Latest news with #CountyDurham
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Durham Police objection sees Raven Court children's home refused
Plans to convert a house into a children's home have been turned down amid objections from residents and County Council's planning committee rejected proposals for a home for three children on Raven Court in Shildon, County Police had objected, saying the location was unsuitable, while residents said its proximity to a nature reserve posed a risk to the children and put pressure on Taylor, from applicants The Family Tree Group, said it would have given youngsters the chance to "grow up in a home, not a facility". The property backs onto Middridge Vale, which itself backs on to a large nature reserve that is in some parts covered by dense woodland, which police advised posed a "great risk" to children who went missing from force also said there was a higher level of crime and anti-social behaviour in the area and so thought the location of the property was "not suitable for looked-after children". Letters of objection Residents said there had been heightened anxiety for the wellbeing of the area since the application was submitted, the Local Democracy Reporting Service Craddock, a single mother-of-two, said: "The proximity of this house to the nature reserve is a risk to all the children in the home and puts massive pressure on police services."We are not unreasonable people, it just doesn't work."In total, 117 letters of objection were Mr Taylor disputed the concerns, saying the facility would have been supported by trained carers 24/7."The police are stereotyping the children as criminals but they are victims," he members praised the applicant's intentions to support vulnerable children but said the police force's concerns were too serious to Elizabeth Pears said: "We are not working on the assumption that all of these children are going to be trouble. "But what has concerned me is the fact that the police believe that these children will not be safe there."That is the main reason that I'm not happy with it." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
12 hours ago
- BBC News
Convicted Stanley paedophile jailed for abusing girl
A convicted paedophile who went on to abuse a girl has been jailed for seven Mcaninley, 56, had a history of downloading and sharing images of child sex abuse when he groped a girl under the age of 13, Teesside Crown Court victim's mother said she had seen her "beautiful, carefree daughter turn into a lost child" because of Mcaninley's of Gainsborough Road in Stanley, County Durham, had denied wrongdoing but was found guilty of sexual assaulting a child by jurors. He had admitted breaching a sexual harm prevention order imposed indefinitely in 2017 for the indecent images offences. As part of the order, he had to register any internet-enabled devices and bank accounts with police but failed to tell them about 10 such devices, the court a statement read to the court, the victim's mother said her daughter had endured severe mental health problems since the abuse and Mcaninley was "unsafe" to be around Andrew Haslam KC said Mcaninley was a predator who had a deeply entrenched sexual attraction to judge said Mcaninley posed a "high risk of serious sexual and emotional harm to children".Mcaninley will have to serve a further three years on extended licence and sign the sex offenders register for life.A new sexual harm prevention order was also made. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
28 Years Later 'an opportunity for North East actors'
A supermarket worker chosen to portray one of Danny Boyle's "Infected" in 28 Years Later said she hopes the film, shot mainly in north-east England, will lead to more opportunities for local Fulguzi, from Gosforth in Newcastle, was stacking shelves in Asda when she got the message she had been chosen to appear in the third instalment of the popular movie described the whole production had been "really exciting", but admitted the make-up made her "terrified" of some of the people she was working than 80% of the film has been filmed at North East locations including Holy Island, Hexham and Waskerley in County Durham. Ms Fulguzi - who plays one of the victims of the lab-leaked Rage Virus which was last shown reaching Europe at the end of Juan Carlos Fresnadillo's 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later – found the role while working her day job at Asda."But I couldn't tell anyone," she said. "I just had to carry on my shift as normal."The extras were all trained in how to move and speak as an "infected", Ms Fulguzi said, while the make-up she wore for the role rendered her "completely unrecognisable".North East Screen official Gayle Woodruffe said the movie highlighted the North East as a versatile place to film."You can be in a city centre, 20 minutes later you're on a beach, 20 minutes later you're in a castle, countryside all that," she well as attracting future projects, Ms Woodruffe hoped the film would lead to a boom in tourism as people seek out 28 Years Later Fulguzi also looked to the future, adding: "Hopefully the film leads to more opportunities for North East actors." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Durham Reform UK councillors reviewing net zero commitments
Durham's Reform UK councillors are reviewing current council net zero policies before making any decisions about their election campaigning, the party told voters it would scrap net zero and energy levies to save households hundreds of pounds per opposition councillor asked the new administration at a recent meeting whether it would continue the previously agreed council ambition to reduce its carbon Karen Allison said efficiencies and savings had been identified and it was also requesting the council "consider the creation of mining production, transportation, and disposal at end of life of renewable technologies". Mark Wilkes, former climate change cabinet member and Liberal Democrat councillor, praised the work of the local authority's low carbon said: "Can cabinet confirm that it is committed to continuing the amazing work of the low carbon team in cutting emissions and improving the environment across County Durham and saving millions of pounds for this council, and indeed doing so much more?"Allison, portfolio holder for neighbourhoods and environment, explained the new administration wished to make an informed decision so it had "an accurate picture" of how successful the work had been."We are currently reviewing the claims of carbon reduction within County Durham, while requesting council consider the creation of mining production, transportation, and disposal at end of life of renewable technologies," she said the party was hoping to announce a decision soon, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS)."We take the environment seriously and are already discussing projects that include forestation, protecting wildlife, and biodiversity, and also how renewable energy technology may impact our local environment, which often gets overlooked," she zero means no longer adding to the total amount of greenhouse gases in the year, the council - which was ran by a coalition - won an environmental award after cutting its annual carbon footprint by 50,000 tonnes over 15 years. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Dragons' Den star Sara Davies reveals her drastic rule for children who come to her home for play dates
On hit BBC show Dragons' Den, her empathetic approach to dealing with entrepreneurs has earned her a reputation as 'the nicest dragon'. However, at her Teesside home, some things are non-negotiable for Sara Davies. The tycoon, 41, has revealed that she confiscates the mobile phones of her children's friends when they come round for play dates. 'I have a box at the front door so when they come to my house, they put their phones and iPads in the box and it stays in my bedroom,' reveals the TV investor, who has two sons, Oliver, 11, and Charlie, eight, with her husband, Simon Davies. 'I like to be the fun mam where the other kids come around and I get pizzas, [but] I've seen it where the kids come and have phones and iPads and one of them will withdraw and sit on their iPad,' explains Sara, adding: 'I say, 'If you need to ring your mam later or anything like that, you can come and ask me.'' The County Durham-born businesswoman, currently taking a break from the BBC investment series after six years in the den, is the founder of craft supply company Crafter's Companion, which is estimated to be worth £37million. 'No one complains. They're outside playing football, they merge so much better - and they communicate,' Sara says of her regime, though she proceeds with caution. 'I don't want the other parents to think that I'm judging them because they've let their kid [have a smartphone]... I'm too nervous to say anything about it in the school WhatsApp group.'' Sara is not the only prominent mother opposed to children having smartphones: Peep Show star Sophie Winkleman continues to lobby the Government to ban them for under-16s. Sophie, the wife of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent's son Lord Frederick Windsor, says it's 'impossible' to protect children from the risks of smart phone, such as eyesight damage, sextortion and exposure to violent content. 'I tell the kids, 'tell your mam that you don't have your phone at my house but if she needs you she can ring me,' Sara adds. The Dragon makes clear: 'Don't ask, don't judge, but my house, my rules.' Rita scalded by industry misogyny Pop star Rita Ora, who shot to fame aged 18 when she signed to US rapper Jay-Z's record label Roc Nation, has spoken out about the 'gross' misogyny she's suffered at the hands of unnamed record label bosses. 'They have this power that makes us want to impress them so we can get a record deal,' the Londoner, 34, says. 'There have been moments where they've overused their power and shown off to me in meetings [Start opt cut]in my earlier years[End opt cut].' Ora, who is married to New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi, 49, recalls one incident with a male executive. 'I walked in, I was 16, and he listened to my music for, like, two seconds, turned it off and threw his credit card and said, 'Go get inspired' – basically, go buy some CDs.' She adds: 'I just felt so gross and upset because you don't have to do that to a kid. 'You can simply say, 'you need to work more and little bit harder and come back when you've got something else.' Gallagher rolls with top hat at Ascot Liam Gallagher has admitted that he wears his beloved parka coat even while gardening. But the Oasis star's son is cut from a different cloth. Lennon Gallagher, 25, wore a morning suit and top hat at Royal Ascot, pictured left. He was joined by his girlfriend, the model Isobel Richmond, 22, who wore a pink dress by Self-Portrait. Aspiring singer Lennon, whose mother is Liam's first wife Patsy Kensit, has been dating Kentucky-born Isobel for three years, but she says it wasn't love at first sight. 'Lennon and I didn't gel when we first met,' Isobel says. 'I talk a lot when I'm nervous and he' opposite.' Marina's health scare after baby Fly-fishing guide Marina Gibson's joy at giving birth to her first child earlier this year turned to alarm after she had to return to hospital for surgery. Marina, 34, who has made fly-fishing fashionable and is said to have inspired Sir David Beckham to take it up, reveals: 'At my first scan, they discovered a 10cm ovarian cyst. By the time they operated, it was an epic 16cm. 'They had to remove the ovary along with the cyst. Thankfully the other ovary is healthy.' Beyonce and Jay-Z 'make a secret visit to Oxfordshire' The Cotswolds may soon have another famous resident. In April, I revealed that Beyonce was interested in buying a home in the area. Now, the Texan-born pop superstar and her husband, the rapper Jay-Z, have made a secret visit to Oxfordshire. 'In the past week, Beyonce and Jay-Z flew via helicopter between her London gigs to view a 58-acre plot of land,' a source tells the Oxford Mail. Sunak's £53,000 hourly rate Married to a billionaire's daughter, he scarcely needs the money, but Rishi Sunak is coining it in nevertheless. I hear that the former prime minister pocketed almost £350,000 for two talks he gave on the speakers' circuit. Sunak, 45, was paid £156,435 by Makena Capital, a US investment fund, and £188,476 by Korean firm ChosunMedia, for talks undertaken last month. This takes his reported earnings from speaking engagements to just over £505,000. Rishi declared his latest takings in an update to the Register of Members' Financial Interests. It comes after he disclosed a fee of £160,750 from US firm Bain Capital on the register in April. His hourly rate across 9.5 hours for the three talks comes in at more than £53,000. Mia Threapleton's 'nepo baby' push back is undermined Mia Threapleton's insistence that she is no 'nepo baby' has been undermined by the director of her latest film. Wes Anderson reveals that he cast her in The Phoenician Scheme after he identified Mia's mother, Kate Winslet, taking part in her audition tape – even though the Oscar winner tried to hide her identity. 'I realised it was Kate doing a cockney accent and pretending to be a casting director,' he says. 'I thought: 'I bet they worked on the scene together, and she's been directed by Kate Winslet.' '
