28/07/2011 Look North (East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire)

Good evening. Thank you for joining us. Welcome to Thursday's programme.

Our headlines: bumper pensions for cop Humberside fire officers, as

the rest of the service faces cuts. We'll have to get the priorities

right. We pay our taxes for the service, not to line the pockets of

senior officers. Relatives of lost fishermen offer a reward to find

the statue made to honour them. disrespects the dead of the men who

lost their lives trying to put fish on this nation's table. The men

jailed for plotting to smuggle heroin hidden away in baby powder

bottles. The new road markings driving motorists mad in east

Yorkshire. 25 degrees this afternoon. Much cooler tomorrow.

Good evening. One of the region's most senior fire officers is at the

centre of a row over pension payouts. Humberside Fire Service

has confirmed that Mark Rhodes is to retire, just weeks after a

temporary promotion, which has dramatically increased his pension

payout. Mr Rhodes is reported to be one of four officers in the force,

who have been temporarily promoted for two months on greatly increased

salaries. The union has called for an end to what it calls an

indefensible practice. The controversial payouts come as the

Fire Service is trying to save �7 million from the budget and has

already cut 70 posts. Senior officer, Mark Rhodes was earning

�60,000 a year, but eight weeks earlier he was given a temporary

promotion on a salary of �108,000. At the end of it he announced his

retirement, but under rules that will boost his payout by �29,000.

Humberside Fire Service, with approval from the fire authority,

has so far given the temporary promotions to four senior officers.

Their combined pension packages are costing more than �1 million.

one hand, senior fire officers say the budget needs to be produced and

there's fear that fire engines might not arrive on time and then

they are able to waste money like this. We pay our taxes to the Fire

Service for that service, not to line the pockets of senior officers.

No-one from the Fire Service or the fire authority would agree to an

interview, but in a statement Now, this local controversy comes

as public sector workers across the UK are being asked to accept big

changes to their pension extremes schemes. -- pension schemes. We

went to near the headquarters to ask people what they thought.

should have been in the position of his promotion a lot longer. I don't

think it's right, but it's not the most ridiculous things these days.

Nothing surprises me now. implication is for other people

that are drawing a meagre pension, I think there's a knock-on effect

from it. Emma Boon is from the Taxpayers' Alliance and earlier she

told me why she thinks it's unfair. It's an absolutely huge pension pot

increase and I think that local taxpayers will rightly feel like

he's managed to cheat the system. It's really unfair that he had the

temporary promotion and by doing that job for a couple of months has

managed to substantially increase the amount of money that taxpayers

will pay into the pension. Especially at a time when the Fire

Service is facing really tight budgets and pressure on budgets.

All this comes out of taxpayers' pockets. They are very well

respected. Do you think that taxpayers will have a problem with

this, getting more before they retire? It's not just a bit more.

It's quite a substantial increase that he's had to the pofplt no-one

is saying that firemen -- pot. No- one is saying that firemen don't do

a good job. They work hard and keep us safe and we respect tra that and

we want to see them get a good pension, but there's a difference

here between what is reasonable and what is a good pension. Also, what

is so far removed from the reality of what most taxpayers to expect to

get in their own pensions. It's pax payers who are paying and lots --

taxpayers who are paying for this and lots of taxpayers won't have

anything as generous, but they'll be expected to pay for his.

Ordinary firefighters are unhappy for plans for them to increase

contributions. Will this story get them sympathy or damage the cause?

I think this is going to rub ordinary firefighters up the wrong

way, just as much as it does the taxpayers and it won't do anything

for the feeling around pensions at the moment, which is that there's a

lot of anger. I think it's coming from both sides. What you have to

remember is the changes that are proposed to public sector pensions

as a whole are moderate changes and reasonable proposals that will make

pensions more affordable going forward. Examples like this one,

just anger taxpayers and they'll anger ordinary firefighters too,

who are already cross about changes, because it feels like some people

at the top are getting a really good deal and everyone else,

taxpayers, who can't afford a great pension, are paying for it. Thank

you. That's the story. We would like to

know your thoughts. Are you surprised that the temporary

promotions and the larger pensions are there? How should public sector

pensions be funded? You can get in In one moment, the Tory councillor

facing criticism for having this road outside his home resurfaced

for free. It's been described as a crime that disrespects the dead.

The theft of this statue commemorating lost fishermen, but

now the families of two men who died at sea are offering a reward

for the safe return. They say they've been left so devastated by

its theft they are now offering �1500 in the hope that the thieves

will return it. We'll just hope that we can get this back. Standing

as a memorial to Hull's lost seamen it's no wonder those who lost

family at see want the statue back. I'm amazed how they got to down.

was ripped down on the pier on Sunday night. Now, Mike Waudby,

Jill Long and Mike Swain are offering a reward for the statue's

return. We understand the scrap value was between �18 -- around

�1800. We want the statue back that was given to us by Iceland for the

seafairers and I find it rather upsetting. This was the statue

before it was stolen. It was a memorial for those who died at sea.

Men like Tony Harrison, killed in trawler fire. His wife was left to

bring up two young children. For her, the statue was a place to

remember. We have got nothing else. To the memory of the fishing

industry or the lost ones and all the MEP that never got lost, but

worked in the fishing industry. And their children. This is our

heritage. They've taken it away from us. Voyage was a gift from

Iceland. The sister sculpture still stands on their shores. The theft

of the statue in Hull has even made the news there. It has left the

sculpture shocked. TRANSLATION: They had seen on CCTV that five men

had taken it and carried it away. I don't understand how they would

carry it as it weighs 350 kilos and stands four metres high.

Icelanders often came to the rescue of Hull seamen, men like Morris

Swaine who died in the triple trawler tragedy. His bother thinks

the thieves had no idea how symbolic the statue was.

disrespects the dead of the fishermen who lost their lives

trying to put fish on this nation's table and for someone to think that

it's just got a scrap value and to rip it down from this pier, where

so many trawlers sailed out of Hull, in the past, it's disgusting really.

All three are hoping that their reward will bring it back and give

them a place to once again remember their loved ones. There has been a

lot of interest talking to people this week on this story. If you

have any information about this then you can get in touch with

Crimestoppers. There is the number: You can get in touch with me, if

More news now and veterans who say they were made ill as a result of

nuclear weapons tests in the 1950's have won the latest stage in their

battle for compensation. Three men from east Yorkshire and

Lincolnshire are among those given the right by the Supreme Court to

continue to seek damages from the MoD. The former servicemen claim

that exposure to radiation has affected their health. Something

that the MoD denies. Our clients are currently dying at a rate of

about three-and-a-half on month, on average, which means by the time

the court hears the case perhaps another 30 or 40 people at least

will have died from among the claimant group. I would call today

upon the Government to stop using technicalities to avoid their

liabilities, to soldiers who gave their lives to this country and

bring about a settlement for this matter at the very earliest time.

52year-old man has been jailed for 13 years for a string of sexual

assaults on children in west Norfolk. Gary Auker had denied 17

assaults and one charge of attempted rape at Norwich Crown

Court. They took place over a 15- year period from 1975. A new group

has been set up to attract more visitors and businesses to Lincoln.

It's been created after the closure of Visit Lincolnshire earlier this

year. Two men have been jailed for a combined total of 20 years after

taking part in a plan to smuggle heroin disguised as baby powder in

the -- into the country. They admitted trying to smuggle in 28

packages. Police believe they were part of a much bigger operation.

How exactly about this drug get into the country? In sentencing the

pair, the judge said that the plan was simple, but highly effectively.

-- effective. They used the packages from Pakistan. They were

intercepted and the powder was swapped for heroin. They were

marked as return to sender and the return address was marked as Hull.

Using this method meant that parcels weren't treated as imports

so they avoided close inspection. How unusual is the case? The UK

Border Agency said today that this return to sender method was the

first time they had seen it with such significant quantities and

they've now nipped it in the bud and they say that they hope today's

sentencing would send out a clear message to anyone else involved.

think the sentencing sent a clear message about the seriousness about

people smuggling heroin into this country and the 20-year combined

sentence demonstrates certainly what we feel and what the court

feels about it. The court heard how the two men were not the

masterminds behind the plot, but looked after the Hull end of the

operation, so investigations into this scam will continue. It's

feared that a centre set up to help young people with autism, to lead

more independent lives could be under threat. Most of the

accommodation at the site is still empty. Those behind it claim it's

not -- it's because not enough people are being told about it.

Learning to look after yourself can be daunting for any teenager, but

even more so for young people with disabilities like 19-year-old

Andrew, who has autism. Since he's been coming to the supported living

centre he's made real progress. the year he's been here for us to

be looking and saying this is attainable, him living as

independently as possible, compared to where we were when we started I

would say it would be a dream that would never happen. The improvement

that we have had in the last year, I would say that is definitely

attendable. The complex is the brainchild of Pam Nicholson, whose

own son has autism. She fears a lack of referrals could put the

centre's future in jeopardy. It's frustrating that the facility is

here and it's registered with the Care Quality Commission and the

staff are trained and it needs to be used. The loss of the service

would be a blow for young people like Jamie, who were given one-to-

one support. We are growing lots of different fruit and vegetables and

that sort of thing. We are actually growing our own strawberries on the

side nets. The local authority has refused to go into detail about why

so few referrals are being made to Cascade. Senior managers here at

East Riding council insist that adult social care staff will

signpost individuals to the most appropriate service for their needs.

They say that these needs will always take priority over the

business requirements of any provider. Thank you for watching.

Still ahead - the woolly racetrack made in Lincolnshire for the 2012

Games in London. The white lines that are causing confusion for

drivers in east Yorkshire. If you have a picture you're proud of,

send it in and we'll show it on the programme. Tonight is different.

This is kt fort Henry Lake, a few miles from Stamford. It was taken

miles from Stamford. It was taken by Malcolm Snell. Your crystal ball

was working after last night? I'll give it another rub, Peter, see if

we can get more nice weather. Don't think I'm getting drawn into that.

You're on your own, mate! It's been a fabulous day today. Tomorrow,

perhaps six or seven degrees cooler, with a lot more cloud around. It

looks like it will pull in a light to moderate north-eastern which

will pull cloud in from the North Sea, but the weekend is looking

fine and pleasantly warm. In the short term, it's very nice out

there. We have clouds pushing down from the north. Could be thick

enough to produce the odd shower, but still some sunny spells in

places, but the trend will be overnight for the cloud to increase.

Could produce a little drizzle in places and we'll see temperatures

down to 12C. The sun will rise in the morning at 5.11. Setting at

9.04ment -- 9.04. It may be grey and cloudy tomorrow morning, but

dry up through the morning and I'm thinking into the afternoon the

skies will brighten and there should be some sunny spells. Always

so variable. The breeze will be light to moderate, so chilly along

the coast. 16 in Bridlington and perhaps only 15 in Skegness, but

inland we'll see 19. The weekend I know I need danger money working

with you! I wasn't grey until I started working with you. It's only

over the last 15 years. What happened to the Grecian2,000?

councillor has insisted he's done nothing wrong after criticism that

he got his driveway resurfaced for free. Charles Bayrah sits on the

East Riding planning committee. Earlier he asked contractors

preparing a road outside his home to lay the leftover material on his

drive. It comes two weeks after contractors ripped up tarmac that

they had laid outside the home of the Beverley MP, Graham Stuart.

Newly resurfaced but hasn't cost the owner a penny. The owner is

East Riding councillor, Charles Bayram. I asked them what happened

to the surface. They said if they can find anywhere suitable then

they late it out. I said use my drive, if you wish. He says this

tarmac was going to waste. It could not have been used for anything

else and if anything, he's done the company a favour, by allowing them

to put it here. He is adamant he has done nothing wrong. I don't

agree with it. Why should he have it? We could have had our drives

done. I think if it's on offer good luck to him. It comes just a few

weeks after leftover tarmac laid outside Graham Stuart's home had to

be ripped up. Everybody out there is getting their drive done and

it's rather a coincidence that two Tory politicians have had it done

at the same time. In my eyes it's just arrogance. Today, the

councillor seems surprised there had been such a response to his

free resurfacing. What would you say to the people in your village

who say well, I can't get my drive tarmaced for free, why should he?

They have the same opportunity as I have. They can have their track or

drive or whatever done with any surplus material that a contractor

has finished with. It's no different whatsoever. Would you do

it again? Yes. You won't be removing the tarmac that's been

laid? No, I shall not be removing it, no. It will stay there. East

Riding council says the matter has been referred to the standards

committee. Caroline is at the council's headquarters tonight.

Caroline, has he done anything wrong? We have spoken to a number

of tarmac companies this evening, who say that they often run a

surplus at the end of the working day so they don't run the risk of

running out and they tell us this is common practice, that that

surplus will often be offered as a favour, as they put it, to local

farmers, so they don't have to get rid of this stuff. The council tell

us this evening that this could not have been used to Philpott holes.

That involves planning and it involves road works and also

involves certain types of tarmac. I could bore you with the science of

it all, but I won't. Basically, they are saying that it couldn't

have been used elsewhere. Whether or not he's done wrong as a

councillor, that's for the standards committee to decide.

Thank you. Thank you for all the messages on our story last night,

about east Yorkshire's only natural birthing unit being closed. The

Royal College of Midwives says shutting the centre is cuts to

front-line services. The man in charge says he doesn't expect it to

re-open for at least six months. Jenny Handly is one of those who

got in touch and he was -- she was due to give birth in eight weeks'

Sue from Hull says: This from Nicky says: Thank you very much for all

of those. In Lincolnshire, Bernice Wilson has hit back at the

authorities who have charged her with taking drugs. She could now

face a two-year ban. She has criticised the test procedures and

again protested her innocence. New road markings on a road near

Beverley are causing some confusion for drivers. The broken white lines

were painted by the local council in an effort to slow down the

traffic. Many motorists using the road haven't got a clue what the

markings actually mean. Driving along this country road has become

a bit of a confusing experience for this. A broken white line has

appeared on both sides of the road. It's larger than a cycle path, but

much too small for a car and definitely a truck. Locals have

been getting out their copy of the highway code trying to find a

reference to this. They are still left very confused. We have all had

good arguments as to what they're for. First thing I said when I saw

it was it's going to cause confusion and probably accidents.

It's confused me. Oh, yes, it has. My daughter rides horses and nobody

seems to know where they are there. I haven't heard one that knows.

It's not the first time new road markings have caused a stir. In

Lincoln a double yellow line was painted around one of the city's

round abouts to stop people parking on it. And cycle paths have also

left cyclists in Grimsby wondering where to turn. In this case, East

Riding council says it introduced the markings because there has been

eleven serious accidents on this Residents say it's unclear and

would like a written explanation of how exactly they should use it. 200

metres of racing track has unveiled in Spalding. Dozens of groups from

Lincolnshire have been involved in the plan. It might even be shown at

the Olympic Park next year. On your marks... Get set... Go. It's the

longest, brighter wooliest racetrack you may have ever seen.

It's been knitted in every corner of the Lincolnshire county. We have

worked with a secure unit, the Brownies, old people, young people,

all sorts. Every age group and every ability. In less than six

months, with the help of community groups and schools across

Lincolnshire, they've managed to knit a distance of 200 metres.

Because of the visual impact the official plim pick committee have

expressed an interest to put it on display -- Olypmic committee have

expressed an interest to put it on displace. We have the bunting to

celebrate. This is French knitting and that's been really good to get

younger ones involved. After the excitement of the display next year,

the idea is to break it up and distribute it to those who might

need a little extra wool. You'll only get a lizard if you're lucky.

The main national and regional headlines: new revelations in the

phone hacking scandal. Police tell Sarah Payne's mother she was a

target. Criticism over pension payouts to senior Humberside fire

officers. The union has called it an indefensible practice. Cloudy

tomorrow with drizzle. Brighter later with sunshine. Top

temperatures around 19. Responses on the subject of pensions. "I am a

serving firefighter of 20 years and Mr Ods' increase is more than my

annual salary. Disgusted doesn't come close." This one says, "I

believe public sector pensions are at a reasonable standard. Forces

should receive greater amounts as they risk their lives." And this is

a fireman here, "Looking at more paying more into my pension to