20/03/2017 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Headteachers join forces to raise the alarm over

A group of senior doctors express concerns about a hospital boss

Staff at a controversial site in North Yorkshire say they don't

a last ditch defence in their campaign to hang

In football - not much to talk about when it comes to the big boys.

But two of our non-league teams are on the way to Wembley -

with a double date in May for York City and South Shields.

It's an unprecedented step, but one that it's claimed, had to be taken.

Headteachers in all the state schools in Darlington have joined

together and signed a letter warning parents of the funding

They've been asked to lobby the Government after the town's

schools learned they will lose seve million pounds

Some headteachers claim staff could lose their jobs,

But the government says school funding across the country has

Peter King says he - and the town's other head teachers -

felt their voices were not being listened to.

That big government departments were unaware of the financial

Schools - he says - are now being asked to do a lot more -

We think cuts of 7 million, that means big cuts for individual

schools. Unless government does a U-turn or change of heart, I think

across Darlington and the country it will lead to staffing reductions.

More children are now in education so the government

But headteachers say they now have to pay increased pension

and national insurance contributions for their staff.

And that means some schools in Darlington will see their actual

Bill Dixon's the leader of the council.

This is a lot of money. The schools cannot afford to lose a fifth of the

budget so one in five teachers, potentially, one in five classrooms

or one in five schools closing. That would mean ten schools would have to

go, crazy. Headteachers say school

cost continue to rise - while their budget has remained

the same for the last seven years. Ministers say they realise schools

are facing cost pressures - which is why they're helping them

to use their funding The government says funding is at

its highest level on record and schools received ?40 billion. It

says the system for distributing the money across the country is outdated

and unfair and says it is introducing a new formula which will

see more than half of the schools in England get a cash boost. That is

not the situation here and in schools across Darlington.

If the cuts to there budgets continue -

headteachers say staff WILL lose their jobs.

Almost three months after it was announced

that the Chief Executive of the Newcastle Hospitals Trust had

been placed on "extended leave," the BBC has learned that a group

of senior doctors have expressed concerns about the leadership

The revelation comes in tonight's Inside Out programme and a short

time ago I spoke to the programme's presenter Chris Jackson.

We have been told little but this is about the top man at the NHS

hospitals in Newcastle, ?1 billion a year to spend. He is the longest

serving Chief Executive of any NHS trust in Britain. The silence was

broken in two weeks ago when the trust said it is investigating very

serious issues. We understand they centre around a trust director who

is alleging there has been bullying and abusive behaviour. The trust

says putting him on extended leave is a neutral act, we should not read

anything into it. What have you seen from the DRS? We saw the minutes

from a meeting of senior doctors expressing concern about the future

direction of the trust and the workplace culture leading medics say

staff or unwilling or unable to speak out because of fears of

retribution and intimidation. They are calling for an environment which

is blame free but none of the doctors will speak publicly and we

don't know if their views represent the whole staff but one clinician

who saw the minutes described it as a vote of no-confidence. What has

certain then had to say? He is banned from speaking to the press

but sources say he categorically denies the allegations of bullying

and abusive behaviour saying he has been made to pay the price for

standing up to doctors in the past. The trust will not condone any

incidence of aggressive management style. What else did they discuss?

Insiders tell us there was worried Newcastle could be left on the

outside of any discussions about the reorganisation of NHS services

because of a difficult relationship between and Northumbria. Sir Len Was

opposed to the building of a new hospital in Cramlington so doctors

want a closer working relationship with their neighbours and one

Newcastle to be at the centre of discussions are not on the

periphery. What happens next? The trust has brought in an investigator

who will report in the next couple of days so watch this space.

You can see more on that story on Inside Out tonight

A gunman who shot a 15-year-old boy in the head as he was riding past

on a motorbike in Sunderland has pleaded guilty to carrying

Steven Thompson admitted firing the shot, as the teenager was riding

pillion along Hewitt Avenue in Sunderland last October.

It left the victim in a critical condition.

Thompson pleaded guilty to causing grevious bodily harm with intent

and possession of a powerful, point 25 calibre air rifle

It's just over six weeks till May the 4th -

the day when history will be made in one part of the north east.

People across the Tees Valley will vote for a newly elected mayor -

with the winning candidate being given significant powers

Well, with many voters still unaware of the election,

the minister in charge has travelled to the region to rally support

It is an important date that is approaching fast, on the 4th of May

the Tees Valley gets its first elected mayor although many

potential voters still seem unaware of what May the 4th is about. I

would not remember unless it is in my diary. Is it something to do with

Star Wars? I don't know. I should do. The newly elected mayor would

have certain responsibilities for five council areas, Darlington,

Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland. It will

decide over transport, strategic planning and employment. It is part

of the government Northern Powerhouse programme and with the

election looming, today the minister in charge was in Stockton to raise

public awareness. I think most people will welcome in the North

having powers taken away from Westminster from Whitehall and

London and brought up here to be determined by a locally elected

person and some money from London to support that. In other parts of the

north-east there is concern over jobs two firms at risk of losing 800

jobs, what is the Northern Powerhouse doing to help those

people? The evidence is when people lose their jobs, quickly they have

moved people into other employment as we saw with SSI. There were five

candidates competing for the vote on the 4th of May, an historic day

seeing the Tees Valley play a bigger role in deciding its future.

There's growing concern for the safety of people working

One worker's told the BBC he's worried every time he goes in.

Third Energy's been given planning permission to extract gas from shale

rock at a site near Kirby Misperton with operations expected to start

Danni Hewson's been given exclusive access to work

Every day brings confrontation at this fracking site in Lancashire.

Protesters show up to slow work down.

In North Yorkshire, the camp is almost empty.

But few expect it will stay this way for long.

Wherever fracking comes, the community becomes divided.

Some people get money out of it and the rest

We're starting to see that happen here in Ryedale as well.

Whilst work underway on this Third Energy site near Pickering

is purely for conventional gas extraction, the spectre

Some suppliers say they've been intimidated.

Anti-fracking campaigners insist that behaviour won't be tolerated

but admit they are boycotting firms that do business with

I regard fracking as having significant risks to my

livelihood, my business, my environment, my health.

As such, I make the personal decision that if anybody deals

with the fracking companies, I don't want to deal with them.

I'll take my business away from them.

And other people must make their own minds up.

The company took over operations here six years ago.

For them, the controversy surrounding fracking

Even this area, working around it, as people have come on with the "F"

word, it makes you have to second guess whether you say at times,

I work at Third Energy or at Knapton generating station.

It does add another factor when you're travelling

It is something we really do have to think about now.

Rifts certain to grow once fracking begins.

A campaign's begun to try to keep lollipop men and women

The City Council's cutting all but two of its 55 crossing

But, the Gosforth Traffic facebook group is hopeful it can

save all the crossing patrols across the city.

Soon to be a rare sight on the streets of Newcastle.

The majority of the city's school crossing patrols,

are being got rid of as the council tries to save millions

Jim's worked on this busy crossing in Gosforth for more than 15 years.

But when the summer term ends, so does his contract.

A kid being hit by a car or bus or wagon.

There was a man coming through and the wing

That's while I was standing in the middle of the road.

Children from four schools use this crossing here in Gosforth.

That means Jim sees across the road 200 children every

The council gets all of that for about ?5,000 a year.

Today, parents and children showed their support for a campaign,

started by a local Facebook group, to save Jim.

All lollipop men and women across the city need saving.

How would you feel crossing the road if Jim wasn't there?

I would not feel safe. We have no zebra crossing or means of slowing

down traffic. It feels the children will get

safely across the road. Especially children not

accompanied by adults. In a statement, Newcastle City

Council blamed Government funding cuts for the move,

adding there'll be free training training for volunteers

who want to monitor crossing points. But campaigners say they'll keep

trying to change councillors' minds. Plenty more to come

in tonight's Look North - including money to revamp a Cumbrian

town badly hit by floods. And in tonight's Teamtalk -

double delight for two of our non league sides

who are heading to Wembley. The daffodils are out and it was the

spring equinox but there is wintry weather over the next couple of

days. Join me later for the Monday night forecast.

The country's first heritage action zones have been announced.

And two of our areas are in the first ten.

It means Sunderland and Appleby in Cumbria will receive money

In Appleby three quarters of a million pounds will be used

to repair crumbling properties - and more could come from local

Our Business Correspondent Ian Reeve reports from Appleby.

Daffodil time in Appleby, a town of some charm. Visitor numbers are

declining, there are empty shops so this lady is welcome here, the

heritage body historic England has decided apple BB -- will be one of

ten areas to get cash over ?750,000 and expertise to improve the local

economy. We would like to help the town boost its economy, it suffered

in the floods last winter and there are properties are still closed as a

result. And we think we can work together and help boost visitor

numbers which will help Appleby. Crumbling buildings like this hall

and empty pub will be improved, the hope is new businesses will come

here, create jobs. The money will barely make it into a nice tourist

town because we live on tourism. We do need the business infrastructure

to be livened up and then we will see results within five years. For

Stephen and -- in his butchery and delicatessen, regeneration cannot

come quick enough. A lot of small independent shops are closing, quite

a few buildings in Appleby are in a bad state at the moment. Flooding

affected the town, the town was split in half for a week and a half

because the bridge was shut. Appleby was split in half. The flood damage

is still being repaired, this latest scheme could go some way to making

the town whole again. Highs and lows on this

week's Team Talk! The lows - well, our five League

clubs managed the grand total The highs - York City

and South Shields are Steve - the high point of any

footballer's career? Fantastic. Newcastle and Hull? I

played twice, still not made a save. Too late now!

And they're both there on the same day - Sunday, May the 21st.

Shields against Cleethorpes at lunchtime in the FA Vase

final, followed by York against Macclesfield

in the final of the FA Trophy, after the Minstermen drew one-all

at Lincoln on Saturday, wining 3-2 on aggregate.

A controversial penalty. Some tough times recently but beaten at a top

of the league link inside. He took out one of the stewards. It was that

tough. South Shields 2-1 up. What about this goal. That would grace

any stage. A massive win. The lads were delighted. 3400, bigger than

the crowd in Hartlepool and six other league clubs. It shows making

big strides forward. A great day out at Wembley. They are clinical with

the finishing. 4-0, 24 games they have won in a row. The management

team are proud to be going to Wembley. The recent history is hard,

the highs and lows, lots of lows, I think it is an incredible story and

we are proud to be part of it. Can you deal with South Shields? That is

what we are planning on. We're not going to Wembley for a week and out.

The pitch will suit us down to the ground. The players in the squad, we

are looking forward to it. Well after Aitor Karanka's departure

from Middlesbrough last week, his assistant Steve Agnew

was in charge for the game against Karanka's old mate Jose Mourinho -

and it seems for a lot longer. Chairman Steve Gibson said Agnew can

be "the glue to unify the club". They did come unstuck

against Man United - I had him for 18 months at Hull. A

good number two, good on the training ground and good

communicator. The issue is how he handles the transition. Can he

handle the separation and become manager? Boro gave it a go. Valdes

in great form. Beaten in the header by Fellaini. No one saves these. A

tough start. They had to go. 4-4-2 later on and any team under

pressure, you will get rewards. Just when they get momentum, they pile

forward. You must feel sorry for the keeper. He has been brilliant, a

good double save but when you're a goalkeeper that is all people

remember. Mourinho celebrating on behalf of his old team-mate. Some

suggestion from Ben Gibson he was bitten. Who knows. A lot of fight.

We have to have that. Controlled aggression, something we need. And

that is Middlesbrough football club. The games against Manchester United

will keep us in the Premier league. A game is coming up and the

confidence and belief from that performance will take us into the

next few games with energy and spirit. Good luck to Steve. The

rearranged derby against Sunderland is at the Riverside on Wednesday,

April 20 six. The Black Caps could be down if they do not start

scoring. -- April 20 six. THIS is what it's like

being a Sunderland fan. They started brightly but it was not

to be. And the chances they may did not follow Jermain Defoe. A couple

of good opportunities. You want them to... Harder to miss the target from

there. You can tell from his reaction. You can see why Burnley

had not won away. Sunderland need something to happen. One win in 11.

It could have been worse. His wife was nodding off, so excited! David

Moyes is still in charge. A missed opportunity but also point and I

know between now and the end of the season we will win quite a few games

but we were always going to have to draw some as well. It was not for

want of trying all the players. We did not quite get where we wanted to

be today. Does it put extra pressure on you when you know the owner is in

the stand watching? Not at all! Said with a smile.

Sunderland Ladies, by the way, have been drawn away to Chelsea

in Sunday's quarterfinals of the Women's FA Cup.

Into the Championship now, and it's three league games

without a win and only one goal for leaders Newcastle.

But Rafa Benitez seems to think the point picked up at Birmingham

on Saturday could prove crucial, Steve?

It depends if the glass is half full or half empty. A point picked up on

rivals with Brighton and Huddersfield losing. It could have

been a big three points. It was borderline but should have counted

which would have been another away win. When Newcastle photo, the teams

do not seem to take advantage. Two big home games, six points, could be

plain sailing. You would think at this stage they will get there. Even

if they crawl over the line. Time for the leaders to stand up.

Not a good weekend for our League Two clubs.

But what about Gateshead's chances of returning

to the Football League via the play-offs?

They're one of the form teams in the National League ahead

of tomorrow night's home game against Guiseley and could

But they left it late on Saturday didn't they Steve?

Seven wins out of eight, great form. Nothing better than a stoppage time

winner. Against Woking which helped York. Carlyle, it is unravelling.

600 minutes without a goal. The fans are not happy. The decision to sell

the leading scorer looks like a poor decision. And Hartlepool one step

forward and two back. The winner Cambridge gave them a 9-point

cushion. They can plan the next year. Thank you very much.

Carol has arrived. We will move the weather. I had something to offer

there! Prepare for winter. Spring equinox but it will feel more like

winter over the next couple of days. These are the pictures...

Some springlike shots and we have more daylight than night-time but

try telling the whether it is spring because the next few days will be

wintry, and things quietened down later on in the week. A cold feel to

things and in particular tonight, clear spells and scattered showers.

Some showers will have sleet and snow in amongst them. In between the

shower clouds the temperatures will drop down close to or around

freezing them even in towns and cities, only a degree or so above

freezing. Icy patches and a brisk wind making it feel colder. A cold

start tomorrow, generally dry and bright but showers will get going

again through the day. Most of the sleet and snow will be on the hills

and at lower levels showers of rain, hail and thunder as well. A bitterly

cold day, temperatures around six Celsius and with gusty wind it will

feel quite raw, not very springlike tomorrow. We're watching this area

of low pressure and the weather front coming in tomorrow night and

into Wednesday. One of two problems and as that clears away, high

pressure builds towards the end of the week quieting things down. It

will kill a lot of the showers off heading towards the weekend.

Tomorrow, sunshine and showers, some heavy and sundry, wintry on the

hills. Overnight into Wednesday morning, we are watching thicker

cloud, outbreaks of rain and potentially first thing on Wednesday

some snow on lower levels but through the day temperatures pick up

to five to seven Celsius and turning back to rain. Through Thursday and

Friday, as high pressure starts to build, it kills most of the showers

off, dry, bright weather, temperatures hitting double figures

by the end of the week by day but some chilly and frosty nights, a

range of temperatures from night-time to daytime. The showers

will die out towards the weekend. Tonight, a more detailed look at the

weather for the week ahead. You can keep up-to-date with the BBC weather

app. You looked excited when the weather changes. New things to say!

That is it from us. Good night. Bye-bye.

The 24-year-old man has been charged with murder.

You made sure an innocent man is charged!

What gives you the right to say that he's innocent?