28/02/2012 North West Tonight

Good evening. Welcome to North West Tonight with Ranvir Singh and Roger

Johnson. Our top story. A gas fitter faces prosecution 15 months

after an explosion blew this suburban street apart. We'll be

reporting live from the scene in Irlam, where 15 people were badly

injured. Also tonight: Stabbed to death sitting at his mother's home:

police search for a gang who murdered a father-of-two. How good

is your hospital? A new scorecard system is launched to check

standards on the wards. Fantasy world: how a futuristic vision of

travel Manchester never quite took off. And I have been finding out

who second-hand clothes can tell you their history, from New

smartphones app that has been launched in Manchester. 15 months

on from the blast that devastated a housing estate - a gas fitter's

been told he's to be prosecuted. He's being taken to court by the

Health and Safety Executive, accused of failing to ensure a gas

appliance was properly installed. Paul Kay will make his first court

appearance during the summer. 15 people were badly injured in the

explosion in Irlam in November 2010. Our Chief Reporter, Dave Guest is

at the spot where it happened. And it's all very different from the

scene you found there after the blast, Dave. That's right, I would

not have been allowed on the sport back in November. The staff or

behind me is where the House at the centre of this explosion once stood

- back -- scaffolding. The woman who will have to have had gone to

put a pan on the hob and then there was pandemonium. Amazingly, she

survived to tell the tale although she suffered some horrific injuries.

15 people including five children were injured, that day. Dozens of

homes were damaged. One year on, some of those homes are still being

repaired. They are the only started rebuilding houses on the spot where

the explosion happened. On the day are for the last, the kitchen of

Marie Burns had been subject to some renovation work by the Housing

Trust and that was at the centre of the health and savings Executive

investigation to stop they have decided to prosecute the gas fitter,

Corky. One more do we know about porky? -- Paul Kay. Gas fittings

need to be installed in a way that means they cannot be subject to any

undue damage. The allegation here is that he failed to follow those

regulations. That is why those charges against them have been

sanctioned. And he is not likely to be in court for some time, is that

right? He will make his first court appearance at Trafford magistrates

court on 15th June. That will be the first hearing. And of course,

we will keep you updated. David Corridon was a father of two -

described by his friends in Liverpool as a "legend, who got on

with everyone". But tonight a murder investigation's under way

after he was attacked and stabbed at his mother's home in Norris

Green. It happened in broad daylight yesterday afternoon. The

street around the family home remains sealed off as police look

for clues to why he was killed. Naomi Cornwell reports. This was

where David Corridon grew up. Where he played on the streets as a boy.

And where he'd only recently returned to live with his mother.

But it was here at his mother's home that he met a violent death

yesterday. Police haven't formally identified him yet - but today

friends confirmed it was David Corridon. He was a father of two.

It happened in the middle of the afternoon. Police were called here

just after four o'clock following reports of a disturbance at the

house. They found David Corridon with multiple stab wounds. He was

pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. It is very sad. He was

a lovely lad. He got on well with everyone. He was a legend, he was.

How did you know him? I knew him, when he was a kid. I find it hard.

It is just so sad, and you do not think that it is going to happen on

your own doorstep, where you come out and you do your shopping, it is

so quiet, here. I am scared, because I have got two children and

it is frightening to think that that attack can happen here. It is

quite a residential area. Tonight police are awaiting the results of

a post mortem examination. They want to hear from anyone who saw

anything suspicious in the area. A 16-year-old youth has been charged

with the manslaughter of a man in Glossop at the weekend. Kenneth

Stott died after an argument outside the town's railway station.

A man and a woman who were arrested on suspicion of assisting an

offender, have been released on police bail. The Isle of Man could

get a second casino licence. The Government is in talks with

companies who are bidding to build a high-class casino and spa. It's

hoped the move would attract more tourists and help increase the

island's profile in the gaming industry. A major new North West

sporting event has been announced today.The Great Manchester Cycle is

aimed at cyclists of all abilities and will be held on 4th June. The

13-mile closed road circuit will include the Mancunian Way and

Salford Quays. Olympic Champion Rebecca Romero was among those at

the launch. I don't know if that new haircut of years is more

aerodynamic, because you are settling tomorrow, for Sport Relief.

And will tell you more about it tomorrow, I am on a tandem, that is

all that needs to be said. We are not holding back! The brother of

Liverpool photographer Paul Conroy - who was injured in a mortar

attack in Syria - says he's relieved and overjoyed that the

father-of-three has been rescued. Paul, who's originally from Anfield,

was smuggled into Lebanon today. He'd been trapped in the besieged

Syrian city of Homs for almost a week. Abbie Jones reports. Lying on

a stretcher in the Syrian city of Homs, the pain from Paul Conroy's

injuries was written on his face. He was hit by shrapnel in the leg

and stomach but also saw two of his colleagues killed. Last week he was

filmed speaking about what happened. There was back a couple of close

hits, a couple of direct hits, summer. And no recall than was

killed. -- Marie Colvin. This footage is all his family in

Liverpool have seen. Paul's brother says they've been desperately

worried about him, glued to the internet waiting for news. Today

they were told he was finally on his way home. When we saw the man

on the stretcher, we feared the worst, but then we heard he was out,

and we were quite happy about the fact that he was out, then we have

him on the phone, then he, when he turns up on the doorstep we will be

very happy. Paul had been trapped in the besieged city of Homs since

the attack. He was evacuated today with help from the Syrian

opposition and rebels. The news was announced in Parliament. He is

receiving full consular assistance and I pay tribute to journalists

who make sure that the world is aware of the crimes that are now

being committed in Max a rare. has covered many conflicts and his

brother says he knew the risks. just takes us camera to war zones

and egos. Alan and his parents are now looking forward to a family

reunion they feared might never happen. That should be a happy

reunion. A man is being questioned on suspicion of assault, following

an alleged attack on a Cumbria MP. John Woodcock was travelling back

to his constituency when he asked a group of men to stop shouting abuse

on board a train from Lancaster. We'll be hearing from Mr Woodcock

in a moment. But the issue of whether or not to intervene to stop

anti-social behaviour is one which is often discussed. And it provoked

some interesting responses today when we asked people if they would

step in. The safest thing would be to mind your own business because

you never know what can happen, if they have knives or anything like

that. I would like to get involved but I am fearful for my own safety,

these days. I would generally say something again, but just not to

people a lot bigger than me. I have got a family to think about. I saw

somebody smoking in the vestibule on the train and there for a pledge

saying something to them but I did not will comfortable doing it, I

did not know how he would react. You do not stand by and watch

someone not been pleasant to somebody else. You stick up for

other people, really. A little earlier this afternoon, I spoke to

John Woodcock, the MP at the centre of this story. And I asked him why

he felt he had to intervene on board the train last Thursday.

was on my normal route back from Westminster, on the train from

Lancaster, to barrel, and the were a group of young men whose comments

were unacceptable and derogatory. And I thought, enough was enough,

and I asked them to stop. They did pipe down for a while, but

unfortunately I ended up in a stand-off. I just think passengers

have the right to be able to travel, even later at night, without being

subjected to that kind of abusive language and derogatory terms. Too

often, it happens, but people should be able to speak out about

it if they will save to do that, or, if not, then certainly to report it

afterwards, so that investigations can be made and people can be

brought to book. Did you at any point back consider the potential

risk? There is always a risk. Everybody has got to make their

judgment when it happens, and that is a difficult one, it is a fine

line. I decided I could not put up with what I was hearing. It is

particularly dangerous on public transport, I can find space, unlike

on the street, where you can walk away from the situation. What

advice would you give to anybody who finds themselves in a similar

situation? Everyone has to make their own judgment. On the train,

there was a card, and I feel for people in uniform -- a guard, and I

feel for people to get this abuse from drunken passengers, who feel

that they are if our target for abuse. But I was conscious that,

although things could get out of hand, there would be others who

could step in to help. Fortunately, we were able to take the heat out

of the situation to the extent that I only walk away with having had a

bad shudder my face, and I was very glad about that. -- bag shoved in

my face. We'd be interested to hear what you think about this issue.

Visitors to our Facebook page have been commenting all day. But you

could send us an e-mail right now. Would you get involved to stop

anti-social behaviour? Have you ever done it? Let us know what you

think. Still to come on North West Tonight. The secrets of second-hand

clothes: how this device can tell you a bit about their previous

owners. And in a world of lectures, exams and parties, let there be

peace. Import unveils his latest What if you could see a scorecard

for your local hospital? Check out its marks before you go in. Well,

that is something that eight Hospital Trusts across the North

West have just signed up to. From today, each hospital will

publish a monthly update on the safety and quality of its care,

detailing things like the number of falls or the number of patients who

get pressure sores from lying still in bed for too long. It's part of a

drive to become more transparent and give the patient more

information. Think of it as a monthly report for

your hospital. Different marks for different subjects, with advice on

how to improve, made public for any patient to look at.

Patients like Pat Wilson. At 70 years old, she's in hospital for

the very first time here in Aintree. To what did you know about this

hospital before you came in? I knew it was the University Hospital. It

seems to have quite a good name of things that it has done. If there

had been more information available, would you have looked at it?

might have, yes. I was really worried about coming to the

hospital. The idea is that this makes

hospitals more accountable. Most already record information like

this but in different ways and they don't tell their patients about it.

This will change that. We looked at the number of falls for January and

reported none. They also asked staff to tell them

anonymously what they think of the hospital and its care. Staff are

honest, because one member has recommended that this would not be

a good place to work. We need to and pick this further. But is this

more about marketing than improving patient care?

It is not just a public relations exercise. It is about striving to

improve care and to give staff the impetus to improved and build on

that care. And they need those figures to be published to give

them that impetus? The impetus is there already, definitely. And

staff work very hard to do a good job. But often, we all need that

bar so we can raise it. But staff member was strongly

defending this. And I have been looking on Facebook to see some

more opinions, but a lot of people to think this is bureaucratic.

Overwhelmingly, they think that. Colin Greenwood says stop ticking

boxes and focus on treatment. Gary Williams says it is just

theoretical and we have to do shopping around. Marie says that

staff do not need any more stress or pressure on them already in a

difficult job. But those criticisms withstanding,

eight hospital trusts have now decided to do this. He were at

Aintree. How do you go about finding out how you hospital was

scored? To Caponacre Industrial Estate of

the hospital trusts have signed up. Blackhill, Bolton, East Lancashire,

Liverpool, Salford, St Helens and writing to in Wigan and Leigh. You

can find all of this information on the website. It was published this

afternoon and will be published monthly. At Google Hospital Trust

and you can find that information. It is not compulsory for a trust to

do this, but the NHS hope that more will follow suit.

10 out of 10! Imagine a city centre where you

flew to work and then were transported to your office on a

moving pavement. It's the kind of thing which inspired science

fiction writers and film makers in the middle of the 20th century. But

was it a complete fantasy? Not according to documents

discovered in the vaults of Manchester City Council.

Researchers have uncovered a vision of city living from the 1950s which

borders on science fiction. Here's our Environment Correspondent Colin

Back in the '60s, the Jetsons were a vision of how we'd get to work in

Meanwhile, in Manchester, planners were working on their own ideas.

This is a heliport to be built on top of the historic Victoria

Station, one of eight being planned for the city centre. The idea was

to try and get helicopters landing right in the centre of towns and

cities so people would upon them and fight to their next business

meeting. Other plans include moving

pavements and an underground to connect the city's main stations.

The tunnel was intended to connect Piccadilly and Victoria. You could

travel from the North to the south by one mode of transport. This is

key. This new tunnel section would connect the rest of the region. We

also have the proposed travel later, which would have been a moving

walkway to connect the roads. some of the post-war plans actually

made it to reality. The Mancunian Way was in the 1945 plan as one of

a number of urban motorways. It was not to be built until 1967. Even

then, not all that was completed. The Blue Sky thinking didn't take

much account of Manchester's historic buildings, which were seen

as being in the way of development. The Victorian City was viewed as

something that needed cleaning and was responsible for a lot of

disease. Even the very grand where houses were bitten to the same

category as the back-to-back terraces under the officials are

making these decisions. You can see the plans in an

exhibition at The Cube gallery in Manchester, where there are more

We lead quite boring lives, don't we?!

If you've ever bought anything from a charity shop, you may well have

wondered where it came from. A shop in Manchester is introducing a new

phone app which allows people to learn an item's history before

buying it. They say it will make bargain hunting even more fun,

while boosting profits for good causes. Nina Warhurst went for a

good rummage. Have you ever wondered where your

favourite charity shop bargain started its life? Or what posessed

the owner to part with such a gem? Those donating are now being asked

to share any interesting bits of history associated with each item.

The information is recorded on a sort of bar code and potential

buyers can then download an app which allows them to have a nosey

at its past. They will tap to scan and they will capture one of these

black and white codes. That will enable the story of the item to

come up. There is a picture of that! This little green dress was

donated by somebody who wore the stress on a blind date that did not

go well and they would like to forget it! So she wants to get rid

of it. Absolutely. The scheme has been developed

between five top universities. Those behind it say it's more than

a gimmick. They believe that knowing the history of an item

makes us more likely to want to buy it. What is the story behind your

phone? It says that somebody had it in their flat with their ex-

boyfriend but they're not together now and they had a clear-out. I am

hoping I can bring some happiness do it again. Not all the stories

are of angry women looking for a fresh start! This Little bear's

previous owner has got 10 GCSEs and now want to share their good luck.

Students from the University of Salford will now track the trackers

with the hope that the project will be taken on nationwide.

I do like her plain talking! She says that as it is.

Diane has a new outfit and will be here in minutes.

Shop-bought! Some may say that students aren't

known for their love of peace and quiet, but a Manchester poet is

hoping to inspire a more reflective mood in them. Let There Be Peace is

the latest mural offering in Lemn Sissay's Poems As Landmarks project.

Celebrating the virtues of tranquility, it has been painted on

a wall in Manchester University's campus building. So is it having a

Let there be peace so France fly away like Albatross and skeletons

foxtrot from cupboards. It is a call for calm. Or as Lemn

Sissay says, a press release for peace. In the midst of all of the

messages of war and doom and pain, and the poem, let there be peace.

Its new home is here in a university place - one of the

busiest building some campers. Why put a poem about peace here? I like

the idea that a student might be studying for their exam and that

this poor mite centre than somewhat. So is it having the desired effect?

Everybody is in a rush but it makes you stop and think. It makes you

chill-out and calm down. I quite like it. I would sit down and relax

and read it. It is nice. I can never understand poetry.

This is Lemns's fourth mural poem manchester, but his first inside.

The others grace a pub wall, a takeway, even a pavement. And he he

has plans for more. I would like Manchester to be the poetry city of

Great Britain and the world. I would like there to be poor and

some of the buildings. People engage with their environment in

ways which they otherwise would not have through poetry and their own

environment. Then they can go and buy their chips. It is just a way

of saying we are not machines. You never know which building could

be next. He is great - invisible kisses his

And now the weather. If it wasn't worn by an angry woman

before, it is now! Good evening! The weather did not

quite come off today. We had too much cloud cover. If you're looking

for a change over the next day, you will not get it. There is no real

change in the forecast. You can see the cloud cover everywhere through

the day today. On the other side of the Pennines, records were broken

up. Why? Because they got the sunshine and their air was slightly

drier than ours. We need a bit of sunshine and we might see a bit

tomorrow. If you are in the favourite bits! This evening and

over night, it continues to be cloudy and try for many places.

There might be one or two spots of drizzly rain from time to time and

it was a yard to the Pennines, the greater risk there is. For most of

us, predominantly dry and quiet. For the most part, but temperatures

made 11 or 12 today. They do not fall too far through the night.

Once again, you do not need your heating on. Seven and it is where

we will all be. You will get up first thing tomorrow morning and

that cloud cover will still be around. Their son is up before 7

o'clock for the first time this year! -- avec son. In the morning,

in the more southern parts, you may well see that cloud breaking from

time to time. Half an hour of sunshine will make a massive amount

of difference. We will stick to the forecast temperatures of around 13

and 14 degrees. It will be the sunshine that gets it to that. 10

to 14 is where we're heading. For tomorrow night, it is more of the

same. There will be some bricks and the cloud cover as we head to were

the early morning, but the temperatures are still quite good.

For the next couple of days, that weather front on Thursday is

relatively close to us. There could be some drizzly rain popping even

though we said that temperatures will fall towards the weekend, that

Shall I move away? Yes please!

For it is a lovely outfit! Lots of you have been getting in

touch to comment on the story involving the Barrow MP, John

Woodock. You may remember he intervened to stop some anti-social

behaviour on a train, and we asked whether you'd do the same.

Terry Burgess says, "I've intervened before on a bus one

evening when someone was hurling racist abuse at a passenger. It has

to be challenged. However, you need to weigh up the situation carefully

before doing so. Janet Hill says, "So many brave

people have been seriously injured or killed intervening. So sadly, my

answer is no". Josh Parle says, "I think Mr

Woodcock was right to get involved, but if the group was already being

rowdy then he must have expected them to react to his intervention".

Joanna Clarke says, "I hope I would intervene if a serious situation

presented itself. I don't think I could forgive myself if I did

nothing". Martin Bennett says, "I don't think

it's general apathy that makes people reluctant to intervene, but

more the fear of what may come of your actions".

Paul Doodlebug-Greenwood says, "Yes, I would intervene, and so should

others. The softly softly approach to crime and anti-social behaviour

has failed". Marie Farrar says, "We should all

challenge bad behaviour more often so that it becomes less acceptable

to look the other way. Nothing changes if we all do nothing".

Tony e-mailed us to say it is too risky to intervene in many cases.

If the law was toughened up on people committing violent crimes,

so it might stop some violence by thugs.

Gerry says she is a small woman and has intervened. She stopped the car