06/02/2014 North West Tonight

Peter, thank you. That's all from the BBC News at

Good evening. Welcome to NorthWest Tonight with Stuart Flinders.

And Annabel Tiffin. Our top story: Cleared of all sex abuse charges `

the Coronation Street actor William Roache's three`week court ordeal is

over. In these situations, there are no winners. I think we should all be

much kinder to ourselves. We've got reaction from cast members

and from his home town. Also: I'm outside William Roache's

home where the actor has just arrived back and where neighbours

are saying they are delighted at the verdict. Also coming up: Wrongly

arrested at an anti`fracking protest ` now a man says he'll use this

video evidence to sue police. Where the axe will fall? Libraries,

children's centres and elderly care ` all victims of Liverpool City

Council's latest cuts. And find out why Ashton has been

voted Britain's favourite place to go.

His three`week court ordeal is over. The Coronation Street star William

Roache was today cleared of all sex assault charges against him. The

actor had always denied any wrongdoing. Today, a jury said they

believed him. Five women accused the star of

molesting them when they were teenagers in the 1960s. One claimed

she had been raped twice. In court, their stories were described as

contradictory and inconsistent by Mr Roache's barrister. Our Chief

Reporter, Dave Guest, followed the case throughout and joins us now

from the Coronation Street set. Well, he may be the Street's longest

serving resident, but Bill Roache has never worked on this set. The

street moved here to MediaCity only recently from its former home in

Quay Street. Indeed, Mr Roache hasn't appeared in the programme

since last May, when two detectives knocked on the door of his home in

Cheshire and told him he was being arrested on suspicion of rape. A

nine`month nightmare followed. A nightmare which finally ended today.

His face said more than words ever could. This was a man who'd had the

weight of the world lifted from his shoulders at last. But words are

William Roache's stock in trade and he had these words of gratitude for

those who'd believed in him. I would like to thank my colleagues and

friends who have supported me through this and all those people

who I don't even know who have sent me support through all this. The

star arrived at court this morning as he has every morning for over

three weeks accompanied by his family and close friends. Inside,

eight women and four men held his fate in their hands. During the

weeks of the trial they heard the actor accused of raping a teenage

girl at his former home in Lancashire, they heard Druid tales

of sex assaults in dressing rooms and toilets at the Granada TV

building and they heard Mr Roache says emphatically that none of it

was true. The jury spent most of yesterday deliberating and they were

sent out again this morning to continue their discussions. Within

an hour they were back in Court number one to announce their

verdicts. As they were announced, Bill Roache stood in the dock

showing no emotion. Members of his family in the public gallery,

though, wept with relief as one by one the not guilty verdict came in.

Mr Roache told the jury that their team `` hurting people was alien to

his nature. Now cleared on six sex assault charges his words were far

from triumphant. In these situations, there are no winners. We

should all be much kinder to ourselves. Now, I would like to get

back to work. Today, the most important voice was that of the jury

foreman when he altered `` uttered the words, "not guilty" .

He is keen to get back to work and his colleagues are keen to see him.

Those who we spoke to today said they were delighted by the result.

It is brilliant news. We are looking forward to seeing him back at work.

It has been horrible for everyone, not least Bill. We really pleased

the right verdict been reached. I have known him for 39 years now and

I never knew him or her dim do anything abusive, crass, angry. He

is a most calm and level`headed man. A gentleman. Absolutely delighted

for the man. That was Michael Le Vell. Kevin in

the Street. Of course, he knows just what Bill Roache has been through.

Last year, he too was cleared of sex abuse charges. During the Roache

trial, the defence team questioned the quality of the police

investigation and wondered whether, post Jimmy Savile, any celebrity

accused of historical abuse must now face court regardless of the

strength of the evidence against them.

This afternoon, the Crown Prosecution Service said Mr Roache

had been treated just like any other service `` person.

But one leading lawyer said that the William Roache case maybe should

reignite the discussion over whether those accused of serious sexual

assault should remain anonymous until such time that the case is

proved against them. These types of allegation have a special stigma

associated with them. It sustains them indelibly. When they are

acquitted, they are supposed is leave court without a stain on his

character. But he will have stains on his character for the rest of his

life and that shouldn't happen. Bill Roache is keen to get back to

work at Coronation Street as quickly as possible.

The scriptwriters have got around his absence by sending Ken Barlow to

Canada to look after a relative It looks like he will soon be on his

way back. After the verdict, an ITV spokesman said they look forward to

talking to Bill soon about his return.

It has been a dramatic year for the man the Guinness book of records

calls the longest serving actor in a continuous role in a soap.

Bill Roache leaves Preston saying he wants to get back to work, but it is

no ordinary job. Coronation Street has been his life, almost all of it.

He was 28 when he appeared in the first episode. He is now 81. The

reason for its success is that it is about relationships. Basically human

relationships don't blow up and go wrong, like everything else in the

world. I would say, I'm going to smack your

bottom. I would love to do that He admitted being unfaithful to his

first wife in the 60s but vehemently denied abusing young girls. He

wrote, I have not, nor would I ever force any person to engage in a

sexual act against their will. In particular, I would not seek to

force a young girl to do so. He once boasted about sleeping with

1000 women. Adults, there were plenty of girls who fancied handsome

celebrities. And, I suppose, there was temptation there. I know girls

were throwing themselves, but never children. If you would join my Mrs

and I... He has defended his reputation in court before when the

Sun newspaper accused him in 19 0 of being as boring as his character on

the street. He sued them and one. No one should have to go through what

we have been through... His alter ego is no stranger to court either.

Last week, real life mirrored art. Bill Roache himself has said that it

is too easy to make allegations are bent `` against celebrities and that

some people will be wrongly convicted. Is that a concern? There

is a risk. Jimmy Savile has opened the gate for people to come through

it and that is good because there have been mistakes in the past and

they are rectifying them now. But there is the risk that someone at a

certain state will have that charge against them. The storylines have

become as dramatic as those of the state `` series themselves. Michael

Lavelle was also cleared. Michael Le Vell. It is a shop just coming after

the other case. It is a shock for the cast and the general public

They have grown up with him and he was like a father figure or a

grandfather figure. The longest running career in soap opera has

some way to go yet. Our reporter is outside his home.

What has been the reaction there today?

There has been a sense of delight amongst neighbours who supported him

throughout. He arrived back in the last half an hour. There is flash

photography in these pictures. He drove through the driveway flanked

by his children who have supported him throughout the trial. A lot of

well`wishers have arrived today some bringing flowers. Also the

actress Sue Johnston who was in Coronation Street and was in the

Royal family series arrived this afternoon and dropped a card into

the letterbox. There has been a huge amount of support here where he is a

well`known figure. His neighbours told me today how pleased they are.

Thrilled. He is such a gentleman. He is a nice bloke. He has been found

innocent and that is fantastic. What started his wrote `... What

started all this was a TV interview in which William Roache appeared to

say victims of sexual abuse bring it on themselves. Those views drove one

of the first complainants to the police, and had their roots in a

group in Altrincham who call themselves the Circle of Love. Naomi

Cornwell reports. He was tried before the first

complaint was even made. Publicly tried for views many find

abhorrent. The start of what could have been his downfall. Asked to

comment on the increasingly long line of celebrities facing sex abuse

allegations, he attacked what he called... These groupies and girls

who are sexually mature... If you accept and you are no `` you know

you are pure love and you live pure love, these things will happen to

you. That statement led one of the complainants to speak to the police.

His views have their roots here The circle of love. The group that meets

twice a love to `` to `` the group means `` meets twice a week. The

group says it welcomes people from any religion and it believes love

can solve everything and protect the believer from harm. Mr Roache

allowed us to feel during the trial but he couldn't speak. We treat him

the same today as we always have, trial or no trial. He is a national

treasure in the sense that he is one of the most genuine people you have

ever met. His comments might have put William Roache and the group in

the full glare of the media but not everyone shares his views. You would

have to speak to him about what his way of articulating things are. In

my experience, he follows and listens to his heart. Sometimes ..

Stand up, open your heart, smile and allow it to happen. There is hope.

His... His beliefs could have brought about his downfall but

instead they are the very things which helped him through the trial.

He has publicly thanked his friend at the circle of love for their

support. There has been more support on social media this evening. One

Fellow Coronation St star has tweeted that it was just this. One

writer of the soap said it is the best news of the year. Back to you.

The Environment Agency has pledged ?74 million to try to prevent

flooding in the North West ` almost 30 million more than last year. The

cash is part of ?470 million being spent across England and Wales over

the next two years. Areas to benefit include Warrington, Northwich,

Croston and Ulverston. It's been confirmed that the new

Hillsborough inquests could be paid for by a Government grant applied

for by South Yorkshire Police. If approved, the cash would help the

force cover their legal fees for the inquests, which begin in Warrington

at the end of March. It's thought the costs could run into millions of

pounds. Fifteen people were treated for

injuries this morning after five buses crashed in Manchester City

centre. Emergency services were called to Portland Street just after

eight o'clock. Police and public transport providers, Stagecoach and

Arriva, are investigating. A man arrested during an

anti`fracking protest in Salford is planning to sue Greater Manchester

Police claiming he has video evidence showing he was detained

unlawfully. Dr Steve Peers, who says he is an observer and not a

protester, was arrested for refusing a breath test after being accused of

drink`driving at Barton Moss site. The case later collapsed when the

prosecution offered no evidence Mark Edwardson reports.

Steven Peers was filming the arrest of a protester. Shortly afterwards,

his video shows police accusing him of drink driving. I smelt alcohol on

his breath? No, I've not had a drink at all. I've had tea this morning.

Back at Barton Moss today, Dr Peers continues to deny the accusation. I

had tea that morning. When asked by other officers to provide a breath

sample, he refuses. Do you consent? I do not. You are under arrest. The

charges were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service for lack of

evidence. I will bring civil action for unlawful imprisonment and if the

Chief Constable decides to defend that officers actions... It's

understood Inspector David Kehoe, seen in these pictures, is the

subject of an internal inquiry. The force is currently investigating

different offences against officers. Greater Manchester's Police

Commissioner told us he's called on the Chief Constable to to provide

assurances the operation at Barton moss is proportionate. He said, "If

misconduct has occurred, appropriate action should be taken." In a

statement, Greater Manchester Police say they have received a complaint

about the video which is being investigated by the professional

standard branch. Still to come: Has postal voting

decided the anchor of a Manchester by`election? Ten years ago it was

burned to the ground, now Ashton market is voted Britain's favourite.

Half of all the city 's libraries in Liverpool could go, school crossings

act along with daycare centres for the elderly. In the last few hours,

Liverpool City Council has asked where the next round of cuts will

hit. Let us go live now to Liverpool 's

waterfront. We knew the top line of the figure they needed to reach

?156 million, but you have been to a press conference where they have

outlined how they will achieve this. Yes, 56% of the council 's budget in

real terms. That will have gone since 2011. This is how the cuts

will look over three years. A questionmark over 13 leisure

centres. Two will definitely close, including the one where Beth Tweddle

trained for Olympic gold. Also a? Over 23 Sure Start centres. They

have tried to protect them as much as they could but some will have to

close. Also questions over 19 libraries which will lose a large

percentage of their budgets. Lollipop ladies. The council funding

for school crossings will end in 2016. They hope schools will step in

to pay the bill. They also say that 25% of the budget of adult social

care will go. That means the closure of daycare centres, and the loss of

some 300 jobs. The mayor said that was the hardest cut to make. I have

described this, all of those things within the list of cuts, for us they

are priorities so we have to prioritise the priorities. The

options were going to be tough and not liked. The consultation starts

to decide where the axe will fall. Which libraries and which Sure Start

centres? They hoped some voluntary organisations might step in to save

them, but the council can't afford to pay for them.

It's a week to go until the Wythenshawe and Sale East

by`election, but could the vote be decided before we even get to

polling day ` through postal votes? Today, the UKIP Leader, Nigel

Farage, has complained that Labour's exploiting the system. With more

than 17,000 people in the constituency registered to vote by

post, our political editor, Arif Ansari, has been trying to assess

the impact. Who will voters push through the

gates of Wythenshawe to Parliament and how many have already decided? I

have already sent my postal vote. Because you've voted, you've missed

some of the campaigning and you might change your mind? No, I'm

pretty sure of what I wanted to do. UKIP's out campaigning today. She

narrowly lost the Eastleigh by`election a year ago and she

believes postal voted `` voting denied her victory. Labour have say

`` played the same game that the Lib Dems did. A very short campaign and

narrow window between the postal votes being sent and returned hoping

to get voter advantage. There are just over 85,000 voters registered

and 17,000 have postal votes. If turnout is low, it is post ``

possible that more than half will be cast by post before polling day The

political parties need to be campaigning earlier to try to

mobilise their core vote. For Labour, that has meant knocking

quickly on the right doors. They only showed up when this by`election

was called. Labour has always worked hard in this seat. Those with postal

votes are much more likely to use them. Voting here is next Thursday

but it is possible that the decision might already have been made by

them, not through the ballot box but through the post box. Well, there

are a total of seven candidates contesting the Wythenshawe and Sale

East by`election. The full list is on your screen

Polling day is next Thursday. Arif will be hosting a debate between the

candidates on the Sunday Politics this weekend at 11 o'clock on BBC

One. St Helen's Jonny Lomax has signed a

new four`year contract which the club has described as one of the

most important in recent times. The 23`year`old who's already made 00

first team appearances is one of the most sought after young players in

Britain. Lomax says it's a thrill to commit his long term future to his

home town club. The historic Ashton market may have

been devastated by a fire ten years ago but it has risen from the ashes

to become Britain's favourite. It beat off stiff competition thanks to

its eclectic mix of regulars and a wide range of stalls.

We went to have a look around. An historic market hall at Ashton

under Lyne. It's officially part of Britain's favourite market. Just ask

this regular who has his own mug. I come in the morning and meet up with

friends and have a drink. And a laugh. Wendy Mitchell has run this

cafe for 15 years. I wouldn't swap it for anything. Ten years ago it

was devastated by a huge fire but then refurbished. When they tell you

you are the best, it means everything. Everything to the

council and the traders. It has stood the test of time. I you

delighted? Yes. We have worked towards it as a group. The success

has been put down to its range of stores partly. Here, I could pick up

a costume for any occasion. Witness and Warrington market is also picked

up awards. It makes a town. People come to the centre of a town. I am

local so it is where I come to shop. We go all over the place but we

always come back to here. With the mixture of traders and shoppers it

is hoping to pick up another award yet.

Was that fish at the end or tripe? I hate tripe! Now the weather.

Good evening. It has been a decent day. But it is about to change with

an area of low pressure drifting into night. Then another area of low

pressure drifts in from the Atlantic from Friday night into Saturday The

picture for Sunday looks just as messy. Tonight, it will turn wet and

windy. A lot of cloud around at the moment and rain moving in from the

south overnight. Some bits and pieces of snow on high ground which

will not amount to much. By dawn, the rain fragments into showers We

hang on to the cloud. The breeze will ease and clearer skies from

Cumbria. Here we will see the lowest temperatures. Maybe a touch of frost

there. During the daytime tomorrow the picture looks really good. Good

spells of sunshine but the rain with ease in tomorrow night. Wet and

windy for tomorrow night. A damp start for the morning. One or two

floating showers but the wind will be lighter for a time. Right spells

for the afternoon then the winds pick up by late afternoon. Bright

and breezy to end the day. Not too bad for tomorrow. Feeling a touch

cooler. Tomorrow night we do it all again with cloud building. It will

edge in from the west and fall as snow on high bright `` high ground

and it will be near gale force winds by dawn. That would clear by

Saturday morning. A lot of showers for the weekend. Maybe some thunder

or hail on Sunday. I am sure you have been running that

same map every night this week. I have.

Most of February will look like that. Unsettled with wet or windy

conditions. See you tomorrow. Good night.