13/12/2013 Look North (East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire)

harshest winters in the Middle East for years strong was in. Draws in.

Good evening and welcome to BBC Look North. The headlines tonight.

People affected by the tidal surge rebuild flood defences themselves

before more high tides. Months of engineering work. We have

got to try to do as best we can. Fresh walk`outs by firefighters in

their long`running dispute over pensions.

The future of the British Army, new Reservists take part in their

passing`out parade. And why the Lincolnshire climate is

perfect for Hobbits. And it looks like we will have a

windy day tomorrow, but it should settle down for Sunday.

Good evening. It's a week now since parts of Lincolnshire and East

Yorkshire were flooded and residents are being told that hundreds of

miles of defences must be assessed for damage before homes will be

fully protected again. The Environment Agency, which is in

charge of the repairs, says it will carry out emergency work as soon

possible and protecting properties will be given top priority. Some

repairs have already started ahead of high tides which are expected

again on January the 1st. However, as Sarah Walton reports, some people

are already worried the work won't be completed in time.

The flood defences here protected this area for over 60 years. Now

it's a race to repair them. The surge topped, and made a vortex, cut

into the back of the bank, until it broke through. It is breached in

seven places, up to 50 metres wide, and it is back cut on a further 12

places. And this is what happened, acres of farmland farmland flooded.

It is too early to tell what damage has been caused to the crop. The

next high tide in January is not expected to be as high, but in

shadow of the crumbled sea defences, farmers are worried. You are only

talking about two and a half weeks until the next high tide. There is

Christmas as well. The Environment Agency has authorised an image ``

emergency repair in the bridge so we will hopefully get something done in

the next couple of weeks. So the water will not come in again. People

here have permission to do repairs, but only using this soil here. But

too much of it has been washed away to be able to make this back strong

again. If we work together and if the funding can be put in place, I

can be fairly confident that the necessary temporary repairs will be

put in place ahead of the high tides next month. Even the road to the

defences has to be repaired. But it's local farmers that are

providing the material and manpower. And it's a big job. Well, months of

engineering work, to be done before January the 1st. And we have got to

try to plug it as best we can until then. Late this afternoon, the

Environment Agency arrived to assess the damage. They say emergency

repairs along the coast will be made as soon as possible, with protection

here in place by Christmas. Then it's a case of waiting and watching

what the spring tide brings. Lincolnshire was also badly affected

by last week's tidal surge. Millions of pounds is being set aside by the

County Council to help pay for Boston's flood barrier, while in

South Ferriby on the south bank of the Humber, many people still don't

know when they'll be back in their homes. I've been speaking to the

leader of South Ferriby Parish Council, Roy Holloway, and asked him

how people in the village have been coping.

The initial feeling was basically shock, Peter. People did not realise

there was so much water, so fast. Obviously, a lot of people have been

running on adrenaline. But I think we have a period of time now when we

are getting more and more reaction coming out. And I think people are

starting to realise how bad it really was. Dreadful for people

there and in other places, right before Christmas. Well, yes. To be

honest, in our favour, we have been hanging the drum pretty well, partly

because of the nature of the Parish Council, but we are `` we have been

talking amongst ourselves and we are concerned about people in

surrounding areas, we have not had any contact with them, but we are

getting concerned about how they are coping and whether they are managing

to collect as much information as we are. Have you had enough help from

the local authority and the Environment Agency? I think the

initial reaction was pretty slow, but I don't think anyone really

expected this force of water. This last week, it has been pretty

impressive, to be honest. Everybody has had a really good bit of

feedback about the rubbish being collected and taken away

immediately. We have had no vermin problems or anything like that. I

think I speak for most of the people in the village. How big a job is it

now to get South Ferriby back to normal? Well, that is a good

question. I don't know. We are village community, and consequently,

we have rather large gardens, a lot of us. The gardens have all been

devastated. So just about the gardens back on some sort of order

will be an achievement. If we can get people back into some sort of

accommodation and have sort of normality before Christmas, we will

be very lucky. Let's hope so, and we are thinking of the people in South

Ferriby tonight. We have followed this story across

our area and we will continue to do so.

In a moment... The Government announces millions of pounds extra

investment for training colleges around the Humber.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union across East Yorkshire are out on

strike this evening in a continuing row over their pensions. Fire crews

walked out just over half an hour ago and will be on the picket lines

until 10pm tonight. They'll do the same again tomorrow. Rich Walker of

the FBU is at Hull's Clough Road Fire Station. You have had several

strikes already, it doesn't seem to have done much good up until man.

No, firefighters are bitterly disappointed, but here we are again,

time to get the Government to listen to our argument. Firefighters know

we do not have the capability to work until we are 60. The public

have made it clear they don't want to see firefighters in their late

50s up until the age of 60 rescuing them, they prefer to see young, fit

firefighters coming to rescue them. And yet, the Government seem to be

conveyed the ignoring the argument. Many people are fighting fit at 57

or 58 and they cannot retire. Why are firefighters not up to the job

at that age? Well, many firefighters will be, but there has been such

extensive research into the fitness standards of a firefighter, a

front`line firefighter has been compared to front`line operations in

the military and we do not expect to see people doing to war in the

military, at the age of 55 to 60. The fact is, we have no choice, we

will be forced to work until we are 60, and yet we may be able to

maintain fitness standard but we have proved that we will not be able

to do that. We will be faced with dismissal if we cannot maintain the

fitness standards. If these four hour strikes are not getting the

Government to agree to talks, what will you do next? Will you strike

for a full day? Well, that, unfortunately, seems to be the only

option. We do not want that to happen, but what do you do to get

the Government to listen to an obvious argument? Firefighters will

not be able to work until they are 60. If there was a major emergency

in Hull tonight, would you call off the strike you Mac locally, we will

recall to duty. If there is anything like the floods we saw last

Thursday, firefighters would consider leaving the picket line and

going to help the public. Thank you very much.

Let us know what you think about this story. Where do your sympathies

lie in this dispute? With the firefighters, who say it's wrong

that they should be on front line duty beyond 60, or with the

Government, who want them to work longer before they can claim their

pensions? Your thoughts on the firefighters'

strike. A jury in the case of a teenager accused of killing his

grandmother in Hull has been discharged for legal reasons.

17``year`old Lewis Dale, who lived with his grandparents, denies murder

and attempted murder. A date for his retrial will be fixed next Friday.

12 Lincoln City supporters have been described today as "a pack of

hyenas" by a judge. They were sentenced for their part in a

violent clash before a match with Luton Town last season. The men all

received ten`year football banning orders and a total of 31 years in

prison or young offenders institute. Furniture was thrown during the

fight at the Ritz pub in the city and two women received minor

injuries. A man who walked out of a

Lincolnshire prison last year has been jailed for life after going on

a crime spree while on the run. Lease Iris committed a series of

offences after absconding from the North Sea Camp near Boston last

October. He was the subject of a nationwide hunt and was eventually

arrested two months later. Millions of pounds of extra money

has been announced for training colleges around the Humber. It's

part of a new scheme to improve the skills of local people in readiness

for an expansion in the renewables industry. The City Deal will also

give our councils more power to make important decisions. Here's our

business correspondent, Paul Murphy. Here is where today's City Deal

announcement really matters, Hull college is one of those to benefit

from extra money, to buy even more state`of`the`art training equipment.

It is hoped it will make students here more employable. Any investment

or money put into colleges is always a good thing more towards helping

people get qualifications and getting a better job in future. As

the city's Minister signed the City Deal with local politicians, he

claimed it would make it easier to get money for skills training as

well as allowing more big decisions to be made here and not in

Westminster. What this eel is about is the businesses around the Humber,

the councils, are planning for the long`term. `` this deal. They are

saying, we are confident of attracting some pretty important

employers, but we need to make sure that they are going to have the

workforce with the skills to be able to employ them. The renewables

energy industry is the great hope, it already employs hundreds around

Grimsby, but of more investment comes in, the region does not want

to be facing a skills shortage. The Humber is now waiting on two huge

investment decisions. The turbine factory than at the docks, and the

marine energy Park on the South Humber bank. Between them,

eventually creating thousands of jobs. I am keeping my fingers

crossed that we would see the planning permission granted

hopefully before the end of this year, and I am sure that they have

the back`up. The simple message from the minister is that jobs can be

created in the so`called energy estuary. But they will only be

filled by local people if they have the right skills and training.

Paul's with me in the studio this evening. How important for the

ordinary person in the street is this deal for Hull? Most people will

not notice anything instantly, it is like the foundations of your house,

you do not notice them but they are very important. Many potential

investors into this region will tell you it is crucially important that

the local workforce has the required amount of robber skills, the right

training, they are to invest seriously. I was told today that

there are at least five companies circling the Humber at the moment, I

up this region, and skills are something they believe is very

important to get right. Thanks for watching this Friday

night. Still ahead tonight... On parade, the new Reservist who are

the future of the British Army. Keep the pictures coming in. Ian

Robinson took this of Hartsholme Park in Lincoln. Thank you very

much, Ian. Julie Donovan is with us tonight.

Good evening. Good evening. A few nights ago, Paul spell his

surname wrong. It appeared on the graphic, spelt

wrong. He said, you did it! Yes, I spent my afternoons trying to

sabotage... What it ought to do now is go

through all of the shows and put different names in!

This weekend, windy on Saturday, then quieter on Sunday. It looks

pretty decent for Sunday. It has been mild today, it will be cooler

tomorrow, it will feel cool because the breeze will pick up. After a

pleasant started the day, it will cloud over. In terms of wet weather,

it will just be a little bit, all courtesy of this front. Some very

windy conditions to come through Saturday. We have a band of rain

crossing at the moment. It is fairly light and patchy. Any remaining rain

will clear the way eastwards, and into the North Sea. Apart from the

odd shower overnight, it looks like a largely dry story, but a much

cooler one than last night. Temperatures in the towns and cities

getting down to four or five Celsius. Lower in the countryside.

It will be a chilly start tomorrow. The sun will rise at 8:11am. Here

are the times of high water. Tomorrow morning, a chilly but fine

start with some sunshine. The bulk of tomorrow apart from the wind, it

will not be too bad. The sunshine will turn hazy, and gradually more

cloud will spill in from the West. I'd evening, some wet weather

spilling in as well. A blustery wind, it will be gusty, particularly

along the coast. Temperatures in some spots will get into double

figures, but a few degrees cooler than today. Nine or 10 Celsius. On

Sunday, a decent day, particularly through the first half. Dry and

bright with sunshine and a lighter reason stop there may be some rain

in southern parts later in the day. Tuesday looks nice, wet and winds ``

wet and windy for Wednesday. Paul will be very cross about that.

He will be very interested in the piece about The Hobbit.

I'm glad you said that, not me. The latest batch of Army Reservists

have held their passing`out parade in Grantham today. For them, it

marks the end of an intensive, two`week training course. For the

new Army Reserve, it's the start of a big recruitment push as the

regular Army is facing big cuts. John Hess reports.

Ready for inspection, these Army Reserve soldiers completed the first

stage of their military training at their barracks in Grantham. What is

next? What's next? I've got my commando training. They are among

many more Reservists that the Government hopes will offset the

impact of a squeeze on the military budget. The `` `` the MoD wants to

expand the reserve force. But it is doable. We have looked at this

training model. Canadians and Americans are it is doable to have a

larger percentage of the Army from the Army Reserve. It back the

defence minister visits the headquarters of the Army Reserve. We

have a good history of the Army Reserve and we want to build on

that. These sorts of parades, which show the public what the Army

Reserve is about, standing shoulder to shoulder with serving personnel.

But the Shadow Defence Secretary fired this salvo. Can we reduce the

numbers of Wiggo the troops at the speed and in the quantity the

Government are doing, and recoup the numbers of Army Reservists you need

two there are issues around that and that is the better the concern

people have. Regular Army is being cut by 20,000 within the next seven

years. The MoD hopes these soldiers will become a bigger part of

written's defence front line. `` Britain's.

Hull's MPs have met rail bosses to discuss a proposal to run faster

train services in and out of the city. First Hull Trains has

submitted a ?90 million plan to electrify the Hull to Selby line,

which would cut journey time to London by up to 30 minutes.

We talked about this on the programme last night, and thanks to

everyone who's got in touch. A big response on this one, just a few of

the many. Phil texted in to say...

Martin is a hotelier in Bridlington, he says...

Thank you for those. Steve Bruce says he is more concerned with

winning games and he is with the club's name change controversy.

Earlier this week the club submitted a proposal to the Football

Association to change the name to Hull Tigers. Satisfaction for Steve

Bruce on the pitch, but is there too much distraction off it. Despite

Monday night's draw with Swansea, whether Hull City become Hull Tigers

or not, the manager insists his focus is on results. It is the least

of my worries, the name change. As I said, I am more focused than ever to

do the job would was always on the remade, to make sure the club stays

in the Premier League. But the ongoing row doesn't seem to have

affected the team. Danny Graham scored his first goal for the club

at Swansea. And now as they look at their position, Stoke City presents

the next challenge. I have to worry about Steven Gerrard. What is

happening outside, you know, we have to focus on what happens. But away

from the KC, the name change is on the agenda, with the Hull Daily Mail

canvassing the public's view. It is an idea to get an in`depth view of

how the supporters feel. Whether or not they buy merchandise, just to

try and get an overall feel of the mood. And that could be an important

factor, with the FA saying they will listen to supporters' groups as part

of the name change consultation. We are all for progression and growth,

we will never get a better opportunity to be in the Premier

League, but please, there is no need to discard our history and our

heritage. We can have both. Steve Bruce says he's not prepared to

discuss the name change further, as the matter won't be dealt with by

the FA until April. But don't expect that to be the end of the matter for

now, because what's being seen by some as a distracting debate seems

unlikely to go away. And you can can hear commentary from

Hull's match against Stoke tomorrow on BBC Radio Humberside. They'll

also have Scunthorpe against Wycombe Wanderers in League Two, and

coverage of Grimsby against Barnet in the FA Trophy.

BBC Radio Lincolnshire will have Lincoln City's FA Trophy match

against Braintree Town. Scarborough's Futurist Theatre,

which has hosted shows from some of the top names in variety, is to

close. The Beatles, Ken Dodd and Morecambe and Wise are amongst the

acts to have played at the theatre. It's to be closed for three months

in the hope that someone will come forward to run it.

And the theatre at the moment tonight is showing The Hobbit film.

Fans of the science fiction fantasy The Hobbit are expected to pack

cinemas tonight for the official release of the latest film. Now,

when Tolkien wrote "The Hobbit, he said he based the creatures' home on

his memories of the West Midlands, but scientists say their research

shows Lincolnshire was also a major influence, if only because of its

climate. Simon Spark has more. It's one of the most anticipated

films of the year and the second part of the Hobbit trilogy, The

Desolation of Smaug, hits the cinematic screen today. But as if by

magic, the Shire of Lincolnshire has become a lot closer to the action.

Not only does it look a little similar. If we compare this behind

the scenes footage of the first film and do a bit of this with ours,

Lincolnshire also, in an ultimate experience for film enthusiasts, has

been found to have the same weather too. So, what are we basing our

Lincolnshire links with The Shire on? Is it willow tunnels like this?

No, we're talking scientific fact. Sort of. Using the latest climate

model, which can simulate weather conditions on our own and other

planets, scientists from the University of Bristol found that

Lincolnshire and Leicestershire's weather was the most similar to that

of Middle Earth. The main thing we did is, we had to think about the

geography, where continents were, we had to make some inferences with

what Tolkien did not is a surly say explicitly. Lincolnshire looked

particularly like it. It was that sweet spot of being wet but not too

wet. Cold but not too cold. It could explain our bond with Middle Earth

here in Thorpe on the Hill, where they've built their own Hobbit house

for their own little Hobbits. They even have their own Smaug the

Dragon. That's on the top, there is a window at the back. You are

standing on the fire! But it is widely believed to clean based

Middle earth on his wanderings in the West Midlands force it will not

be the first time that science has rewritten the history books.

Kevin Clifton, the dancer from Grimsby, is making final

preparations for tomorrow night's Strictly Come Dancing semifinal with

his dance partner, Susanna Reid. And he's very confident, having just set

a new world record. Kevin has danced 77 "drunken sailor" steps in just 30

seconds and in doing so is now in the Guinness Book of Records. That

was done last night. So, good luck to them for tomorrow. But tomorrow

Kevin must impress the Strictly judges and win a place in the final.

And he goes into the semifinal with the backing of his hometown.

Good luck to Kevin and Susannah on Strictly Come Dancing. Everyone in

Grimsby is rooting for you. You have put Grimsby on the map for the

dancing scene. Come on, Kevin! I want to wish them all the best and I

hope they win. By keeping my fingers crossed. Good luck, Kevin. We hope

you win! It would be unfair to pray for you to win, but all the best for

Saturday and thanks for putting Grimsby on the map. , good luck,

Kevin. We want to wish you the best of luck on Saturday night, keep

dancing! Good luck to them for tomorrow night. Let's get a recap of

the national and regional headlines. The Government is accused of turning

its back on Syria's refugees by not offering any a safe haven here.

People affected by the tidal surge rebuild flood defences themselves

before more high tides predicted in January.

Tomorrow's weather, a dry, bright and chilly start with the best of

the sunshine through the morning. Clouding over and rain again later.

A high of ten Celsius. Talking about firefighters' strike,

Peter says, due try and carry and 18 stone man down a ladder, you have no

idea. Another one, if we don't give firefighters the credit they

deserve, these brave men and women save lives. In the USA, they have

hero status but in this country, the cut their pay and pensions. It is a

joke. I did five years in the fire service Thomas is Lee, trust me, it

beats working for a living! Thanks for watching, have a peaceful

weekend, see you on Monday.