11/09/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

sunshine but the risk of a shower later this weekend. Thank you. That

is all A boost for the A1,

but would Scottish independdnce end the dream of dualling all

the way to the Borders? A hi`tech future

from the industrial past. How the digital world is taking over

a former steel`producing site. And an Autumn migration with

a difference. The animal sanctuary that's having

to up sticks to a new home, In sport,

Magpies boss Alan Pardew saxs Mike Ashley's committed to the club

despite rumours he's ready to sell. And Yorkshire are just

a day away from being crowndd Over 300 hospital jobs are believed

to be under threat at the north`east health trust. We have been told the

County Down and Darlington `` County Durham are making redundanches.

350 jobs are under threat hdre. That is 4% of the workforce of around

8000. The trust runs the Unhversity Hospital of North Durham, Bhshop

Auckland and a further hosphtal and staff there will be affected.

Are we talking doctors and nurses? The initial job losses are likely to

be clerical. Around 300 clerical jobs. One union is worried `bout

nurses' jobs. The hospitals are actively recruiting nurses. The

Unite union says losing clerical and managerial jobs will impact front

line services. It is a 4% work in the `` 4$ cut in

the workforce. A massive chtnk of the money goes on the workforce

That is not unexpected becatse it is a very knowledge in tense

environment and there is a certain amount spent on consumables, like

sheets for beds. But at the end of the day it is the knowledge and

skills of the professionals in that environment that is being p`id for

and that is being cut. Do we know why the jobs are going?

The health trust is under fhnancial pressure like lots of trusts. They

have lost services such as the speech and language contract that

they had. They want to make efficiency savings towards future

investments. The Royal Colldge of Nursing has told us that thdse same

kinds of reviews and cuts could now be happening at other trusts.

I would say we have several trusts in this region that have several

work severe cost implications. And also some of the penalties that they

get, which again has cost implications. I am afraid that

service reviews go on in allost every trust in the region.

The Durham and Darlington NHS Trust, what are they saying?

They say they are working h`rd to minute by `` minimise front line

cuts. 350 is a huge number of job losses

and it is important to be clear that we are at starting point whdn

assessing numbers. We want to minimise compulsory redundancies

through the proposals that we put together, through holding v`cancies

for affected staff and redeploying through training and supporting them

in any way we can to keep them employed by the trust.

There is a meeting next Tuesday between management and unions and a

45 day consultation period of these cuts will take place.

Thank you. It's been a long time coming

but today, Roads Minister John Hayes c`me to

Tyneside to officially launch the long`awaited A1 widening scheme

around Newcastle and Gateshdad. It's costing ?61 million and it ll

see the most congested four miles of the A1, between the Coal House

Roundabout and the Metro Centre It's a huge operation, of course,

and it'll take 18 months to Well, Jim Knight is on a brhdge

right over the A1 for us now. Yes, Jeff, as you can see, things

are moving pretty freely now. The A1 Western Bypass must have

frustrated us all Just too much traffic, coming on and

off just two lanes, has cre`ted some But,

at a rather surreal news conference in the middle of the Gateshdad Quays

interchange, the Roads Minster It will improve safety, help with

congestion and improve journey times. Those three fundamental

objectives lie at the heart of what this is all about.

Off course, there'll be some pain before the gain.

Building the extra lane either side and keeping the traffic

There will be some overnight closures and diversion routds. There

will be some pain in the short`term but it has an 18 month programme in

the short`term but it has an 18 month programme and once it has

finished but also to those travelling locally.

So, joy at last on the Western Bypass but what abott

further North and that constant political hot potato of dualling the

It would be quite premature for me to prejudge the proper analxsis of

that. I can't say fairer th`n that. I know the problem, I know the

road, I use the road. I will look at it and see the best way forward and

announce it not after the election, before the election, before the end

of this year. So you will make a commitment before

the end of the year? I will make a commitment on what we

can do before the end of thhs year. But what about the impact

of the Scottish referendum? Will a Yes vote scupper any hopes of

dualling the road to the Borders? Well, it would

off course change the equathon somewhat, effectively changhng

the A1 through Northumberland The minister today however

seemed pretty confident it My interests are in making sure that

the people I'm responsible for get the best outcome. A range of options

will be brought to my attention and I will make a decision about that.

It is for the people of Scotland to make this once`in`a`lifetimd

momentous decision and I thhnk they will make the rate decision because

after all we are better off together.

Perhaps all the more reason for the people of Northumberland is to keep

a wary eye on those momentots events unfolding in Scotland in thd next

week. A Cumbria police officer

and her husband have been charged, following an investigation

into fraud allegations. Tracy Taylor,

who's 42 and from Irthington in Carlisle, is due before maghstrates

next month, along with her husband, Work has started on a new mddia hub,

to attract creative It's not in an established hi`tech

centre but in Stockton on Tdes. The development

of an innovation centre, for new and growing companids,

is welcome news in a town that's Our Business Correspondent,

Ian Reeve, reports. The very start of what is hoped to

be a new industry in Stockton. Young, dynamic, new. It will be a

far cry from what used to h`ppen on this site.

In some ways, steel`making hs like cooking. They produce a high`quality

steel for which Britain is famous. This will be a 16,000 squard feet

innovation centre. We will be providing for new start`up

businesses. For the digital creative and scientific industries.

This is just the sort of business the new creative centre wants to

bring in. This company develops devices for mobile phones. Sharing

space and knowledge with thd like`minded is rather attractive.

It helps so much. You can share resources and knowledge. We need

people around us that can hdlp us move forward.

The question now is whether there are enough people in Stockton to

fill what will be a rather big building. With reality TV show

Benefits Street being filmed less than a mile away, critics s`y trying

to break a stereotypical vidw of this town is probably a gamble.

Coming up next, we're catchhng up with Mark Denten on the Border.

And the ups and downs of behng a Sunderland fan ` somebody had to

I will have the latest inst`lment in the weather photo competition as

well as the forecast. Now, with the polls tightenhng ahead

of next week's Scottish inddpendence referendum, every vote will count,

including those of people from All this week,

our Political Correspondent, Mark Denten, is on a border trail,

ahead of the referendum. Tonight he's just over the border,

in Coldstream, canvassing the views of the North East

"ex pats" who could play a crucial It is already quite busy here, as

you can see. This town is vdry close to the border and close to

Northumberland. There's lots of people coming back and forw`rd. What

is the mood of this town ahdad of that referendum?

The younger generation is yds and the older people are undecided and

now `` no voters. I don't know that people have been told enough about

how severe it will be. Lots of people use services on both

sides of the border. You can cross and use services. Our peopld

competent here in Scotland just on the border that that will continue,

that you continue to be fridnds and neighbours with your neighbours in

the north`east? Some are quite confident, I'm quite

confident it won't change, but lots of people are not, lots are

threatened because there's lots of fear mongering going on.

I have also been getting thd mood of some English voters from thd

north`east end this town who will be voting next week.

Across the tweet from Northtmberland at the Coldstream Bridge, you find

Scotland but also a Geordie. It was quite famous as a marriage

venue just like Gretna Green. Bill is originally from Newcastle

and now lives in the old marriage house. It is the first building in

Scotland. I have had no anilosity at all in the Borders.

There are super walks in thd countryside is brilliant and I have

no intention of moving. With the poll is narrowing, every

vote will count in the referendum, including those of Jean and Joseph.

They are now living in Coldstream. Although floating voters, they are

leaning towards yes. If it doesn't touch the pensions.

And the tax. And the NHS, if they stay as they

are then we are halfway there. So although you are floating, you

are moving towards the Yes vote are you?

Fair comment. I would say that is a fair comment.

If we get independence and lake a success of it, which I have a RICO

confident that we will `` I have every confidence, I think

Westminster will pay attenthon. 97% of the Scottish populathon are

registered to vote at the referendum. It is a figure on her of

any British election. Back `t the border, Bill has had enough from all

sides in this long campaign. I am sick to death of it. I just

wish it was over. It has just been so much chuntering on and pdople can

trust politicians. That is the view from some parts of

the community in Coldstream. Expats from the north`east. Tomorrow, on

the final leg of our border trail, we will be in Berwick`upon`Tweed.

But for now, back to you. "I feel like Noah, without the Ark

and without the water." So says the man running a Ctmbrian

animal sanctuary, which is having to move its residents,

all 1750 of them, to a new home The land at Wetheriggs near Penrith

is being sold, forcing the sanctuary to move to Greta Bridge near

Barnard Castle in County Durham Mark McAlindon went to see

if the snakes, the birds and all the other exotic creatures were

lining up to leave, two`by`two. Moving home is one of the most

stressful things humans can do. Just imagine moving with hundreds of

animals until. will almost certainly be crowned

cricket's County Champions tomorrow. Having taken four quick wickets late

yesterday, Yorkshire continued to chip away

at Nottinghamshire's batsmen Captain Chris Read frustratdd the

bowlers for a while with an unbeaten knock of 81, proving to be Notts'

only real hope of making a go of it. But after Adil Rashid took three

wickets for 17 runs, the home side could only manage 203,

forcing them to follow on. The momentum was all with Yorkshire

as Ryan Sidebottom took the wicket of Steve Mulaney with the fhrst ball

of the second innings, before the impressive Jack Brooks dismhssed

Michael Lumb and Alex Hales. Great wicket keeping from Jonny

Bairstow got rid of Samit P`tel And James Taylor postponed

the inevitable with an assured half century to make sure Yorkshhre

wouldn't claim victory todax. Well, Yorkshire's success m`y well

mean they'll be missing mord players to England duty next season

and Durham's popular all`rotnder Ben Stokes has also been aw`rded

a central contract after some top performances

for the County this season. Of course, Durham will be s`fe

if they beat fellow relegathon contenders Middlesex at Lord's

and the signs are looking good. After a shaky start this morning

in the second innings, Captain Paul Collingwood and

Gordon Muchall got things b`ck on track and have set Middldsex

a big target for victory tolorrow. Newspaper reports have suggdsted

that Mike Ashley is looking for a buyer for Newcastle United

so he can take over Rangers. He currently has a 9% stake

in the Glasgow club but the Scottish FA says he can't increase hhs share

whilst he still owns Newcastle. It's because rules state th`t you

can't own two clubs It's not an issue now

but could be in the future But Magpies manager Alan Pardew says

he's unaware That is news to me. I have had the

no suggestions from him or `ny signs from him. He has given monex to me

this summer which we hope wd have spent well, but only time whll tell

on that, but they are settlhng in well. So his commitment to the club

is as strong as it has alwaxs been. Now, if you're a football f`n,

you'll know how hard it can be, Well, next week,

a play about the ups and downs of being a Sunderland supporter will

set off on a short North East tour. Yes, it starts at the Custols House

in South Shields, and takes in Washington Arts Centre

and Durham's Gala Theatre. Written by Black Cats' fan,

Tom Kelly, it's called I caught up with actor Paul Dunn

in rehearsals. Not on this housing estate

but what was here. The whole play is about an ordinary

bloke called Kevin Halladay. It is about his likes

and his loves and one of his loves He is telling the story

in the back garden. He is going through old programmes

and remembering his life. We see how following Sunderland

and the ups and downs of following Sunderland kind of mirror

the ups and downs of his life. Being a Sunderland fan, how tough

has that been over the years? Somebody high above writes

the script and there has always got Over 50 years of supporting

Sunderland, I've endured th`t Tom Kelly, the writer,

is a huge fan. He has been watching them

a bit longer than I have, He has got that history

and has written that into it and it works so well, I think that is why

the play has been so popular. I'm kind of privileged he

asked me to be involved. But when it is about a subjdct

that you love so much, that you can really get passionate about it

just makes the job so much dasier. Katie and me have settled

into our new routines. And I may have left my heart

in Roker Park but there is still plenty of extra

time in the Stadium of Light. Looks good.

Also looking good are the phctures you sent in for the weather

forecast. I met up with our guest judges at

The National Trust property. It is almost 50 years and,

believe it or not, we always have one of our founder members who are

still an active member in the club. We have 40 members now

and a waiting list. We meet every Wednesday,

come hail, rain or shine. We got a wide range of abilhties,

from newcomers to people have been doing it for many years

and are very competent. We like this photograph

as it is a real picture. It depicts the glorious 12th

and a very natural photograph taken We like the lovely colour scheme

and the perfect focus The second runner`up is

a picture from David. It portrays the efforts

of the cyclist battling Which is obvious from the trees

the shape of the trees. And the heather gives it an August

field. It is

quite a recognisable scene. What we like about it is thhs hugely

impressive combination of oranges, burnt oranges, and blues,

which is a great colour contrast. Very strong composition,

nice sense of recession which takes And it creates a lovely mood

for August which is lovely sunny day which is now breaking down

into a rather stormy night. One of the hotspots of the region at

22 Celsius. Over the next few days, high

pressure stays with us so it will stay mostly dry. We will sed a trend

towards cloudy skies and thhngs will move to be more breezy. That patchy

cloud will stay fairly well broken overnight. Under the clear skies, we

will see mist and fog patchds. Maybe not quite as cold as it has been

over the last few nights. Tomorrow morning, there may be a few misty

patches to contend with. Th`t should left and we should see some decent

bright spells develop. I don't think we will see the temperature is as

warm as in the afternoon. Ftrther west, somewhere like Brampton could

hit 20 Celsius. Still very pleasant but not as warm as it was today

There is still high pressurd in charge of the weather. The centre of

the cyclone is owed over thd North Sea in the next few days and we

start to pick up a distinct southeasterly breeze. If yot are out

and about over the weekend, Saturday should be a dry day for most. There

are some sunny spells and temperatures just about scr`pe up to

20 Celsius in the West. On Sunday, that cloud could be back with the

chance of a bit of drizzle. But it does stay large dry.

I cut the grass for the last time this year, do you think?

I think there is one more. Goodbye.