Stories for 29 November 2007

The Northern Echo News

University burglar jailed

A BURGLAR who was caught breaking into the halls of residence at Teesside University in Middlesbrough was jailed for 30 months today.   more...

Support for under-fire pigeon fanciers

THE region's pigeon fanciers   more...

Grassroots sport stars gather for a glittering awards night

THE stars of   more...

‘Mohammed’ teddy row teacher charged

BRITISH teacher Gillian Gibbons   more...

Remploy workers to discover their fate

HUNDREDS of disabled   more...

Forest visitor centre scoops national title

A REVOLUTIONARY building,   more...

Public to glimpse future of dockland

MORE than 500 jobs are expected to   more...

Government confirms Remploy closures

THE Government today confirmed the closure of 28 factories, some in the North-East, employing disabled workers, sparking anger from unions and campaigners.   more...

Rail rises to pay for ‘record investment’

TRAIN passengers were last night   more...

MP fights to retain post offices in cutback threat

AN MP angered by proposals to   more...

Footbridge will improve riverside access

A NEW footbridge which will improve walking and disabled access to the Durham riverside will be open by Christmas.   more...

Groups celebrate environment accolades

COMMUNITY groups gathered   more...

Knives available online to children

THE public have been put on the alert that potentially lethal weapons are proving easily available to children over the internet.   more...

Pensioner critical after road accident

A PENSIONER is in a critical condition in hospital after being struck by a car.   more...

Teen spared jail over dales break-ins

A TEENAGER who carried out a series of break-ins at static caravans and holiday homes has been spared going to jail.   more...

Pressure on Brown to call in the police

GORDON BROWN was under   more...

Author shortlisted for children's book prize

CHILDREN'S author Anne Fine has been shortlisted for a prize for her latest book.   more...

DWP staff to strike

THOUSANDS of workers in jobcentres, benefit offices and other government centres are to stage a 48-hour strike in a bitter dispute over pay.   more...

Olympic cyclist out of the frame

THE sleaze scandal turned to   more...

Remploy: Protest walk-out

HUNDREDS of disabled workers have stormed out of Remploy sites in a show of solidarity after the Government confirmed the closure of 28 factories.   more...

Child's kidnap could not have been avoided, probe reveals

A SERIOUS case review has found no evidence that the kidnapping of a six-year-old from her bath could have been avoided.   more...

Police chief: Controversial cars not value for money

A POLICE chief has announced plans to remove company cars from senior officers after an audit found they did not provide value for money.   more...

House fire in Hartlepool

FIREFIGHTERS were called to a blaze in Hartlepool this afternoon.   more...

Pedestrian critical after road accident

A PEDESTRIAN suffered serious injuries after being struck by a car in County Durham this afternoon.   more...

Man rescued from river

A MAN was rescued after falling into the River Wear in Durham City in the early hours of this morning.   more...

Rail rises to pay for 'record investment'

TRAIN passengers were last night told that fresh rises in the cost of tickets were to pay for "record investment" in the railways.But the claim by the Department for Transport (DFT) cut little ice with passenger groups and opposition politicians angered by the above-inflation rises.Most train companies said the average cost of regulated fares - those that are fixed by the Government - will rise by 4.8 per cent, with such fares going up five per cent on First TransPennine Express routes.Regulated fares include the likes of season tickets, savers and standard day returns.Meanwhile, unregulated fares such as cheap day returns, long-distance open and advance fares, will rise by an average of seven per cent on Arriva Cross Country, 6.6 per cent on GNER, 6.4 per cent at First TransPennine and 5.7 per cent at Northern Rail.Lib Dem Shadow Transport Secretary Susan Kramer said: "These fare rises defy belief. Commuters will wonder why they should have to pay even more to be squashed onto packed trains. British rail passengers already pay more per mile than most of the rest of Europe."Guy Dangerfield, a North-East representative of rail watchdog Passenger Focus, said: "Despite all the work and investment that has gone on, overall passengers still regard the railway as providing poor value for money."Above-inflation fare rises year on year will not do anything to help."The Association of Train Operating Companies, which announced the rises, to come into force from January 2, said revenue from fares paid for investment in the railway for the benefit of passengers.Director general George Muir said: "We are providing a higher-performing railway with new, refurbished and more punctual trains and better stations."A DFT spokesman said: "The Government protects commuters by limiting most operators to average increases in regulated fares of no more than one per cent above inflation."Regulated fares are no higher now in real terms than they were at privatisation, even after these rises. We have pledged to keep this cap in place for at least the next seven years."Saver tickets are also protected in this way, and a range of good deals are on offer from train operators, who must compete to attract customers. Where fares do rise, they are helping to pay for record investment in a growing railway."Carolyn Watson, of Northern Rail, said: "In general, daily return fares on our busiest routes will go up by between 10p and 50p from January 2 to help meet the costs of providing our services and go towards funding improvements for customers."Our average fare is less than £2, and travelling with Northern is very often cheaper and quicker than the car and the bus for similar journeys."A spokesman for First TransPennine Express said that few passengers paid full price for their ticket, many instead choosing to buy advance purchase or discount fares  more...

Environmentalists opposing second nuclear plant in town

PLANS to build a second nuclear power plant in the North-East have met opposition from environmentalists.Hartlepool has been chosen as a likely location for a new plant in British Energy's long-term plans for sustainable fuel.However, both the Lib Dems and environmentalists said the town already had one nuclear power plant and should not have to accept another.Lib Dem MEP Fiona Hall warned against the plans to site one of eight new power plants in Hartlepool.The North-East MEP, who is also the energy spokeswoman in Europe for the Lib Dems, said: "While this is not unexpected it is, nevertheless, disappointing."The North-East is well positioned to lead the country on renewables and energy efficiency, and it does not need the inflexible option of nuclear in order to deliver its energy commitments for the future."This announcement comes a day after the launch of a new Energy Research Institute here in the North-East to examine ways of providing energy for the future. Given that there is no agreed solution to the problem of disposal of tonnes of radioactive waste, nuclear power remains an irresponsible option for any Government."Iris Ryder, of the Friends of Hartlepool, criticised the level of public consultation that had taken place.She said: "Because we have already got a nuclear power station here, we should be in line for a veto."We should have had our fair share of this ghastly industry. We did not have any choice when we got the first one, but we should be given more of a say this time."On Tuesday, British Energy applied to the National Grid for grid connection to four new sites in Sizewell, Hinkley, Dungeness and Bradwell, which are all in the South of England. It is hoped that they will be in operation by 2016.However, Hartlepool has been named in a second phase of new sites, along with Heysham, Kent, Hunterston and Torness, which are both in Scotland, which will come later.British Energy has pledged to maintain investment in its current nuclear sites.The Government is expected to decide on the future of nuclear power early next year. If the decision is positive, a strategic assessment of sites is expected next year.In the meantime, British Energy has commissioned studies of potential sites.British Energy chief executive officer Bill Coley said: "Our existing sites all have potential for replacement nuclear and, indeed, we have suitable land at all locations. But it is about much more than land. We are building the foundations for replacement nuclear by continuing and strengthening our excellent relationships and dialogue with local communities."  more...

Protestors promise fresh fuel blockades

FUEL tax protestors in the North-East have vowed to begin blockades once again - with action possible as early as Monday next week.Up to three dozen farmers, road hauliers and coach operators voted unanimously at a fuel lobby meeting to take direct action as fuel prices continue to rise.The meeting held near Consett, County Durham, was one of the first in a series being held countrywide, which could lead to the blockade of refineries and major routes. Andrew Spence of the North-East fuel lobby, who convened the meeting said: "The Government is robbing us for taxation. Fuel is easy to tax. It is an unfair tax.""We have been threatening Gordon Brown with action, this time we are promising action."Mr Spence said an average lorry with a capacity of 700 litres now cost £763 to fill - with £534 going to tax. He said 2.4p had just been placed on the price of a litre of diesel in October with a further 2.7p a litre soon for low sulphur emissions. And the Petrol Retailers Association had budgeted for a further 8p to go in the price - which would bring the price of a litre of diesel to £1.20.Mr Spence said plans had already been drawn up to target certain parts of the country, including London, Cardiff and Edinburgh.He said: "I have 120 people with low loaders who will go into London. All I have to do is ring them." While remaining tight-lipped about targets he claimed he could have refineries closed within 20 minutes of a phone call and could shut Dover port overnight. A meeting was being held in South Hampshire last night, a further meeting will be held in Kent tonight and another in Wales tomorrow. If those meetings decide to take action, protestors could be mobilised by Monday, Mr Spence said. Those attending the North-East meeting were urged to leave their contact details should the decision be made to go ahead.Mr Spence was instrumental in the fuel protests in 2000 that brought the country to a standstill.  more...

Forest visitor centre scoops national title

A REVOLUTIONARY building, designed completely on eco-friendly principles, has beaten competition from all over the country to scoop a top award.The new visitor centre in Dalby Forest, on the North York Moors, has been named the winner of the 2007 Prime Minister's Better Public Building Award.And among those it beat for the honour were Darlington Education Village and the new King's Cross St Pancras underground station, in London.The Prime Minister's Better Public Building Award is part of the British Construction Industry Awards and is sponsored jointly by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, Cabe, and the Office of Government Commerce.Materials, machinery and labour used in the construction of the Forestry Commission's £2.6m Dalby building were all locally sourced.The building is clad in larch grown and milled on the North York Moors, the water supply comes from the local village spring and rainwater is used to flush the toilets.A woodfuel boiler burning woodchips from the forest, solar panels and wind turbines mean that nearly all energy needs are met from renewable sources.There is an environmentally recyclable rubber roof system, and the reception desk even incorporates recycled mobile phones, yoghurt pots and Wellington boots.Yesterday, Cabe commissioner Irena Bauman presented a plaque to the Forestry Commission's head of recreation, James Swabey.She said: "Dalby Forest Visitor Centre shows us that good design can make real, positive differences to people's quality of life."It inspires those using and visiting it, it adds to the enjoyment of the places and spaces around us, and it brings added vitality and prosperity. It also shows how innovative design can help build a sustainable future."Chairman of the Forestry Commission, Lord Clark of Windermere, said: "This is an endorsement of our commitment to sustainable construction and to tackling climate change."Local timber - a truly renewable resource - is used to clad and power the visitor centre and the building itself nestles into the landscape enhancing the natural beauty of the forest itself."The building is the focus of a £4.3m regeneration project that puts the 8,600-acre forest at the centre of a package of visitor attractions in the North York Moors.  more...

Claims asylum seeker was treated roughly by officials

ALLEGATIONS have been made that a pregnant Ugandan woman seeking asylum in the North-East was physically abused by immigration officials trying to remove her.MEP Steven Hughes has registered a complaint with the Home Office after allegations came to light that Elizabeth Kiwunga was so roughly treated on a plane that cabin crew refused to let her fly.The alleged incident took place when Ms Kiwunga, 25, and her two-year-old daughter, Hilary-Marie, who had been living in Darlington, were being put on a plane back to Africa by immigration officials earlier this week.Ms Kiwunga alleges she was hit, verbally abused and sustained bruising to her wrists because her handcuffs were put on so tightly. She also says she was not allowed to comfort her daughter.She says airline staff were so appalled at the incident, they made the immigration officers leave the plane.Following the incident, Mr Hughes, who covers the North-East, complained to the Home Office and is seeking witness statements from staff and other passengers about the alleged incident.Ms Kiwunga, who had been detained at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre, in Bedfordshire, since October, has been released and was expected to return to Darlington last night.Ms Kiwunga insists she was forced to flee Uganda after she was raped and tortured by rebel forces.She has applied for asylum twice, but was rejected on both occasions.However, the rape and torture claims have never been tested with a medical examination and if doctors support her claim, she could make a fresh asylum application.Since she and her daughter were moved to Skerne Park in the town, last year, the community has rallied behind her.Town MP Alan Milburn, Mr Hughes and his wife, Cyndi, a local councillor, have all campaigned to allow her to stay.Ms Kiwunga is engaged to a legal immigrant, also from Uganda, who is the father of her baby.Coun Hughes, who spoke to Ms Kiwunga on the phone after the alleged incident, said: "From what she told me, she was very, very cruelly treated."This woman has committed no crime but the treatment she has had since October has been unbelievable."A Home Office spokeswoman said when removals of people in the UK illegally were necessary, they were carried out in the most sensitive way possible. "Any allegations of abuse were taken seriously and always investigated, she added.  more...

Off-licence raider locked up

A KNIFE-wielding robber who raided an off-licence to get money for drugs has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.   more...

Leader calls for an end to bickering

A COUNCIL leader in the region issued a call for unity yesterday after surviving a challenge from members of his own party.After winning a vote of confidence, held behind closed doors at Durham's county hall, Durham County Council Labour leader Albert Nugent said councillors should "stop bickering among themselves".He said 31 councillors had supported his leadership, while four voted against. There are 51 Labour councillors in the county. Coun Nugent, who has been leader since April last year, said: "I've given them the assurance that we will move forward."The way forward is to serve the people and make sure we get away from this bickering with opposition members. They should fall in line with our policies."We're not sent here to bicker among ourselves."Asked whether the Labour party was united behind him, he said: "They must be.""There was a vote of confidence tabled. They said they supported their leader."I don't suppose any leader's happy with that (a vote on their leadership) but if it goes the right way, it makes you happy. I'm determined to come back - more than I was before."One of the four Labour councillors to vote against Coun Nugent was former council leader Ken Manton.After yesterday's count, he said the issue of Durham County Council's leadership was "ongoing". The vote followed a Labour group meeting on Tuesday. As revealed in yesterday's Northern Echo, Coun Nugent was asked to resign, but refused. There has been growing disquiet about his leadership, with several Labour councillors privately questioning whether he can guide the council through its imminent move to unitary status.However, it is thought the issue that triggered the rebellion was the employment of Ann Reeder, a former Labour party official, to advise the council's leadership on presentation skills.Durham taxpayers have paid at least £12,000 to pay Miss Reeder, who receives £750 a day. Coun Nugent said: "Ann Reeder is another issue and I am not prepared to talk about it until there's another meeting."Coun Nugent, a former miner who represents Deneside, in east Durham, came to power on the back of a promise to save council- run care homes from closure.  more...

Family's tribute to would-be rescuers

THE family of two brothers killed in a boating tragedy off the North-East coast believe they would never have gone out that day if they had known about the poor weather conditions.Grieving relatives of Andrew and John Carrick have broken their silence to thank rescue workers who tried to save them.The brothers died on Friday afternoon, along with Andrew's partner, Jill Russell, after their pleasure cruiser capsized in rough seas just outside Whitby's harbour walls.The brothers were swept overboard at about 12.15pm, leading a desperate Ms Russell to call 999 for help on her mobile phone as 16ft waves crashed into the vessel.However, it is believed she was attempting to turn the boat back towards the harbour when a large wave turned it over.She is said to have called out "Oh my God", before the line went dead.Andrew, 45, and John, 36, from Middlesbrough, were pulled from the water 100 yards from the West Pier.Miss Russell, who worked as a shop assistant, was airlifted from the sea by RAF Sea King helicopter and taken to The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, but she died shortly afterwards.Witnesses said the weather conditions that day were particularly rough, and lifeboat crews had tried three times to contact the vessel, Last Call, as it left the harbour to warn it to turn back, but failed to make contact.A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "The family of Andrew and John Carrick would like to say, from their knowledge of their sons' usual behaviour and Andrew's previous experience with boats, they feel certain that, had they been fully aware of the condition of the sea outside of the harbour walls, they would not have attempted to go out."Their understanding is that conditions at Whitby that day were deceiving, with the sun shining and the water within the harbour relatively calm. All three were safety conscious."An inquest has been opened and adjourned into their deaths and an investigation is under way to find out what happened. However, police said the family believed everything that could have been done to save their loved ones, was done by members of the emergency services, who risked their own lives."We know everything that could have possibly been done by Whitby RNLI and the RAF Sea King was done, and that they carried out their rescue in very difficult circumstances," said a family member."We would also like to thank the air ambulance crew, the staff and clergy at James Cook hospital for all their attempts to help Andrew and care for Jill, and the staff and clergy at Scarborough hospital for being with John."The family would also like to thank the police liaison officers, Sergeant Richard O'Neill and PC Mark Hutchings, and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch for their help and support during this difficult time. A special thank you to the staff at Coates Marine in Whitby."The families would now like to be left alone to grieve in peace."   more...

MP fights to retain post offices in cutback threat

AN MP angered by proposals to close four post offices in his constituency has taken the campaign to keep them open to the Houses of Parliament.Phil Willis, the Lib Dem MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, has tabled a Commons motion over the plans for Cold Bath Road, High Harrogate and Leeds Road branches, all in Harrogate, and Stockwell, in Knaresborough.The motion stresses the importance of post offices to the community and highlights the impact the closures will have on elderly and disabled people.On Tuesday, the Post Office announced plans to close 24 branches in North Yorkshire and replace a further 18 with a mobile service. Mr Willis said: "It is important that both Post Office Limited and the Government understands just how vital these local post offices are and that we ignore their role in local communities at our peril."Local residents are up in arms about these proposals. Many people were told to use these post offices when their own local one closed."Now they find that Post Office Ltd's proposed alternative is closing as well. This is an intolerable situation and I will do all I can to fight these closures."The Ryedale district of the county would be hardest-hit by the proposed closures, with 12 branches under threat, including Terrington Post Office, in Terrington, near Malton.It is the only remaining post office in the Howardian Hills, but would be closed and replaced by an outreach service under the proposals.Ian and Kates Hughes, who have run the post office and village shop for the past 16 years, recently opened an art gallery and cafe to try to safeguard the business. Mr Hughes said: "The number of sub offices remaining after these swingeing cuts will leave vast swathes of Ryedale disenfranchised from the post office services or reliant on a van for a few hours per week."Yes, we will get compensation following the closure of our post office, but it is a fact that for around 90 per cent of village shops that lose their sub-office, the remaining shop fails."The proposed closures are being announced in groups determined by parliamentary constituencies.The Post Office will publish its plans for the Richmond, Teesside and south Durham areas in February, with the rest of Durham, Tyneside and Wearside and Northumberland in July. It is not know which of the offices in other areas are under threat.  more...

Cancer death father's pride in his legacy

A CANCER patient who died days after securing an important victory for sufferers across the region said he was happy in the knowledge he was leaving behind a lasting legacy. Dave Hill told his wife Tina he would die a proud man after helping other NHS patients get the treatment they needed.Mr Hill, from Darlington, County Durham, lost his fight for life at the town's Memorial Hospital on Monday, only six days after his case persuaded health bosses to perform a U-turn over the supply of the new drug Tarceva. It means every North-East lung cancer patient who might benefit from the drug will now recieve it.Yesterday, Mr Hill's campaign was described as "seminal" by the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. Tarceva, a new drug that can extend the lives of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, is available in Scotland and much of Europe, but not in England.The decision of the North-East and Cumbria Cancer Drug Approval Group means that lung cancer patients in the North-East and Cumbria are the only ones in England able to receive the £2,000-a-month drug.Before he died, Mr Hill told his wife, Tina, that he was proud to have played a part in helping other cancer patients.Last night, family friend Geoff Marsh, who runs the Golden Cock pub, in Darlington, said: "Dave was ecstatic when he heard the news that the NHS had agreed to fund Tarceva for everyone in the North-East. "What he really wanted was for everyone who needed it to get the drug. "He knew he was going to die at some point, but he was happy that he had helped others."He has not died in vain," said Mr Marsh, who is married to Mr Hill's niece, Mandy.Tributes to the Darlington father-of-four also came from Mike Unger, chief executive of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.He said: "He played a very, very important role. He was seminal in changing the minds of this drug approval group. It is a great legacy."The 46-year-old father-of-four was rushed to the hospital last Tuesday suffering from a collapsed lung.Despite the best efforts of doctors and nurses, Mr Hill's condition deteriorated. He died at about 6am after developing pneumonia.His request to Darlington Primary Care that they should give permission for his NHS consultant to prescribe Tarceva resulted in the North-East and Cumbria Drug Approvals Group announcement on November 13 that eligible patients should be given the chance to have the £2,000-a-month drug on the NHS.The announcement by the drug approvals group was made on the day Mr Hill was taken to hospital.The decision was hailed as a breakthrough by the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, which wants Tarceva to be made available in England.Mr Unger said there was "massive" interest in Tarceva, with his charity's website recently recording 45,000 hits on its drug information section.Earlier this year, the drug watchdog Nice decided not to approve Tarceva for general use in the NHS on the grounds of cost.Tarceva, which works by interfering with the signals that tell lung cancer cells to grow, has been shown to extend the lives of patients. Seventeen European countries have so far agreed to provide Tarceva as part of state-subsidised health services.In September, The Northern Echo highlighted the plight of Mr Hill after his youngest daughter, Chantelle, six, launched a fundraising campaign to pay for the drug.After being told by his NHS consultant that it was unlikely he would get it on the NHS, Mr Hill decided he would have to pay for the drug.But Mr Hill, who has been ill for years, needed donations from family and friends to cover the cost of the drug.Regulars from the Golden Cock pub raised several thousand pounds by cycling from coast to coast. Other donations pushed the total to £5,500.Mr Hill began private treatment with Tarceva a few weeks ago and was showing signs of improvement until his relapse. People will be able to leave tributes to Mr Hill online at the Northern Echo's website www.thenorthernecho.co.uk from noon today.   more...

Hopes high for jobs boost at business park

THE company behind a town's newly-completed £1.6m business park believes it will create jobs and bring investment to the area.   more...