14/11/2011 North West Tonight

Welcome to North West Tonight. Our top story: Was the Met to blame?

Greater Manchester's top policeman says the riots came here because

looters in London got away with it. If London had been under control

sooner, we would not her face the problems in Manchester.

But one MP says that doesn't excuse the police response here. Also in

the programme: Are they the saviours of Liverpool's skyline?

The UN delegates who will decide if a dock development destroys the

city's heritage. Lancashire is to lose 14 police

stations across the county to save money but is community safety

compromised? Saying goodbye to a football legend - Burnley pays its

respects to former captain Jimmy Adamson.

Hayley Mills may have been the star but we meet the Lancashire village

children who made this a silver screen classic 50 years ago. It is

difficult to forget the violence and rioting which hit Liverpool,

Salford and Manchester in August but could they have been avoided if

the Metropolitan police had stopped the riots in London sooner? That is

the view of the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Peter

Fahy. He is appearing on the BBC's Panorama this evening. Our

political editor is here. 100 days since those riots started.

Yes, they began in London on Saturday 6th August following a

protest over the shooting by police of Mark Duggan. The violence grew

in intensity and spread rapidly. By the Monday, trouble began in

Liverpool. The following day, August 9th, riots flared in Salford

and Manchester with serious violence and looting. Compare what

has happened since. So far the Metropolitan Police in London has

arrested 3000 people. Merseyside police, 200, and Greater Manchester

Police, around 370. Now Manchester's Chief Constable has

suggested that could have been avoided.

Unforgettable but still difficult to explain. Once the rioting began,

it was difficult to stop but could this have been avoided if there had

been a sharper response in London? There needed to be control of

London because that was just creating more and more copycat

violence up here. You feel you could stop it in Manchester if

London got control? The Blunden had been under control sooner, we would

not have faced the problems in Manchester. Maybe there are clues

to the causes in the newly released police interviews with some of

those convicted. 18 year-old Michael Fitzpatrick apparently

dreamed of university and But this radical also spotted a

Today a conference was held at Manchester Business School to

discuss what happened. What the Chief Constable of Greater

Manchester said today, I personally have enormous respect for. Do you

think there was a failure to get to grips with that in London? I think

that much is obvious. But critics say Peter Fahy should have been

better prepared. Greater Manchester police sent well over 100 fully-

trained officers to London when the riots took place but we knew when

the riots in Manchester would take place. The leadership didn't do

everything they could to protect the people and property in

Manchester. After such an exceptional event, all police

forces are reviewing how they coped. What do you think lies behind this

It is certainly unusual but Peter Fahy is someone who clearly speaks

his mind. There has been a defensive response by the Police

Federation which represents rank and file officers and they point

out that the scale of the violence in London, it was always going to

be difficult to get control of that particularly when it started to

spread so quickly across the capital. When people saw that kind

of criminal shopping spree taking place, people around here clearly

felt, I want some of that and they got involved so to an extent, Peter

Fahy is absolutely right in his analysis of what happened but the

problem for him is that when he apparently criticises what happened

in London, people like Graham Stringer look at what happened in

Manchester and said, we're not sure you got it right either,

particularly that criticism of people sitting as officers stood

back. The Commons home affairs committee is doing a report into

the policing across the country and it will be interesting to see what

conditions they come to. Inspectors from UNESCO, the United Nations

cultural organisation, have been in Liverpool today to determine

whether the city's waterfront should keep its world heritage

status. It follows concern over the style and scale of the multi-

billion-pound Liverpool Waters scheme to transform the docks to

the north of the city. Our reporter is at Pierhead now.

I'm in front of the world famous Three Graces, the buildings that

are really at the heart of the world heritage site here. Now that

status puts Liverpool alongside places like the Great Wall of China

and the Taj Mahal and although its impact here is not quantifiable,

there is no doubt it fuels the city's �2.8 billion tourist

industry. The area that Peel Holdings want to develop is

somewhere along the river, still within the world heritage site

between the Prince's and Bramley moor docks. It is what Peel have

proposed to do with that area that has prompted real concerns. A

UNESCO panel arrived here today to see if this new development

jeopardises the city's world heritage status.

It might look like a pleasure but this trip is all about business.

UNESCO is worried. Is it fair to say the committee is concerned?

course, Liverpool has been in front of the world heritage committee

since 2006 and that is not without reason. You wouldn't be here if

they weren't worried? Certainly. This is the plan they are concerned

about, Liverpool Water project that would take 60 hectares of Docklands

and use steel, glass and skyscrapers to change the skyline

for ever. Peel say it will cost �5.5 billion and create around

40,000 jobs. Its critics say it is no more than vandalism. It is a

load of glass shoe boxes stuck what are top of the other. Imagine if

they did put that in front of the Taj Mahal or the Stonehenge, there

would be a world average. Wain: Asked UNESCO to investigate the

plans, though not opposed to any development, he says the council

has already made mistakes here. In but - no to that under nine, this

very Terminal One Building magazine's carbuncle Cup for being

the ugliest building in the UK. City needs jobs, a north Liverpool

in particular is one of the most deprived areas of the country. The

government obviously thinks so because it made it an enterprise

zone. I believe it will, in the fullness of time, be good for the

city. Is what is good for the City good enough to maintain World

Heritage Site status? The city council believes there is room for

both. I believe it to be a constructive organisation and an

organisation that understands not just how we should protect the

status of our world heritage but also how we need to respond to

different economic situations and look towards regenerating what is

after all a derelict site that has been derelict for 20 years.

panel will be in Liverpool considering the plans until

Wednesday. We understand the panel will

prepare a report about their visit that they intend to publish just

before Christmas. The council has told us today that they will delay

any decision on planning permission for Liverpool Waters until they

have heard from the panel but both UNESCO and the council insisted

today that there will be many more discussions before any decisions

are made about either the world heritage status or appeal's

Liverpool Water plants. A man has been jailed for life after pleading

guilty to the murder of a 22 year- old in Blackburn in April. Ryan

Livesey was found lying in car park in the town centre with fatal head

injuries. Kyle Kay was sentenced to a minimum of 13 years and 10 months.

Everton Football Club's official charity has been given permission

to set up a free school. From next September, Everton in the Community

will provide education for over 100 teenagers who may struggle to learn

in a traditional classroom setting. Funding from the government was

confirmed by the education secretary Michael Gove this

afternoon. I understand that a number of free

school opportunities have been developed for a leap provision. We

are using the opportunity afforded by the movement to work in

partnership with local schools, in partnership with the local

authority and local employers to provide light changing

opportunities for young people. Ex servicemen from the north-west

to said they were made ill through being exposed to radiation during

British nuclear weapons tests in the 1950s have taken the battle to

the Supreme Court. They blame ill health, including cancer, skin

defects and fertility problems on their involvement in weapons tests

on Christmas Island. The Ministry of Defence denies negligence.

would be amazed, knowing what I know today, with all the so-called

experts did not know, as I would say the guinea pig state is that we

were being subjected to, I am convinced that we were being used

as guinea pigs. Police stations across Lancashire

are to close to the public in an attempt to save millions of pounds.

Following a public consultation, 14 stations are affected. It will

close completely and the other six, front desks were people can report

crimes, will be closed. Another 31 buildings will be sold.

The front counter at a Lancashire police station that will be

remaining open to the public. Others are going to save money and

minimise the impact on front line policing. We are going to protect

the front line, we got to look elsewhere in the Budget and of

course, none of pate lines within our budget, of which the state

performs quite a big part, is one of those areas that we have had to

visit. Lancashire Police says it will save �386,000 a year from

closing up 14 front counters. It will also make �4.5 million and the

sale of the buildings as well as saving �500,000 on the upkeep of

the buildings. The station has already lost its front can do

service as part of the cuts and it will now lose its station. It gives

the opportunity for break-ins and every knitter else around here.

needed a lot of money to redo it so while has tax payers money being

wasted if they are just going to shut it down? Another station

closure but a reprieve for its front counter service which is

being relocated. That, say local campaigners, still has a good

enough. What better location than where the police station is at the

moment, right in the middle of the time and time that is at the centre

of the wider area. We're very concerned at the prospect of

they're just being a front desk facility somewhere else in the town.

Lancashire Constabulary say it is people not buildings who cut crime

and the policing standards on not drop.

Almost 1000 homes in the world are still without gas tonight. You

reported on Friday that a burst water main had disrupted supply is

there but it is hoped it would be sorted out at the weekend. The

National Grid says it may have to go to court to get into some houses

it has not been allowed into and many are still relying on the

electric heater is distributed by them to keep warm.

Engineers have been visiting homes on the world today to restore gas

to properties that had supply is cut now for the past three days.

For the lucky ones, there is a huge relief. I am absolutely over the

moon because the weather is starting to turn up the minute so

it couldn't have come at a better time. The biggest problem for

National Grid for mains water but has managed to get into the pipe

work after a fractured water main disrupted the gas network on Friday.

The elderly and the vulnerable are relying on committee support and

others have been supplied with stoves. Since Friday, around 4000

homes have had their supply is restored. That still leaves around

1000 properties without gas. Over 200,000 litres of water have been

pumped out of the system, that is the equivalent to 1300 bats. There

are still a few properties that engineers have not be able to get

access to and in the last resort, the National Grid will rely on a

warrant to get in and carried out essential work. We have to turn

those properties off Sol for those people, we have notified them and

we need to gain access, but has slowed down the process.

Householders can claim compensation and work will continue to bring the

Good news for many people. Has still to come on North West Tonight.

Saying goodbye to a hero from Burnley's heyday. Family friends

and fans bid farewell to Jimmy Adams said -- Jimmy Adamson.

Remembering their role in a classic, the villagers who made at the cast

of Whistle Down The Wind. I did not really know what a fellow Moors,

what they did. I did not take it that seriously. Friday his Children

in Need tonight and the money you give can save lives. New figures to

be released tomorrow will show that more than 11,000 children run away

from home a cross the North west every year. Tonight we will hear

from a Lancashire teenager who was homeless and suicidal. He was saved

on the streets in Blackburn by Nightsafe, a charity supported by

Children in Need. We have used an actor's voice to protect his

identity. When I was at home, my life was very difficult. My mum and

me were always at each other's throats, arguing, it was a horrible

environment to be in and it got me more and more depressed. I got very

bad, at points I was harming myself, I would break things and you

something sharp to harm myself with. I used to go out at night and think

of jumping in front of light, or. As soon as one came past, it was

like should I jump in front of this, just to avoid all the hassle and

pain I was going through. One night, I came back and my mum had imposed

a 10pm curfew. I had been locked out of the house. I was 17, out on

the streets, not knowing where I would stop that night. At that

point faults, I was afraid and felt I had nowhere to turn to. I

contacted Nightsafe. It was an emergency shelter for homeless

teenagers. I was at Nightsafe for the nine-night that I was a loud.

Luckily, I was given a place at this project. It looked like home

and felt homely. You have the support workers who are there if

you are upset about something and something is difficult for you. You

can go out and talk to them and they will give you advice and help

you out. A have you got enough for it? We have a lounge, with the

television. We have a kitchen where we can make our own food. It is

practically like a home. I am very grateful to the project and

Nightsafe and Children in Need. If it were not for all these

organisations, I would not have a stable home now and I would be out

on the streets, maybe been beaten up or in hospital or even worse.

will have more on the causes benefiting from your money later in

the wake. This year, to raise money we have not got Tony in a V-neck,

showing off his chest, doing strictly. Let us talk about sport.

All these rumours about Blackburn Rovers having another possible

buyer, Venky's may want to sell, this is about today? They have said

they have got no plans to sell the club. The to go over I in one year

ago. They are reports linking him to Qatar Petrol. Rovers are

struggling at the wrong end of the Premier League table, with

demonstrations against manager Steve King and the owners. One of

the owners told BBC Radio Lancaster it that they are not interested in

selling. Meanwhile, the Carlos Tevez saga continues. The has

chosen to remain in Argentine and not attend a meeting with the club

today. It is believed discussions have taken place between the two

parties. Tevez flew home to visit his family last week, apparently

without permission from his employers. The run not too many

successes for the north-west clubs in the FA Cup. Just four of Forsyth

live to fight another day. Preston North End will need a replay after

drawing nil-nil against Southend. Macclesfield won three-0 at East

Thurrock and Oldham three-one at home to Burton Albion. Non-League

Fleetwood Town got the better of Wycombe Wanderers two-0, thanks to

goals from Andy Mangan and Jamie Vardy. Preston play Southend in a

first-round replay a week tomorrow. A win would earn North End a home

draw against Oldham in round two. Macclesfield are at Chelmsford with

Fleetwood Town getting another home draw. They welcomed Yeovil. Those

matches will be played on the weekend of 3rd December and four.

The funeral has taken place of a footballer who had legendary status

here in the north-west and was once hailed as the best player in

Britain. Jimmy Adamson was 82 when he died last week after a career

which took Burnley to the very top. Today, fans of all generations made

the most of the last chance to thank him. That will have Stanley

Matthews,, today it was burly's turn to say goodbye to one of its

legends and Jimmy Adams and deserved every second of applause.

One he was able to do was to put together a four or five absolute

stars, great players, and a month then he had several bread and

butter players. We just gelled as a team. Every Saturday we knew we

were going to win. Great man, and no bigger icon was there at the

football club. He was a great elegant player that we were all

proud of. A very sad day for us all. He is funeral began and ended at

the club to whom he devoted all his plane like and his greatest years

in management. One of the greatest players this club has ever had and

I was lucky to play within over the years. In fact, I look back and

think I have so many great years here playing with Jimmy. Of fall-

out with the chairman of a few years after he returned into the

top of the league in the 1970s kept him away from Turf Moor for decades.

He returned with his grandchildren to a standing tearful of Asian. He

was the captain of the title- winning side, a footballer of the

year and a coach great enough to be offered the England job for Sir

Ralph Ramsay -- Sir Alf Ramsey. Manchester had the wit Tyson Fury

is still on course for a future shot at the world title fight

despite being knocked to the canvas for the first time in his career by

Neven Pajkic in Trafford Park on Saturday. In the third round,

theory took control of the fight to win when the referee stopped the

fight. Rugby League and England's victory over New Zealand in the

Four Nations fixture set up a final next week at Elland Road against

Australia. James Graham and Sam Tompkins have also been nominated

in the six man list for Rugby League's estate is golden but a

word. Get well soon to Liverpool legend Ray Clemence is recovering

in hospital. The England goalkeeping coach, who is 63, is

having tests after falling ill on Friday. Thank you. Every one that

they say has the 50 minutes of fame, but for grip of Lancashire

schoolchildren it has to say that it lasted a good deal longer than

that. Richard Attenborough chose Downham for the setting for his

then Whistle Down The Wind, and he recruited local Lunn -- local

youngsters to play many of the parts. It is hard to believe would

you look at it now that this picture perfect postcard village in

Lancashire was the backdrop for one of Britain's most iconic films.

Whistle Down The Wind was a low- budget production produced by

Richard Attenborough and directed by Bryan Forbes. Alan Bates and

Hayley Mills were the two main storage, but it was the village of

Downham and the cast of hundreds of children recruited from the local

schools that stole the show. People like this woman who had a starring

role as Hayley Mills's sister, it would be many years before she

realised just how important the film had been. We did not know who

these people were, because we did not go to the cinema let children

do now. They were just nice people. Alan now lives in Longridge, so I

to come back for a walk down memory lane. By did not really know what a

film was, what they did. I did not take it that seriously. A screaming

of the financial and at Downham Village Hall as part of the 50th

anniversary celebrations. It means a lot really, a reminder of what we

looked like. Be it was a lovely film, a beautiful film, I loved

being in it. The it had been hope to bring Hayley Mills back for the

anniversary but she was filming in South Africa. You can see loads

more on that in Inside Out at 7:30pm. He was a little character

The weather for the next few days will be very boring. It is fairly

cloudy for the next two or three days. This morning and this

afternoon we had a lot of cloud around and because of this blanket

of cloud, it has not been particularly warm, 10 degrees at

best. Some places have troubled to see temperatures in double figures.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, a lot of cloud around and

the temperatures not really improving very much at all. This

evening, lots of cloud around, some occasional spots of rain. It will

be fairly misty and murky. A bit of a south-easterly breeze and

temperatures may drop fairly close to freezing in some rural areas.

For Tuesday, same story all over again, another cloudy day, at

fairly cool day and we may see some breaks in the cloud. We are going

to start off very dull and drab tomorrow morning. The clouds are

there from the word go. They will try to break up through the

afternoon, and the some will try to break through. We may see some

bright spells here and there. Temperatures will not be

particularly warm, very similar to today. At but at the south-easterly

breeze. 10 or 11 degrees tomorrow. Across some parts of Lancashire,

highs of eight or nine degrees. Heading into Wednesday, more cloud,

a touch milder perhaps, with temperatures as high as 11 degrees.

Heading into Thursday and Friday, it is very boring, cloudy, not

particularly one, 12 or 13 degrees at best. Make the most of it. If

you are at any cent Marr, do not forget that BBC Radio Manchester

and Merseyside will be hosting special screenings of Grease in aid