10/02/2014 Look North (East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire)

Thank you. That's all from the BBC News at Six so it's goodbye from me,

and Good evening and welcome to BBC Look

North. The headlines tonight. A call to regulate free meals and food

banks to stop some people taking advantage. I have seen people come

in here, with money in their pockets, ?120.

A call for improvements ` why cycling in Yorkshire's cities isn't

always good for your health. Today there's a call for more cycle

lanes like these as figures show the number of casualties on our roads is

up by a third. The Tigers' record signing inches

Hull City closer to premiership survival.

And the blind skier from Lincolnshire hoping for a place on

the podium in Sochi. The forecast follows shortly.

There are concerns that some people are taking advantage of food banks

and free meal services in Hull. Many are independently run by small

groups or churches and rely on people's honesty to take only what

they need. Now charities are being encouraged to work together and

share information to stop misuse and make the system more effective.

Sarah Walton reports. A fresh bowl of steaming soup. A

welcome sight on a cold day. Every Saturday, the Amazing Grace Church

in Hull gives free food to anyone who says they're in need. Not only

the alcoholics, the homeless, not only people who are taking drugs. At

one point we had somebody who was a student. For some reason he found

himself in a difficult situation. It's open to anybody. People say

some are taking advantage of that kindness visiting different

charities every day so they can save their money for drink and drugs. You

hear it all the time. I see people, the same faces going to the soup

kitchens where I go. Always the same faces. I see people coming here who

have been paid on a Saturday morning and have ?120 in their pocket. There

is a church on Princess Avenue and they put bags of clothes out for the

homeless. A certain one, he will grab the full bag and then he'll

take it to the clothes bank to sell it and then spend the money on booze

or whatever he's taking. The worry is that groups like the one here

can't spot when people are taking advantage of the system. Now it is

being suggested they all come together and cooperate in a far more

official way. I think there's an awful lot that the participants they

can do about putting their information together on some type of

spreadsheet, so it is available through lots of different ways so we

can map the provision that is available in the city. Whether that

be lunchtime clubs, food banks. That is already being done at some

places. Hull food bank is part of the Trussell Trust, a network of 400

centres across the country. It says size gives it influence and allows

it to work with a wide range of health and social workers who

identify those genuinely in need. But others believe there are

benefits to a more informal approach. This church runs a small

daily drop`in meal and food bank service. It stops abuse by getting

to know people first. We don't advertise the fact there is a food

bank at Saint Hilda's. People know about it because this church is in

the middle of the community, everybody knows where it is. People

who have been helped by the church put the word around. While different

groups vary in their approach to tackling food poverty, they do all

agree that demand for their service is increasing so it's important to

have a debate on how the system can be improved.

Earlier, I spoke to the Liverpool and Wavertree MP Luciana Berger, who

in 2012 made a documentary about people who use food banks. I started

by asking Ms Berger if she thought people were taking advantage of food

banks. Well, I've visited many food banks,

not only in my own constituency in Liverpool, but right across the

country, and I have never met any food bank user that has walked in

with their heads held high. It is very difficult for people to have to

accept the help. People are being referred to food banks because they

have got nothing to eat. What do you say to those people who say, yes,

but they still have a mobile phone and a television the size of a wall?

That is what some people will be saying. The former Lord Mayor of

Liverpool said the very same thing on the radio. I invited him to come

and see a local food bank and meet people and talk to them. He actually

changed his opinion. He met people that don't have mobile phones, and

if they had gone, weren't able to put credit on it, and didn't have

any luxuries, and people who went without meals in order to provide

for their children. You are saying everyone who is there has to be

there? It is not a lifestyle choice? It's certainly not a lifestyle

choice. There is a challenge that people perhaps aren't aware of the

fact that there are hundreds of thousands of people right across our

country, not just in deprived areas where you might expect it, but in

affluent areas too, who are really struggling to get by. It only takes

one thing, a job loss or a reduction in working hours, or an emergency

repair, which means they have no buffer and nothing to fall back,

they have to go to food banks. The Government already provides a safety

net in benefits for essentials. Should we teach people visiting food

banks how to manage the money they do have better? It's really

important to know that it's not just people out of work ` people in work

are having to go to a food bank, too. Jobcentres are having to refer

people to food banks because we are seeing an increase in the number of

people sanctioned and seeing their benefits taken away from them. I

come back to the point, yes, you might get your jobseeker's allowance

but you might have to have an emergency repair, like a hole in the

roof. With increases in bills, increasing basic costs around food

and energy, people are really struggling. Very good to have you on

the programme. So is Luciana Berger right that

everyone who uses a food bank or free meals service needs to be

there? Or if people are abusing the system ` as our report suggests `

what needs to change to prevent that from happening?

In a moment: Claims that building a supermarket on Lincolnshire's only

cattle market would cause "lasting harm."

There are calls for Yorkshire's cities to be made safer for cyclists

as the region prepares to host this summer's Grand Depart of the Tour de

France. Local authorities are hoping the event will inspire more of us to

get on our bikes. But figures show that there has been a sharp rise in

the number of accidents involving cyclists since 2009. How dangerous

are roads in our area for those on two wheels?

Recent statistics show there has been a rise in the number of

cyclists killed or seriously injured on the road in Yorkshire and the

Humber between 2009 and 2012. It rose by nearly a third. There are

more people cycling. Campaigners say more people won't get cycling and

less road and less road Ahmed Saif. I have been out with cyclists here

in Hull, talking to people about problems they face.

As a cycle courier in Hull, David Noble knows every lump and bump in

the road. He travels around 40 miles a day on roads and cycle routes. In

the last year, he's gone through four tyres and five wheels.

I'd sooner take a route that's 24 miles, and using the cycle track

cuts time off your journey. But when it comes to cost`effectiveness, when

you're replacing ?30 tyres and ?60 wheels every day, obviously going

the longer way is the cheapest route.

This cycle shop in the city says they're repairing more bikes than

ever before, something they blame on poorly`maintained roads. We're

seeing a lot of buckled wheels, broken spokes, punctures, torn

tyres, bent forks ` people having accidents and going over the bike

because of pot holes. Hull has one of the highest numbers of cyclists

for a UK city, and in 2011, it was named as one of Britain's top cities

for cyclists. Events like Skyride have seen growing numbers of people

taking part. But that increase in interest has led to an increase in

accidents. In Hull in 2010, there were 25 serious accidents involving

cyclists. In 2013, it had almost doubled, to 41. With events like the

Tour De France coming to Yorkshire this summer, it's hoped it will

inspire more of us to get on our bike. Today, a cycling manifesto was

launched to encourage the Government to raise its spending on cycling and

improve safety. OUr surveys have shown that 60% of

people who don't ride a bike have said they would if they felt safer,

so the latent demand is absolutely enormous, and the potential good

that can do our country is also enormous. In Hull, a cycling action

plan is in place which aims to encourage more of us to take up the

sport, but campaigners say that won't happen if cycle paths are left

like this. If those problems can be overcome, it could have an affect on

lots of other services. The survey has shown that if 10% of trips were

made by cycle, the sailing to the NHS would be ?250 million a year.

Thank you. Always an emotive issue. Another one you might want to

comment on tonight. I look forward to hearing from you. A county

council decision that could see some Lincolnshire libraries run by

volunteers, is to be challenged in the High Court. The campaign group,

Save Lincolnshire Libraries, has lodged legal papers which could

force a judicial review. The authority says it has to save ?1.5

million and insists it's acting lawfully. Lecturers at the

University of Hull joined other colleagues across the country in a

two`hour strike as part of a continuing row with the government

over pay. Trades Unions say members voted to strike because staff have

only been offered a 1% pay rise. A body which was found in the River

Witham in Lincoln yesterday has been identified as a man who's been

missing since the end of last year Ryan Morgan left Lincoln County

Hospital in December. His body was discovered by a rower. A postmortem

examination will now be held. Two women from Immingham have been

given a grant from the Lottery to try and help children in North East

Lincolnshire to sleep better. Claire Earley and Carol Batchelor are both

parents of severely disabled children who didnt sleep properly

until they put in place a strict sleep routine. They claim that even

the most chronic sleep problems can be cured by changing habits and now

they're running sleep clinics in the area.

Got rid of the telly, for a start. Changed it for soft music playing in

the background for him to settle with, and every night we used to

turn it down a notch till he used to settle with nothing in the room.

After two to three weeks, he was sleeping. It was amazing!

And you can see Carol and Claire's story in full on tonight's Inside

Out. Still ahead tonight: Orchestrating a

win ` the Tigers inch closer to premiership survival. The blind

skier from Lincoln hoping for a place on the podium.

Keep your photographs coming in. Thank you for that one. There is a

bit of Cumulus in the top. How is the man flu, Peter? I heard

you went to bed with a hot talk to. Trust you to hear about that. It is

too dangerous to exchange peasantry is with you. The headline for the

next 24 hours is unsettled. It will quickly turn wet. A bit of sleet and

snow through tomorrow afternoon. On this weather friends here, it might

turn a bit wintry. It is colder than average. There are showers at the

moment in southern parts of Lincolnshire, heading into North

Norfolk. We need to get rid of these showers. Watch out for ice on

untreated surfaces. Rurally, we could be down to freezing point. The

sun will rise about 7:30am. Dry, icy start. The dryness will not last

long. Bit of snow above the top of the world. That through really

proclaim the top temperatures, well, there will be a cold south`west

wind. Five or six Celsius. That is 41 Fahrenheit. Further ahead, wintry

showers on Tuesday night and Wednesday, more rain later. A risk

of severe gales on Wednesday night. Thursday looks brighter and mostly

dry with sunshine. We mentioned insomnia this morning.

Somebody said, Paul should make you a video of all his best bits.

Well, I have got a new blog that you can read online tonight.

Goodbye. Building a supermarket on the site

of Louth's cattle market would "cause lasting harm to the town for

a generation", according to Lincolnshire County Council. The

Cattle market is used for a half a day a week at the moment and a

consultation on the future of the site is underway. But any proposals

to develop the land by a major supermarket chain will face

opposition from the County Council even though another livestock market

will be provided if the site is re`developed. Paul Murphy reports.

This deli is the kind of independent specialist shop which characterises

this rural market town. But that character, according to some, will

disappear if a large supermarket is allowed into Louth. People from

Grimsby and Lincoln come to Louth because they like the experience.

Why don't they stay in Lincoln and Grimsby? Because they like to come

to Louth for a day out. And this is the cattle market site which East

Lindsey district council is thinking about selling. It says it's had

interest from a number of supermarkets. But now the County

Council has waded into the debate with a warning for the town. I have

seen the devastation that supermarkets cause if they are put

in the wrong place and they are not integrated properly into the whole

retail offer of a place. I do not want to see Louth go the way of so

many towns in this country. One concern is it that this was the age

of town place. Campaigners have welcomed the County Council's

intervention. We've been very heartened by Colin Davie's comments.

He's clearly taken a stand back look at this and said, look, there's this

town which is so important to the visitor experience in Lincolnshire.

It's one of the jewels of the county. To protect it is a very

important part of policy. No`one from East Lindsey district council

was available for interview. But their spokesman said:

so the council also says it will build a replacement livestock market

if it goes ahead. Like all of these things, it boils down to money. This

site could be worth at least ?12 million to East Lindsey district

council. They'll tell you that at a time when budgets are tight, that's

a lot of public services. There is much at stake in this historic town.

It will all be discussed at a special council meeting later this

week. Paul is back from Louth and with me now. What evidence is there

to suggest that a supermarket ` should one come to Louth ` might

actually benefit the town? Every town is different. The study is

being done by the University of Southampton, looked at a three`year

study and showed that people will go into towns as well as the retail

centres. The fear in Louth is people will go to the supermarket, then not

bother going into the centre of town.

Thank you. Another one you might want to comment on.

Thanks to everyone who got in touch with us about the Humberside Police

and Crime Commissioner who says he needs an increase in the police

budget. Matthew Grove wants the money residents pay for police to

rise by just under two percent. The money will go towards new technology

which he says will mean officers can spend more time on the streets.

Plenty of responses from you on this one.

Hull City are closing in on the ten wins that Manager Steve Bruce said

they needed to stay in the Premier League. They head into tomorrow's

match with Southampton after taking a seventh victory at Sunderland. Our

sports reporter Simon Clark explains how the Tigers' multi`million pound

strike force has turned around their fortunes. Smiles for Steve Bruce. He

has now done the double over them. He was helped by another Sunderland

red card, this time handed out to Wes Brown. Tom Huddlestone couldn't

capitalise. Soon after, the impressive Shane Long could. Long

might have had a second. The post to Sunderland 's rescue. Hull City paid

close to ?15 million in the transfer window, a mind`boggling amount for

this club and this is what it buys. Jelavic scoring his first to add to

Long 's earlier strike and that's the Tigers up to 27 points. Still

only four above the drop zone but seemingly heading in the right

direction before tomorrow's match with Southampton. They have done

fantastically well. It helped spirit enormously. Southampton lost the

weekend. It was a learning curve for us. Hopefully, we can build on that

and it will be a different story this time round. We have got a few

new players in. We expect a different outcome. Steve Bruce did

not mince his words today, saying that Southampton are the best team

in the Premier League outside the traditional elite, a measure of how

hard things might be tomorrow. If the Tigers were to win, I will be

eight victories this season. Scunthorpe United remain second in

League One after a draw with leaders Chesterfield. Leading striker Sam

Winnall put the Iron ahead with a shot at close range but a second

half penalty was enough to give the visitors a point which keeps them

top of the table. Hull FC chairman Adam Pearson has

been outlining his ambitions for the club ahead of the new season. Hull,

who defeated Hull Kingston Rovers in one of their pre`season matches,

start life under new coach Lee Radford against the French side

Catalan Dragons at the KC Stadium on Friday night. I did not really think

there was enough discipline in the squad last year with regard to

training and particular standards. I have been very impressed with what

he has done. I could not asking to settle into the job better.

Adam Pearson, who will be explaining more of his plans on the Super

League show tonight, which starts at 11.20 here on BBC One.

Lincolnshire skier Jade Etherington has told Look North she's hoping for

a podium`finish at the Paralympics. The 22`year`old began skiing on

family holidays ` and has now been selected to represent Team GB in

four events at Sochi. She has less than 5% vision in each eye ` so

needs a guide to help her compete. Gemma Dawson has been to meet her.

Speeding down the slopes one after another. Watching it, it's hard to

believe that Jade ` in the orange hat ` is partially sighted. So she

relies on Caroline in front to guide her around the course. She wears

black so I can see her in contrast to the snow. In our helmets, we have

Bluetooth headset and can talk to each other. My site was pretty

stable when I was younger. Ever since I was 17, I started to lose my

site. That is when I got into skiing, and it really helped me cope

with the sight loss, and it was a silver lining.

Today, Jade's been doing some final interviews in Lincoln. Before

heading to a holding camp tomorrow, where she'll prepare to compete in

four events in Sochi. My aim has always been the sodium `` podium in

Sochi. I can't believe it is nearly here. I remember when it was 3000

days away and now it is 25. I have always claimed to be on the podium,

no matter what colour. Yesterday, Team GB picked`up their

first medal at the Winter Games. Jenny Jones, here taking bronze in

the slope style snowboarding event. Jade's now hoping for a similar

result. This afternoon, she caught up with

two of her sisters in Lincoln. And they couldn't be prouder. It is

exciting hearing about the place she has been to. Method of a bit jealous

but it is really good. I am public to cry, but I will feel proud of

her. She has achieved something amazing. She is representing Great

Britain. She should be proud. So now there's just time for a few

final practice runs before Jade and Caroline compete. Incredible. We

wish Jade well. I'm sure she. We wish Jade all the best.

Let's get a recap of the national and regional headlines.

Thousands of homes are at risk in the Thames Valley.

There is a call to regulate free meals and food banks to stop some

people from taking advantage. Response on the subject of food

banks. Thanks for the messages. Paul says, I think genuine people who

need the food bank... Sally says, I am a professional. We do not just

hand out vouchers. Somebody else says, if people have a mobile phone,

they should not be entitled, because if they can afford a phone, they

should afford food. Bridget says, there are genuine cases where people

need help, but many abuse the system. Beryl says, people who

attend food banks are given food for only three days and put in touch

with the correct agency according to their needs. Thank you for those.

Have a nice evening. Goodbye. # I tremble

Commencing AC-12 investigation of DI Lindsay Denton for suspicion