24/02/2012 North West Tonight

Good evening. Welcome to NorthWest Tonight. Our top stories:

Police appeal for calm after a grooming court case in Liverpool

triggers attacks on Asian shops in Rochdale.

We are live in Rochdale, where there is an increased police

presence tonight. Also in the programme:

The Chief Executive of the troubled Morecambe NHS Trust resigns after

months of criticism and pressure to leave.

Is this huge development the face of the future or an affront to

Liverpool's heritage? Should teenagers be able to visit a museum

on their own? Meet the children turned away. I am so angry. And the

stunning views from the top of the North West's tallest tree. And it

A court case heard in Liverpool today has triggered attacks on

Asian shops. Eight men who were accused of --

have been accused of having sex with white girls. Use have gathered

near a takeaway shop. Our correspondent joins us.

The police are appealing for calm, but there is certainly no evidence

of the tensions that last night spilled into violence here.

The police say it was a demonstration that got out of hand.

One officer suffered minor injuries and there were two arrests. The

windows of a takeaway were smashed. The main focus, this shop. 11 Asian

men are accused of grooming young girls for sex here. There have been

demonstrations by the English Defence League and the BNP in

recent days. The men denied the charges. The current owners of this

takeaway have nothing to do with the case now going on in Liverpool.

They only took over the premises after the incidents alleged to have

taken place here. The police blame media reporting of the trial for

the disturbances. The press and its right to publish that has raised

the knowledge to the wider communication -- community of

Rochdale. The trial is ongoing and the day-to-day coverage of the

trial adds tension in the community. One of those present last night

denied it was anything other than a peaceful protest. The children

organised it. A what about the BNP? They were here. Did they organise

it? Be it was mostly children. Asian shopkeepers here are

reluctant to go on camera and played down suggestions of racial

tension. Is there a racial problem here? No. Not with me. Not in this

area. People here are so good, so nice. Since I bought the shop,

there is no trouble. To night, the police are appealing for calm in

the area. The BNP say they do not have anything to do with organising

the event last night. They are distributing leaflets with their

take on the events from last night. The English Defence League will be

holding a rally tomorrow. The police say they will be organising

a robust operation there. Later tonight we will have the story of

one Asian shop owner who has nothing but praise for the white

people in this town. He said that he feared for his property after

the disturbances broke out. It was as white customers that came to

stand with him when he -- to see that he was all right.

The man in charge of South Cumbria and Lancaster's beleaguered

hospitals has stepped down today despite insisting for months he was

the person to turn things around. The Trust has been warned about its

maternity services, its emergency services, and has had huge problems

with its appointments system. It is also the subject of a police

investigation into the deaths of a number of mums and babies at

Furness General. Our health If you don't sort this out will you

resign? For months Tony Halsall has refused to leave his job.

After every critical report, every serious warning for his hospitals,

his answer always the same. course my head is on the block, but

what we have got to do is keep this organisation focused on improving.

That is my focus and it has to stay on that focus.

And he certainly had plenty to focus on.

First into the spotlight were the trust's maternity services. A

critical inquest into the death of baby Joshua Titcombe prompted a

police investigation at Furness General. And countless warnings

from NHS regulators. North West Tonight then discovered problems

with the trust's appointment system. In all, 37,000 appointments missed

for 14,000 patients, some seriously ill with cancer. Next, an

investigation into the hospitals' A and E services was begun after

patients were left in corridors, or had to wait more than six hours to

be seen. Then, just a few weeks ago, new board members were imposed on

the trust. Those in charge no longer trusted to run it alone. And

so today the man at the top, Tony Halsall, stepped down. There should

be a change in leadership at the top of the trust. It is important

to acknowledge that he is a decent man and we cannot lay the entire

blame at his door. Tony Hallsall said today that he believes

considerable progress has been made in recent months but that he

recognises it is now appropriate for the lead to be taken by a new

Chief Executive. Whoever takes on this job, hugely

difficult for them? Very much so. Make no mistake these

are still hospitals with serious problems. Just a few months ago yet

another damning report said that mums and babies at Furness General

were still at significant risk. All sorts of problems from a lack of

equipment to low staffing and poor management. Still ongoing as well,

this 14 week investigation into A and E services with a serious

warning hanging over the hospitals' head if they don't make significant

improvements. And still, this backlog of appointments that won't

be completely cleared till the end of march. So a very difficult job.

On the positive side, it is clear from today's announcement that Sir

David Henshaw and the newly strengthened board who remember

have only been in post for a couple of weeks aren't wasting any time

and are prepared to make big decisions.

A taxi driver has appeared in court charged with the murders of two

elderly women in Southport. Andrew Flood, who is 43 and from Clifton

Road in the town, is charged with killing 78-year-old Margaret

Biddolph and 88-year-old Annie Leyland.

A 2,500 strong petition has been handed in to the national park

today opposing its plans to cull hundreds of Canada Geese on

Windermere. The National Park Authority says the geese are an

environmental pest and other control methods haven't worked.

Objectors say those alternative methods haven't been given a fair

chance. The gloves are coming off in one of

the biggest planning battles the North West has seen for years. The

development company Peel says if its Liverpool Waters scheme is

referred to a public enquiry, it will pull the plug. Peel wants to

build shops, offices and flats on a huge area of derelict dockland just

north of Liverpool city centre. But English Heritage say the sky

scrapers will overwhelm an area that has World Heritage Status. Our

Merseyside Reporter is at Liverpool's Pier Head now to guide

us through this story. This is part of the United Nations World

Heritage Site. Peel helped develop this. On one hand, they say they

will bring more disparity, and on the other, they are -- there are

people who say that he is building skyscrapers and that Liverpool will

have fewer tourists. This is a battle that is going -- been going

on for a few years now, but this could be the final round.

Peel has released new computer images of what Liverpool Waters

might look like. There are fewer skyscrapers than the original plan.

But not so few as to appease all objectors. Peel has come out

fighting. It has hired a shop in Liverpool to show off its plans.

And soften you up with free pens and chocolate. Peel say the plans

could create 20,0000 jobs over 30 years. Enough to win over the

people? I think it is brilliant. We need to move forward. This is the

way to go. A balance must be drawn the 20 -- between this kind of the

government and the Heritage kind. It's not enough for English

Heritage. It says it supports regeneration. But as it stands it

believes, "The density and scale of the waterfront development will

compromise and unbalance the historic urban landscape. English

Heritage has not said there should be a public enquiry. But a public

enquiry is a possibility. And if that happens, Peel says it is

walking away. I have got Chinese investors are lining up to look at

this region and if the Government says that we have to have a public

enquiry, what message does that send back? It says, as a government,

we are not very sure. That is just not the way it is. Liverpool

Council's planners will make their decision on March 6th.

Well down the river from here, heading away from the UNESCO site,

is another Peel project causing some controversy. A new commercial

terminal. Peel might be one of the UK's most successful companies, but

they get plenty of public money. And a grant heading up there to

Seaforth could see Merseyside wade into another water wars with

Southampton. Here is our Economics Correspondent.

Peel get things done. But behind a lot of what they have done is a lot

of public money. One of the latest ventures here at Seaforth. Peel is

getting �35 million to dredge the River. It will allow them to

develop this. A new terminal for the next generation of super-

tankers. Peel will not talk about it with us. They say it is nothing

to do with them as the bid for public cash has come from Sefton

Council. Sefton Council won't talk about it with us. This they say

this is Peel's project. So, cue round two in Merseyside's

water wars with Southampton. First it was the Cruise Line terminal.

Now it's the Commercial terminal. To be fair, it cannot be allowed to

go unchallenged. I am in Brussels next week and I am going to lobby

the South East MP about this and we will try and get this raised within

the European parliament because it is clearly a case of state aided

disadvantaging one part of the UK against another. Sefton say the

project will create 5,000 jobs in a decade.

But should one of the UK's most successful companies tap into

public money? This businessman, who helps others tap into pots of

public cash, thinks Peel and other big companies should not.

You are concerned that these jobs would have been created with or

without the public money? Yes, in many cases it is clear to see that

large corporations who have already made the decision to make the

investment and actually the Government funding is just cream on

top of the cake. Unilever, Pirrelli and Volkswagon

the owners of Bentley are other big names that will benefit from the

Regional Growth Fund here in the North West.

A fund that will give Peel a second slice of cash to develop Port

Salford. Deputy PM Nick Clegg was promoting

the fund just yesterday. He says big bucks spent with big companies

is money well spent. It's important that we back success.

Success breeds success. Success breeds jobs which breed more jobs.

It's about delivering cash to companies that deliver jobs. Peel

has a track record. We spoke to appeal today about

whether they wanted public money and they said they would because it

would happen more quickly and create more jobs.

Still to come on North West Tonight: Stephen Europe prepares to

face his cousin at Wembley. And could this be the biggest tree

in the North West? We will show you the view from the top.

It is an age old problem, how to while away the school holidays. Two

young teenagers thought they had found the ideal solution, spending

an odd hour in Salford Museum and Art Gallery. But they were turned

away because they were not with an adult. The youngsters were outraged,

and so were their parents. So we have been finding out more about

where youngsters are welcome on their own and where they are not.

Ashley and Emily are interested in history and art. Emily's mother

works at Salford University. When she had to pop into work during the

half-term holiday, the girls went with them, planning to visit a

nearby art gallery. But they were turned away because they are the

only 13 and were not with an adult. I was very disappointed and I felt

angry because they would not let me in. What did you think? First of

all I said, were you misbehaving? They were really indignant when I

asked that. They said they were obviously not misbehaving. They

asked us if we were over 13 and -- 16, and we were told them we were

13 and they said no. The Museum and Art Gallery said they actively

welcome young people and fully endorse the kids in museums

manifesto, but they say that youngsters under the age of 16

should be accompanied by an adult for their own safety. The museum

say that this is a policy adopted in many places across Greater

Manchester. Indeed, the Museum of Science and Industry told us they

have the same policy. But the Imperial War Museum said they would

accept anyone over 12 without an adult. The Museum of Liverpool said

they allowed children over 11 without adults. Salford's policy is

counter-productive, according to Emily's mother. You are holding

yourself up to the fact that they will not come at all. At least now

the girls know where they can and cannot go in the future. A studious

pair as well. This is a story which has struck a

chord with many of you, and visitors to our Facebook page have

been giving some varied opinions this afternoon. Carol Ingleby,

Caroline Hurlock and Pauline Worsley all made a similar point,

that if the girls were not misbehaving they should have been

allowed to stay. But museums should not be used as some kind of

childcare facility, so say Mark Jarman, Sue Barlow, Robert Langton

and Jean Grundy. And a number of people, like Andy Sexton, Helen

Cameron and Jenny Leonard, made the point that they used to visit

museums as youngsters and never had any problems. Jenny also adds that

if her 12-year-old daughters went into museums rather than jewellery

and shoe shops when they go out together, she'd be delighted! It

would be a bit cheaper! In the last year we have seen

thousands of jobs go and millions of pounds chopped from the budgets

of local councils. Now those same councils are moving into a

difficult second round of cuts, setting next year's budgets under

similar tight constraints. So how do they go about it? And how

difficult is it for our elected councillors to make decisions that

can leave people without jobs or services? We have been behind the

scenes at Blackpool Council to find out more.

Last year, in these rooms, councillors had to work out how to

save �27 million. This year it is �10 million. Big numbers, big

decisions. We are about to make a very significant decision about

whether we can have two senior managers are made redundant.

The Labour run council has pledged to cut back office staff to protect

front lines services. Is everybody composed? In the end the

redundancies are agreed, but is it a false economy? He is the driving

force with them that department, and to say that his understudy

could do the same job, I do not accept.

Fast forward a few weeks. It is early February and the council

cabinet meets to fine tune the final budget they will put to the

full council. This time it is miserable news for an awful lot of

people, especially those who will lose their jobs as a direct effect

of this project. It is decided to put forward a

budget of �144.2 million, a saving of �10.6 million. 75 posts will

have to go. There could be around 20 compulsory redundancies.

develop quite a black sense of humour when you deal with these

things every day. If I did not have a sense of humour in my job, I

would slit my wrists, because of some of the jobs we have to make. -

- decisions we have to make. Today, the full council formally

adopted that budget. Sometimes there could be for meetings in a

day with different officers and departments. I saw tears in their

eyes and it was heartbreaking. course, it is not over. The council

expects to have to save 9 million to �11 million next year. You could

feel the headiness in that room. Sport now, and Tony, it's the

Carling Cup final on Sunday, and the Liverpool manager Kenny

Dalglish is on the verge of a remarkable achievement? If his side

beat Cardiff he'll clock up an incredible record. He'll become

just the third manager ever, following Sir Alex ferguson and

Jose Mourinhio, to complete a domestic clean sweep of trophies -

League Cup, FA Cup and league title. But he will go one better than

those two because he has already picked up all three as a player as

well. Not the first though. George Graham has already beaten him too

it. It is not all about Kenny this weekend though as he himself points

out. It is Liverpool's first visit to Wembley since 1996 and, as

Richard Askam's been finding out, fans and players are determined to

In the 70s and 80s, Liverpool made the Wembley journey so often the

fans used to call it Anfield South. And 16 years on from their last

visit, they can't wait. Liverpool! There is a feeling for the fans

that this could lead to a whole new era of success. But some of the

fans are definitely getting carried away. No disrespect for Cardiff,

but we are going to win, aren't we? Do we are going to beat them for

male -- 4 - 1. Normally united behind Liverpool's

talismanic skipper. On Sunday there will be divided loyalties in the

Gerrard family. Steven's cousin Anthony plays for Cardiff and used

to kick about with his famous relative in their gran's back

garden. We had kickabout as kids. That is about as far as our paths

have crossed. To be in the finals, what can I say? It is good to hear

he made it. There will be mixed emotions for

Ex-Cardiff player Craig Bellamy as well, who will be facing former

team mates and his home town club. It will be a strange situation

because it will be the first time I ever played them. It is not

something I am looking forward to doing. My father is a card of fan

and by family, it is the club we went to when I was very young. It

is great to have this occasion to add to a history and trophies we

have already been able to amass It is going to be a nerve-wracking

day. It's going to be a nerve-wracking

day for BBC Radio Merseyside sports presenter Peter McDowell. He will

be on the pitch at Wembley to introduce the singing of You'll

Never Walk Alone. Radio Merseyside will be broadcasting live from

Wembley Way, talking to fans in the build-up from 1pm, and of course

providing full commentary on the match itself. The game is being

televised live on BBC One, with comedian John Bishop, an avid

Liverpool fan, among the programme's special guests. We

could still be on for an all- Manchester final in the Europa

League after Manchester United survived a nasty scare to qualify

for the last 16 last night. Already leading Ajax two- nil from the

first leg, it looked like it was going to be easy for United when

Javier Hernandez put them further ahead. But a deflected shot from

Aras Ozbiliz and a header from Toby Alderveireld made it two-one to the

Dutch side on the night. A great save from David de Gea stopped it

being a disaster for Sir Alex Ferguson's side, who face Atlethic

Bilbao in the next round. United's title rivals City face Blackburn

Rovers in tomorrow night's teatime kick off. Rovers are in talks to

sell defender Chris Samba to the Russian side Anzhi Makachkalla. The

27-year-old put in a transfer request last month. A deal will

have to be completed before the Russian transfer window closes at

9:00pm tonight. Finally there's Superleague action tonight for two

of our teams. Salford will be hoping for their second win of the

season in their home match against Hull while St Helens could overtake

Warrington at the top if they beat Catalan Dragons at their new home

Langtree Park. Saints will be hoping for a more convincing show

than last week's incredible last kick draw at Hull KR with coach

Royce Simmons confirming he requires a strong performance from

his side. Rangers have found what they think is the tallest truck - a

retreat in the North West. We had been to size it up. -- tallest tree

in the North West. 57.8 metres, to be precise. Up a steep hillside

near Ambleside the Grand Fir towers above the other trees. To find its

true height, tree surgeons were brought in to climb it. From the

top they dropped a line down to get an accurate measure of it's true

height. The views from the top are spectacular. With a birds-eye

picture of Windermere and the surrounding fells. For the

record,the tree is nearly 190 feet or just short of 58 metres, taller

than a dozen double decker buses. It does not have as much soil, but

if you look around, there are a plenty of big trees. There is

something in the climate that allows these trees to grow so tall.

The Grand Fir originated in Canada and is widespread across North

America but no so common here. The tree would have been brought over

here from North America and the Rangers you wanted something very

special. -- and the Rangers here wanted something very special. The

tree's in Skelghyll Woods which is managed by the National Trust.

They're are planning to put up a plaque to mark it's great height.

plaque to mark it's great height. Beautiful. We should take a look at

the weather. I should have been up that tree doing the weather!

It is definitely getting cooler but Saturday should be dry and bright.

It could be damper on Sunday but there is nothing dreadful going on.

If you fancy a bit of star-gazing, you could see Venus tomorrow

evening just as the sun is setting. It sets a bit later now but if you

look to the left of the Crescent min, that is where you should see

it. Something to look forward in the skies. We saw a fair bit of a

cloud and drizzly rain today. Every night tonight, it is a case of an

awful lot of clear weather just about everywhere. A little bit of

Patti cloud, but there are lots of clear skies through the night. --

patchy cloud. It could go down to one or two Celsius tonight. That is

a nippy enough but it will be three or four or in towns and cities. It

is a very straight for Road Day tomorrow. Patchy cloud, it sunny

spells. -- straightforward day tomorrow. I think we will all see a

bit of sunshine through bidet. I cannot promise a huge amount, but

it will be enough to make a difference. -- sunshine through the

day. There will be some north- westerly wind to take us through.

Not as strong as it was today. Temperatures will be at eight or

nine at the best. Saturday night is another cold one. On Sunday, a more

cloud cover. But it is the weekend! Who cares? Be to cycle to work

today? I did! -- did you cycle to work today? I did! I wore a lot of