Live: Breaking news, traffic and travel across Teesside

The Evening Gazette's live breaking news blog brings you regular updates, pictures, video, tweets and comments covering the latest Teesside and North Yorkshire traffic, travel, weather, crime and council news for today, Friday 6th February 2015.

You can contribute to the live blog by posting your comment below, and you can also tweet us @EveningGazette to share breaking news stories, pictures and opinions.

Our Teesside breaking news live blog begins at 07:00am every weekday and is updated throughout the day and into the evening.

George Friend: 'It's always nice to know of interest elsewhere but I can achieve all my goals at Boro'

George Friend admits it was nice to discover other clubs rate him but insists he can achieve his ambitions with Boro.

The in-form full-back was linked with a couple of Premier League team during the January window but he wasn’t interested in leaving and the club had no intention of selling one of their prize assets.

Asked about the reported interest from Crystal Palace and West Brom, he said: “It’s always nice to know, but I was always pretty certain I was going to stay here.

“It’s just nice to see there is interest elsewhere but I’m very happy at Middlesbrough and I want to achieve all my goals here. At the moment it is going the right way.”

Friend signed a new, long-term deal at the start of the season while other senior players have also committed themselves to Boro over the past six months.

“Myself, Adam (Reach), Grant (Leadbitter), Ben (Gibson); there’s a few that have all signed,” he said.

“It’s really encouraging to see others around you signing new contracts as well because it puts out a message to everyone looking at Middlesbrough that says ‘these people are happy here and want to stay and want to achieve success at such a good club’.”

Boro paid Doncaster just £100,000 for Friend in the summer of 2012 and that’s looking like one of the footballing bargains of the century.

He’s now one of the most consistent left-backs in the Championship and destined to play in the Premier League sooner rather than later.

The 27-year-old certainly has no doubts that Boro are heading in the right direction.

“Ever since I arrived at Middlesbrough I always had that ‘big club’ feeling about the place,” he said.

“It’s got the infrastructure and the fanbase and now we’ve got what looks like a squad that can do it.

“There’s a lot of time left though and we need to keep cool heads and work hard every day to achieve what we want to.

“I really love the area, Teesside,” he added. “It feels like I’ve been welcomed with open arms ever since I got here and I try and repay that faith by giving it my all every weekend, I really love it here.”

Hartlepool cabler JDR steps up work on major German wind farm

JDR has stepped up its support work for one of Germany’s major offshore wind farms.

The technology provider for the offshore energy industry, which employs around 160 at its Hartlepool facility, is carrying out pre-commissioning, test and termination services for the 80-turbine EnBW Baltic 2 offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea, off the coast of Rostock.

JDR’s offshore wind test and termination team was brought in by Siem Offshore Contractors GmbH to deliver a scope of work that ranged from onshore planning and procedures, project management and mechanical installation to cable containment, termination, test, modification and reporting.

The client has expanded the contract as the project scope - for both people and equipment - has continued to grow.

Mr. Günther Bakker, Chief Operating Officer at Siem Offshore said: “We brought JDR into the EnBW Baltic 2 project due to their full support team capability and extensive experience in offshore power cable operations.

“In field, their work has been professional with on time delivery. We are delighted to extend their role in the project.”

Charlie Backhouse, JDR’s Global Services Director, said: “JDR provides specialist offshore teams with full onshore and logistics support. A JDR offshore wind services team is typically made up of three operatives, rather than the industry standard five, without any compromises in quality or safety standards. This is another important contribution to the delivery of cost-effective renewable energy.”

Renewables Services is a fast growing area for JDR’s Global Services operations. The team supports the renewables industry; from project installation consultancy, to equipment hire and pre-commissioning, with ongoing full product life-cycle support including repair and maintenance.

Bosses say the company’s approach is designed to ‘maximize product investment and lower the total cost of equipment ownership’.

The company is strengthening its presence in the growing German market; it also secured a deal to supply Germany’s largest windfarm cluster - Nordsee One - with more than 70 kilometres of cable on behalf of the same client.

In the last few months, JDR has also announced a renewables contract to supply 95 kilometres of cable for the Statoil/ Statkraft Dudgeon offshore wind farm, off Norfolk’s coast, on behalf of Dutch cabling specialist VBMS, formerly VSMC.

Oil and gas work is also growing for JDR; it recently won a significant North Sea contract to design and make an 18km-long hybrid-power steel cable on behalf of energy company Wintershall Noordzee BV. The cable - called an umbilical - will be bound for the Ravn field development in the North Sea.

The company welcomed its new CEO, David Currie, last month.

Aitor Karanka and Lee Tomlin make it a Boro double in January's Championship awards

Boro head coach Aitor Karanka and forward Lee Tomlin have been named the Sky Bet Championship Manager and Player of the Month for January.

Karanka guided Boro to three league wins and a draw in the Championship last month, as well as masterminding FA Cup victories at Barnsley and Manchester City.

Meanwhile, Tomlin scored three goals in four league matches in January, with the first of his brace against Huddersfield ending Boro's four-hour Championship hoodoo in front of goal.

Former Ipswich manager George Burley chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel, and heaped praise on Karanka's recent performance.

"Aitor Karanka has really made his mark on the Boro team", Burley said.

“They are solid at the back and play open, creative football. Middlesbrough are looking strong contenders for automatic promotion.”

Sky Sports’ Football League pundit Don Goodman was also involved in the judging and also had plenty of nice things to say about Boro's award-winning duo.

Aitor Karanka with his Manager of the Month award

“Jose Mourinho’s assistant at Real Madrid is starting to step out of his mentor’s shadow, bringing exciting football and an impressive string of results to The Riverside," Goodman said.

“Karanka’s meticulous preparation allows him to get the best out of his squad and an automatic promotion place is a real possibility for Boro.

"Middlesbrough’s creative hub Tomlin has been vital in their ascent to the top of the Sky Bet Championship.

“Playing alongside Patrick Bamford and Kike, Tomlin added goals to his game in an impressive January.”

Boro enjoyed a remarkable month, conceding only one goal in six matches and climbing to within one point of the Championship summit.

The FA Cup victory at Premier League champions Man City also caught the eye, with Tomlin at the fore, and Boro now have a fifth round tie at Arsenal to look forward to later this month.

© CameraSport

Middlesbrough's Lee Tomlin celebrates scoring his side's third goal

After learning of Tomlin's individual award, Karanka was quick to credit the ex-Peterborough man who has hit a purple patch since missing December's win over Derby with a minor niggle.

"I told Lee one year ago that he is a very good player. He's shown everyone what he is capable of," Karanka said.

"When he has the ball something can happen. He is an important player for us.

"We don't think of these as individual awards. The most important thing is the team and its for all the club and all our squad."

The last time a Boro player won the Player of the Month accolade was in September 2011. Matthew Bates was part of a double in that month with Tony Mowbray claiming the manager's award.

Karanka's accolade is his first in English football since arriving at the Riverside in November 2013, but he has been nominated for the gong twice before this season in September and December 2013.

However, the Boro boss lost out to Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy and Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe respectively.

Click here to watch delighted Boro fans talking about the awards

Aitor Karanka and Lee Tomlin: 'They’re doing absolutely marvellous', say delighted Boro fans

Boro fans have been quick to congratulate Aitor Karanka and Lee Tomlin on their January success.

The Boro head coach and attacker were winners of the January manager and player of the month awards respectively.

It was the first time either had won the prize and followed a spectacular month for Middlesbrough FC.

There was the famous win over defending Premier League Champions Manchester City (not that it counted in the reckoning for these awards) and a string of solid league performances.

The Gazette went out onto the streets of Middlesbrough for the opinions of Teessiders.

Sam Douglas, 68, from Eston, was upbeat about the team’s performance, saying: “I think we’ve got the best team, at the moment, that we've had in a long time. I think we’ll finish up in the top two.

Praising Aitor Karanka’s Riverside renaissance Sam said, “I think he’s brought discipline and the passing game back to the team.

“I can’t fault him,” he added.

Aitor Karanka with his Manager of the Month award

Full-time carer Patricia Cockburn, 46, from Palister Park said: “They’re doing absolutely marvellous.

“It’s lifted the spirits of Middlesbrough. I haven’t seen this since the FA Cup - everybody’s watching the football now.”

Asked whether he thought Karanka and Tomlin deserved their awards, Riverside Stadium administrator Brian Davison, 72, from Pallister Park said: “Without a doubt yeah.

"He’s been the best manager we’ve had there for a long time. That’s my opinion.

“Tomlin, he’s a good player. A very reasonable player - they all are.

“We’ve got a good team there.”

Aitor Karanka and Lee Tomlin with their awards

“Congratulations Aitor Karanka, keep it up - keep the good job up,”

Recalling Boro’s victory over Man City, Mick Cooper, 56, from Redcar said: “They went out there as underdogs and they fought and fought and fought.

“Aitor Karanka and Tomlin - deserve everything they get.

“Good luck Aitor, Mr Karanka, and good luck Lee. I hope you both do well and I hope you get it because you deserve it.”

Optimistic, Tanya Lord, 31, from Thorntree, said: “I think they’re going to take us places and back to the Premier - back where we belong.

“They definitely deserve it.

“Congratulations on making manager and player of the month- they’re going to take us places.”

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Civil servant David Jukes, 36, from Acklam, was delighted with Boro’s performances - but cautious of Karanka receiving manager of the month.

“They’ve done really well and they’re playing really good football at the minute - attacking," said the 36-year-old.

“You can see the confidence running through the team, it’s just good to see us playing decent football again.

Asked if he thought Karanka and Tomlin deserved their awards David daid: “I do but it’s normally a poisoned chalice isn’t it getting manager of the month so in a way I hope he doesn’t.

“Well done keep up the good work and hopefully get us promotion in May.”

Lee Tomlin can play in the Premier League, says Boro boss Karanka

Lee Tomlin is capable of playing in the Premier League, according to Aitor Karanka.

The Boro No10 was today named the Championship Player of the Month by the Football League.

Karanka, who was named Manager of the Month to complete a notable double, was pleased to see Tomlin win recognition for his impressive displays.

“With him on the pitch, when he has the ball something can happen,” said the head coach. “He is the kind of player who knows football. When he plays well he makes things happen.

“He is important when he is playing in the way he is playing now.”

Tomlin joined Boro on loan from Petereborough on January transfer deadline day last year before penning a long-term deal a few days later.

Karanka believes the 26-year-old has the ability to thrive in the top flight if he continues to improve.

“Lee arrived here just one year ago but this year he has improved a lot and that was not a surprise to me because he is a very good player,” said the Boro boss.

“He needed to be at his best here because playing in League One is not the same as the Championship and if he wants to play in the Premier League he has to continue in the same way because he is capable of playing at a high level.”

Aitor Karanka's award comes as no surprise to Boro defender Andrew Friend

George Friend believes Aitor Karanka’s Championship Manager of the Month award is well deserved.

The Boro boss was chosen by the Football League judges ahead of Derby’s Steve McClaren, Mark Warburton of Brentford and Leeds United’s Neil Redfearn.

In January, Boro took 10 points out of 12 and knocked Barnsley and Manchester City out of the FA Cup.

The team also conceded just one goal in the entire month – Cardiff’s late consolation at the Riverside - which rankles with Friend.

“For us as defenders, it would have a perfect month, a clean sheet, but we let in one goal,” he said.

“That was disappointing personally, but the manager has been superb, as have all the squad.

“I’m sure he would be the first one to say it was a team effort from him, the coaches, all the staff, and I think he got the mix just right.

“The team selection, everything, it’s been a really successful month.”

Buying into Karanka’s philosophy of one game at a time, Friend doesn’t want to spend too much time thinking about the past.

“It counts for nothing if we don’t replicate that every month,” he added.

“Aitor wouldn’t want anyone talking about a game in two weeks’ time, he wants the next game to be the focus and everyone has bought in to that.

“It seems to be working because everyone is on the same page.”

Chad military claims killing Boko Haram fighters

Clashes between Chadian troops and Boko Haram fighters during a raid on a northeastern Nigerian town have killed 200 fighters and nine soldiers, Chad’s military says.

“We regret nine dead and 21 wounded. On the enemy side: more than 200 deaths,” a statement cited by the AFP news agency said in reference to Tuesday’s clashes.

It added that the toll could rise since clean-up operations in the town of Gamboru on Nigeria-Chad border.

Earlier, Cameroon soldiers clashed with Boko Haram fighters in the border town of Fotokol as the fighters fled an offensive by Chad’s army, security sources said.

The fighters “entered this morning,” a Cameroonian security source said, after Chadian troops recaptured Gamboru just across the border.

“Fighting between them and our soldiers is really intense.”

In a deserted Gamboru, Chadian forces carried out clean-up operations after entering the town on Tuesday and retaking it from Boko Haram, which seized control months ago.

“When the Chadians entered Gamboru, the Boko Haram members who were in the town and some villages fled to meet up this morning in Fotokol,” the security source said.

Regional military efforts

While a bridge separates Fotokol from Gamboru, it is possible to also cross over from surrounding villages.

Chadian jet fighters had also bombed Gamboru before its troops entered.

The regional military efforts have highlighted the failure of Nigeria’s army to stop the six-year Boko Haram insurgency that has killed thousands.

Nigeria’s military said on Tuesday the country’s sovereignty was not compromised despite the presence of Chadian ground troops and claimed to be “driving the present onslaught”.

The offensive comes at a crucial moment, with Nigeria’s presidential and parliamentary elections set for February 14.

Boko Haram opposes Western education and wants to impose Islamic law in all 36 states of Nigeria, which is roughly equally divided between a predominantly Muslim north and a mainly Christian south.

The group operates mainly in the northeastern Nigerian states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, where the government has declared a state of emergency since May 2013.

Norton charity 'Daisy Chain' celebrates total of £200k lottery cash

A Teesside charity has received a one-off £25,000 windfall - thanks to a big increase in the number of local punters playing the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Norton-based autism charity Daisy Chain had already announced in November that the level of annual funding they were to receive from the organisation was being raised.

From £125,000 an additional £50,000 was being made available to fund new staff posts.

Now the charity is benefitting from a new bonus payment.

An extra £25,000 has arrived to further boost the Daisy Chain, enabling it to develop and expand the range of services it provides to families across Teesside who have to cope with a child with autism.

This additional windfall has come about after a 96% increase in ticket sales, enabling over £3m in additional funding to go to supported charities, like Daisy Chain.

The news was announced at People’s Postcode Lottery’s annual Charity Gala held in Edinburgh on January 28, which was attended by Dame Kelly Holmes.

Prize presenter Judie McCourt presented the new cheque - for a total of £200,000 - during a visit to Calf Fallow Farm in Norton, the home of Daisy Chain, this week.

“This is an unbelievable start to the New Year,” said Judith Haysmore, chief executive.

“I would like to thank the players of the Postcode Lottery for their support. I want to assure them that their involvement will make a real difference to the lives of so many children and their families across Teesside and beyond.”

The charity, which was established in 2003, provides a range of services, including support and activity groups for the whole family from the 5.5 acre farm.

It provides a range of services to meet the needs of each family member and also offer fun activities to bring them closer together as a unit.

Stockton pupils light up Tilery estate with annual lantern parade

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The atmosphere was that of a carnival in Stockton as dozens turned out to see Tilery Primary School pupils in their annual lantern parade.

The dark streets were lit by lanterns of all shapes and sizes - from Big Ben designs to stars and even a snowman.

The school holds the event every year, with youngsters, staff, families and members of the community parading through the streets of Portrack and Tilery estates led by drummers from The Rhythm Train.

Helen Keating, assistant head at Tilery Primary School, said: “A lot of planning goes into it, but it’s worth it.

“We started a week last Saturday with the first of our workshops for families and community groups to come in and work on things, making the lanterns. We opened again Saturday and Sunday last weekend, but we’ve been open through the week too, so it’s taken the full two weeks really.

“There are small lanterns, big lanterns, some very intricate lanterns in the shape of the London Eye, for example.

“The theme this year is ‘stars’ - we’re all stars - so there’s a star somewhere on every lantern.

“Everyone’s been looking forward to it - it’s fantastic; it’s the highlight of the year.”

Among those taking part was mum Deborah Mohammed, who was there with her three sons, including Owen McAveeney, seven and three-year-old Zak Mohammed.

Deborah, 31, said: “I think it’s brilliant. It allows parents to get involved in a project with the children. Zak’s in reception now, and it’s also been a good way for him to see some of the main school and meet some of the teachers ready for when he goes into Year 1.”

Also taking part were friends Alfie Inns, seven, and Ben Armstrong, eight, who carried their lantern together.

Alfie, a Year 3 pupil, said: “It’s really fun.

“We’ve done it for three years but this is the first time me and Ben have worked together to make our lantern. We made a stick man and stars on the sides.”

“The best part of the parade is...everything!”

Cannabis dealer, 20, had £10k in cash and boxes of drugs in his home

A cannabis dealer who used the drug to help cope with the death of his stepfather has been locked up.

Police found over £3,500 worth of the class B drug, as well as nearly £10,000 in cash, after searching Gareth Welsh’s Stockton home on June 22 last year.

Officers had called for extra support after Welsh had become confrontational outside the house in Wrekenton Close on the Hardwick estate, Teesside Crown Court heard.

“There was a strong smell of cannabis and several adults present,” said Sue Jacobs, prosecuting.

A search was carried out and several bags and boxes of drugs were found in the house and garden.

The 20-year-old pleaded guilty at Teesside Crown Court to possession of the class B drug with intent to supply and possession of criminal property, as well as breaching a suspended sentence order.

Peter Wishlade, defending, said Welsh’s drug abuse began after his stepfather died of a drug overdose.

“He has been a heavy user of cannabis from the age of 13 when he discovered his stepfather’s body,” he told the court.

“He is still suffering from depression and receiving medication in relation to that.”

Sentencing him, the judge, Recorder Edward Bindloss told Gareth Welsh that the death of his stepfather explained his offending “to some extent”.

But he added: “It should have brought home to you the reality of supplying drugs.”

Welsh was sentenced to ten months imprisonment in a young offenders’ institution.

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Parents learn more about plans for new primary school at Wynyard

Parents have been learning more about a new school opening in Wynyard, which is due to take in pupils from September this year.

Members of the public were invited to speak to those behind the Church of England academy free school to find out more, at an event held at Wynyard Golf Club today.

A temporary site is due to open this September, off Wynyard Woods, with pupils expected to then move into a permanent site, near The Stables, the following September.

The school will be part of the Church of England family of schools in the Diocese of Durham, in which 93% of its existing 50 primary schools are rated good or outstanding.

The Wynyard school will be the Diocese’s first free school, but bosses say this will mean little difference in how the school is run, only in how it is funded.

The school will be a two-form entry primary school, meaning there will be 60 pupils in each year group. When it opens there will be provision for pupils in Year 1 and Year 2, but with a focus on Reception.

The permanent building will be situated in brand new, purpose-built facilities on a green field site on the Wynyard Estate, on six acres of land.

Paul Rickeard, assistant director of education at the Diocese, who is also to be executive principal of the school, said: “We are in the process now of appointing a head.

Rev. David Brooke shows the locations of the new Wynyard School, due to open in September 2015

“We are really keen that this school has to be an outstanding school. It’s a school born out of need.

“We’re very keen to hear people’s ideas and views at these events. We don’t want to impose a school on the community, we want to build a community school, for it to become a part of the community.”

Director of the academy trust, The Ven. Stuart Bain, added: “We want this to be a community school with a good Christian ethos, and above all else, focusing on good education for the children.”

The school is required in its pre-opening phase to undertake a Statutory Consultation with its local community. The consultation period will end at 5pm on Friday, February 27.

Further events will be held at the same venue from 5-7pm on Wednesday and on Tuesday, February 17.

The school has also set up a statutory consultation area on its website at http://bit.ly/1AwDV0m

A consultation questionnaire can be accessed at: http://bit.ly/1AwDV0o and people who want to find out more about the school and receive details of future events, can register their interest at http://bit.ly/1AwDSBN .

Star Radio station boss denies making sexist remarks about hiring women with big boobs

A radio station boss has denied making sexist remarks about hiring women “with big boobs”.

John Clayton, managing director of Star Radio, rejected all of the claims made by the station’s ex-commercial director, Dawn Carney, from Ingleby Barwick, about his alleged lewd, “inappropriate” behaviour.

She claims that he asked her to make sure all new female recruits to the station were “blonde, with big boobs and blue eyes” like her.

But he told an employment tribunal: “That is not the sort of language I would use in the office environment.”

Miss Carney, 37, is claiming unfair dismissal and sexual harassment against Mr Clayton and Star’s parent company, UK RD Group.

Married dad-of-two Mr Clayton denied making comments about breasts, claims he worked late because he did not want to go home “to be nagged” and refuted any suggestion that he said women were “better at cooking and cleaning”.

Mr Clayton also denied instructing Miss Carney to hire a promotional team of “no males - just big boobed women”.

Station staff went for a meal at the Muse restaurant in Yarm where it was alleged by Miss Carney that Mr Clayton had touched her leg inappropriately while they were sat at the bar.

Mr Clayton, dad-of four-year-old twins who described himself as happily married, denied the incident had occurred and rejected claims he had drunk too much.

In his statement to the Newcastle tribunal, he claimed he was the target of hurtful comments when it was suggested his wife was too glamorous for him.

Mr Clayton told how he was left feeling uncomfortable when Ms Carney, a single mum-of-two, told him he was “punching above his weight” after she had seen a picture of his attractive blond wife.

He insisted Ms Carney was fired from her £65,000-a-year post as commercial director based purely on her performance.

Mr Clayton added: “The only occasion I made a comment about her appearance was in the presence of the team when I made a comment about the neck scarf she was wearing.

“I made a comment that she reminded me of an air hostess because my wife had previously worked as an air hostess.”

Sarah Barry, temporary MD at Star Radio before Mr Clayton took over the post in January, 2014, told the hearing that she was “shocked” by the allegations against him.

She added: “John is very unassuming, quiet, pretty shy almost, a little bit guarded. I am very, very shocked by the allegations.”

Ex-employee Karen Riley branded the culture at the Darlington-based station as “outrageous”, however, claiming it operated in an “unprofessional, sexist, degrading and humiliating way”.

Mr Clayton was not employed at the station at the time, joining after she had left.

Star Radio broadcast an advert which it is claimed referred to Miss Riley as a “hot chick with nice tatas”, an allegation which was covered in her statement to the tribunal.

The tribunal heard that the station had apologised about the broadcast.

* The hearing continues

Walkabout to close: 20 pictures of Middlesbrough venue through the years

VIEW GALLERY

Strewth!

Walkabout is set to pull its final amber nectar.

It has been confirmed that the popular Middlesbrough venue is set to close in March.

From its opening in 2002 it’s been a mainstay of nightlife in the town - and we can’t see it close without a proper send off.

Here are pictures of the popular Australian-themed bar - on Corporation Road - over the years.

Grab yourself a stubby and enjoy our trip down memory lane.

:: Have you got any Walkabout memories? Let us know here.

Goodbye Walkabout! 20 pictures of Middlesbrough venue through the years

VIEW GALLERY

Strewth!

Walkabout is set to pull its final amber nectar.

It has been confirmed that the popular Middlesbrough venue is set to close in March.

From its opening in 2002 it’s been a mainstay of nightlife in the town - and we can’t see it close without a proper send off.

Here are pictures of the popular Australian-themed bar - on Corporation Road - over the years.

Grab yourself a stubby and enjoy our trip down memory lane.

:: Have you got any Walkabout memories? Let us know here.

Daily Politics: George Dunning set to call for 'bullying' inquiry during appearance on national show

Deselected council leader George Dunning says he will call for an inquiry into allegations of bullying in the local Labour Party on national television tomorrow.

Cllr Dunning, who was one of 10 Redcar and Cleveland councillors to resign his Labour party membership yesterday, says he will be interviewed by Andrew Neil on BBC’s Daily Politics about the issue.

“I will be on the Daily Politics show," he told the Gazette this afternoon. "I have been asked to talk about the deselection issue.

“Obviously, I will have to be careful what I say but I will fully back my deputy’s call for an independent inquiry into claims of bullying in the party.

“I know Cllr Vic Jeffries has made an official complaint about his treatment, while other councillors have also mentioned the problem.”

At a public protest at Anna Turley’s Redcar office on Wednesday, deputy leader Sheelagh Clarke called for the independent inquiry - and also the process which saw prominent Labour councillors deselected.

Cllrs Dunning and Clarke blamed their deselection on a rift between senior councillors and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Tom Blenkinsop, Labour’s candidate for Redcar Anna Turley and councillors working in their offices.

They also supported Cllrs Steven Goldswain, Olwyn Peters and Vic Jeffries - who were all part of the ten who ripped up their Labour membership cards in the protest - and their claims of bullying and intimidation within the party.

Cllr Dunning currently remains leader of the council - despite resigning from its Labour group.

A Liberal Democrat motion to remove him as leader will be tabled at next Thursday’s full council meeting at the Redcar Heart building.

Cllr Dunning has survived votes of no confidence from the Lib Dems and his own party in the past - but is not as confident this time.

“It could be the end for me as leader," he said.

"But there are so many different groups on the council, all the different parties, that the numbers will be complicated.

“We will have to see what happens.”

The leader and deputy leader, plus cabinet members Steven Goldswain, Olwyn Peters, Norman Pickthall and Mark Hannon who resigned from the Labour Party, met with the other cabinet members yesterday.

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Cllr Dunning said he is confident that a budget will be passed in March with a 0% rise, and Cllr Pickthall told the Gazette that other councillors would be “foolish” to refuse the plans.

Cllr Goldswain said: “It was a friendly meeting. We have been colleagues for a long time, and we remain friends.

“It was a very sad day for us all to resign from the Labour Party. But we had to highlight the bullying and intimidation that has been going on.

“I can’t see anything happening until the council meeting on Thursday now.”

Chairman of the Redcar Constituency Labour Party, Neil Bendelow, confirmed to The Gazette that Cllr Jeffries had made a formal complaint.

In a statement after the mass resignation, the Labour Party said the decision was “disappointing but unsurprising”.

Walkabout confirms Middlesbrough bar is to close due to losses

Popular Middlesbrough bar Walkabout is to close.

The well-loved bar on Corporation Road will shut its doors for the final time in mid-March it’s been confirmed.

A statement from the popular Australian-themed bar chain said that the closure was due to it making a loss - and says that ‘it’s a very sad day’ for the company.

“iNTERTAIN, the company that owns Walkabout has announced plans to reduce its debt and increase the level of investment in its bars across the UK in order to secure the long term future of the business,” says the statement.

It continues: “However, in order to do this we need to look at all our venues across the UK and assess their performance levels.

“Many are performing well, however a few sites are loss making so to continue to run them as they are is not viable.

“Unfortunately Walkabout in Middlesbrough is one of those venues.

“Due to current market conditions and the high level of rent we have to pay, the venue is making a loss.

“Additionally, our trading predictions do not see any change in this situation in the near future.

“The venue is therefore likely to close in mid-March.

Walkabout Pub on Albert Road, Middlesbrough

“This is a very sad day for us and our staff and it is not a decision we have taken lightly. Unfortunately though, we have no choice.”

The bar's owner said there may be some redundancies, but it would do its best to find roles at other UK venues.

It was unable to detail any numbers at this stage.

Walkabout in Middlesbrough has been a fixture in the town centre for more than a decade, first opening in 2002.

The nightspot dubs itself the “the home of sport and party in Middlesbrough”.

“Eat ‘til you pop, dance ‘til you drop.

“Watch your favourite team, or relax with a cold one…

“It’s all here waiting for you and your mates,” says the website.

It’s the second major Middlesbrough nightspot to shut within weeks, The Crown on Linthorpe Road suddenly shutting on Jan 3.

Read YOUR memories of The Crown here and here's 44 of Teesside's favourite drinking spots of the past

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Watch: Take a look inside the revamped Saltburn Pier amusement arcade

A seafront amusement arcade which was wrecked by flood waters more than a year ago is finally set to re-open this month.

Saltburn Entertainments on Saltburn Pier has been closed since December 2013 after sea water burst through the floor and flooded the building.

Redcar and Cleveland Council received a £76,855 insurance payout to repair the damage caused to the pier structure and Grant Seldon said his refurbishment costs were hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Now, after months of reconstruction, the owner of Saltburn Entertainments says he’s hoping to in time for the school half-term holidays.

It comes after he was originally planning to re-open this weekend.

“I’m not getting much sleep at the moment," Mr Seldon said.

“We had to wait for the council to finish their work on the structure. It’s all been done properly and it’s a lot stronger than it used to be.

VIEW GALLERY

“We were able to get in in October and we’re just about ready now.”

Mr Seldon invested more than £250,000 in the Saltburn Pier arcade after he took it over in February 2011.

He now wants the council to do more to protect the attraction from the elements.

“Saltburn is quite susceptible because it’s north facing.

"The water had nowhere to go so it came up at the weakest point, which was the floor in the middle of the building.

VIEW GALLERY

“Going forward we’re going to push for a deflection system underneath to protect the building in future.

“Without the pier or the lifts, Saltburn wouldn’t be Saltburn. It has to be protected. We’re going to approach the council first.

“I’m sure people will agree - we’ve had a lot of support so far. It could last another 50 or 100 years.”

Mr Seldon, who also runs Seldon Leisure World in Seaburn, told Gazette readers they can look forward to amusements on Saltburn Pier for many years to come.

He said: “We know arcades. It’s such a good site, right on the pier. It’s a cracking little spot.

“There was never any doubt that we would be reopening. We just want to get it open as soon as we can.

“It’ll still be work in progress for the next few weeks, but we’re looking forward to having the arcade up and running.”

Mr Seldon hopes that the amusements will be open before school children break up for half-term on Friday February 13.

Middlesbrough trio accused of drugs conspiracy make crown court appearance

Three men accused of conspiring to supply cocaine have made another appearance at Teesside Crown Court.

Andrew John Pickering, Craig Moloney and William Joseph Moloney are all charged with conspiring to supply the Class A drug in September and October last year.

None of the Middlesbrough men, who appeared in court via video link to Holme House Prison today, has yet entered a plea to the charge.

A trial is scheduled to start on April 20 and is expected to last about two weeks.

Pickering, 44, of Nunthorpe Gardens, Nunthorpe; William Moloney, 51, and Craig Moloney, 30, both of Cromer Street, Longlands, are expected to appear for a plea and case management hearing on March 27.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, remanded the three in custody.

A fourth man, 39-year-old Jason Singleton, of Maun Close, Retford, Nottinghamshire, did not appear in court, by arrangement.

He is also charged with the conspiracy and with possessing a Class B drug, amphetamine, with intent to supply on October 29.

Middlesbrough residents: Find out here if pavements near your home are to be repaired

Road Name	Location Detail	Treatment	Cost	Cumulative Cost
ADCOTT ROAD	Adcott Road - Number 20 to side of 36 Hall Drive (both sides)	Repair Flagged Footway	£34,987	£34,987
AMERSHAM ROAD	Amersham Road Footpath - Chantry Close to School Entrance	Replace Flagged Footway with Tarmacadam	£16,781	£51,768
BAILEY GROVE	Bailey Grove - Fronting Numbers 2-10, 22-24, & 26 (mainly deformation)	Repair Flagged Footway	£4,586	£56,354
BORROWDALE	Borrowdale - Full Length Both Sides	Reconstruct Flagged Footway	£41,703	£98,057
BRIGHAM ROAD	Brigham Road - Side of 25 to Side 18 Brogden Green Drive Accesses Only (do with pa3735 Crossfell to Brogden)	Replace Flagged Footway with Tarmacadam	£11,486	£109,543
CEDER ROAD	Cedar Road - Number 16 to 22 including fork to Pinewood	Resurface Tarmacadam	£5,698	£115,241
CHADWELL AVENUE	Chadwell Avenue - Around Turning Head	Replace Flagged Footway with Tarmacadam	£3,697	£118,938
CHARD WALK	Chard Walk - Number 1 to Chantry Close (paths to school entrance)	Replace Flagged Footway with Tarmacadam	£9,293	£128,231
CHURCH LANE ACKLAM	Church Lane, Acklam - 28 to 40	Replace Flagged Footway with Tarmacadam	£8,520	£136,751
CLOVERWOOD	Cloverwood see plan	Resurface Tarmacadam	£7,155	£143,906
COPNOR WALK/ COPLEY WALK	Copnor Walk to Copley Walk - Across Grassed Area	Replace Flagged Footway with Tarmacadam	£9,043	£152,949
CORONATION GREEN	Coronation Green - o/s 21 to Side of 18 Pritchett Road	Resurface Tarmacadam	£13,665	£166,614
CRANMORE ROAD	Cranmore Road - 21 to Junction with Appleby Avenue	Repair Flagged Footway with Strong Flags	£9,952	£176,566
CRANMORE ROAD	Cranmore Road - At Layby O/S 36-38 Bellamy Court	Repair Flagged Footway with Strong Flags	£3,501	£180,067
CRANMORE ROAD	Cranmore Road - From Ormesby Road to End of Cemetery - Back Course Flags (Cem Side Only)	Repair Flagged Footway	£22,223	£202,290
CORSSFELL ROAD/ BROGDEN GREEN	From Crossfell Road to Number 18 Brogden Green (do with PA2552 Brigham Rd)	Reconstruct Flagged Footway & Wooden Style Knee Railing & Bollards	£13,208	£215,498
CURTHWAITE	Curthwaite Main FPs	Deep Resurface Tarmacadam	£25,405	£240,903
CYPRESS BECK	Cypress Beck - Rear 145 Birchwood Road to Bus Stop on Cypress Road	Resurface Tarmacadam	£6,651	£247,554
CYPRESS ROAD	Cypress Road - Hazel Grove to Bus Stop	Resurface Tarmacadam	£4,406	£251,960
CYPRESS ROAD	Cypress Road - Cedar Rd to 13 Pinewood	Resurface Tarmacadam	£8,192	£260,152
CYPRESS ROAD	Cypress Road - Side of 1 Maidstone Drive to rear 68 Sandling Crt	Resurface Tarmacadam	£6,406	£266,558
DARNTON DRIVE	Darnton Drive - (Odds Side) Chippenham Rd to Elland Ave	Replace Flagged Footway with Tarmacadam	£17,067	£283,625
DOCKSIDE ROAD	Dockside Road - Works Rd Roundabout to Entrance to Prosser & Co Ltd	Resurface Tarmacadam	£5,131	£288,756
DUNWHOLM AVENUE	Dunholm Avenue/ Fulbeck Rd - Side 24&26 to Rear 16&34 Fulbeck Rd, & Rear 9-18 Dunholm Ave (at Parking/Access Roads)	Repair Flagged Footway	£17,357	£306,113
ELLERBY GREEN	Ellerby Green Kerbs/ Verge From 7 to 9 Around Bend in Road	Repair Kerbs & Install a Tarmacadam Strip to Verge Edge for Hard Standing	£2,755	£308,868
ELLESMERE WALK	Ellesmere Walk - Cargo Fleet Lane to First Ped Barriers Side of 17 Edridge Grn (elevated fp)	Reconstruct Flagged Footway with Tarmacadam	£3,823	£312,691
ESCOMBE AVENUE	Escombe Avenue	Replace Flagged Footway with Tarmacadam	£6,840	£319,531
FARRINGDON DRIVE	Farrington Drive	Resurface Tarmacadam	£32,489	£352,020
FELBY AVENUE	Felby Avenue	Repair Flagged Footway	£8,120	£360,140
FULBECK ROAD	Fulbeck Road - Rears 135 to 138	Replace Flagged Footway with Tarmacadam	£1,301	£361,441
GLEASTON CRESCENT	Gleaston Crescent - Sunningdale Rd to Car Layby (side of bungalows)	Repair Flagged Footway	£4,669	£366,110
GREENWOOD AVENUE	Greenwood Avenue	Repair Flagged Footway with Strong Flags	£19,784	£385,894
GREY TOWERS DRIVE	Grey Towers Drive - Diagonal FP Accross Green/ Tree Area Opposite Number 50 to 60	Reconstruct Tarmacadam	£9,187	£395,081
GYPSY LANE	Gypsy Lane 50-62 Hazel Grove	Resurface Tarmacadam	£12,535	£407,616
HAZEL GROVE	Hazel Grove - rear of 1 to 5 and Number 2 Opposite	Resurface Tarmacadam	£2,734	£410,350
HILDERTHORPE	Hilderthorpe - Phase 1 Evens Side	Resurface Tarmacadam	£21,561	£431,911
HOMERTON ROAD	Homerton Road - Pallister Park Primary School - From Hadlow Walk to School Crossing/ Entrance	Replace Flagged Footway with Tarmacadam	£11,411	£443,322
KELFIELD AVENUE	Kelfield Avenue - Side of 15 & 17	Resurface Tarmacadam	£5,212	£448,534
KENILWORTH AVENUE	Kenilworth Avenue at Turning Head & School Entrance	Replace Flagged Parts of Footway with Tarmacadam & Resurface Existing Tarmacadam, & Install Knee Rail	£6,238	£454,772
KINVER CLOSE	Kinver Close - Junc with Skelwith Road (both sides) kerbs	Repair Kerbs	£2,199	£456,971
LUDFORD AVENUE	Ludford Avenue	Repair Flagged Footway	£2,000	£458,971
MACBEAN/ THORNTON STREET	Macbean/ Thornton St Un-named Section -rear of council depot	Reconstruct Tarmacadam	£20,876	£479,847
MAIDSTONE DRICE	Maidstone Drive - S/O number 15 Link to Sandling Court	Deep Resurface Tarmacadam	£2,757	£482,604
MARGROVE WALK	Margrove Walk 1-6	Resurface Tarmacadam	£2,296	£484,900
MARTON ROAD	Marton Road - Small Section Near Plaza Skate Park Bus Stop (opposite 649)	Reconstruct Tarmacadam	£2,465	£487,365
MERLIN ROAD/ KESTRAL AVENUE	Merlin Road/ Kestrel Avenue - 30 Kestrel Ave to 8 Merlin Rd	Reconstruct in Concrete & New Kerbline	£7,020	£494,385
MOSMAN TERRACE	Mosman Terrace - Flagged Section Near School Entrance to Side 1 Cadogan St Only	Repair Flagged Footway with Strong Flags	£4,477	£498,862
NETLEY GROVE	Netley Grove - remote fp Side of Number 18	Replace Flagged Footway with Tarmacadam	£7,163	£506,025
NEWLYN GREEN	Newlyn Green - Flexible Section o/s 20	Overlay Tarmacadam Surface	£300	£506,325
NEWPORT ROAD	Newport Road Anti- Ped RB to Squash Club Turning Near 392	Install New Anti -Pedestrian Paving to Grass Verge	£5,202	£511,527
ORMSTON AVENUE	Ormston Avenue	Repair Flagged Footway	£15,438	£526,965
PENRITH ROAD	Penrith Road Link Through to Ormesby Road (Unadopted but consider under duty of care) fp Side of Playing Fields	Resurface Tarmacadam	£6,145	£533,110
RAVENDALE ROAD	Ravendale Road - Rear 25 to 33 Opposite Housing Along Field Edge	Repair Flagged Footway	£2,328	£535,438
SILVERDALE	Silverdale	Resurface Tarmacadam	£22,460	£557,898
SOUTH BANK ROAD	South Bank Road - side of Jennings/ Mazda Garage CFL to Turning/ Junc	Reconstruct Tarmacadam	£16,066	£573,964
SPENCER BECK WATERWAY	Spencer Beck Waterway - Central Section 117m from Sotherby Rd to 213m (unadopted corporate land)	Reconstruct Tarmacadam	£14,020	£587,984
SPENCER BECK WATERWAY	Spencer Beck Waterway - Sotherby Road to 117m (unadopted corporate land)	Resurface Tarmacadam	£5,318	£593,302
STAINTON STREET	Stainton Street - Side of 7 Henry Street (kerbs & drop peds)	Repair Kerbs	£1,837	£595,139
STAINTON WAY	Stainton Way - Cookgate/Mallowdale to Brunton Arms Crossing	Resurface Tarmacadam	£28,509	£623,648
STAINTON WAY	Stainton Way - FP Link to Kennthorpe	Overlay Tarmacadam Surface	£1,000	£624,648
TANHILL WALK	Tanhill Walk - Section Between Ped Barriers Nos 9-15	Replace Flagged Footway with Tarmacadam	£5,022	£629,670
TATHAM CLOSE	Tatham Close	Resurface Tarmacadam & Install Drive Crossings	£17,293	£646,963
TIRRIL WAY	Tirril Way	Resurface Tarmacadam	£30,675	£677,638
TOLLESBY ROAD	Tollesby Road - Glenfield Dr to Glendale Rd	Repair Flagged Footway	£17,605	£695,243
WESTWOOD AVENUE NUNTHORPE	Westwood Avenue, Nunthorpe Main Dense Asphalt Sections (both sides)	Reconstruct Tarmacadam	£22,350	£717,593
WHINFELL CLOSE	Whinfell Close throught	Resurface Tarmacadam	£24,746	£742,339
WINDLESTON DRIVE/ ORMESBY BECK	Windleston Drive/ Ormesby Beck - Side of Number 47 Windleston Drive to Ormesby Beck	Replace Flagged Footway with Tarmacadam on Repaired Foundations	£16,315	£758,654

Is YOUR road in Middlesbrough going to be repaired in 2015/16? Find out here!

Road Name	Location Detail	Treatment	Cost	Cumulative Cost
A66	A66	Resurface	£55,000	£55,000
A66 HARTINGTON INTERCHANGE	A66 Middlesbrough Bypass - Elevated Sections of Entry & Exit Slip Roads to Hartington Interchange	Resurface	£112,000	£167,000
A66 MARTON ROAD INTERCHANGE	A66 Middlesbrough Bypass - Entry & Exit Slip Roads to Marton Road Interchange	Resurface	£65,000	£232,000
ADMIRALS AVENUE	Admirals Avenue - Rear Area to 263-275 Cargo Fleet Shops	Cleanout & Reseal Road Joints & Cracks	£1,344	£233,344
BAILEY GROVE	Bailey Grove - at Junction with Ormesby Road	Resurface & Overlay Surface	£3,478	£236,822
BALMORAL ROAD	Balmoral Road - Norfolk Crescent to Pritchett Road	Overlay Surface	£11,209	£248,031
BIRKHALL ROAD	Birkhall Road - Outside Number 36 Patch 5.2m x 3.5m	Patch Concrete Road	£680	£248,711
BOURTON COURT	Bourton Court	Overlay Surface	£14,464	£263,175
BRAMWITH AVENUE	Bramwith Avenue	Overlay Surface	£7,207	£270,382
BRIGHAM ROAD	Main Carriageway 15m Outside Number 6 and small area at Junc Brogden Green, & Kerbline Along Open Grassland	Reconstruct Concrete, & Reconstruct Kerbline & Install Tarmacadam Strip to Edge of Kerb	£19,656	£290,038
CARGO FLEET LANE	Cargo Fleet Lane - From Longlands Road to The Greenway	Road Joint Treatment	£50,000	£340,038
CARGO FLEET LANE INTERCHANGE	Cargo Fleet Lane - Nrth & Sth Lanes CFL Interchange to Mini RB Junc South Bank Rd	Overlay Surface	£40,033	£380,071
COLLEGE ROAD	College Road 75-81	Deep Resurface & Part Reconstruct Small Section	£18,000	£398,071
COLMORE AVENUE	Colmore Avenue concrete bay o/s numbers 3-5	Reconstruct Part of Concrete Road	£9,114	£407,185
CORNFORTH AVENUE	Cornforth Avenue	Overlay Resurface	£7,027	£414,212
DOCKSIDE ROAD	Dockside Road - Works Rd Roundabout to Council Boundary	Overlay Resurface	£122,706	£536,918
DOWNHAM AVENUE	Downham Avenue	Resurface	£12,158	£549,076
DUNMOW AVENUE	Dunmow Avenue	Overlay Resurface	£3,128	£552,204
ELLERBY GREEN	Ellerby Green - Slab at Side of 8 Bransdale Rd to Number 2 Ellerby	Patch Small Section	£1,104	£553,308
EVESHAM ROAD	Evesham Road - Ormesby Road (north) to Ettington Avenue	Resurface	£37,371	£590,679
FULBECK ROAD REAR ACCESS AREAS	Rear Access Areas Between 113 - 115, 127 -129, & 191 - 193 (Accessed Off Main Road)	Resurface	£44,335	£635,014
FULBECK ROAD MAIN CARRIAGEWAY	Fulbeck Road Phase 1 - Pennyman Primary School Crossing to Number 113 Junction	Resurface	£54,244	£689,258
GEDNEY AVENUE	Gedney Avenue	Resurface	£6,727	£695,985
HENRY STREET	Henry St	Resurface	£20,178	£716,163
KEXHAM GREEN/ MARHAM CLOSE	Hexham Green/ Marham Close - Part Turning Head Rear 1 Hexham Grn, & Rear 13 to 25 Hexham Grn	Patch Road & Repair Road Joints	£4,613	£720,776
HOVINGHAM STREET	Hovingham Street	Resurface	£10,059	£730,835
HUNLEY CLOSE/ PENISTONE ROAD	Huntley Close/ Penistone Rd - Off Main CW From 130 Peniston to Huntley Close (side of Park End Pub)	Resurface	£7,012	£737,847
JUBILEE STREET NORTH	Jubilee Street (North)	Deep Resurface	£19,133	£756,980
KELFIELD AVENUE	Kelfield Avenue - Junction With Kimberley Drive Only	Overlay Surface at Junction	£1,000	£757,980
KINDERSLEY STREET	Kindersley Street	Resurface	£13,918	£771,898
LADGTE LANE	Ladgate Lane - Ormesby Hall Entrance to Ormesby High Street	Resurface	£150,000	£921,898
METZ BRIDGE ROAD	Metz Bridge Road - Works Yard Entrance (is adopted)	Reconstruct	£16,170	£938,068
NETHERBY GREEN	Netherby Green - at Junction with Penistone Road	Resurface Junction	£2,633	£940,701
NETLEY GROVE	Netley Grove - Side of Number 7 to Side of Number 8	Patch Concrete Road	£1,938	£942,639
NORCLIFFE STREET	Norcliffe Street - Deacon St to Road End Numbers 1 to 61	Resurface	£18,533	£961,172
OAKFIELD ROAD	Oakfield Road - Westbourne Grove to Road End	Resurface All of Road & Improve Drainage to Part	£29,472	£990,644
ORPINGTON ROAD	Orpington Road - O/S 19-21 8m Patch	Patch Small Section	£1,815	£992,459
PARK AVENUE NORTH	Park Avenue North - Junction with Cargo Fleet Lane Only	Resurface	£2,800	£995,259
PENISTONE ROAD	Penistone Road - Access Road to Rear of Park End Pub & Pastoral Centre	Resurface	£14,443	£1,009,702
PENRITH ROAD	Main Road Surface From Langley Court to Ladgate Grange, & Speed Humps & Table From Ladgate Grange to Crossfell Road	Resurface & Renew Traffic Calming	£41,852	£1,051,554
RICHMOND STREET	Richmond St Snowdon Rd to dead end	Resurface	£32,233	£1,083,787
RIVERSIDE PARK ACCESS PHASE 1	Riverside Park Access Phase 1 - Metz Bridge Junction & Metz Bridge Rd to Romaldkirk Junction	Resurface	£58,362	£1,142,149
RIVERSIDE PARK ROAD	Riverside Park Road Holwick Road to new RAB	Overlay Surface	£7,736	£1,149,885
RIVERSIDE PARK TRAVELLER SITE	Riverside Park Rd - Traveller Site Adopted Entrance	Resurface	£2,609	£1,152,494
ROUNTON GREEN	Rounton Green - Turning Head	Reconstruct Concrete Road at Turning Head	£11,943	£1,164,437
SADBERGE STREET	Sadberge Street	Resurface	£11,520	£1,175,957
SAWTRY ROAD/ REVESBY ROAD	Sawtry Road/ Revesby Road	Overlay Surface	£14,465	£1,190,422
SNOWDON ROAD	Snowdon Road - Richmond Street to West Street	Resurface	£30,218	£1,220,640
SOTHERBY ROAD	Sotherby Road - HRA access to HSS Hire Company	Resurface	£1,456	£1,222,096
SOUTH BANK ROAD	South Bank Road - Telford Road to Cargo Fleet Lane	Resurface	£117,037	£1,339,133
SOUTH VIEW TERRACE	South View Terrace - Tunstall St to Norcliffe St	Resurface	£9,061	£1,348,194
STOCKTON ROAD	From Boundary with Stockton on Tees to West Lane	Resurface	£267,588	£1,615,782
STOCKWITH CLOSE	Stockwith Close - Side & Rear of Number 1 to Rear Access & Parking Area	Overlay Surface	£3,938	£1,619,720
THORNTON STREET ALLEY	Thornton Street Rear Alley of 33 to 67	Overlay Surface and Reconstruct One Small Area	£15,488	£1,635,208
WOBURN GROVE	Woburn Grove	Resurface	£10,016	£1,645,224
WORKS ROAD	Works Road - A66 Interchange to Dockside Road	Deep Resurface	£86,678	£1,731,902

£10m plan to improve Middlesbrough roads after transport chiefs admit 'years of under-investment'

Find out HERE if any roads near you are to be repaired

Plans have emerged to spend millions on improving Middlesbrough's roads - after council bosses admitted they have suffered “many years” of under-investment.

Middlesbrough Council has set out near-£10m proposals to improve and repair roads, footpaths and verges across large swathes of the town over the next three years as part of a major new strategy.

Pothole-hit motorists are set to benefit from an extensive road resurfacing programme planned for scores of roads by next April.

Roads chiefs say they plan to switch from a current “piecemeal sticking-plaster approach” to a “prevention is better than cure” strategy.

It is hoped the move will save the council money in the long-run, including by cutting insurance claims linked to potholes and damaged pavements.

Damage to road and pavement surfaces around Middlesbrough

Derek Gittins, Highways and Transportation manager, said: “Roads, footways and verges have particularly suffered due to many years of under-investment and a lack of application of asset management principles.

“Poor road condition has significant impacts on the local economy, the number and severity of road casualties, increased fuel consumption and emissions, congestion and travel time and public perception

“Strategic investment in the highway network using the principles of ‘prevention is better than cure provides many advantages over the piecemeal reactive ‘pothole filling’ sticking plaster approach.”

A report by Mr Gittins said the council is planning to spend £3.1m in 2015/16, and £3.7m and £2.9m in the subsequent two financial years.

He added that some cash usually used for road safety, cutting congestion and promoting walking and cycling would be diverted to fund the roads and paths upgrades.

The authority has traditionally focused on repairing the most badly damaged roads first but may now move to focusing on specific geographic areas in turn.

But they say the impact of severe weather will also be considered.

How the money will be spent

A total of £3.79m for this financial year from the Local Transport Grant and capital programme would be divided into:

:: Carriageway maintenance works - £1.7m;

:: Footway maintenance works - £750,000;

:: Verge maintenance works - £420,000;

:: Traffic flow improvement works - £220,000;

:: Walking and cycling improvements - £210,000;

:: Road safety and traffic management - £178,000;

:: Contingency fund - £80,000.

It is proposed that the investment in verge works would clear 90% of the backlog of verges needing more urgent attention.

The traffic flow improvements include local widening and junction remodelling works proposed at Cranmore Road/Cargo Fleet Lane to remove delays caused by queuing right-turning traffic in the teatime rush hour.

Traffic lights at Longlands Road/Cargo Fleet Lane have been recommended to be renewed and upgraded.

A report on the proposal will be to be presented to the local authority’s executive member for regeneration Cllr Charlie Rooney on Monday.

Here's what residents have had to say about the plan.

Find out HERE if any roads near you are to be repaired

Find out HERE if any pavements near you are to be repaired

Are the potholes bad on your street? Send your photos to pictures@eveninggazette.co.uk

Judge tells woman who punched, kicked and headbutted friend in Stockton street: 'Today is your lucky day'

A woman who punched, kicked and headbutted her friend in the street has avoided jail on a technicality.

“Today is your lucky day,” Teesside’s top judge told Debra Ditchburn as he gave her a suspended prison sentence.

Ditchburn, 29, accused a woman she had known for 20 years of making a foul-mouthed comment about her boyfriend.

Then Ditchburn headbutted her, punched her twice and headbutted her again on Arlington Street, central Stockton.

Prosecutor Sue Jacobs said the victim was in “total shock and pain” as she bent over covering her bleeding face.

Her partner said “get off her” and she said “Debbie you’ve got yourself a charge there” as Ditchburn walked off.

She suffered bumps to her cheek and forehead and a cut lip, Teesside Crown Court heard today.

She later said she could not believe Ditchburn’s actions and wanted her to realise what she had done.

Ditchburn, of Eleanor Place, Stockton, admitted common assault from October 5 last year.

She confessed to police that she kicked the victim. She had previous convictions for assaults.

She was in breach of a 10-month suspended prison sentence imposed for handling stolen goods in September 2013.

But Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, pointed out that offence was committed back in 2012.

He said magistrates should have dealt with it earlier and, if they had, Ditchburn might not have been at risk of prison now.

“So today is in many ways your lucky day,” he told her.

“You committed this very nasty, completely unprovoked attack on your friend.

“And it’s no comfort to me or to the public that when you were seen by the probation officer, you sought to play down what you did.

“What you did was without any good reason. This is from you, who has a history of violence.”

He gave her a three-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months with supervision and six months’ drug rehabilitation.

The judge said she would be back in his court on a monthly basis under the order.

He warned her he would reconsider the sentence if she re-offended, did not comply or failed to make progress.

“I have a very good memory, Miss Ditchburn. Trust me,” he added.

Rachel Dyson, defending, said Ditchburn had not committed a violent offence in a long time before the assault.

She said Ditchburn’s compliance with the previous suspended sentence had not been “top notch” but she went almost a year without committing crime and had a good relationship with her probation officer.

“She is capable of pulling her finger out and getting on with it,” added Miss Dyson.

Banned teenage driver who smoked joint as he fled police at 80mph weeps as he is spared jail

A banned teenage driver who smoked a joint of cannabis as he fled police at 80 miles an hour in 30 zones wept as he was spared jail yesterday.

Andrew Cook, 19, from Stockton had been disqualified last July also for driving under the influence of drugs.

Then last December he was back before Teesside magistrates for driving while disqualified and he was given a suspended prison sentence for 18 weeks.

Fifteen days later he was caught stinking of cannabis fumes after a 17-minute police pursuit at 1am across Stockton and Billingham.

Prosecutor Emma Atkinson said that Cook admitted that he had drunk a can of lager, had six or seven Diazepam tablets and smoked a joint at the wheel of a Ford Focus that became airborne in Station Road, Billingham.

He passed three police vehicles at 80mph, and the leading patrol car discontinued the pursuit before the Focus was found abandoned in Coxwold Crescent, Billingham, with both doors open.

Cook and a passenger were found hiding in bushes nearby.

He had 14 convictions for 30 offences, and it was his second conviction for driving while unfit through drugs which made him liable to a three-year ban.

Miss Atkinson told the judge: “This case does fall into the highest category with evidence of impairment, high speeds and he had a passenger.”

Paul Abrahams, defending, said that Cook had spent a month in custody on remand, his first time behind bars, and he was a very vulnerable person and easily led.

At the time he was in a relationship which led him to have contact with people who were not good for him.

Mr Abrahams added: “He would best benefit from a long period of structured supervision, and he could be given a curfew to keep him in his mother’s home at night.”

The judge Recorder Sarah Mallett told Cook: “They were incredibly high and dangerous speeds to drive on roads like that.

“You admit taking cannabis even when you were driving, which is an incredibly dangerous thing to do.

“I am aware that you had severe difficulties as a child and you suffer from anxiety and depression, and that you would benefit from help that could be given to you under supervision. You have now spent four weeks in custody and I am told and I accept that it has had an impact on you.

“I am going to accede to what has been put forward by defence counsel on your behalf. It is an exceptional course to have to suspend a sentence again, when you have already breached a suspended sentence.”

Cook, of Petch Street, Stockton, was given a 12 months jail sentence suspended for two years with 18 months supervision, a Thinking Skills programme, a three months tagged curfew between 7PM and 7AM, a £100 Victim surcharge and disqualified for three years until he passes an extended test.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on January 6, driving unfit through drugs, driving disqualified and without insurance.

Fracking concerns with Infrastructure Bill

Rules preventing fracking in protected areas have been watered down by the Governement according to campaigners.

Ministers accepted Labour moves to tighten fracking regulations in the Infrastructure Bill by imposing a number of conditions, including banning the process from protected areas such as national parks and groundwater protection zones which feed aquifers.

But campaigners warned the Government's new amendment to the Bill, which is now being considered by the Lords, has weakened the rules by allowing ministers to define what counts as protected groundwater source areas and other protected areas.

The new amendment also removed the rule preventing drilling underneath protected areas, environmentalists said.

Fracking involves drilling vertically deep underground and then horizontally out from the vertical well, before pumping liquid at high pressure into shale rock to fracture it and release gas.

The change means rigs could drill next to and frack under national parks, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the environmentalists claimed.

They also raised concerns over the absence of other conditions put forward by Labour, such as individually notifying residents of fracking applications and scaling back monitoring of methane emissions from the process.

Greenpeace energy campaigner Simon Clydesdale said: "These amendments are a lesson in why you should always read the small-print.

"They water down so many of the safeguards that Labour attempted to put in place against this risky, unproven industry, that the bill isn't worth the paper it's written on.

"For example, a tucked-away clause could open up sensitive water protection areas to fracking by giving the Secretary of State the extraordinary power of picking and choosing which of these areas can be drilled as they see fit.

"Clearly our government cares more about making things as easy as possible for their industry chums than they do about protecting our water supplies and countryside."

He said Labour had warned that the set of conditions they put forward were "all or nothing" and he called on the Opposition to demand a moratorium if the House of Lords backed the new regulations.

Friends of the Earth's energy campaigner Donna Hume said: "The Government has U-turned on its commitment to enforce regulatory conditions that would have introduced common sense measures to protect drinking water from controversial fracking.

"The Government seems determined to make fracking happen whatever the cost and people will be staggered that risky fracking will be allowed in areas that provide one third of our drinking water.

"The Government must follow the lead of Wales, Scotland, France, Bulgaria, the Netherlands and New York State by putting a stop to fracking and instead focus on renewables and cutting energy waste."

But the Government rejected claims it had watered down the measures.

A spokesman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change said: "The Government is returning to the Lords with a package of safeguards which are presented in the clearest possible way.

"We want to give the shale industry the best possible chance of success in the future, so it's important we provide clear reassurance in law that environmental impact assessments, groundwater monitoring and other measures are in place before hydraulic fracturing can occur."

The latest row over the controversial process comes as Lancashire County Council announced it had agreed with shale company Cuadrilla that it would extend the time period for deciding two fracking planning applications to April 30.

Cuadrilla had asked for the decision on the two Lancashire sites to be deferred as it submitted new information on noise and traffic, after planning officers recommended the applications be turned down on those grounds.

Man who started taking drugs aged nine left father homeless after setting fire to Eston flat

A man who torched his father’s flat leaving him homeless was jailed for three years today.

John Burns, 38, was put into an induced coma after he set fire to the flat in Eston.

Burns had been taking drugs since he was nine and he had been living with his father in the warden-controlled block in Eston as his registered carer.

VIEW GALLERY

His father John Burns senior suffered from angina, epilepsy and vertigo, and Burns erupted in a drug-crazed frenzy after a row with his girlfriend.

Prosecutor Emma Atkinson told Teesside Crown Court that his father went to a pub in Eston at lunchtime on November 22 and he received a phone call from a friend saying that Burns was smashing the place up.

Burns had barricaded himself into the second floor flat in Cornfield House, Eston, self-harmed by slashing his Achilles tendon, started two fires and threw a TV set and other property through windows down onto police.

The police were unable to get into the flat owned by Coast and Country because of thick smoke, and they evacuated 15 other flats occupied by vulnerable adults before they could finally rescue Burns who was unconscious.

He was put into an induced coma after he suffered smoke inhalation and minor injuries. He was later released from Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital.

Miss Atkinson said that Burns’ father’s flat was virtually gutted and there was very little of his property left, causing £5,499 damage.

His father said in a victim impact statement on December 10: “I have been absolutely devastated that my son has wrecked my flat.

“I have not yet been allowed back into it. I’m led to believe that there is not much left.

“I have no insurance so what is lost is lost for ever. I was homeless and depending on the good nature of friends, and I have had to apply for a crisis loan.

“I don’t believe I can face my son for what he has done and I have not had any contact with him.”

Burns, who had previously taken heroin, cannabis and the designer drug Mkat, had 29 previous convictions for 59 offences including robbery and drug offences.

Jonnie Walker, defending, said that Burns, who had been drug-free for months until an argument with his girlfriend, had intended to harm only himself but he could remember nothing about the incident.

He added: “To his credit he admitted the offence at the earliest opportunity and he offered a heartfelt apology to his dad.

“He recognises that this will be a substantial sentence for the substantial damage and risk to others who were in the area. He was primarily self-destructive and lashing out.”

The judge Recorder Sarah Mallett told him: “You know the problems that drugs can cause.

“I accept that you regret the harm that you caused to your father and to your relationship with him.”

Burns, of Barley Hill Close, Eston, who had been remanded in custody, was jailed for three years after he pleaded guilty to arson being reckless whether lives were endangered and destroying property.

Hemlington Lake dog rescue: Police urge would-be rescuers to think carefully

A warning has been issued about the dangers of open water after a dad risked his life to save a drowning dog.

Cleveland Police has urged people not get into lakes, rivers or any other open water - “particularly in the current cold temperatures”.

It comes as Boro legend - and animal lover - Bernie Slaven invites Paul Dorsey to be his guest at a match following the dad-of-three's heroics.

Bernie Slaven at the Riverside Stadium

Paul had to smash through the ice on frozen Hemlington Lake to rescue a small dog which had chased after ducks.

The 34-year-old said the dog's owner, a young women, was about to go after her dog but he stepped in her place.

“The dog owner was a young woman and she was franatic with worry and was about to get in herself, I just thought it would be better if I went,” he added.

The Tesco worker from Hemlington added it was “absolutely freezing” after spending “what felt like forever” in the icy water.

Paul Dorsey's arms after the rescue

Luckily, both Mr Dorsey and the dog, got out of the water safely.

“We would not encourage members of the public to get into lakes, rivers or any other open water, particularly in the current cold temperatures,” said a Cleveland Police spokeswoman today.

“Water which looks still or calm can be very dangerous and it can take just a matter of minutes for hypothermia to set in or for people to get into extreme difficulty.

"The water can be deceptive and ice can be extremely thin.”

Linda Boyle

Hemlington Lake

Five years ago, Stockton man John Butterfield died after falling through ice while trying to rescue his two Staffordshire Bull Terriers from the River Tees.

Mr Dorsey was walking his boxer dog, Buster, with his wife Sarah yesterday morning when the drama happened.

“I was freezing,” he added. “I can’t really remember a lot of what happened.

"But I did what anyone would have done, I think. I couldn’t have let that woman go in.

“I really hope the dog is OK and I want to thank everyone who came over to help me.”

Were you the owner of the dog? Contact us on 01642 234255 or email news@eveninggazette.co.uk