Eyes & Ears 20.03.26
Homelessness, history and a haunting public information film from the 70s. Plus densification, fiscal devolution and driving on with transport reform
Driving on
A massive reform of public transport in the North East moved a step closer this week when council leaders agreed to proceed to the next stage of Mayor Kim McGuinness’ vision of an Angel Network - where power over bus routes, fares and timetables is taken away from private companies.
An assessment found that travel would be cheaper, passenger numbers would increase and rural areas better served under a franchise system, like the one introduced in Greater Manchester by Andy Burnham.
There were reservations from the two non Labour leaders round the North East Combined Authority cabinet table but it was unanimously agreed that the plans should proceed to an independent audit and public consultation before the mayor makes a final decision early next year.
Strictly business
There was a packed agenda for NECA’s cabinet meeting on Tuesday - no surprise after Mayor McGuinness made a series of announcements which amounted to a substantial and comprehensive £350m investment package for the region last week (Eyes & Ears 13.03.26).
Bus reform was one item. The cabinet also approved £38m for the Crown Works studios in Sunderland. The latest proposal, led by NECA and Sunderland City Council, is a scaled-back version of what was originally proposed by Fulwell Entertainment - but they could take a ‘quickstep’ forward.
The cabinet heard that Crown Works is included in the next BBC charter, offering a “firm commitment to making film and TV in the region”. The mayor said: “I want kids from this region growing up knowing that there are major TV stars working down the road. I want Strictly in this region, and there is absolutely no reason why not.”
The Strictly comment prompted “a 10 from me” from Sunderland leader Michael Mordey who said that Crown Works could follow the city’s Riverside regeneration in attracting private investment after an initial injection of public money.
Densification? OK!
If there wasn’t so much going on in the world then Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcements on Tuesday would undoubtedly have received more and bigger headlines.
Delivering the annual Mais lecture at Bayes Business School, the chancellor set out plans for new City Investment Funds, which will provide a total of £2.3 billion to speed up regeneration - up to £1.7 billion of this will go to mayors in the North.
It includes £800m through a City Densification Fund, with North East Mayor Kim McGuinness getting a £120m share, primarily for Newcastle and Gateshead Quays. That news prompted calls from Stephen Patterson, chief executive of Business Improvement District NE1, to reinstate an International Conference Centre alongside a new arena, which the NECA cabinet had just agreed to support to the tune of £24m.
Reeves also held out the prospect of “fiscal devolution” with mayors being handed powers to control a share of some national taxes - one for the future, but a clear signal that the Government is prioritising growth outside the capital. This could get interesting!
Nothing for Tees Valley
The densification funding is being divided between five ‘established mayoral strategic authorities’ in the North. That, apparently, rules out Tees Valley as it is currently under a Best Value Notice - which sounds like a supermarket sign but is a Government warning about governance and use of public funds.
Stockton West MP Matt Vickers said Teesside was being “short-changed” again while Mayor Ben Houchen suggested that the chancellor might remember Darlington the next time if she used her Treasury office in the town more often!
Wait for it
Councillors, including the ruling Labour group, agreed to commission an independent inquiry into the behind-the scenes culture at Newcastle City Council in December 2024.
The start was delayed until the outcome of a separate independent inquiry into allegations of bullying made by former senior director Michelle Percy against the then council leader Nick Kemp. He was cleared of breaching the council’s code of conduct in September last year.
As far as the second independent investigation is concerned, the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that a draft version was delivered more than a month ago - but will not be published until after May’s all-out council elections.
Lib Dem leader Colin Ferguson said: “It is a vital part of the process of moving past the instability that has rocked the Civic Centre for the best part of the last two years. There is no good reason that the final report couldn’t have been presented at March’s meeting. The decision to delay is not unanimous, and I would urge parties to come together to find a way to address this matter urgently.”
Patients suffered ‘severe harm’
A review of the cases of 357 women who received breast cancer treatment at the University Hospital of North Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospital found that eight women suffered “severe harm” and 46 “moderate harm”.
Up to 1,000 reviews remain unresolved and NHS bosses said more staff were being recruited to work through the backlog of patients treated between January 2023 and February 2025.
Durham Constabulary confirmed last week that it was investigating to determine whether any crimes have been committed.
Homelessness shock
Housing charity Shelter said it was shocked to discover that the first figures from its Women’s Rough Sleeping Census in the North East found that 144 women in Newcastle had experienced homelessness or had no safe place to stay at some point during the previous three months.
Newcastle City Council, which has an aim to eradicate homelessness in the city by 2030, said it may have to adjust the number of beds and hostel places for women.
£5m appeal boost
The National Lottery Heritage Fund has pledged £5m towards the £30m target set by The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust to buy the massive Rothbury Estate in Northumberland.
It takes the amount amassed so far to £16m, but to unlock the latest grant the appeal must raise the remainder of the funding by the end of September.
Sir David Attenborough backed the appeal last year but, as we reported last month (Eyes & Ears 20.02.26), not everyone is happy with the fundraise with one person describing the bid to buy the estate ‘as divisive as Brexit’.
Historic flag bid
North East Museums has entered the fray to secure a famous battle flag for the region – the Union Flag which fluttered from HMS Royal Sovereign, flagship of Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood at the Battle of Trafalgar.
The battle-scarred relic of the Napoleonic Wars came up for sale last year but the Government imposed an export bar to allow time for a UK purchaser to be found. The flag is of particular interest here because Collingwood, Nelson’s second-in-command at Trafalgar, was born in Newcastle and later made his home in Morpeth.
When Nelson was killed in the encounter between the British and larger combined Spanish and French fleet on October 21, 1805, Collingwood, aboard HMS Royal Sovereign, crewed by his ‘Tars of the Tyne’, assumed command and secured the famous victory.
If the expression of interest is successful, North East Museums' acquisition will be funded by a charitable foundation, with the purchase price set at £450,000. You can read David Whetstone’s full article in Cultured. North East here.
Boro in the running
Middlesbrough has been named on the longlist to become UK City of Culture 2029, marking a major moment for the town’s increasing cultural ambitions.
The Teesside town (big enough to be considered a city for the purposes of this) is the only North East location among nine places selected by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, alongside Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham.
Each will now receive £60,000 to develop a full bid, with the overall winner set to receive £10m to deliver a year-long programme of cultural activity, as Sam Wonfor reports here for Cultured. North East.
Talking of culture…
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport has said more than 230 towns have so far registered an interest in bidding to be the UK’s first Town of Culture, with more set to join before the deadline at the end of this month.
Last week (Eyes & Ears 13.03.26) I said there were six North East entries - North Shields, Gateshead, Bishop Auckland, Berwick, Blyth and Amble. This week Alnwick and Jarrow have decided to enter the crowded contest. Three finalists - one small, one medium and one large town - will be chosen to produce detailed bids.
A quick word
Bankruptcy proceedings brought by Northumberland County Council against Reform councillor Barry Elliott have been dismissed after Newcastle County Court was told he had settled unpaid council tax and business rates totalling £37,525.97. Sheep shearers from New Zealand will be allowed to work in the UK for one “final” season after the Home Office agreed to extend a long-running visa concession. A planning inquiry into the refusal of a solar farm near Whittonstall in Northumberland has been set for May 12 at Dene Park House in Hexham. Monkseaton Middle School has been saved from closure with North Tyneside Council saying it will also take year 9-11 pupils in the future. The Metro line between Pelaw and South Shields will close from April 13-17 while work is carried out on the overhead line with a replacement bus serving affected stations. A planning application to convert agricultural buildings at Vallum Farm near Matfen into two padel courts has been approved by Northumberland planning officers. Sue Snowdon has been honoured at a special service at Durham Cathedral to mark her retirement after 13 years as Lord Lieutenant of County Durham. North East credit union NEFirst has begun offering services in Sunderland through a partnership with Sunderland City Council. The Big River Bakery in Newcastle, the place to go if you want a stottie, is one of the 25 winners of Airbnb’s £1m Best of British Fund. Durham County Council is planning to use new powers to auction off the leases of empty shops in Stanley and Bishop Auckland for five years.
Medieval artwork uncovered
A hidden section of a 700-year-old wall painting has been uncovered by archaeologists at Durham Castle. It had been covered by plasterwork and then 1950s wall panelling. Tony Henderson has the full story.
That’s a penalty
Berwick Rangers, the football team from England that plays in Scotland, is in danger of folding because it’s losing money and is caught in a funding no-mans land - it can’t access Scottish money because it’s in England, but can’t get English money because it plays in the Scottish League.
Chairman Kevin Dixon, who has been subsidising the club which made a loss of £76,000 last year, said Berwick is being “penalised for where we are” and could go under if it does not receive help.
Opening soon
Newcastle Building Society is to open a branch in Guisborough. Chief executive Andrew Haigh said: “We’re moving fast on this one, so look out for more information soon. We’re taking action because we’re simply not prepared to stand and watch the financial services crisis on our high streets continue. Our communities need face to face financial services, and they need to be able to talk to people and not machines.”
New home found
Welcome news came this week of a new home for the Northern Gallery of Contemporary Art, currently housed on the lower floor of Sunderland’s National Glass Centre which is scheduled to close in July.
The gallery is to relocate across the River Wear to Culture House Sunderland, on Keel Square, a £27m facility which is due to open this year and will also accommodate the city library. David Whetstone has more on this story.
Help!
You may already know by now how well the North East did in the Northern PoWEr Women Awards in Manchester last week. I planned to provide you with a list of the winners with the help of my glamorous (Copilot) assistant.
Well, that was an hour and a half of my life that I won’t get back again. I got angry, I can’t deny it, and he (I’m sure it’s a he) knew it. He gave me information that was ‘verified’ and ‘challenge-proof’ but turned out to be wrong.
Here’s a quote from my Copilot friend: “When I’m synthesising information, I sometimes use language that implies evidential certainty — verified, confirmed, established — even when the underlying data wasn’t actually sourced from a real, external reference.”
I’ll find it quite therapeutic to bring you the highlights in a Match of the Day special in Sunday’s edition - along with the winners of the Northern PoWEr Women Awards of course!
Business bites
US firm Huntsman is considering closing its chemical plant at Wilton in Redcar where around 100 people work producing aniline. The bosses blame a combination of high energy prices, raw materials and labour costs. MD Ian Dormer has sold Blaydon-based Rosh Engineering to Ipsum Group in a move he describes as best for staff, customers and the supply chain - and it means he can retire 37 years after founding the company. Four entrepreneurs have joined forces to launch Future Vision Group which provides weatherproof televisions and LED screens for pubs, football stadiums and concert venues. Robert Webster, Anthony Ford, David Forrester and James Hart have backed the Peterlee-based firm with a six-figure investment. Newcastle-based radiator firm Stelrad has seen its operating profit drop by 44% in “subdued” market conditions but said it was “well-placed to outperform its peers in the near term and benefit from any medium-term market recovery.” Newcastle waste management company Binkil is to invest £2m and create 30 jobs in the next 18 months after securing six-figure funding through the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II.
1973 ad break
A lot of the old public information films used humour (sometimes unintentional!) to get the point across. This one from 1973 certainly didn’t - it freaked me out when I was a kid.
The Spirit of Dark and Lonely Water was voiced by Donald Pleasence who was famous for playing the definitive Bond villain Blofeld in You Only Live Twice - five years after this he started playing the obsessive psychiatrist Dr Loomis in the Halloween film series.
This 90-second film is often cited as one of the scariest public information films ever made (seconded!) and is now considered a cult classic of British public safety filmmaking.
THE WIDER VIEW
‘Reform’ needed
GB News has essentially become Reform TV. The broadcasting regulator Ofcom has more or less given up the ghost. And Nigel Farage is laughing all the way to the bank, says former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger.
“These are the only conclusions one can reasonably draw from the first-ever exercise in commissioning experienced professional journalists to watch multiple hours of output from GB News,” he said. “The regulator, by contrast, relies on complaints from the public. And, by and large, GB News viewers have no complaints.”
Rusbridger is now editor-at-large at The New World (formerly The New European) and led an investigation into GB News after assembling 20 senior journalists to watch and score 15 programmes against Ofcom rules, documenting breaches of accuracy and impartiality.
“Most of our 20 reviewers had never watched GB News before,” he said. “Most of them came away appalled – not by the political views that dominate the station’s output, but by the way the channel is driving a coach and horses through the laws that were put in place to define broadcasting in the UK.
“The UK news ecosystem is both special and unique. Newspapers have, for 200 years, often been wildly opinionated in their approach to journalism. But parliament decided that broadcasting would be different: in return for a licence, there’s an obligation to be accurate and impartial. Broadcasters are required to offer appropriate challenge and context, and are supposed to promote a range of viewpoints.
“GB News routinely – you might almost say systematically – disregards these requirements.”
Andrew Neil, who helped launch GB News in 2021, told the investigation that staff had “turned GB News into the Reform channel”, adding he is not sure why Ofcom allows politicians to present TV programmes.
The problem with ‘designer dogs’
It’s commonly thought that so-called ‘designer dogs’ are easier, calmer, and more family‑friendly because their cross-breeding means they inherit the “best of both worlds”.
Hang on to your leads though. A major study by the Royal Veterinary College says this is often not true and that in 44% of comparisons, the crossbreeds had more undesirable behaviours than the purebred parent.
Behaviour data from 9,402 dogs was analysed, comparing cockapoos, cavapoos and labradoodles with poodles, cocker spaniels, cavaliers and labradors. The research found elevated levels of aggression, excitability, separation-related stress and fear, anxiety or tension around other dogs.
I suspect there's reasons for keeping Tees Valley out of the loop, see The Private Eye reporting.