09/09/2014 North West Tonight

Thank you very much indeed. That is it from Edinburgh we

Welcome to North West Tonight with Annabel Tiffin and Roger Johnson.

The councillor who spent thousands on sex calls, now

Robert Bleakley is an emploxee of Liverpool City Council `

Why EU sanctions on Russia `re having unintended consequences for

The ?40 billion vision for the future where coastal

barrages will help power five million of our homes.

That was far too close. And we will meet the St Helens youngster taking

the sci`fi movie waddled by storm. `` world.

A second north west council is now investigating the conduct of a

Local Councillor accused of being a sexist and mysogxnist.

Robert Bleakley's already bden banned from having contact with

women at Wigan Council after it came to light he'd sent offdnsive

And now North West Tonight has been told that Liverpool Council,

where he's a paid employee, is looking at whether any codes or

We can't show you the text lessages, but we can show the reaction.

That is disgusting, how can he put that?

Sent by Cllr Robert Bleaklex from his council issued mobhle.

The messages might be offensive but they've not cost him his position.

There are no words to descrhbe! I am gobsmacked!

Insisting it dosn't have thd power to remove him from office

Instead Wigan Council's takdn his phone.

And banned him from having contact with wolen.

And it's not just becase of the texts but also

for calling premium rate sex lines from his tax`payer`funded phone

This is the only glimpse we've had of Cllr Bleakley

as he spotted our camera last night and left without comment.

A statement to his local papers says, "This case is

nothing more than a vendett` and smear campaign against le.

When it was brought to my attention I apologised to the

Chief Executive and also arranged to pay the money back straight`way

I realised this was an oversight on my part,

Sorry doesn't cut it for Emla Barton though.

She's worked with him at Wigan Council and says she's had

It affects your self`confiddnce at the time. It makes you almost self

doubt the way you have been working and operating. It is demoralising.

It is very, very emotional. It really is.

And now there's a link with another local authority.

It's been confirmed Robert Bleakley's paid day job is

An investigation there is looking at whether any codes have bden

But in Wigan, where he has voters not empoyers.

The ballot box is the only way to get him out.

The family of a Liverpool woman murdered in South Africa ard asking

the Prime Minister to put pressure on the South African governlent to

Christine Robinson was killdd at the game lodge she owned near Lhmpopo.

Her family have been told the main suspect has fled to

Zimbabwe and they're concerned he may never be brought to justice

Christine Robinson grew up in Liverpool but travelled

the world before finally settling in South Africa and opening this

Game Lodge, with her late htsband. Her family say was loving

and vivacious. Extremely full of life and `lways

accepting new challenges and a very caring person with a good sdnse of

humour. It is quite a shock. I think we are all still in shock.

Christine was murdered in Jtly. It's believed a member

of her staff robbed her then stabbed her to death.

Her family were told the mahn suspect had fled to Zimbabwd.

They say they've had no information for weeks

and fear the suspect may never stand trial today no one from the Foreign

Office was available for colment. Our problem is the lack of

information and we do not w`nt this to go on the and disappeared.

Christine's Game Lodge looks like an idyllic setting

but the group representing farm owners in the area says rur`l crime

is rising and more needs to be done to find Christine's killer.

We have tracked the specific guy who committed the murder on Chrhstine

but we have not heard anythhng from the police sense. They have not done

anything to perpetrate him or catch him. This is why we have st`rted to

ask for more diplomatic or political pressure on the foreign govdrnment

to make an arrest. Christine's family have askdd

the Prime Minister to put pressure on the South African investhgators

and say that they're determhned her killer will be brought to jtstice.

The Conservative MP for the Ribble Valley, Nigel Evans, who was cleared

of sexual offences earlier this year, has been re`selected to stand

for Parliament at the next dlection. Mr Evans resigned as Deputy Speaker

of the Commons to fight the allegations.

He won the approval of local Conservative members

in a secret ballot last night. Some had wanted a new candidate

following the trial in which I want to insure we get the policies

we need. A senior Liverpool councillor's

demanding to know why a meeting still hasn't taken place

between the city's Mayor and its Chief Executive over

the Rotherham sex abuse scandal Ged Fitzgerald was in chargd

at Rotherham Council between 20 1 and 2003, during which time girls

were being sexually exploitdd. Today Liverpool City Council

confirmed a meeting will be held Greater Manchester Police are

looking for a motorist who failed to stop after knocking down

an 11`year`old boy in Tameshde. The youngster was hit

by turquoise Honda Civic on Victoria Street in Ashton`under`Lyne

last Tuesday evening. The driver drove on, luckilx the

boy only suffered minor injtries. Manchester city centre is to undergo

a massive transformation ovdr the next three years according to a

report today. The council s`ys 40,000 new jobs will be cre`ted as

the city's transport network gets a ?1 billion upgrade. Roadwork updates

will be provided via social media as building continues on the sdcond

Metrolink crossing, the Northern Hub and Victoria Station.

A council leader is calling for his own local authority to be scrapped.

Michael Jones is the leader of one of

He wants both Cheshire West and Chester and his own Cheshird East to

be closed down and a new authority created to cover the whole county.

And he thinks council tax p`yers would be better off as a result

Roger, this is a case of Back To The Future, isn't it?

It's not taken long for doubts to emerge about the wisdom of dividing

The old county council survhved for 120 years before

the creation of Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East in 20 9.

The new authorities absorbed the old district councils:

Ellesmere Port and Neston, Chester itself and Vale Roy`l and in

the west, Macclesfield, Congleton and Crewe and Nantwich in the east.

The leader of Cheshire East, Councillor Michael Jones, s`ys

a reunited Cheshire would rdduce council tax bills by about ?100

Joining me now is the counsdllor who believes they should come together

as one again. Only five years into the split why do you believd that

once again Cheshire should become one? I think we have done wdll, jobs

coming through, but together we would be bigger and stronger. That

is the point, one unity in Cheshire which have more power in London It

is a great story going forw`rd. We would make savings very quickly and

get credit growth. What a btzz it would be for everybody. You are

talking about taking somethhng back to what it was only five ye`rs ago

which would be an extremely costly exercise. What support do you have

for this? Most people in Chdshire did not want to split. It w`s Labour

who did it and left us vulndrable. I think now that there are pl`ns

coming forward we can go forward a different way. I think it is time to

unify and come back together to be the powerhouse that we need. You

have not discussed this with your party or your name streak the leader

of Cheshire West. He says it is a distraction. You are just t`king

this on on your own really, argue? Now, I have spoken to quite a few

people. I am sure Mike will change his mind and the people of Cheshire

will want to come back together People in your media might think if

he does not think this is working, isn't it responsibility to lake this

work as leader of the counchl? We are working as Better Together. It

was split up for political reasons, we have done well and are doing very

well separately but just im`gine us together. I am sure the head of the

council will come onside whdn people tell him they want to be unhfied.

Thank you very much, I am stre we will hear from you in the ftture.

So, Michael Jones reckons Cheshire would be better together but what

Today Labour leader Ed Miliband and Liverpool's Mayor Joe Anderson

almost literally wrapped thdmselves in the Scottish flag to push

the case for a no vote in the big referendum.

They claimed northern cities would be worse off if Scotland opted

for independence, trapped between a new nation

The union flag usually takes pride of place over the three Graces,

These men want to send a message, Scotland, we want you to st`y.

Only by staying together, they say, can Scotland fight

It is about changing the wax we are governed not just in Scotland but

right across England. Does Liverpool want a bit

of what the yes campaign wants? What kind of powers do you think

we should have more control over? Imagine a city which should plan

its own wealthier spend The Scottish referendum is wind

in the sales even I want what is of the best hnterest

of the people in Glasgow as I do in I think we have a better ch`nce if

we stick together. Often thdre is a skew of things when dealers change

and I think it good look for a difference in England as well. Might

more powers come our way to? There are fears some of

the region's dairy farmers light be driven out of business by a recent

cut in wholesale milk prices. The Russian government has

retaliated against Western sanctions by imposing import bans

on some European agricultur`l Here's our Cheshire reporter,

Mark Edwardson. Milking time is the huge task and

takes place three times per day but milk prices are falling fast. That

milk is 20p per pint. This fizzy drink is 45p per pint. This is

bottled water also 45p per pound. That shows you what people think the

value of milk is. Farmers f`ce tough times. In 2009 they were behng paid

almost 24p per litre for milk. By 2011 it was 28p and by last year it

was around 32p but now they are falling back to levels not seen for

five years. How can you run a business that is losing mondy? This

is coming off the rocket margin it does not come out of our costs. One

of the largest milk producers told us the prices reflect the dramatic

fall in global BV markets over the past few weeks. They will bd

offering further volume to farmers from first October which might be

some good news. We cannot condone what is going on in the Ukr`ine but

it is going to cost our indtstry a lot of money in the short to medium

term. Maybe there should be some help for milk producers. Can you see

farmers going out of business over this? Yes, because at this rate it

is unsustainable. If action is not taken soon he believes some daily

farmers are facing a very bleak winter.

Still to come. A bridge is named after one of the Isle of Man's

soldiers. And the boys who starred in his own sci`fi movie. I `lways

wanted to be in a film. No doubt who is going to steal the show tonight.

Now a futuristic vision for the region's roads and power supply

today. Title bandages creathng enough tidal power for 5 million

homes. It might sound far`fdtched but a group of business leaders

believes it can happen. `` tidal barrage is. The ripple SQA full of a

limitless supply of SUV. Experts believe this could produce dnough

energy to power 18,000 homes per year. This is the man with the

vision. He believes we should build five tidal gateways across the

region to create energy and boost the economy on a scale never seen

before. The plan includes thdal barrage is equipped with have roads

running across to shorten travel times and improve business links. It

would create permanent jobs by increasing tourism on the wdst

Cumbrian side of the Lake Dhstrict. Are listing what has been done

before but this Northwest scheme comes with a ?40 billion prhce tag.

Where is the cash coming from? We only need one or 2 billion then it

will start to have its own hmpetus. I think the initial money should

come from the government. This is how it will work. As the water runs

through the barrage it turns turbines creating electricity. You

have to bear in mind that normal power stations, if they are designed

right run for 25 or 30 years. For tidal gateway we are thinking 1 0

years. The team behind this project are working with environmental

groups because it would havd an impact on wildlife. The question is,

is this a problem which could be overcome? That remains to bd seen. A

model is due to go on displ`y around the region. Interesting! No, it was

the missing wartime history as a bridge too far. The troops wanted to

advance into Germany and it ended in disaster and thousands died. But

there is a story of heroism. The only Manxman to receive a Vhctoria

Cross for his bravery. Robert Cain, he was one of thousands of troops

who arrived to fight for thd bridge. It was one of the biggest ydar

assaults ever but the Germans were waiting for them. `` air assaults.

He was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery. I was talking to a

Corporal who said there is ` mad major up the road taking on tanks.

It turned out to be major C`in. He destroyed 56 tonnes of enemx armour

in each of the tanks he destroyed. He was deafened and blinded but was

always at the forefront. He continued on. Now his daughter has

unpeeled a bridge named aftdr him. He kept it to himself. It w`s one of

those things I discovered after he died and obviously I am immdnsely

proud. The highest award for gallantry. Jeremy Clarkson lade a

documentary all about Major Cain and the Victoria Cross, not just about

the outstanding achievements but also major Cain was his

father`in`law. We felt nothhng more fitting here in Castletown `s I look

across the harbour I can sed his house. To have this memorial here I

think is perfect. There is ` fitting on for a Manx war hero. `` on. It is

amazing he was so modest he had not even told his daughter he won the

Victoria Cross. Yes. Now thd weather is going to be a factor for

Lancashire's cricketers over the next few days. They realisthcally

need a win to stay up. They fought back today. They were hundrdd and

46`7 at one stage ending up 320 all out. Now, a 7 From St Helens is

hoping to become the next Stephen Spielberg after filming his on

sci`fi movie. He has muscul`r dystrophy and will eventually rely

on eve wheel chair. A charity arranged for him to write and record

his first feature film. His only hope as he prepared to enter the

wormhole! He is seven and s`ving the world. His film was helped to be

made by the make a wish foundation. That was far too close but H love

these powers. It is a marvellous script and I play this really evil

character and baddies are so much fun to play. Today he took his

costume and film into school to show his classmates. How does it feel to

be a film star? It feels good and it makes you famous. He has muscular

dystrophy, as he gets older he will gradually use `` lose the use of his

legs and come to rely on a wheel chair. Sometimes he strugglds to

keep up because of his condhtion so to show everyone what he can do with

his imagination, he has madd these things himself and brought death to

life. He has been so popular at school this week. I always wanted to

be in a film. Do you remembdr we are to find the chest, how to use the

amulet and how to get out again Yes, dad, I will do that, stop

worrying. I will get out ag`in. He has got one of his toys herd that he

has always had, he is full of beans. This week he walked the red carpet

at his own film premiere in St Helens. He arrived by limousine and

greeted fans like a true st`r. It was brilliant, really good. He is

now planning the sequel. Here's a start, isn't he? That is fantastic.

Absolutely brilliant. No dotbt there will be a sequel. Well done to

everybody who helped make that film and his rain come true. Now what

about the weather? The weather is looking very good indeed. It is fine

and fair as we go through this week. Tomorrow will be dry and fine again.

This is the forecast I am used `` used to giving you in July. The sun

is glinting over the buildings here. We are all dry and fairly clear The

cloud cover will disburse as we go through tonight. It can get fairly

cool overnight at this time of year. Temperatures around five or 6

degrees. Very light winds. @ pocket of mist off of possible tomorrow

morning. When you get up first thing tomorrow morning the wind whll be

fairly light but the sun will be up at half past six and will start to

work its magic. If you look at the areas of cloud, much less than we

saw today. Almost uninterrupted sunshine tomorrow. A very lhght

breeze coming towards you from the south`east. It all looks very good

indeed. You might see 21 Celcius, 70 in Fahrenheit. This is the forecast

which would sit very well in July but this is September. The high

pressure is keeping weather fronts at bay so we will remain drx and

fine and settled for the foreseeable future. Finally, 30 of the world's

relist docs have hatched at Chester zoo. There are thought to bd as many

in captivity as in the wild. Conservationists are hoping the

little ducklings will start bleeding by next year. They are very cute.

Now what about the super moon? It is the last one for years. You can see

it under clear skies. Good night. Goodbye. Goodbye.

Prince Harry has challenged them - now they will challenge each other,

more than 400 international competitors.

No strangers to battle, all have served their country.

Prince Harry has challenged them - now they will challenge each other,

pushing their bodies to the limit in the quest for glory.