25/07/2011 Look North (Yorkshire)

Good evening on Look North. A beautiful outlook. A big rise in

visitor numbers to Yorkshire in good time for the start of the

summer holidays. Also tonight: People are told to

leave their homes in Barnsley as a former fire station goes up in

smoke. We are live at the scene. And a new take on water music,

courtesy of the West Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra. Overcast sky is

tonight. More to come over the next few days. All the details to follow.

Good evening. To coincide with the start of the summer holidays, there

is already good news for Yorkshire's's tourist industry.

According to figures from the Great Britain at Travel Survey, there has

been an increased of visitors to Yorkshire in the first three months

of the year. Cathy is in York for us tonight. Cathy. Thank you. I

hate to say it, but it is just starting to rain. Yorke, of course,

the hub of Yorkshire's tourism industry. So, how is it looking?

It was blowing a bit of a gale on the beach, but did not seem to put

the holidaymakers off. The latest tourism figures seem encouraging.

The first three months of 2011 saw a 14% increase of visitors to

Yorkshire. Nationally, visits were up only 5%. The influx of people

meant expenditure was up by 25% here in Yorkshire. Nationally, the

rise was 5%. The length of stay it also increased by 15%. Nationally,

it decreased by 2%. This is a great destination. This is a destination

of choice. Our job is to market Yorkshire, nationally and

internationally. These figures are independent, which is great as well.

People are also telling their friends. One clear area of growth

is camping. This site has already seen two bumper seasons. Many of

the campers who would normally spend their time in of France and

Spain, because of the price of diesel and getting down there, many

of them are turning back to home grown camping. The Lorraine, the

statistics do not ring true though. She is also the secretary of an

umbrella organisation that promotes farm holidays. Her sector is

finding the going tough. This here particularly as down. 1 I asked the

other members of my group, they have all said the same. One member

said to me he has a cottage available for six weeks. This is

the peak season. The figures look good because they are compared to

the awful winter of 2010, and almost anything would look like an

improvement next to that. The real test will be the next batch of

figures. Welcome to Yorkshire. Advance hotel

bookings are looking healthy, which is a good sign. Also, industry

chief's surveys are looking good as well. A lot depends on the weather

of course. Fingers crossed, Cathy. Houses have

been evacuated and residents have been advised to stay indoors

because of a fire in South Yorkshire. It is in a fire station

in Brampton, where Dan Johnson joins us now. It has been a busy

afternoon for the fire service. Their work is still going on this

evening. The irony is, they are dealing with a fire been one of

their own, old buildings. It has been at a disused for the last year.

The fire service were quartet at about 3pm to a very intense blaze

that was well alight. It needed 30 firefighters, and seven of fire

engines were here. We can chat to Simon, the commander from South

Yorkshire Fire and rescue. It has been a big job. Very intense fire.

We have got seven of firepower at - - appliances said as quickly as

possible. We have concentrated on protecting property, as we knew the

property involved was derelict. That has involved a moving people

from their homes? Yes, we have a evacuated nine properties.

Sorry about that. Coming up later: We will be Wet Wet

Wet, meeting Marti Pellow. But also catch up with the

musicians making a splash at a swimming pool in Bramley.

Transport officials say Yorkshire is in danger of losing out in the

race for high-speed trains to London and Europe. A report is

expected to say the trains will generate huge economic benefits,

and a good return on taxpayers's money. But there are worries a

rival route to Manchester will be built first.

Designing beat re aware of the future. High-speed trains are not

even of the drawing board, but already, there are worries

Yorkshire will lose out. concern is the government will push

ahead with the London to Birmingham section, and then when it comes to

deep lines to Manchester and Leeds, the Manchester one will be done

first. It will split, with brunch is going

to Manchester and Leeds. The Transport Secretary was in at

Sheffield. He says he is aware of what is at stake. We will build the

London to Birmingham section first. Once we have got to Birmingham, we

would then build the Manchester and Leeds branches simultaneously, with

both expected to open in 2032. Britain has only one dedicated

high-speed line. Supporters say it faster links would bring jobs and

money to the region, but only if both lads are billed at the same

time. This is not just about shedding one

at -- one are off the journey. There are more people using the

trains than ever before. There are now more railway passengers that

and any peacetime years since the 1920s.

More trains and a better timetable will be the only way of giving

everyone a seat. A high-speed line it looks like the best way of doing

It is one year since the floods devastated Pakistan. An area the

size of England was under water. I cannot believe ates one yet! Four

men are from Bradford have spent the past few months fundraising for

the flood victims. They have raised more than a �1 million. They now

join us in the studio. Why did you get yourself involved in this?

Initially, when we saw the devastation on the television, it

was heartbreaking to see. We have got family death. -- family there.

We wanted to do something for these people, because we knew these

people were helpless. That was 12 months ago. �1 million cannot have

been easy to raise? It was a very tough task. We set ourselves a

challenge. We went out last October as a field visit. When we came back,

we had time to reflect. At that point, we decided we wanted to do

more. We wanted to rebuild the four villagers, which came to a cost of

approximately �1 million. We can see some of the pictures coming now,

surely. It is important to say, you have done an incredible amount of

good. We have. We are very pleased. It is thanks to all the people of

Yorkshire who have been donated and in their hundreds and thousands.

This was a new medical facility. It was in one of the villages hit by

the floods. This is a provision that is provided free of charge.

All the medication, doctors, even an ambulance, it is all free.

extent of the flood was a stand-in. To give you a short snap shot, you

refer to statistics: At 11 million people were displaced. In terms of

what we are doing, it is only a small drop in the ocean. When we

went to the villagers, we saw the villages transformed. You should be

very proud. It is not just us. It is a team effort. Being a local

councillor should be quite good, as well! Thank you very much.

A 19-year-old man has been charged with the murder of the Sheffield

teenager Jamie Stuart. Jamie, who was also nineteen, was found with

fatal injuries in Parson Cross early on Saturday morning. He died

from stab wounds. Danny Parr, who is from Rotherham, has been charged

with his murder. Police have named a man who died

after jumping into the River Ouse in York at the weekend. 21-year-old

Richard Anthony Horrocks leapt from a balcony in the town. Officers say

he paid the ultimate price for a moment of misplaced exuberance.

looks infighting on a hot summer day. It is a very dangerous place.

There are fast-moving currency and debris. Anybody, please, do not go

in the river. West Yorkshire Police are appealing

for information about a 47-year-old woman from Queensbury who has gone

missing. Susan Cowley was last seen at her home on Saturday morning.

Her blue VW Polo vehicle was parked in a car park at Bolton Abbey in

North Yorkshire on Saturday lunchtime.

The Yorkshire Building Society is taking over the mortgage and

savings part of Egg, the UK's first ever internet bank. Yorkshire will

acquire the name but will not take on the company's 600-strong

workforce, which is largely based in Derby. Once the deal completes

later this year, existing Egg customers will become members.

Plans have been submitted for a new �52 million student village in

Sheffield. If it is approved, the Manor Mill development on the edge

of the city centre will include cafes and bars, and public spaces,

as well as over 800 apartments. Organisers of the Tramlines Music

Festival in Sheffield say the event got 175,000 visitors. Heaven 17

headlined on Friday night at Barkers Pool. Last night, the third

year of the free festival concluded with a set from Ash. The main stage

saw 40,000 revellers over Saturday While thousands were in Sheffield

this weekend for tramlines Festival, this was a different concept. It

took place in Leeds and the Blair - - best places were soaking wet!

It was happening in an Edwardian swimming baths. Its future is

uncertain which is one of the reasons why it because it was held.

-- the concert was held. Opened in 19 No 4 by the Edwardian

is, the Bramley baths in Leeds has many of its original features but

this is a new one. The West Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra on an

island stage. It was the highlight of the festival and the premium

seats were in the poorer. I loved lying back in the water and looking

at their light coming through the window. Payment be music it was

lovely. I have never heard that kind of music in real life. There

is this beautiful music and this amazing swimming happening around

it. The sunlight coming through was amazing. Work started to build the

stage at 8am this morning. So they used their goggles and held their

breath. They had to make sure it could hold 20 musicians and their

instruments. One of the reasons why the festival organisers decided to

host this event, is the future of these baths is under threat from

council cuts. Anyone here in the pool can see that this event

wouldn't have the same atmosphere in any other swimming pool.

talked to one guy who swam underneath and asked him what it

sounded like. He said you could here it. He said it was an

interesting experience. People are considering buying the best to save

it from council cuts. Everyone that took part gave their time for free.

They show the lengths that the Community can go to to save people.

Also the lengths that video journalist will go to. Well done a

live here. Coming up tight, a dream job being

a control and Lydiate Ash analyst has never been so much fun.

And you can keep up with the Wet Wet Wet front man who is appearing

in Yorkshire. Let us talk sport but also music.

You have had a good weekend. I asked him to come out to the

festival with me but he declined. Why are you hobbling?

I slips in the shower. -- slipped. Rugby League first and if there is

two of our rugby league is that have booked their places in the

semi-finals of the Challenge Cup. It will be played the first weekend

in August and will end with a trip to Wembley for one of them.

Castleford who narrowly beat Huddersfield will host Leeds Rhinos,

to see who will represent Yorkshire in the Challenge Cup final at

Wembley. Although they didn't -- day didn't start well for Leeds.

They found themselves down at KC Stadium yesterday but rallied after

the break to touch down five tries in the second half. Ben Jones-

Bishop getting his second to clinch the match. The man of the day was a

Kevin Sinfield. He kicked seven goals to become the club's highest

ever goal scorer, passing Lewis- Jones' set in 1964. Helping his

side to a win, keeping alive hopes of picking up the trophy for the

first time in over a decade. Both teams were fantastic. We came back

from the initial points down. Some millet -- resilience shown from our

fellows. The final will be played in August.

Staying with rugby league and announcement day tomorrow.

Basically, it looks as if it is going to be down to whether the

Wakefield and Castleford are going to survive. People seem to think

that Wake field won't. Is it to do with their ground?

If to get these licences, the RFL stipulate that the club has to be

moving in the right direction. The Pat Mooney season tickets does the

club have? Have they been into administration? Wake field were at

the start of the season. Also the strength of the team.

Castleford are not having a great season.

It looks as if it would be a call between Castleford and Wakefield.

On to cricket and we must mention Yorkshire's narrow defeat against

Lancashire in their county championship match at Headingley

that finished on Saturday. The 23 run defeat leaves Yorkshire in

relegation danger. Worcestershire have two games in hand. The Tykes

have five mashes -- matches to secure themselves.

It is a difficult time for Yorkshire.

There aren't many tasks that Chile just children would offer to do

during the summer holidays but one job has had to them applying in the

hundreds. It is to be the official Tory

tester for Meadow Hall. -- Tory tester.

Eight candidates, one job, all of them up for their challenge to be

named as games tester to there's and 11. I love playing with toys.

If I have a lot of experience of playing with toys. I love them and

it wouldn't feel like an ordinary job. There is more in their job

description. Every week during their summer holiday, they will get

a new game to test. There is a video diary to make and then

reporting back to the boss. Today, the boss is doing the testing.

makes you a good tester? Why do you think you should get the job?

Because I like toys. We need someone with inquisitive skills,

attention to detail, enthusiasm about toys. It is important we get

the right candidate on board. the interviews are over, it is time

to wait. I do know this? Yes. not long before the announcement.

It is nice. I am looking forward to being able to test loads of toys

for free. All of the finalists got a special certificate for coming so

far. Irwin's job at the start straight away and with a salary in

Tories, he will have plenty to do this summer.

Marti Pellow shot to fame in the 80s with Wet Wet Wet. When the

group split up in the nineties, he began working in musical theatre.

His latest role is at the mad scientists in a Jekyll and Hyde. It

opens tonight in Leeds. Not long now tell the curtain goes

up at the Grand Theatre. The man starring as that famous

schizophrenic in Jekyll-and-Hyde is Marti Pellow. Before we chat to him,

Lovely to see you here in Leeds. We have just seen you in the Wet Wet

Wet that people are going to see you in a different light in this

production of Jekyll and Hyde. suppose this is my 4th musical that

I have done so this is a new genre Ferme. People will be familiar with

my Wet Wet Wet work. Hopefully they will enjoy my performances. It is a

dark production. Do you get to unleash your inner beast? If this

is a dark piece and that is what appeals to me. The witches of

Eastwick, even to Chicago, they were dark it characters. I always

find the people who are the quietest in the room and are the

most scariest. You are making it -- a name for yourself in musical

theatre, any chance of a reunion with Wet Wet Wet? Never say never.

We have always got different projects and we have families.

Everybody's priorities change. That is ultimately what I respect. More

chance of us getting round the table eating and we have of getting

back together. Never say never. Wet Wet Wet brought enjoyment to

millions of people and sometimes we think about it. He seems a nice

chap. I thought you were talking about me.

Let me show you a picture. Temperatures were below average but

there was a high humidity. This was The headline for the next 24 hours

is mostly dry, rather cloudy. There has been one or two showers and I

have been caught up in a couple this afternoon. It is a messy

weather chart. We have a lot of cloud, predominantly dry but we

have a weather front bringing drizzle in the east later tonight.

The best of the wryness -- brightness has been to the West. It

has been very pleasant indeed. Overnight, we have some clear

spells before cloud thickens. There will be light rain and drizzle

developing along the coast. It will be quite a cloudy and damp

start in Scarborough. Mostly dry and further west. The rain will

push away southwards and we are left with a lot of clout. The

chance of a shower and the best chance of the brightness would be

around western parts of our region. Disappointing temperatures along