A warm welcome to our new readers. It’s great that so many of you have signed up since we launched The Source three weeks ago.
Let me briefly explain what to expect.
The Source is a new online newspaper for the region. Independent, politically neutral but North East biased. It’s at the fledgling stage but will grow with the support of more people like you. It will be sent to you every Monday and Friday at 6am.
Eyes & Ears is my curated round-up of what’s been happening in the region in the past week - a one-stop shop for busy people who want to know what’s going on but don’t always have the time to watch the news, read the papers or log on to a news website.
I read everything so you don’t have to.
It has been published on Substack every Friday morning for the best part of two years. I try to keep things concise, with the occasional touch of levity. In nearly every article, no matter how brief, there will be a few words underscored which means you can click on them to read more - if you want to that is. This can be a two-minute read or a twenty two-minute read. It’s your choice.
Over time, I have added a section called The Wider View which can be anything that has caught my eye and I thought may be of interest to you. Sometimes amusing, sometimes sad, serious, interesting, or political.
Between the Business bites section and The Wider View, I introduced an ad break. Not just any old ad break, but a TV ad from the past. A glorious burst of nostalgia. We’ve already done the classic Guinness and Levi ones and the gorilla playing the drums, but I’m always finding more classics.
Having said that, there isn’t one this week - the spot has been taken by a two-minute clip from the launch of The Source where Steph McGovern, who is investing in this business, says some unscripted nice things about me and what I do, and basically justifies your very wise decision in subscribing to this publication.
In addition to being the new home of Eyes & Ears, The Source will deliver regionally unique public-benefit journalism, informed opinion and some quality stories on the people and places that make the North East such a great place to live.
As for today, there’s balaclavas, Borderlands and bizarre graffiti; transport funding and an apprenticeship pilot in Tees Valley; Tyne Tunnel and Tyne Bridge closures; the opening of Super Brad’s Pad; a possible Jarrow Crusade legacy; and how to keep your marbles.
Brian Aitken
Editor
Borderline success
The 10-year Borderlands Growth Deal, designed to boost the economic fortunes of the five council areas either side of the England-Scotland border, is at the half-way stage. Only three projects in England are complete, and the deal has been criticised for delays and bureaucratic setbacks.
The Scottish and Westminster governments agreed to spend £452m on projects which would create employment, improve transport and digital connectivity, and increase jobs in tourism and green energy.
Those who hoped the funding would unlock major infrastructure schemes like dualling the A1 and the A69 or extending the Borders Railway to Carlisle will have been disappointed. Just one of those infrastructure schemes would have swallowed the entire budget, reports BBC political reporter Helen Richardson.
Smaller projects were chosen instead. Northumberland has enjoyed more success than Cumbria. Two out of three major projects part-funded by the Borderlands deal are already open, including the Lilidorei playpark at the Alnwick Garden, and the Ad Gefrin distillery in Wooler.
Alnwick is getting £2m of funding through the Place Programme for regeneration projects, including reopening Northumberland Hall as the new home of the Bailiffgate museum.
Scott Dickinson, the leader of the Labour group on Northumberland County Council, said the delays have been frustrating and communities in places like Newbiggin and Prudhoe are still waiting for things that were promised. “Over a million pounds worth of administrative costs gets spent every year, and people aren’t seeing the value of projects because nothing’s happening in some places,” he said.
But Northumberland council leader Glen Sanderson, a Borderlands board member, said he believed the deal was “making a great deal of difference” and “there will be more to enjoy”.
£1.3bn transport plan
Tees Valley Combined Authority has agreed to submit a £1.3bn transport and infrastructure package to Government. The funding, worth about £24m for each of the region’s five councils, would support transport and connectivity improvements linked to the recently agreed 10-year Local Growth Plan.
Councillor Steve Harker, TVCA cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, said Government support was essential to deliver the region’s ambitions. “This is a wide-ranging and vitally important transport delivery plan for the whole of Tees Valley. It is crucial people understand that, while we are a devolved body, major transport schemes often require significant additional funding.
“Government backing for our plans is vital because it will allow external bodies to help fund our programme, giving us the best chance of delivering as many projects as possible in good time across the region.”
Balaclavas: face the music
Monday’s edition (Headstones, headlines and the business of AI) carried reports of trouble in Newcastle and Hartlepool caused by the anti-social behaviour of large groups of young people.
Now Durham County Council is considering implementing Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) in Bishop Auckland, Chester-le-Street, Consett, Durham City, Peterlee, Seaham and Stanley.
The measure would give police and council officers powers to issue on-the-spot fines or remove people from an area for problems including intimidating behaviour, alcohol and substance misuse and nuisance electric bikes and scooters.
The Reform-led authority said proposals would include measures against wearing face coverings such as balaclavas “to conceal a person’s identity while committing anti-social behaviour.”
Monday’s edition also included a more detailed look at what was behind the figures of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum’s survey on the increasing use of AI in the workplace. We have a follow-up question this coming Monday: As we increase technological capacity, how do we ensure human capacity increases alongside it?
Suspension lifted
The Greens are the second largest party on Newcastle City Council after reinstating Councillor Mohammed Suleman who was suspended after reposting an anti-semitic video on social media. Reform are not happy.
Confirming that the suspension had been lifted, a Green spokesperson said Suleman “is regretful, knows he has been in the wrong, and that the posts he unknowingly shared were anti-semitic”. His reinstatement came just two days after delegates at the Greens party conference passed a motion labelling Zionism as racism.
Mental health concerns
Responding to mental health crises will be the fastest growing challenge for the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) over the next decade. It has produced a series of documents predicting health needs over the next 10 years, along with general principles on how it will respond to such “major changes”.
The service forecasts respiratory disease, cardiac conditions, stroke, gastrointestinal illness and mental health crisis care would continue to be the top reasons ambulance staff were called - but mental health would be its “fastest-growing clinical demand”.
Tunnel defects found
Significant “safety and operational defects” have been discovered at the Tyne Pedestrian and Cyclist Tunnels. A spokesperson for the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority said the two vertical lifts were closed after a survey identified several issues requiring repair.
The issues leave the two inclined lifts as the public’s only means of accessing the tunnels while an £87,000 repair scheme is carried out - but they will be closed for scheduled servicing on October 13, 14, 20 and 21 when a replacement shuttle bus will operate between Jarrow and Howdon from 8am to 4pm.
Legacy call for jobs
A plaque was unveiled outside the former A&P shipyard at Hebburn to mark the 90th anniversary of the Jarrow Crusade - with business and political leaders saying that creating jobs would be the most fitting way to remember the legacy of the marchers.
The yard was taken over earlier this year by Cornish firm Balaena, chaired by former North East MEP Alan Donnelly, who comes from South Tyneside. He has already talked to Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey about the “new age of industrialisation”.
Jarrow and Gateshead East MP Kate Osborne who unveiled the plaque with Donnelly, said: “I’m absolutely confident that some of the money that John Healey has talked about will be coming right here to Hebburn.” You can watch ITV Tyne Tees’ three-minute report by clicking here.
Underground heating
A mine water heating system in County Durham has gone live, supplying heat to around 50 homes in Seaham Garden Village. The ultra-low carbon district heat network will eventually supply 750 properties in the complex. The council is exploring whether similar schemes could be set up elsewhere.
Brad’s pad opens
The £1.2m Super Brad’s Pad, a five-bedroom house in Scarborough designed to give children with complex medical needs and disabilities the chance to enjoy a holiday with their loved ones, has been officially opened by former Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe.
The holiday home was built in memory of Bradley Lowery from Blackhall Colliery, in County Durham. He was six when he died from a rare form of cancer called neuroblastoma in 2017 and had built up a close relationship with the footballer during his illness.
Mum Gemma said: “Bradley always loved looking after people and if he knew that he was still looking after people now, he would be really happy. My little boy made such an impression on the world and to be able to continue that as his mam, in his name, is a very honourable moment.”
A quick word
Darlington chef Ruth Hansom, who owns Hansom Restaurant in Bedale, North Yorkshire, has won the title of National Chef of the Year at the final in London. Runner up was Scott John-Hodgson, executive chef at Solstice and House of Tides in Newcastle. Howaymanay is returning to Newcastle for a second year. There will be live music, entertainment, and food and drink on the Quayside in the build up to a midnight fireworks display to celebrate the New Year. Tickets cost £8 plus a booking fee. Northumberland County Council is considering cutting transport funding for pupils who attend faith schools outside of their local area as it looks to make savings from the £26m school transport budget. The Labour Party in South Shields is urging the Government to intervene and save the 10 council-run Stanley’s Daycare Centres which are due to close at the end of next July. Newcastle City Council will light up both the Tyne Bridge and the Civic Centre on October 16 to support Show Racism the Red Card’s annual Wear Red Day. This comes after Sunderland and Gateshead councils withdrew their support for the charity. North Tyneside councillor Tom Bailey, who left Labour after a row over him being pictured with a replica gun on social media, has joined the Greens. Also on North Tyneside, Brian Smith, the leader of the opposition Reform group has left the party and will sit as an Independent. The Tyne Bridge is to close for 10 days from October 23 to allow scaffolding to be erected ahead of work on the bridge’s main steel arch. The closure, which also affects pedestrians and cyclists, has been timed to include the October half-term. Sunderland City Council has taken steps which could result in the owners of the National Glass Centre, Sunderland University, having to apply for planning permission to demolish the building. Proposals by the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust to move the frailty unit at Bishop Auckland Hospital to Darlington Memorial Hospital has come under fire from campaigners, unions and councillors. The Teesside Charity’s annual ball in the grand marquee at Hardwick Hall raised a record £89,000. Harriet Spalding, chair of trustees, said: “Last year, we distributed around £80,000 through the Hardship Fund, so to have raised £89,000 in one night is quite remarkable.” Sunderland lass and 6 Music presenter Lauren Laverne has been announced as the host when the Mercury Prize award ceremony returns to the Utilita Arena in Newcastle on October 22.
Three nights to go
Luxmuralis is back at Durham Cathedral for its fifth consecutive annual light and sound installation. Better hurry if you want to see it. It started on Wednesday and finishes on Sunday. It’s called Time and the immersive experience is inspired by HG Wells’ The Time Machine.
Nurdle tests
Research is being carried out at the Dove Marine Laboratory in Cullercoats to find out how the massive nurdle spillage at Port of Tyne this summer has affected the coastal sea bird populations.
The research was prompted over concerns birds could starve if they confuse the nurdles for food and fill their stomachs. And charities have warned the plastic pellets could enter the wider food chain, affecting fish, seals and dolphins.
Pollution - from 1980
The “strong smelling substance” discovered at Blyth beach in August has been confirmed as creosote which is thought to have come from a former timber treatment works which closed around 1980. The Port of Blyth has appointed specialist consultants to decide what should happen next. The limits on both land access and bathing in the area, north of the Dave Stephens Centre, are still in place.
Charity’s £250k boost
A £249,579 grant will strengthen the Tyne Rivers Trust’s mission to protect and restore rivers across the Tyne catchment. The backing from the National Lottery Heritage Fund will support Foundations for the Future, an 18-month programme focused on building the people, systems and organisational infrastructure needed to increase the body’s long-term impact.
Rivers across the Tyne catchment face pressures including pollution, habitat loss, invasive species, declining wildlife and the impacts of climate change. The recent plastic nurdles spill has also highlighted the vulnerability of the region’s rivers and estuaries. Tony Henderson has more in Cultured. North East.
Striking move by QTS
QTS, the company building one of Europe’s largest AI data centre campuses at Cambois in Northumberland, has announced a £140,000 donation to the Alan Shearer Foundation.
The grant follows the foundation’s launch in August of Move A Mile, a fundraising challenge to raise £1m for a second hydrotherapy pool at the charity’s Newcastle centre. “This is a huge boost for the foundation and for the people who rely on the centre’s services,” said Shearer. “Everything we do here is provided free of charge, and this level of support gives us the confidence to plan ahead and reach more families.”
Graffiti goes viral
‘Stacey Soloman gives Joe a sticker for helping with the dishes’, ‘Danny Dyer smokes Parma Violet vapes’ and ‘Ross Kemp dabs Zoflora behind his ears’ - just three of the bizarre graffiti messages that have gone viral after being painted in an underpass and on walls around the West Denton area of Newcastle.
Councillor Peter Lovatt said: “It is a form of criminal damage and a recordable offence. Anyone responsible for vandalising property could face police action. The council has a zero-tolerance approach to offensive graffiti and will always act swiftly to remove it.”
1,000 years of volunteering
Northumberland National Park is celebrating its 70th anniversary year by honouring volunteers who have given more than 1,000 years of support to the park. Among those honoured at a special event at The Sill were father and son Brian and Graham Atkins, who began volunteering in 1969 when Graham was 12 years old. “It’s my county and my heritage and I wanted to get involved. It’s been a passion,” said Graham.
Apprenticeship pilot
Tees Valley has been selected as one of the first mayoral strategic authorities to pilot the Apprenticeship Brokerage scheme, a £9.4m investment aimed at creating 1,500 additional job opportunities across the region. Support will particularly target those not in education, employment or training, while helping small and medium-sized businesses tackle skills shortages and reach a wider pool of candidates.
Levy scrapped
The late night levy on Newcastle’s pubs, bars and clubs was scrapped with immediate effect at a meeting of Newcastle City Council on Wednesday. Council leader Colin Ferguson said the tax had placed an “unfair burden” on businesses.
Business bites
The British Business Bank is to provide £57m to five Northern Innovation Clusters including £12m to the North East. The investment is expected to accelerate the growth of companies in sectors such as clean energy, advanced manufacturing, digital and technologies, life sciences, and professional and business services. There’s just four days to go… the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority is looking for a new Chair of its Business Advisory Council, someone with the “experience, energy and regional perspective to bring businesses together and influence the big decisions”. Applications close at 5pm on Tuesday. NE1 had a record-breaking summer, adding an estimated £4m to Newcastle’s economy. Rachel Fenwick, head of marketing and events, said: “From Screen on the Green and Newcastle Restaurant Week to Dog on the Tyne, the Quayside Carnival and the Newcastle Dragon Boat Race, the city’s streets have come alive.” Sunderland-based wealth management firm Fairstone has completed the acquisition of Sussex firm Foundation Financial Planning. North East-based RMT Technology is to launch a new cyber security division. The specialist technology arm of RMT Accountants & Business Advisors is expecting to create eight jobs in the coming year and around 50 over the next five years.
Middlesbrough College and Lingfield Education Trust have signed a memorandum of understanding to give primary pupils across the region more opportunities to explore future careers. Jonny Catto, managing director of iPac Packaging Innovations, has been included in the LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders for 2026. Also on the list is Peter Moody of GAP Group North East. Brims Construction has posted an operating profit of £4.8m and a record turnover of £70m, an increase of 9% on the previous year. Gateshead-based Aspire Technology Solutions has expanded into the North West by acquiring Warrington company Sentis Managed Solutions which has more than 80 customers across the region. There’s been a record number of entries for The Dynamites Awards 2026, organised by technology membership organisation Dynamo North East, which will take place at Newcastle Civic Centre on November 12. Deputy Avril Gibson is to take over as Chair of Bernicia from John Holmes who has been in post for nine years. A £3m Northumberland Economic Infrastructure Programme has been announced by the council aimed at unlocking projects to deliver new commercial premises and infrastructure. It is hoped that trade and investment links between Tees Valley and Saudi Arabia will be strengthened following a visit from the UK’s ambassador Stephen Hitchen.
2026 ad break
I warned you at the beginning that this week’s ad break was different. Here is a clip (thanks to the students of Gateshead College) from our media event we held at The Catalyst in Newcastle. It features Steph McGovern explaining why she values The Source - and is investing in it.
“A lot of the stories I do on the show, (The Rest Is Money podcast with Robert Peston) a lot of the anecdotes, I get from Brian. There are so many interesting things going on here that I want to tell nationally and it’s amazing what following your writing and your work with the team has led to for me with my work.
“I know I can read your stuff and then I’m up to date with what is going on in the area in a way that is way more intellectually stimulating and way more thoughtful.”
I mentioned being independent and politically neutral at the beginning of today’s edition. That seems even more important now after reading what Reform UK plans to do with some of the £72m it received from just two donors earlier this year - as award-winning investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr points out in this tweet…
The Source has launched a Crowdfunder with the specific purpose of recruiting a reporter who will specialise in public-benefit journalism. You can contribute to that here. That would make such a difference to our growth ambitions.
But here’s another thought. If every person reading this right now became a paying subscriber to The Source - and at £6.99 a month it’s cheaper than buying a weekly coffee in Greggs - then we would instantly become a sustainable business that was able to hire staff and deliver the quality of journalism that the North East needs and deserves.
THE WIDER VIEW
Clue to a sharp mind
If you want to keep however many marbles you have for as long as you possibly can, then crossword puzzles, reading, listening to music, brain-training games or learning a new skill can help. In some cases they can reverse cognitive impairment, a large-scale trial conducted by Southampton University has discovered.
“The key message of the study is crucial,” said Paul Little, Professor of Primary Care Research. “It shows that the brain remains malleable and can learn new things well into older age. This means even the small things you do each day can really make a difference in combating cognitive decline.”
Give peas a chance
The nation should hang its head in shame. We are eating fewer peas now than at any point in the last 50 years.
To help save the Great British pea, Saturday Kitchen’s Matt Tebbutt and Clarkson’s Farm’s Harriet Cowan have teamed up with industry bodies to launch the Choose British Peas campaign to encourage young people to… give peas a chance!
Matt said: “I was genuinely shocked to discover that pea consumption in the UK is at its lowest level in more than 50 years. How have we let that happen? Somewhere along the way, I think we’ve started taking our little green friends for granted.”
Harriet added: “I hope this campaign gets people thinking a little more about where their food comes from, appreciating the work that goes into growing it here in Britain, and choosing British whenever they can.”