:00:00. > :00:00.Thank you very much indeed. That is it from Edinburgh we
:00:00. > :00:09.Welcome to North West Tonight with Annabel Tiffin and Roger Johnson.
:00:10. > :00:12.The councillor who spent thousands on sex calls, now
:00:13. > :00:17.Robert Bleakley is an emploxee of Liverpool City Council `
:00:18. > :00:25.Why EU sanctions on Russia `re having unintended consequences for
:00:26. > :00:31.The ?40 billion vision for the future where coastal
:00:32. > :00:42.barrages will help power five million of our homes.
:00:43. > :00:52.That was far too close. And we will meet the St Helens youngster taking
:00:53. > :01:00.the sci`fi movie waddled by storm. `` world.
:01:01. > :01:03.A second north west council is now investigating the conduct of a
:01:04. > :01:05.Local Councillor accused of being a sexist and mysogxnist.
:01:06. > :01:07.Robert Bleakley's already bden banned from having contact with
:01:08. > :01:10.women at Wigan Council after it came to light he'd sent offdnsive
:01:11. > :01:14.And now North West Tonight has been told that Liverpool Council,
:01:15. > :01:19.where he's a paid employee, is looking at whether any codes or
:01:20. > :01:42.We can't show you the text lessages, but we can show the reaction.
:01:43. > :01:47.That is disgusting, how can he put that?
:01:48. > :01:49.Sent by Cllr Robert Bleaklex from his council issued mobhle.
:01:50. > :01:59.The messages might be offensive but they've not cost him his position.
:02:00. > :02:07.There are no words to descrhbe! I am gobsmacked!
:02:08. > :02:10.Insisting it dosn't have thd power to remove him from office
:02:11. > :02:11.Instead Wigan Council's takdn his phone.
:02:12. > :02:13.And banned him from having contact with wolen.
:02:14. > :02:15.And it's not just becase of the texts but also
:02:16. > :02:18.for calling premium rate sex lines from his tax`payer`funded phone
:02:19. > :02:20.This is the only glimpse we've had of Cllr Bleakley
:02:21. > :02:23.as he spotted our camera last night and left without comment.
:02:24. > :02:25.A statement to his local papers says, "This case is
:02:26. > :02:29.nothing more than a vendett` and smear campaign against le.
:02:30. > :02:31.When it was brought to my attention I apologised to the
:02:32. > :02:34.Chief Executive and also arranged to pay the money back straight`way
:02:35. > :02:37.I realised this was an oversight on my part,
:02:38. > :02:43.Sorry doesn't cut it for Emla Barton though.
:02:44. > :02:46.She's worked with him at Wigan Council and says she's had
:02:47. > :03:04.It affects your self`confiddnce at the time. It makes you almost self
:03:05. > :03:08.doubt the way you have been working and operating. It is demoralising.
:03:09. > :03:13.It is very, very emotional. It really is.
:03:14. > :03:16.And now there's a link with another local authority.
:03:17. > :03:18.It's been confirmed Robert Bleakley's paid day job is
:03:19. > :03:21.An investigation there is looking at whether any codes have bden
:03:22. > :03:24.But in Wigan, where he has voters not empoyers.
:03:25. > :03:31.The ballot box is the only way to get him out.
:03:32. > :03:34.The family of a Liverpool woman murdered in South Africa ard asking
:03:35. > :03:37.the Prime Minister to put pressure on the South African governlent to
:03:38. > :03:43.Christine Robinson was killdd at the game lodge she owned near Lhmpopo.
:03:44. > :03:47.Her family have been told the main suspect has fled to
:03:48. > :03:50.Zimbabwe and they're concerned he may never be brought to justice
:03:51. > :03:56.Christine Robinson grew up in Liverpool but travelled
:03:57. > :03:59.the world before finally settling in South Africa and opening this
:04:00. > :04:00.Game Lodge, with her late htsband. Her family say was loving
:04:01. > :04:14.and vivacious. Extremely full of life and `lways
:04:15. > :04:23.accepting new challenges and a very caring person with a good sdnse of
:04:24. > :04:26.humour. It is quite a shock. I think we are all still in shock.
:04:27. > :04:31.Christine was murdered in Jtly. It's believed a member
:04:32. > :04:33.of her staff robbed her then stabbed her to death.
:04:34. > :04:36.Her family were told the mahn suspect had fled to Zimbabwd.
:04:37. > :04:38.They say they've had no information for weeks
:04:39. > :04:40.and fear the suspect may never stand trial today no one from the Foreign
:04:41. > :04:57.Office was available for colment. Our problem is the lack of
:04:58. > :05:02.information and we do not w`nt this to go on the and disappeared.
:05:03. > :05:05.Christine's Game Lodge looks like an idyllic setting
:05:06. > :05:08.but the group representing farm owners in the area says rur`l crime
:05:09. > :05:15.is rising and more needs to be done to find Christine's killer.
:05:16. > :05:22.We have tracked the specific guy who committed the murder on Chrhstine
:05:23. > :05:28.but we have not heard anythhng from the police sense. They have not done
:05:29. > :05:33.anything to perpetrate him or catch him. This is why we have st`rted to
:05:34. > :05:38.ask for more diplomatic or political pressure on the foreign govdrnment
:05:39. > :05:45.to make an arrest. Christine's family have askdd
:05:46. > :05:47.the Prime Minister to put pressure on the South African investhgators
:05:48. > :05:50.and say that they're determhned her killer will be brought to jtstice.
:05:51. > :05:53.The Conservative MP for the Ribble Valley, Nigel Evans, who was cleared
:05:54. > :05:56.of sexual offences earlier this year, has been re`selected to stand
:05:57. > :05:58.for Parliament at the next dlection. Mr Evans resigned as Deputy Speaker
:05:59. > :06:00.of the Commons to fight the allegations.
:06:01. > :06:04.He won the approval of local Conservative members
:06:05. > :06:05.in a secret ballot last night. Some had wanted a new candidate
:06:06. > :06:23.following the trial in which I want to insure we get the policies
:06:24. > :06:31.we need. A senior Liverpool councillor's
:06:32. > :06:33.demanding to know why a meeting still hasn't taken place
:06:34. > :06:35.between the city's Mayor and its Chief Executive over
:06:36. > :06:38.the Rotherham sex abuse scandal Ged Fitzgerald was in chargd
:06:39. > :06:40.at Rotherham Council between 20 1 and 2003, during which time girls
:06:41. > :06:42.were being sexually exploitdd. Today Liverpool City Council
:06:43. > :06:49.confirmed a meeting will be held Greater Manchester Police are
:06:50. > :06:52.looking for a motorist who failed to stop after knocking down
:06:53. > :07:00.an 11`year`old boy in Tameshde. The youngster was hit
:07:01. > :07:01.by turquoise Honda Civic on Victoria Street in Ashton`under`Lyne
:07:02. > :07:08.last Tuesday evening. The driver drove on, luckilx the
:07:09. > :07:10.boy only suffered minor injtries. Manchester city centre is to undergo
:07:11. > :07:13.a massive transformation ovdr the next three years according to a
:07:14. > :07:16.report today. The council s`ys 40,000 new jobs will be cre`ted as
:07:17. > :07:21.the city's transport network gets a ?1 billion upgrade. Roadwork updates
:07:22. > :07:25.will be provided via social media as building continues on the sdcond
:07:26. > :07:29.Metrolink crossing, the Northern Hub and Victoria Station.
:07:30. > :07:32.A council leader is calling for his own local authority to be scrapped.
:07:33. > :07:34.Michael Jones is the leader of one of
:07:35. > :07:39.He wants both Cheshire West and Chester and his own Cheshird East to
:07:40. > :07:44.be closed down and a new authority created to cover the whole county.
:07:45. > :07:48.And he thinks council tax p`yers would be better off as a result
:07:49. > :07:57.Roger, this is a case of Back To The Future, isn't it?
:07:58. > :08:00.It's not taken long for doubts to emerge about the wisdom of dividing
:08:01. > :08:04.The old county council survhved for 120 years before
:08:05. > :08:10.the creation of Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East in 20 9.
:08:11. > :08:14.The new authorities absorbed the old district councils:
:08:15. > :08:18.Ellesmere Port and Neston, Chester itself and Vale Roy`l and in
:08:19. > :08:23.the west, Macclesfield, Congleton and Crewe and Nantwich in the east.
:08:24. > :08:27.The leader of Cheshire East, Councillor Michael Jones, s`ys
:08:28. > :08:45.a reunited Cheshire would rdduce council tax bills by about ?100
:08:46. > :08:54.Joining me now is the counsdllor who believes they should come together
:08:55. > :08:58.as one again. Only five years into the split why do you believd that
:08:59. > :09:07.once again Cheshire should become one? I think we have done wdll, jobs
:09:08. > :09:11.coming through, but together we would be bigger and stronger. That
:09:12. > :09:18.is the point, one unity in Cheshire which have more power in London It
:09:19. > :09:26.is a great story going forw`rd. We would make savings very quickly and
:09:27. > :09:30.get credit growth. What a btzz it would be for everybody. You are
:09:31. > :09:36.talking about taking somethhng back to what it was only five ye`rs ago
:09:37. > :09:43.which would be an extremely costly exercise. What support do you have
:09:44. > :09:50.for this? Most people in Chdshire did not want to split. It w`s Labour
:09:51. > :09:55.who did it and left us vulndrable. I think now that there are pl`ns
:09:56. > :09:59.coming forward we can go forward a different way. I think it is time to
:10:00. > :10:08.unify and come back together to be the powerhouse that we need. You
:10:09. > :10:14.have not discussed this with your party or your name streak the leader
:10:15. > :10:20.of Cheshire West. He says it is a distraction. You are just t`king
:10:21. > :10:27.this on on your own really, argue? Now, I have spoken to quite a few
:10:28. > :10:33.people. I am sure Mike will change his mind and the people of Cheshire
:10:34. > :10:37.will want to come back together People in your media might think if
:10:38. > :10:43.he does not think this is working, isn't it responsibility to lake this
:10:44. > :10:51.work as leader of the counchl? We are working as Better Together. It
:10:52. > :10:57.was split up for political reasons, we have done well and are doing very
:10:58. > :11:06.well separately but just im`gine us together. I am sure the head of the
:11:07. > :11:11.council will come onside whdn people tell him they want to be unhfied.
:11:12. > :11:21.Thank you very much, I am stre we will hear from you in the ftture.
:11:22. > :11:24.So, Michael Jones reckons Cheshire would be better together but what
:11:25. > :11:28.Today Labour leader Ed Miliband and Liverpool's Mayor Joe Anderson
:11:29. > :11:31.almost literally wrapped thdmselves in the Scottish flag to push
:11:32. > :11:33.the case for a no vote in the big referendum.
:11:34. > :11:36.They claimed northern cities would be worse off if Scotland opted
:11:37. > :11:38.for independence, trapped between a new nation
:11:39. > :11:44.The union flag usually takes pride of place over the three Graces,
:11:45. > :11:51.These men want to send a message, Scotland, we want you to st`y.
:11:52. > :11:54.Only by staying together, they say, can Scotland fight
:11:55. > :12:10.It is about changing the wax we are governed not just in Scotland but
:12:11. > :12:22.right across England. Does Liverpool want a bit
:12:23. > :12:25.of what the yes campaign wants? What kind of powers do you think
:12:26. > :12:29.we should have more control over? Imagine a city which should plan
:12:30. > :12:33.its own wealthier spend The Scottish referendum is wind
:12:34. > :12:43.in the sales even I want what is of the best hnterest
:12:44. > :13:20.of the people in Glasgow as I do in I think we have a better ch`nce if
:13:21. > :13:25.we stick together. Often thdre is a skew of things when dealers change
:13:26. > :13:29.and I think it good look for a difference in England as well. Might
:13:30. > :13:36.more powers come our way to? There are fears some of
:13:37. > :13:39.the region's dairy farmers light be driven out of business by a recent
:13:40. > :13:42.cut in wholesale milk prices. The Russian government has
:13:43. > :13:44.retaliated against Western sanctions by imposing import bans
:13:45. > :13:46.on some European agricultur`l Here's our Cheshire reporter,
:13:47. > :14:16.Mark Edwardson. Milking time is the huge task and
:14:17. > :14:22.takes place three times per day but milk prices are falling fast. That
:14:23. > :14:30.milk is 20p per pint. This fizzy drink is 45p per pint. This is
:14:31. > :14:38.bottled water also 45p per pound. That shows you what people think the
:14:39. > :14:46.value of milk is. Farmers f`ce tough times. In 2009 they were behng paid
:14:47. > :14:52.almost 24p per litre for milk. By 2011 it was 28p and by last year it
:14:53. > :15:01.was around 32p but now they are falling back to levels not seen for
:15:02. > :15:05.five years. How can you run a business that is losing mondy? This
:15:06. > :15:12.is coming off the rocket margin it does not come out of our costs. One
:15:13. > :15:16.of the largest milk producers told us the prices reflect the dramatic
:15:17. > :15:22.fall in global BV markets over the past few weeks. They will bd
:15:23. > :15:29.offering further volume to farmers from first October which might be
:15:30. > :15:34.some good news. We cannot condone what is going on in the Ukr`ine but
:15:35. > :15:42.it is going to cost our indtstry a lot of money in the short to medium
:15:43. > :15:47.term. Maybe there should be some help for milk producers. Can you see
:15:48. > :15:56.farmers going out of business over this? Yes, because at this rate it
:15:57. > :16:00.is unsustainable. If action is not taken soon he believes some daily
:16:01. > :16:09.farmers are facing a very bleak winter.
:16:10. > :16:21.Still to come. A bridge is named after one of the Isle of Man's
:16:22. > :16:31.soldiers. And the boys who starred in his own sci`fi movie. I `lways
:16:32. > :16:38.wanted to be in a film. No doubt who is going to steal the show tonight.
:16:39. > :16:43.Now a futuristic vision for the region's roads and power supply
:16:44. > :16:49.today. Title bandages creathng enough tidal power for 5 million
:16:50. > :16:56.homes. It might sound far`fdtched but a group of business leaders
:16:57. > :17:03.believes it can happen. `` tidal barrage is. The ripple SQA full of a
:17:04. > :17:08.limitless supply of SUV. Experts believe this could produce dnough
:17:09. > :17:17.energy to power 18,000 homes per year. This is the man with the
:17:18. > :17:22.vision. He believes we should build five tidal gateways across the
:17:23. > :17:28.region to create energy and boost the economy on a scale never seen
:17:29. > :17:34.before. The plan includes thdal barrage is equipped with have roads
:17:35. > :17:42.running across to shorten travel times and improve business links. It
:17:43. > :17:52.would create permanent jobs by increasing tourism on the wdst
:17:53. > :17:57.Cumbrian side of the Lake Dhstrict. Are listing what has been done
:17:58. > :18:03.before but this Northwest scheme comes with a ?40 billion prhce tag.
:18:04. > :18:09.Where is the cash coming from? We only need one or 2 billion then it
:18:10. > :18:14.will start to have its own hmpetus. I think the initial money should
:18:15. > :18:22.come from the government. This is how it will work. As the water runs
:18:23. > :18:31.through the barrage it turns turbines creating electricity. You
:18:32. > :18:39.have to bear in mind that normal power stations, if they are designed
:18:40. > :18:46.right run for 25 or 30 years. For tidal gateway we are thinking 1 0
:18:47. > :18:51.years. The team behind this project are working with environmental
:18:52. > :18:54.groups because it would havd an impact on wildlife. The question is,
:18:55. > :19:00.is this a problem which could be overcome? That remains to bd seen. A
:19:01. > :19:09.model is due to go on displ`y around the region. Interesting! No, it was
:19:10. > :19:18.the missing wartime history as a bridge too far. The troops wanted to
:19:19. > :19:22.advance into Germany and it ended in disaster and thousands died. But
:19:23. > :19:38.there is a story of heroism. The only Manxman to receive a Vhctoria
:19:39. > :19:43.Cross for his bravery. Robert Cain, he was one of thousands of troops
:19:44. > :19:48.who arrived to fight for thd bridge. It was one of the biggest ydar
:19:49. > :19:56.assaults ever but the Germans were waiting for them. `` air assaults.
:19:57. > :20:05.He was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery. I was talking to a
:20:06. > :20:15.Corporal who said there is ` mad major up the road taking on tanks.
:20:16. > :20:23.It turned out to be major C`in. He destroyed 56 tonnes of enemx armour
:20:24. > :20:27.in each of the tanks he destroyed. He was deafened and blinded but was
:20:28. > :20:40.always at the forefront. He continued on. Now his daughter has
:20:41. > :20:47.unpeeled a bridge named aftdr him. He kept it to himself. It w`s one of
:20:48. > :20:51.those things I discovered after he died and obviously I am immdnsely
:20:52. > :20:59.proud. The highest award for gallantry. Jeremy Clarkson lade a
:21:00. > :21:04.documentary all about Major Cain and the Victoria Cross, not just about
:21:05. > :21:16.the outstanding achievements but also major Cain was his
:21:17. > :21:21.father`in`law. We felt nothhng more fitting here in Castletown `s I look
:21:22. > :21:28.across the harbour I can sed his house. To have this memorial here I
:21:29. > :21:41.think is perfect. There is ` fitting on for a Manx war hero. `` on. It is
:21:42. > :21:47.amazing he was so modest he had not even told his daughter he won the
:21:48. > :21:51.Victoria Cross. Yes. Now thd weather is going to be a factor for
:21:52. > :22:01.Lancashire's cricketers over the next few days. They realisthcally
:22:02. > :22:07.need a win to stay up. They fought back today. They were hundrdd and
:22:08. > :22:18.46`7 at one stage ending up 320 all out. Now, a 7 From St Helens is
:22:19. > :22:27.hoping to become the next Stephen Spielberg after filming his on
:22:28. > :22:32.sci`fi movie. He has muscul`r dystrophy and will eventually rely
:22:33. > :22:41.on eve wheel chair. A charity arranged for him to write and record
:22:42. > :22:49.his first feature film. His only hope as he prepared to enter the
:22:50. > :23:00.wormhole! He is seven and s`ving the world. His film was helped to be
:23:01. > :23:08.made by the make a wish foundation. That was far too close but H love
:23:09. > :23:13.these powers. It is a marvellous script and I play this really evil
:23:14. > :23:22.character and baddies are so much fun to play. Today he took his
:23:23. > :23:32.costume and film into school to show his classmates. How does it feel to
:23:33. > :23:40.be a film star? It feels good and it makes you famous. He has muscular
:23:41. > :23:46.dystrophy, as he gets older he will gradually use `` lose the use of his
:23:47. > :23:51.legs and come to rely on a wheel chair. Sometimes he strugglds to
:23:52. > :23:56.keep up because of his condhtion so to show everyone what he can do with
:23:57. > :24:01.his imagination, he has madd these things himself and brought death to
:24:02. > :24:13.life. He has been so popular at school this week. I always wanted to
:24:14. > :24:19.be in a film. Do you remembdr we are to find the chest, how to use the
:24:20. > :24:29.amulet and how to get out again Yes, dad, I will do that, stop
:24:30. > :24:36.worrying. I will get out ag`in. He has got one of his toys herd that he
:24:37. > :24:42.has always had, he is full of beans. This week he walked the red carpet
:24:43. > :24:49.at his own film premiere in St Helens. He arrived by limousine and
:24:50. > :25:01.greeted fans like a true st`r. It was brilliant, really good. He is
:25:02. > :25:09.now planning the sequel. Here's a start, isn't he? That is fantastic.
:25:10. > :25:13.Absolutely brilliant. No dotbt there will be a sequel. Well done to
:25:14. > :25:21.everybody who helped make that film and his rain come true. Now what
:25:22. > :25:29.about the weather? The weather is looking very good indeed. It is fine
:25:30. > :25:37.and fair as we go through this week. Tomorrow will be dry and fine again.
:25:38. > :25:46.This is the forecast I am used `` used to giving you in July. The sun
:25:47. > :25:52.is glinting over the buildings here. We are all dry and fairly clear The
:25:53. > :25:59.cloud cover will disburse as we go through tonight. It can get fairly
:26:00. > :26:06.cool overnight at this time of year. Temperatures around five or 6
:26:07. > :26:13.degrees. Very light winds. @ pocket of mist off of possible tomorrow
:26:14. > :26:19.morning. When you get up first thing tomorrow morning the wind whll be
:26:20. > :26:26.fairly light but the sun will be up at half past six and will start to
:26:27. > :26:32.work its magic. If you look at the areas of cloud, much less than we
:26:33. > :26:37.saw today. Almost uninterrupted sunshine tomorrow. A very lhght
:26:38. > :26:43.breeze coming towards you from the south`east. It all looks very good
:26:44. > :26:50.indeed. You might see 21 Celcius, 70 in Fahrenheit. This is the forecast
:26:51. > :26:55.which would sit very well in July but this is September. The high
:26:56. > :26:59.pressure is keeping weather fronts at bay so we will remain drx and
:27:00. > :27:11.fine and settled for the foreseeable future. Finally, 30 of the world's
:27:12. > :27:20.relist docs have hatched at Chester zoo. There are thought to bd as many
:27:21. > :27:24.in captivity as in the wild. Conservationists are hoping the
:27:25. > :27:34.little ducklings will start bleeding by next year. They are very cute.
:27:35. > :27:43.Now what about the super moon? It is the last one for years. You can see
:27:44. > :27:57.it under clear skies. Good night. Goodbye. Goodbye.
:27:58. > :27:58.Prince Harry has challenged them - now they will challenge each other,
:27:59. > :28:02.more than 400 international competitors.
:28:03. > :28:06.No strangers to battle, all have served their country.
:28:07. > :28:10.Prince Harry has challenged them - now they will challenge each other,
:28:11. > :28:15.pushing their bodies to the limit in the quest for glory.