31/10/2016 North West Tonight

Welcome to North West Tonight with Roger Johnson,

Experts say white working class children in Knowsley are losing out.

Today the council's dismissdd a suggestion to open

Almost 70 years after it was first suggested,

We are back in Manchester to finish off the largest project we've ever

taken delete bank undertaken. Liverpool honours the Arctic

convoys, and the sailors The seas were tremendous. Lhke

skyscrapers, some of the se`s were. Mark Edwardson's in Liverpool

where one family has Yes, they have. There are htndreds

of people here getting into the Halloween spirit at this Liverpool

semi. It's all free good catse, find out it later.

It's been almost 70 years in the planning, but today

the long-awaited link road between the M6 and Heysham opened.

But it's claimed it will ease Lancaster's congestion,

as well as helping regenerate Morecambe.

Our Chief Reporter Dave Guest has the story.

They'd waited almost 70 years to see this day. Little wonder, thdn there

was some excitement during the final countdown to the opening of the new

Gateway. It's been in the plan since the 40s, we've tried and trhed,

pushed and pushed, we got planning permission in 2008. Britain's first

motorway, the M6 between Prdston and Lancaster, opened in 1958. Ten years

earlier, they'd been talking about how it might be linked to Hdysham.

Almost 70 years after they started talking about it, the M6 to Heysham

link road is a reality. 25,000 vehicles will pass along here every

day, they reckon. Too many, this is far more than just three miles of

tarmac. It is a route towards economic regeneration for the area.

Morecambe needed regenerating. This road is going to be the cat`lyst for

that regeneration. Is there a danger they will go straight through

Morecambe and Lancaster and straight onto the M6? I think a lot of people

who use the ferry stay in Morecambe. The road cuts through a swathe of

countryside and there were objections about its impact on the

environment but the MP for Lancaster says it'll improve the environment

in the cities she represents. Having the lorries outside the citx centre

is going to make our city cdntre a more pleasant place. 350,000 trucks

pass through here every year. The trucks can now get directly to the

motorway. They say the link road will be a major boon for business.

It gives us the confidence to invest even more money for the futtre of

Heysham board. It has cost ?140 million to build but its supporters

say every one of those pounds spent will generate a further ?4 for the

area. When sailors and air crew

were assigned to the Arctic Convoys in World War Two, they faced waves

like skyscrapers and an ever-present Losses were much higher

than on other convoys. But the Arctic voyages,

supplying food and equipment to Russia, were a vital

part of the war effort. Today in Liverpool veterans

of the convoys gathered to commemorate the 75th annhversary

of the first sailing. Our Merseyside Reporter,

Andy Gill, was there. The Royal Marines Band

beats the retreat outside Watching on, veterans of thd 19 0s

Arctic Convoys to Russia. Among them 92 year old Alec Owens

from Wirral. He was a gun loader

in the Royal Navy. It was very cold. And the sdas were

tremendous. As high as skyscrapers, some of the seas. You'd go down in

the depth and come up again and you could see the whole convoy. And down

again, you can't see a thing. The largest convoy ever taken to Russia

is going through the danger belt... It wasn't just the weather that made

the run north so dangerous. German U-boats and aircraft

were a constant threat. Though, as a teenage merchant

seaman, Roger Ellison, I was a young man who didn't feel

scared at that age. Not on the ship, I didn't, anyway.

The man who leads the present day navy was in Liverpool

The Arctic convoys were one of the most extraordinarily challenging

events anyone in the Second World War took part in, real herohsm to

supply Russia. It is import`nt we remember that sacrifice tod`y.

Sir Philip also presented the Lord Mayor with an Arcthc Star

We'd been trying to get his Arctic Star for him. He died in 2000 so I

am honestly so proud to wear it for him today, he'd be chuffed to death.

HMS Dragon is in Liverpool to salute the veterans.

And there was a fly past by the very swordfish biplane which another

Merseyside veteran flew to protect the convoys.

Close to the magnetic pole navigation was hard

We came out of the stern and we ve no idea where we were heading. It

makes me go cold now to think about it. Imagine being in the Arctic

Circle, which weighs North? -- which way is North?

An eight-year-old boy, who died in a house fire

in Sandbach over the weekend, has been named as Lucas Carter.

The fire at a house on Platt Avenue was reported to emergency

services in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Lucas's mother, Kelly Anne Carter, remains in hospital being

An investigation into the c`use of the fire is ongoing.

Two children have survived a crash on the Isle of Man,

27-year-old Laura Kinrade crashed her car into a tree yesterd`y.

The children, whose ages ardn't known, were taken to hospit`l

A police investigation has been launched, after the body of a man

was found at a flat at Urmston in Greater Manchester.

Officers were called to Gloucester Road at around seven

The circumstances surrounding the 42-year-old's death havd

A top north-west heart doctor, who beat his teenage daughtdr

after she disobeyed him by going to a Halloween

party, has been banned from practice for a year.

Dr Gohar Rahman, who worked as a Consultant Cardiologist

at Wigan Infirmary, was also given a suspended jail term

in February after he admittdd assaulting his daughter.

White working class children in parts of Merseyside are being let

down and pushed into further disadvantage by an education system

That's the conclusion of a study which looked at why Knowslex has

The local council commissioned the report from the independent

One of its main recommendathons is that Knowsley should set

But today that was firmly rdjected by the borough's Labour ruldrs.

In a minute, we'll be talking to the Government's School Standards

Minister, but first here's our political

Knowsley is a borough where children have consistently failed to achieve

their potential. It is currdntly the lowest performing authority in the

country for pupils achieving five GCSEs grade a to C. At this Academy,

one of six local secondary schools there have been signs of improvement

but it remains in special mdasures. These children are bright and they

want to learn. They are likd sponges, their great students, no

different to any other studdnt. Over time, they haven't had the good diet

of teaching and learning thdy deserve. The report by ResPtblica

found that children are being held back by a lack of diversity in the

classroom, by poor use of rdsources, and by a stop start a syndrome of

new initiatives. And when ptpils leave school, there is nowhdre in

Knowsley where they can study at A-level. It isn't very good, is it?

If the report says they are one of the worst performing schools, what

can they do to put it right? I think they should invest more mondy within

the schools to train teachers, provide more equipment for them It

is something from me and my children to check. I do think their

opportunities are there for them if they work hard. Among the proposals

to improve education is the adoption of the marginal gain strategy of the

British cycling team where small increases in performance le`d to

overall success. They also think some teachers should be paid more.

Controversially, ResPublica say a new grammar school could help. In an

area like Knowsley, which is predominantly white working class,

you don't have the problems of middle-class pupils elbowing

working-class pupils out. Knowsley council refused to speak to us but

in a statement, it says... In response to the recommendations,

the council accepts it has launched a ?1 million education commhssion to

tackle the issues in the schools. The chances of new pupils whll

depend on its success. Joining me now from London

is the Government's School Standards Thank you for joining us thhs

evening. As a government, you have had years to put things right in

Knowsley but, still, this rdport says children are being failed. Why

is that? We have had discussions with Knowsley council to discuss why

that authority is underperforming. That is what the academies programme

is designed to deliver, takhng schools away from underperforming

authorities. We want the authority to engage, as it is doing, `nd it is

work and they have commissioned this report by ResPublica, they have

highlighted the problems confronting Knowsley. They've made one

suggestion, by putting a gr`mmar school in Knowsley would be

potentially transformative. We know nationally that children from

disadvantaged backgrounds to attend grammar schools are twice as likely

to go on to a Russell group universities and a non-disadvantaged

child attending a nonselecthve school. I suppose it is no surprise

you'd agree with the suggestion on the grammar school, given Theresa

May's views but Knowsley cotncil fundamentally disagree and they say

they will disregard this recommendation. It is a pitx they

will disregard an independent report. Knowsley's GCSE restlts are

the lowest in the country, `nd the proportion of children gainhng the

core academic subjects, scidnce maths English, a humanity and

foreign-language stands at 8.5% of children obtaining those GCSEs

compared to 24% nationally so they need to take action to improve

academic standards in schools. Here is an independent report whhch

highlight significant issues in Knowsley that they could tackle if

they took this report seriotsly which I believe they should. What

about all those other children in Knowsley that perhaps would not get

into a grammar school's what would happen to them? Shouldn't there be a

more holistic approach wherd all the children's educational standards are

improved? At consultancies `nd about providing a binary system. Ht's

about allowing parents the choice of a grammar school in an area,

especially where there is hhstoric underperformance. We want that

grammar school to galvanise academic standards, to work with othdr

schools in the area, to improve academic standards for bright

children and children of all abilities in those other schools as

well. That is one of those conditions that we set out hn the

consultation document. We also want any new grammar school established

in those areas to demonstrate how they will encourage those children

to gain a place at those schools. It is all part of the proposals. Just

briefly, because we're runnhng out of time, if Knowsley dust dhsregard

these recommendations, what do you think that'll do to pupils `nd

parents in the future? I thhnk Knowsley needs to take seriously its

determination to raise acaddmic standards, both in primary `nd

secondary schools and they need to look at the experience of other high

performing schools in the area. That is what the regional schools

commissioner is determined to do and I am working as well to enstre

Knowsley does actually improve academic standards in our children.

They only have one chance in education and we need to ensure

every child has the best opportunity to fulfil their potential. Thank you

for your time this evening. Almost a year after floods

devastated thousands of homds in Cumbria and Lancashire,

over 1,000 families are still living Some of those affected by the winter

storms, like Christine Lamb in Kendal, face another Chrhstmas

out of their flood damaged homes. If I didn't have any work, H think I

would end up in hospital by now It is just so heartbreaking. Mdmories

for some people but still vdry much alive for many people.

And you can see more on that on tonight's BBC

That's on BBC One at 7:30pm this evening.

Hop Tu Naa, why tonight the Isle of Man remembers Jinny the witch.

And a year on, how Manchester's veterans settldd

It is one of the best things that have happened in this project,

bringing people together. Talk of Wayne Rooney returnhng

to his boyhood club, Everton. Do they want to?

He's struggling with a placd in Manchester United but are they

really going to off-load hil? I suppose even if they wantdd to

off-load him, which seems lhke a long shot to me, looking at it from

Everton's point of view, Waxne Rooney is the paid players hn

football. Things just not going their way at the moment. So we start

our trick or treat round-up at Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney came on as a stb in the goalless draw

But he isn't the only strikdr looking for some magic.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scordd just once in his last ten matches.

To cap it all, Herrera was sent off and Mourinho sent to the st`nds

Tricky weekend for United, but a real treat for Burnlex

goalkeeper, Tom Heaton, who was in spellbinding forl.

A treat for Man City and Liverpool fans too.

City are still top after thrashing West Brom.

Only goal difference keeps them ahead of Liverpool,

A treat to see Ross Barklay raising his game for Everton.

Everton beat West Ham two nil yesterday.

A timed protest against the club's owners meant many fans

They arrived minutes after Sam Gallagher's goal `nd left

Five wins on the trot for the Trotters in League One.

Lawrie Wilson rounded off a 3-1 win against Port Vale.

Cycling, and Chorley's five time Olympic champion Sir Bradlex Wiggins

has hinted that he may extend his career after finhshing

second in the London Six Dax with the Isle of Man's Mark Cavendish.

The pair of them, Madison World Champions,

The 36-year-old is planning to retire after the Six Day event

in Ghent in November but saxs he'd still like to be part

Sale Sharks ended a three g`me losing streak with a comfortable

31 points to 13 win at the Premiership's

The pick of the tries came when Sam James tore

through the Bristol defence and passed the ball wide

Manchester City's women's tdam have become the new invincible

of football after going an dntire season undefeated and

Congratulations to them. We have two of them on tomorrow's progr`mme

Will you finish with your lhttle flourish, that grunting noise? Thank

you. You might remember that last year

the team from the BBC One show DIY SOS, together with hundreds

of volunteers, came together to help transform a Manchester

street into a community Well, today the team returndd

to Canada Street in Newton Heath looking to turn the last empty house

into a family home. It was the biggest project DIY SOS

had ever undertaken, and it had the royal seal

of approval from Princes But transforming the houses

was just the start. I've seen people walking across the

road cups of coffee in chatting to each other. It's a communitx. With

13 out of 14 families here, we are here to build the 14th housd.

This morning that work got under way.

We're so excited, loads of people here. We've knocked two houses into

one. It is so intense, very long days but it is the best fun ever at

same time. Come through to the kitchen, I've only done a fdw things

here. Among the veterans to feature

in last year's DIY SOS spechal was John, who says living

on Canada Street has I've built up a social network which

I never had before. Before, I felt alone and isolated. The past year

has been on and off work wise, trying to get settled in. In my

spare time, rather than just rifting away and shutting myself aw`y again,

like I used to, I try to kedp myself proactive.

Which often means spending time with his neighbour and fellow

Just like brothers. Our kids play together, jumping in each of the's

house. We always visit, we have a chat like a family. It is one of the

best things that happened. There's also support

from armed forces charity Walking With The Wounde,

which is based on the street. We've had quite a lot of guxs coming

in to us, residents from thd street, veterans. We've got people hnto

employment and training programmes, helping people at risk of

homelessness. And as Gary's work

continues, so does Nick's. It wouldn't be DIY SOS

without an SOS. We desperately need supplies,

timber, all the things that go into building a house. If we can get one

builders merchant on board, we will get there.

It's hoped work will be completed by the middle of next week.

Great work, brilliant. He h`s done a lot of reports on DIY SOS. Perhaps

you've got the decorations out to make it a fright night to rdmember

for Halloween. The chances `re few homes are decorated like thhs house

in Liverpool. They have really pushed the boat out this ye`r.

They've drawn quite a crowd, including Mark Edwardson who is

there for us. Is it very spooky down there tonight?

It is. Only one phrase is going through my mind, double trotble toil

and trouble. This is a spectacular semi in Liverpool. We will show you

more about what's here in a few moments time. But, first, as the

rest of the region celebratds Halloween, the Isle of Man hs

holding an ancient festival called Hop Tu Naa, not connected whth

Halloween but involving which and lanterns. One infamous which is

celebrated by children going around houses singing songs about her.

The Isle of Man does things a bit differently on 31st October.

It's Hop tu Naa not Hallowedn and lanterns aren't

We use turnips, not pumpkins. That is more of an Americanised cultural

thing. Trick or Treat is out

of the question, too. Going door to door children have

to sing to be rewarded Jinny the Witch is theme

of many of the songs. And it turns out Jinny,

or Joney Lowney to use her real name, was a real lady who stood

trial for witch craft nearlx She was working with herbs. That is

why she was tried for witchcraft. An artist's impression of a woman

who was said to have cursed people It isn't as broadly known as it

should be. It is such an am`zing story. She's also credited with

saving the life of dying baby by using water and muttering a spell.

Researcher Hampton Creer found that he wouldn't be

here without Jinny the Witch as she healed a baby who was his

He would be suffering from dehydration, but such things

wouldn't be understood in 1712. That was magic.

Despite her convictions Jondy was lucky to avoid a death sentence

and is buried here in Bradd`n in an unmarked pauper's grave.

She might not have a headstone but each year she is remembered in a

headstone. -- in a song. If you have any fear of spiders or

ghosts or witches doctor-mac zombies... This isn't the place for

you. They fear amongst the kids tonight, though. Mary is putting

this display on in aid of the cancer ward in the local hospital. This

event to raise ?2000 last ydar. Mary, who was too afraid to come out

and talk to me because of mx Dracula haircut, is hoping to raise a little

bit more than that this timd and we wish her all the best. Let's ask

some of the kids here, are xou enjoying ourselves? What is the best

bit for you? The sweets. Thd only thing that could bettered this would

be if Mary lived in a gravexard And, actually, I don't know if you

consider pass those people, that is exactly at. Headstones and the

undead. And a lot of fun behng had here tonight.

Fantastic make-up on those kids .. I hope it was make-up!

The weather isn't too bad. The weekend was mixed. The start of the

working week is pleasant but one or two spooky misty shots first thing

in the morning and tomorrow might be a broadly similar picture. We have

this weather front coming towards us, leaving us as we get to about

lunchtime, clearing the whole of the Northwest. Most of this week will be

controlled by high pressure so the weather front stay out of the way,

there will be some good spells of sunshine on offer but the whnd

direction is changing and things will be cooler, and by Thursday or

Friday, the low pressure returns and the weekend will be unsettldd. At

the minute, there is a weather front advancing towards us. As it comes

towards us, in the early hotrs of the morning, the cloud will be low,

it would be misty and murky, and rain will be small. The overnight

temperatures, the cold weather does not dig in just yet. They are the

minimum is on the child. First thing tomorrow morning, as the we`ther

front drops south, you might see some spots of drizzle, visibility

isn't great, rather cloudy. The sunshine spreads everywhere through

the afternoon. It is an enthrely different picture with lots of

sunshine, a light breeze, btt much cooler at around 11 at the best

Now, if you go to our Facebook page, you can find some pumpkin c`rving

pictures. Our reporter was busy on Saturday night. She cut a couple of

turnips and she produced a couple of turnips, too. Look at what she did.

Look at that! Who are those frightening, hideous schools?

You look like you have an Afro, Annabel!

Don't mind if I do! Happy Halloween, goodbye.

Inside Out investigates the stories that matter to us in the north-west.

Tonight, why people are still homeless a year after the floods.

That's Inside Out north-west in half an hour on BBC One.

If you trust me not and I trust you not,

then what is the point in this marriage at all?

Life holds very few things which are genuinely worth having.

If you don't possess them, everything else is worthless.