30/04/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

rain. A

rain. Hello, welcome to Look North.

In the programme tonight... A boost for the beaches. The massive

new water treatment project coming on line in time for the summer

holidays. Also tonight ` better in or out of

Europe? We ask the people who represent us in the European

Parliament. In the footsteps of their ancestor.

Descendants of the man who built this North East landmark journey

from Australia to get in touch with their past.

And the horse that's wowed the world prepares to tread the boards here in

our region. In sport, Carlisle are praying for a

Molineux Miracle as their League One survival hopes hang by a thread.

We've also the latest on the long jump record row.

And we meet Durham's big name signing.

It's cost more than ?100 million. And it means some of North

Yorkshire's beaches should be in pristine condition for the summer

season. With thousands of holiday`makers set to descend on

resorts like Scarborough, Yorkshire Water has unveiled a huge, and very

expensive, new sewage treatment project. Ian White reports.

With a bank holiday weekend fast approaching, there is nothing like a

trip to the seaside, but for decades people coming to Scarborough at

complaint about sewage in the sea, now there is good news, things are

about to get better with a ?110 million investment to clean

Yorkshire's beaches. What has been going on here at this pumping

station to redesign it to collect storm water in a tank that is 1.5

times the size of an Olympic swimming pool. New technology being

used means water can be filter to kill bats, meaning it is clean

rather than raw sewage that from today is pumped out to sea. `` kill

bugs. This is the control panel and when they go live this afternoon,

everything will be controlled from here, control all the storm palms,

transferred pounds, one thing storm up to the main work for treatment.

Customers were willing to pay for this investment, seeing to Yorkshire

Water, it is absolutely right we should have a course to boast about,

making a difference to everybody, and we would like to encourage

families to come and get some of the benefit of that improved bathing

water. And the quality Scarborough's bathing water has been

the focus of campaigns over the years and one man who has swallowed

more than his fair share welcomed the news. I have been in the water,

nothing nasty in there, things looking grand, the game is never

over, but a good step forward. I want him to play, I think it is

money well spent. It is going to improve the area and I think it will

bring more people. This the water might not be good enough to drink,

but from now on, people visiting the cause can worry a little less about

what they are playing in. `` visiting the coast.

Campaigners say they'll be seeking reassurances tonight that the hunt

for a site for an underground store for nuclear waste won't start again

in Cumbria. The committee which advises government on how to deal

with waste, much of which is stored at Sellafield, is holding a public

meeting in Workington. Last year, Cumbria County Council voted to pull

out the process to see if West Cumbria might be suitable. Mark

McAlindon is in our Carlisle newsroom. Who exactly is holding

this meeting tonight? It is being held by Committee on Radioactive

Waste Management, CoRWM first job, made up of B block pointed by

ministers about looking how best to deal with the country's nuclear

waste. The County Council be to the search for a possible store in West

Cumbria, which would have been as big as the channel tunnel, the

council not satisfied with promises made by government as to when they

could pull out and the benefits in return for posting it. Some people

fear the government is intent on starting up again, Geoff Betsworth

is from the trust. We want CoRWM to know that we are still here. And we

are still quite determined that, despite the fact that they are

trying to say that geology is possibly OK, we're determined to

make sure our point is put that the geology really isn't OK. There are

various other reasons. They are looking at reducing the democracy in

the area by taking out the County Council. Those against an

underground store and not the only ones interested? The trade unions

representing nuclear workers wanted the process to continue last year,

as did the two district councils in West Cumbria, and CoRWM is not

putting the case for government or say where it should be cited, but

the chairman said safety will always be the main consideration. Whoever

volunteers, it will be on the basis of our best knowledge of at this

point that point in time. But then, there is the whole programme to

gather the information on the geology and other things, which will

then be used to make the safety case. And if the safety case can't

be made, then the GDF will not be in that location. That meeting started

a few minutes ago and will last into the evening. Back to you. Thank you,

Mark. A court has heard that a

mother`of`three from Stockton was murdered after attempting to leave

her violent husband. Rania Alayed's body has never been found. Today a

jury at Manchester Crown Court was told that her husband, Ahmed

Al`Khatibi from Manchester, has admitted causing her death, but says

he was possessed by a spirit. He denies murder and the case

continues. 6000 staff working for South

Tyneside Council are to be paid a day late after an apparent bank

error. The entire workforce, including teachers, should have

received their monthly salary today, but have now been assured they will

get it tomorrow. A council spokesperson described the mistake

as an isolated incident and said it would investigate to find out what

had gone wrong. Large parts of the North East have

been given special status in a government attempt to boost

manufacturing. From July, the new Assisted Areas status will mean

businesses in Tyneside, Wearside, and parts of County Durham and

Northumberland will be able to bid for money to invest in new factories

and machinery, as well as tax breaks. This time, we've added some

areas around Hexham. On Tyneside. Areas around Barnett Castle. In

County Durham, where there are important companies that are likely

to grow. And we think it is right they too should qualify when,

previously, these areas had been thought of as predominantly rural.

Its supporters say being in the European Union safeguards thousands

of jobs, including those at Nissan. Detractors say the EU costs us a

fortune, and interferes in our laws. It's an issue that's dominating next

month's elections to the European Parliament. So for our Big Question

this week, we're asking ` Europe in or out? And in the first of three

special reports, our Political Editor Richard Moss has been to meet

the people who currently represent us on the continent.

SINGING. Brussels. Bountiful, beautiful. And,

well, Belgian. A place where it's all too easy, even for someone as

professional as me, to get a little distracted. Losing sight of why this

city has a significance beyond sweet treats and heady brews. Of course, I

mustn't forget the real reason I'm here. Over there is a whole bunch of

MEPs. Ah, yes, because Brussels is also the home of the European

Parliament. Every five years, we elect a gaggle of MEPs to represent

us here. Next month, we'll be voting again. But what sort of MEP does our

region need? Time to ask those who've done the job. An MEP needs to

be as fully involved in what's going on in Brussels and Strasbourg as

possible. I've deliberately sought high office in the socialist and

democratic group. Because that gives me greater clout. But haven't you

just produced a lot more red tape? No. I think, looking back over the

years that I've been here, 30 years now, I've been involved in the

adoption of many important pieces of legislation. For example, giving

part`time workers full`time rights. Paternity leave, maternity leave

improvements. A whole range of legislation that has been of direct

benefit to the people I represent. And I'm quite proud of that.

We need an MEP who stands up for the North East. Who is not afraid to see

what the faults are with the EU. So we believe that we should

re`negotiate the relationship. We should put the results of that

re`negotiation to people in a referendum, so that they can finally

decide whether they want to stay in on the new terms, or whether they

want to leave. But actually, if you don't like the EU, you vote UKIP.

With the greatest respect to UKIP, they can't deliver anything. They

don't have one member in the House of Commons. They never turn up for

votes in the European Parliament. So a good Euro`sceptic should vote

Conservative. We will take action. UKIP just protest. The most

important thing is to always remember that you are here

representing people. And whenever anybody gets in touch with me, I

really do try hard to assist them. If I'm looking for someone to stand

up against the EU, that's not a Liberal Democrat. No, but I'm not

going to stand up against the EU. Because as we know, many hundreds of

thousands of jobs, 140,000 at least in the North East, are depending on

our membership of the EU. And a major part of my job is making sure

that legislation is actually fitted to the needs of the North East.

You want an MEP who is committed to leaving this organisation. Just look

behind us now. The champagne is flowing. Austerity doesn't exist in

Brussels. People in the North East and Cumbria are struggling at the

moment. If we left the European Union, we would be ?55 million every

single day better off. At least other MEPs bother to vote. You only

vote four out of ten times. That's not representing people. Look, big

votes in the chamber, I am there. But the fact is, I would rather have

an MEP who comes out here and vote in British national interest, as

opposed to an MEP who hands over powers which should be in

Westminster to Brussels. But for now, we are still part of the

European Union. So on May 22nd, we'll vote for who to send to

Brussels this time round. It'll be up to you to decide whether to

choose someone in harmony with the idea. Or a candidate who would

rather the UK danced to its own tune.

There are eight parties in all standing in the European elections

in the North East. And in tomorrow's Big Question, we

ask businesses in the region if they think they'd be better or worse` off

inside or outside the EU. He built one of our most famous

landmarks. And when it was done, he created a tribute to his children.

Henry Wake, the man behind Sunderland's Roker Pier, placed

plaques and mementoes in a tunnel beneath to immortalise them. And

today, family members flew in from Australia for an emotional trip in

the footsteps of their ancestors. Peter Harris was with them, and he

joins us from Sunderland now. Rather sunny? This is a tribute to the

ingenuity of the Victorian engineer who built it. We are 2000 feet out

to see here and it feels it. This was an engineer who was also, I

think, quite a sentimental man. They are following in the footsteps

of their ancestors. This is the tunnel Henry Wake built beneath the

iconic Roker Pier. Proud as he was, he brought his children here in the

1890s. And immortalised them in stone. Their descendants have flown

from Australia to retrace their steps. It's emotional. A little bit

teary. But it's nice to be able to walk where my ancestors have walked.

And to see such a magnificent structure. And to be here with my

dad, because it's his side of the family. So it's just a pity we

weren't here sooner with the rest of the family. But it's lovely to be

here. And especially to hear the personal touch, with the plaque with

the children's names on it. I think it really has brought a sense of

belonging, I suppose. Brought it home, the connection. Wake was

obviously quite a sentimental man. Placing these plaques to his

children in the first place. And it's possible that, behind them,

there is more yet to discover. Maybe a time capsule or gold sovereigns.

In fact, more tributes and treasures could be found while the pier is

being renovated. It's brought it all home. It's almost been a distant

story in the family about the pier. And about the great`grandfather. But

to actually come in and see it, it's absolutely amazing. And the

engineering feats that he must have performed to do this. Absolutely

outstanding. I don't know where he got it from. Certainly not in my

genes, that's for sure. And it is a remarkable structure. Yet, for Henry

Wake's family, coming here was a pilgrimage to admire the skills of a

great engineer and his beloved children.

I think they were quite moved by all that, and this is being

refurbished, will be over the next couple of years, and after a couple

of hundred years it has been battered relentlessly by the waves,

and the hope is once it is finished, those tunnels below will be open to

the public to inspect that piece of Sunderland history. Thank you,

Peter. A nice breath of fresh air. Coming up next, so much more than a

puppet. War Horse comes to the region. And will opportunity knock

for one of these hopefuls? We join the X Factor wannabees at the latest

auditions for the show. And it is a no from me. Cloud and rain

dominating, then things turning drier, brighter but cooler for the

Bank Holiday weekend, join me later for the full forecast.

It's enchanting and emotionally gut`wrenching. Millions of people

have already enjoyed the stage production of War Horse, the story

of a young man's battle to bring his beloved horse home from the Great

War trenches. Tonight is its North East premiere. An especially

exciting opening night for three of the leading actors. And how

realistic are those horses! Gerry Jackson sent this report from

Sunderland. It's been a phenomenon. In the West

End, America, even Germany. The requisitioned war horse Joey and

young Albert's mission to bring him home alive. The realism of the

horses is one of the show's triumphs. And even in a Sunderland

street, you can see why. The lead role of Albert is played by Gosforth

lad, Lee Armstrong, just happy to be here. When he's not being upstaged

by the horse. ?? YELLOW After a while, you just start to love doing

the show. I think that's part of my job. And part of everyone in the

show's job is to keep it alive and exciting and fun. Each night is

slightly different. And it's the same with the horse. The horse, as

you see, is interested in you. LAUGHTER. And getting to bring it

home to the North East and Sunderland is great for me.

Over five million people worldwide have already seen this production.

But with three of the leading actors from the North East, it's a big

night. Helen MacFarlane from Cramlington left drama school three

years ago. Now she's one of the puppeteers, as they are called, that

bring young Joey as a foal to life on stage. I was overwhelmed to get

the audition. But it is absolutely life changing. Everyone who works on

War Horse leaves with a lifelong appreciation and love of horses.

Because they are absolutely incredible. And when you start

researching them and working with them, that's when you really realise

how amazing they are. Running and playing like a thread throughout the

show, the song man, also known as Durham folk veteran Bob Fox.

The only problem for me is that I have to sing in a Devon accent.

Because the whole story is set in Devon. I don't know how convincing

my Devon accent will be here in the North East. I think there may be a

few northern vowels coming through. It's like this thing has been

waiting for me all my life, and I've been waiting for it. The much

anticipated emotional, uncanny War Horse runs until May the 17th.

A couple of people from here to see that tonight. And it looks good.

Very convincing horses. And you have news for Carlisle and it is not good

news? It is not. Carlisle United's hopes of League

One survival are hanging by a thread. The Cumbrians went into

their game in hand at Crawley last night needing a win to give them a

realistic chance of avoiding relegation. But despite a battling

goalless draw, even victory at champions Wolves this weekend might

not be enough to keep them up. Manager Graham Kavanagh was willing

his side to score. But after a claim for handball, this was the closest

Carlisle came to a winner. Liam Noble hitting the bar. Before a shot

hit the side netting. Applause for the fans at the end and then that

long journey home. So to put it simply, Carlisle must win at

champions Wolves and effectively, because of their inferior goal

difference, hope that both Crewe and Tranmere lose at home. We're back to

miracles again. Reformed Darlington are continuing

their long journey back to the Football League. Tonight, the

Quakers take on Lancashire club Ramsbottom United, who've beaten

them twice this season in a play`off semifinal. The winners at Heritage

Park in Bishop Auckland will take on Bamber Bridge on Saturday in the

play`off final of the Northern Premier League Division One North.

It would mean successive promotions, six years after Darlington nearly

reached the third tier of English football. We said we'd try to get

two promotions within our first three years of taking over the

football club. So, to keep the fan base, keep the interest, and the

playing standard as well. We've achieved that up to now. But it's

all about what we do on the evening now. And hopefully this place will

be full, it will be a sell`out. It will be a great atmosphere and

hopefully we can put in a massive performance. Good luck to Martin and

the lads. Now, for the best part of a decade,

Middlesbrough's Chris Tomlinson has been the outright or joint British

record holder in the long jump. It's a title he lost to Olympic champion

Greg Rutherford last week. But as Mark Drury reports, Tomlinson thinks

it's a new record that shouldn't be allowed to stand.

Last week at a small meeting in San Diego, Greg Rutherford jumped eight

metres 51. 16 centimetres further than the record he and Chris

Tomlinson previously shared. It was a feat that was applauded by the

Middlesbrough man on Twitter. But that was before he saw what he

regards as some pretty damning evidence. Lots of people were

texting me. Contacting me on WhatsAPP and Twitter. It was

pictures of Greg's jump. And what it basically shows is that Greg's foot

is not marginally over the plasticine, but significantly over

the plasticine. Probably four or five centimetres or so. Chris is

aware that people may think that any complaint he makes are those of a

sore loser. But he thinks the integrity of his sport is at risk.

People might sort of sit around and say, Chris Tomlinson is bitter. It

is sour grapes. But what else am I meant to do? Someone has come out

there and had a jump. And it is better than I've ever jumped before.

But, you know, am I meant to sit back and clap my hands and say,

yeah, amazing jump? When it is clearly obvious that it is an

illegitimate jump. British Athletics say they won't comment on individual

cases. The US Track and Field Association maintains the jump was

legal. In cricket, Yorkshire slipped to an

astonishing seven wickets defeat at Lord's, as Middlesex successfully

chased a massive 472 to win. Just 30 short of the highest run chase in

the county game. Next up for the Tykes is a trip to

Chester`le`Street, starting on Sunday. The first chance Durham fans

will have to see their new signing Kumar Sangakkar. The Sri Lankan

wicket keeper and batsman has scored more than 11,000 Test match runs. He

joins Durham for two matches, ahead of his country's international

series with England. They are a great team to play for. They've had

a wonderful record as a county team. And they've got some really big

names, especially in recent times, in their dressing room that played

for England. I think it will be a great experience for me to be part

of that. Durham have had some great batsmen. Dean Jones, David Boon.

Where does this guy rank? He's right up there with the best of them. One

of the best in the world. Averages not far under 60 in Test cricket and

there aren't many in the world who have ever done that. He's a great

player and we're delighted to have him here.

And back to that shock Yorkshire defeat. Middlesex batsman Chris

Rogers, with an unbeaten 241, made the seventh highest individual score

in the fourth innings of a first`class match. About that? I

don't know what you mean! LAUGHTER. It's the 21st Century version of

Opportunity Knocks. And today, the opportunity came to the North East.

X Factor fever hit Tyneside, with long queues of hopefuls lining up

outside the Sage Gateshead from first thing this morning. That's

right. It was the first stage of auditions for the talent show. And

despite the chill in the air, there was no shortage of willing

participants. Colin Briggs, who should probably have known better,

went along to meet some of them. This is where they want to end up.

Sell`out, headline artists. But this is where the hope the road to

stardom will begin. One chilly morning, in a line at the side of

the Sage Gateshead. Of course, the thing is that many want to be

called, but very few are chosen. We do have a great track record in

this. The show, this is its ten year. And we've already had three

winners. I wonder, is there going to be a fourth in this queue? Hold on

to your hat. If you drop it, they'll sing. SINGING.

This brother and sister act got through. Separately.

#..rose in your eyes... #. And you. # I won't give up on us... #.

Some travel in hope. How did it go? Yeah, I got through.

Fantastic. What did you sing? All Of Me. And what did they say to you? It

was good. I've got to come back at three o'clock for the second

audition. If I get through there, I've got to come back tomorrow. From

level two, level three, level four, in front of Simon Cowell. Some have

been here before. And Louis Walsh. Three respective nos. One big

massive yes. From Cheryl Cole. As I'm here, I thought, give it a go.

I've got Adam behind the camera. He's brilliant behind the keyboard.

You're talented! Come on, I need your help. Come on, Adam! Why are

you walking away?! He will still be at that stage do.

`` stage door. That was like my camera work. And how is the wetter?

`` weather? Cloudy and wet, but drier and

brighter by the weekend, but cool temperatures. A blanket of cloud

across the region and much of the country today, many places with dry

weather, but heavy showers got its act together through this afternoon,

giving some localised flooding in places where dreams are not coping.

Still some heavy outbreaks along that line of showers overnight and

either side of it, so damp night, Misty, poor visibility, low cloud,

and tomorrow morning I cloudy and wet start for many, the rain will be

heavy, more especially in eastern areas, west of the Pennines drier,

through the course of tomorrow, drier weather spreading from the

north, so the rain becomes more intermittent, but temperatures

struggling into double figures. Drier in parts of Cumbria, single

figures for many parts of the north`east where

figures for many parts of the and cold north`easterly wind adding

to the cool field. In towards the weekend, the front moves to the

south, introducing high pressure which will bring fine and dry

weather over the Bank Holiday weekend, but from the north it is

cool air, and cold enough for a touch of frost overnight, some fine

dry weather, more cloud on Friday and Saturday, but generally dry on

Sunday and watch out for low temperatures, and gardeners be weird

of overnight frost. `` gardeners beware.

You could never say never cast a cloud until May is out. I said at

last week when you're not here. Well I never. Good night.