05/08/2014 North West Tonight

Welcome to North West Tonight with Beccy Meehan and Roger Johnson.

Terror alert on flight QR23, an RAF fighter jet escorts

a passenger plane in to land at Manchester Airport.

before a passenger was arrested for making a hoax bomb thre`t.

Also tonight, as a judge saxs victim statements have no ilpact.

The family he referred to say they're dumbfounded.

The heartache that we go through to do the statements,

to be told they don't make any difference!

Northern cities unveil ambitious plans

The Battle of Guillemont wotld be the biggest loss of life...

And remembering their ultimate sacrifice,

actress Sue Johnston joins us live in the studio

to talk about her documentary tonight on the Liverpool Pals.

Manchester Airport was on terror alert this afternoon

to escort in a passenger pl`ne from Qatar.

Flights were diverted to Leeds`Bradford

after the pilot received reports of a possible device on board.

Armed police met the plane on landing

and arrested a man on suspicion of making a hoax bomb threat.

Our reporter Katie Collins joins us live now from the `irport.

Well, it was just before ond o'clock this afternoon when the pilot of the

Qatar Airways Airbus with 269 passengers and 13 crew on board

first raised the alarm. Way treating it as a full`scale

emergency. Claire Fallon reports on thd events

as they unfolded this afternoon they come in to land, passengers

have no idea they are at thd centre of a terror alert. Some peer out

the window and realise something is very wrong as they watched

escort them in. What is with the fighter jet? The Escort camd, it was

pretty scary. `` escort. I thought there might be something wrong. The

alert was raised handed in by a passenger, the pilot

told air`traffic response was swift. We saw this jet

fighter coming far end, emergency vehicles came

out, police. Once on the runway one Normally you just turn up, pick them

up, wee bit worried, yeah. It is not an

incident that but we have a remotely area, and

that is where the aircraft again, but police and the ahrport

insisted this afterwards along with a fridnd he

made on board the don't. When did you realise

something was wrong? thinking what is going on, because

we heard nothing from the crew. What could be panicked. At the s`me time

it is not is in danger somehow. The fhghter

jets go up to have a look What is

reaction alert flights took when Helen's killer became dligible

for parole. victims, get from it is that we are

being listened to. That is the most important thing. Even if

Well, I can't see why they can't act on what we are telling

They're appointed by the Secretary of State for Justice.

The board must assess the rhsk the prisoner might pose if released.

They speak to the prisoner, they examine reports,

and they can be addressed bx those affected by the prisoner's crime.

The victims can describe how they've been affected by thd crime

and how they might be affected by the prisoner's release.

They can't say whether they feel the prisoner should be rele`sed

All victims making statements should be given guidance as to what their

statement may and may not as to whether anything

they say will hold any weight and asked him what he thought

of the judge's comments. I'm struggling to understand

the validity It's not what our members

are telling us, practitioners who help families through the system

and work with offenders and other agencies to ensurd the

parole system is robust and fair. I think it's an unfortunate

statement, and I'm struggling to understand

the context, I really am. But he is a judge who sits

on these things day in, day out It's what he thinks,

but it's at odds with what my practitioner members are

telling me who work in the system, who believe that what the vhctims'

families have to say is important. and indeed it is enshrined hn law

that they should. So my message, really,

is for families... I understand the trauma caused

to this family, but my advice to all familids in the

system who want to give evidence, People will understand,

in the case of sentencing, when these are also read out,

where it might make a difference. In parole hearings, where they are

assessing the risk of an offender, if they are released

back into the public do the statements make

any difference in a parole hearing? Firstly, our aim is always

to facilitate where we can, means by which families

can move towards closure. This case is a serious case

that we are talking about today There are other crimes, not that

I'm suggesting crime isn't serious! But crimes

of different complexities, and victims' families want

that opportunity to have a say. In other news, a former oil company

executive from South Wirral has been jailed for two years

for his role in bribing state officials

in Indonesia and Iraq. It follows a Serious Fraud Office

investigation into Associatdd Octel, 57`year`old Paul Jennings

from Neston, who worked at the company's plant

in Ellesmere Port, admitted three charges

of conspiracy to commit corruption. Jamie Moore, the former European

light`middleweight boxing champion from Salford who was shot

in the legs in Marbella, has posted messages on Twitter

thanking people for their stpport. The 35`year`old was training

another fighter in the Spanish city at the weekend

when he was attacked. 4,500 homes in Tameside are

to be fitted with solar pandls. It's estimated the scheme whll

save tenants of New Charter Homes ?40 million over 25`years

and cut carbon emissions. Isle of Man police are lookhng for

thieves who stole four Manx flags from a war memorial

in the south of the island. It happened sometime

over the weekend at the Mona's Queen III Anchor Memorial

at Kallow Point in Port St Lary The memorial commemorates

Manx men and women who served in the Merchant Navy

during the evacuation of Dunkirk. since the Chancellor and Tatton MP

George Osborne challenged northern cities

to pool their resources and create an economic powerhouse

of the north. Today, they responded

with an ambitious plan to improve road and rail links

across the Pennines. It would cost ?15 billion,

and after a briefing in Manchester this morning,

Mr Osborne backed the schemd. But will he fund it?

Stuart Flinders reports. was late for this morning's meeting

with the Chancellor, The leader of Leeds council was

delayed by problems on the trains. They were sure to let the Chancellor

know as they lobbied for money for their

ambitious new transport schdme. It would increase road capacity

to 150% of current levels and create a new trans`Pennine rail link

with trains travelling at 125 mph. You can't help feeling

that our Victorian forebears, the people who built this town hall,

would have approved. And if you've any Northern blood

in your veins, it's hard not to feel

a tingle of pride, but also perhaps

a certain amount of sceptichsm. Many people will say it was

your party under Margaret Thatcher that hammered the economies

in these areas in the 1980s. What you saw today

was a Conservative Chancellor working with the Labour leaders

of Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds to deliver a real improvement

in the economic... Do the Tories owe this part

of the world? I think people know that

over decades under governments of all political persuasions,

Labour and Conservative, we have not been able to rahse

the economic performance of the North of England

sufficiently, but as a country we have

a more balanced economy. The idea is to build on plans

for the high`speed train to London and, rather than blanching

at the figure of ?15 billion, Well, I'm positive and upbe`t

about the things that he sahd. It shows a commitment

that he will deliver on that. Of course, that's exactly

what we want to hear. You'll be hoping the Conservatives

get in at the next election that is recognised

by the Labour Party as well. Joe Anderson is Liverpool's

elected mayor. George Osborne wants Manchester

and its surrounding towns The leader of Manchester cotncil

isn't ruling it out. That's something for us to decide

on Greater Manchester, That's something for us to decide

in Greater Manchester, not something to be decided

in Whitehall, and certainly not something

to be imposed from outside. All eyes now on the Chancellor's

Autumn Statement. That's when we'll find out

if he'll back his enthusiasl for new roads and railways

with hard cash. Stuart Flinders,

BBC North West Tonight, Manchester. Still to come on North West Tonight:

new kits and new haircuts, we look ahead to the start

of the Football League season. And we are all going to the zoo

today, Chester Zoo, in fact, which readers of a travel wdbsite

have voted the best in Brit`in I'm sure you remember the ghants who

brought Liverpool to a standstill a couple of weeks ago to colmemorate

the start of the First World War. They feature again tonight

in a special programme which tells the story

of the Liverpool Pals. They were ordinary men who,

in a patriotic moment, who were working in offices

and factories in the city enlisted to fight

for the credit of Liverpool. Tonight's programme,

Liverpool's Giant War, is presented by Merseyside `ctress

Sue Johnston. First, let's have a quick look

at part of the programme. The Battle of Guillemont wotld be

the Pals' biggest loss of lhfe, The Germans used the fog by

stepping out of their own trenches. They took cover

in the shell holes in front, And when the Pals left their

trenches at 4:45 that morning, and they were out in the opdn

without any cover. 463 men lost their lives th`t day. I

think the patriotic fervour is million miles away from the reality

of this here. you can see. Thank you for coming

in. I because you are sitting there, but

it is a battlefields? It is extraordinary,

even though you've seen pictures and the atmosphere is extraordinary and

so impressive. One, how beattifully they are kept, they are stunning.

Also how peaceful they are, but the shock of the sheer volume of names

on those memorials... I remdmber you saying, 73,000 do not have ` grave.

I think that is at Thiepval, they are all still in the ground,

were never buried because they were just blown to bits.

British, they have their melorial, they are side by side, which I

by side with the French, thdy should live side by

family history and your connections to these places? Well, the day I

my memories of my dad's sister, she was a midwife at a hospital,

but she wore his engagement ring all her life.

of that, what that meant to her to have lost him. And for my f`mily to

has, everybody was in that war some way or another. We

to them, that they responded so quickly, within three days 3000

led the appeal, not the present one, of course!

programme. Yes, they train them they

Liverpool, they really bring it back up

her lying in state and I was blown away by

think I fell in love mostly with the dog, who seemed to have a

much to World War I, and th`t is your new project. Yes,

October, I think I am later, towards the end. Look forward to

Are you a Liverpool fan, by the way? I am! You might want to look away

now! They have been attracthng huge crowds on their European totr with

Manchester United. Manchester United beat Liverpool 3`1

in Miami Wayne Rooney cancelled out

Steven Gerrard's penalty after latching onto

a Javier Hernandez cross. before Jesse Lingard wrapped up

the win with this strike I think we gave a lot of pldasure to

the fans, and that is very important, and of course it is is

better to win in the time than to lose. But the lost

important game is the the football season might fdel

like it's never been away. we're taking a look

at all the three divisions. and Ian Haslam has been to see one

of the clubs aiming for prolotion. The preseason photo call,

pristine new kits and in some cases

pristine new haircuts. None more so than John Dreydr, I

think, the first`team coach He likes to put his Grecian 2000 in his

bonnet. The lads like to do this, when you have had about 30

This weekend, though, it all gets serious.

Preston are among this season's promotion favourites.

There is no standout candid`te, Wolves were everybody's favourite

last season, but a lot of tdams will think they have a good opportunity.

We have strengthened as a spuad Preston might be

the most fancied of our teals to do well in League One

this season, but let's not forget

there are four other North West teams in the divhsion,

all looking to make big progress. who'll play League One football

for the very first time. who last season needed a last`day

win to guarantee survival. Since then,

new players have arrived, but more have left, including

home`grown striker Max Clayton. and then sold star striker

Scott Hogan was to safeguard

the club's financial future. While at Oldham,

a major sponsorship deal has seen Boundary Park renaled

Sports Direct.com Park. With a new stand being built,

manager Lee Johnson will now be looking for

big developments on the pitch. I think it is good for the `rea as

well, some fantastic local Rotherham proved last year that a

team can at least the first one

I can remember. as the best in Britain

and sixth best in the world. Blackpool Zoo

and the South Lakes Safari Park The results are based on millions of

reviews by visitors over 12 months. Nearly 1.5 million people

visit Chester Zoo every year, and thousands of them took the time

to vote for and rate the zoo Coming top in the UK is a wdlcome

boost as work continues on the zoo's new attraction

based on Indonesian islands. Oh, it's absolutely fantasthc

for the zoo. have done an award like this

for zoos in the UK. Massive morale boost for thd staff

this morning to find out we are number one in the UK, second

in Europe, sixth in the world. Chester is not the only

North West zoo to make the top ten. Blackpool came fifth,

Knowsley Safari Park eighth, and the South Lakes

Wild Animal Park ninth. The Trip Advisor rankings

are based on the quantity and quality

of the reviews which a zoo has got. The more four and five`star reviews

you get, It's important for the zoo

to be known as somewhere

where tourists want to come, but staff also hope that visitors

appreciate their conservation work, For the eastern black rhino,

like these guys, for exampld, there is now only about 800

left in the wild. Of black rhino totally,

there's only 5000. That's less rhinos on this planet

than people in the zoo todax, Some here were taking

a relaxed approach to success, but not Karen, who is hand rearing

a rare hyacinth macaw. it makes me feel like we've done all

we can and we are doing a good job. A lot of people

come to see the animals, The new islands attraction

is due to open next summer. Andy Gill, BBC North West Tonight,

Chester. Well done to Chester and all the

others! A nice day to be at the zoo today, is it going to last?

No, all change, distinctly `verage through the next 12 hours, then

things will improve. I don't think Wednesday is going to be drdadful,

but a fairly wet that. A big band of rain is going to affect us through

the night, the morning was great, cloud rolled in through the

afternoon, and it does support one or two showers. This is the latest

picture, not too much troubling us right now, but the computer wants to

bring one or next couple of hours and make them

fairly significant rain is just to the

south, starting to push in midnight, spreading absolutdly

everywhere. Look that means some this range will be

heavy as we head through early hours of the morning, so

cloudy, very wet. Places, continues to be mild, quite

meaningless in the overnight period. `` very wet for somd places.

When you set out tomorrow, not a cold start, but it will

Watch how quickly it pulls out of the

o'clock, a thing of the past for most

this weather system, it starts to kill background, one or two

could break out here and thdre. After lunch, and improving

not wonderful, an average d`y, but brighter skies towards tea`time The

improvement will hit the Isle of Man first, you will see the

weather, but not wonderful. The breeze from

be cooler, looking at these temperatures. After that, Thursday,

not a bad day. We were talking to Sue Johnston

a few minutes ago. Don't forget, her special programme

on the Liverpool Pals Last night,

the Lights Out commemoration to mark the centenary

of the declaration of war was marked by thousands of xou

across the North West. We'll leave you with some

of the images you've sent us as homes, businesses and landmarks

across the region were plunged into darkness just

as they were a hundred years ago.