18/07/2013 Look North (Yorkshire)

Look North. Tonight, the widow of a church organist says she forgives

his killers. Two men were today found guilty of killing Alan Greaves

as he walked to Midnight Mass. was a man who was driven by love and

compassion and he would not want anyone to hold on to feelings of

hate and unforgiveness. We'll be live from High Green with the full

story. Also tonight, another delay for the

contentious potash mine planned for the North York Moors National Park.

And these little piggies have a new home as a Yorkshire tourist

attraction puts its money where its mouth is.

Yet neither fine, summers day. Good evening and welcome to Look

North. First tonight, the widow of a church organist who was brutally

attacked as he walked to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve has said she

forgives the men who killed her husband in Sheffield. Alan Greaves

suffered appalling injuries when he was battered with a pick-axe handle

and died three days later in hospital. Today Ashley Foster, who's

22, was found not guilty of his murder but convicted of his

manslaughter. Another man, Jonathan Bowling, had already admitted

murder. In a moment, we'll hear in depth from his widow, Maureen, but

first, our crime correspondent, John Cundy, has been following the day's

dramatic events. Just reminders of the background of this attack.

Greaves had made this walk on Christmas Eve the many years,

lonely. A few minutes earlier, a few minutes later, he would never have

crumb -- come across the two men, but he did. One of the men was

roaming around with a pick-up is handled. He would take his anger out

on someone. He was brutally battered around the head, never recovered

from those head injuries. Ashley Foster was with him and tried to

calm him down and told him not to attack, but the jury believes that

while Ashley Postel is not guilty of murder, he had some responsibility

for the attack. A fortnight after, the police got their big

breakthrough. They released CCTV footage showing the two men. They

were quickly identified by members of the community and an arrest soon

followed. His widow has been very brave. What has she had to say?

has shown a great deal of dignity and courage, supported by the deep

religious beliefs. She made it very clear afterwards that Alan would

never have wanted anybody to hate these men. Alan was a man who was

driven by love and compassion and he would not want any of us to hold

onto feelings of hate and unforgiveness. My prayer is that

Jonathan and Ashley will come to understand and experience the love

and kindness of a God who made them in his own image and that God is

great mercy will inspire both of them to true repentance.

detective superintendent paid tribute to what he said was the real

deep dignity of the family. heart, and the heart of my

investigation team, are with Maureen and Maureen 's family, who I cannot

express how I feel about them in terms of the dignity and how they

have presented themselves and carried themselves through this

difficult time. Jonathan, right from the start, admitted his guilt.

Ashley Foster, who made no secret of the fact he was with him that night

said he had stood back and was frightened. He told him not to

attack. He shouted no when he went for Alan Greaves right by these

railings here. Tomorrow morning, they will be sentenced. Alan Foster

will also be sentenced for some responsibility for that attack. He

did have some responsibility in this terrible killing last Christmas Eve.

Well, on the night that Alan Greaves was attacked, he was on the way to

play the organ at St Saviour's Church. It was something the retired

social worker had done for 40 years. It prompted widespread shock and

revulsion among the local community that he had helped for many decades

but his widow, Maureen, says she has forgiven his killers. Our reporter,

Kate Bradbrook, spoke to her ahead of today's verdict.

My overwhelming emotion was bewilderment rather than deep

anger. I was bewildered by what had happened. I just couldn't conceive

that somebody could walk down the street and be so savagely attacked.

Described as a gentle soul, Alan Greaves was a retired social worker

with a strong Christian faith. Until his death, he and Maureen were

heavily involved in community outreach work across Sheffield.

fact he was prepared to go and visit an elderly person and spend time

with them when they didn't have anybody else to do that was the main

quality he had. He was good at it, partly because he was prepared to

give that time as a volunteer and just because he was a good people

person. So much of a people person, in fact, that before his death, he

and Maureen opened a food bank close to their home. The idea was simple

colon that no one in high green should go hungry. You live in the

community and you think everyone is as well offers each other and are

not. People really need this food bank. It's nice to be part of

helping others. That would make Alan so happy. Alan 's legacy will

continue. The Maureen, forgiving her attackers was an important step in

moving on. It was hard. It sounds so easy, I have forgiven them. It has

been one of the hardest things in my life I have had to do. And yet,

having done it, I have found that I have benefited from it. What do you

hope will happen to the people that attacked Alan? I'm hoping both men

will find some sense of true sorrow and repentance of what they have

done. And perhaps themselves learn to know that God loves them and God

had a better plan for their lives and find, imprisoned, a journey they

can go on where they will be able to think about what they have done. It

then begins a new chapter. Kind of getting down to really facing

singleness in the months and years ahead. We are going to have a family

party. It will have some joyful occasions and sad moments in it and

we will celebrate the end of the trial. We will have a little cry

because we do miss as a family. And that's what we will do.

A decision on whether to allow a potash mine to be built in the North

York Moors National Park has been put off for the third time. The

contentious proposal was due before planners this afternoon but the

developers, Sirius Minerals, asked for a deferment to address

environmental issues. Supporters claim the proposal would be a

once-in-a-generation opportunity to create 3-4,000 jobs. They say the

contract's worth �.1 billion but conservationists have a different

view. They say national parks were set up to stop this kind of

large-scale industrial development. The potash mine plans first came to

light in January, 2011. They are detailed and complex. The company

behind the scheme has asked for the decision on planning permission to

be deferred a third time. The National Park is less than happy.

It's not easy. It will be disruptive. But the uncertainty not

helpful to us. It is important for the area and national park as a

whole. The company needs more time. We don't want to refuse that.

company claims the mine will create 1000 jobs and use local companies.

This quarry will supply limestone as building aggregate. 140 tonnes is

double R Alpert. For people like David, the company's interest has

provided a lifeline. It's one of the leaders of the industry in this

area. There isn't that much elsewhere around here now.

Objections to the mine have been fairly low in number, but there are

some people opposed to the plans. Essentially, it's something that

will damage the environment, we think, and it's a major industrial

intrusion in a national park. Planning permission had been due to

be turned down all granted on the 29th of this month. The company has

said the new delay has come about because it wants to give planners

here is more essential environmental information. It also was to deal

with a critical report carried out by the consultant engineer. The

report claimed the Minehead doesn't have to be cited in the national

park. It pointed up the destruction in the construction phase and

highlighted flood risks. Another delay must be quite frustrating. The

people who want clarity, it just drags on.

Later on Look North: Full steam ahead! A �1 billion investment

promises commuters bigger, faster In other news now, a man's been

summoned to court to face a charge of gross negligence manslaughter

after the death of a toddler in Sheffield. Two-year-old Rayaheen

Banimuslim died a year ago after falling from the fourth floor of an

apartment block where she lived. Robert Warner was contracted to

carry out maintenance work in the flats. He'll appear before

magistrates next month. West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire

Police forces have both been criticised for not doing enough to

cut costs. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary accused

both forces of not working hard enough to cope with reduced funding.

Inspectors said neither had embraced the level of change needed.

The MP for Bradford East, David Ward, has been suspended from the

Lib Dems. It's because of a tweet he wrote describing Israel as a

"Zionist state". It follows a long-running dispute with the

party's leadership over earlier tweets about Israel's treatment of

Palestinians. Mr Ward says he won't apologise.

The water supply to almost 100 luxury flats in Leeds has been fully

restored after it failed for the third time in 12 months. Portable

toilets and bottled water were brought in yesterday to the

apartments at West Point. The management company has apologised

for the disruption caused. 50 firefighters have been tackling a

large blaze at a supermarket in Bradford. The fire, at the Pakeezah

store on Ingleby Road in Girlington, started during the busy lunchtime

shopping period. None of the 15 staff or 20 customers were injured

but all the stock has been destroyed. I just shouted, fire,

fire, everybody out, please! Leave the building, leave your shopping.

Less than two minutes, we got everybody out. It has been very

difficult with the heat. We have had breathing apparatus crews inside the

building. Normally, that is quite a strenuous activity in itself, but

when it is so hot, it is very difficult to get relief.

Next tonight, some good news for commuters. �1.2 billion worth of new

trains have been ordered to run on the East Coast Main Line. The

trains, which will be in use by 2019, will provide more seats. They

should also improve reliability and cut journey times to London. Our

political editor, Len Tingle, joins us now. Just explain what has been

going on. The government will buy 270 carriages. They call them train

sets! They will then release them back to the train operating

companies. It is largely aimed at the East Coast Main line, the link

between London and Yorkshire. At the moment, they are operating trains

designed for two years ago. I popped down to Leeds station and spoke to

people who had just come off those trains. What they were saying was

they welcomed it but some of them did question whether we can afford

this sort of public investment right now. I am kind of in two minds. But

if the carriage is good, then yes. They are outdated, but they are OK.

If that's a protection action to the service, it's a good spend.

really a new announcement, is it? cleverly used the word confirmed

because this plan was put together in 2005 by the then Labour

government. We knew who was going to make them. As you said, they will be

wider, faster, more comfortable. They will travel at speeds of 140

miles an hour, knocking six minutes of the time between Leeds and

London. But what's interesting is that it also means that it will be

British jobs because the first tranche of that money was announced

last year. All of them will be made by the Japanese company but they

will be made at a brand-new factory up in County Durham. It will be

British workers making these fast trains. That's a double hit as far

as the Secretary of State for transport is concerned.

justification is that it is representing good value for money

and shows we are investing in new rolling stock. We are seeing more

and more people using RL ways who want new rolling stock. More legroom

and nicer loos get my vote! It will be 2019 before they are in position.

Ten years later, we ought to have the new high-speed trains. The idea

is that this will make sure they can compete against that really fast

London to Yorkshire Link when it opens so that we will have two lots

of trains for what is a really fast expanding market. Our very own

bullet train! Before seven o'clock: We hear from

golden girl Jessica Ennis-Hill. Sidelined with injury since the

Olympics, she tells us about her comeback.

The expansion plan that the home of the furry animals at the farm that

visitors flock to see. Sport now and in cricket, Yorkshire

remain well on top in their County Championship match at Chesterfield.

They amassed a staggering total of 617. Alex Lees made 275, the 11th

highest innings in Yorkshire's history, and the bowlers have been

just as unforgiving, reducing Derbyshire to 94 for five at the

close of play. Yorkshire will be very happy with that.

Meanwhile, another Yorkshire cricketer has been making his mark

in the latest Ashes test at Lords. Johnny Bairstow made a half century

to help England recover from a shaky start against Australia. He was

eventually out for 67, short of his previous international best of 95.

Earlier, Joe Root was bowled for just six runs.

Now, she's gone from being the centre of attention at the Olympics

to being on the sidelines. Jessica Ennis-Hill, as she's called since

getting married earlier this year, hasn't competed since taking gold at

last summer's London Games. An injury has held her back but she

hopes to make a return in time for a special anniversary.

Jessica Ennis Hill puts on a performance of a live to take gold

at last summer 's Olympics. The perfect result at the right time.

But the London games were not just about her performance in the

heptathlon. She was the face of the games, the focus of a nation 's

hopes and she admits that she felt the pressure. I was very nervous. I

had to put a brave face on and portray that everything was going

well and I was confident but, deep down, Sessions didn't always go

well, I was struggling with the long jump and I was very anxious to what

the games would bring because it was a lance -- once-in-a-lifetime

opportunity. This season, she has been kept off the track by an ankle

injury. It's going to be close but I'm still not ruling out. I've got

to the point where I know it will be a very different year this year, not

like previous years where I have been able to prepare and do lots of

events. This year is very different. Her main goal this season is the

world championships. She lost her world crown two years ago, but even

with injury troubles, you wouldn't bet against her it back. We wish her

a speedy recovery. We need to back, and I am sure she will be winning

more medals. A ten-year-old book lover has helped

save his rural village's library service by becoming the young

librarian there. Harry McMurray is now passing on his love of reading

to even younger children in Cold Kirby in North Yorkshire AND is

helping to keep a vital resource going in the face of local service

cuts. Many ten-year-olds need an alarm

just to get up in the morning. Harry needs want to stop him reading!

love books. I came down here and I was asked to short -- to sort out

the shelves. And because I did a good job, I was nominated Junior

librarian. With books, you can use your imagination more than you can

playing a video game. When the local library service stopped, Harry

stepped forward to keep reading alive. Harry, being an avid reader,

has been nominated as the children's librarian so he can encourage

children to come and enjoy books. He loves reading. In fact, he read so

much, we set an alarm clock to stop him reading at night time! Regular

members say Harry is fantastic with polite. He's a pleasure to have

around and it is delightful to seem with the younger children. He is

clearly very intelligent and has a great future ahead of him. So what

does the future hold for him? would like to be a writer. Lots of

people have said if I wanted to do it, I could. I just let my

imagination run wild. So forget Harry Potter, Harry McMurray will be

all the name of the best seller list any time soon. He's a bit of a

bookworm, isn't he? My ten-year-old also likes books, but that's very

keen, isn't it? One of Yorkshire's leading tourist

attractions is ignoring the economic gloom and investing heavily in new

premises. They believe it's worth taking the risk to bring more jobs

and revenue into the area. Danny Carpenter reports from Cannon Hall

Farm in South Yorkshire. Cannon Hall farm is already an

award-winning tourism business. Now, they want to be a major tourism

business and are investing �1.5 billion into making that dream a

reality. Tell us about the design here. What we have tried to achieve

is an escape route of the piglets. This is while they are being born or

straight after birth when they are vulnerable. They need to be able to

get away if the sour is a little bit clumsy. We have got underfloor

heating. We do not want to overheat the sour. It's probably 5-star pig

accommodation! We have built a viewing gallery. We have built a

milking store. We will show the last 200 years of milk production through

the various breeds. We have got to female llamas in this pen. They have

just come in from outside. There are four females and a little baby one,

only a fortnight old. Some sheep here. These are from the West Coast

of Scotland and they would normally feed on seaweed, so obviously, we

have got no seaweed, but they like their head. We feel that if we

invest now, when other people are not, and give it 110%, we think this

can be the right time to do it and get the farm on the tourism map.

ever been there? Yes, but since the upgrade, that's what we call a farm!

I like to see behind the scenes. Are there any deckchairs left on the

beach? Fewer deckchairs this weekend. Yes, because you are

me skip onto my first graphic because I have not even shown you

tonight whether pictures! That epitomises a summer morning, taken

at 5am. Is that part of the world that has had 29 degrees this

afternoon. Quite unusual for the Pennines. The Vale of York has had

29 degrees as well. The second picture, beautiful! The sun setting

just off junction 24! The forecast: This is what you want to see: Sunny

and hot for many of us tomorrow, but changes for the weekend. The high

pressure changes shape and allows low cloud to come in from the North

Sea. Everywhere starting of grey. It should gradually break up but the

coast might have a disappointing weekend. But hardly a cloud in the

sky right now. This evening, warm, plenty of sunshine, patchy cloud,

overnight looks clear. Lowest temperatures 11-15dC. The sun will

rise in the morning at 5am. A bit of mist and patchy fog in places,

otherwise, a beautiful start. Long spells of sunshine, the hint of a

little sea mist. But for many, another lovely day and once more, if

you want to escape the heat, it is here without cooling onshore breeze.

Much more cloud over the weekend which will gradually break up