16/04/2014 Look East - West

Korean ferry capsized. That's all

Hello and welcome to Look E`st. In the programme tonight. New trains

for old. The government confirms ?2.7 billion for the East Coast

mainline. Police plan to put prisoners in a

mobile cell block after custody suites in Bedford are ruled unsafe.

I will be here later in the programme. Already a sea of yellow

and a bumper crop is expectdd, three weeks early. Luton Town are back in

the football league, without kicking a ball. Good evening. We have

confirmation tonight of a ?2.7 billion investment for one of our

main rail lines. The East Coast mainline will get a new fledt of

state`of`the`art trains. Passengers will have to wait four years for

them. But the government saxs the investment will transform journeys

and boost the economy. But commuters are concerned they'll end up paying

with higher fares. Louise Htbball reports.

Here it Peterborough, many passengers were getting awax for an

early Easter break. The East Coast line, running from London and up to

Scotland is a vital business Link. The announcement confirming almost

500 new carriages is big news. The new stock will start rolling along

the east coast main line from 2 18. For commuters, it will mean almost

20% more seats on each train and reduce journey times and, the

government says, improved reliability. The timetable for the

new trains is in four years. What does a ?2.7 billion investmdnt mean

for people who use the servhce in Peterborough? It will be fantastic,

for commuters in general, gdtting to London, it takes time off otr day if

they ran faster. The only problem would be if it was two minutes

quicker and the price doublds. It is already expensive. That sounds like

a good idea. If it is true, it is good news. I commute to London

regularly and the service so far has been good. The East Coast franchise

has been run by the governmdnt since 2009 and is due to return into

private hands early next ye`r. Some question whether that has slowed

down confirmation of the cash today. We did not allow public owndrship to

delay investment, which is why we were able to make the announcement

today. The funding is in pl`ce. The franchise process is a procdss that

is ongoing and not yet completed. We went ahead in order to order the

carriages so they would not be held up. Some rail experts say the new

carriages sound familiar. Wd have heard it before. We know thd new

trains are arriving. They promised this 2.7 billion investment, they

have not explained how this money will be paid for. One busindss

leaders said what is import`nt now is the economic impact. We need a

line that is enabling us to get the investment and drive business

forward, which means we need quality, reliability and thd

business community wants a railway fit for purpose. It has been a day

for relevant announcement whth Abellio Great Anglia launchhng a new

off`peak Cambridge to Stansted service from July.

Earlier this afternoon, I spoke to Mike Hewitson from Passenger Focus,

who welcomes the investment. It is good news. Investment, we h`ve been

calling for investment for xears and will see it in the form of new

trains. This confirms an announcement made last year and it

seems the finances have been sorted out. Passengers like new tr`ins

especially if they are more reliable, comfortable and whth space

for luggage. The government says it will transform rail travel on that

line. Are you convinced by that It does help. Some of the servhces on

that line from the 1970s. They have done a good job that there hs a

point when you need something more modern, with facilities such as

power sockets and trains th`t work better to move us into the lodern

world. The prime purpose is the trades faster, which will hdlp, but

it is reliability. They shotld come with a more reliable packagd and the

time between breakdown should be less. Our passengers going to end up

paying for this? If the trahn arrives two minutes faster, but the

price of the ticket doubles, it will not go down well as we heard in the

report. Value for money is one of the important thing is one of the

important things for passengers There is no automatic link between

new trains and new fares. F`res are set by the government. For lany

years we have had inflation plus 1% and last year it was inflathon

only. That is what we would be looking to see. We have had enough

of above inflation increases and passengers are paying their share.

What we need now is the invdstment that rewards the previous inflation

plus fair in crease. We will not see the benefits for some time xet.

2018, a couple of years to bring them in. They are complicatdd to put

together. It is a shame it has been delayed, but at least now wd have a

date. Passenger groups are looking at them and have the chance to

comment and we are getting feedback. It is a step towards. Four len who

were jailed last year for plotting a terrorist attack on a Territorial

Army base in Luton have appdaled to have their sentences reduced. . Our

reporter Ben Bland was following the proceedings and joins me now. They

were planning to blow up thd Territorial Army base using

explosives attached to a car. They were Zahid Iqbal, Mohammed Sharfaraz

Ahmed, also involved were Sxed Farhan Hussain, Umar Arshad,. There

was a plot to strap explosives underneath a toy car and to set it

off under a military vehicld but the plan was foiled before they could

carry it out. They were charged under the terrorism act and pleaded

guilty. They were given sentences between five years and 16 ydars for

the two ringleaders. The judge said those to post a continuing risk to

the public. They argue they did not get enough reductions of thd guilty

pleas. The ringleader, Zahid Iqbal, said they were too long compared to

other cases. It was not madd out such as to have the extended

sentence. The learned the trial judge took inappropriate methods

into consideration. Meanwhile, the lawyer for the Crown Prosecttion

Service said they were not `rguing the sentences should be longer, they

were there to argue the original sentences should remain and welfare.

We, for the prosecution, do not intend any of the sentences were

lenient, still less, on dulx lenient. Beyond that, it is a matter

for this court to view the sentences imposed. It is down to the three

judges to consider the argulents and to decide whether to reduce the

sentences. A damning inspection has forced the sudden closure of police

cells in Bedford after reports that prisoners were at risk. The decision

has put pressure on police to set up a temporary mobile cell block at

their headquarters at Kempston. The unannounced inspection of cdlls

across the county lasted fotr days and is expected to result in a

scathing report of provision at Greyfriars police station.

Greyfriars police station in Bedford opened in 1963 and the cells have

not changed much. The layout is dated. When the inspectors paid an

unexpected visit, the Assistant Chief Constable decided to close

them down immediately. It w`s felt the cell block was disrespectful

environment and there was a lack of dignity for the detained people and

visitors. Also highlighted hn their view there are a number of risks

that could lead to people h`rm to themselves. For now prisoners will

be taken to Dunstable but there is a plan to install a temporary block.

It is at Bedfordshire Policd headquarters the temporary cell

block is likely to be installed probably in the next few wedks, the

car park to the rear of the building. It is happening qtickly

because of the sudden loss of the police cells at Greyfriars station.

The inspectors praised the professionalism of custody staff who

had to work with substandard accommodation. Police are now

urgently seeking planning pdrmission for the cell blocks. It is no

difference if it is temporary or permanent, it should have no impact

on public safety and the nulber of staff will be the same in ctstody.

The standards we need to achieve will store be met. A permandnt block

will replace the temporary tnit in the next two to three years. Across

the region, modern suites are slowly replacing the old dated polhce

cells. The Police and Crime Commissioner is in the area are

looking at eventually sharing police cells to improve efficiency and save

money. A woman has died in ` fire at a sheltered housing block in

Peterborough. Three crews wdre called to the fire in St Edlunds

Walk in Hampton Hargate aftdr a fire broke out in a first floor flat

yesterday evening. The woman, who was in her 80s, died in the flat. A

man was treated for smoke inhalation. Concerns about the way

people are held in custody `t airports in Essex and Bedfordshire

have been raised by the prisons watchdog. Stansted and Luton

airports have been criticisdd in a report by the Chief Inspector of

Prisons for handcuffing det`inees in full view of the public. Those are

the top stories tonight. opens to the public again on May

two, it is hoped it will the top stories tonight. Now it s

over to Stewart for the rest of the programme.

Still to come, Luton town celebrating a return to the football

league after five years in dxile. And the harvest comes three weeks

early thanks to the milder weather. It's thought there are six lillion

military veterans in the cotntry, and many face big problems when they

leave the Forces. Some are hnjured, some have mental health isstes and

it can have a huge impact on their families. Today in Essex,

researchers from around the country came together for the launch of the

Veterans and Families Institute at Anglia Ruskin University. And they

hope to be able to influencd the policy of the Government.

Said Watson from Colchester is by her own admission a shadow of her

former self. She was medically discharged from the Royal Logistics

Corps in 2012 after a hip replacement and if the stunning

accident which left her with a broken neck. She has been a

body`building champion and ` fitness instructor, now she uses crttches

and a wheelchair and is in constant pain. She has been diagnosed with

post`traumatic stress disorder after losing her health and her c`reer. It

is still very scary and the fact that you have been so upset in the

army and then you are injurdd and you can even run, you can express

yourself, your children are dressing and things like that, I felt

absolutely useless. Just like a spare part. In Chelmsford the lodge

of the veterans and families Institute. It is a UK first, all of

the major research into the problems faced by veterans and their families

brought together in one place. We will be happy if we carry ott

meaningful research which h`s an impact. We will be particul`rly

happy if that we search for other papers we write makes a difference

to national policy and we whll be most happy if what we do makes a

real difference to the lives of veterans and their families. The

conflict in Iraq and Afghanhstan have the veterans issues into the

spotlight. Soldiers have cole back with terrible injuries and

psychological trauma. Putting a huge strain on their families. Kdvin

Spruce served in Germany, Northern Ireland and the Falklands. When he

left the Army in marriage break`up followed but he still sees

themselves as a soldier. Whdn I came out there was an expectation of

assimilation which means I lust forget my past and learn thhs new

future. That is not going to happen. I came out in 88 and my

self`identity still isn't soldier. It is not civilian. The vetdrans and

families Institute wants to make a difference, or veterans now and in

the future. That work starts in earnest today. Lady Dannatt is the

wife of the former head of the British Army and has had first`hand

experience of how Army life can affect families. She is also the

high Sheriff of Norfolk and has chosen mental health awarendss as

her focus. She came to the studio and told me that military pdrsonnel

have problems that we `` re`ch life in the front line Those in combat

zones often have particular difficulties, because of wh`t they

have seen on the battlefield, in the theatre of war. Truly terrible

things, they do see. But yot are absolutely right. The milit`rily,

the regiment provides a famhly for our young people, some of them are

only 17 and a half or 18 whdn they come to us. They have come from

perhaps very rough or virtu`lly nonexistent homes themselves. The

regiment becomes their home, it is their home, their family for the

next 22 years and suddenly ht is taken away. That is very, vdry hard.

Why doesn't the military do more about it? I think the milit`ry are

waking up and trying to do lore about it. It takes so long for

somebody with a mental health problem to actually get help. There

is a quote that says if I broke my leg I would see a doctor

straightaway, if I have a mdntal health problem it can take the four

or five months. Four or fivd months. This is an absolute tragedy. I heard

very recently of a young man, a local young man who put his hand up

and had the courage with his mother to see get help from a GP. The GP

did everything she could, prescribed medication, made a raft of

appointments, but unfortunately he took his life before the first

appointment was reached bec`use the interval of time was so gre`t. So we

as a society have a role to play in this. You as High Sherrif whll be

trying to play a role, but what can we do? I think we can talk `bout it

a lot more, there is still, even today, there is a huge stigla,

discrimination about mental illness. I would like people to talk about

mental illness just in the same way the top about a migraine attack or a

broken limb. There will be somebody watching this tonight who bdlieves

that maybe they do have the mental health problem. And are afr`id to go

and ask somebody for help. What would you say to them? I wotld say I

absolutely understand where they are coming from, I had postnatal

depression after two of my four babies, it was very hard. A, to

recognise it and B, to actu`lly summon the courage to put one's hand

up and ask for help. Help is out there, though and it is really not

difficult. GPs, CPMs, they `re very attuned and very sympathetic and

although that was minimal compared to what a lot of people go through,

it was enough to make me re`lise that I never, ever wanted to go

there again. Lady Dannatt, thank you very much. That's quite all right.

There are 170,000 hectares of oilseed rape in this region, that's

an area bigger than Bedfordshire. It mean nearly a quarter of all the

oilseed rape grown in England is grown here. This year the crop has

flowered early and the harvdst is expected to be very good. And of

course that's because of thd weather. The details from Kdvin

Burch. They are like fields of gold, given

even greater radiance on a day like today. From the air you start to

appreciate the true scale of easy yellow swathes. Ten years ago, Sam

Fares from Suffolk became the first farmer in the UK to market rapeseed

oil. Now it is a thriving btsiness. A lot of people thought we were mad

but as a family we could not understand why it was that dveryone

was telling us use cold`pressed extra virgin olive oil and the

Mediterranean diet and all of this sort of thing. Why is nobodx cold

pressing rapeseed? There was just that question. In the ten ydars

since this enterprise startdd here in Suffolk, the amount of ohl seed

rape being grown across the east of the region has gone up by 90%. And

if you look at production across England as a whole, well ovdr a

quarter of it comes from thhs part of the world. It is easy to see why

farmers have been thinking "kerching", because the cooking oil

market today is worth an estimated ?326 million. The power of the sun

is critical for the crop and critical for production. Thdse solar

panels power the machinery. The rapeseed which is 46% or oil is

squeezed with whatever left over used for animal feed. The ohl is

pumped through 36 filters and then away to be bottled. Each ye`r they

produce around 300,000 litrds. It is a healthy oil, it is low in

saturated fat and this is the way the government are pushing

manufacturers to bring down the saturated fats in food, to bring

down the salt and sugar. We are part of that and manufacturers are now

coming to us and saying, "Wd need your oil." Look at this, Suffolk,

perfect, sunny Suffolk, perfect day. All crops like this. Everyone smiles

when the sun comes out. Even farmers smile. Until we want some r`in!

There is no denying the risd in rapeseed has been rapid and that

growth shows no sign of slowing Kevin Birch, BBC Look East.

Luton Town have secured prolotion back to the Football League. The

Hatters were confirmed as Conference champions last night after

second`placed Cambridge lost 2`nil at Kidderminster. In a moment we

take a look at a troubling five years at the club. But first Neil

Bradford has spent the day with Hatters fans. In the mood at

Kenilworth Road could not h`ve been happier. These fans came to support

the reserve team and revel hn the glory of promotion. I have been

supporting Luton since I was that high and this absolutely brhlliant.

We are so proud of our team and the fans deserve it. Happy? Verx happy.

Nigel Martyn known to most `s Santa first came here on his eighth

birthday. Being back in the beak is the best thing that has happened to

this club in five years. It is what we deserve. It is awesome.

Fantastic. In the supporters shocked this consignment of Luton town

onesies could not have arrived at a better time. Fans queued up to bike

club merchandise, keen to rdmain every one of the team's success I

have nothing left to sell for that game. A busy time in the ticket

office. The games are sell`outs I have been interested in the games

this season so I decided I would get a ticket but obviously the

excitement of last night/me down here. The chief executive s`ys he

cannot thank fans enough. They have stuck by others and that has been

very special to us. To all of us really, here, we have a big thanks

and we are very proud of thdm. The chairman, for heaven, promotion was

something to savour. I was monitoring the scores of evdning, I

went bonkers, leapt up and shouted and poured another glass of wine.

There has not been a offici`l confirmation from the club but we

understand that a civic recdption and parade is planned for Stnday the

4th of May. Another chance to celebrate for fans, young and old.

The troubles at Luton reallx came to a head nearly six years ago when the

Football League said the cltb would start the new season on mints 3

points. Nobody was surprised when they dropped out of the Football

League. Our Sports Editor Jonathan Park reports on the clubs troubled

past. They have seen it all. David Pleat's

jig, Brian Stein's Wembley winner and the dark times, the FA's brutal

punishment. Banished to a non`league, the club has bedn on a

journey no other football club has ever experienced. I have sedn a lot

of hurt from Luton fans in the past five, six, seven years. Chalpionship

club all the way down to thhs division and then a real struggle

through different managers to get back to this point. I think in John

Still they found somebody who understands Luton and has rdshaped

Luton in many ways. He has lade it a new Luton. Three other managers have

tried and failed to get Luton over the finishing line, but John Still

has united everyone, this is his third promotion from the conference,

and up there with his greatdst achievements. The Dagenham thing

would be close to me becausd I was a supporter. Like one of thesd lads

supporting and managing Luton. But because it is now and because there

are so many people here that believe it is their position in the league

by right that was taken awax it is a special occasion. It is a dhfferent

outlook from five years ago, severely punished by the football

authorities, deducted 30 pohnts for financial infringements, Mick

Harford faced an impossible task to escape relegation to the conference,

ending 89 years as a football league club. So, the sleeping lower`league

giant is woken. Luton crowds are bigger than most in the two leagues

above, over 10,000 watched them try and lift the trophy at home on

Saturday. Where next? Some believe a journey that could end at the very

top. Once we are back in thd football league we have a great

set`up here, the manager is really putting a team together and the

squad together, most import`ntly, of players who are capable of playing

at the high level. There ard plenty of other teams who have gond up and

gone from nowhere to be in the top flight even, Luton can cert`inly aim

to be back in the championship. If they do manage multiple prolotions

it will speed up the club 's plans to build a new ground. Kenilworth

Road is full of memories but for a club in a hurry to find its natural

place in the football pyramhd, it will hold the club back. Jonathan

Park, BBC Look East. Let's look at the weather.

It was another cold me last night with a number of locations hf you

degrees below freezing. Our coldest spot was at may but was the warmest

spot today in the sunshine, temperatures of 17 degrees. You can

see the extent of the fine weather, and this is down to the are` of high

pressure stretching to the dastern part of the British Isles. Xou can

see how much sunshine we recorded today. Tonight we will start fine

with clear spells and there will be increasing amount of cloud later

tonight. For most of us we should be free of frost with temperattres

hovering around five or six degrees. If there are breaks in the cloud at

that point these numbers cotld go lower so we should expect P`tty

frost in places. Tomorrow whll be cloudy but we should get off to a

great start and it certainlx looks like a great start as we have a weak

weather front heading southwards. We should see early sunshine in this

cloud starts to develop frol the Northwest, heading southwards, so

counties like Essex made he`d on to some sunshine throughout thd day. It

will warm up in the sunshind so we might record temperatures of around

17 degrees. There will be a noticeable breeze coming from the

West. This cloud could be shck enough to produce a light r`in or

drizzle in places, it will be mostly dry but the risk is there. The

pressure pattern for Easter is looking mixed, because we do get off

a fine start on Saturday but this the pressure pattern for thd East on

Sunday. Low pressure moving into the British Isles and we will sde some

wet weather but there is certainly some fine weather to be had before

we get there. The next few days look OK, apart from the close tolorrow.

That is a slight blip. This weather front will introduce much cooler

air. It will feel cold on Friday and Saturday but certainly bright with

long spells of sunshine. Be aware that Freddie and could bring the

risk of frost as temperaturds fall under clear skies but the ldss said

about Easter Sunday the better. All that sunshine and Easter Sunday

it rains! See you tomorrow.