13/01/2012 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Hello and welcome to Friday's Look North. Tonight: Network Rail will

face prosecution over the Grayrigg train crash.

I don't believe any lessons have been learned. They failed to get

the public inquiry that my union has been campaigning for.

Is your local authority planning to put up council tax this year?

Despite Government calls to freeze Why are we waiting? The fight for

equal pay goes on and on for this woman and thousands of others.

Is the game finally up for Darlington Football Club or could

there be another last-minute reprieve?

I was only being friendly, I didn't want no grief. And poetry in motion,

the taxi-driver who speaks in verse to his passengers.

With the club on the brink, two of Darlington's top players move on to

pastures new. And it is the North east versus the

capital in the Premier League, that can our sides stay unbeaten in

No lessons have been learned from the Grayrigg train crash. That was

the claim from the RMT union on the day that the Office of Rail

Regulation announced it had started criminal proceedings against

Network Rail over the crash. One woman died and more than 80 others

were injured when a Virgin Trains Pendolino derailed at Grayrigg in

February 2007. Network Rail today apologised again to the dead

woman's family, but the RMT union continued to call for a public

inquiry. Mark Macallan done his life for us now in Grayrigg. --

Mark Macallan done. Just two months ago, the inquest

into the death of Margaret Masson, the scale of the problems in terms

of maintaining the West Coast Main Line were laid bare. It was

acknowledged it was faulty points that caused the delay on it, but

who should be held accountable? The Office of Rail Regulation announced

it had started criminal proceedings against network will for a breach

of health and safety legislation which it says led to the de Ville

men. More reaction to that used in a moment. First, Mark Denten looks

back to that terrible night. -- to the derailment.

23rd February, 2007. It was clear there had been a serious rail crash

near Grayrigg, but only at first light would we see quite how

serious. The Virgin Pendolino service spread across the tracks, a

passenger dead, another 88 injured. The boss of the rail company

struggled to hold back his emotions. We are right out in the sticks. I

cannot imagine what it was like for the passengers in the train behind

us. The crash left the small community of Grayrigg in shock.

They were prepared to open their houses, they thought they would be

put in people up overnight. Everything that was necessary, they

were prepared to do. The dead passenger was Margaret Masson, an

84-year-old woman from Glasgow, but alongside the Great, the

investigation - how did this happen? The Rail Accident

Investigations Branch concluded a faulty set of points were to blame.

An inquiry by Network Rail in 2008 find systematic failures in track

patrolling and management. Three rail workers were arrested, but in

February 2009, the CPS said there was insufficient evidence to

prosecute. Then, last November, an inquest jury heard evidence from

network rail engineers and others, and the coroner's conclusion,

poorly maintained points were to blame. Five years on, the story of

Grayrigg is not yet over. Mark, talk us through some of the

reaction to the announcement that Network Rail is going to be

prosecuted. First, there has been the reaction

from Margaret Masson's family. They have argued all along that summer

should be held accountable for what happened that night. -- that

someone. It seems to me that the prosecution

of Network Rail is an appropriate a natural consequence, given the

evidence that came out at the inquest in Kendal towards the end

of last year. The local MP is the Lib Dem MP, Tim Farron. He has

always argued they should be a public inquiry and remains

disappointed that one still has not been granted. But he says at court

case is the correct decision and will provide some vital answers.

is right I think for the family of Margaret Masson, who lost relied so

tragically here. -- who lost her life. It is right that somebody is

held to account. It is also right that the prosecution is of Network

Rail and therefore the senior people responsible, and that the

prosecutors are not going after the junior people, the engineers on the

ground. Perhaps the strongest reaction has come from the rail

union, the RMT. They have argued that ordinary maintenance engineers

should not be held responsible for what happened, it should be Network

Rail management which carries the can. I don't believe any lessons

have been learned from Grayrigg, because they are calling for more

cuts in jobs, we have failed to get a public inquiry that my union has

been campaigning for handsome politicians as well for some time.

-- and some politicians. A public inquiry would also deal with the

causes of Potters Bar where there were striking similarities.

Network Rail themselves have issued a statement today. I paraphrase it

- it apologises to the family of Margaret Masson and says the

company accepts a points failure caused the accident. Since the

derailment, Network Rail has made substantial changes to its

maintenance regime and there is no safer form of travel than rail, it

says. Finally, the first hearing in this case will be at Lancaster

Magistrates Court on 24th February. Council tax bills will once again

be falling on hard doormats before long and while some local

authorities will not increase the amount we have to pay, others could

do the opposite. A survey by the BBC's Sunday Politics programme

suggests several councils in the North are planning to rejected

Government reward for freezing bills this year. The councils say

if they don't, they could be faced with a funding black hole.

Tackling the January bills. Nicola Latimer is pleased that council tax

bills might not go up this April. Our bills are all going up. We have

larger outgoings. Income not necessarily matching that. If the

council tax, being one huge bill each month, can be frozen, that is

great. And this is where some of her council tax is spent. Carlisle

City Council's decision to freeze the council tax this year means

they qualify for a Government grant. It is important in the economic

climate that our residents are facing that we don't burden them

unnecessarily with the council tax. Sunday Politics has discovered that

10 councils are following Carlisle's example and freezing

council tax, and 10 are undecided. But four will defy the Government

by putting the council tax up. Middlesbrough, Darlington, Stockton

and Redcar and Cleveland. The problems facing councils is the

cash reward they get for freezing the tax only lasts a year, so come

next year, they either have to raise council tax by even more, or

make deeper cuts. To achieve this, we would have to reduce our

services. It would really mean we had to close there is facilities.

For Nicola, a council tax these would help. But for those running

councils there is more of a gamble because there is no guarantee that

Government grants will continue in future years.

That is just one of the topics that is going to be discussed on a new

programme, Sunday Politics. With me now is the show presenter, Richard

Moss. What else can expect? As well as finding out how much council tax

you are going to be, you might find out how much or how little will be

paid in future. They are looking at the way public sector workers are

paid. If you are can nurse, you are paid the same wherever You Are. The

on the difference is that you get paid a bit more in London. The

Government wants to look at that to see if that is the most cost-

effective way of doing things. In the North East, pay rates are

generally lower and other parts of the country in the private sector.

The unions believe this is a way of cutting pay for a public sector

workers. But the gunman says private sector workers are

struggling to recruit people and expand because they cannot compete

with the public sector wages. us more about the programme.

want to get round the region a lot more, we will have more stories as

well, we have a hall sixty-second round up of the political news in

our region and we will be looking at the plight of Durham T's Ali

airport. And also about the story of Northern Rock, Richard Branson

saying he will -- talking about what he will do. And they will also

have the unions on to talk about all those issues. So that is Sunday

Politics this Sunday on BBC One at 12 midday.

The head of the Sacristy Inquiry, looking into allegations of

corruption and misconduct at Cleveland Police, has been speaking

for the first time about the scale and nature of his investigation.

Keith Bristow, Director General of the National Crime agency, says his

inquiry was absolutely necessary and highly focused. It began last

August with the arrest and suspension of Cleveland's chief

constable, Sean Price. Peter Lugg is live at police headquarters in

Middlesbrough. What have we heard today?

This was a briefing called, according to Keith Bristow, to

update the public on the progress of the inquiry. And also to correct

a number of misleading statements which have been made by certain

individuals to the media. Only the first part of this, we were allowed

to film and during that he said he was leading a team of highly

focused professionals who are working as hard as they can on the

inquiry. He said that every penny spent was being fully accounted for,

and that there has been no complaints about the conduct of his

investigation. Then he came on to what he said was his main cause for

concern. The issue that causes the greatest concern is any suggestion

that the investigation is harming public confidence in Cleveland

police at the offices, staff and volunteers who work to protect

local communities. -- and the offices. We tread a careful line

between providing factual investigation -- information, to be

widely accountable for her actions one not wishing to add to any

public speculation or comment. Afterwards, Mr Bristol went on to

clarify what is inquiry was about. He said to involve contracts and

the sale of assets involving Cleveland police. He confirmed that

five people had been arrested and the activities of a further 54 of

interest to the inquiry. He said 24 offices -- he had a problem the 24

officers from three forces. Part of that money spent, Cleveland police

are trying to climb back from the Government. A couple of weeks ago

we wrote to the Minister, setting out the financial position of the

authority. Asking for assistance. In a couple of weeks, the chairman

of the Police Authority and the chief constable will be going down

to London to lobby the Minister and put the case even more strongly. We

have not yet heard back. When asked about the timescale for the inquiry,

neither man was prepared to comment other than to say it would take as

long as it takes. Women working for councils in the

North East may finally get equal pay they have been fighting for for

years. The councils have been told by Beckham that they could borrow

the millions of pounds the oh. -- by the Government. One woman is

still waiting for her equal pay money six years after an employment

Historically they have been the lowest paid council workers, cooks

and cleaners and a lollipop ladies. They are all women and all paid

less than men on the same grade. Many councils have dragged their

feet in settling for the pay claims. Sue Roberts was a cook in a

Northumberland school and she has been waiting for her equal pay

award for six years. It is so unfair that there are so many

claims that are not being fulfilled and so many that have been. It is

going on forever. Nobody is getting anything and no one is getting

anywhere. Sue's husband has taken up her case but is frustrated by

the seeming lack of urgency by her union and its solicitors, let alone

the county council. Everyone is pointing the finger at everyone

else and asking why are the payments have not been made. It is

going round in circles. No one seems to have the will to bring it

to an end, not the unions, not the solicitors and certainly not the

county council. Northumberland County Council has refused to speak

to us about the issue and so have their solicitors. However the

county council issued a brief statement in which it said that the

council and trade unions have agreed a way forward in settling

these pay claims. The council expects to make more offers in the

future. Sue Roberts is not holding her breath.

Darlington Football Club has been granted a stay of execution tonight,

but the weekend is likely to prove critical to their chances of

survival. Talks have been going on all day. Peter Harris can bring us

the latest. There is still a lot to do to save the club. It all depends

what happens this weekend. They have survived the first hurdle

which was to stop the administrator killing the club off tonight. Next,

the rescue group have to draw up a business plan over the next three

days. This is a tall order because the administrator wants more

assurances that they have the cash. Thing need money to cover the cost

of putting on a game and pay the insurance. That is important for

the administrator because if he allows the club to continue and

they go wrong, it would be the administration -- administrator who

would be liable. The club now needs of the pledges to come good. There

is talk of another investor waiting in the wings. We were talking to

the Darlington MP who believes that there may be someone credible.

There is the debt of around �2 million to the former chairman.

Then there is the stadium, the arena, the club does not own it and

the landlords have said that they will talk to the rescue group about

allowing them to stay there at a peppercorn rent. The rescue group

needs to firm up their plans and put things on the table to the

administrator on Monday. Are there will be further talks then. Monday

Katie is here with the sport now. There is a big challenge for our

big teams. In the Premier League this weekend,

Newcastle and Sunderland play at London teams. The Magpies entertain

QPR who line up with Mark Hughes as their new manager.

20th November 10, a happy day for long-suffering Sunderland away fans

who saw their team win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. For

Londoners have an ageing team and had a less than convincing start to

the season, so are they no longer the team they once were? When it

looks as if you have lost a couple more games than we might have

thought, then suddenly there is a crisis. Like everything else you

have top-class players who have been those type of players now for

seven years, the minute people pass 32 people think they are going to

stop. I would say that the Chelsea side still have points to prove

this season. Newcastle United were impressive last time in the league,

demolishing the champions, Manchester United. Now they are

against Queen's Park Rangers who had something to prove to their new

manager, Mark Hughes. That was a blue ribbon result in the season.

But it does not make us season. -- of the season. The good work we

have done at Manchester United could be lost if we lose to QPR.

This is a big challenge because they have a new manager.

Meanwhile, Alan Pardew would not comment on reports that Newcastle

have had a bid turned down on Manchester United point mack Ravel

Morrison. Middlesbrough are going into their

game against Burnley into 4th spot. Middlesbrough 1 at of the fixture

last time but are missing a their midfield. Tony Mowbray says they

will have to be at their best to win against Burnley. They will be

coming here with the better away record and home record from

themselves so they fancy their chances. We need to make sure that

we are focused and concentrated on the day. Hopefully we will get the

three points and continue pushing Darlington's Jamie Chandler and

Liam Hatch have signed for Gateshead for a nominal fee.

Chandler is said to make his debut in their FA Trophy tie tomorrow.

But meanwhile, Liam Hatch, who scored twice against his head last

year, has a hamstring injury. Elsewhere, Hartlepool are hoping to

be -- Pickup back-to-back wins at Exeter and Carlisle are hoping to

extend their wins at MK Dons. Newcastle Falcons have a new --

month-long break from their struggles and faced Petrarca on

Sunday in the Challenge Cup. Paul Moriarty is in charge of the game.

Alan Tait has been placed on gardening leave. I was obviously

surprised. Allen has been talking for the last few weeks about the

situation with regard what has been happening on the field. It is

unfortunate for him that this outcome has happened. Some players

will feel his loss more than others. That is natural in any walk of life.

We will knuckle down and get on with it.

Some youngsters from the region already on the hunt for medals in

the Olympics. The winter Youth Olympics has started in Innsbruck.

Mica McNeill From Councillor -- County Durham is in the bobsleigh

team. I am really excited, it is one of those things that build up

for so long and you think it is never going to come. It is really

exciting. All of my family are going to come out and watch. It

will be very nice. Finally, good luck to the Newcastle

Eagles basketball team who are in Birmingham at the Cup final on

Sunday. But you can see a full This guy can talk about football

all day, has strong views on politics and will always give an

opinion on the weather. But Middlesbrough taxi driver, Duggie

Verrill, most likes to speak in verse. He is the cabby poet

laureate of the Teesside. What is it is there that taxi-

drivers? An opinion on just about everything. What you think on the

weather, what is it going to do today? What you think about the

coalition government? I think that everyone seems... Just a mile or so,

I can stick it out, but then... write a bit of poetry. This one is

about my 60th birthday. My 60th birthday on Saturday, going to have

a night down town, just treated myself to a sprayed tan, I am a

lovely golden brown. Watch out or you ladies, someone is going to get

hurt. He told me that his name is Duggie Verrill, full-time taxi

driver, part-time poet. His inspiration is Teesside and the

people who ride in his cab. people on Teesside art sound, they

are really nice. We get a bad press but the point is that the majority

of PAC's -- taxi drivers are smashing lads and they are only out

here to earn a living. I did not want to stop at Albert Park, but

Duggie Verrill did. I was only being friendly, I did not want no

grief. Hard-hitting stuff, but his book is selling well and raising

serious money for charity. Just be careful which cab you jump in.

have got another one about the mother-in-law! I think I would like

to get out! It has about six verses. Douglas Adams said the Vogons Road

the third worst poetry in the universe. On see -- Teesside they

This weekend you will need to grab your winter clothes. The snowdrops

are out already. Temperatures will drop this weekend. We are talking

about sunny but chilly days. But by night it is looking at frosty with

dense and freezing Apaches. If that is the scenario for this evening

and overnight tonight. There is a widespread frost. Temperatures are

in freefall at the moment. We will end up with zero and minus five. In

a more rural parts you can take a few degrees off that. It will be

very frosty to start your weekend on Saturday morning. The mist may

take some time to clear, when it does there will be a fine and

beautiful day of winter sunshine. It will last all of the way through.

It will not help our temperatures which are capped at just three

Celsius. At least we have a light breeze so there will not be too

much wind chill. For Sunday, still under the high pressure system so

things will be fairly static. Then maybe a bit more breeze from the

South East and that will push more cloud on to the north-eastern side

of the UK. Here is a very quick summary for you. Saturday is the

brightest day but holding fare through to the new working week. It

will be Monday evening before we start to see the rain coming in.

The North East will have steady temperatures and the brightest day

on Saturday. On Sunday there will be more mist and fog. Monday night

is an interesting one, the BBC has Tonight's main headlines.

The Prime Minister has hinted at a rethink of a plan to cut child