14/08/2013 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

up tonight: No more, a North East charity calls for an immediate end

to onshore wind farm approvals in North England.

The disabled man who says his records were illegally accessed by a

private investigator plans legal action.

A Police Commissioner spending �100,000 to improve brand identity.

And why do so few of us fail to learn the local lingo?

Teesside long jumper Chris Tomlinson... After eight years this

man is the coach in charge of one of The arguments over how we should be

producing our future energy continue to rage. This summer's hot topic, of

course, is fracking. It's dominated the national headlines, and pushed

more local issues over things like wind turbines, into the background.

But pictures like these have brought the wind farm debate sharply back

into focus. This is a view of Dunstanburgh Castle, in

Northumberland, which you'll only see from a boat. This is a shot

taken further South, near Coquet Island. They've been issued by the

Northumberland and Newcastle Society, with the message - enough

is enough. The Society's calling for an immediate end to wind farm

approvals in Northumberland. Our Political Editor Richard Moss is in

Northumberland near Dunstanburgh for us now. Richard. This is the middle

fields wind farm, the very turbines you can apparently see looming over

the castle in those dramatic pictures. It is that kind of impact

on the historic and beautiful scenery of Northumberland that is

worrying the society. They were initially rejected by local planners

only to be approved by government planning inspectors. The society

wants an immediate band on onshore wind farms in this society.

don't see the landscape, you just see the blades of the wind farm.

But, of course, the vast majority are put in Northumberland. 20 times

than art -- 20 times more than placed in Oxfordshire.

perspective when you get down to the castle is very different. From the

coast you can't see them at all. When I spoke to visitors going to

and from the castle, they were much less exercised than the society

about the impact of turbines on the landscape. They changed the

landscape. I don't know if I agree or disagree with them, to be honest.

I would not favour them, if it is a difference between nuclear energy

and wind power I would go for wind power every time. It is a necessary

evil. What is the future now for these wind farms, Richard? More

applications are coming in. More iconic Northumberland views are

affected. The public seems to be conflicted about this. The

Conservatives don't really want to see more onshore developments, but

the Secretary of State for climate change is a Liberal Democrat and has

been more positive. Today I spoke to a number of Green representatives

who backed these wind farms. They aren't so keen these days. They

believe the future is to go off the coast. But it depends on your

perspective. Look at those shots from the sea and they look

terrific. From the land they don't seem to make quite as big an impact.

-- horrific. So should we accept them, or has the

countryside seen enough wind turbines? You can join the debate on

the Look North Facebook page, the address is on your screen The

unemployment rate in the North East is still the highest in the country.

The unemployment rate in the North East is still the highest in the

country. Latest figures show that 7,000 more people lost their jobs in

the last three months. Workers in the region lucky enough to have a

job are paid some of the lowest average wages in Britain. But behind

those grim figures, parts of the region have actually seen falling

unemployment. Our Political Correspondent, Mark Denten, is with

me now. Mark, at first sight these pictures do look pretty grim.

they do. It is the highest unemployment in the country, but how

do we compare to the rest of Britain?

While unemployment is up 5.6% in the North East, it's fallen by a quarter

in the South East. But the jobless rate is increasing even more in some

areas. In the West midlands it is up 18%, more than three times the

increase in this region. And a different picture emerging depending

on your age? Yes, there does appear to be an age divide in this region.

Youth unemployment in the North East went up 5,000 in a year. That's for

people aged 16-24. But in exactly the same period unemployment among

older workers those age 50-64 dropped by 8,000. Now, there have

been some high profile campaigns by major supermarkets to recruit older

workers that may just be having an impact - little comfort, though, for

those younger workers, and indeed the thousands expecting their

A-level results tomorrow. And a mixed picture on wages? Yes, people

in the North East still have the lowest average weekly wages in

England. The average weekly wage across the country is �568. In the

North East it is �492. And one final worrying point - women are still

falling behind. While both men's and women's wages went up in the region

by about �30 a week in the last year, women in the North East are

still on average earning �85 a week The family of a disabled Cumbrian

man whose personal finance records were illegally obtained by a private

investigator are planning legal action. Daniel Morton's bank

statements and benefits records were obtained whilst he was pursuing an

insurance claim over a car crash. A private investigator was jailed for

obtaining the information but the insurance companies dealing with Mr

Morton's claim say they had nothing to do with the crime. Alison Freeman

reports. Even simple tasks are difficult for

Daniel Morton. It was thought he'd never walk or talk again, after a

car crash in 2007. But whilst Daniel battled to get better and receive

compensation, a private investigator was illegally obtaining his personal

financial records. It is ruthless, really. That they are trying to get

involved in a disabled person's life. Daniel, now 32, was a

passenger in an uninsured driver's car which crashed on the A66 near

Great Clifton. A private eye admitted - and was jailed for -

getting records belonging to Daniel and some of the others who were

hurt. It's not clear who the information was for. I taught him to

walk and talk. I brought him to how he is now. And for people to come

and say that it wasn't like that, that he was putting it on and trying

to dig out on him... It's ruthless. The Serious Organised Crime Agency

said the investigator used a technique called 'blagging' which

means getting past security measures simply using persuasion or

pretending to be someone else. The Motor Insurers' Bureau, deals with

compensation claims where the driver is uninsured. In a statement, the

bureau vigoriously denied any involvment, saying IT had not

initiated any enquiries by private investigators or instructed them,

either directly or indirectly. Insurance company Tradex was

appointed by MIB to handle and pay out on the claims. It refused to

comment until it had completed enquiries with the independent

claims agent it appointed. Daniel is likely to need greater care in the

future and the family says it plans to sue for invasion of privacy.

Alison Freeman, BBC Look North, Workington.

A man's been charged after an incident in which a police horse was

allegedly punched in the face at the Tyne Wear derby match. Trouble

flared at the match at St James' Park in April. 45-year-old Barry

Rogerson, from Bedlington, has been charged with violent disorder. He's

due before Newcastle magistrates in September.

An expensive new brand and logo for North Yorkshire's Police and Crime

Commissioner has caused anger in the county. Julia Mulligan, who started

in the role late last year, says she's saved the police money in

other areas. But she's under fire for spending more than �10,000 for

the new branding when the Force is facing millions of pounds of cuts.

Phil Chapman has this report. There have been many famous

re-brands over the years, whether for corporate reasons or design

trends. Even these proved controversial at some stage. But is

this public money well spent for the Police and Crime Commissioner for

North Yorkshire? The people of North Yorkshire are well aware of the

impact cuts are having on the police force, so it is inevitable that

these projects will attract attention from the public and

serving members of the police. Around the corner from the Police

Federation's office, what do people think of the rebranding? I think it

is a waste of taxpayer money for a logo I could probably do at home.

�10,000 is excessive given that money is very tight at the moment.

think maybe more police on the street. The Police and Crime

Commissioner has defended the move today. It is important to get the

basics in place. There are a whole range of practical business tools

that we needed to do and now that we have them we ourselves efficient and

can crack on and do the job. We are saving money, we have saved money in

my own office and we are maintaining police officer numbers. There was a

missed opportunity here. If you look at what Police and Crime

Commissioners around the region have done, in some cases they have gone

out and engaged with the public, particularly young people, and had

then designed logos. It's not exactly The Ashes, but the

goings-on at another of the region's cricket grounds have created quite a

stir. 81-year-old Margaret Burn has been a stalwart of the Marsden

Cricket Club on South Tyneside, for 60 years. Now she's been banned from

the ground, amid allegations about her behaviour towards younger

members. She says she's disgusted by her treatment. Gerry Jackson

reports. It is an unlikely looking battle ground, and she is an

unlikely villain of the piece. Margaret Burn has never taken the

field, but she's been one of those vital backroom staff a place like

this relies on. I'd use to do all the tea. I have done my bit, yes.

But now Margaret is suspended and, pending an investigation, banned

from the ground. A few weeks ago, Margaret confronted a group of

children who were playing on this pitch, while a match was going on.

It's alleged her language was inappropriate. The club says it was

by no means the first time. She has had several warnings over the years

with regard to her behaviour towards children in the club and also to

other members of the club as well. As a committee, we've decided we

have had to take a strict stance. Yes, I do go on at them but I have

never ever sworn. I would put my husband's life on the line for that.

Margaret's husband John, who has Alzheimer's, is a former player at

the club. Until her suspension, she used to bring him to watch games

once a week. The club says Mr Burn is always welcome here and that

other committee members are on hand to look after him, albeit without

Margaret. The club knows that as far as publicity on this goes, it is on

a sticky wicket. But it says it must keep the welfare of all its members,

old and young, in mind. Personally, I wouldn't want to be umpiring this

one. Coming up next - mind your language.

And later: Boom time for Benidorm. We continue our look at the rise and

fall of our seaside resorts. And not the weather for cricket, I

will be here with a full forecast after the rest of this evening's

While many of us are no strangers to foreign holidays a survey out today

suggests we're still embarrassed by our inability to speak languages.

The British Council says nearly a fifth of us have spoken English in a

fake foreign accent - a trap the former Middlesbrough manager Steve

McLaren fell into on Dutch television, have a listen to this.

I, sort of, knew when I came here in the Champions League, Liverpool or

Arsenal, I thought we would draw one of them. It was one of the reasons I

came to draw Arsenal. It is exciting for everybody. Arsenal is a big

team, what are your chances against Arsenal? We are not what you would

call underdogs, but massive underdogs. I'm cringing for him, but

as our correspondent found out in York today, overseas visitors seem

to have no problem at. All with our The really annoying thing about this

lot is that most of them are as fluent in English as they are in

their native language. I listen to news from the BBC every day.

learned it being at school. Singing songs, doing really easy stuff, and

then it got harder and harder. different for the English. Take

Gordon. He learned from the McLaren School of language. We have

apricots, a nice apple. It seems we are just lazy. Everyone speaks our

language so we don't need to learn bears, but according to the British

Council, that attitude could cause embarrassment or even get some

ripped off. I ended up at the wrong airport in France. My friend had to

drive back four hours to France. And then I couldn't find the gate.

struggled in France, no-1's book a word of English. We live in the

Middle East but everyone speaks English. The lesson seems to be that

if you want respect, try harder and just give it a go.

THEY SPEAK ITALIAN Very nice. Now, before the advent of cheap air

travel it was a familiar story. People saved all year for a week off

work - and then the holiday was ruined by the British weather. But

by the 1970s all that was changing. Holiday-makers were deserting our

seaside resorts and flying off for a fortnight in the sun. It was boom

time for Benidorm, but it marked the beginning of the decline of many of

our coastal towns. Tonight in the second part of our seaside series,

Peter Harris looks at the big holiday revolution, when we swopped

sand castles for sangria. By the 1970s, resorts like Whitley

Bay had more than just the weather to worry about. Really it was

transport that made these resorts. In many ways it is transport that

started to kill them off, because once people could get cheap flights

to Spain there was no stopping us and Malta. It was lovely. It was a

real experience. The children enjoyed it as well. Our son learnt

swim there. He learned to swim underwater, believe it or not.

were at a nightclub and there was a comedian. I dare not tell you the

jokes. In the ten years from 1977 the number of families taking trips

abroad more than doubled. Not that thought the Beachy was one of the

best in Spain and we found out it was rather dirty. In my opinion,

last year was a 5-star, this year was possibly a two. What about the

standard of service? No waiters come to the pool now to offer you

drinks. There just wasn't any service at all. And while they were

whingeing their way through a fortnight abroad, at home there was

a perfect storm for the seaside towns. Seaside tourism is an

industry as much as coal and steel. The seaside towns will never be as

popular as they once were. But when the sunshine -- sun shines it is the

place people want to be. As the climate improves these places could

become very popular again. Abroad you don't get the scenery, it is

quite barren, but it is quite Benidorm - a life-size dinosaur has

been causing a stir in Newcastle. He has been created by Extreme Quad

Report Puppetry designed to mimic the movements of a stegosaurus, and

he is certainly a crowd-pleaser. had spikes on the back. I think they

were in the Jurassic period. I can't remember, but it looks to me like it

is in the Jurassic. Do you like dinosaurs? Yeah.Why? Because they

are big and they have a big teeth. resident palaeontologist is on hand

to tell children all about the dinosaur and the manager is pleased

about the reaction they have had. I'm particularly pleased with the

loudness of the raw that greeted his entry. The museum has announced

collections of dinosaur material, particularly from iguanodons, so it

is exciting to bring that natural history to life. I was going to say,

very lifelike, but how do we know? First up, Middlesborough long jumper

Chris Tomlinson has called off his Twitter attack on the decision not

to send him to the World Championships. Tomlinson posted a

furious to eat in which he said, words could describe his anger, at

being passed over for Olympic champion Greg Rutherford, who

crashed out early in the competition.

A year on from winning Olympic gold, the selection of Greg Rutherford for

Russia enraged Chris Tomlinson, who let his feelings be known on

Twitter. Rutherford was struggling with a hamstring injury while

Tomlinson was fit, and in the end the decision backfired. A clearly

disappointed Rutherford could only manage 14th in qualification.

it absolutely everything out there. I try to make it work and it didn't.

That is the hard fact. It is amazing how different a year can be. Even

before the selection was made, Tomlinson's frustration had begun to

show. I am a better performer than Greg at the moment. I do understand

that he won the Olympics last year whereas I finished sixth, and that

will be taken into account. Tomlinson now says he will not be

tweeting again on the matter. Well they're no longer the new kids on

the block. In fact, basketball's Durham Wildcats are gearing up for a

third BBL season - hoping to continue the club's steady

year-on-year improvement. And when they tip off for the new season,

next month, they'll have a new man at the helm. After eight years in

charge, long-serving coach Dave Elderkin has stepped down. He'll be

replaced by 32-year-old Lee Davie, who's previously worked with Durham

University's women's team and the Great Britain under-20s. I'm very

excited about the opportunity. It is the highest level of basketball for

men in our country so I am looking forward to the opportunity to get

out there and compete with the best players and teams that we have at

this level. Cricket finally, and County Championship leaders

Yorkshire have strengthened their batting line-up by signing New

Zealander Kane Williamson for the remainder of the campaign. The

23-year-old has played 25 Test matches for the Kiwis, and averages

just over 40 with the bat in the first-class game.

Now it is time for the weather it to turn wet across the region, a

band of heavy rain moving in from the South West. Through the evening

rain will be widespread across Cumbria and towards the early hours

of tomorrow morning it will turn wet for North Yorkshire. A real wash-out

by morning rush, some heavy bursts over the Cumbrian lakes and fells.

Temperatures will be 17 Celsius at the very lowest, overnight it will

be the low 60s. Those are the temperatures we had in the

afternoon, so mild air arriving with this weather front. Through late

morning and into lunchtime there will be an easing of the rain.

Possibly some isolated spells of sunshine, but it is not long before

the rain returns. It is widespread across Cumbria, but drive for much

of North Yorkshire at team time -- tea-time. It will be a touch warmer

than today. Raining heavily across the North East and the rain will

spread further eastwards across North Yorkshire. To the west it will

be raining heavily by the early evening and it will become even more

intense as the evening goes on and overnight into Friday. A little

cooler in Cumbria, but still remarkable temperatures considering

the lack of sunshine. Over the next couple of days, and improvement.

Clear from Friday, we expecting mostly dry day. There will be a

little more sunshine on Friday, but generally wet and unsettled on

Saturday with rain or showers. Sunday also looks pretty

changeable, bright spells and blustery showers but then high