:00:00. > :00:00.Commonwealth Summit in Sri Lanka. That is all from the BBC News at
:00:00. > :00:00.six. On BBC One we join the news teams where you are.
:00:07. > :00:10.Good evening and welcome to BBC Look North. The headlines tonight: claims
:00:11. > :00:20.that controversial housing benefit changes are leaving tenants with
:00:21. > :00:24.growing debts. We need to make some tough decisions in the nine months
:00:25. > :00:31.to come. It will lead to some infections and an increase in
:00:32. > :00:35.homelessness. `` elections. `` even sections.
:00:36. > :00:38.The long walk home ` why the road into one Lincolnshire village will
:00:39. > :00:41.be closed at Christmas. We'll show you how your Children in Need
:00:42. > :00:45.donations have helped East Yorkshire youngsters. And we bring you all the
:00:46. > :00:51.fun of the field. We are having a party.
:00:52. > :01:05.Tomorrow will be mostly dry low cloud will increase through the day.
:01:06. > :01:10.It was designed to free up homes for larger families and save money but
:01:11. > :01:13.now councils in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire say changes to the
:01:14. > :01:20.housing benefit system are pushing tenants into financial crisis. Since
:01:21. > :01:23.April people claiming the benefit have been charged for every spare
:01:24. > :01:28.bedroom prompting critics to call it the bedroom tax. The government
:01:29. > :01:33.insists the changes are working but the Labour party want it scrapped.
:01:34. > :01:36.Now in North Lincolnshire it's claimed there's a shortage of
:01:37. > :01:40.smaller properties and in Hull almost 2,000 people have fallen
:01:41. > :01:46.behind with their rent. Sarah Corker reports. Thousands of people living
:01:47. > :01:50.in council houses that are too big for them ` and getting housing
:01:51. > :01:53.benefit to pay for it. The government's solution ` tenants
:01:54. > :02:06.either downsize or are charged for each spare room. Critics call it the
:02:07. > :02:12.bedroom tax. There is a shortage of smaller homes. The council has
:02:13. > :02:22.recently renovated around 60 of these bedsits to help rid the man.
:02:23. > :02:28.`` meet demand. It is a financial crisis for individuals. The council
:02:29. > :02:32.is doing everything it can but there are limits to what we can achieve
:02:33. > :02:34.without sufficient numbers. In East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire `
:02:35. > :02:38.research shows since April, more tenants have fallen behind in rent.
:02:39. > :02:42.The highest figure is in North East Lincolnshire ` 69% of those affected
:02:43. > :02:52.by the policy are in rent arrears. In Hull ` 64%. Boston ` just over
:02:53. > :02:56.half are in debt. I first met Maria in February ` she lives alone in
:02:57. > :03:05.this three bed house in Hull. She's charged for her two spare rooms and
:03:06. > :03:14.is now ten weeks behind in rent. I would pay around ?9 every week rent.
:03:15. > :03:23.That has now jumped to ?36. I am falling more and more behind. We
:03:24. > :03:27.have 400,000 people in over crowded accommodation...
:03:28. > :03:31.The government says it needs to free up larger houses ` like Maria's `
:03:32. > :03:42.for families stuck on a waiting list. I would ask the opposition to
:03:43. > :03:48.work with local authorities. To actually help constituents downsize
:03:49. > :03:54.so they can live within their means. In Scunthorpe many tenants do want
:03:55. > :04:00.to move but can't. While they are waiting they have to pay. Other
:04:01. > :04:02.people might be waiting, housed in temporary accommodation. Everybody
:04:03. > :04:06.ends up paying more money. It will lead to an increase in homelessness.
:04:07. > :04:10.An emergency fund is helping those most in need but the government says
:04:11. > :04:14.the taypayer can no longer afford to pay for spare bedrooms.
:04:15. > :04:18.Earlier I spoke to Robert Oxley from the TaxPayers Alliance and asked him
:04:19. > :04:27.if the majority of people backed the government's plans to remove the
:04:28. > :04:31.spare room subsidy. When you put neutral questions to the public they
:04:32. > :04:35.back reforms to welfare. They back the principles. They know that
:04:36. > :04:42.council houses at a precious resource and that many people should
:04:43. > :04:45.not have a spare room. But in north`east Lincolnshire 69% of
:04:46. > :04:51.people are in arrears. That implies the policy not working. Councils are
:04:52. > :04:57.not using discretionary payments correctly. More needs to be done to
:04:58. > :05:02.make sure that people are downsizing. There is a huge waiting
:05:03. > :05:11.list of people in overcrowded situations. So you're pointing the
:05:12. > :05:18.finger at the councils rather than the government? For years we have
:05:19. > :05:20.politicians claiming that they know how many homes people need and
:05:21. > :05:27.arcing planning laws getting in the way. `` arcane. But now there is a
:05:28. > :05:34.chance to make sure people adding more appropriate accommodation. The
:05:35. > :05:54.housing is simply not there. 70 people chasing every 31`bedroom flat
:05:55. > :06:04.in Hull alone. `` Beverly `` every free one`bedroom flat. Should the
:06:05. > :06:08.government ploughed on? They need to recognise this is only half a step
:06:09. > :06:12.to solving the problem. Planning rules continue to get in the way.
:06:13. > :06:15.Thank you. We want to hear from you on this
:06:16. > :07:01.story. Get in touch. Coming up: Most of Lincolnshire's
:07:02. > :07:04.threatened libraries could be saved from closure.
:07:05. > :07:10.It's just over a month until Christmas but how would you feel if
:07:11. > :07:13.your house was almost cut off for the whole festive period? Residents
:07:14. > :07:20.of a Lincolnshire village say they are furious about being 'marooned'
:07:21. > :07:24.by engineering works. Network Rail say they need to carry out the works
:07:25. > :07:27.on the railway line which runs through Saxilby. Closing a level
:07:28. > :07:32.crossing in the village will cut off those who live on West Bank for two
:07:33. > :07:38.weeks. It's because plans to build a temporary road fell through. Simon
:07:39. > :07:43.Spark has the story. West Bank is a dead end street. It's only vehicle
:07:44. > :07:48.access into the centre of Saxilby is over this crossing. But Network Rail
:07:49. > :07:51.will need to keep the crossing closed for a huge amount of new
:07:52. > :08:00.signalling works, which will cut people off for the entire Christmas
:08:01. > :08:07.period. They are a large corporate company who think they can run
:08:08. > :08:11.roughshod over ordinary people. Why inconvenience all of us like this?
:08:12. > :08:15.Over the Christmas period? It is appalling. When these gates close
:08:16. > :08:19.for two weeks on the 20th December, a shuttle bus will bring residents
:08:20. > :08:23.to this point. They'll then need to walk down this path to get another
:08:24. > :08:26.shuttle bus on the other side. But this is why elderly residents are
:08:27. > :08:30.concerned, in many places the path is thin and the weather will be
:08:31. > :08:37.wintry and unpredictable. But this is the route they'll need to travel
:08:38. > :08:40.with all their Christmas goods. Well this is where that footpath ends and
:08:41. > :08:44.it's from here that they'll be collected by another shuttle bus to
:08:45. > :08:48.take in them into the centre of the village to collect their cars. Joyce
:08:49. > :08:58.and Bert are the oldest residents, both in their 80s. Until a fortnight
:08:59. > :09:05.ago, we understood that there was going to be a road round out. Then
:09:06. > :09:17.they have said, there is not. They have lead us astray. And now we are
:09:18. > :09:24.fascinating, really. But some can see the positive side. Times like
:09:25. > :09:28.this remind you were the community. This is a community project.
:09:29. > :09:31.This work was originally planned for the summer but had to be deferred
:09:32. > :09:34.because the route was being used for rail diversions necessitated by the
:09:35. > :09:37.spoil heap slip at Hatfield colliery. Unfortunately the next
:09:38. > :09:40.time this essential work could be planned was Christmas.
:09:41. > :09:54.But for many residents here it's the worst possible time.
:09:55. > :09:59.A 23`year`old man has been released on bail and another released with no
:10:00. > :10:01.further action after they were arrested on suspicion of death by
:10:02. > :10:06.dangerous driving on Wednesday night. Fifteen year old Koen Allwood
:10:07. > :10:10.was hit by a car while crossing Dam Road in Barton Upon Humber. He'd
:10:11. > :10:15.just broadcast his first internet radio show. A 15`year`old girl who
:10:16. > :10:21.was with him is in Hull Royal Infirmary with serious injuries.
:10:22. > :10:24.A ?100 million plan has been announced for a new stadium, 500
:10:25. > :10:29.homes, a shopping park and part of a relief road in Boston. It was
:10:30. > :10:34.revealed as directors at Boston United said they want to move the
:10:35. > :10:47.club to a new site off the A16 in the south of the town. The lease on
:10:48. > :10:54.the current ground expires in 2018. Just over four years away. The clock
:10:55. > :10:58.is ticking. We need to move. The current ground is unsustainable. It
:10:59. > :11:02.is great, but it is old and needs a lot of work.
:11:03. > :11:04.A 20`year`old man from Scunthorpe has been jailed for attacking and
:11:05. > :11:08.robbing his grandmother. The woman who is in her eighties was found
:11:09. > :11:11.sitting outside her house in Scunthorpe in July with serious head
:11:12. > :11:16.injuries. Her grandson ` Jason Mace ` pleaded guilty to the attack.
:11:17. > :11:21.Today at Grimsby Crown Court he was jailed for seven years.
:11:22. > :11:24.A Canadian company will return to the East Yorkshire village of
:11:25. > :11:26.Walkington in the New Year, to conduct further tests for oil.
:11:27. > :11:33.Rathlin Energy previously erected a drilling rig at the site in their
:11:34. > :11:38.search for fossil fuels. It was understood their explorations had
:11:39. > :11:42.finished. But they need further laboratory samples before deciding
:11:43. > :11:45.whether it's commercially viable. Almost all of Lincolnshire's
:11:46. > :11:49.libraries that were threatened with closure could remain open. The
:11:50. > :11:52.county council had proposed closing 30 community libraries but says
:11:53. > :11:59.volunteers have come forward to run twenty four of them. `` 24. And it's
:12:00. > :12:03.extending a deadline to allow bids for the other six. Jake Zuckerman is
:12:04. > :12:08.in our Lincoln newsroom now ` Jake, what has the county council said?
:12:09. > :12:11.The county council says it's still finalising plans, but it hopes all
:12:12. > :12:16.of the libraries could stay open. Although it does still need to find
:12:17. > :12:19.?2 million of savings. The council says that community groups have now
:12:20. > :12:23.come forward to run nearly all of its libraries ` that's similar to
:12:24. > :12:32.the way Saxilby library is run already. That's manned by volunteers
:12:33. > :12:37.to keep it open. If the community had not come forward, we would be a
:12:38. > :12:39.very different situation. I grateful and encouraged that not only will
:12:40. > :12:43.they potentially have community library, it could be a hub for other
:12:44. > :12:47.services also. When the council announced it might
:12:48. > :12:51.have to close libraries, there were protests, and people signed
:12:52. > :12:54.petitions against the plans. The group trying to save Lincolnshire's
:12:55. > :13:00.libraries has said that it wants professional librarians rather than
:13:01. > :13:03.volunteers working in libraries. Today, those against the closures
:13:04. > :13:09.say the council hasn't listened to what people wanted in the
:13:10. > :13:14.consultation. The opinion of the people is that they are angry and
:13:15. > :13:20.upset about the situation. They want a professionally run the library,
:13:21. > :13:26.the second option was a community run the library with volunteers.
:13:27. > :13:30.Third was a mobile library. But it came out very strongly that they
:13:31. > :13:33.wanted a professional library, not volunteer run.
:13:34. > :13:37.The county council says more than half of the 280 threatened mobile
:13:38. > :13:41.libraries also look close to being saved. A final decision on the
:13:42. > :13:52.future of the library service as a whole, will be made next month.
:13:53. > :13:57.Still ahead tonight: Some of the unusual things you've been doing to
:13:58. > :14:05.raise money for Children in Need And now the weather.
:14:06. > :14:18.The fundraising continues. Join me later.
:14:19. > :14:27.Keep your pictures coming. This was taken by James Mason. And artistic
:14:28. > :14:52.picture of the sky. As we head to this evening it is
:14:53. > :14:58.going to stay fine and dry. Again, tomorrow it stays dry with sunny
:14:59. > :15:04.spells. Cloud will increase. Today has not been that bad. Some decent
:15:05. > :15:17.spells of sunshine and temperatures getting up to a roundabout the 11
:15:18. > :15:25.Celsius. Some spot will see Falkirk forming. Especially to the south. ``
:15:26. > :15:34.fog. Under the cloud, about six Celsius. Tomorrow morning, the sun
:15:35. > :15:44.will rise at 7:29am. Here are the high water times. There could well
:15:45. > :15:50.be some patchy fog. Particularly across more southern areas. The best
:15:51. > :15:54.of the bright and sunny spells will be throughout the morning.
:15:55. > :16:05.Particularly in East Yorks. Thick cloud could produce dazzle. But most
:16:06. > :16:08.of us will stay dry. Temperatures reaching 11 Celsius but it will be
:16:09. > :16:17.cloudy so it will not feel that pleasant. The next couple of days,
:16:18. > :16:30.going into Sunday, a weak front producing rain and basil. `` dazzle.
:16:31. > :16:35.`` drizzle. I choose day, highs of just five Celsius. `` by Tuesday.
:16:36. > :16:38.People across East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire have been busy raising
:16:39. > :16:42.money for BBC's Children in Need. People across East Yorkshire and
:16:43. > :16:46.Lincolnshire have been busy Last year, this area collected ?300,000,
:16:47. > :16:49.and today's events culminate in a huge Pudsey Party which has just
:16:50. > :16:52.started at Sirius Academy in Hull. Let's go live there now and talk to
:16:53. > :17:00.our reporter Caroline Bilton. Caroline, what's going on there
:17:01. > :17:12.tonight? Welcome. We are having all the fun
:17:13. > :17:26.here. We have a coconut shy. Take a look. Doing everything to raise
:17:27. > :17:34.money. We have got plenty of people with money and that there are
:17:35. > :17:37.pockets. `` money in their pockets. Let's take a look at some of the
:17:38. > :17:45.things you have been up to throughout the region. You have not
:17:46. > :17:53.let us down. We will see more later in the programme. Every penny raised
:17:54. > :18:01.goes to charity. One project in Bedlington are doing their bit to
:18:02. > :18:05.take children off the streets. Halloween may be long gone but it is
:18:06. > :18:12.all about making happy memories for his children. They all regularly
:18:13. > :18:13.visit this centre which runs craft classes and Child centred activities
:18:14. > :18:24.for youngsters from impoverished backgrounds. It keeps them off the
:18:25. > :18:31.streets. Gives them something to do. You never know who is hanging about
:18:32. > :18:36.the part. It is very important to my little boy. They enjoy it. The
:18:37. > :18:49.children love what of the centre has to offer. You can go and do stuff.
:18:50. > :19:03.Quizzes. I like the arts and crafts sessions. And the Friday sessions,
:19:04. > :19:15.we do fun stuff. Painting and stuff. I have been on the computer. It is
:19:16. > :19:25.really good? Yes. I am bored if I don't come. The charity has gone
:19:26. > :19:30.from strength to strength. All the equipment repurchase, the sessions
:19:31. > :19:41.we run, none of it would be possible without the money. We really rely on
:19:42. > :19:48.it to help further the project. The sessions are enjoyed by everyone. I
:19:49. > :19:52.love my job. I don't mind getting up for it in the morning. Nobody can
:19:53. > :20:07.argue with that. That is just one charity that has
:20:08. > :20:11.benefited from BBC Children In Need. We will see more of what you have
:20:12. > :20:20.been doing later in the programme. We are having a great time. We are
:20:21. > :20:27.having a party. Doing lots to raise money. Take a look at this. ?25,000.
:20:28. > :20:36.What have you done to raise that money? Through our making a
:20:37. > :20:43.difference locally fund. Selling special goods in the store. That is
:20:44. > :20:47.what it is all about. We have got all the fun going on here tonight. I
:20:48. > :20:55.will be broadcasting live throughout the evening. I hope you can stay
:20:56. > :21:01.with us. We will do our bit. Back to you.
:21:02. > :21:12.If you are going along, enjoy. If you're watching, 7:30pm on BBC One.
:21:13. > :21:14.A report on the first anniversary of Police and Crime Commissioners has
:21:15. > :21:17.praised the Lincolnshire and Humberside PCC's for their work. The
:21:18. > :21:20.study says Humberside's Matthew Grove and Lincolnshire's Alan
:21:21. > :21:23.Hardwick were some of the best for being transparent and for the way
:21:24. > :21:33.they've spent public money. Mr Grove was named as second best Police and
:21:34. > :21:38.Crime Commissioner in the country. It ranges through to information on
:21:39. > :21:44.what is being spent, what the office spends, what contracts they are
:21:45. > :21:48.awarding. If Humberside and the PCC were a football club, they would be
:21:49. > :21:56.competing for a European place, and have a shot at the title.
:21:57. > :22:00.Thank you to all of those who got in contact with us yesterday after we
:22:01. > :22:05.heard from the Commissioner for the Humberside Police area, Matthew
:22:06. > :22:39.Grove. Here are some of the messages:
:22:40. > :22:46.supporters going to the FA Cup replay on Tuesday are being asked to
:22:47. > :22:50.use coaches to travel to the game. There were 12 arrests at the derby
:22:51. > :22:53.match last weekend. In football this weekend Scunthorpe United can move
:22:54. > :23:00.in to the automatic promotion places in League Two with a win against
:23:01. > :23:07.Accrington. You can hear full commentary of that game on BBC Radio
:23:08. > :23:15.Humberside's FM frequency. Grimsby Town's trip to Tamworth is on medium
:23:16. > :23:17.wave and digital radio. BBC Radio Lincolnshire will have full
:23:18. > :23:30.commentary of Lincoln City's match at Forest Green. Their spot
:23:31. > :23:33.programme is on air from 2pm. All day our cameras have been out
:23:34. > :23:37.across East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire to see what you have
:23:38. > :23:38.been doing to raise money for Children in Need. Here are some of
:23:39. > :23:49.the highlights. It's been really good to take
:23:50. > :24:04.photos. There is a red velvet chocolate cake
:24:05. > :24:37.that has my name on it. We have been following a route
:24:38. > :25:02.across Yorkshire. We are selling cake we made at our
:25:03. > :25:04.house. Really, really exciting. Everything we're doing is all about
:25:05. > :25:21.children in need. Ordinarily people out on the streets
:25:22. > :25:38.having a good time. That is what it is all about.
:25:39. > :25:58.It has been busier than last year. The local total should be higher.
:25:59. > :26:01.One e`mail says, we had a sponsored spell, and cake bake. Thank you to
:26:02. > :26:07.everybody fundraising. Let's get a recap of the national
:26:08. > :26:09.and regional headlines. Protesters surround the Prime Minister's
:26:10. > :26:13.motorcade as he makes a controversial visit to Sri Lanka for
:26:14. > :26:16.the Commonwealth Conference. There are claims that tenants are facing
:26:17. > :26:26.debts and homelessness because of changes to housing benefit.
:26:27. > :26:31.Tomorrow's weather, the best of the brightness will be early on. Cloudy
:26:32. > :26:39.with a chance of rain. Top temperatures, mild, 10 Celsius.
:26:40. > :26:48.The bedroom tax. A big response. We says my mother is unable to move
:26:49. > :26:57.home because the children have moved out. She cannot afford gasoline at
:26:58. > :27:03.visitor. It is a disgrace. The council could not care less. Steve
:27:04. > :27:09.said he was offered a two bedroom flat. I is single person, if I
:27:10. > :27:16.turned it down I would have lost my position on the waiting list.
:27:17. > :27:23.Another viewer, there is no system of benefits for me, just taxes. No
:27:24. > :27:35.sympathy. Lucy says, why should I subsidise others? Many people say
:27:36. > :27:40.that. Mark says, for too long people are holding onto their council homes
:27:41. > :27:42.after the family moved out. Pay for it with a premium. Good night.