11/04/2012 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Hello, and welcome to Look North. In the programme tonight:

What a result! Why football pundit Robbie Savage could be �10,000 out

of pocket thanks to this taxi driver.

When the lights went out - the council forced to spend more than

�1 million replacing unsafe street lighting.

Fears that loading VAT on to the price of static caravans could hit

some of our tourism hotspots. And as the world prepares to mark

the 100th anniversary of the sinking of THAT ship, find out why

Cumbria lies at the heart of the story of the Titanic.

In sport: A major injury blow for one of our promotion play-off

hopefuls. And with the cricket season getting

underway, we take a look at the academy nurturing the next

We start with the story over a bet, which could cost its maker �10,000.

Last August, a cabbie picked up Robbie Savage, who now works as a

BBC pundit. Talk turned to Newcastle United's good start to

the season. But Robbie, a pundit, bet the cabbie �10,000 that

Newcastle would not finish in the top four. With five games to go,

Newcastle are fifth. I had that Robbie Savage in my car

the other day! Went Matty Nolan picked up Robbie Savage, Newcastle

were not as high in the league. picked him up from the Central

Station. I said, are you Robbie Savage? He said, I am. I get him in

the car. I drop by St James's Park. Then I bet him �10,000. He said,

all right. And that was it. He signed it. Did you believe it at

the time, that Newcastle would be doing as well as they are? But,

perhaps more importantly, would Robbie Savage remember his pledge?

On BBC Radio 5Live's phone-in, Matty reminded him. Matty is in

Newcastle. Hallowed. Hello. What you want to remind Robbie about?

About the Betty had with us! One I picked you up and the taxi? Is you?

Yes. Listen, mate, I am a man of my word. I am fair game. It at

Newcastle finish in the top four, I am a man of my word. I promise you,

if they do, I will have to buy the taxi! Newcastle are not there yet,

and that he might still be disappointed. But if the Champions

League comes to Tyneside, there will be one cabbie with a very big

smile on his face. Robbie Savage might just keep his

mouth shut and the future! More than 1,000 street lives are being

replaced in York because they are unsafe. The majority have already

been taken down, leaving some parts of the city unlit at night. The

local council is spending �1 million replacing them, in what is

described as the biggest overhaul of St lives in York since the

Victorian times. I am in a quiet street, outside the city centre.

The perfect place. There are seven metal stumps, along this road, that

have been taken down because they were deemed unsafe. The problem is

it has been like this for some months. When they go about their

business, the residents feel unsafe. It is awful. When you are walking,

at the foot putt the not very good. I think it is dangerous. We just

saw the stumps there one day, and you find out the light have

disappeared. I take the dog out for a walk at night. You cannot see

where you are going. There are some street live around here, but people

say there are not enough. Joining me now is Gareth, from York City

Council. How have we got into this mess? There has been years of

under-investment in York, so last summer, there were a number of

safety inspections, and an inspector said 7% above our stock

needed to be taken down straight away. We have seen work taking

place in the city. When people are cutting money, you could do without

having to spend �1 million. In it is not ideal, but street light a

very important. Since they have come down, people have told us how

much they care about this. It is very important we get them. �1

million as a large amount of money, but we need the Investment.

will be carrying on checking others. This should sort this out for the

next three years, but you have to keep inspecting. But this will

allow a decent lighting stock across the city. This is a big job

- 1,100 of these will be replaced. The council hopes to replace them

all by the end of summer. An 18-month-old baby boy is being

treated in hospital after falling from the upstairs window of a house

in North Tyneside. The toddler suffered a broken leg and head

injuries when he plunged 12 feet from a bedroom at Seaton Burn

yesterday morning. A doctor has been found guilty of a

series of failings after a 10-year- old boy was sent home from hospital

when he was dying from meningitis. Dr Malik Mahmood Alam decided

William Cressey was actually suffering from a migraine. William

was taken back to Darlington Memorial Hospital by his mother the

next day but, again, was misdiagnosed. The General Medical

Council said Dr Alam hadn't examined him properly.

Durham Police have appealed to the public to help catch two men

suspected of involvement in last week's break-in at the city's

Oriental Museum. A jade bowl and porcelain figurine - together worth

�2 million - were stolen in a raid that lasted less than two minutes

after the burglars broke in through the back wall of the museum. Five

people have been arrested in the West Midlands, and police want to

trace two men from Walsall - Adrian Stanton and Lee Wildman. They are

also seeking information about three vehicles seen in the Brandon

and Meadowfield areas of Durham City last week. Anything suspicious,

in particular regarding an orange Resnais McGann motor vehicle, a

light blue Audi Sport model, and also ABM W, that has been in and

around that area, between the fourth and the seventh, sometimes a

more than one occasion. VAT could hit Cumbria's tourism

industry. It is home-from-home for Angela.

She, her father and daughter spend virtually all their holiday time at

the Stanwick Park caravan centre. They say if VAT had been added to

the price of their static caravan and the aborted, they might not

have been able to afford it. think all put a lot of people off.

A caravan of that �1,000 will have VAT added to it. The way things are,

it would deter people. I think it is a big lump to put on all at once.

If it had been 10% or gradually brought in, it might not have had

such a big impact. VAT is already paid on touring Cabot rebounds, so

the new tax is bring them into line. -- caravans. Many owners argue that

buying a static caravan is buying a holiday home. Can you do not pay

VAT on bricks and mortar. A holiday cottage could set you back �2,000,

but static caravans at a fraction of that - about �50,000 for the

best models. But it is not just those who make and sell them who

could lose out. People going abroad, the money they take a broad, stays

abroad. It does not stay here. People spending money here is

staying in this country. It will affect shopkeepers and the town. It

will affect everybody. The worry is there will be a rush on static

caravans before VAT is applied in October, and after that, the

industry could face a worrying time. Residents are demanding answers as

to why the Post Office at one not deliver their mail. Barforth is a

couple of hundred miles from Gainford, where all the local

amenities are. The only problem is, the villagers cannot use the bridge

across the river. The situation has been rumbling on for three years,

but today, it has all come to a head.

Barforth hamlet - beautiful, tranquil, but very cut off. So,

most days Martin and his wife have to pick up their mail themselves.

We have to go for a 40 mile round trip, but Royal Mail has taken no

trouble to communicate with us at all as to why they are not

delivering. In fact, Barforth is not that isolated - Gainford is

only a few hundred yards across the river. And that is where the

problem lies - villagers have always to use this bridge to cross

the river, but in 2009, it was declared unsafe, and there is now

an argument on both sides of the river as to whose responsibility it

is. The family had only moved to Barforth. Week paid Royal Mail �80

for a redirection of post, and they did not tell us they would not be

delivering it to the new address. We order goods on the internet and

from local traders, and they all deliver. Royal Mail says it

delivers to almost 29 million addresses. Its last resort, when

the safety of its postmen and women are at risk. Maybe it is the

potholes? But as if by magic, Martin's letterbox rattled this

morning. Just some junk mail, though. Just as well he did not

have to travel 14 Master get it. Coming up next: Titanic's Cumbrian

connections. And in our Olympic Dreams series,

we join gold medallist Stephen Miller on his quest for selection

for this year's London Paralympics. The weather will be making a bit of

a splash. I will be back at the end of the rest of tonight's news.

Now, it is 100 years since the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage

to America. 1,500 passengers and crew died, but what is not quite so

well known are the links bishop has to our region. The Carpathia was

built on Tyneside. Part of the interior of the Olympic survives in

a hotel. But, it is Cumbria that can lay claim to that - to be right

at the heart of the Titanic story. Our business correspondent has

With apologies to Belfast, from where it was launched, and

Southampton, from where it set sail, but Cumbria's Maryport is the real

start of the Titanic story. If this is the house of the demand

behind it are the White Star liner. That is the company that owned

perhaps the most famous ship in history.

100 years on from its sinking, Maryport is remembering the ship.

An exhibition. A celebration of the links to the town. And a pride that

Ismay wanted to help people to a new life in America. But cheaply.

When you look after the figures paid. Separate pines for the trip.

-- �7 or �8 for the trip. That was something like a few weeks' wages

will start.. That was the same. He wanted to help people starting new

life for cheap. Thomas Ismay didn't live to see

Titanic sink. His son Bruce may have wished he hadn't. As a

director of the company, he was on board, but said to be one of the

first into the lifeboats. It brought him shame and a shunning

by polite society. Although his modern day relatives tell a

different story. He left on the very last lifeboat that left

Titanic. There is a story that he was ordered and there were stories

that he got in of his own accord. But he did get in. There were no

women around, from what we can make out. If he had it would not have

meant anyone else had been saved. He did not take anyone else's place.

One more seat would have been available and one more life would

have been lost. When the Titanic sunk, they put a memorial...

By contrast, another Cumbrian was certainly a hero. Joseph Bell, born

near Brampton, was Titanic's chief engineer. He perished refusing to

leave his post. And in his house today, a family proud of that

heroism, but perhaps in a minority. We hear a lot about the passengers

escaping and a bit about the captain and his role. But the

engineering staff tend to get over looked a little bit. They were down

the bottom. None of them survived, really, to tell the story.

A ship of contrasts, then. Of rich and poor, of heroes and cowards, of

life and death. But a ship that would never have sailed had it not

been for a man of Cumbria - Thomas And we'll have more on the North's

connections with the Titanic tomorrow night.

And now the sport. So, it's April, it's chilly - it

must mean the cricket season's underway. With high hopes for all

three of our First Class sides. That's Yorkshire, Durham and who

else, Mark? Durham University! They may have

been skittled out for 18 the other day, but they were accorded First

Class status in 2001 and have produced some of the biggest names

in the men's and women's games. They have. And as Gerry Jackson

reports, they give promising players a chance at the big time

without sacrificing a first class education.

If cricket's in your blood, all you want to do is play.

But if you want a university education, as so many do these days,

you've a dilemma. Give up a crucial three or four years to studying, or

carry on playing and forget the degree.

Durham University's Centre of Excellence was the first of its

kind. It allows young men and women with the talent and the acedemic

wherewithall to have the best of both worlds. If they can hack it.

There is a 7 o'clock morning session twice a week. The training

is very intense. It is not the university lifestyle that outside

people think it is. It's Durham County Cricket Club's

first competitive match of the season against Durham University.

The result isn't in doubt, but the University team is where current

England captain Andrew Strauss and former captain Nasser Hussain

proved their mettle. Something works. Once upon a time, they just

came to university and they just muddled around on their own. Having

put a professional scheme in place, it means they're actually learning

other things while they're at university, like diet, nutrition

and we give them proper training. We nurture them all the way through.

When they finish university, they're ready to start a first-

class career. The Centre's cricketing pedigree

includes the women's game, too. Graduates include Caroline Atkins,

seen here in 2001, and winning the Ashes eight years later. We really

do believe in trying to give trainees a future here. Not just

academic excellence, but excellence in organisational skills, team

playing, leadership. This academy as part of it. It produces great

cricketers and great people. Unlike American colleges, Durham

won't make allowances for sporting whizzkids. If you want to get in,

you'll still need some top A Level grades. We have had six county

captains from the University. I think you might be No. 7.

Carlisle United have suffered a major blow to their promotion play-

off hopes. The Cumbrians confirmed today that defender Chris

Chantler's hamstring injury and a groin problem affecting in-form

striker Lee Miller will keep both players out for the rest of the

season. Teenage paralympic swimmer Lyndon

Longhorne has missed out on a place at the London games this summer.

The 16-year-old from Crook in County Durham failed to make the

qualifying times for the Great Britain swimming squad and will now

be focussing his efforts on qualifying for the 2016 games in

Rio de Janeiro. Newcastle's James O'Shea and this

swimmer Josef Craig, from South Tyneside, are still waiting to see

if they'll be selected. Meanwhile, Paralympic gold medalist

Stephen Miller, from Cramlington, has postponed a hip replacement

operation until after London 2012. The 31-year-old has been having

Botox injections to get him through the next few months. Stephen finds

out if he's qualified to represent Team GB for club and discus

throwing in July. Before that, he has one last training camp in

Portugal. He's climbed the podium at every

Games since 1996. One world record broken. Three gold, one silver and

one bronze medal already in the bag. But for Stephen Miller, it's this

year's Paralympics in London that will be his biggest challenge yet.

I have got a bit older so why have to put a bit more effort into stay

near the top. They are younger, on my opponents now. It will not be as

easy. I will have to try harder to qualify.

And with four months until qualification and five until the

2012 Paralympics, Stephen has stepped up his training. He's in

the gym several times a week. For hours at a time. With his personal

trainer Tom. And it is tough. has been killing me for the last

six months! I coming here and I go wide feeling like death warmed up!

- like I go out. And for the chance to compete in

his fifth Paralympics, Stephen made the difficult decision to postpone

a much-needed hip replacement. The operation would have left him

unable to compete. So at the moment, he's surviving on Botox injections

in his hip for the pain. I am just dealing with the pain. If I can do

that, I will be able to perform better. I am getting a new hip and

October. I need a new hip and have needed one for a long time.

So if London 2012 is going to be Stephen's last competitive

performance for some time, he wants to make it count. And his trainer

Tom is accepting nothing less than Gold.

He has no other options at all. If he does not get anything apart from

the gold, people being held as soon as he gets back to the Stim! Gold

is his only option! I want gold every time I compete. I want to win.

I want to put thyself than a position where I can perform well.

And Stephen's been given an extra special incentive. If he gets a

personal best, he country in the for two cars. If he gets more than

that, he country before it might cause. I want to use do his best as

I can. I would love to get my own back on my trainer!

And if he gets that chance, it'll mean he's probably thrown faster

and further than ever before. And it will be in this new chair, just

presented to Stephen, that he'll be picking up his medal in. I will be

in the Paralympics Stadium in August and hopefully at the top of

the podium. April's showers bring Mayflower's!

That is the silver lining in all these rain clouds. We have a great

weather picture to start us off, from Jorja Fletcher. Our head line

for Tamara, there will be some bright spells, but also plenty more

showers. But probably a bit less of a risk of thunder. This evening,

this rain will become less widespread. There could be quite a

chilly night in the countryside, or with temperatures as low as two

degrees by dawn tomorrow. Lots of showers first thing here and there,

but they should die away for a time through the late morning and into

the early afternoon. Bright spells for most of us would be - had to

grab that lunchtime sandwich. But it does a lot last. Temperatures up

to 11 Celsius. A cool northerly breeze. There will still be some

spells of sunshine, but also some heavy showers. As ever, where the

rain falls on our weather map, it is not exactly a representation of

where they will occur tomorrow. With the best will in the world,

we're just representing the potential for Rhian pretty much

anywhere through the day, although we should will see some sunshine as

well. Things will stay very changeable. They pulsars tomorrow.

Low-pressure is dominating our weather, allowing those clouds to

form. They did these cold fronts coming down. The blue triangles a

cold air and they're coming down from the North through Friday and

Saturday. Each of the field to the weather. Not quite as cold as it

was just before Easter. Still, the potential for a little bit of snow

or sleep. That will be just over the hills of the North Pennines.

Also, potentially some more heavy rain at lower levels, which could

bring heel and thunder. Let's take a look at the detail of our towns

and cities. That Friday is that in cloudy with some brighter spells

further North in particular. But it is cold - seven Celsius, even in