30/01/2014 North West Tonight

weather on the way. That's all from the BBC News at Six, so it's goodbye

from me, and on BBC Good evening. Welcome to North West

Tonight with Annabel Tiffin and Roger Johnson. Our top story:

"Sticking to his script" ` the prosecution says William Roache lied

when he denied sexually abusing five young girls. We'll be live at the

court on the day the prosecution summed up its case. Also tonight:

Liverpool's Mayor calls for an urgent safety review after Everton

fans complain of a crush before the Merseyside Derby. I will be finding

out how this site in East Cheshire could be used to produce green

energy for thousands of homes and businesses.

Preparing for a 3,000 mile row through Atlantic storms ` the man

who's never set foot in a boat before. It is a challenge I have

wanted to do since I was 16. I have never been out at sea so I don't

know if I will get seasick. Coming home in style, the RAF pilot

dropping by for a hug from his mum. Jurors in the William Roache trial

have been urged to set emotions to one side and use common sense when

considering their verdicts. The plea came from the prosecution as they

summed up their case against the actor.

The Coronation Street star denies allegations of sexually assaulting

five teenage girls in the 1960s Our Chief Reporter, Dave Guest, joins us

from Preston Crown Court. He has been following this case in its

entirety. Dave, this case is clearly entering its final stages now.

That's right. We have heard from all of the witnesses we are going to

hear from, now it is time for the defence and prosecution to summarise

this case as they see it. The prosecutor and White QC was blunt

and to the point when she opened her closing speech this morning. She

said someone was lying. Five women say Bill Roache sexually assaulted

them when they were teenagers in the 1960s. William Roache said they made

it up. It never happened. Miss White told the jury Mr Roache's

fame had prevented his accusers from coming forward earlier because they

feared no`one believed them. For years his fame had sheltered him,

she said. In 2014, it was time to set no store by fame, to set store

by the facts. Yesterday, Coronation Street co`stars had turned out to

speak up for their colleagues. Anne Kirkbride and Chris Gascoigne, alias

Deirdre and Peter, his screen wife and son, described him as a lovely

man and an inspiration. But in court today, Miss White said no`one in

their right mind would expect Mr Roache to sexually abuse teenage

girls in front of his colleagues. Well intentioned as their evidence

was, she said, the jury must consider just how helpful it had

been. She also pointed out that those giving evidence yesterday had

only known him since the 1970s. Miss White claimed William Roache was a

different person in the 1960s, adding, "The adulation he received

daily massage his sexual ego." Miss White urged the jury to use common

sense during their deliberations and, she said, they must put

emotions aside. But, she said, the jury must

approach their task with the same courage as had been shown by the

five complainants. That is the prosecution's take on

things. Tomorrow the defence will paint a very different picture for

the jury when the present their closing speech. Mr Roache denies

four charges of indecent assault and two of rape. Thank you very much

indeed. They will have more tomorrow.

Fans involved say it was a crush. Police say it wasn't. But on Tuesday

night, before the Merseyside Derby in Liverpool, around 1,000 fans were

struggling to get into Anfield as the game kicked off.

Today, the Mayor of Liverpool asked for a safety review. Everton

Football Club is also writing to Liverpool asking them to explain

what went wrong. Jayne McCubbin has been following the story and joins

us now live from Anfield. Yes, some people I have spoken to did they

described what happened as a bottleneck. No significant injuries.

No formal complaints to the police. But other people we have heard from

him involved in this incident on the other side of the stadium on Tuesday

said that what happened was frightening. It was scary, they are

surprised that it happened and how it has been dealt with and they want

answers. These images were filmed on Tuesday

night. Police say they haven't received any formal complaints. But

some of those in the crowd made clear their thoughts on social

media. The footage was filmed by this man.

I go to the match, I know. This is wrong. It felt wrong. That's why I

started filming. Just in case. I tried to film again ten minutes

later and I couldn't even get my arms up. That is how constricted it

was. It was insane. Merseyside Police say this morning they spoke

to the father of a 13`year`old boy who was injured in the crowd, by a

police horse. But no formal complaint has been made. Today they

said too many fans hadn't followed advice to arrive early. Flares had

caused problems at previous games. So Derby fans were to be searched on

the way in. On Tuesday, ten minutes before the start of the game,

Liverpool Football Club said 25 of away fans arrived at once. 800

people. That caused congestion. David says it wasn't congestion ` it

was a crush. And it wasn't the fault of fans. It was chaos. There were

police on horses pushing people into the side. There is a wall there It

was honestly chaos. Today, Joe Anderson waded into the row with

this tweet. Neither the club not the force has confirmed if this is to

happen. Tonight I spoke again to the police

and they wanted to make one thing clear and it is this. Fans arrive

late but they do not blame the fans. For anything that happened. So who

is to blame? What went wrong? If there may gets his way and the

review happens, the answers should be in there and Everton football

club have also written or are in the process of writing to Liverpool who

are responsible for policing the event and perhaps we will get

answers there. Thank you.

A man's died in a house fire in Bolton. Three fire crews fought the

blaze on Bradshawgate just before seven o'clock last night. They

rescued a 43`year`old man but he died later in hospital from serious

injuries. Manchester United footballer Ashley

Young has been banned from driving for six months. The 28`year`old

pleaded guilty to speeding on the M6. He was going 71mph in a 50 zone.

Cumbria Council met today to decide how to save ?24 million from the

council budget over the next year. The council decided to go ahead with

plans to introduce street parking charges but have reconsidered plans

to down grade Fire Services across the county. The council says it

needs to save ?89 million by 20 7. In a fortnight's time, voters in

Wythenshawe and Sale East will choose a new MP. The by`election

follows the death of the former Labour MP Paul Goggins.

It's considered to be a safe Labour seat. But some wonder how well the

UK Independence Party will do. Our Political Editor, Arif Ansari, has

been surveying the political battle ground.

People here have had just two MPs in 60 years. But now they need to

choose the constituency's political direction. Labour's Deputy Leader

Harriet Harman told me she was hoping for a strike. The Labour

candidates are hoping to win. You seem to have a gentler touch than

Harriet. I used to do bowling as a child. Outside, opponents are

circling. What brings you here? You seem to be at the wrong launch. This

is for the Labour Party. Publicly, the Labour Party does not want to

focus on UKIP but take a look at this campaign letter. How UKIP are

even worse than David Cameron's Tories. One Labour's scale, that is

pretty bad. I think people are talking about the cost of living

crisis. They are not talking about issues that UKIP has no answers for.

That is not all that voters are concerned about. There is not enough

money to go around. Too much immigration? Yes. I don't like

people coming into our country and taking over the national system

Immigration worries could benefit UKIP. The mat if UKIP can leapfrog

into second place. That will validate their argument. They can be

the opposition in the North. UKIP's candidate is a proud outsider. I did

not do well at school. But I had to win through another way. I am here

to win this constituency. UKIP need conservative defectors as well. It

would take a miracle for the Tories to win here. They are praying for

second place. No wonder they have turned to the church and selected a

bitter. I have a young family. Money matters are very important to me.

The thing which the Conservatives are strong on is a strong economy.

The Lib Dems are defending their votes and policies. We need more

opportunity to make it a safer place to live. So you are not exactly

packing your bags for Westminster? It is packed already. Absolutely!

There is no shortage of ambition, but only one ticket to Parliament.

Arif Ansari, BBC North West Tonight. There are seven candidates

contesting the by`election in Wythenshawe and Sale East ` the list

is on the screen now. Polling is on Thursday, 13th February.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, has been examining

plans for a new relief road at Manchester Airport. It would link

the Airport with the A6 at Hazel Grove. ?165 million of Government

funding has already been secured for the first phase of the project.

People in Cumbria are waiting too long for ambulances ` that's

according to a health scrutiny committee. Guidelines say ambulances

should reach patients in serious need within eight minutes, 75% of

the time. But in Cumbria ambulances only meet the target in two`thirds

of cases. Plans are being considered to tackle the worsening problem of

coastal erosion in the Isle of Man. The main area of concern is on the

North West coast near Kirk Michael. The first meeting will take place in

February and will include a local commissioner representative.

Still to come on North West Tonight: We get a preview of a UK first `

Benjamin Britten's only commissioned ballet is performed at The Lowry in

Salford. The landlubber who's swapping his

rowing machine for a more daunting watery challenge.

Huge regeneration plans for north Liverpool moved a step closer today

` with details published of a 260`million pound investment in

Anfield. The scheme includes new housing, green spaces and a hotel `

and could provide 700 jobs. There's also going to be a street

named in honour of the Liverpool fans who died in the Hillsborough

Disaster. Mark Edwardson reports. Instantly recognisable to any

football fan, Anfield is also one of Liverpool's most deprived districts.

There aren't many Premier League footballers here. It is all right.

It is not bad. It is a bit rough sometimes. It has got a bad

reputation. But it is good. Anfield's regeneration has been

blighted by years of uncertainty. We are trying to create accommodation

and properties that people want to live in. It is to try to keep the

committee together so a lot of the properties will be for the existing

community and for people to have been in this community for a long

time, helping them to stay here The scheme is ambitious. It includes 150

refurbished houses, 250 new ones on derelict land. There'll be a new

High Street, shops and gardens. Commercial premises will include a

"training hotel". There will be 50 jobs created there, at any given

time there will be ten apprenticeships. There will be other

people placed with other establishments in the city, but that

will be the heart of what we are doing in terms of training young

people so they can have a career in hospitality. Significantly there'll

be a new, wide street built to the west of Anfield stadium. Liverpool

FC and the city councillors are staying tight`lipped about what will

happen to the stadium in the generation, but with ?260 million on

offer, some people who live in Anfield remain sceptical about the

regeneration scheme. I have mixed feelings. It has broken a lot of the

community up. There is perfectly good houses being flattened. It

really needs it. It would benefit the community hugely. They would be

left in the doldrums here without real progress being made, and it

is, I hope, a signal to them that this means business. If all goes to

plan, the scheme could be given the go`ahead in April. Mark Edwardson,

BBC North West Tonight, Liverpool. We talk a lot about energy bills on

this programme, and today Cheshire East Council claimed it could have

the answer to lower fuel bills for thousands of people ` and it's green

energy. The council has just received a

grant for almost ?200,000 to explore geothermal energy ` by using the hot

water which lies several kilometres underground. Here's our Environment

Correspondent, Judy Hobson. Cheshire East Council hopes this

piece of land, or rather what is under it, could be the answer to

lower energy bills. The Cheshire basin is one of the hottest parts of

the UK. And they plan to drill two boreholes here, 3000 metres down.

The pipelines will be the width of a Telegraph poll and will be sunk into

a limestone reservoir. The water there could be 100 degrees. The hot

water would be pumped up to heat homes and businesses. The cooled

water will return back into the ground. If it also is too good to be

true, maybe it is. It could cost ?10 million to drill the holes. The

order you go down, the more expensive because you have to get

the drill bit back out. That is the hard part. If we are going to go

down to five kilometres, that is where the expense comes in and that

is where it has to be looked at what are we going to get out, what is it

worth? This is a district heating centre in Southampton using mainly

geothermal energy. It powers flats and businesses in the area and saves

over 12000 tonnes of CO2 a year Why haven't we explored the idea more in

the Northwest? We could have been doing this for 20 years. We have had

other cheap energies. North Sea gas has been a wonderful thing but it

has displaced a requirement to look for other energies. For some, the

cost is the main stumbling block. Geothermal energy will make a

contribution, we need lots of other things to solve the worlds problems.

We need nuclear, shale gas, fracking, lots of things. Cheshire

council will begin exploratory drilling here in the next few weeks.

Manchester City are playing the best football in the world, according to

Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood. City went to the top of the Premier

League after thrashing Spurs 5` at White Hart Lane. Sergio Aguero

scored the first here but later limped`off with a hamstring injury.

Stevan Jovetic got his first goal for the club. Kompany, Dzeko and

Toure got the others. They are certainly scoring lots of

goals. John McGuinness from work has been inducted into the motor sport

Hall of Fame. The 20 time Isle of Man TT winner joined the likes of

Michael Schumacher in the Hall of Fame. Ross Brawn was also inducted

at last night's event in Covent Garden.

He was hailed as one of the all time great opera composers. But Benjamin

Britten had only one commissioned ballet. And tonight it will be

performed at The Lowry in Salford for the first time in the UK.

The Prince of The Pagodas is a Japanese fairy tale. Its director

has spent 30 years developing the story. And our reporter Abbie Jones

was given a special preview. It's a tale of magic, a wicked

stepmother and a Princess searching for her missing brother. Oh, and a

scaly salamander. This is a rare ballet. It is only the third version

of The Prince of The Pagodas to be performed worldwide ` and the first

in the UK. Past ballet stars to take the lead include Strictly judge

Darcy Bussell. Today's cast features dancers Yvette Knight from Carnforth

and James Barton from Wirral. It is always a big thing being part of a

premiere. Because there is that nice feeling of the company coming

together to make it work in such a short space of time. People can

expect something visually really exciting that they haven't probably

seen before, it is quite different to any of the other classics that we

bring out, Swan Lake or Sleeping Beauty. I think there is something

in there for everybody. Composer Benjamin Britten made his name

producing something for everybody ` works for the world's virtuoso

performers and for schoolchildren. But the storyline of his only ballet

wasn't quite so hot. Director David Bintley has spent three decades

honing it. It took me 30 years to arrive at this version and the

Japanese influence was a key in that process. But it is an absolutely

fantastic score and hopefully we will finally do it justice. This is

the skin and the hands of the salamander. The 200 plus costumes `

and sets ` have been designed by Rae Smith, who was also the designer for

War Horse. As well as the classical Japanese stuff, you have got

fantastical stuff like, this is part of the Chinese king, who has this

amazing. This amazing, glittery dragon and here you see all of these

little fire things, which look quite flat now but when he is moving, they

move like fire. As opening night draws closer, pirouettes are

perfected, routines rehearsed, The ballet opens tonight and ends on

Saturday. Abbie Jones, North West Tonight, Salford Quays.

So graceful, isn't it? Brilliant stuff. We will get the weather in a

moment. I suspect there will be more rain on the way. But spare a thought

for a rower from St Helen's who will be battling huge waves and storms in

the Atlantic Ocean. Matt Inglesby and seven fellow

rowers are hoping to raise thousands of pounds for charity and smash a

world record by sailing from Gran Canaria to Barbados in 32 days. Not

bad considering Matt has never been in a boat before. Elaine Dunkley has

been to meet him. Matt Inglesby is taking on a

challenge which would strike fear into the saltiest of sea dogs `

conquering the Awe of the Atlantic. Only there's a slight hitch. I have

never been in a boat before. In fact, he's never ventured into the

sea. But he's not letting this small matter get in the way of a 3000 mile

nautical adventure. It is a challenge I have wanted to do since

I was 16 and I have never been out at sea so I don't know if I will get

seasick but I am sure I will on such a small boat, but just being out

there, seeing what it is like, in the middle of the ocean, with maybe

40 foot waves. Matt and his rowers will endure seasickness and storms

with strength and stamina and very little in the way of home comforts.

Over 30 days is a long time for any sort of communication with family

and home, I am going to miss seeing the Everton scorers. Matt's

confident about his adventure at sea but it's a nervous wait for his mum

on dry land. There won't be many people who can tell that story, I

guess, the world over. What is the next adventure? God knows. But there

will be another one. He has got his sights on an Everest Marathon on. He

will have to get his sea legs pretty quickly, but this is one adventure

he's taking in his stride. Elaine Dunkley, BBC North West Tonight

That is a challenge. Matt, if you are watching, don't be worried. We

saw lots of pictures of enormous 40 foot waves in that report. You have

never been in this eBay for! Don't be put off. `` never been in the sea

before. Nearly 25 years after he left his

primary school in Lancashire, Royal Navy helicopter pilot Chris

Southworth paid a flying visit back to The Willows primary school in

Kirkham earlier. His mum ` who's also assistant head teacher there `

hasn't seen him since he was home for Christmas. Today, they were

re`united on the school field. Coming in to land and making quite

an entrance. The excitement a struggle to contain, for none more

so that Chris's mum, who also happens to be the assistant head

teacher. Oh, mother. It is great to be here today to see the kids, to

get them to have a look around the aircraft, to show them what it is

like to be in the air crew in the Royal Navy and to let them actually

enjoy it, enjoy the experience. Where Lieutenant Chris Southworth

once spent playtimes as a school boy today became the spot to land his

Royal Navy Lynx helicopter as a pilot. I haven't been back here in a

long time so it is nice to come back, see the building, see the area

and have a look around. Just remember what it was like. In the

area on a training exercise, Chris and his colleagues brought a little

more than usual to the classroom. It was so exciting because the children

did not know about it. And they only found out when he landed, they knew

something special was going on but they did not know what. Even the

longstanding lollypop lady remembers him! You used to be my lollipop

lady. I am. 30 years now! It's hardly the most conventional of

teaching methods, but for children here at The Willows primary school,

lessons are about to get a little bit more interesting. When it comes

to show and tell, this is the clear winner. It was really awesome

because it was so windy and all the leaves went everywhere. When he came

down, the grass went all flat and it was very cold. Some people were

feeling jumpy and some people were waving. I was jumping and waving.

But no`one wanted to wave goodbye to today's special guests. Especially

not Mrs Wilson. Suzanne Hailey, BBC North West Tonight, in Kirkham.

It is a bit better than the average bring your dad to work school day.

That would be very good. The groundsman had put all the

leaves in neat piles as well. Let's move on to the weather. There was a

touch of Frost this morning. That is the least of our problems.

We have got plenty of rain on the way and high winds. Hello. Plenty of

weather to talk about in the next 48 hours at the very least. It up to

the weekend. I will show you what is going to happen. Tomorrow, a huge

band of rain sweeps in, followed by some strong winds, and on Saturday

severe gales around the coast and on high ground. Quite windy on Sunday

and more rain is on the way for Monday, so I think we can safely say

that we are going to see some localised flooding in some places

over the next two or three days Tonight, it is a quiet night

initially, the calm before the storm, lots of clear skies. Mostly

dry. Occasional bits of rain here and there, a touch of frost in

places where we see some clear skies and temperatures dropping below

freezing in Cumbria. I suspect it will be cold everywhere. This is the

first of the weather warnings. It is for snow. We will not see snow

everywhere tomorrow but we will see some on high ground, but the main

problem for tomorrow will be rain. We start off mostly dry. Cloudy but

the clouds continue to build and the band of rain wets in from the iris

E, headed through the afternoon and when it bumps into the cold there we

have had from the east that is where we are likely to seize no. It will

not settle. In the Isle of Man, they have amber warnings at the moment

for flooding and many roads will be closed tomorrow and Saturday. You

might want to check the Manx government website to see which

roads will be closed. They are expecting coastal flooding. Inland,

lots of rain, occasional snow, and very cold, five or six else's

tomorrow and we are not out of the woods yet because for the weekend,

another weather warning, this is for winds. We will see gales on

Saturday, may be severe gales, particularly around the Irish Sea

coast and actually the strongest winds are likely to be read about

lunchtime where we have got the high tide. These are the high tide. It is

around midday that we could see some very big waves and possibly some

coastal flooding on Saturday. Thank you very much. Winter is back

and we had those big coastal surges, didn't we? But not quite as bad for

fully? Hopefully, but you never know. `` not quite as bad

hopefully? We will keep pupils did. Thanks for watching. Good night ``

we will keep you posted.