Latest news with #CountyDurham
BBC News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Durham County Council votes to scrap net zero pledge
A county council has revoked its net zero pledge, despite opposition from cross-party councillors and UK councillors in County Durham moved to scrap the 2019 declaration, with an alternative social care pledge voted council leader Darren Grimes, who brought the motion to revoke the climate vow, said: "We are done with expensive virtue-signalling tripe, and care about our residents."Liberal Democrat Mark Wilkes said the council had saved £13m in the past year through climate-saving efficiencies and labelled the Reform motion "cynical and insulting". The previous council environment pledge aimed to achieve net zero emissions by 2045. Net zero means no longer adding to the total amount of greenhouse gases in the said the alternative "care emergency" declaration would help recognise the "critical and escalating crisis" in children's social care, including Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) added: "We seek to declare a real care emergency that's devouring our kids and coffers in tandem." Campaigners gathered outside Durham County Hall before the vote to oppose the banners and placards warned of the ongoing climate emergency, telling council leaders to "get your heads out of the sand". Another message, held by one young boy, read: "If you care…allow me to have a future."Durham County Council received a national award last year for its carbon reduction and was praised for its use of green technologies, including wind turbines, solar panels, and battery said social care issues had "nothing whatsoever to do with climate change"."It is our young people who are going to be most impacted by climate change, and indeed, the savings we have been making off the back of our action on the climate, including energy efficiency measures, is actually helping us to protect frontline social care services," he Elmer, Green Party councillor for Brandon, opposed the Reform plea and said: " If councillor Grimes really cared about SEND provision, he'd have brought this motion without reference to climate change."He'd have worked for cross-party consensus on it, he'd have looked to get ideas and input on how to improve the lives of SEND kids in County Durham from across this chamber."But instead, he's stoked controversy and division. Undoubtedly, many people will conclude it's the controversy that he really cares about."Sixty-two Reform councillors voted to approve the motion, while seven from other parties voted against. There were 17 abstentions and 12 councillors were not present at the meeting, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Reform renamed several key council departments in May, including removing references to climate change in one key cabinet portfolio. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Durham County Council set to vote on tougher HMO rules
Council leaders hope new measures to control the number of shared homes will help balance communities across a rules are set to be introduced by Durham County Council to combat the rapid increase in homes in multiple occupation (HMO).Councillors will vote on plans to force all HMOs, regardless of size, to go through the full planning process under Article 4 regulations on 21 properties for between three and six residents can be converted without receiving planning permission. Concerned residents previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the increase in HMOs had negatively impacted their Lyndsey Fox, cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: "During the past few years, we have seen a steady increase in HMOs, with the number rising more significantly since 2021."An overconcentration of this type of household can have a negative impact on day-to-day life for communities, often because of issues such as increased noise, the general appearance of properties, refuse management and parking issues."She also highlighted the longer term impacts of the loss of family housing and the impact on community cohesion. Concerns from residents Article 4 regulations are currently in place in areas around Durham popular with students. Now, members of Durham County Council's cabinet will consider undertaking a consultation on the introduction of a countywide in Darlington recently approved a similar said the council already use a range of powers to crackdown on HMO-related issues, such as planning and licensing enforcement and environmental health notices. But the council was still hearing concerns from residents about the impact such properties were having in the region, she said."Implementing the Article 4 Direction across the county will avoid concentrations of HMOs in alternative locations to where we are seeing issues now," she said. Follow BBC North East on X and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Thousands of children to travel for free in the North East this summer
Tens of thousands of children in the North East will travel for free this summer, it has been announced. The return of the Kids Go Free scheme, launched by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, means children can enjoy free bus travel during the school holidays. The scheme will run from July 19 to August 31, 2025, and covers Tyne and Wear, County Durham, and Northumberland. Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor, said: "Kids Go Free will see thousands of children across the North East travelling for free this summer. (Image: Mark Savage Photograpy) "From Berwick to Bishop Auckland and beyond, families can enjoy cheaper travel by bus and when using the Metro and Ferry too." Under the scheme, up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free with every fare-paying adult or concessionary pass holder. This makes getting around the region more affordable during the school holidays. Last month, Ms McGuinness announced the scheme will continue until at least September 2026, covering this summer, next summer, and all school holidays in between. Ms McGuinness said: "Since launching last year, Kids Go Free has already helped so many people travel affordably and enjoy their time together during the school holidays. "We're working to make travelling using public transport cheaper and easier and I'm delighted Kids Go Free has now been extended to run during school holidays until at least September 2026. "Affordable travel is great news for everyone, but I know that family budgets are increasingly stretched, so I'm pulling out all the stops to do everything we can to reduce the burden of high transport costs for local people. "Alongside Kids Go Free, we've also rolled out a bus fare cap, which means no single bus journey can be more than a maximum of £2.50 – that's at least 50p cheaper per journey than the national cap." READ MORE: Dad stages Darlington run in aid of suicide charity in memory of his son County Durham schoolgirl goes 'viral' after turning up to prom in HGV 'Exciting new era' for historic Darlington school as redevelopment plans unveiled Bus operators have also voiced their support for the scheme. In a joint statement, Stagecoach, Go North East, and Arriva said: "We're delighted to enable families to have more cost-effective days out by bus this summer, enjoying the attractions and places of interest across the region." To view full terms and conditions and upcoming dates for the offer, visit
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Move to drop Durham County Council's climate change target
A county council's net zero target could be revoked and social care prioritised. A motion has been put forward by Durham County Council's deputy leader and Reform councillor Darren Grimes "to rescind a climate emergency" declared in local authority had hoped to achieve net zero emissions across the county by 2045 to tackle climate change. However, Grimes said the Reform-led council should declare a county-wide emergency to tackle the "critical and escalating crisis" in children's social care, including Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision. County Durham Liberal Democrats are to stage a protest opposing the proposed move, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Lib Dem Councillor Mark Wilkes said: "Councillor Grimes thinks net zero is the cause of the council's financial problems. "It's absolute nonsense. Indeed work we have been doing has actually saved the council money."He also said the "massive increases" in adult and social care costs had been caused by inflation, societal changes and under-funding of councils. 'Urgent threat' Grimes, who represents the Annfield Plain and Tanfield area, warned that the ongoing children's social care crisis was the "most urgent threat to the well-being of our children and the financial stability" of the this year, the local authority said it was struggling to cope with rising demand and called for major changes to said he wanted to see investment in early intervention services to support children within their families, as well as expanding provision for children in care and those with will vote on the motion at a full council meeting on local authority's current climate emergency response plan will run until 2027. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Sun
a day ago
- Health
- The Sun
I spent 3 months hiding away after filler left me looking like a villain – my pus-filled lips leaked all down my face
A MUM admits going 'absolutely crazy' with filler left her looking like a 'horror movie' villain - when her face ballooned and lips began oozing. Amy Pearson first visited the practitioner in September 2024 to get anti-wrinkle jabs and facial and lip filler. 5 5 At first, the 32-year-old says she suffered no side effects so continued to visit the aesthetician's home salon over the next two months for hundreds of pounds worth of top-up treatments. But when lumps began developing in her cheeks and lips, the mum-of-three said she flagged this to the practitioner but claims she was told it was safe for her to keep having treatments. It was only when her face ballooned in January 2025 following a £200 booster lip and cheek treatment in December, she knew something was wrong. Horrifying photos show Amy's under-eyes swollen and drooping with a large oozing blister on her lip, which she claims is an infection from the lip filler jab. At this point Amy, who doesn't work, claims she reached out again to the practitioner but was told the swelling was normal. When it didn't go down, Amy says she spent months going back and forth to Bishop Auckland Hospital in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. There, she was prescribed steroid cream, antibiotics and antihistamines. Amy claims she was told by a doctor that the filler had caused her face to balloon and she needed it all dissolved immediately. When the practitioner agreed to dissolve her lip and cheek filler treatment for free in April 2025, Amy claims she was left with a lop-sided mouth and still has lumps under her skin. Amy says she spent three months hiding in her house as she battled with self-confidence issues. Tweakment Trials - Botox While her face is no longer swollen, she's having to undergo treatment by another practitioner to get her face and lips dissolved properly. Following her experience, Amy is now raising awareness about the importance of doing thorough research on your practitioner before getting injected with filler. Amy Pearson, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, said: "I had lip filler and had 1ml put in and this cost me £100. This was a top-up from what I had done. "I was going absolutely crazy with [anti-wrinkle jabs] and filler and I told her there were lumps in my lips and she kept putting more in. 5 "The lumps came from her treatment. I was getting filler every month but in December that was when a blister started to form. "She said it was a cold sore but she caused the infection in my lip. "I said a day later I was in pain. It started to form a blister and it was filling up with pus and it burst and the filler came out. "I had cheek filler put in and she injected it into the wrong place and that is how the lump formed. She made a right mess. "I was going backwards and forwards to the hospital and was only leaving the house to go to the hospital. "I was that paranoid about how I looked. The doctor said she had caused this and I needed it dissolved. "Those three or four months were the worst time of my life. "I looked in the mirror and looked disgusting, she made me feel like I was ugly and nothing. "It looked like something you'd see in a horror movie. I didn't recognise myself and I was hiding away behind closed doors. "In that period I didn't want my kids to see me like that and I didn't want to be out in the open and have people staring at me." What are the risks of lip fillers? THE RISKS of dermal fillers depend on whether the procedure was done correctly and the type of filler used. The NHS recommends you speak to your practitioner about the risks beforehand. Serious problems are rare but can include: Infection A lumpy appearance under the skin, which might need to be treated with surgery or medicine The filler moving away from the intended treatment area, which may need to be removed using surgery Scarring Blocked blood vessels in the face, which can cause tissue death and permanent blindness You should see your GP if you have any complications that need medical attention and speak to your practitioner if you're not happy with the results or experience lumpiness. Source: NHS After suffering her reaction to the filler at the start of the year, Amy says she continued to visit the practitioner for anti-wrinkle jabs treatment but stopped getting filler immediately. She claims in total she spent £1,600 on treatment from September 2024 to June 2025 but has completely stopped going to the practitioner now. Amy is thankful it hasn't caused permanent damage to her face and she is able to get it corrected. Amy said: "After my reaction in December I stopped getting all the filler but I continued with my [anti-wrinkle injections] because I thought this was okay. "There are still lumps in my face but the swelling has gone down. I still have confidence issues and still will until all of this is sorted. "I feel let down. I'm now going to another practitioner to get it sorted. "I want to get awareness out there and tell people to choose their practitioner properly."
