:00:02. > :00:04.Hello, welcome to Look North. In the programme tonight:
:00:04. > :00:07.The strikers meet the minister. Ahead of tomorrow's public sector
:00:07. > :00:10.stoppages, can the Government persuade trade unionists there is a
:00:10. > :00:13.better way? Also tonight, get ready for Olympic
:00:13. > :00:19.football. The man in charge of the London Games launches ticket sales
:00:19. > :00:24.at the North's only venue. You must be joking - one mother's
:00:24. > :00:27.campaign to get comedian Jimmy Carr to drop a gag about Down's syndrome.
:00:27. > :00:31.And a new source of power, the crematorium that is planning to
:00:31. > :00:33.generate electricity. In sport, we meet the amateur
:00:33. > :00:37.boxing club that is punching above its weight.
:00:37. > :00:47.And we meet the first of our unsung heroes, each with the chance to
:00:47. > :00:54.
:00:54. > :00:58.represent the region at the BBC's It will be the biggest strike in
:00:58. > :01:01.Britain for over 30 years, and it is just a few hours away. Public
:01:01. > :01:05.sector workers from across our region are preparing to walk out
:01:05. > :01:07.over a pensions row. The unions say ministers want to fight, the
:01:07. > :01:12.Government reckons militants are behind it all. Confrontation seems
:01:12. > :01:15.inevitable. So, what would happen if three trade unionists from our
:01:15. > :01:25.region came face-to-face with a cabinet minister? Our political
:01:25. > :01:30.correspondent Mark Denten found out. Tomorrow, 300,000 people from the
:01:30. > :01:40.North East and Cumbria will go on strike. This is a story about just
:01:40. > :01:43.
:01:43. > :01:50.three trade unionists. When I first signed up, it was on final salary
:01:50. > :01:57.and a percentage of Cassani Wood, per month. Now it could net --
:01:57. > :02:05.could turn out to be less at the end of the day. The teachers'
:02:05. > :02:12.pension pot looks like it has been burgled. I don't think a strike of
:02:12. > :02:16.one day at a time we have the desired outcome. It is taking away
:02:16. > :02:21.the services that people in Cumbria are entitled to. They consider
:02:21. > :02:24.their last resort to defend the terms and conditions. Are three
:02:24. > :02:28.trade unionists have never met, but Look North has brought them
:02:28. > :02:34.together in London for a special meeting. Karen, Jimmy and Pauline
:02:34. > :02:39.have come to the Treasury to meet Danny Alexander. The money we were
:02:39. > :02:44.promised was in a pension pot and was sufficiently sustainable. How
:02:44. > :02:48.come that is now eroded? We feel like we have been burgled.
:02:48. > :02:53.reason why we believe change is necessary is because of a fact of
:02:54. > :02:59.life that is going on for everybody in the country. What is that we are
:02:59. > :03:06.all living longer. I have seen very good colleagues lose their jobs.
:03:06. > :03:12.And now we are expecting to pay more contributions each month.
:03:12. > :03:16.lot of people across the Government sector are relatively low pay. They
:03:16. > :03:21.are expected pay more into their pension scheme, which could make it
:03:21. > :03:30.affordable. Anyone who earns less than �50,000 per year, there is no
:03:30. > :03:33.change at all to the pension contribution. When will we get
:03:33. > :03:37.something a clarity about what will happen? That is what the
:03:37. > :03:42.frustration has built up with teaching in particular. I find it
:03:42. > :03:46.very frustrating, to be honest with you, that the union leaders are
:03:46. > :03:49.still saying they want to go on strike, it could be better to say,
:03:49. > :03:53.let us not go on strike no, let's take this discussion as far as they
:03:53. > :03:59.can. Then, if you don't like what we come up with, it is your right
:03:59. > :04:04.to go on strike. I would defend that right. So go -- so, has he
:04:04. > :04:08.convinced his visitors? I don't think he understands the process
:04:08. > :04:11.and the procedures. It is a mixed communications that in the game
:04:11. > :04:17.negotiations run the table between -- and what is happening on the
:04:17. > :04:20.fund man. Will you still be going on strike? I will be there to
:04:20. > :04:26.support my union members. He has not said anything he hasn't said
:04:26. > :04:31.before. Will you still go on strike? Absolutely. Three still
:04:31. > :04:34.unhappy workers, and time running out for a settlement.
:04:34. > :04:37.And if you would like your say on the strike, Look North's hot seats
:04:37. > :04:41.will be in Durham's Market Place between 10 o'clock and 11.30
:04:41. > :04:46.tomorrow morning. You can put your question face to face to the trade
:04:46. > :04:48.unions and the politicians. Meanwhile, the Chancellor's Autumn
:04:48. > :04:52.Statement revealed that the Government is to offer extra tax
:04:52. > :04:54.breaks to businesses in the North East. George Osborne said that
:04:54. > :04:58.firms in the region's two enterprise zones would get
:04:58. > :05:00.incentives to invest in buildings and machinery. That could benefit
:05:00. > :05:06.businesses in parts of Teesside, Tyneside, Wearside, Northumberland
:05:06. > :05:10.and Durham. Another �1 billion will also be put into a Regional Growth
:05:10. > :05:12.Fund for companies. But George Osborne also announced a review of
:05:12. > :05:22.public sector pay to see if teachers, social workers and civil
:05:22. > :05:26.
:05:27. > :05:30.servants should be paid more in the An inquest into the death of the
:05:30. > :05:33.former Newcastle midfielder Gary Speed has been opened and adjourned.
:05:33. > :05:36.Tributes are continuing to pour in from the world of football for the
:05:36. > :05:40.42 year-old manager of the Welsh national team who was found hanged
:05:40. > :05:43.at his home in Chester at the weekend. Alan Shearer was one of
:05:43. > :05:52.his closest friends and has given a poignant, personal interview to BBC
:05:52. > :06:01.Radio about how the tragedy has affected both their families.
:06:01. > :06:06.I am still numb. So shocked. You read things in the newspapers, it
:06:07. > :06:13.does not happen to one of your best mates. I was with him on Saturday
:06:13. > :06:19.afternoon, watching Stoke against Blackburn. He was coming up to stay
:06:19. > :06:26.at Our is next weekend. We were going to a charity dinner. I left
:06:26. > :06:31.the studio and shook his hand. I walked to old Trafford to what
:06:31. > :06:36.Newcastle and said, I will see you next weekend. My wife is in bits,
:06:36. > :06:42.as you can imagine. We keep thinking of poor Louise and his two
:06:42. > :06:46.children. He was just an incredible guy, really. What you would
:06:46. > :06:56.describe as a proper bloke, a proper man. You could rely and
:06:56. > :06:56.
:06:56. > :07:02.A 47 year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the
:07:02. > :07:05.robbery of a pensioner in a North Yorkshire village yesterday. An 84
:07:05. > :07:08.year-old woman was attacked with a hammer in public toilets in Leyburn
:07:08. > :07:11.by another woman, who escaped with the large amount of cash. The
:07:11. > :07:13.victim has since been released from hospital following treatment for
:07:13. > :07:16.head injuries. A public meeting about the possible
:07:16. > :07:18.closure of three care homes in West Cumbria takes place in Workington
:07:18. > :07:23.this evening. Cumbria County Council plans to close homes in
:07:23. > :07:27.Aspatria, Distington and Workington as part of a cost-cutting exercise.
:07:27. > :07:30.The plans have met fierce opposition from locals.
:07:30. > :07:34.Lord Coe has been in Newcastle today to promote its hosting of
:07:34. > :07:37.Olympic football next summer. Newcastle United is the only club
:07:37. > :07:40.in the region to be holding any Olympic football fixtures. There
:07:40. > :07:44.has been a lot of adverse reaction to Newcastle owner Mike Ashley
:07:44. > :07:47.renaming the historic ground. But Lord Coe confirmed what we told you
:07:47. > :07:50.at the time of that announcement, that whatever the ground is called
:07:50. > :07:57.by next summer, it will revert to St James's Park for the Olympic
:07:58. > :08:04.matches. Peter Harris is live at the ground now. Peter, it sounded
:08:04. > :08:10.as though Lord Coe was quite fond of the old name.
:08:10. > :08:16.Lord Coe is a St James's Park fan, that is clear. The name is still up,
:08:16. > :08:20.but these days, it is now called the Sports Direct are rain and that
:08:20. > :08:26.has upset a few people. But Lord Coe is here to talk about the
:08:26. > :08:30.Olympic football matches. -- Sports Direct Arena. He made it clear that
:08:30. > :08:36.for the few weeks of the Olympics, this place must be called St
:08:36. > :08:41.James's park. It is in James's for the Olympics, and if I am being
:08:41. > :08:47.honest, it will probably always be St James's Park. Have you community
:08:47. > :08:50.Kate -- communicated that Newcastle United? That is an understanding,
:08:50. > :08:56.we do that at individual branding in our stadiums and that goes for
:08:56. > :09:00.every Olympic sport. Not even our own sponsors are able to Brant
:09:00. > :09:06.around the Olympic Games. That is what makes the game's unique.
:09:06. > :09:10.one week in July, it is in James's park. One meet in July. Do we know
:09:10. > :09:15.which teams will be playing at St James's Park?
:09:15. > :09:21.We still don't know. That is because the draw isn't made until
:09:21. > :09:25.April. Lord Coe was here because today, they had put 1.5 million
:09:25. > :09:30.tickets on sale for the games at the various venues. There are six
:09:30. > :09:33.of them, including Newcastle. Until that draw is made, people will not
:09:33. > :09:41.know today are getting to see. But he things because of the passion
:09:41. > :09:45.for football up here, people will still want to book their tickets.
:09:45. > :09:49.We could see Brazil, we could see Spain, and if you do want to come,
:09:49. > :09:53.those tickets are priced between �20.40 pounds and then you come to
:09:53. > :10:00.the at then picks at least, he will know you are sitting in St James's
:10:00. > :10:04.park. -- to the Olympics. How far should comedians be allowed
:10:04. > :10:08.to go when telling a joke? These days, it seems the riskier, the
:10:08. > :10:12.funnier. But is a joke about Down's syndrome children funny? One
:10:12. > :10:15.Tyneside mother does not think so. She is livid over a joke made by
:10:15. > :10:25.Jimmy Carr, a joke she found to be so insensitive, she has demanded he
:10:25. > :10:33.
:10:33. > :10:34.remove it from his routine. Sharon Jimmy Carr made Adele Joicey laugh.
:10:34. > :10:37.The theme in most theme parks is waiting line, fatty. She had been
:10:37. > :10:40.going through a tough time, coming to terms with her daughter's Down's
:10:40. > :10:46.syndrome diagnosis. She thought a night out to see the comedian in
:10:46. > :10:51.Newcastle would cheer her up. But she left in tears. I did have a
:10:51. > :10:58.feeling wash over me, thinking, please don't say anything about
:10:58. > :11:05.Down's syndrome. But that is what he did. He made this joke about the
:11:05. > :11:11.sunshine variety coaches. It was awful. Just to sit there and listen
:11:11. > :11:16.to everybody laugh, I was just looking around, and I just thought,
:11:16. > :11:22.that's it. Times haven't changed. My daughter is good to have a life
:11:22. > :11:26.of ridicule. Jobs at her expense and it was just really hard. --
:11:26. > :11:29.jokes. Adele was furious, and wrote to the comedian, asking him to stop
:11:29. > :11:32.these jokes, which she said, cuts those that are affected too deeply.
:11:32. > :11:34.She requested that in future, no further jokes be made concerning
:11:34. > :11:43.Down's syndrome, or indeed any learning disability, as jokes of
:11:43. > :11:49.this nature only serve to increase the stigma are already faced. She
:11:49. > :11:53.heard nothing. We contacted Jimmy Carr's agent and management team,
:11:53. > :11:56.but they refused to speak to us about her complain. But she says
:11:56. > :12:03.she is speaking out against this kind of humour, determined to see a
:12:03. > :12:08.change in attitude. She is going to have a more difficult life than
:12:08. > :12:15.most, because of the syndrome. The last thing she needs is people
:12:15. > :12:18.His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester has been in Carlisle
:12:18. > :12:21.today to officially open the new Roman Frontier Gallery at the
:12:21. > :12:24.Tullie House Museum. The Duke was met by the city's mayor and other
:12:24. > :12:28.local dignitaries before touring the attraction. The exhibition
:12:28. > :12:31.explores the Roman occupation of the North of England.
:12:31. > :12:34.The Heritage Lottery Fund has given almost a quarter of a million
:12:34. > :12:36.pounds to help protect red squirrels in the North East. The
:12:36. > :12:39.money is being given to the Northumberland Wildlife Trust,
:12:39. > :12:43.which is running a four year project to monitor and record
:12:43. > :12:46.squirrel activity and the role they play in the North East's ecosystem.
:12:46. > :12:52.Many of the remaining 15,000 red squirrels in England live in the
:12:52. > :12:54.North East. Coming up later, we have an update
:12:55. > :12:58.from Bryony Balen, the Newcastle University student who has set off
:12:58. > :13:01.to ski to the South Pole. And another piece of public art is
:13:02. > :13:11.unveiled. But at �250,000, is the price too much to swallow in these
:13:12. > :13:16.
:13:16. > :13:25.And we leave autumn behind and head into winter. I will have the
:13:25. > :13:31.These days we can turn almost anything into electricity. Wind,
:13:31. > :13:36.water, even newer. How about harnessing power from the heat
:13:36. > :13:40.generated from the furnaces at a crematorium? Kramer -- Durham
:13:40. > :13:49.crematorium could be the first crematorium in the country to make
:13:49. > :13:54.money that way. We have a busy day ahead. You can
:13:54. > :13:58.see the orange glow it there. all have a fair idea of what
:13:58. > :14:03.happens after the Coughton -- curtain draws back and the coffin
:14:03. > :14:08.disappears. This is the sign of a crematorium that we very seldom see
:14:08. > :14:12.and for good reason. Next year three new furnaces will go online
:14:12. > :14:17.and the heat generated from one will be used in the crematorium
:14:17. > :14:23.itself. The other two could have wider uses. The legislation has
:14:23. > :14:28.given as an option to recycle the heat. The heat that we use is
:14:28. > :14:34.generated by the gas that is used to heat the cremator. This is a
:14:34. > :14:41.busy place. 2000 cremations take place here every year and each of
:14:41. > :14:46.the Three carmakers can produce 250 kilowatts of energy a year. -- 3
:14:46. > :14:52.cremate us. Potentially, they could produce an income of several �1,000
:14:52. > :14:59.a month for the crematorium. make money out of death in all
:14:59. > :15:04.shapes often -- in all shapes and forms. Funeral directors do,
:15:04. > :15:11.crematoriums do. It is at first thought a controversial issue, a
:15:11. > :15:20.subject that needs some reflection. We may as well put something back
:15:20. > :15:25.into the air. It is sensibility I suppose, using heat. I guess it is
:15:25. > :15:30.something useful to do, a way of recycling. I know it is weird that
:15:30. > :15:37.it is bodies but it is probably quite useful. If approved, it will
:15:37. > :15:41.be 2013 before any Powell would be harnessed and with 75% of us
:15:41. > :15:44.preferring burial -- cremation at over burial, or it could be well
:15:44. > :15:47.received. It is a complete waste of money
:15:47. > :15:51.when libraries, committees and sports centres are being closed.
:15:51. > :15:55.That is the claim from some after a quarter of a million pounds was
:15:55. > :15:59.spent on public got work in Middlesbrough. A local council says
:15:59. > :16:04.the sculpture will create a vibrant environment and says the money from
:16:04. > :16:09.the project was secured from the previous Government five years ago.
:16:09. > :16:14.The metal installation takes inspiration from a field of waving
:16:14. > :16:19.corn. Sat on a roundabout on one of the main routes into Middlesbrough,
:16:19. > :16:24.it is designed to enhance the commercial and business areas. Not
:16:24. > :16:27.everyone is a fan. I don't know anybody that once it. It is not a
:16:27. > :16:32.great idea because they are thinking this is going, that is
:16:32. > :16:37.going, but what they have put there. Don't just have Leigh plant is
:16:37. > :16:45.there and keep your fingers crossed that we are going to like it. --
:16:45. > :16:49.don't just put that there. Support for this is not easy to find.
:16:49. > :16:54.didn't know what it was but when I found out how much it cost, I
:16:54. > :17:00.didn't think it was worth the money. It looks like a pile of scrap.
:17:00. > :17:04.it is meant to be a cornfield, for quarter of a million pounds I could
:17:04. > :17:14.have made a good garden shed out of the timber. To carry out a thorough
:17:14. > :17:23.
:17:23. > :17:27.investigation, I took matters into Some support. Middlesbrough Council
:17:27. > :17:32.says it is part of their long-term strategy to attract businesses and
:17:32. > :17:37.companies to the town by making it more exciting and vibrant for
:17:37. > :17:42.people looking to invest. It stresses that the money came from
:17:42. > :17:46.One NorthEast and the Government's growth business found. People say
:17:46. > :17:56.at a time of cuts and closures could be quarter of a million
:17:56. > :17:57.
:17:57. > :18:02.pounds not be spent on people -- on something people actually wanted.
:18:02. > :18:10.At Bryony Balen, the Newcastle University student who set off to
:18:10. > :18:14.ski to the self poll has -- South Pole has had a surprise.
:18:14. > :18:18.Temperatures have been above freezing. They still know though
:18:18. > :18:26.that it will get worse. Bright in the aims to become the
:18:26. > :18:34.youngest Briton to ski 700 miles to the South Pole. She has trained
:18:34. > :18:41.very hard and they are in good spirits. We still haven't had a bad
:18:41. > :18:46.day yet. We have a positive mindset. We settled down into the routine of
:18:46. > :18:51.camp and getting used to the food and the tent. We weren't expecting
:18:51. > :19:01.such wonderful weather. We have brilliant sunshine, virtually no
:19:01. > :19:01.
:19:02. > :19:07.wind at all and you can see for miles. We keep joking that we could
:19:07. > :19:17.be in the Bahamas. It will take her two months to reach the South Pole
:19:17. > :19:24.
:19:24. > :19:34.where temperatures now are around - He was me doing my hair.
:19:34. > :19:42.
:19:42. > :19:47.-- here was me. I was talking about Onto sport and two of our teams are
:19:47. > :19:50.in action tonight. Hartlepool are looking to get back to winning ways
:19:50. > :19:55.as they come up against Preston. Middlesbrough have a big game at
:19:55. > :20:00.the Riverside. They take on second- placed West Ham and knowing a win
:20:00. > :20:05.could move them to. Behind their promotion rivals.
:20:05. > :20:13.They are four games unbeaten but it has been a frustrating run of
:20:13. > :20:17.results for Tony Mowbray's side. Two draws against Blackpool and we
:20:17. > :20:22.thought we should have taken maximum points. We fell short in
:20:22. > :20:29.both games. Hopefully the team accused those frustration moments
:20:30. > :20:39.and put them into the next matches. Tonight they host West Ham who are
:20:40. > :20:42.
:20:42. > :20:47.looking for their 4th win in a row. You can keep reading them off. They
:20:47. > :20:55.have huge Premier League experience. Let's hope the margins go away and
:20:55. > :21:01.we get three points. He could be forced to put a front line that is
:21:01. > :21:05.different as they have some injuries.
:21:05. > :21:11.Pool's take on Preston North End having lost their last six home
:21:11. > :21:14.games. Both those games are on BBC Tees.
:21:14. > :21:19.The boxes of Birtley Young People's Club have reputation for punching
:21:19. > :21:22.above their weight. Run by volunteers, it has produced a
:21:22. > :21:26.string of world-class fighters. It began in a school hall, moved to a
:21:26. > :21:32.fire station and has some of the best training facilities in the
:21:32. > :21:36.country. The chairman of Sport England rank
:21:36. > :21:40.seconds out for the opening of one of the North's newest sports
:21:40. > :21:45.centres. The new Birtley Young People's Club will cater for judo
:21:45. > :21:50.and football also but the main benefit accrues to its celebrated
:21:50. > :21:54.boxing club. The investment of over half million pounds of her Olympic
:21:54. > :22:00.legacy money is recognition of over 30 years of bringing boxing to
:22:00. > :22:10.Birtley. It has a history. They produce a champion boxers. Not only
:22:10. > :22:11.
:22:11. > :22:18.is it a crucial facility for his country and this area, it produces
:22:18. > :22:24.many winners. They help the up-and- coming generation of ambitious new
:22:24. > :22:31.fighters to make their mark. have a great history and we have
:22:31. > :22:35.some great boxers. We have the facility for them to train now. We
:22:35. > :22:42.have a world champion, a European champion and we will produce more
:22:42. > :22:46.from this area. It is good for the North East.
:22:46. > :22:50.Next week will be staging the BBC North East Sports Awards and as
:22:50. > :22:53.part of the event, will be looking for the Unsung Sporting Hero,
:22:53. > :22:57.someone who devote their time and energy above the call of duty to
:22:57. > :23:01.their particular team or club. The judges had narrowed the field
:23:01. > :23:05.down to a shortlist of three and we will make them all over the next
:23:05. > :23:10.few nights. To kick off, former double gold medallist, Chris Cook
:23:10. > :23:14.pulled on his running shoes to meet the man behind the Wallsend
:23:14. > :23:19.Harriers. As you can see, Terry is a popular
:23:19. > :23:27.guy here at Wallsend Harriers. He has dedicated 26 years of his life
:23:27. > :23:31.to this club. He is either running alongside you,
:23:31. > :23:35.cheering you on and pushing you further, or if you are in a race,
:23:35. > :23:41.he would be the last one on the finish line, making sure every club
:23:41. > :23:46.member gets over and I have had a good race. It inspires a lot of
:23:47. > :23:54.people to want to try hard. He is a coach, an organiser and an athlete.
:23:54. > :23:57.As chairman, Terry works all year round. He runs four sessions a week
:23:57. > :24:02.and is busy behind the scenes making sure everything runs
:24:02. > :24:08.smoothly. What keeps you motivated to give so much time and
:24:08. > :24:13.enthusiasm? All these people behind me. They keep me motivated. Most
:24:13. > :24:20.clubs would tell you they have so mild -- somebody similar to me.
:24:20. > :24:25.There is always someone that drives any club. Here, they couldn't
:24:25. > :24:34.imagine it without him. He helped to make things work in the club. He
:24:34. > :24:39.is like the Super glue of the club. He is a great ambassador for the
:24:39. > :24:46.sport. He drags people into the sport, Tregynon in to run for the
:24:46. > :24:50.club. When it comes to the track, age is no barrier for success.
:24:50. > :25:00.amount of people that turned out for his 70th birthday, was
:25:00. > :25:00.
:25:00. > :25:10.unbelievable. Also, to celebrate his success after he was selected
:25:10. > :25:12.
:25:12. > :25:17.for the Masters Cross Country Club. I got one at 33 -- at one hour 33.
:25:17. > :25:27.Maybe we can do it next year. go ahead Terry, no worries. I will
:25:27. > :25:37.
:25:37. > :25:46.The weather has turned a lot more volatile recently. We have this
:25:46. > :25:52.cold front coming in from the West and it was a well mapped feature. 3
:25:52. > :26:00.o'clock this afternoon, Gateshead had 13 Celsius. Further west, some
:26:00. > :26:06.heavy rain. They had temperatures of around six Celsius. That cleared
:26:06. > :26:13.away for the rest of the afternoon and we are into bad cold air at now.
:26:13. > :26:17.Some snow showers for the high a Pennines. A cold night tonight,
:26:17. > :26:22.gusty westerly wind. Way you were sheltered, you may have
:26:22. > :26:31.temperatures dipping down to three Celsius. A blustery night for many
:26:31. > :26:36.exposed to that wind. Tomorrow morning, it is a largely dry start.
:26:36. > :26:42.There will be some scattered showers. Wet and windy weather
:26:42. > :26:51.works his way in by the tail end of the day. Temperatures reaching
:26:51. > :26:55.double figures in the West. Nine Celsius for the East. That wind
:26:55. > :27:00.will pick up again later in the day. A wet and windy spell to take us
:27:00. > :27:05.through tomorrow night. This clears away quickly on Thursday morning to
:27:05. > :27:12.leave sunshine and scattered showers. High pressure builds on
:27:12. > :27:17.Friday and things quietened down temporarily. Temperatures just
:27:17. > :27:22.about make it into double figures on Thursday. Friday, it is mostly