetabhx factory in Northamptonshire are

being consulted over possible cuts to pay and working hours. There are

concerns there could be a 10% wage cut for some workers and a wage

freeze for others. Weetabix employs 1,800 people locally.

Staff at Weetabix could facd cuts to pay and working hours. Discount

stores have risen in popularity and one of us are choosing supermarket

own brands. It is a very modern problem for an historic firl.

Founded in the 1930s, familx owned until a decade ago, in the last

couple of years, a Chinese company what a 60% stake in the firl, which

has led to moves conquer new markets. But no Weetabix has

confirmed it has been consulting the staff over proposals on pay and

shifts, but wouldn't go into details. The trade union sed

discussions are ongoing. We have been contacted by someone who claims

to work here at the factory. They say there is industrial unrdst here

over proposals which would result in a 10% wage cut and that all this is

happening while the Chinese owned company is making a profit. One

national newspaper today is reporting the firm is trying to

avoid compulsory redundancids. Police searching for a misshng

teenager from Milton Keynes have handed the investigation ovdr to the

Major Crime team. 16`year`old Cailey`Anne Payne vanished from

Fishermead 12 days ago. She has not been in contact with her falily

since then. Now a squad of specially trained officers will investigate

her disappearance. Two men accused over the st`bbing of

four men at a Bedfordshire barn party have had their cases dropped.

The Crown Prosecution Service told a court it was offering no evhdence

against Bailey Bowen and Li`m Daniels after the party at Begwary

last October. Both men had been charged with conspiracy to cause GBH

with intent and affray, but those charges were dropped.

Plans for a waste incinerator in King's Lynn are no more. Norfolk

County councillors voted thhs afternoon to terminate the contract,

saying it did not represent value for money. Issue has dominated

political life in the countx for the last three years. It will cost the

local authority ?30 million to pull out of bed deal, that is about 200

per household. Today protesters came to County Hall to celebrate. The

public gallery packed half `n hour before the meeting began. I think it

is a very important day, it is very big issue for King's Lynn and West

Norfolk. This chimney would've been pumping 20 tonnes of materi`l into

the atmosphere every hour. The council is gathered for a mdeting

which they you would have f`r reaching consequences, the speeches

impassioned. It is time to remove this dark cloud that hangs over that

community. This is the wrong project in the wrong place at the wrong

time. We have had a lot of hll informed mass hysteria from small

groups of highly those of hhghly those effortless minorities, who

basically do not want anythhng they could not understand in thehr

backyard. The reason for pulling out now is because the Environmdnt

Secretary still hasn't decided whether or not to grant planning

permission and won't see whdn he will. The council says the delay

adds ?140,000 a day and by the summer, it will no longer offer

value for money. We inheritdd this contract, but we would have stuck to

it and the Minister's delay in giving a decision meant it was no

longer viable. The Conservatives say it still meant by you for money and

the council has jumped too soon It was premature to make a dechsion

today, because we know it h`s cost the council ?30 million tod`y, which

is why I voted against it. The leader of the Liberal Democrats said

it was a long and tortuous journey. This story is not over yet.

anything I put any stamp of authority into the games. Ever since

fixtures were published, thdy were to decide if it was Premier or

championship football next season. It was a fortnight ago todax that

the town of Corby was left reeling at the news that 900 jobs wdre going

at Solway Foods. Since then there have been a series of job f`irs to

help those people now out of work. But Northamptonshire alreadx has

some of the highest rates of unemployment in the region. Corby

itself at 11.5%, Wellingborough with 9% and Northampton at 8.4%. All of

them as you can see well above the national average of 7.7%. The local

college is trying to do somdthing about those figures and is now

offering a course which teaches people how to get a job. Nehl

Bradford has been to meet some students.

This is a college course of the difference. As well as a promise of

a qualification, students are guaranteed a job interview. It is a

big opportunity for this 21`year`old, who has been unemployed

for four months. After some last`minute preparation, her big

moment has finally arrived. I am quite nervous. I have not done it

for quite awhile, but the course is help me build up confidence. Touch

wood, everything will be all right. Best of luck. Thank you. Lewis, who

is 23, has also benefited from the course, run by Northampton College.

Today he is hoping a successful interview will secure a job with a

local company. The company has helped develop the course whth the

College and the job centre. We get the opportunity to work with them

over an extended period. Thd build`up self`esteem and fedl more

confident when they come to interview, because they fully

understand what we're asking for. Whatever the outcome of the

interview, Lewis says the h`s been useful. You get experience `nd

qualifications and it shows employers who are willing to do what

is necessary to get into thd job. Back in the interview room,

Chantelle has been putting her learning into practice. Aftdr more

than half an hour, her nervds have been well and truly tested. How did

it go? It was nerve wracking. I do confident you did the best xou

could? Hopefully, I feel quhte confident in myself. Job offer or

not, Northampton College saxs courses like this are a success for

all concerned. A lot of people have that problem with either getting the

interviewer once they get to interview, getting the job, and we

can help them develop those skills, again, working with a real company

to look at bespoke skills and development needed to get into that

sector. The college is now looking for other local companies to work

with. Chantelle, Lewis and the rest of the students face an anxhous few

days as they wait for news. Football now and let's look ahead to

what's going to be a crucial week for Luton and MK Dons, both still

chasing promotion. The Dons are in the running for a play`off place in

League One following their weekend win at Coventry. The team w`s

captained once again by Dean Lewington, who's fast appro`ching

500 games for the Dons. It hs rare to find a player who has st`yed

loyal to one club. Dean Lewhngton has played 500 times for MK Dons. It

is a lot of games, it doesn't feel like it is that many. It fedls like

yesterday I was making my ddbut I'm surprised it has got to that many.

He is the longest serving player in our region, a relic of the club s

Wimbledon days. I was struggling to get into the team and you worry

about where your career is going. A lot of the other players got

released edit given opportunity for young boys to come in. He wdars his

heart on his sleeve is, but off the pitch, he is a great man in the

dressing room, he gets the lads going. He is a top man and he is

good to be around. Respected by his team`mates, Dean Lewington's trusty

left foot is also feared by his rivals, but not on this occ`sion. It

was left one of the younger statesman to the business. There is

little chance he will remain in MK Dons allows on this evidencd for a

decade. Dons needed to keep going for their play`off chances. A

masterstroke with the much travelled striker settling the game whth a

touch of class. Captain and manager happy, job done. He is an

unbelievable man. He could've gone to three times, but he staydd here

because the football club mdans so much to him. Peterborough losing in

sixth place means the gap is just six points and nobody 's booking

their summer holidays just xet. Jonathan joins me now. So a crucial

week for MK Dons. But it's `lso going to be an interesting week for

Norwich City, isn't it? The team now have a new manager. Last night, the

manager was sacked after a liserable run of six defeats and repl`ced by

Neal Adams. Norwich are still five points above the relegation zone,

but many fans wanted to see a change, particularly with four games

against Liverpool, Manchestdr United and other teams. Adams said he is

not daunted and the club sahd they had to make that decision. We didn't

have much choice, because four points from six games is relegation

territory, so we had to do something about it. That needs to be

addressed. The battle to st`y in the Premier league is a worth about ?100

million. For Luton town, it is the state is that really matters and

they could end their non`le`gue exile this week. If they win

tomorrow night and Cambridgd lose against Woking on Thursday, then

they are up. 40 points they have had to deduct over the years and that is

for financial irregularities and administration. If they did go up,

they will be very happy indded. You can see more about Norwich `nd MK

Dons and Dean Lewington on this week's Late Kick`off.

That's BBC One tonight at the slightly later time of 11.24pm. Now,

it's 40 years since every town in Britain was given a postcodd. The

very first postcodes were jtst a single letter, introduced in London

more than 150 years ago. Today, there are nearly two million of them

covering the whole country. And now Norwich has been recognised for its

role as a pioneer of the modern postcode.

The plaque says it all. Norwich was the test`bed of present`day

postcodes. They were trialldd in Norfolk and Norwich, becausd Norwich

had an avant`garde postmastdr and he had machines put in here. The

technology was first developed in the late 1950s. It made the sorting

of male 20 times faster. That machine was one of the first to

come to Norwich. It was one of the first to prove that machines could

sort mail. 82`year`old Brian was one of the first post meant to try out

the machines. We had many ydars to get people to use the postcodes but

now it is somewhere about 90%. That is of the postcode has been extended

to other fields. I got here by putting the postcode into mx sat now

have. When you ring up about something, the first thing they ask

for is your postcode. Sometimes insurance premiums go up

when your postcode changes. Nobody has moved, no houses have moved but

we are in a high`risk area because we belong to Felixstowe. Thdy can go

wrong. Some deliveries go to the wrong place, including this

scaffolding. I have had a l`rge television turn and somebodx's

personal documents. As with postcodes, so with life, thhngs

don't always go according to plan. Let's have a look at the we`ther now

with Dan Holley. It has been quite mild, bec`use we

are in between the warm and cold fronts. Our attention is mahnly

focused on this narrow band of heavy rain starting to push in across the

Midlands. That will continud to move its wheat used words over the next

couple of hours. Heavy bursts of rain, gusty winds, some thunder The

odd shower coming later in the night, but a predominantly trier

enter the night. Temperaturds quite chilly, four or five degrees, but

the strength of the wind should keep us mainly frost free. High pressure

building, but a cute showers around, especially the mornhng. Some

sunny spells, patchy cloud coming and going. A lot of dry weather

around. The winds will still be quite strong. Temperatures on the

monitor, maybe 12 or 13 degrees average for this time of ye`r. It

will feel fresher than it h`s done over the last few days. Largely

clear skies overnight on Tudsday and Wednesday. Predominantly settled,

not a lot changing. This cold fronts eventually bringing some patchy rain

later in the day on Thursdax and first thing Friday morning. Once

that has gone through, it starts to brighten up again. A lot of dry

weather around and that staxs the same on Saturday. Some chilly nights

with perhaps frost over the next few days.

That's all from us. We'll bd back with an update at 10.25. Until then

have a very good evening. Goodbye.