04/02/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Hello. Welcome to Tuesday's Look North. In the headlines tonight:

Sleeping out on civvy street ` the crisis facing many homeless army

veterans. I've been homeless and it is hard. I couldn't cope. Everything

was really hard. Three months on from Danny's death,

a ?3000 reward to find the hit and run driver who killed him.

Save our slides. Protesters gather outside Carlisle City Council

offices tonight as councillors vote on cuts.

And a former soap star tells us why it's not such a drag to wear

feathers and frills. In sport: Good riddance, Kinnear.

Fans vent their frustration as Newcastle's director of football

quits the club, and call for owner Mike Ashley to follow him out of St

James' Park. They're called "the hidden

population" ` the thousands of ex`servicemen and women who leave

the armed forces and end up sleeping on the street, in shelters or on

friends' sofas. It's believed one in ten rough sleepers are ex`service

personnel, and because of their experiences, many have mental health

problems. Now, after opening two veteran support centres in the North

East, the charity Norcare says it wants to open two more in Sunderland

and Hartlepool after seeing a growing demand for its services.

Stuart Whincup reports. Michael said he loved his time serving with the

Royal Fusiliers. His problems started when he left. I've been

homeless and it is hard. I couldn't cope. Everything was just really

hard. You try and better yourself but it just makes you feel, you just

don't see a way Ford. But what a way forward. But Michael's not alone.

The charity Home four Heroes believes ex`service personnel make

up one in ten rough sleepers in the UK. This is one of two specialist

centres Norcare runs in the North East. It has a waiting list for its

rooms and is planning to open two more in Sunderland and Hartlepool.

It is a hidden problem and the reason we called them the hidden

population is that when they fall on bad times they very much go into

her. They won't come out and say whereas when they have been serving

they are very proud of serving Queen and country, but once they fall on

bad times, they find it difficult to open up. They are not proud of where

they are at. All this comes on the day the Defence Minister announced a

?40 million fund to help veterans in need of housing support. That

investment's welcomed, but for now at least, it's not making its way to

places like this. This is a fund specifically for veterans'

accommodation which is perhaps an area not recognised by the public as

something we need to invest in, so I am delighted. That investment is

welcomed but for now it is not making its way to places like this.

Norcare is currently running this centre on its reserves. More

funding, it says, would allow it to help more people like Michael. I've

been diagnosed with post`traumatic stress. If we can get more places

like this open it will help more people because you get support, this

is a good stepping stone to get you back into the real world.

Stuart joins me now. How close are we to seeing these two new veterans'

centres? All sides agree there is a clear need for these services. Talks

have been under way for some time with the two centres in Hartlepool

and Sunderland. The authorities are supportive. The hold`up seems to

have been at this time when services are being cut by all local

authorities, finding that funding for the centres. The charities say

with limited numbers `` limited money and personnel they have

already helped over 100 service personnel that say they could help

more with more money. There is the demand for people who need it.

It's three months since three`year`old Danny Wake died in a

hit`and`run accident in Darlington. But the driver of the car remains at

large. Today a Crimestoppers appeal was launched with a ?3000 reward in

a new effort to trace the motorist responsible. Andrew Hartley reports.

A special boy with a cheeky smile. A family's tribute to Danny wake. He

was walking home with his mum and two other children along the road in

Darlington, when it is believed he strayed into the path of a vehicle.

The driver did not stop on the police now say he or she may have

been unaware of what happened. Three months to the day since Danny died

and the police admit they are no further forward in identifying the

driver, so this announcement by Crimestoppers is designed to give

their investigation fresh impetus. Today we are renewing our appeal for

anyone in Darlington or the surrounding area to come forward

with information that could reveal who was the driver of the vehicle.

We have teamed up but Crimestoppers and they are offering a reward of up

to ?3000 which would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the person

who might have been driving that vehicle. The tributes remain. The

grieving continues. Police hope today's move will bring them the

breakthrough Danny's family so desperately wants.

Two men who died in their bunks on a fishing boat in Whitby harbour were

poisoned by carbon monoxide, according to an accident report.

Mark Arries and Edward Ide, who were from Northumberland, were found on

January 15th. The initial findings of the Marine Accident Investigation

Branch said the pair had lit the grill of a gas cooker. It says

vessels should be fitted with alarms.

People in Sunderland say they're worried about the planned closure of

both the city's fire station and the police station. Both are earmarked

for closure, as a result of cuts to funding amounting to millions of

pounds. But the deputy leader of Sunderland City Council says closing

the police station won't mean a cut to services.

The biggest development site in the region is looking for a new property

developer to deliver homes, offices and shops. The Middlehaven site in

Middlesbrough was dealt a hammer blow three years ago, when a

property company which had promised to create 2000 jobs walked away from

the scheme. But now, the government agency that owns the site says it's

confident a new developer will take its place. Our business

correspondent Ian Reeve reports. For more than 25 years, there have been

many plans for the regeneration of Middlesbrough's former docklands The

2006 vision was particularly impressive. 750 new homes. Offices

and leisure space. 2000 jobs would be created. And the amazing

architecture would make this a real destination. It's like Amsterdam

meets Venice on the Tees. It didn't happen, though. The developer walked

away after putting up this apartment block. But the government agency

that now owns the Middlehaven site is on the hunt for a replacement,

for someone to build out the remaining 20 hectares with offices,

shops and homes, to finally realise its potential. We have a wonderful

natural asset in the dock itself, so what can we do around leisure use,

can this water space EU to the benefit of the community? Clocktower

is also a great asset so we want to safeguard that. A handful of

businesses have set up here already, including this restaurant. It's on

course to turn over ?1 million this year. Proof, its owner says, of the

potential the vast dockside site holds. The potential is huge. It is

right for development, it has clearly been improved by us being

here that people are comparable to come here if there is something to

come for, that is the key. And that would mean jobs. 37 have been

created here, including Brandon's apprenticeship. The waterside venue

a foretaste of the future, perhaps. What I want to do is become a chef

on a cruise ship. I want to go around the world cooking on about.

`` cooking on a boat. Developers now have about 50 days to express an

interest in Middlehaven and attempt to bring a 25`year saga to an end.

Parents are staging a protest tonight over plans to remove

equipment from 21 children's play parks in Carlisle. The money`saving

measure is being discussed at a meeting right now, where the

council's plan to cut almost ?2 million from its ?12 million budget

will be finalised. The City Council says it will save ?25,000 by not

maintaining the equipment, and renovating it would cost hundreds of

thousands of pounds. Alison Freeman is outside the City Council offices

with some of the protesters now. It looks a bit lively. There has been a

good turnout of parents and children who are desperate to get councillors

to make a U`turn over those plans to cut those playpark. Today the City

Council said it would cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to bring

those parts up to standard. The deputy leader of the council said

while she sympathised with parents, they could only offer them advice. I

can understand and sympathise with people who want to see their play

areas maintained. This council is listening and we are not closing the

door. If any group wants to come to us with their proposals to take on,

Lock, stock and barrel, the play area of their choice, we would

listen to them and give them any advice we could. I am joined by

parent Michael Kingston, who is angry about the proposals. Cuts have

to be made somewhere. Why not here? They have, but we should be

investing in children, not penalising them. We want to work

with the council and improve facilities for children. You can see

from the turn out the level of feeling in the community. The path

is important as a footballer caught and there has been no discussion

with residence. If there was they would see how important the park is.

You have had a bit of tit`for`tat between the new administration and

the old one about investment. Does that matter to you? We don't want to

politicise the issue. We want to show our support to help overturn

this decision and improve facilities for children. The meeting is about

to start in there. The City Council has to shave ?2 million off its

budget but parents just want to know there will be playpark for their

children to play on. Thanks, Alison. You're watching Look North. Still to

come, Jason Donovan talks to us about being a drag queen in the

Australian outback. Plus? Kinnear he goes. The Newcastle United director

of football who failed to secure a single permanent transfer has left

St James' Park. And when you see a weather chart like that it will come

as no surprise there is more wet and windy weather on the way. I will

have all the details as well as news of our winning January picture.

The South Tynedale Railway is investing more than ?5 million in

new developments, including over a mile of new track, and a new roof

for Alston Station. More than ?4 million is coming from the Heritage

Lottery Fund. There'll be an expanded education programme, and

more training for volunteers. New fibre`optic cabling, installed as

part of the project, may also bring fast broadband to Alston.

One of the region's theatres has announced a ?10 million expansion

plan. Live Theatre has bought the last remaining plot of land near the

Tyne Bridge, on Newcastle's Quayside, after the City Council

agreed to a ?6 million loan. It hopes the development, which

includes office space, will create a new source of revenue, following

last year's decision by the Council to cut funding to independent arts

organisations. We are staying on the stage for an everyday story of drag

queens travelling across the Australian outback. The musical

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle for

two weeks, and it stars Jason Donovan. He told Sophie McDonnell

that the show is far more than men flouncing around in dresses.

Honestly. Finally, it's happened to me... Jason Donovan's no stranger to

wearing sequins. In fact, it's the second time he's played the part of

Tick and his alter ego Mitzi in the UK tour of Priscilla. But he says

there's just something about the musical and costumes that appeal to

him. This is a flip`flop dress. In our country it is called a song. ``

a thong. It comes with this particular hat. That is the look.

God knows where the designer thought of that. Have you tried the hat on?

That's a good look, isn't it? I think it is a great story, it is

well written, it has great songs but I think essentially for me it is an

Australian story. It plays to my strengths, which is predominantly an

actor, singing and a little bit of dancing, now that I have done

Strictly Come Dancing. Jason's lost count of the number of performances

of Priscilla he's done. It could be as high as 600, but he says there's

nothing like a North East audience. I do enjoy the Northern spirit and

people here know where to laugh. It is a great city. That bridge keeps

reminding me of being in Sydney, it's a much smaller version. My

wife's father's side of the family come from this side of the world.

Priscilla's on until the 15th of February. The audience are known for

getting into the spirit, so don't be surprised if you see a few extra

frocks in town in the meantime. And from the Queen of the desert to

the Queen of sport. A busy old day at Saint James Park?

Yes. Newcastle United fans have welcomed the departure of Joe

Kinnear as the club's director of football. But his resignation late

last night has brought fresh calls for the owner Mike Ashley to quit

the club too. Ill`feeling has come to the boil again after the club's

failure to make any permanent signings, and the 3`0 derby defeat

to Sunderland. Peter Harris is live at St James' Park now. Not many fans

will miss Kinnear, will they? No. It is by no means certain he will be

replaced at all but given that many were unsure what his role entailed,

it is difficult to gauge how much difference that makes.

Was he pushed or did he jump? Nobody seemed to care today, so long as Joe

Kinnear was gone. One punter in the bar said he had spent more money

than Joe Kinnear in the bar tonight. There is only one man Hoople 's the

strings here. He is collateral damage in the shake`up of the team.

It is a bigger picture, Mike Ashley and his ownership of the club, and

this is an unhappy marriage that seems to be annulled. Few seemed

sure what Kinnear actually did. Appointed interim manager in 2008,

the falling debris he needed heart surgery. But the following February.

By April he was gone, only to return last June as director of football.

An eccentric radio interview followed. And there had been a foul

mouth press conference. Absolutely out of order. Saturday's garbage

humiliation and the failure to make any permanent signings brought an

end. Whether that was Newcastle's way of

saying he didn't do his job or he didn't bring players in, we're not

quite sure. I hope it's not ill health. I hope he's OK, though I'm

not sure what his job was anyway at Newcastle. The question now is who

replaces Joe Kinnear. There is speculation it could be Derek

Columbus, who was managing director until last year, or it could be

Denis Wise. Both seem unlikely but this being Newcastle united, we have

learned not to be surprised by anything. He was a splash of colour.

Mark Douglas is here. I was reading your piece online today talking

about whisperers Mike Ashley might be willing to sell. Is that

realistic? I think he has been willing to sell for the right offer.

That buyer is not out there. As of yet we haven't seen anyone who is

willing to comment but there is no doubt his enthusiasm for the club

has waned in the past few years, and with Joe Kinnear resigning it has

bubbly saps more energy out of his joy. The atmosphere on Saturday was

fraught, but keeping it in perspective, if he was here, he

could say this could be a top ten finish. That is a fair point. In

many ways this has been a good season, big wins against Chelsea and

Manchester United and there have been good performances, but there

has always been this feeling that there is disengagement from

supporters, a feeling of taking them for granted, and the talk sport

interview created this toxic atmosphere are in the club and you

are never more than one or two bad results away from that coming to the

surface, and one or two of his decisions are baffling and there

seems to be a disconnect between the club and the city which is partly

what this crisis is about. Joe Kinnear has gone. If there was to be

a replacement, any ideas. I know Derek still talks to Mike Ashley and

they do other business, but I am not sure that will happen any time soon.

Derek would probably come back. He enjoyed his time here, did a good

job on the whole, but knowing Mike Ashley, it could come from left

field. That is one of the problems with this regime. We do not know

what happens next. We might as well be honest, we do not know. Watch

this space. Thanks, Peter. And Newcastle United

fans have had plenty to say about Joe Kinnear's departure on the Look

North Facebook page. The web address is on your screen now, if you'd like

to share your views. Now, the Winter Olympics open in the

Russian city of Sochi this week, and a young man from North Tyneside will

be part of Team GB. For ice skater Matthew Parr, it's been a long

journey to the biggest event of his life. He's just hoping his big

chance won't have come and gone before the Games have begun.

This is Matt on Look North five years ago, back at Whitley Bay ice

rink, where he first took to the ice at the age of seven. Now 23, he's

part of the first team skating event, but if the Brits don't make

it through qualifying on Thursday, his competition will be over before

Friday's opening ceremony. Whatever the outcome, he's just happy to be

there. It's been 17 years since I started skating, so it's been a long

time coming. I missed out on Vancouver by one place and then

finally making it this time, I was ecstatic. I wanted to tell everybody

I walked past, I was so excited, then it was back into training and

making sure I in best possible shape. `` I was in the best possible

shape. Of course, it's not just rival skaters that Matt and the GB

team have to worry about ,with the Russians geared for possible human

rights protests, and the threat from terrorists. We certainly are aware

of it. You can't hide away from every piece of news in the world but

you don't agree with everything they are doing, especially human rights

issues, but I am sure the board with lot less go if there was a security

issue, so we just focus on what we have to do and that is being in the

best possible shape for that, and you have to lock out everything

outside that and keep going in the right direction. Good luck to Matt

and the rest of the gang. Now, it's time to find out what's

been chosen as our January weather picture for next year's Look North

calendar. Paul has the details. While most of us are happy the snow

has been in short supply so far this winter, the members of Weardale Ski

Club high in the North Pennines, currently celebrating their 50th

anniversary, aren't so sure. Welcome to the ski club. The club is

run by an amazing group of enthusiastic amateurs who put ours

and ours of hard work, blood, sweat and tears into making it what it has

been for 50 years. Snow might be thin on the ground this winter, but

when it does come, the club can look like this.

On the upside, the lack of snow meant Jeff, John, Eileen, Shane and

Kate could flow into January weather pictures and find a couple of

runners up and a winner. One of the shots we have chosen is of a duck

pond on a cold frosty day, very much a traditional photograph with the

greatness and the frostiness of the duck pond and the trees but at the

same time the glow of the sun in the distance setting, presumably, giving

a clue of better days to come. distance setting, presumably, giving

a clue of better Our next choice was fishing on water. We were impressed

with this picture because your attention is immediately drawn to

the two umbrellas in the centre which is very reminiscent of the

very wet January we just experienced. Our overall winner is

steaming frosting which was a favourite of us all because it sums

up the atmosphere of those cold frosty mornings where we can see our

own breath and see the steam coming off the gate. That sunshine behind

which is the sort of morning we love. Congratulations, Reg. A very

worthy winner. We thought it was an amazing photograph. I am just

listening to the crew are doing about what their winner would have

been. This picture will feature in the January page of the 20 15th Look

North weather calendar. An optimistic weather picture to start

us off. Snowdrops appearing all over the region. These ones were making

the most of some brighter weather that there isn't much around

tomorrow because the wet and windy weather makes return. It is a

southeasterly wind so will feel cold. It is mostly dry at the minute

that this low pressure off the Atlantic rings this next spell of

wet and windy weather tonight and into tomorrow. This evening it

starts after I but the wind will pick up, closed will thicken and

through the evening that rain spreading from the south`west. Any

snow will be limited to the tops of the highest ground. The rain turns a

bit more intermittent and showery but it will not clear away

completely but temperatures will stay with that southeasterly winds

developing. Frequent showers tomorrow morning, perhaps enough of

a club between clouds to allow the odd bright spell but the afternoon

sees showers merging again more persistently through the afternoon

and some heavy bursts. That southeasterly wind stays strong so

that will make feel cold. Temperatures will peak at nine

Celsius and it will feel cold in that wind especially along the

north`east coast and the north Yorkshire coast. That low pressure

starts to pull away towards Thursday, which starts dry and

bright then eventually the next bloke comes up from the south

bringing more wet and windy weather, and in the weekend more of

the same. If you are out and about some heavy rain in Cumbria tomorrow,

dry air at times in Thursday and Friday, always breezy but staying

reasonably mild is the best we can say. Heavy rain in the north`east

tomorrow, heavy showers on Thursday, Friday might see the odd

wintry shower as the wind turns in a colder north westerly direction

towards the end of the week before it becomes wet and windy again

through the weekend. You can keep up to date on your local radio station

or with the BBC weather app. Now it is time to get your February weather

pictures into us. Check out the website. That is all for now but

join us tomorrow when the from Bellingham. See you then. `` we are

live from Bellingham.