29/11/2011 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Hello, welcome to Look North. In the programme tonight:

The strikers meet the minister. Ahead of tomorrow's public sector

stoppages, can the Government persuade trade unionists there is a

better way? Also tonight, get ready for Olympic

football. The man in charge of the London Games launches ticket sales

at the North's only venue. You must be joking - one mother's

campaign to get comedian Jimmy Carr to drop a gag about Down's syndrome.

And a new source of power, the crematorium that is planning to

generate electricity. In sport, we meet the amateur

boxing club that is punching above its weight.

And we meet the first of our unsung heroes, each with the chance to

represent the region at the BBC's It will be the biggest strike in

Britain for over 30 years, and it is just a few hours away. Public

sector workers from across our region are preparing to walk out

over a pensions row. The unions say ministers want to fight, the

Government reckons militants are behind it all. Confrontation seems

inevitable. So, what would happen if three trade unionists from our

region came face-to-face with a cabinet minister? Our political

correspondent Mark Denten found out. Tomorrow, 300,000 people from the

North East and Cumbria will go on strike. This is a story about just

three trade unionists. When I first signed up, it was on final salary

and a percentage of Cassani Wood, per month. Now it could net --

could turn out to be less at the end of the day. The teachers'

pension pot looks like it has been burgled. I don't think a strike of

one day at a time we have the desired outcome. It is taking away

the services that people in Cumbria are entitled to. They consider

their last resort to defend the terms and conditions. Are three

trade unionists have never met, but Look North has brought them

together in London for a special meeting. Karen, Jimmy and Pauline

have come to the Treasury to meet Danny Alexander. The money we were

promised was in a pension pot and was sufficiently sustainable. How

come that is now eroded? We feel like we have been burgled.

reason why we believe change is necessary is because of a fact of

life that is going on for everybody in the country. What is that we are

all living longer. I have seen very good colleagues lose their jobs.

And now we are expecting to pay more contributions each month.

lot of people across the Government sector are relatively low pay. They

are expected pay more into their pension scheme, which could make it

affordable. Anyone who earns less than �50,000 per year, there is no

change at all to the pension contribution. When will we get

something a clarity about what will happen? That is what the

frustration has built up with teaching in particular. I find it

very frustrating, to be honest with you, that the union leaders are

still saying they want to go on strike, it could be better to say,

let us not go on strike no, let's take this discussion as far as they

can. Then, if you don't like what we come up with, it is your right

to go on strike. I would defend that right. So go -- so, has he

convinced his visitors? I don't think he understands the process

and the procedures. It is a mixed communications that in the game

negotiations run the table between -- and what is happening on the

fund man. Will you still be going on strike? I will be there to

support my union members. He has not said anything he hasn't said

before. Will you still go on strike? Absolutely. Three still

unhappy workers, and time running out for a settlement.

And if you would like your say on the strike, Look North's hot seats

will be in Durham's Market Place between 10 o'clock and 11.30

tomorrow morning. You can put your question face to face to the trade

unions and the politicians. Meanwhile, the Chancellor's Autumn

Statement revealed that the Government is to offer extra tax

breaks to businesses in the North East. George Osborne said that

firms in the region's two enterprise zones would get

incentives to invest in buildings and machinery. That could benefit

businesses in parts of Teesside, Tyneside, Wearside, Northumberland

and Durham. Another �1 billion will also be put into a Regional Growth

Fund for companies. But George Osborne also announced a review of

public sector pay to see if teachers, social workers and civil

servants should be paid more in the An inquest into the death of the

former Newcastle midfielder Gary Speed has been opened and adjourned.

Tributes are continuing to pour in from the world of football for the

42 year-old manager of the Welsh national team who was found hanged

at his home in Chester at the weekend. Alan Shearer was one of

his closest friends and has given a poignant, personal interview to BBC

Radio about how the tragedy has affected both their families.

I am still numb. So shocked. You read things in the newspapers, it

does not happen to one of your best mates. I was with him on Saturday

afternoon, watching Stoke against Blackburn. He was coming up to stay

at Our is next weekend. We were going to a charity dinner. I left

the studio and shook his hand. I walked to old Trafford to what

Newcastle and said, I will see you next weekend. My wife is in bits,

as you can imagine. We keep thinking of poor Louise and his two

children. He was just an incredible guy, really. What you would

describe as a proper bloke, a proper man. You could rely and

A 47 year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the

robbery of a pensioner in a North Yorkshire village yesterday. An 84

year-old woman was attacked with a hammer in public toilets in Leyburn

by another woman, who escaped with the large amount of cash. The

victim has since been released from hospital following treatment for

head injuries. A public meeting about the possible

closure of three care homes in West Cumbria takes place in Workington

this evening. Cumbria County Council plans to close homes in

Aspatria, Distington and Workington as part of a cost-cutting exercise.

The plans have met fierce opposition from locals.

Lord Coe has been in Newcastle today to promote its hosting of

Olympic football next summer. Newcastle United is the only club

in the region to be holding any Olympic football fixtures. There

has been a lot of adverse reaction to Newcastle owner Mike Ashley

renaming the historic ground. But Lord Coe confirmed what we told you

at the time of that announcement, that whatever the ground is called

by next summer, it will revert to St James's Park for the Olympic

matches. Peter Harris is live at the ground now. Peter, it sounded

as though Lord Coe was quite fond of the old name.

Lord Coe is a St James's Park fan, that is clear. The name is still up,

but these days, it is now called the Sports Direct are rain and that

has upset a few people. But Lord Coe is here to talk about the

Olympic football matches. -- Sports Direct Arena. He made it clear that

for the few weeks of the Olympics, this place must be called St

James's park. It is in James's for the Olympics, and if I am being

honest, it will probably always be St James's Park. Have you community

Kate -- communicated that Newcastle United? That is an understanding,

we do that at individual branding in our stadiums and that goes for

every Olympic sport. Not even our own sponsors are able to Brant

around the Olympic Games. That is what makes the game's unique.

one week in July, it is in James's park. One meet in July. Do we know

which teams will be playing at St James's Park?

We still don't know. That is because the draw isn't made until

April. Lord Coe was here because today, they had put 1.5 million

tickets on sale for the games at the various venues. There are six

of them, including Newcastle. Until that draw is made, people will not

know today are getting to see. But he things because of the passion

for football up here, people will still want to book their tickets.

We could see Brazil, we could see Spain, and if you do want to come,

those tickets are priced between �20.40 pounds and then you come to

the at then picks at least, he will know you are sitting in St James's

park. -- to the Olympics. How far should comedians be allowed

to go when telling a joke? These days, it seems the riskier, the

funnier. But is a joke about Down's syndrome children funny? One

Tyneside mother does not think so. She is livid over a joke made by

Jimmy Carr, a joke she found to be so insensitive, she has demanded he

remove it from his routine. Sharon Jimmy Carr made Adele Joicey laugh.

The theme in most theme parks is waiting line, fatty. She had been

going through a tough time, coming to terms with her daughter's Down's

syndrome diagnosis. She thought a night out to see the comedian in

Newcastle would cheer her up. But she left in tears. I did have a

feeling wash over me, thinking, please don't say anything about

Down's syndrome. But that is what he did. He made this joke about the

sunshine variety coaches. It was awful. Just to sit there and listen

to everybody laugh, I was just looking around, and I just thought,

that's it. Times haven't changed. My daughter is good to have a life

of ridicule. Jobs at her expense and it was just really hard. --

jokes. Adele was furious, and wrote to the comedian, asking him to stop

these jokes, which she said, cuts those that are affected too deeply.

She requested that in future, no further jokes be made concerning

Down's syndrome, or indeed any learning disability, as jokes of

this nature only serve to increase the stigma are already faced. She

heard nothing. We contacted Jimmy Carr's agent and management team,

but they refused to speak to us about her complain. But she says

she is speaking out against this kind of humour, determined to see a

change in attitude. She is going to have a more difficult life than

most, because of the syndrome. The last thing she needs is people

His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester has been in Carlisle

today to officially open the new Roman Frontier Gallery at the

Tullie House Museum. The Duke was met by the city's mayor and other

local dignitaries before touring the attraction. The exhibition

explores the Roman occupation of the North of England.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has given almost a quarter of a million

pounds to help protect red squirrels in the North East. The

money is being given to the Northumberland Wildlife Trust,

which is running a four year project to monitor and record

squirrel activity and the role they play in the North East's ecosystem.

Many of the remaining 15,000 red squirrels in England live in the

North East. Coming up later, we have an update

from Bryony Balen, the Newcastle University student who has set off

to ski to the South Pole. And another piece of public art is

unveiled. But at �250,000, is the price too much to swallow in these

And we leave autumn behind and head into winter. I will have the

These days we can turn almost anything into electricity. Wind,

water, even newer. How about harnessing power from the heat

generated from the furnaces at a crematorium? Kramer -- Durham

crematorium could be the first crematorium in the country to make

money that way. We have a busy day ahead. You can

see the orange glow it there. all have a fair idea of what

happens after the Coughton -- curtain draws back and the coffin

disappears. This is the sign of a crematorium that we very seldom see

and for good reason. Next year three new furnaces will go online

and the heat generated from one will be used in the crematorium

itself. The other two could have wider uses. The legislation has

given as an option to recycle the heat. The heat that we use is

generated by the gas that is used to heat the cremator. This is a

busy place. 2000 cremations take place here every year and each of

the Three carmakers can produce 250 kilowatts of energy a year. -- 3

cremate us. Potentially, they could produce an income of several �1,000

a month for the crematorium. make money out of death in all

shapes often -- in all shapes and forms. Funeral directors do,

crematoriums do. It is at first thought a controversial issue, a

subject that needs some reflection. We may as well put something back

into the air. It is sensibility I suppose, using heat. I guess it is

something useful to do, a way of recycling. I know it is weird that

it is bodies but it is probably quite useful. If approved, it will

be 2013 before any Powell would be harnessed and with 75% of us

preferring burial -- cremation at over burial, or it could be well

received. It is a complete waste of money

when libraries, committees and sports centres are being closed.

That is the claim from some after a quarter of a million pounds was

spent on public got work in Middlesbrough. A local council says

the sculpture will create a vibrant environment and says the money from

the project was secured from the previous Government five years ago.

The metal installation takes inspiration from a field of waving

corn. Sat on a roundabout on one of the main routes into Middlesbrough,

it is designed to enhance the commercial and business areas. Not

everyone is a fan. I don't know anybody that once it. It is not a

great idea because they are thinking this is going, that is

going, but what they have put there. Don't just have Leigh plant is

there and keep your fingers crossed that we are going to like it. --

don't just put that there. Support for this is not easy to find.

didn't know what it was but when I found out how much it cost, I

didn't think it was worth the money. It looks like a pile of scrap.

it is meant to be a cornfield, for quarter of a million pounds I could

have made a good garden shed out of the timber. To carry out a thorough

investigation, I took matters into Some support. Middlesbrough Council

says it is part of their long-term strategy to attract businesses and

companies to the town by making it more exciting and vibrant for

people looking to invest. It stresses that the money came from

One NorthEast and the Government's growth business found. People say

at a time of cuts and closures could be quarter of a million

pounds not be spent on people -- on something people actually wanted.

At Bryony Balen, the Newcastle University student who set off to

ski to the self poll has -- South Pole has had a surprise.

Temperatures have been above freezing. They still know though

that it will get worse. Bright in the aims to become the

youngest Briton to ski 700 miles to the South Pole. She has trained

very hard and they are in good spirits. We still haven't had a bad

day yet. We have a positive mindset. We settled down into the routine of

camp and getting used to the food and the tent. We weren't expecting

such wonderful weather. We have brilliant sunshine, virtually no

wind at all and you can see for miles. We keep joking that we could

be in the Bahamas. It will take her two months to reach the South Pole

where temperatures now are around - He was me doing my hair.

-- here was me. I was talking about Onto sport and two of our teams are

in action tonight. Hartlepool are looking to get back to winning ways

as they come up against Preston. Middlesbrough have a big game at

the Riverside. They take on second- placed West Ham and knowing a win

could move them to. Behind their promotion rivals.

They are four games unbeaten but it has been a frustrating run of

results for Tony Mowbray's side. Two draws against Blackpool and we

thought we should have taken maximum points. We fell short in

both games. Hopefully the team accused those frustration moments

and put them into the next matches. Tonight they host West Ham who are

looking for their 4th win in a row. You can keep reading them off. They

have huge Premier League experience. Let's hope the margins go away and

we get three points. He could be forced to put a front line that is

different as they have some injuries.

Pool's take on Preston North End having lost their last six home

games. Both those games are on BBC Tees.

The boxes of Birtley Young People's Club have reputation for punching

above their weight. Run by volunteers, it has produced a

string of world-class fighters. It began in a school hall, moved to a

fire station and has some of the best training facilities in the

country. The chairman of Sport England rank

seconds out for the opening of one of the North's newest sports

centres. The new Birtley Young People's Club will cater for judo

and football also but the main benefit accrues to its celebrated

boxing club. The investment of over half million pounds of her Olympic

legacy money is recognition of over 30 years of bringing boxing to

Birtley. It has a history. They produce a champion boxers. Not only

is it a crucial facility for his country and this area, it produces

many winners. They help the up-and- coming generation of ambitious new

fighters to make their mark. have a great history and we have

some great boxers. We have the facility for them to train now. We

have a world champion, a European champion and we will produce more

from this area. It is good for the North East.

Next week will be staging the BBC North East Sports Awards and as

part of the event, will be looking for the Unsung Sporting Hero,

someone who devote their time and energy above the call of duty to

their particular team or club. The judges had narrowed the field

down to a shortlist of three and we will make them all over the next

few nights. To kick off, former double gold medallist, Chris Cook

pulled on his running shoes to meet the man behind the Wallsend

Harriers. As you can see, Terry is a popular

guy here at Wallsend Harriers. He has dedicated 26 years of his life

to this club. He is either running alongside you,

cheering you on and pushing you further, or if you are in a race,

he would be the last one on the finish line, making sure every club

member gets over and I have had a good race. It inspires a lot of

people to want to try hard. He is a coach, an organiser and an athlete.

As chairman, Terry works all year round. He runs four sessions a week

and is busy behind the scenes making sure everything runs

smoothly. What keeps you motivated to give so much time and

enthusiasm? All these people behind me. They keep me motivated. Most

clubs would tell you they have so mild -- somebody similar to me.

There is always someone that drives any club. Here, they couldn't

imagine it without him. He helped to make things work in the club. He

is like the Super glue of the club. He is a great ambassador for the

sport. He drags people into the sport, Tregynon in to run for the

club. When it comes to the track, age is no barrier for success.

amount of people that turned out for his 70th birthday, was

unbelievable. Also, to celebrate his success after he was selected

for the Masters Cross Country Club. I got one at 33 -- at one hour 33.

Maybe we can do it next year. go ahead Terry, no worries. I will

The weather has turned a lot more volatile recently. We have this

cold front coming in from the West and it was a well mapped feature. 3

o'clock this afternoon, Gateshead had 13 Celsius. Further west, some

heavy rain. They had temperatures of around six Celsius. That cleared

away for the rest of the afternoon and we are into bad cold air at now.

Some snow showers for the high a Pennines. A cold night tonight,

gusty westerly wind. Way you were sheltered, you may have

temperatures dipping down to three Celsius. A blustery night for many

exposed to that wind. Tomorrow morning, it is a largely dry start.

There will be some scattered showers. Wet and windy weather

works his way in by the tail end of the day. Temperatures reaching

double figures in the West. Nine Celsius for the East. That wind

will pick up again later in the day. A wet and windy spell to take us

through tomorrow night. This clears away quickly on Thursday morning to

leave sunshine and scattered showers. High pressure builds on

Friday and things quietened down temporarily. Temperatures just

about make it into double figures on Thursday. Friday, it is mostly