:00:04. > :00:07.Good evening and welcome to BBC Look North. The headlines tonight:
:00:07. > :00:15.As tens of thousands wait for council housing, one authority
:00:15. > :00:20.begins building for the first time in 20 years.
:00:20. > :00:26.We have a large waiting list of 3,400 people. Many individuals are
:00:26. > :00:29.waiting for housing, often up to five or six years.
:00:29. > :00:31.The Energy Minister says the Humber could become one of the most
:00:31. > :00:33.important areas in the country for renewable energy.
:00:33. > :00:37.Going for gold - the horsewoman aiming for the Paralympics despite
:00:37. > :00:47.being told she'd never ride again. Seven months and counting - the
:00:47. > :00:49.
:00:49. > :00:59.And hopefully we will see some more brightness tomorrow. For your
:00:59. > :01:00.
:01:00. > :01:06.There are more than 50,000 families on council house waiting lists in
:01:06. > :01:11.East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. This has led to one council leader
:01:12. > :01:14.saying his city is in the midst of a housing crisis. Lincoln is to get
:01:15. > :01:19.its first social housing in two decades as concerns grow that the
:01:19. > :01:21.problem is getting worse. But the government says it is taking
:01:21. > :01:31.measures to try and ease families' difficulties. Phillip Norton
:01:31. > :01:33.
:01:33. > :01:37.Chris has got a family of seven squeezed into a 10 -- two-bedroom
:01:37. > :01:41.house in Lincoln. They have been waiting for a new home for six
:01:41. > :01:44.years. We have had head teachers, doctors,
:01:44. > :01:50.councillors, the MP - all sorts are working on the case and we are
:01:50. > :01:52.getting nowhere. The council says there's a limited
:01:52. > :01:58.number of large properties available. But the family is not
:01:58. > :02:02.the only ones. There's 3,000 on the waiting list in Lincoln. People
:02:02. > :02:07.like Mark, who found himself homeless this year. He and his
:02:07. > :02:11.partner have been told it could be up to six years.
:02:11. > :02:16.We have been waiting for Macro weeks. We have had no letters, no
:02:16. > :02:22.nothing from the council, not even a phone call. This is what I can't
:02:22. > :02:27.understand about the slow process of wife. -- or why it takes so long.
:02:27. > :02:32.So now the council is building more social housing.
:02:32. > :02:37.We have got a housing crisis. It is not an exaggeration to say that. We
:02:37. > :02:45.have got a large waiting list of 3,400 people. Many individuals are
:02:45. > :02:47.waiting for housing, often up to five or six years. We have an
:02:47. > :02:51.increasing amount of homelessness as well.
:02:51. > :02:55.The problem is widespread. In Hull, this family lives in a private home
:02:55. > :03:01.that they say is falling apart. They have just signed up for a
:03:01. > :03:06.council house. We had a major leak. They filled it
:03:06. > :03:12.in but then we started to get problems with the electric. Then we
:03:12. > :03:16.found out last week that we had another major leak here. We can't
:03:16. > :03:20.stand much more, to be honest. We just want to be art.
:03:20. > :03:23.A housing charity said today that more needs to be done to help those
:03:23. > :03:27.in need. We need to get building more
:03:27. > :03:32.affordable social homes for people to live in. 98% of councils have
:03:32. > :03:35.failed to meet their housing needs in their areas. We really are
:03:35. > :03:39.calling on councils to invest in housing.
:03:39. > :03:42.The government says it is working to introduce rules which will help
:03:42. > :03:46.councils use stock more efficiently. But there will be no overnight
:03:46. > :03:49.solution. Phillip Norton is in Lincoln for us
:03:49. > :03:55.this evening. Phil, is it realistic to expect council house waiting
:03:55. > :03:59.lists in the area to be cleared quickly?
:03:59. > :04:03.I said at the end of the report there will be no overnight solution.
:04:03. > :04:07.When you see the figures, it becomes clear why. Lincoln has got
:04:07. > :04:12.the highest percentage of households on the waiting list.
:04:12. > :04:19.3,000, -- 3,600 are waiting at the moment. Then you look at places
:04:19. > :04:22.like Hull. 10,000 households are waiting. In total, 53,000 families
:04:22. > :04:26.in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire are waiting for some kind of social
:04:26. > :04:30.housing, a figure much higher than it was 10 years ago. Don't forget,
:04:30. > :04:34.the figures do not include those already living in a council
:04:34. > :04:37.property waiting to move to a different property. Councils can
:04:37. > :04:40.build new properties, but to eradicate the problem would cost
:04:40. > :04:50.millions of pounds, money the councils can't afford. The solution
:04:50. > :04:51.
:04:51. > :04:56.could come in part from stronger processes to get people out of
:04:56. > :04:59.properties, moving into a smaller property, moving families into the
:04:59. > :05:02.larger properties. That is a process that some people will not
:05:02. > :05:05.be happy with. Earlier I spoke to Kate Allen,
:05:05. > :05:08.who's an expert on social housing. She told me that the government has
:05:08. > :05:16.been unable to deal with the increasing numbers of people on
:05:16. > :05:19.council house waiting lists. There is an accumulating number of
:05:19. > :05:23.people in need of social housing. Those numbers are only getting
:05:23. > :05:27.worse. The number of households that are forming each year is
:05:27. > :05:30.outpacing the number of homes we are building, and so in addition to
:05:30. > :05:36.the accumulated backlog which the government needs to address, they
:05:36. > :05:40.are facing a running target. There's a feeling that a council
:05:40. > :05:45.house is for life. How much credit should the government get for
:05:45. > :05:50.trying to change that situation? The question of moving people from
:05:50. > :05:54.their homes is a delicate one. I do think, though, that people in a
:05:55. > :05:58.time of housing need me to appreciate the problems it causes
:05:58. > :06:01.if we give somebody a house not just for the period they need it
:06:01. > :06:05.but also for the period after that for them to live in for the rest of
:06:05. > :06:12.their life. Should people be made to rip out of
:06:12. > :06:16.a council house once they earn above a certain amount? -- made to
:06:16. > :06:19.move out. It is not for me to make that
:06:19. > :06:23.decision. That is up to the electorate. I would say it is
:06:23. > :06:32.important whenever somebody starts to worry about the lack of
:06:32. > :06:36.available housing, that they Dearham -- that they do remember
:06:36. > :06:41.the homes being bill today are occupied by people who do not
:06:41. > :06:44.necessarily prove on from them after they are finished with them.
:06:44. > :06:49.The is the problem going to get worse?
:06:49. > :06:53.The government has published figures for the next four years,
:06:53. > :06:59.and yes, there's a cut in the number of new homes they are hoping
:06:59. > :07:02.to deliver compared to the Privy spending period. So, given that the
:07:02. > :07:07.fate of households are still increasing, the problem is going to
:07:07. > :07:11.get worse. -- the rate. This affects a lot of people. Do
:07:11. > :07:16.you think that more council houses should be built? The do have to
:07:16. > :07:19.wait a long time to get yours? Do you think too many double failed to
:07:19. > :07:25.look after their council properties and the money should be spent
:07:25. > :07:35.elsewhere? Your thoughts, if you like to send him to last, send him
:07:35. > :07:37.
:07:37. > :07:47.In a moment, the scheme to make sure Bridlington's fishermen are as
:07:47. > :07:50.The Energy Minister has reaffirmed the goverment's belief that the
:07:50. > :07:52.Humber could become one of the most important areas in the country for
:07:52. > :07:54.renewable energy. Charles Hendry praised the way businesses and
:07:54. > :08:03.councils have worked together during a visit to North
:08:03. > :08:07.Lincolnshire. Vanessa Clarke Today it looks like barren land but
:08:07. > :08:13.the plans to turn this site into a wind turbine factory could bring
:08:13. > :08:16.thousands of jobs to the local economy. But it needs government
:08:16. > :08:22.approval, and today the Energy Minister gave his verdict after a
:08:22. > :08:26.private tour. You can't fail to be impressed by
:08:26. > :08:29.the scale of it. This brings together members of Parliament,
:08:29. > :08:34.local authorities, industry, and that is what we are looking for. We
:08:34. > :08:38.want to see thousands of jobs created in building the turbines
:08:38. > :08:43.and other elements for the offshore wind industry. That is the co-
:08:43. > :08:46.operation which is important. The company behind the plans, Able
:08:46. > :08:48.UK, want to spend more than �100 million developing this site in
:08:48. > :08:51.North Killingholme. Planning permission has already been given
:08:51. > :08:54.for a logistics site but an assembly plant and a jetty the size
:08:54. > :09:01.of 100 football pitches will also need the go-head. Local MPs say
:09:01. > :09:06.that's why these visits are so important.
:09:06. > :09:10.We have had two senior ministers in the past few weeks. It has put
:09:10. > :09:15.Lincolnshire on the map. We need to make sure we can develop the area
:09:15. > :09:18.as a cluster for the renewable sector. It could regenerate the
:09:18. > :09:20.area and transform the local economy.
:09:20. > :09:23.The government wants to see thousands of wind turbines
:09:23. > :09:26.operating off our coasts by 2020. Today the Energy Minister said it
:09:26. > :09:33.was very important he got the chance today to see the Humber's
:09:33. > :09:35.potential for himself. The body of a man found dead in
:09:35. > :09:38.Boston on Sunday has been identified as Luke James Gorton.
:09:38. > :09:42.The 31-year-old was taken to the Pilgrim Hospital but staff were
:09:42. > :09:44.unable to revive him. A post mortem to reveal if he had taken the drug
:09:44. > :09:54.M-Cat came back as inconclusive. Three people arrested by police
:09:54. > :09:56.have been released on bail. Police have arrested a man in
:09:56. > :09:59.connection with an armed robbery at an East Yorkshire supermarket last
:09:59. > :10:02.week. Staff at the Co-Op store in Pocklington were threatened by a
:10:02. > :10:06.man demanding cash on Thursday. A 41-year-old man from Goole has been
:10:06. > :10:09.arrested and released on bail. 25 years after the Lockington train
:10:09. > :10:12.crash, the families of those who died claim the disaster has been
:10:12. > :10:15.largely forgotten. Nine people were killed when a train collided with a
:10:15. > :10:25.van at an unmanned crossing in East Yorkshire. A memorial service was
:10:25. > :10:29.
:10:29. > :10:37.held at the weekend. When there are other disasters,
:10:38. > :10:43.agencies come in at not 25 years later but 25 hours later. People
:10:43. > :10:45.get support. We were just forgotten. Police searching for a missing
:10:45. > :10:47.pensioner from Withernsea have revealed that she left the house
:10:47. > :10:50.wearing mismatched shoes. 77-year- old Marlene Wagstaff, who suffers
:10:50. > :10:53.from Alzheimer's, left her house on Friday. People from the town have
:10:53. > :11:01.been helping in the search. Police say they're extremely concerned for
:11:02. > :11:07.her safety. Hull's Lord Mayor is demanding the
:11:07. > :11:09.return of a bronze statue which was stolen over the weekend. The statue
:11:09. > :11:14.called Voyage is nearly two metres tall and weighs around 300
:11:14. > :11:19.kilograms. It's believed to have been stolen from its plinth by the
:11:19. > :11:26.Humber Estuary late on Sunday night. It's one of a pair celebrating the
:11:26. > :11:29.maritime links between the city and I've had a lots of tweets from
:11:29. > :11:32.people who are angry about this statue being taken. If you've got
:11:32. > :11:41.any information about what happened, please call the police or you can
:11:41. > :11:44.contact me and I'll pass the information on for you.
:11:44. > :11:47.An MP has compared conditions on one of East Hull's estates to
:11:47. > :11:50.living in a war zone. Karl Turner is urging the Government to visit
:11:51. > :11:53.the Ings Estate after the money due to regenerate the area was cut last
:11:53. > :11:56.year. So far no new investment has been secured and residents claim
:11:57. > :12:06.they are living in fear of thieves and arsonists. Siobhan Robbins has
:12:07. > :12:08.
:12:08. > :12:12.Crumbling, vandalised and broken - this is the estate Frank Wheller's
:12:12. > :12:22.lived on for 27 years. But since the money to regenerate the area
:12:22. > :12:23.
:12:23. > :12:27.was pulled last year, He says living here's a nightmare.
:12:27. > :12:33.You are in a terrified situation. Are you going to survive the night?
:12:33. > :12:37.It has been that serious. The least sound and you are awake looking out
:12:37. > :12:43.the windows. They do see youngsters going up and down the street with
:12:43. > :12:47.blazing torches. It is not good. These people can't live like this.
:12:47. > :12:52.This street is a perfect example. Here we can see empty house after
:12:52. > :12:55.empty house. But then, stuck in the middle is one for one. That leaves
:12:55. > :13:01.the residents feeling really isolated. The council is starting
:13:01. > :13:05.to build new houses, but there's still more than 1,000 to do. It is
:13:05. > :13:08.hoping for another �12 million to help the estate but that is nowhere
:13:08. > :13:13.near the �90 million it was promised over the next few years
:13:13. > :13:18.before the money was poured. When the money stock, part of West
:13:18. > :13:22.Hull were also getting a bad state. But the council managed to find
:13:22. > :13:26.some money to help President. But the estate is still waiting for
:13:26. > :13:30.cash and the gamut is now a challenge to see the back of --
:13:30. > :13:34.problem for itself. People are genuinely living in
:13:34. > :13:38.Beirut. You can see what it is like round here. Come and have a look
:13:38. > :13:42.and then tell us that they don't deserve the help that I say they
:13:42. > :13:47.need desperately. Who are these people that can do
:13:47. > :13:51.this to an estate then walk away, shrug their shoulders and leave it?
:13:51. > :13:54.The government says people have not been forgotten and the council will
:13:54. > :14:04.find out in the autumn if they secured the cash they need. All
:14:04. > :14:06.
:14:06. > :14:12.people living here can do now is It is 17 minutes to seven. Still
:14:12. > :14:19.ahead: The horse rider aiming for the Paralympics, despite being told
:14:19. > :14:26.that she would never ride again. And the beard that is raising
:14:26. > :14:36.thousands for charity, despite its critics! It looks like he is a
:14:36. > :14:42.
:14:42. > :14:46.Tonight's photograph his Humber Bridge. Taken by Carolyn Hammond.
:14:46. > :14:54.Find him very much indeed. Another picture around about the same time
:14:54. > :14:57.tomorrow. Ever thought of growing a beard? It would be real! That would
:14:57. > :15:05.be the difference! Very good, very be the difference! Very good, very
:15:05. > :15:11.good. The headline for the next 24 hours is slowly improving. We have
:15:11. > :15:16.a lot of cloud around at the moment. It is giving drizzle across the
:15:16. > :15:20.Yorkshire coast. There are some brakes coming from the north. Here
:15:20. > :15:26.is Wednesday's chart. The high- pressure will try and come in on
:15:26. > :15:30.Thursday. It probably won't succeed. As it does come in, we will see
:15:30. > :15:35.some cloud breaks. Thursday could be the best day of the week. As you
:15:36. > :15:40.look closely, there are some breaks in the cloud, and they should come
:15:40. > :15:46.across us later it tomorrow. In the short term, we are looking at a lot
:15:46. > :15:50.of cloud across East Yorkshire. A little bit of drizzle especially
:15:50. > :15:58.towards the coast of Yorkshire. Those temperatures will be down to
:15:58. > :16:08.11 or 12 degrees. 12 in Gainsborough. The sun will rise at
:16:08. > :16:12.
:16:12. > :16:17.There will be a bit of drizzle in the air especially on the East
:16:17. > :16:23.Yorkshire coast. Breaks will come in from the north. A bit more in
:16:23. > :16:33.the brave -- bit more in the way of brightness. The breeze will be an
:16:33. > :16:41.unsure one across the coast. The best temperature in land will be 19
:16:41. > :16:45.or 20. Thursday looks a nice day. Variable cloud, but quite warm. As
:16:45. > :16:52.we head into the weekend, it is looking fairly pleasant. That is
:16:52. > :17:00.the forecast. My favourite female of the day. Whilst on holiday, we
:17:00. > :17:07.found Paul's book in a charity been with a sign saying it was 10 p!
:17:07. > :17:11.That is outrageous! Daylight robbery, I think. See you tomorrow.
:17:11. > :17:17.If you or I want to make a Dr's appointment, it is straightforward.
:17:17. > :17:24.Imagine trying to get advice if you work up to 14 hours a day miles out
:17:24. > :17:29.to sea. Workers at Bridlington harbour have been given their own
:17:29. > :17:33.health worker for advice on the dockside. If she is successful,
:17:33. > :17:37.bend balls around Britain could take the same approach. It might
:17:37. > :17:42.seem like a strange place for a health check, but for some
:17:42. > :17:51.fishermen, it is the only option. It is not too tight? Twice a week,
:17:51. > :17:56.Paul wreak -- Paula Rooke visits Bridlington harbour to give advice
:17:56. > :18:03.Bridlington harbour to give advice on diet. It is physically really
:18:03. > :18:07.hard work. You get back at eight or nine at night. That is why the
:18:07. > :18:15.service is so keep. It is essential for me to be where they are, so
:18:15. > :18:18.they can take a couple of minutes to talk to me. I condemn. Them. If
:18:18. > :18:26.there blood pressure is really high, they can go to their GP where they
:18:26. > :18:30.would not normally go. For softer employed fishermen, going to do it
:18:30. > :18:34.also means losing income. The fact that dock workers and fishermen can
:18:34. > :18:41.work 14 hours a day means it can be difficult for them to see a doctor,
:18:41. > :18:47.but their reluctance to ask for help also creates a problem.
:18:47. > :18:56.fishermen always say they are all right. You have to be really bad if
:18:56. > :19:02.you go, if you see what I mean. It should take-off. The Seamen's
:19:02. > :19:05.Hospital Society is funding the scheme for a year. Over that time,
:19:05. > :19:09.its supporters hope it will make a real difference. We hope it will
:19:09. > :19:14.make fishermen more are aware of their health situation, and
:19:14. > :19:21.hopefully, we will save a couple of lives by advising them of a problem,
:19:21. > :19:26.and getting it sorted. Soon, Paula Rooke hopes that she will give more
:19:26. > :19:36.advice. If the scheme is successful, it could be offered imports across
:19:36. > :19:42.
:19:42. > :19:50.After last night's programme, thank you for your e-mails about East
:19:50. > :19:59.Midlands Ambulance Service. Only 86 % of ambulances arrive within 19
:19:59. > :20:04.minutes, compared with a national target of 05 %. To have a target of
:20:04. > :20:09.95 % and only reaching 86 % is really worrying. The committee need
:20:09. > :20:13.to get to the bottom of this, so that somehow we improved the
:20:13. > :20:15.service. A big response. Dave emailed to say: "It takes longer to
:20:15. > :20:18.emailed to say: "It takes longer to get from A to B when you can wait
:20:18. > :20:28.up to 5 minutes for the level crossings to open. Leave the
:20:28. > :20:43.
:20:43. > :20:47.ambulances alone and concentrate on Thank you for all of those. A horse
:20:47. > :20:51.rider from East Yorkshire, who was told that she would never take part
:20:51. > :20:57.in the sport again after an accident, is hoping to be selected
:20:57. > :21:02.for next year's Paralympic Games. Heather Bennett from Eastrington
:21:02. > :21:06.near Howden broke her back eight years ago. Now she is hoping for a
:21:06. > :21:11.gold medal in London. Heather Bennett has known -- has what is
:21:11. > :21:16.known as Yorkshire grit. It is a miracle she is still riding. In
:21:16. > :21:26.2003, she broke her back falling off a horse. It limited her use of
:21:26. > :21:26.
:21:26. > :21:32.both legs and both arms. She is now competing in the event of para-
:21:32. > :21:40.equestrian dressage. People said I was crazy to ride again. I kept the
:21:40. > :21:45.course why had the accident on. I have to try and do it. She now has
:21:45. > :21:47.her sights firmly set on the Paralympic Games in London. With
:21:47. > :21:54.one year to go, the British team selectors have been watching
:21:54. > :22:00.closely. It is the extra dimension where you are having to control an
:22:00. > :22:04.animal. When you look at the amount of different disabilities, it is
:22:04. > :22:11.incredible that they are able to perform at such a high level.
:22:11. > :22:16.heather admits that it hasn't been a difficult journey so far. A lot
:22:16. > :22:20.of pain and repetitive training. I have a competitive person. That is
:22:20. > :22:25.what drives me to keep doing it and trying to be better and better each
:22:25. > :22:30.time. Here they cannot do it alone. It is a horse who has to carry her
:22:30. > :22:36.to glory, so does he know what he is getting into? He is very chilled
:22:36. > :22:41.out today! He has had an early morning start, so he will be going
:22:41. > :22:46.back to bed this morning -- this afternoon. While the horses relaxed,
:22:46. > :22:53.heaven knows that there is a lot of work to do if she is to fulfil her
:22:53. > :22:58.Olympic dreams and win gold for Britain. Good luck to her. The
:22:58. > :23:07.Lincolnshire swim that Lizzie Simmons has missed out on a gold
:23:07. > :23:14.medal in China. She finished 7th in Shanghai earlier today. She swims
:23:14. > :23:21.in her preferred event later. The Lincolnshire athlete Bernice Wilson
:23:21. > :23:26.says she will fight to clear her name after being suspended from
:23:26. > :23:33.competition after testing positive for anabolic steroids. Issue fails
:23:33. > :23:40.in her appeal, she could face a two-year ban from the sport. Hull
:23:40. > :23:45.FC and Hull Kingston Rovers have been boarded Super League licences
:23:45. > :23:51.for the next three years. They have both invested in youth development.
:23:51. > :23:56.Wakefield will also remain in the competition after Crusaders
:23:56. > :24:01.withdrew their application. Firefighters and airline pilots
:24:01. > :24:07.cannot have them. There has not been a prime minister with one for
:24:07. > :24:17.over 100 years. There are even people who are frightened of them.
:24:17. > :24:19.
:24:19. > :24:29.The beard has got a very good reputation but two men from Grimsby
:24:29. > :24:37.
:24:37. > :24:45.It is not easy looking this good! I have to get up 10 minutes earlier
:24:45. > :24:50.than I usually do. It started with a bat in the pub. Seven months on,
:24:50. > :24:52.David's bit is getting rather long. It is about five inches long. My
:24:52. > :25:00.daughter's hate it. They are embarrassed. They can live with
:25:00. > :25:05.that for a bit! It's horrible! When he gets food in it, he looks like a
:25:05. > :25:11.tramp. But I am proud of him, because he is doing it for a good
:25:11. > :25:16.cause. David is raising money for Help For Heroes, along with his
:25:16. > :25:21.friend Richard. But he is have -- but Richard has had to scale back
:25:21. > :25:26.his bid after an accident with a blowtorch. I have decided to grow
:25:26. > :25:32.the goatee. I can tie it up and it is not getting in the way, because
:25:32. > :25:39.it is a bit dangerous when I am underneath a sink soldering with a
:25:39. > :25:43.blowtorch. Some people would say it is worth persevering. Brian Blessed,
:25:43. > :25:50.Dr Rowan Williams and Bill Oddie all are well known for their beards.
:25:50. > :25:55.Does it go down well with the ladies? I like the short type, but
:25:55. > :26:02.not the father Christmas type. depends. If it is straggly, it is
:26:02. > :26:08.not attractive. David's pictures have started to get creative. I
:26:08. > :26:13.have downloaded a new one each week. People can see how it is going.
:26:13. > :26:20.People will hopefully supported and donate. So far, they have raised
:26:20. > :26:25.�3,000. Are there any more plus points? The food sticks to it, and
:26:25. > :26:32.you can have some more of do you have finished! There are some
:26:32. > :26:39.benefits for for facial hair. They will shed a dot on Tuesday. --
:26:39. > :26:44.shave it off. Let's have a recap of the national headlines. The UK
:26:44. > :26:50.economy slows down. Officials blamed the Japanese tsunami and the
:26:50. > :26:53.royal wedding. Lincoln City royal wedding. Lincoln City
:26:53. > :27:03.Council's leader admits they are in the middle of a crisis. Top
:27:03. > :27:07.temperatures around 19 Celsius Eight response coming in on social
:27:07. > :27:15.housing. One person says that we have too many council estate
:27:15. > :27:21.buildings. How many do we need? Mark says that his mum, who is so
:27:21. > :27:25.severely disabled, have never been offered a property. Those who live
:27:25. > :27:31.in properties now should consider themselves lucky. Another says that
:27:31. > :27:35.some parts of Britain struggle to recruit public sector workers.