23/03/2017 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Hello and welcome to Thursday's Look North.

The man caught up in the Westminster terror attacks speaks

of the moment he tried to save a police officer's life.

When I'd seen the guy the gate, two knives in the, attacking, the

decision was made, get over and give assistance.

The former top boss at Middlesbrough Council tells

a tribunal there was no cover-up over the sale of prize buildings.

A council's threatening to withdraw collections

And in the sport we are live with one of Sunderland's most famous

strikers at the city's -- at one of the most famous buildings in the

city. The region's MPs and police forces

have made a plea for unity and calm in the face of yesterday's terrorist

attack at Westminster. They were speaking as it emerged

that a north-east boxing trainer was one of the first to come

to the scene of the fatal Our political correspondent,

Luke Walton, reports. A routine afternoon for the mother

of Parliaments, transformed in moment to tragedy. Parliamentarians,

tourists and visitors forced to bear witness to terrible violence. Among

them, GB boxing team coach Tony Davis who rushed to help having seen

the attacker close-up. He brandished two knives, attacking one of the

policemen. That's the decision I took to then leap the fence and try

to get persistent in any way I could. Mr Vigurs tended to the

fatally injured list officer. I tried to stem the blood flow with my

jacket, checked his pulse and made sure he was breathing. To die in the

fashion he did it is totally unjust. His was one many acts of bravery and

in the Commons today, tributes to the police and parliamentary

officials. Yesterday two of my constituents were caught up in the

attacks, one of whom was eight months pregnant, and they have asked

me to pass on their gratitude and thanks to the house staff and the

police for the consideration with which they were treated during the

five hour lockdown. That personal impact was also felt by another

north-east MP. Back in the region this afternoon. I'm very upset, we

were aware pretty quickly that people had died, not only on the

bridge but also one of the policemen who looks after us in the House of

Commons who we see everyday. The most important thing is that, whilst

we remain vigilant, we make it abundantly clear that these people,

whether it was one individual terrorist or a group, do not deviate

us from living our normal lives. And the plea for calm and unity in the

face of terror was echoed by a Teesside MP. The worst possible

scenario is that people turn on each other, on people of different faiths

or communities, they turn on foreigners. We don't know the

situation here and we need to make sure that everything is good about

our society, our strength and tolerance and openness, our welcome,

is something we value. It was a day that saw the worst happen but also

saw the best side of human nature on full display. Luke Walton, BBC Look

North. Our police forces say there is no

specific threat to our region Nevertheless, security

measures are being assessed. Quite clearly we constantly monitor

what the level of threat is and that level of threat has not increased

here in County Durham or Darlington. What we're doing is increasing our

profile in certain areas around areas which we keep confidential

and to ourselves to provide additional reassurance

to the communities. I think the key response

I want to stress here is about communities staying

together through all of this. Because the best method of tackling

terrorist attacks like this is through community intelligence,

community feeding Here at Northumbria Police

headquarters, the flag has been lowered in respect of those

who lost their lives In efforts to keep the public safe,

Northumbria Police has increased its armed officer

recruitment by 50% in the last year giving the force more

than 100 firearms officers. Armed officers are already visible

in some of our key shopping areas. In a statement today,

Northumbria Police said... We are bringing a group of students

from our country, from Spain, and of course when you think

the parents are watching the news from abroad,

they might be worried and of course it makes you think that it

could be any of us. If you stop going,

you are giving in to them. As policing is stepped up

across our communities, including at key locations

like York Minster and railway stations,

we are urged to stay vigilant. Well Stockton North's MP,

Alex Cunningham, was in London this morning and has just arrived

back on Teesside. He joins me now from our

Middlesbrough newsroom. If you could briefly tell us what

happened to you yesterday? I had just voted in the lobby and sat back

down in front of the dispatch box. I realised there was something

happening and the deputy speaker just suspended the house. Sorry, you

have some trouble with your inner peace, I hope you can hear me. There

have been some reports and debate today that maybe those front line

officers at the gate should be armed. What is your opinion on that?

I'm not sure about that. The chaps there did a tremendous job, I'm not

sure having more armed policeman directly on the gate would have

stopped what happened. The security services were absolutely fantastic.

They train all the time for things like this. And they actually

delivered on the things they were trained to do. We had the terrible

tragedy and we looked at what happened to that young policeman and

our hearts go out to all of them. I know you attended an event in London

today before travelling home, but is there a sense that MPs might feel

vulnerable? Do you feel vulnerable as an MP? Some people say we should

always feel vulnerable and always feel vigilant but the idea is that

we must get on with our jobs and not allow these sort of incident to get

in the wake of us representing the people and doing what we are

supposed to do. The message is the same for everybody across the

country as well, we must not allow people to get in the wake of us

getting on with our British way of life. Alex Cunningham, thank you for

joining us, we are glad you are safe and sound.

"There was no corruption and no cover-up."

The words of the former chief executive of Middlesbrough Council

after claims it sold some its prized buildings below the market value.

49-year-old Karen Whitmore, a former Assistant Director

of Organisation and Governance, is taking the council

to an employment tribunal after she was made redundant last

She claims she was targeted after raising concerns about the way

Karen Whitmore claims she was targeted because she refused

to turn a blind eye to the flawed way that the council was selling off

She said she was told to cover up and hide information about the way

the council handled the sale Acklam Hall after council

officials agreed a price reduction of ?1.2 million.

She also raised concerns about the way Middlesbrough's Tad Centre

was sold to Ray Mallon's election agent for ?400,000.

This despite the fact it was valued at up to ?900,000

and there was a higher offer on the table.

Giving evidence to the tribunal, Middlesbrough's former chief

executive said there had been no cover-up and no corruption.

Mike Robinson said he had actually asked Karen to investigate

the sale of Acklam Hall because there were accusations

flying around on social media and in the press.

He said she was never asked to hide facts and actually came back

within a few weeks to say there had been no illegal

Mr Robinson said he had little involvement in the Tad Centre

but said the preferred bidder had carried out a successful similar

Mike Robinson was then asked about the laddish culture

that was said to have set in at Middlesbrough Council

during his time as chief executive between 2014 and 2016.

The tribunal had been told earlier that senior managers had referred

He said he didn't recognise that language or that behaviour.

He said Middlesbrough Council was a good place to work and people

He says he also was unaware of any bullying that had taken place

at the council during his time as chief executive.

The tribunal is expected to continue into next week.

Stuart Whincup, BBC Look North, Middlesbrough.

Cumbria has been identified as the worst area in England when it

comes to patients stranded in hospital when they

Figures collected by the BBC found that, on average between April 2016

and January this year, 103 beds every day were taken up

by patients who didn't need to be in hospital but couldn't be

discharged because of a lack of care to support them at home.

A stay in hospital, seldom looked forward to.

For every patient here there is one key aim -

I've got a wife at home and she's very anxious for me to be at home.

William's being helped by the Home First Team,

a mix of health and social care professionals who work

with the voluntary sector to get patients home again.

The process begins as soon as they're admitted to hospital.

There's nothing that can describe being able to promote someone's

independence and getting them back home.

Being in hospital makes people more dependent,

basically makes people less able to do things for themselves.

A delayed return home doesn't just reduce independence.

It can have a lasting physical impact.

This is a particular problem in Cumbria -

Anyone over 80 years old who spent ten days in an Acute Hospital

is equivalent to ten years of muscle wasting.

So if you imagine your relative who is maybe just struggling

to get up into standing, if they stay in hospital for ten

If you can't stand, you can't live at home so you probably

The demand for the Home First Team is high here.

Yesterday, looking at figures, of the 553 beds here in Carlisle

and at the hospital in Whitehaven, 88 of those were being used

by people who were medically fit but had nowhere else to go,

something the trust admits is unacceptable.

Quite a lot of the care market, if I can put it that way,

in this area, is under pressure and beds have been closing

so we are going to have to find new ways of responding

People who hear this news will automatically say, well,

we do have beds in community hospitals and some of those

In a sense that is part of the problem.

I understand completely what people say about that.

Just to make a clear point, if I may, which is that none

of those beds would be lost until alternatives are in place.

Cumbria County Council says it takes the delays

Over the next three years it'll get almost ?22 million

from the government to meet rising social care costs, used in part

to speed up the move from hospital to home.

Megan Paterson BBC Look North, Carlisle.

Two people have been charged with kidnapping two

The two-year-old boy and five-year-old girl were picked

up in Newcastle by a female relative on Tuesday morning.

A 33-year-old man and a woman who's 24 appeared before magistrates

charged with two counts of kidnap and will return to Newcastle Crown

The children were not believed to have been in immediate danger

We're sorry, but on last night's Look North we showed pictures

of a school completely unconnected with this case.

People who fail to sort their recycling are facing "a four

strikes and you're out" policy in parts of North Yorkshire.

Hambleton District Council has introduced the new tough

measure to control the rise in contaminated household recycling.

The cost of sorting and disposing of bad recycling is costing

At this collection and sorting centre in Hambleton,

the list of things people have absentmindedly thrown

into their recycling bins is endless.

We'll show you some examples of the stuff that shouldn't be

If we open the lid up, we will see that some of the common

contaminants are things like clothing, which should be

put in clothing banks at supermarkets etc.

We do recycle glass but it has to be put in the separate box

Loads of nappies, loads of nappies, used ones.

And this is what happens from now on if you fail

The first time, we leave a leaflet explaining what can and can't

The second time, we leave a letter, again explaining what can and can't

The third time, we write a letter to the property owner telling them

The fourth time, we remove the service temporarily.

We really want people to have as much opportunity to get it right

as possible and that is why, when we find contamination,

we are not removing the service straightaway, we're giving people

To be a good recycler you can't go far wrong by sticking to clean

paper and cardboard, clean plastic containers

Last year, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council launched a scheme

rewarding people with gym and swimming vouchers for good

recycling and for at least some people here in Hambleton,

What goes in the green bin, what goes in the black bin,

what goes in the bin with the blue lid.

You just follow the instructions and you won't get it wrong.

You've got a little leaflet to look at so you should be able

to get the right things in if you've kept it.

Phil Chapman, BBC Look North, Northallerton.

The first ever trade mission from South Africa to the north east

Seventeen companies are visiting the region along with dignitaries

and a regional economic minister in an attempt to find

mutual business and investment opportunities.

Our business correspondent, Ian Reeve, reports.

We are, as I say, just delighted to welcome you.

A spiritual interlude for the 17 South African business leaders

here on the first trade mission from that country to the north-east.

They are here to drum up trade, make contacts.

But today, a tour of Durham Cathedral.

Yet for Justin, business is never too far from his thoughts.

Big Box Car is a social development enterprise that provide

retail and working spaces where entrepreneurs can grow.

This company takes shipping containers and turns them

into retail units in South Africa's townships, something

The prospects for us is really finding great partners to be able

to launch into the UK through the north-east

chamber and there is really a hunger for it here.

And I know in particular Newcastle has put a lot of work into urban

renewal and we really want to jump in and assist with our model

This man is looking for investment in his call centre company.

The intention is to get foreign direct investment

back into our country because we are a developing economy.

I believe that both parties involved, us as business

and the government at home, will definitely reap the rewards.

The South Africans from the province of KwaZulu Natal are

The trip builds on existing business links between Durban and Newcastle

and its chambers of commerce, but given extra focus by Brexit.

We know of a number of businesses that are exploring market right

now that they never considered previously.

Knowing they have got to keep their businesses moving,

that the European market is an uncertain place having been

And to further extend the hand of commerce,

Gateshead's Millennium Bridge has been lit in South Africa's colours

for the duration of the mission, a beacon for business.

Time for sport now and Jeff's in Sunderland to give us a bit

Carol, I'm inside one of the city's great buildings,

Monkwearmouth Station, built in 1848 for George Hudson,

the man they called "The Railway King".

The station closed 50 years ago this month, March 1967.

Well, for many years it's been a railway museum but the plan

is to reopen it as a museum dedicated to Sunderland

And Michael Ganley - the man behind it -

is with me now, along with someone every Sunderland fan will recognise.

We'll come to Kevin Phillips in just a minute.

I know you have been looking for a home for your collection, how are

the plans going? Everything has been going smoothly. We have been in

talks with the City Council for nine months and we are just about to sign

on the dotted line to say that we will be the new tenant of

Monkwearmouth station. And tell us some of the things in your

collection. I have got Martin O'Neill's underpants! We have got a

very diverse collection, not just of shirts and boots, but it is so

diverse and New Year -- unit, going from medals, turnstiles, seats,

boardroom chairs from Roker Park. That sounds great. And with the is a

man who is a huge part of Sunderland history, record goal-scorer Kevin

Phillips. You are a big part of the club's history. You haven't got my

underpants! I am always delighted to come back to Sunderland and coming

back to help out Michael, we have been friends for a long time, I love

coming back and as you say, I have a great part of Sunderland in my heart

and it will always stay there. And you played for a long time until you

were nearly 40 so you will know what Jermain Defoe is going through, 34

and still doing the job you did, almost single-handedly keeping the

club going. He did not play for England last night but it is a hard

burden. It is that you can see they top quality professional and what

you can achieve if you look after yourself. If it wasn't for him,

Sunderland might be in trouble. Let's hope he comes back from

England fully fit and can score a few more goals between now and the

end of the season but he thoroughly deserved his call-up. Will they stay

up? I have to states confident, they have done it by the skin of their

teeth so let's hope they can go on another amazing run and stay up.

Thank you, Kevin and good luck with the project, Michael.

Well, Sunderland fan Paul Collingwood was leading

Durham's cricketers in their latest match at the Emirates T20

The skipper did OK, top scoring with 41 for the Jets.

But the pre-season fixture ended in defeat against

Ryan Pringle was the last man out with Durham,

who'd been chasing a victory target of 144, eventually

That's all for now, I'm back with all of the sport tomorrow looking

ahead to the weekend's action. Paul has news for something I cannot

pronounce! It is world meteorological Bay! It is

understanding clouds so let's have a look at a lovely picture, this was

at the beach with some lovely stratocumulus. And lovely weather

coming up as we head to the weekend with high-pressure keeping is mostly

dry with some sunny spells in the day but chilly nights. The cloud was

reluctant to break, we expected Sony spelt this afternoon in eastern

areas and many hung on to the cloud. It will become more fragmented

tonight and with clear spells, temperatures go down to zero itself

is so a touch of frost in places and one or two patches of mist and fog.

Where you keep the cloud, the temperature is called up a few

degrees above freezing. Tomorrow, chilly start in places but dry and

it should stay dry through the day. One or two patches of cloud and

something high cloud as well but generally speaking dry and bright

with plenty of sunshine for many of us and warmer as well with

temperatures making 11 or 12 Celsius, the low 50s Fahrenheit. And

the fact that the winds are much lighter and it will feel warmer if

you are out and about. We have high-pressure building over the top

of the country in the next few days and that dominates the weather chart

heading through the weekend and probably into the next working week.

Nothing will change quickly over the weekend. After the final date for

most of us tomorrow it stayed similar as we head into Saturday.

And if anything, a bit more sunshine on Saturday with temperatures up to

13 or 14 and again, with light winds it will feel warm through the

afternoon. But those clear spells will allow the temperatures to drop

overnight so they could be frost again on Saturday night. Most places

will be fine and dry on Sunday, a bit more clout in the east than the

West and that is where we will have the highest temperatures, up to

about 14 Celsius in Carlisle -- a bit more cloud. You can keep

up-to-date on your local BBC radio station. Thank you, that is it from

us this evening, we will be back at 10:30pm with the latest for you.

Join us then. Goodbye.