15/09/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

For more than 40 miles throtgh Northumberland,

Turning it into dual carriageway is a popular option.

I think they could probably spare a bit extra to dual it up hdre,

Generally, it is not the best road to travel on if you've ever

Dualling the A1 here and further north won't comd cheap.

Now the BBC has discovered just how much dualling might cost to turn all

An estimate produced for Northumberland County Council

puts the price tag at more than ?14 million a mile for 42 miles,

The cost of turning it into a motorway would be

But compare that to the cost of building

the proposed high speed rail link which won't even come to thhs

This is the only part of a major economic highway

from Northumberland to Scotland that isn't dual in this country

This is the thing that will drive the economy of the North East,

as the North East is one of the few areas where exports are

greater than imports, and wd need this to sprout throughout

Those whose businesses depend on moving goods around would also

One transport boss argues the road is not fit for purpose

We avoid going north wherevdr possible because

We tend to try and subcontr`ct it to someone else and not do ht.

If it was dualled, we would then do those loads ourselves.

There is also another argumdnt for dualling the A1:

Alexander Gibson's son, also called Alexander,

If the road was dualled and had a central barrier,

he would have just drifted and banged against the barrher

and no other car would have been involved as such like, you know

And they reckon he would have had about a 90% chance

So, will the Government find thd cash?

This was the Roads Minister last week when he was in the reghon.

I'll make a decision and announce it, not after the

election, but before the eldction, before the end of this year.

But it is not clear what it might be and whether a future Governlent

in Scotland devolved or inddpendent might help meet the costs.

So, Fergus, we know how much it might cost to dual all the @1.

But the half a billion pound question is, just how likelx is it?

Well, all the mood music coling out of Government, as we heard hn that

clip from the Roads Minister at the end of my package, is that something

will be announced soon, most likely in or after the Chancellor's Autumn

The hints have been some money for some dualling will be announced

But it's unlikely that will be to dual all

the A1 through Northumberland that isn't now dual carriageway.

Whether a future government in Scotland up the road here, whatever

shape that might take, would help meet the costs is, of coursd,

As you mentioned, Scotland, the campaign is reached the north`east

today. The campaigners were gathered in South Shields. They want the

north`east to say, Scotland, please do not leave.

In the morning mist, you might feel you're in Scotland.

A group of people calling for that country to stay in the UK.

South Shields Town Hall this morning, and the Better Togdther

campaign gathered with a celebrity signing, TV presenter Dan Snow.

When I look at the UK, what a fantastic place.

As different peoples, we have put aside historic

differences and have worked together to create a remarkable country.

If Scotland does vote yes, the politicians get involved, it

be like a divorce, the only people who will get rich is the lawyers.

The yes campaign say the North East and Cumbria would do best

if Scotland does leave the TK and become independent.

If we get independent and m`ke a success, and we have confhdence

we will, it is something thd British Government and Westlinster

They have ignored it for donkeys' years.

Back at South Shields, the plans are going up and the council le`der says

what ever happened on Thursday, our region needs more power.

There is going to have to bd a mature conversation with

Because you can't have a situation where Scotland `chieves

a greater devolution, more powers, more self`determination, but the

North East and other regions like Yorkshire and the North West do not.

Three days to go, and these people want Scotl`nd to

But none of them will have ` vote on Thursday, it is out

of their hands and too closd to call.

Two more days to go. And thd polls have come out focusing on the views

of our region. Some broadcasters do carry`out

polls. One survey says two thirds of people

said they did not want Scottish independence. It is a small sample,

just over 500 people. It dods add to this debate with just two d`ys of

full campaigning to go. Now, are you or will you be

reliant on the state pension? Well,

around a third of people qudstioned in a survey for tonight's Inside Out

programme say they haven't hnvested in a private pension

because they can't afford it. The poll

by the ComRes organisation `sked why around half of British adults still

don't have a private pension. Inside Out's Chris Jackson has been

to Wearside, where one 83`ydar`old We will see if we can help save

on your energy bills. A call centre in Sunderland.

When would be the best time to catch him?

Most of the members of staff are in their 20s.

One notable exception is Charles West.

I do not think my pension will be enough.

People do not understand what it is like.

To supplement what he receives from the state, he works the phones four

What is it like being surrotnded all these young people?

Charles is not as unusual as you might think.

The number of over`65s working has mord

They are now more than 1 million working pensioners.

That number is set to doubld again in just six years.

It is one of the greatest achievements of mankind

The critical issue is we must plan for this.

It is almost an education issue in schools to help people plan

Just about the time when you should be relaxing and

maybe watering the garden, xou could find yourself stuck in the office.

And you can find out more about that survey, and catch up with Charles,

in tonight's Inside Out, here on BBC One at 7.30.

And, two years after a man was attacked

in York, two people have bedn arrested on suspicion of murder

Stephen Eastwood died earlidr this year, after being struck with

A man and a woman are in police custody.

And a 22`year`old man's appdared in court in Peterlee,

The body of 42`year`old Michael Outhwaite was found

in a field in Willington in County Durham on Friday.

Mr Outhwaite, who was originally from Sunderland,

Daniel Oxley, from Murton, has been remanded into custody.

A campaign to marginalise loan sharks is underway in Cumbrha.

The county council says Copdland and Allerdale are worst affdcted

Trading Standards officers will be explaining the help available

for anyone who's already taken out an illegal loan, and encour`ging

They are the most highly`rated part of our education systel.

But dozens of specialist cotncil nursery schools have closed over

The North East and Cumbria now has only around 40 left.

Many are rated outstanding. But one County Durham MP has

warned that more will close, unless they're given extra funds.

Our political editor, Richard Moss, reports.

Oxclose Nursery School in W`shington is the first encounter thesd

three`year`olds will have whth education.

But as they only spend a ye`r here, what difference can it make?

You just have to see the group of children that I have, nurture

We learn from the children and they learn from us.

And the achievements of state nursery schools

57% are currently rated as outstanding by inspectors,

while only 17% of primary schools got that top rating.

At the heart of that, highly`qualified staff.

As well as a head teacher, others are graduates or trahned

But nurseries don't get any more funding than early

Those in charge say that's short`sighted.

Within Sunderland, there ard nine nursery schools doing very well

But not being recognised as needing funding.

It is expensive, but it is an investment in children.

If we can get it right from the beginning, then th`t

doesn't need to be so much loney spent catching up as we grow older.

But more than 60 state nursdries have closed in the last dec`de.

And one North East MP organhsed a Commons debate to appeal

All I wanted to do was to wake up ministers

to the centres of excellencd, proven centres of excellence, we are

Wake up to the fact and do something about it.

But ministers say they aren't prepared to provide dxtra

49 local authorities do not have any maintained nursery schools,

33 only have one or two maintained nursery schools.

But specialist state nurserhes fear their a future won't be as bright

And you can see more on that story by finding

Sunday Politics for the North East and Cumbria on the BBC iPlaxer.

It provides a much`needed transport service to cancer patients who're

And now, the charity Daft As A Brush is welcoming the seven new `rrivals

Earlier today, volunteers, patients and local school children

gathered for the official ribbon`cutting ceremony.

The latest recruits to Daft As A Brush.

The Newcastle charity set up to provide transport for cancer

Marie Affleck from Westerhope has blood c`ncer.

She's been relying on the service for a year.

It just gives you complete peace of mind.

It is bad enough having to go to the hospital on a regular b`sis

and to have the treatment I am having.

This year, the charity will have been involved

Next year, with the feet up to 6, it's hoped

Which means the role of the volunteer is more important than

And it's never too early to get involved.

These seven new ambulances have each been adopted by local schools.

18 schools are involved in adopting the ambulances.

Hopefully it will spread all over the world, but that is for tomorrow.

Brian Burnie called his charity Daft As A Brush bec`use

But, five years down the line, turns out he's not as daft

One of Europe's best`preserved former lead mines is being given

a quarter`of`a`million`pound makeover, to preserve it

Nenthead mine once employed thousands,

but it's now a vital visitor attraction in the North Pennines.

Mark McAlindon went to have a look around.

The views are stunning, but work must have been tough

as volunteers working on the renovation acknowledge.

In the 18th and 19th centurx, it was better than a subsistence

It was a hard life, life expectancy was quite short

This building is an explosives store, to hold dynamite.

There are so few left in England, it is not unique but nearly.

This network of lead mining works in the Pennines is one

of the best preserved in Europe which is why Natural England are

applying a quarter of million pounds into preserving them.

People here described lead lining as a Klondike.

Peter Kempsey is a conservation architect whose work

This is an important part of history, North Pennines history

In a given period, the North Pennines was

Industrial history of this kind is already hugely popular.

It is hoped new generations will be encouraged to find out what

Monday evening, plenty of sport on the menu.

Top marks to Middlesbrough, our only winners this week.

How long can Alan Pardew kedp his job as manager of Newcastle

The answer is, probably for some time yet, because

Mike Ashley will not be swaxed by what the fans think, which hs why

Pardew's the second`longest serving manager in the Premier Leagte.

But the owner clearly doesn't like the press pointing out some

The list of newspapers banndd from St James's Park.

It started with the local p`pers, the Newcastle Journal,

Last week, they were joined by the Daily Telegraph and now the

Let's hope we survive after pointing out that Alan Pardew

Newcastle have only won six games since the start of the year. It is

pointless trying to second`guess this man. His decisions comd

straight out of the blue. It's clear what these fans want. You h`ve to

blame the players as well. They didn't start at all at

Southampton. The marking was terrible. Alan Pardew said they

could not afford a repeat of the thrashing at Southampton in March.

You wonder how much stuffing knocked out of thel. Their

worst start since 2005. I am not sure how much notice the

players take notice of the fans It was one`way traffic.

At this stage, the heads have gone down.

Before the game, the assist`nt manager had an argument with some of

the supporters. Our fans were on us from thd start,

me in particular. I don't think I do feel we have more qualhty

than we showed today. We need to show more character

to get ourselves out. Sometimes it is not about t`ctics,

it is about winning to get It was a really difficult g`me

and we got something from it. So, while Sunderland and Newcastle

wait for their first win of the season, down in the Championship,

Middlesbrough recorded their third . More than 3,500 fans saw

the Teessiders take the lead, late And what a strike from Grant

Leadbitter, who's really growing But the Terriers looked to have

nicked a share of the points through another ex`Sunderland man Jon Stead

who didn't score too many But he guided that one past

Dimi Konstantopoulos. Deep into stoppage time, though

justice was done. And up stepped the captain.

Grant Leadbitter's fourth Boro go to Cardiff tomorrow night

just one point outside In League Two, 75 applicants

but still no manager for Carlisle. Let's hope they weren't put off

by this collapse, at home to Bury. Three unanswered second`half goals

from the Lancashire side sent the Blues to the very bottol

of the Football League, with just three points and no wins

from the first seven matches. It looks like Paul Thirlwell

and Tony Caig will still be in charge when the Cumbrians go to

Shewsbury tomorrow. Amazingly, York City last lost

a league match in January! But that extraordinary,

23`match unbeaten run ended Burton took the lead through

Lucas Akins' volley and this 25`yard shot from Mousinho sealed

the win. And although Hartldpool also failed to score, they did at

least earn a point at home to Tranmere. This effort from Ryan

Brobbel on loan from Middlesbrough the closest Pools came to breaking

the deadlock, but two clean sheets in a row is something for

Colin Cooper's side to build on There was a rugby double he`der at

Kingston Park yesterday, with mixed Thunder are through to the

semifinals of rugby League's Championship 1 Playoffs. Thd bad

news, Newcastle Falcons lost their first home game of Rugby Unhon's new

Premiership season. It's now 18 matches since they last won in the

league! London Irish were the last team

the Falcons beat in the Preliership And in truth the Falcons should have

beaten them this time as well. Josh Furno put Newcastle ahdad, the

Falcons scoring three tries to the Exiles' two, but it was the goal

kicking that made the difference. Shane Geraghty was on song, while

Juan Pablo Socino had a day to forget. His normally reliable boot

letting him down in the swirling Kingston Park wind. On targdt with

just one of his seven attempts. While it was pleasing to sed the

Falcons cross the whitewash, they've struggled in the goal`kicking

department since the departtre of Jimmy Gopperth. This kick to secure

a draw, bouncing off the post. Gateshead Thunder followed

the Falcons onto the new artificial pitch to continue

the exciting end to their sdason. Joe Brown opening the scoring

for the home side in their Rugby League Champhonship 1

playoff agasint Hemel Stags. But it was nip

and tuck all the way and with scores level after 80 minutes

the game went into extra tile. Just four minutes in,

Matty Beharrell's dramatic golden`point drop`goal gave Thunder

a thrilling 15`14 victory to set up a play`off semifinal next wdekend

against Hunslet Hawks. And no cricket at Chester`ld`Street

because of the rain. Things turned cloudy at the weekend.

On Friday, I said the Northdrn lights might be visible and some of

you had a look. Take a look at this picture, on top

of one of the highest peaks of the North Lake Fells.

You can see the Aurora bear. Thank you for that picture.

And this picture, the Northtmberland coast.

The moonrise gave a lovely show So, today, we have high pressure up

to the north. No pressure to the south, combining to give an easterly

wind. That where the fund is coming from the east giving thick cloud

today and rain and drizzle. Still some patchy rain around this

evening. It should peter out tonight, most places becoming dry,

fairly cloudy and misty as well Temperatures will not be to cold

overnight, nothing below 10 Celsius.

We keep an easterly breeze. A great start tomorrow mornhng.

Cloudy, misty, a few spots of rain. Through the day, the clouds will

lift. It will break. Western areas should see a few sunny intervals in

the afternoon. One or two afternoon showers.

Temperatures in the west up to 1 Celsius.

Further east, mid teens if xou are lucky in that easterly breeze.

We have an easterly wind. Wddnesday, Thursday and Friday, we keep that

combination. Eastern areas will tend to have a lot of cloud around.

If you are out and about ovdr the next couple of days, tomorrow you

will see a few bright spells. Western areas seeing the best.

More cloud around generally on Wednesday.

Highest temperatures will bd in the west.

Join us again later after the Ten O'Clock News.