27/06/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

In tonight's headlines: so it's goodbye from me

"Help find my daughter's killer ` the plea from the mother

of a Teesside woman who dis`ppeared more than 12 years ago.

You just wonder, is it anyone you know? People pass you and think oh,

you have done is a her. `` xou have done something to her.

Traffic update ` millions of pounds to banish queues

But will Northumberland get its long`awaited dual carri`geway?

Jimmy, hero of the arctic convoys, finally gets his medal.

And safe haven ` the garden with a wartime connection

prepares to open to the public for one day only.

And we are enjoying a night at the races as we look forward to one of

the biggest days on the sporting calendar.

The detective leading a 12`year`old murder investhgation

in Middlesborough says he's closer than ever to making an arrest.

The body of Rachel Wilson, a sex worker in the town,

was discovered in 2012, ten years after she disappe`red

made a new appeal for the ptblic's help in finding her killer.

Tina Wilson says she will ndver rest until her daughter's killer is

found. This morning, exactlx two tears after Rachel's body w`s

discovered, she made a fresh appeal for the public's help. You wonder if

it is anyone you know. People pass you and think you have done

something to her. It is likd you cannot trust anyone any mord.

Although today marks the second anniversary of the body being found,

she disappeared ten years bdfore that. She was 19 years old. She had

been a sex worker in Middlesbrough and was caught on CCTV on the night

she went missing. Ten years later, her remains were found on this

isolated farm. During that time, vital frantic

evidence was lost at the investigation. For Cleveland

police, Rachel's murder rem`ins a top priority. New lines of dnquiry

recently emerged. The detective leading the investigation s`ys, 12

years on, new leads are emerging from tracking down Rachel's friends

and former colleagues. Still no arrests in this case, why is it

taking so long? We need to understand what we are

investigating. We are keen to make an arrest but it has to be hnformed

and accurate and it is a big decision but one we will take when

the time is right. I don't want to wander all the time who has done it

and why. We want to know who did it and why. Do you think the police are

getting close to finding out? I do. I hope and pray that they sorted

this year. Today marks another difficult anniversary for R`chel's

mother. She is still hopeful that her killer can be found 12 xears

after she disappeared. Well, Phil now joins us

from our Middlesbrough newsroom How much significance are police

putting on these new developments? For Cleveland police, Rachel's

murder remains one of their priority cases. Despite this lapse in time,

there is `` there are still 17 experienced officers working this

investigation. Detectives s`y they have now been able to speak to many

of her friends and colleaguds that she had been working with b`ck in

2002. In light of that, these new lines of enquiry are beginnhng to

emerge. For her mum, this h`s been a difficult day, to mark this

anniversary. The police belheve their investigation is gathdring

pace. A County Durham headteacher accused

of historic sex offences ag`inst a 13`year`old boy has been described

in court as a "visionary" ldader. Anne Lakey, who's 54 and from

Stanley in County Durham, is alleged to have

committed the offences over a year`long period

in the late 1980s. An educational consultant told

Durham Crown Court that Mrs Lakey 116,000 vehicles use it every day

and, for many drivers, The A1 Western Bypass is notorious

for traffic jams but the Government's announced

a ?77 million pounds upgradd to add an extra lane on a four`mile

section near the MetroCentrd. But there's still no confirlation

on whether the A1 further north in Northumberland will get

its long`awaited dual carri`geway. Our Political Correspondent,

Mark Denten, reports. 116,000 vehicles travel on this bit

of road every weekday. It's one of busiest sections of the A1 `nd, if

you've been stuck on it, yot'll know the frustration. Today then the

Roads Minister was here prolising to turn the bit of road between Coal

House and the Metro Centre from two I know this piece of road vdry well.

I used to come here once a lonth and used to be stationary in tr`ffic. We

will spend six to ?1 million here addressing a pinch point whhch has

an effect not only on motorhsts but also on the economy. `` 61 lillion

pounds. We are doing everything we can to minimise the disrupthon.

There will be two lanes open in each direction during the day. That is

much the same as it is now. It'll cost up to ?77 million

to do that ` in other words, nearly ?5 mhllion

for every quarter of a mile. But, just a few miles north

of here in Northumberland, How long before that work's done,

too? We have six pigs routes that we are

scrutinising at the moment `nd two are in the north`east. One hs just

beneath us because we are doing a bit of this but there is more to do.

The other one we are looking at closely is the A1. It is not the

busiest road but it is one of the most dangerous. We will see what is

announced to address these hssues. ?2,595 per head is spent

on transport in London compared to just ?5.01

in the North East. This haulage firm says dualling

the rest of the A1 would help We as a region need to be connected,

particularly with the potential devolution in Scotland. We want to

have a good road between London and an abrupt, so it is not just about

this region, it is about thd whole of the UK.

It'll take 18 months to carry out the work here,

hopefully eventually getting the traffic flowing `

at least on this bit of the region's busiest road.

There are still concerns we could miss out on another transport

project. Yes, high`speed three, a massive rail project, outlined in

general terms by the Chancellor earlier this week. For Liverpool,

Leeds, Manchester and others, it will be a powerhouse but thd

north`east has been Gisby to sit in its absence. There are plenty of

other people wanting to dechde where HS3 is. The Chancellor is vdry

influential. I know that Newcastle is an important part of our economy,

so that needs to be connectdd. As a minister but also one of thd

regional MPs, will you be arguing that Newcastle should be included?

We need to get our fair share of investment and we're getting our

fair share of road investment. We have had power share for repairing

potholes, so money is coming through. That was Robert Goodwill

again there. In the meantimd, you can expect leaders across the region

to put pressure on the Government to give more assurances that HS3, how

much it costs, when it comes, if it comes, will benefit our reghon as

well as Liverpool, Manchestdr and Leeds.

30`year`old trains, inaccessible stations and lengthy journexs.

The region's services, operated by Northern Rail,

have come under fire from both passenger groups and politicians.

The Government says it's investing ?1 billion over the next five years,

improving the railways in the north, and has begun a consultation ahead

which contains sequences filmed ` safely ` with a remote camera.

This is the 9:38 from Carlisle to Lancaster via Barrow.

It takes more than three and half hours ` hugging the Cumbrian

Many of the trains have been in service for decades amd regular

There is a need for some rolling stock all over the North of England.

It is vital for the economy of the area, it is important for tourism

and lots of people use trains to get to hospitals in Hexham, Newcastle

and Middlesbrough. We need ` better service than we have now.

The latest National Rail Passenger Survey suggests continuing

dissatisfaction with Northern Rail, which runs the services.

Just 61% of those asked werd satisfied with the upkeep and repair

of trains and only 64% said they were content with the cleanliness.

Both scores are lower than the national averages.

Northern Rail said the figures are better than last year

And there's no shortage of suggestions about what needs doing.

Their rough grey `` there three specific areas that need

improvement, one is the Newcastle to Carlisle route. We want to see an

express line as well so there is a faster. There needs to be some

substantial investment in the rolling stock. The third is

connectivity within Cumbria. The connections between the East and

West and North and South had to be improved.

The government's consultation on rail services

And there'll be more on the region's railways on Sunday Politics.

The Labour leadership of Northumberland County Cotncil

says the backlog of 32,000 potholes

in the county's roads have now been filled.

The last one on the list was plugged during a photo opportunity

However, the Conservative ldader on the council says anyone driving

around the county can see that all the holes have not been filled in.

Workington's Labour MP Sir Tony Cunningham will stand down

The former teacher became MP for the constituency in Jund 20 1.

Sir Tony, who was knighted two years ago, says he plans to spend

Rescuers trying to rescue a minibus from a ditch have needed to be

rescued. The land became sttck as well. `` the risky vehicle.

The problems of high levels of personal debt

in the region were highlighted at a conference on Teesside today.

It's claimed that predatory money lending is growing,

and more support is needed for people who find themselves

Our Business Correspondent, Ian Reeve, reports.

Spent, she says, on necessities for her Teesside home.

The interest rates, though, were crippling on loans easy to `ccess.

I went into the shop, asked what I should do because I needed ` cooker.

They said I needed four refdrences. Two weeks later, I was approved

Three weeks later, I got thd gear. Maureen took advice

from a Teesside charity and is now paying the debt

down manageably from her benefits. I have until January. I'm able to

say for things rather than getting into debt for things. That hs a nice

feeling. It is nice. An attempt to ensure others don t

follow Maureen into unmanagdable debt was the the aim

of a conference on Teesside today. And how the problem of ballooning

personal debt can be tackled. We have cost of living incrdasing,

we have low or stagnant wagds over a lengthy period of time now `nd

certainly we think the north`east is an area where we are likely to see

significant debt problems. For the local MPs, it's an hssue

that cuts across party lines. Early this morning, I was vhsiting a

credit union. They do a gre`t job and support people who come to them

for help and they are a viable and affordable alternative to some of

the loan sharks. I know mord people depending on payday loans.

It's claimed welfare reforms have taken ?940 million from famhlies and

Much of it will be replaced by loans and high`cost credht.

There could be an awful lot of Maureens out there.

A naval veteran who served on the Arctic convoys in World War Two

has finally received his Arctic Star medal ` on his 90th birthday.

James Newlands, who lives in Ryton near Gatdshead,

His medal was presented by the Commander of HMS Mersey.

The Arctic Convoys that supplied our Russian allies

were some of the most hazardous missions of World War Two.

But surviving veterans had to wait 70 years

for official recognition with the issue of the Arctic Star medal.

And today Jimmy Newlands received his

from a naval officer of the 21st`century fleet.

Jimmy joined up at 16 and headed out of the Mersex

More than 70 years later, he was honoured by HMS Mersdy.

Better late than never! That is the only way I feel about it. To me it

is just as good getting it now than it would have been earlier. This has

been a big surprise, really. How has your 90th birthday been so far? It

has been a Navy party, as f`r as I'm concerned. It has been a grdat

pleasure. Jimmy had a successful business

and sporting career after the war. My father was a local busindssmen,

with his father, who had a retail clothing company. He also played for

the county and got the nickname dirty ginger, I never knew why. It

is great it is on his 90th birthday. It clearly means a lot to hhm.

Having waited in so long, it is poignant farce in the naval service

to be able to award it to hhm. The modern navy still rewards

success with a tot of rum. And Jimmy downed his to

the last drop. A young girl from Northumberland is

celebrating after her beloved pet tortohse

was found safe and well after he went missing `

over a year ago. Ella Holland and her parents

just can't understand how Andy the Tortoise

turned up a mile away, after apparently surviving

in the wild and making it across the

East Coast Mainline in one piece. Reunited more than a year after he

disappeared, Allah cannot bdlieve Andy is back. He pushed his way out

of his cage and he went through that gate over there. He crossed a bridge

over the train track and thdn my friend found him on the othdr side.

It was near the A1. Never in a million years did we think that we

would get him back, to be honest was doubly presumed he was gone and that

was the end of that unfortunately. Do you think you hibernate ht? We're

not sure, we have not hibernated him. He might have done. Thd most

surprising thing was he crossed the East Coast Main Line. I know! That

could have ended really badly. We cannot believe it. We absolttely

flabbergasted. `` we are absolutely flabbergasted.

Time for sport now, and Jeff is out and about tonight

at Newcastle Races for Tyneside s big meeting of the year.

It looks fair at the moment. It is a nice night indeed.

Where else could we be on the eve of the big one,

Also known, of course, as the Pitman's Derby,

even if there aren't too many pitmen around here these days.

Never mind ` it's all about history, and tomorrow's big race is

the highlight of the three`day Plate Festhval

The first one was back in 1833 ` it was held on Newcastle Town Moor

in those days, before switching here to Gosforth in 1881.

There is a lot of history about this place but they do have big plans for

the future. They are talking about an all`weather track.

Here to tell us more is Executive Director David Williamson.

Six months on from that first anouncement,

We have been to Newcastle Chty Council about the proposals and

planning application and also to the British horse racing Associ`tion. We

now move onto the next step, which is a design and build of thd track,

with a mile of it being floodlit. We are looking forward to some big

plans. When will we see racds? We will see the building start later

this year, and a six`month bills, meaning we will hopefully bd ready

by the start of next. Will we ever have a night`time race? It will be

out of the system of racing. It leaves us with odds of options and

will hopefully bring some bdcause horses to Newcastle. Who will win

tomorrow? There is a local trainer, Brian Ellison, whose horse has a low

weight. He had to win at York last week, he is at the bottom of the

handicap. It's a big weekend

for motor racing fans as the British Touring Car

Championship roars into the region. Tens of thousands are expected to

turn out at Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire over the next few

days for the fifth round of the event which will feature

several of Britain's top drhvers. Meanwhile, Hartlepool swimmdr

Jemma Lowe has warmed up for the Commonwealth Games, in which she'll

compete for Wales, with victory in the 200 metres butterfly at an

international meeting in Manchester. And Paul Mooney will be herd in just

a few minutes to tell us wh`t we should wear if we're out watching

racing on four wheels or fotr legs. 100 years ago tomorrow `

the assassination of an Austrian Archduke began the sequence

of events that led to the ottbreak At the time,

Britain's Foreign Secretary was Sir Edward Grey, a descendant of

the North East reformer Earl Grey. Sir Edward, a Northumberland MP

was one of a handful of polhticians The gardens

of his ancestral home near @lnwick are among many properties opened to

the public, once a year, This weekend is one

of those occasions ` perhaps especially poignant this

year, as Gerry Jackson reports. It's a hidden,

timeless gem of a place, By 1914, Fallodon Hall near Alnwick,

had been the Grey family se`t Sir Edward Grey had grown up here,

married a local girl, A keen outdoorsman, it seems he

was never happier than wanddring For the present`day custodi`ns,

that history is ever present. Because of the anniversary of the

First World War, I have been reading more about him. He writes about this

place with a great love, obviously for the nature. He would have sat

here, listening to the birds, lost in thought. You feel him, ottside

and inside. But as Foreign Secretary,

the approaching shadow of w`r After a Serbian nationalist

assassinated the Austro`Hungarian Archduke, Franz Ferdinand, the two

countries found themselves `t war. But it was an old

and complicated system of alliances that threatened to

engulf the big continental powers. Diplomats and ministers likd

Sir Edward Grey were at the epicentre of the crisis and

the efforts to prevent disaster Could Britain and her Empird

have kept out of the war? Sir Edward told MPs that st`nding

aside would "sacrifice our respect and good name

and reputation before the world " None of us can put ourselves

in his shoes but we can walk It has an added dimension this year.

They are able to wander arotnd the gardens at their leisure, more or

less as it was their own garden get ideas about gardening and rdally

have a lovely day. At the s`me time, it will benefit charities lhke

Macmillan, Marek Erie and the hospice 's trust. `` married

As we know, the diplomacy f`iled and, in Sir Edward's words,

He went to his grave knowing that ten million servicemen and lillions

of civilians had been lost in a war that changed everything.

How often must he have walkdd in these gardens, wondering if he could

identity `` identity felt pdrsonally responsible for the events that

happened but he felt the wehght of them. The peace and quiet, he

desperately needed it. You see it in photographs, that he is looking worn

down by life. I am happy to share Fallodon Hall with him becatse it is

part of this country's history. And you can see all the gardens `

more than 100 in our region ` opening this weekend under

the National Garden Scheme, Time to go back to the Newc`stle

racecourse where you can john Paul and quite a full standard w`tching

the races there tonight. It is not a bad night to watch the

races. A blue sky and a gre`t crowd. If we start with a look at the

headline, we can probably covered by promising some bright spells but

also catering for a Jew showers as we head into Sunday. This evening

and through the night, therd is a lot of cloud around on behalf of and

if you showers as well. Those will become more isolated as we had

through the night. The gaps in the cloud we have here at the r`cecourse

will become more widespread through the night, so with a light northerly

breeze and those gaps in thd cloud, the temperatures or easily dip into

single figures, with lows around seven Celsius. Tomorrow is ` day of

bright spells and showers. There will be a fair amount of cloud

around in the morning with hf you showers around as well. You are more

likely to catch a sunny intdrval through the afternoon than xou are

through the morning. The wind is coming down from the North. It will

be more noticeable than tod`y, stronger. We will have a range of

afternoon temperatures. On the north`east coast, around 14 Celsius.

Towards the West, more sheltered, there will be highs of 18 Cdlsius.

Looking ahead, we have low pressure to the south and east of thd UK

high pressure to the north`west and it is that combination that keeps

that northerly airflow, keeps the air coming down from the north

towards us and keeps the risk of 12 showers going. If we look at Sunday

and Monday, there will be a lot of dry weather to be had, I wotld not

rule out the odd shower comhng down on that northerly wind. It hs that

wind which is dictated tempdratures as well. Easterly areas, whhch are

more exposed, will have temperatures and the mid`teens. In the Wdst,

Tebbit isn't the high teens as you head into the afternoon. Certainly

not all good news to the afternoon but it is not all bad either. If you

are out and about, lots of dvents over the weekend. Why not t`ke the

camera and get us a weather picture? We want a picture that says some are

in the north`east and Cumbrha. One of those will become the June page

in next year's look North wdather calendar. `` Look North weather

calendar. Back to you. Enjoy the weekdnd! Good

night.