04/04/2012 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Hello, welcome to Look North. In the programme tonight: Winter's

sting in the tail - thousands of homes left without power and many

roads closed as April blizzards sweep the region.

Network Rail fined �4 million for health and safety breaches which

caused the fatal Grayrigg train crash.

Enough is enough - councillors are urged to call a halt to windfarm

approvals in Northumberland. Impaled on a parking barrier - this

lorry driver survived to see the company responsible in court today.

In sport, the rowers putting themselves in with a great shout of

making our Olympics squad. In the tough economic climate, how

our racecourses are coping, come The snow was expected. The power

cuts weren't. Blizzards driven by strengthening winds closed many of

our higher routes overnight. Motorists were stranded in their

cars, some overnight. Drifts reached seven feet deep in places.

Up to 40,000 homes were left without electricity as ice brought

down power lines. Thousands of those homes are still cut off. Our

reporter Steph Lloyd joins us now from Leadgate near Consett.

In the past few minutes Para has been restored to discreet. We have

got a electricity back on in the shops, the takeaway and in the

homes. 4000 homes in that concept area are still without power. We

have been in County Durham all day assessing how the county has borne

the brunt of the cold snap. Add beautiful winter Wonderland, but

the severe weather has caused power cuts and disruption. County Durham

seems to have been worst affected. Kevin digs his car out after

getting stranded in a snowdrift. With no hope of getting out, he was

forced to spend the night in his car. I ended up spending the night

here, pitting the heater on every hour. They got a friend to come

back up and help me out this morning. It is taken over and hour

to get out. I wouldn't have wanted this week in the car all night,

especially appear. I am freezing now. One farmer work from 4am to

help clear the snow and free stranded cars. Since 4 o'clock this

morning pulling cars out, plying the road out for the police.

severe weather has also disrupted Paris surprise. The strong winds, I

sense snow brought down power lines leaving thousands of properties in

the dark. We are going to get events like this, and when it does

happen we had no communications with the outside world, the afar

tees moved towards the more vital thing such as hospitals than we are

left to try and survive. We hope to have most customers' accounts a

play today. Given the extent of the damage and some of the outlying

regions, it might be that some customers go overnight without

power. No more significant snowfall is expected, but with the cold snap

here for the next day or so, this no one like you for a while.

Without electricity it may be another cold night for thousands

and County Durham. Whitby in North Yorkshire was also one of the worst

affected areas with 12,000 properties without power. Northern

Power Grid say that they're all my back on. This time yesterday the

weather had really closed in and the Storm extended south to the

North York Moors. The line on Sutton Bank showed just how

selective this snow storm had been. On the North York Moors anywhere

above a few hundred feet and you were struggling with roads blocked,

power lines down and everyday working lives practically

impossible. I can't get to the sheep. It has caught us out

completely. We entered the power go off? A about 11:30pm last night.

I has it affected you? We have a little stove and had a cup of tea.

As soon as you go up high you gained difficulties. Renting a

cottage for Easter must have seemed a good idea at the time. No hot

food or hot drinks. We had a bet - dreadful ride in last night. We

just about got in before the blizzard. This lot were doing their

Duke of Edinburghs. The tent had fallen down. And then there was the

campsite at Rosedale. We are fully booked for Easter, so it is going

to hit us hard. Going home either this afternoon or tomorrow. You are

staying? Yeah so, we are. It might warm up by then. Hogg fully!

might all be gone by Sunday and perhaps we'll all look back fondly

on the snowy Easter of 2012. So Steph, is there any indication

of when all power will be restored? We have just heard the latest

figures are the 12,000 properties in the north-east are still without

power. The first thing this morning that figure was 40,000. So, a lot

of work for ingenious to do. The worst affected areas of those on

high grounds. In juniors will try to restore power to those 12,000

properties. The messages to wrap up warm tonight as it will take time

for the engineers to identify all the faults and get the network back

up and running. You can find out the latest on your BBC local radio

station and we will have an update on the late news.

Margaret Masson lost her life in the Grayrigg derailment in Cumbria

five years ago. 86 others were injured. Today Network Rail was

fined �4 million for the systemic failures that led to the incident,

a record fine for a breach in Health and Safety regulations.

Today at Preston Crown Court the judge said she hoped the size of

the fine would ensure such an accident would never happen again.

But the RMT union said they believed rail reforms being pushed

through right now meant that it could. Here's Jayne Barrett. In

February 2007 the train hit faulty points in the line near Grayrigg.

Margaret Masson was killed. Network rail was fined �4 million a day,

and that - and a record fine. The judge said systemic failures were

to blame for this tragic derailments, the same failures that

have been to blame for the Potters Bar to real money. The company was

not only guilty, but had relevance previous convictions. Margaret

Masson's granddaughter said that because network rail was funded the

fine would be borne by a tax payers. What would you have like to have

happened? I don't know. She should still be here. This is the only man

to have lost his job, David Lewis failed to carry out the crucial

safety check, but the family has never held him responsible. I am

glad it has come to an end. Today the judge accepted that he and his

colleagues had my that the training, the tools or at the time to

implement necessary safety This man admitted he has raced

safety concerned with Network Rail on four occasions since. Is it good

enough did you have to step in? it a bomb macro it is our job. It

is not good enough and that is why at times we have had to act.

real unions protested. In light of funding cuts. This is likely to

Lynemouth Windfarm. Right now it's one of just a handful in

Northumberland, but the county's map is about to change. These are

ones that are currently operating, but then there are the ones already

being built, the ones waiting to be built and those that are approved,

not to mention many more in the pipeline. Today campaigners asked

the council to stop approving them. There is a growing feeling in

Northumberland van windfarm developments is rapidly becoming

out of control. Now seems the time to have a discussion about this.

have spoken in favour of Winter bounce, but they have to be in the

right place and they have not to be built in excess. We're now getting

too many. It is not the case that Northumberland is being unfairly

put upon. Jobs and investment are coming to Northumberland's as a

result of its excellent natural resource. It certainly is true to

say that wind is big business. Take this new farm in Lynemouth for

example. If we take the average amount of wind here, then, as well

as money from the power it creates, the company which owns it will earn

about �3 million a year in subsidies. That's �60 million over

its 20 year lifespan. It's money that comes from our energy bills.

When we see fuel poverty at serious the high levels and the county, I'm

not sure that we are tackling this correctly and I am not sure that

the amount of public money being given to the public operators is

the right way to spend their money. They're good at generating millions,

whether they're as efficient at generating energy is still open to

debate. We have just heard that campaigners have failed today to

get a moratorium on any more windfarm approvals in

Northumberland. This next report is a report of survival which will

amaze you, but, we must warn you, you might find the pictures

difficult right from the start. It's the story of Jason Ripley, a

driver for a timber yard in Darlington, who was impaled on a

car park barrier. The metal barrier came through his cab because the

company which installed it had allowed it to swing free Jason

drove onto it not even knowing it was there. Today that company was

ordered to pay fines and costs totalling more than �15,000 by

magistrates in the town. Our Chief Reporter Chris Stewart has the

story. The video is astonishing. Conscious throughout, Jason Ripley

watches as his rescuers cut through the poll, taking him away with the

poll still running through him is the only way they would save his

life and all of this because of the car-park barrier. The barrier is in

there now, but let's try to show you what happened. The barrier was

open so Jason could go through and make his delivery, but while he was

making good delivery it swung back and it was pointing straight at him.

He didn't even realise it was there. It happened at the Henry Williams

engineering plant in Darlington. If the rescuers were amazed at the

periphery of Jason, so were his colleagues. Impaled on apple and

fearing he was about to die, what did Jason do next? He took out his

mobile, rang his office and said I have had a bit of an accident.

Those who brought the prop - brought the prosecution said the

accident never should have happened. A all they have to do was have

another post in the verge to attach be geared to when it was in the

open position. BhS he says it is testament to his spirit that not

only did he survive, but that he was back at work just two months

later. Metal thieves have tried to hack off part of a monument to

miners on Wearside just days after it was unveiled. The Washington

Miner's Monument, a sculpture of a miner and his family, was opened to

the public on Saturday on Front Street. The police say that last

night someone tried to saw off the legs of the boy in the statue.

is an absolute disgrace. How long has a benumbed four, three or four

days? Absolutely disgusting. Coming up next, the pros and cons of

driving an electric car in the North East.

The city of York prepares for tomorrow's historic Maundy visit by

Her Majesty the Queen. Drivers tend to think twice about

making unnecessary journeys once they switch to electric cars,

according to new research by Newcastle University. And with the

sky-high price of conventional fuel, many drivers are already thinking

twice about their journeys. So, should more of us be making the

switch? In Sunderland, Nissan is gearing up to start producing the

electric Leaf next year and the North-East is claimed to be the

best-connected region in the country for electric cars. Recently,

Nissan allowed our reporter Damian O'Neil to live with a Leaf for a

week. Was he persuaded? Here's his Look North Report.

It looks like a bog standard Transit van, but it runs on

batteries. Gateshead Council have bought 10 of them and they say

they're good for the environment and the taxpayer. But they were all

bought to replace vehicle that were due to be replaced anyway. We don't

pay for any diesel. There is no road tax, maintenance costs are law.

They are money-saving for the council. But what about the private

buyer? Is an electric car all you really need? Look North drove a

Nissan Leaf for a week, to and from home, the shops and out and about

reporting the news. First impressions are very good. It feels

like something out of Star Trek. But after a few days it became

clear that the car's range was cramping our style. Nissan claims a

range of a hundred miles, and in our experience we don't get

anything you that. At the minute it says 49 miles on the clock, but if

I turn on the heating it drops to 43 miles. In the week that the

North East experienced freezing rain, we drove the car on a 50 mile

round trip to film stranded drivers on the A66. We should have had

plenty of power to get there and back but in the event, we needed to

top it up twice. It also meant driving home with no heater on.

Peugeot make a similar electric car and they admit that the weather can

have an impact on performance. is a fact that in cold weather the

range is restricted simply because the characteristics of the battery

and the heater and the air- conditioning draws power. So, how

much does all this cost? For �100 you can join the Charge Your Car

network, a growing chain of public charging posts that also grant the

user some very handy exclusive parking in busy locations. You can

also plug into the mains at home or work. The cars themselves cost

upwards of �25,000, but that doesn't tell the whole story.

people will look at the total cost of ownership. The cost of running

this for 80 miles is about two pounds 50. If you're self-employed,

the financial benefits can be very significant. You can offset the

whole value of the vehicle against corporation tax, on top of the

�5,000 grants. As a company car user, there is no benefit in kind

attacks. What is the net cost of this car to you? A over four years,

it pays �1,000 a year. The other powerful argument for electric cars

is that they produce zero emissions. If you're worried about the

environment, a Nissan Leaf will produce 168grams of CO2 per mile,

compared to 195 grams for a similar-sized VW Golf Blue Motion.

These figures take into account the impact of generating the

electricity at the power station. Remember when mobile phones came

out? The thing is, they were rubbish. You have to charge them up

wanted twice a day. It will be a similar story with electric cars.

The manufacturers are committed to them and there will be a lot more

on the roads in the future. It is Maundy Thursday tomorrow,

traditionally the day the King or Queen of Great Britain hands out

specially minted coins to specially chosen people. This year the purses

will be distributed at York Minster. Today final preparations were

underway for the city's Royal visitor. As Ian White reports.

Large teams of specialist officers have spent the day making last-

minute security checks to keep the Queen safe. Every been Antrim cover

is checked and checked again. Inside preparations have been going

on all week. Getting the chairs in the right places is crucial. It is

great to have the Queen coming. It is the first time since 1972. The

first time she has made a return visit. It is great for the city.

is hard to believe that this time tomorrow thousands of people will

be lining the streets to see her Majesty. Already the local traders

have been out in force decorating the street. It has been a miserable

job and today's weather! You look like you're doing a sterling job!

Yes, it is cold and wet, but we're all doing our bit. It is absolutely

freezing. It might feel like winter outside, but there is some spring

inside the mansion house. I can't believe it, really. The Queen will

be here, after all this planning. They are spectacular. They smell so

spring-like. Would you like to have a go? Into the foam. Push it well

in. The yellow, it does make it look like spring sunshine. We know

the Queen adores flowers. She does, yes. She will be looking at my

flower now. Yes! One City trader has found a Union flag from the

second world war. It will be there tomorrow flying high above the

well-wishers, whatever the weather. Two North East rowers will make

their debuts in the GB team for the opening World Cup event of the

season in Belgrade next month. With the Olympics less than four months

away, it's good timing for Stockton's Kat Copeland and

Darlington's Rachel Gamble-Flint, both former Yarm School pupils.

Among others selected in the team are Durham's Jess Eddie and two

Olympic medallists Andy Triggs- Hodge, from Hebden Bridge, a gold

medallist in Beijing, and Hexham's Matt Wells, who won bronze four

years ago. Sunderland have been charged by the FA for a not so

controlling their players. Now they're not quite taking on the

world, but Newcastle United are very much eyeing a European place

still. Most neutrals still think top four and Champions League

football next season may be just beyond them, but fifth place would

almost certainly guarantee a berth in the Europa League, while

finishing sixth might. We are a year ahead of schedule. I didn't

expect this to be fighting for those spots at the moment, but we

will take the chance if we can. You have got to try and grasp it. Let's

grass but with both hands. These are tough times for everyone

and inevitably the region's sporting venues have felt the

squeeze from the economic downturn. Racecourses say they're coming up

with new ideas to keep their heads above water. Well this week, the

Look North cameras have been to both Redcar and Sedgefield to look

at their efforts to keep the crowds flocking in. Peter Harris reports.

Sedgefield on Tuesday. It's not just the economic climate causing

trouble. Today is the children's family fun day, but the weather has

put that on hold. There are some exotic animals that the children

can see indoors! But, like others, this course has learnt how to

survive. Extra race days, weddings, car boot sales and charm.

beauty of this place, when you walk in the girls are there to say hello,

how are you? When the go, they are there to say thank you for coming.

It is value for money. I don't think you can go wrong here. This

week Sedgefield hosted the Durham National and believes the young

horses that come here mean there is quality. 24 hours earlier Redcar

got the weather. They too can never compete with York or Ascot, but

they can sell the racing experience. It is an area of unemployment and

it has hit the north-east hard. We haven't put up our entrance prices

for five years. We don't want to stay in our local people. It is

quite picturesque. They try here. I think people like that. Redcar aims

for new punters - women and families. The courses can't control

the weather, but in tough times they believe they still have a

R B over these unusual times in the weather? For now, yes. Severe

weather is deftly over for a couple of days. Things will return more to

normal, feeling more like spring tomorrow. So, tomorrow will be

bright but much less windy. Overnight tonight, we are expecting

a frost with temperatures as low as -2 Celsius. With the clear skies,

it will allowed the temperatures to drop. Some patches of ice were the

snow has compacted first thing tomorrow, but generally a fine day

to come. Lots of sunshine in the morning. Through the afternoon, we

could just see the clouds starting to thicken. The winds and the Dead

Butchers much more spring-like, between 7 and 10 Celsius. A little

bit of low cloud for North Northumberland with one or two

showers here. A fine end to the day with the lighter winds making it

feel much more pleasant. So, Monty Thursday ends fine. It'll turn wet

as we start of weekend. Good Friday begins with a spell of rain from

the West. By the time the Bank Holiday weekend is finished, it is

fair to say that the ground will have had a good watering. Saturday

looks dry but cloudy. We are expecting more unsettled weather

through Easter Sunday, possibly showers in the West and then an

Atlantic weather system could bring heavy rain and strong winds on Bank