Eyes & Ears 20.12.24
It's what you've been missing
From celebration to crisis
It’s been a week when the first new Metro train came into service - but it’s ended with no Metro trains being able to cross the Tyne because of safety concerns caused by the crumbling Gateshead Highway flyover.
The flyover, which carries more than 40,000 vehicles a day, had to close last Friday after inspectors flagged serious concerns with a supporting pillar - and Gateshead Council leader Martin Gannon, the Cabinet member for transport on the North East Combined Authority, fears it may never reopen.
The crisis deepened yesterday afternoon when Metro operators Nexus stopped all trains from running underneath the flyover because of safety concerns.
Nexus MD Cathy Massarella said they had received specialist advice to suspend the service until it "can put in place more thorough controls". No timings were given but Nexus confirmed no trains would run between Heworth and Monument today.
The flyover was built in the 1960s and yesterday Chroniclelive reported that Newcastle’s Central Motorway, which was built just a few years after the Gateshead flyover, will be subject to safety inspections in 2025.
Wednesday had been a day of celebration for Nexus when the first of their new £362 million fleet of trains came into service. North East Mayor Kim McGuinness joined passengers on the 11.04 Pelaw to Monkseaton service via Newcastle City Centre.
Last week I highlighted the significance of our Mayor being the only one to accompany Prime Minister Keir Starmer on a trade mission to Saudi Arabia. This week it is being reported that the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is the majority owner of Newcastle United, is looking to acquire InfraBridge's 49% stake in Newcastle International Airport.
Mayor: We’ve only just begun
North East mayor Kim McGuinness welcomed this week’s devolution white paper and said it would help to unlock the region’s true potential.
In a speech to regional leaders, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner announced Devolution by Default and said: "We must rewire England and end the hoarding in Whitehall, by devolving power and money from central government to those with skin in the game."
There were few surprises in the announcement after the integrated settlements announced in the Budget in October, but the North East will benefit from increased funding, and local leaders will have more control over areas such as transport, housing, and economic development.
The mayor will gain additional powers, including the ability to introduce bus franchising, call in planning applications, and levy a mayoral precept on council tax - something that Ben Houchen has said he will not do in the Tees Valley.
Ms McGuinness said: “We’ve shown in six months the difference that real devolution can make. But our work has only begun. We can go much further, much faster, on the priorities that matter to the people I talk to every day; whether that’s building affordable homes, taking control of buses, making the transport network better and simpler, backing the North East’s creative industries or, above all, creating more jobs.”
The Stephenson Mohl Group, where former Durham County Council leader Simon Henig is now head of government relations, produced this handy seven key takeaways from the white paper, By the time they got to No.5 they said: “This is starting to look like a significant package of powers.”
Just REward for unique shop
The RE shop in Northumberland is known for its eclectic mix of unusual, recycled, remarkable, and restored objects from around the world - and it’s just been named the country’s Independent Shop of the Year by House & Garden magazine.
The judges said: “We wanted to choose a homeware shop which gave a unique retail experience; one of those ‘woah, I didn’t know this was here’ moments. A large warehouse space unassumingly tucked behind a garage in the pretty Northumbrian town of Corbridge, it has the overall effect of a snake charmer.”
Simon Young and Jenny Vaughan opened RE 21 years ago and have their own REgd. brand products. You can tell how delighted they are by their social media accounts.
Grab and go grub with a gourmet twist
Hairy Biker Si King officially opened his first restaurant in the North East this week. PROPA! is described as a ‘grab and go’ establishment in the Sheepfolds Stables in Sunderland and serves up British comfort food with a gourmet twist.
The Sheepfolds development is host to an array of independent food and drink operators. It’s close to the Stadium of Light and it’s main courtyard has a large outdoor screen and firepits.
Tribute to the Helix
Newcastle’s planning committee has approved new designs for a 198-bedroom hotel on the former Scottish and Newcastle brewery site, now known as the Helix. Vastint Hospitality BV originally secured consent for a hotel on the site in 2022, which would have operated under Marriott’s no-frills Moxy brand.
The new plan, which includes a function/conference room in the basement, is now planned to operate under Marriott’s Tribute brand.
Sound of silence from Sam
Sam Fender said he would have risked lasting damage to his vocal chords if he didn’t cancel his remaining 2024 shows in Glasgow and Newcastle. Doctors have advised him to not use his voice for a “prolonged” period of time.
He is due to begin touring the US in February, before performing across Europe in the spring. He has three sell-out nights at St James' Park in June.
Secure in security
A North East hospital has stopped haemorrhaging security staff since police started stationing an officer there every night. The Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital (NSECH) in Cramlington has had to call the police many times because of violence towards staff, patients and visitors since it opened in 2015.
Now the turnover rate for staff working in the hospital's security team has fallen from 20% in 2019 to 3.7% in 2024.
Chris Campbell, from Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management, said: "It is reassuring to know that our staff feel safe when delivering care to our patients and visitors."
Dance faces nine charges
North East businessman John Dance has been charged with nine criminal offences in what the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) describes as "one of the most serious and largest frauds ever investigated".
Dance is accused of transferring over £64 million from client accounts of his wealth management firm, WealthTek LLP, formerly known as Vertus Asset Management LLP, to fund his lifestyle and business interests, including horse racing and a nightclub. The FCA alleges that Dance laundered the proceeds through his personal and business bank accounts.
Dance faces charges of fraud by abuse of position, fraud by false representation, and converting or transferring criminal property. He has been released on bail and is scheduled to appear at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court on January 3, 2025.
Walk this way
The North Shields Embankment Walkway opens today, joining the town centre to the Fish Quay. It's part of an ambitious plan to make North Shields a more attractive, family-friendly destination. The design includes green open spaces and various route options to suit different needs, including step-free routes and steps with handrails.
Battery storage site plans
Plans have been submitted with Redcar & Cleveland Council to build a £62 million battery storage facility at the Teesworks development on Teesside.
More than 100 jobs will be supported by the proposed development from Energy Optimisation Solutions on a three-acre plot at the Long Acres section of the 2,500 acre site on the south bank of the River Tees.
The facility will enable up to 100 Megawatts of additional green energy to be plugged into the grid.
Extra funding for police
The Government has announced extra funding of £19.5 billion for police forces in England and Wales to tackle anti-social behaviour and increase neighbourhood policing.
It works out at about an extra 6% per force. In Northumbria, some of the money will be used to introduce a motorbike anti-social behaviour unit and to hire digital forensic specialists.
Homeless package welcomed
The North East-based national charity Changing Lives has welcomed the Government’s announcement of a £1 billion package to tackle homelessness.
The funding is part of the Government's broader Plan for Change, which aims to address the housing crisis, build more social and affordable housing, and end no-fault evictions.
The charity said: “This is a vital step forward, but lasting change requires sustained focus on prevention, support services, and tackling root causes like poverty, addiction, and mental health challenges.”
Business bites
Nissan has entered into talks with Japanese rival Honda about a potential merger that would create the world’s third largest carmaker behind Toyota and Volkswagen. The companies face increased global competition from bigger electric vehicle makers such as Tesla and the Chinese firms BYD and Li Auto.
RMT Accountants & Business Advisors, now part of the Sumer Group, marked their 70th anniversary by announcing further expansion plans. The Gosforth-based company have made several acquisitions recently, including rural and agricultural specialists McCowie & Co, Ribchesters, and the KSA Group.
MD Mike Pott said: “With the Big Four firms becoming ever more remote and smaller practices experiencing the pressure of an ever-increasing regulatory burden, the opportunities for firms like RMT have never been greater and, with our team continuing to expand through both organic growth and acquisition, we see no limit to our future expansion.”
Irish company Media Concierge has agreed a £5 million deal to take over National World, publishers of a group of titles including the Sunderland Echo, Shields Gazette, The Yorkshire Post and The Scotsman, with a promise to invest in local news.
Newcastle Building Society continues to swim against the tide of banking closures and has opened new branches in Hartlepool and Middlesbrough. Openings next year will include a flagship branch in Newcastle city centre, as well as an outlet within a new library in Tynemouth.
Andrew Haigh, CEO of the society, said: “Access to face-to-face financial services and advice remains a concern to our customers as a steady flow of banks continue to close their doors. We’re committed to listening to our customers and so we’re delighted to make long-term commitments to Middlesbrough and Hartlepool with these investments.”
Global marine insurer NorthStandard and Norwegian-based NIORD have announced a new strategic partnership to build their offshore renewable energy underwriting business. NorthStandard MD Jeremy Grose said: “This strategic partnership builds on our commitment to support and facilitate the growth of offshore wind energy and other renewable sources.”
THE WIDER VIEW
Second opinions count
New regulations that give NHS patients the right to request an urgent second opinion are proving effective. The first phase of Martha’s Rule came into place in 143 hospitals across the country in April.
Figures for the first two months show there were 573 calls made to escalate concerns. Around half of these calls required a clinical review, and approximately 1 in 5 of these reviews led to a change in the patient's care. And 14 calls resulted in patients needing urgent transfer to an intensive care unit.
Crisis? What crisis?
A year ago Guinness owner Diageo issued a profits warning. Now it has issued a different kind of warning - that the UK is running out of the black stuff, the UK’s best-selling beer and the official beer of the Premier League.
Some say it is a “stunt” and some a “crisis”. Guinness have always run a savvy marketing department, mind.
Democracy and donations
David Yelland, a former Editor of The Sun, takes to Twitter to ring alarm bells at the prospect of the world’s richest man giving a huge political donation to the Reform UK party.
Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform, says he had no issues with taking Musk’s millions so long as it was legal. Writer and political commentator Adam Schwarz was there with a reminder of Tice’s previous thoughts on such donations.
Far-from-social media
Social media can be a powerful force for good. It can also be the opposite as The Guardian has reported this week.
More than 140 Facebook moderators in Africa have been diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder caused by exposure to graphic content including murders, suicides, self-harm, sexual abuse and terrorism.
They are now suing Meta, Facebook's parent company, and the outsourcing company that contracted them, for the mental harm and unfair employment practices they endured. The images and videos caused some moderators to faint, vomit, scream and run away from their desks.
THE QT VAULTS
Just one from The QT’s archives for you this week. It’s from June, not long before the General Election, when columnist Keith Hann looked at democracy in action (in a way only he can!) and the role parish councils do or do not, play in village life. Enjoy.
Good to have you back and I am enjoying Eyes and Ears (and passing it on). I hope you or your friends at Cultured NE will cover the Moving Parts Arts story. They are such a great crew and it's very sad that their place has been vandalised. They deserve support. Thanks. Barbara